Check out my artwork at Fine Art America. If you decide to purchase you will be blessing me greatly!! Thank you.
A Christmas thought
Jesus said of himself as he talked with Father God:
You have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. (John 17:2 NLT).
I find this a comfort and encouragement as I ponder world events. It has been very eventual these past couple of years. Terrorist attacks can occur at any time and in any place and be perpetrated by just a single individual or by a group. For many people fear and anxiety have become their daily fare as they watch the medias reporting of tragic events.
However, no matter what is happening out there, Jesus still has that authority over everyone, and the evil one cannot succeed in his plans or in any way thwart God’s plan.
Take heart, my friends. Read more of what Jesus prayed in John 17. There is much to encourage those who do know Jesus, and who live their lives consciously under his authority. For any who don’t as yet know him, the door is wide open for you to find your true home in his heart.
Finally, I have found John 14-17 to be just great. Jesus is talking about a lot of things here. Clearly, this world is not our home, and we can enjoy a relationship with Father God like Jesus did. Soak in these chapters. They are life changing and you will be blessed.
May you be blessed this Christmas as you worship the Christ.
In what do we hope?
Is the world moving closer to another world war? Current events being reported in the media are pretty harrowing. And, if the truth be told, rather fear inducing. It’s as if there is nothing to contain or stop the death and destruction being carried out by a growing group of terrorists without a moral compass. World leaders are looking at ways to stop the progress of this group, and how best to help those groups suffering the most there in the Middle East. Not an easy task and one fraught with the danger of igniting a conflagration.
I don’t have any magic words. My heart aches for those directly affected and I pray for God’s mercy and provision for them. I pray too that God will grant wisdom beyond human ability as the leaders consider what to do.
It has prompted me to listen carefully to what God might be saying in all this, and especially for myself. The thing that stands out is that God is in control. And though the foundations of law and order have collapsed… God is still God and he rules from heaven. (Psalm 11:3-4). I can trust his unfailing love, no matter what. My hope is in him!
This world is not the be all and end all of everything. Our hope (my hope) is in the promises of God that he has given in the Scriptures.
Truth
What is truth? It to have developed a very fluid meaning… changing as the flavour of the month changes.
“Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” John 8:32 TM
Even though society says truth can change based on circumstances, comparisons, new data and levels of experience, ultimate truth isn’t relative. It can’t be rationalised or customised to fit our moods and preferences but no matter how uncomfortable it is, the truth sets us free.
Ultimate truth is what we need, a truth that does not change with our whims, feelings, desires, whatevers. We need a truth that stands the test of time, and, that truth is only found in Jesus Christ.
[The Reading for Today is available at: Daily Readings]
Website dramas
This past week I’ve had to move this website plus several others from where they were being hosted on a very out-of-date hosting platform to a new and up-to-date hosting account.
It all kind of went smoothly, except for Hope-Today… typical.
I ended up spending hours and hours troubleshooting before finally finding the errant link(s). Now, hopefully, all is as it should be.
Have a good week!
My fun pixs at Redbubble
Take care of your thoughts
Hmmm… this came in my email and as it’s an important thought I just have to share it with you:
“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” Proverbs 4:23 NCV
Just as you don’t let everybody who knocks on your door come in and make themselves at home, don’t let every emotion that surfaces dictate the direction of your day or decide your responses.
These readings are available at dailyreadings.net
You might find the following thought provoking video to be interesting:
Mind Your Thought Fungus
Something to ponder…
We live in such a world today that it’s hard to know whether today’s truths are true at all because tomorrow it might have become a different truth. So much is relative to what people want to think is truth, and like the weather it changes all the time. This is confusing and confounding, and adds to our frustrations with life (whether we realise it or not).
However, Jesus spoke about truth; a truth that does not change on the whim of man or on how many believe it or on success or failures. The truth Jesus offers us is one that sets us free. It does not depend on what we think or believe but simply on who God is.
Jesus said:
“Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
Truth is not determined by how many people believe it.
Related articles
No matter the mess, God works for good!
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
When it seems like the world’s gone mad, don’t forget “God existed before anything else … and He holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1:17 NLT). When worry whispers, “God doesn’t know what you need!”, remember God promised to “meet all your needs”. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)
[from a friend]
What the locusts ate…
A thought from a friend:
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” Joel 2:25 NIV
For everything you’ve loved or lost, God has something else. For everything that’s been stolen from you, God has something else. The situation you are in right now is not the end of the story; God wants to write a new chapter. He’s not through with you!
