A Christmas Gift of Prayer: Would You Trust God to Help?

Giving the gift of prayer at Christmas is a powerful way to communicate with your family and friends. It takes a minute to get use to the idea, as well as trusting that God will use this gift of prayer as a means of bringing people together.

Giving the gift of prayer may or may not be a replacement for other gifts. The gift of prayer includes talking with God so your heart and mind are in harmony with the Holy Spirit.

Remember you are a light pointing the recipient of your prayer to Jesus. Giving the gift of prayer will be encouraging as Jesus, the light of the world, shines in darkness. Merry Christmas and God bless you!

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An angel of the Lord appeared to [shepherds], and the glory of the Lord shone over them…the angel said to them, …“I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This day in David’s town your Savior was born – Christ the Lord!”

~ Luke 2:9-11 Good News Bible

Jesus…said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.”

~John 8:12 God’s Word Translation

Here are my directions: Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all he is going to do for them.

~1 Timothy 2:1 The Living Bible 

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From Sunday, December 21 through Christmas Day, blogs are being posted each day to coincide with KHCB radio's special music and short devotional programming, "Five Days of Christmas". 

Can Unhappiness Ever Be Beneficial?

The majority of people accept the fact that happiness cannot be permanently sustained. Happiness is dependent on too many variables and evaporates if our expectations fail or when we’re confronted with disappointment. Can unhappiness be healthy or beneficial?

Unhappiness can bring together the power and strength of your soul and spirit to discover solutions made available by the Holy Spirit. Conflict that exists in a relationship or within oneself can be resolved if you seek God himself with all your heart. This will restore peace between you and God by creating a climate for healthy change.

While God does not prevent unhappiness from being intrusive, he never intended for it to be permanent. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world and in me there is no darkness." This means that problems and troubles will show up, but the light that Jesus is will be your guide and hope for managing any darkness that’s trying to create unhappiness. God bless you.  

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Sorrow is better than laugher, for sorrow has a refining influence on us.

~Ecclesiastes 7:3 The Living Bible

 

So humble yourselves under God’s strong hand, and in his own good time he will lift you up. You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.

~1 Peter 5:6-7 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

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Who Are the Spoilers?

Whatever resides in our minds has the power to pull us away from God’s truth and goodness. There has always been a spoiler whose purpose is to distort the truth God desires to give us. A spoiler can be peer pressure or internal pressure that we permit to stand between us and God’s protection and provision.

You may believe you are not subject to temptation, but enticements can be subtle. When I was a child, I was subject to distortions of God’s truth, but by his grace and mercy he provided insight and guidance. 1 Corinthians 13 demonstrates the process. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, but now I have put away childish things.”

Deception’s objective is to disguise temptation as acceptable and pleasing, but God's light reveals its true dark nature. The Holy Spirit within you desires to be your guide and protector. He will not allow you to be  deceived as long as you determine to walk in the light Jesus provides.

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Jesus said to the people, “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.”

~John 8:12 The Living Bible

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Correctly Perceiving Temptation

 Perhaps the reason there's so little conversation centered around temptation is because everyone’s vulnerable and therefore guilty of being pulled into its embrace. The cutting edge of temptation may not appear dangerous or sharp, but it’s possible to be deceived by first appearances. However, its grip can be unyielding and unforgiving.

The severity of temptation’s snare may vary between appearing harmless to absolutely and clearly treacherous. Temptation's cutting edge poses a perception of reality that’s actually a deceptive façade. A practical defense for any temptation is wisdom that magnifies God’s insight and knowledge.

The Holy Spirit’s job is to direct you on how to confront temptation. The wisdom he provides enables you to see your situation from God's perspective. He will then empower you to respond according to his purpose. Self-discipline is a fruit of the Spirit that’s essential for making wise choices in the face of temptation.

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If you lack wisdom, ask God, who gives to everyone with an open hand and doesn’t scold, and he will give it to you. You should ask with faith and have no doubts. Anyone who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

~James 1:5-6 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today

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For a Bright Future, Light Your Pathway

Hope is comparable to a light that illuminates the pathway to the future, and seeing it come to fruition is like coming home to a reception filled with joyful celebration. Hope provides motivation for maintaining focus and staying on track, but critical for hope to materialize is avoiding distractions by confronting them.

As individuals progress into later adulthood, the object of hope may be retirement filled with relaxation, travel, and enjoyment of family and friends. Realistic hope is coupled with staying healthy in body and mind, eating properly, getting exercise, and taking medication as prescribed. Hope for a bright future involves preparation.

