Thought of the Day !!

"The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!"
Luke 2:11 (NLT)

Today is Christmas Eve. I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. May you experience the rich blessings of God's gift this Christmas.

In the love of Christ,
greg

P.S. There probably won't be any "Thought of the Day's" until sometime next week.

Thought of the Day !!

(The shepherds) ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
Luke 2:16-17

An angel of the Lord had appeared to the shepherds and told them the good news of great joy for the people everywhere. The news was of a child that would change the world. He would be called the Son of the Most High...the Son of God even. This child would be the most powerful being ever to live, yet he would be born in a cold and lowly place. This would be his choice though. You see, Jesus would not be the kind of Savior that distanced himself from those he saved. Instead, he came to us and lived among us so that he could do what we do, see things from out point of view, and feel the same pains and joy that we experience. This is a truly loving Messiah. And this is the Messiah that the shepherds went around telling everyone about.

I wonder if the people thought that they were crazy. Maybe they believed these guys to have been spending too much time alone with the sheep. But there was surely one person that believed. Mary not only believed, but she pondered all the things said in her heart.

Believable or not, these were the first evangelists of the Good news. They were the first ones used by God to spread the gospel of Jesus. And for that the world should be thankful. For we should use them as an example. We've been given the good news, and now it's time share it with others. Christmas is but a few days away. Will we run to find Jesus in our lives? Will we share the good news of Christ at Christmas? Will we praise God?

Let this Christmas be about something more than presents...more than parties...more than Santa. Lets all put away all bickering and complaining so that we may forgive and love and find the peace and hope of our Savior's birth this year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true." And then the angel left.
Luke 1:38 (NLT)

Wow, what an attitude. I know that in my life there's been times where I felt like I should do this or that, or that God was pushing me in a direction that I didn't want to go. I only hope that I've accepted the call more times than not.

Mary's response is one of a true servant. This is what God wants from us all. He's willing to care for us and see us through any ordeal. But He also wants us to serve Him instead of ourselves. And He gives us several opportunities to do just that. When these opportunities come around, He's not testing to see how well we will do, for He knows what we're capable of. Instead He's seeing if we'll make our selves available for Him to use.

May we all have a servant's heart like Mary. May we all follow wherever God desires to lead us.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

My friend Andy Stoddard, who normally does daily reflections from the lectionary, did a different kind of devotional yesterday. It touched me and I wanted to share it with you. So here's our "Thought of the Day !!" for today.

In the love of Christ,
greg


Devotional: Santa

Normally my devotionals are a reflection on three Bible passages, or a quote that is uplifting.

Today, I want to do something a little different.

I want to tell you about something that happened last night. Last night Ripley First United Methodist Church was blessed to host the Foster Families' Christmas Dinner from Tippah and Benton County. Many folks worked tirelessly on the meal all day yesterday and part of Monday. Teachers from Ripley Jr and Sr High organized volunteer students to help. Folks from around the county came to sing and entertain the families.

My job was to be the visitor from the North Pole, if you catch my drift.

So I walked in, and the children's face lit up. Even the older ones wanted their picture taken.

But there was one girl in particular that stuck with me. She must have been 4 or 5. Wore glasses, cute as a button. I noticed her when I walked in because she was standing in her chair, clapping.

When her name was called, she sprinted across the floor and threw her arms around me and hugged me. She gave me a kiss on the cheek and said "Santa I love you."

It's hard to say Merry Christmas when you are crying like I was. This girl just hugged me and did not want to let go. I hugged her back, and said "Santa loves you to sweetheart."

I don't know what this child has been through in her life, but I bet it's not been an easy one. She's in the Foster Family system, so I know she's had hard times. But, just the look of love in her eyes, the look of sheer, unadulterated joy in her eyes as seeing Santa could melt any heart.

I don't know how this relates to God, but I guess I can think of two ways. First, do something for someone in this time of year. Let's not get so focused on our own stuff, our own families, our own business that we rob ourselves of the true blessing of doing for others.

Second, when this young girl came to me with love in her eyes, all I wanted to do was let her know that Santa loved her. No matter what she had been through, Santa Clause loved her.

That has got to be how God feels about us. No matter what we've been through, no matter how much we've been beaten down. No matter how life has been for us.

God loves you. And He wants you to know that He loves you.

You Are Loved Today.

(My thanks goes out to my dear friend Andy for this wonderful illustration of what Christmas is all about.)

Thought of the Day !!

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

There are still those today walking in darkness even though the light came at Christmas over 2000 years ago. For those of us who have the light of Christ shining in us, it is our task this Christmas to be a beacon.

The truth is, some of us need the Christmas Spirit this year more than ever. We need to let those who oppose Christianity and those who are just Bah Humbuggers know that the light of Christ that came down once and walked among us is still alive in us. Who knows, a little bit of Christmas cheer or giving or just plain old love this year may make a difference in someone whose life has been darkened this season. What do you say? Will you join me in creating an attitude of Christmas? An attitude of LOVE!

