Like everyone else, I try to make resolutions at the beginning of the new year. Like most people, I fail to live up to my own expectations. This year I'm going to try something different. I've written a new e-book called "Happy New You," which contains 31 short daily devotions for the month of January. My plan is to read and reflect on God's Word each day and try to get closer to Christ right at the beginning of the year.
I believe that if I do this, then I will make God the focus of my 2014 journey. Would you like to join me? If so, then you can also do this by getting the e-book for your kindle, PC, Mac, or mobile device. The link to the book is contained in the box below.
God bless you all. May 2014 be a year where your hopes and dreams are all fulfilled in Christ!
Monday, December 30, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Christmas Eve devotion: The Gift - Ephesians 1:7-8
Ephesians 1:7 -8 In Him we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance
with the riches of God's grace that
He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Every year, I see people putting themselves under a lot of
pressure trying to make everything perfect for Christmas. I watch others lavish
their loved ones with precious gifts and expensive presents. I look at parents
who are desperately trying to find the right gifts for their children, as well
as hoping that in the last week before Christmas, their children won’t suddenly
change their minds. It’s all done with a great deal of affection and it’s just
part of being human, of showing our love to those nearest and dearest in our
hearts.
In the midst of all this hurrying and scurrying, there’s one
lavish gift that is available for each of us. It doesn’t come free, because it
was paid for with the life-blood of a holy young man. It can’t be purchased in
stores, because it comes straight from heaven. And it cannot be re-used or
given away once it is received, because it is an everlasting gift of God’s
infinite love.
The old word associated with this lavish gift is ‘Redemption,’
which doesn’t have a lot of meaning in a post-modern world. Redemption is an
essential part of a process which means that those who receive this gift are
brought back into God’s favor, their mistakes are deleted, and their lives are
re-started. In the entire history of the world and the personal circumstances
of every single human being, it’s the most important gift ever to be offered
and the greatest blessing that people can ever to receive.
It comes wrapped in a manger and is built upon a cross. It
comes with instructions and ends with praise. It has humble beginnings and promises
a glorious end. This lavish gift is, of course, Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of
God, the Savior of our souls, the Lord of all Creation, and the King of kings. There’s
no greater gift in life because what He offers is a greater life than we could
ever know on Earth. And He’s the Gift that keeps on giving, for every day
someone somewhere in the world accepts and receives this amazing bounty of God’s
blessing.
May you know this lavish gift in
your life, and may all of your loved ones receive Him, too.
Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about
today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.
Today’s image is John’s latest Nativity drawing. It’s called “The
Outsiders.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the
following link:
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Christmas Devotion: Signs and symbols - Galatians 4:18
Throughout
December, we all see bumper stickers, church posters, and yard signs that read ‘Jesus
is the reason for the season,’ ‘Keep Christ in Christmas,’ and my all-time
favorite, “Beat the Christmas Rush – come to church this Sunday!” Whenever I
see them, they make me smile, but I wonder how they come across to people who
are not church goers or even Christians?
Are
those signs too ‘preachy?’ Do they come across as being smug and self-righteousness?
Is our zeal for the Lord hampering our effective witness in the community? And,
can you really capture the real message of the Gospel in a bumper sticker
anyway?
Over
the years, the best witnesses to Christ at Christmas come from the loving words
and deeds of compassionate people. They effectively put Christ back into Christian,
which for me is more important rather than relying upon a silly slogan. If
church people were zealous for the Lord in ways that would support the poor,
comfort the heartbroken, and embrace the unloved then our churches would be
filled each and every Sunday, no matter which season we were in.
Question for personal reflection
How can I become
a sign of Christ’s love in my home, at work, and in the community at large?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we want to positively
witness on Your behalf, especially at this time of year when so many people are
thinking about Your Birth. Enable us to be aware of the effect that our words
and deeds have on other folk. May we become human signs and symbols of Your
grace and love. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to ask a question or make a comment about today’s message,
please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest snowman drawings. It’s called ‘Even Snowmen Know.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please
click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/11192118666_85888f4534_b.jpg
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Kindle Devotions: My 1,000th Book Sold!
Thank you to all the readers and buyers of my books.
What began as an e-mailed devotional Bible study for elders at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, has now become an international method of spiritually helping churches and Christians all across the planet. My lunch-time writing of these books and late night drawings have been a blessing to me and others.
And yesterday, I just started writing next year's Lent daily devotional study called "Walking with The King."
Thank You, God, for such a wonderful blessing! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for such an unexpected ministry. And thank You, Holy Spirit, for continuing to inspire me.
AMEN!
You can view all of my devotional e-books at the following link:
http://glenkirk.blogspot.com/p/my-devotional-e-books-for-kindle.html
Monday, December 2, 2013
Advent devotion: Two Great Gifts - Galatians 1:3
Today’s
readings are Judges 2:7-15 and Galatians 1:1-10
Galatians 1:3 Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
If
I could give two precious gifts to the world this Christmas, they would be
grace and peace.
Grace
would be given, so that folks could forgive one another and allow their past
mistakes to remain in the past. Husbands and wives, parents and children,
brothers and sisters could set aside their differences and begin again.
Fractured feelings, persistent pride, and baneful bitterness could be gone
forever, replaced by love, kindness, and compassion. What a gift to give our
broken world!
Peace
would be given so that different groups could learn to dialogue with one
another; nations could recommit themselves to the betterment of humanity;
religions could turn their theological barbs and spears into plowshares for effectively
working against poverty, oppression, and injustice. Races across the globe
could respect the wonderful variety of God’s image in all people and work
together to eliminate bigotry and prejudice, humiliation and rivalry.
The
bad news is that I don’t have the ability or power to give those gifts to the
world; but the good news is this: Christ has already given those two great
blessings through His sacrifice on Calvary and obedience to God. The gifts of
grace and peace are already ours; we only have to find and apply them in each
of our lives to begin the worldwide celebration of God’s love to the world.
Questions for personal reflection
Where have I experienced
God’s grace and peace in my life? To whom can I share these great gifts during
Advent?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are both the
greatest gift and the greatest gift-bringer in the history of the world. You
came among us to grant all people everywhere the opportunity of being restored
to God’s favor and love, as well as His grace and peace. Help us to share these
blessings with the other people in our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If
you would like to comment on today’s message or ask a question, please send
John an email to traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest Christmas drawings called “Tree Window.” It’s a
stained glass design of a Christmas tree. If you would like to view a larger
version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/11164226093_863c950b18_b.jpg
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