For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven's Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7
Meditate.
What makes your Christmas special?
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| Camel Crossing Judean Desert in Israel Wise Men and Women Still Seek Him |
What
makes your Christmas special? Do you go to a Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service?
Do you spend quality time with family or friends? A special meal? Do you stay
home or have a destination vacation for the holiday? Do you have room in your
schedule for a change of plans? Can you put others’ needs or wants before your
own? Paul wrote about taking care of others in his letter to Titus. Seek and learn to do good for others.
Do everything you can to help Zenas
the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they
need. Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others;
then they will not be unproductive. Titus
3:13-14
Paul wisely
wrote in his letter to the Romans about putting others first, about caring and
loving others.
Because of the privilege and
authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you
are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves,
measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. ... In His grace, God has
given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you
the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If
your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give
generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility
seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold
tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take
delight in honoring each other. ... When God's people are in need, be ready to
help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Romans 12:3, 6-10, 13
So, what gifts
has God given you? What makes Christmas special to you and thus to others
around you?
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, thank you again, and always, for Your obedient dedication to our
Heavenly Father—and to us. You’ve been such an example—always putting others
first.
Verse
of Salvation ~ But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the
Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith
and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED
TO THE PROUD and HAUGHTY, BUT [continually] GIVES [the gift of] GRACE TO THE
HUMBLE [who turn away from self-righteousness]." James 4:6 AMP
© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture
quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),
Copyright ©2015 by
The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
Biblical
search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character
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