Time Out! Devotions

(devotional by Rebecca Ondov from OurPrayer.org)

Jesus answered and said to him, “. . . We will come to him and make Our home with him.” John 14:23 (NKJV)

I jogged to my car, dragging God with me as I zipped through my daily prayers. Bless Mom and Dad, I prayed, and down the list I went. Then my mind skipped to the errands I needed to run before my friend Autumn and her seven-year-old daughter Carissa arrived for a sleepover. God, I’ll catch some time with You this afternoon.

Afternoon melted into evening and before I knew it, Autumn and Carissa were knocking on my door. My golden retriever puppy Sunrise bounded after Carissa, who ran away squealing in delight. The two tumbled on the lawn until dinner, and afterward they were at it again. We popped corn; Carissa shared hers with Sunrise. When we snuggled into blankets and turned on Anne of Green Gables, Carissa wanted Sunrise next to her.

During a break in the movie, Carissa tugged on my pant leg, “Rebecca, where does Sunrise sleep?” she asked.

“In my walk-in closet.”

“Do you think I could sleep with her?”

Autumn nodded, so after the movie I laid pillows on the floor next to Sunrise’s bed and tucked Carissa into a sleeping bag. As I glanced over at my prayer chair, I remembered my broken promise. Oh, God, I never did get back to You!

I looked into the closet at Carissa snuggling next to Sunrise. God, that’s what I want to be—passionate about being with You. Please be with me everywhere I go.

Thank You, Lord, for the comfort of Your friendship.

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up… It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless?  Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary–especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.

“Someone’s” passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill.  Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, “Someone” did far more than a normal person’s share of the work.  Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list, “Let ‘Someone Else’ do it.”

Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; “Someone Else can work with that group.” It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church.  Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman.  Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else.  Now Someone Else is gone!

We wonder what we are going to do.  Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it?

Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?

When you are asked to help this year, remember — we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.

(Author Unknown)