How did God Break my Heart?

Welcome to my blog! Where to begin...I have known Jesus all my life, thanks to a wonderful, Godly family. When I was in high school, my big dream was to become an astronaut...which led me to joining the Air Force. I got married to a wonderful man, Jeff, and we travelled the world with the Air Force. We both loved the Lord and desired to hear His call on our lives. And He did call...loud and clear, Sept. 20, 2000...to adopt a little girl from China. I believe that is when my heart really began to break for the lost...those who don't know Christ.

Through our adoption of Grace, I began to learn about the persecuted church in China. I began to really think and pray about people outside America (yes, I had cared about them before and prayed about international incidents, but I didn't focus outside of America very regularly). I discovered the ministry of Voice of the Martyrs www.persecution.com and through them began to have my heart broken for what breaks the Lord's heart...His people, His Church and those who do not yet know Him and worship Him. I began to be an advocate for the persecuted church, to my family and friends.

In 2006, God moved our family to Seoul, South Korea. Living within three hours of the most repressive country on earth, North Korea, my heart was further broken for the billions who are held captive by the enemy. We attended an incredible Korean-English church called Jubilee www.jubileeseoul.com They are very mission-minded, something I had not been aware of or focused on at other churches I had attended. They were a new church, struggling to make ends meet in one of the most expensive cities in the world, yet they were fully committed to mission outreach (China, North Korea, Cambodia...). I highly recommend listening to Pastor David's sermons online...they are so very challenging! Our time in Seoul further grew our family's love for the people of Asia. Now, my heart and mind were focusing more and more on the unreached, missions, the persecuted church and the lost in Asia. We wanted to stay in Korea but God and the Air Force called us back to the U.S.

Meanwhile, after adopting Grace, God blessed us with five more children born to us...Rachel (actually born 6 weeks prior to our trip to China to get Grace), Rebecca, Nathan, Sarah and Josiah. Plus, we got to spend 4.5 years in the little town of Papa, Hungary amongst people from 12 different nations...the Lord was continuing to put my eyes and heart on the rest of the world.

Jeff and I had always known we would homeschool our children and so I began this exciting adventure in 2005. I began this blog because the Lord placed on my heart the desire to create a website where people could go to learn about the current mission field and hopefully experience an increase in their love and concern for the lost, discover how to pray for different people groups, get equipped to educate their children about how to become mission-minded and find different ways to get involved in missions.

To this end, I welcome any input from readers. I so want to pack up our family and move straight to Asia to live amongst the unreached but for now, that is not where God has called us. So I am doing 
my best to obey God's call on my life by sharing all the things He is teaching me.

 "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14

Christmas Devotion (December 29) - Joy to the World

Joy to the World

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

    burst into jubilant song with music

Psalm 98:4

Joy to The world! the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let ev'ry heart prepare him room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

One of our most popular Christmas carols is the result of the efforts of Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason and, some believe, George Frederick Handel. Watts was a frail, quiet man only five feet tall. Mason was an energetic publisher, choir director, and composer. Handel was a large, robust musical genius. Handel and Watts were contemporaries in London and one imagines they must have appreciated each other's talents. Mason lived 100 years later in Boston.

In 1719 Isaac Watts, already a notable scholar and author, sat down under a tree at the Abney Estate near London and began to compose poetry based on Psalm 98. Watts had begun writing verses as a small child. In his teen years he complained that the songs in church were hard to sing. His father said, "Well, you write some that are better." And so he did. For the next two years, young Isaac wrote a new hymn each week. (He would eventually write more than 600 of them, all based on Scripture.) Today, hymns like "Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" are hallmarks of the Christian church, and Watts is regarded as "the Father of English Hymnody."

In 1741 George Frederick Handel, who was already famous as the composer of several operas and oratorios, decided that he wanted to do a truly great work. After spending time in prayer, he arose from his knees and for 23 days labored almost continuously day and night. The immortal Messiah, now a Christmas tradition, was the fruit of that incessant struggle.

A nobleman once praised Handel for the "entertainment" he had furnished in one of his compositions. In no uncertain terms Handel let the nobleman know that his music was composed to make men better, not to entertain them.

Almost a century later, Lowell Mason set Watts's poem of "joy" to music. For years it was assumed that Mason used tunes from Handel's Messiah for portions of the arrangement, but the veracity of that claim is now debated among scholars. Listeners can judge for themselves. But this we know: It was Mason who ultimately brought the pieces together to give us "Joy to the World."

Amidst his poetry about Christ's second coming, however, Watts also provides fitting words for our Christmas frenzy: "Joy to the world! the Lord is come . . . Let every heart prepare him room." Prepare him room-significant words for any time of year. Yet perhaps we need to hear them the most at Christmastime, when so many things can distract us from our faith. .

This year, as Christmas is over and the new year is about to begin, take the time to prepare your heart. Remember Christ's first coming, as a humble King and Savior. Reflect on the certainty of his return, as Judge over all. And as you think on these precious truths, you'll probably experience the best holiday feeling of all-the joy of knowing "the Lord is come" into your heart.

