Category: Daily Bread

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Accept The Difficult Road

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ~ Luke 2:1-5

Caesar Augustus made a decree that would put Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem, the City of David. If it was not for the governmental census, Mary and Joseph would have had no reason to travel to Bethlehem. I’m sure it was a stressful time. Mary’s almost ready to give birth. They don’t know where they’re going to stay. The trip wasn’t going to be easy, especially with Mary’s pregnancy.

Nevertheless, this stress not only brought forth the fulfillment of Scripture but also gave hope to all of Bethlehem. See, if they weren’t in Bethlehem, the shepherds wouldn’t have been able to come and see the Christ child born. If they couldn’t come and see, then they couldn’t go throughout the town and tell everyone of what they saw.

Sometimes, the road is difficult, but it always leads to hope. It always leads to good news of great joy. It was because of the decree of Caesar that a town that had no hope was given the ultimate hope in one moment.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Accept The Difficult Road.

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He’s Here

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). ~ Matthew 1:23

One of my favorite Christmas songs is You’re Here by Francesca Battistelli. The song is from the point of view of Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms and singing to Him. In it, she sings,

You’re here, I’m holding You so near
I’m starring into the face of my saviour, king and creator
You could’ve left us on our own, but You’re here

Jesus could’ve left us on our own. He didn’t have to save us. He didn’t have to take this hard road, especially knowing that the majority of the world would reject Him, yet He still came. Even if only one person would be saved, and that one person was you, He still would’ve come because He loves us. He doesn’t desire that any perish, but all come to acceptance.

God loves us. When we messed up and corrupted ourselves, God left His throne, took on our form, and came to us. He desires that all of His creation be with Him, for His dwelling place is with us, and us with Him. That’s why He still feels with us to this day.

Dear LORD, thank You for not leaving me alone in the world. Thank you for not leaving me in darkness but shining your everlasting light upon me. Please soften my heart to the things of You. Help me not to be filled with anger, malice, envy, rejection, pride, sexual immorality, or any other stumbling block the devil throws in front of me to keep me from You. Please fill me with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Be Filled With Great Joy

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ~ Luke 2:8-12

Fear not! But how could they keep their hearts from racing, their hands from trembling, and their knees from quaking? This was a terrifying sight, but the words were comforting words. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you Good News of great joy…”

Good news of great joy is always good news, but this is even better because it was not just Good News for the Israelites or the Jews, the rich or the poor, white, black, Asian, Spanish, or any particular culture.

It was “Good News” for ALL “the people,” every single soul that will ever live and who has ever lived. It is Good News of great joy. But sadly, many people don’t find it to be very joyous. They are the Christ-haters. They hate the Name that is meant to bring great joy to everyone who hears that Name.

Why does it bring great joy? Because it’s the only Name that gives life and life more abundantly. It’s the only Name by which we can be saved. The birth of Jesus is good news of great joy for ALL people because ALL people can call on the Name of Jesus and be saved. That is the good news of great joy for all of us.

So, this Christmas season, remember that the Word of God became flesh to save you. Jesus didn’t just come for those whom the world deems good enough; He came for all people. He came for all of the world. You’re never too far gone for God to save and redeem you from your sins. All you have to do is ask and He will forgive you.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Filled With Great Joy.

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Dethrone The Elites

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” ~ Matthew 2:7-8

Lies and deception came forth from Herod because of the fear of the news he had heard. Today, the elites haven’t changed. They tell us lies and try to deceive us. People in power will lie and steal and deceive to hold on to the power and wealth that they have.

It was no different back then from how it is today. Herod claimed He, too, wanted to go and worship the infant king of the Jews as well. When secretly, he wanted to murder Him and remove all threat of a king coming to dethrone him.

Jesus is still a threat to people today. They still want Him dead. They still try to kill even the memory of Him. They still say they will not have this Messiah rule over them. They still refuse to make from in their hearts for Him. Their no vacancy sign shines brightly that there is no room in this inn. Why? Because in Jesus, there is freedom. The power and authority that the elites think they have on this earth is threatened by the true power and authority that Christ Jesus has.

So, they will lie and try to deceive those who come to worship the King, just as Herod tried to deceive the wisemen that came to worship baby Jesus. They say that they are for worshipping the Christ, but they know a better way. They begin changing the way Christ demanded to be worshipped. They lie to the believers and followers of Christ and try to lead them astray so that they won’t be dethroned. So that the people never find the true Messiah.

This Christmas season, don’t allow anyone to separate you from the King of kings and LORD of lords. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you in any way. Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart, hoping that you will let Him in so that He might dwell in You and through You. Do you have room for him tonight?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Dethrone The Elites.

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Wise Men Still Seek Him

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” ~ Matthew 2:1-2

These wise men, also known as the magi, were watching and waiting for the promised Messiah. The king of the Jews, which would be the hope of Christmas for the whole world. They were probably scanning the night skies for generations, if not for centuries, waiting and hoping that it would be them who discovered the sign of the birth of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. The One who will save the whole world.

As soon as these men saw His star rising on the western horizon, they, with joyful hearts, packed their bags and belongings and prepared for travel. Then, they set out to find this promised Messiah they had been so patiently waiting for.

