2004-12-27 - Current Events

Lamentations 1:12, "Is it nothing to all you who pass this way? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain which was severely dealt out to me, which the Lord inflicted on the day of His fierce anger."

It was not a happy Christmas for many who live in South Asia. They were hit with large tidal waves, which came from the largest earthquake in 40 years. Thousands of people died. As I write, the total is over 11,000 dead, but it will go higher. Death is a popular topic in these devotions. I just think it is the one thing that faces us all. I can't imagine lying on the beach and seeing a huge wave coming toward me, and knowing that there is no chance for me or my family as we are simply relaxing (I used to be a lifeguard trainer for the beaches up and down the East Coast). How horrible to even think of it, but it happened on Christmas Day. Such is life.

I am going in a new direction here, and I hope that some of these things I will share with you will give you pause for reflection. It is a huge deal for the government to celebrate Christmas, but did you know that the first time Christmas was celebrated in the USA was in 1831? Louisiana and Arkansas were the two states to begin the tradition. We used to be a Christian nation, and part of that was sticking to the Bible, which does not tell us to honor Christmas (It tells us to honor Lord's Day--52 days off a year, who could ask for more?), and thus it took over 200 years after the settlers that came here, to have Christmas become a recognized day. But now it is a day in controversy. With all the lights (and inflatable snowmen) I have seen this year, that is amazing to me. We are so materialistic.

1843, the first matinee was performed on Christmas Day at the Olympic Theater in NYC, another score for Christmas Day. In 1875, the Chicago Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone (Christmas Day). On Christmas day in 1928, "In Old Arizona" became the first talking film. I could go on and on.... But because this is a devotional...I want you to change your life. I have hopes that if you are reading this, you are willing to do whatever it takes to live more for Christ. Well, New Year's Day is coming, and I want to ask you to simply serve Christ. Kind of a dumb, predictable thing, but that is what I am asking. You will not see the results right away, probably, but drop down, get on your knees and start praying. Prayer... seeking God... is where it starts. Yea, New Year's is coming up, time for some resolutions. I am saying it simply. Determine that you will live your life for eternity alone... and you will change this world. May the Lord bless this to His glory.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

tim@cfdevotionals.org
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