#140. The bethlehem star
I know some have seen the post about The Christmas Star appearing this year on December 21st. I couldn't help but really take a deeper look at how amazing that this occurrence would be happening in the year 2020.
In the year when Jesus was born, there was violence, chaos, political and social unrest. It was dark.
The Magi found him by way of the star, which was the "meeting" of 3 stars: Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. They followed the star until it rested on where he was and they began to worship him. In a time where is was dark, Light was brought in to our world. Jesus stepped in to the chaos and brought peace.
Fast forward to this year, 2020. It's a time of violence, chaos, political and social unrest. It is dark. Winter Solstice, December 21st, being a time where the day is the shortest and night is the longest...it's literally the "darkest day" and is the beginning of what most would say the cold, dark winter season.
But on the darkest day this year, Jupiter and Saturn meet, giving us the Christmas Star! How fitting...that in the moment of time during the Christmas season that we get to see this beautiful reminder...that even in the darkest of times...Light will, and has, stepped in. In our chaos He is there. In our darkest time, He is there. He brings Light, and makes all things new.
So as you look out on Dec 21st for the Christmas Star, may we be reminded of His power, and His Light that he brings for all mankind. He is perfect at stepping into chaos and bringing it into peace.
https://wgem.com/2020/12/10/bethlehem-star-will-be-visible-for-the-first-time-in-800-years/
was going to do!
#143. Being sustained by God
Some words from John Calvin on Genesis 25v7,8 (NASB)
These are all the years of Abraham’s life that he lived, one hundred and seventy-five years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.
Moses now brings us down to the death of Abraham; and the first thing to be noticed concerning his age is the number of years during which he lived as a pilgrim; for he deserves the praise of wonderful and incomparable patience, for having wandered through the space of a hundred years, while God led him about in various directions, contented, both in life and death, with the bare promise of God. Let those be ashamed who find it difficult to bear the disquietude of one, or of a few years, since Abraham, the father of the faithful, was not merely a stranger during a hundred years, but was also often cast forth into exile. Meanwhile, however, Moses expressly shows that the Lord had fulfilled his promise, Thou shalt die in a good old age: for although he fought a hard and severe battle, yet his consolation was neither light nor small; because he knew that, amidst so many sufferings, his life was the object of Divine care. But if this sole looking unto God sustained him through his whole life, amidst the most boisterous waves, amidst many bitter griefs, amidst tormenting cares, and in short an accumulated mass of evils; let us also learn — that we may not become weary in our course — to rely on this support, that the Lord has promised us a happy issue of life, and one truly far more glorious than that of our father Abraham.
#144. “COME TO JESUS”
Today is the last of my 11ish devotionals for 2020. I thought I would simply send you some reflections from Diane Langberg who has helped me through the past few months. She is a psychologist for trauma survivors and clergy and her tweets and blogs are one of the most helpful things I have found.
She writes:
Sometimes God can seem unresponsive to your pain, your grief and even your longing for Him. When He is silent, He seems absent when you need Him most. Tell Him about this. Tell Him how you feel, then quiet yourself and listen for His voice.
He says, Come.
“Come to Me.
Bring Me all your grief, your ashes, your lonely ache, your hunger, your painful memories – your self.
Come to Me, you who are weary, you who are carrying burdens –burdens of suffering, of expectations, of grief, of requirements.
Come.”
Know this—you are coming to the One who is Life Indissoluble. There is nothing in you that can destroy or dissolve His life. Nothing that you bring can conquer His life. He says, come to Me—I Am the resurrection.
I bring life to dead places.
I am Life.
I am Power.
I am Rest.