The Gift That Keeps On Giving!

Matthew 2:11  "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 had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

Gold, frankincense, myrrh!!  That's valuable stuff!  All I got were some socks, a bag of t-shirts and a 3-in-one ratchet wrench. 

The wise men of Matthew 2:1-12 brought gifts that were truly fit for a King and their presentation was an act of worship.  These gifts represented the finest their cultures had to offer.  Their lengthy journey displayed great respect and admiration for this God-child.

My gifts? Oh, they came from people who love me and care about who I am.  Their monetary value may not be great, but their "heart" value is priceless.  Sadly, we too often judge the amount of someone's love for us by the size and value of the gifts we receive from them.  Jesus became God's present to humanity only to endure the pain of death so that we may accept His crimson-wrapped package of life everlasting.

That's one gift I plan to keep...you can have the ratchet wrench!

Merry Christmas to All!

Unwrap This Present

Luke 2:8-20

Arriving in Bethlehem some time prior to the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph sought rest from the difficult 80 mile journey.  Having completed their role in the census, they came to the fulfillment of another honor placed upon them - the birth of Jesus!  News of this blessed event traveled on angel's wings to shepherds, who would overcome their initial fear of the majestic, heavenly beings and would hurry to Bethlehem to pay homage to the new-born baby lying in a manger.  These men of the flock would leave this hallowed spot filled with excitement and eager to share the precious story with all who would listen.

To the shepherds the birth of Jesus would become personal.  For many today it is just another story in an all-to-fanciful tale designed to excite the children, drain the wallet and exhaust the senses.  But let me assure you of one thing...the story is true!  Jesus was born; He did live in sinless perfection on this earth; He did die for our sins and will one day come again to receive all who have believed in Him.  As you unwrap your presents this Christmas season, don't forget to take the blankets from this Baby, wrap Him in royalty, place a crown of victory upon His head, and proclaim Him Savior, King and Lord of your life.

Merry Christmas to All!

Leap For Joy

During the early stages of her pregnancy, Mary visits with her relative, Elizabeth.  Upon hearing the news concerning Mary's baby, the child in Elizabeth's womb leaps within her.  Mary's discourse, found in Luke 1:39-56, flows from an overwhelming combination of joy and unworthiness.  She expresses her total trust in God and the intimate desire to be his servant.  Her extended stay with Elizabeth would doubtless be one of inspiration and learning, as she realized the magnitude of the gift and responsibility given to her.

As we approach the virginal pages of another year, may we all understand that each day will bring its own surprises and opportunities.  Hasten to find wise counsel, kneel to secure blessed assurance, then go forth under Divine inspiration to meet those challenges as a confident servant of the living Lord.  Remember Mary's words in verse 49, "For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name."

Merry Christmas to all!

Divine Intervention

Matthew 1:19, 20  -  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Imagine Joseph and Mary living in modern day America.  Engaged but unwed, she tells him she is pregnant.  Joseph, being a man of integrity, finds himself in a real dilemma.  "I know our culture has come to accept this kind of situation," he says, "but this child is not mine.  How could she do this to me?!" 

While Joseph ponders the situation, wise counsel is given to him.  His thoughts and attitude change; he comes to realize that Divinity is somehow still in control of his life.  The child is born...and God smiles.

No, there are no virgin births today.  The marvelous advances in science still have not figured out how to accomplish that feat.  It still takes the productivity of man and woman to produce human life.  But Jesus is different for a great reason.  Anything made totally by man can be destroyed by man.  The Holy Spirit's intervention in Mary's womb opened man's pathway to eternity by producing life that could never be destroyed...life that you and I can receive when this Jesus becomes more than just a baby; peace that will come when He is conceived in our hearts.  Invite Him into your life today.

Leftovers?

Well, what do we have to eat this week?  Oh, sure – turkey hash, turkey sandwiches, turkey in the gravy …and more.  It was all so good last week, but how soon we get tired of the same stuff.  That’s when mom’s adventurous and skilful knowledge of what to do with leftovers comes in handy.  And she even makes it tasty! 

Too often we treat God’s great adventure that way.  We’ve heard it time and time again, the same stories over and over.  After all, how many different ways can you dress up an angel, some shepherds and a few wise men?  And that sheep and donkey could sure use some re-stuffing.

Maybe we need to become adventuresome and even a little courageous in our depiction of the Jesus story this year.  If He is truly real in our hearts, let’s make Him come alive as we perform the greatest story ever told.  He is still our main course – not just some refrigerated leftovers! 

Luke 2:10-11  “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

The Feast

Turkey and ham, stuffing and yams, mashed potatoes and hot, buttered rolls;
White rice and gravy, green beens with bacon, and sweet tea that's fresh and so cold.
Don't forget the chicken all fried up and crispy, with deviled eggs whipped up just right;
Save room there somewhere for mom's special creation, a slice of her fresh pecan pie.

