GOD BLESS YOU!
Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 15-16
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
It would appear that this man sitting among the ruins of ancient Philippi is in need of encouragement. Let’s find someone today who may be discouraged and give him or her a lift.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Deuteronomy 15:7
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother…
The generosity mentioned in our key verse will be rewarded. We will be blessed when we open our hands wide to anyone who has need. There is ample evidence that God keeps His promise to the giving person. In verse ten of this chapter it states, “For this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.” This exhortation is repeated in chapter 16:17, “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.” The Apostle Paul refers to the instruction given by the “Pillars” of the Jerusalem church. “They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do” (Galatians 2:10). To practice this as Jesus did, we may want to read Matthew 5:38-48.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, by the Holy Spirit and the reading of Your Words, please grow in me a generous spirit. You are the greatest Example, by far, when it comes to giving. You gave Your very life for poor humanity. For starters, I give my life to You by giving my life for others. Please bring across my pathway, every day, someone I may help. In Your generous Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m meditating just now on God’s promises found in the Words of Jesus: “Give, and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over…” (Luke 6:38). When I read from the Hebrew Scriptures, I recognize that, in His humanity, Jesus is Jewish. No doubt He read the words of today’s reading as a boy. Jesus, as no one else, practiced generous and sacrificial giving. I’m thinking about what Jesus has received as a result. Amazing!!! IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE GREATEST POVERTY IS TO LACK THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS AS SAVIOUR AND LORD!!! I try to watch the 100 Huntley Street telecast daily, sometimes twice a day. While I was in hospital I would watch online at 100huntley.com. Lorna, our CEO, reminded me recently that when I was hosting 100 Huntley Street, I called for one or two invitations to receive Jesus on each telecast. Lorna was my co-host from 1994 to 2002. She doesn’t know I’m writing this. I have a burden of prayer for Lorna, the Board, the entire team and all of you who support us. Will you help me do something extra as a sacrificial, year-end offering to Crossroads? The quickest way to do this is to make a toll-free call to 1-800-265-3100 with a credit card in hand (or give online HERE). I know that you, my blog reader, are doing your best.
Yours to help us all to give as God has blessed us,
David
Christmas clearly is the time to give to others including our ministries. Where are we without God? Thank you Heavenly Father, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit for all that has been given to us. Wishing fellow saints a blessed day in the Lord as we come to worship Him with ever thankful hearts.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
Silver Bells – Bing Crosby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHefeA-hyMA
Blessings dear Beverlee Kay
My take on life is Christmas is everyday! In the beginning God said “Let Us make man in our image” to me,that was the start of Christmas BECAUSE God knew what sinful natures mankind would have and God had a plan to all mankind to have a good life, free from any and all sins; completely forgiven on a DAILY basis….
it is so AMAZING when I think about what God has done just in my life, but HE has done unto others also……
The Lord’s Prayer is one of the most beautiful prayers on this earth and Jesus taught that Prayer and it covers every aspect of our lives and again, for me, that is Christmas……
of course God also knew that one man would have to die for the sins of all the people in the whole world…..that is very AWESOME..
Again I so appreciate this blog and I am so thankful for all who post….God be with those who are mourning the loss of a loved one, may God be with those in prisons; may God be with all the people living on the streets, may God help me to be more giving to others I pray this in Jesus Name amen
Many blessings to all dear blog friends on this Sunday before Christmas. Hope you are all well enough to go to a Service or watch one on TV.
Here is part of a devotional from Pastor Davi Jeremiah. Jesus left the throne for the manger, the manger for the cross, the cross for the tomb, and the tomb for the throne. He left blessings behind at every stop. He emptied Himself so we might be filled. That is the true story of Christmas.
May the love of Christ flow through all of us, now and throughout the rest of our lives.
Merry Christmas to all the Mainse family and to all my blog friends. Eleanor M.❤️
God bless you Eleanor! yes, it is AMAZING GRACE what God has done for us, It is breath taking, all I can say is Thank you Lord, thank you, bless all on this site and bless our families and all who serve the Lord either personally or through mission work. amen
Merry Christmas sister Eleanor. God’s blessings on you!!
Glory to God in the highest!!!
May He be exalted in our lives and throughout the whole earth as we gather to worship Him on this, the Lord’s day!
Let us offer Him the sacrifice of praise.
Be blessed, dear saints!
“ Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith”
So sad to see the man in the pic looking so despondent. Seems like so many dear souls have to go thru a type of ‘hell’ to come to Jesus. How often have we seen that?
Thank u Beverlee for the Bing Crosby song. He had such a great, soothing voice.
“All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.” -David Jeremiah
Merry Christmas one and all!!
Amen Lynda, so true!!
Wishing the Mainse family and all the Saints and bloggers a very Merry Christmas and a new year filled with His Peace, Joy and Love. Blessings Sandra
God Bless all of you this Lord’s Day & may all of you have a Blessed Merry Christmas. Thank you all for the posts. Thank you William for all the nice poems.
Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year in every area of our lives especially in household salvation. Have set on one of those big stones in Philippi. Going to enjoy a candlelight service tonight with a guest speaker who was nearly raised up from the dead with a dreadful disease. Enjoy yourself over the next few days.
TY Lord for the freedoms we have in Canada! Bless our leaders in our towns,cities,communities;provinces;countries;
Lord help the situation between Canada and China, bless Prime Minister Trudeau with the skills to deal with China, may peace prosper, we pray Holy Spirit to enter the hearts of these leaders and lead them to a peaceful solution,
we pray for reconciliation in families; for healing; for prosperity to come to those who are in need of a financial breakthrough, we pray that You would provide counselling for those in need of Alcohol/Drug Removal from their lives;
TY Lord for all the blessings of this day,
TY Lord that I can go swimming, this was a gift from You, I broke my leg 23 years ago and You Lord lead my rehab to include learning to swim! One week before my break You Lord removed smokes/booze from me!
TY Lord in Jesus Name we Pray
yes, Merry Christmas to everyone….listen……..can you hear the angels singing, the shepherds were in awe! for Unto To You is Born this day a Child of the Most High God…..amen amen amen
SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT……
Thank you SAH and a very Merry Christmas!! Blessings.
A very Merry Christmas to you Norma Jean and your family and all the people who participate in this blog and a Happy tune New Year to
The last word was to everyone
Today’s scripture encourages us to care for the need of others. To give, Jesus gave his life for us that we might live in Him; He opened the door to Our Father in heaven for us to come boldly to the throne of God in time of trouble.
“Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our blessed Redeemer! Sing O Earth. His wonderful love proclaim! Hail Him, Hail Him! highest arch-angels in glory; Strength and honor give to His holy name! Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children, In His arms He carries them all day long: Praise Him! Praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! ever in Joyful song!
Amen and Amen!
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Blessings to Norma-Jean and all of the Mainse family; may this Christmas be filled with Joy and laughter as you get together with family and friends: And may the New Year be filled with the goodness that only comes from Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Our Lord!!
Blessings also to all you bloggers, may it be a Joyful day filled with Peace that only comes from our Saviour and Lord; the reason for the season!!!