Two Little Girls in the Snow

This is not the devotional I originally planned to post today.

Even at my age, God still finds ways to both surprise and inspire me.

Thursday evening found me at my church along with a number of my friends.

We were all busy working away getting things ready for Christmas.

As we were finishing up, someone noticed that it was actually snowing outside.

Of course, we all stepped outside to take a look.

You see, it rarely snows where I live and to have snow this early in the season is rare indeed.

We went back inside and finished what we had to do.

When it came time to leave, a few of us just stood out in the cold and admired the snow.

I carefully drove home trying not to let the weather distract me.

As I got ready to turn into my drive, I noticed two little girls running around.

They were paying more attention to the snow than to my car, so I entered my drive slowly.

Their mother called them over to her allowing me to safely park my car.

In no time, the two girls returned to their celebration of the snow.

I took a moment to speak to their mother.

As we spoke, I considered what God showed me.

He showed me the white snow, the watchful eye of a loving parent and the pure joy found only in children.

He was also reminding me of the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 1:18 (NET) - Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord. “Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool.

As we get deeper into the Christmas season I am reminded of the fulfilment of this prophecy.

God is our loving Father who calls us to Him to keep us safe from the world.

As we celebrate the birth of His Son, we should remember that it is Jesus who cleanses us from our sin.

Christ was the perfect sacrifice – the Lamb without blemish and without spot.

We no longer have to be stained like scarlet.

We can be made as white as snow.

Perhaps we can also take a lesson from these two little girls and their excitement.

Perhaps we should allow ourselves to get more excited about our salvation.

Perhaps that would make us more eager to share the Good News with others.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 15, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, December 22, 2017

Why Sunday School?

It is difficult enough trying to get grown people to go to church these days.

It seems even more difficult to get them to even think of going to Sunday School,

Believe it or not, there are real benefits in attending an adult Sunday School class.

First of all, Sunday School is not just for children.

If a church has a Sunday School program for children it is very likely that it provides classes for adults.

Learning, after all, should be a lifelong experience.

Second, an adult Sunday School class is generally a small group.

Church should feel like family as we grow closer to those with whom we worship.

That being true, a small group like an adult Sunday School class begins to feel more like immediate family to those who attend.

This special sense of family is fostered simply by being a part of the group.

Another benefit of attending an adult Sunday School class is that you cannot help but learn more about the Bible.

Everyone in the class has passages of scripture that are important to them.

As the class studies together people will often share these passages of scripture with their fellow students.

At other times a student may recall a portion of scripture which the class then looks up in the Bible.

Another benefit of attending an adult Sunday School class is that each person is different,

Each brings his particular strengths that helps others.

Each also bring his weaknesses in order that they may be helped by those who are stronger.

Attending an adult Sunday School class also helps one get better at prayer.

When time in class is set aside for this purpose, students learn to pray more effectively.

They also raise specific people and circumstances up in prayer.

Their classmates then often pray for these people and circumstances outside the classroom as well.

In an adult Sunday School class, the students tend to become more involved individuals.

They may serve the church in other areas and quite often they have or develop ministries outside the church.

One thing I would recommend to any adult Sunday School class is that they take up an offering and prayerfully consider how to use those funds to benefit others.

Speaking from experience, you will be absolutely amazed by what God can do with a handful of dedicated people and a few dollars every week.

There is another great thing about being in a Sunday School class.

You really feel God’s presence there.

Scripture bears this out!

Matthew 18:20 (NET) - For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.

These are merely some of the benefits of attending an adult Sunday School class.

There are many more.

There are even benefits to teaching such a class.

But those I will save for another time.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 5, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, February 12, 2016

The Hardest Person to Forgive

I have written on the topic of forgiveness before and how it is something with which people, including Christians, struggle.

This is true when it comes to forgiving others.

This time I would like to address our need to forgive the one who is often times our harshest critic, namely, us.

We have a tendency to be harder on ourselves than anyone else.

We recall our past mistakes, our past shortcomings and our past failures.

We then tend to replay them in our minds over and over again.

We may even find it difficult to sleep sometimes when our thoughts become occupied with the past.

The sad part is that this is completely unnecessary.

While we cannot undo the things we have done wrong, we can be forgiven them.

How?

We can start by confessing our sins to Him.

He knows them already, but this is for our benefit.

1 John 1:8-9 (NET) - If we say that we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

Next, we forgive others.

Matthew 6:12-13 (NET) - For if you forgive others their sins, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you.

Many people find this part difficult.

Most worthwhile things in life tend to be difficult in the beginning.

Just remember that it is never too late and we don’t have to do this alone.

As long as we draw breath, there is hope.

Even the thief, while hanging on a cross, found hope when he turned to Jesus.

Luke 23:42-43 (NET) = Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise."

With forgiveness comes the removal of guilt.

Psalm 103:12 (NET) - As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so He removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.

The last time I checked, that was pretty far.

Remember, the past is just that.

Once you place your faith in Jesus, you are no longer the person you were.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NET) - So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: what is old has passed away - look, what is new has come!

With His help, we can let go of the past and the feelings of guilt to which we cling.

We can let go of that which robs us of the present and acts as a barrier to what is a brighter future.

We can then live the kind of life that He intends us to live.

John 10:10 (NET) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they may have life and may have it abundantly.

Guilt is like an anchor that holds the ship of our lives in place.

He can do more than help us pull up the anchor.

He can cut the line and set us completely free.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 5, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, October 12, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.