Yes, We Can Celebrate Christmas All Year!

What can we do to celebrate Christmas all year?

Consider these verses:

   "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old is gone. The new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us -- We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God"(2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

That's the answer! We must do His work! He has given us the ministry -- continuing the work He began!

Biblical reconciliation is the process of two previously alienated parties coming to peace with each other. Because God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, we can reconcile with each other, and show others how to be reconciled to Him!

He no longer counts our offenses against us, and we no longer count the offenses of others against us.

That's how we can keep celebrating Christmas all year --- we act as ambassadors for Him -- doing His work and bringing the world back to Him! That's why He came and that's why we are here!

Christmas - Someone we usually overlook - Anna

Someone We Usually Overlook - Anna

In Luke's narrative of Christ's birth, he gives only 3 verses to a little (I imagine her as little - Luke does not say) old (he does tell us she was old - maybe 84, but possibly the text could mean she was 104 or so) woman named Anna.

Anna was a prophetess and had been a widow many years. She spent her time in the Temple, praying and fasting.

She was an insignificant figure. She could have been left out of the story, as Matthew and Mark left her out, and none of the essential facts would have changed.

But when we read about her we see that she was truly an extraordinary person, and probably more than anyone else in the story, she understood what was happening. She recognized the full significance of the amazing birth of that special Child.

She was in the temple when Mary and Joseph brought their first-born Son to be dedicated to God, as directed by the Law.

Look at Luke's words about her:

"...she never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:36-38).

What did she understand that others might have missed?

 She knew that that little baby was the promised redeemer of Israel, and she announced His birth to all in Jerusalem, who, like herself, looked for that redemption.

This is all so remarkable. She understood that Jesus came to enter the marketplace (this world) to buy back, redeem, from the bondage of sin, His people. He was the long awaited Messiah.

He was not a zealot or a political leader. He was not going to lead a revolt against the Romans.

He was going to redeem His people from their slavery to sin.

Anna was waiting for this moment to come. Waiting for the One who one day would pay the price of our redemption.

 "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" was likely her daily morning prayer.

And this is the heart of Christmas -- not the lowly stable, beautiful as it is. Not the shepherds, as inspiring as they are. But the fact of the Incarnation-- Christ entering human history to be the Redeemer.

It's all about John 3:16.

She was not the only one. Luke says there were others "looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."

And she knew who they were. She knew who to give the good news to.

She apparently got to know people as they came into the temple.She knew their deep spiritual longings. And so she knew who to share her news with.


I picture her: old and tiny, eagerly rushing up to people, perhaps grabbing their hands, whispering in awe-full words, "He has come! He is here - now! Emmanuel."

Did the these faithful Jews discuss the coming of the Messiah often when they came to the temple?  

Did they get discouraged sometimes and think He never would come? Where was the promise of His coming? Did the degrading daily affairs of life in that culture depress them? Did they often pray, as we do, "Even so come quickly!"

In James Montgomery Boice's comments on Anna, he reminds us that the life of Jesus begins and ends with the Great Commission-- Anna, like the shepherds,  goes out and tells people who Christ is -- and at the end of Christ's earthly journey, He tells His disciples to "go into all the world and preach the gospel."

It's all about John 3:16-17.

I want to be like Anna. I want to know people around me who look for His coming! I want to be surrounded by them. I want to share my longing and my impatience with them. Where is the promise of His coming?

And then I want to work with them and spread the message to everyone else...

Yes, I want to be like Anna - open eyes and heart to see God's presence and open mouth to proclaim His glorious message!

Like Anna.


P.S. Wouldn't it be great if we had some sort of special sign or greeting? Like in the Tribulation when the ones who belong to Christ have a special mark?

The Jews had one--sort of a code.  It  was "next year in Jerusalem." That greeting reminded them who they were as a people and what they had to look forward to, no matter how bad the current conditions were, they would greet each other with that. Even in the concentration camps, they often spoke softly to one another, "Next year in Jerusalem." That hope bonded them into one family.

And the Scots had one -- it was a special sign they gave when drinking (and they drink a lot it appears!)...it was passing their hand beneath and over the glass or mug - and it signified that their Bonnie Prince Charlie was hiding in France until he came back to take the throne - he was presently "over the water" (across the English channel) but would return and until then they saluted each other with the words and sign, "over the water."

I think we need a special sign or greeting. Come to think of it, we do. It's "Maranatha!" (The word means "O come, Lord.") It appears the early Christians used that word (as well as a symbol for a fish) to mark themselves as belonging to Christ.

