Good morning,

Christmas is Sunday. It is time to focus on why we celebrate this event. The announcements that were made to Isaiah, Micah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. The story of Jesus birth. The praise of the angels, shepherds, Simeon, and Anna.

From the very beginning it is a supernatural story. Only God could have arranged all the details to make it happen. But happen it did.

Today let us look at the announcements the Lord made to Isaiah and Micah, the Angel to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God. That first sin is passed down to all men. Jesus Christ willingly gave up His heavenly home to come to earth to pay the debt for sin that mankind could not pay.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Micah 5:2

 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Luke 1:26-35

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,²⁷ To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.³¹ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.²⁰ But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.²⁴ Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:²⁵ And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.

Luke 2:8-12

 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

These passages tell God’s plan. A virgin will conceive, bear a son, who will rule forever, named Jesus, to save the people from their sins. The first people God presented our Savior was to lowly shepherds.

Tomorrow, we will explore the birth of Jesus.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

Charles Hodge (December 27, 1797 – June 19, 1878) was a Presbyterian theologian and principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878.

He challenges us to think about our relationship to Christ. His statement on true religion is easily understood. We need to take his sayings and allow God to speak to us.

Short pithy gems from Charles Hodge

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To be in Christ–is the source of the Christian’s life.
To be like Christ–is the sum of the Christian’s excellence.
To be with Christ–is the fullness of the Christian’s joy.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The grace of God exalts a man without inflating him–and humbles a man without debasing him.

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The gospel is so simple, that small children can understand it–and it is so profound, that studies by the wisest theologians will never exhaust its riches!

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Christian humility does not consist in denying what there is of good in us–but in an abiding sense of ill-desert, and in the consciousness that what we have of good is due to the grace of God.

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This is true religion:
to approve what God approves,
to hate what God hates, and
to delight in what God delights.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Where do we place our trust? In our own hands or in the hands of God? Who is better suited to lead us through the ups and downs of life?

Today’s devotional will answer these questions.

My times are in Your hand!

(“Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872)

“My times are in Your hand!”  Psalm 31:15

Is not this truth a joy to you, my soul?

It would be a sorry thing for me if my times were in my own hands–and it would afford me little satisfaction if my times were in an angel’s hands. How restful should I be in knowing that they are in Savior’s nail-pierced hands!
He sees the end from the beginning.
He knows how to apportion my sorrows and my joys.
He knows what to give–and what to withhold.
He knows also when to give–and when to take away.

But, alas! how often is my heart mistrustful–how often have I murmured under the trying dispensations of His providence! O my soul, be ashamed and confounded--be humbled in the dust that you should ever call in question the wisdom or kindness of the dealings of Him who so loved you as to give His life for your redemption!

Help me, O God of my salvation, henceforth, with childlike confidence and peaceful trust–to yield all to You, and to rejoice in the assurance that “My times are in Your hand!“

“My times are in Your hand;
Why should I doubt or fear?
My Father’s hand will never cause
His child a needless tear!”

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Are we yielding to God? Do we come to Him in childlike faith, trusting Him completely?

We should.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

When I sin, who can forgive it? Jesus! When I have an overwhelming heartache, who can comfort, help, and heal? Jesus. When I am in the depth of despair with seemingly no way out, who do I turn to? Jesus. Who has the answers to all life’s questions? Jesus. Who has defeated Satan, death, and the grave? Jesus.

I take my concerns to the one who can minister to my concerns. Jesus. There is no reason to confess my sins to a man because men cannot fix the problem.

This devotional should remind us to take our needs to Jesus!

I would not make my ear into a common sewer, for all the wealth in the world!

(Charles Spurgeon)

Do you ask, “To whom shall I confess my sins?” Do not come to me with your confession. Oh no, no, no! I could not stand that!

I can never understand how a “Catholic priest” can ask people to confess their sins to him. I would not make my ear into a common sewer, for all the wealth in the world! What foulness must there be on the soul of him who has heard the sins that others have committed, and who knows what sin he has himself committed!

