Tag: religion

“When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Graham

Peanut Gallery: Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation – to get ready for the Coming of Christ. It’s a season to joyfully prepare our hearts and homes to receive “God with us” – Emmanuel. It’s a time to remember Jesus’ humble birth and look forward to His glorious return.

But for many people – with broken hearts and homes – it can also be a tough time of year.

In this re-posted article, Billy Graham offers practical help for those dealing with difficulties during this season. The “good news” is – there’s still over two weeks to work on some of these suggestions… follow the links. You still have time to enter into the joy of the season.

Take advantage of them.. and/or pass them on to a friend in need. You’ll be glad you did. And so will your friend.
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“When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Grahem

December 7, 2012 – Billy Graham has shared practical, biblical advice for dealing with holiday-related difficulties. – click on link.

When Christmas is HardIn the middle of the “most wonderful time of the year,” many of you are facing a dilemma or difficulty. You may have a strained relationship with one or multiple family members. Perhaps you’re lonely or grieving a loss and the holidays are particularly painful for you. Or, this is the busiest time of the year and you dread the rat race that often accompanies this season.

Whatever the case may be, we want to provide you with resources to help guide you through this season’s difficulties in a biblical way. Below, you will find some family- and holiday-related questions people have asked Billy Graham over the years, along with his answers.

Help the Lonely
This Christmas was very hard for me. Most of my relatives are gone now (including my husband), and the few I do have are either too old or live too far away, so I was completely alone. Please tell people to reach out to lonely people during holidays, because it’s hard for them.
Be a friend »

Can’t Afford Gifts
My husband lost his job recently and we really can’t afford to give people as much for Christmas this year as we have in the past. But I’m afraid we’ll offend them if we cut back too much. I know this isn’t a spiritual question, but how should we handle this?
Don’t go into debt »

Hectic Holidays
I know Christmas is still some weeks away, but I’m already getting uptight about it. It’s always such a hectic time and we always end up spending far more than we planned to. To be honest, I don’t really enjoy Christmas any more, although I know I ought to. Continue reading ““When Christmas is Hard” – Biblical Advice from Billy Graham” →

Advent Carol: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”

This little one picked up her dad's Bible on the way out of church.Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Christmas Carols- Joy to the World

Carols: A Christmas Devotional
Joy To The World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King.

Isaac Watts wrote “”Joy to the World” in 1719. Since then, every Christmas season, carolers cast those words into the air like a lifeline out into the ocean of humanity. And every “”fish” surely finds something inviting and worth nibbling at. The thrill of hope within the message spools out to touch a weary world with anticipation of tasting something really good!

Joy came to the world because God our great Creator loved His creation so much that He sent His Son to reveal His story, and so that over time, His character and ultimate good will toward mankind would be recognized. The impact on earth of Christ’s birth will never diminish despite enemies’ attempts to stop it. John 21:25 says that the world would not be able to contain the books that could be written about what the Lord did while on earth. Since then many more testimonies of His transforming love have been and will be written.

Nehemiah 8 records that Nehemiah, the leaders and the people celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with great joy, after sharing God’s Word. Rejoice in God’s Word and thoughts of the Savior’s birth, His purpose and His inheritance.

What do you plan on rejoicing about during this Christmas season?

Morning Reading: Romans 10.9-15 NLT- cry out to Jesus

Romans 19.9-15 NLT

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?

That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”