The family's all gathered 'round the big eatin' table, the babies strapped tight in their place.
We're ready to dig in, when Papa says, "Hold on, let's not be forgettin' His Grace."
With heads bowed in silence, fresh smells all around us, sweet peace chased away all our fears;
In that precious moment God's love fell down on us, Papa's words rang out loud and clear;

"It's 'cause of Your love Lord, Your mercy and goodness that we all can live in this world.
Bless Mama and Jason, Kevin and Raegan, three grandsons and one little girl;
May we all remain healthy and spiritually wealthy as we feast on Your bounty and love.
May our everyday living be a special Thanksgiving to our Father in Heaven above."

From Original Free Will Baptist Headquarters. . .Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!

Lord, Have At It!

Gospel singer and songwriter Dr. Jerry Goff has given us many great songs.  The chorus to one of my favorites says:

I am blessed, I am blessed, every day that I live I am blessed.
When I wake up in the morning 'til I lay my head to rest
I am blessed, I am blessed.

What a great attitude to have all day long  -  the attitude of gratitude!  My blessings are not caused by my circumstances...my blessing is in the fact that I'm alive and, with God's help I can enjoy, learn from, improve, or navigate my circumstances.  The Captain of my ship knows His way through the events of my day.  All I have to do is trust His ability and follow His leading.

Dr. Goff also recorded the similar thoughts of another writer in this chorus:

Good morning, Lord!  It's nice to see you once again.
Good morning, Lord!  It's good to know you are my friend.
Every step I take today, you will guide me all the way,
And so I'll say, Good morning, Lord!

So, here's my day, Lord.  Have at it!

Psalm 146:5  "Happy is he...whose hope is in the Lord his God."

How to See God

Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God

I recently attended an awesome celebration service for a young minister who had graduated to his Heavenly home.  Verbal pictures of his life, legacy, laughter and love were well painted by those who spoke.  One used the Matthew 5 passage we know as the "Beatitudes" to remind us of God's overwhelming love for his children, and to describe the true pastor's heart inside this Kingdom servant.

Applying this passage to our life, we find that an honest heart, a humble spirit, a hunger for righteousness, and a heavenly zest for life will certainly lead us to "see God", and will cause others to see God in us. 

As we approach the traditional season of Thanksgiving, may we all understand just how blessed we really are.

The Quilt

Thank You, Lord, For Covering Me With Your Love!

Thank You, Lord, for being my safe place to fall; my place to find shelter, peace, strength, safety, comfort, and so much more.  My memory goes back to childhood winters when my youngest brother and I were still small enough to share a bed.  Every year Mama would put one of her old hand-made quilts on our bed.  Those quilts are engrained in my memory; the comfort and warmth they provided, the family heritage they represented, and the simple feeling of being cozy and cared for.  My brother and I would sit up in bed (when we were supposed to be going to sleep) and we'd look at the different scraps of old fabric in those quilt squares.  We'd pick out our "favorites" -  certain colors or textures that were special to us.  I remember a piece of dark green corduroy- it was soft and warm and comforting.  Those quilts remind me of You, Lord; with each piece representing something You so lovingly provide - warmth, security, a family heritage, rest and peace.  Thank You for being my "quilt" and for covering me with Your love!

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Hey, Let's Go Fishing!

The fifth chapter of Luke's gospel opens with Peter and his partners, James and John, cleaning their nets after a totally fruitless night of fishing.  After using Peter's boat for a pulpit, Jesus tells him to row out into deeper waters and cast his nets again. 

I'm sure that tucked between the lines of Scripture, Peter offers some candid comments to Jesus like, "Man, I'm tired, hungry, sleepy...I just want to go home, eat some breakfast and go to bed!"  But he recognizes the Lordship of Christ and says, "O.K., Lord.  Because you say so, we will go."  The miraculous results would leave several nets ripped open and two boats sinking because of the great amount of fish that were caught.  But the greatest moment in the story comes when Peter recognizes his own sinfulness compared to the holiness of Jesus.  He, along with James and John, were now ready to learn how to fish. . .for the souls of men!

By the way, what turned the long, dark unsuccesful night into a fisherman's dream?  The same thing that turns our empty lives into powerful testimonies. . .Jesus got in the boat!  Have you let him into your life?

I Choose. . .Attitude

Well, the rain has stopped for now.  The sun is trying to make its presence known and the temperature is very comfortable. It is turning out to be a beautiful morning!  I need only one more thing to make this a nice fall day. . .a good attitude!

There are many things in life that I cannot control, like the weather, traffic, the thoughts and actions of others.  But I can control how I respond to the events of my day.  By simply remembering the awesome goodness of God, meditating on His many promises, and acknowledging the presence and control of His Holy Spirit, I can relax and know that my Heavenly Father cares for me.  And if He can love me through some of my toughest days, I guess I can love others, even when their day gets in my way.  So, for now, that's what I choose to do. . .with His help.

An Eternal Voyage

"In Fourteen Hundred and Ninety Two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue."  On October 12th of that year, the voyage that would forever change the world ended on the shore of the Americas.  Through the vastness of earth's ocean waters a small group of adventurers had come to begin a new life and in so doing would place their eternal mark on man's history.

