Weekend Words

From Our Daily Bread...

Artwork by Naoko Stoop

Fireworks of Life - Read: Ephesians 2:12-18

"He himself is our peace." (Ephesians 2:14)

On New Year's Eve, when high powered fireworks detonate across cities and towns worldwide, the noise is loud on purpose.  By their nature, say manufacturers, flashy fireworks are meant to split the atmosphere, literally.  "Repeater" blasts can sound the loudest, especially when exploded near the ground.

Troubles too, can boom through our hearts, minds, and homes.  The "fireworks" of life - family, struggles, relationship problems, work challenges, financial strain, even church division - can feel like explosions, rattling our emotional atmosphere.

Yet we know the One who lifts us over this uproar.  Christ Himself "is our peace", Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:14.  When we abide in His presence, His peace is greater than any disruption, quieting the noise of any worry, hurt, or disunity.

This would have been powerful assurance to Jews and gentiles alike.  They'd once live "without hope and without God in the world" (v. 12).  Now they faced threats of persecution and internal threats of division.  But in Christ, they'd been brought near to Him, and consequently to each other, by His blood.  "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" (v. 14).

As we start a new year, with threats of unrest and division ever rumbling on the horizon, let's turn from life's noisy trials to seek our ever-present Peace.  He quiets the booms, healing us.

- Patricia Raybon

What "fireworks" are shattering the calm in your life?  When you give them to God in prayer, what peace do you feel?

Comforting God, when life's fireworks shock and unsettle me, draw me to Your peace.

Artwork by Robin Elise

From Beside the Still Waters...

Resolutions - Read: Hebrews 13

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2

Resolving to do better is always in order.  But have you noticed that many of the resolutions made at this time of year tend to focus on ourselves?  "I resolve to lose weight."  "I plan to be more organized."  "I will overcome this bad habit."  We certainly admire those who are able to stick to a program of self-improvement, for we all have areas where we could do better.

However, a closer look at Hebrews 13 reveals something different.  This chapter has many nuggets of advice for improving our Christian walk, but these pointers focus on other people.  One example is verse 2: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."  Such a resolution certainly involves focus on others rather than ourselves.

Another example is verse 16: "But to do good and to communicate forget not."  This is not simply a suggestion for improving ourselves, but a directive to reach out and share with people in need.  We can "communicate" by sharing our material blessings or by visiting a shut-in, or encouraging a fellow pilgrim on his way.

Verse 17 encourages us to obey our church leaders so that "they may do it with joy, and not with grief".  Our overall desire should be to "let brotherly love continue" on the basis that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."

"O Lord, as we enter this year before us, and as we resolve to reach out to others, grant that we may focus more and more upon You and Your kingdom, and less and less upon ourselves."

Allen Hoover - Ephrata, PA

Each day I'll do a golden deed,  By helping those who are in need;

My life on earth is but a span,  And so I'll do the best I can.

-William M. Golden

Artwork by Elodi W

Christmas (2024) thoughts...

 I had hoped to get this posted yesterday (which was Christmas day for us here in Australia) but the internet has been down.  Thankfully it connected up today, and while some of you are perhaps still enjoying your Christmas celebrations, here are some thoughts to ponder...

From In Green Pastures...

On Christ's Birthday

It is Christ's birthday.  In among all our festivities should come sweet thoughts of the love of God.  The gifts we may receive should make us think of the greatest gift of all - when God gave his Son.  Let us all try to make our Christmas very full of memories of Christ.  Let the blessed love of Christ make a glad Christmas in our hearts, helping us to be like Christ himself in love, unselfishness, and forgiveness.

Echoing Christmas Songs

What Christ is to us we ought, in our human measure, to be to others.  Christmas means love.  Christ came to our world to pour divine kindness on weary, needy, perishing human lives.  The Christmas spirit in our hearts should send us out on the same errand.  There is need everywhere for love's ministry.  We should learn the true Christmas lesson of gentle, thoughtful kindness to those we love and to all we meet in life's busy ways.

Christmas Lessons

Christmas should teach us to be Christ to others all about us, that from our very garments may flow the virtue that shall heal and bless all who touch us.  There are few people whom God calls to do great things for him, but the best thing most of us can do in this world is to live out a real, simple, beautiful, strong Christian life in our allotted place.  Thus in our little measure we shall repeat the life of the Master himself, showing men some feeble reflection of his sweet and loving face, and doing in our imperfect way a few of the lovely things he would do if he were here himself in our place.

