Good Morning Friends! We are exactly TWO weeks away from Christmas! That means it’s definitely time to get those last minute presents. It also means we have hit #15 in our top 25 Christmas song countdown!
We’ll start with my favorite version of the classic “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by MercyMe. I love the entire production of this cover, especially the symphony work at the beginning. MercyMe has also just released a new song that I have determined will be our theme song for 2021. Which I can’t wait to share with you after Christmas!
Tied for 15th place is an original from Matt Redman, “Help From Heaven.” This song has been a favorite of mine since it was originally released, a beautiful melody with the soulful vocals of Ms. Natasha Bedingfield. It is a stirring reminder where we get our help from, the only help we ever really need comes from above.
December 11
20The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze,stone and wood-idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:20, 21)
These verses are an accurate reflection of our present times. Despite all the craziness of 2020, while we saw small pockets of revival, it was not the wave of revolution we needed. We need a grass root revival, with every Christian working on bringing two more to know Christ in the coming year. As we saw this last year, plagues, natural disasters, murders, social disorder, none of that was enough to push America to pursue Christ. America, as a whole, continues to not repent of their sins. Part of the problem is that we read the verse above and see murder, magic arts, sexual immorality, theft, and think, well, I am not doing any of that, so I am a good Christian. But consider, what if that list had continued and also listed pride, greed, wrath, envy, gluttony, and laziness (those seven deadly sins according to ancient Christian teachings)? How do we stack up against that list?
Reading plan: Revelation 11
Deeper reading plan: Zechariah 7
Prayer and meditation: This month we pray that the world comes together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We pray that the miracle of the child in the manger changes this world forever, as it should have nearly 2000 years ago. This week we will also add a prayer for everyone’s financial wellbeing and peace that the pressures of the Christmas holiday do not overburden anyone’s soul.
Fitness challenge: stretch, rest, and recover.
Friday fun run: We’re putting a lot of miles in during the week, so Friday’s are for stretching and doing a light one-mile jog.
Common Sense Reborn 