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Emmanuel" (meaning, God is with us).
Matthew 1:23 (NLT)

God is with us. He came to the world in the usual way...that is...if you are an ordinary child, but not the Savior of the world. God is with us. He chose to walk in our shoes, to experience what we experience, to laugh, to cry, to joke, to bleed. He chose to be among us, which makes Him special. It makes our God one who truly knows who we are and what we're going through. This proves His love for us.

Lets prove our love for Him this Christmas by being with Him. Let's worship God by coming together in love and peace this year. Let's worship God by taking Him to others this year. Let's worship God by remembering the baby that was born in a manger this year. Let's worship God by extending mercy and forgiveness to each other this year. Let's worship God by placing more importance on Jesus than on Santa this year. Let's just worship God this Christmas.

Christmas Eve is a week from tomorrow. How will you worship the Creator of the season this year?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Casting Crowns Christmas Song

This is quickly becoming a Christmas favorite of mine. Enjoy as you listen for bells of peace throughout the Christmas Season.

In the love and the Spirit of Christmas,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
Luke 1:30-31 (NLT)

Surprise Mary!!! You're gonna have a son!

But I'm a virgin! So?

But I'm not married! So?

But that's not how I imagined my life! So?

But I'll be stoned! No you won't.

Joseph won't marry me! Yes he will.

For nothing is impossible with God. Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.
Luke 1:37-38 (NLT)

Mary didn't actually say all those things above...except for what is found in the text. Or at least I assume she didn't. But can you just imagine those thoughts going through her mind?

When God calls us today, He rarely uses angels like Gabriel to come in front of us and speak to us. I've not seen any talking burning bushes lately either. For some reason (maybe because our faith isn't as strong these days and needs to be tested) He speaks to us in less obvious ways.

I think God wants to surprise all of us with revelations and callings on a much more consistent basis than we want to admit. One reason might be because these revelations and callings interfere with our lives. They may call for sacrifices to made by us or for us to change something. But I doubt many of us will ever be called to sacrifice and change as much as Mary was.

What has God tried to get you to hear lately? Have you been listening? Have you heard? He shocked Mary with an angelic presence, but if we wait for that to happen to us, we might find out later that we missed the boat. Let's seek God today and ask Him to speak to us. Then we will have to be willing to listen.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

I am leaving soon to spend the day with Michelle, something we hadn't had much of over the last few weeks because of her work and mine. So today I share with you the verse that I opened up when I turned on my computer. It comes from Bibleleague.org and is so true. May you contemplate what it means for you today as you have a blessed day.

In the love of Christ,
greg


Luke 1:38 -- Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true." And then the angel left. (NLT)

When God extends an opportunity to you, He asks for your availability. This is more important to Him than your ability. How open are you to doing God's work?

Thought of the Day !!

The angel went to [Mary] and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Luke 1:28 (NIV)

You or I will probably never be approached by an angel who tells us that we are favored by the Lord. But then again, maybe we will. Or maybe we have. A wonderful lady named Lucy told me how she knew I was sent to her from God. I, on the other hand, thought that it was just the opposite and that it was her who was sent to me.

Have you ever had a Sunday School teacher tell you how special you are to Jesus? Has a friend ever told you what Mrs. Lucy told me? Maybe God has used a different kind of angel to share with us that we are highly favored.

We may never do what Mary did, but we can still make a difference in our world in the name of Jesus. And with the Lord with us, who can stop us? Surely not the devil...even though he will try.

Know that each and every one of us is of value to the one who created us. Each and every one of us is worthy of redemption in His mind. Each and every one of us is highly favored. And the Lord longs to be with each and every one of us as well.

This Christmas season, as we remember that we are highly favored by God, lets allow that to guide our actions as we care for others who are just as favored.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"For nothing is impossible with God."
Luke 1:37 (NIV)

As I checked out my yahoo home page and read the news from various places like Reuters, CNN, AP, CNN and others, I saw stories about how cancer will be the largest killer in the world in 2010, about a crooked Governor in IL, about more dead on the other side of the world. And of course the news wouldn't be complete without stories about the failing economy.

If we are not careful, we can become so inundated with bad news that we can lose hope. But our hope doesn't come in fixing an economy or finding a cure for cancer. It comes in the one who gives eternal life that is filled with all the goodness that the headlines don't have. Our hope comes in a God who sent His Son to us to prove His love for us and to show us that He really does know how we feel. And our hope comes in that Son who will come back one day, making all things right.

If our God is this good and powerful and loving, then certainly He can see us through the bad news that fills the press. "For nothing is impossible with God."

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31b (NLT)

Have you ever been down and thought that everything just wasn't going the way it should? Have you ever had someone turn on you or a friend betray you? Have you ever wished you could just stay in bed because you knew that there was something you had to do today that was going to be very unpleasant and most likely would get someone else mad?

Okay, maybe you haven't experienced these things. Maybe I'm the only one. But there are times in all of our lives when we will be persecuted in some way, big or small. Or at least that's what Jesus told us. He even went as far as proclaiming that those who are persecuted in His name would be blessed. The NLT puts it that if we are persecuted for "doing right" we will be blessed (Matthew 5:10).