Here is Joy to the World with lyrics sung by Chris Tomlin  https://youtu.be/tC3SwhJsLqU

A Passion for Missions!

For many Christians, "missions" is, at best, a necessary responsibility. For hundreds of years the church has always "supported the missionaries," and so tradition continues - yet often without God's heart and passion or even a compelling purpose to win boys and girls, men and women to faith in Jesus Christ.

No wonder, then, when many of us think of a missionary, strange images come to mind!

You may picture some young adventurer - clad in khaki safari clothes - trudging through the jungles with a machete. Perhaps you imagine him (or her) meeting a group of dark-skinned natives, dancing around mud huts and a raging fire, all moving to the beat of a pounding tribal drum. Or maybe your only view of a missionary is of some strange older couple, in outdated clothing, presenting never-ending blurry slides or a shaky home video for some "special" Sunday evening service. Completing this picture are uninspiring stories of terrible food and awful living conditions, ending with that dreaded drawn-out plea for money.

(Is this the truth? Or are so many in the church today missing out on the most exciting move of God the world has ever seen because of their lack of interest in worldwide missions?)

As Christians, what is God's purpose for our lives? What are His goals and vision?

Our primary calling...is to know and love the Lord. But, if that were all, God could have taken us to Heaven the moment we received Jesus Christ.

Our primary mission...is to glorify God in and through our lives and to help make God known throughout the earth.

With our primary mission clearly in view, it's obvious we need to help proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and obey God's words to "go into all the world." We need to ask ourselves if we really believe the Bible is the true and inspired Word of God. Do we honestly believe people must be saved, or "born again," as Jesus said in John 3:3, and can we comprehend the eternal reality of heaven and hell? If we do, these beliefs should radically affect our lives!

Think for a moment about how different your life would be if you were born in a land isolated from God and filled with extreme poverty, sickness and disease. What would it be like if you were born in an area where praying to an idol or giving homage to an ancestor was your only hope? What if constant fear of evil spirits consumed your life? Wouldn't you want someone to share God's life-giving message of salvation with you?

We have received God's light, but it's not just for us. We're called to shine God's light in the darkness.

For those of us who live in developed countries, (do we truly realize how much God has blessed us?)

- We are blessed! Every day we enjoy clean, hot running water - without a thought.

- We are blessed! Our typical meals often include ingredients from all around the world: fruit from California and the Polynesian islands, olive oil from Italy and the Middle East, and perhaps coffee from Columbia. We eat better than the ancient kings!

- We are blessed! (We have the freedom to travel to the next city, state or country...a freedom those in communist countries do not enjoy. We can send our children to school for free, choose any number of private schools or homeschool them...a privilege unheard of in most developing countries. We can choose freely what we want to believe and how we want to worship...not easy to do in many countries in the 10/40 Window.)

God has given us the greatest "Good News" of all time and a job description to "Get this news out!" He has given us an abundance of resources to accomplish the task and a challenge that "To whom much is given, from him much will be required" (Luke 12:48).

(Taken from The Mission Minded Child by Ann Dunagan)

I have not always been mission minded. For most of my life I haven't really given missions much thought. I had other passions God had given me...like being pro-life and adoption, and other passions are wonderful! But God has been impressing on me, more and more, that our primary mission, as Christians, must be to fulfill the Lord's Great Commission. They were His final words to us before He left the earth. They summed up His whole purpose for being here. And the fulfillment of the Great Commission will usher in the Lord's return, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

My prayer is that this blog will encourage and excite you to have a passion for missions; to see the awesome move of God in this world, and to realize the incredible privilege we have to be a part of it!!!

12 Days of Christmas (December 26)

Today, December 26, begins the 12 Days of Christmas and ends on January 6 which is known as Epiphany, a day which commemorates the visit of the wise men to see baby Jesus and worship Him.

When most people hear of "The 12 Days of Christmas", they think of the song. This song had its origins as a teaching tool to instruct young people in the meaning and content of the Christian faith.

Each of the items in the song represents something of religious significance. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help young Christians learn their faith. The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..."

The "true love" represents God and the "me" who receives these presents is the Christian. Here you go:

The "partridge in a pear tree" was Jesus Christ who died on a tree as a gift from God.

The "two turtle doves" were the Old and New Testaments - another gift from God.

The "three French hens" were faith, hope and love - the three gifts of the Spirit that abide
(1 Corinthians 13).

The "four calling birds" were the four Gospels which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The "five golden rings" were the first five books of the Bible also called the "Books of Moses".

The "six geese a-laying" were the six days of creation.

The "seven swans a swimming" were the "seven gifts of the Holy Spirit". (I Corinthians 12:8-11; Romans 12, Ephesians 4; I Peter 4:10-11).

The "eight maids a milking" were the eight beatitudes.

The "nine ladies dancing" were nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22 & 23)

The "ten lords a-leaping" were the Ten Commandments.

The "eleven pipers piping" were the eleven faithful disciples.

The "twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of the Apostles' Creed.

Christmas Devotion (Christmas) - He is Coming Again!

Jesus said: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6

Today, around the world, Christians celebrate Jesus’ first coming to earth as a time of hope and joy and peace. Our world today does not contain much hope, joy or peace. Hope is gone, joy is fleeting, and peace cannot be sustained. 

