…Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
— 2 Timothy 3:14,15

When my sisters and I were young, Dad would take time on Christmas morning to read the Christmas story to our family. He’d sit in his recliner in the corner of the living room near the Christmas tree, and he’d call for us to come near where we could hear. Mother, Ronda, Lori, and I would gather around as Dad opened his King James Bible to the familiar Christmas passage in Luke. If we were really attentive and Dad thought he still had our attention, he would take extra time to turn to Matthew’s account of the three wise men who came to worship Jesus as a young child. I especially loved it when he told us the story of the three wise men!

Although Dad did not continue this family tradition throughout my growing-up years, the years that he did make that a part of our Christmas morning impacted me personally as a young boy. I remember how his voice carried such authority as he read those sections of Scripture to us.

Do you read this story at Christmastime? Or do you and your family members simply dive into gifts and food and let the most important moment of the day slip by? I encourage you not to miss this great opportunity to put Jesus in the center of your Christmas by reading the story of His birth to your family!

In Second Timothy 3:14 and 15, Paul told Timothy, “…Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

How I wish my father had continued that family tradition, because the story of Christmas is truly the center of what the holiday is all about. In those moments when Dad read the Word to us on Christmas mornings, he was aflame with the Spirit. Over the years, however, that flame started gradually burning dimmer and dimmer. Dad always faithfully took us to church and taught us to put the Lord first in our lives, but that bright flame I remember burning in his heart when I was a young boy grew to a simmer over a number of years, and eventually he stopped reading the Christmas story to us at Christmastime. Thankfully, later in my father’s life, that flame for the things of God began to burn again.

When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, he stated that he had heard the Holy Scriptures since childhood — and that they were able to make him “wise” unto salvation. This word “wise” is the Greek word sophos, and it denotes special wisdom or special insight. It clearly means that even a child can have special insight into the Word of God if his parents or parental authority pours it into him at an early stage.

I’m so thankful that my mother consistently taught the Bible to me. In fact, my earliest memories are when mother would lie at my side each night with a big picture Bible and instill those Bible stories into me. As a result of that continual imparting of scriptural truth into my young heart, I began to receive spiritual insight at a very early age. Just as Paul told Timothy, it made me “wise” — the Greek word sophos — or especially enlightened. I was so full of insight, in fact, that I was able to walk the aisle and surrender my heart to Jesus at the age of five and truly comprehend what I was doing.

The Word of God is powerful, and if you have younger children or grandchildren, this Christmas I urge you to make the telling of the Christmas story the main theme of your day’s celebration. It won’t hurt the kids to wait a few more minutes before they dive into the gifts. And telling this story will remind them what this day is all about. As Scripture promises, it will bring wisdom and special insight to everyone who listens! Can you think of any better gift to give to your children on Christmas Day?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, this is a simple, yet powerful Sparkling Gem that I’ve read today. It is something I can implement in my family starting this year. Holy Spirit, give me the courage and boldness to tell my family that we’re starting with God’s Word first — and then we’ll dive into the gifts and presents. I ask You, Holy Spirit, to honor this commitment to bring special wisdom and insight to my children — and to us — as a result of giving the Word of God first place in our Christmas Day.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that this year will mark a Christmas that’s very different than those we’ve experienced in previous years. This year we are starting a new tradition with eternal significance — one that we’ll continue year after year. We will begin our Christmas morning with the reading of the Christmas story together as a family. This will teach us all patience, and it will put the most important element of Christmas — Jesus — right in the center of the day as just as He ought to be. And as a result, we will all grow in wisdom and insight regarding the significance of that special day, for the One whose birth we are celebrating has been made unto us wisdom!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Does your family gather together on Christmas morning to read the story of Jesus’ miraculous birth from the gospels (see Matthew 1,2; Luke 1,2)? If not, why not make a plan to do so?
2. If you have children, why not let them ask questions about what you are reading? It will invigorate the conversation and make it much more interactive. You will be surprised by some of their thoughts and insights!
3. Did anyone take the time to read the Christmas story to you when you were a child? If not, how do you think it might have impacted you if that had been part of your Christmas Day experience?

And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all.
— Luke 21:3

Grandmother Bagley was a very beloved grandmother in our array of six different grandmothers — and she was a true genetic grandmother. She was a very simple woman who had a lot of faith. She had lost several husbands and children due to sickness, and although she was a financially poor woman, she was rich in faith. When I visited her house, she always made the most wonderful lunches. But when I asked for seconds, she was quick to remind me that I needed to be satisfied with what she had fed me because she didn’t have enough for seconds.

One thing I’ll never forget about Grandmother Bagley was her commitment and devotion to give offerings to Oral Roberts Ministries. I can still visualize her writing the name “ORAL ROBERTS,” filling out the address on her envelope, and then inserting a one-dollar-bill into the envelope. She would hold it to her heart, pray over it, and put it out in the mailbox for the postman to collect it. When I saw this happen, I always knew I was beholding a very holy moment in the life of my Grandmother Bagley, for this was a huge sum of money for her to sow into that ministry.

Oh, how I loved Grandmother Bagley! She was kind, precious, and generous to others who were in need. She had suffered so much in life — the loss of her husbands and children — that she had a deep-seated compassion for people who were hurting in some way. However, when I saw her put money into that envelope, I knew she was truly sacrificing and giving what she could give by faith. It affected me deeply.

Every time I think of Grandmother Bagley, my mind goes to Luke 21:1-4, where Jesus said, “And He [Jesus] looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

It is, first of all, amazing to me that Jesus was standing near enough that He could see what people were giving in their offerings! Suddenly He saw a “certain poor widow.” The word “poor” is the Greek word penichros, which would depict someone who is abjectly poor. Jesus saw her place “two mites” into the offering box. A “mite” is from the Greek word lepton, the plural version of lepta, affirming that she placed two mites into the offering. It was the smallest, least valuable bronze coin in the currency of that day.

Yet in verse 3, Jesus was so impressed with the enormity of this widow’s faith and the size of her gift compared to what she financially had to give that He stopped everyone and drew attention to what this woman had done. He described this very poor woman, who had barely enough to survive, as one who put into the offering “more than they all.” The Greek here is comparative, and it indicates that all of the other wealthy people’s accumulated gifts did not equal what this poor widow put into the offering of God.

Then in verse 4, Jesus explained, “For all these [rich people] have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

Jesus said the rich had given of their “abundance.” This is the Greek word perisseuo, and it describes excess. In other words, it didn’t touch their real fortune; it was just a small tip that they put into the treasury. But the poor widow woman gave of her “penury” — the Greek word husterema, which refers to the last bit of money she possessed. It took no faith for the rich to give of their excess, but it took great faith for this poor widow to cast into the offering box all that she had. She was fully entrusting herself to the care of God in the belief that He would supernaturally meet her ongoing physical needs. Even though the amount the woman gave was smaller, the faith required to give it was larger.

Every year at Christmastime when we receive special offerings for our church in Moscow, I see Grandmother Bagley in my mind’s eye. Just like this poor widow woman Jesus described in Luke 21:1-4, my grandmother gave nearly all she had at Christmastime to support the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. It was a monumental act of her faith as she placed that special offering into the envelope, licked the seal, pressed it shut, and then held it to her heart in prayer.

When Grandmother Bagley left that envelope for the postman to pick up, she was sowing her best seed into that ministry. And just as Jesus watched the poor widow woman, He was watching my grandmother — as He watches all those who sacrificially give with faith. This is something that really gets Jesus’ attention!

I don’t know what your financial situation is like this Christmas season, but I urge you to give an offering into the work of God’s Kingdom that will cause Jesus to stop and take note. It’s not the amount; it’s the faith required to give the amount that causes Jesus to stop and pay special attention. Pray about it, and see what the Holy Spirit would put into your heart to give during this holiday season to help impact people’s lives for eternity!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, so often I’ve given of my excess and never really dipped into an amount that could cost me to use my faith. I am corrected today, and I will change. Today I make a deliberate decision to exercise my faith in a greater way by choosing not to refrain from giving even when my offering is small. Like the widow’s mite, my offering will please and honor Jesus because it is a gift from my heart that requires more faith than if it were merely a token from a surplus supply. Without faith it is impossible to please You, Father. And I seek to please You above all else. Holy Spirit, help me to know how much to stretch my faith, how much to give, and where to sow my seed so it will make a difference. I am sincerely asking for and receiving Your wisdom in this matter.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that from this moment onward, I will not casually give offerings out of my excess. Rather, I will dip deeper and truly give sacrificially to the Lord. I thought I was doing what was right, but I am convicted by what I have read today. I am going to make a change in my manner of giving. I am going to give on a level that requires more faith on my part. I affirm this day that whether I am giving of my time, my talent, or my finances, faith and love will be evident by the manner in which I give.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of someone who gives sacrificial gifts, especially at Christmastime? Who is that person, and how has his or her giving affected you?
2. Can you think of someone who struggles financially but continues to faithfully give his or her tithes and offerings to the Lord?
3. Did you have a friend or family member in your life like my Grandmother Bagley who deeply impacted you with their faithful giving? If so, who was that person? Would you consider taking a moment, if it’s still possible, to thank this individual for his or her faithfulness to the work of God?

And they…breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.
— Acts 2:46

Another holiday tradition my family followed at Christmas time was to gather at close friends’ houses on the Sunday nights leading up to Christmas. For about a month, each week we’d gather at a different house after the Sunday evening church service — and we’d fellowship for hours after the service. People would gather to play board games and other types of games. We also prayed together and sang songs around the piano. These memories formed the foundation of my understanding of the way fellowship should exist in the local church. Those adults and their children were important to me, and I loved them like they were part of my own family.

As a participant in those Sunday night fellowship times, my dad would often buy large sacks of uncooked peanuts, which he would then pour into cake tins and cook in the oven until they were toasted and piping hot. When they were done, he’d pull those baking tins out of the oven and carry them into the main room of the house, where he had spread newspapers over the floor. He’d pour the peanuts out onto the paper, and we would all begin the process of cracking open those warm peanuts. Piles of empty shells would soon fill the newspapers as we gobbled up the peanuts one by one!

On one Sunday night, someone would bring tacos; the next Sunday, someone would bring desserts. Each Sunday night, we waited to see what special treats we’d share from house to house. What a joy it was to meet in various homes each week in that month before Christmas. The truth is, our group of friends did this all year long — but in the month of December, we really spent time fellowshipping within our circle of Christian friends.

When I think of it, I am reminded of the Early Church and how they were committed to fellowshipping with each other. Acts 2:46 says, “And they [the believers]… breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”

Let’s look at this verse today and see what we can learn about the Christian fellowship that occurred in the Early Church and what God desires for us today. You’re about to discover that Christian fellowship has always been built around food, even in the Early Church!

This verse says that they were “breaking bread from house to house.” Don’t let the words “breaking bread” mislead you into thinking this was a ritual Communion service. The words “breaking bread” was translated from a Greek phrase used to denote sharing a wonderful meal and a time of fellowship and relaxation with friends. It was such a common phrase that even heathens used it when they wanted to experience a time of fellowship with others.

The King James Version says these times of fellowship occurred “from house to house,” but the Greek simply says in private houses. These fellowship events were simply the sharing of food with other friends in Christ — similar to the Sunday night tradition we had among our Christian friends when I was growing up. It is certainly possible that they rotated from house to house, as we did, but the Greek language actually only states that they experienced these times of fellowship in private houses.