In fact, as I think about it now, we used to do that when I was a teenager...call out "Maranatha!" to our friends - even in Hawaii -- not "aloha" but "Maranatha!"

So, Maranatha!

P.P.S. John 3:16 -- For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him might have everlasting life.

Are you one of the "whosoevers"? This is a great time of the year
to make that happen.....if you want to, feel free to email me at
gloart2@yahoo.com....

When Does Christmas End?

 

                                                       When Does Christmas End?

Reminding myself of an old Christmas carol/hymn (almost 200 years old) --

"As with gladness men of old, did the guiding star behold; as with joy they hailed its light; leading onward beaming bright. So, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led to Thee."

That's the first verse.

Reminding me that the Christmas story did not end 2000 years ago -- it continues today as we follow His light that leads us right to Him.

As we say, 'Wise men still seek Him.'

And the last verse is wonderful, too. "Holy Jesus, every day, keep  us in the narrow way. And when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last, where they need no star to guide, where no clouds Thy glory hides."

Don't you just love this idea? We no longer need a star to guide us now and we won't when our earthly life is over --  We have His Holy Spirit to bring us home to be with Him forever!

We'll see Him in all His glory and bow in worship just as the wise men did.

And we'll thank Him throughout eternity  for Christmas!

              'Twas grace that brought me safe this far, and grace will lead me home!

Christmas - Charles Spurgeon

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

 and shall call his name Immanuel.

-- Isaiah 7:14

     Let us today go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him and can sing, "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6).

     Jesus is God incarnate, our Lord and our Savior, and yet our Brother and our Friend; let us adore and admire Him.

     Let us notice at the very first glance His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a son.

     The first promise [Genesis 3:15] concerned the seed of a woman, not the offspring of a man.

     Since venturesome woman led the way in the sin that resulted in paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Redeemer of Paradise.

     Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope the glory.

     Do not fail to note His humble parentage.

     His mother has been described simply a "virgin," not a princess or prophetess, not a woman of influence.

     True, the blood of kings ran in her veins; and her mind was not weak or untaught, for she could sweetly sing a song of praise.

     Yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she was engaged, and how miserable the accommodation provided for the newborn King!

     Immanuel -- God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our daily work, in our punishment, in our death, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.

       -- From Morning and Evening, December 25,
                      Charles Spurgeon

       

Christmas - Joseph the Just (Part 2)

Part 2....


Now the birth of Jesus took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband, Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
                      -- Matthew 1: 18-19


So we now see (Part 1) that Joseph's definition of justice stemmed from the Old Testament teachings on mercy and compassion.

We see in Matthew 1 that Joseph did not have an initial appearance of the angel messenger, like Mary did. Probably someone else told him Mary was pregnant. The text does not tell us. Maybe a gossipy neighbor told him.  But it is clear that
he decided to do the righteous and just thing first, and then the angel appeared. (Maybe a good message for us there.)

The English translation of Matthew 1:20 says he "considered" the situation. Most scholars say the more accurate meaning of the Greek word used would be that he became "very upset," even "fuming."

Even though he did choose to do the right thing, did that mean he had no feelings at all? Certainly he was embarrassed. Felt betrayed. Angry. There would have been great doubts about his bride-to-be and her merit as a wife and mother of his children.

But one remarkable thing about Joseph is that he was able to still do the "right"--  the "just" -- thing. He could re-process his anger and hurt. He could turn them into grace.

Later when his Son Jesus was grown (and we don't know how long Joseph lived, whether he even saw his Son grown) we can see glimpses of Joseph actions in our Lord's teachings.

Remember the parable of the great banquet when the wealthy generous man was publicly insulted? It's in Luke 14. The
donor decides to re-process his anger into grace, and turned to the unworthy outside the community to invite them to his grand banquet.

And in Matthew 12 Jesus talks about the wealthy farmer who build a vineyard and rents it out to tenants. When he tries to collect the rents the tenants refuse to pay. They insult, beat and finally kill the servants who come to collect the rent. The master decides to turn his anger into grace and send his son, alone and unarmed, hoping they will be ashamed and pay their due.

Did Jesus grow up with this kind of example, of extending mercy, not legal justice, when he watched his earthly father?

Why did Joseph even take Mary with him to Bethlehem to register? Did he fear that she would be shunned or mistreated during his absence? She was also a descendant of David and so was entitled to go.  He could have registered for her, but he chose to take her.

