John Cliver

[Judy Harder]

9:29am Dec 22 
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!'" Luke 2:8-11.

The message of the birth of Jesus was one of joy,not further servitude. Jesus did not come to lay down new rules, or to make people feel guilty. He came to bring joy. It is the joy of knowing God loves you, and that even if you die, you will live. It is the joy of grace and not having to live a guilty life. It is the joy of standing before the Almighty God and him knowing your name.

[Judy Harder]

 7:38am Dec 23 
"The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."" Luke 2:11-14.

When they went to look for the King, how would they find him? Just like every other baby. The only difference was that he was the Son of God. The point of Jesus coming as he did was to show us that a human being, like us in all ways, could live a perfect and sinless life. If he had not been like us, if he had been born with a radiance about him and awareness of everything, he would not have been human. But he was. And this baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, just like every other baby born that night, was the King of the Universe. How do we find him? Just look for a baby.

[Judy Harder]

 8:24am Dec 24 
"They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them." Luke 2:16-20.

Mary knew that this was from God and Joseph, on the basis of nothing more than a dream, believed her. But the shepherds were confirmation to both of them. This was not the delusion of a girl, or the gullibility of a loving boyfriend. This was real. He was the Messiah. For the rest of their lives, these shepherds would remember that night when angels came to them specifically and told them of the birth of the King. And Mary would remember it even as she watched her little baby nailed to a cross, dying.

[Judy Harder]

 9:49am Dec 25 
"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." Isaiah 9:6.

He has been born! The King is here. He is immediately identifiable by the fact that he is a baby, born to transient people in a homeless shelter. He was conceived out of wedlock to a young woman who was blessed by God. Of course, nobody knew it. Nobody knew he was King except for his mother and a large part of Joseph's mind. Mary didn't tell anyone or they would have thought she was crazy. But there he was. And when it comes down to it, you couldn't really tell him apart from any of the other million babies born that night. That was the point. He came to be like us and to live among us and to give God the Almighty the ability and chance to experience humanity in all points. He was human, conceived nine months ago and born today. Praise be to God for his message of peace and joy!

[Judy Harder]

 7:03am Dec 26 
"Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!'" Luke 2:28-32.

Like all of Israel, Simeon had been waiting so long for the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph bought their new baby to be dedicated at the temple, he knew that this was the One. He saw in this little tiny baby the salvation of all of humanity. He saw mankind being brought back to God as they were in the garden of Eden. And he saw the glory of God's presence once again restored to the world.

[Judy Harder]

10:02am Dec 27 
“Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” Psalm 103:1-2.

unless we praise God with all our hearts, with all our lives, with all our being, it does not good. Half-hearted praise is never any fun, nor is it all that desirable. Give him your life and he will give it back. Give him your whole heart and he will give it back. Keep part of either and you damage all of it. Never forget what he has done and the good things he has given you.


9:00am Dec 28 
"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.

God never intended that his people carry the burdens of life alone. He never meant for us to go through life weighed down with guilt and shame, with fear and sin, with disappointment and despair. Jesus gives rest, not enslavement. He never promises he will necessarily take those things away, but he will help you carry them. He will give you strength.

[Judy Harder]

8:26am Dec 29 
"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." John 14:1-3.

The future is not uncertain. God is in control and he is waiting for his people. And there is room for all who serve him and love him. That day will come when Jesus returns to bring his people to their new home, that big, big house with lots and lots of room.

[Judy Harder]

7:19am Dec 30 


"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33.

peace in Jesus does not mean a smooth road in life. But it does mean One who loves you and One who will take care that you do not fall off the road or go the wrong direction. No matter what may go wrong in this world, Jesus has overcome the world. And even though we die, we live in him.

[Judy Harder]

 7:30am Dec 31 
"I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." Isaiah 43:16, 18-19.

Today is the last day of the old year. Tomorrow a brand new year begins. It is a time of renewal, or new beginning. Let God start something new in your life.

[Judy Harder]

8:27am Jan 1 
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Ne beginnings is a phrase that is overused, yet at the same time, at this time of year, the most appropriate you can use. The new year is here, 2013, a year that sounds so science fictiony to anyone past a certain age, yet it is now. And we have the chance to take this "now" and make it good or bad. It is a chance to begin again, to start fresh, and you even have everybody's permission. Make it a fresh year, a year of the opening of the Spirit of the Lord into your life, a year of bringing all that is good and holy into the "now" of your life. May God bless you and your family this new year. Happy New Year!