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Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Blue Christmas
Today's Revisited Devotional from December 15, 1998
John 16:22-23 – And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (KJV)
A familiar tune that's heard throughout the Christmas season is Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas". Whether it's Presley's powerful voice, the strings of some instrumental, or the strains of friends pouring out their hearts in song, it is traditionally counted among the contemporary classics of Christmas music.
And although the words refer to the heartache of a love lost to someone else, it reminds us that there are those for whom Christmas is a pretty blue time — black, even — for they are without someone they love. Their loss is through death or impending death, and yet they must function in a world of joy and festivities. They hear repetitive phrases at checkouts telling them to "Have a good Christmas", or wishing them a "Merry Christmas" at a time when their world is falling apart.
Some churches and organizations have a special ceremony to acknowledge "Blue Christmases" where people can go and share their sorrow in a safe and understanding environment.
The world cannot stop around them. Store clerks cannot foresee their pain. What we can do, when faced with someone's pain in the midst of our joy, is to simply say, "I'm sorry". Perhaps in those few words, we are a part of God's answer to what they ask of Him. We can acknowledge their pain and let them know we care. By our actions we demonstrate how Christ's love may work through us to begin to ease their pain.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, help us to remember those for whom this is a painful and difficult time of year. Help us to be understanding of their reactions and of their needs. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Encourage Today's Writer
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Today's Bible Verse2: Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (NIV)
Today's Daily Manna3: Ephesians 4:6 – One God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. (NLT)
Today's Bible Reading3: Zephaniah 2
Today's One-Year Bible Passage4: Deuteronomy 26-28
Today's Two-Year Bible Passages5: 2 Kings 8; Ephesians 6:1-9
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Jesus promised, "If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19 NIV)
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Worldwide Ministry posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2024
In Peru — Pray for the three babies that have been born the last few months. Each mom is struggling, mostly due to lack of funds, for food and milk. Pray for us as a team as we discern the Lord's will about our pastoral passes for 2025. We also need workers, godly women with life experiences and awareness of the power of God, who are willing to invest time in these women.
1 - Our public domain music is courtesy of The Cyber Hymnal™ - www.hymntime.com/tch.
2 - Today's Verse is based on Verse of the Day.
3 - Today's Bible Reading and Daily Manna are from the Canadian Bible Society.
4 - The One-Year Bible Reading Plan is from www.bible-reading.com ©1996-2006 by Michael Coley and used by permission.
5 - The Two-Year Bible Reading Plan is from the Cambridge Daily Reading Bible ©1995 Cambridge University Press and used by permission.
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