SEEKING CHRIST in the CHRISTMAS SEASON

I love taking the time to read the prophesies of Christ and the Christmas story

throughout the month of December. The story never gets old...it simply gets richer!

The depth of God’s Word is eternally speaking into our souls!

This morning I focused on Matthew 2: 1-2 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of

Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold WISE MEN from the east came to

Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his

star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Many of you have taken note of the discrepancies between what scripture records

and our traditional Christmas hymns and artwork. But, I’ll confess, I’m not sure how

to “draw” a “wise man”. Do you know? So, I’m giving lots of grace to the artists. But

the hymns...well that is another story. Not all “kings” are wise so to call them “kings”

does stray from the text of scripture. But, lets put that discussion aside for today.

These “wise men” came seeking the “king of the Jews.” They were searching for the

Messiah. In verse 7 we see Herod summoning them SECRETLY to get information.

Then he sent them to Bethlehem to go and search diligently for the child. He then

wanted them to give him the location when they found the child “that I too may

come and worship him.” The account continues....they found the child...”and they fell

down and worshiped him.” They offered their gifts. Then they were warned in a

dream to not return to Herod and departed to return home another way.

So as we meditate on their relentless pursuit of “the king”, we gaze in such a way as

to see ourselves. Do we find ourselves being...

Herod...doing whatever it takes to cover “me” keeping “my kingdom”.

The Sanhedrin...wrapped up in their own course.

The Inhabitants of the land with “status quo”.

OR

Are we like the Wise Men... seeking The KING JESUS with ALL of our heart,

mind, soul and strength?

I will be praying for you throughout this Christmas Season that you are

searching for Him...knowing that Jeremiah 29: 13 “you will find Him, when you search

for Him with all your heart!”

Christmas Blessings,

Barb Nave

15 Powerful Scriptures to Pray Over Yourself

I am God's child.

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

— 1 Peter 1:23

I am God's temple.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

— 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I am forgiven of all my sins.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

— Ephesians 1:7

I am forever free from condemnation.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

— Romans 8:1-2

I cannot be separated from the Love of God.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

— Romans 8:38-39

I am assured that all things will work together for good.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

— Romans 8:28

I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

— John 15:16

I can approach God with freedom and confidence.

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

— Ephesians 3:12

I am holy and without blame before Him in love.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

— Ephesians 1:7

I am the righteousness of God in Christ.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:21

I am partaker of His divine nature.

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

— 2 Peter 1:4

I always triumph in Christ.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

— 2 Corinthians 2:14

I am healed.

“‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’

— 1 Peter 2:24

I have the mind of Christ.

“‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.

— 1 Corinthians 2:16

I have the peace of God.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

— Philippians 4:7

This devotional piece was written by a staff member of HisHighPlaces.Org.  We are a Christ-based non-profit Counseling Intensive Ministry.  Our clients are seen by counselors whose “heart cry” is to “show broken people HOPE and to be encouraged that they are LOVED, VALUED, and that each one has a future and purpose with GOD.  We do not do group therapy.  We do individualized and couple sessions with the Counselors.  

Holy Spirit: The Helper

In John 16:7 “Jesus tells us the truth… it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”  Jesus had been trying to prepare the disciples that He was going to leave them but they could not understand the events that were about to take place.  He knew that they needed comfort because in John 14:1 He said to them, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”  

God knows our hearts and that we all have the tendency to let fear, anxiety, and worry rule in troubled and vulnerable times during our lives.  The role of the helper that He was going to send us was to help, comfort, support, teach and lead us into all truth.  Jesus' heart toward us was that if we knew the truth, He knew that truth would set us free, John 8:38.  Jesus said in John 16:26, ”But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to you remembrance all that I said to you.” 

The Greek word for helper is “paracletos” which means one called alongside to help; or comforter; advocate, or intercessor. A paraclete is someone who can do something for you that you cannot do for yourself. The same Greek word is used in John 2:1, ”My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate (gk. Paracletos) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” What a comfort for believers to know that we have the Holy Spirit of God who comes to our side to help us and comforts us in whatever life situation we may find ourselves in. Hebrews 13:5-6 "…He himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid.” God understands our hearts and that we are prone to fear, and he wants to comfort us with the truth that He is always with us no matter what life has thrown our way. 

