Yesterday, for about an hour, I was simply swallowed by grief. The pain of my own life coupled with the difficulties of so many in my pastoral care merged to become one big ache in my soul. And, I'll admit, I wept. I got in my car and drove down the highway. (I find that being alone in the car is a great place to pray.) As I communed with the LORD through my tears, I experienced the miracle of Immanuel, "God with us!"
Think of me what you will, there are times in my life when nothing except God's loving arms can comfort me! Challenges, disappointments, even weariness overwhelm me. "When can I meet God?" is the prayer of my heart. When the Holy Spirit embraces me - and in my spirit I hear the Voice of God say, "it's all right now!" - sometimes I cannot hold back the tears, as the emotions that have been bottled up spill over in my heart. There was a time when I was ashamed of those tears, fearing that they were a sign of weakness in me, but now I understand that they are a language that God understands. Jesus wept, too!
The message of Christmas is that God is near- "Immanuel, God with us!" The Gospel writers make it abundantly clear that He is not just God for the 'together,' the rich, the beautiful, the brave, or the intelligent. Jesus Christ, is the God of the little, the forgotten, the weak, those bruised and broken by life.
• The Father chose a young girl from a hill town to bring His Son into this world.
• He was born in the animal shelter 'out back,' because the room 'up front' was full. Just maybe the kinsfolk of Joseph in Bethlehem had 'no room' specifically because they could count to nine, and knew that Mary's pregnancy was a scandal.
• The royal family in Judah determined early on to kill Him, and Jesus' family became fugitives for a time until Herod's death.
• As He began His adult ministry, Mark tells us that His own family thought He was mentally unstable and tried to bring Him home to avoid embarrassment.
• At the end of His short life, He hung naked, pinned to a rough cross, bleeding to death, while passers-by hurled insults at Him. Pilate mocked Him - "The King of the Jews" read the sign ordered nailed above Him as He died, a cruel joke.
Yes, Immanuel is not just a Name. It's a statement. He understands your weariness, your brokenness, your disappointment, your feelings of worthlessness... because He's been there,too!
But, He offers more than sympathy. He is the Savior who is also the Lord of Glory. He is the embodiment of the Promise of the Great Reversal - who will make the last, first - who will exalt the humble!
Mary's song captures the joy we can know because of the Christmas promise. Read it thoughtfully today. Note the triumph in the words, spoken prophetically, and with great hope. It is a poem written from the safety of the Divine Parent's embrace.
"Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me.
His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. His mighty arm does tremendous things! How he scatters the proud and haughty ones! He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. And how he has helped his servant Israel! He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. For he promised our ancestors-Abraham and his children- to be merciful to them forever."
(Luke 1:46-55, NLT)
"He embraced his chosen child, Israel; He remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high." - The Message
Are you tired, confused, sad, broken, forsaken? Retreat for a while to the quiet, but don't focus on your pain. Instead, wait for Immanuel to come. Invite Him to soothe your soul with His Presence. We can endure, indeed; we can recover our joy when He embraces us with Grace.
____________________
One sat alone beside the highway begging,
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags and shivered in the shadows
Then Jesus came and bade his darkness flee.
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken;
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.
So men today have found the Savior able,
They could not conquer passion, lust and sin;
Their broken hearts had left them sad and lonely,
Then Jesus came and dwelt, Himself, within.
When Jesus Comes
Homer Rodehaver
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Half-truths about the LORD
A few days ago I met a family while they were shopping in a local store. Their third grader, a pretty blonde, spotted a DVD she wanted and announced, “I want that.” Her father smiled at her and said, “You’ll have to ask your Mom if you can have it.” He then looked at me and said with a smile, “I give her whatever she wants. I have a hard time saying no to her.” As the father of two daughters, I understand! Dads hate the disappointed look, the tears that sometimes flow when they say ‘no,’ so mostly to protect their own feelings they say, ‘yes,’ even when they know they shouldn’t.
