The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

Have you taken a moment to check out the new Christmas E-Books at www.michaelpeck.org? The two Christmas books are written for children but will bring delight to adults who choose to read them as well.

“He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12).

How precious is our great and glorious Savior! How painful it is to realize how many reject Him. Rejection is a terrible thing. For those who experience rejection, the hurt is deep and significant. If this has happened to you, please understand that you join a very special fellowship that has a horizontal and vertical dimension. Horizontally, there are people around you that likewise have experienced this awful hurt. Likewise if you have ever been rejected by someone, vertically, our great Savior above understands your hurt. In His first coming, His own people rejected Him. But the good news is that those of us who place their trust in Him by accepting His gift of salvation become His children. How glorious this is indeed.

For today: I am so glad that I trusted Christ alone for my salvation. How about you?

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelled among us” (John 1:14).

It was not quite time to start work when Frank arrived and said, “I can’t believe how the year has flown by. It doesn’t seem possible that it is nearly Christmas time.” The folks in the office agreed with him, and just as Frank was wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas,” their supervisor, Tricia, walked by and said, “Frank, I don’t think we’re supposed to be saying ‘Christmas.’ Corporate wants us to use the term “Seasons Greetings.” Everyone stopped their conversation to see what would take place. Frank quietly, gently, and graciously said, “Tricia, you know that I honestly try to comply with everything that my company expects. However, let me ask you this question. Why is it proper to give the Muslim’s greeting at Ramadan, and we call their special time by name? I have a Jewish friend up on floor seven in our corporation. At Hanukkah I would not think of saying ‘Seasons Greetings’ to him. Why is it that just Christians are not allowed to call it ‘Christmas’?” There was a quiet murmur of agreement in the gathering. Before Tricia could say anything else, Frank concluded by saying, “So first of all, Tricia, I don’t think corporate could win the battle of me exercising my right to free speech. But I would not cause you to be in a bad situation. You have been told that your employees cannot say, ‘Merry Christmas,’ so I will comply. Instead I will say, ‘Blessed Incarnation Day,’ and when anyone asks what that means, I will be happy to answer.” Tricia smiled and said, “Well, I think you’re right, Frank. They never said you couldn’t say, ‘Blessed Incarnation Day.’”

For today: I am going to wish folks “Merry Christmas.” If they don’t like that, I will say, “How about Blessed Incarnation Day?”

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22).

I shared with you yesterday that the entire family gathered at Uncle Charlie’s because he and Uncle Martin knew how Grandpa had prepared his will. It would be a great blessing for the entire family. Grandpa loved the Lord and had lived a consistent Godly life. Now after his home going, not only would the will impact Grandpa’s children, but it would be directed especially to his grandchildren. It was a lengthy will because Grandfather loved long conversations. The last few lines were especially powerful. He closed his will by stating, “The Bible says that a good man leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren. You can see that there are some finances, but not a lot. The best thing that I can leave to you is that your Grandmother and I taught your parents the way of the Lord. They seem to be following the Lord at the time this is being written. But I am concerned about some of you. If you are a Christian, your actions do not point to this. Grandmother and I so want you to be with us in Heaven that I want to remind you that there is only one way for salvation, and that is through Christ (John 14:6), and it is by accepting His gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). I love each of you and will be looking forward to our grand reunion (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).” Uncle Charlie put the will down and had a tender but pointed conversation with the family. What an inheritance Grandfather left. How about you? What are you leaving your children and grandchildren?

For today: A Godly and gracious life consistently lived provides a wonderful blessing to all.

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22).

The family gathered together at Uncle Charlie and Aunt Marie’s home. Charlie and his four siblings seized the opportunity for a long-lasting impact upon their family. They so wanted their children to be together for the reading of Grandfather’s will to the entire family. Charlie and his brother Martin both were aware of the contents and knew this was too special to miss. Grandpa was an amazing man on earth, and even now that he was with the Lord, he would still have a great teaching opportunity to his family. Do you know why? It is because he lived a Godly and gracious life consistently. Of course he wasn’t perfect; however, Christ was very real to Grandfather. Tomorrow I will share with you a little more about “Grandpa’s will.” Why not invite family and friends to read the Daily Prescriptions?

For today: If we want to have a lasting impact for the Lord upon our families, we don’t have to be perfect. But the change Christ makes must be evident!

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He that set us up on the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:21-22).

The faith of a child really is quite a remarkable thing. Five-year-old Mark came home from Sunday school, and at the family table announced, “Jesus made everything, and that settles it.” Markie’s older brothers and sisters chuckled at the young theologian but were still happy to see the faith of their little brother. Mark grew up and became a committed believer, and indeed, a scientist that firmly believed in the Genesis account of creation. He loved the Lord Jesus and was thankful to belong to an awesome Creator. As an adult it became his joy to teach boys and girls about the wonderful creation of the Lord God. “Did you know that our great big huge universe which the Lord Jesus created by simply speaking is growing and expanding? But boys and girls, this is not just something scientists recently discovered. Did you know that Isaiah talked about the way God ‘stretches out the heavens as a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in’? Only God could have taught Isaiah this wonderful truth. It makes me very happy to be a Christian and to believe the Word of God. You can trust the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ.” We can do the same thing today. We don’t have to be a rocket scientist. But on the other hand, we could be a rocket scientist and still trust the Lord!

For today: What a blessing to simply believe the Bible and trust the Author.