Friday, December 15, 2023

As in Adam All Die

As in Adam all men die,

So shall I pass through that veil,

Travel down the darkened path,

The rendezvous that none can fail.

 

Some I love have passed before,

Leaving me behind to cry,

Repeating to myself with grief,

“As in Adam all men die.”

 

But those who belong to Christ,

In a victory complete,

Will live again with Him.

Death crushed beneath His feet.

 

From I Corinthians 15:22-27


Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Gifting Greatness

This time of year, my mailbox is absolutely jam packed with catalogs and various promotional materials.  Any company with which I have ever had contact thinks I am likely to purchase a Christmas gift from them.  It is true that years ago when I was home-schooling my children, I began to do much of my shopping via catalogs.  It was easier than trying to find time to shop in a store when I had very little time away from the kids.  These days, the catalogs help me to make decisions before I shop online.


One of the pieces I received recently was from Omaha Steaks.  It says, “Achieve Gifting Greatness.”   So evidently, if I order some “perfectly aged, tender steaks” for someone, there is a chance I too can achieve gifting greatness.


But actually, there is only one who ever achieved gifting greatness in giving a gift at Christmas time.  God Himself gave the ultimate gift with the Incarnation of Christ in the form of a helpless baby.  He entrusted this gift to a humble couple whom He judged by their hearts not by appearance or status.  The gift was not for them alone, it was for all of us.  He gifted them with a baby.  He gifted the world with a Savior.


“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  John 3:16 NIV


He has given the gift, but we each need to individually receive it.  If you have never accepted His Great Gift, do it now!