Thursday, December 14

Psalm 126 (The Message)

It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
when God returned Zion's exiles.
We laughed, we sang, 
we couldn't believe our good fortune. 

We were the talk of the nations— 
"God was wonderful to them!" 
God was wonderful to us; 
we are one happy people. 

And now, God, do it again— 
bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
will shout hurrahs at the harvest, 

So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

“Do it again, daddy,” the boys would shout as Trey would whirl them overhead. I must confess, I had to look away, every spin and giggle took my breath away. It didn’t stop their fun and their begging for more.

“Do it again, daddy,” our son would say as his favorite toy had once again come apart. Daddy knew how to fix it.

The boys had such faith in their dad, they had no doubt that Trey could “Do it again.”

Today’s scripture displays a similar faith in God. Do it again, God. Make things better. Do it again, God. Give me some peace. Do it again, God. Bring us joy.

We can have that kind of faith, you know. The Bible is filled with God’s kept promises. As Dr. Olson tells his seminary students, “God will have God’s way in the end.” God makes promises and God keeps them. Go ahead, be bold. Ask God to “Do it again.”

Pray: You have brightened my life before. Do it again. Amen

Wednesday, December 13

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.

Titus Adams, just 7 years old, ran a quarter of a mile in his socks in freezing temperatures to a nearby farm after surviving a car accident to summon help for his mother, who was hurt.  

His mom, Tammy Hill, 28, had been thrown from their pickup on a remote roadside north of Greeley, Colorado. She was lying unconscious, near death in a dormant alfalfa field in 23-degree weather.

Titus had not seen his mom, who was thrown about 10 feet from the truck. After she was thrown from the vehicle, he made sure his sisters were OK, and then ran along the road for about half a mile, with no coat, in 23-degree weather.

When he finally happened upon a dairy farm, the dairy worker heard the boy's panicked words, "My mom, my mom.”

State Patrol officers quickly arrived. Titus' mother was taken to North Colorado Medical Center with a broken back, broken neck and 10 broken ribs.

Paramedics said she may not have lived had Titus waited for a passer-by.

Titus was one child, saving one person, and it is an extraordinary story! Jesus’ salvation, however, is on a much larger scale! One boy saved ALL of humanity. 

Now that is extraordinary! 

Pray: How grand, how miraculous is your gift of life. Thank you, Lord. Amen

Tuesday, December 12

Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Do not worry about anything,” the scripture says. 

Sure. No problem. I’ll stop worrying right now. It’s easy, right?

To simply and suddenly stop our worrying is difficult at best,  but the scripture goes on to tell us what to do. 

Pray. Don’t worry, pray. Give your worry and anxiety to Him, and something wonderful will happen.

If you take your concern to God, you can leave it with Him, and He’ll replace your worry with peace. His peace seems impossible and unreasonable, but it IS real!

Your life is sure to be replete with worry. Pray, give that worry to God, and once you let it go to God, He’ll give you peace beyond measure.

Pray: Prince of Peace, take my worries and calm my spirit. Amen