But Christmas did not end in a manger, it did not end on the cross, and it did not end at the door of the empty tomb. Christmas will be completed the day Jesus returns to this earth to fulfill all the rest of the prophecies of the Bible. 

God’s plan was never to just send the Messiah (Savior) as a baby. His plan was not even to just have the Savior die and rise again. His plan included all those things – but the final victory is to provide a complete eternal life for each one who responds to God’s love-gift, believing and accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 

The day is coming when the just and righteous judgment of all sin will be completed, and then all effects and consequences of all believers’ sin will be finally and forever buried in the “blood of the Lamb of God.”

Jesus said He came to display Truth to us (John 18:37). He tells us that Truth sets us free (John 8:31-38). He says Truth purifies us (1 Peter 1:22). He gives us Truth as part of our armor against evil (Ephesians 6:14). He says Truth should be the way we live our lives here on this earth (2 Corinthians 4:2).

May we anticipate with hope and joy the return of our Lord Jesus Christ for He is coming again!

Christmas Devotion (December 24) - Grace and Truth

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
– John 1:14

The Creator of the universe entered history as a man. God’s Word had created all that exists – God spoke, and everything came into being (Genesis 1) – and now that Word took on human flesh. He did not come as a full-grown man to command everyone to obey Him or to destroy all those who would not. He came as a little baby, helpless and weak, as every other human baby has been.

And He came to us! We tried countless times to make it to God but we never would be able to. Instead, He left everything to search us out...to come to mere human beings to show us, firsthand, His love.

Jesus left Heaven, where He had been an intimate part of God for all eternity. Think of your own words – you defend them, you treasure them when you write them down, they are important to you because they express to others who you are. In the same way, God’s Word was a treasured part of Himself – but He sent His Word to express and explain to people of earth who He is and how much He loves and cares for us. 

Our words can never become alive, but God’s Word is living and active and powerful (Hebrews 4:12) and His name is Jesus. He chose to be limited to time and space for a while, just as we are limited. And being limited to time and space meant He would also be able to die. From the moment He was born, the shadow of the cross would be part of His earthly life.

He is full of grace and truth. What an incredible and desirable balance in a leader and one that seems impossible to obtain. People tend to fall hard on the side of truth, often seeming judgmental and uncaring or they fall hard on the side of grace, often seeming not to stand for anything and falling for everything. 

Not so with Jesus. He always modeled what was right and true. He never condoned sin and would point it out each time, encouraging the sinner to "go and sin no more." Yet, He did it with such love and mercy that sinners wanted to be around Him. They felt loved and accepted in His presence. 

This same Jesus is alive in Heaven today and His Spirit dwells in all those who believe in Him. He has set a model for us to follow as His Church strives to be both grace and truth to a hurting world. 

Christmas Devotion (December 23) - Come to Worship

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
– Matthew 2:1-2

"On the eastern side of the Arabian desert...a cloister of Magi preserved the traditions of the Babylonian and Persian astrologers. As they looked into the western sky, high above the horizon, a new light triggered a memory...Daniel's calculations...a king! But not just any king. The King of the Jews. A King who would eventually rule the world...They travelled more than three months to see the new King and when they found Him, they did something extraordinary. They fell down on their faces and worshipped!" taken from A Bethlehem Christmas by Charles R. Swindoll

How did the Wise Men know what to look for in the stars, and how did they know to come to Israel? Though we are not told this in the Bible, we do know Daniel was leader of the wise men and astronomers for most of his life in Babylon. It is now more than 400 years later, and the men who had heard these things from Daniel have long since died. But they passed the information on to those who came after them.

There are many different suggestions for the natural origin of this remarkable star. Some say it was a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus; some, other planetary conjunctions; others suggest a supernova; and some think of comets or a specifically created unique star or sign.

Whatever it was, it is significant that God met them in their own medium: He guided the astronomers by a star. This was also in fulfillment of Numbers 24:17: A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. This was widely regarded by ancient Jewish scholars as a Messianic prediction.

Foreigners, learned scholars, wise, intelligent men. Eager to find the one, true King. So sure of Daniel's ancient prophecies, confirmed by "a star in the east," that they embark on a perilous journey for many months to a distant and foreign land. And they did not go out of curiosity. Their reason for going is clear...we "have come to worship Him."

Christmas Devotion (December 22) - Glory and Peace

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.” – Luke 2:14

As I read these words, words that angels from Heaven spoke to human beings on earth, I am struck with this thought...Who am I? Who am I to attempt to explain what angels meant? Who am I to add my own commentary to the words of God? I am a mere human being, sinful by nature, equipped with an average mind, trying to comprehend the things of God. So it is with much prayer and humility that I try.

Glory to God in the highest...amazing, stupendous wonder...thankful, honor-filled praise...from the lips of angels who had seen God and knew Him in a way no one on earth ever had. And their words of praise were not just for the shepherds, not just for this earth but to the highest heaven, throughout the universe which He made. All creation, everywhere, was to hear of this glory that was given to God, the Creator.

