During WWII, the phrase 'battle fatigue' was coined to describe the emotional state of those soldiers who were mentally broken by the stresses of warfare. It would show up in different ways - loss of sight, hearing, paralysis. Excessive anxiety and irritability were often in evidence too. Soldiers suffering battle fatigue were usually not able to recover even though they were sent to rest and when they returned to their unit they generally could not fight effectively. Tours of duty for military personnel are not so long today and thus similar psychological symptoms are called, "Post-traumatic Stress," as they sometimes show up after the soldier has returned from the war.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the never-ending battle? You're not alone! The person who is committed to making a difference in the name of Christ Jesus - in her own life, in her extended family, and in her world - faces a daily struggle! The Bible points out that the godly man faces opposition on three fronts simultaneously. He must contend with 'the flesh,' the sinful nature within himself that resists the work of God. He must overcome 'the world,' the "evil in the machine," that turns good things like government into tools of oppression and evil. He must wrestle with the Devil's forces, those demons that work to frustrate God's plans and purposes.
Sounds ominous, doesn't it? It is! This is no imaginary war. It is real and those who are 'in Christ,' are front-line soldiers called to establish and defend the kingdom of Heaven. The more devoted a person is to the cause of Christ, the more intense the fight becomes. Martin Luther's famous hymn has this line: "this world with devil's filled, should threaten to undo us!" If we are focused on our own strength, if we try to live on our own terms, we may well become 'undone.' That hymn goes on to say, "we will not fear for God has willed, His Truth to triumph through us."
Peter speaks to the battle and how we can stand strong through it all. Meditate on these words from the Word today.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1 Peter 5:6-10, NIV)
Did you note the way the truth unfolds?
First, be humble. God has no supermen in His army, none of us can discard our fellow soldiers, or go off to do our own thing IF we want to remain strong. The soldier who would stand in the face of the Enemy, must first kneel before God!
Second, consciously off-load the stress onto His shoulders. Jesus said, "I will never leave you, never forsake you."
Third, become aware of threats - internal and external. Don't be dumb!
Fourth, adopt a defensive posture from a secure place of faith!
And "God, (who has) called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, ....will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation." (1 Peter 5:10, NLT)
____________________________
Make time to be quiet in His Presence. Breath in the renewal of spirit that comes by means of God's Holy Spirit. The hurry-up pace of life quickens even more around this time of year, doesn't it?
Tragically, if we don't take charge of our schedule, what should be a celebration of Light and Life, can become the occasion for more fatigue, deeper despair.I hope you will be in worship this Sunday.
Come and let the songs and prayers of God's people lift you up. And, God-willing, I will be taking a look at Luke 1, at the story of Zechariah, a priest who needed soul-renewal. See you at 10:15!
Friday, December 16, 2005
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Passionately pursuing Christ
When I met Bev, now my wife of 30 years, I fell in love quickly. In the months that we dated, we lived about an hour apart. After I finished my work as the Youth Pastor of the church I was serving, I would drive up to see her, spend a few hours with her until 12:30 or 1 am and then drive home, only to get up and go to work at 6 am at a part-time job I had taken to help pay the bills! The thought of how much sleep I was losing, or how much time I was spending in my car, or even the hazard of falling asleep at the wheel - never crossed my mind! A 'reasonable' choice would have been to talk on the phone and to see each other on Saturday, but when does reason enter the picture when love is the subject?
What kind of relationship do we have with Jesus Christ? Is it a calculated, cerebral thing or a passionate love?
Peter passionately loved Jesus! That comes through in the Gospels. Consider the famed story told in Matthew's Gospel, the 14th chapter. The day started with a long teaching session involving several thousand people. As evening approached, Jesus told the men who traveled and worked with Him to feed the crowd. There was a problem - actually two problems - they had no money and no food! But Jesus told them to seat the people and prepare for dinner anyway and then He blessed five loaves of bread and a couple of fish with an incredible prayer and miraculously fed 5000 people dinner. Elated and exhausted, the men got into a small boat and headed home across the Sea of Galilee, a large inland lake actually. They ran into a stiff headwind that kept them from making much progress and a storm blew up that kicked up waves.
Matthew tells the story - "At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down." (Matthew 14:25-32, The Message)
What was the source of Peter's 'sudden boldness' that led him to jump out of the boat at 3 in the morning on a stormy lake?
He was passionate about Jesus, loving the Lord in a way that went beyond his reason, beyond calculated benefits! He just wanted to do what Jesus was doing and that included taking a walk on the lake in the middle of night! Silly? Maybe. Reasonable? Obviously not. Necessary? No. But, oh what an experience. From those few moments, Peter gained trust, the knowledge that Jesus' hand would catch him when he was falling, and a story for the ages!