So do you feel blessed when you're being persecuted, ridiculed, put down, looked down upon or talked about behind your back? Probably not. But the blessing comes in the fact that we're not alone in this. If we are trying to do what is right in God's eyes, we will be blessed with His continual presence. And that means all of us. If God is for us people who've accepted Christ as our Savior (and He is) then who can really stand against us?

Go into a world that is sometimes easy and sometimes hard, and go with the knowledge that God is with you and that no one can conquer you as long as you have God on your side. Just make sure it is God's will you are living in and not your own and you will be fine.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.
Micah 5:2 (NLT)

The first king of Israel was Saul, who was from the tribe of Benjamin. When Saul heard that he was the focus of the hopes of all Israel, he responded:

"But I'm only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe!" - 1 Samuel 9:21 (NLT)

After Saul's fall from power, David was made king. And as we all know, David was merely a shepherd boy, not even greatest among his own family in stature. Yet God used him to be the most renown king in all Israel's history.

And then we get to the prophet Micah, who foretold that another ruler would come from Bethlehem, "a small villiage". We know that ruler to be Jesus.

One thing that all this tells me this morning is that when we're thinking that we're insignificant or small in the whole scheme of things, we are simply fooling ourselves. Each person, big and small in stature, in wealth, in strength...in all things, is important to God. And God often times uses us insignificant, small people to do great things.

Your great contribution to this world may never be recorded in history. And you may never get the recognition of a young shepherd boy from Judah. But that doesn't mean that you cannot do something great in your life. Listen, and accept your calling from God. And whatever you do will be important.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth!
Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the LORD is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the LORD is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to
each generation.
Psalm 100 (NLT)

As we prepare for Christmas with all the decorating and shopping and parties and such, let us be reminded to be thankful. When you're in that long line at the store where only two of the fifty check-out lanes are open, be thankful. Instead of stewing, complaining, becoming anxious, or anything of that sort, be thankful that you have someone to buy for. Many people won't this year.

Instead of complaining about having to park back on the "North 40" at the mall, be thankful that you have the ability to walk.

Instead of being upset that your utilities cost so much, be thankful you are able to keep warm this winter. Many live on the streets or have had utilities cut off because they can't afford to pay the bill.

Be thankful this Christmas season as you find something good in all the things that may normally tick you off. Paul tells us that God works for good in all things for those who love God. If you love God, God will work good in your situation, no matter what it is.

So when you're delayed...when you're stuck in line...when your patience is wearing thin...be thankful for the blessings that God has given you. And take these times to pray a prayer of thanksgiving. I've noticed that it's impossible to be upset when I'm giving thanks to God. Maybe you can find it the same when you do. Have a thankful Advent season as you happily prepare your hearts, minds and souls for Christmas.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12 (ESV)

The other day I went through the checkout at Wal-Mart where the cashier never said a word to me. This is unusual since I'm almost always greeted with some degree of recognition there. But when the person basically ignored me until she handed me my receipt, I said to her, "You have a nice day."

As I say this to you, you might think I'm trying to share with you how we should treat others when we're not treated the way we feel that we should be treated. But the truth of the matter is that even though I said the right thing, I neglected to share with you the tone in which I spoke those words. It was one that spoke louder than any words I could've said as I allowed the indignation to swell up in me and be sarcastic to someone who did not deserve it.

So in this case I use the example of myself not for you to follow, but to show what it means to disobey the Golden Rule of doing to others what we'd wish them to do to us.

When Jesus interacted with people, he showed them something that we should all show each other. This is respect. I mean, how many of us doesn't want, or even think we deserve other's respect? But how often is it that we neglect to show this same respect others?

Think about what this Christmas season would be like if we would show respect to every other person we meet. No one would be looked down upon or judged by appearances. No one would be talked about behind their backs or discounted. People would be spoken to that are usually ignored. People would receive smiles even when we're not in that cheerful of a mood. People would be asked opinions instead of being told what they should do. And checkers would receive a "have a nice day" that has meaning behind it instead of being spoken in a sarcastic tone of voice.

Can you imagine how many people could be affected, and possibly even changed, if we treated others the way we would like to be treated? If only one is changed, I would suspect that one to be me. How about you?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.
1 John 4:11-12 (NLT)

When John wrote "since God loved us that much", he was talking about verse 9 that reads "God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him." So God loves us so much that He gave of Himself for us. He was born into a cold world and died an even colder death. And since He loved us this much, the least we can do is love each other. It is only then that God will reside in us. If we have hate for people who are different, people of different color, people that think differently, people in our churches and outside of them, people who come from our own household, people in general, then we do not have God in us. This is simply because God is love and where hate resides, God does not.

This Advent let us prepare for Christ by practicing love. Break down those barriers that separate you and whomever. Forgive a friend. Shake the hand of a stranger who may look or act different from you. Speak to someone you normally wouldn't. Smile at anyone today. Let us allow the love of Christ to show through us so that others will know that we are different...that we are set apart...that we are with God and He is with us.

In the love of Christ,
greg