O Come Let Us Adore

Christmas carols played softly on the car radio as I drove in the darkness. I find my time driving an excellent time for reflection and prayer, especially at night! No one but God can hear me. My conversation with Him is a combination of praise and petition. My heart, on that drive last night, was tender, open, waiting. Words of love and worship spilled over between petitions. It was a sweet time of connection and renewal after a long and stressful day.

Do you adore Him? Yes, we revere our Lord. We may worship Him in formal liturgy, but do you love and adore Him?  The word comes from two root words that mean “to open the mouth.”  Yes, we can learn a sweet, tender love language with our Lord for He loves us.  Private and personal, those words flow out of my heart.  In many ways, my love for the Lord is like the love I feel for family- strong, enduring, life-defining, and in need of daily nurture!  I speak often with Him.  I give worth (worship) to Him with words and actions. Do I always sense that kind of focus?  Of course not! There are the pressures of temptation and demands that would dilute my passion for God if I did not take time to turn my mind and heart to HIM! 

Those who know me are acquainted with my affection for my late wife. Even nearly a year after her death, she slips into my conversations many times each day.  She remains a presence in me. Do we love Jesus in a way so that He appears in our words and is a presence in our thoughts?  If we profess to adore Christ Jesus, that love will be evident to all. IF we never speak of Him or seldom speak to Him can we really claim to adore Him? I think not.

We may be fond of Jesus without speaking of Him. We may trust Him as Savior without speaking of Him, but we cannot claim to adore Him and remain silent about Him.   The Psalmist sings of his affection for the living God.  “Your love, God, is my song, and I'll sing it! I'm forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I'll never quit telling the story of your love— how you built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it. Your love has always been our lives' foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world." (Psalm 89)

In forty years of marriage, I learned early that love needed care and intention.  All kinds of things tried to intrude on the love Bev and I shared.  That is why we made choices like always having dinner together, making sure that we kept conversations fresh, and keeping our hearts open with no secrets between us our priorities.  

Loving the Lord is much the same. Other loves will try intrude!  In the book of the Revelation, Jesus laments the state of the church in Ephesus which had abandoned their love. They were dutifully religious, but without adoration! "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:3-5, NIV)

This Advent Season when you hear that carol, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," played, I hope it will stir you to a renewed adoration!

Open your mouth and give Him praise. 
Sing and speak of His goodness.

A word of caution is in order here. IF you don't adore Him, then don't try to convince yourself or someone else that you do with empty words or borrowed words!

Your insincerity will quickly become apparent to others, if not to yourself!  YOU can adore Him. If your love of Christ has gone cold, there is but one reason: increase of sin and disobedience.  The cure for sin sickness is not to talk more or sing louder.  Jesus says we find our way home to Him by turning around (repent) and focusing our hearts on Him as we did in the first experiences of His grace.

Love is first and foremost a choice; secondarily an emotion. Jesus warned that  "Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold."  (Matthew 24:12) If that's describing you, turn back to God.  Find a place alone with Him and tell Him you've fallen for another lover, then renew your commitment to Him.  Go to those you've wronged and ask them for forgiveness. Then, accept the wonderful love of the Savior whose "unfailing love never ends!

Here is the word from the Word. Lord, captivate us. Let us hear your song of love and adore You. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NLT)

"Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:7-8, NLT)

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O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Sing choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
O sing all ye bright hosts of heav'n above.

Glory to God, All glory in the highest.

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n.

Word of the Father now in flesh appearing.

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

John Wade © Public Domain

The dust washed out of my eyes

Noah and Mel are about 3 decades younger, filled with the call of God to a remote part of Mexico, where they will be ambassadors for Christ to many who still live in spiritual darkness without the Hope and Light that is found in knowing Jesus as Savior. It was my privilege to spend much of the day with them, learning their story and sharing parts of my spiritual journey. As we spoke of where we had been, what we had learned, and our experiences of God’s love and guidance, my own vision was renewed.  Ever had dust blow into your eyes so that your vision is blurred? When tear ducts overflow and you blink, the dust is washed out and clear sight returns. That was what I felt like spiritually yesterday. The dust of doubt was washed out of my eyes by the tears of faith!

Have you become so taken up with the trials and challenges of life that you have lost sight of the big picture? 
Have you fallen into a pattern of complaint and negativity that obscures the reality of God’s love for you?

The Scripture warns about blurred vision. God paints us a picture in the world around us to reveal His majesty. Will we see it? "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:20-21, NIV)  What blurs our vision?  It is our refusal to worship and to be grateful!  But, as I was reminded yesterday, when we speak of His wonders, when we offer ourselves in worship, He renews our vision!

So…. What do you see this morning?
-about the core purpose of your life?
-for your children's future?
-about finding a way to honor God in what you do as your daily work?
- about making Jesus and His Kingdom visible in this darkened world?

Jesus challenged his disciples to re-consider their assumptions about life and possibilities. He said, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true." (John 4:34-37, NLT)  OPEN YOUR EYES. Becoming visionary is hard work. Implementing and maintaining vision is harder still. However, without clear and God-formed vision we quickly become mired in mediocrity, become a burnt-out shell, and the work of God goes undone.

Here is the word from the Word.  Let Jesus speak to you today. “No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.” (Luke 11:33-36, The Message)

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Open Our Eyes

 Open our eyes, Lord,We want to see Jesus;To reach out and touch HimAnd say that we love Him.Open our ears, Lord,And help us to listen.Open our eyes, Lord,We want to see Jesus!

Bob Cull © 1976 CCCM Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

Generations at war?

