“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8 It is great to think about the things of yesterday, the blessings the Lord poured upon us and the miracles He did. It is also great to think about the hope He has given us…
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” Psalm 61:2-3
Last night in church we were singing that old song, “Jesus is a rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.”
My mind wandered a bit and I could picture a weary traveler plodding across a dusty plain. The sky grew dark, and a storm was fast approaching. He quickened his pace, searching all around for a place of shelter. Suddenly he saw a group of rocks, and hurried off the pathway towards them, and there he found a cleft in which to hide and wait out the storm, rejoicing for the shelter.
So many times, in our lives, we face dark clouds, and storms that threaten us. But when we lift our eyes toward heaven and cry out to the Lord, He leads us to a place of safety. He doesn’t always calm the storm but He gives us the strength to bear whatever it is, and soon the dark clouds lift, and the sun shines again. Even amid the storm we can praise the Lord and trust Him to bring us safely through. Truly, He is our rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank you for the storms you allow us to face in our lives to strengthen us, and we thank you for the shelter you provide to keep us safe from harm.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples. (Matthew 26:35, Holy Bible, New King James)
Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the next sunrise. Peter assured Jesus he wouldn’t betray Him. Peter defended Jesus with a sword in Gethsemane. After Jesus was captured, Peter followed Jesus to the court of the high priest when the other disciples abandoned Jesus.
Peter warmed himself by a community fire as he kept watch outside. One by one, three maidens accused Peter of being a disciple of Jesus. “Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” (v. 74).
When the rooster crowed, that sound of approaching daybreak brought reality. Peter wept because of his failure. But his failure isn’t the end of Peter. A few days later, he is the brave keynote speaker at the Feast of Pentecost where thousands were baptized and converted to Christianity.
Prayer: Lord, You are a compassionate God. You forgive my mistakes and concentrate on my strengths to mold me into a strong disciple. Thank you for second chances. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
When God told Moses to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness, He gave him specific instructions right down to each hook and decoration. Because it foreshadowed so many things in God’s plan of salvation, it had to be exactly right.
The Israelites had never built something like this before. It had to be sturdy enough to withstand the desert winds, yet it had to be portable, able to be dismantled quickly, when God’s cloud moved. They probably had no idea how to construct such a building.
So, God gave them complete directions. He told Moses, “See that you make it after the pattern.” There would be no arguments about doing it any other way. No questions would arise about the colour of curtains or placement of furniture. It was all designed by God.
The Lord had a plan for us to follow if we are to be the building He wants us to be. We must accept His plan of salvation as laid down in His Word. He said He was the way, the truth and the life, and so we must come through Him.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for giving your life, and providing a way that we could be reconciled to the Father through you.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
“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
The year has gone by so fast and it hardly seems possible that Christmas is only two days away. For children, the next two days will seem like an eternity as they anticipate the gifts that they will receive on Christmas morning.
As children of God, we realize that the best Christmas gift of all was given on that first Christmas day so long ago. When Mary gazed upon the baby sleeping in the manger, she had no idea just what He had come to bring to mankind. Just imagine what this world would be like if He had not come.
As we prepare to celebrate the birthday of Jesus, let us give thanks for the wonderful gifts He has bestowed upon us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for coming to earth in the form of Jesus Christ, to bring us the blessed gift of salvation. We thank you today, for the best gift of all.
Awhile ago, my husband told me how when he was growing up, he built elaborate snow forts every winter. The entire backyard was dedicated to his fort-building and spy games. He would build his barricade on one side of the yard, and then dig a tunnel all the way from…
“For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger,” (Luke 2:11-12, Holy Bible, New King James).
- Shepherds keeping their flocks safe in the night received an unexpected visit from an angel who announced the arrival of Jesus. After being serenaded by a host of heavenly beings, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem (verse 16) where they “found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” The long-awaited Messiah had arrived! Shepherds recognized the Savior the angel described. They knew they had come to the right place.
- Prayer : Welcome Lord Jesus. I recognize You as my Savior. I’ve made room for You in my heart.
- Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn, (Luke 2:7, Holy Bible, King James Version).
- How we carol with passion the words of Away in a Manger and scatter clean hay in a mock nativity with little thought of how unhealthy, how cold, maybe even how dangerous, it was for Mary to give birth in those conditions. I’ve been rejected at hotel check-in far from home and heard that my room had been given to someone with a similar name or learned that the room wasn’t inhabitable. I’ve pushed for the hotel to find me a room nearby. Not Joseph and Mary. After the long journey from Nazareth, they lodged with the animals, grateful for a resting place. There in the least expected setting, Jesus was born.
- Prayer : Lord Jesus, I won’t reject You. I’ve made room for You in my heart. Amen.
- Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, Holy Bible, New King James).
- Baby name selection is one of the first things young parents think of—maybe long before a baby is expected. Prefer Victorian for your baby girl? Maybe you’re searching for unusual names for identical twin boys that evoke courage and strength. Perhaps you want to include grandparent names. Mary had none of these options. An angel announced the name of her Holy-Spirit conceived child to Joseph. Jesus, a name above all names, selected in heaven, received on earth, etched into eternity. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12, Holy Bible, New King James).
- Prayer : Lord Jesus, Your name continues to bring salvation to a needy world. Amen.
- Devotion by Violet Carr Moore