O Holy Night

O Holy Night

 “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths

 and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

            The air was cold that night and the group of shepherds huddled together by the fire trying to keep warm.  It was an ordinary night in the hills outside of Bethlehem.   They talked about their families and the fear they had of King Herod. 

            In Bethlehem, the inn keeper was still grumbling about all the people he had to deal with.  He was happy to have so many staying with him, but now it was full and he had to turn away several.  The young couple stayed on his mind.  The woman looked so tired and it was obvious she was about to deliver a child.  Out of the goodness of his heart, he let them stay in the stable, but what a terrible place to give birth to a child.

            In the stable, Joseph piled clean straw as far from the animals as he could.  He then took off his cloak and laid it over the mound of straw.  Mary quickly lay down and Joseph covered her with her cloak.  He could see the tears in her eyes; tears of fear.  She was young and inexperienced; wishing her mother could be there.  She would know what to do.

            This is the way it was that first Christmas; everything was set in place for the greatest event in history.  The angels were gathered together in anticipation of what was about to take place. One angel was surrounded by a great light that shone all around them.  Joy was on the face of each angel as they sang praises to the Almighty One.

            Back in Bethlehem, out of the stillness of the night a baby’s cry rang out.  It woke the innkeeper from a restless sleep and he smiled sleepily and then fell into a peaceful sleep. Other people in the inn woke up to a bright light shining in their faces only to look out at the brightest star in the sky they had ever seen.

Out on the hillside, the shepherds had just settled down by the fire when an angel appeared to them.  The Glory of God was all around them and they were so afraid they covered their faces with their arms and were ready to run when the angel called out, “Don’t be afraid.  I came to bring you the best news you ever heard.  A baby was just born in a stable in Bethlehem, who is Jesus Christ, Savior of the world.”

As the shepherds stood there, their mouths open in shock, the whole sky was suddenly filled with angels and they were all singing and glorifying God.  They sang about the earth being filled with peace and love for each other.  Just as quickly as they came – they left and the sky was dark except for a brilliant star shining down over Bethlehem. Forgotten were the sheep as the shepherds hurriedly walked down the path towards Bethlehem.

In the stable, Mary held her newborn baby close to her breast. She had brought swaddling cloths to wrap her baby in.  Joseph had taken a small manger, filled it with fresh hay, covered it up with soft cloth and set it beside Mary for a cradle.  They had settled down when they heard voices outside the stable.  Joseph rose quickly and peered out the entrance.  There stood a group of shepherds; their faces filled with wonder as they told Joseph about the angels and their message.

Joseph went back inside and spoke to Mary who nodded and laid the baby in the manger.  Then he went back and asked the shepherds to enter.  When they looked in the manger and saw the baby, they all knelt down on the stable floor and worshipped the Child. Tears ran slowly down Mary’s face and Joseph looked on in wonder. They both realized, in that holy moment, that this child was truly the Son of God.  They were amazed that God had chosen them to be the parents of their Savior and they also worshipped the Lord. 

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come; let earth receive her King.”

A Week Before Christmas

A Week Before Christmas

A true story – Christmas in 1963

            It was just one week before Christmas when I finally awoke to the fact that my shopping wasn’t even half finished.  I really meant to get it finished early this year, but I was too involved in making wreaths, spraying pine cones and just thinking about all I had to do.

            Then too, I kept expecting some surprise check to come in the mail.  I didn’t know where it would come from, but it was a nice thought.  Why hadn’t I joined that Christmas Savings club last year?  Oh well, I’d just have to stretch that paycheck a little bit further even if it was already like worn out elastic.

           Early one morning I set out with determination, if not enthusiasm, to finish my shopping.  I checked my list out over morning coffee; I thought that knowing what I wanted was half the battle.

            Arriving downtown, on Western Avenue, I drove around looking for a parking spot. I felt like I had received my first Christmas gift when thirty-five minutes later I pulled into an empty space.  Once in the stores I smiled bravely when elbows crashed into my sides; oversized packages hit me in the face and when other people thought my feet were just bumps in the floor.  After inching my way to a certain counter and found they were ‘out of stock’, I had to wipe a tear from my eye.  The clerk tried to be helpful by suggesting other stores that might carry the item I was looking for.  Of course those were the stores where I had already been and they were at least four blocks away.

