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Tuesday 20 December 2016

Tuesday, 20 December 2016 Curing Unbelief · tuesday



Curing Unbelief · tuesday ·   And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching (Mark 6:5-6).   In Mark 9, we read how the disciples of Jesus tried to cast a devil out of a young boy, but to no avail. When Jesus arrived, the father of the demon-possessed boy pleaded with Him for help. Straightway, Jesus rebuked the demon, and the boy was healed instantly. This marvelled the disciples, because Jesus didn’t do anything different from what they did (at least, so it seemed). Distraught, they came to Jesus privately and asked Him, "Master, why couldn’t we cast the devil out?"  The Master replied them plainly, "…Because of your unbelief…" (Matthew 17:20). The disciples certainly didn’t think their problem was unbelief; otherwise, they wouldn’t have asked Jesus the question in the first place. They believed; that’s why they were with Jesus! They thought they had faith; that’s why they dared to cast the devil out! However, Jesus knew better; He stated the missing link as "unbelief."  Many people find themselves in similar situations today. They wonder why they didn’t get the job or the money, despite all their prayers and confessions. Well, like the disciples of Jesus, it’s because of their unbelief. The fact that you didn’t get what you wanted doesn’t mean the Gospel you received isn’t working. Rather, it simply shows that you need to learn more of God’s Word and act on it. Unbelief is the result of insufficient information from God’s Word. The cure, therefore, is the teaching of God’s Word. Keep bombarding your spirit with God’s Word to rid it of unbelief.  When the Lord Jesus experienced unbelief from the people in His hometown of Nazareth, He resorted to teaching the Word. Mark 6:6 says He marvelled because of their unbelief and went into their villages, teaching the Word. That’s how you get rid of unbelief. When people have difficulty believing, teach them the Scriptures. Explain to them how the power of God works, and faith will be stirred in them to receive whatever miracles they desire, and they’ll be able to retain it.   Prayer  Dear Father, I rejoice at your Word, which prevails in and through me today. I consciously saturate my heart with the Word of faith, which is able to build me up, and propel me in my destiny in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.  further study: H ebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17   : R evelation 12 Micah 6-7  : R evelation 16:11-21 Zephaniah 3

DECEMBER 20 Christmas Solidarity Devotional by John Piper



DECEMBER 20 Christmas Solidarity  Devotional by John Piper    The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.(1 John 3:8)  The assembly line of Satan turns out millions of sins every day. He packs them into huge cargo planes and flies them to heaven and spreads them out before God and laughs and laughs and laughs.  Some people work full-time on the assembly line. Others have quit their jobs there and only now and then return.  Every minute of work on the assembly line makes God the laughing stock of Satan. Sin is Satan’s business because he hates the light and beauty and purity and glory of God. Nothing pleases him more than when creatures distrust and disobey their Maker.  Therefore, Christmas is good news for man and good news for God.  “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). That’s good news for us.  “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). That’s good news for God.  Christmas is good news for God because Jesus has come to lead a strike at Satan’s assembly plant. He has walked right into the plant, called for the Solidarity of the faithful, and begun a massive walk-out.  Christmas is a call to go on strike at the assembly plant of sin. No negotiations with the management. No bargaining. Just single-minded, unswerving opposition to the product.  Christmas Solidarity aims to ground the cargo planes. It will not use force or violence, but with relentless devotion to Truth it will expose the life-destroying conditions of the devil’s industry.  Christmas Solidarity will not give up until a complete shutdown has been achieved.  When sin has been destroyed, God’s name will be wholly exonerated. No one will be laughing at him anymore.  If you want to give a gift to God this Christmas, walk off the assembly line and never go back. Take up your place in the picket line of love. Join Christmas Solidarity until the majestic name of God is cleared and he stands glorious amid the accolades of the righteous.

Monday 19 December 2016

DAILY BIBLE VERSE AND DEVOTION,Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the lord and turn away from evil.

Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the lord and turn away from evil. – Proverbs 3:7   It’s often easy to forget to include God in our daily lives. Many times when things are going good, we don’t really stop to include God in our day to day activities and decision making. If we’re not careful, we can fall into the trap of thinking that we’ve got everything together in our own ability.  However, God encourages us to not get busy and impressed with what we can do in our own strength. Instead we should be respecting God, spending time with him, and turning away from the things that keep us from Him.  Spend some time today identifying any areas in your life where you’ve become impressed with what you can do by yourself. Choose to give those areas to God and to spend time getting to know God.

