A New Year's Eve Song

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (Ephesians 4:1-7 ESV). At the end of December 1772, an Anglican priest in the poor parish of Olney worked by candlelight on his New Year’s Day sermon. He would preach on the text of 1 Chronicles 17:16-17. That passage was David’s response to God after Nathan informed him that his descendants would be enthroned forever as kings of Israel. David, the once-poor shepherd boy, the man who had repented of adultery and murder, responded to the news by saying, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me thus far?” That pastor was John Newton, and those words struck a deep chord in his heart. In those last days of 1772, Newton found himself running out of empty pages in his journal, a bound book of 300 pages holding 16 years worth of entries. As he came to finish that journal and start another, his mind was drawn to the pages of his past, the story of his life from his days as an unregenerate slave-trader to becoming a child of God. Newton would have remembered when his rebellious spirit got him thrown off numerous ships, publicly flogged, and ousted from His Majesty’s Navy. He would have remembered the shipwrecks and the mutinies, and then the transformation of his heart by the power of the Gospel. As Newton considered those days gone by, he would have asked as David did, “Who am I, O Lord...that you have brought me this far?” As was his habit, Newton set to work composing a hymn to illustrate his New Year’s Day sermon. In that hymn, he would tell his poor congregation of lace-makers and low-paid artisans about the dangers and snares he had faced. He would reflect on the amazing grace that had saved a wretch like him. Those now-famous words of “Amazing Grace,” first sung in the small parish of Olney on New Year’s Day, 1773, lingered in obscurity for many years. The words of “Amazing Grace” would surface again some 80 years later in a book that would change the course of this nation, "Uncle Tom’s Cabin." In it, the slave Tom, at his lowest point, sings the words of “Amazing Grace.” But it all began in that dark little study in the waning days of a year gone by, when one man took the time to reflect on God’s goodness to him. This New Year’s Day we'd all do well to pay tribute to Newton by imitating his gratitude to God and his heart for the lost. We would do well also to set aside some time to reflect on what God has done in our lives—how He has delivered us from slavery to sin. And we would do well to consider how we, in this new year, can sing God’s praise with our lips and with our lives. Grace is given to us!

Grace and the New Year

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9-10 ESV). New Year’s Eve is tomorrow. There are all kinds of traditions practiced to observe the changing of the calendar. In New York the “ball” will drop and thousands of people crowded in Times Square will cheer as fireworks light the sky. In Nashville we have our own tradition. We won’t have a Waterford Crystal ball drop; we will have a musical cleft drop from the tower. Obviously it will be in keeping with the name of “Music City” that provides that theme. There are hundreds of others traditions around the world that will be repeated. All of them have one thing in common. People are celebrating the passing of the old year in favor of the new. Our reading today is a part of a sermon from the Apostle Paul. He makes a bold assertion that he is what he is “by the grace of God.” I recently read a wonderful quote from John Piper that focuses on this grace that transforms: Grace is not only God’s disposition to do good for us when we don’t deserve it. It is an actual power from God that acts and makes good things happen in us and for us. This grace is past and it is future. It is ever cascading over the infinitesimal waterfall of the present from the inexhaustible river of grace coming to us from the future into the ever-increasing reservoir of grace in the past. It took me a while to really understand what he meant by the “reservoir of grace in the past.” While the future has yet to be revealed, we know with certainty what the past was. Paul reminds us that as he reflects on his past, nothing short of the grace of God could have changed his life. Knowing that God was then capable becomes the reason for his faith that God will be capable in the future. You may be reflecting over the past year with mixed emotions. Perhaps some of it was filled with challenge and failure. Even then the grace of God was working in you for your ultimate good. I remarked recently that I did not want a repeat of 2014. I had two major surgeries that I will not miss if I don’t need to repeat them! But, was not God working in those times just as much as he was working in the birth of our granddaughter, Maggie? One experience was full of challenge, the other full of joy and celebration; and, all of it full of grace. I will celebrate the New Year. However, my hope is that it will merely be a celebration of what God has done and will continue to do because of the grace he has extended in Christ! The reservoir is full. There is no fear that we will not have more than we need for all the tomorrows before us!

A New Thing

Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:16-19 ESV). Someone recently told me they wished that New Year’s was at a different time of the year. I was a bit confused by that since it seems the holiday is simply set by our calendar. After all, the “new” year starts with January 1st. After a little bit of further discussion, they told me that it wasn’t really New Year’s that was in the wrong place, but Christmas. Of course I began to be a “theologian” and agreed that the birth of Jesus was probably in the spring of the year rather than at the end of December. But then we’d need to move Easter, and that simply wouldn’t do; after all, the announcement of spring must be accompanied by Easter celebrations. The resurrection is the real “beginning” after all. And then my head really began to hurt! I was relieved somewhat when they went on to explain that they wanted the holidays further apart simply because it would give them the possibility of more days off from work! Whew… that made it easier! And then I had to start thinking about it differently and deeper. Maybe the significance of a new year is lost on us as we are recovering from our Christmas celebrations. That would be a great tragedy. The birth of Jesus should be a great preamble to the greatest news of all. God began to do a “new thing” when Jesus was born. This was not to be an extension on any of the works He had done previously. There were hints and dimly reflected glimpses of this new work, but no one had ever seen anything like this before. What was once a wilderness filled with danger and death now would have a clear path through it that was safe and secure. What was once an arid desert now would have a river flowing through it to bring life to everyone on that path. All of this began with the birth of Jesus. Placing a celebration of a new year now seems most logical! I know it can feel like you are alone in the wilderness. You may be dealing with circumstances that appear overwhelming. You may feel there is no hope. Doubt and fear wash over you in what feels like everlasting waves seeking to pull you under. Don’t give up! Don’t let your circumstances rob you of your hope and peace. God is at work He is doing something new in you. God is doing something new in us. It began with Jesus and continues by His grace!

A Friend

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:12-14 ESV). I recently saw a wonderful quote: "No one can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." I don’t know who wrote it, but it seems to summarize a very important principle especially at this time of the year. We all want to believe that we don't start over; but we begin again right where we are, making things better in our lives. The common wisdom is that all believers should constantly develop a stronger commitment to do better or at least try harder. The truth is that our lives in Christ simply are not about the things we do or don’t do. I’ve had plenty of time to think through all of the things I’ve done and find the resulting thought disappointing at best. The real satisfaction comes from my knowing that as I fall deeper and deeper in love with Him, He makes my way perfect. My focus changes to the things of heaven and not on all this earthly stuff. If I were to make a New Year resolution, it would be to have a deeper commitment, a deeper love, and a deeper worship for the Lord. The Lord is consistently reminding me that He is more than enough in every area of your life. He is that kind of “friend.” When I go deeper into the background of the verses of our reading today, I am amazed that Jesus knew what was immediately before Him and still went to the cross for us, simply because of His love. Looking into the eyes of these eleven men, one having already left to betray him and another who would do the same before the night was over, he gently reminds them of the importance of loving one another. How tragically we fall short of this simple commandment. It is often inconvenient and troublesome to love someone like that. I find I usually want to love the folks who agree with me and forget those who don’t. Sometimes I treat Jesus the same way. I like the Scripture when it agrees with my way, but dismiss it when it doesn’t. Just a week ago, when Mary and I celebrated our 45th anniversary, I remembered some of those times when we didn’t really agree. Wonder how long we would have been able to have continued walking together if that would have been the criteria for doing so? I don’t have to agree, nor does she; we simply need to be agreeable. After all, this is the real definition of intimacy. Well, perhaps you want a new ending this year. If you're not a Christian, please know that this could be the best New Year of your life. Your life can be filled with hope and peace. To know what the ending will be is an extra bonus. If you are a Christian and you feel stagnate in your relationship with the Lord, then now is the time to rekindle the love affair with Him. The real ending in our life will be when Jesus says well done my good and faithful servant. That statement will be for someone who took the time to get to know Him, love Him, and truly be His friend. That person will be a friend to others. How about that for a new ending?

