A Christmas Package

 

Isaiah 53:5 (NRSVue) - But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

Christmas is upon us.

So why would I be opening with this verse from Isaiah?

After all, Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time.

It is supposed to be a celebration.

It is supposed to be about the birth of a child.

It is supposed to be about shepherds and angels.

It is supposed to be about glad tidings and peace on earth.

So why exactly would I open with that verse?

Perhaps I should explain.

Christmas is not about us reaching up to God.

Christmas is about the moment when God reached down to us.

And God reached down in a most remarkable way.

But the birth of Christ is merely the beginning of the account.

Scripture also tells us about the life Jesus led.

It tells us how he reached out to those whom society ignored.

It also tells us what would ultimately befall the child whose birth we celebrate.

It tells of those who plotted against Him.

It tells of the one who betrayed Him.

It tells of the one who denied Him.

And it tells us of the price He paid.

Importantly, it tells us why.

Romans 8:32 (NRSVue) - He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else?

Yes, we should celebrate the birth of Christ.

But that is just the beginning of the story.

Fortunately for us, His death is not the end of the story.

For if we look beyond the cross, we will see an empty tomb.

So, celebrate the birth of Christ!

Just make certain you celebrate his entire life and resurrection.

Celebrate the fact that God reached down to us in such a remarkable way!

 

Christmas Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, January 2, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, January 9, 2026

Love Should Not Be Fleeting

 

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NRSVue) - Let all that you do be done in love.

I received a Christmas card this week that contained this verse.

I recalled a theme that I return to often during this time of year.

As I write this, city squares, homes, and businesses have been decorated for Christmas.

Although these decorations are beautiful reminders of the season, they will be taken down in a few short weeks.

They will be carefully packed away in boxes.

They will then be relegated to attics and storerooms.

There, they will be ignored.

In no time, they will be forgotten for much of the year.

This is unfortunate.

In a sense, hearts are the same way.

During this time of year, we tend to be more loving.

We tend to be more generous.

Perhaps we will be even more forgiving.

But once Christmas is over, we will put these things aside.

Like the decorations, they will be stowed away for another year.

This is most unfortunate.

To expound on Paul’s words, we should do everything in love… always!

The Christ whom we celebrate taught us this in His word and His actions.

Christmas is not about us reaching up to God.

It is about how God reached down to us through Jesus,

1 John 4:19 (NRSVue) - We love because he first loved us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 19, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, December 26, 2025

Personal Humility and Gratitude

 

In Isaiah, the prophet offers praise for deliverance.

He begins by acknowledging the wonderful things God has done.

Isaiah 25:1 (NRSVue) - Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul calls upon his readers to persevere.

Hebrews 10:23 (NRSVue) - Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

These are excellent reminders for me as I write this on Thanksgiving Day,

Overall, it has been a successful year for me.

But with success, it is all too easy to take all the credit.

It is easy to overlook the role God has played.

But I must never forget two important things.

All good things come from God, including success.

I also must remember that God planned this all along.

God is ever faithful.

Also, when things were not going so well, God was still there for me.

He never stopped loving me.

He always encouraged me.

He used the trying times to draw me closer to Him.

So, I have much to be thankful for.

But gratitude in and of itself is insufficient.

In reflection, I realize that something will be required of me.

Where I am on my journey is simply part of His bigger plan.

Admittedly, I do not fully comprehend that plan yet.

But I know He will reveal it to me according to His timing, not mine.

For the moment, I will acknowledge that my success this year comes directly from God.

I will also acknowledge that this is part of His plan rather than my effort.

I will also recognize His continual fidelity and His love.

Therefore, I approach God in humility and gratitude.

James 1:17 (NRSVue) - Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 5, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, December 12, 2025

Darkness into Light

 

Within Isaiah 42 is a hymn of praise.

The hymn refers to the blind and how God will turn their darkness into light.

Isaiah 42:16 (NRSVue) I will lead the blind by a road they do not know; by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.

In John 8, Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world.

John 8:12 (NRSVue) - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

As I read these verses, they reminded me of my prayers.

While my prayers are not repetitive, there are two things that are common to most.

I ask God to light my path.

I ask God to guide my steps.

Even at my age, I know how easy it would be for me to stumble spiritually.

And I know that God’s presence can keep me upright if I rely on Him.

In my part of the world, it is Autumn.

As the days grow shorter, the slight chill in the air is a reminder that Winter is not far away.

That is why we find the light and warmth of the sun comforting.

Similarly, in our daily walk, we welcome God’s presence as He guides our steps.

We welcome the light of Jesus on the path upon which we travel.

We also reflect that light to those still living in darkness.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 7, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, November 14, 2025

His Love and His Blessing

 

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestles with God until dawn.

As dawn approached, Jacob insisted on a blessing.

Genesis 32:26 (NRSVue) Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”

In Matthew 19, people bring their children to Jesus.

This did not please the disciples.

Matthew says they spoke sternly to the people.

Jesus, however, was far more kind.

He was more than willing to bless the children.

Matthew 19:14 (NRSVue) - but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

What about us?

Like a willful child, we often struggle with God,

Yet God is forgiving and blesses us despite our willfulness.

And when we need to feel loved and need blessing, we can approach the Lord.

Like those small children, He welcomes us into His presence and blesses us.

The Lord comforts us.

The Lord sustains us.

No matter where we are in our earthly journey, He is always there for us.

He is there for us when we are young.

He is even there for us when we are not so young.

So, where we are on our journey does not matter.

We can always count on His love and His blessing.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 7, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, November 14, 2025

Humility and Contentment

 

In Job 42, Job expresses both humility and contentment.

Job 42:2 (NRSVue) - I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

The first chapter of Luke foretells the coming of Jesus into the world.

It also gives us a good reason for being humble.

Luke 1:37 (NRSVue) - For nothing will be impossible with God.

Both humility and contentment are qualities to be found in a Godly person.

Of humility, C.S. Lewis wrote:

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.”

To put it another way, true humility is putting God and others before us.

As for contentment, the world teaches us not to be satisfied.

Madison Avenue tells us what we should buy to be happy.

Many authors, counselors, and motivational speakers tell us we should not be content, but to continually strive for more.

This is not true in a Christian sense.

To the godly person, contentment is telling God we are satisfied.

It is being grateful for who we are.

It is being thankful for where we are going in life.

It is being satisfied with what we have.

And as we walk with God in this world, we should express both humility and contentment.

James 1:17 (NRSVue) - Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, October 17, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, October 24, 2025

Those Led by the Spirit

Psalm 143 is a psalm of deliverance.

In verse 10, the psalmist asks God to lead him.

Psalm 143:10 (NRSVue) - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes about life in the Spirit.

He also writes about those who are led by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:14 (NRSVue) - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

This is quite a profound statement.

If the Spirit of God leads you. then you are a child of God.

And to be led by the Spirit means being obedient to that same Spirit.

The world in which we live is complex.

Yet our lives do not have to be complicated.

That is because the Spirit who leads us sets us on right paths and grants us peace.

Psalm 23:2-3 (NRSVue) - He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

And as we walk this path, may we also see others who are led by the Spirit of God.

May we see all those who are God’s children.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, October 3, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, October 10, 2025