John Cliver

[Judy Harder]

8:23am Dec 13 
"When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied, 'for this is what the prophet has written: '"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."'" Matthew 2:4-6.

It is always surprising to people that someone great would come from some lowly beginning. The Savior needs to come from a great place, living in great circumstances and highly educated. But God wanted Jesus to be like us, not like the rulers. He wanted Jesus to be just an ordinary guy coming to other ordinary people bringing an extraordinary message. The place of birth does not make one special. The mission does.

[Judy Harder]

:35am Dec 14 
"In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!'" Luke 1:26-28.

Consider all the women who ever lived or who would ever live. And then consider that God chose out of all those billions of women this young woman. She was probably no more than 14 or 15 and it ruined her reputation. But yet, he says that she is favored among all women. Not only that, Mary praises the Lord for the opportunity to serve him. Did she tell anyone? Probably not. But even though it made her less in the eyes of the town, she became great in the eyes of the Lord.

[Judy Harder]

9:05am Dec 15 

"'Don't be afraid, Mary,' the angel told her, 'for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!'" Luke 1:30-33.

Mary's life was about to be turned over. But the angel said, don't be afraid. God is with you. Even though life may hand you a strange situation, when God is with us, we do not need to be afraid. Great blessings for us and for the kingdom can come out of the things that happen to us if we all stay brave and strong in the Lord.

[Judy Harder]

7:37am Dec 16 

7:21am Dec 16 
"Mary responded, 'Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.'" Luke 2:47-49.

Mary's response to an angel telling her she would be become pregnant out of wedlock, would have her life turned upside down, could very possibly damage all future relationships with her fiance, Joseph, would be looked down upon by the entire town? Her response: he has done great things for me. Great things come from what seem at the time to be setbacks or curses. But they turn out to be things that lead to the glory of God. From Mary came the Messiah and she was glad it was her who would bring him into the world.






"That is why they stand in front of God's throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:15-17.

This is why we celebrate Christmas. Not necessarily the coming of Jesus into the world, but the bringing of the world by Jesus and his sacrifice into the presence of God. For this the baby was born.


7:44am Dec 16 
"Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar." Proverbs 30:5-6.


Anytime we add anything to what God said, no matter how well meaning we may be, or how much we are trying to help the "weaker Christians," or even if we just feel it should be this way; anytime we do that, we add to God's word and stand in possibility of judgment. The writer of Proverbs said we are a liar. Be careful when you start telling people how to live or how to worship or what to eat or drink. If the Bible doesn't talk about it, you don't need to. Personal conviction is one thing and there is freedom in that. But public proclamation and making rules where rules do not need to be is another thing. And that is dangerous to your soul.

[Judy Harder]

9:14am Dec 17 
"As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. 'Joseph, son of David,' the angel said, 'do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'" Matthew 1:20-21.

Of all the men who ever lived or ever would live, God chose Joseph to raise his son. He knew that Joseph would have the courage needed, the strength of character and the compassion to marry a woman whose reputation was bad and love her and her child anyway. He had the ability to raise another person's child as his own and love him like a father should. Joseph was chosen by God. He was a great man.

[Judy Harder]

6:53am Dec 18 
"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago." Luke 1:68-70.

God always does what he promises, even if it takes a long time. He promised Jesus from when Adam and Eve were in the Garden and kept telling his people he was coming. For thousands of years, he said so. But length of time doesn't mean forgetfulness and he kept his promise. And he always does.

[Judy Harder]

 9:54am Dec 18 
There are two sources of beauty. One is external and physical. It tends to corrupt the soul. The other is internal and spiritual. It transforms the body. Read more at <http://drmi115.wordpress.com/>.

[Judy Harder]

6:29am Dec 19 
"And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us," Luke 1:76-78.

Everybody needs an introduction and John was Jesus'. Whatever john did before Jesus came in the thirty or so years he was alive, his whole mission was designed to last for six months and was to point at Jesus and tell people who he was. When this was finished, this short ministry, he was killed. Yet Jesus said there was nobody greater than he was. What love and what a life, to be God's messenger even to the point of death.



6:37am Dec 19 
"So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. 'Yes, take it and eat it,' he said. 'It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!' So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach." Revelation 10:9-10.

it is absolutely true that it is easier to read about what God wants you to do than it is to do it. Just because you read the Bible a lot doesn't make any difference if you do not do what is in it.

[Judy Harder]

At Christmas, Love shall be the rock
To build our homes upon
So everyone within
Will know that they belong

At Christmas, Faith shall be the anchor
To keep our homes secure
So each little one will know
That families endure

At Christmas, Peace shall be the answer
To give each heart a rest
Then everyone we love
Will have a season of God's best

At Christmas, Joy will be the Lord Jesus
So all who come and go
Will know everlasting love
And always feel 'At Home'

Soft CHRISTmas Whispers from
Derry's Heart Poems ©2007
heartwhispers@iinet.net.au
Poetry from the Heart


~**~



Luke 2:15-16 (KJV)
And it came to pass, as the angels
were gone away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said one to another,
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary,
and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

CHRISTmas Blessings
From our home to yours!

[Judy Harder]

 8:31am Dec 21 
"And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them." Luke 2:6-7.

the world waited for the coming of the Savior and he came at such an inconvenient time for the world. There was no place for him, so he was born in a stable among animals so that he could minister to common people. Such humble beginnings for the King of the Universe.