Anyway you look at it, Joseph is a silent hero in this 'only once in history' story of the Incarnation. His courage and understanding of God's over-reaching, eternal message made it possible for there to be a Christmas story at all.

He was able to turn his anger and hurt for himself into grace and mercy for others.

Joseph the Just. Joseph the Noble. Joseph the Kind and Good. Joseph the godly.


[Shakespeare understood justice and mercy. Remember
Portia's cautionary words in The Merchant of Venice?

''(mercy)... is an attribute of God Himself
And earthly power doth then show most likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us to render
The deeds of mercy..."

When mercy seasons justice...like God's example...
If we pursue justice none of us would ever see salvation....and that appeal for mercy compels us to extend more deeds of mercy..."Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone," Jesus said.

Was He remembering?

I remember my father saying, every time we took a photo of him, "does it do me justice? No, I don't want justice. I want mercy!"

[I understand that better every year.]

Christmas - Joseph the Just (Part 1)

Now the birth of Jesus took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.
                  --Matthew 1:18-19


    What is justice?

There was a time when these verses unsettled me. Because he was a just man....he was unwilling to put her to shame....I thought being just meant applying the law equally to all  (according to Deuteronomy an unfaithful partner - man and woman - were both to be stoned).  But here we are told Joseph was just.

Is the text talking about another kind of justice? Is there another kind of justice? Apparently, to Joseph it was more than "equal application of the law."

Joseph, being a faithful Jew, would have known many Old Testament passages talking about justice.

He would have known Micah 6:8:  He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

To act justly and love mercy - are they one?

He would have also known Isaiah's songs about a "suffering servant" who would one day appear. One of these hymns is in Isaiah 42:  A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Justice here is not "pay back" and it is not equal distribution of punishment. It is compassion for the weak and exhausted.

Reeds were used in the ancient world as pens. In southern Iraq until recently, they were also used for houses and boats -- that is, if they were not damaged. What could be done with a crushed reed? The only option was to break it and use it for fuel.

(For more on this, see Kenneth Bailey's Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes.)


Wicks were used for illumination. Every home had small clay lamps fueled with olive oil. The wicks for these lamps hung from a spout on the side of the lamp. As the oil ran out, there was danger that the wick might sever through burning and the end fall out of the spout and cause a fire. A small bowl of water was often placed on the floor under the lamp and prevent this kind of accident.

But the servant of God described in Isaiah will not break the damaged reed nor quench the dimly burning wick...he will faithfully bring forth justice.

According the Kenneth Bailey, "Joseph looked beyond the penalties of the law in order to reach out with tenderness to a young woman who was no doubt bruised and exhausted. Perhaps he saw Mary as a 'dimly burning wick.'

"This prophetic definition of justice required a compassionate concern for the weak, the downtrodden and the outcasts in their need.

"...Without that prophetic understanding of justice embedded in Joseph's mind, Jesus would never have been born..

"Joseph is not, therefore, a passive, mute figure. Rather he acts as a strong, thoughtful person whose bold decision at a point of crisis saves the life of the mother and her unborn child."

Joseph was a theologian whose concept of justice grew out of the Old Testament writing, especially those "suffering servant" songs in Isaiah.

Joseph was a "just" man and so he showed mercy and extended grace.

(con't in Part 2)

That Christmas Ache

From Alicia Bruxvoort:

"Next time that yuletide yearning shows up like an awkward guest,
we don't need to let it steal our joy; we can simply let it stir our hope. Because God's promises are clear -- one day, our Advent ache will turn into eternal awe.   Until then, we can let it remind us that the best is yet to come.

Dear Jesus, sometimes I'm discouraged by the longing in my heart. Would you use Your Word to turn my awkward ache  into eager anticipation?  And help  me to stand firm in hope until I see You face to face. In Jesus' Name, Amen."


*For many hundreds of years the church celebrated Jesus' first coming to Bethlehem and also His future coming to reign - both
celebrated together at Christmastime.

One significant result of remembering both is many of our Christmas carols. For example, Joy to the World. Notice the words. They are about His future second coming, not His birth at Bethlehem!

Joy to the world! The Lord is come.

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart  prepare Him room 

and heaven and nature sing!

Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns. 

Let all their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sound joy!

No more let sins and sorrow grow, 

nor thorns infest the ground

He comes to  make His blessings flow

far as the curse is found!