By: John Padgett

This devotional piece was written by a staff member of HisHighPlaces.Org.  We are a Christ-based non-profit Counseling Intensive Ministry.  Our clients are seen by counselors whose “heart cry” is to “show broken people HOPE and to be encouraged that they are LOVED, VALUED, and that each one has a future and purpose with GOD.  We do not do group therapy.  We do individualized and couple sessions with the Counselors.  

When Trouble Comes

By: Barb Nave

As I was studying through the Book or JOB…this thought began to be “birthed” in me.  It isn’t anything I’ve pondered for years…no, it just came as a “Rhema” word.  The questions I was pondering were:  “Is the Book of Job an allegory or is it history?”,  “Is Job one singular person with a particular time of existence or is he perhaps like Adam, a real man, both historical and allegorical, the representation of all humanity in all generations?  I have come to the conclusion…Job is both…an allegory and history!

An allegory that tells of the struggles of us GOD’s most precious creation whom He created in HIS image.  I love the term… “and there was a day”… We still use that phrase…it just takes one moment, one day when disaster strikes, and we will forever say…”and there was a day!”  The scriptures don’t define the exact “day” or “generation” when Job’s terrible journey began…when Satan was given permission to sift him.  I sensed that The LORD GOD gave Satan permission on that same day to sift all of us…all generations…all people.  GOD, in giving that permission also knows that Satan could do a lot of “harm” to God’s children, but that Satan cannot take our life!  Especially understandable more clearly for those of us who live after the cross and have eternal life in Christ.  We have been sealed with the deposit of the Holy Spirit until the day of our full redemption. 

Trials can and will test us.  We can get angry, bitter, frustrated.  We can be tempted to doubt or blame GOD,  or we can press into the heart of GOD and grow stronger and more confident in our trust of GOD’s sovereign reign knowing that HE is good and HE does good!

So, in the Book of Job, we get a glimpse of one who does not cave in under the most incredible sorrow and destruction of every area of his life.  His total identity was attacked.  Yet, Job was found to hold strong to his righteousness.  It is an allegory of each one of our lives to encourage us to remain righteous and steadfast trusting in GOD because “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I (CHRIST JESUS) have overcome the world!” 

But it is also history…HIS STORY…in our lives.  Every one of us will “have a day” when Satan plans to take away from us the things he thinks those things are the reason for our love for GOD.  Satan thinks our love for GOD is only because of GOD’s gifts…family, possessions, health, status, etc.  Each one of us will have HIS STORY in our lives to define us as one who has a religion or as one with a relationship.  It will define the depth of that relationship as well.  It is in the refining and defining of our character that we see GOD more clearly.   Perhaps it is the simple moment that we realize that we are HIS.  Out of that sifting, we can bear good fruit, or we can develop bitter roots and wither and die.

We are given Job’s story to encourage us to live a righteous life.  I have thought many times that surely Job missed his first family.  I’ve wondered how his sorrow could be replaced with joy as he received his second family.  But today I wonder…maybe his life is a picture of the fullness of our life cycle.  Maybe it’s the restoration heaven brings and that is what gave back to Job full joy instead of great sorrow.  The Book of Job does say in the closing chapter…”Job lived to see four generations and died an old man full of days.”  Is part of the lesson we learn is the realization that life is more than what we experience on the earth…there is SO MUCH MORE to all our stories!

In Job we see the beginning and the end.  Yet we can also see the continuation of “HIS STORY” in our lives as we hold on by faith until we see “the face of The LORD in the land of the living!” and we live in His Presence eternally.

My one defense is my righteousness in CHRIST!

Barb Nave

 This devotional piece was written by a staff member of HisHighPlaces.Org.  We are a Christ-based non-profit Counseling Intensive Ministry.  Our clients are seen by counselors whose “heart cry” is to “show broken people HOPE and to be encouraged that they are LOVED, VALUED, and that each one has a future and purpose with GOD.  We do not do group therapy.  We do individualized and couple sessions with the Counselors.  

