Jesus watched the wealthy Jews place their gifts in the Temple treasury with much pomp and ceremony. But He was also perceiving where their hearts were in this process… that’s the reason He used the word “gift”- a rather colorless word meaning any gift in general. Their offerings meant nothing to them, there was no sacrifice to it, it was just something they did. On the other hand, He watched intently as the widow came quietly and placed several coins in the treasury. He knew her sacrifice in doing so, He understood entirely what she was giving up in order to make that gift. She was offering everything she had to God…she was offering her life to Him. Would you do the same?
Tag: inspirational
Isaiah 43:18-19 ” Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
You will never move forward if you are tied to the past. The Lord tells us in this verse to forget the past and not dwell on it anymore. He says to you , See, I’m creating a brand new thing for you…take your eyes off the past so you can see it! And once you make that transition from dwelling on the past to looking forward to the future, you will finally see the wonderful new way the Lord has prepared for you.
John 11:25 ” Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.’ “
Lazarus was dead and buried four days when Jesus arrived on the outskirts of Bethany. When Martha heard He was coming, she went out to meet Him. Later, Martha told Mary, and Mary went out to meet Jesus also. Both sisters in their grief could have turned their backs on Jesus for not coming before their brother had died. Both Mary and Martha could have been angry and resentful, and refused to acknowledge Jesus at all… but instead, both ran to Him for comfort even if they couldn’t understand everything that was happening. In times of profound grief when there are so many unanswered questions…don’t turn your back on the Lord, instead, run to Him for comfort.
Philippians 4:13 ” I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
The Lord enables us to endure, sustain and effectively handle any thing and/or situation we are thrust into. He will strengthen our feebleness and calm all fears. This scripture is a proclamation of what we are able to accomplish through Him.
YOU are able to do ALL THINGS by His power that lives in YOU and who gives YOU strength. Through Him there is nothing YOU can not do!
Acts 13: 32-33 ” We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus…”
I declare to you the Good News this Christmas morning! The promises of God have come into existence in the form of that tiny baby in the manger. Now take these glad tidings and proclaim the good news of Jesus to others around you today. From our house to yours…have a very Blessed and peaceful Christmas!
Isaiah 9:6 ” For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Today ponder this…For unto You a tiny baby was born, for unto You a firstborn son was given. If there had been no one else in the world, God would have done this miracle just for You. God loved you so much that He gave His only Son to die on that cross in Your place. Isaiah proclaimed the coming of the Messiah…for You.
Luke 2:8 ” And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”
Why would God want the angelic messenger to deliver the greatest news ever known to mankind to a group of shepherds? They were simple people, living out in the fields with their animals…caring for, protecting, and tending ill and injured sheep. The Lord could have chosen any other people group to herald this awesome news, but He chose them. Jesus called Himself the good Shepherd, who cared for and protected “His flock”, just like those shepherds that starry night. So, why wouldn’t it be the shepherds that God wanted to tell first? After all, it takes one to know one.
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa
I have always admired Mother Teresa, a tiny dynamo of a woman who truly showed the love of Jesus to everyone she met. Here is one of my favorite quotes from her…
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.
Isaiah 40:11 ” He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart…”
Like many of you, I have been trying to put my mind around the senseless killings at the grade school in Newtown, Connecticut a few days ago. We were at our Bible Study Friday night and were praying for all those affected by this tragedy, when I asked the Lord to show me where He was during those horrific moments in the classrooms. Suddenly I saw Jesus in those classrooms gently picking up tiny baby lambs one by one and gathering them all close to Him. I was struck by how calm and peaceful the picture was, the lambs weren’t scared, but rather were running up to Jesus waiting to be picked up. He gathered those little lambs in His arms and will now and forever carry them close to His heart.
Psalm 119: 105 ” Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
I love nightlights! We have quite a few in the house spread out in various areas…hallways, bathrooms, bedrooms when the grandkids are visiting. You can get up in the middle of the night and not stub your toe or fall over something because of those little lights. God’s Word is like those nightlights…His Word brings illumination and enlightenment to our lives. With the Word lighting the way, we can boldly go forth without fear. The light of His Word brings instruction to confusing times in our lives. In the dark world around us, His Word is a nightlight showing us the way.
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