2025-12-26
Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV
Dr. Ernest Sachs wanted to make a difference in the world. And he did. Years ago most brain tumours were fatal. Sachs heard a surgeon predict that someday a cure would be discovered that could save all those lives, and he determined to be that surgeon. At the time, the leading expert on the anatomy of the brain was Sir Victor Horsley. Sachs received permission to study under him but felt he should prepare for the experience by studying for six months under some of the most able physicians in Germany.
Then he went to England, where for two years he assisted Dr. Horsley in long and intricate experiments on dozens of monkeys. When Sachs returned to America, he was ridiculed by the medical establishment for requesting the opportunity to treat brain tumours. For years he fought obstacles and discouragement, driven by a desire to succeed in his quest. And succeed he did! Today, largely thanks to Dr. Sachs, the majority of brain tumours can be cured. And his book Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Tumours is considered the standard authority on the subject.
Just because something isn’t presently done doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And maybe you are the one to do it! And as a redeemed child of God, think of the advantage you have: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV). Use your faith, and believe God for great things.
Soul food: 1 Cor 12-14; Matt 2:13-23; Ps 139:13-24; Prov 31:28
Jeremia 33:3 NLV
Dr Ernest Sachs wou ‘n verskil in die lewe maak, en hy het. Jare gelede was die meeste breingewasse noodlottig. Sachs het ‘n chirurg hoor voorspel dat daar eendag ‘n uitvinding sou wees wat al daardie lewens sou kon red en hy het besluit dat dit sy lewenstaak sou wees. Destyds was die voorste kenner van die brein se anatomie sir Victor Horsley. Sachs het toestemming gekry om onder hom te studeer, maar het gevoel dat hy vir die ervaring moes voorberei deur ses maande lank onder van die bekwaamste dokters in Duitsland te studeer.
Daarna is hy na Engeland toe, waar hy twee jaar lank dr. Horsley in lang en ingewikkelde eksperimente op dosyne ape bygestaan het. Toe Sachs na Amerika terugkeer, is hy deur die mediese gemeenskap gespot omdat hy versoek het om uitsluitlik breingewasse te behandel. Jare lank het hy struikelblokke en ontmoediging beveg, gedryf deur ‘n passie om in sy soeke te slaag. Hy het dit reggekry! Vandag, grootliks danksy dr. Sachs, kan die meerderheid breingewasse genees word. Sy boek, Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Tumours, word as die voorste gesag oor die onderwerp beskou.
Net omdat iets tans nie gedoen word nie, beteken dit nie dat dit glad nie gedoen kan word nie. Miskien is jy die een wat dit gaan doen! Dink net aan die voordeel wat jy as verloste kind van God het: ‘Vra My, en Ek sal vir jou ‘n antwoord gee. Ek sal jou van ongelooflike dinge vertel. Dit is nou nog vir jou ‘n geheim, en jy weet niks daarvan nie.’ ‘Dit is tog die Here wat wysheid gee. Sy woorde gee kennis en insig’ (Spreuke 2:6 NLV). Gebruik jou geloof en glo God vir groot dinge.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 12-14; Matt 2:13-23; Ps 139:13-24; Spr 31:28
2025-12-25
Luke 2:12 RSV
Arriving at church one Christmas morning, a pastor paused to admire the nativity scene. The figures, lovingly crafted, sat on a small stage… shepherds… wise men… animals… and in the centre, the Holy Family. Then he noticed the manger was empty; the baby Jesus was missing! After searching the church he called the associate pastor and the elders, but they knew nothing. The baby had obviously been stolen. Solemnly he reported the theft to his congregation, disappointed to think one of them might be involved. “If the baby is returned by the end of the day there’ll be no questions asked,” he said.
But the manger remained empty all day, and that afternoon, heavy-hearted and discouraged, the pastor took a walk through the wintry streets. Ahead he noticed six-year-old Tommy, bundled up against the cold, proudly dragging a bright red wagon. Knowing Tommy’s family struggled financially, the pastor was touched by their sacrifice and sped up so he could wish Tommy a merry Christmas and admire his shiny new wagon. As he approached, however, he noticed the wagon wasn’t empty – inside, wrapped and blanketed against the cold, lay the baby Jesus!