New Years Traditions

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Romans 1:16-18 ESV). As we approach the New Year, I am reminded of the many traditions that surround the celebration. Each of them has an interesting thought. Perhaps you have some that have become traditional in your celebration. Here is a brief list of some of those traditions and their “meanings”:  Kissing at midnight. We kiss those dearest to us at midnight not only to share a moment of celebration with others, but also to ensure that those affections and ties will continue throughout the next twelve months. To fail to smooch our significant others at that time would be to set the stage for a year of coldness.  Nothing Goes Out. Nothing, absolutely nothing, not even garbage is to leave the house on the first day of the year. If you've presents to deliver on New Year's Day, leave them in the car overnight. Don't so much as shake out a rug or take the empties to the recycle bin. The thought is that the year must begin with something's being added to the home before anything subtracts from it.  Black-Eyes Peas. A tradition common to the southern states of the USA dictates that the eating of black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will attract both general good luck and money in particular to the one doing the dining. Some choose to add other Southern fare to this tradition, but the black-eyed peas are key.  Letting the Old Year Out. At midnight, all the doors of a house must be opened to let the old year escape unimpeded. He must leave before the New Year can come in, says popular wisdom, so doors are flung open to assist him in finding his way out.  Loud Noise. Make as much noise as possible at midnight. You're not just celebrating; you're scaring away evil spirits. According to widespread superstition, evil spirits and the Devil himself hate loud noise. We celebrate by making as much of a din as possible not just as an expression of joy at having a new year at our disposal, but also to make sure the devil and his minions don't stick around. Of course these are mere fables and superstitions. Yet, there are many people who observe them. I’m afraid I have been guilty of having black-eyed peas for many years! The truth is that none of these or others that surround New Year’s is a means to good fortune. There is only one way to “life.” That is through faith in Christ. Our reading this morning is very clear. As foolish as it may sound to some, the power of God at work in us is through Christ, and that is initiated through faith. This year, examine your faith. Turn your complete attention to Christ. That will make your new year the best ever!

Praying for a Wonderful Christmas

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. (Proverbs 22:17-18 ESV). Perhaps one of the greatest American preachers of this century was Herschel H. Hobbs. He was well known for his teachings and writings. He was indeed a wise man. Even though Dr. Hobbs is now gone from this world, he continues to teach me much through his thoughtful writing and biblical analysis. Here's what this wise man once wrote in response to the question, "What Is Christmas All About?" "Christmas is more than tinsel and toys, trees and toddies, gifts and greetings. It is not merely a word of goodwill lightly spoken and soon forgotten in the raucous cries of conflict. Christmas is a message of peace on earth among men who are pleasing to God. It is Immanuel, God with us. It is God bending low to lift men up out of the sin and mire of a world, which has forgotten God and His will for lost men. It is God in a cradle, the Eternal in a tender baby's flesh and form. But Christmas does not stop in Bethlehem. It reaches beyond to Calvary, to the empty tomb, and to the throne where the Savior sits, waiting for His enemies to become His footstool. It is the good news of salvation to all men who will receive it. As the shepherds came to the manger, saw the Christ child, and went forth to tell the glad tidings; as the Wise Men came from afar to worship and give gifts to Him, so should the faithful today bow before Him in worship, praise, and consecration, and then go forth to declare the gospel to a lost world. That is what Christmas is all about!" Our reading today reminds us to listen to the words of the wise. These words certainly qualify! Apply them to your Christmas celebrations this year. But don't stop with Christmas. Think about 2015. As Dr. Hobbs put it, go forth to declare the gospel to a lost world in 2015. Jesus, the One whose birth we celebrate, expects nothing less than that from every Christian. If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. My prayer for you is that you will know this Savior and be filled with His presence all year long!

Merry Christmas!

Today’s devotional is quite different than any I have written reecently. It is the birth of Jesus as told in the Scriptures. I hope by compiling these verses in chronological order from all the Gospels, it might be helpful for you to use in a Christmas eve reading with you family. Gather around the tree, or your Crèche, and read these verses. It will be a wonderful way to begin your Christmas celebration.  "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:26-36)  "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21)  "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world." (Luke 2:1)  "And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 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 the 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 clothes and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." (Luke 2:3-17)  "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2)  "After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." (Matthew 2:9-11)

Time to Unwrap the Gifts

And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11 ESV). I love watching my children and grandchildren open their presents at Christmas. Sometimes they open them slowly and other times they dive right in and rip off the wrapping so quickly you almost miss watching them open the gift. Watching their faces and their reactions is one of those things we love. For the kids you can tell pretty quickly if they like the gift or not by how quickly they hold it up and put it back down. For Faith, she likes the clothes, so she holds them up and looks them over for approval; Logan, on the other hand, will take the clothes and hold them up for everyone to see while looking for something else more exciting in the box! As I thought about that, I also thought of the gifts that Jesus received that first Christmas. They each convey a message to us concerning the gifts He brings through his redemptive work. Let me see if I can summarize them into two categories for your encouragement.  First, there is the gift of His love. I'm so grateful that Christ loved us so much that He wants to take us to Heaven to be with Him, but I love the fact that His love sustains us here on earth. Nothing can take that gift of love away from us. Wherever we are, whatever we do, we cannot be separated from His love through Jesus (cf. Romans 8:31-39).  Second, there is the gift of His grace. Through Christ we have access to that wonderful grace that's given to us. Not a gift we deserve but because of Christ we can have it. It is the strength that allows us to continue the journey. It is peace that calms our fear and anxiety as we face uncertain futures. It is the joy that prompts us to laugh in the face of challenge. It is the unyielding certainty that assures us of our eternal destiny with him and all those who have gone before us. There's just so much that we are given through Christ. These are but two of many. It's like there's this big tree with the bottom piled high with gifts and all the branches bulging with gifts nestled in just for us. We have wonderful and precious promises, strength, the Holy Spirit, peace, joy, and much more because of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of Christ our lives can become so full, so rich, so meaningful. It should not surprised us that Jesus said, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10 ). Most of us don't leave our gifts unwrapped under the tree. We want to see what's inside. I wonder if you are like me and leave some of the gifts unopened. Don’t. go ahead, rip the wrapping off and enjoy what has been given to you!

Sights and Sounds of Christmas

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:2-6 ESV). I am nothing if not a “big kid” at Christmas. This year Aaron, our youngest, came home for Thanksgiving and we went to pick out our tree together. Of course, we found one that was just perfect. Bringing it home I cut off a bit of the bottom and mounted it in the holder. We spent a good deal of time making sure it was straight and facing just the right position for the room. We strung the lights so that later Mary could hang the ornaments. Our tree has no real “theme” as some do. We have ornaments from the past forty-five years that have been treasured for the memories they represent. Some of them are those that the boys made for us when they were in Sunday School as youngsters. We have some that have Aggie logos on them; while others were bought in some of the places we have visited through the years. They all are special in some way. After the tree is finished, we begin to decorate the rest of the house with various Christmas items. We have a musical Santa that belonged to Mary’s mom and still plays electronic music that sounds tinny and out of tune, but it brings back the memories of those days we spent with them for Christmas filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas in the Perry house. We always had a big meal with at least three entrees and all the trimmings. Of course, we also had rolls that were burned on the bottom. As great a cook as she was, she always seemed to forget about the rolls and they burned on the bottom. We laughed and talked, sharing the joys of the moment and the time of the year. Everything seemed enveloped in happiness and magic, and appeared a little unreal. Everyone seemed a little nicer and more considerate. It is always like that. There are empty chairs at our table now. We have some new ones filled with precious additions to our family, but the empty chairs still remain. If I’m not careful, it is easy to forget the joy that the Prince of Peace truly brings. Perhaps you remember those sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas past and sigh, wishing for those days. Be encouraged. These new days will soon be new memories. To be sure, for some, they will be difficult memories; however, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace whose birth we celebrate will make all of those challenges fade in His presence as we are reunited with those whom we love someday. Go ahead, take a trip down memory lane; but, look forward to your salvation because it draws near! His promises will never fail!