To avoid being distracted by the cares of the world, stay focused on God’s word for encouragement. Listen to Zephaniah 3:17. “The Lord your God is with you; his power gives you victory. The Lord will take delight in you and his love will give you new life.” Hope centered in Jesus Christ helps you stay focused.  

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Then Jesus again addressed them and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever continues to follow me need never walk in darkness, but will enjoy the light that means life.

~John 8:12 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Celebrating Christmas with Joy and Hope

Were you expecting a special gift for Christmas? Has Corvid-19 changed how you celebrate Christmas? You may be contending with difficult circumstances that have dimmed the light for Christmas Day, but fix your mind on Christ Jesus, in whom there is no darkness.

The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Once you were darkness but now you are light,” and the Apostle John further illuminates for us that darkness will not overcome your light because “you have the light of life.” A reason for joy and hope is, “Every good and perfect gift comes from God the Father, the Creator of light in whom no darkness exists.” Christ Jesus is your good and perfect gift. Thanks be to God for hope, joy and peace. Merry Christmas.  

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Suddenly an angel appeared among [some shepherds], and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem!”

~Luke 2:9-11 The Living Bible

May the hope-inspiring God so fill you with perfect joy and peace through your continuing faith, that you may bubble over with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~Romans 15:13 Williams – New Testament in the Language of the People

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Celebrating Christmas with Hope for Healing

We’re beginning this season of celebrations remembering a year that began with optimism for the well-being of the nation. Within weeks, Covid-19 had infected the nation with fears of deprivation and death. However, America and the people of the world have refused to be defeated by this plague. 

So many are recovering from grief and sorrow, yet at this time of celebration we turn our hearts and minds to God’s gift of Christ Jesus with hope for healing. He will restore light to wherever darkness continues to persevere. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the light of the world.” “In me there is no darkness.” May the light of God’s love shine on you brightly. Merry Christmas.  

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 Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you and save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.

~Isaiah 58:8-9 Good News Bible

 

O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!

~Jeremiah 17:14 New Living Translation

 

As for me, I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more.

~Psalm 71:14 New American Standard Bible

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When in Darkness, Seek the Light

At the center of conflict is usually an internal struggle that hasn’t been worked out. If a struggle is fueled by guilt, any attempt to calm the strife will not be acceptable until confession and repentance are offered for the guilt. This is the pathway to inner peace and a clear conscience.

An extreme measure resorted to when facing guilt and shame is becoming self-destructive. Suicide is one attempt to silence the mental anguish of despair when nothing else alleviates the hopelessness and helplessness that have infiltrated one’s consciousness.

Take seriously anyone who speaks of suicide. They need to be heard and understood. Anyone experiencing such despair needs immediate medical and mental help. They need to understand solutions are possible. Even in great darkness, Jesus is the source of light, hope and forgiveness. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world and in me there is no darkness.” Accept that light right now. Seek out people who will provide help and hope. God bless you.  

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You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

~Psalm 18:28 New Living Translation

Later, in one of his talks, Jesus said to the people, “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.”

~John 8:12 The Living Bible

Infused with God's Love and Light - Part 2

So often in counseling, a person leaves a session with enthusiasm because hope has been renewed, even with the realization that lasting change doesn’t come without struggle. Yet what we imagine can be either a powerful inspiration or a deterrent to progress. One man described it as a shadow that created fear of being honest.

His daughter confessed to struggling with an internal conflict she had failed to resolve. The advice he gave her was like a mirror reflecting his own face concerning what he was unable to work out with her mother, his wife. That shadow he identified was fear of being powerless, weak and inferior in the face of truth and honesty.

This man finally revealed to his wife the root of their conflict hidden in his feelings of insecurity, which were the source of their troubles. Keeping secrets hidden in darkness makes their shadow grow larger and more intense. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” so permit the light of Jesus to shine on the shadows in your life.  

Imagine the Possibilities: Take Action - Part 3

If we’re honest, it’s relatively easy to realize some changes need to be made in certain areas of life. For some folks, minor changes would be sufficient, but for others, a major overhaul would be needed if this acknowledgment were taken seriously. Can you imagine the first century apostles, evangelists, preachers and teachers as they turned the world upside down with their commitment to Jesus?

