Baby and King

Yesterday, on Thanksgiving, I met a man of my generation who had come to faith in Jesus in the 1970’s during the “Jesus People” spiritual movement that swept America at that time. As he told me his story about conversion, about finding purpose in Christ, about starting Bible Studies just 2 weeks after cracking open the Bible for the first time, my heart welled up with emotion and I could not help murmur a prayer – “Lord, do it again!”  So many came to faith in that time. So many churches were built. There were so many ministries established.  The doctrine of the “Second Coming” of the Lord was a major theme.

Christians today probably find it hard to even imagine just how intensely we (yes, I was part of that revival) expected the imminent Return of the Lord.  As happens, the doctrine became unbalanced and what I call  "Rapture" fever took over, skewing a wonderful doctrine of hope into a message of fear and judgment. Some of you will remember those terribly made movies that were shown in every evangelical church’s Sunday night meetings; "Thief in the Night" and "Distant Thunder" They scared the sin out of Christians for at least a week every time we saw one of them! 

We didn't want to be “left behind” to face the horrors of the Tribulation era and the rule of the Anti-Christ. Prophecy preachers saw signs of the Return of Christ in every newspaper article and painted fantastic pictures of a world in flames which awaited anyone not 'ready for the coming of the Lord!'   At least for me what the Bible terms the "Blessed Hope"  became anything but blessed or hopeful!  

With a better grasp of the Bible’s prophecy texts and the grace of God, I still anticipate the coming of the Lord, but in a much more hopeful way. I love the message of Advent with the familiar themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, the annual reminder that the One who came to us as a Baby in a manger will return to us as the King of Kings. Advent reminds us that the story is not finished just yet, not for us individually nor for the Church.

This Sunday as we begin to celebrate Advent, how I pray that each of us will be renewed in true hope.  I pray that God, the Spirit, will lift our eyes so that we will see, once again, that we are eternal creatures, meant for more than a few years of struggle on this earth, destined by His Plan to live in the fullness of His reign.  When we sing the songs that tell us about God’s choice to step over the threshold of eternity and into time, humbling Himself to become a man, let’s rejoice.  And, let’s remember, anew, Advent’s most wonderful message: the Blessed Hope that Christ will come again.

In your prayers and ponderings today think on these words from the Word.

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7, NIV)

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."  (Revelation 21:4-7, NIV)

The promised return of the King will change not only perspective but life itself!
This Advent worship the King!
Connect the Incarnation and the Revelation; the Baby and the King of Glory.
Advent will take on new meaning - not only of remembering a baby’s birth, but of hope of the King's coronation.

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 Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
and Heav'n and nature sing,
and Heav'n and nature sing,
and Heav'n and Heav'n and nature sing!

Isaac Watts, public domain

A realist’s Thanksgiving

Christians know this directive - "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV) I know it, too.  Does that mean we must attempt to exist in a world of unrelenting positivity, ignoring the hardships and problems of this world? That question creates a false choice – that we can either be realistic or we can be thankful.  I am convinced that the deepest gratitude grows from knowing the reality in which we live and seeing our needs matched by God’s provision!

Are you struggling to be truly thankful this year?  I hope this CWTW will encourage you today.

Let me give you a look at my process as I choose to be a realistic giver of thanks.

• I know that energy prices are rising but I am grateful that there is fuel for my car and heat in my home.

• I know that I am growing older in body but I am thankful for the wisdom that accompanies my experience in life.

• I know that the nation in which I live is divided but I am thankful that for the freedom to express my opinion and vote my conscience.

• I know grief that is lasting after the death of my wife 6 years ago but I am thankful for the 40 years we shared and the promise of eternal life in Christ.

• I know that I am a flawed and failing person but I am grateful that there is a Flawless Savior Whose grace is deep and wide on my behalf.
  

So, what’s your ‘reality?’ Will you include a longer and higher view than what you can see in the moment?

I have said it before but the point bears making again. The joy that a Christian can experience is different than happiness. Who does not like being happy, which ‘happens’ (see the connection?) when the sun shines, when resources are abundant, when things are going well for us?  But, even in the lives of good Christians the rainy days will come, relationships will get strained, unanticipated expenses will empty the bank account, the doctor will tell us that our health is threatened.  In those moments, we can remain joyful in hope. 

Oh yes, we realistically understand life’s challenges and develop strategies to deal with them even as we lean on the Lord in faith. The wisdom of the Word gives us this assurance - "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28, NLT)  He is there, at work, for our good.  Lord, I believe, help me overcome my unbelief!

Match your problems with prayers. Make your prayer than those desperate kind of pleas - “Oh get me out this situation, God, now.” Instead pray in worship, of deep surrender. Choose silence. Meditate on His love. "Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. " (Philippians 4:7, The Message)

Tomorrow do not settle for an inauthentic kind of Thanksgiving.
Don’t just do ‘happy talk’ that is unmatched by inner joy.  Be a realistic giver of thanks.  