Happy Anniversary, Mary!

Now the birth of Jesus Christ 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 from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25 ESV). Forty-five years ago at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, I began the most incredible journey imaginable. It has been filled with wonder, awe, and breathtaking joy. That was the time and date that Mary and I stood before family and friends, aided by our pastor, Bailey Stone, and repeated our vows to one another. They were simple and brief, but packed with meaning and commitment. Those of you who are married have exchanged similar promises. You know the phrases: “in sickness and health, in adversity and prosperity, and to be true and loyal so long as you both shall live.” We’ve had all of those from one extreme to the other! And, through the grace of God we have done much more than merely “survive” the years. As we read our text today, I wonder what Joseph may have thought; after all, it took an angel to make him see the plan of God in his marriage to his Mary. It was much easier for me. I saw her and knew from the moment I met her that she was the woman for me. However, there are some similarities that we can notice about both of the decisions, Joseph’s and mine. Like Joseph, I would not have been complete without my Mary. He had second thoughts because of the circumstances. While I had no second thoughts, my Mary did. She knew I was not a Christian at the time. To be committed to a man who would not be able to hear the Spirit of God in his life would have been disastrous. God had a plan for Joseph and a plan for me. Isn’t it amazing how great our God is in the working of that plan for the good of His children? Also, like Joseph, I had no idea what the future would hold. Some of it was very good, and other parts of it were very difficult. We have had those experiences in our life these past forty-five years. Space does not allow me to detail them, but it can be said that out journey has not always been an easy one. As with Joseph, God was more than enough for us in every situation. Isn’t it incredible how God proves His faithfulness every moment of our lives, even when we fail to see it as it happens. And, perhaps greatest of all, like Joseph, God gave me strength in the face of fear. Through failures, challenges in health, joys innumerable, God has always been present with His power o\to overcome any fear. That makes our anniversary so easy to celebrate! I pray you also find that joy in your relationships! Happy Anniversary, Mary!

Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79 ESV). These words of our reading this morning were spoken as a part of the prophecy of Jesus’ birth. But are they relevant words? Are they true words? Do we have peace on earth, goodwill toward men? That’s not what the headlines suggest! How can we celebrate peace when this is going on around us? We sometimes forget that while the story of Jesus’ birth is sweet and precious, it is also stark and real. The headlines in Jesus’ day might have been the same as today. I would imagine they’d have been like these:  Taxes Displace Family Awaiting First Child  Poor Family Takes Shelter in Barn  No room in the Inn for Newest Bethlehem Citizen  Superstitious Shepherds See Great Light—Report Strange Sounds on Hillside  King Hatches Paranoid Plot to Murder Unlikely Rival  Family Flees Neighborhood to Protect Child  Many Babies Senselessly Murdered by Rampaging Army  Mother Marvels at the Future of Her Child While Experts Warn of Difficult Future  Long Journey Ends in Gift Exchange This is the way God chose to come to earth, not as a conquering king, but as one of us. Not in a royal procession isolated from human struggle, but in a feed trough in the middle of it. God anchored himself to the common, everyday things of our world so we could survive it. When you read or see the headlines this week, remember this: Jesus came to insure our peace by taking part in our turbulent world. The headlines of today are the headlines he lived long ago. More than a sentimental journey, Christmas is a reminder that God loved us so much that he would wear human skin and face human challenge so we could find peace in him even when we can’t find it here. “Peace on earth, goodwill to men!” This is God’s blessing to his troubled children. So don’t just look for God’s grace in the twinkling lights and the sweet smiles of happy children at Christmas. Hear the bad news of the headlines and be reminded: Jesus has lived beneath those same headlines so that we wouldn’t always be bound to them.

Advent - Pt 6

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:1-13 ESV). Today we light the final candle of the Advent Wreath. It is “the Christ Candle.” It draws us to the person and character of this baby of Bethlehem. As our reading details, he is the Light of the world. Christmas celebrates the dawn of the Light of the World. The powers of darkness are overcome by his coming to give us his life. The long reign of sin is ended and grace has been poured out upon the earth. Perhaps the hardest thing to remember about Christmas is that it celebrates the incarnation, not just the nativity. The incarnation is the initiation of the justification of man. While it had been promised from the beginning of creation when Adam and Eve first sinned, it didn’t actually make its way into history until Jesus became flesh. This is our celebration, that God entered our world so thoroughly that nothing can be the same again. And the birth we celebrate is not just the past historical event but Christ’s continuing birth in his members, accomplished by the power of the Spirit through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our individual lives. The eternal God comes into the flesh and blood of humanity. Christmas cards portray the little Babe, the Manger, the Magi, the shepherds. Little children learn that today is Jesus’ birthday. But these pieces of the story only touch the edge of the mysterious event called Christmas. The Gospel is that the God of mercy has come into the history of humanity to bring us perfect peace. Into the darkness of sin and death Jesus took humanity upon himself bringing light into this darkness of our world. That light leads us through every path that has been for ages overshadowed by the curse of sin. Don’t be deceived by the small flickering of that single candle. This light that Jesus brings is the Light of the World itself. It is greater than any light imaginable. Nothing can overcome it. No wind is so strong to extinguish it; no ocean of water is vast enough to quench it. Christmas declares the victory of light over darkness!

Advent - Pt 5

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:14-17 ESV). We have lit three candles: the first represented hope; the second reminded us of the forgiveness we have in Christ; and, the third, calls us to joy because of the second coming of Christ. Today we light the fourth candle. It is the candle of love. With this flame we acknowledge the love of God that surrounds and fills us at all times, which is portrayed in a special way in the Christmas story. There is no greater power than love. It is stronger than rulers and empires, stronger than grief or despair, stronger even than death. No Christmas carol is more loved than Away in a Manger. With its simply worded expression of love for the Lord Jesus and trust in His faithful care, the hymn appeals to young and old alike. It is usually one of the first Christmas songs learned in early childhood. For some time it was titled Luther's Cradle Hymn. It was thought to have been written by Martin Luther for his own children and then passed on by German mothers. Modern research discounts this claim, however. Stanzas one and two first appeared in the Little Children's Book, published in Philadelphia in 1885. The third verse was written by a Methodist minister, John T. McFarland, in the early 1900s when an additional stanza for this carol was desired for use at a church children's day program. While it is essential that we be taught and reminded of our need to love the Lord, I find it even more essential that we remember His love for us. Phyllis W. Zeno tells the story of a beautiful, but very troubled little girl who came through the door of her day nursery. From the very beginning I became captivated by this child who had so little but needed so much. I was heartbroken that a four-year-old could suffer such heartache and pain. She was born in prison after her mom had used marijuana, crack and cocaine her entire pregnancy. The little girl was nonverbal and had very little control. I knew her progress would be a mighty battle. Whenever somebody approached her, she became violent for long periods and ended up in a fetal position on the floor crying out. I found myself praying for her day in and day out. As months rolled on, I began to bond with this child that no one wanted. She and I worked very hard taking one step forward and four steps back. Daily, we sat in the big rocking chair in my office, swaying back and forth and back and forth. During our rocking time I sang "Jesus Loves Me." She always settled down and became very still at the melody. Though she never spoke, peace seemed to fill her face as she listened to the song. One day after a very long battle I held my special girl to again calm her fears and pain. In silence we rocked back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. Then she looked at me with tear-filled eyes and spoke for the first time, "Sing to me about that Man who loves me." Blinking back tears of joy, I knew the battle had been won. We certainly need to express our love to Jesus; but, His love for us comes first and enables us to do likewise. This candle reminds us of that love!