He rules the world with truth and grace 

and makes the  nations prove
The glories of His righteousness 
and wonders of His Love!

                                                 -- By Isaac Watts

Christmas - The Summons - James M Boice

The Summons...

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

"Where is he that has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him" (Matthew 2:2).



And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:8-11).

Thoughts from James Montgomery Boice 

The wise men and shepherds each obeyed God's summons.

In the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a number of people received invitations by an extraterrestrial people to a visit they were soon going to make to earth.

The plot of the movie was in the heroic efforts of these people to get to the meeting pace and be there when the spaceship came down.

That was the kind of invitation the shepherds and the wise men received.  Only theirs was to a far more significant encounter. This visit to earth was not merely a visit of an alien people, but of the very God of the universe Himself. It was an invitation to the birth of Jesus. God's unique Son.

Can we imagine the shepherds or wise men refusing that unprecedented invitation?

Perhaps.

The magi lived at a great distance from Jerusalem and were alerted to the child's birth only the appearance of His star.

They might have reasoned: "This star probably announces the birth of a  Savior-King in Judea, but of course we could be mistaken. The way to Jerusalem is long. Others will probably be paying their respects. We don't need to go. It would be a lot more convenient if we could stay here."

The shepherds, too, might have refused the invitation.

 They might have said: "We are not dressed for the occasion, We have nothing to bring. We are not fit company for Him who is announced by angels."

They might even have asked, "But who will care for our sheep? Who will tend to the things for which we are responsible?"

Neither the wise men nor the shepherds did that.

Instead of making excuses the  shepherds said, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened that the Lord has told us about (Luke 2:15).

I wonder if you have been as obedient to God as those shepherds, who were so low on the social scale of their day, or the wise men, who were so removed from the happenings in Judea.

You know the story of Christmas. You even know the gospel of Jesus' death for sinners, for which Christmas is but a preparation.

You know the invitation of Christ: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Have you responded to that invitation?

Have you obeyed God's summons?

You have not found Christmas, nor will you ever find it, until you do.

   -- From The Christ of Christmas,
            by James Montgomery Boice

Christmas - What Kind of a Child is this?

I just heard again the old, wonderful Christmas carol, "What Child Is This?"

2nd verse:

Why lies Him here in  such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians fear:

For sinners, here, the silent Word is pleading.

Two thoughts:

(1) The glorious fact of our rescue plan...

designed by God before the creation of the world...

described to mankind at the beginning of history...

reminded to mankind continually throughout history...

revealed to mankind in the incarnation of Jesus Christ the Word...

explained to mankind through the written record of the New Testament...

and, finally, completed through the coronation of Jesus Christ as Lord of All.

Then, "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2).

When Mary laid Him there in that manger, when the shepherds came to worship, when Joseph stood by to protect Him, in that tiny Body God's grace was already being worked out.

The silent Word was already pleading.....

(2) God loves to surprise us!

Think of it! The Creator -- God -- King -- arriving in Bethlehem of Judea in a stable! Who would ever make up a story like that?

And then in the last (future) days the Apostle John sees the throne of God and the elders call, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed."

But what does he see?  "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne" (Revelation 5.)

Not a fearful mighty Lion, but a wounded Lamb...the Lamb that was slain from the beginning of the world (Revelation 13).

God's amazing rescue plan -- wrapped in a surprise package -- and we can now begin to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh

Come peasant, king, to own Him

The King of kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts adore Him.

Raise, raise the song on high

The Virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy, for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mar

Miscellaneous Thoughts to Ponder Today

To think about...

1. God loves me the way I am, but He refuses to leave me this way. He wants me to be like Jesus!

2. Every saint has a past! Every sinner has a future! 

3. The Church is a hospital for sinners...not a hotel resort for saints!

4. As the flower is more lovely than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Savior more lovely than the doctrine itself! --     Charles H Spurgeon

An Authentic American Thanksgiving!

Psalm 107:1-9, The Pilgrim Psalm

  "Give thanks to the LORD , for He is good; His love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story -- those He redeemed from the hand of the foe, those He gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.

Then they called out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

This is a perfect time to read this whole Psalm - known for centuries as "The Pilgrim Psalm." It's easy to see why!

Notice how "They were hungry and thirsty and their lives ebbed away" and then their prayers were answered and their thirst was satisfied and they were filled with good things.

Psalm 107 was a favorite scripture of our pilgrim ancestors. From Governor Bradford's journal it appears it was the last psalm the Puritans recited together as they disembarked from the Mayflower! 