            At last the day was over and I checked off the final item on my list.  I was cold and hungry and hadn’t taken time to eat.  TIME! The parking meter was half a block away and I could see the little white paper fluttering on the windshield of my car.  With a black heart, I thought to myself, “I bet it even says ‘Merry Christmas’ on it.

            Reaching the car, I found that I could not get the keys out of my purse without putting down all the packages.  Those in my left arm were shifted to my hip and then slide them over onto the trunk lid. I then unwound the string handles of the over-weighted shopping bag from my right arm, only to find the circulation had been shut off so long my hand was numb.

            As I clumsily unlocked the door of the car, I noticed my packages were slowly sliding off the trunk with the melting snow.  Making a quick grab, I somehow caught them and piled all of them in the car, which was quite a feat, being one handed at the moment.

            Sometime late I pulled into my driveway and glancing at my watch, was shocked at the lateness of the time.  The children would be home from school in ten minutes.  I jumped out of the car and began grabbing packages.  By this time I could use both of my hands, but in my hurrying, the shopping bag slipped and fell to the ground, ripping and spilling its contents in the snow.  I gathered up an armload and slipped and slid up the slippery walk.  Once inside I deposited the load on the living room floor.  Huffing and puffing I ran back out to get the rest.

            It was then I began a rare balancing act – first on one foot, then a foot and an arm and for the grand finale; the posterior and one elbow.  The former being well padded only bounced, but the elbow suffered.   With what little dignity I had left, I gathered my various parts in order and again one-handed, managed to get the remainder of the packages into the house.

            My elbow was beginning to get a strong feeling in it as I crammed everything into my bedroom closet.  I closed the door just as the children all tromped in from school. Susie, bless her heart, had thought to bring in the mail.  Glancing quickly through the pile of bills, I came across a familiar shaped envelope.  I knew before my shaking hands opened it, that it was our first Christmas card.  I collapsed into the nearest chair as I thought of the neatly stacked boxes of cards on the shelf that hadn’t been addressed yet.

            Weary, in pain and faint from hunger, I got to my feet and went into the kitchen to prepare supper.  My only thought was to hold on until my husband came home and then he could take over.  I would swallow two aspirins, crawl into bed and address cards while resting.  It would save time and the way I felt; maybe even my life.

            A car crunched to a stop in the drive; “He’s home” I thought with joy and reached for the aspirin bottle.  He came in singing, “Jingle Bells” and dragging what looked to me, like a twenty foot pine tree.  Propping it against the refrigerator he called out, “Merry Christmas, wife,” it’s the night to trim the tree.”

Not getting a response, he asked, “Why are you crying?  What’s wrong?”

Sniffing loudly, I dried my tears and tried to smile, but when I moved the pain shot right through my elbow.  When I finally pulled off my sweater, I was surprised to see a lump the size of a big Christmas ornament right on the tip of my elbow.  The color dazzled my eyes; a shiny blue-black.  He looked at it and was sure it was cracked and from the way it felt, I had to agree.

            A call to the doctor; a trip to the hospital and several x-rays later, the verdict was that I had a badly bruised elbow that was to be kept wrapped in a vertical position for more than a week while the swelling went down.

Home again; my husband fixed supper; his specialty of cold scrambled eggs and burned toast.  It was a jolly affair with the children laughing at me while I clumsily ate with my left hand, spilling food and trying to butter the toast one-handed.

            After entertaining the family during our meal, I took advantage of the sofa while they erected the pine tree that just wouldn’t stand up straight.

            It was late that night when I crawled into bed.  The pain pills helped a little, but I was tense and miserable thinking about the baking, cleaning, gift wrapping and the other million things to be done in the few remaining days before Christmas.  “How do you roll out sugar cookies with one hand,” I mused?  “I wish there wasn’t such a thing as Christmas.”

            At that moment, I heard music coming from down the street; a group of carolers blending their voices in “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.”  Hot tears began to trickle down my cheeks and the anxiety drifted away.  A prayer found its way into my weary mind.  “Forgive me, Father,” I prayed, “the blessing of Christmas somehow slipped by me.”

            I had been so wrapped up in all the preparation parts of Christmas and gave no thought to the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

            With my heart back on the right road and thinking of the joy that Christmas brings to each of us, peace began to flood my soul.  I knew that everything was going to be alright.  After all, “all things work together for the good of those who love God.” 

