Every morning I read my ODB: Our Daily Bread devotional. It helps me understand my faith and now I’m more committed to doing it everyday.

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

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December 3, 2009

Finding Jesus

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READ: Romans 8:27-39

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? —Romans 8:32

After someone stole a valuable ceramic figurine of Baby Jesus from a nativity scene in Wellington, Florida, officials took action to keep thieves from succeeding again. An Associated Press report described how they placed a GPS tracking device inside the replacement figurine. When Baby Jesus disappeared again the next Christmas, sheriff’s deputies were led by the signal to the thief’s apartment.

There are times when difficult circumstances or personal loss can cause us to feel that Christ has been stolen from our Christmas. How can we find Jesus when life seems to be working against us?

Like a spiritual GPS, Romans 8 guides us to God’s never-failing love and presence with us. We read that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and intercedes for us (v.27). We know that God is for us (v.31). And we have this grand assurance: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (v.32). Finally, we are reminded that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus (vv.38-39).

Look for Jesus in the manger, on the cross, risen from the dead, and in our hearts. That’s where we can find Jesus at Christmas.  — David C. McCasland

But what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show,
The love of Jesus, what it is
None but His loved ones know. —Bernard of Clairvaux

If we focus only on Christmas, we might lose sight of Christ.

Luv, fin

If you’ve been to your local retail or department store recently, you’ve probably seen the Christmas decorations already in full view, and some places are even playing Christmas music. The “Christmas creep,” as it is sometimes referred, is already well under way, and it can sap the life out of your Christmas spirit long before December arrives. Yet to one organization—whose hope is to spread some Christmas cheer to children in areas of the world ravaged by war, hunger, and poverty—’tis the season to be generous.

over 100 countries all across the globe, everywhere from the war-torn regions of Pakistan to, quite literally, Timbuktu. In the 16 years since the project began, Operation Christmas Child has collected more than 69 million gifts, with 8 million expected this year alone.

While this seems like a feat any humanitarian organization could accomplish, Samaritan’s Purse takes it a step farther, offering recipient children the chance to participate in the Operation Christmas Child Discipleship Program. The program consists of a series of Bible lessons and a copy of the New Testament, translated into the local language of each child. According to the group’s website, some 1.2 million children are expected to complete the program in the next year.

So while the months of October and November can drain the life out of your Christmas cheer, perhaps taking the time to put together a shoebox gift for Operation Christmas Child can rejuvenate your spirit.

The organization will collect shoeboxes from November 16-23. For more information on Operation Christmas Child, or to read stories and watch videos about how the project has impacted the lives of Children worldwide, visit their website.

If you’ve participated in Operation Christmas Child, or any other Christmas ministry, how has the experience impacted your outlook on Christmas time? What are some other preventative measures we can take now to ensure the “Christmas creep” doesn’t sap our spirit this holiday season?

From: www.revelife.com

Hey

The meaning of Easter – What does it mean to you?

The meaning of Easter is Jesus Christ’s victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him. The meaning of Easter also symbolizes the complete verification of all that Jesus preached and taught during His three-year ministry. If He had not risen from the dead, if He had merely died and not been resurrected, He would have been considered just another teacher or Rabbi. However, His resurrection changed all that and gave final and irrefutable proof that He was really the Son of God and that He had conquered death once and for all.

However, Easter did not always symbolize Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the meaning of Easter was quite different than what Christians celebrate today. The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honored the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorial of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, was merged with the pagan celebration, and became know as Easter. The meaning of Easter was also changed to reflect its new Christian orientation.

Today, the meaning of Easter, for million of Christians, is that of honoring and recognizing Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and His glorious promises of eternal life for all who believe in Him.

http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/

Luv,