Thursday Devotional - Merry Christmas from the Reas

For today’s devotional, I thought I would include our Christmas picture and letter. I wanted to send a Christmas letter out last year after our adoption was final, but life was too crazy! So, this year’s letter covered a little more than a year. :) 

Merry Christmas! God blessed us with two wonderful children (James and Sarah) a little over a year ago! We got them in June of 2016 and adopted them in October last year, so the past year and a half has been full of changes, new things, and firsts!

James (5.25) is outgoing, loving, friendly, excited, active and generous. He started a music class and swim lessons this Fall. Most importantly, he accepted Jesus into his heart as his Savior this past February, and the Holy Spirit’s work in his heart is evident!

(Romans 10:9-13               ⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”)

Sarah (3.75) is reserved, strong, diligent, content, cuddly and petite. She enjoys library time with James each week, singing (even if she doesn’t know the words), and animals (especially horses). James and Sarah both enjoy playing anything and everything with each other and their cousins.

I’m still working at Thomson Reuters and keep an active CPA license. I work an early shift, switch places with Joe, and then he counsels clients afternoons and evenings most days. We both continue to enjoy leadership in Bible Study Fellowship (studying Romans this year).

Love,

Alice

Romans 5:1-3      Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Have a great Christmas!

A Place Called Joy

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”  Nehemiah 8:9-10 

So I’m watching a special about two athletes that I admired when I was younger.  They had been best of friends, but because of competition and miscommunication, they had separated for years; nearly twenty years.  However, when they got back together, it was like they had never been apart.  The closest thing I can recall like it was when I saw my oldest brother after a decade of him living in Florida.  It was like watching me ten years later, and I cherished that time we spent. 

When I think of my relationship with God, I know He is Lord over my life.  I am His humble servant, but yet, He calls me a friend.  I struggle understanding that, but my best guess on how that works is simply this.  I don’t expect anything from Him, but when I do something well, I can feel He is happy with me.  The commonality in all three stories is this place in my heart positively responds to them.  The response is called joy. 

Joy is an everlasting connection with God.  In today’s verses, the people of Jerusalem were at an assembly hearing the law of God read them.  As I read of them weeping, I can only feel that they wept reflecting on their own standing with God.  Then Nehemiah, understanding the greater purpose God had in their lives, spoke, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  He wished to emphasize that God was with them, and with it, they had reassurance and peace.  They had happiness that was both unshakable and everlasting.  This was joy.  When we gave our life to Christ, we too were given a new life filled with an opportunity to serve the one true living God.  It is not something that can be neither taken from us nor reversed.  We are to embrace it for what it is; a chance to live a better life beyond ourselves.  To do be able to do things in the name of God that many might not even understand, and then celebrate because we have the very strength that Nehemiah spoke to the people of Jerusalem of. 

There is no situation that our God cannot handle.  While we at times find ourselves too tired to carry on, He carries us forward, but only if we just are willing to hand our worries, fears, and anxieties to Him.  A song by Bebe and Cece Winans has a closing chorus saying to Jesus Christ, “You are my love and my prize possession.  Because of you I’ve got pride and joy.  Tell the world it’s love everlasting, hope everlasting, joy everlasting. I’ve got joy!”  Do not let the weight of the world tear you down.  Remember your strength in Christ.  Where is the joy you have with Christ?  How can you focus on His strength when you feel weak?  My prayer is that we look deep inside ourselves where God is connected to us, and find that place called joy.  Amen, and I pray for you and your family a most joyous and Merry Christmas! 

Tues Devo: Faithfulness in action

Luke 2:21-38 “And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (NASB)

Hello,

As I have been reading the Christmas story and it’s surrounding passages I spent some time on these 2 unique individuals. We talk about the shepherds who were told and responded with immediate gratification-but here are 2 people who waited for the Messiah – and even waited a few days past His birth. Both Simeon and Anna were followers of God who showed amazing faithfulness. Both were servants – long time servants. They just kept believing, trusting and serving. God’s promise to Simeon was fulfilled, and Anna had what looks to be an unknown blessing. There is no mention of her knowing she would see the Messiah as Simeon was told – but her faithful service was rewarded.

We don’t always like to wait – but the rewards of faithful service are immense.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill