Wise Men Still Seek Him

• This is the time of year when Jesus' birth as a human being is acknowledged. Some professing Believers choose to focus more on materialism or secular celebrations than on Jesus. Others want to argue details, e.g., "He really was not born this time of year."
  
  In my opinion, most important, is that He was born, He lived, He died as the atonement sacrifice for our sin, He was resurrected, and He is alive now and forevermore.
  
  In order to die for our sin, He first had to be born. Do not let the hustle, hassle, social pressures, and commercialism of this season rob you of time to contemplate and honor all that Jesus did for us.
  
  Though cliche, this is true: "Jesus is the reason for the season."

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This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:12-14 NIV)

Responsibility of Reactions

• Newton's third law:
  
  "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
  
  Actions have consequences. It is unavoidable--in the physical realm and in the spiritual. Scripture expresses the same concept: "A man reaps what he sows." (Gal 6:7b NIV)
  
  So, best to carefully consider what we set in motion by our words and actions... or lack of them. (The "equal and opposite reaction" pendulum could swing right back and bonk us!)

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The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a pit to trap others and then fall into it themselves. They make trouble, but it backfires on them. They plan violence for others, but it falls on their own heads. (Psa 7:14-16 NLT)

Judge

• Have you ever seen something you thought was wrong, jumped to a conclusion before you knew the facts--and before you asked the Lord about it--and blurted out something that you later regretted?
  
  Yeah? (Me, too.) Do you know anyone who hasn't? (I don't either.)
  
  It really annoys me when people do that to me. Think how the Lord must feel! I am grateful for His patience. Aren't you?

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While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. (Mat 26:6-10 NIV)

Bad Times Don't Last

• You are loving God. You are trusting Him. You are following Him with all your heart. And... WHAM--something really bad happens! Does that mean that God abandoned you, or is unable to take care of you?
  
  Absolutely not! This may not be what you what to hear, but Hebrews 12:7 says: "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children." (TNIV)
  
  I can tell you that the hardships I have experienced are far more precious to me now than the easy times ever were. Even if it were possible, I would not undo them now--and if you know anything of my life, that is saying a lot!
  
  I have said before, "If it took all the pain I have gone through to know God as I know Him now, it was a bargain." So, if you are in difficulties now, take courage and take heart; God can turn it all to more good than you can now imagine.

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But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. (Phil 2:25-27 NIV)

The Power of Prayer

Satan tries to limit our praying, because he knows our praying will limit him. (Never under estimate the power of prayer! I'm praying God blesses the works of our hands in all we're called to do.

Being Attack

• Ever found yourself in a "situation"--one of those that you were not expecting... and it found you first?
  
  Jeremiah was in one. He trusted God in his. We can trust Him in ours.

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Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to be cut off. I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. (Lam 3:52-58 NIV)

Distractions

• An illusionist (a.k.a. magician) distracts you from what is really happening and keeps your attention on what you think is happening. Then, when the act is over, you wonder what happened.
  
  We have an enemy that often does the same thing. Don't be deceived.

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For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV)