Author: Christine

Are you thawing your turkey? Chopping? Cleaning? Shopping? Traveling? The day before Thanksgiving is a busy preparation day ahead of your Thanksgiving gathering. Checking your menu, getting last minute items finished, making sure you are ready.

Preparation Day 2,000 years ago was the day Jesus died on the cross (John 19:31-37). The unlimited grace and mercy poured out at the cross, in anticipation of you and I coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, is the very point of preparation day.

We live our lives, serving self, preparing for our future, providing for our children and grandchildren. These are all good things and God says we should work. Are we also preparing our souls to live beyond this world? Are you securing a place in eternity? Jesus has already prepared a place for us (John 14:1-4). The good news is the work is done. Jesus invites you to come to Him. I pray you would receive this gift today.

John 19:31-37 “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶ For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

John 14:1-4 “ “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Christmas lights going up. Holiday music on the radio. Looking forward to Christmas earlier than in years past. Why?

Is it the unknown future? Is it a year of upheaval? Is it escaping the present?

Looking for Christmas means looking for the Savior. The hope He brings. The peace He is. The love He bestows. Hearts are tired. Hearts are anxious. The true meaning of Christmas is our Messiah born in a stable, a gift of grace and mercy brought to a world in chaos, then and now. Shepherds came and worshipped Him, kings bowed down before Him.

People today are searching for truth. Truth to believe, truth to follow. Examine your hearts. Remember the teachings of your parents, your grandparents, Sunday school teacher, youth pastor. The love they shared with you is the same love Jesus gives.

Stop looking. The Bible is your source of truth, hope, peace and love that you, me, we, so desperately need.

Merry Christmas.

Luke 2:8-14 “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 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. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

It is past the season for the swamp magnolia’s to be blooming, yet here is one last flower. The late bloomer. The aroma. The joy it brings.

How many of us are late bloomers? A career change we finally had the courage to take. A dream we finally will pursue. A gift/talent hidden until it had time to blossom within.

As a child of God, I was raised in church, went to Sunday school, prayed. I had all the outward signs of being a Christian. It was not until I was an adult, living on my own, that God began to draw me, working on my heart, bringing people into my life that could open God’s word and share the story of Jesus. Of Redemption. Of faith in Him alone. My eyes were opened to the truth of my sin and my need for a Savior. A true heart transformation took place and I have since pursued Jesus, to live a life of faith.

The seed had been planted as a child. Along the way, in God’s timing, watering took place, roots began to sink down, the stem grew upward and finally the bloom appeared.

Are you fully rooted in God’s word, blooming where you are today? Planting seeds of faith, offering encouraging life-giving water to those in need of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that our world, our country, our circumstances are ever changing. Are we putting our hope, our faith, all of our eggs into the hard-working basket of men?

Thankfully, God’s word gives us strength in these ever changing times so that we can rest in Him. What are your fears, anxieties, circumstances today? I pray that you would take time to read and meditate on God’s word. Block out the noise of this world. Praise and worship our God for that is what He calls us to do.

Ephesians 1:17-18 “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”

Ephesians 3:16-17a “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

I pray these verses calm your anxious heart. Let His word fill your heart and mind. Calmly rest in HIs presence as you go about your day.

How should God’s people behave in these unsettled times? The apostle Paul tells Timothy: be kind, be patient, able to teach, be gentle, correcting opponents, praying for them that God may grant them repentance. Praying for God to capture their hearts that they may escape the snares of the devil.

The sun will come up Wednesday morning. God will continue to sit on His throne. We, His servants, will continue to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world who is desperately searching for the Truth.

God is holy. He is high and lifted up. I did an object lesson with children in Sunday school. We had a helium balloon, resting on the ceiling, next to the word “God.” As we confessed our sins, we put a clip on the string. The weight brought the balloon down to the ground, away from God. As we asked God to forgive us of those sins, we took a clip away, one a time. The balloon, free of the clips, was back, close to God.

As we walk each day, let us not only confess our sins to God, but ask for forgiveness, also. Let us draw near to God each day, living under His headship, humbly serving and walking in obedience to His word.

Psalm 96:2 “Let us sing to the Lord, bless His name, tell of His salvation from day to day.”

Walking outside this morning, I looked up. The bright and shining stars filled the sky. As my gaze stayed fixed upon them, my heart cried out to God in worship. Knowing that He is there, that He is sovereign, that He is God, I praised Him, I gave thanks to Him. My breathing slowed and my heart was at peace.

Psalm 8: 1,3-4: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,  what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

A friend recently shared this quote with me:

“God has plucked you out of eternity, positioned you in time, and given you gifts and talents to serve Him in this generation.”

Christine Caine

What if we thought less of our story and more about His story. Imagine the conversations we could be having if, instead of telling our story, we told His.

Let us be mindful and intentional of the words we speak. Let us have a heart of thanksgiving to God for placing us exactly where we are for this period of time to be part of His story.

To God be the glory!

As I wrote this title, I actually had two thoughts in mind. The first thought was actually for “head massage.” It has been a stressful two weeks and my brain is completely saturated with new knowledge. I am brain weary. I needed to massage my head. My husband happily acquiesced. As he is rubbing my head, I feel the stress bubble release. My sole focus is on enjoying this massage.

My second thought, which led to the title, “Head Message,” is that while I am weary and the massage helped, what I really need to is hear God’s Word. To be encouraged, uplifted. To change my thought focus from self and stress back to God and His promises. My devotions this morning have been on worship. Expressing my love for my Creator and Redeemer with shouts of joy and moments of quiet praise. Even in these busy days Lord, let me continually praise Your name, for You alone are worthy. I pray for strength that as I serve others, I am compassionate, patient, gentle, forgiving, graceful. Just as You have shown me your love, grace, kindness, patience, gentleness.

Colossians 3:12-14: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Baseball. America’s pastime. I recently tuned in to a baseball game, mid-stream. I purposefully missed the beginning. I don’t need to be alerted to your political stance or cultural objective. I just want to watch baseball. Great memories of my childhood: whiffle ball games in backyards, softball games, playing catch with my dad. Knowing the meaning of phrases like: bring the heat, pick off play, rundown. Munching on roasted peanuts, sitting in the upper deck with family and friends. Understanding the #21 forever memorialized outside the stadium. A game to be enjoyed whether you are a player or a fan. A brief respite from the grind of the day, a break from the new being hurled at us 24/7.

As we tune back into baseball, America’s pastime, let us also tune back in to God, testifying before a watching world. Childhood memories of going to church, coming home to a Sunday dinner, gathered around the table, giving thanks to God for the blessings from His hand. Knowing the meaning of words like: redemption, eternal life, sovereign. Making a renewed commitment, a profession of faith, to love God, to believe His word as truth, to care and love others as an outward expression of God’s love. And as 1 Peter 3:15 says, “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”