Sunday, December 7, 2025

84 years since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor

Matthew 5:11 (NLT) – “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

Message: I am going out on a limb here!  If you have read my previous Advent missives, they always seem to have been written in the middle of some crisis.

2020 was about election turmoil, version 1.0, and about the wait for a COVID vaccine.

2023 was about the October 7 massacre in Israel which had just happened as I was writing.

2024 featured Hurricane Milton thrashing us as I penned my devotional on October 10.

2025? I write this edition on October 11, the day after a ceasefire went into effect in Gaza and, hopefully, a day or so before the hostages are released and the prisoner’s exchanged.

Out on a limb am I, as I pray that, this time, things will work out, and Peace will break out in the Middle East.  By the time you are reading this, you will know much more than I do now.  

The Star that led the wise men to Jerusalem was in the East.  Jesus’ life and teachings created much divisiveness, yet also many truly wonderful things have been accomplished by His followers.

Israel and her population have endured increasing persecution in the last few years with the largest increases in anti-Semitism coming from our country and many of the “First World” countries in Europe.

Jews and Muslims have been persecuted, as have our Christian brethren in other parts of the world.  I believe that all persecution is wrong in God’s eyes!"

I pray that in the coming months, when this missive is published, that my prayers will have come true!  In any case, it is incumbent on us to lead our lives in ways that reduce divisiveness and derision in our places of worship, our homes, our schools, our work places and our streets.  If you consider that you are a child of God, then you are my brother or sister!  Let’s love each other and all God’s children!

Prayer: Father God, bring us together in peace and kindness toward all of Your peoples.  While it has been an unanswered prayer for so long, make Peace be so this time!  Amen. 

Bob Showalter

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