And what did they do there in those private houses where their fellowship occurred? They “did eat…” (Acts 2:46). What a role food has had in the fellowship of the saints both then and now!

The words “did eat” are from the word metalambano — a word that means to fully partake of. The grammar used here means there was a lot of eating connected with this rich fellowship! It even tells us what they ate! It says they “did eat their meat.” Meat, of course, was not a part of an official Communion service, but it was a key ingredient in a regular meal! These early believers were eating meals in private homes as a key part of their rich fellowship with one another.

And notice it says they “…did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” The phrase “gladness and singleness” of heart is from the Greek word apheloteti, which refers to generosity. In other words, they left the complications of life outside the door. They enjoyed each other fully once inside those private homes, where generous portions of food and fellowship took place among a house full of believers! Ah — this is exactly what it was like on the Sunday nights leading up to Christmas when I was a young boy!

As you approach this year’s holiday season, why not consider having a houseful of people from your church over for a generous evening of food, fun, and fellowship? These times build relationships and make your union stronger. It doesn’t have to be an eight-course meal. Just throw some peanuts in the oven and bake them until they are ready — or have tacos, chili, or something inexpensive and easy to make. The food helps pull everyone together, but in the end, it’s really not about the quality of the food. It’s about fellowship!

From the beginning of the Church Age to the last of these last days, God’s people have been getting together to strengthen their relationships, to share the love of Christ, and to enjoy one another in “private houses” — outside of a church setting. If you’ve never opened your own home for such an event, maybe this is the year for you to step out by faith and invite a small or large group of people over for an evening of fellowship. And who knows what the Lord will do among you? It may turn out to be a life-changing event for some in the group. Is this your year to step out in faith and throw open the door to your home?

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for the fellowship that exists in the Body of Christ. Because of fellowship, we are made stronger. Fellowship with close friends and family — and the Holy Spirit — makes us stronger and gives us a sound foundation of relationships in the Body of Christ! Help me to use my home to help build stronger relationships in the Christian community to whom I belong!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am a stronger Christian because of my fellowship with other believers over the years. Their fellowship has strengthened me, encouraged me, and taken me to a higher level in my walk with Christ. When I fellowship with other believers, it becomes an opportunity for iron to sharpen iron as we grow in Him together and allow the love of God to bring out the best in one another. I readily acknowledge that I need Christian fellowship, and I cherish it as a treasured gift in my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you considered the effect that Christian fellowship has on making you stronger as a believer?
2. If you’ve ever lacked Christian fellowship, how did that void affect your life?
3. What can you do to encourage more Christian fellowship in your life and to reinforce your Christian walk? I encourage you to make a list and really think it through.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.
— Hebrews 10:24

Different families have different traditions regarding how they spend Christmas Day. As for my family, once all the gifts were opened and things were cleaned up around our own house, we always headed next to Grandpa and Grandma Renner’s house, where another Christmas tree with gifts awaited us. Grandma Renner had one of those cameras with huge flashbulbs, and after each photo, we all had to wait while she replaced four burned-out bulbs with fresh ones. She had to repeat that process every time a photo was taken.

After gifts were opened, we all knew it was just a short time before we’d sit down to have Christmas lunch. There we all were — Daddy, Mother, Ronda, Lori, myself, Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandmother Faulkner (my great-grandmother and mother of Grandmother Renner, a woman who had been married five times). I can even tell you the seating arrangement at the table, because it never changed from year to year. I was always seated next to Grandmother Faulkner, who had milky-like cataracts that slipped around both of her eyes and were rather horrid to look at.

The talk at the table could go from positive to negative in a very short period of time. My father was the moderator, and if things swung in a negative direction, he would say “Enough of that!”

The food was amazing. We had turkey, ham, baked green beans in bacon sauce, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes and gravy, biscuits — and all of that was just starters — to be followed by an array of desserts that covered one end of the table to the other end. The Christmas lunch would literally last for hours. It was a tradition that became very important in the Renner household. All of it was prepared by multiple hands — and before we ate it, we always joined hands and thanked God for another wonderful year.

When I think of those Christmas meals, my mind always goes to Hebrews 10:24, which says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.” The word “consider” is the Greek word katanoeo, a compound of kata and neoeo. The word kata means down, and neoeo means to think. When compounded, they form a new word that means to deeply reflect, to consider, or to think deeply about. The word “provoke” is the Greek word paroxusmos, which negatively means to irritate, but positively means to stimulate. In this case, it is used in a positive sense to stimulate each other unto love and good works. When all of these words are used together, it is the image of a person or a group of people who are actively pondering how to stimulate each other to love and do good works.

That’s what happened at our Christmas dinner each year. With Dad as the moderator, he grabbed hold of any conversation that swung in a negative direction and swung it back in a positive direction. This demonstrated to me the power that one person can have in making sure a conversation is positive and Christ-filled. My dad taught that to me through example, because without his input, the conversation would have swung in a very negative, nasty direction. But he would not allow it. He purposely kept the conversation on track, and he made sure that kind things were said about every person who was mentioned at that Christmas meal. Dad encouraged me to always say kind things about others — even when I had opportunity to say something nasty or uncomplimentary. He simply wouldn’t allow it.