Sin, when we see what it really is, whether in ourselves or in others, horrifies us!

There is an old proverb about a thing being “as filthy as a priest’s ear!” I cannot imagine anything dirtier than that, and I have no wish to be a partaker in the filthiness.

Go to God and confess your sin to Him–pour out your heart’s sad story in the ear of Him against whom you have offended! Say with David, “Against You, You only, have I sinned–and done this evil in Your sight!”

  ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Our lives do not follow a straight path. There are many twists and turns along the way. It is good to know that Jesus is with us each step of the way.

No matter what corner I go around on the winding road of life

(W.B. Hinson)

“I will lead them in paths that they have not known” Isaiah 42:16

I do not know what is around that next turn in this winding trail of life. But I know this–whatever there is around that corner, I shall have my hand in Another’s hand when I go and face it. And if I feel a little bit disturbed, I shall move my finger around in the palm of that hand till I find the scar, and then I shall know that Jesus Christ, who on the cross was wounded for my sins–is not going to leave me no matter what corner I go around on the winding road of life.

“Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip!” Psalm 17:5

  ~  ~  ~  ~

When we stumble in our walk with the Lord, He is there to pick us up, dust us off, and nudge us back to serving Him.

 Sometimes, we refuse God’s help. We refuse to repent and ask for God to help us. However, Jesus never leaves us. He will chasten, convict, and compel us to come home.  

When we are ready to repent, Jesus welcomes us back with open arms. He then assigns us a task for us to accomplish. God never puts a truly repentant believer on the shelf.

Ask God to give you His next assignment. Then go out and do it. Obedience pleases God!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We are told to be soul winners for Christ. Many churches deem your worthiness in the number of souls you have won. We need to rethink soul winning in light of today’s devotional.

Mr. Hill, I am pleased to see you–I am one of your converts!

(Charles Spurgeon)

A man picked himself up from the gutter and brushed up against Rowland Hill one night as he went home, and he said, “Mr. Hill, I am pleased to see you–I am one of your converts!”

Rowland said, “I thought it was very likely that you were. You are certainly not one of God’s converts, or else you would not be drunk.”

There is a great lesson in that answer. Rowland Hill’s converts could get drunk, but not the converts of the Spirit of God–those are really renewed in the spirit of their mind, by a supernatural operation!

Our converts are no good.

If our preaching does not turn men . . .
from drunkenness–to sobriety,
from thieving–to honesty,
from unchastity–to purity,
then our Gospel is not worth a button!

But if it does all this, then this is the evidence that it comes from God–seeing that in the world so sorely diseased by sin, it works the wondrous miracle of curing men of these deadly evils!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! Old things have passed away–behold, all things have become new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

  ~  ~  ~  ~

We do not win souls to Christ. It is God that woos the souls of men and women to Him and the Holy Spirit convicts’ men and women of their sin. Then men and women choose to repent, accept God’s invitation of new life in Christ, or to reject it.

It is crucial to understand who does the saving and who does the proclaiming. We share the gospel message, while God convicts of sin.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today’s devotional gave me a new perspective about what Christ did for me. When I think about who Jesus is, what He did prior to coming to earth, and what He did for me while He was here, it deepened my respect for what Jesus did.

Gems from Octavius Winslow

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So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of Himself, that He created the tree upon which He was to die–and nurtured from infancy, the men who were to nail Him to the accursed wood!

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Christ took your cup of grief, your cup of the curse, pressed it to his lips, drank it to its dregs–then filled it with His sweet, pardoning, sympathizing love, and gave it back for you to drink, and to drink forever!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

It is because we have such shallow views of God’s love––that we have such defective views of God’s dealings. We blindly interpret the symbols of His providence–because we so imperfectly read the engravings of His heart!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

When I read these statements, it put me in awe of what Jesus did for me. He orchestrated His birth and death down to the most minute detail. He created the tree that would crucify Him, the people who would condemn Him, and the soldiers that would carry out the sentence. He made the tomb that held Him three days.

