New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:7 Today, rather than focusing on a new beginning, let’s give thanks for the blessed year that has passed. There are both positive and negative memories, and we may ask why we did some dumb things. Or why something great happened? Whatever the case, the Lord was with us, and we must be thankful. Thought for Today: Let us be thankful for last year and prayerful about our future. As we move forward, let’s remember two of my favorite themes. Keep healthy in your spirit, mind, and body. Also, when in doubt, “Just do it!”

2024!

Gifts "For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, In accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, And these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." (Romans 12:3-6) Christmas has passed, and we were all involved in its materialism at some level. The advertising, the gift-giving, and the holiday cards all lead us away from its meaning. It is not about the gifts that were given and received by people. Earlier this year, we read about the gifts that God gave us. Paul's letter to the Romans has a special meaning. Verse nine of Romaans twelve lists seven of God's gifts. It is essential to understand God's blessings and recognize our gifts. We need to know where we fit in God's world and how to apply His gifts in our lives. These gifts matter- They are not advertised on TV or in the newspaper. They are given to us by Him to use. Thought for Today: As we approach the New Year, let us think about who we are and what gifts God has given us. Let us learn to use these gifts to make our lives and the lives of others better. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, self-improvement always seems to be an objective at this time of the year. Each year I focus on "my improvement" and sometimes do not recognize the tasks you may have set forth for me. I pray that this will be the year that "my improvement" is accomplished by identifying your gifts to me and finding a way to do your work with them. Amen

Merry Christmas

"Joy to the World, the Lord has come" There are many one-liners in Christmas carols. The opening of "Joy to the World" says it all. It summarizes our Christian lives, lives of joy through the forgiveness of our faith and our Christian peers. Let us all feel the joy of the season and the love for each other, and keep our faith strong throughout the season. With blessings, have a great Christm

Universal Hope

Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you, my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1) Many churches have a special service for people having a sad time over the Holidays. Our pastor must have been an Elvis fan once because he called it a Blue Christmas Service. We can always find reasons to be blue over the holidays, and it is good to look at those feelings, put them in perspective, and pray to God for the support available to us. It was one worth attending whether you were sad or not. Our friends Bob, Carl, and Dave miss their wives who passed away this year. There are too many to list with severe ailments and others with challenging career and financial situations. Several years ago, we met a young gentleman, John, who had visited during the summer. He was in tears during the service. He was despondent because his parents were having a problem with his sexual preference. I ask you all for prayers. Celebrating Christmas is for all of us. Through it all, we remember those who are experiencing loss. June and I pray about aging and life in a new society with COVID and war. It is important to take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. Thought for Today: Let us take note of our sad feelings over the holidays. We need to recognize that they exist rather than masking them with joy. Pray about them, turn them over to God, and enjoy the celebration of Christ’s birth. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we have special holiday prayers. We pray that your presence brings trust and love to the world. We pray for people who have lost loved ones and are spending their first Christmas with an empty place at the table while giving thanks for your role in our lives and the help you give us. Thank you for being available for us each day. Amen

Endurance

Endurance and Encouragement “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves ….” (Romans 15 vs. 5) Instant gratification is something that we always seem to want and often expect. We have national lotteries around the world, and people become instant winners. (They may have played for twenty years!) The desire is clear; we want what we want when we want it. If that is where you are at in your life, you need not read any further today. That is not my message! Paul’s message to the Romans is about endurance and encouragement, two things given to us through our faith and prayers that will make us successful. There will be no lightning bolt that makes us winners. In the years that June and I were associated with my son’s music business, we dealt with hundreds of starry-eyed musicians waiting for their big break. Some made it, but all that succeeded earned it. The ones that worked at it 24/7; the ones with an undying passion for writing and performing; those who were too serious about it to enjoy the party atmosphere succeeded. In our own lives, we need to endure. Life is not a sprint, it is more like a marathon, and there are no days off. We will feel weary and need encouragement. We need a place where we can find encouragement; we have it because God is with us. We do need to reach out and grab it through prayer. Thought for Today: Let’s think about who we could reach out to for encouragement; our pastor, significant other, child, or bartender. There is always someone. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for your support and pray that we can let you in when we are tired. Amen

The Happiest Season

Happiest Season “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist. others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8 vs. 27-29) It is a wonderful time of the year when we look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth. We are blessed because of His presence in our everyday lives. We have a God-given relief from the daily stresses our society places on us. Interestingly, 30-plus years after his birth, Jesus was asking who they believed he was. My thoughts are that the Christmas story would be enough. But then, nothing in this world is ever easy; not then and certainly not now. So what is Christmas really about? Gifts, material giving, and recharging of our spiritual batteries. It is a great time of the year, the happiest time. We must enjoy the season while recharging our batteries, reinforcing our beliefs, and preparing for the New Year. Katharine McPhee said in her song: “Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on, our troubles Will be out of sight.” Blessings to you all for a great season of Joy! Thought for Today: The Christmas season is not all joys. We will encounter stress, financial hardships, bad weather, and all the events of winter life. They are all blessings that are part of our lives. We need to keep Christ as our focus. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we give thanks for Christmas and festivities. Through prayer, we give thanks that “our troubles will be out of sight.” Amen