The Deano Graham Show

On August 22, 1741, George Frideric Handel started composing an oratorio. He would not leave his home for three weeks. In fact, he rarely left his composing chair. Twenty-four days later, Handel emerged from his writing room with a 259-page masterpiece called “Messiah”. The opening act prophetically points to the coming Messiah.

“Messiah” debut as an Easter offering at the Great Music Hall in Dublin, Ireland, on April 13, 1742. The music mesmerized its listeners, but it accomplished so much more than that. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a benefit concert.

That inaugural performance raised £400—$86,000 in today’s dollars! And that £400 was used to free 142 men from debtors’ prison. That is what qualifies Messiah as a double blessing. The first blessing is beautiful music that inspires the soul. The second blessing? Setting 142 captives free!

Blessing others gives encouragement to others to continue to walk with Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can bless others for Christ’s glory.

 “Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.”   Genesis 27:4

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You fight darkness with light. You fight hatred with love. You fight unkindness with kindness. You don’t let evil overcome you. You overcome evil with good.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NIV).

That’s tough to do. But it gets even tougher: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44 NIV).

Jesus gave us the greatest example of responding in love and praying for enemies. When you follow his example, you’re going to stand out in a world where everyone thinks of themselves first.

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Sometimes...God is wanting to do something "new" and yet we're still stuck in the "old." It's hard at times. To let go. Of what's familiar, and what we know. It seems easier to stay "comfortable," to just keep going with the flow, not to mess anything up. But then "new" happens, and often sends us spiraling, on one big, long loop.

Isaiah 43:18-19  Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

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When you put your life in his hands, it doesn’t mean you’ll never goof up again. You’ll still make bad decisions. You’ll still mess up. But God can fit it all into his plans.

There is no plan B for your life. God knew all the mistakes you’d make before you were born. He also knew he’d fit those mistakes into his plan.

That means you can relax. You can stop being anxious. You can move into the new year trusting God’s grace is active your life.

Do your best with what God has given you. God will work everything into his plan.

Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose” (GNT).

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How do you want God to use you? What ways can you use your talents in view of eternity? That means spending your time on earth preparing for your time in heaven.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “Use every part of your body to give glory back to God” (TLB).

Don’t waste your time on what you can’t take with you. Instead, spend your time developing your serving skills and building your character to be more like Jesus.

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Matthew 22:39
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbouras thyself.

We are called to love others, but you cannot stop there – we are to love others in the same way we love ourselves. Loving our neighbor will not always be easy because our neighbors are imperfect people, as are we. God is the connector that loves through us. We love because He has first loved us.

“We love because He has first loved us”.  1 John 4:19

“So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways”.  John 13:34

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This Christmas give the gift of your time.

Time is your most precious commodity because your time is your life. You only have a certain amount of it. God has already decided the number of days you are going to live. And you’re not going to get any more.

You can always get more money, but you cannot get more time. So, when you give someone your time, you are giving that person a portion of your life that you will never get back. That’s why it’s a priceless gift.

“We must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words.”
1 John 3:18 (God's Word)

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Do the right thing in everything you do. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is our model for integrity and seek to follow Him in all your ways.

 "Real integrity stays in place whether the test is adversity or prosperity." - Charles Swindoll

 “They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.”   Matthew 22:16

Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” – Oprah Winfrey

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As Christmas edges ever closer, let us remember the importance of  joy.  While we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we too await another awakening: the Lord’s second coming. We continue to fight through the pangs and groaning of a world which continually gives birth to sin. But, in this season, let us remember the Incarnation with as much joy as did those first witnesses.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”   Luke 2:10-11

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The Good News of great joy proclaimed by the angel over 2,000 years ago is still Good News and still a source of everlasting joy.

The angel said: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”  (Luke 2:10-12 NIV).

Regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the pandemic, you can still celebrate this Christmas with great joy!

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