January 1: Isaiah 43:16-21

Key Verse: Isaiah 43:19
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Devotion:
What other verse could I use for the start of a New Year! Happy New Year! The last few years after my Dad died I have just been getting on with life and seeing what happens, but after going over these verses which actually mean a lot to me, I am aiming at getting to grips with a lot more this year!

These are the Words given to Isaiah from The Lord. They are special and we need to take note of things God says to us like this! He is our Creator God who has made everything and the one who opened the doors for Israel to do so much… so long as they continue to follow Him and to obey His commands.

I fear we have seen a side of the country of Israel which does not look like the people of Israel from the bible; but I’m not here to be political and to set blame anywhere but at my own feet. These words should be guided toward what He is asking of your own life and not used to judge others with!

God is the one who started doing something new in the hopes we will pick up the banner and continue this new thing He has started. We should not be looking for anything other than what God placed in our hearts about the work He wants us to do. He has already opened the doors and continues to hold them open for us to see and use!

Points to Ponder:
What doors has God opened lately?

Are you willing to go through them and complete His work?

December 25: Luke 2:1-14

Key Verse: Luke 2:14
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

Devotion:
Did you wonder why we looked at corruption and evil on Christmas Eve? Well, the corruption and evil in our world was personified by a certain Caesar Augustus when he called for a complete census of the entire Romans world! This census was not really to see how many people should pay him tax, but to try and find out who this person was would people said would be born as king!

Joseph and Mary (who was heavily pregnant at this time) went up to Bethlehem because that is where his family had to go to register. We all have heard of the trouble they had trying to find a place to stay, ending up in a stable, and how Mary gave birth to a boy. We have heard of the story of the shepherds coming to find the baby because they were told to by angels.

We hear stories about wise men coming from the East who wanted to find out what the stars were telling them; and their wonderful gifts for the baby Jesus. When the shepherds got there they found a baby, born in a stable and now lying in a manger. The most humble sight to see for someone the angels had said is the Messiah, the Lord!

Let us join these angels and praise God for allowing His Son to be born to a virgin just as He promised, and to know God ordained this a long time ago because of His great love for us all!

Points to Ponder:
Are you celebrating the right reason for the season today?

Happy Christmas and God bless you all!

Signing off for a few days of needed rest x

December 24: Psalm 89:46-51

Key Verse: Psalm 89:46
How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself for ever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?

Devotion:
One thing we see time and time again is people, churches and societies complaining about God punishing them in one way or another. Many people complain when God does not do anything, or they complain God stopped doing things, or they complain God is punishing them… But what is actually happening?

I know whatever I say, people will object to the message and people will disagree one way or another. I can’t see how God can say on one hand He will look out for us and keep us safe and on the other hand will choose to punish us in any way! So that theory is out the window before we even start the discussion!

Who are the people who make it difficult for us to live? Who are the people who make living a hardship? Who are the people to kill others? When we are honest we will begin to see the truth and our complaints may then take on a new light. Is it not other people who cause so many of the things in our lives, maybe even governments and leaders… but not God. God promised He would allow us to choose our own paths; so how can He stop us from choosing?

If we choose to have people who are corrupt and lie as our leaders, should we not expect to have them corrupt our lives and lie to us too! None of us can live without death because we all face death in the end. None of us can expect everyone else to be good is we are not good. This is a problem of corrupt and evil people making our lives harder to live, not God making it hard!

Points to Ponder:
Do you live a blame free life?

Do you expect everyone to be truthful if you are not?