A passionate Christian is runs the risk of being regarded a fool. Ridicule will surely come her way as she prays for the impossible, gives time and resources she can't really afford to give, and lives for an eternity that many refuse to believe is real. A person who is passionate about anything is a easy target for critics. Why? Passion supersedes reason which we value so highly. Passion compels us to reach higher, to give, to go to the ends of the earth, to spend ourselves in a way that is incomprehensible to those who do not share that passion.
Peter's passion for Christ eventually led him to leave the safe and familiar home he enjoyed in Capernaum. He became Christianity's first leader, the rock of the church for her first three decades, and a martyr in his old age for the cause of Christ. He could have played it safe with his life - as so many of us do - and never known the joy of walking with Jesus - first on the lake, and then to the ends of the Roman Empire changing history and countless millions of lives. But, he didn't because he was a man with a passion for Jesus.
How do you love Him, friend?
Is is a tepid love, measured and weighed out on a cost/benefit basis?
Or is it a love that is all-consuming?
“Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”Jesus said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list." (Matthew 22:36-38, The Message)
_____________________________
Passion for Jesus
I'm calling out to You,
"There must something more
Some deeper place to find,
Some secret place to hide,
Where I've not gone before!"
Where my soul is satisfied,
and my sin is put to death;
and I can hear Your voice,
and Your purpose is my choice
as natural as a breath.
The Love I knew before,
When You first touched my life,
I need You to restore,
I want You to revive.
Could You place in my heart,
A passion for Jesus?
A hunger that seizes my passion for You?
My one desire, my greatest possession
My only confession,
my passion for You!
Author: Brian Houston
What kind of relationship do we have with Jesus Christ? Is it a calculated, cerebral thing or a passionate love?
Peter passionately loved Jesus! That comes through in the Gospels. Consider the famed story told in Matthew's Gospel, the 14th chapter. The day started with a long teaching session involving several thousand people. As evening approached, Jesus told the men who traveled and worked with Him to feed the crowd. There was a problem - actually two problems - they had no money and no food! But Jesus told them to seat the people and prepare for dinner anyway and then He blessed five loaves of bread and a couple of fish with an incredible prayer and miraculously fed 5000 people dinner. Elated and exhausted, the men got into a small boat and headed home across the Sea of Galilee, a large inland lake actually. They ran into a stiff headwind that kept them from making much progress and a storm blew up that kicked up waves.
Matthew tells the story - "At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down." (Matthew 14:25-32, The Message)
What was the source of Peter's 'sudden boldness' that led him to jump out of the boat at 3 in the morning on a stormy lake?
He was passionate about Jesus, loving the Lord in a way that went beyond his reason, beyond calculated benefits! He just wanted to do what Jesus was doing and that included taking a walk on the lake in the middle of night! Silly? Maybe. Reasonable? Obviously not. Necessary? No. But, oh what an experience. From those few moments, Peter gained trust, the knowledge that Jesus' hand would catch him when he was falling, and a story for the ages!
A passionate Christian is runs the risk of being regarded a fool. Ridicule will surely come her way as she prays for the impossible, gives time and resources she can't really afford to give, and lives for an eternity that many refuse to believe is real. A person who is passionate about anything is a easy target for critics. Why? Passion supersedes reason which we value so highly. Passion compels us to reach higher, to give, to go to the ends of the earth, to spend ourselves in a way that is incomprehensible to those who do not share that passion.
Peter's passion for Christ eventually led him to leave the safe and familiar home he enjoyed in Capernaum. He became Christianity's first leader, the rock of the church for her first three decades, and a martyr in his old age for the cause of Christ. He could have played it safe with his life - as so many of us do - and never known the joy of walking with Jesus - first on the lake, and then to the ends of the Roman Empire changing history and countless millions of lives. But, he didn't because he was a man with a passion for Jesus.
How do you love Him, friend?
Is is a tepid love, measured and weighed out on a cost/benefit basis?
Or is it a love that is all-consuming?
“Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?”Jesus said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list." (Matthew 22:36-38, The Message)
_____________________________
Passion for Jesus
I'm calling out to You,
"There must something more
Some deeper place to find,
Some secret place to hide,
Where I've not gone before!"
Where my soul is satisfied,
and my sin is put to death;
and I can hear Your voice,
and Your purpose is my choice
as natural as a breath.
The Love I knew before,
When You first touched my life,
I need You to restore,
I want You to revive.