“God loves you unconditionally!” is a phrase repeated by this pastor and from thousands of pulpits. It’s only half-true! Yes, God loves us; deeply, passionately, but not unconditionally. Too many of us treat Him like an overly indulgent Father. Despite knowing what’s right, we do what we want to do. “He will not really do anything about it,” we tell ourselves. But he will! Unlike Dad’s who can’t say no to pretty little girls, our Heavenly Father always acts in ultimate love and within the bounds of His holiness and justice. The Scripture reminds us that our choices will always have a consequence.
“Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” (Galatians 6:7-9 NLT)
He is patient Father and deals with us gently, which too often we confuse with leniency. Just because we do not feel the heavy hand of judgment the day after we willingly ignore His Word should not be interpreted as a sign He really doesn’t care. He wants to spare us, so He convicts, convinces, warns, and draws us back to Himself. Oh, how thankful I am for His mercy, but I am terrified of His Majesty! One without the other creates an image of the LORD that is only half-true. The Psalmist sings of the mercy of the LORD and assures us that His love is rich because He knows we are frail and weak. Read ALL of this passage.
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—" (Psalm 103:10-17, NIV)
Take time to meditate on this passage from the ancient prophet. Thank Him for His justice, then pray that the Spirit will help you to live obediently, squarely in the center of His favor.
" The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet…. Why are you scheming against the Lord? He will destroy you with one blow; he won’t need to strike twice!" (Nahum 1:2-3,9, NLT)
Yes, His love is amazing; and His holiness is awesome, or at least it ought to be. Don’t fall for half-truths about Him. It’s not only foolish, it’s downright dangerous.
_____________
Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above;
With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God.
When He rolls up His sleeves, He ain't just puttin' on the ritz.
Our God is an awesome God.
There is thunder in His footsteps And lightning in His fists.
Our God is an awesome God.
And the Lord wasn't jokin' When He kicked 'em out of Eden.
It wasn't for no reason That He shed His blood.
His return is very close, And so you better be believin'
That our God is an awesome God.
When the sky was starless in the void of the night,
Our God is an awesome God.
He spoke into the darkness and created the light,
Our God is an awesome God
The judgment and wrath He poured out on Sodom;
The mercy and grace He gave us at the cross.
I hope that we have not Too quickly forgotten
That our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above;
With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God.
Awesome God
Rich Mullins © 1988 BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
“God loves you unconditionally!” is a phrase repeated by this pastor and from thousands of pulpits. It’s only half-true! Yes, God loves us; deeply, passionately, but not unconditionally. Too many of us treat Him like an overly indulgent Father. Despite knowing what’s right, we do what we want to do. “He will not really do anything about it,” we tell ourselves. But he will! Unlike Dad’s who can’t say no to pretty little girls, our Heavenly Father always acts in ultimate love and within the bounds of His holiness and justice. The Scripture reminds us that our choices will always have a consequence.
“Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” (Galatians 6:7-9 NLT)
He is patient Father and deals with us gently, which too often we confuse with leniency. Just because we do not feel the heavy hand of judgment the day after we willingly ignore His Word should not be interpreted as a sign He really doesn’t care. He wants to spare us, so He convicts, convinces, warns, and draws us back to Himself. Oh, how thankful I am for His mercy, but I am terrified of His Majesty! One without the other creates an image of the LORD that is only half-true. The Psalmist sings of the mercy of the LORD and assures us that His love is rich because He knows we are frail and weak. Read ALL of this passage.
"He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—" (Psalm 103:10-17, NIV)
Take time to meditate on this passage from the ancient prophet. Thank Him for His justice, then pray that the Spirit will help you to live obediently, squarely in the center of His favor.
" The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet…. Why are you scheming against the Lord? He will destroy you with one blow; he won’t need to strike twice!" (Nahum 1:2-3,9, NLT)
Yes, His love is amazing; and His holiness is awesome, or at least it ought to be. Don’t fall for half-truths about Him. It’s not only foolish, it’s downright dangerous.
_____________
Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above;
With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God.
When He rolls up His sleeves, He ain't just puttin' on the ritz.
Our God is an awesome God.
There is thunder in His footsteps And lightning in His fists.