        Muskegon Michigan - 1960’s        

Christmas on Sunday?

Christmas on Sunday?

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,

but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the LORD’s holy day.”

Isaiah 58:13 (NLT)

You would think that Christmas Day falling on a Sunday this year was a tragic event that was going to ruin everyone’s life from tiny babies to old-timers. I have never heard of so many complaints.  Yet it happens every so many years.  It will happen again in 2022, 2033, and 2039 and on and on.  It’s happened in the past and all have survived. 

 

How do the vast majority handle this earth shaking event?  “Well, you won’t see me in church on Christmas day.”  “This would be too traumatic for my kids.”  We have traditions and we aren’t breaking them.”  “I have so many coming for dinner; I wouldn’t have time to go to church.”  Well, I could tell you of many other excuses people have, but I have a lot of suggestions to fix these if anyone cares to listen.

This is a time in the history of our country when we need to join conservative groups who want to “put Christ back in Christmas.”  We are sending the wrong message to today’s culture when we put ourselves and our children first and worship as an option.

I want to share this anonymous quote, “It’s Christmas for crying out loud! It’s the day we celebrate the incarnation, the birth of the Messiah, the entrance into our world of the second Person of Trinity. Don’t we want to sing? Don’t we want to celebrate? Don’t we want to preach and praise and pray?”

Here’s another quote, “Family is a gift, not a god. I love, love, love waking up on Christmas, doing the Advent wreath with the kids, having a big brunch, and opening presents with the family. Yes, it will be hectic to get everyone out of the house for church. Yes, it will mean a delay in all the normal festivities. But maybe the normal festivities should not be deemed more important than the Festival itself. I want my family to know that we rearrange our schedule for corporate worship; we don’t expect corporate worship to be rearranged for us.”

These quotes really say it all and I can’t add much to them. My daughter said to me the other day, “How can I not go to church Christmas morning to worship Jesus whom Christmas is all about?  It would be an insult to the Lord and a poor example to others if I did my own thing and left Him out.”

I recently did a lot of studying about Christmas and found some interesting facts, some of what I already knew but are worth sharing here.  Basically the way we practice Christmas had its roots in paganism.  Down through the centuries the celebrations have changed drastically from the Roman’s ungodly festival of Saturnalia to what we practice today.

Even though Christmas trees, gift giving and even Santa Claus come from pagan practices, they have become ‘Family Traditions’.  Most of us have grown up with these traditions and they have nothing to do with anything ungodly.  For myself, everything is centered on my family; getting together, exchanging gifts and eating special foods.  When my children were young I made a birthday cake for Jesus and we would sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him, somehow that tradition didn’t continue.

 I wish it would have because it brings Jesus into our celebration which should be about Him!  This year Christmas comes on Sunday and what a joy it is to celebrate the birthday of our Savior.  After all, He should come first in our lives, our families and our celebrations.

Christmas on a Small Budget

Christmas on a Small Budget

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) 

                                         Those who love money will never have enough.                                                                How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!                                                

          What became of our values regarding holidays, gifts and joy?  Let me take you back to the early 1900’s and what Christmas was all about. Christmas became a Federal Holiday in 1870 and Christmas for the average family amounted to maybe a knitted scarf or mittens and possibly a stick of candy or carved toy for the children.  Many didn’t even have Christmas trees, but families had traditions.  Some families had a quiet time in the evening and someone read the story of Jesus from the Bible. Most people had Bibles even if there were no other books in the home.  Generally, a special family dinner was served and neighbors and friends joined in the celebration.

          Over the next thirty years, things changed dramatically; it became more commercial each year.  Stores were packed with toys, Santa Claus appeared in almost every store and Christmas music filled the air.  Even window dressings became animated with elves, trees and gifts of all kind. However, the ‘reason for the season’ could be found in every city, town and village.  Nativity scenes were found in city squares, parks and in front of churches of all kinds.

          Then the World War II brought more changes in the late 30’s and in the 40’s.  Even though the celebrations continued, there was a solemnness that overshadowed it.  Young men, fathers, brothers and neighbors were far from home in other countries fighting in war-torn lands.  Our boys were there fighting so war would not reach our land.  I know this because my older brother was one of those fighting.