Could You place in my heart,
A passion for Jesus?
A hunger that seizes my passion for You?
My one desire, my greatest possession
My only confession,
my passion for You!
Author: Brian Houston
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Christmas shopping?
Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? If you're like a majority of Americans, even here just a week before the Day, you still have people on your gift list without a matching present! We approach our Christmas shopping from a variety of angles.
There is the CHEAP shopper. He is driven by one goal - buying something, anything, that satisfies the imperative for gift giving - while spending as little money or energy as possible. My one question to this person is - "why bother?" You have missed the meaning of Christmas entirely. Save yourself the effort because the person who receives your 'gift' will only be obligated to write an insincere 'thank you' note!
There is HURRIED shopper. With hummingbird-like rapidity, they dart from store to store, grabbing this and that and checking off the names on their list. Obligation, not love, is the primary drive behind their search.
There is the "PAY MY DEBTS" shopper. This person hopes that with one gift, usually that cost way too much, they can make up for their failures through the year. No gift can do this, and this shopper is sadly set up for disappointment all ready!
There is the "I'D SURE LIKE THAT" shopper who buys gifts he would like to receive for others! His gifts are often very nice, but don't 'fit.' Why? Because, at the heart, he's selfish. His gifts are not thoughtfully chosen because he is too in love with himself to be aware of what really going on outside of his skin.
And there is the "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU" shopper. Finally, we find the heart of Christmas! This person thinks carefully about the tastes, the needs, the personality of the person for whom he is getting a gift and, after a careful search, prepares a gift that he presents with no strings attached.
This is how God gave to us.
God so loved ____________________ (insert your name here)that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)
His Gift was ....
There is the CHEAP shopper. He is driven by one goal - buying something, anything, that satisfies the imperative for gift giving - while spending as little money or energy as possible. My one question to this person is - "why bother?" You have missed the meaning of Christmas entirely. Save yourself the effort because the person who receives your 'gift' will only be obligated to write an insincere 'thank you' note!
There is HURRIED shopper. With hummingbird-like rapidity, they dart from store to store, grabbing this and that and checking off the names on their list. Obligation, not love, is the primary drive behind their search.
There is the "PAY MY DEBTS" shopper. This person hopes that with one gift, usually that cost way too much, they can make up for their failures through the year. No gift can do this, and this shopper is sadly set up for disappointment all ready!
There is the "I'D SURE LIKE THAT" shopper who buys gifts he would like to receive for others! His gifts are often very nice, but don't 'fit.' Why? Because, at the heart, he's selfish. His gifts are not thoughtfully chosen because he is too in love with himself to be aware of what really going on outside of his skin.
And there is the "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU" shopper. Finally, we find the heart of Christmas! This person thinks carefully about the tastes, the needs, the personality of the person for whom he is getting a gift and, after a careful search, prepares a gift that he presents with no strings attached.
This is how God gave to us.
God so loved ____________________ (insert your name here)that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)
His Gift was ....
- rich,
- prepared from eternity,
- given to settle my debts,
- based on my need, and
- shaped by His love for me!
In your gift-giving, make LOVE the reason.
Having trouble finding a gift for someone on your list?
Relax and think about who they are, what they need, and how you can express love in a language they'll understand. It will come to you!
Perhaps the gift will not be some thing. The best gifts are, like God's gift to us, a gift of ourselves.
____________________
Don't forget to offer your best gift to the One who is the Reason for the Season.Find time to worship, to serve, to give of yourself in His Name.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Giving the gift of life?
Recently the leaders in our church and I talked about 'outreach.' As we were discussing how to organize a part of our mission we considered whether the focus of our efforts should be primarily on preserving what exists or increasing the reach of our service to include more people. That discussion led me to ponder an even more basic question - 'why would anyone want to listen to what we say about Jesus?' I'd like to invite you to think about that question on a personal basis with me today.
Here's the way I shaped my thoughts - What would I say to a friend who is not a Believer that would cause him to want to become one?
I could present Jesus in terms of 'eternity.' When one of my brothers was about 5 years of age, he went through a stage where he asked everybody he met: "Are you going to Heaven or Hell?" His directness caused grown men to squirm but I don't think he made many converts! Since we believe that Jesus is the Way, we might frame the way we talk about Jesus in those ultimate terms, but I wonder about the effectiveness of that approach since most people are so busy with living life right now, that they aren't thinking much at all about eternity.