And on earth, peace, good will to men...peace. It's what the world longs for. It's what each of us, each day, look to find at home, at our jobs, in our thoughts, our heart. Peace with our family members, peace with our friends, peace with our colleagues and ultimately, peace within ourselves.

But that total peace could not be found. It had been destroyed with the fatal choice Adam and Eve made in the Garden. To desire to know evil, to want to be gods unto themselves, to break the intimate relationship they had with their Creator. And ever since then, every person born was born into a broken relationship with the Lord. There was no ultimate peace in their hearts because there was no ultimate peace with the One who made them.

God made each of us to be in a loving, peaceful relationship with Him. But that had been destroyed. Only God Himself could restore that relationship, bring reconciliation, bring ultimate peace. And this is what Jesus did. By His birth, life, death and resurrection He brought peace to each of us if we will accept it.

This is what the angels spoke of...peace on earth, peace in each heart that put Jesus on the throne. And this peace was God's "good will" for each man. It is God's will, His desire, that we live at peace with Him. Just as each of us want peace with those we love, God wants peace with each of us because He loves us.

The words of the angels sum up Jesus' mission on earth...to bring glory to God and peace to us.

Christmas Devotion (December 20) - Right At Home

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. – Luke 2:20

And the shepherds returned...to their sheep, to their normal, daily life, to their duties, their responsibilities. Although they just had a life-changing, world-changing experience, they had to return to their normal lives. Maybe they now yearned for something bigger, some sort of job that would have them doing "more" for God, doing something of more "importance."

But this was not God's plan for His first missionaries. He didn't send them to far away countries to spread this good news. He sent them right back to their jobs, to their same duties they had before, yet now their hearts were changed. Now their outlook was changed. Now they were filled with hope and joy unspeakable. Now they would not look at life around them with the same eyes again.

And as they returned to the fields, to their sheep, to their duties. they glorified and praised God. The fields now became, for them, holy ground. The words they shared with each other were now filled with wonder and praise. The stories they told their children each night, shared with their neighbors at the local well, brimmed with praise for God and what He had done.

These first missionaries learned the truth that you don't need to go to a foreign country, to new surroundings, to a new job, to share Jesus Christ. You can, if God calls you, but He didn't call them to leave their flocks and fields. He called them back to the same place, the same circumstances, but with a changed outlook. He called them to share Jesus and His truth with the same people they saw the day before.

We should do the same. Missionary work, the spreading of the Gospel, is not just for those who have that title next to their name. Not just for those who leave home to go to a foreign land. Not just for those who pastor a church or work for a Christian organization.

Missionary work is for all of us. When God has changed our hearts, has shown us the truth of His Son, has shown us our Savior, we should return to our families, our jobs, our friends, our neighborhoods, glorifying and praising Him. Sharing His love, sharing His truth, sharing Jesus, with everyone we know. This is missionary work...whether in a distant land or right at home.

Legend of the Poinsettia

The Legend of the Poinsettia

A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.
“I’m sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes,” said Pedro consolingly.
Not knowing what to do, Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering.
As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro’s kind words: “Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes.” She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.
Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes. 
From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.
Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!

Christmas Devotion (December 20) - Treasuring and Pondering

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. – Luke 2:19

She pondered them in her heart. She was silent, she remembered. She took the facts, she took her thoughts, doubts, fears and hopes and brought them all before the Lord, allowing Him to speak to her heart. She questioned, she gained understanding, she prayed, she asked for peace.

Each of us can take a lesson from Mary, treasuring up and pondering in our hearts all that Christmas means, all that Jesus Christ means, all that salvation through Him and eternity in Heaven means.

"To do this well, though, we must make space for pondering in our hearts. We must not be so busy, or self- absorbed, or materially-committed, or emotionally deadened, or insensitive to the larger world around us that we don’t ponder in our hearts the extraordinary gift of life that we’ve been given and how to live it fully with meaning and purpose.

This is true for those of us who are children and young adults, parents and grandparents. This is a busy era of cell phones and text messaging, of Facebook, of doing school and sports and extracurricular activities, of parenting, jobs and friends that leave little time for contemplation and self-reflection.

Where and when can one ponder in one’s heart anymore as a student, or working 60-80 hours a week and then playing hard during the few waking hours left? Maybe one can ponder in one’s heart out walking or running alone, unless one’s only hearing the I-pod in one’s ears. Maybe one can ponder in one’s heart during a long shower or when writing in one’s journal. Maybe one can ponder in one’s heart by taking formal time for meditation or prayer – even only 20 minutes a day – early in the morning or late at night."  Dean Scotty McLennan

But in order to follow Mary's example, to really treasure and ponder truth, we must set aside some quiet time to do it. It may be tough but committing to that time alone with our own thoughts and the Lord has eternal rewards. And, just like Mary, it will equip us for the joys and trials ahead.

Christmas Devotion (December 19) - The First Missionaries

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. – Luke 2:17-18

What an incredible night these shepherds had! It had begun in terror when the skies above their heads lit up with an other-earthly radiance. Mighty angelic beings had not only spoken to them but sang God's praises. Heavenly voices, heavenly music and a message almost beyond belief!