At age 61, I suppose I qualify as one of those “old white guys” that a recent New York Times Op-Ed piece blamed for the ills of American Christianity. I read it with a sad but knowing heart. Are some of the things the author said true? They certainly are and my prayer is that a loving, gentle, Spirit-guided conversation will move Christ’s people to a presentation of the amazing Gospel for this time and culture. But, the arrogance that broadly paints some very generous and sacrificial pastors and teachers with nothing but disdain is equally wrong.

No generation gets it right every time. When I was 30, I caused the leaders who were a generation older than I some heartburn with my broad, sweeping, and often quite negative generalizations about their faith practices. More than once I remember thinking, “How can they not see their faults, the way that their preconceptions and ideas are holding back the Church?” And, I was foolish and sinful in my dismissive attitude.  One of my biggest regrets in life is my harsh criticisms of those men and women on whose shoulders I stood.

In my reading of the Gospels for Advent, I came upon those dreaded ‘begats’ again. Both Matthew and Luke include genealogies, listing of the generations of Jesus’ family. Why are they there? Because those lists of names represent people, lives, choices of previous generations that were the foundations for Jesus’ life and times. Jesus did not arrive to a blank slate, into a brand new world.  He came to a culture shaped by decisions of many fathers and mothers. The ‘begats’ are a recognition of that as well as a connection to the prophecies of His descent from the line of David.

If we are wise, we too will recognize our ‘begats.’ We not only have earthly parents who gave us life, we are descendants of spiritual parents whose choices laid a foundation for the experience of Christ that we know. There were both heroes and scoundrels in Jesus’ genealogy. He had an adulterer or two in his line. He had a murderer back there, too. There were also many who are just a name to us, whose accomplishments are lost to time.  In our spiritual heritage we will have a mixture, too. There will be those who got some things completely wrong and there will be those who have huge influence because of their heroic efforts. Mostly there will be a lot of earnest, nearly anonymous people who just did their best to pass the faith along as best they could given the knowledge and opportunities that came their way.

Let all of us beware of the sins that beset us. The young tend to see the need to change for some anticipated future. The old tend to see the glories of the past and the need to hang onto treasured traditions. The wisest among us, young and old, will blend those streams.  The elders will offer a steadying influence as the youngers will pull Christ’s church into the future with innovative ways of making the Truth known. Paul, in his inspired instructions to a younger Timothy, shows us the way to a healthy cooperation of generations. "Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters." (1 Timothy 5:1-2, The Message)  A kind of respectful love should cause our conversations to include gentleness and understanding.

The word from the Word is for all of us – young and old – and compels us to an attitude that ultimately allows the beauty of Jesus to shine through us despite our flaws, failures, and foolishness. May we have ears to hear the Spirit’s words.

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, 
and endures through every circumstance.

 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages 
and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!

But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-11, NLT)

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Faith Of Our Fathers (St Catherine)

Faith of our fathers living still
In spite of dungeon fire and sword
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear that glorious word

Faith of our fathers holy faith
We will be true to thee till death

Our fathers chained in prisons dark
Were still in heart and conscience free
How sweet would be their children's fate
If they like them could die for Thee

Faith of our fathers we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then be truly free

Faith of our fathers we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife
And preach Thee too as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life

Frederick William Faber | Henri Frederick Hemy
© Words: Public Domain

Faith or Fate?

It’s that time of year when I invest some time planning for coming months and reviewing the year past.  I like to remember the ‘wins’ the moments when I see God at work and I try to learn from the flops and failures.  One of the things that brings me joy is taking note of how ‘things have worked out’ and not because I forced circumstances to my desires, but because I walked in daily obedience to the Lord of life. In those moments, my hope for the future is renewed for He knows all of my tomorrows.  It is not fate to which I resign, but rather faith that is my choice. 

Years ago I was ‘certain’ that I belonged on the staff of a church in a state far away. They offered a position to me that I felt I could fill. As Bev and I  began to prepare to relocate, uneasiness grew in me. I even became physically sick! Finally, I gave up my dream and said, “yes,” to obedience to the Spirit.  About six months later, that church fell into major conflict and disarray. The Lord spared me from being drawn into that mess and likely becoming unemployed and broke!

I do not believe in fate. I do believe that Faith is not just an idea, but a way of life. We are assured that when we “keep step with the Spirit,” He always leads ‘in paths of righteousness.’  The Word tells us that "If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24, NIV) What a promise for each of us, who respond to His leading, who love His ways. WE never walk alone.

Peter heard Jesus talking about going to the Cross. In love, he could not understand how such a terrible thing could be allowed by God so Peter "took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him." (Mark 8:32, NIV) “Don’t talk that way, Jesus. What purpose could such a thing serve?”   We, from our point in time, know that the Cross was the plan of God.  Peter's good intentions earned him strong correction. "Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. "Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works."  (Mark 8:33, The Message)  Let’s make sure we listen before we speak, understand before we declare what God’s will is.

Disciples need a heart that obeys without argument, without hesitation.  Even as I write that line, I want to remind you that none of us should allow fear of somehow missing God’s purpose to paralyze us. He's a big God who is perfectly capable of guiding and keeping us and that is reason for us to live confidently.  The thing that we need to guard against is stubbornness.

As you look back over 2016 and forward to the New Year, don’t resign to fate. Choose to walk in faith in the One who knows tomorrow.

Our word from the Word is taken out of Psalm 37.
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."  (Psalm 37:1-7, NIV)

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Father, I thank you for the promise that You will always guide us.
I am often tempted to walk by fate! Teach me to walk by faith!
Open my eyes to the possibilities that exist in Your purpose,
And keep me from seeing only the ‘obvious.’

My greatest joy is to do what You want me to do, to be where You desire me to be.
Make the way plain, Lord, and gently, yet firmly, keep me in the center of Your plan where there is great joy, wonderful peace, and blessings for this life and eternity.

In Jesus' Name, I ask this today. Amen.

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