"...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." - John 10:10

The images above are from a lovely Christmas card Denver and Sophie gave me :)  

Our Christmas day plans were derailed a bit this year, but "all's well that ends well".  I hope I can get an update on before the end of the year if my temperamental internet connection will allow it.  

I wish you all the joy and blessings of this Christmas season and leave you with my favorite Christmas song.  I post it each year, but this is a version by Lauren Daigle who I have recently discovered.

Enjoy!

xx

 

Weekend Words

 From Christmas: Quiet Moments for the Season...

Weighed Down at Christmas - Read Luke 4:14-21

During a December visit to New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art, I paused to admire the magnificent Christmas tree.  It was covered with angels and surrounded at its base by an elaborate eighteenth-century nativity scene.  Nearly two hundred figures, including shepherds, the Magi, and a crowd of townspeople, looked in anticipation towards the manger or gazed up in awe at the angels.

But one figure appeared different from the rest - a barefoot man, who carried a heavy load on his back and looked at the ground.  It stuck me that this man, like so many people today, was so weighed down that he couldn't see the Messiah.

Christmas can be a difficult time for those who carry the burden of hard work, stressful family situations, and personal loss.  But we should remember that Christ came into the world to lift up all those who are bowed down.  Jesus used the words of Isaiah to announce His God-given mission on earth: "To preach the gospel to the poor; ... to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed" (Luke 4:18 NKJV).

Jesus came to lift our burdens so we can raise our eyes to welcome Him at Christmas.

- David McCasland

From Our Daily Bread...

The Light of Christ - Read: Matthew 2:1-2, 9-12

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed." - (Matthew 2:10)

My husband and I have always enjoyed attending the Christmas Eve service at our church.  In the early years of our marriage, we had a special tradition of bundling up in warm clothing after the service to hike up a nearby hill where 350 glowing lights were strung from tall poles in the shape of a star.  There - often in the snow - we'd whisper our reflections on Jesus' miraculous birth while we gazed out over the city.  Meanwhile, many people in the town were looking up at the bright, string-light star from the valley below.

That star is a reminder of the birth of our Savior.  The Bible tells of magi "from the east" who arrived in Jerusalem seeking "the one who [had] been born king of the Jews" (Matthew 2:1-2).  They'd been watching the skies and had seen the star "when it rose" (v. 2).  Their journey took them onward from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, the star going "ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was" (v. 9).  There, they "bowed down and worshiped him" (v. 11).

Christ is the source of light in our lives both figuratively (as the one who guides us) and literally as the one who created the sun, moon, and stars in the sky (Colossians 1:15-16).  Like the magi who "were overjoyed" when they saw His star (Matthew 2:10), our greatest delight is in knowing Him as the Savior who came down from the heavens to dwell among us.  "We have seen his glory" (John 1:14)!

- Kirsten Holmberg

How has Jesus brought light to your life?  With whom might you share that today?

Thank You, Jesus, for being the light of my life.

Weekend Words

 From Christmas - Quiet Moments for the Season...

Artwork by Olaf Ulbricht

A Wonderful Life - Read: Galatians 3:26-4:7

Each December, millions of people around the world watch Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.  Although it wasn't a hit when it debuted, it has become a Christmas classic.

In a Time magazine essay, Roger Rosenblatt pondered the film's continuing appeal.  He concluded that the story is really about friendship.  That helps to explain why we often feel choked up as we watch George Bailey's family and friends rally around him in his time of greatest need.  Rosenblatt said, "Just when George thinks he's alone in the world, the world shows up to declare its love for him."

That sentence seems to capture the essence of our celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Just when we thought we were alone in the world, Christ came to declare God's love for us.  Not only did God send His Son into the world at exactly the right time (Galatians 4:4-5), but He also demonstrated 'his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).  That's the message of Christmas that opens the door to a wonderful life - the joy of knowing Christ and living in His love.

Have you received the gift of eternal life that He offers to you?  If not, do so today.

- David McCasland

Artwork by Robin Elise

From Our Daily Bread...

The Perfect Gift - Read: Acts 3:1-10

"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you." (Acts 3:6)

While I was on an outreach during a short-term mission trip to Peru, a young man asked me for money.  For security reasons, my team had been instructed not to give out money, so how could I help him?  Then I recalled the response of the apostles Peter and John to the lame man in Acts 3.  I explained to him that I couldn't give him money, but I could share the good news of God's love with him.  When he said that he was an orphan, I told him that God wants to be his Father.  That brought him to tears.  I connected him with a member of our host church for follow up.

Sometimes our words can feel so insufficient, but the Holy Spirit can empower us as we share Jesus with others.

