Blog Break

Morning with Beverly
will resume
Monday 01-05-2026
Stay in the Word
Miles of Smiles, Beverly

 

Know Him

In the lull of a Christmas Day morning, along with a cup of coffee, memories of the past may warm your soul. For the Child of God nothing should touch us more personally nor deeply than knowing God sending Jesus as the Perfect Gift - the Gift of all gifts. We cannot improve upon what the heavenly messenger proclaimed: "Unto you is born this day ... a Savior Who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11 ESV). This ancient message is the eternal message of God to the hurting, the sick, the mourning, the discouraged, the despondent, the lonely, the wise, the simply ... to all men, women, boys, girls. The merriest of Christmas cannot be any merrier than to know for certain that Jesus - that Savior born - is yours personally. Jesus is God's message of love and hope to you ... know Him.

Only Jesus

In recent years, many small towns have had a "face lift" - a restoration [if you will] to being where people gather and shop, where things happen ... the heart of the town. IIn ancient times, the main north-south street (cardo maximus) was the central thoroughfare in the city - the main artery ... the heart of the city. Proverbs 27:19 says, "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man." Consider then Jesus - God Who became flesh and dwelt among us ... God with us, Emmanuel - yes, Jesus, the very perfect reflection of the heart of The Father. We need wonder not that it is my heart, your heart that The Father longs for, that we love Him with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind (Matthew 22:37). As Jesus became the cardo maximus - the way, the truth, the life - for mankind to The Father. To the busy-ness of ancient Bethlehem in the land of Judah arrived Jesus - the heart of God, God in-the-flesh, declaring to mankind that no more should hearts be without hope! The Way to The Father - through Jesus - was forever opened. The angel declared Him, the host of heaven announced Him from the heavens, the shepherds visited Him, Mary treasured Him, the wise men came and worshiped Him! Have you discovered and acknowledged Jesus, The cardo maximus to The Father? Jesus said, "blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). Jesus - The Heart of The Father - has come and done the will of The Father ... living, dying, living yet again. This is the message of Christmas. Let heav'n and nature sing - Let heav'n and nature sing - Let heav'n and heav'n and nature sing! It is Jesus that makes Christmas Merry ... Only Jesus.

His Words - His Glory

To refuse to give attention to something doesn’t mean it will just go away, nor does refusing to talk about something mean that it’s unimportant. The Holy Spirit is perhaps the least recognized and talked about Person of the Triune God (Trinity). In Luke 1, however, The Holy Spirit cannot be ignored!  He is present in three key roles: Elizabeth’s son, John, is filled with The Holy Spirit while in the womb (V.15); Mary conceives Jesus by an overshadowing of The Holy Spirit (V.35); and, Elizabeth is filled with The Holy Spirit at Mary’s very appearance (V.41). God has given His Spirit to Believers to lead us, counsel us and show us what to say just as He led Elizabeth in V.41-42: “When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby [John] leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’” The Greek word translated “blessed” is where we get our English word eulogy, which is the complimentary things typically said of people at their death; it means “to speak well of, to express good wishes.” Now, there was no pony express, telegraph or cell phones so Mary’s visit to Elizabeth’s home was completely unannounced!  It’s safe to conclude, therefore, as Elizabeth was filled with The Holy Spirit, it was He Who led her to say, “Blessed are you, Mary!”  What a lesson we have from Elizabeth: letting our words be guided by the Purity and Wisdom of The Holy Spirit.  ‘Tis the Season for words of greeting and cheer!  Thus, 'tis the Season to be conscious and ever-mindful what God Himself gives us and leads us to say ... His words and His glory.

The Hope Within

 Game shows where contestants compete based on their knowledge [and recall] about anything-and-everything are entertaining, but how many of us really want to be a contestant - yeah, I think not! One thing I've learned: something that stops Believers in their tracks the fastest is to be asked a Biblical or spiritual question. "Always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is within you." (1 Peter 3:15). The skepticism and disbelief of the Jesus' first coming are widespread and plentiful. Remember the simple shepherds who were peacefully tending their flocks when they heard The Good News? "When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds." (Luke 2:17-18). The Believer's defense of the Hope within is the encounter with The Savior and the change of heart! No matter how critics and skeptics may try to refute and discredit, the personal Hope Within is both ... irrefutable and indisputable. Why not go and see again - revisit Bethlehem's Babe to renew the Eternal and Confident Hope of all seasons and of eternity. Be read to testify and tell of Jesus Messiah, He is our ... Hope within.