Advent - Pt 4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV). Today, as we light the third candle, we remember the joy of waiting, because we know how the story ends! Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ's second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ, an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ's first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second! And this is the foundation of our hope! Hope is the peculiar feature of the Gospel. The gospel approaches human nature, not with logic or lifeless definitions, but with personal love and inspiring promises. It is steeped with tenderness and cheer. It conquers all of the challenges of life and lifts the pale of our humanity. It is exactly adapted to the necessities of human nature, present and to come. Unlike human systems of philosophy, it satisfies the heart while stimulating the intellect. It calms the human spirit, which can find no rest in this world of anxiety and care. This is why we wait expectantly, patiently. We know Jesus is coming again. Charles Spurgeon said, "Apart from the second advent of our Lord, the world is more likely to sink into a pandemonium than to rise into a millennium." During the American Civil War, General William T. Sherman drove his troops on his decisive march to the sea. In a fort on Kennesaw Mountain, he left behind a small contingent of men to guard the rations. General John Bell Hood of the Confederate Army attacked the fort, and a fierce battle followed. One-third of Sherman's men were killed or wounded and J. M. Corse, the general in command, was severely injured. Just as he was about to hoist the white flag and surrender, a message came through the signal corps set up on a chain of mountains. General Sherman was within fifteen miles of the fort and sent the message: "Hold fast. We are coming." Those few words so encouraged the defenders that they held on and kept the fort from falling into the hands of their attackers. The fact that our Savior is coming again gives us hope. It encourages us to continue fighting the good fight of faith. It assures us of victory. Be joyful in your waiting. The best is yet to come!

Advent - Pt 3

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:31-34 ESV). Today, as you light the second candle, focus on the coming of Christ who brings forgiveness from our sins. John Stott recalls the death of, Marghanita Laski, one of our best-known secular humanists and novelists. Not long before she died in 1988, in a moment of surprising candor in a television interview, she said, "What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me." How tragic! In the movie, Troy, based on Homer’s Iliad, the king of Troy comes to Achilles after he has killed his son in battle. Priam, the king, kneels and kisses Achilles' hands. Achilles asks, “Who are you?” Priam answers, “I have endured what no one on earth has endured before. I kissed the hands of the man who killed my son.” May I say with boldness that God has kissed our hands with his grace in redemption? We certainly are responsible for the death of Jesus. It is our sin that brought him to Calvary to be executed in such cruelty that it staggers our imagination. Yet, knowing that day would surely come, God created Adam and Eve and all of us, their progeny. We have all chosen to follow in their steps of rebellion and sin. We bear the full responsibility of our sin, which is death. We crucified Jesus. Yet, the Father sends his Son to die on our behalf. He makes the atonement for us. He becomes our substitute and God forgives us fully and forever. Martin Luther once read the account of Abraham offering Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22 with his family. His wife, Katie, said, "I do not believe it. God would not have treated his son like that!" "But, Katie," Luther replied, "He did." Oswald Chambers writes: We trample the blood of the Son of God if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation for the forgiveness of God and for the unfathomable depth of His forgetting is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the atonement which He has worked out for us. It does not matter who or what we are; there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at a door other than the one that Jesus has opened. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement is a propitiation whereby God, through the death of Jesus, makes an unholy man holy. Hallelujah! We are forgiven! Celebrate his birth with that thought!

Advent - Pt 2

Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:9-11 ESV). As I wrote yesterday, Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. It helps us prepare for the coming, or “advent” of the Christ child at Christmas. For hundreds of years, Christians have used an Advent wreath to inspire their hopes for the coming of Christ. By lighting candles and reading Scripture, we are reminded about the meaning of Christ’s birth and become more excited about his coming in the past, in the future, and in our own lives. I hope these devotionals will help you visualize the lighting of the candles each day you read them and be encouraged in your walk. There is no set meaning for the candles of the Advent wreath, except for the middle candle, which always signifies the birth of Jesus the Christ and is often called the Christ Candle. I have been in churches where the candles point to peace, hope, joy, and love. In other settings they are identified with key figures in the stories of the birth of Jesus, such as the shepherds, the angels, Joseph, and Mary. I have used the main theme of waiting to give structure and meaning to the Advent candles, with each candle focused on different aspects of our memorial. We should prepare by remembering: Israel’s hope for the coming of God’s Messiah to save, to forgive, and to restore; our hope for the second coming of Jesus; and, our need for a Savior to save us from our sins. So, let’s light the first candle. Lighting this candle we focus on the coming of Christ as our Shepherd. Like God’s people before the coming of Christ, we also look ahead to the time when Christ, who is both the Lamb and our Shepherd, will finish his work and “God will wipe away every tear” from our eyes. The wonder of this is the truth that we can count on God to keep his promises. He promised a Savior, and He sent one. Let me give you some other promises we can count on:  God's presence: "I will never leave you." (Hebrews 13:5)  God's protection: "I am your shield" (Genesis 15:1)  God's power: "I will strengthen you." (Isaiah 41:10)  God's rest: "Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)  God's forgiveness: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)  God's wise plan and provision: "All things work together for good to them that love God." (Romans 8:28) There are hundreds more. This Christmas think of the enormity of the gift of Christ. Becoming the child of God means He withholds nothing good from us.

Advent - Pt 1

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. (Zechariah 9:9-11 ESV). The Advent Season is observed in many Christian traditions in December. It usually begins four Sundays before Christmas and the last service is held on Christmas Eve. It sometimes involves the lighting of various colored candles in a wreath and centering the worship around the meanings of those colors. I will be explaining that in the next few days through this little series. However, for today, I want to introduce the concept of Advent and celebration. In our secular celebration of Christmas, the season begins after Halloween! Retailers have pushed the date back further and further in an effort to draw more revenue into their stores. However, the real danger is in the way we have reacted to that in the Church. Some have railed against any celebration that might involve non-Biblical characters or practices. Santa is strictly forbidden by some, while others take the decorations of Christmas and scrutinize them with a microscopic focus. The truth is that we find no real mandate to celebrate the birth of Jesus at all in the Scripture. Our reading today instructs the early people of God to rejoice at the promise of the coming King, but that’s a stretch to apply it to our Christmas. So, in an effort to recapture worship in the midst of the activities of Christmas, let’s look at Advent for your family. Even though your church may not celebrate in this way, you certainly can in your home and family. It is a great opportunity. Regardless, understanding the meaning of Advent will provide you with an incredible insight into the marvel of Jesus’ coming. Just like the Jews in Zechariah’s day, we’re reminded of how much we ourselves also need a Savior, and we look forward to our Savior’s second coming even as we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “visit.” In the season with this name, we keep in mind both “advents” of Christ, the first in Bethlehem and the second yet to come. Today, begin to think about the incredible gift of a Redeemer, who is the only begotten Son of God. Let that permeate your very soul. This gift has no comparison in all of history. And, God has already given it to us. More so, God has promised to give us a perfect eternity with the renewal of the Earth through Jesus’ second coming! What a gift!