The task of change is related to three basic components: insight, endurance and action. Change may hit like a tornado or come gently and unexpectedly. Change does require energy and effort as well as determination to endure. Insight as an agent of change is knowledge gained either deliberately or accidentally.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world.  In me there is no darkness." To those who comprehend and accept this challenge, a new world of experience awaits them. Jesus also said, “Take up your cross and follow me” to a different kind of experience, but one that honors and pleases God. This means Take Action. 

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You are invited to listen as I will be the guest on "Vital Issues in the Christian Home" next week on Thursday morning, May 19 from 10:30-11:30 Central Daylight Time on KHCB radio at 105.7 FM in the Houston area. To stream it live or for a listing of sister stations in TX, OK, LA, AR and FL, you may click on the KHCB link in the "About Me" section of this page.

Open Minds and New Ways - Part 2

“Loving God with all your heart, soul and mind” is not something most people continuously think about.  Neither does “loving your neighbor as yourself” always get prime time consideration.  This does not mean these values are missing from your life, but they should be the most important guidelines for everyday living.

Rarely does a day go by without encountering situations which require asking questions like: "What should I do?" "How should this problem be resolved?” "How should I live my life?" "Is there hope?" At the core of such questions lie the heart and soul of a person's value system. Values define what actions need to be taken.

Life does not always present a clear way forward and may require clearing away some wreckage and chaos so wiser choices can be made. Listen to a choice Jesus extends to you. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." It’s this light that empowers you to make choices to honor and follow Christ Jesus.  

Christmas: Great Expectations - Part 5

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day is a time of great expectations, not only for children, but for most adult as well. Adults may or may not give or expect elaborate gifts, but still the desire for a happy, joyful family gathering with good food, great conversation, and laughter catches the heart and nourishes the soul. Loving care makes sure all the preparations live up to expectations.

It's incredibly important to give thanks to God for wisdom to manage all who arrive with varying attitudes, needs, and expectations. God sent Jesus to be the Light of the World, and from that light come patience and insight to help navigate the celebration of this wonderful event. Jesus, as the Light of the World, can shine brightly through you on this blessed Christmas Day! 

Damaged Integrity: Restoring and Rebuilding - Part 3

A person of integrity refrains from deliberate dishonesty and deception. What comes to mind when you hear the word deception? Perhaps something from your experience like being deceived into thinking or believing something that wasn't true. Deception can look and sound like truth, can have shades of truth, but beneath the surface things are not as they seem.

Have you omitted some of the facts concerning an issue because you were scared or anxious about what could happen if the whole truth were known? All of us are guilty of behaviors that have hurt or harmed others. However we can change if we feel genuine sorrow and regret for these behaviors and have made commitments to change.

Believing that hope exists for new beginnings is motivation for rebuilding a wounded integrity. Think of integrity as a guiding light within your conscience which guides you through difficult decisions that would temp you to turn from God's truth. Jesus said he is the Light of the World and in him there is no darkness. Choose to walk in his light.  

Learning Productivity - Part 1

God's desire for his people is that they be industrious and productive. Industry is a developmental task the elementary age child learns to master. The goal for a child at this age is to become skilled in reading, math, social studies, and science. Success most often depends on acquiring social skills. This learned productivity creates patterns for living that last a lifetime.

Children who are shy or feel inadequate conceal their treasures. These children need encouragement and tutoring until their self-image changes. Be alert to identifying a child's strengths and positive attributes. Feelings of inadequacy and inferiority are difficult to overcome, but with determination and God-given courage, change is possible.

The temptation is to linger in the shadows of your capabilities. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness." With every temptation, God provides a way to escape. So please be encouraged, and strive to be the person God created you to be.  

A Challenge to Change - Part 1

In 1952 Adlai Stevenson presented this challenge to the Democratic National Convention: "Let's talk sense to the American people. Let's tell them the truth. There can be no gain without pain." People skirt around change, even good, positive change, to avoid pain like sadness, fear, and anxiety.

Making good, positive changes may include letting go of what is perceived as a secure place you know well but is no longer appropriate or good for you. The Hebrew people had to let go of what was familiar, even though it was bondage in Egypt. Remember how they wanted to return to that bondage when they had to face hard times and what they perceived as an uncertain future?

Choosing to change requires trusting God to be a very present help if trouble emerges. God may not prevent sadness, fear and anxiety from accompanying healthy change, but he does provide strength to endure when the way is uncertain. Trust this truth - Jesus is the light of the world that shines in times of trouble to guide you through the darkness.