Swaddling Clothes - More Than Strips of Cloth

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Have you ever wondered why Mary wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes? Just this past week, I was studying the story of Jesus' birth and came across some interesting facts about swaddling clothes.

Swaddling Clothes

First, I was amazed to find out that Mary didn't wrap Jesus in swaddling clothes because they were poor. Instead, it was a custom during that time to wrap newborn babies in these strips of cloth to ensure their arms and legs would grow straight. 

Not only that, rich babies were also washed in salted water before being wrapped in swaddling clothes to symbolize their integrity and truthfulness.

It was said that if a child was not swaddled when he was born, the parents had abused the child. 

Today, we have a form of swaddling for our babies. Think about it - when babies are born, the nurse wraps the baby up tightly in a warm blanket. This form of swaddling is more to help the baby feel safe and secure and not to ensure straight legs and arms. 

Was there more to why Mary wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes? You bet there was. 

When the angels appear to the shepherds to tell them of the birth of Jesus, they say...

Luke 2:12 KJV

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

One reason Mary wrapped the baby Jesus in swaddling clothes was because God would use it as a sign for the shepherds.

God uses all things big and small including us. Sometimes we may not feel worthy or wonder what we have to offer, but not matter how big or small something is, it can be used to move mountains for God if he chooses..

Remember, God even knows when a sparrow falls from the sky, so you can be sure he knows your needs and the needs of others and sometimes he may use you to fulfill a greater purpose.

Visit our online magazine, Christian Magazine Today.

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Christian Volunteers to Spread God's Word

Monday, November 26, 2012

It's amazing how much we can spread God's word with just a few short minutes a day.

I recently came across a wonderful ministry that uses Christian volunteers to tell prisoners about the word of God and how they can come to know The Lord Jesus Christ.

The organization is called 'Matthew 25:36 Ministries'. You can read more about the ministry by visiting our website, Christian Magazine Today.

To break it down a bit, the ministry uses Christian volunteers from all across the country and locally to write letters to inmates in California. These small pieces of paper could change the lives of inmates who were thought to be lost causes all because volunteers have taken the time to sit down and let God lead them to spread his word.

How can you help?

You can help by joining in 'Matthew 25:36 Ministries' or starting your own Christian volunteer group. Think about the prisoners in your community. Could they use a Christian pen pal?

To learn more about this ministry and volunteering visit our website, Christian Magazine Today.

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Happy Thanksgiving - What Are You Thankful For?

Monday, November 19, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

After the food is prepared and on the table, do you and your family talk about what you are most thankful for? I'll be honest - sometimes we do and sometimes we don't. When there are a bunch of grand kids and kids roaming around the house, it can be hard to gather them all into one room. Why?

We always meet at my parents house and their kitchen table is built for two.

Their 'table for two' is where the food is prepared and spread out when it's time to eat. Then, we gather around the table and the Thanksgiving Day food long enough to thank God for the food, then everyone grabs a plate and roams around to find a place to sit and eat. We eat in different rooms while we yell back and forth to talk. Sounds awful, doesn't it?

Actually, it is amazing.

It is how I remember it as a child too. You see, my grandmother lived in the same house before she passed away and my parents moved into it. My grandmother was such a great cook that family from all over would meet at her house every Thanksgiving and chow down.

She had so many people on Thanksgiving Day that some of the family would have to sit out on the front porch swing and eat - even when it was snowing!

It didn't matter though. It was a time to get together to spend time as a family even if it meant yelling from room to room.

So, what am I thankful for?

Small houses and the memories made in those houses. And to my family who may be reading this - I love you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Visit our website Christian Magazine Today to learn more about the holidays!

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Going to Church, Not Going to Church

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Going to church is important for Christians. Why? Church isn't just where we learn about God and the bible, but where we gather together as a church family at God's house to worship together. Believe it or not, those members of your church will be there when you need them.

They are there to laugh with and to cry with to love God with and to share in your life as Christians and they will be there to pray for you. Prayer is something that we can't do without and when more than one prayer is going up to God, the stronger you feel because you know that your church family loves you enough to pray with you and for you. Does that make sense?

Going to Church

You don't know how much you will miss not going to church until you can't go. There are people all over the world who risk their lives just to meet together to worship God and we, and by we I mean people in general, find it hard to wake up to go. 

Me for one, I love going to church. I miss it when I can't go and don't like to miss a service. But, when you have kids, you never know when you'll have to miss. 

Take the past 5 weeks. 

My youngest child has decided that he will catch everything that he can right now. Grant it - he doesn't want to catch it, but never-the-less, he is.

Let me break it down for you...

