December 29 Devotion - When we feel sad

For many people The Christmas Season and the New Year celebrations are connected to sad or lonely feelings. Maybe associated with loss situations, broken dreams and aloneness. Maybe some of you reading this now do associate this time of year with some pain. We need to be aware and supportive of others during this festive season. I searched the Bible for God’s relief and support for my and your broken heart and contrite spirit and found God telling us:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9  The Lord is near to you because you have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:17-20 “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9   All things will work together for good for you because you love God, Romans 8:28  Make sure to rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord, I thank you for knowing every emotion I go through and for having an answer and support for me today. Strengthen me Lord to be of good courage. Thank You Lord that during my period of weakness Your strength is made perfect. Help me Lord to pray continuously and to always have an attitude of gratitude. I rejoice in the assurance that You are with me God wherever I am, that all things will work together for good for me, and that I will rejoice because Your peace God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus; in whose Holy Name I pray. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

December 28 Devotion - WALKING WISELY

What one thing would you ask of God if you knew absolutely that it would not be refused? King Solomon had such a choice. After his father King David died he became King over Israel and while he was at a place called Gibeon the Lord appeared to him in a dream during the night.

"God said; 'Ask! What shall I give you?”

في جبعون تراءى الرب لسليمان في حلم ليلا . وقال الله اسأل ماذا اعطيك

I Kings 3:5

Solomon prayed for:

"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"  

فاعط عبدك قلبا فهيما لاحكم على شعبك واميّز بين الخير والشر لانه من يقدر ان يحكم على شعبك العظيم هذا

I Kings 3:9

Solomon was asking for wisdom to be a good King. The Bible says:

The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

فحسن الكلام في عيني الرب لان سليمان سأل هذا الأمر

I Kings 3:10

The Lord was so pleased with Solomon's request that He said:

"See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you."

هوذا قد فعلت حسب كلامك . هوذا اعطيتك قلبا حكيما ومميزا حتى انه لم يكن مثلك قبلك ولا يقوم بعدك نظيرك

I Kings 3:12

Solomon became the wisest man that ever lived. But that isn't all. God told him that because he had asked for wisdom instead of long life, riches or the life of his enemies:

"I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days."

وقد اعطيتك ايضا ما لم تسأله غنى وكرامة حتى انه لا يكون رجل مثلك في الملوك كل ايامك .

I Kings 3:13

What is really in your heart?

It may surprise you in the end that God gives you what you ask for - and maybe even all that you did not ask. Just like Solomon! 

Solomon's prayer was a great one because his heart was right when he prayed it. Listen to God's promise for those who have such hearts:

"I dwell in the high and holy place; With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, T

o revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

لانه هكذا قال العلي المرتفع ساكن الابد القدوس اسمه. في الموضع المرتفع المقدس اسكن ومع المنسحق والمتواضع الروح لأحيي روح المتواضعين ولأحيي قلب المنسحقين.

Isaiah 57:15

 

I invite you to receive The Apostle Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom for you and to pray it for others:

 ¹⁵ Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, ¹⁶ I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, ¹⁷ asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. ¹⁸ I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

 ¹⁹ I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰ that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. ²³ And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. Ephesians 1:15-23

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.

وانما ان كان احد تعوزه حكمة فليطلب من الله الذي يعطي الجميع بسخاء ولا يعيّر فسيعطى له.

James 1:5

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

December 27 Devotion - Why was Jesus born?

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:1-12

While we are still in the CHRISTmas (meaning Christ sent) spirit, it may be a good time to reflect on the reasons why Jesus Christ had to be born. Let us remember that there are Christians following the Julian calendar who celebrate Christmas in January. I read about 7 reasons why Jesus had to be born:

1. Jesus had to be born because of mankind's sin.

2. Jesus had to be born because God wanted to reveal His own character to humanity.

3. Jesus had to be born to remove the sins of humankind through a perfect sacrifice.

4. Jesus had to be born for mankind to have a Mediator to God.

5. Jesus had to be born to provide the promised Seed of Abraham.

6. Jesus had to be born for God to make His Spirit available to all humankind.

7. Jesus had to be born for God to redeem mankind.

https://youtu.be/wKRC5Ikq44s

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and inseparable love. Lord, thank You that You so loved me before I was even born and that You sent Your only begotten Son so that I could have everlasting life through my belief in Him. God thank You that even though You hate sin, You redeemed me, a sinner, through Jesus the perfect sacrifice. Thank You Jesus for being my mediator and for sending The Holy Spirit to comfort me. In the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit I rejoice in Your birth Jesus. God let the birth of Jesus bring peace on earth and goodwill amongst us. Heavenly Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His Holy Name. To Him be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever, Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

