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Devotions
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Christ is Born!!! "(And this taxing
was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went
to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea,
unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was
of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was,
that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn
son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And
there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel
of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel
said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye
shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward
men."
Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)
I love Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a
son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. "
I love this time of year. I have just been
so weepy, but in a good way. My heart just fills with joy when I think of the birth of Jesus. I was at work the other
day and the Superintendent had us all gathered to give a gift (offering) to the janitor and our interoffice mail carrier.
She thanked them and then us for our jobs we do for the school district, saying each one of us is a piece of a puzzle and
each one is a vital part to get things done. As she wished us each a blessed Christmas she spoke about others in
our District that would have a different Christmas this year because they had lost family members this year. As I stood
there thinking about what she was saying, I could not help but feel so blessed! Yes, life can be full of ups and
downs - but for the most part we are ALL so BLESSED! For this weekend we celebrate Isaiah 9! The hope of
Glory born just for us! Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father! Isn't that
awesome!
No matter
what journey your are on today, know that without God - nothing is possible, You will feel lost and
discouraged ... but with God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Trust in Him today. He loves you and was
born this day in a city of Bethlehem - just for you and just for me!
I hope you all have a Blessed Christmas and I pray that your family is in church this Sunday, if you don't have a church,
start praying now that the Lord will lead you to one that stands on His Word. Invite someone to go with you. Love, Tracy
The Most Wonderful Time of The Year! "Then said Jesus
unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." (John 4:48 KJV)
I love to look at the past years of my life and see all the wonders that the Lord has done in my life and those around
me! I am always amazed how people can't see the Lord working around them. I has breakfast with a few friends
yesterday and we were talking about how Christmas is so different after you lose your Mom. Three of us are spending
another Holiday without our Mother. Two of us without both our parents. We talked about the traditions our families
have and how special this time of year is.
I hope that during the next few days you can look back and see all the wonders that the Lord has done in your life.
Have a great Thursday! Love, Tracy
Oh the Love of Jesus is Deep! "And Jesus answering said,
O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither." (Luke 9:41 KJV)
The
last part of that line in NIV says, "How long shall I put up with you ..." I kind of got side tracked in my
reading this morning and glanced over at this verse. I thought how true! My husband and I were watching the news
last night. A story came on about a man my husband bowls with. It said that this man had been charged with molesting
a 3 year old! I pray that the charges are false. Oh my goodness. My heart just sank when I heard that.
I ached for the emotional scars this child will have if it is true and the heartache her mother and Dad feel because of what
happened to their baby. The truth is - we do live in a sick perverse society. I said to my husband, what on earth
would possess a man (or woman) to fondle a 3 year old? So sad. Something had to have happened to this man to possess
him to do such a horrible thing.
Our people are so far from God. The sad thing is - is that our Nation is the closest thing to Him as well!
We are out in the mission field in other countries trying to tell everyone about Jesus, yet right here we have people that
reject His Word. Listen, we can't live the way we want in life and then expect to enter the gates of Heaven like
"we've arrived!" I often wonder what people are thinking. Like people who don't read the Bible
and study the Word. What do they think happens when they die? I wonder if they think about Heaven or Hell ...
do they believe that there is a hell? Do they believe "good" people will be in hell? I used to have
a neighbor who would joke and say I have to go to hell, all my friends will be there. It really is not something to
joke about! Actually in my opinion, eternity is the only thing you should care about. It should not matter to
you what other people think of you - just what Jesus thinks. You know, even if you are 60 and have lived and OK life
all these years getting by on your own - it is never to late to come to Jesus! Christ died for all sins. Come
to Him with repentance in our heart, seek forgiveness and change your ways. Jesus loves you!
My heart has just been burdened
this week. I have had so many people write to me and say, I have just lived a wicked life, God could never forgive me.
Oh yes He does, can and will! The Lord is not like us. He sees a repentive heart and He forgives and forgets!
Whatever we have done is forgiven and we must move on and heal. I pray if you are struggling with a stronghold that
has you beaten down, that the Lord will just give you strength today to come to Him. To ask Jesus to heal your broken
spirit. He loves you. Push pride aside and ask Jesus into your heart to guide your steps and your days.
Have a Blessed Wednesday. To my friends at the School District I pray you have a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year
and I will see you on January 3rd. Enjoy your time off. Please continue to pray for the Craven's over the
Holiday's. Love, Tracy
Love ... The Greatest Gift of All!
27-30 "To you who are ready for the
truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time,
respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone
grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion
to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
31-34 "Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you;
then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill
sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give
for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
35-36 "I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a
return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the
way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.
(Luke 6:27-36 The Message) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:27-36;&version=9; (KJV version)
I love how The Message puts this verse ... Jesus
speaking ... Love Thy Enemy. The words, so simple for all to understand. Actually doing it ... that is another
story! It is easy to hold a grudge, to stay bitter or to devise a plan to pay back. That is easy and for most
of us comes natural. But to turn the other cheek, to show the love of Christ the way Christ loves us - now that is a
challenge and Christ will honor that. He will bless us tremendously in our hearts if the desire of our hearts are pure.
