Tag Archives: Jesus

Hope in Humility

29 Mar

Guest Post

Rebekah Lyn

Reblogged from Rebekah Lyn’s Kitchen

Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday, and today is the start of Holy Week. Only a few days passed before the same people who sang “Hosanna in the highest!” changed their cries to “Crucify Him!” What a difference! Yet, if we look at Jesus himself, He didn’t stop loving those around Him. He didn’t stop teaching and healing. With His disciples, He spoke plainly of His impending death and resurrection, yet even then they didn’t understand.

One notable difference, though, came in His response to the vendors and money changers in the Temple. They’d been there every other time Jesus had visited, but this time he turned over their tables and called them out for the conniving robbers they were. This wasn’t the first time Jesus had seen these vendors in the Temple courts, yet this time He rebuked them. Mark 11:18 says, “The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching.”

As I thought about this post, pondering why this visit to the Temple was different, I realized this act of condemning those profiting off the tradition of blood sacrifice, the same tradition God Himself first began by slaying animals to provide coverings for Adam and Eve after they first sinned, foreshadowed the events to come.

The religious leaders, up to this point, have been skeptical. They’ve attempted to trip Jesus up in His teaching, and I’m sure there were some looking for ways to get rid of Him long before this event in the Temple. Despite the parables Jesus spoke in, I have a feeling they recognized when Jesus was referring to them negatively. Some may have felt shame and conviction, but most felt their power threatened.

Finally, on the first day of Passover, Jesus dined alone with His disciples. The meal had already started and yet Jesus stood up, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash the feet of the disciples. This was an act performed whenever someone entered a home. If the owner was wealthy, a servant would perform this task. As you can imagine, feet got pretty dirty walking along dusty roads, dodging piles of animal droppings.

Jesus doing this for His disciples is a beautiful picture of love. One that particularly resonates with me because, as a child, I loved washing my grandmother’s feet, cutting her toenails, and bandaging her corns. I didn’t recognize the symbolism of it then, but as I’ve grown deeper in my relationship with Christ, I can imagine the compassion He felt for those men who had followed Him for three years. He had forged deep relationships with them and loved them deeply. He had created them, yet He humbled himself to serve them in a personal way. He even washed the feet of Judas, knowing this man would betray Him within hours.

Jesus chose to be born of humble parents, in the lowest circumstances, the polar opposite of what He deserved as the Almighty King. Through his three years of ministry, those closest to Him were of the working class and looked down upon by many. He walked from place to place rather than riding in an expensive carriage or on the shoulders of slaves. Despite all this, thousands flocked to listen to Him, to understand His message, and to receive His healing.

It was this humbleness, though, that kept many from believing, including the religious leaders who should have known the prophecies about the coming Messiah. With their knowledge of the Torah, they either failed to see or failed to accept that Jesus fulfilled every one of those prophecies.

If you aren’t a follower of Christ, spend time this week considering your life. Are you willing to accept this is the best you will have? When you die, you will not cease to exist, but spend an eternity in darkness and fire. All it takes to change that outcome is a change of heart, a shift in perspective that allows you to see Jesus for the conqueror He was. He entered the Earth humbly, but He lived blameless, the only perfect life. Yet He gave up His life willingly as a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. Not only did He die for us, He rose again in victory. Come back next week for more of that story.

Don’t forget to check out the resources page I am developing with content I have found encouraging, has taken me deeper in my walk with God, and generally builds my hope.

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Hope in the Steadfast

22 Mar

Guest Post

Rebekah Lyn

Reblogged from Rebekah Lyn’s Kitchen

The word anchor has many definitions, most obviously an item used in boating to secure the vessel, but also, according to Webster’s online dictionary: “a reliable or principal support; something that serves to hold an object firmly; a broadcaster (as on a news program) who introduces reports by other broadcasters and usually reads the news; the member of a team (such as a relay team) that competes last; a large business that attracts customers to a shopping center or mall.”