Our God is an awesome God.
And the Lord wasn't jokin' When He kicked 'em out of Eden.
It wasn't for no reason That He shed His blood.
His return is very close, And so you better be believin'
That our God is an awesome God.
When the sky was starless in the void of the night,
Our God is an awesome God.
He spoke into the darkness and created the light,
Our God is an awesome God
The judgment and wrath He poured out on Sodom;
The mercy and grace He gave us at the cross.
I hope that we have not Too quickly forgotten
That our God is an awesome God.
Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above;
With wisdom, pow'r and love, Our God is an awesome God.
Awesome God
Rich Mullins © 1988 BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by BMG Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
It's THEIR problem?
America's biggest challenge today is not economic. It is spiritual! We are nation of irresponsible, pleasure loving, 'live for today' people who refuse to grow up and face the consequences of a four decade binge of self-indulgence. We insist that somebody rescue us from ourselves.
It's a national illness. For example, public schools, which used to exist to educate our children, now are asked to be a second home- sort of like an institutional grandma's house. Schools serve breakfast, lunch, and sometimes even dinner to kids whose parents are either too distracted or too lazy to care for the children they brought into the world. Families and churches used to rally 'round the sick and aged to care for them. Now we have vast government funded programs that pay people to do this. Businesses who have made poor decisions send representatives to Washington, DC to seek $billions to pay off their bad debts and we all say, "We can't afford to let them go broke," denying a fundamental part of our capitalistic system which is designed to reward those who make wise choices with profitability. Now, foolish executives blame their failures on somebody else. Everyone points to someone else and says, "It's their problem! Rescue me."
It's personal, too. Marriages are collapsing at phenomenal rates. He blames her; she blames him. The truth is that in most situations both live childishly, refusing to discipline themselves, excusing their sin and selfishness saying; "It's his/her problem!" People blame the banks and credit card companies for their crushing debt. Did Citi-card make us buy all that stuff we have in our house? Did GMAC force us to buy a car that we really could not afford to own? Who signed a mortgage that offered fairy tale terms that were literally too good to be true? But, the broke insist, "It's their problem! Rescue me." (Yes, I realize there are market forces that individuals cannot control that produce crisis, too. My point is to emphasize personal responsibility.)
Real change is not possible until a person stops hiding from the truth. A cornerstone of recovery from any problem is to first admit that it exists. Who can deal with that which they insist is not real? AA teaches those who become part of the group to say, "Hi, I am Jane and I am an alcoholic." Is that hard? Sure is! But, when a person owes her problem, she is ready to change. I am not suggesting that we have the power to save ourselves - from addiction, from sin, or from the troubles of life. We need others desperately. That's the core of the Christmas story. God saw a world in need and stepped into becoming our Immanuel, "God in flesh!" to be the one who 'saves us from our sins!' However, before He can be our Savior, we have to acknowledge; yes, we must own our sin without excuse.
The Bible, front to finish, teaches a principle of accountability and responsibility. Before He will transform us, God asks us to face ourselves and tell the truth: to ourselves, to others, and to Him. Here's how John says it.
"This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, (seeing what God sees!) God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.
If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God." (1 John 1:5-10, The Message)
We can be saved - nationally and personally - but not until we start to live in the Light, exposed and vulnerable, confessing our sin. When we do, God will save us and then lead us into the discipline of the Spirit which produces a life of holiness, wholeness, and leads us to "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" (2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV) Here's a prayer. Billy Graham closed thousands of meetings with George Beverly Shea's rumbling voice leading people in singing it. It's a prayerful song, we all need to pray - again and again. It reminds us that it's not 'their problem.' When we pray it, we confess, "It's my problem and Jesus can meet me in it to save and heal me."
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just As I Am
Elliott, Charlotte / Bradbury, William B.