The Messiah...the promised Messiah...the deliverer spoken of by their parents, their priests, since they were children, had come! And wonder of wonders, He had come as a newborn baby.

When the shepherds recovered from their fright at the sight of the angels, they ran, sprinted to find this baby. And when they found Him they fell down in awe, wonder and worship. Yes, He was a baby but there was no doubt in their minds that He was also God.

And so with tears streaming down their faces, joy unbounded in their hearts, they...went home and told no one....What???

Of course that is not what the shepherds did! Instead, they went out, that very night, and told everyone they could find about God being born in a manger! And everyone who heard their words were amazed.

And shouldn't we do the same? Shouldn't we tell others about "this child," this Savior, our Savior? We may not be able to tell them that we were visited by angels but we can tell them that we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit. We can tell them about what Jesus has done in our lives. We can tell them that He has a plan for their lives too and that it's a plan to help them and not to harm them, to give them a hope and a future.

The Shepherds were the first missionaries. Filled with joy and hope they went forth to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. May we do the same...today and everyday until He returns.

Christmas Devotion (December 18) - Our Savior!

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” – Luke 2:11-12

This is the essence, the core message, the most important truth for each of us to grasp this Christmas...a Savior has been born to us!

But do we know that we need to be saved? The criminal on death row knows, the drug addict knows, the man whose wife just walked out on him because she found him cheating on her knows, the student just caught shop-lifting knows, but what about you, what about me?

It's easy and it's human nature to look at those around us and compare ourselves to them...I'm not as bad as the next person; I would never do that; I would never say that. I think that's why some reality shows have become so popular...they make us feel better about ourselves. But the bare truth is that we have all messed up. Not one of us can get through the day without sinning in some way, without hurting someone else, without breaking one of our own rules and God's rules.

When we finally realize that we do mess up and don't get it right, we start to wonder what the consequences will be, in the long run. And humanity has made up religions in order to try to compensate for their sins. Whether it's weighing sin on the scales and hoping our good deeds outweigh our bad, or spinning prayer wheels, or doing some sort of penance, the fact is we have no way to pay for our sins, to really wipe the slate clean in the eyes of God.

Only one can wipe the slate clean...only one can declare us free from the consequences of our actions...and that is the Judge Himself. And our Judge is our Creator...the Lord God.

His love for us is beyond anything we can imagine. Knowing that we would sin and not be able to pay for those sins ourselves, He made the most selfless, loving decision that could be made. He took the penalty for our sins upon Himself. He saved us by offering Himself on the sacrificial altar. His blood and broken body compensated for our sins...wiped the slate clean.

He is the Savior, the only Savior, for all mankind.

Christmas Devotion (December 17) - Joy For All

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” – Luke 2:10

Jesus’ coming to earth was good news! His birth would bring joy to all people because He would reconcile them to God. Therefore, this Christmas, let us remember that Jesus came to bring joy. Not just the joy of giving and the joy of spending time with loved ones, but the joy of having our sins forgiven, the joy of a life committed to God, the joy of having a purpose on earth and an eternal home in heaven.

There are many things that steal our joy – things like selfishness, busyness, and unrealistic expectations. Even though it’s Christmas time, we can find ourselves lacking joy. If your joy seems to have been drained away, recall Jesus’ words regarding the way to joy.

“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10, 11)

Our obedience to God and His ways is what gladdens our hearts. When we are in right relationship with Jesus, He gives us joy. King David knew that sin kept him from experiencing God’s pleasure. When he repented of his wrongdoing, he asked God to “restore to me the joy of your salvation”. (Psalm 51:12)

Let Jesus bring you joy this Christmas by surrendering yourself completely to Him.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy I can have when I am reconciled to You. Show me any area of my life where I have not been obedient to You, that I might turn from it and walk in Your ways. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.

** written by Suzanne Benner **

The Story of the Candy Cane

The Story of The Candy Cane

According to the story of the candy cane, this candy was first created back in the 18th century. At that time, in certain areas of Europe, there was said to be a ban on public displays of Christianity. Christians were oppressed and no Bibles or crosses could be owned at the time. One man found this oppression distressing and wished he could share the love of Jesus and the joy of Christmas with the rest of the world. When Christmas came around, children didn’t get to see nativity scenes or enjoy learning about the truth of Christmas. As a candy maker, this man prayed to find a way that he could offer local children a Christmas gift that would allow him to communicate the real story of Christmas.

His prayer led to an idea--The Candy Cane.

The Shepherd's Staff: He chose to make the candy cane in the shape of a shepherd’s staff. After all, Jesus is the shepherd to his followers and the Bible notes that the “sheep” would hear His voice and follow him  "He leads His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11 (Psalm 23:1, John 10:11, John 10:27-30).

The Letter J for Jesus:Not only was the candy cane in the shape of a staff, but when held upside down, it formed a “J,” which stood for Jesus. "She will give birth to a son and you are to give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21 (Luke 1:31).

He is A Rock: The candy maker chose hard candy for the candy cane, which was done to remind children that Jesus was our “rock,” dependable and strong. "Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me." Psalm 31:3.