Most of these definitions are positive. When you go out on a snorkeling excursion, you want your boat to be anchored, so it doesn’t float away and leave you behind. In planning a shopping center, you want to secure big-name stores to anchor the property and generate business. During a hurricane, homeowners may use heavy weights to prevent outdoor furniture from blowing away. Vendors at craft fairs often use anchors to prevent their tents from flying away.

However, there can be negative sides to anchors. If a storm comes up and drags the anchor while you’re snorkeling, you can get tangled in the rope, trapped underwater until you drown. Or an anchor can be something invisible: guilt over past mistakes, unforgiveness, career, worry. These can weigh you down, taint the way you look at the world, and enslave you until you feel just as overwhelmed as the swimmer tangled in the anchor rope.

There is another anchor, though, one that a storm can’t dislodge, one that only has positive outcomes. That is the hope that believers have in Jesus Christ. He is steadfast, unchanging, unshakeable. His character is the same from the beginning of time to the end. Throughout the Bible, we are told we can call on God in any circumstances. Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He promised His disciples that He would send them a helper, the Holy Spirit, to live inside them. He followed through on that promise on the day of Pentecost and he continues to follow through as new believers join the faith each day.

We experience the Holy Spirit’s presence in different ways during our walk of faith. When we first believe and accept the gift of grace God offers us, we are excited and feel completely alive in the Spirit. But as time wears on, if we don’t nurture that relationship and seek time in God’s presence, we feel more distant from the Spirit. However, we are the ones who moved away, not the Spirit, not God, not Jesus. They are right where we left them, steadfastly waiting for us.

In this week leading up to Palm Sunday, consider where you’re at in your walk. Are you communicating with God, reading His word, listening for His direction? Or are you distracted by colorful adventures and sights that have led you astray? Are you ready to sincerely proclaim: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”?
Jesus is our living hope. As I’ve mentioned before, the world’s hope is uncertain, built upon sand, but the living hope of Christ is solid and steadfast, able to overcome all difficulties. Isn’t that something to shout about?

Don’t forget to check out the resources page I am developing with content I have found encouraging, has taken me deeper in my walk with God, and generally builds my hope.

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Hope in God’s Reminders

8 Mar

Guest Post

Rebekah Lyn

Reblogged 3/8/34

Some weeks, the topic for these posts comes easily. Other times, I struggle to find the words. This week, I had written most of the post but when I went to finish; the document was missing. I guess it’s just another way God is trying to remind me what 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, something He’s done multiple times over the past several weeks. I wasn’t sure why this verse has continually popped up in my devotionals and other readings, even a post here on February 19.

I thought to myself how thankful I am that I’m not facing any trials at the moment. But when I felt led to write about this verse again for today’s blog, I took a step back and realized there are trials I’m facing.

The greatest of these is a situation I have absolutely no control over. I can’t fix it. I can’t even think about it without becoming physically ill over all the horrific ways it can turn out. I pray for resolution daily, and several months ago I surrendered it completely into God’s hands, but there are still moments of deep pain and worry.

On another front, there is uncertainty at work as we go through corporate restructuring. I’ve been with the company long enough to see these shifts come and go, always bringing with them drama and rarely working out as hoped. Fortunately, God burst the “my job is my identity” bubble long ago, so I don’t feel threatened by the change. Still, tension and uncertainty try to wiggle into my mind, and I wonder if it’s time for me to move into a new department.

Then there’s my current novel. I’m ready to be done with it, but there’s still work to do. The hours I spend editing fly by faster than any other hours of the day, except perhaps the hours I sleep, those fly pretty fast too.

It’s March and I haven’t even gathered my papers for the tax man. I have a to-do list that never seems to shrink. There are plans to be made for an upcoming trip. The dog needs a bath, the car needs the oil changed, weeds need to be pulled. Does anyone else ever feel like there are more jobs to do than hours in an entire lifetime?

It’s no wonder God keeps telling me the trials of this lifetime are momentary and I need to stop focusing on what is seen because it will all fade away. Instead, I need to focus on the unseen, the coming glory of eternity in His presence.