          Money was not plentiful for families during war time; so many things were hard to get and even food was rationed.  I still have some of those ration stamps.  I was so young then that I didn’t realize the lack of anything.  So when Christmas came around, my dad cut a tree and my older sister decorated it. Soon wrapped packages appeared under it. I was so excited I couldn’t wait for the big day to come.

          The week before Christmas, things got really mysterious.  Doors were closed and I was told to stay out.  I couldn’t open closet doors or even open dresser drawers.  Mother baked all kinds of goodies, but the best was that she had saved as much sugar as she could so she could make our homemade Fudge (sugar was also rationed).  It was cut in very small pieces and we could only have a piece now and then.  I do remember it was the best tasting fudge I ever had and I savored each bite.

          It was Christmas Eve at last.  We went to church and sang wonderful Christmas Carols that I still love today. We were given bags of candy with an apple and a peppermint stick in each bag.  In my mind, when we left church it was snowing big white flakes which were falling softly on my cheeks and nose.  It was magical to me and it seemed to be like the song we sang in church, Silent Night, Holy Night. 

          When we arrived at home, it was my bedtime and I begged to stay up and see Santa Claus, but to no avail.  I was tucked into my bed and prayers were said; I cried because I wanted to see my ‘Brovey’.  My mother prayed with me for my brother to be kept safe wherever he was that night.

          I jumped out of bed Christmas morning and ran into the living room where our tree was already lighted.  I don’t know what I expected to find, but lined up across the back of the sofa was every doll and teddy bear I had; even a stuffed clown.  Each of them were wearing new clothes right down to crocheted booties on their feet.  I didn’t know which one to play with first.  There was no new doll or fancy toy, but I loved all the old ones in new clothes.  Of course, as always, there were several new books, because I loved books and a new dress my mother made for me.  I had no idea that my parents had no money to buy new toys and such. I just thought it was a fabulous Christmas and still remember it as one of my favorites.

          I grew up knowing that Jesus was the most important thing about Christmas but today it seems that Christmas is all about gifts; expensive gifts and lots of them.  If your children love you, they will still love and what you give them, even if it’s less expensive than what they wanted. Point out to them the miracle of Baby Jesus in the manger.  Then point to the Cross and tell them again that God sent his only son so they can live forever. 

          Get them gifts that mean something to them, because all the money you spend won’t bring them happiness or joy.  Yes, they might be happy for a while, but it won’t last.  Teach them that giving is the best part of Christmas and will really make them happy.  Include them in making something for a neighbor or friend who doesn’t have much.  It doesn’t need to be expensive, but it shows that person that you care and that’s worth more than any amount of money.  Give from your heart and not your wallet.

          Above all, don’t forget why we celebrate Christmas; share the good news with friends and family, “Today, in Bethlehem, a Savior was born, who is Christ the Lord”

Every Knee Will Bow.

Saying Good-Bye to November

Saying Good-Bye to November

“I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”   Psalm 34:4

I glanced at the calendar this week and was shocked to see we were at the end of November. My mind skipped back over this year; Easter, Memorial Day, 4^th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving were all past.  Now I was facing “December”!  It had been such a busy year that the thought of Christmas was looming up in front of me.  What was I to do?  My mind quickly went to gifts for my immediate family; my extended family and friends and on and on and on.

December stood before me like a giant Santa Claus waiting for me to fill his bag.  I tried to write a list of everyone I had bought gifts for last year and then tried to think of what I could get each one this year.  It gave me a brain freeze to the point I couldn’t think of a single thing for any of them. 

“Calm down”, I told myself, “It isn’t quite December 1^st yet and then I have 25 days left.”  I put down my pen and paper and walked away from my desk.  However, I just couldn’t get it out of my mind.  I sat down in my favorite chair to mull this over in my mind.  Why wasn’t I like some people I know; they shopped all year and were now ready for the big 25^th.  I realized I was actually feeling anxious.

Then a scripture came to mind, “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.”  Yes, it said ‘all my fears’. That means anything that causes you to be anxious, God will set your mind at ease and calm your fears. 

I chuckled to myself that I would get upset over the thought of Christmas, although it would have been nice for November to have held on a little longer.  The more I thought about it, the foolisher I felt. [I don’t think ‘foolisher is a word] I have trusted God for everything in my life including many big things and he has never disappointed me.  I also thought about a verse in Philippians 4:6, where it says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

That did it; what I really should be thinking about is that Jesus, God’s only Son, came to earth for me and all of you so we might have eternal life.  Since when has buying gifts and giving parties and every other thing we celebrate become the most important thing about Christmas?  First of all the stores were filled with everything ‘Christmas’ before Thanksgiving.  Before Thanksgiving so many were getting ready for ‘Black Friday’.  People hurried to get Thanksgiving over so they could go shopping.