GALATIANS 3:1 December 20 Twelve Sunday Mornings— Part Three



 GALATIANS 3:1 December 20 Galatians 3:1—O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  Witchcraft is the power through which Satan carries out his will on earth! Part Two—  God structured you such that you cannot function without authority. When you reject God’s authority, you open yourself up to satanic authority, which is witchcraft. A rebellious son rejects the authority of his father. What does he do? He goes out into the street and joins a gang. What does he then do? He submits to the authority of that gang. If he does not, he gets shot. He rejects righteous authority and he assumes unrighteous authority.  A rebellious nation rejects God and what does God do? God turns them over to unrighteous authority. He will allow dictators and godless foreign powers to destroy them. I don’t have the space to paint you a broad historical picture, but let me choose the example of Germany. Through what they called the New Enlightenment, what American theologians call modernism, Germans rejected God’s authority in their life. What did they inherit? They inherited Adolf Hitler, who led them into twelve years of bloodshed. When you reject righteous authority, you will be subjected to unrighteous authority.  Source: Twelve Sunday Mornings— Part Three

Be Kind to Those Who Aren’t Kind to You by Joyce Meyer - posted December 20, 2016



Be Kind to Those Who Aren’t Kind to You  by Joyce Meyer - posted December 20, 2016    And be kind to one another . . .  —Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)  Christmas is the season of good cheer, but it often becomes a season of stress . . . so much shopping, wrapping, cooking, baking, and visiting. Before you know it, people are losing patience, snapping at one another. It's easy to become unkind.  I'll never forget something my daughter told me a long time ago. She said that her goal was to learn to love or to treat with kindness, goodness, and mercy every single person she encountered who was unkind or ugly to her. She said, "That's my goal. I want to submit to God in my emotions and the way that I handle myself so that when I’m out in public and someone mistreats me, I respond with kindness."  She said, "One of the things that God has shown me that really helps is when someone is grouchy toward me, I can get angry and frustrated or I can think: I don't know what this person is going through. Maybe right now her back hurts terribly. Maybe this grumpy man is carrying a financial burden that feels too heavy for him. Maybe that woman's husband has just been told he's losing his job at the end of the week."  We don't know what's going on in people's lives.  Kindness will cause you to slow down and give people some space and some grace. Life was not meant to be the way it is today. We were not meant to live at the fast pace at which we live, with thousands of things coming at us at once.  I think we've lost sight of some important things in life and that we need to put kindness back on our priority lists!  Love Others Today:
"Help me, Lord, to be especially kind to people who are not kind to me."

Thursday 15 December 2016

DCLM Daily Manna December 16, 2016 by Pastor Kumuyi – Merciful God



 Topic: Merciful God [December 16, 2016]  Text: Jeremiah 11:1-14  Key Verse: "Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them" (Jeremiah 11:6).  In the second stanza of his song, Have you counted the cost', A.J. Hodge, scripted: "You may barter your hope of eternity's morn, For a moment of joy at the most, For the glitter of sin and the things it will win, Have you counted, have you counted the cost?" But stanza three, reads: "While the door of His mercy is open to you, Ere the depth of His love you exhaust, Won't you come and be healed, won't you whisper, I yield; I have counted, I have counted, the cost."  All through the ages, God has remained faithful. He is ever-slow to anger, but full of compassion. He forewarns before he punishes. The children of Israel had remained rebellious despite repeated warnings from the prophets of God. They had a history of rebellion and hard-heartedness towards obeying the word of God. Generation after generation had the same problem. In the passage of consideration, God needed to once again, appeal to their conscience through Prophet Jeremiah on the need to do His command. His expectation was that the children of Israel should have effortlessly obeyed Him, having done so much for them; yet, they continued in their disobedience.  They were tied to their idols, as if they had enjoyed all the privileges by its power. They continued to multiply idols and set up altars to burn incense unto them. Evil was determined against them as God strictly charged the prophet never to intercede for them. Today, God is charging believers whom He has redeemed through Jesus Christ, on the need for a consistent walk with Him. He expects that having enjoyed His blessings, pardon from sin and protection from our enemies, believers should have learnt to reciprocate the gestures without being prodded. Whatever idols may have taken the place of God, He wants such idols rooted off before it is too late.  Thought for the day: To be forewarned is to be forearmed.  Bible Reading in one Year: Habakkuk 1-3  DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

