The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

I promised you an outline from one my preaching Bibles that has been retired from active public service because it is falling apart from heavy use.

We are in the Christmas season. Some are not so ready to accept this as others are. Some are dreading the snow. Some are looking forward to the snow. Some have moved to warmer climates and laugh at the snow back up north. Some are ready for Christmas music. Some grinches (oops, sorry about that!) are not ready for Christmas music until December 23rd or 24th.

Here’s what I want to keep ever before me this Christmas season.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“The Father’s Greatest Gift”

1. The extremity (God SO loved the world) 3:16a. How precious is this?
2. The expression (That He gave His only begotten son) 3:16b. How profound is this?
3. The experience (That whosoever believeth in Him) 3:16c. How personal is this?
4. The excitement (Should not perish, but have everlasting life) 3:16d. How promising is this?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

One closing thought. God’s gift is precious, profound, personal, and is a promise. Have you trusted the Lord Jesus as your Savior?

I want to be very honest with you. There’s no other way to gently tell you this. I will be right up front with all my readers at this point.

You are reading this “Dr. Mike’s Daily Prescription” on Friday, December 1st. But I am writing this DP on Monday, November 13th and yes, yes, yes, I am listening to Christmas music as I am writing.

I think I can hear two or three applauding me. I am pretty sure I hear hundreds and hundreds moaning and saying, “We knew there was something wrong with this man!” I just can’t help it, friends. While throughout the entire year I daily celebrate the goodness of the Lord and His wonderful gift of salvation, once we come through the Thanksgiving season and hit the first of December, I go into celebration mode. What am I celebrating? Here it is.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

In one of my preaching Bibles that years ago I retired from public ministry, I discovered that I wrote the following outline by John 3:16. This really describes the true meaning of Christmas.

Tomorrow I’ll share the outline with you.

You must hurry on your way for now. As you go about your day, remember that Christmas is all about the Father’s greatest gift. It is His giving His only begotten Son. I want to keep that focus. How about you?

We conclude another month of Daily Prescriptions. It doesn’t seem possible that tomorrow will begin the December series.

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11).

When Paul spoke of being perfect, he didn’t mean sinless. He meant to be complete, to repair that which is broken, to be equipped. Think of it. Paul ministered tirelessly to the Corinthians believers. He challenged them, corrected them, commanded them, convinced them, cherished them, charged them, chastened them, as well as comforted them.

He concluded this letter to them by summing up everything he had said. He told them good-bye, grow up, be encouraged, and be everything that the Lord wants them to be. “Do the right thing, even if it is not the easy thing” is basically what Paul exhorted. Sounds like good advice for us today. Isn’t it?

Thank you! Thank you for the privilege of coming to you and your friends every day. Lord willing, Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will begin a new month together.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you (Luke 6:27-28).

Missionaries often serve in communities where they are unwanted. They labor in a culture that is hostile and frankly, is sometimes quite unfriendly. When they and their church families want to build their churches, sometimes the community leaders do everything they can do to discourage and delay the building. It is not uncommon for unsaved people to be very unkind and even hateful toward those who share the gospel.

As a young Bible college student (a long time ago now!), I was stunned to hear the stories of servants who bore the marks of persecution. Yet the servants continued serving and often overcame the hostility by their consistent gracious, loving, and intentional acts of kindness.

How will this play out in your life today? Is someone reacting poorly because of your witness for Christ? The Lord’s standard is still the same.

Take this with you today: Some folks are a little easier than others to love. We truly need the Lord’s help and grace to demonstrate to the world what it truly means to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was looking up the national holidays that are celebrated on November 28th. Are you ready for a smile?

Today is National Alan Day. We are encouraged to celebrate the Alans or Allens in our lives!
Today is Red Planet Day. We are encouraged to learn all that we can about the planet Mars.
Today is National French Toast Day.

How and from where do these holidays originate?

There was one more that kind of caught my eye. Tuesday November 28th is the National Day of Giving. It’s called GIVING TUESDAY and is celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Now that’s a good celebration!

We certainly do give first and foremost to the Lord Jesus through our local churches (2 Corinthians 8 and 9). We do give to worthy ministries and missionaries (Philippians 4:15-17). We do give to those who truly need our help (Acts 6:1; James 1:27). There may be opportunities to give not only of our funds, but with our time and talents as well.

Take a couple of verses with you that speak about giving.

“Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto Thy name” (Psalm 18:49).

“Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:1-2).

“Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness” (Psalm 30:4).