After Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2012 by jesustrek

magi

Now that we have another Christmas behind us, many people find that they have something in common with the wise men who came to visit Jesus—they have a whole lot less money!

The magi came a long way to bring baby Jesus gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. These items were quite costly, and would have left the givers with quite a bit less wealth then they had before their encounter with Jesus.

Maybe you are feeling a bit less wealthy now too. A lot of people are dreading the bills that will arrive in the mail in the next few weeks. Christmas can be just as expensive now as it was when Jesus was first born!

However, our financial standing might have changed for a different reason than the wise men had. Most of us spent our money on family and friends. The wise men gave extravagantly to honor Jesus and help a poor carpenter and his family.

Hmmmm….

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Why He Came

Posted on December 24, 2012 by jesustrek

Earth1

A cartoon depicted two angels standing in heaven, looking down at the earth. One angel asked the other, “I wonder why God likes that particular planet so much?” The other angel responded, “I think it’s because he visited there once.”

Christmas is when we celebrate the fact that Jesus became flesh and dwelled among us. John 1 reminds us of the reasons for his visit.

First, he came to bring grace and truth (v.14). It is difficult to be truthful and graceful at the same time. Yet Jesus did this perfectly. He set the example for us. People need to hear the truth, but they need to hear it expressed with love, mercy and grace.

Second, Jesus came to give us an abundance of blessings (v.16). Sometimes we act like spoiled children, demanding more gifts while surrounded by a mountain of presents! Let us avoid the dangerous mindset of entitlement, and understand that God gives us much better than we deserve.

Finally, he came to make God known to us (v.18). A teacher once asked her young student what he was drawing. “It’s a picture of God,” he answered. “But, Billy, no one knows what God looks like.” “They will when I get finished!”

Jesus shows us what God is like, and teaches what God expects from us. Jesus helps us to understand more about God and how to live for him.

Jesus gave us some very important gifts when he came to visit that first Christmas. Let’s enjoy those gifts and share them with others.

Merry Christmas!

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Wounds that Heal

Posted on December 21, 2012 by jesustrek
Victoria Soto

Victoria Soto

Acts of valiant heroism often emerge in the midst of horrific events. That’s what happened during the tragic school shooting that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut last week.

27-year-old Victoria Soto, one of the teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School, made the ultimate sacrifice for her first-grade students. Investigators determined that Soto was killed while using her body to shield the children that she loved. Her selfless act will long be remembered.

We Christians are urged to remember the selfless sacrifice of Jesus, who gave his life to save ours. Isaiah 53:4-5 says, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

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Eternal Perspective

Posted on December 20, 2012 by jesustrek

dog chasing squirrel

A little boy was once grieving over his recently departed dog, Sparky. The young fellow asked his grandfather if Sparky was in heaven. Grandpa replied, “I’m sure of it! I’m certain that Sparky is enjoying doggie heaven right now. He’s probably chasing squirrels all the time!”

After thinking about that for a moment, the grandson replied, “So, Grandpa, are you saying that doggie heaven is the same thing as squirrel hell?”

There may be some room for discussion about what the afterlife will be like, but few people doubt its existence. We are engineered to be aware of eternity. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has “set eternity in the hearts of men.”

Not only that, the Bible urges us to think about eternity—“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Finally, we have been offered a way to spend eternity with God. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).

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Unexpected Grace

Posted on December 19, 2012 by jesustrek

 

Hayden Carlo, of Wylie, Texas, was driving a car with an expired registration when he was pulled over recently. He told the officer from the Plano, Texas police department that he didn’t have any money, and that he had to choose between feeding his children and paying for his registration.

 

The officer handed him a ticket anyway. However, Carlo found a $100 bill inside the citation. He used the money to update the registration on his car.

 

The generous police officer does not want to be identified.

 

Later, Carlo remarked, “He helped me out when I needed it, and I appreciate that. I’ll never forget the man. It definitely restored my faith in God.”

