Sunny&80The Turn (#jammed daily devo, day 363)
Posted on December 29, 2017
December #jammed: Free Grace.
Day 363: Don’t forget to spot.
He who takes refuge in the shelter of the Most High
will be safe in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 (VOICE)
“Mom! Mom!” my little ballerina leaped into the kitchen with glee, “Look how many times 
I turned!”
My tiny dancer had been determined enough to earn a lot of monetary support through her skill at the dance team’s turn-a-thon fundraiser. It was a lot more than I could do without losing all of the day’s nutrition, but she had learned how to continue turning without getting sick or falling down. A skill every ballerina has to learn …how to spot.
Spotting is simply finding a place to focus the eyes on while the rest of the body turns. The goal is to hold that gaze as long as possible, until the body demands that the head whip around with it. Then, quickly, the dancer removes their eyes from that spot for a split second, and then finds it again. The whole process is repeated for as many times as their are turns required.
God will provides us with the talent He has gifted us to work with. The challenge lies in knowing what that is, and when and how to work hard. It’s hard to find our spot, and challenging not to discount our gifts in seasons of hard work. Self-doubt can sink-in when life isn’t running in the direction we feel like going.
Today’s verse was written out of encouragement for a discouraged people, but a people that worshipped God. There is shelter and encouragement in faithful worship and willingness to keep working.
When we venture outside of the window God has designed for us to work, it’s easy to become distracted. The world around us, and the needs that pop up daily, press us. Tuning in to God’s voice above the volume of other opinions and advisors in life is critical.
The wisdom and guidance we seek is revealed through God’s Living Word. Jesus promises never to leave us. Day by day, in search of wisdom, He will teach us and guide us. Jesus is our refuge this side of the gospel.
Looking to the next year of life and the resolutions it begs us to set, let’s challenger ourselves to pick a verse to spot as we turn the calendar over day after day. Eyes on Him maintain balance.
Father, Praise You for being our shelter in the darkness, and our hope in times of need. Thank You for reminding us of Jesus in our lives, and in verses that we’ve never noticed Him before. We can be assured that He’s there, and ask for Your forgiveness for brushing Him aside to pursue what lies in the darkness, anyway. Bless us to be wise in working the window You have purposed us to perch upon. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace!
#greatgrace17
Happy Spotting,
Megs
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The Child Among His Children (#jammed daily devo, day 362)
Posted on December 28, 2017
December #jammed: Grace, gifted.
Day 362: His arrival.
The tickets were paid for long in advance, but I had mentally ducked out of the plans I 
had spun into existence several times as the date crept up. What’s the point of standing in worship under bright lights, as opposed to at church on a Sunday or in my ears-buds walking down the pier?
When “God is in this place,” as He promises to be when we gather to worship Him together, He’s omnipotently arranged something. We can pretty much count on that. God calls us to “go,” and walking with Jesus will illuminate the purpose of every chance experience.
For the shepherds in the field that witnessed God’s angels, purpose was layered into the very thread of who God knew they were. Let’s look at the feelings the shepherds felt.
Suddenly –happening or coming unexpectedly; changing angle or character all at once. (Merriam-Webster)
The shepherds were instantly changed when the sky lit-up. They couldn’t unsee what they saw, un-feel what they felt, or un-hear what they heard. Jesus doesn’t need to prep our hearts for His arrival. In an instant admission of belief, we are changed forever. Suddenly, we see. In fact, we’re blinded. There’s no going back.
front- facing forward; directed forward. (dictionary.com)
The shepherds weren’t startled because the angels crept up behind them. They were right in front of them. Do we know that God faces us? That we can face Him? Christ Jesus, the child among His people. The ones He choose to die for …to look at, face to face.
light- something that makes things visible or affords illumination (dictionary.com)
Light allows us to see where we are going, but the light of the Lord Jesus allows us to see who we are. In a dark world, Christians can be joyful because He allows us to see His light. The light came to us on Christmas, when God’s glory came to earth.
terrified- to fill with terror or alarm; to make greatly afraid.
In order to understand the awe, coupled with the fight-or-flight shock that accompanied the shepherds reaction, here is terror defined:
terror- intense, sharp, overmastering fear
Sometimes our greatest terror is sprung from a fight within us and around us. Knowing and being able to feel and witness God’s glory in that moment in the field announcing Jesus’ birth, the shepherds felt the overwhelming awesomeness of God. Yet, something in them told them to be afraid. When we experience fear, we can determine where to steer it by remembering who God is. The shepherds choose to obey. They headed the angels and went to see Jesus, and told everyone about His birth.
How often do we let our fear fuel our self-doubt? But if we let our awe of God drive us to obedience, we get to experience Jesus.
The shepherds witnessed the Son of God. The very glory that turned the darkness of night into shocking brightness, come to earth.
The Child among His children.
Father, Praise You for the obedience of the shepherds. Thank You for choosing those of simple stature in society to witness the Savior of the world lying in a manger. Forgive us for overlooking the circle of light that took place on Christmas, as Jesus’ glory came to earth. Bless us to appreciate and obey the awe-striking moments of opportunity You illuminate in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace!
#greatgrace17
Happy Shimmering,
Megs
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The Brightened Dark. (#jammed daily devo, day 361)
Posted on December 27, 2017
December #jammed: Grace, gifted.
Day 361: Finally here.
“…the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified…”
If we succumb to a fast paced life that isn’t suited to shelving schedules and opinions to 
stand and welcome God’s presence, we will miss a marvelous piece of the Christmas story.
Chills run down our spine as we worship together. What did the shepherds feel as angels appeared when Christ was born? What was it like to stand in the very presence of God when they visited baby Jesus? What we read about their indescribable experience is only a glimpse of how it affected them.