Another thing was instead of waiting for ‘Black Friday’, several stores opened on Thanksgiving so they could rob us of enjoying it and giving thanks to God for what He has given us all year.  What a ploy Satan has put before us.  I looked up the full meaning of ‘ploy’:  “A cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage.”  Satan will use whatever he can to get our mind off the most important event in all of history, Jesus Christ was born to save us from our sins! 

Well, I for one, have decided I’m not buying it;  Jesus is the only Reason for this Season and I’m planning on spending it to talk about Him, share with others about Him and let my love of God shine before all my friends and family.  Oh, yes, Satan will be madder than all get-out, but that’s alright because the Lord goes before me and he’s my rear guard. 

I’m playing Christmas music all day; when I have time, I’ll think about gifts.  I already bought subscriptions to Guideposts magazines for most of my family members.  This is not a commercial, but this gift shows them Jesus for each month of the year.  I pray that God will use it to encourage them to walk closer with Him.  I am actually looking forward to sending Christmas cards this year.  I had to ask the Lord to forgive me for not putting Him first and thank Him for all he has done for me and especially for His Salvation. 

Good-bye November and welcome December!  Turn up the music, give God the glory and go into December with a heart filled with Joy.  Jesus was born; let’s celebrate!

  

  

 “Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.”               Luke 1:30-31 

Give Thanks

Give Thanks

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

Over the years I’ve written several stories and poems about Thanksgiving; some funny and some nostalgic and some spiritual.  We all know why Thanksgiving is a holiday and the history behind it such as the story of the Pilgrims and Indians so what can I say about Thanksgiving that’s different? We’ve heard all the sermons about a thankful heart and to give thanks in all circumstances. Why is it so important to understand scripturally what thanksgiving means?    

In the NKJ version of the Bible, the word ‘thanksgiving’ is used 31 times and ‘give thanks’ is used 75 times. The number of uses seems to give these words a great deal of importance.  Why should we be so thankful when there are times that nothing seems to work out, nor do we see God’s hand in action in our lives? 

            First of all, we need to be thankful for all the amazing things God has created and all the things he has done; even giving life to us humans.  Psalm 26:7 says, “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works.”  Where would we be without the sun and the moon; the oceans, lakes and rivers; the green fields to grow food; the animals and birds; the fish of the sea?  These are the physical things to give thanks for.  Also included in His wondrous works are spiritual things such as salvation and eternal life; the fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  Galations 5:22-23 

            Secondly, Psalm 97:12 “Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.” This scripture is very interesting because it tells the believer (righteous) that when we remember the Lord, which should be quite often, we should give thanks!  As a believer, I think about the Lord all through the day, but don’t always say ‘thank you, Lord’ when I do think of Him.  And yet the bible clearly states that we should.  I have a feeling if we did that; we would receive a great blessing as well as a closer walk with Him – the Lover of our soul.

            Thirdly , when we have a great need we must call out to God, the Father in prayer and supplication, which most Christians do.  However there is one key we may omit in these prayers.

Phil 4: 6 tells us what that key is, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”  We may be desperate in giving God our requests, but how often do we approach Him with thanksgiving at these times.  How often do we become so involved our troubles that giving thanks never enters the picture?

            Fourthly, we must be thankful to God even when facing death because we love God more than ourselves, like Daniel did.  Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days”  Daniel just received the news that anyone found praying to God rather than King Darius would be thrown to the lions.  Was Daniel just trying to be a martyr?  No, he trusted our heavenly Father and gave him thanks whether or not he survived. Give me that kind of courage, Lord, to give thanks and rejoice in God, the Father in times of facing illness or death.  That is the mark of a true Believer.

            So this Thanksgiving Day, when we set down to an abundant table with family and friends, let our Thanksgiving not be just for the food, but for all God has done for us from the beginning.  Be thankful for His Word [The Bible], because in it you will find everything and every answer to life’s problems.

This song puts it so well:  “Give Thanks”

Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.

Give thanks, Give thanks.

