Christmas
Angels and How to Think Like Them
Are you struggling with how you think? If so, it’s understandable. We are continually bombarded with negative news. Then there are the uninvited thoughts the enemy presents. Would you love, instead, to think like an angel? We can. How? Follow their example. In the midst of all that seemed wrong the night of Jesus’s birth, (crowded city, no rooms, delivering Jesus in a stall) the angels announced the Heavenly Gazette headlines, “Savior Born,” not the Bethlehem Post headlines, “No Rooms.” In other words, the same events happened the night of Jesus’s birth, but they were viewed differently; one from a heavenly perspective and the other from an earthly perspective. I can’t help but think it would put a smile on Jesus’s face if believers thought like angels. God is up to something. We can be sure His motive is holy. Let’s commit to being messengers of the good news that there is a Savior and speak of God’s peace and goodwill demonstrated through Christ.
Blessings, sweet friends, as we choose to think like an angel.
Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
The Nativity
And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped Him in cloths; and laid Him in a manger. Luke 2:7
The nativity is the centerpiece of Christmas. Here, in a humble manger, the magnitude of God’s love is seen. Christ came into the world not just for the rich, but for all people. As we decorate our homes with nativity scenes, let us be ever mindful of the Christ, who humbled Himself to become man. And not only man, but also babe. And not only babe, but poor for our sake so that we might know the richness of His glory.
Blessings, sweet friends, as we are mindful of Christ’s humility, as we follow His example.
Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
No Room for Christ
Blessings, sweet friends, as we make room for Christ at the beginning of each day.CHRISTMAS PEACE
CHRISTMAS PEACE
Debbie Taylor Williams
Christmas is not the tinsel.
Christmas is not the tree.
Christmas is about God’s love,
His love for you and me.
Christmas is about the season
When in each of our lives
We thank God for our Savior
Who gives to us new life.
A baby born of woman, yet God
A God born of man, yet divine
God gave to the earth a Savior
Peace, eternal, divine.
So if you are seeking heaven
Would you look and seize the Truth
God’s gift of Jesus on earth
Is God’s gift of Peace to you!
Blessings, sweet friends, as we set our hearts on Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Copyright, “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” by Debbie Taylor Williams
CELEBRATE CHRIST
The Real Christmas Story
Blessings, sweet friends, as we share the real Christmas story with family and friends. And, for those of you not feeling the Christmas Spirit and for those of you who are, check out my new Faith Nugget devotional, “Candy Cane.” Print, then staple the poem to candy canes so you have a handy way to share the meaning of Christmas with cashiers, friends, or strangers you pass.
Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas
Over the next few weeks, as we approach the celebration of Christ’s birth, I invite you to join me in “Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas,” based on my devotional book by that name.
Blessings, sweet friends, as we prepare our hearts for Christ’s Mass.
We Can’t Wait!
“He’s coming with a sleigh and reindeer.” That’s what some parents tell their children about Santa and kids get excited in anticipation of his arrival. But hey, believers! The real gift-giver from above is coming in the clouds and not with a sleigh and reindeer. Rather, Christ will come with the armies of heaven following Him. (Revelation 19:14) Rather than wearing a human-made Santa suit, Revelation 19:16 describes Christ’s robe and what is written on it:
on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’
Christ’s coming isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a fact. It’s incredible and beyond exciting. As Old Testament believers once looked forward to the day the Messiah would come, believers look forward to the day Jesus will return to earth in glory. How magnificent that will be!
Christ Jesus, LORD OF LORDS, we bow in worship and praise You, King of Kings.
If You Think You Have Nothing, Think Again
When you were little, did you go on a treasure hunt? Today, do you put your treasured valuables in a safety deposit box? The Bible tells us that believers have a treasure within them. What is the TREASURE? Second Corinthians 4:6-7 explains that the treasure is God’s Holy Spirit. The treasure is the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God shining in our hearts. The treasure we carry about in our earthly bodies is God’s surpassing greatness of power. With humble reverence and boundless gratefulness, we bow and worship God for the great gift of His presence in us.
Lord, YOU are the TREASURE men seek and whom we have in our hearts. Help us present You well to others and share with others the surpassing greatness of Your power. We adore and worship You.
“GOD… is the One who has SHONE in our HEARTS to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. For we have this TREASURE in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7.
God is a TREASURE. I hope you are recording each daily attribute in Prayers of My Heart. As you do, your journal becomes a treasure of the names, titles, and character traits of God. Your journal becomes a treasured keepsake of how God has and is working in your life and the lives of those for whom you pray.
A Heavenly Provision
Do you remember the account when God called Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac? I’ll never forget when the words of Genesis 22:8 jumped off the pages of the Bible and into my heart. Abraham said to Isaac as they walked to the place where he was to sacrifice Isaac, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.” (Genesis 22:8) Think about those words.
God will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.
And, He did. A ram appeared in the bushes and Abraham sacrificed the lamb in Isaac’s place. And, so God does that for us. He provided the Lamb – Jesus – innocent, holy, undefiled – to be the sacrifice for us.
God provided for Himself the sacrifice.
God provided for Himself what no human could provide – a worthy sacrifice; heaven’s Lamb. Years later, the angelic announcement of Christ’s birth was first made to shepherds. The shepherds left their flock to find and worship Jesus, the LAMB of God. ‘Behold, the LAMB OF GOD who takes away the sin of the world!‘” John 1:28-29
If you have never thought deeply about how much God loves you and that He provided His Son to be the sacrifice for your sin, today would be a good day to let the words of the Bible jump off the page and into your heart.
Jesus, LAMB OF GOD, thank You for giving Your precious life as a sacrifice for our sins. Father, thank You for sacrificing Your Son to save us from our sins. We adore and worship You!