As you get ready for your own Christmas dinner with your family this year, make the decision that you’ll make kind remarks about every person who is mentioned. Christmas isn’t a time for gossip or unkind remarks. It’s a time to express thankfulness for all that God has done through various individuals. And if you can’t easily think of something good to say about someone, maybe the best route is just to keep your mouth shut. Sometimes that’s the greatest wisdom of all!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, this year when we gather around the Christmas table, I ask You to set a watch over my lips and a guard over my mouth. I make the decision now that my words will glorify You and bless and edify others. If the conversation turns negative and those around me begin to talk about various individuals, help me to be bold and courageous enough to lovingly say, “Enough of that” — and then shift the conversation toward the positive. I refuse to be negative and give way to sarcasm. The carnal mind enjoys that, and so does the devil because it gives him an opportunity to interject his lies. But I thank You, Holy Spirit, that You are my Counselor, and with Your help, my heart deeply ponders and guides what my mouth speaks before I ever say a word.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am a source that provokes others to love and to good works! My mouth is a life-spring of good works that encourages others to do what God would have them to do. I do NOT speak critical words, nor am I a source of negative talk. When my family or friends are together as a group, I see myself as a moderator who keeps the conversation on course. I will influence the group to speak of things that are praiseworthy and of a good report. I am a positive force, and because of me, others are stimulated to love and to good works!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you remember specific negative conversations you’ve participated in and how they led to nowhere positive? In light of those memories, what are you going to do at this Christmas meal to keep things headed in a positive direction?
2. The fact is that all is not well with everyone we know. However, if we will make the effort, we’ll be able to think of something good to say about every Have you given serious contemplation about what you are going to be saying about people this year at your Christmas meal?
3. You may have someone in your family who isn’t well liked by other family members. Have you prayed for that person and asked God to help you find something positive to say about him or her as you learn to see that family member through His eyes?

Now the works of the flesh are…. lasciviousness….
— Galatians 5:19

Several months before the Christmas season began, my Grandpa and Grandma Renner would receive a Sears Christmas catalog in the mail. When that catalog arrived, we three Renner kids could hardly wait to see what Sears was offering for Christmas. The experience was made even more enticing when my parents took us to the Sears department store, and we’d walk floor to floor to personally inspect the products to see if they were as wonderful as they appeared in the catalog.

Ronda, Lori, and I would pore over the pages of that catalog. It was huge — filled with clothes, camping gear, and gifts of all sorts. Of course, since we were kids, we were especially drawn to the multiple pages filled with images of wonderful toys. I knew I couldn’t have them all, but I’d dream about getting certain toys for my Christmas gifts. In fact, that is where I found my robot that walked when the antenna was placed into its head. Oh, at Christmastime, there was just nothing as exciting as a Sears Christmas catalog! (Maybe you’re of the generation that can relate to that memory!)

When we went to the store to peruse the products, Ronda looked at clothes; I looked at toys; Lori looked at dolls; Mother looked at washing machines; and Dad looked at tools. Each of us were attracted to different things.

*I would have to say that one word summed it up for us — greed. Even though I knew it wasn’t possible, I wanted the BB gun, the Indian Fort with all of its little plastic Indians and cowboys, and the 2-foot-high rocket; Lori wanted the Barbie dollhouse and all of the accessories that went with it; and Ronda wanted a whole new wardrobe of clothes every year. We vigorously flipped through those catalog pages, looking at this thing, that thing, and this other thing — and greed just about ate us up! What was worse, we knew we couldn’t have it all! So we struggled with a dilemma each Christmas season: How did we choose what we wanted out of all the marvelous things that were offered on those pages?

Even at our young age, greed was already working in us — a characteristic the Bible calls a “work of the flesh.” Galatians 5:19 says, “Now the works of the flesh are…[among others] lasciviousness.…”

As Paul listed the works of the flesh in the book of Galatians, he mentioned “lasciviousness.” This strange word comes from the Greek word aselgeia. This Greek word describes excess, but it primarily refers to the excessive consumption of food or wild, undisciplined living. In fact, it refers to the wild, undisciplined desire for anything — and that’s why it is often translated as the word greed. It’s the desire for more and more — never satisfied.

Although the three of us were young, that work of the flesh had already reared its ugly head. Daddy and Mother had to reel us in and teach us to be more disciplined in our thinking. They taught us to be more selective about what we wanted, because they were not rich enough to buy everything we thought should go on our lists!

As a young boy, I started the process of learning to repent for being materialistic. All of the works of the flesh can be forgiven — but before forgiveness comes, sin must be acknowledged. My parents helped me understand that having everything one wants is not a reality of life and is not even good for us. I came to recognize the desire to have more and more of whatever I wanted as sin — so I repented and confessed, and I was cleansed. And I learned one more important point: When greed is removed, thankfulness for anything you receive takes over!

If you have fallen into any aspect of this work of the flesh, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to see this sin as He sees it. Once you get a revelation of His perspective, you won’t want to be the same! You’ll understand the grossness of sin in God’s sight, and you will want to be changed!

Just confess your sin, and God will forgive you so you can move on with your life free (see 1 John 1:9). Pray for God’s mighty grace to be upon you to forgive you. Dear friend, God is with you, and He wants to change your life. Open your heart, and let the Holy Spirit be your Helper. He wants to help you live continually cleansed, set free, and morally strong and stable. With His help, you can do it!

There was nothing wrong with dreaming about what we saw in the Sears Christmas Catalog — and there is nothing wrong with our dreaming about upgrading every part of our lives. But when desire becomes greed, it is sin, and we must ask forgiveness for it. God is always standing by as our personal Helper to guide us through this very important process!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I ask You to forgive me for wanting everything all at one time. I didn’t realize this was greed trying to get a foothold in my life. Help me know how to dream without falling headlong into greed at the same time. As I set my sights toward things on the earth, help me to recognize which desires are pure and inspired by You and which are just my own carnal lusts or worldly desires. I truly want to please You, Lord, so I ask You to help me conform my thoughts to Your will.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am moderate in the way I live and in the things I desire to obtain. I refuse to allow greediness to rule me. I live by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that works mightily in me. His love in me enables me to focus on what others need more than what I want for myself. I am thankful for this work of Christ that helps me to esteem others more highly than myself.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Can you think of a time when greed consumed your life — and you could think of nothing more than what additional worldly possessions you could add to your life?
2. What broke the power of greediness in your life? What instigated the big change?
3. If you were advising someone today who is consumed with worldly possessions, what advice would you give them to walk free from this dominating control?