He Shows Up In You · friday ·





He Shows Up In You · friday ·
    …he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand (Isaiah 53:10).   The Lord Jesus did many mighty works when He walked the earth. The Bible says if all the miracles He performed were to be chronicled, the whole world wouldn’t contain the books that’d be written. That’s neither a hyperbole nor over amplification of facts; it’s the truth. His entire life was an unending stream of the supernatural. He brought hope, joy, and life to many. The Bible says He went about doing good, healing ALL that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).  Now, this same Jesus, although is in heaven today, the Bible says He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He’s still loving, gracious, merciful, compassionate, and works miracles today as He did in Bible days. He still lifts, blesses, and transforms lives today, howbeit, through us—His seed. We’re the ones prolonging His days. We stand in His stead today; we bear His glory and divine presence. He’s committed to us everything He "…began both to do and teach" (Acts 1:1), that we may carry on in His stead.  He gave us the Holy Spirit, and we can minister His graces, wisdom, salvation, righteousness, love, healing, wholeness and beauty to a hurting, broken, lost, and disgruntled world. When we come before a rendezvous of broken humanity—the sick, the downtrodden, the poor, the rejected, the neglected, and the fainthearted—Jesus shows up in us and there’s a total turnaround for them. He’s the solution that the world is looking for, and we minister Him; we’re partakers of His divine nature, as well as dispensers of His love.  If only the world could see and understand that you carry God’s divine presence, and relate to you accordingly, they’d get heaven’s best. Jesus didn’t leave us hamstrung; He gave us everything we require to affect our world. He’s as present through you in your world today, as He was in Galilee, Capernaum, and Jerusalem. You can boldly affirm when you show up anywhere that Christ is there, because He comes in you. Hallelujah!   Prayer  Dear Father, I thank you for the privilege and blessing of being a partaker, as well as the conveyor of your divine presence. I influence and transform my world with your glory today, ministering life and divine blessings to the hearts of men, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.  further study: 2 Corinthians 5:19-20; Mark 16:19-20   : R evelation 8 O badiah  : R evelation 14:1-10 Nahum 1-3

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Billy Graham’s daily devotional December 15, 2016 - Not Too Young

Topic: Not Too Young [December 15, 2016]  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers . . . — 1 Timothy 4:12  Lord Chesterton once said, “I believe in bedside repentance, but I do not want to depend upon it.” During a serious illness a person’s mind does not function normally. Getting right with God is something one should do in the bloom of health. However, as far as the Lord is concerned, “His ear is not heavy that He cannot hear, nor His arm shortened that He cannot save.” He loves us equally, in sickness or in health; while we are living, or while we are dying. In my experience, I have not known of too many people who found Christ on their deathbed. When we come to Christ in our youth, a life is saved. When we come in old age, a soul is salvaged and life eternal is assured; but the opportunity to live a life for Christ has been lost.  Prayer for the day: Lord God, burden my heart to reach out to the young persons starting their adventure in life—and the old persons dreading the end of their journey. Let me tell them the message of Your saving love.  Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Kenneth Copeland’s daily devotional December 15, 2016 - A Carefree Christmas



Topic: A Carefree Christmas
[December 15, 2016]
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. - Philippians 4:6  Can you really have a merry Christmas even when you have a thousand and one pressures bearing down on you? Yes, you can—and you don't have to leave the country to do it. No matter how intense or how trivial the problems are that you're facing right now, you can have the most wonderful, most carefree Christmas season you've ever had in your life; and you can start having it today.  As a believer, you're probably familiar with that scripture that says to be anxious for nothing. But, have you ever taken it seriously enough to put it into action? There's a good chance you haven't because you haven't understood just how dangerous those anxieties are. You probably haven't realized that they're a deadly part of the devil's strategy against you.  That's right. Worry is one of the chief weapons of his warfare. If he can get you to worry about them, he can use the financial pressures and family pressures and scheduling problems that are just a "normal" part of everyday life to weigh you down and drag you into more trouble than you think possible.  Medical science tells us that a high percentage of the people hospitalized in the U.S.A. are there with ailments caused by worry and tension. Yet, a great many believers worry without even thinking about it. They'll worry about being too short or too skinny. They'll stew over this and that and not even realize they've been sinning.  "Sinning, Brother Copeland?"  Yes! For the born-again, Spirit-filled believer who owns a Bible—worrying is a sin. So, even if the Christmas cards are late and 45 people are coming to your house for Christmas dinner, don't worry.  Instead, do what the Bible says to do. Pray, making your request known to God...and praise Him for the answer. Then you'll have peace.  Now, go ahead and have a truly merry Christmas, you carefree thing you!  Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:24-34  This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith - prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