By His Stripes: Wide red stripes were added to the candy cane, representative of the crucifixion and the blood Jesus shed for our sins. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Red-His Shed Blood: Through his blood, we are given salvation and life. "To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood" Revelation 1:5 (John 3:16, Luke 22:20).

White-Purification from Sin: There are also white stripes on the candy cane, which represents the holiness, and purity of Jesus, who was sinless and the purity He will give us when we ask Him to be our Lord and Savior. "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin."  1 John 1:7.

Sweet Fragrance of Christ: Peppermint was the flavor that the candy maker chose for the candy cane. Peppermint was very similar to hyssop, which was used for sacrifice and purification in the Old Testament, reminding us of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. "Cleanse me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7.

Love of Christ: The candy cane was also made to be given as a gift, representing the love of Jesus when he gave us the gift of salvation.

* Story found at https://www.thebettermom.com/blog/2013/12/13/teach-about-jesus-with-the-legend-of-the-candy-cane

Christmas Devotion (December 16) - They Were Looking

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. – Luke 2: 8-9

"The only class of people considered lower than shepherds were thieves. Even Gentiles were afforded more respect...I (the angel Gabriel) found myself baffled by God's logic. Were the plan mine, I would have roused the sleeping world by trumpeting the birth of the Messiah in the Temple and in the royal courts. I would have engaged the important people in welcoming the new King to earth...But not God.

He said, 'I will announce the birth of the Savior only to those who care to know it, only to those looking for a savior. Those who want a king to lead them into battle or a leader to make them rich will not know what to do with My Anointed One. If the rich and the learned and the powerful care to find Him, they will have no trouble. I have made the time and place of His birth known to all mankind for many centuries," taken from A Bethlehem Christmas by Charles R. Swindoll

God is so good and so different from the way we operate. The very first people he told, after the birth of Jesus, were young, poor, looked-down-upon shepherds. Maybe equivalent in our day to telling a bunch of migrant workers or the homeless. "Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these 'nobodies' to expose the hollow pretensions of the 'somebodies,'" 1 Corinthians 1:28 (The Message). But these were people who were searching for Him. People who had much time on their hands to pray, little of earth's worldly possessions to distract them and desire in their hearts to know Him.

May we, like the shepherds, humble ourselves before God and truly seek Him with ready hearts.


What can I give Him,  Poor as I am!
If I were a shepherd I would bring Him a lamb,
If I were a wise man I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him, I'll give Him my heart.

(from the song In the Bleak Midwinter)

Christmas Devotion (December 15) - He Chose the Stable

She gave birth to her  firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room available for them in the inn. – Luke 2:7

"God chose the stable for His Son to be born in for a very important reason. You see, when God sent His only Son to live on this earth, He made a strategic decision not to shelter Him from the harsh realities of this life. God had no intention of shielding His Son by having Him born into the make-believe world of the rich and famous.

God wanted His Son to experience life in its blue-collar boldness. Jesus’ first breath of air burned with the odor of animal urine. The first noises He heard were the grunts of livestock. Jesus’ first outfit was made of dust cloths, or the equivalent of grease rags. From day one, God the Father determined not to shelter His Son from the rude, crude realities of life on planet Earth.

For our sake, Jesus was given no aristocratic advantage. He had humbler beginnings than any of us. He was born into a real family, and He worked a real construction job. He lived in a neighborhood. He had real friends. He suffered hardship like the rest of us have, and He died a cruel death for a crime He didn’t commit.

So when the Bible urges people who are going through disappointment and pain to pour their hearts out to the now-ascended Savior, we Christians can do so with the absolute assurance that Jesus understands. He’s been there.

Life without advantage? He lived it.
Shortage, poverty? He’s been there.
Discrimination, oppression? Jesus was a refugee before His second birthday.
Rejection? He experienced it.
Ridicule? It was a part of His daily life
Abandonment? By lifelong family and friends in His greatest time of need.
Death of loved ones? Multiple times.
Physical pain? More than you or I will probably ever experience.

Has some experience in your life driven you to within an inch of your breaking point? Has some experience hurt you so deeply that you’ve wanted to cry out, “I can’t go on because nobody understands!”? If so, look at the stable. Be reminded this Christmas that Jesus understands. He’s been there. He can identify with you no matter what you’re going through. What’s more, you matter to Him more than you can possibly imagine.

Can you see how important the stable is? It symbolizes the deliberately unsheltered life of Jesus. It stands as a monument to His ability to identify and sympathize with whatever we are going through. But we must be humble and trusting enough to pour out our hearts to Him and then allow Him to love and minister to us, and restore us to wholeness again.

The essence of Christianity is a relationship with a resurrected Savior. It’s a dynamic restorative relationship, and it’s with One who understands."  Bill Hybels

Christmas Devotion (December 14) - God Sends a Baby

         
                        While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.      – Luke 2:6


It is the year 1809 and "men were following with bated breath the march of Napoleon and waiting feverishly for news of the war. And all the while in their own homes, babies were being born. But who could think about babies? Everybody was thinking about battles.