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
— Ephesians 5:19

Somehow in the midst of the busy holiday schedule, the youth group I attended as a teenager managed to find time to sing Christmas carols in our church’s local neighborhood. We’d bundle up to stay warm, and then we would walk from house to house to sing to people who stood on their porches to listen.

I’m not sure it’s still customary as it once was many years ago for people to walk from house to house to sing Christmas carols, but it remains a precious memory in my life from my younger years. We’d sing with all our hearts, trying to bring joy to people during the Christmas season. And of course, we saw it as a method of evangelism because we were singing songs about the birth of Jesus Christ. Afterward we’d invite people to come to church for the Christmas service.

Several years ago, Denise’s mother was living in an assisted-living complex and drawing near the end of her life. It was the Christmas season, and she was feeling very lonely. One night an entire family knocked on her door and asked if they could come into her little living room to sing Christmas carols to her. Her eyes lit up, she sat upright in her recliner, and joyfully welcomed them in. As the carolers sang, she joined in with them, singing with all the might she could muster. When the carolers finished, they hugged and prayed for her. Denise’s mother talked about that event for several weeks afterward because it had brought such intense joy into her solitary life.

Paul talks about the importance of songs and hymns in Ephesians 5:19, and although it is not specifically a Christmas verse, it certainly could apply to the Christmas holidays. It reads, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” The word “psalms” is the Greek word psalmos, and it refers to singing songs of praise. It depicts singing psalms with a stringed instrument, such as a guitar or something similar. The word “hymns” is humnos, and it refers to sacred compositions whose primary goal is to give glory and honor to God.

There’s just something about singing songs that glorify the Lord that releases joy and takes people to a higher level. Those who are depressed or lonely are uplifted when they hear and sing these kinds of songs.

So today I want to make a holiday suggestion to you: Why not put together a Christmas carol group this year and revive this old-time tradition? You need not walk from home to home. You could choose specific homes where difficulty and sadness prevailed for a time. Just knock on the door or ring the doorbell, and when those who live there answer the door, pour out your heart as you sing about Jesus to them. It may be just what they need to lift them up from the sadness and depression they are feeling. And you might even ask them to join you as you make your way to the next house!

What an easy and thoughtful way to make a big difference in someone’s life this Christmas season!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I appreciate what I’ve read today about ministering in music and Christmas carols at this time of the year. Help me not to focus on my own needs and problems but to take a day or two to focus on people who are living lonely and solitary. If possible, help me gather a group of people who will join with me to creatively bring the praise and glory of God to people who need a lift!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I have a voice to glorify the Lord and that this holiday season, I am going to use it to bring emotional encouragement and spiritual exhortation to people who need a lift from the cares of life. I may not be the best singer, but I can sing with others. I choose to obey Ephesians 5:19 and speak and sing to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs this Christmas season. God will join me with a group of praisers with like-minded hearts, and together we’ll become a “musical troupe” to bring joy to people who need encouragement!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. How long has it been since you went Christmas caroling? What did it do for your own soul to know that you went out of the way to be a blessing to someone in this way?
2. How long has it been since someone came to your door to sing Christmas carols to you or to your family? How would it affect you?
3. Who do you know that is lonely, depressed, feeling solitary, and could use some special encouragement at this time of the year? Why not put together a group of carolers, wrap up and stay warm, and go have fun singing carols to that person?

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
— James 1:20

I remember well a particular Christmas memory that isn’t very pleasant. I was about five years old, and I threw a horrible fit of anger because I was so upset with the gift that my Grandfather Miller and Grandma Jo gave me.

As I said in the December 9 Gem, our family had many divorced relatives. In order not to show favoritism to any one side of the family, my parents tried to visit every single part of the family each Christmas afternoon. It made for a busy afternoon driving from house to house — and one house we stopped at was my Grandfather Miller’s and his fourth wife, whom we called Grandma Jo.

To be honest, none of us Renner kids liked Grandma Jo very much. She seemed old, wrinkled, and cranky — and when we were in their home, we had to sit on the couch like little statues, and we even got rebuked if we touched the coffee table in the middle of the room. Oh, how I loathed going to their home because we couldn’t move an inch the whole time we were there! However, Grandfather Miller was our real grandfather, and although Jo wasn’t my mother’s real mother, she was married to him. So we were bound to visit her whenever we saw our grandfather.

As I noted previously, one year when I was about five years old, I had sat still on the couch for so long that I just about couldn’t take it any longer. My patience was running out, and Grandma Jo was about to get the best of me. The only thing that kept me together was the thought that if we paid the painful price of motionless silence a little longer, eventually my sisters, Ronda and Lori, and I would receive Christmas gifts!

Finally, the moment came when Grandfather and Grandma Jo presented their gifts to us. I was so excited to see what kind of toy I would receive as a “reward” for enduring Jo’s impatience with us. But when I opened the package, it was a shirt! After sitting immobile on that couch for what seemed like forever, waiting and waiting to see what kind of toy I was going to receive, they gave me a shirt! I got so mad that, as my mother tells it, I threw the shirt at my grandparents and angrily told them to keep it. Of course, my parents were very embarrassed, and I received a strong correction that I still remember to this day!