We can justify anything.
I read a dedication to someone yesterday,
actually the person had died and the note was to his family. In it the person had a lot of desire to punish the person
that had killed their child in a drunk driving accident. They were so bitter. I got to thinking about that - my
first thought was that two families have already suffered (the family or the teen that died and the family of the teen who
was driving drunk). Wouldn't this person do a better service to all involved going to rehab and serving a life sentence
of community service speaking to highschool's around our country about drinking and about drunk driving? Then I
started thinking about Joseph and Jenna (my children) and what would happen if that happened to one of them. I still
drew the same thoughts. I would want to see this person healed of what was making them turn to alcohol instead of turning
to Jesus. So many of us have strongholds. I would have to say mine is food. I eat because I may get down
and I get down because I am overweight! It is a vicious cycle. That is why many people drink, they may be depressed
... but many drink to mask another issue. Alcoholism is a disease and only Jesus can heal it. It is hurtful to
an entire family. With determination and prayer the beast can be defeated.
I
have been sitting here praying for all of you reading this today. I am not really sure how the devotion ended up where
it did but this was a message that the Lord needed for someone today. Pray for your families during this Holiday
season. Most people drink more this time of year than any other time. We put such a burden on ourselves at
Christmas whether we spend too much or feel sad and depressed because we can't buy a lot. Let us remember that
without Jesus there would be no reason to even have Christmas! We had a speaker at a party at Church the other night
and he left us with this thought ... How would you feel if it was your birthday and everyone else got a present but you didn't?
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, what is your present to Him? Whether it be a financial gift to your Church, a dedication
to spend time in prayer with Him each morning, an act of kindness to a stranger or sharing a Word of Testimony ... do it for
the Glory and for the Honor of Christ our Lord. Not to Glorify yourself! But the King of Kings. I
love you all! Have a great Tuesday. Love, Tracy
Oh To Have That Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down In Your Heart!
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any
man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13 KJV)
I was thinking about this verse again today. I am not really sure why the Lord keeps bringing it to my mind.
I suppose it is just that time of year where our hearts should be loving and giving freely the love that Christ gives us.
My Mother loved Jesus. I knew it and I know others around her did as well. She passed away a little over 2 years
ago. This time of year I especially miss her. How she loved Christmas. Not only the gift giving, she loved
to Celebrate the birth of Jesus. She loved being with her Children, her grandchildren and seeing her brothers and sisters.
When Mom was near death my niece asked her how she did it - how did she raise 9 kids? Mom looked at her, but we all
heard the message ... 2 words. Give and Forgive. Wow. I was talking to my sister about
that the other day and I got to thinking ... that is the Christ life. That is what Jesus did through His Birth and His
death - He Gave His life for us and He Forgives us of our sins when we come to Him with a repentive heart.
Even in her last hours Mom was leading and guiding her children and grandchildren.
I know that not one of us will forget those words. I know most everyone thinks they have the best Mom in the world.
I did. Perfect? No. But in my eyes, almost! As you reflect today on this devotion, if your are
a Mom or Dad or even going to be one, think about what life lessons you are or will be teaching your children. We are
not perfect and when we make mistakes, we just need to admit them and move on. What a wonderful gift you will give to
your family. My Dad was not a Church goer. Church hurt kept him from going to church. In other words - PRIDE.
I often spoke to my Dad about that when he would visit me. He just could not get past it. But at the end
of Dad's life he told me that he knew that Jesus loved Him and knew that Jesus had forgiven him of any sin in his life
and knew he was going to be reunited with my Mother in Heaven. But all the years of not going to church he missed many
of the blessings of hearing the Word of the Lord. Don't miss those blessings. Find a place to serve the Lord.
Yesterday my family and I went to the most wonderful Christmas program
(actually 2). First Baptist Indian Trail, NC. I cried the
whole program. It was not only the Christmas story of the birth of Christ, but His death and resurrection as well.
I was thinking, this is IT. This is what it is ALL about. The giving of gifts is wonderful and so much fun especially
for children - but the wonder of it all - Jesus! As I sat and watched this program I thought about friends that have
lost loved ones this year and how hard the Holidays would be without them. Even though it has been 2 + years without
Mom and 1 + without Dad - Oh it is still so new! At the end of the program as the Christians were reunited with loved
one's in Heaven I kept thinking about What a wonderful day that will be! I thought about my friends daughter when
she went to Heaven being reunited with her loved ones already there. Although we are so sad here when a loved one dies
- there is a celebration in Heaven I am sure! Everlasting life if you know Christ as your Savior! Do you know
that you know that you know? Be sure. Take my Mother's life lesson to her Children ... GIVE
and FORGIVE.
I hope you all have a wonderful Monday. The Blessed Day of Celebration is in 1 week!
Start thinking now about sharing Luke 2 with your family. Make that the most important thing on Christmas Eve.
Don't be ashamed. Love, Tracy
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| Devotions |
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| by Tracy Beckham |
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