When Peter and John came across the man by the temple courts, they knew that sharing Christ was the greatest gift ever.  "Then Peter said, 'silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk' "(v. 6).  The man received salvation and healing that day.  God continues to use us to draw the lost to Him.

As we search for the perfect gifts to give this Christmas, let's remember that the true gift is knowing Jesus and the gift of eternal salvation He offers.  Let's continue to seek to be used by God to lead people to the Savior.

Who can you pray for this Christmas?

Who can you share Christ with?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus.

Artwork by Lore Pemberton

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas...

I'd better get a move on, or it will be over before I get started.  I don't have much room in my little cottage, so I'm decorating my hall stand for Christmas...

my little Christmas tree ($2 from the op shop/thrift store) is 10 inches/27cm tall

I'm revisiting Mitford this Christmas/holiday season...

I don't have all the books in the series, but I've just been able to pick up two more secondhand on eBay

And in 2025 I'm going to use this Bible study/reading plan...

you can read more about it HERE

I love seeing all the wintery, snowy scenes at Christmas time from the northern hemisphere.  Unfortunately we are in summer here, so there is ALWAYS garden work to do...

Freya inspecting my mowing efforts

Trying to lop the top out of the pittosporum that is almost up to the power line...

I need a taller ladder or longer arms

Around the garden...

should be a good crop of blackberries this season

the green beans are up

 the silverbeet is growing

see the tiny flowers on my tomato plant?

apples are getting bigger

Trying to get these little Christmas trees finished as gifts for the family...

And this lap blanket finished as a wedding gift for Denver and Sophie...

5 x 5 squares, which are all done, I just have to sew them together and crochet some border rows and an edging.  I have 4 weeks!!

Dreaming of a winter wonderland...

"...wrapped in the simple joys of home.  A book, a cup of tea, twinkling lights, and a world of snow beyond the glass.  All is calm, all is cozy."

And on the theme of 'keeping it simple'...

"When I was visiting Elizabeth recently, she was lamenting over what to get her thirty-plus grandchildren for Christmas.  Her dilemma pales in comparison to what her own grandparents faced with more than 100 grandchildren.  In those days, the grandparents gave each child a bag filled with candy and perhaps a small dish or handkerchief - simple tokens that have become priceless treasures with time."

 From The Amish Cook - Elizabeth Coblentz

May your days be merry and bright!

xx

Weekend Words

From Christmas - Quiet Moments for the Season...

 A survey showed that 84 percent of people in the United States want a less materialistic holiday season.  I suspect the same is true of people in many countries.  But when all roads lead to the shopping malls, what is the pathway towards a more spiritual and meaningful celebration of Christ's birth?

Some church leaders are suggesting that we put more attention on the observance of Advent, the four-week period before Christmas.  Instead of filling those days with activity and ending up physically and spiritually depleted, we need to recall that "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

Even with a busy calendar of school and church programs, and family obligations, we can still carve out time to "hope in the Lord" and to concentrate on the true meaning of this season.  We can determine to make the most of our times of daily Bible reading and prayer, and to give people priority over things.

As we take time to focus on Christ's birth and to strengthen our relationship with Him, this time of year can become a season of renewal instead of exhaustion. 

- David McCasland

Artist: Margaret W. Tarrant

From Our Daily Bread...

The Spirit of Christmas - Read Matthew 23:34-40

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these... you did for me." - Matthew 25:40

At a Christmas dinner held at our church to celebrate the cultures of the international guests, I joyfully clapped along to the sound of the darbuka (a type of drum) and the oud (a guitar like instrument) as a band played the traditional Middle Eastern carol, "Laylat Al-Milad."  The bands singers explained the title means "Nativity Night."  The lyrics remind hearers that the spirit of Christmas is found in serving others, in ways like offering a thirsty person water or comforting someone weeping.

This carol likely draws from a parable where Jesus commends His followers for deeds they'd done for Him: providing food when He was hungry, drink when He was thirsty, and companionship and care when he was sick and alone (Matthew 25:34-36).  Instead of simply accepting Jesus' commendation, the people in the parable are surprised - thinking they hadn't actually done these things for Christ.  He responded, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (v.40).

During the holiday season, the encouragement to get in the Christmas spirit is often a nudge toward expressing a festive attitude.  "Laylat Al-Milad" reminds us that we can put in to practice the true Christmas spirit by caring for others.  And amazingly, when we do, we not only serve others but Jesus too. 

- Lisa M Samra

Artist: Masarrah Hadi