GOD THE DELIVERER

By: Sarah Apgar

“Don’t panic. I’m with you.

There’s no need to fear for I am your God.”

Isaiah 41:10a (MSG)

     The Bible study Trustworthy by Lysa TerKeurst has blessed me tremendously this week. It is a study about the various kings of Israel and Judah and how they followed the Lord. Or for some of them, they did the exact opposite. Today I am reflecting on King Hezekiah and the King of Assyria, Sennacherib.

     King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18:5 is stated as a godly king who . . . “put his whole trust in the God of Israel. There was no king quite like him, either before or after.” (MSG) Hezekiah was not without enemies, however.  During Hezekiah’s reign, the King of Assyria became a threat as he was on a mission conquering many countries throughout what is now called the Middle East.  Hezekiah was the current king of Judah, so Sennacherib’s encroachments were significant and alarming. In a scare tactic, Sennacherib sent three messengers to Hezekiah to intimidate Hezekiah and his people with the hope of adding Judah to his conquests. These three messengers held nothing back. They taunted, jeered and outright lied to everyone within earshot as they made their public, deceitful pronouncements, “The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it.’” 2 Kings 18:25 (ESV) They continued their verbal assault, “Listen carefully to the words of the Great King, the king of Assyria: Don’t let Hezekiah fool you; he cannot save you. And don’t let Hezekiah make you trust the Lord by saying, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of Assyria.’ “ 2 Kings 18:29-30 (ESV) It is amazing that these messengers went on to promise fruitful vineyards, clean water and a “land of olive trees and honey” if the people would give in and surrender their lives to Assyria.

   Hezekiah immediately went to the house of the Lord and prayed, “So now, O Lord our God, save us, please from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.” 2 Kings 19:19 (ESV) The good news is that Isaiah in return prophesied to Hezekiah and to the people of Sennacherib’s fall and he did indeed fall. He was killed while worshipping his god, Nisroch, by his own sons in the palace.

     As I read the above in the bible study, I was actually battling some intense fear. The kind of fear these three messengers brought to the people of Judah. What is interesting to note is that the lies from these 3 men are also laced with promises and deceit. Isn’t that what fear does? If we could see right through the fear, then we would not be afraid. Yet the enemy knows our weaknesses and the places in our hearts where deceit just might work and take hold. Lies such as “The Lord can’t save you now because you have really messed up this time” or “Give up, you know you are already so lost why try?” and “God can’t pull through for you every time you have a struggle. You need to solve this one on your own”.  Then once we believe the lie, we begin to drift further from the Lord feeling the guilt and shame that fear inevitably produces. As I continued to reflect on these thoughts, , I also remembered the lyrics to a  Zach Williams song, Fear is a Liar, “Fear, He is a liar. He’ll take your breath, stop you in your steps, he will rob your rest, steal your happiness . . . “ This is so incredibly true. Fear can masquerade as truth, have promises included and completely lead us away from the Lord and the truth He has for us.

   I love how Isaiah’s words confront the King of Assyria with boldness, courage and clarity, “Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights? Against the Holy One Of Israel!” 2 Kings 19:22 (ESV). What great verses! The Lord boldly comes to our defense in times of need. He is a big God ready to do battle on our behalf! Isaiah 41:13 confirms this, “That’s right. Because I your God have a firm grip on you and I am not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic. I’m right here to help you.’” (MSG)

    The Lord truly set me free from fear this week as He showed me what fear “looks like” and then He said to me, “I have just what you need right when you need it”. And He does! And He did! His provisions of peace and rest was amazing and timely, but most of all I am reminded that He is with me, He is for me and He sees me. What treasures and priceless gifts He gives.  

But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way,

Who can’t see where they are going.

I’ll be a personal guide to them through unknown country.

I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take.

Make sure they don’t fall into the ditch.

These are the things I’ll be doing for them-

Sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.

Isaiah 42:15-16 (MSG)