This story brings to mind James 1:20, which says, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” The word “wrath” is precisely what I expressed that Christmas afternoon when I threw that shirt back in the faces of my grandparents. It is the Greek word orges, and it depicts an angry impulse that grows out of proportion and is most often directed toward a person or persons. It is an explosive outbreak of anger — an outrageous, hostile display that usually results in someone’s feelings getting hurt. It is the picture of a person losing control of his emotions. This loss of control may be accompanied with ranting and raving or violent actions — just like when I threw the shirt back at my grandparents and rudely yelled, “Just keep it!”

James says that this type of behavior “worketh not” the righteousness of God.” The word “worketh” is ergadzomai, which means this type of wrathful behavior does not produce the righteous type of behavior God desires — which in my case would have sounded something like this: “It’s a beautiful shirt. Thank you so much.” But the whole day had been a difficult one for this young boy. Sitting motionless on the divan for hours, anticipating a toy as recompense for enduring the moment and then opening the box and seeing only a shirt — I just let my emotions go and exploded.

Before we left the house that day, I was taken into a bedroom, corrected for my behavior, and told to apologize and thank my grandparents for the beautiful shirt. It was difficult for me to do at the time, but I obeyed my parents. By the way, the next Christmas they gave me a marvelous toy that I kept for years and may even still have in storage!

I tell this story because we all are tempted to express displeasure when we are deeply disappointed, but violent explosions don’t produce the godly behavior God desires of us. Whenever we are feeling upset or disappointed and are tempted to just “let loose” and explode, we should find a place to retreat and be alone with God so we can process those negative emotions in His presence. He is always ready and available to stabilize us and help us bring our emotions back under control.

So I encourage you to make a conscious decision today to yield to the working of God’s Spirit in your life on a daily basis. As you do, you’ll find that your self-control grows as you draw more and more on His strength within you. And the next situation you encounter where your emotions are tested, you’ll find it easier to hold yourself steady on the inside and to respond in a way that brings pleasure and glory to Jesus!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Dear Father, I confess that I’ve had moments when I’ve exploded, lost my temper, and said things that I later regretted. I ask You to forgive me — and I ask You to help me learn how to submit my emotions to the control of the Holy Spirit. Whether it’s me, my family members, or my friends who are acting in ugly ways, help me realize that such behavior is irrational. Thank You for Your grace to help us upgrade our emotional responses to the various situations in life we encounter each day.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that my emotions and reactions are controlled by the Holy Spirit. When my flesh tries to act up, the Spirit of God inside me helps me regain control and bring my flesh into subjection to the Word of God and the behavior of Christ. My mind, my emotions, my reactions, my mouth — they are all tools to be used by the Holy Spirit, and I will NOT use them in explosive ways that could damage and hurt the people whom I love and respect.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you ever been disappointed by something you received, because you were expecting something different? How did you respond?
2. In moments when you’ve shown “wrath” because of a disappointment, were you later embarrassed and sorry that you acted so badly in that moment?
3. If you have listened to the Holy Spirit, I am sure that He has tried to calm you down so you wouldn’t react in wrath and anger on different occasions. Can you name a time when you listened to Him instead of getting angry, and you were thankful that you avoided an ugly scene?

For ye have need of patience….
— Hebrews 10:36

Oh, how I looked forward to Christmas morning as a young boy, when we would finally be able to open all the gifts under the Christmas tree! Day by day, Daddy and Mother would gradually add gifts, and the pile of presents would grow higher and higher. I’d always wonder, Did they get me what I really wanted? What is inside those beautifully wrapped boxes?

As the Christmas gifts begin to stack up around the base of the Christmas tree, I’d feel a strong temptation to vigorously shake the boxes up and down to try to figure out what was inside. I remember Daddy telling me to stop and to put them back in their places under the tree. That urge to shake the gifts and “guess” their contents was too great a temptation to resist! In fact, all three of us siblings — Ronda, Lori, and I — got in trouble multiple times each year for giving in to that temptation! It would only be a short time before we’d be allowed to open those gifts, but the desire to figure out what was inside them was almost too much for us to control. Maybe you can relate to this as you remember back to your childhood!

One year, Ronda even coaxed me to get up after everyone was asleep and join her in secretly unwrapping all the gifts to find out what they were. Once we examined all the presents, we carefully rewrapped each gift so we wouldn’t get caught and get in trouble. To our misfortune, we weren’t that good at rewrapping, so Daddy and Mother figured out what we had done — and we got in trouble anyway! Even worse, it took all the fun out of Christmas morning because we already knew what was in every gift box. And the saddest part was that it really took the joy out of the event for our parents, who were so disappointed that they missed the thrill of seeing us surprised as we discovered what was in each wrapped gift.

Patience is something that everyone struggles with in life. Whether it’s a child who wants a gift immediately, a teenager who wants a car, a wife who wants a new dress, or a husband who wants a new car or fishing boat — in some respect, everyone has to learn the lesson of patience.

In Hebrews 10:36, the Bible says, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” We know that the Bible is full of promises that are part of our inheritance in Christ. Every one of those promises is a “gift” to unwrap. But if you’ve walked any length of time with the Lord, you know that there is sometimes a period of waiting between the “believing” that a particular gift from Heaven is yours and the “unwrapping” of that gift!

Perhaps there is a particular promise that you have released your faith to receive, and it seems that the manifestation of that promise keeps being delayed again and again. Maybe that promise even involves God’s good plan for your life and the fulfillment of the very reason He put you on this earth. To you, the Bible says, “For ye have need of patience….”

The word “patience” is the Greek word hupomeno, a compound of hupo and meno. The word hupo means to firmly stand by a thing, and the word meno means to resolutely stay in one spot with no intention to move for any reason. When compounded, they form the word hupomeno, which is the resolute decision that you will receive what you desire and that you will not be moved by any situation until you receive it. It is to be immovable until the thing prayed for is manifested.