DCLM Daily Manna December 15, 2016 by Pastor Kumuyi – Second Chance



 Topic: Second Chance [December 15, 2016]  Text: Deuteronomy 10:1-11  Key Verse: "At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark" (Deuteronomy 10:1,2).  In today's text, Moses recounts what transpired in the book of Exodus, when he was called up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. The tablet containing the first Ten Commandment had been broken by Moses in anger in reaction to the habitual sinfulness of the children of Israel. They had been led into sin by Aaron as they waited for Moses' return from the mount where he had gone to receive the law.  God threatened to wipe off the race (Deuteronomy 9:14), but Moses intervened and interceded on their behalf; hence, the need for a new tablet containing a replica of what had been broken before. At this time, a new generation of the children of Israel had emerged who never knew what transpired in time past. So, Moses thought it necessary to recount that aspect of history to emphasize the steadfast love of God to Israel. God is merciful and always ready to forgive sins no matter low grievous. This is evident in the repeated forgiveness which the "stiff-necked" Israel enjoyed in time past.  The almighty God is still in the business of forgiving sins. Many people today have broken God's heart, so much that He may have determined to blot out their names from His Book. There are still men whom God has saddled with the task of standing in the gap for sinners. However, He is still willing and waiting for sinners and backsliders to return to Him in penitence. You may have relapsed into rebellion, God is calling you to come back home. Even the Prodigal son had a second chance so long as he took the right step. Today, sinners and backsliders do not need to go up to any mountain to receive another tablet of laws; the law is now written in the heart of everyone. What is needed is a simple talk with God, through Jesus Christ, for total pardon and reconciliation.  Thought for the day: Every effort is compensated with corresponding success if you do not quit.  Bible Reading in one Year: Nahum 1-3  DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Our Daily Bread devotional, December 15, 2016 - One Short Sleep



Topic: One Short Sleep [December 15, 2016]  Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, Bible in a Year: Amos 1–3; Revelation 6  We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8  Henry Durbanville, a Scottish pastor from another era, told the story of an elderly woman in his parish who lived in a remote part of Scotland. She longed to see the city of Edinburgh, but she was afraid to take the journey because of the long, dark tunnel through which the train had to pass to get there.  One day, however, circumstances compelled her to go to Edinburgh, and as the train sped toward the city, her agitation increased. But before the train reached the tunnel, the woman, worn out with worry, fell fast asleep. When she awoke she had already arrived in the city!  It’s possible that some of us will not experience death. If we’re alive when Jesus returns, we will “meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:13–18). But many of us will pass into heaven through death and for some that thought causes great anxiety. We worry that the process of dying will be too difficult to bear.  With the assurance of Jesus as our Savior we can rest in the confidence that when we close our eyes on earth and pass through death, we will open our eyes in God’s presence. “One short sleep past we wake eternally,” John Donne said.  Prayer: I love the life You’ve given to me, Lord, yet I wonder what it will be like to see You personally. Help me to trust You with the future. I look forward to that day when I meet You.  To see Jesus will be heaven’s greatest joy.  Insight:  After Paul describes Christ’s return in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11, he proceeds to discuss daily living (5:12–24). It is easy to get lost in the intricacies and complexities of biblical prophecy. However, it is all a “revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:1). Amid all the trumpeting and reunions, it is “the Lord himself [who] will come down from heaven” (1 Thess. 4:16). Then Christians will be gloriously “like him for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). How does the vision of Christ’s return have an impact on you individually and practically?  This message was written by David Roper [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Joel and Victoria Osteen’s daily devotional December , 2016 – See the Lord



Today’s Scripture: “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” - (Psalm 34:4, NIV)  Topic: See the Lord  In this day and age, it seems that there are so many things that people are afraid of. I’m not just talking about phobias. Many people are afraid of the future, afraid they won’t get married, afraid they won’t find a better job, afraid of getting sick. But the scripture gives us a simple remedy for all our fears, and that is to seek the Lord. How do you seek the Lord? With a humble and open heart. By setting aside time each day to commune with Him. By focusing your thoughts on Him and His goodness.  Friend, no matter what fears may be plaguing your mind today, God wants to deliver you. He promises to keep us in perfect peace when we keep our minds stayed on Him. Today, meditate on His goodness. Meditate on His perfect love which casts out all fear. As you seek the Lord, He will answer you. He will deliver you and lead you in the path of peace and victory all the days of your life!  A Prayer for Today: “Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to me in every area of my life. Thank You for delivering me from all my fears. Help me keep my mind and heart fixed on You as I reach out to embrace the good things You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Jesus Christ Is Lord DECEMBER 15, 2016


