Fun 'n Faith for the Soul blog . . .
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Today's devos: Bible Bytes: "Run to the Tower of Strength!" . . . WordWalk: "Tragedy, Faith and Unanswerable Questions"
Thanksgiving at Peggie's Place . . . "Don't Let the Grinch Steal Thanksgiving!"
"Meet the Indescribable Christ" . . . Emergency Room: Spiritual Help for Life Issues . . . The Blue Room . . . In personal crisis? "A Prayer at the Well!"
by
Peggie C. Bohanon
A Hurting Word...
Gifts will soon be arriving under your tree from everywhere! There's Penneys, Sears, Montgomery Ward's, Tiffany's (sure!), Wisconsin Cheese, See's Chocolates (yes!), Cracker Barrel--the list goes on and on! Gift-giving is big business around the world at this time of the year.As you rush down the highway to the mall, just one more time--or a jillion times--notice the impatience, manipulation, and imperfection of our world. Drivers are impatient, families are masters at manipulation, and we're pretty imperfect ourselves! But God has not given up on His impatient, manipulative, imperfect world. It's Christmas once again--and He offers us His special gift of love--a love that is patient, pure, and perfect! Unwrap His gift of love! For we are loved with an everlasting love--and THAT'S what Christmas is all about!And that's a little sad--that's a whole LOT sad--because amidst the flurry of shopping and wrapping gifts, we can forget the greatest Gift of all that's made Christmas possible--the gift of Jesus, God's Son, to a very needy world! "Jesus Is the Reason for the Season!" but He gets trampled upon as we rush through the malls, in parking lots, and down the highways of our world to buy our seasonal gifts for all ten--or three hundred--on our Christmas list!
This special Gift from Heaven reminds me of the nesting toys we buy for young children--and even the fun many-boxes-in-one pranks we pull on our friends until they get to the REAL present! But this isn't a prank - nested inside Heaven's gift box is a three-in-one special gift for us all. For the next three weeks, we will unwrap one gift at a time and discover what other nuggets are nested inside. I love surprises--I love to unwrap gifts--so let's hurry over to the Well--it's gift-opening time!
An angel brought this gift to a young virgin named Mary. Its messenger, contents, and value startled her, but as she slowly unwrapped this lovely gift, she realized God's precious love for her--and for His world. The gift the angel brought that day is still being sent by God to each of us today! Keep unwrapping...
Patient Love!
Mary did not understand the ways of the Lord. She was full of honest questions, wanting honest answers. And the angel sent from God revealed to her the mission she was to fulfill--to bear within her body the Son of God, His loving gift to the world.
We may not always understand the ways of the Lord. We are full of honest questions--we want honest answers. And God patiently listens. He loves us and has sent His Word to calm our fears, answer our doubts, heal our distresses. He loved Mary--and He loves us so much. His love is without limitation or measure. It's sent from the heart of God--His Christmas gift to us all!
Pure Love! Mary found no manipulation in God's love for her. He had a plan; He revealed that plan, and He loved her purely, without mistake or error. He did not "use" her, in a manipulative, selfish way, to fulfil His ends--He allowed her to offer herself as a vessel to be used in His plan. She chose to be that vessel of honor.
You will find no manipulation in God's love for you. He has a plan; in His time He will reveal that plan. He loves you purely, without mistake or error. AND He will not "use" you, in a manipulative, selfish way, to fulfil His ends. He waits for YOU to offer yourself as a vessel to be used in His plan. You too can choose to be that vessel of honor. And when you do, you will discover the purity of His love for you--it is without blemish, and from the heart of God--it's His Christmas gift for you!
Perfect Love!
Mary trusted the perfect love of God. Her relationship with her God was secure--whatever God's plan was, she knew it would be perfect. She could trust Him. There would be no mistakes in that love; it was providential, from the heart of God, for her, and for the world!
You will find God's love to be perfect for you. You can surrender to that love--when your relationship with God is personal and real. For whatever God's plan is for your life, it will be perfect. You can trust Him. There are no mistakes in His love for you; it is providential, and from the heart of God--His Christmas gift for you!
His Healing Words"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
(John 3:16 KJV)."
"Lord, in this busy, dizzy season of the year, let me not forget that YOU are the reason. YOU are God's loving gift to the world--and YOU are God's loving gift to me. Help me to experience your patient, pure, perfect love this week!
In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Unwrap Gift No. 3 now!