We Americans have so much to be thankful for!

Why not include this psalm in your celebration of this great holiday?

More on George Washington

 George Washington himself and his leadership is one of the great blessings God bestowed on this country.

I was just reading that in 1789 he and John Adams attended the graduation ceremony at Columbia University. Some soldiers who had survived our War for Independence were graduating and they wanted to honor them for their service to their country and for their graduation from Columbia!

Some were wounded warriors, but they had persevered and met the challenges!

I think Washington and Adams would be shocked to visit the Columbia campus today - students being coddled with canceled classes and delayed assignments and even presented with milk and cookies to help them face the "catastrophic crisis" of the "Trump election"!

What has happened to us? Columbia's original statement of purpose, written in 1753, says that their goal is to "Teach students to know God in Jesus Christ." Their official motto is from Psalm 36  -- "In Your light we see light."

The "light" they are acknowledging today has certainly dimmed...Columbia today, as so many other universities, a woke hotbed of antisemitism and  anti-intellectual humanism.

When and where did we go wrong and start choosing foolishness over wisdom? (From warriors to wimps?)

I'm so thankful God has not erased us from His kingdom program and is giving us another chance! An opportunity to again bring honor and glory to Him!

It's surely amazing grace!

George Washington Thanks God

 

"Whereas it becomes us humbly to approach the throne of the Almighty God, with gratitude and praise for the wonders which His goodness has wrought in conducting our fore-fathers to this western world, and, above all, that He hath diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the merits of our glorious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of His eternal glory" (From Washington's "General Orders", November 7, 1779.

Words of George Washington, 245 years ago, during our war for Independence. Notice what He thanks God for. He is very specific.

I think it's time for us to do the same...today! Stop and thank God for how He has blessed this nation and provided for our eternal salvation through the work of His Son! 

                       Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!

Fill Up and Give Out - Gayle Rogers Foster

 From Front Porch Moments, by Gayle Rogers Foster

Thoughts from Day 2 --

"Yes, go on mission trips, but 99% of the people you are called to speak to are seated in the cubicle next to you or across the table from you.

Your responsibility is to consistently allow God to pour Himself into you each day.

You should have a constant awareness that whatever He has poured into you will, in turn, be needed by someone else who will become your Divine appointment in the very near future.

God's responsibility is to find the match. He will place those people into your path who need what He has purposely poured into you...your life should be a continual loop of filling up and pouring back out.

Live your life with the assumption that God is prescheduling specific people to cross your pathway each day.

When you are on the lookout for His assignments, as a servant and a steward, you will be overwhelmed by the way God will use you for His glory. Be spiritually prepared and instantly responsive."

Anonymous Confederate Prayer

This prayer was found on the body of an unknown Confederate soldier on a battlefield in 1863.  A soldier 'known only to God...."


     I asked for strength that I might achieve;
     I was made weak that I  might learn humbly to obey.

     I asked for health that I might do greater things;
     I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

     I asked for riches that I might be happy;
     I was given poverty that I might become wise.

     I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
     I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

     I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
     I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

     I got nothing that I had asked for;
     but everything I had hoped for.

     Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were          
        answered.

     I am, among all men, most richly blessed

Because He Loves us!

 

                                           Because We Love Him!

Psalm 91:14-15 -- "Because he loves Me, says the LORD, I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name; he will call on Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

So many practical promises here: He will rescue us; protect us; allow us to pray to Him and promises to answer; He will be with us in trouble...and He will deliver us...and He will honor us -- both now and forever!

All these gifts! (Remember Forrest Gump?  'Life is like a box of chocolates'? Well that's like these verses! So open the box and start indulging yourself today!)

Shalom Shalom

     For many years these verses, Isaiah 26:3-4, have brought me comfort and encouragement:

     You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You,

because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, 

    for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

So simple. So profound. As we keep our minds focused on our LORD, everything else diminishes in importance. And peace arrives and settles down in our hearts.

Our pastor mentioned Wednesday night that "perfect peace" could be translated  "shalom shalom."

I love it! What a great way to greet people! Now  I am saying "shalom shalom" throughout the day!  GIve it a try!

Keeping the Sabbath

In Exodus 20 the 10 Commandments are listed. It is the fourth commandment where we are told to "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."  And we are reminded, "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

So God made the Sabbath holy, and we are to keep it holy! (Like in the New Testament God tells us to "keep the peace." And that He "brought us peace." He gives it; we are to keep it. Like Mother used to tell us to "leave things like you find them!")