About 5 weeks ago, he came down with a sinus infection and we had to miss a Sunday service. Then, just when I thought he was getting better he started to get pneumonia. Not going to church one week didn't feel right, but 2 weeks felt like I was missing something - that feeling you get when you have been to God's house.

Then, tonight (Saturday night), he began to throw up. Yes, the stomach virus. So, no church again tomorrow. That's 3 weeks in a row.

And, guess what.

I am a Sunday school teacher. Yep, for the last 3 weeks I have had to have someone fill in for me. I know she loves it. And, because she is a member of my church family, I know she won't mind when I call her in the morning about 1 hour before she leaves to tell her we won't be there again.

Why did I tell you all of this?

So that you will remember that going to church is not only a blessing, but it is something that you may not be able to do in the future whether it is sickness or the law. Go to church while you can and enjoy your church family. You may need them one day.

May God bless you.

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Use These Christmas Bible Verses for Christmas Cards

Monday, November 12, 2012

Christmas is one of the best times of the year to spread God's word and the birth of Jesus. Even if no other time of the year, unsaved people are more likely to be open to God and the message Christmas brings.

Think about it - if you sent a card to one of your friends or relatives who doesn't want to hear about God on a random day of the year, that person will more than likely be mad and think you are trying to 'push' God on them.

Even though you are trying to share the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ with them, they will probably not see it that way. So, take the opportunity to share the Christmas story and its message with them this year.

Here are some wonderful Christmas bible verses for you to put in your Christmas cards this holiday season. If you are sending the cards to those who are already saved, you could just put the verse inside the card and they can look it up.

But if the person is unsaved, be sure to write out the Christmas bible verse or bible passage for them because unless God moves them to pick up a bible, they will more than likely not read it at all.

Christmas Bible Verses

Use all or parts of the following bible passages and verses:

Luke 2:1-20
Romans 5:6
John 3:16
Romans 5:9
Romans 5:1
Isaiah 7:14

Just a tip:

Add the verse to the card, but don't make it look like a bible verse. Write it to sound and look like you are writing them a little note. They will read through it before they realize that they have just read a portion of the bible.

Think of other creative ways to add the verses to Christmas cards. The more you can get them to read, the better!

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Broke with No Money on the Way and It's Christmas

Thursday, November 8, 2012

What happens when you hear one of your friends is broke with no money on the way and it's Christmas?

Just today, I found out that a friend of mine and my sister's is broke and has five kids and a couple of grand kids. My heart went out to them, but that isn't going to help them, now is it?

So, what do you do when you are faced with this situation?

First off, I wanted to hand her some money, but figured she would turn it down. It probably would have made things worse.

Throughout the evening, she just kept popping into my head. I went to my bedroom, where it was quiet, and turned off the lights. Then, I prayed. While I prayed, dozens of thoughts went through my mind as to how I could help.

Some of the thoughts consisted of rushing out first thing in the morning and buying some essentials like toothpaste, shampoo, bread, cheese, milk, laundry detergent, soap, deodorant, juice, and so on, but how would I have gotten these to her without her knowing it was from me?

I continued to pray. I just wanted God to say, "Hey you down there praying, this is what you are to do."

As I write this, God hasn't said that yet. But, the thought did pop into my head - gift certificate or gift card, whatever I can get.

Was this God telling me to do this or just my wanting so desperately to help?

Sometimes I think God may nudge us in a direction and see where we take it from there. I suppose that's good, if we don't mess up. But then again, messing up helps us to learn and lean on him even more.

This is the verse I keep coming back to:

Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Trust God. He will never steer you wrong.

Please pray for this family. God knows who they are.

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Tis' the Season for Giving Gifts?

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Tis' the season for giving gifts. Is that what the title says? Yes. It does, but that isn't entirely true, now is it?

As Christians, we not only think about the holiday as a time for spending with family or picking out the most thoughtful Christmas present we can find, but we also think about the birth of Christ. Which is what we should be thinking about.

More than 2000 years ago, God sent his only begotten son to earth to be born, grow into a man, and then endure the sins of the world as he died on the cross - the most loving gift of all.

So this Christmas, think about Christ giving his life because he loved us even before he knew us. Yes, he knew us before we were born, but he didn't have to die for us. He died because he loves us.

How Can We Be Like Christ?

Start by looking around you. Look at those in your community. Do you know someone who doesn't have heat? What about kids who won't have any presents? Does the child down the street go to school without a warm coat? Does the family next door have food?

Whether you know it or not, you are in a position to give just as Jesus did. Of course, we couldn't possibly come close to giving what he did, but we can pass on his love to others.

Make up your mind to pay that person's heating bill, drop off some presents to the kids who won't have any, buy that child a warm coat, or give the family next door a Christmas ham. Not only will they be blessed, so will you.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you this holiday season!

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