Without the Cradle

                                                                       Luke 2:12
                                                   "And this will be the sign to you:
                                     You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths,
                                                                lying in a manger."

Have you ever considered without the cradle, Christ would never have faced the cross? And without the cross, we would be facing a future of eternal separation with no promise of heaven?

There is so much more to Christmas than a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. In the previous verses Luke tells of shepherds watching their flock by night;

                 And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the
                 Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 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. For there is born to you this day
                 in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."     Luke 2-9-11                 
     
When Christ came to earth as a Babe, there was purpose in His coming. He came as our Savior, to make us clean before the Father. Through Christ alone we have a promise of life eternal.

                 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,
                "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
                                                                                                           John 1:29

As I focus on Christmas, I will no longer think only of a sweet baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. I will think of my Savior, and how He came for me, willing to take my punishment on the cross that I may have life eternal through Him.

From the cradle to the cross, from the cross to Christ our Savior. This is Christmas.

                "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall
                  conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
                                                                                                           Isaiah 7:14

                "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is
                 Christ the Lord."                                                               Luke 2:11




                              The above Devotional was taken from my Daily Devotional,
               "Living in the Vineyard" Listening for the Voice of God. 

               This Devotional consists of 245 individual devotionals designed to help the
            reader ponder lessons taken from the Word of God. Blessing many readers
            thus far, this would be a wonderful way to begin the New Year. It would also
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Wrestling With God

                                            Genesis 32:26 

                                 And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks."

                           But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me."

Jacob was returning home, leaving behind the place of his father-in-law, Laban. Throughout the journey, Jacob called on the Name of the Lord. Before meeting his brother, Esau, Jacob sent his entire family ahead. It is here we find Jacob wrestling with God. 

What did God say?  "Let Me go, for the day breaks." 

Jacob's reply: "I will not let You go until You bless me." 

After reading this portion of Scripture I thought, "How willing am I to wrestle with God until He blesses me? How long will I sit at His feet, cry out in desperation, or rest in His Word before becoming discouraged and letting go?" 

Jacob wrestled with God throughout the night. We have all been there, when the darkness seemed to magnify our heartache. God does not leave us without hope. We may weep in the night, in the dark places of our soul, but with God there will come a morning when the sun will shine again. 

              "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."     

                                                                                                               Psalm 30:5 

Then I thought, "What has been a burden on my heart for so long it has become a way of life with no hope for an answer? Have I lost my persistence in crying out to the Lord for a blessing?" 

What about you? Perhaps it's a wayward child, a diagnosis that looks impossible, a financial burden too heavy to bear, or a difficult relationship? It is hard to hang on tight to God and wrestle with Him until morning when the night seems so long. When we are in this place, may we draw strength from God's promise: 

              "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."                             

                                                                                                               James 4:8

May we be like Jacob and cry out to the Lord, "I will not let You go until You bless me," and with great anticipation watch for how the Lord will answer our prayer. 

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                                                            245 Daily Devotionals 

                                                  

                                           

Turn

                                                      John 20:16

                                                      Jesus said to her, "Mary!" 

                                         She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" 

Three days after Jesus had been crucified, Mary Magdalene, devastated and filled with fear, stood outside the tomb where He had been buried. Seeing the stone rolled away, His cloths lying where Jesus had been, she assumed they had taken her Savior away. Turning, she saw who she thought was the gardener standing in front of her. 

                     Jesus said to her, "Woman why are you weeping? Whom are you 

                     seeking?"                       

                     She, supposing Him to be the gardener; said to Him, "Sir, if you have

                     carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take 

                     Him away." 

                     Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which

                     is to say, Teacher.).                                             __John 20:15-16 

At that moment, Mary knew Jesus was alive, that He had come back as He said He would. In an instant her fears were gone, her sorrow turned to joy. 

Do you know Jesus knows your name? Before you were born He knew the color of your eyes, the texture of your hair, how tall you would be, where you would live, the family awaiting your arrival, and what your future would hold. Before you were placed in the arms of your loving mother, Jesus loved you with a never-ending love. 

                     My frame was not hidden from You,

                     When I was made in secret,

                     And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

                     Your eyes saw my substance, being yet formed. 