We used to sing a hymn about keeping the Sabbath. It is called "O Day of Rest and Gladness." 

I don't hear it anymore, but found the words:

   "O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light

O balm of care and sadness, most beautiful and bright;

On thee, the high and lowly, who bend before the Throne

Sing, 'Holy, holy, holy' to the eternal One.

   A day of sweet reflection, thou art a day of love,

A day to raise affection, from earth to things above.

New graces ever gaining from this our day of rest,

We reach the rest remaining in mansions of the blessed.

   To Holy Ghost be praises, to Father, and to Son;

The church her voice upraises to thee, blest Three in One."

This amazing hymn was written over 150 years ago by Christopher

Wordsworth, the nephew of the famous English poet, 

William Wordsworth.

 I think we need to reconsider how we obey God's 4th Commandment!

Re-Quotable Quotes for Today

 "God only wants for us what we would want for ourselves, if we were smart enough to want it." - Adrian Rogers

"If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me!"-- John Wooden

  "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). Max Lucado says about this verse: "The key is this: meet today's problems with today's strength. Don't start tackling tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You don't have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today!"

  "Have we reached the ultimate stage of absurdity where some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born, while others are not responsible for what they themselves are doing today?"  -- Thomas Sowell

Obedience or Disobedience?

 

From Chuck Colson's book, Loving God --

"We must understand that our goal as believers is to seek what we can do to please God, not what He can do for us.

True Christian maturity -- holiness, sanctification -- is God-centered.

So-called 'victorious Christian living' is self-centered.

As Jerry Bridges puts it: 'It's time for us Christians to face up to our responsibility for holiness. Too often we say we are defeated by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated, we are simply disobedient. It might be well if we stopped using the terms victory and defeat to describe our progress in holiness. Rather, we should use the terms obedient and disobedient.'"

Created to Frolic?

Killer whales keep ramming and sinking fishing boats and expensive yachts off the coast of Spain, Portugal, France and Morocco. 

Scientists want to know why these orca whales are behaving like this. And why are they attacking all the boat rudders? Is it vibrations? Shapes, Noises, Motion?

A multinational group of orca experts met in February and were sponsored by the governments of Spain and Portugal to investigate and then bring back a report outlining why this is happening.

It's been a great mystery -- until now.

Their report says: 'The killer orca whales are just bored and playful. They are especially intrigued by the rudders and are just playing games!

They appear to consider the boats their toys and are just playing with them!'

That's really what they concluded.

Really interesting!

Even more interesting is that God already explained that to us. We could have saved them lots of time and money.

Psalm 104:25-26 tells us: "How many are Your works, LORD! In wisdom You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number.  There the ships go to and fro with the giant sea monsters You formed to frolic there."

So God intended these spectacular animals to frolic and play!

But we have a different purpose -- Psalm 104:33 -- "I will sing praise to my God all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

The orcas' purpose is to play and frolic -- ours in to praise God.

They fulfill their purpose --

Let's fulfill ours!

Prayer to Start This Day

 

Lord,

  Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

  Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.

  Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

  Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King.

  Take my silver and my gold. Not a mite would I withhold. 

  Take my moments and my days -- let them flow in ceaseless praise.

  Take my will and make it Thine. It shall be no longer mine.

  Take my heart - it is Thine own. It shall be Thy royal throne.*

  Amen.

* poem written almost 200 years ago by Frances Havergal --- 

Pray daily that our lives 'flow in ceaseless praise' to our wonderful God and Savior!

Don't Worry About Tomorrow

 Matthew 6:34 --

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for today is its own trouble."

Max Lucado --

"The key is this: meet today's problems with today's strength. Don't start tackling tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today."

The Great Exchange

This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners:

For by a wonderful exchange our sins are now not ours, but Christ's,

And Christ's righteousness is not Christ's, but ours.

  -- Martin Luther

This is what it means to be  Christian: God takes our filthy garbage -- all our sin -- destroys it forever -- all of it -- and gives us -- in exchange -- the gift of His righteousness so we can live with Him forever.

What an incredible exchange! Greatest deal ever in the whole universe! An old garbage bag traded in for a treasure chest of unspeakable riches!

He did it on the cross.

Christ says, "I love you, I forgive you. Let's move on!"

Looks like He would rather die than live without us...

