In Times Like These
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We
just celebrated Christmas, and another new year follows close behind. We look at the world and see doom and gloom
at every turn. It can’t be, we just celebrated a beautiful moment in the life
of Jesus – His Birth.
just celebrated Christmas, and another new year follows close behind. We look at the world and see doom and gloom
at every turn. It can’t be, we just celebrated a beautiful moment in the life
of Jesus – His Birth.
Psalm 4:6 –Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face
smile on us, Lord.
smile on us, Lord.
We
look to government of men and see greed. The Christ Child Who came to give us
Peace, is forgotten. We run to men to
find the answer, and there is none. What
will make the Happy New Year wish, the ‘best of times’? We have heard the
answer many times. It is not on this
earth in what we drink or eat, or earn.
It is simply following and believing in Jesus. “Happy
New Year” becomes an empty phrase unless these words are colored with the
Name of Jesus and His Love.
look to government of men and see greed. The Christ Child Who came to give us
Peace, is forgotten. We run to men to
find the answer, and there is none. What
will make the Happy New Year wish, the ‘best of times’? We have heard the
answer many times. It is not on this
earth in what we drink or eat, or earn.
It is simply following and believing in Jesus. “Happy
New Year” becomes an empty phrase unless these words are colored with the
Name of Jesus and His Love.
God
sets our time and place on this earth. God does not use the clock we use. He
sets His schedule, lasting eons, in our reckoning of time. If the brief time we have on earth belongs to
the Lord, what is His purpose for us on earth?
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this,
not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the
beginning of time—to show
us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy1:9.
sets our time and place on this earth. God does not use the clock we use. He
sets His schedule, lasting eons, in our reckoning of time. If the brief time we have on earth belongs to
the Lord, what is His purpose for us on earth?
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this,
not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the
beginning of time—to show
us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy1:9.
Our culture talks about ‘me’ time to do
what we wish to be refreshed. Jesus often left the crowds who followed, did He
take up a new hobby? No, He prayed to
glorify God, the Father. What does God
want us to do with our leisure time?
what we wish to be refreshed. Jesus often left the crowds who followed, did He
take up a new hobby? No, He prayed to
glorify God, the Father. What does God
want us to do with our leisure time?
My
Mother grew flowers, not just for enjoyment, but to share and take to the ‘old
people’ she visited until she was 84 years old. Mother baked countless loaves
of wheat bread and cinnamon rolls to give away.
She glorified God with her God-given gifts.
Mother grew flowers, not just for enjoyment, but to share and take to the ‘old
people’ she visited until she was 84 years old. Mother baked countless loaves
of wheat bread and cinnamon rolls to give away.
She glorified God with her God-given gifts.
Purposeful
living, using the gifts God has given each of us, will bring a way of serving
Him. On Christmas Eve Morning, I read Philippians
4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true,
and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Suddenly
I realized Jesus, who said,’ I am the
truth the way and the life’ is the same baby’s birth we celebrate each
year. The place to begin thinking of ‘true and honorable things’ is at the
birth of Jesus.
living, using the gifts God has given each of us, will bring a way of serving
Him. On Christmas Eve Morning, I read Philippians
4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true,
and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Suddenly
I realized Jesus, who said,’ I am the
truth the way and the life’ is the same baby’s birth we celebrate each
year. The place to begin thinking of ‘true and honorable things’ is at the
birth of Jesus.
Each
time I read a verse in the Scripture, God gives me a new thought-connection to
think about. I hear His joy in letting my mind and heart soar with Jesus and
His recorded Word.
time I read a verse in the Scripture, God gives me a new thought-connection to
think about. I hear His joy in letting my mind and heart soar with Jesus and
His recorded Word.
Recently
I heard a phrase I learned in the first grade, “Don’t color outside the lines!” It is difficult to stay in the
lines in the first grade and the second grade, too. The world draws lines of fictitious boundaries
according to accepted culture. In order
to belong, we learn to thwart rejection through staying within the lines. So
Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get
tied up again in slavery to the law.
Galatians 5:1.
I heard a phrase I learned in the first grade, “Don’t color outside the lines!” It is difficult to stay in the
lines in the first grade and the second grade, too. The world draws lines of fictitious boundaries
according to accepted culture. In order
to belong, we learn to thwart rejection through staying within the lines. So
Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get
tied up again in slavery to the law.
Galatians 5:1.
In Jesus, we are free to love and serve
God and others. Color your life on this earth with Jesus and
His love. Praise Him and watch your New
Year become rich with treasures from above.
God and others. Color your life on this earth with Jesus and
His love. Praise Him and watch your New
Year become rich with treasures from above.
What
are our longings in 2018? How will we use this year of time God gives us? I
read this quote on Christmas Day – Trust the
Wait - during those mundane moments serving others. Embrace
the Uncertainty – Fill the unknown with the joyful expectation of Jesus’
Second Coming. Enjoy the Joy of Becoming – a Child of God. For if we are faithful to
the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share
in all that belongs to Christ. Hebrews
3:14.
are our longings in 2018? How will we use this year of time God gives us? I
read this quote on Christmas Day – Trust the
Wait - during those mundane moments serving others. Embrace
the Uncertainty – Fill the unknown with the joyful expectation of Jesus’
Second Coming. Enjoy the Joy of Becoming – a Child of God. For if we are faithful to
the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share
in all that belongs to Christ. Hebrews
3:14.
Listen
to God’s direction, asking God to reveal His purposes for us. Trust in God’s
promises, He has a plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11). Praying through the day with each God-given
breath we draw, His Will is done in us.
Share our thoughts God gives us with a friend or family member. Think of others and serving them. This begins
a closer walk with our Lord God…in 2018.
to God’s direction, asking God to reveal His purposes for us. Trust in God’s
promises, He has a plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11). Praying through the day with each God-given
breath we draw, His Will is done in us.
Share our thoughts God gives us with a friend or family member. Think of others and serving them. This begins
a closer walk with our Lord God…in 2018.
The
hymn, In Times Like These, was
written during World War II, by Ruth Caye Jones, a housewife. The song was
written in response to the daily stresses and strains of a woman and her
family, living through the uncertainty of world-wide upheaval and war. Ruth Jones was ironing when these words the
inspiration came. She jotted down the words and the melody on a pad of paper
from her apron pocket. Ruth was born in
1902 and died in 1972, and her words continue to be timely.
hymn, In Times Like These, was
written during World War II, by Ruth Caye Jones, a housewife. The song was
written in response to the daily stresses and strains of a woman and her
family, living through the uncertainty of world-wide upheaval and war. Ruth Jones was ironing when these words the
inspiration came. She jotted down the words and the melody on a pad of paper
from her apron pocket. Ruth was born in
1902 and died in 1972, and her words continue to be timely.
In times like these you need a Savior,
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is
Jesus, Yes, He's the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only
One;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips
the Solid Rock!
Jesus, Yes, He's the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only
One;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips
the Solid Rock!
Psalm
9:9-10 - The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in
times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in
you, for you, O Lord, do
not abandon those who search for you.
9:9-10 - The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in
times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in
you, for you, O Lord, do
not abandon those who search for you.
Hebrews 1:1-2 - Long ago God spoke many times and in many
ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days,
he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an
inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.
ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days,
he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an
inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.
Comments? eacombs@att.net