Jesus' Last Name

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:35-38 ESV). To the surprise of some, “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. “Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed one” or “chosen one.” This is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach, or “Messiah.” We can see that from our reading “Jesus” is the Lord’s human name given to Mary by the angel Gabriel. “Christ” is His title, signifying Jesus was sent from God to be a King and Deliverer. “Jesus Christ” means “Jesus the Messiah” or “Jesus the Anointed One.” In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God’s service. Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in such fashion. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God’s choosing. Although the literal meaning of anointed refers to the application of oil, it can also refer to one’s consecration by God, even if literal oil is not used. There are hundreds of prophetic passages in the Old Testament that refer to a coming Messiah who would deliver His people. Ancient Israel thought their Messiah would come with military might to deliver them from decades of captivity to earthly kings and pagan nations. But the New Testament reveals a much better deliverance provided by Jesus the Messiah, a deliverance from the power and penalty of sin. Any freedom that is based in a system of government is only as good as that government. It can only last as long as that government lasts. We have seen this play out in history. Even those with the best of intentions are merely human with all of their flaws, and whatever they devise will only last for a brief period of time in the spectrum of eternity. God has something far greater in mind when he sent His Son. The prophecy of Jesus’ anointing by the Holy Spirit is significant in that it establishes His name and authority is eternal. The celebration of Jesus’ birth is rooted in the coming of the eternal God and King to set the world right after millennia of wrong. Whatever is wrong in this world is being put right through the work of Jesus. While his legal surname is not “Christ,” that certainly describes who he is! Celebrate the coming of the King with your Christmas this year!

Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79 ESV). These words of our reading this morning were spoken as a part of the prophecy of Jesus’ birth. But are they relevant words? Are they true words? Do we have peace on earth, goodwill toward men? That’s not what the headlines suggest! How can we celebrate peace when this is going on around us? We sometimes forget that while the story of Jesus’ birth is sweet and precious, it is also stark and real. The headlines in Jesus’ day might have been the same as today. I would imagine they’d have been like these:  Taxes Displace Family Awaiting First Child  Poor Family Takes Shelter in Barn  No room in the Inn for Newest Bethlehem Citizen  Superstitious Shepherds See Great Light—Report Strange Sounds on Hillside  King Hatches Paranoid Plot to Murder Unlikely Rival  Family Flees Neighborhood to Protect Child  Many Babies Senselessly Murdered by Rampaging Army  Mother Marvels at the Future of Her Child While Experts Warn of Difficult Future  Long Journey Ends in Gift Exchange This is the way God chose to come to earth, not as a conquering king, but as one of us. Not in a royal procession isolated from human struggle, but in a feed trough in the middle of it. God anchored himself to the common, everyday things of our world so we could survive it. When you read or see the headlines this week, remember this: Jesus came to insure our peace by taking part in our turbulent world. The headlines of today are the headlines he lived long ago. More than a sentimental journey, Christmas is a reminder that God loved us so much that he would wear human skin and face human challenge so we could find peace in him even when we can’t find it here. “Peace on earth, goodwill to men!” This is God’s blessing to his troubled children. So don’t just look for God’s grace in the twinkling lights and the sweet smiles of happy children at Christmas. Hear the bad news of the headlines and be reminded: Jesus has lived beneath those same headlines so that we wouldn’t always be bound to them.

A Keurig Coffee Brewer

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:30-32 ESV). Not long ago Mary and I were walking through a department store and I walked down one of the aisles with kitchen countertop appliances on it. You know the scene. There were several different kinds of appliances and many different brands displayed. I stopped in the area displaying the coffee brewers. Mary asked, “Do we need a new coffee maker?” I told her that we didn’t. The old one was working just fine, but I was interested in a single-cup coffee brewer. I happened to be looking at the Keurig brand of such an appliance. Her response was “Why don’t you just get one?” I said, “No, they’re too high. And, besides, Christmas is close. Maybe Santa will bring me one.” She gave me that look that has been the same for over forty years that says, “sure, whatever.” She knows that when I get ready to purchase something, I usually just go and get it. I am very hard to buy a gift for in that way. I’m certain I’m not the only one you know that is like that. Some folks really are hard to buy for. They either don’t really need anything, or if they do, just go and purchase it. We’re not a lot of fun to shop for. In my case that’s true; however, I’m a lot of fun when I open gifts. Everything is a surprise! That brought me to a thought for today. What are some gifts you can give that everyone needs and rarely receive. Here are some suggestions: Give some of your time to someone who is lonely. Give a handwritten note of encouragement to someone who serves the public regularly. Give a specific word of affirmation to someone in your family. Give a home-cooked meal to someone who is sick or hungry. Give a second chance to someone who has failed. Give a gentle response to someone who is frustrated. These are the instructions Paul leaves with the Ephesians in our reading today. I’ve heard it paraphrased: “Just be nice.” Covering all the one another commands of the Bible is the umbrella of kindness. Swindoll says, “Kindness braids mercy and grace, humility and gentleness all together. Kindness gives grace, requires humility, and asks that we think of others before ourselves.” It really is a gift we can give that costs us nothing, but is worth everything. It is a gift each of us can give today and every day. I don’t need a new coffee maker, but I always need the kindness of others. Make it a priority to be kind today.

Four Reminders at Christmas

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV). We are almost midway to Christmas Day. Suddenly as I was writing these devotionals I realized how easy it might be to be unprepared for some of the practical things that happen at this time of the year. So, I decided I’d offer four reminders to help through the season. Believe me this is not to disparage the true nature of Christmas. Dr. Seuss wasn’t thinking of me when he wrote How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Charles Dickens would not have asked me to play Scrooge in his story. Please remember that as you read today’s devotional. I’m not anti-Christmas, nor do I brandish the overused bumper sticker, “Put Christ Back into Christmas.” Mary and I have a tree every year. We exchange presents, play Christmas music, sing along with the carols, enjoy family, and (horror of horrors) are not politically correct as we wish people “Merry Christmas.” But you’ll have to agree, Christmas is not without its unique problems and temptations. So, here’s some suggestions to help. Be careful not to substitute the temporal for the eternal. Our reading today speaks to that. It’s important that we focus on what we’re celebrating. It is our Savior’s arrival, not Santa’s. The significance of giving presents is to be directly related to God’s presenting us the gift of His Son, and our children need that reminder year in and year out. We don’t need to get rid of Santa, we simply need to remember who the great gift-giver is. Be aware that this is a wonderful time to share the Gospel. People are more open to the gospel at this time of the year than any other. Be aware of the moments when you can genuine share the story of Christ with them. Be careful with your spending. No one likes to give more extravagantly than I do. However, I must discipline myself to think before I spend. Be aware of getting built up for the letdown. The period of time after Christmas is one of the difficult emotional times of the year. People simply get so exciting that “normal” feels bad. If you stay occupied with the Person of Christ, you’ll seldom have to fight off the after Christmas blues. Please enjoy the holidays now. Have a wonderful time on Christmas. I pray your every moment will be filled with blessing far exceeding your dreams and expectations. As we snowball through the next two weeks, have fun! And, remember, He cam that you might have such a life. Jesus’ birth is all about giving us abundant life! Take it in great gulps. Just think, this could be our last; He may be just on the eastern horizon waiting the sounding of the trumpet to come again!