Jesus Prays For Us - For Unity

"My prayer is not for them alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, just as You are in Me and I am in You... that they may brought into complete unity." (John 14:20-23) 

Thoughts from Max Lucado -- "Unity matters to God. Disunity disturbs Him. Earlier Jesus had said, 'All people will know that you are My followers if you love each other.' (John 13:35) 

Not if we always agree with each other. Not if we are unanimous on each vote. 

But if we love each other. 

Unity creates belief. Disunity creates disbelief.

'All people will know that you are My followers if you love each other.' 

Think about it. Could this mean unity is the key to reaching the world for Christ?"

All You Need Is Need!

All you need is need....

Philippians 4:19  --  "And my God will meet all your needs, according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."

Hebrews 4:16 -- "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our hour of need."  

So come, all of us, poor and needy.  Come to Jesus! 

All we need...yes, all we need...is need!

Do you qualify? I did...and I do!

An old pioneer gospel song -- some say one of Daniel Boone's favorites:

   "Come ye sinners, poor and needy.  Weak and wounded, sick and sore

   Jesus, ready, stands to save you. Full of pity, love and power.

   Come ye weary, heavy-laden, Lost and ruined by the fall.

   If you  tarry 'til you're ready, you will never come at all!

   I will arise and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms

   In the arms of my dear Savior - O there are ten thousand charms!"

It's A Hallelujah Day!

Want to make this  a Hallelujah Day?

Make it your goal to please God today -- not to finish your "to do list" for the week...not to schedule more activities for the weekend --- but to, in every way, all day -- seek to please God!

Psalm 147:11 tells us: "The LORD delights in those who fear [hold in awe and adore] Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love."  Fearing Him and trusting in Him pleases Him. No matter the circumstances ...acknowledging that we know He is faithful pleases Him. Just as an earthly father delights in his children when they trust him.

Then it gets even better -- Look at Philippians 2:9. "For God is working in you giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." Not just the desire...but the POWER to do what pleases Him. He shows us what He wants us to do,  and then helps us do it! What an amazing God we have!

It's going to be a Hallelujah Day for sure!

When God Said 'AMEN'!

Just something to think about with joyful thanksgiving and praise...

             The Resurrection was God's 'AMEN'

                      to Christ's 'It is Finished'!

Keep thinking about it all day...as we will forever!

And So We Call This Friday Good

How the prophets described Jesus and Good Friday 600 years before it happened...

From Isaiah 53...

   "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain, like one from whom people hide their faces. He was despised and we held him in low esteem...surely he took up our pain, and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us      peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed...and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all...he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; for he bore the sin of many, and made intersession for the transgressors."  

        By His wounds we are healed...and so we call this Friday Good.

Sacred Counterpoint- Remembering Easter

I remember years ago going to church Easter week for the Maundy Thursday Lord's Supper. We were quiet in the car, each of us pondering the event we were commemorating. And there was deep silence as we entered the sanctuary. It was solemn and reflective. Sometimes the silences are the best part of a service.

It reminded me of a hike in the woods once when I came upon a small, dark pond, almost hidden under the canopy of green, guarded by sentinels of firs and pines. It was that kind of silence Thursday night at church -- a pause when everything else in the world seemed to cease its activity, just to stop and reflect upon the scene before us.

Chapter 1. The Hebrews Going to Celebrate Passover


It was a quite different scene we would have witnessed in ancient times. When the Hebrews made their pilgrimage up to Jerusalem for the Passover, they would have been loud and joyous. As clusters of families and friends combined into groups and walked up the road they would have been singing psalms, greeting other bands ahead of them, and calling back to others coming up behind them.


Probably some would be playing instruments as they walked and sang. And likely the sounds of their joy would echo, again and again, over the hills and valleys of the Holy Land, reminding the pilgrims of the great event they were going to celebrate.

They had so much to sing about. So many reasons to rejoice. They were on their way to worship God "in the the beauty of His holiness." They would be celebrating His faithfulness and forgiveness to them.

Probably one group sang, "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go the house of the Lord!'" Then another would respond, "Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem!" (Psalm 122:1-2)

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore!" (Psalm 125:2)

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!" (Psalm 126:3)

"Those who trust in the LORD are like Mt. Zion, which cannot be shaken, but endures forever." (Psalm 125:1)

When they arrived in the Golden City, they would be dusty and tired, anxious to get "settled in," and then to get ready to start the festival.