Inherent in this word hupomeno is the implication that situations will arise in life that will try to move you off your targeted goal. But with hupomeno working inside you, you have the ability to outlast any competition or obstacle and stay on course until you’ve fully done the will of God — and at long last, you receive the coveted prize of your faith.

Spiritually speaking, if you’ve asked the Father for a specific thing that He has already promised you in His Word, there is no need for you to go about “shaking boxes” to see if He has given you what you’ve released your faith to receive. In fact, “shaking the gift” to figure out what is in it should alert you that you’re still not fully in faith about your request!

You have to find what God has said about the matter in His Word and get it settled in your heart. That promise is sitting “wrapped under the tree,” and it already has your name on it!

So whenever you’re feeling impatient about God’s timing, don’t start trying to figure out in your mind what’s in the box before He’s ready for you to open it. Trust the Lord that He has His best in store for you. If you’ve asked in faith, God will do what you’ve asked Him to do in Jesus’ name. The timing may be a little different than what you anticipated, but you can rest assured that God will come through for you — because He is faithful and He cannot lie (see Titus 1:2).

Your part is to obey God, believe His Word, let hupomeno work inside you, and enter into the rest of faith (see Hebrews 4:3). As you do, it will only be a matter of time until you receive exactly what the Father has desired to give you all along. That is the promise of Hebrews 10:36!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I repent for my impatience as I wait for the fulfillment of what I’ve asked You to do for me. In a certain sense, I’ve been “shaking the gifts” and not trusting that You would do what You said You would do. Waiting a little longer won’t hurt me. In fact, it will help me develop my character and learn patience. For this, I say thank You. And for my impatience, I ask You to forgive me and to help me keep growing in this aspect of my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that patience is a strong force in my life. As I walk with Christ and learn to trust in Him ever more dearly, the attribute of patience is growing stronger and stronger in me. I don’t have to mistrust the Lord or check Him out to see if He is really doing what I asked. If I have asked for something in faith, it’s only a matter of time until what I’ve prayed for comes to pass!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Spiritually speaking, did you ever “shake the boxes” to see if God had done what He has promised to do for you? Is it possible that you haven’t fully trusted Him and have tried to figure out what He is doing in your own natural reasoning?
2. How are you doing in the “patience realm” of your life? Do your actions reveal a need for growth in this area?
3. Think about how much pleasure it gives God when you ask Him to do something and then simply trust Him to do Are you giving God this pleasure, or are you disappointing Him by continually checking to see if He is going to be faithful?

Blessed be God…who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
— 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

I was a university freshman when my Grandmother Renner was hospitalized over the Christmas holiday with a heart condition and my wonderful Grandpa Renner — a man who had a strong impact on my life — was home alone for several weeks. Everyone in our family noticed that he had begun to act oddly during those weeks, but we simply attributed it to the medication he was taking for severe arthritis. He seemed to be thinking irrationally a lot, lost in the fog of his imagination while he was home alone and Grandma was in the hospital.

One day while I was home on holiday break, my father called me and said, “Grandpa doesn’t answer the phone, and he hasn’t been to the hospital to see Grandma today. She’s worried about him, and it’s not normal that no one has heard from him. Would you please meet me at your grandparents’ house so we can make sure that everything is all right?”

Without going into the details, I’ll tell you that everything was not all right. The house was locked, and since Grandpa was nowhere to be seen, we ventured into his beloved garage to see if he was doing something in there. It was there that we discovered that my grandpa had taken his life. I’ll never forget that moment, and the great grief that overwhelmed my father. However, in that moment, the Holy Spirit filled me with a tangible sense of His power so I could be a supernatural support to my father in that moment of intense grief and shock.

Dad stayed with Grandpa’s body and asked me to call our pastor. Within minutes, our pastor rang the doorbell to announce his arrival. Not long after that, medical workers arrived in an ambulance to examine my grandpa’s body and transport him to the morgue. As if that day had not already been difficult enough, Dad and I then had to go to the hospital to break the sorrowful news to Grandma. When we told her, she and Dad simply held each other and cried — a sight I shall never forget as long as I live.

That next year, we all dreaded Christmas because we knew that it would remind us of the previous year’s tragedy, and we knew that we would feel the absence of Grandpa and potentially live through the pain of those emotions all over again.

However, God was with us in a mighty and faithful way that Christmas season. His grace was simply upon us — comforting us and helping us move forward with no great, crushing grief. It was truly miraculous to see how God worked to help us through what could have been a very difficult time.

When I think of that heart-wrenching moment, my thoughts go to Second Corinthians 1:3 and 4, where Paul wrote, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

In verse 3, Paul called God the Father of “mercies.” This is the Greek word oiktirmos, which describes compassion, lament, or sorrow. It tells us that God completely understands and identifies with the suffering soul. The word “comfort” is paraklesis, which describes the encouragement, consolation, and comfort that one provides to another who is undergoing bereavement, hardship, or suffering. It is encouragement in a time of desperate need. When these words are used together, they tell us that God Himself comes to the assistance of those who are suffering difficulty, whether physical or emotional.

In verse 4, Paul continued, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

The word “tribulation” in Greek is thlipsis, and it depicts a crushing pressure — far beyond what the normal human being could undergo or survive. It tells us that when Paul wrote these words, he was suffering immensely. But God “comforted” him — that is, God stood by Paul and gave him the strength he needed to go through the trial successfully. As a result, Paul was able to “…comfort them which are in any trouble.”

Perhaps there is nothing more powerful than a personal testimony, and Paul could testify that God had sustained him through a crushing period of his life. He had been “comforted by God” — God stepped forward to personally sustain and encourage Paul and assure him that he would make it through the end of his trial.