                     And in Your book they all were written,

                     The days fashioned for me,

                     When as yet there were none of them.              __Psalm 139:15-16

Just as Mary was devastated with grief until she saw her Savior, we, too, have times when life becomes overwhelming. When we find ourselves in this place, may we turn toward Jesus. As we do, we will hear Him say,  (your name), and our sorrow will be turned to joy, our fears to peace, and we will know He is there, just as He said He would be. 

                    He will not leave you nor forsake you.               __Deuteronomy 31:6b 

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Strong in the Battle

                                                         Deuteronomy 20:4
                                              "For the LORD your God is He
                                          who goes with you, to fight for you
                                            against your enemies to save you."

As the Israelites prepared for battle, Moses reminded the people God would go before them to fight their enemies. He knew how important it was they enter the battle confident of victory.

As I thought about this, I thought of the many battles life holds. It is true, most of us will never enter a physical battle against the enemy. Nevertheless, we face battles in many ways.

                            Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is
                            to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.
                                                                                                                1 Peter 4:12

In times such as this, we, too,

need to remember who goes before us to fight our battles. Never do we enter a problem or heartache alone. As we lean on Jesus, holding tight to His hand, He goes before us, comforting, leading, and assuring our victory. Peace in the midst of battle is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God.

                            Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
                            with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the
                            peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
                            hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.           Philippians 4:6-7

If God has allowed a trial to come into our lives, as we allow Him to fight the battle for us, he will employ what Satan meant for evil and use it for our good. We can stand strong in the battle, knowing who it is who goes before us! Victory is ours as we wait on Him.

                           The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
                           But deliverance is of the LORD.                    Proverbs 23:31

                           Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of
                           His might.                                                       Ephesians 6:10

                          Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.   
                                                                                                  1 Corinthians 16:13

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Yoke of Bondage

                                           Yoke of Bondage

                                                        Galatians 5:1

                          Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,  
                                 and do not not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Speaking to the churches of Galatia, Paul encouraged the Galatians to stand fast in their Christian liberty, and not become entangled once again in a yoke of bondage.

As I considered this passage, I thought of ways we as Christians become entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Unfortunately, the list quickly filled my mind; bitterness, refusing to forgive, inferiority, fear, anxiousness, hopelessness, defeat. And I'm sure there are more.

Why is it that even though we know we have been set free, we continue to walk in such bondage? Could it be we are unaware of the enemy's determination to set before us a yoke of bondage? Satan knows exactly what he is doing when he causes a root of bitterness to spring up within us. No longer are we an effective witness for our Lord. Where there once was peace, we now have turmoil. When we pray, we don't feel the freedom we once held dear. Everything changes. We are entangled with a yoke of bondage.

                                         Pursue peace with all people, and holiness,
                                         without which no one will see the Lord;
                                         looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the
                                         grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing
                                         up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.
                                                                                                      Hebrews 12:14-15

It is for freedom Christ died on the cross. No longer must we fall for the lies of Satan, plunging into the deception set before us. Instead, we can stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.

                               "Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." 
                                                                                                      John 8:36 

                                  I thank God --through Jesus Christ our Lord!
                                  So then, with the mind I

                                  myself serve the law of God,
                                  but with the flesh the law of sin.                 Romans 7:25

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Light in the Darkness

                                     Light in the Darkness 

                                                               Philippians 2:14-15

                                         Do all things without complaining and disputing;

                                         that you may become blameless, children of God 

                                       without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse

                                  generation. among whom you shine as lights in the world.

                                          This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine 
                                          This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
                                          Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine! 

How well I remember singing this song with all my little friends in Sunday School. We would hold up our pointer finger pretending it was our light that would never go out. We were all going to shine for Jesus forever! 

                  "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, 
                   but have the light of life.                                          __John 8:12                                                
Jesus became the light of the world to make a way for us in the darkness. Without Christ in our lives we are lost, like sheep without a shepherd. We live our lives without hope, and with no promise for the future.                                                                                           

Before coming to Christ my life was without purpose. I simply did the same thing over and over every day, for no other reason than to pay my bills. Life seemed so mundane. Then I heard a pastor speak and it was like he was speaking just to me: "You can't know your purpose until you know the One who made you." His words got my attention! He then went on to introduce the audience to Jesus Christ. At that point in my life I knew Jesus as the Son of God, the One to whom we prayed and sang about in church. However, I didn't know we could know Him personally. That day I confessed I was a sinner, asked for His forgiveness, and invited Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior. By faith I was saved. My life has not been the same since. I have purpose where I once had confusion, light where I once walked in darkness, and hope for all my tomorrows.