© Public Domain
It's a national illness. For example, public schools, which used to exist to educate our children, now are asked to be a second home- sort of like an institutional grandma's house. Schools serve breakfast, lunch, and sometimes even dinner to kids whose parents are either too distracted or too lazy to care for the children they brought into the world. Families and churches used to rally 'round the sick and aged to care for them. Now we have vast government funded programs that pay people to do this. Businesses who have made poor decisions send representatives to Washington, DC to seek $billions to pay off their bad debts and we all say, "We can't afford to let them go broke," denying a fundamental part of our capitalistic system which is designed to reward those who make wise choices with profitability. Now, foolish executives blame their failures on somebody else. Everyone points to someone else and says, "It's their problem! Rescue me."
It's personal, too. Marriages are collapsing at phenomenal rates. He blames her; she blames him. The truth is that in most situations both live childishly, refusing to discipline themselves, excusing their sin and selfishness saying; "It's his/her problem!" People blame the banks and credit card companies for their crushing debt. Did Citi-card make us buy all that stuff we have in our house? Did GMAC force us to buy a car that we really could not afford to own? Who signed a mortgage that offered fairy tale terms that were literally too good to be true? But, the broke insist, "It's their problem! Rescue me." (Yes, I realize there are market forces that individuals cannot control that produce crisis, too. My point is to emphasize personal responsibility.)
Real change is not possible until a person stops hiding from the truth. A cornerstone of recovery from any problem is to first admit that it exists. Who can deal with that which they insist is not real? AA teaches those who become part of the group to say, "Hi, I am Jane and I am an alcoholic." Is that hard? Sure is! But, when a person owes her problem, she is ready to change. I am not suggesting that we have the power to save ourselves - from addiction, from sin, or from the troubles of life. We need others desperately. That's the core of the Christmas story. God saw a world in need and stepped into becoming our Immanuel, "God in flesh!" to be the one who 'saves us from our sins!' However, before He can be our Savior, we have to acknowledge; yes, we must own our sin without excuse.
The Bible, front to finish, teaches a principle of accountability and responsibility. Before He will transform us, God asks us to face ourselves and tell the truth: to ourselves, to others, and to Him. Here's how John says it.
"This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, (seeing what God sees!) God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.
If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God." (1 John 1:5-10, The Message)
We can be saved - nationally and personally - but not until we start to live in the Light, exposed and vulnerable, confessing our sin. When we do, God will save us and then lead us into the discipline of the Spirit which produces a life of holiness, wholeness, and leads us to "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" (2 Corinthians 4:17, NKJV) Here's a prayer. Billy Graham closed thousands of meetings with George Beverly Shea's rumbling voice leading people in singing it. It's a prayerful song, we all need to pray - again and again. It reminds us that it's not 'their problem.' When we pray it, we confess, "It's my problem and Jesus can meet me in it to save and heal me."
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve.
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just As I Am
Elliott, Charlotte / Bradbury, William B.
© Public Domain
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Best Way to Give
This thought is one from the archives! As I was doing some Christmas shopping yesterday, I remembered this one and thought it would be appropriate to share it again with you. Each time I publish it, there are reader comments about it. I send it with a prayer that you will find the joy of receiving the Gift of God, Life in Jesus Christ! I also pray that each of us will a great gift-giver this Christmas season, motivated by love for those to whom we give.
________________
Christmas shopping? Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? If you're like a majority of Americans, even here just a week before Christmas 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 the 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 fordisappointment 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 chosenbecause 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 acareful search, prepares a gift that he presents with no strings attached.This is how God gave to us. In the Scripture, this very familiar text is also a precious one. We read that "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. Let God love you, friend. His love changes everything and those who are loved by God become the best gift-givers in the world for they learn to give richly, with purpose, to meet the need of the recipient, and with love - just like their heavenly Dad!
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NLT)
________________
Christmas shopping? Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? If you're like a majority of Americans, even here just a week before Christmas 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 the 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 fordisappointment 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 chosenbecause 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 acareful search, prepares a gift that he presents with no strings attached.This is how God gave to us. In the Scripture, this very familiar text is also a precious one. We read that "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. Let God love you, friend. His love changes everything and those who are loved by God become the best gift-givers in the world for they learn to give richly, with purpose, to meet the need of the recipient, and with love - just like their heavenly Dad!
