Majestic...

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?  
Psalm 8:3-4 

To Anyone with a Broken Heart - Patrick Morley

You have a dull ache. Sometimes it swallows your heart, other times it twists in the pit of your gut. Sometimes your head feels like it wants to split open because of the pressure. Other times, the feeling pierces your soul like the searing pain of a white hot knife. This horrid ache takes liberty to come and go as it pleases, never with warning. Even the briefest thought of your sorrow can bring moisture to your eyes, often hard to hold back. What we are talking about, of course, is a broken heart. My heart has been broken many times -- left out, made fun of, rejected, feeling alone, feeling unloved, depressed, broken promises, shattered dreams, betrayal, falsely accused. And then there are my sins of which I am ashamed and over which I grieve. What is breaking your heart today? Maybe an injustice -- by you or against you. Maybe you're grieving, or need to grieve, what could've been -- a son on drugs, a daughter who has wandered from the path, a spouse who seems distant, or parents who got divorced. The closer the person, the deeper the hurt. What is it for you? Maybe you are alone for Christmas. Maybe you have a son at war in a foreign land. Maybe you're separated from family. Perhaps your dream has been shattered by the recession -- out of work, out of money, out of business, out of hope. Maybe you feel abandoned by God. Maybe you are addicted to money, ambition, pornography, or sex, and don't know how to escape. Maybe you have a substance abuse problem that is ripping your family apart. Maybe you have abandoned your family. Perhaps greed got the best of you and you have compromised your integrity. God loves you very much. He has good plans for you. If I were a pastor, the sign over the door of my church would read, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Yet, we all like sheep have gone astray. Today, humble yourself before the beauty of his holiness. Feel the full weight of your sins. Repent (confess and turn from) any sinful way that has been alienating you from God. Put your faith in Jesus. Surrender yourself to his perfect plan for your life. Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Obey Christ. Don't lose hope. You're going to get through this.
Patrick Morley, Weekly Briefing #351

Weekend Picture - Joel Reynolds

The Birth of Christ - Luke 2 (MSG)

About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

 ^6-7While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

An Event for Everyone

 ^8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

 ^13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

   Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
   Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. 

 ^15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

 ^19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

The Birth of Christ - Luke 2 (NLT)

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7She 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.

The Shepherds and Angels

8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20The 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.

The Birth of Christ - Luke 2 (NIV)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^a the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

A Christmas Story by James Ryle

"He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." (John 1:10).

While performing at the Kraft Music Hall in 1941, Bing Crosby sang “White Christmas”, a song by Irvin Berlin, and unexpectedly produced the best selling single of all time. There is scarcely anyone today who is not familiar with the old-fashioned melody, for it surfaces each year with the same nostalgic force it unleashed that first December all those years ago.

But things are notably different in our world today. Especially when it comes to Christmas; and specifically when it comes to Christ. The political/social climate of our world is increasingly hostile to anything Christian, and much is being done to exclude Christ from all public forums.

Once again we see the truth of John’s ancient words, “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not” (John 1:10). John does go on to tell us that, even though the world does not accept Jesus, there are those who do. And God gives them “the power to become children of God” (john 1:12).

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Scriptures for Counseling - Anxiety

By Dr. Brian Campbell, from Pearls, Scriptures to Live By

Anxiety

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.   (1 Peter 5:7)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Do not fret - it leads only to evil. (Psalm 37:8)

Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:25-26)

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (Proverbs 12:25)

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Psalm 55:22)

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. (Psalm 94:19)

Search me, 0 God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. (Luke 12:22-23)

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (Matthew 6:28-29)

So do not worry, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or 'What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:31-32)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

**Copyright, 2002, Brian Campbell (Permission is granted to copy for personal use only.)

Weekend Picture by Joel Reynolds

Raised From The Dead - Daniel Kolenda

Last night after the service, a woman stopped me as we were getting in the car to leave.  In her arms she held her dead 3-year-old son.  I held the body for just a moment, prayed and then left.  Tonight we heard the testimony; as we drove away, the boy came to life and he is now perfectly well.  She shared the testimony tonight and the crowd went wild!  All of Sapele is rejoicing.  Praise the Lord!

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Christ For All Nations 

TRUTH: Our Second Language by Pat Morley

George Burns once said, "The most important thing in acting is telling the truth. If you can fake that you've got it made."

There are two languages in the world: truth and lies.

The first language of every human being, a language that flows freely from our lower nature, is the language of lies. When the Father of lies was our father, lies was the only language we knew. Before I became a Christian I would often lie even if the truth could have served me better. It was my native tongue.

When we receive Christ we become bilingual. We can speak the second language of truth. But you know what happens, right? If we do not abide in Christ day-by-day, if we do not regularly practice our second language, we will revert to our native tongue. You know this is true because you know self-deceived Christians who regularly lie to you-and not about little things.

How does this happen? Every morning you and I go into a world where all day long we are tempted to exchange the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25). The lie comes in many forms but at its core is unbelief that says, "Jesus Christ alone is not enough to make me happy. I need something else."

The solution? We must renew ourselves daily in the truth of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through faith and repentance. If we don't? Well, what happens to anyone who doesn't regularly practice speaking their second language?

© 2002 Patrick M. Morley. All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced for any non-commercial use with proper attribution. www.maninthemirror.org