Romans 14:7-12  Followers of Jesus would agree that whether we live or die, we do so for Christ. But His sovereignty is not limited to those who claim Him as King. The entire world—the whole universe, in fact—is subject to His authority. At the final judgment, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess and praise God.  In the here and now, relatively few people recognize the Lord’s rule and seek to remain in His will. Most refuse to see that all of our human constructs—such as government, culture, and society—thrive or falter in the palm of God’s hand. Moreover, nonbelievers resist Christ’s sovereignty in their own lives. People who won’t surrender their will to the Lord’s great purpose assume control of their own destiny. However, the Lord’s supreme reign cannot be thwarted.  It’s common for men and women today to believe that there are no consequences for rejecting the lordship of Jesus Christ. You may have heard people say things like, “That Christian stuff works for you, but it’s not for me. I’ll live on my own terms.” Yet Jesus’ parable of houses built on either solid rock or sand offers a different perspective (Matt. 7:24-27). Only those who make their abode in the Lord can withstand the upheavals of this world.  Kneeling before Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life is the wisest decision you can make. The sovereign Ruler of the universe loves you and desires to bless all of your days. Make your eternal home in the safety of His kingdom, and forever delight in Him.  Bible in One Year: 2 Timothy 1-4

PRACTICING GOD’S PRESENCE


 15 Dec    Matthew 1:23“…and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”    God has promised you His constant presence (Hebrews 13:5), but are you conscious of His presence every day? When you are conscious of His presence every day, you will experience a peace that gives you rest, joy inexpressible in your spirit and a power that nothing in this world can offer. In fact, you will begin to be peaceful and powerful like Jesus. You will speak and behave like Him. This is because you cannot be in God’s presence without His beauty, love, peace, power and glory rubbing off on you.  But how do you practice being conscious of God’s presence?  Start by seeing God with you in whatever you do and wherever you are. For example, at your board meeting, while deliberating on issues, see the Lord there in the boardroom with you, guiding you in your thinking. And you can be sure that His presence will bring clarity of thought and wisdom to you. You will find yourself flowing with great and sound ideas.  If you are going for an interview, see the Lord there in the interview room with you, putting answers in your mouth. Your nervousness will melt away as you see His favor on you bringing on smiles and approving nods from the interviewers.  Perhaps you are going for surgery. Well, see the Lord in the operating theatre with you, guiding the hands of the surgeons. Your worries will dissipate because nothing can go wrong in the Lord’s presence.  If you are in the middle of an argument, see the Lord standing within earshot. Your words will change and your body language will become more reconciliatory as you see Him right there with you extending His grace to you. There will be a restraint which is not borne of willpower, but which comes supernaturally when you know that the One who loves you and watches over you is with you.  Beloved, when you become conscious of God’s presence in your life, worries and fears will have no foothold in your mind. You will see Him maximizing your joy and fun, and prospering you in what you say and do! Thought For The Day  You practice God’s presence when you see Him with you in whatever you do and wherever you are.

DECEMBER 15 Life and Death at Christmas Devotional by John Piper




 DECEMBER 15 Life and Death at Christmas  Devotional by John Piper    “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)  As I was about to begin this devotional, I received word that Marion Newstrum had just died. Marion and her husband Elmer had been part of Bethlehem longer than most of our members had been alive at the time. She was 87. They had been married 64 years.  When I spoke to Elmer and told him I wanted him to be strong in the Lord and not give up on life, he said, “He has been a true friend.” I pray that all Christians will be able to say at the end of life, “Christ has been a true friend.”  Each Advent I mark the anniversary of my mother’s death. She was cut off in her 56th year in a bus accident in Israel. It was December 16, 1974. Those events are incredibly real to me even today. If I allow myself, I can easily come to tears — for example, thinking that my sons never knew her. We buried her the day after Christmas. What a precious Christmas it was!  Many of you will feel your loss this Christmas more pointedly than before. Don’t block it out. Let it come. Feel it. What is love for, if not to intensify our affections — both in life and death? But oh, do not be bitter. It is tragically self-destructive to be bitter.  Jesus came at Christmas that we might have eternal life. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Elmer and Marion had discussed where they would spend their final years. Elmer said, “Marion and I agreed that our final home would be with the Lord.”  Do you feel restless for home? I have family coming home for the holidays. It feels good. I think the bottom line reason for why it feels good is that they and I are destined in the depths of our being for an ultimate Homecoming. All other homecomings are foretastes. And foretastes are good.  Unless they become substitutes. Oh, don’t let all the sweet things of this season become substitutes of the final, great, all-satisfying Sweetness. Let every loss and every delight send your hearts a-homing after heaven.  Christmas. What is it but this: I came that they may have life? Marion Newstrum, Ruth Piper, and you and I — that we might have Life, now and forever.  Make your Now the richer and deeper this Christmas by drinking at the fountain of Forever. It is so near.