Better Than Wishing is Blessing

Happy New Year!

I always like to wish people a Happy New Year for at least the first two weeks of the year!  However, better than wishing is blessing.  So as my little motley crew consisting of my five-year old, eight-year old, and 13-year old nephews, 15-year old niece, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, father-in-law, and husband gathered to ring in the new year, I chose a special Bible verse, and turned it into a blessing that I spoke over us right before midnight.  I am sharing it with all of you today hoping you will appropriate it for yourselves and those you love:

Job 42:16-17 “Job lived another 140 years, living to see his children and grandchildren—four generations of them! Then he died—an old man who lived a long, full life.”

MAY WE AND THOSE WE LOVE SO DEARLY LIVE WITH HEALTH TO SEE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND LIVE LONG, FULL LIVES!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for Your Holy Word.  There are so many encouraging passages of scripture written for us, including these verses in Job.  If You took time to note that Job lived 140 years and was able to enjoy seeing four generations worth of family, then we pray the same for ourselves. Glory to Your life-giving name! AMEN.

The Best Possible News~

Dear DEVO Readers,

Think about some of the good news you have received over the years. For me all these statements were music to my ears:

"Your father-in-law will not die from his massive heart attack."

"Your husband's skin cancer was caught in time, and it has not spread."

"Mrs. Fernandez, please come down to the police station. We apprehended the perps who broke into your house, and we have your cameras!"

"Mom, I am in love, and she's a great girl."

"Mom, I am in love, and he's a great guy."

"Mom, I passed my finals."  

"Mom, I was in an accident, but I am okay."

But there's a bit of good news that makes mine and yours pale in comparison.

Luke 2:8-11

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord."

I think it's safe to say that out of the 7.5 billion people in the world, 7.4999999999999 wouldn't necessarily be filled with great joy at our personal glad tidings. But the message of our Lord's birth is the best possible news for all the people, for everyone, for the entire universe!  Every single person, without exception,  needs a healthy and heaping portion of salvation, joy, hope, faith, peace, love, miracles, wisdom, truth, comfort, healing, justice, light, redemption, and deliverance from the Bread of Life.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for the life-changing news the angel brought to the shepherds so many years ago.  Today we open our hearts to receive all that our Lord, our Savior, the Bread of Life, has to offer.  Fill us up completely, in Jesus' name, AMEN and Merry Christmas~