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NLT)
Monday, December 15, 2008
On God's 'critically important' list
"I don't need church to worship God," is a phrase often heard from sincere Believers. "I find the Spirit in _______" and that blank is filled in with myriad things. While I agree that worship certainly happens in many places outside of a church house, a disciple who brushes off the importance of going to church and being an active part of a congregation, is ignoring something that is on God's 'critically important' list!
In a short book called Haggai, we find the LORD speaking to His people, urging them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. He asks them a pointed question. "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. .... Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (Haggai 1: 3-5, 8-9, NIV) The Lord took issue with their insistence that the Temple was not important to Him.
So, you might object that Haggai was writing to Jews whose practice included sacrifices offered in that Holy Place and that we no longer need such a place. Only in a partial sense would you be correct! There is no more single Holy Place, nor Altar where priests offer up sacrifices. Christ was the final sacrifice, offered up for the sins of the world. But the New Testament, while calling each one of us a 'temple' in which the Spirit dwells, also calls us together for worship! In Hebrews right alongside of a reference to the superior sacrifice of Christ, Christians are given this command: "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:22-25, NIV)
The church house in which we gather might be someone's living room, a school gymnasium, a chapel by the roadside, a brick edifice, or a cathedral depending on the economy and function of the building. I have gathered with other Believers in all of the above and offered my praise and worship to the Living God. I once worshipped while sitting on a crude wooden bench in a former potato warehouse in India, singing accompanied only by the thump of a single drum! And I have worshipped among thousands, with orchestra and pipe organ, too. The house in which God's people gather is not what is central to our faith practice. It is the act of gathering; coming together so that the Spirit can be among us! And Jesus assures us that "where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20, NIV)
In a short book called Haggai, we find the LORD speaking to His people, urging them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. He asks them a pointed question. "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. .... Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (Haggai 1: 3-5, 8-9, NIV) The Lord took issue with their insistence that the Temple was not important to Him.
So, you might object that Haggai was writing to Jews whose practice included sacrifices offered in that Holy Place and that we no longer need such a place. Only in a partial sense would you be correct! There is no more single Holy Place, nor Altar where priests offer up sacrifices. Christ was the final sacrifice, offered up for the sins of the world. But the New Testament, while calling each one of us a 'temple' in which the Spirit dwells, also calls us together for worship! In Hebrews right alongside of a reference to the superior sacrifice of Christ, Christians are given this command: "let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:22-25, NIV)
The church house in which we gather might be someone's living room, a school gymnasium, a chapel by the roadside, a brick edifice, or a cathedral depending on the economy and function of the building. I have gathered with other Believers in all of the above and offered my praise and worship to the Living God. I once worshipped while sitting on a crude wooden bench in a former potato warehouse in India, singing accompanied only by the thump of a single drum! And I have worshipped among thousands, with orchestra and pipe organ, too. The house in which God's people gather is not what is central to our faith practice. It is the act of gathering; coming together so that the Spirit can be among us! And Jesus assures us that "where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20, NIV)
- If you're church is not a good church, then earnestly pray for her; don't abandon her! God may change the church or He may change you, but the act of loving His Church with prayer and support, is a choice of obedience that the Lord will always bless.
- If your church is a good, healthy Body, give thanks for the work being accomplished and pray for those who lead her to keep vision renewed and fervor fresh. Nothing breeds complacency like 'success' however that may be defined.
As much as some may denigrate the church, there is nothing that will contribute to the stability and vitality of your faith in a greater way than your church over the course of your life. God says so! If the Church is important to Him, it must be important to those who claim to love and serve Him! You better believe it.
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The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation by water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.
Elect from ev'ry nation, yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation- "One Lord, one faith, one birth;"
One holy name she blesses; partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses, with ev'ry grace endued.
Yet she on earth hath union with God the three in one,
And mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with Thee.
'Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation of peace forevermore;
'Till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious, shall be the Church at rest.
Though with a scornful wonder men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, "how long?"
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.
The Church's One Foundation
Samuel Stone, Samuel Wesley© Public Domain
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