In one year, there stole into a world a host of heroes. Gladstone was born in Liverpool, England, and Tennyson at Somersby. Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Massachusetts. Abraham Lincoln drew his first breath in Old Kentucky, and music was enriched by the birth of Felix Mendelssohn in Hamburg.

But nobody thought about babies. Everybody was thinking about battles. Yet, which of the battles of 1809 mattered more than the babies that were born in 1809?

We fancy that God can only manage His world through the big battalions of life, when all the while He is doing it through the beautiful babies that are being born into the world. When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants opening, God sends a baby into the world to do it.

And where do you find God on Christmas? In a manger. A baby was born at the heart of the Roman Empire, and when the Roman Empire would crumble and fall, that baby, who would become a man, would also become Savior of the world. " John Maxwell

Christmas Devotion (December 13) - Why Lord?

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was also expecting a child.  Luke 2:4-5

What an inconvenience. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem is eighty-five to ninety miles by the shortest route (through Samaria). Whether on foot or riding a donkey, the trip would take several days and would be difficult for a pregnant woman. To bring the journey into perspective, think of a place eighty or ninety miles from your home. Then imagine walking that distance—and then walking the return trip. Even mounted on a donkey, it would be an unpleasant journey.

This young couple may have wondered why? Why is this happening Lord? This is her first baby...Your son. Wouldn't it be better to give birth at home, with our families, with her mother to help her? Why now?

It would have been a costly journey as well for this family who had little to begin with. And potentially dangerous due to bandits along the way.

But maybe, just maybe, God was preparing Joseph and Mary for another journey they would need to take. A journey that would not only have them leaving their home but leaving their country.

Not more than two years later, the Jewish King Herod would find out about Jesus being born (from the wise men) and would do his best to kill him. "When they (the wise men) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:13-15

Often times the Lord works that way. He allows a difficulty, an inconvenience, a problem to enter our life in order to prepare us, train us, get us ready for something in the future. Something we have no idea about. Something that will require quick obedience and unfailing trust in the Lord. But just as God was with Mary and Joseph on both of these journeys, He is with us also no matter where we have to go.

Christmas Devotion (December 12) - Moved By God

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. – Luke 2:1

Throughout history, God has used both believers in Him and those who do not believe, to accomplish His will. Luke 2:1 gives us a very great example of this.

According to God's great plan, declared by his prophet Micah more than 500 years before, Christ was to be born at Bethlehem, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

But how could this be fulfilled? Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, a city in Galilee...a great distance from Bethlehem. In those days people rarely travelled far from their homes. Plus, Mary was pregnant and in no condition to travel. Yet, God's plan said that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.

Enter Caesar! In no way a believer in God, his mind was moved by the Lord ("The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases." Proverbs 21:1) to issue an order to count his subjects in all the Roman territories so that they could then be taxed more accurately. Little did Caesar know that he was only doing what the Lord had intended from the beginning of time.

This decree forced the young couple to leave their home and support network, and journey to a distant city, a city just waiting for the birth of the Messiah.  So Christ came to be born in Bethlehem, according to the word of the Lord; and little Bethlehem becomes not the least amongst the thousands of Judah, one coming out of it to be a Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth were of old, even from everlasting.

Christmas Devotion (December 11) - Do Not Fear

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” – Luke 1:30-31

"Fear. One of the enemy’s most popular weapons that he uses against us. Worry, anxiety, fear…can overwhelm us with a thick shadow of darkness, controlling our every move and decision.
So much crazy going on around us today - wars, conflicts, persecution, violence, crime, natural disasters, terrorism, economic uncertainty, unemployment, divisions, disease, death. We fear for our children’s future, we fear for our families, we fear for our financial future, we fear for our safety. The list goes on…long." Debbie McDaniel

So how do we combat this fear? By turning to God's Word. Just as the angel said to Mary...do not fear, God tells us in His Word, "Do Not Fear". By focusing on these words of life, of truth, we can change our mindset. Soaking them in, over and over, and praying them out loud, will slowly begin to replace the familiar thoughts of fear and anxiety. There’s nothing magical about words and verses, but there is power through them, because they’re God’s words. 

"His words are “life” words, soothing to our soul, calming to our spirits, giving power to our days.  

It’s not always easy, and it often comes down to a choice: 

Choosing not to allow fear and anxiety to control your life. 

Choosing to guard your heart. 

Choosing to focus your mind on what is truth in the midst of uncertain times.

We might still feel afraid, but we can believe that God is with us. We may not be in control, but we can trust the One who is. We may not know the future, but we can know the God who does." Debbie McDaniel

Christmas Devotion (December 10) - Difficult Faith

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” – Luke 1:45

Difficult faith...it is often asked of a follower of the Lord. God makes a promise and asks us to believe it but some of these promises are hard to believe:

Noah - build a boat for 100 years because I'm going to send a flood across the whole earth
Abraham - your wife Sarah is well past child-bearing age and has never had children but look to the skies...I'm going to give you descendents more numerous than the stars
Joseph - I know you are a slave, in prison, forgotten by everyone, but I've not forgotten you
Moses - You are 80 years old and an outcast from Egypt but I am going to send you to the most powerful leader on earth and make it possible for you to lead the Jews out of slavery
David - Pick up that rock and sling because you will prevail over Goliath
Daniel- walk into the lion's den because I will be with you

All these examples and so many more throughout the Bible and history show God making a promise which is hard to believe, hard to hold onto because it's fulfillment doesn't make sense. The odds seem so stacked up against the promise ever being fulfilled. But the person steps out in faith and believes that God is bigger than their mind, bigger than the circumstances. This is difficult faith.