وَكَانَ فِي تِلْكَ الْمِنْطَقَةِ رُعَاةٌ يَبِيتُونَ فِي الْعَرَاءِ، يَتَنَاوَبُونَ حِرَاسَةَ قَطِيعِهِمْ فِي اللَّيْلِ

 ⁹ وَإِذَا مَلاَكٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ الرَّبِّ قَدْ ظَهَرَ لَهُمْ، وَمَجْدُ الرَّبِّ أَضَاءَ حَوْلَهُمْ، فَخَافُوا أَشَدَّ الْخَوْفِ.

 ¹⁰ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ الْمَلاَكُ: «لاَ تَخَافُوا! فَهَا أَنَا أُبَشِّرُكُمْ بِفَرَحٍ عَظِيمٍ يَعُمُّ الشَّعْبَ كُلَّهُ:

 ¹¹ فَقَدْ وُلِدَ لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ فِي مَدِينَةِ دَاوُدَ مُخَلِّصٌ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ الرَّبُّ.

 ¹² وَهَذِهِ هِيَ الْعَلاَمَةُ لَكُمْ. تَجِدُونَ طِفْلاً مَلْفُوفاً بِقِمَاطٍ وَنَائِماً فِي مِذْوَدٍ».

December 22 Devotion - Immanuel: God with us

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Maryam was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. ²⁰ But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Maryam your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” ²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel which is translated, “God with us.” ²⁴ Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, ²⁵ and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Words in oblique type in the New Testament are quoted from the Old Testament. At that time Jesus spoke Aramaic. In Aramaic His mother’s name is Maryam.

Matthew 1:18-25

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and made God's plan clear, Joseph was obedient. He didn’t request to understand how all of this was going to unfold.

Many times I find myself in a situation where I don't know what to do. I should pray and ask guidance from the Lord. Although I don’t expect God to speak to me through an angel; like He did with Joseph; I believe that through prayer and meditation and being open to hear God’s guidance He will speak to me through His Holy Word and The Holy Spirit. My responsibility is to listen and obey. 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself, your friends and family:

Abba Father, thank You for loving me with a deep and everlasting love, thank You for Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Thank You Abba for loving us so much that You gave Your only begotten Son JESUS, to be our ‘Immanuel’. Heavenly Father, fill me with joy through the many lessons I have learned from the story of the birth of our Saviour. Help me to read your Word and listen as You give me the answers to life's difficult questions. In this festive season of celebrating the birth of our Saviour, give me a faith equal to that of Maryam and Joseph and direct me to trust You and follow Your will. Lord may Jesus be born into my heart and the hearts of all my friends and family and may everyone be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth because that is Your desire Lord.  1 Timothy 2:4 Lord, I praise You, I glorify You and I rejoice in Your grace. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His Holy Name. To Him be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jdsus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

اما ولادة يسوع المسيح فكانت هكذا .لما كانت مريم امه مخطوبة ليوسف قبل ان يجتمعا وجدت حبلى من الروح القدس .

19 فيوسف رجلها اذ كان بارا ولم يشأ ان يشهرها اراد تخليتها سرّا .

20 ولكن فيما هو متفكر في هذه الامور اذا ملاك الرب قد ظهر له في حلم قائلا يا يوسف ابن داود لا تخف ان تأخذ مريم امرأتك . لان الذي حبل به فيها هو من الروح القدس .

21 فستلد ابنا وتدعو اسمه يسوع لانه يخلّص شعبه من خطاياهم .

22 وهذا كله كان لكي يتم ما قيل من الرب بالنبي القائل .

23 هوذا العذراء تحبل وتلد ابنا ويدعون اسمه عمانوئيل الذي تفسيره الله معنا

24 فلما استيقظ يوسف من النوم فعل كما امره ملاك الرب واخذ امرأته .

25 ولم يعرفها حتى ولدت ابنها البكر .ودعا اسمه يسوع