Stop where you are today and unload your worries. Ask God to show you where your priorities need to be and let Him lead you. There will always be struggles in this life, but they are fleeting. They may be outside our control, but He knows exactly what needs to happen. Find hope knowing that God wants the best for you, even if it means you have to walk a hard road for a time. He is there with you and will bring you through to the other side.

Don’t forget to check out the resources page I am developing with content I have found encouraging, has taken me deeper in my walk with God, and generally builds my hope.

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When Bad Situations Turn to Victory

27 Jan

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

“This is the new me this year,” my friend said. “Healthy eating and I’m even joining the gym.”

I cheered her on.

And I found a great thing,” she added. “After I juice, I use the pulp to sprinkle on my salads…it’s actually delicious!”

Most discard the pulp, but not her. Instead, she put it to good use. God did the very same with me. When blindness struck at the age of 31, I thought my life was over. I thought I’d be relegated to stay inside my four walls, empty of achievements. And like useless pulp, ready to be dumped in the garbage disposal of life.

Did you ever have moments like that?

Life didn’t turn out like you thought, plans fell apart, and bad times turned your joy to soggy pulp. You were too weak to fight and to down to look up.

At one time or another, we all have experienced this. But when God is in the midst, He uses what little we may have, what flaws we display, what ugliness comes in, or how low we feel. He crafts something deliciously beautiful. That’s because no matter how we try to overcome our own battles and rise above our weaknesses, God is about to turn them into strengths. He uses our weaknesses to make great things. He molds sad circumstances to success. And He turns our losses into gain.

He did that with me. I had asked God to remove my blindness. He didn’t. Instead, He turned my physical blindness into 20/20 spiritual vision.

Paul’s Challenges

In a different way, Paul also encountered adversity, painful and unpleasant, He confessed:

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10).

Paul delighted in His weaknesses…and God turned them to strength. He endured hardships…God pulled him through. He faced insults and unfairness…God brought about the victory. He was persecuted… God ushered him to freedom.

Where are you in this new year? Facing hard times? Drained by unexpected setbacks? God’s strength is being perfected in your weakness and inside your walls of tough times.

His strength might not be revealed by correcting the situation, but by changing your perspective to see His hand that removes anxiety, erases fear, and calms stressful moments. He’s at work so you can trust. He’s active so you can relax. And He’s crafting the solution that will strengthen your faith.

Let’s Pray

Father, the situation I face has drained my strength and my tears washed away the joy.

But I will cling to Your promise that Your power is being made perfect in my every weakness.

I shall trust You with every detail, and at every turn, I shall proclaim Your victory. In Jesus’ name.

What strength can you count on today?

Bonus article on today’s topic.

Janet

Celebrate with me! My new release, Now I See: How God’s Amazing Grace Transforms the Deepest Pain to Shining Joy won the 2023 Memoir of the Year Golden Scroll Award.

Your copy waits for you HERE.

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I also invite you to visit my WEBSITE. You’ll find more inspirational blogs along with my story, books, and videos. You’ll also learn the passion and mission of JC Empowerment ministries.

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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Your Battle Belongs to the Lord

30 Jul

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Reblogged July 30, 2022

July 29, 2022

“I’m going to be brutally honest,” a woman said in our recent Zoom meeting.

She cleared her throat. “Are Christians lying? Or are some of them faking or covering up the real truth? Even though we’re believers, how can we not feel fear, have moments of doubt and feel like screaming, God, this is enough!”

No one in the group answered. Could it be because we agreed with her?

In silence, we hid those same emotions deep inside. We managed to cover them under the I-have-enough-faith notion.

But who could blame us?

We’re human and although we’re believers in Christ, we’re afraid to open up and admit that yes, sometimes we wake up and wonder what will be next? Other times we can’t even receive God’s Word well enough to face all the ugliness that paints this dark world.