The word from the Word points to praise. May the Spirit make it our song.

"Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalm 30:4-5, NLT)

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" (Psalm 30:11-12, NLT)

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Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee (Ode To Joy)

(Carrie Underwood sings)

Joyful joyful we adore Thee
God of glory Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee
Opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day

All Thy works with joy surround Thee
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee
Center of unbroken praise
Field and forest vale and mountain
Flowery meadow flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee

Mortals join the mighty chorus
Which the morning stars began
Father love is reigning o'er us
Brother love binds man to man
Ever singing march we onward
Victors in the midst of strife
Joyful music lifts us Sonward
In the triumph song of life

 

Edward Hodges | Henry Van Dyke | Ludwig van Beethoven
© Words: Public Domain

 

 

Well, what do you know?

 

Ever had a moment of when something about yourself became crystal clear in an instant, like the proverbially light switch was flipped to on? It happened to me yesterday when someone made a casual remark about something in my life that is less than it ought to be. My first impulse was to raise a defense, to say “That’s not true!,” to offer excuses. I did not do that, though. I chose to think about it, to process it, to ask God prayerfully to guide me to change. It’s not a huge thing, but it was enough to make the night a restless one. Ever been on that journey?

Those who would be mature and productive must grow in self-awareness, understanding the who, the what, the why about themselves, which is a lot simpler to write about than it is to do.  We need to ask ourselves, from time to time, “What is going on in my brain?  Why am I saying that, doing this, chasing that goal?” This grasp of who we truly are gives us great freedom, but it is purchased at a high price. We have to be willing to face the fact of our human imperfection. We will need to submit to the scrutiny of others, both God, the Holy Spirit, and trusted friends. We will have to be willing to change, and most of us resist that ‘until the pain of remaining the same exceeds the pain of change.’  

Here is the wonderful fact about growing emotionally and spiritually as a follower of Christ: you have a Trusted Guide!  Jesus was speaking with His friends the night before He went to the cross. He spoke at length about the coming Holy Spirit of Whom He said. "Instead, you are very sad. But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment." (John 16:6-8, NLT) "Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me." (John 16:12-15, NLT)

God sees us as we truly are, not just in the context of a moment, but in the totality of our lives. He knows our DNA, our family history, our experiences, our successes, our failures, our training, and our abilities. He comes us to as Love, not to destroy us, but to save us and make us whole. Foundational to true spiritual transformation is the faith that accepts this truth – God is for me, not against me.  The Cross of Christ is the testimony of His love, the reason we can lean into Him Presence and pray for transformation. Meditate on this: "Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. …  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." (John 6:35-37, NIV)

As we live in that place of full acceptance as a child of God, we can let Him reveal our secrets to us – the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly -  which He does by the work of His Spirit, by the truth of His Word, and through the community of the Church.  I should not imply that this is all a terrible or painful process.  Yes, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, those moments when He touches something in us that is less than God’s desire, is often hard. But, we need experience His corrections as condemnation.  We need not wallow in guilt, hide in shame, or run to the dark from His Presence in such moments. The Garden Story of Genesis shows us that mistake when Adam and Eve hid from the Lord. Instead, we open up to Him in transparency – “here I am, just as I am.” 

The whole of this truth is that we are ‘clothed in the righteousness of Christ’ even as we are becoming more like Him. We exist in a ‘now and not yet’ world, one where Christ has completely saved us from sin and death by His grace gift, but where we are still saints under construction who are ‘being saved’ into His likeness.  Here is great sustaining truth for the battle for holiness - "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, (will)   give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints… " (Ephesians 1:17-18, NIV)

Give thanks today for His love – that He loves you enough to call you to change and loves you patiently through the up’s and down’s of the process. Take hold the hope – there is a glorious freedom for the children of God.

The word from the Word is the testimony I hold. May it be yours as well. "I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. " (Philippians 3:12-16, The Message)

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Graves Into Gardens

I searched the world but it couldn't fill me
Man's empty praise and treasures that fade
Are never enough
Then You came along and put me back together
And every desire is now satisfied here in Your love

Oh there's nothing better than You
There's nothing better than You
Lord there's nothing
Nothing is better than You

I'm not afraid to show You my weakness
My failures and flaws
Lord You've seen them all
And You still call me friend
'Cause the God of the mountain
Is the God of the valley
And there's not a place
Your mercy and grace won't find me again

You turn mourning to dancing
You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory
You're the only one who can

You turn graves into gardens
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You're the only one who can

Brandon Lake | Chris Brown | Steven Furtick | Tiffany Hudson

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