From the 1975 Franklin Simon Christmastime catalog. https://archive.org/details/franklin-simon-christmastime-1975

Franklin Simon & Co. was a department store chain headquartered in New York City that operated across the northeast U.S. It was founded in 1902 and closed in 1979.

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Devotional for April 29

"But thou art rich." - Revelation 2:9

REAL saints always feel themselves to be poor sinners. Many of God's people are really poor in reference to the things of time, for God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him. They are often persecuted, tried, tempted and cast down; so was the church in Smyrna; but Jesus says to her, "THOU ART RICH." So are all the Lord's people. Rich by relation--God is their Father, and Jesus their elder Brother. Rich by Donation--Jesus has bequeathed unsearchable riches to them. Rich by PROMISES--the Lord has promised all good things. Rich by FAITH--for he that believeth shall inherit all things. Rich in EXPECTATION--for they look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Believer, thou art rich; Jesus has willed to thee His righteousness, to justify thee; His blood, to cleanse thee; His Spirit to sanctify thee; His name to procure for thee; His angels to minister unto thee; and His heaven to be thy everlasting habitation. Precious Saviour! I would admire and adore Thy love! O teach me to live out of self on Thy fullness!

Top: original drawing of Johnson the cat, graphite and India ink on notepad paper, 11″ x 14″, by Chuck Jones, circa 1989. Illustration for “Chuck Amuck”, Jones’s autobiography (pg.15). 

Bottom: painted version on reproduced line, gouache and India Ink on paper, 11″ x 14″, by Chuck Jones, circa 1989.

Gospel Lk 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist, "What should we do?" He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He answered them, "Stop collecting more than what is prescribed." Soldiers also asked him, "And what is it that we should do?" He told them, "Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages." Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

Reflection