Devotionals by Dr. Jeff Schreve
FACING THE CHRISTMAS BLUES?
"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
I talked to a beautiful young girl this week. She was so sad as her tears streamed down her pretty face. She was going to experience this Christmas away from family and friends. You see, she is newly incarcerated ... and will be locked up for the better part of a year. She knows she blew it, but she just wants to go home. My heart went out to her. Without question, she is facing the Christmas blues.
What do you do when Christmas is coming and you are just so down and discouraged? What do you do when you are separated from family and friends? What do you do when you have suffered the loss of a loved one, and the holidays are bringing all the hurt back to the surface? What do you do when you just can't seem to stuff your sadness and put on a happy face? What do you do when you are facing the Christmas blues?
In those sad times, we need to remember the One we are celebrating--Jesus. His name is the Wonderful Counselor!
TELL IT TO JESUS
No matter what difficulty you are experiencing in life, Christmas teaches us that a Savior has come. He didn't come to fill our empty stocking; He came to fill our empty soul! He came to save us from our sins and save us from our sadness. His coming is indeed "good news of a great joy!"
You see, this baby born in Bethlehem nearly 2000 years ago is the Mighty God of the universe, the One who loves us and invites us to His throne of grace. He is the Wonderful Counselor who understands all about our hurt and pain. He knows ... He cares ... and He can do something to help.
The challenge in our sadness is to rise up from the dungeon of despair and make our way to Jesus. Bow before Him as the wise men did and open the treasure of your heart. Tell the Wonderful Counselor all your disappointments and distresses. Tell Him all your troubles and trials. Don't hold back. Take the burden that is in your heart and share it ALL with Him.
In 1 Samuel 1, we read of a woman named Hannah. She was a person with intense sadness. Her problem was barrenness … and she wanted a child more than anything. In her brokenness and disillusionment, she came before the Lord and poured out her soul to Him. She shared her burden with the Wonderful Counselor, and He made all the difference in the world. He gave her peace in the midst of her problems. He gave her joy in place of her sadness. And He gave her the desires of her heart, a beautiful son named Samuel.
CHANGING THE BLUES TO THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS
Here is the good news: you don't have to keep singing the blues this Christmas. You can come to Jesus and turn your heart to Him. You can stop focusing on all you have lost and start seeing all you have been given. You can get your eyes off your problems and onto the Prince of Peace. He is ready, willing, and able to turn your ashes into beauty and your doubts into shouts of joy. Seek Him with all your heart, just as Hannah did. He really is the reason for the season ... and He can make all the difference in the world for you today.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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About Dr. Jeff Schreve
Growing up in a church-going home, Jeff learned a lot about God, but he did not know God. He believed in Jesus in the same way he believed in George Washington: he knew Jesus was real, but had not personally met Him. All this changed one night after a Young Life meeting when he was alone in his bedroom. There Jeff saw his need for Christ and His forgiveness and surrendered his life to Jesus.
As a student at the University of Texas, Jeff grew in his Christian life. He graduated with a degree in business and moved back home to Houston, Texas to start a career in business. There he met his future wife, Debbie, at a single's group meeting at Champion Forest Baptist Church. They were married in 1986 and have been blessed with a wonderful relationship and three awesome daughters and two beautiful grandchildren.
A New Direction
After spending 13 years as a chemical salesman, God called Dr. Schreve to preach. He left his secure position and moved his family to North Carolina to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was a scary and difficult move to make ... but it was one of the best decisions they have ever made. One year later, God called them to serve on staff at Champion Forest Baptist Church. In 2000, he completed his Master of Divinity degree graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2014 from Southeastern Seminary.
Jeff Schreve has been the senior Pastor of First Baptist Texarkana in 2003, a growing and exciting church with 4500+ members.
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