I could present Jesus in the context of 'church.' In this approach, the church's programs and services become the primary focus. "Come to my church" becomes the message. A person is recruited to 'join up' and become a part of a community that offers support, identity, and friendship. Church is important! The Bible teaches Believers that they must regularly gather with other Believers; to worship together, and to work with each other around common goals. However, this approach is limited in its appeal since most people aren't looking for another responsibility. 'Organized religion' is not widely respected either. And, in the end, going to church does not guarantee a person will come into a relationship with Jesus.
How about presenting Jesus as Jesus, making Him the focus? We are too easily convinced that the Good News about Jesus needs to be shaped to fit the needs of people, or that He must be packaged so He can be sold to the American consumer. Learning to connect Him to people's needs is an important skill. Learning how to talk about Him in terms that are comprehensible to those who are non-religious is valuable, too. In all that, we must keep Jesus Christ at the center of our presentation! Since we are in love with ourselves, we easily forget that we were made for Him, to know Him. Yes, He came to meet our greatest need, but the heart of Christianity is that we lose our lives in order to find Him! He is the Treasure!
He is the gift of life. When Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full," did He really mean that His purpose was just to help us to find a way to obtain the American dream? Of course not. He came to show us how to live with hope and purpose and meaning - which are discovered as we know and love Him.
John writes- "to all who believed him and accepted him, Jesus gave the right to become children of God.
They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God. So the Word (Jesus Christ) became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. John pointed him out to the people.
He shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.’ " (John 1:12-15, NLT)
How I want to know Him. I want to be a "Jesus person." So, at the end of my musings on this, I come to this question: "Jerry, is your relationship with Jesus Christ so real, so relevant, so transformational that you become invisible to those who are seeking Him, hidden in His Radiance?" I want His beauty to shine out from my life. As we desire to present Him, let us remember that no amount of training, no technique, no carefully prepared presentation can replace the glory of Jesus as He becomes the focus of our words, our actions, and our devotion.
Would you pray this simple prayer with me today?
"Lord Jesus, You are my treasure.
I want to know You, not just about You.
Captivate me with your Radiance.
Cause me to forget my needs, my wants, myself.
Forgive me for turning you into a means of self-fulfillment!
Be my Life, my Truth, the Love of my life." Amen.
Here's the way I shaped my thoughts - What would I say to a friend who is not a Believer that would cause him to want to become one?
I could present Jesus in terms of 'eternity.' When one of my brothers was about 5 years of age, he went through a stage where he asked everybody he met: "Are you going to Heaven or Hell?" His directness caused grown men to squirm but I don't think he made many converts! Since we believe that Jesus is the Way, we might frame the way we talk about Jesus in those ultimate terms, but I wonder about the effectiveness of that approach since most people are so busy with living life right now, that they aren't thinking much at all about eternity.
I could present Jesus in the context of 'church.' In this approach, the church's programs and services become the primary focus. "Come to my church" becomes the message. A person is recruited to 'join up' and become a part of a community that offers support, identity, and friendship. Church is important! The Bible teaches Believers that they must regularly gather with other Believers; to worship together, and to work with each other around common goals. However, this approach is limited in its appeal since most people aren't looking for another responsibility. 'Organized religion' is not widely respected either. And, in the end, going to church does not guarantee a person will come into a relationship with Jesus.
How about presenting Jesus as Jesus, making Him the focus? We are too easily convinced that the Good News about Jesus needs to be shaped to fit the needs of people, or that He must be packaged so He can be sold to the American consumer. Learning to connect Him to people's needs is an important skill. Learning how to talk about Him in terms that are comprehensible to those who are non-religious is valuable, too. In all that, we must keep Jesus Christ at the center of our presentation! Since we are in love with ourselves, we easily forget that we were made for Him, to know Him. Yes, He came to meet our greatest need, but the heart of Christianity is that we lose our lives in order to find Him! He is the Treasure!
He is the gift of life. When Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full," did He really mean that His purpose was just to help us to find a way to obtain the American dream? Of course not. He came to show us how to live with hope and purpose and meaning - which are discovered as we know and love Him.
John writes- "to all who believed him and accepted him, Jesus gave the right to become children of God.
They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God. So the Word (Jesus Christ) became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.
And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. John pointed him out to the people.
He shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.’ " (John 1:12-15, NLT)
How I want to know Him. I want to be a "Jesus person." So, at the end of my musings on this, I come to this question: "Jerry, is your relationship with Jesus Christ so real, so relevant, so transformational that you become invisible to those who are seeking Him, hidden in His Radiance?" I want His beauty to shine out from my life. As we desire to present Him, let us remember that no amount of training, no technique, no carefully prepared presentation can replace the glory of Jesus as He becomes the focus of our words, our actions, and our devotion.
