Words from Psalm 55

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Psalm 55:22 

Peace Came

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. Micah 5:4-5

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Every birth is a miracle, and every child is a gift from God. But nearly 20 centuries ago, there was the miracle of miracles. A baby was born, but he was the Son of God. The Gospels tell of this birth but Dr. Luke provides most of the details surrounding this awesome occasion. With divine Father and human mother, Jesus entered history - God in the flesh. The angel appeared to Mary. And Mary would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear Jesus, the Son of God.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. And angels of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid." I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:8-14 

Peace - and we can have and accept this peace. It can be ours, and it is our choice. What a blessing for us. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the peace you brought to us. Let us accept it and live in your peace. Amen

Marilyn (Jones) Albin (reprinted from 2016)

Words of Praise

 

Words from Psalm 100

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalm 100:4 

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Fear Not!

Happy (almost) Thanksgiving! 

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart....Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." - Psalm 19:8 and 11. 

Almost every time an angel appears to someone in the Bible, they always begin with the words "Fear Not!" This morning, I was reminded of our upcoming advent theme this year of not being afraid when reading words by the reformer Martin Luther from his biographer Roland Bainton. According to Bainton Luther adapted these words from Psalm 96 during a year of hiding from his enemies in what must have been a time of deep sadness and depression at fleeing governmental and ecclesiastical rulers who had the power to exile him or even put him to death for his standing on the Word of God. 

(Here I Stand by Roland Bainton published by Abingdon-Cokesbury in 1950). 

And though this world, with devils filled,

Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God has willed

His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,

We tremble not for him-

His rage we can endure,

For lo! His doom is sure:

One little word shall fell him.

-Eine Feste Burg by Martin Luther, translated by Frederic Henry Hedge in 1852. 

How often those that we think of having the greatest faith suffered depression and sadness. From David to Jeremiah to Esther to Ruth St. Paul to Martin Luther to modern saints like George Muller of Bristol or Mother Theresa, even those with what seems like the strongest faith had difficult days and had to be reminded to lean on God. May we remember the "peace that passeth all understanding" even on those days it is most difficult! May God restore to us joy when we need it most!

Prayer:

Create in me a clean heart O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation 

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

-Psalm 51:10 and 12

Brent Shaw

Words from Colossians

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2