This is precisely what my family experienced when Grandpa Renner took his life. At the time, it felt crushing, debilitating, and so very painful. However, God stepped forward to personally strengthen us through that crushing ordeal. As a result, we are able to tell others that, regardless of what they might face or have to deal with in life, God will be with them and will sustain them to the end! He is the God of all comfort, and He is faithful to help us through each and every trial!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

God, I thank You that Your presence is constantly available when I go through hardship and trials. When it seems that emotions will overwhelm me, You are there — sustaining me and giving me the power I need to overcome each hardship. Just as you sustained the apostle Paul, you will sustain me — regardless of what I am facing in my life. You will step forward as my personal Helper to strengthen and assist me in my time of need. I am so thankful for this, and I praise You for it today!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ! On my own, I would suffer endless loss, but because Jesus lives BIG inside me, I have the power to overcome every single obstacle that I face in life. There may be some events that I thought I would never face, but God’s power has stood at my side and has strengthened me to make it to victory. God has ordained victory for my future. I latch hold of it and refuse to let go until I’ve experienced the total victory that Jesus Christ has planned for my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. We all confront difficult situations in life. However, the power of God is present to sustain us and carry us to victory. Can you think of a moment that would have been devastating, but God’s power carried you to victory?
2. Can you think of a time when you know that you would have crumbled if the Lord had not stood by and sustained you? What was that situation? How did the Lord help you? What did you learn about His goodness in the midst of it all?
3. If you know someone who is going through a crushing experience right now, what would you encourage them to do? How would you exhort them to open up to the empowering presence of God to carry them through to victory?

…He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted….
— Luke 4:18

Although Christmastime was a joyous time for our family, Christmas Day itself reminded me about the pain of broken families. My grandfather had been married four times; two of my grandmothers had been married twice; a great-grandmother had been married five times; an uncle had been married three times; and the list seemed to go on and on. I had six grandmothers and three grandfathers — some natural, others added by divorce and remarriage.

I always felt this brokenness at Christmastime because Dad and Mom faithfully took us to visit every single faction of our multiple family branches. We’d spend a little time with one set of grandparents, then the next, then go on to the next, and then we’d start on visiting our various grandmothers. In a certain way, Christmas Day felt a bit like geriatric ministry as we spent most of the afternoon trying to see and honor all the old people in our family who had been married various times.

Those Christmas afternoon “tours” each year were difficult for our family in that they brought up painful memories for those old enough to remember. This particular childhood memory of Christmastime always makes me pray for people who are from broken homes and are confronted with this brokenness during the holidays. It’s just a fact that holidays are not always easy to celebrate for people who have fragmented families.

However, I have a scripture I want to share with you — one that I believe will encourage you during this holiday season if you are confronted by painful memories or brokenness. In Luke 4:18, Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted….”

I want to particularly look at the word “brokenhearted” in this verse. It is from the Greek word tethrasamenous, the perfect passive participle of thrauo, and it depicts a person who has been shattered or fractured by life. It is the picture of those whose lives have been continually split up and fragmented. It well describes the situation that I saw in my family when I was growing up. If you are from a divided family, this word could describe you and the shattered emotions you may deal with as an aftermath of the broken relationships you’ve experienced.

But Jesus said that He came to “heal” the brokenhearted! The word “heal” is the Greek word aphiesi, which means to set free or to loosen from the detrimental effects of a shattered life. In the King James Version, it is translated to “heal,” but the Greek speaks of a release from the destructive effects of brokenness. In other words, although there is every reason to experience and feel brokenness, the anointing that is on Jesus is more than enough to release you from its adverse effects. Even though you were once broken by life, the anointing of the Holy Spirit has the power to restore and release you from this captivity that has held you in emotional bondage.

I can say that although our family was filled with the brokenness of failed relationships, God’s powerful presence was enough to restore those failed covenants. There was no hate that I can remember, and people who were once at odds with each other were congenial toward each other as we fellowshipped during the holiday season. It was a true miracle of God’s grace. It didn’t fix the relationships and put them back in their original order, but the grace of God made them peaceable.

If you have been through the experience of failed relationships and broken families, I want to tell you that the anointing of Jesus is sufficient to release you from the pain of that experience. It may not happen overnight, but with the grace of God working in you — and you cooperating with His grace — He can restore what the enemy meant for destruction. Today I encourage you to throw open your arms and receive the grace of God that empowers and restores. It’s yours for the taking — and if you are in a difficult family relationship, you need it!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, my family grapples with the aftereffects of different situations that have caused fracturing of relationships. I have felt pain and cried many tears over the brokenness in my family. Yet I can also see Your faithfulness to me and to each one of us through the years. No matter who may fail, forsake, or disappoint us, You have always kept Your Word to intervene and lift us up. Today as I read about the anointing of Jesus that comes to release us from feelings of hurt and brokenness, I am greatly encouraged. I throw open my arms to receive His healing and delivering power! Although things can never be as they once were — or perhaps never were but should have been — I ask that the peace of God and the anointing of God release me and my family members from the pain that has hurt each one of us so badly in different ways as a result of these failed relationships.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am not an emotional slave to the dysfunctional ordeals my family has been through over the years. Although there may have been times when I felt trapped by the pain of hurt and misunderstanding, the anointing of God has set me free and I am now liberated from these past wounds and inner hurts. I am not shattered, fractured, or inwardly torn to pieces. Regardless of what the enemy tried to do, I am whole, free, and full of love for every member of my family!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you find yourself in a fractured family situation? How has this affected your holiday season each year?
2. Have you experienced the healing power of Jesus’ love as it invades those broken places within you and your loved ones to set you free? Can you recall a time when the Lord has ministered His love to you in a special way during the Christmas season?
3. Has God placed love and restoration in your heart for those broken relationships within your family? Are you ready and willing to allow the love of God to work through you as you yield to His leadership through all the challenges attached to the holidays?