It is ChristmasTide - the twelve days of Christmas following December 25 and leading up to Epiphany and the arrival of the wisemen. I have choosen to bridge this time with a devotional published in 2012 by a variety of men and women affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (many located in the North Carolina area). ( https://stevelindsley.typepad.com/files/christmastide-devortional-booklet-2012-2.pdf ) I have kept my Celtic Knot Star as the focus for the prayers. Scriptures are random selections, at the option of the daily writer.
Thursday, December 26 Just the Beginning
Acts
1:6-7 MSG
“Master,
are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the
time?” He told them, “You don’t get to
know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get
is the Holy Spirit.
Christmas
does not end
With
the baby and manger
This
is just the start
Friday, December 27 The Lord Will Protect You
Psalm
121:7-8 GNT
The
Lord will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe.
He will protect you as you come and go now and forever.
He will protect you as you come and go now and forever.
Wherever
we are...
Emmanuel
- God WITH us
Each
and ev’ry day
Saturday, December 28 Come As a Child
Matthew 18:3-4 GNT
Unless
you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom
of heaven. The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who
humbles himself and becomes like this child.
Live
with child-like love:
Open,
fearless, and forgiving
Turn
no one away
Sunday, December 29 Quench Your Thirst
John
7: 37-38 MSG
“If
anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water
will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me
this way, just as the Scripture says.”
Thirsty?
Come and drink
Living
Spirit waters fill
Empty,
hurting hearts
Monday, December 30 Deju Vu
Matthew
1:23 GNT
“A
virgin will become pregnant and have a son, and he will be called
Immanuel” (which means, “God is with us”).
Deja
vu Flashback!
Christmas
isn’t over yet!
Matthew
tells again!
Tuesday, December 31 Everyday Miracles
Psalm
145:8 MSG
Praise
the ev’ryday
Live
life seeing miracles
God-blessings
abound!
Wednesday, January 1 New Year Resolutions?
Colossians
2:10 MSG
You
don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the
fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him.
Just
one resolution:
Focus
on God, only Christ
Life
and love follows
Thursday, January 2 Faith or Works
Hebrews
11:1 MSG
The
fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith,
is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.
Put
your faith to work
It
is a reality
that
can be trusted
Friday, January 3 The Gate
John
10:9 MSG
I
am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will
freely go in and out, and find pasture.
At
the Shepherd’s Gate
We
find welcome, rest, and peace
Secure,
without want
Saturday, January 4 Feeling the Flame
Exodus
3:5 Voice
Don’t
come any closer. Take off your sandals and
stand barefoot on the ground in My presence,
for this ground is holy ground.
Light
your bush afire
Aflame
in God’s love and grace
Unconsumed
by world
Sunday, January 5 Strong and Courageous
Joshua
1:9 MSG
“Strength!
Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged.
God,
your God, is with you every step you take.”
May
strength and courage
To
face the unknown and hard
Come
with God’s presence
Monday, January 6 Epiphany!
Matthew
2:10 GNT
When
they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs! It went ahead
of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Epiphany
star:
The
wondrous sign of God’s plan
Revealed
before us.
