Daily Thoughts about God Posts

by John Grant
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“And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.� Luke 2:7

She opened her gates to the public today for the last time, to be replaced for a bigger, newer facility next door. Yankee Stadium has hosted nearly seven thousand Yankee games since opening in 1923. In addition, she was the venue for a major football team, host site of some of the most famous boxing matches in history and the site of three Papal visits. Yankee Stadium is indeed America’s most famous venue.

She got her nickname “The House That Ruth Built� from the iconic Babe Ruth who hit Yankee Stadium’s very first home run and went on to be one of baseball’s greatest players of the game.

As I sat behind home plate one night last week, I could only think of the history of this incredible place, both the players on the field and the thousands upon thousands who have sat in the stands. In this stadium, the “Bronx Bombers� have won more World Series championships than any other team. When I was a kid, the men in pinstripes were my heroes.

As I watched the crowd cheer for the winning home team, I could not help but think of another house build by another babe…… the baby in a Bethlehem manger more than two millenniums ago. That baby grew up to be the savior of the world.

As an adult, Jesus said “”And I say to thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18. Though centuries have passed, the message is the same… Jesus came into the world to save sinners and to establish his church… a church that will not wear out or get outdated… one that will stand forever, one that need never be replaced.

Though structures build by man ultimately fade away, the church built upon the rock of the baby in Bethlehem stands today as the one true access to God through His son Jesus Christ.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and-look – all things have become new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
(a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/09/29/jg_the-house/

Thoughts by All thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

by Max Lucado
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You live one final breath from your own funeral.

Which, from God’s perspective, is nothing to grieve. He responds to these grave facts with this great news: “The day you die is better than the day you are born� (Ecclesiastes 7:1). Now there is a twist. Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor delivery-room doors. “He’ll be coming through any minute!� They can’t wait to see the new arrival. While we’re driving hearses and wearing black, they’re hanging pink and blue streamers and passing out cigars. We don’t grieve when babies enter the world. The hosts of heaven don’t weep when we leave it.

Oh, but many of us weep at the thought of death. Do you? Do you dread your death? And is your dread of death robbing your joy of life?

Jesus came to “deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying� (Hebrews 2:15).

Your death may surprise you and sadden others, but heaven knows no untimely death: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed� (Psalm 139:16).

Dread of death ends when you know heaven is your true home. In all my air travels I’ve never seen one passenger weep when the plane landed. Never. No one clings to the armrests and begs, “Don’t make me leave. Don’t make me leave. Let me stay and eat more peanuts.� We’re willing to exit because the plane has no permanent mailing address. Nor does this world. “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior� (Philippians 3:20).

Why don’t you do this: give God your death. Imagine your last breath, envision your final minutes, and offer them to him. Deliberately. Regularly. “Lord, I receive your work on the cross and in your resurrection. I entrust you with my departure from earth.� With Christ as your friend and heaven as your home, the day of death becomes sweeter than the day of birth.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/09/28/ml_death-becomes-birth/

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Max Lucado
From: Come Thirsty
 (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2004) Max Lucado
Used by permission
To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://www.maxlucado.com/about/

Thoughts by All thoughts by Max Lucado Thoughts by Men