Silent Night
“Silent Night” remains one of the most beloved of the traditional Christmas carols. The words, the tune, the message are all so simple yet so unforgettable (which is true of the Christmas message itself). The picture of the Christ child sleeping “in heavenly peace” amid less than ideal surroundings is one that beckons us during a season when crowds and commotion are all too common.
“Silent night” also describes an evening that took place, ironically, near the end of Jesus’ earthly life. That was the night of his betrayal and so-called trial—the series of events that led to the crucifixion. Like Bethlehem, Jerusalem that night was abuzz with activity—scheming, plotting, accusing, and all of it hurled at Jesus, the alleged Messiah. Men were gathered to do to Jesus the man what King Herod had failed to do to Jesus the infant.
Is bigger always better?
Is bigger always better?
Mark 6 records the feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. Twelve basketfuls of leftovers were collected. But Mark 8 relates an occasion when Jesus fed 4,000 people with seven loaves. This time when all had eaten, only seven basketfuls were left over.
Was Jesus a poor showman? A performer always moves from the lesser to the greater, from the easy to the more difficult. A magician saves his most dramatic and spellbinding trick for the last. A circus entertainer saves the most death defying act for the grand finale. Fireworks always conclude with the loudest and most spectacular display. That’s the way you impress and maintain a crowd.
Children Speak
Children Speak
But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant. MATTHEW 21:15
The religious leaders of Jesus' day did not like the fact that children were shouting praises to him. The Scriptures tell us they were indignant. The Greek word translated indignant is an old word that originally brought together two words: much and grieve. I'm sure you get the picture. The term was often used to describe physical pain.
Prayer, Peace, and the Presence of God
I want to recommend “Prayer, Piece in the Presence of God.” A 30 day journey to experience the Saloma of Jesus by David Butts from prayer shop publishing company. Terre Haute, Indiana.
Prayer, Peace and the Presence of God is not designed to be read like a book. It is a 30-day prayer guide, designed to be taken in daily doses. Chew on the content of each day, pray over it, let the prayer and prayer point each day sink in to your soul. After doing that, throughout the day as the Lord brings back to mind what you read, continue to process it through prayer.
Dave Butts writes, My encouragement to you is that as you lay your burdens and stresses at the feet of Jesus, you will experience God's peace and God's presence as a regular part of your ongoing walk with Jesus.
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