(Today’s post was first published December 25, 2022).

Blog written by Ray White

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11 NIV

Astronomers estimate our universe contains at least 70 septillion stars, that’s 7 followed by 23 zeros. That’s roughly 10,000 stars for each grain of sand on Earth. I can’t comprehend a number that large. Yet, it was ONE star that led the Maji to Bethlehem on their journey to find Jesus, the messiah.

Today as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, let’s remember that as followers of Christ we have the responsibility to help others. 

We cross paths with thousands of people each year, some we work closely with, some just passing in stores or on the street. We seldom know what challenges are taking place in the lives of others. 

I can tell you specific times in my life when the actions, words, or just the simple act of being there from someone has been a gift from God. Single acts of kindness that to this day stand out. It isn’t always about sharing your testimony. It can be retrieving an item from the top shelf at a supermarket for someone, helping a person pick up dropped items, visiting someone sick, kind words, smiles and sincere words of encouragement. Listening. Caring. Loving others, as Jesus directed: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

Let’s be Children of God who love and help others daily, not just during this special Christmas Season. Allow God to use us to share His glory, to shine for Him.

Today is Christmas Eve and 2023 is coming to a close. Julie, Ray, and myself have chosen some posts from 2023 to share with you again. Use this week as a time of reflection as you move toward a new year.

(Today’s post was first published September 4, 2023).

We often perceive an interruption as a nuisance or aggravation. Perhaps we should seize the moment and allow interruptions to affect us in a positive way. Perhaps we should allow the once perceived aggravation of an interruption to be an opportunity for us to affect others in a positive way. Let’s pause and read an example of Jesus responding to an interruption. Click here to read Matthew 14:13-21 NIV.

How did Jesus respond to an interruption to His day? How do you respond to interruptions? Do you use interruptions to positively affect you or others? Do you need to change your mindset towards interruptions?

Let’s pray. Dear God, Help me to respond in a positive way to interruptions. Allow me to use interruptions to positively affect others as Jesus would. Mold my mindset. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the Lord.

Steven Furticks 1MM: “Different Than You Pictured”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Christmas Eve Eve Eve is here. How did we get here? Where did the year go? Let’s do a word of the year check-in. Have you grown through your word, your verse, or mantra for 2023? Have you chosen a word, verse or mantra for 2024?

In 2022 my word of the year was Serenity which means the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. I think it is safe to say we would all love a calm, peaceful, and untroubled life. In reality, there will be many days the exact opposite. We can remember the serenity prayer and have the courage to change what we can. In today’s verse, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, who also gives us the wisdom to discern what we can not control.

I also chose a mantra for 2022, “Live for Today,” which helped me to stay in the moment and surrender my tomorrows to God. Deborah and I have found it is easier to stick with a word for 365 days than it is a New Year’s resolution. Even more importantly, with God’s help, we grow from that word. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV — Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.‬‬

Let’s do a heart and mind check-in. Our hearts and minds are connected. What thoughts is your mind consumed with? What is laying on your heart at the end of the day? We can declutter our thoughts by letting go of trivial things. Especially if we are holding onto old baggage. In Proverbs we are instructed to guard our heart.

Think about baggage on an airplane. If you check in baggage you are charged based on weight. You can also take a carry-on with only the necessities for free. In life when we hold onto the trivial things, it weighs us down. We often pay for it when we don’t act or react well with others. I encourage us this Christmas to give ourselves the gift of letting go. What do you need to let go of? Maybe it’s an attitude, a grudge, a situation, or even control. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for loving me and all my baggage. Show me those areas of my heart and mind that need decluttering. Help me to let go of the trivial things that can be costly. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Let’s do a hope check-in. Where is your hope today? Do you feel like you’re in the wilderness with no clearing in sight? Or do you have a pretty clear path ahead? Are you hopeful for what the future holds?

A running race event always displays a map of the race course in advance. The map not only shows every turn but also if and where there are hydration stations. For longer courses, it will also show fuel and aid stations. As a walker or runner, it is good to review the course. Some participants may even drive through the course ahead of time. Spectators might use it to see where they will cheer their walker or runner from. On race day, each mile is indicated with a sign and arrows of where to turn next. 

Take a moment to read Isaiah 43:16-41 NIV. If only we had a race course map of life. Be reminded of when God has made a way in the past. Take time to reflect on where God has brought you from. If you have lost hope, He can renew it. As Christians, God wants us to shine hope to others but that can be difficult if our own hope is dim.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for where You have brought me from. Thank You for the hope of what tomorrow holds. Guide me along Your path to shine hope to others in need. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway

Let’s do a joy check-in. How has your joy been lately? Our joy found in Christ Jesus can overcome our adversities. A few years ago I saw an example of a “Joy Jar” on Pinterest. When I returned to work after that Christmas break there was a Mason jar, free to a good home. I immediately took that as a God wink to start my Joy Jar. The scripture verses I chose to reflect on came from ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:8,‭12‬ ‭NIV —

(verse 8) Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

(verse 12) Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.‬‬

This meant so much to me since that Christmas Eve we had received the news that my Dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Since that diagnosis, my motto has been, “Finding Joy in the Journey.”

We must not let Satan steal our joy. Let’s think of it as daily giving Satan an eviction notice. We know that in the midst of our joys and sorrows, God works it all out together for our good. We can trample Satan and stand on ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — 

‭‭And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for working all things together for Your glory and my good. Today I will choose joy. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.