|
Hello,
|
The HOPE of Christmas….Good tidings of Comfort & Joy! We hear and sing these words this time of year but have we really stopped to realize what we are singing about? And what exactly is a tiding? Here’s the lyrics to this well known Christmas carol: “God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day, to save us all from satan’s power when we have gone astray… Oh-tidings of comfort and joy!”
Friend, THIS IS GOOD NEWS! A tiding is good information, or Good eNews to you.
I looked up some of the definitions of words from the lyrics we typically don’t speak like dismay, astray & tidings and of course, the word gentlemen is meant for all people.
I believe the tiding (good news) this song is delivering, in modern day words, is this:
May God give you peace of mind and rest to your souls and not let fear or anxiety overtake you. Do not forget we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ who was born on Christmas Day. The purpose of His birth was to save mankind from the power of darkness when we have drifted away from the path of righteousness.
This good news is for everyone and it is that Jesus was sent by God to save & deliver us and to bring us comfort and joy! Oh tidings of comfort and joy!
Most of our Christmas celebrations include the exchanging of gifts. It makes total sense as we receive gifts for our birthdays. Jesus received gifts from the wise men but we receive gifts from the Lord as we celebrate the birth of God’s son, Jesus. The Word of God speaks of how God gives us the gifts of Comfort and Joy!
May I suggest that the Lord is not only okay with but actually encourages RE-GIFTING the gifts He gives us. He tells us to comfort others in any trouble they face with the same comfort we ourselves receive from God…and as we have discovered, it is JESUS we received from God. We can comfort others when we share the good news of Christ with them. He is the answer to any kind of troubles they/we go through. And when God fills us with joy and peace, it is so we may overflow hope. The joy strengthens us and gives us peace of mind. As it does, we are able to give hope to others who are in need! <Read the article below to see how the peace of God protected our daughters in a tornado last week.>
Know anyone who could use some hope this Christmas Season?
Receive your good tidings of COMFORT AND JOY…then REGIFT IT to merry gentlemen (all people) everywhere by loving them and telling them the good news.
As always…If you have a specific prayer request you’d like to me to pray, I’d be honored. Just reply to this email.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Suzanne Grimaud, Author,
“He Reveals to Heal!”
|
HEALED BY THE WORD: A Fresh Monthly Word
Jehova Shalom: The Lord gives Peace! This Hebrew word is used as a greeting and farewell. It is a word depicting wholeness, completeness and salvation. I recently heard this definition of Shalom Peace: The power to destroy chaos. When we have chaos & storms raging around us, it is this peace we desire.
Last week, our daughters, who live together in Nashville, were awakened in the middle of the night by a widespread and deadly tornado that hours later struck Kentucky. (READ THE FULL STORY) Their phone alarms woke them at 3:15am and within 10 minutes, they were hearing the “train” sounds as people who’ve experienced tornados often describe the loud rumbling noise they hear right before the impact. Their apartment building and the ground beneath them was shaking. The Oklahoma raised sisters knew to get their tennis shoes on, grab blankets and pillows and get in the bathtub since they did not have a storm shelter to go to. There was no time to get to a lower level secure place, but they called their friend in the next building to warn her and to pray. When the roar told them it was about to hit…they hung up to brace for impact and they cried out to God to save their neighbors and to help them. Moments later, the Shalom Peace of God filled the apartment when … (read the story)
|
