Christianity Oasis Forum

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December 22
Monday


DECEMBER
DESIRE

READ:
Revelation 22:1-5
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They need no lamp
nor light of the sun,
for the Lord God gives
them light.
___Revelation 22;5
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December is a month when people celebrate miracles. The Jewish tradition of Hanukkah--the Holiday Lights--commemorates the time when a small amount of oil lasted 8 days and kept the light in the temple from going out. And Christmas celebrates the coming of the "Light of the World," God in human form--Jesus.

A miracle is the introduction of God's supernatural power into our world in a way that suspends the laws of physics as we understand them.

In December, it seems that more of us are willing to suspend disbelief and entertain the possibility that "nature" is not the final authority. Even the non-religious yearn for miracles. Deep down, everyone wants to believe that darkness, disease, and death can be overcome.

Perhaps the most wondrous thing about miracles is that it is God's nature to do the supernatural. the closing chapters of Scripture assure us that this "December desire" for all to be well will become a reality: "There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain" (Rev. 21:4). God will one day bring to an end the unnatural rule of Satan and begin His righteous reign as the rightful Ruler of the universe. __ Julie Ackerman Link
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````````Thank You, Lord, that although we live in a world`````````````
````````where Satan's shadow obscures Your glorious light,```````````
```````we eagerly anticipate the day when Your full glory will`````````
````````````once again illuminate all creation. Amen.```````````````
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A miracle needs no explanation to those who believe
in God; to those who don't, no explanation is enough.

***************Today's Bible Reading __Revelation 22:1-5**********

1 And he showed me a
pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal, proceeding
from the throne of God and
of the Lamb. 2 In the middle
of its street, and on either
side of the river, was the
tree of life, which bore
twelve fruits, each tree
yielding its fruit every
month. The leaves of the
tree were for the healing of
the nations. 3 And there
shall be no more curse, but
the throne of God and of
the Lamb shall be in it, and
His servants shall serve
him. 4 They shall see His
face, and His name shall be
on their foreheads. 5 There
shall be no night there:
They need no lamp nor
light of the sun, for the
Lord God gives them light.
And they shall reign forever
and ever.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Revelation 21:9-22:5 describes the heavenly city of Jerusalem. In
this passage, we are give a vision of a garden reminiscent of the
Garden of Eden (Gen. 2-3). There is the tree of life (Rev. 21:2),,
referred to in Eden as representing never-ending physical life (Gen.
3:22). God had intended for Adam and Eve to eat from this tree
(2:16-17). But in their fallen sinful state, they were prevented from
eating its fruit lest they live forever in sin (3:22,24). In the future,
believers will be given the right to eat from this tree (Rev. 2:7),
when the curse for sin (Gen. 3:14-19) is completely removed (Rev.
22:3,5). There will be purity (v.1), perfect service (v.3), and perfect
communion with God (v.4). __Sim Kay Tee