But what spreads more subtly than the pandemic of anxiety is the number of Christians who face that battle between sinking in fear or standing in faith. Peter experienced the same dilemma when the storm came. He should have believed Jesus would protect him and kick fear to the curb. But instead, he blurted words of fear and worry, contagious enough to spread to the other disciples. Peter thought He was on his own, defenseless and unequipped to fight the battle of fear.

We’re all in that same boat, buffeted by that same storm of uncertainty. And while holding on tight hoping we won’t be crushed, we must choose the group to which we belong. The one that will sink in the deep waters of anxiety, swallowed by fear. Or the group who looks to God for His wisdom and has the audacity to look beyond the circumstances and dare to invite faith to come in. to ponder on His victory. To declare He already took care of the danger. And to step under His banner of ultimate glory.

That’s why we choose to stand on His side as He fights our battles. And wearing the garment of gratitude, we do our part by joining Him with the weapons of faith, commitment, truth and confidence.

Let’s Pray

Father, no matter how bad things get, I vow to remain on the side that trusts in You. When inflation rises, my faith will increase. When bad news come, I shall run to You for protection. I will rejoice because when I’m under the side of Your grace, no evil can harm me, my life or my family. In Jesus name.

Which side are you on these days?

Janet

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I invite you to dance with me—celebrating one of my books, “Contagious Courage: A 30-Day Journey to Overcoming Stress and Anxiety.” Get your copy HERE and tell your friends, too.

Did you know I wrote a book filled with words of encouragement, uplifting thoughts and illustrations of real-life triumph to empower you? Its title, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life. You can get it HERE.

CLICK HERE for a one-minute inspirational video.

Looking for a speaker for your upcoming event? A great speaker makes the difference between a so-so event and one that shines with impact. I invite you to view one of my two-minute videos HERE.

Please share: Feel free to share Janet’s posts with your friends.

Let’s connect:

Janet Eckles Perez

Some say she should be the last person to be dancing. Her life is summarized in this 3-minute video: http://bit.ly/1a8wGJR

Janet Perez Eckles’ story of triumph is marked by her work as an international speaker, #1 best-selling author, radio host, personal success coach and master interpreter. Although blind since 31, her passion is to help you see the best of life.

www.janetperezeckles.com

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God Loves All Children

19 Apr

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Photo credit Pixabay

Curious children know when something special is going on, and they want to be part of it. They also need lots of kind and cheerful attention. 

One day, Jesus and his disciples were going through town among the people: mothers, fathers, and children.  It was probably a warm day with clear blue skies. The disciples were on the job, gently holding back the crowd and seeing to it that Jesus had space to do what he wanted and stillness to say what he had to say.

The hard-working disciples had ideas of their own as to how much protection Jesus might need. In this village, small children ran in and out of the crowd playing tag and getting in the way. The disciples decided there was too much going on for Jesus to tell his stories or to heal someone who needed help; this is what happened: 

“The people brought their babies and small children to Jesus so that he might lay his hands on them to bless them. When the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents and told them to stop troubling the Master. Seeing what was happening, Jesus called for the parents, the children, and his disciples to come and listen to Him. Then he told them, ‘Never hinder a child from coming to me but let them all come, for God’s kingdom belongs to them as much as it does to anyone else. These children demonstrate to you what faith is all about. Learn this well: unless you receive the revelation of the kingdom the same way a little child receives it, you will never be able to enter in.’ Luke 18: 15-17 The Passion Translation

Photo credit Pixabay

“Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World”

DiVoran has been writing for most of her life. Her first attempt at a story was when she was seven years old and her mother got a new typewriter. DiVoran got to use it and when her dad saw her writing he asked what she was writing about. DiVoran answered that she was writing the story of her life. Her dad’s only comment was, “Well, it’s going to be a very short story.” After most of a lifetime of writing and helping other writers, DiVoran finally launched her own dream which was to write a novel of her own. She now has her Florida Springs trilogy and her novel, a Christian Western Romance, Go West available on Amazon. When speaking about her road to publication, she gives thanks to the Lord for all the people who helped her grow and learn.  She says, “I could never have done it by myself, but when I got going everything fell beautifully into place, and I was glad I had started on my dream.”