Chapter 2. Arriving at the Temple

When they entered the temple area they would be greeted with the lovely odors of meat cooking. I think about going to Disneyland, or a family 4th of July Bar-B-Q celebration. When we enter the park we start smelling FOOD --
at 9 AM we start feeling hungry -- how can it be? I'm never hungry at 9 AM? But seeing the crowds and smelling the food cooking invites memories of festival and celebration. And was there ever a celebration without food?

Chapter 3. Our Passover

Our Easter festivities are joyful, too. But it is a different kind of joy.

When Easter Sunday came it was very foggy as we left for church. I imagined the women coming to Christ's tomb, leaving home in the darkness, weary and grieving, finding the tomb empty and being frightened by the angels who asked them why they would "look for the living among the dead?" And then "Remember how He told you....."

And they remembered and ran back to get the disciples.

Their Passover that year had not been the joyous occasion of previous years. But then Resurrection Sunday brought greater rejoicing than they had ever imagined.

Chapter 4. Our Joy Is Different
Our experience when we celebrate the Lord's Supper at Easter-time is different from theirs because we are on the other side of the cross.

The ancient Jews knew God was redeeming them. But we know how -- we know the cost. They were dancing (remember David before the Ark?) and singing and anticipating a festival with great crowds arriving in Jerusalem. They would never forget how God saved them from Egyptian bondage and brought them into the promised land. That's what they celebrated every year.

And we can never forget how Jesus became our sacrificial lamb and what it cost God to bring us into His kingdom.

C.S. Lewis compares this to a kind of "spiritual counterpoint." As a musical term counterpoint refers to a composition by a brilliant musician who takes two distinctly different melodies, unrelated to each other, and yet when played together acquire a sublime unity.

(My favorite example of musical counterpoint is Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." Both melodies are distinct, and yet when played together -- on piano or organ, one played with the right hand and the other with the left -- as counterpoint, their celestial, spiraling harmonies soar heavenward to the glory of God Himself. I am truly haunted by this magical masterpiece.)


C. S. Lewis' Words on Spiritual Counterpoint

Probably no one else has ever expressed it this beautifully:

All Christians know something the Jews did not know about what it cost to redeem their souls. Christians are baptized into a death; our most joyous festival begins with, and centers upon, the broken body and shed blood. There is thus a tragic depth in our worship which Judaism lacked.

Our joy has to be the sort of joy which can coexist with that; there is for us a spiritual counterpoint, where they had the simple melody.

They had a simple melody -- now we have the whole masterpiece!


Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
(English Text)

Jesu, joy of man's desiring,
Holy wisdom, love most bright.
Drawn by thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.

Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned,
Striving still to truth unknown,
Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Through the way where hope is guiding,
Hark, what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock, in Thee confiding,
Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty's fairest pleasure;
Theirs is wisdom's holiest treasure,
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown.

What Are We Missing?

Sometimes we forget (or ignore?) what Easter is really all about

Colored eggs? chocolate candy? Cute little bunnies?

It begins at Christmas, with the manger and the shepherds and wise men for sure...BUT...

We move from a borrowed manger to a borrowed tomb....

Words on that from Jamie Statema...

   "It's not just about the manger where the baby lay. It's not all about the angels who sang for Him that day. It's not all about the shepherds, or the bright and morning star. It's not all about the wise men who traveled from afar. 

It's about the cross! It's about my sin! It's about how Jesus came to be born once so we could be born again! It's about the stone that was rolled away so that you and I could have real life someday! It's about the cross!

It's about God's love nailed to a tree. It's about how every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me! It's about the cross!

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great. But it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate!"

It's about the cross...it's about my sin!

It's about how every drop of blood that flowed from Him when it should have been me!

It's about the stone that was rolled away so that you and I could have real life someday....

YES, it's all about the cross!

   

    

Why are we allowed two?

          A great truth from G K Chesterton --

EVENING PRAYER

 "Here dies another day during which I have had eyes, ears, hands. And the great world around me, and tomorrow begins another. Why am I allowed two?"

A grateful heart - Why are we allowed so much? 2 days? 3? A whole string of days? A month? Even years!  

Days of grace...days to work with God to bring His Kingdom to earth....days with amazing creatures to remind us of His power and majesty...days of vibrant color that surround us...the eternal adventure of His Word to enthrall us...friends and family to share with us His limitless bounty...

It's all about gratitude!

MORNING PRAYER

As another poet said, "For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us, but most of all that love has found us! Thanks be to God!"  (Fred Green)

YES, it's all about gratitude. Make this a thanksgiving day!