My Two Front Teeth

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV). Recently I received an email from one of our subscribers to Morning Devotionals. She simply asked for my prayer for her at this Christmas season. She went on to tell the story of her daughter who had left home last year. She was addicted to drugs and though the mom had tried to help her in many different ways, her daughter had run away. She didn’t know where she was, or if she was safe. She was rewriting the story of the Prodigal Son without the happy ending asking for prayer. I began to think of the many people I see each week in the counseling ministry we have in Middle Tennessee. Many of the stories are so similar. And, just as I thought of that email, I heard a Christmas song on the channel I was listening to as I write. It was "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." Well, I have my two front teeth; and, I don’t suffer the pain of this mom. Never-the-less I wanted to write a few words to all of you who have prodigals. And, to those who don’t, pray with me for them. First, God knows the yearnings of your heart. He knows exactly what you want for Christmas. And He is so willing for you to ask, to be honest, and to cry out. So don’t be afraid to tell Him how your heart aches, about your fears for your loved ones, about your concerns for your other children, about how overwhelmed you feel at this time meant for celebration. Second, remember that His answers almost always look so different, and have such later timing, than our requests. We can’t understand what He is doing, though we can know he will work it together for you good. You are his child and that is his unalterable promise to you. Scripture tells us repeatedly that He knows and understands and is filled with compassion for our pain. Third, recognize that the power of God is greater than anything you may face in this world. He will indeed give you peace for today and forever. All of the uncertainty and fear that you are feeling for your prodigal is but a prelude to the glorious workings of his grace in your life. Don’t stop believing in their return. Like the father in the parable, look to the horizon for their return. Pray that God would bring them to the end of their experience and that they would come home whole. Fourth, know you are not alone; I and many others stand with you. I join you in asking God for miracles in the lives of your prodigals. But I also ask that He will help you to experience His peace and freedom from fear and deep rest in Him. Join with me, won’t you? Join me in praying for all those who have pain this Christmas that they will know the peace of the Christ.

The Love of God

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:14-18 ESV). I love the beginning of the Gospel of John. It simply states the identity and purpose of Jesus. It’s easy to forget that he came for no glory for himself. He came to show us the truth and grace that God extends to his children. There’s a great little story of a man on Christmas Eve, who sat in reflective silence before the fireplace, pondering the meaning of Christmas. "There is no point to a God who becomes man," he mused. "Why would an all-powerful God want to share even one of His precious moments with the likes of man? And even if He did, why would He choose to be born in an animal stall? No way! The whole thing is absurd! I'm sure that if God really wanted to come down to earth, He would have chosen some other way." Suddenly, the man was roused from his reverie by a strange sound outside. He went to the window and saw a small gaggle of blue geese frantically honking and aimlessly flopping about in the snow. They seemed dazed and confused. Apparently they had dropped out in exhaustion from the flight formations of a larger flock on its way from the Arctic Islands to the warmer climes of the Gulf of Mexico. Moved to compassion, the man tried to "shoo" the poor geese into his warm garage, but the more he "shooed" the more they panicked. "If they only realized I'm only trying to do what's best for them," he thought to himself. "How can I make them understand my concern for their well-being?" Then, this thought came to him: "If for just a minute, I could become one of them, an ordinary goose, and communicate with them in their own language, they would know what I am trying to do." And suddenly ... suddenly, he remembered Christmas and a smile came over his face. Suddenly, the Christmas story no longer seemed absurd. Suddenly, he pictured that ordinary-looking infant, lying in the manger, in that stable in Bethlehem, and he knew the answer to his Christmas problem: God had become one of us to tell us that He loves us. And, isn’t that the best message we could hear from God? When I begin to fret over all the things that gnaw at my circumstances, trying to rob me of the joy of life, I find it very comforting to remember God loves me! That singular message grounds me in a grace that brings real joy in the face of anything. Try it. It will work for you too.

The Least of These

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40 ESV). One of my favorite Christmas stories is about the old shoe cobbler who dreamed one Christmas Eve that Jesus would come to visit him the next day. The dream was so real that he was convinced it would come true. So the next morning he got up, went out and cut green boughs, decorating his little cobbler shop, getting everything ready for Jesus to come. He was so sure that Jesus was going to come that he just sat down and waited for Him. The hours passed and Jesus didn't come. But an old man came. He came inside for a moment to get warm out of the winter cold. As the cobbler talked with him he noticed the holes in the old man's shoes, so he reached up on the shelf, getting him a new pair of shoes. He made sure they fit, that his socks were dry, and sent him on his way. Still he waited. But he still didn’t see Jesus come. An old woman came. She was a woman who hadn't had a decent meal in two days. They sat and visited for a while as he prepared some food for her to eat. He gave her a nourishing meal and sent her on her way. He wondered how long it would take for Jesus to come. He knew the Lord was busy and gave it no further thought as he sat down again to wait for Jesus. But Jesus still didn't come. Then he heard a little boy crying out in front of his shop. He went out and talked with the boy. He discovered that the boy had been separated from his parents. He was lost and couldn’t find his way. So he put on his coat, took the boy by the hand and led him safely home. When he came back to his little shoe shop it was almost dark; the streets were emptied of people. And then in a moment of despair he lifted his voice to heaven, saying, "Oh Lord Jesus, why didn't you come?" And then in a moment of silence he seemed to hear a voice saying, "Oh shoe cobbler, lift up your heart. I kept my word. Three times I knocked at your friendly door. Three times my shadow fell across your floor. I was the man with the bruised feet. I was the woman you gave to eat. I was the boy on the homeless street." Jesus had come. The cobbler just didn't realize it. Think about the people who cross your path, especially at this time of the year. They really are Jesus. How would he have you greet Him this day? Even the least of them are represented in his heart and mind.

Redeemed

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33 ESV). A.J. Gordon was the great Baptist pastor of the Clarendon Church in Boston, Massachusetts. One day he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" The boy replied, "I trapped them out in the field." "What are you going to do with them?" "I'm going to play with them, and then I guess I'll just feed them to an old cat we have at home." When Gordon offered to buy them, the lad exclaimed, "Mister, you don't want them, they're just little old wild birds and can't sing very well." Gordon replied, "I'll give you $2 for the cage and the birds." "Okay, it's a deal, but you're making a bad bargain." The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. Gordon walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures soar into the blue. The next Sunday he took the empty cage into the pulpit and used it to illustrate his sermon about Christ's coming to seek and to save the lost, paying for them with His own precious blood. "That boy told me the birds were not songsters," said Gordon, "but when I released them and they winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, 'Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!'" With all the busy schedules we keep this time of the year, we must remember the real message of Christmas is that of redemption. What was promised in the very beginning began that night in Bethlehem and ended in Jerusalem. From the birth of Jesus to His death, burial, and resurrection, the message of God is one of redemption. Enslaved and captured by sin and death Jesus purchases our freedom and opens the cage door to let us fly in our freedom. The message of these times is the song of those wild birds. It's the song sung in every carol this season: Redeemed! It's the meaning behind every gift given under the tree: Redeemed! It's the Word the shepherds heard: Redeemed! It's the assurance Mary received: Redeemed! It's the star the Magi followed: Redeemed! You and I have been trapped by sin, but Christ has purchased our pardon. We have been redeemed! With every wonderful experience of Christmas, remember the price that has been paid for the best experience yet to come, our redemption! No wonder the great martyrs of our faith could look into death with calm assurance. Death held no power over them. Jesus had come!

Have You Heard?

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2 ESV). What have you heard and seen this Christmas? Herod heard a threat to his position and power. It’s easy for us to say that had we been there at Bethlehem that night we would have seen. We would have understood. We would have known it was the Christ child. Would we? I have begun to examine my own life a bit. Mary and I have been incredibly blessed in our years together. I wonder though, do I really see and hear the things around me. If not, then perhaps I would have missed that first Christmas as well. I think it would wise for us to ask ourselves some questions about some of the sights and sounds of this Christmas. When we watch the news do we see chaos and strife, shocked at the incredible cruelty of the evil in our world, or do we see beyond that to the sheep without a shepherd. When we venture to the malls and department stores to do our shopping, do we see only crowded walkways and aisles, or do we notice the worried expressions on some of the faces of those multitudes of people. Perhaps they are facing this Christmas without employment or enough money and they don't know how they are going to make ends meet. Perhaps there are some who are gazing in the toy stores or children’s stores and wondering what life might have been like had they had a child, or if their child had survived some tragic illness. Perhaps they are looking back at us, and wistfully thinking how their lives might have been better if they had not suffered the rejection and failures in their lives. Do we hear only the music and carols, or do we also notice the silent sighs of the lonely and the bereaved who may be dreading Christmas because it accentuates their loneliness. I’m afraid I am guilty of seeing and hearing things that affect me. What I often see and hear is not dependent upon the event but upon me. Perhaps you are that way also. If you did in fact hear the cry from the lonely, the laughter of poor children, if you saw the sheep without a shepherd, then, and only then, might you have noticed the events that took place in Bethlehem that night. If you lacked that spiritual seeing and hearing then you probably would have been with the 99% who were present but who saw or heard nothing out of the ordinary. I pray we are more sensitive than ever this year to hear and see beyond our desires and needs. Look into the eyes of those around you and see the longing for peace on earth; hear the sadness underlying their voices as they dream of good will toward men.