As the Christmas yard sign says:

Wise Men Still Seek Him

How many of us can say we are seeking the Messiah like these wise men did 2000 years ago? They traveled long distances just so that they could worship the Messiah and give Him gifts. Today, we won’t even travel 10 minutes down the street for a Church service. We won’t turn off the TV or put the game or book down long enough to have quiet time. There is no longer a desire to encounter God in the Church today. This Christmas season, let’s make the conscious decision to end the year better than we started it by spending more time with the LORD.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Still Seek Him.

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Give God All

15Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—17blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. ~ Genesis 22:15-19NKJV

Abraham was formerly Abram, and God had given Abram a promise that he would be the father of a multitude of nations. Not only would Abraham be the father of a multitude of nations, but in his seed, the nations of the world would be blessed. This seed is Jesus.

God promised the coming of the Messiah to Abraham. He promised that He would save the world and use Abraham’s seed to do it. Why? Because Abraham didn’t withhold anything from God. All that Abraham had, he willingly gave to God with faith and trust that it would be for his good. How many of us can honestly say that this is us?

Very few of us have the faith it takes to be used by God the way Abraham was used by God. Why? Because how many of us rush to meet God when He comes to meet us as Abraham did? In other words, how many of us set up a time every day to worship, pray, and spend time with God? Very few of us.

To be labeled a devout Christian in today’s world, all we have to do is pray before our meals and bed. Isn’t that sad? We don’t have to be on fire for God or even seek Him daily to be labeled a devout Christian. If we want to be used by God, we have to give Him everything.

Peace. Love. Go For and Give God All.

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Look Forward To His Return

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. ~ Luke 2:1

Jesus coming into all the world is the true and real Christmas story, yet there are those unbelieving critics who attack Christianity and the Bible by claiming that there is no proof that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus. Therefore, the Bible is in error and cannot be trusted. I mean, these people try so hard to disprove and discredit a God that they claim they do not believe in and that does not exist, yet they hate Him with a passion.

Remember, both God and His word are dependable and full of truth. I can assure you that God is not a man that He should lie. So, don’t let doubters, scoffers, or liars lead you astray; God is real, and His word is truth. Luke himself is considered a reliable historian, and his Gospel was written before the Book of Acts. Luke was also a companion and fellow worker with the great apostle Paul.

It’s generally accepted that Paul began his ministry around AD 49. So, the book of Luke would have been written close to around that time, probably in the AD 50’s. That would suggest that many people and many historians were still alive who would have witnessed the census, but there is nothing written that disproves Luke’s claims of a census or even challenges him.

If Luke was in error, he would have been called out by historians of his day. But as it is, nothing to the contrary has ever been found, and neither will there ever be. The people alive back then knew these facts to be true, so they did not dispute them. They couldn’t.

What I’m saying here is that we believe a true and real Gospel. It’s a true and accurate statement. Jesus is alive. Yes, He was dead, but now He is alive and well. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. And He’s coming back to get us real soon.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look Forward To His Return.

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Make Peace

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ~ Matthew 5:9

If you want to be called sons of God, you had better adhere to the prerequisite and be peacemakers, not dividers. It doesn’t matter how big your ministry is or how much talent you may have. It doesn’t matter how well-known your name may be. It doesn’t matter who you think you are; you are not above the law of God. God is no respecter of persons. Meaning there is but one law for all. And not one for you and one for everyone else.

We are to be peacemakers if we want to be called sons or daughters of God. We have to concentrate on what is before us and not what is behind us. We should have enough of this old world and begin to concentrate on our future, our eternity. Eternity is a long, long time, and many, many people are not preparing for it. We have to forgive and let go. We have to love and move forward.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Make Peace.

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The Goodness of God

6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. ~ 1 Samuel 30:6 KJV

The Scripture states that David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. It wasn’t somebody else’s God. It was his God. David knew Him personally, and God knew David personally.

Imagine, there is chaos all around him. There are men wailing and crying. But these aren’t just ordinary men; they are seasoned warriors. Confusion and sorrowing of heart and loud lamentations are charging the air. While everyone else was wallowing in their own despair and self-pity, David found strength or encouragement in the LORD his God.

Many of us today are feeling low. We’re feeling heartache, pain, depression, sorrow, etc. The very weight of the world feels as though it’s been laid on our shoulders, and it’s crushing us. This is when we remember what David did, and we follow suit. We bow our knees at the feet of Jesus, and we cry out to Him. We encourage ourselves in His love, mercy, promises, etc. We remind ourselves that God is good even when our world becomes difficult and taxing.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remind Yourself of The Goodness of God.

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Sow Good Seed

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. ~ John 15:8, 10

God wants something in return from us once we accept His free gift of salvation. How does that work? God doesn’t want to just redeem us and we remain exactly the same; He wants us to change and grow. He wants us to bear fruit that not only brings glory to His Name but grows our relationship with Him and shows others the way to Him.

God is glorified when we bear fruit, and we bear fruit when we have such a close relationship with Jesus that we can ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for us. How is all of this done? We have to abide in Him. Matter of fact, I would venture to say that it is impossible to get our heart’s desire without continuously abiding in Jesus’ love.

If abiding is so important, how do we abide? Jesus told us that if we keep His commandments, we will abide in His love. Jesus was speaking from experience. He kept His Father’s commandments, and He abided in His Father’s love. So, He gave us the same commandment. Therefore, if we want the benefits, we must adhere to the requirements. We can’t expect to reap if we don’t first sow.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Sow Good Seed.

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