Solemnly the pastor crouched down beside Tommy. He was just a little boy, but old enough to know that stealing was wrong. The pastor made this crystal clear as the child listened; his eyes filled with what the pastor assumed were penitent tears. “But pastor,” the little boy replied, “I didn’t steal Jesus. It wasn’t like that at all. I’ve been asking Him for a red wagon for Christmas for ages – and I promised if I got one, I’d take Him on the first ride.”
Soul food: Isa 9:1-7; Matt 2:1-12; Micah 5:2-5a
Lukas 2:12 NLV
Met sy aankoms by die kerk een Kersoggend het ‘n pastoor stilgehou om die Kersfees geboortetoneel te bewonder. Die figure, liefdevol aanmekaargesit, was op ‘n klein verhoog uitgestal… herders… wyse manne… diere… en in die middel, die Heilige gesin. Toe merk hy op dat die krip leeg was; die baba Jesus was vermis! Nadat hy die kerk deursoek het, het hy die mede-pastoor en die ouderlinge gebel, maar hulle het niks geweet nie. Die baba was duidelik gesteel.Hy het die diefstal plegtig by sy gemeente aangemeld, teleurgesteld om te dink dat een van hulle dalk betrokke was. “As die baba teen die einde van die dag terugbesorg word, sal daar geen vrae gevra word nie,” het hy gesê.
Maar die krip het die hele dag leeg gebly, en daardie middag, swaarmoedig en mismoedig, het die pastoor ‘n entjie deur die winterstrate gestap. Voor hom het hy die sesjarige Tommy opgemerk, toegedraai teen die koue, waar hy ‘n helderrooi wa rondsleep. Bewus van die feit dat Tommy se familie finansieel gesukkel het, was die pastoor geraak deur hul opoffering en het hy vinnig tot by Tommy gestap om hom ‘n geseënde Kersfees toe te wens en sy blink nuwe wa te kon bewonder. Toe hy nader kom, het hy egter opgemerk dat die wa nie leeg was nie – binne, toegedraai met ‘n kombers teen die koue, het die baba Jesus gelê!
Die pastoor het langs Tommy gehurk. Hy was maar net ‘n klein seuntjie, maar oud genoeg om te weet dat steel verkeerd was. Terwyl die pastoor dit so aan Tommy verduidelik het, het die kind se oë vol trane geword. “Maar pastoor,” het die seuntjie geantwoord, “ek het nie vir Jesus gesteel nie. Dit was glad nie so nie. Ek vra Hom al baie lank vir ‘n nuwe rooi waentjie vir Kersfees – en ek het belowe as ek een kry, sal ek Hom op die eerste rit neem.”
Sielskos: Jes 9:1-7; Matt 2:1-12; Miga 5:2-5a
2025-12-24
John 1:14 NIV
Here’s a great story from Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. It’s about a recovering alcoholic called Jim. It was his first Christmas alone, and when a young family sat down beside him in the pew he couldn’t handle it. As he was leaving the church he met Pastor Thomas Tedwell, who asked where he was going. “Out for a drink,” he replied. Tedwell said, “You can’t. Where’s your sponsor?” “On vacation,” replied Jim. “I came here tonight looking for a word of hope and ended up sitting beside this happy family. And if I had my life together, I’d be here with mine.”
As the pastor walked to the pulpit he prayed, “God, give me a word of hope for Jim.” Then after welcoming the congregation, he said, “I’ve an unusual request. If anyone here is a friend of Bill W’s, and if you are – you’ll know it, please meet me in the vestry. (Bill Wilson, better known as Bill W., cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous). Immediately people from all over the church began to respond. As Dr. Tedwell observed, “While I was busy preaching about the Incarnation, the Word was becoming flesh before my eyes!”
This Christmas some of the people around you are hurting; they’ve lost hope. So, “Let the word become flesh.” Lift the fallen, encourage the despairing, and minister to the sick, the lonely, and the forgotten. Jesus said, “When you did it to these my brothers you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40 TLB) Instead of keeping to yourself this year, reach out to someone. Go ahead – it’ll be your best Christmas ever!
Soul food: 1 Cor 10-11; Matt 1:18-25; Ps 139:1-12; Prov 31:25-27
