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Listen while you read: "Lo How A Rose"1 (Lyrics) |
December is the month of trees. Well, it used to be! Christmas tree putter-uppers used to wait till December 1 to place baubled trees in every retail establishment in North America. Little by little, the date changed to right after American Thanksgiving, and then it was Halloween. This year, I saw my first Christmas tree about the end of August. Rushing the season a bit, aren't we?
Retailers want our Christmas money; "first come, first served" is their motto. Yet, many employers instruct their staff not to say "Merry Christmas" in case they offend somebody.
The tree always offends because it is a symbol of another tree:
Acts 5:29-31 – But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." (NKJV)
This year, let's "Merry Christmas" one and all, and remind folks why we "tree".
Prayer: Lord God, Maker of all trees, especially the one that held Jesus, may we be walking trees of remembrance for all we meet this season — for Christ. Amen.
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Saturday, May 18, 2024 – In North Africa — Living in North Africa we get so used to hearing the call to prayer it becomes like background noise and sometimes I don't hear it anymore. I am challenged by the fact that some Muslims are so committed to pray that they go to the mosque 5 times a day. Would you consider, with me, setting your alarm to go off at 3:00 every day and pray for these three things: 5 families to come to know Christ, 3 people for us to read scripture with,1 new church plant.
Housing: "Update May 16, 2024: Please continue to pray for T and her son A to find a different apartment...." 
Amen Brenda.
Well said Brenda.
Thanks, Brenda and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
A very good word, thank you Brenda. We need to do coffee soon!
Great length for a devotional. Don`t lose the thread that way.
Hallelujah, you said it well Brenda. Thank you. And a very merry Blessed Christmas to you.
Brenda – A good devotional; you put a lot in it in short order. Loved it! And, Merry Christmas!
Excellent. Merry Christmas Brenda, another good devotional from Innisfil. God has a great group of writers in Sandy Cove.
Good one Brenda, Thank you!
May you have a wonderful, peace-filled Christmas.
Clever way to greet one another Brenda.
Thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas.
So true! It is quite ridiculous! What amazes me is how everyone sings the carols even though they aren’t Christian. Probably gives some of them “food for thought”.
(B.C.)
I agree. The season IS getting rushed! Whether it is November or Hallowe’en or earlier, it does not need to be that early! And yet we are told not to say “Merry Christmas” to each other. To be honest, I have not ever stopped saying it! So yes(!) let us all “Merry Christmas” one another as we remember what the true meaning of Christmas is!
Do continue to write.
God bless and Merry Christmas!
AMEN & AMEN
Sister Brenda,
That you for this devotional.
Soon, if things keep progressing as normal, in the USA, trees & store decorations will be up by the Forth of July. Greed placed before faith & worship.
My prayer for you.
FATHER, I come to you in JESUS name & ask you to rain down blessings of health, happiness & prosperity from this point forward until Brenda receives her last earthly blessing when she is taken by the hand by you or one of your representatives to her new eternal home made for her. AMEN & AMEN.
(Texas, USA)