Have you downloaded our 2015 Bible Reading Plan? Join us this year as we focus of the theme: Live Courageously

The Reason for the Season

O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his loving kindness endured forever. Let the redeemed of Jehovah say so, Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary, (Psalm 107:1-2)

As part of my new occupation as a colony chaplain I am required to attend Wednesday night T-N-T. For those who don’t know, it is an intimate time of fellowship, reading scripture, and praising God. This week was filled with personal conviction, deliverances, and brokenness. Sidebar: This time is near and dear to my heart for many reasons, especially because I was in the colony during this Christmas season.

In addition, there were some declarations of gratitude because of God’s hand in their situation, others shared some Word from their alone or devotion time. However, one of the men broke down in tears because of the broken relationship with his father, and in the midst of the testimony, his father came from the back of the chapel running and embraced him with a passionate hug.

This was the most practical example of the prodigal son I have ever saw. “But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” I spoke to the resident, and he was overjoyed of the rekindled relationship. The father thanked God, and individuals at Keswick for in his words, “help to get his son back.”

Are we thankful for the meaning of the cross or for the sake of the season, the baby in the manger? Do we appreciate eternal life that was granted to us at Calvary?

“Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly”(Romans: 5, 6) – Chaplain Juan Mendez is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is serving at the Colony of Mercy as a Chaplain. You can write to him at jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: 1 John 1-5

Think About This: In a classic Ziggy comic panel the perpetually challenged character is shown putting up Christmas lights while imparting this advice: “At this special time of the year it’s important that we all take time to REJOICE!!  Especially since many of us haven’t even ‘joiced’ yet!” Houston Chronicle, 12/25/96
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3