Would you pray this simple prayer with me today?
"Lord Jesus, You are my treasure.
I want to know You, not just about You.
Captivate me with your Radiance.
Cause me to forget my needs, my wants, myself.
Forgive me for turning you into a means of self-fulfillment!
Be my Life, my Truth, the Love of my life." Amen.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Shine brightly!
Driving home in the darkness last night, I took note of the lights. I saw a house where the decorating was a work of beauty, symmetrical white lights strung neatly, tastefully done, that showed an artist's eye and a craftsman's ability. There was an amazingly garish display that included a lighted inflatable Santa, a giant green Grinch, and a huge globe with fake snow blowing inside- all of this excess was surrounded by a jumble of colored light. It made me laugh - a joyful laugh at the range of 'taste' in our society. Apparently those folks love Wal-Mart's ideal of decorating for Christmas. And their zeal for joining in the celebration is admirable. It's just Christmas and it all makes me happy, somehow.
This Season has brought a lot of noise about the so-called 'war on Christmas.' We hear of schools that change the lyrics in Christmas songs to make them neutered holiday tunes. We read of large store chains eliminating references to Christmas in their 'holiday' advertising. TV's talking heads have made much of this, joined by pontificating preachers who point to the preponderance of the evidence as indicating that these United States are spiritually bankrupt.
"This little light of mine, I gonna let it shine." That's how I feel about whole deal. I am tired the 'red state, blue state' controversy, of the Christians who wear their offenses prominently on their sleeves. Is America in a spiritual crisis over Christmas? I do not really know. It really depends on where you look and how you read the signs. For every school wear an overly zealous administrator kills the singing of "Silent Night," there will be a thousand where it is sung. For every place that Christmas is 'x-ed' out by the marketing department for fear of turning off a few shopper's, there will be hundreds of signs that proclaim- "Merry Christmas!" in bold, bright colors. The whole idea of declaring war over the manger of the Prince of Peace strikes me as an absurdity in the extreme.
How about we just put up our lights, and not just on our houses? How about instead of getting ourselves worked up about the secularists who seem to hate the Holy Day, why not just go and do something wonderfully loving? Our little church gathered 193 shoeboxes full of little gifts and sent them off to Operation Christmas Child. It wasn't an earthshaking thing, but it let a little light shine. I've made it my personal mission for this month to wish everybody a "Merry Christmas" and a "God bless you" from the heart, just to let a little light shine.
Here's a word from the Word for you to ponder today- "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all." (Matthew 5:9-15, NLT)
______________________
This Little Light Of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no! I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no! I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no!, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine till Jesus comes, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine tell Jesus comes, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine tell Jesus comes, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Author: Loes, Harry DixonCopyright: Public Domain
This Season has brought a lot of noise about the so-called 'war on Christmas.' We hear of schools that change the lyrics in Christmas songs to make them neutered holiday tunes. We read of large store chains eliminating references to Christmas in their 'holiday' advertising. TV's talking heads have made much of this, joined by pontificating preachers who point to the preponderance of the evidence as indicating that these United States are spiritually bankrupt.
"This little light of mine, I gonna let it shine." That's how I feel about whole deal. I am tired the 'red state, blue state' controversy, of the Christians who wear their offenses prominently on their sleeves. Is America in a spiritual crisis over Christmas? I do not really know. It really depends on where you look and how you read the signs. For every school wear an overly zealous administrator kills the singing of "Silent Night," there will be a thousand where it is sung. For every place that Christmas is 'x-ed' out by the marketing department for fear of turning off a few shopper's, there will be hundreds of signs that proclaim- "Merry Christmas!" in bold, bright colors. The whole idea of declaring war over the manger of the Prince of Peace strikes me as an absurdity in the extreme.
How about we just put up our lights, and not just on our houses? How about instead of getting ourselves worked up about the secularists who seem to hate the Holy Day, why not just go and do something wonderfully loving? Our little church gathered 193 shoeboxes full of little gifts and sent them off to Operation Christmas Child. It wasn't an earthshaking thing, but it let a little light shine. I've made it my personal mission for this month to wish everybody a "Merry Christmas" and a "God bless you" from the heart, just to let a little light shine.
Here's a word from the Word for you to ponder today- "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all." (Matthew 5:9-15, NLT)
______________________
This Little Light Of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no! I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no! I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no!, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let it shine till Jesus comes, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine tell Jesus comes, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine tell Jesus comes, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Author: Loes, Harry DixonCopyright: Public Domain
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