A Devotional Life

It's Christmas again, Merry Christmas. I'll just quickly reference last Easter's post on Sharing His Hope - which was an encouragement to share. So what is Christmas? The best definition of Christmas so far, for me, is from a kid. Here it is: Christmas is a time when we celebrate when baby Jesus was born on earth. Can you beat that? John 3:16 "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." Isaiah 9:6 prophecy can finally be celebrated - cause it was fulfilled by the birth/coming of Jesus. Christmas is a perfect reminder of the loving Father heart of God - that lavishing love - which chose to be born in a manger, in form of human flesh, living in our world and giving it all up for us - a people undeserving of His love. Really, God what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you've visited him. If you often get into this question of Psalm 8:

If you're just joining us, this post is part of a duo-session (previous was Living in Perfect Peace ). Merry Christmas again - with everything being Christmassy, we'll ride on for the session. Romans 12:1-2; I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The scripture in Romans lets us know that discernment and direction is a bye product of wholehearted devotion to God. The Old Testament usually refer this as 'the fear of God' - e.g. Psalms 25:12,14, Proverbs 1:10, Psalm 111:10. Three points to note here: Present your bodies as a living sacrifice : 'holiness - the fear of God' Be not conformed to this world : 'holiness - the fear of God' Be transformed by the

Wow, lots of questions on: true peace and God's will. We'll just look at what The Word says of "perfect peace", and then delve right into "discerning His perfect will". It's going to be an interesting duo-session, as I'll keep it short. First off, Merry Christmas (in advance). OK, here we go: Isaiah 26:3 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. The Israelites had lots of attacks and fought lots of battles that they always yearned for peace (and God surfaced as their Peace: shâlôm: rest due to the absence of war). But the Prophecy of Perfect Peace (perfect Shalom) was a promise and was finally fulfilled in Christ. Paul in Philippians 4:7 describes this kind as; peace that transcends all understanding. So Perfect Peace (eirēnē) is peace despite (even in) the trials and battles. [John 16:33; Matthew 11:28] We can't (physically) fight for it, cause it's the work of grace, therefore