                    If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
                    that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the
                    heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession
                    is made unto salvation.                                            __Romans 10:9-10

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Lay It Down

                                     Hebrews 12:1 

                                               Let us lay aside every weight,

                                       and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

                           and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 

There is much we could say about this Scripture. We could discuss sin, how it threatens to steal our peace, our testimony, discouraging us as we walk in the love and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Or we could confer about what it means to run the race with endurance, with persistence and resolution. However, what piqued my interest was the laying aside of every weight. 

When I think of a weight, I immediately think of something heavy, hard to carry. We all know what it is like to lay awake at night, overwhelmed with worry or grief, concerned about what the future holds for us, or a loved one. This is a weight, something heavy to carry as we face another day. We can have a hard time accepting the forgiveness of Christ; continue to carry around the guilt and shame of our past. This is a weight. It tears us down and wears us out, our peace is gone, and the joy of the Lord escapes us as we try to rise above the nagging in our soul. What is it in your life that you feel you must carry around, refusing to lay it down at the feet of Jesus? Jesus says lay it down, give it to Him. He can carry whatever it is that keeps us from living the life He died on the cross to give us. 

                          "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 

                            and I will give you rest.

                            Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

                            for I am gentle and lowly in heart,                                      

                            and you will find rest for your souls. 

                            For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

                                                                                 Matthew 11:28-30 

Jesus did not die on the cross so that we would continue to walk in defeat. He brought us to Himself, forgiving our past, willing to carry our burdens, so that we might live in freedom. There are no magic formulas or correct words that make it possible to lay down our weight. Laying down our weight only comes when we decide once and for all to be obedient to the Word of God, casting all our cares on Hm. 

                           Cast your burden on the LORD,

                           And He shall sustain you;

                           He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. 

                                                                                 Psalm 55:22

                        This devotional was taken from my newly released Daily Devotional,

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                                   Blessings in the Pain 

                                                            Romans 15:13

                                    Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy

                                     and peace in believing, that you may abound 

                                          in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

How can it be that blessings sometimes break our heart?
   
     Our loved one runs home to our Father after struggling with cancer, finally out
of pain.
                            Our heart breaks over the loss of losing them.

     Our prodigal child hits bottom, finding himself/herself alone, reaping the consequences of his/her actions.
                           Our heart breaks to see our child so broken and desperate.

    Our friend of 66 years, and at the age of 92, is called home to be with her Lord and Savior, finally at rest after a full life on earth.
                           Our heart is broken at the thought of not hearing her sweet voice
                           again, sharing our hearts with one another.
                                                   
We know being free of pain is what we want for our loved one. It is not until our child comes to their end they realize the need to run to the Father for help.  And just as much, we know we will all die. Nevertheless, what we know is best doesn't keep our heart from breaking.

The Lord does not promise a life free of trials, heartache, or tribulation. What He does promise is that He will walk through our suffering with us.

                            The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
                             He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
                             He leads me beside the still waters.
                             He restores my soul.

In times such as this, may we allow our Father to be our comfort, carrying us through the pain as He heals our broken heart. He alone will turn our sorrow into dancing as He draws us to Himself.

                           You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
                           You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

Steadfast

  Psalm 52:8-9 

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because you have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good. 

As I studied this Psalm, the words trust, praise, and wait stood out to me. Even though David's desires had not come to fruition, he would praise the Lord in the waiting because he trusted in Him. 

David compared himself to a green olive tree in the house of God. As I studied the significance of the olive tree, I found this tree symbolizes faithfulness and steadfastness. Regardless of the weather conditions, the olive tree will continue to live and produce fruit. Even being cut down and destroyed, the roots of the olive tree grow so deeply a new tree will grow back in its place. David was declaring he would be faithful regardless of what happened, standing steadfast in his trust in the Lord. 

As I considered my desires, I thought about my faithfulness and never wavering steadfastness before the Lord. Do I stand firm, trusting He will bring it to pass? Do I praise Him in the waiting, knowing His ways are not mine? And, do I trust Him, even when I don't understand what He is doing? 