Do you remember the time when your life changed...the day, the hour when you discovered the greatness of God's unsinkable love?  Has His arrival into your heart made a change in your life?  As the settlers bowed to give thanks for safe passage to their promise land, may each of us pause to offer praise to Him who provides life abundantly now and a precious promise of eternal blessings. 

Learning to Lean

  

All too often our lives are blown off track by the winds of circumstance.  Standing alone is at best very difficult and very scary.  When faced with such hardships we struggle to fight our way through, only to find ourselves wearied by the effort.  We just need more "umph" in our steps.  The gospel chorus used for our title says:

Learning to lean, learning to lean, learning to lean on Jesus.
FINDING MORE POWER than I ever need, I'm learning to lean on Jesus.

He is our strength in the wind-blown storms of life.

II Timothy 1:7 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

High Definition

Ephesians 1:18  -  "I  pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called--his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I finally got the family TV's hooked up for HD service last week.  It's amazing how clear a picture can be when all of the "fuzzys" are removed.  Of course, someone with the right knowledge and equipment had to make the necessary adjustments to the home system...and it has to be paid for.  But the difference is worth the expense.

It's kind of like our relationship with God.  He has all the right knowledge (His Word) and equipment (the Holy Spirit) to eliminate the eternal effects of those sinful "fuzzys" that cause us to lose focus on life.  And the best part is that the cost of these spiritual upgrades has already been paid by Jesus Christ.

Why not renew your subscription with God today.  You'll be truly amazed at how sharp, clear and spiritually rich your life will become.

Simple Things

Today brought many things that caused pleasure.  Experiences included the beauty of a sunrise, children's laughter, the smell of bacon frying, a genuine love-hug, and the firm handshake of a friend.  Projects completed, deadlines met, a smile from the boss, and a full tank of gas provided a peaceful feeling of productivity.  At day's end there was a comfortable home, food on the table, another love-hug, those same children trading smiles with overnight angels, and a cool pillow for my head. 

God, help me to always remember that the simple things in life possess the most meaning, and that You are the Lord of it all.

I Thessalonians 5:18  -  "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

What Am I Worth?

To God...everything!  Instead of trying to prove your worth to yourself and others, remember that God's glory shines through you because He has made you in His image.  Be confident in the fact that you are valuable simply because you are God's child.

Matthew 5:14 says in part,  "You are the light of the world..."  Without God's love light shining through you, the world would be in perpetual darkness.  Thus, your worth is immeasurable

God's Consistency

As the playfulness of summer returns to the reality of everyday life, we are reminded of the consistency of God...always there, never unattentive, constantly listening for the sound of His children.  More certain than a mother's love for her baby is the assurance of God's abiding presence.  He smiles in our moments of joy, He embraces in our times of difficulty, and He gives strength when our load becomes heavy.  God is in tune with every moment of our lives and His song is one of joy and peace.  May our lives be filled with the knowledge of His promise, "...I am come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b).   

Try Again

I sat in church last Sunday listening to Sally play before the service.  Her song was an old Cathedral Quartet song, "Even Winds Whisper His Name."   I tried to imagine the voice of God coming to us as a "mighty rushing wind", or a "still small voice." Sometimes He wishes to get our attention with His power; at other times He simply wants to display His love with tenderness.  Our closing hymn for the day reminded me to share the spark of God's love that dwells inside until it warms the hearts of those around me.  Sadly, I admit that many times my spark fades before the warmth is felt.  I'm glad, though, that God's voice is always there to remind me to try again.

Sometimes...

Galations 6:2- Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Sometimes we have no idea how much pain is being camouflaged by a smile.  Sometimes we have no way of knowing that the bubbly 'people person' might truly be the loneliest person in the room.  Sometimes the person who tries so hard to make others smile or laugh is the one who aches for someone to hold them while they cry.  Sometimes the one who is always ready to be a cheerleader & an encourager for others, has fears & insecurities themselves that they are ashamed to admit for fear of being seen as weak or lacking in faith. 

 

Sometimes we need to be more observant, more attentive, more perceptive, more sensitive, & less judgmental, less rushed, less self-absorbed... so the people who need us will know they can call on us, lean on us, trust us, & count on us. 

 

A Chuckle From God

I had an interesting thought the other day & got tickled at myself! The verse in the Bible came to mind where it says: "Speak those things which are not as though they are," so, I started thinking: "My house is clean, my house is clean!" Then another verse immediately popped into my head: "Faith without works is dead." So, I decided if my house was going to be clean I had to get up & put my faith (& me) to work! Of course I knew that all along; I think God was just sending me a chuckle for the day.
This morning as I think more on this incident I'm made aware of just how often we want to use God's word to fulfill OUR own purposes & desires; we sometimes forget that it is ultimately HIS purpose that matters. Matthew 6:33 says to 'seek HIM & HIS righteousness first, then all other things shall be added.'

I am so thankful that God has put much of His Word in my heart so that I may call on Him for comfort in every situation. Some days it may be comfort for pain, loss, loneliness, or so many other things; or, like last week for me- just for a smile & a giggle! Thank you, Lord!