Jesus was born, walked the earth, and died so we could stand in awe of our most holy God. It’s to be sought after. It’s in us. To be surrounded by the Lord’s glory doesn’t have to come in the form of heavenly angels, but it did for the shepherds.
glory (doxa) – opinion, judgment, view. – Strong’s
At the first glance of glory defined, we can see why they were terrified. What an immense feeling to be immediately taken from the dark and exposed to the light.
doxa- opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone (in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory)- Strong’s
Always a good opinion.
Being in God’s presence pulls all of the good that we are to the front of our minds …because that’s how He sees us. He sees the image of Him that He created, suffering for the curse of sin. He knows us apart from and beyond our struggles. A plight we can’t even relate to yet on this earth.
“splendour, brightness” (Strong’s)
Past the all-consuming and fascinating brightness of the sun, the moon and the stars, is glory. The Glory that the Shepard’s witnessed was the arrival of God’s glory on earth in Christ.
- a thing belonging to God
- the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity
- a thing belonging to Christ (Strong’s)
“God in this place.” Even in worship with our eyes shut we can feel Him brightening us. Even if we’re only removed from our suffering temporarily …it’s enough. Enough to get us through to the other side, with a glimpse of what we’re to do for the Kingdom in the meantime.
Father, Praise You for the Christmas angels that terrified the shepherds. Thank You for coming low so that we can know Your presence. Forgive us for wallowing in the heartache and struggle of this world, and help us to let go and just be in Your presence through worship and service. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace!
#greatgrace17
Happy Squinting,
Megs
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The Garbage (#jammed daily devo, day 360)
Posted on December 26, 2017
December #jammed: Grace, gifted.
Day 360: Yesterday’s Mess.
There are few things more embarrassing than “day after Christmas” trash. The unwrapping of all we received sits on the curb for all to see. It’s tree lawn sadness.
Jesus was whisked into the craziness of the world right away. Right after the wise men leave (which Biblically was a little bit after Jesus’ actual birthday), the Savior’s family had to flee. King Herod had lost his minded ordered a slaughter of baby boys (under the age of 2) out of a jealous rage that a new King of the Jews was born.
So off to Egypt they fled, and didn’t come back until that crazy king was dead.
The day after Christmas can feel a little exhausting. After all the build up and planning and celebrating and singing …we’re left in a vegetable like state until school and routines start back up in full swing after the new year.
What do we do with the days in between?
Let the story sink in. Stretch to see the tree lawn littered with trash.
We could be on the run tomorrow. On to life’s next big ordeal, suffering, or season. For today, let’s sit with Him, and let His love settle in. Let it sit on the curb for all to see, through the gratitude our life reflects this Christmas, the proof of all we’ve received.
FAther, Praise You for downtime with our families and friends at Christmas. Thank You for leaving space in our schedules to sit in Your presence. Forgive us for rushing into the commercialism of the holiday season, and help us to remember those who are less fortunate and lonely at Christmas. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace!
#greatgrace17
Happy Sitting,
Megs
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The Wreath (#jammed daily devo, day 359)
Posted on December 25, 2017
December #jammed: Grace, gifted.
Day 359, Merry Christmas!
“ And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.” Luke 2:6
Merry Christmas, readers! On this morning, how can we not reflect upon the beautiful 
baby Jesus? For, as today’s verse celebrates, “the time came for her baby to be born.”
The time came! In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon lists that there is time for every human emotion and activity under the sun. But what we cannot ever get a grip on is God’s timing. The Author of time will reveal everything in His time.
The Christmas wreath that hangs on my door each Christmas season welcomes everyone at my doorstep into Christmas wonderland. There are baby Jesus’ and Santa’s everywhere! The Halls are Decked! But the intriguing thing about that wreath is it’s circular shape.
It’s a circle.
Christmas kicks off the biggest celebration of the circle of life in all of history. Finally, after an entire Biblical testament of prophesy, Jesus splashes onto the page in the flesh. Right on schedule. Right where God said He’d be. Just how it was supposed to be. We could study the Bible our entire lives and God would never run out of new things to reveal to us through it.
That circular wreath symbolizes everlasting life. In a circle. Whether we are running around on earth or skipping happily through heaven, life since Jesus’ birth means death isn’t the end for Christians. It’s, in fact, only the beginning.
Maybe this is the first time you’ve looked at Christmas this way. Commercialism has had you in it’s grip and you’ve succumbed to the “why are we skipping Thanksgiving for a retail holiday” hum drum. Don’t. Don’t let anything steal away from Christmas. It only can if you allow it to. Because Christmas is Christmas. It’s Jesus. It’s Him coming to earth to live and die for our sins so that we can go to heaven. It’s all about gifts. His gifts. The gifts He gave us. Grace, Heaven, to be in the presence of God, and to live with the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us.
Yes …freak out a little. It’s cool!
The Gospels of Luke and Matthew record Jesus’ birth. You can read them here (LUKE MATTHEW) if you’re not familiar with the story. Welcome Him in to your Christmas story. Welcome Him into your life. The magic of Christmas never fades when Jesus takes up residence in our hearts.
I’d like to pray for you, specifically, today.
Father, Praise You for Christmas, and the miraculous circle of new life that began when Jesus came down to earth. His birth means everything to us, and we thank You for sending Your one and only Son to us. Father, there are people reading this today who have never heard or read the Christmas story before. Ignite their hearts as they discover who You are through the birth of Your Son. Help them to ease into conversation with You, asking Jesus to come in and take over their lives …vowing to follow Him all the days of their lives and onto heaven. We praise You, God. Thank you for loving us for who we are, right now, and always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace!
#greatgrace17
Merry Christmas!!!
Megs
Get the #jammed Daily Devo sent straight to your inbox each morning, by subscribing to Sunny&80.
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