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My Sin

30 Mar

Jesus gave himself for our sins to rescue us. Galatians 1:4

 

 

I  sin daily yet He loved me so deeply that He took on my sins to himself. Amazing love.

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The Shadow Knows

23 May

My Take

DiVoran Lites

1

When we’re young we think adults know everything. While we’re in that stage, we’ll follow almost anyone who is nice to us. It takes many years to begin to realize that people don’t know as much as we think they do.

Take for instance our relationship with God. You see and hear all kinds of things about how we should think and behave, and what we should believe. The more mature we grow, however, the less apt we are to believe just anything. We come to a place where we want to know God for ourselves. We want Him to teach us and answer our questions. Oh, I’m not talking about Christ being God’s Son and dying for our sins. That’s basic. No, it’s more like traditions and rites, and conjecture about what He actually wants from us and what he is like.

Who really does know everything? The Shadow Knows of course, but who is the shadow?

DiVoran and David Bowers

David and DiVoran Bowers

First of all, he was the alter-ego of a man named Lamont Cranston, and the hero in the radio program, “The Shadow.” In the 40s my little brother and I loved to listen to that program. To keep us out of their hair at the restaurant on Sunday afternoons our parents bought a radio and installed it in the living room of our duplex at the end of the street. We didn’t have a working kitchen because the kitchen held our bunk beds. So dad bought us a new- fangled pop-up toaster. Every week our parents gave us a loaf of Rainbow bread and sent us home to listen to the Sunday afternoon programs.

When we had polished off the toast, we found our toys and laid them out in preparation for moving them around. David took each tiny horse, each cow, and each section of rail fencing and placed it exactly where he wanted it.

I pulled out Mother’s little dolls and the clothes she and her Grandmother had made for them in the late twenties.

We listened happily and when, “The Shadow,” came on we paused to listen to his voice. One phrase I never forgot from “The Shadow” was: “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows.”

The Shadow

“A figure never seen, only heard, the Shadow was an invincible crime fighter. He possessed many gifts which enabled him to overcome any enemy. Besides his tremendous strength, he could defy gravity, speak any language, unravel any code, and become invisible with his famous ability to “cloud men’s minds.” (Thanks to the website, Old Time Radio World.)

So now we knew someone who really did know everything, and somehow, we had a profile of God. We could trust the Shadow because he always did the right thing and he protected people and their children. In the end, though, we were open to being friends with someone who possessed all the Shadow’s abilities and much more. We chose to worship Jesus.

Now that we’re grown-ups, we think we might know a thing or two, but we still come against questions we can’t answer. That’s when we have to say, “The Shadow knows.” We mean God, or course. He is sufficient for any need we have.

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Peace Be Still

1 Feb

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Peace Be Still

Jesus always told stories when he spoke to his followers.

I’m into stories, have been since I was born. My mother told true stories and made up some. Grandmother told stories about her life, too. Before he went away to war and later when he grew old, Dad told stories about his. His stories stopped during my childhood because he suffered from what is now called PTSD.

I married a man who tells stories about his adventures every day, our grown children tell stories and so it goes. Stories and the need for them will never die. I thank God that I come from a story-telling family. I’m convinced there is no better way to learn the vital things of life.

It seems possible to imagine myself present as a child in a story about one of Jesus’ miracles. See if you can put yourself into it with me.

Father and Mother took me up on the mountain to listen to the master. He told us things about how to be happy. Wildflowers grew all over the mountain spreading their fragrance over the crowd like a blessing. I stood in the boat next to Jesus as he taught from there. I wanted to sing and dance with joy, but, alas, there was no room for that in the small boat.

When the teaching was over, the master asked the fishermen to take him across the lake. The sail filled with wind and we flew right along across the water next to a low-flying seagull. I looked around for the master and finally found him sleeping at the back of the boat. I was tired from all the excitement and the fresh air, so I lay down nearby. I thought about the wonderful day and looked at the white clouds in the blue sky. I too, fell asleep.

