Grandmother

Kathie Hilton — Tue, 11 Dec 2001 08:50:00 +0000

Luke 2:11-12 – Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (NIV)

When I became a grandmother for the first time, my husband and I went to visit the new baby and the young family in the hospital. As I held my grandchild for the first time, my heart was filled with love for this new, perfect, little child. What a miracle is new birth! Babies have such tiny fingernails and eyelashes, all perfectly formed.

Approximately 2000 years ago, another new baby came into this world. Did his mother wonder over the perfection of that new life? Did she gaze in awe at the beauty of that new baby on Christmas? How amazing it is that our incredible God became a tiny baby! It is no wonder that the angels sang!

And yet there is so much more to this story. This tiny baby, whom we celebrate, and rightly so, became our saviour by dying on the cross. He laid down His perfect life to save our imperfect ones. This Christmas, let us remember to share the whole story. Let us dwell on the wonder of such a gift of love.

Prayer: Thank you, God our Father, that Jesus was pierced for our transgressions and was crushed for our iniquities. Thank you that the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Amen. (Isaiah 53:5)

Ask, And It Will Be Given

Kathie Hilton — Wed, 10 Oct 2001 08:50:00 +0000

The other day I was admiring the beauty of a cottonwood tree. It was a sunny day, and the leaves were shining like little mirrors, flashing in the soft breeze. I thought of the wonder of a tree, the organization and structure, from the tiny root cells that absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil, to the xylem and phloem that carry that fluid to the leaves. I thought of the little manufacturing plant inside each leaf that uses light from the sun to make sugars and starches which become food for the tree. I thought of how the xylem and phloem, when their day is done, become tough fibres to lend tensile strength and resilience to the trunk. I thought of how many different shapes trees grow in, how many different shades of green, how many different colours of bark. How wonderful is our God! He thought this up, planned it to perfection, created it out of nothing. He did not copy something seen elsewhere, nor did someone else give directions. Before a tree existed He thought it in complete detail.

Why then, I wondered, do I doubt that God will give me the wisdom I need for the little problems I face every day? Surely He has the wisdom needed. He has promised in His word to give us the wisdom we need.

James 1:5-6 – If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (NIV)

How glorious is our God!

Prayer: Forgive us, Lord, when we doubt. Grant us Your wisdom that we might lead lives worthy of being called by Your name. Amen.

Kathie Hilton – PresbyCan Daily Devotional

Grandmother

Ask, And It Will Be Given