Maybe the most difficult promise to believe is Mary's.
Mary - you are carrying God in your womb...trust me and believe this truth

And she did! She believed and she is called blessed. Happy, filled with joy, filled with the assurance that God is in control and will fulfill His promise no matter the circumstances. And He did!

Christmas Devotion (December 9) - The Ultimate Rescue Mission

When God created this world, created us, everything was good. Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with God. The Bible tells us that God actually met them and communicated with them each and every day in the Garden of Eden. There was no separation, no guilt, no shame. But then...they wanted more. They wanted to be like God. They wanted the one thing God said they could not have. And they sinned and thus ended that perfect relationship.

But what was the first thing God did after that sin? As Adam and Eve were hiding from God, fully aware of their sinfulness, ashamed of their nakedness...God called out to them. He didn't turn His back on them...give them the silent treatment. Instead He went looking for them, seeking after them...because He still loved them.

And for the next few thousand years God continued to seek after them through the prophets, through miracles like the Exodus from Egypt, through judgments and restorations. Yet, that wasn't enough. From the very beginning God knew that He would have to go on a personal rescue mission to save the people He created, the people He loved. To save them from their sins and the rightful judgment that those sins deserved...eternal separation from Him in Hell.

That rescue mission started with a baby in a manger. “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21

You see, man has tried time and time again, through every other religion in the world, to save himself. Enough good deeds, enough sacrifices, enough acts in the name of God. But nothing, nothing that man does can buy salvation for him. Why?  Because all of our good deeds can never outweigh the sin nature that we are born with.

Only One who knew no sin, who was perfect in every way, could step in for us. Jesus actually became sin on that cross. He took on all the punishment that the Lord could give for every one one of our sins. And He did it willingly. He did it in love. And He did it for all time. Jesus is our rescuer!

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Christmas Devotion (December 8) - When Reputation Dies

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this: an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” ...When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.   Matthew 1:18-20, 24

Joseph had a decision to make. Would he believe the angel, obey God and destroy his reputation or would he take the easier road...divorce Mary quietly, give in to his human nature and put the problem behind him? The angel tells him not to be afraid but he is! He knows that few if any of his friends will believe this story. Would Mary's own family even believe her? 

He knows that if he follows through, most everyone will believe that his wife was unfaithful and that this baby was not really his son. Does he want to deal with this sort of shame, this sort of reputation, probably for the rest of his life? 

"Sometimes the implication of listening to the voice of God is that we ruin our reputation in the public square. Loving God involves surrendering ourselves to God in heart, soul, mind, strength - and reputation. The minute we turn exclusively to the Lord to find our true identity is the day reputation dies.

Joseph turns to God. Joseph learns that who he is before God (his identity) is more important that who he is in the circle of his pious friends (his reputation)." Scot McKnight

Most of us, as we follow Jesus, will come to this crossroads at least once in our life. Do we obey God even though the road ahead is uncertain, our reputation is on the line and people may not understand us or think poorly of us, or do we play it safe, go along with the crowd, ignore the voice of God in our heart? 

We most likely will not be visited by an angel, as Joseph was, to encourage our obedience. But...we do have something he didn't have. We have the Holy Spirit living in our heart. He will strengthen us to choose obedience if we will ask. And when all is said and done, isn't God's opinion of us more important than man's?

Christmas Devotion (December 7) - A Difficult Miracle

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 1:18 

Newly engaged to be married. A young woman, most likely 13 or 14, and a young man. Promises of a good life together, children, memories shared, vows made. They were just starting out with all the hopes and dreams of any young couple. 

But then..."before they came together (before they were officially married), she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit." Wow! What an incredible miracle! God had promised, through the prophets, for hundreds of years, that there would be a Messiah. A baby born, fully God and fully man. And now here, with this young girl, was the answer to that prophecy. There had never been nor would there ever be a more miraculous birth! Somehow, God took on human flesh. 

Can any human being truly understand how this happened? I don't think so. But Matthew is clear that it is exactly what did happen. This is where faith is so necessary. Even though we can't understand how it happened...we can understand why it happened. It happened because God said it would happen. It happened because God desired to be fully human yet would continue to be fully God. Jesus wanted to become one of us so that He could fully understand us. 

But it was also a difficult miracle...difficult for Mary and her promised husband. “Her situation was the most distressing and humiliating that can be conceived. Nothing but the fullest consciousness of her own integrity, and the strongest confidence in God, could have supported her in such trying circumstances, where her reputation, her honor, and her life were at stake.” (Clarke)

It would take absolute faith and trust in God on the part of Mary and Joseph as they walked this road together. There would be joy and pain and uncertainty. But God would be with them each step of the way, as He is with us when the journey seems uncertain. When there is joy and pain in what we experience, there is always God with us!