"7" Minutes Alone with God

As this year draws towards its close it’s good to count the ways that God has blessed and led us through our nights and all our days. For seldom can we understand, until some time has passed, how everything placed in His hand, worked for our good at last. It warms and reassures us to look back year by year, for since He’s led us in the past the future holds no fear. Glenda Collins Inman

The Great Prince of Heaven, Co-Creator of Earth, laid aside all His splendor, and by virgin birth took the form of a human and lived as a man; now whatever we face He can relate, understand. But His plan was far greater than just that alone when He laid down His power, stepped down from His throne. A sacrifice holy and pure in God’s sight, was needed if mankind could ever be right. Restored to the fellowship the first man had shared, before pride and self-will his innocence snared. So this Great Being, though He knew well the price, laid aside all His glory to be our sacrifice. I can’t understand it; my mind questions “why?” but the truth of this message I cannot deny. He has said, “Take it, this gift that I bought; it’s free by accepting the Way that I brought. Surrender of self-will, so foreign to man, is the only requirement He laid in His plan. It’s not by my goodness I have been made right, and now can stand blameless in God’s holy sight. But rather its th...

(to be sung to the tune of “There’s a Song in the Air”) There’s a song in my heart, and a smile on my face, for I know beyond doubt that I’m saved by Your grace. I’ve been made right with You, and I never shall die. It’s the gift of Your love which I can’t earn or buy. But I owe You my life for the things You have done; to live it according to the words of Your Son. Every word that I say, and the things that I do, will be pleasing to You, Lord, if they’re honest and true. All my actions and motives expressed as they’re meant, since You see my heart, and You know my intent. The song that You hear, and the smile that You see, are the evident signs that You’re living in me. I’ll trust Your direction, and go where You lead, for Your grace is sufficient to cover my need. Glenda Collins Inman

The story of Jesus -- His birth, life, death, burial and resurrection; His ministry and mission – has been depicted in many ways throughout the 2000+ years since He lived on Earth.  Artists have portrayed it in wood, stone, brass and pottery as well as charcoal, ink and paint of every color and hue. Literature has presented it in prose and poetry with dramas ranging from manger scenes to passion plays.  Music encompasses the scale with everything from cradle songs to stirring anthems.  Greeting cards and gift bags, ornaments and jewelry are available as well. Perhaps no life has ever been represented in such a wide array of mediums, and new ones continue to surface each year.  One of the simplest and most colorful can be found in a bag of jelly beans which are for sale in abundance around Easter.  These shiny, delicious little candies can represent many truths about Jesus as recorded in the Bible. WHITE for the purity of His virgin mother: the angel Ga...

We do not want you to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope  (1 Thessalonians 4:13) The phone call was unexpected. The news gut-wrenching.  The unborn baby lay dead in his mother’s womb and she was faced with the ordeal of delivering the corpse of her first-born child. Our hearts broke as we thought of the agony she and her husband and their families must be experiencing.  Eight months earlier we had rejoiced with them over this long-awaited pregnancy, and followed its development with enthusiasm and eager anticipation as the due date drew near.  Now joy dissolved into disbelief and sorrow. It was only a few days after Christmas and death seemed out of place in a season when families were celebrating, sharing memories, and making new ones. Knowing that future Christmases for this family would hold painful reminders of their loss seemed to magnify the sense of tragedy.  Why Christmas, of all times?   The thought came naturally, and over t...

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12) The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day make up what is frequently referred to as the Holiday Season.  It’s a special time of the year for many, but also a busy time.  So busy, in fact, that we can miss the joy of it all.  Perhaps it would be better if we scaled back the lesser things on the to-do list, and allowed ourselves to truly enjoy the important things like quality time with family and friends, and more intimate time with God. In the end, when all is said and done, it will not be the quantity of things we did or gifts we gave, but rather the quality of time spent which determines the joy we experience. Lord, I’ve got long lists to make.  Cookies to bake.  Cards to address and to mail. Trips into town.  Scurry around, attending to every detail. Gifts to be bought – special ones sought – wrapped and put under the tree. So much to get done I’m having to...

It must be difficult to be so very far away from home and friends and family on such a holiday. Sometimes, no doubt you feel so sad you think that no one cares; that everyone has someone else, and none your sadness shares. But with such thoughts remember that one cold night long ago, a tiny babe so pure and sweet, was born to earth below. Not many came to see Him there, or praised His humble birth, for they were busy with their feasts, and family and mirth. And then you might remember, too, the Child was all alone, for He had given up His crown, His kingdom and His throne. For over thirty years He lived among His fellowmen, but He was often scorned and mocked; misunderstood by them. His friends sometimes forsook Him; He had no place called home; no wife or child to comfort Him; He truly was alone. When it was time for Him to leave this earthly life behind, they killed him in the cruelest way that anyone could find. But now He’s on His throne agai...

Lord, help us in the days ahead as we celebrate Your birth, to filter out the lesser things and choose the things of worth. To truly let You be in charge, our business release, that You may work Your will in us, and fill us with Your peace. May we center on Your life, and the sacrifice You made, that we may have the life You planned, by which Your death You paid. Glenda Collins Inman

Wreaths of holly, mistletoe; Children playing in the snow; Carols sung by fireside glow; These are signs of Christmas. Yuletide trimmings on the street; Friendly smiles from folks you meet; Shopping trips and tired feet; These are signs of Christmas. Gifts all wrapped, the stockings hung; Every carol has been sung; Night descends, a church bell’s rung; These are signs of Christmas. Children dozing through the night; Eager for the dawn’s first light; Peace prevails and all is right; These are signs of Christmas. Glenda Collins Inman (published in IDEALS Magazine CHRISTMAS 2013)