A Message of Purpose and Grace

Now the birth of Jesus Christ 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 from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25 ESV). I hope you are beginning to enjoy the Christmas season. There is always a flurry of activity at the start of the month. We have so much to do to “get ready” for Christmas. We have gifts to buy, decorations to set out, plans for family gatherings, and so much more. Sometimes all the activity intrudes into the joy of the celebration. Perhaps it’s because we get lost in the busy schedules and cannot see the message of Christmas very clearly. I’m convinced that a good part of the message of Christmas is that God intrudes upon the weak and the vulnerable, which is what we so often miss. God does not come to that part of us that swaggers through life, confident in our self sufficiency. God often leaves the best part of his treasure in the broken places of our life. God comes to us in those rare moments when we are able to transcend our own selfishness long enough to really care about another human being. On the wall of the museum of the concentration camp at Dachau is a large and moving photograph of a mother and her little girl standing in line of a gas chamber. The child, who is walking in front of her mother, does not know where she is going. The mother, who walks behind, does know, but is helpless to stop the tragedy. In her helplessness she performs the only act of love left to her. She places her hands over he child's eyes so she will at least not see the horror to come. When people come into the museum they do not whisk by this photo hurriedly. They pause. They almost feel the pain. And deep inside I think that they are all saying: "O God, don't let that be all that there is." God's hears those prayers and it is in just such situations of hopelessness and helplessness that his almighty power is born. It is there that God leaves his treasure. Mary must have felt that presence of God when she discovered she was pregnant. All of her dreams and hopes of being with the good man, Joseph, would certainly be lost in her mind. She would be an outcast. She would suffer from poverty and have the sole responsibility of raising this child. How could that be a gift from God? It is at that moment that God breaks into the doubt and fear with the message of purpose and grace. That’s the message of Christmas for all of us. God is shouting from Bethlehem how he loves and provides for us. Can you hear Him? I can.

Traditions of Christmas - Pt 3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:1-13 ESV). God has made it clear that He wants to live in our hearts and our homes. He is not interested in a weekend getaway, or a Sunday bungalow. God desires to reign as Lord of our homes now and always. He knows no difference between Wednesdays and Sundays. He wants His children to worship Him not only at the Communion table, but at the dinner table as well. We may go days without once thinking of God, but He never goes one moment without thinking of us. He wants a love relationship with us and it is the most important relationship we can have. We need to seek Him and get to know Him. In Jeremiah, God promises us, “You will find Me if you seek Me with all your heart.” The greatest gift we can give Christ is our constant love and devotion. Just as He commanded us to love Him with all our hearts, He instructed us to love others as ourselves. So at Christmas time we honor God when we focus on our relationships more than on our duties. All that we have and all that we are is because of Him. We show our love by communicating with Him and depending on Him, by using our cars as sanctuaries of prayer, or our office breaks as time studying His Word. Like George Bailey and Ebenezer Scrooge, try to imagine this world without you and your loved ones. Imagine that Christ never came and that God never chose to give you new life. Imagine no Christmas, no gifts, no special times with family. Life itself would have no meaning. Yet we find our meaning and our hope in the wondrous message the angels brought on that glorious night long ago, “Behold I bring you good news of great joy!” The news is that our God loves us! So let us thank Him for granting us new life and eternal security with Him in heaven. Thank God for Jesus Christ, and thank God for the wonderful traditions of Christmas.

Traditions of Christmas - Pt 2

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:9-12 ESV). We now turn our attention to the origin of Christmas. According to a Roman almanac, the birth of Christ was celebrated in the 300’s around January 6th, the date then believed to be Christ’s birthday. Additionally, a Roman pagan holiday occurred around December 25th, celebrating the sun and the midwinter when the days grew longer. This celebration incorporated festive drinking and dancing. Somehow the date of Christmas merged with this holiday, which later became known as the Feast of Fools during the reign of Henry VIII. However, in 1642 after the Puritans beheaded Charles 1, Christmas was banned for eight years both in England and in the American colonies. In the 19th century, the Christmas traditions began to reappear on the scene when the American Sunday School Society began conducting Bible programs for children. They actually promoted Sunday School attendance with a tree and candy, and they used a manger scene as a visual aid to teach the children. The tradition of the Christmas tree comes to us from Germany. Performers who strolled the streets in the 1300’s used the tree as an advertisement to promote the play Adam and Eve. They performed this play on Christmas Eve. They hung an apple to the tree to signify the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Later people began to put trees in their homes at Christmas time. During the Victorian era, people used bigger trees with lower branches that reached to the floor. The story is told that one Christmas Eve while he was walking through the forest, Martin Luther spotted a fir tree, took it home and put candles on it to represent the stars. Later the Victorians carried on this tradition, placing candles on their trees and setting a bucket of water and a long stick with a rag attached, nearby. St. Frances of Assisi was reportedly the first to use the manger scene at Christmas time. He is said to have built the first life-size scene in 1223 AD to celebrate Mass, and all the peasants in the surrounding villages came to worship it. Lights (the Yule logs) and greenery were used to ward off the evil spirits during the pre-Christian times (the Viking era.) Even in the Dark Ages, when only the rich had candles, the poor would put out oil-lit wick lamps to help guide wayfarers to food and warmth. Like the wise men, these traditions all centered on worship. How will you worship Him this Christmas?

Traditions of Christmas - Pt 1

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV). Have you ever wondered about the origin of the candy cane? Tradition holds that long ago a candy maker decided to make a special gift for his daughter. So he shaped his candy into the form of a “J” for Jesus, and painted red coloring on it to represent the blood of Jesus, and white for the virgin birth. Santa Claus is probably the most well known Christmas holiday tradition. As far back as the Viking days, we find tales of the Norse god Odin, who along with his elves fought the winters of the frozen forests. We see him appearing later in England as Father Christmas, in France as Pere Noel, in Holland as Sinter Claussa and in Germany as Christkidle, or Christ Child (better known to us as Kris Kringle). Perhaps the most famous story of Santa Claus comes from the Netherlands. There a young bishop named Nicholas loved to give gifts to children and to the poor. On Christmas Eve the children would set their shoes by the fireplace and Nicolas would put candy in their shoes if they had been good that year. In Europe he put switches in the shoes of the bad children. He also was said to have dropped coins down the chimney of the home of three maidens. The coins were caught in the stockings that the maidens had hung by the fireplace to dry. Later, during the Victorian era, the writer Clement Moore wrote a poem for his daughter on Christmas Eve. The poem, entitled ‘Twas the night before Christmas, was read to her Sunday School class and later published in the newspaper. The poem still enjoys widespread fame today. So in the years ahead, as we decorate our homes for Christmas, we ought to be mindful of the deeper meaning those decorations symbolize: the tree represents the Tree of Life, the candy cane represents Christ, the star represents the Star of Bethlehem and the lights represent the light of God’s Word that dispels the darkness of evil. We will remember that the manger scene began with a humble monk, and even St. Nicolas himself was originally a young bishop who loved Jesus. We must not be satisfied, however, simply to understand the symbolism of the traditions and decorations we use in our homes to celebrate Christmas. We must examine our hearts as well. Jesus wants our loving obedience, and He desires to reign as Lord of our hearts and our homes.

