Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-December 27, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased and how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

(Philippians 4:11-12).

Paul wrote to the Philippians while in prison; if he could be content there, he could be content anywhere. The word contentment is defined as, “Happiness and satisfaction, often because you have everything you need.” The Lord doesn’t always give us what we want, but always gives us what we need.

Paul writing to Timothy instructed him, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). Being content isn’t easy, in fact, it nearly impossible without Christ. Twice Paul used the word “learned” in our text for today. We aren’t born content, we must learn to be content. I am still learning this lesson. The world bombards us with advertisements on the latest, greatest things. In 1976, the typical grocery store stocked some 9,000 items, now it more than 30,000!

To be victoriously content in Christ, we must be thankful with what we have, give to others in need, and have few wants. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” How content are you? The Bible is our “content-meter.” Paul learned to be content with much or with little. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”

Have a blessed day being content with what you have and thankful for things both great and small. Stay safe and healthy.

When we have Jesus we have all we need to be happy; without Him nothing we have is ever enough,

Dean

-December 26, 2026-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

(Romans 8:28).

God has a plan for our lives: to conform us to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. Nothing is perfect in this broken, sinful world. How do we stay positive and not be frustrated by circumstances outside our control? Today’s verse provides the best solution for us on a daily basis.

The word frustrated is defined as, “the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something.” We become frustrated at major and minor delays, cancellations, broken parts, spills, computer glitches, car breakdowns, and many other things. These typically spoil our mood and our ruin our day.

Someone once said, “Sometimes, all it takes is a minor inconvenience to ruin your whole day. It has been revealed that the most stressful time of the day is 7:23 am. On average people will experience three dramas each day, with the first drama of the day typically happening at 8:18 am. These stressful situations could be anything from being stuck in traffic or waking up late, to spilling things on clothing, or tripping in public which are also likely to make people feel foul.”

Often it is the little things that trip us up. Song of Solomon 2:15 says, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.” We get frustrated when things don’t go as planned or desired. We feel helpless. It doesn’t have to be nor should it be that way for us as believers in Christ.

God is in control, He is with us and for us, and He will never leave us nor forsake us. According to our text, “All things work together for good to those who love God.” It is a promise we can claim as long as we love God and are called according to His purpose. God will bring good from the bad. God uses people and circumstances to teach us patience, faith, and trust. The old expression is so true, you can’t cry over spilled milk.” We just have to clean it up!

When God allows it, it is for my good; there is a reason and purpose for everything. Sometimes it is God sparing us from something worse. His grace is sufficient, His love is abundant, and His care is magnificent. My day is just getting started and I don’t know what I will encounter today, but the Lord does. He already knows and has provision for it. Let us be thankful for everything and in everything. We can overcome anything when we thank Him for everything.

Have a blessed day under God’s plan and according to His will. Stay safe and healthy.

Not living by the “what ifs” but by the “God wills,”

Dean

-December 25, 2023-

Good morning beloved, Merry Christmas,

“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”

(Revelation 1:8)

The birth of our Lord Jesus changed the world forever. When He grew up and began His earthly ministry. Jesus called Himself the Son of Man, the Bread of Life, the Light of the world. When He gave the Revelation to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos, He introduced Himself as “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

Alpha and Omega is defined as, “the beginning and the ending; the principal element.” Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek language. Jesus has many names and titles, and Alpha and Omega is one of the most beautiful and powerful. At the end of the book of Revelation, our Lord said, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Jesus is the eternal Son of God who is coming back to take us home to heaven. Revelation 22:20 says, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Genesis is the book of beginnings and Revelation is the book of the endings. Our Lord is everything to us, He our all and all. He is with us at the beginning of the day, throughout the day, and at the end of the day. He never leaves nor forsakes us, nor does He slumber or sleep.

As we remember and celebrate our Savior’s birth today, let us also reflect on His life, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and coming again. He is seated at the right hand of God in glory. He is from the beginning and lives and reigns forever. Have a Merry Christmas! Stay safe and healthy.

Praising our Alpha and Omega for who He is, the same yesterday, today, and forever,

Dean

-December 24, 2023-

Good morning beloved, Happy Lord’s Day, happy Christmas Eve,

“And when they had come into the house they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, myrrh.”

(Matthew 2:11).

The story of the Wisemen or Magi is beautiful and touching. We know very little about these men other than they came from the East in search of the newborn King. They were likely learned, intelligent, wealthy men of renown, students of science, and astronomy.

They followed a special star and ended up in Jerusalem. Everything about them, their journey, their gifts, and most of all their worship of Jesus was very special. When they were told the Child would be in Bethlehem, off they went to see Him. The same star led them to Jesus. “They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. “

As soon as they saw Jesus they fell down and worshiped Him. They must have been overwhelmed with awe. They opened their treasures and presented gifts to Christ our Savior. There were three special gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Many have surmised that there were three wisemen, though we don’t their exact number.

Gold symbolizes Christ’s deity – He was perfect God. John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). He was perfect, sinless, blameless, holy, and undefiled.

Frankincense symbolizes Christ’s humanity. Not only was He perfect God but He was also perfect man. He was full of love, compassion, mercy, and kindness. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Myrrh symbolizes Christ’s sufferings. Isaiah called Him the Man of Sorrows who was acquainted with grief. He suffered spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally on the cross bearing our sins. Hebrews 2:10 tells us, “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

These wisemen brought their best gifts as ordained by God and presented them to Jesus. What gifts can we bring to our Savior today? We can give Him our hearts, our lives, our worship, our praise, and our thanksgiving. He deserves it all! The hymn writer Issac Watts appropriately wrote, “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my my heart, my my life, my all.”

Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas Eve seeking Jesus in the midst of the crowds, festivities, and events. He is what Christmas is all about; He is the reason for the season. Stay safe and healthy.

Proclaiming His worth in His glorious birth,

Dean

-December 23, 2023-

Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which be for all the people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

(Luke 2:10-11).

The angels were sent on their mission from God to announce the birth of Christ to the shepherds. We don’t know how many angels there were, but we do know there was one angel who spoke and a multitude of them joined in praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men’” (Luke 2:14).

There could be no greater joy than the birth of Christ our Savior. The announcement was clear, informative, and encouraging to the shepherds and to the whole world. The message is Christmas is one of peace and joy. Angels are messengers as they know how to deliver God’s messages to mankind. The world will never be the same again.

Wise men brought gifts; shepherds brought wonder; and angels brought singing. They all played their part in the Christmas story. But Jesus was and is the focal point; He is the reason for the season. The Jews waited hundreds of years for Messiah to come, but so many rejected Him. They believe Messiah is still coming the first time.

Let us not lose sight of Christ in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season. The Christmas lights, Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and Christmas gifts are all wonderful, but the best part of Christmas is Christ. He gives meaning to life.

Have blessed day preparing for Christmas. Stay safe and healthy.

When we look to King, we then lift our voices to sing,

Dean