Month: December 2017

Follow the Star Devotional Day 22
Peace Is a Person
For unto 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. Isaiah 9:6
Peace! We thought it was some place in solitude but it’s not really a place at all, it’s a person. Peace comes with this person into our lives. When we are with this person we are at peace and when we are aware that this person is with us we are at peace. It’s not being alone, by ourselves at all. Peace is found in the company of this person. And this person is God. He is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We’re in the company of friends for those who believe in and know Jesus. Peace isn’t necessarily something we find by getting away buy be getting with the One who knows us, loves us and appreciates our company. Does that sound right to you and if so why?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 19
Motivated by Joy
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
What was it that brought Jesus to the cross? It was the same thing that brought the wise men to the cradle, JOY! And the thing that keeps us persistent even when we’re not perfect, is joy. I happen to think that joy is the awareness of His love along with the anticipation of His love. It’s that awareness and that anticipation that keeps us following His star even when we make a bad turn, every once in a while, to Herod’s House. We repent because of the joy the awareness and anticipation of His presence brings us. We can and will have His attention and adoration as His child. That’s what makes this journey worth taking. Got any thoughts on that?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 18
Joy & Worship
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed… and worshiped Him
Matthew 2:10-11
This devotional today makes me ask, “How do you know when you have joy?” Well, we can feel it I’m sure. But joy isn’t always a feeling thing, it’s a knowing thing. Whatever it is I believe it causes us to worship or to honor the person who gives us joy. This is kind of a funny part of this story because the wise men are following the star when they kind of make a right turn and go to King Herod’s. Why? They were following the star and the star was leading them. They come from of Herod’s place and see the star again and are overjoyed. It doesn’t seem like Herod had brought them much joy. But they see the star and follow its light to the Son of God, the person & promise of their joy and they worship Him. Joy will cause our hearts to worship. Isn’t that the truth? If there is no worship does that mean that there is no joy?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 17
Choose Joy
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad
Psalm 118:24
Choose joy! As odd as that seems I think that’s right. I think we’re used to things making us happy, not choosing to be happy or joyful. Joy is an inside job just like faith is. But how and where do we find this joy inside of us? Sometimes our bodies and our brains tell us just the opposite message. Our bodies can tell us we’re hurting, and our brains remind us that we’ve been hurt or are being hurt. In the midst of all that, where and how do we find joy? Like the verse says, “The Lord has done it…” We choose joy when we choose to appreciate what God has done and anticipate what God will do in our lives. I don’t think joy separates the natural and the supernatural. There’s joy in this daily walk with God because God, who is bigger than our world, is walking with us. I choose to believe that. Does that seem right to you?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 16
Tears and Joy
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Psalm 126:5
I’m starting to think that “joy” is like sand in our hands. It’s not just something that we have had always had and always will. I wonder if “joy” is more like the sun and it reappears in the morning like the Bible describes. Sorrow lasts for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Remember that scripture? Like the sun I don’t know that we can grab it and put it in our pocket. It has to come anew each morning we wake up. Joy, like the sun, is a God thing. And joy seems to come to those who choose to live in the sonlight rather than the clouds of doom, disappointment and doubt. Those who reap joy get up and sow into this life the message and the motivation of love. When they think about why they’re living and working it brings joy. And when they think about where they’re going it brings joy. I don’t know that joy is something we can poke into our pocket, but we can possess it in our heart and by the way, I think that promise brings us pleasure in this life. Thinking?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 15
Joy for the Journey
Consider it pure joy, my brothers & sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces…
James 1:2-4
The devotional today pushes me to define or understand “joy”. I don’t think the definition is a simple phrase or picture but probably something that comes from a process or the journey. The writer today takes us to the idea or issue of trials and troubles as he/she begins this conversation. I thought we were talking about “joy”! Joy is what I’d attach to my childhood. I was happy and probably because I felt secure and loved. I looked forward to Christmas and the gifts under the tree, but I enjoyed living at home with my family. What they offered me was much better than the gifts I received. But we grow up and move away and have to discover joy for ourselves. There in lies the journey and the purpose of that journey. That must be why we start this conversation about joy with this talk about trials. What do you think?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 12
Deep Love
I pray that you, being rooted & established in love, may have power…to know this love that surpasses knowledge
Eph 3:17-19
Here is something that ONLY the believer can know. This isn’t just knowing about, it’s knowing within. There is a point in this Christian life where the follower not only knows about God’s love, but he/she is experienced in God’s love. That only belongs to those who continue to walk toward the life of Jesus by walking in the love of Jesus. There is a love that surpasses knowledge. That’s the love that brought the Son of God to earth. That’s the love that led Jesus to the cross for you and me. That’s the love that weathers the storm and touches the blind, broken and the beggar. It’s a love that surpasses the intellect and intuition of man to expect, to express and to experience the love of God. A love that surpasses anything that we can even imagine. That is the love of God. What do you think? What does that mean to you or for you?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 11
No Fear in Love
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear
1 John 4:18
I like this sentence in the devotional today that says, “But as you walk toward Christmas, be willing to open your heart and let God’s love pour in, washing through you until fear is displaced by pure love.” Isn’t that a great word picture? I believe that one reason people never really experience the joy and peace of God’s love is that they quit walking toward the light. Knowing the love of God cannot be restricted to a Sunday School education. Knowing God’s love requires an experience. The moment we begin to question God’s love and slow down our walk toward Him, fear begins to creep in. The Magi could have stopped on Herod’s porch and turned around fearing the cost of continuing the journey. As you and I continue to focus on the light of love and keep putting one foot in front of the other, fear is going to break down and head out. Does that seem right to you?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 10
First Love
This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:9
Never forget, love acts! God demonstrated His love for us by coming Himself into this world for you and me. And not only did He come but He paid our debt so that we could forever be with Him. That’s love. No wonder that we place or find our “hope” in Him. That’s why we stop and say, “Thank you Jesus!” That’s why we have come to worship Him. We have seen His star, His light, His hope and we worship Him. No excuses, no need to try to explain to people who do not and will not believe. He is our hope and He has our hearts because had us in mind and did something about it. Do you love Him too? How?

Follow the Star Devotional Day 9
The Gift of Love
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change…
James 1:17
The devotional this morning said, “In the midst of a world that is constantly changing and shifting under our feet, in the midst of hurt and distrust created by people in our lives who have broken promises, God offers us the perfect gift of love: the unexpected arrival of a baby who changes our world and our hearts for eternity.”
Have you ever thought about loves abilities and liabilities? Love has abilities and it has liabilities, but those abilities and liabilities lie in the heart of the giver, not the gift. Mature love remains true, it does not change to lust or lies. The immature lover promises hope that he/she cannot give. But God’s love does not change. We see in Jesus, who was the gift of love, a love that only became bigger and better as He lived and died and rose from the dead for us. God loves you and His love is true. Do you see that too?