Bethlehem

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 ESV). Yesterday we looked at this same text. It struck me as I was reading it again that we have not said very much about Bethlehem. As the crow flies, it was a journey of approximately 60 miles, though traveling over hills, through villages and around rivers would likely have made the trip longer. Christmas pictures always show Mary riding a donkey but we really have no idea of their mode of travel. Whether on foot or on the back of a swaying brown animal, it wasn’t an easy journey, especially for a woman nearing the end of her first pregnancy. We know why she had to leave the comfort of her home and family. The government had decreed a census and that everyone must go to one’s “own city,” the place their families called home, for this official registration and counting. But Mary and Joseph knew they were going far from family and into a city whose streets would be clogged with traveling strangers. They were assured of no warm welcome, no cozy place to birth the expected child. Perhaps they hoped for a small house or a distant relative or a way for Joseph to earn money for their keep, but in almost every way, they were traveling into the unknown. The journey was long and hard, the destination uncertain. Nearly nine months before their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary spoke life-changing words to God, words that were to comfort her in the many uncertain years ahead. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” With those simple words of faith, she could endure the long journey on the back of a donkey, the cold streets of Bethlehem, the staring faces of strangers, and even the crude stable with its straw-lined manger. We all have our own Bethlehem. That is the place we find ourselves after a long path. Often the people are uncaring, the circumstances difficult, and the burden heavy. May I suggest if this is the place you find yourself, you can find comfort and rest in the Christ who was born in that place so many centuries ago. We’re going to spend a lot of time in the coming days looking at the meaning of Christmas. We’ll look at various traditions and practices, however, the real key is found in the baby. Jesus is all that we need, whenever we need! Trust Him!

Black Friday

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:16-19 ESV). Traditionally the day after Thanksgiving is called “Black Friday” in our country. That’s the day when most of the bog stores open early with incredible sales for the thousands of buyers who are fortunate enough to arrive early enough that the merchandise is not sold out. I’ve never personally participated in Black Friday. Some folks take it pretty seriously though. They arrive early, some spending the night outside the store of choice. This insures they will be able to get to their choices first. I’ve seen others who go so far as to have a map of the store to make sure they don’t waste any steps in their quest for the deals of the day. Once the doors are open for business, it becomes a mad dash to the choicest sales. Electronics, clothes, appliances, and all sorts of other things are sold at bargain prices. I’m sure the savings are real and the shopping exciting; however, I have never really participated. If I’m going to sit in freezing weather in the dark pre-dawn hours, it will only be with the hope of seeing my dream buck step out of the woods for a clear shot! I suppose it could be said that I am just as silly about deer hunting as others are about sale hunting! Regardless of that, the real black Friday is not a sales event. Rather, it is the day that Jesus died nearly two thousand years ago. That Friday was dark indeed. It was at that time when God finished the work of reconciliation for those whom he had chosen to receive his grace. It is strange how easy we seem to forget that day, especially at this time of the year. We emphasize Christmas. The birth of Jesus is a much easier picture to deal with than the cross. However, the birth of Jesus is not nearly as efficacious as his death. Without his death he would have been a great teacher, a fine rabbi, a pioneering religious leader, and a wonder worker of no match; but, he would not have been the Savior of the world. We need a Savior. God sent his Son. Today, as you are shopping, visiting with family, watching ball games, eating leftover turkey, or any other activity this holiday, please remember the reason for joy is found in Christ and his grace.

Happy Birthday Faith and Logan

But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! (Psalm 103:17-18 NIV). Today is the Faith and Logan’s eleventh birthday. I cannot imagine how the time has raced by so quickly! As you can see from the picture to the left (taken on Easter of this year), they have certainly grown! I can honestly say that though these years have been challenging in many ways since we have moved to North Carolina and then Tennessee, I have no regrets about being here or doubts that the Lord has a divine purpose for us. The Scripture in our reading today reminded me of the significant responsibility that we have as grandparents to be faithful on their behalf. As I began to think of the kinds of gifts that we might get them for their birthday, I came to four specific things we can do. They are things that all grandparents can practice.  We can model faith. Even though children may hear of the Lord from their parents, it is reinforcing for them to see the first hand faith of their grandparent too. We should look for opportunities to nurture our grandchildren’s natural curiosity about God. Talk about the Lord on walks and outings. Read or tell Bible stories together. Share with them as their age permits how God has and is working in your life.  We can model love. No one can ever hear the words “I love you” too much. Say it. Write it. Wrap it. Show it. Give it. Communicate, “I love you!” in every way you can think of not only to your grandchildren but to their parents also.  We can model hope. Our world is short on hope. Christian grandparents understand the need for hope. Most of us have lived through the Korean conflict, the Cold War, Vietnam, and two Gulf Wars. These grandparents know their hope is not in politics, stock markets, or worldview philosophies. Our hope is based on Jesus Christ. Christian grandparents can assure grandchildren that no matter what is happening around them, they can have the confidence that comes from knowing the Anchor of Life.  We can also model Godly living. Christian grandparents have the responsibility of living their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. This power cleanses our heart, sets us apart, creates a Christ-like character, and liberates us to a lifestyle that honors God. So, as I wish Faith and Logan a very happy birthday, I also challenge you to commit yourself to give these gifts to the children you know, especially those of you who are grandparents!

The Rest of the Story

Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:3-4 ESV). Paul Harvey tells a wonderful story about the gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old man, and he would feed them from his bucket. Many years before, in October, 1942, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was on a mission in a B-17 to deliver an important message to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea. But there was an unexpected detour which would hurl Captain Eddie into the most harrowing adventure of his life. Somewhere over the South Pacific the Flying Fortress became lost beyond the reach of radio. Fuel ran dangerously low, so the men ditched their plane in the ocean...For nearly a month Captian Eddie and his companions would fight the water, and the weather, and the scorching sun. They spent many sleepless nights recoiling as giant sharks rammed their rafts. The largest raft was nine by five. The biggest shark...ten feet long. But of all their enemies at sea, one proved most formidable: starvation. Eight days out, their rations were long gone or destroyed by the salt water. It would take a miracle to sustain them. And a miracle occurred. In Captain Eddie's own words, "Cherry," that was the B-17 pilot, Captain William Cherry, "read the service that afternoon, and we finished with a prayer for deliverance and a hymn of praise. There was some talk, but it tapered off in the oppressive heat. With my hat pulled down over my eyes to keep out some of the glare, I dozed off." Now this is still Captian Rickenbacker talking..."Something landed on my head. I knew that it was a sea gull. I don't know how I knew, I just knew. Everyone else knew too. No one said a word, but peering out from under my hat brim without moving my head, I could see the expression on their faces. They were staring at that gull. The gull meant food...if I could catch it." And the rest, as they say, is history. Captain Eddie caught the gull. Its flesh was eaten. Its intestines were used for bait to catch fish. The survivors were sustained and their hopes renewed because a lone sea gull, uncharacteristically hundreds of miles from land, offered itself as a sacrifice. You know that Captain Eddie made it. And now you also know...that he never forgot. Because every Friday evening, about sunset...on a lonely stretch along the eastern Florida seacoast... you could see an old man walking... white-haired, bushy-eyebrowed, slightly bent. His bucket filled with shrimp was to feed the gulls... to remember that one which, on a day long past, gave itself without a struggle... like manna in the wilderness. Give thanks to the Lord! For He is good to us in so many ways!