I awoke to rain in my face, black skies, and a bad feeling in my tummy. The fishermen were shouting and I saw that they were afraid. I’d never seen big rough men show fear before. Two wrestled to get the sail down while two others tried to bail out the water coming over the side in waves. One of the men came back and shook the master’s shoulder to wake him.

“Don’t you care that we’re all going to die!” he shouted.

By now I was hanging onto the anchor so I wouldn’t be washed out of the boat and into the sea.

The master rose and made his way to the bow. He held his hand up commanding, “Stop. Be quiet. Peace! Be still.” His voice carried through the storm. We all heard it. Suddenly the sea was calm. The sun came out. The bailers finished bailing. The sail went up again. Soon the work was done and we were on our way.

“Why were you so afraid? Don’t you have any faith?” said the master.

“Who is this man that wind and sea are at his command?” said one of the men.

I almost raised my hand to answer, but then thought the men might not like a child telling them something they didn’t already know. Someday, perhaps I will tell the story of this day so others may hear and know him too.

Mark 4

If you want to see the ancient fishing boats, Google Bible fishing boats. The pictures are beautiful.

 

 

You might enjoy this book: The Power of Personal Storytelling 

 

 

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Christmas and Me

21 Dec

My Take

DiVoran Lites

The Christmas Gift

 

We’re more or less skipping Christmas this year. I’ve told several people when they ask, “Are you ready for Christmas?” Asking is one of the thing good Americans do. But I’m going on with my daily routines, not because of the so called commercialism a lot of folks love to rave about, but because of the time and work that’s needed to fulfill the requirements and expectations of the holiday. I know a lot of people glory in those things, and I hope everything goes smoothly and well, for them.

We grass-root Americans are the cream of the crop, the salt of the earth, but we may have one or two weaknesses. One weakness may be to expect others to be like us. That’s the downside of tradition. The upside is lovely celebrations, being together with people you love, color, movement, music, gifts (if you need or want something and the givers choose correctly.)

The first four people I said no to when they asked, “Are you ready for Christmas?” gave me agreeable and kindly responses like, “I wish we could do that.” Those were men. One dear man asked if we were changing religions, though. I told him we weren’t skipping Jesus, not at all. The women gave a little different answer depending on whether they had children or grandchildren. Those selfless people struggle to do their best to make a memory and they love it and feel good about what they have accomplished. I do not begrudge them.

I did my best to make Christmas magical when our children and grandchildren were growing up. I bought them presents with money Bill earned, I put up a tree, and I baked. I was a good daughter and sister, too. I bought and sent packages to California and New Mexico and I spent hours writing Christmas cards with messages in them. The year I noticed that I was busy most of every day of December I began to think about slowing down. There were other things I’d rather be doing. For some, I know, the work of Christmas is a joy and I say God bless you in every endeavor. I know what fun those things can be.

This year I thought I’d watch Christmas movies to get me in the mood. Wouldn’t, “Are you in the in the mood for Christmas,” be a more telling question than are you ready for Christmas? Some people are in the mood and some aren’t, but why should anybody have to measure up to someone else’s perceptions about it? Let each of us know God and know ourselves and do what is right for us and our families.

Over the years, I’ve quit baking, reduced the number of gifts, and slowed down on decorating. This year I’m doing none of those things. This is the happiest and lightest Christmas I’ve ever had. Mostly I’m loving the music and other people’s decorations, we’re not so much into sweets anymore, but I don’t care what others think or do. I’m mature enough to make up my own mind what to focus on.

Even with all the conflict, I do thank God for giving His son, Jesus Christ, to walk with us through our time on earth and to forgive our trespasses… I do love Jesus. He is the greatest gift we could ever have received, and I’m satisfied with all the blessings he has given us, especially our friends and family. Please don’t judge us and we won’t judge you. We wish you a wonderful Christmas. And by the way, we’re grateful for every good (and bad) thing that comes our way, including any opportunity to show love to others.

Romans 12:2The Message (MSG)

Place Your Life Before God

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Top ten Christmas Hymns

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