In one of the Bible Studies I participated in, there was a prayer that went something like this; 

Dear Lord,

 I don't understand it and I don't like it, but; regardless of how I feel, or my desires,  I will trust You, as I wait on You to do what I know is best. 

                                                                    In Your precious name I pray, 

                                                                                                      Amen 

Our faith is not to be built on what we see, nor how we feel. Our faith is to be built on our steadfast trust in our Father's wisdom, and our willingness to praise Him in the waiting. God is never late, and He is never early. He is exactly on time. May we be like David, faithful and steadfast, trusting in the mercy of God forever and ever. 

      

                                    GREAT is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.    

                                                                                                     Psalm 48:1

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                      452eagleswings@gmail.com, my newly released Daily Devotional, 

                                 "Living in the Vineyard"                                                                 

 Listening for the Voice of God 

    

                                      

                      

 Truth 

  Mark 5:33

     But the woman, fearing and trembling,

      knowing what had happened to her, 

      came and fell down before Him 

        and told Him the whole truth. 

Crossing over the sea, Jesus came to the multitudes. As a large crowd gathered, a certain woman plagued with an issue of blood strained to touch the hem of His garment. 

                    And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of 

                    Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" 

                                                                                                       Mark 5:30

The woman knew she must tell Jesus what her life had been like, all she had suffered. She also understood there was no time for pretense or denial, Jesus knew why she had come and she must be completely honest. 

How many times have we come to Jesus, and afraid what He might think, justified our actions, or left part of it out completely. Jesus knows what we need from Him, why we have come. 

Have you suffered and need His healing touch? Tell Jesus. Are you angry and need understanding? Tell Jesus. Are you filled with guilt and need forgiveness? Tell Jesus. Are you jealous and know it is wrong? Tell Jesus. Do you harbor bitterness in your heart and need to forgive? Tell Jesus. The woman with the issue of blood fell at Jesus' feet and told Him the whole truth. That is exactly what He requires of us. He desires a heart humbled before Him, reaching out for His healing hand. 

                       For thus says the High and Lofty One

                       Who inhabits the eternity, whose name is Holy:

                      "I dwell in the high and holy place,

                       With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,

                       To revive the spirit of the humble,

                       And to revive the heart of the contrite ones."        Isaiah 57:15

                       The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

                       A broken and a contrite heart 

                       These, O God, You will not despise.                     Psalm 51:17 

                         I am so excited to announce the release of my daily devotional, 

                                            "Living in the Vineyard." 

                This has been a five year endeavor, and I feel so blessed to bring it to 

                completion. I pray it will bless your daily walk with our Lord and Savior. 

               Available on Amazon.com.    Cost: $20.00        Also available as an ebook

                

Do Not Be Afraid

                                                            Matthew 14:27

                                    But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,

                                     "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

Before going to the mountain to pray, Jesus instructed the disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the sea. Because Jesus stayed on the mountain longer than they had anticipated, the disciples found themselves alone and being tossed about by furious winds. Jesus, seeing they were in distress, came walking across the waters.

                            Now in the fourth watch of night Jesus went to them, walking on
                            the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they
                            were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
                            But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!
                            It is I; do not be afraid!"                              Matthew 14:25-27

As I thought of what was happening to the disciples, afraid for their lives, and then seeing someone walking on the water toward them, I understood why they cried out in fear. I would too!

Then I read Jesus' reply,
                         
                            "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

This made me think of times I have been afraid. Times I didn't know where to turn or what to do. I realized Jesus had come to me in those moments, not walking on the water, but by a word spoken, a smile given, a note received, or a devotional I've read, giving me hope for one more day. He has led me, not to the other side of the sea, but to the other side of my heartache, confusion, or fear. And as He said to the disciples, He has said to me,

                             "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

                               For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
                               But of power and of love and of a sound mind.
                                                                                                 2 Timothy 1:6

                               For I, the LORD your God, will uphold your right hand,
                               Saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you." 
                                                                                                 Isaiah 41:13



                       I am exited to share with you my newly release Daily Devotional,

                                                          "Living in the Vineyard."

       

Available through Amazon.com (type my name - Cyndy Lindblad - in the search bar) or by emailing me at 452eagleswings@gmail.com.  Cost: $20.00. "Living in the Vineyard" is also available as an ebook.