The Much-Needed, Not-Fully-Expected, Christmas Gift

This morning, Wednesday, December 25, 2013, I woke up quite early as I usually do.  The house was dark and quiet as it usually is.  I made my coffee and went to the chair in my home where I usually spend the first few hours of my day.  Yes, it was Christmas Day.  I wasn’t thinking about receiving gifts.  I was just thinking about the morning quiet and my favorite time of each day.

The last 4-5 weeks I have been dealing with pain.  No life threatening issues.  I’ve just had a lingering pain in my right hand in both the bone and muscle where the thumb and index finger form a 'V'.

•  It hurt to grip my coffee cup. 
• It hurt to shake hands with people (I do that often at church and work.)
•  It was painful to button my shirt, to tie my shoes, to wash my hair.
•  It was painful to grip a football in order to play catch with my boys. 
• Anything that required the bending, flexing and gripping of my right thumb brought pain.

Like I mentioned, this was not life threatening.  No doubt, there are many in much more pain with more serious issues than my little, right thumb, but I was regularly reminded of the pain.

This morning, I received the gift of healing.  As I sat in my chair and talked with the God who robed Himself in flesh so many years ago, I received the gift of healing.  The child whose birth we celebrate today met with me and gave me a much-needed gift - The gift of healing. 

I did not grab my coffee and go to my chair this morning expecting the gift.  Jesus knew what I needed.

After all the gifts, lights and other noise, are you still hurting?  Do you have physical, emotional or mental pain?  If so, the same Jesus who came a few thousand years ago; the same Jesus who met with me so gently, yet certainly, this morning; He can heal your hurt and pain.  Jesus knows what you need.

I am rejoicing this morning!  I am thankful to God this morning!  None of the presents under the tree have been touched yet today, but I have been touched by Jesus.  I thank Him and I offer Him to you today.  For the first time in several weeks, I type on my keyboard and there is NO PAIN.  I pray for your pain today.  I pray that it leaves your body, soul & mind in the name of Jesus Christ.

THANK YOU JESUS for this much-needed, not-fully-expected gift!

Isaiah 53:4-5  “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:  yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Let's Prepare for Exodus...

Years of bondage.  Cruel taskmasters driving them to produce more.  They did all the work while others received all the glory.  No, I'm not talking about your workplace, though it may sound like it.  I'm talking about the book of Exodus and the children of Israel.

As we begin November, would you consider diving into the book of Exodus with me?  It's 40 easily read chapters can take you through this month and into the 1st week of December if you just read one chapter each day.  It's a powerful book of history, foreshadowing & symbolism.

Exodus: to leave, to make an exit, to escape, to be set free.  Are you interested yet?

Won't you make the journey?  As you read the story let it speak to you about life today and God's great plans for your life.  Here's a few things to keep in mind as you read that may add insight to your understanding:

Whenever we read about Egypt in the Bible it is a type and shadow of sin?
We know that Israel is a type and shadow of the New Testament church.
Consider the sacrificial lamb, the institution of the Passover and God's nothing-short-of-miraculous deliverance of His people.

As you read, let Him show you how He can do for you and I the same thing He did for Israel.  He can deliver us from a lifetime of bondage, fear and hopelessness. 

What better way to prepare for the upcoming New Year than to believe God that it will be a year of freedom & deliverance like never before.  Learn about a man named Moses that talked with God "face to face."  See the applying of the blood from the Passover lamb.  Let God's Spirit remind you of where He's brought you from and what He can still do in your life and mine.  Let's prepare for Exodus...

A Month of Proverbs

James was writing for me when he said "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God..." (James 1:5).  I'm far from wise but I have the privilege of reading a short book written by the wisest man that ever lived.  It's the book of Proverbs. 

Through my short life I've exercised a pattern every few months of starting each day with a chapter from the Proverbs.  It's always perfect for the 31-day months because, wouldn't you know it, there are 31 chapters in Proverbs.  By starting each day during the month with a chapter, I seek to push the wisdom of this world out of my mind and ingest the wisdom of the word of God espoused through Solomon's writings.  I'd challenge you to try it this month.  You may just be surprised at how you are suddenly more capable of dealing with situations in the workplace, family & life that come your way.  Trust me, it's not that I've suddenly figured it out.  It's just a matter of praying James 1:5 and then reading.  You will find that the Proverbs challenge thoughts, activities and ethics when read with an open heart to receive.

Proverbs 1:7 is the key of all the Proverbs.  Here it is from the Amplified Bible:

"The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [it's starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline."

Today's words for the Journey: Start & live each day with a reverent & worshipful fear of the Lord.