 

This incident is an example of the grace that God gives us through Jesus Christ. There is no denying that we are all guilty of sin, and the penalty for sin is death. God does not take away the punishment, but he sent Jesus to pay the debt for our sins.

 

“He did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”—Romans 3:26.

 

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Offensive

Posted on December 18, 2012 by jesustrek

riding a whale

A sperm whale that was drifting near an eastern shore of Florida has died. The mammal may have been close to shore because it was injured or sick. Its death may have been hastened by stress caused by a swimmer who climbed on top of the whale.

Officials are looking into the incident to see if charges should be pressed. Blair Mase, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, reports that it is a federal offense to harass a marine mammal.

However, it is still legal to abort a pre-born human baby.

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Bad Day

Posted on December 17, 2012 by jesustrek

 

My wife had a difficult day in the kitchen last Friday. First, she got distracted and forgot about the chili she was cooking. By the time she remembered to check on it, it had boiled over and made a mess all over the stove.

 

Later, she realized that she had undercooked some boiled eggs, and they weren’t going to work for the dish she had planned to make.

 

A bit frustrated, she decided that she would get on Facebook and vent about her bad day. However, when she got online, she noticed that many people were commenting on the school shooting in Connecticut. Immediately, she decided that she hadn’t had such a bad day after all.

 

“…Mourn with those who mourn.”—Romans 12:15.

 

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Storm Warnings

Posted on December 14, 2012 by jesustrek

hurricane Sandy

More than 30 years before Hurricane Sandy caused so much devastation along the east coast, officials warned New York politicians to prepare for a storm of huge proportions. They foretold a towering storm surge, overwhelming flooding, swamped subway lines and widespread power outages—all of which occurred when the super storm hit land.

In spite of the warning, many people were caught unaware. They were not prepared for the storm, and they are suffering in its aftermath.

Jesus warns that life will be stormy. We can’t always anticipate the details of where and how they will occur, but the storms of life are a certainty. We can’t avoid these storms, but we can be prepared for them by living out the principles that Jesus taught.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”—Matthew 7:24-25.

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Wickedly Funny

Posted on December 13, 2012 by jesustrek
Jacintha Saldanha

Jacintha Saldanha

A telephone prank initiated by two DJs at an Australian radio station went horribly wrong last week.

The radio personalities called a hospital where Kate Middleton was being treated for acute morning sickness and impersonated Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. They managed to receive confidential information about the Duchess’s medical condition, which was broadcast on the air.

Three days later, nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who was duped by the DJs, was found dead. It is assumed that her death was directly related to stress caused by the prank.

Many people are outraged over this tragedy. The radio station is reviewing its practices. The two DJs, who have been suspended indefinitely, have expressed remorse. Nothing good has come of this terribly inept attempt at humor.

Humor, when properly used, can be a gift from God. But the Bible warns against extreme attempts to be funny. Proverbs 26:18-19 says, “Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

I like a good joke as well as anyone, but ill-advised humor can hurt people.

So let’s be careful.

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Amazing Offer

Posted on December 12, 2012 by jesustrek

forgivenessA man once led an attempt to overthrow the king of his country. He was thwarted, captured and sentenced to death. He and his family were brought before the king. The king asked what he would give for his children’s freedom. The man answered that he would give half of all he possessed. The king asked what he would give for his own freedom. The man responded that he would give the other half of his possessions. Then the king asked what he would give to secure his wife’s freedom. To that he exclaimed, “O king, if you will spare her life, I will give you my life.”

The king was so deeply touched by this offer of sacrificial love that he released the entire family. The man spoke to his wife about the remarkable look of compassion that was on the king’s face when he set them free. The wife said that she did not see the king’s face. Her husband exclaimed, “How could that be? You were standing right in front of him!”

The wife replied, “I had eyes only for the man who was offering to give his life in order to save mine!”

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross…”—Hebrews 12:2.

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