The scripture for today, December 25 is Proverbs 12:25 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:          “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”

God, you are the potter; I am mere clay for you to form exactly what you have in mind just as you did long ago in Eden.  You are the cleanser; I am the one with murky sins that need washing away, just as you did on the cross that day long ago.  You have the Master Plan of the universe; I am the one stumbling through life not quite understanding which way to go. You are the compass; I gladly cling to you as you take me one step at a time safely Home.

You were in that grave, your body still and lifeless. The soldiers outside paced with their weapons and dared anyone to take that body away. Your followers hid and prayed that no one would disturb the fleshly form of the one they had lived with and loved those three years. Both worried in vain. Like a lightning flash, you re-entered that body and showed yourself triumphant over Satan and over Death. Everything was under your control as it always is.    Thank you for being strong for me.  You who were born to die.