He did this all for me and for you. He did it because He loved us. Unconditional, unmerited, love. His grace and mercy drove Him to the cross.

The greatest gift you could receive this Christmas is Christ’s gift of a new life in Him. The greatest gift you could give to someone else is Christ’s gift of salvation. Simply put, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Do you possess this everlasting life? Would you like to? Give me a call or email me. I would be happy to talk with you.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This weekend we must consider what we will do. Will we please God or the devil? Will we be at the very edge and attempt not to fall? Will we choose to participate in wholesome endeavors pleasing to God?

Today’s devotional may help in making that decision.

The best course to prevent falling into the pit!

(Thomas Brooks)

“Avoid every kind of evil!” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

It is our wisest and our safest course to stand at the farthest distance from sin; not to go near the house of the harlot, but to fly from all appearance of evil. “Keep to a path far from her–do not go near the door of her house!” Proverbs 5:8

The best course to prevent falling into the pit–is to keep at the greatest distance from the pit. He who will be so bold as to attempt to dance upon the brink of the pit–may find by woeful experience, that it is a righteous thing with God that he should fall into the pit!

Sin is a plague, yes, the greatest and most infectious plague in the world; and yet, ah! how few are there that tremble at it, that keep at a distance from it!

~  ~  ~  ~

If any occupation or amusement or association is found to hinder our communion with God or our enjoyment of spiritual things–then it must be abandoned. Whatever I cannot do for God’s glory–must be avoided! (Arthur Pink)

~  ~  ~  ~

CHOOSE WISELY!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning.

God and men see success differently. Christ takes the broken and restores them to gloriousness and beauty.

The Bible changes lives. If read consistently, obeyed fully, and practiced continually, people will be saved, grow in grace, and lead others to Christ.

This devotional is an encouragement, blessing, warning, challenge, and call to action.

Short pithy gems from J.R. Miller

Christ is building His kingdom with earth’s broken things.

Men want only the strong, the successful, the victorious, the unbroken–in building their kingdoms. But God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filling with earth’s broken lives, and there is no bruised reed that Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take the life crushed by pain or sorrow–and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth’s saddest failure–up to Heaven’s glory!

~  ~  ~  ~

It is impossible to estimate full influence of the reading of the Word in a home day after day and year after year. It filters into the hearts of the young. It is absorbed into their souls. It colors all their thoughts. It is wrought into the very fiber of their minds. It imbues them with its own spirit. It’s holy teachings become the principles of their lives, which rule their conduct and shape all their actions.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

God has allowed each believer in Christ to be unique. We have been brought up in different church affiliations and possess Scriptural knowledge that others may not agree with. Some believers have studied the Bible for many years and have great knowledge while others have a more limited knowledge of God’s word.

However, there are certain essentials that we all should agree on. These essential doctrines of the saving gospel include man’s sinfulness, Christ’s deity, the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection, and the blood atonement. These are the essentials believed by all who are saved.

Romans 14 tells us to receive all who are believers in Christ.  There will be areas of disagreement, but these people are still our brothers and sisters in Christ. It reminds us that we are not to judge others or become a stumbling block. God is the Judge not us. One day each of us will stand before Christ to give an account of our lives.

Christian love charitably bears with differing customs (14:1-12)

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.² For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.³ Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.⁴ Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.⁵ One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.⁶ He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.⁷ For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. ⁸ For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.⁹ For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.¹⁰ But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.¹¹ For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.¹² So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

For love’s sake Christians may deny themselves (14:13-23)

¹³ Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. ¹⁴ I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.¹⁵ But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.¹⁶ Let not then your good be evil spoken of:¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.¹⁸ For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.¹⁹ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.²⁰ For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.²¹ It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.²² Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.²³ And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001