The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.   Romans 14:17

What is the Kingdom of God?  Is it in heaven or is it on earth?  These are some questions people ask when the Bible speaks many times about the Kingdom of God.  My first thought was that at the end of the Tribulation, when Jesus would come to rule and reign on this earth that the Kingdom of God would be established.  Let’s look at a couple of scriptures regarding the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God has always been planned and we can see this in Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”  Daniel lived in Old Testament times and was called to King Belteshazzar who wanted Daniel to interpret his dream.  The dream showed many kings to come during times ahead.  This is what Daniel was referring to when this verse spoke of ‘in the days of these kings’.  Then he tells of a day coming when God will set up a kingdom that will stand forever.

Going on into the New Testament, in the book of Matthew 3:1-2, it says that “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  What does that mean, ‘it’s at hand’? It means ‘near’.  How could that be near; we haven’t seen it yet?  No and it won’t happen until after the Tribulation. The Bible is written for a future time when all of the prophecies will come to pass.  I believe that time is not far off.  In the meantime, we need to go about our lives as usual.

 The finality of all this is when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven and earthly kings and kingdoms no longer exist. “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" [Revelation 11:15]  This is when the Kingdom of God becomes the only Kingdom on earth. 

This Kingdom is where you will want to be, but there is something you need to do to be a part of it.  Step I is praying to God and confessing your sins and asking forgiveness.  Step 2 is believing that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for you. Step 3 is to ask him into your heart and accept him as your Lord and Savior.  You may have heard that before, but that isn’t where it ends.

If you are really sorry for your past sins, you will “Repent”.  That means to change; to turn your life around and stop sinning.  Every person knows right from wrong so there is no excuse.  There is a better life for you if you make that decision.

God wants to have everyone to be in His Kingdom, but he left the choice up to us.  Don’t wait!  The Kingdom of God is not far off.

As a Deer Longs for Water

As a Deer Longs for Water

“As a deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1

As a believer we go to church on Sundays and sing songs of praise, listen to some scriptures and join in prayer.  That may be enough for you, but is it enough for God?  Of course we can pray anytime, but does Sunday service keep you going for the rest of the week?  Does one shot of the Holy Spirit on Sunday keep you strong for the things you may have to face during the days to come, especially if you only come once a month or so?

If we had the common sense of an animal, we would long for what will sustain us in all things; “O God, You are my God; early will I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1)  I want to be thirsty for God and drink from his well that never runs dry. It’s amazing how God uses natural examples like the deer.  When a deer is wounded, it will use all its strength to get to water.  Why? Because if a wound is not fatal and the deer can reach water, it will kill the fever and the deer will heal.  A deer will travel a great distance to reach water because it is life saving for man and beast.

The day I accepted Jesus as my Savior I became so thirsty for the Word of God.  My soul ached with a longing to know more about Him.  I began to read the Bible day and night and I can only compare it to being hungry.  I was like a starving person eating the Word as quickly as I could.  I read the New Testament in a matter of a few days and then the Old Testament which took a little longer and then started over again.  My Bible was a King James which can be a little difficult to understand, but God gave me supernatural understanding.  It was amazing because before that I couldn’t understand most of it.  I attended Sunday School as a child and knew most of the Bible stories but I didn’t know the truth behind the stories.

So I bought a Living Bible and read that all the way through.  This Bible was like reading poetry and I loved it so much because I have been a poet since I was 9 years old and was first published.  Looking back on those poems I wrote as a child, almost all of them were about God and some were quite prophetic.  I think I was always looking and longing for God, but in my teenage years the world had a greater hold on me.  However, the Lord never gave up and though I always knew God and never doubted Jesus was his son, it took several years for me to commit my life to Him.

We should all be thirsting for more of God; for a more personal relationship with Him.  When you quit longing for God, the river quits flowing.  It doesn’t happen all at once, it slowly ebbs away and your longing for more of God also fades away.  Just like the deer who longs for water and goes any distance to find it, this is the same for us.  We must search for that which will sustain us. The day will come when you realize only God can sustain you.

For generations my family have been hunters and know and understand that God has given us wild life for food and the knowledge that hunting certain animals for food is a natural way for man to survive.  It is also a way to keep balance in nature.  This is the way in the animal world; animals kill each other to survive and if this didn’t happen, the animals would take over the world.  What chaos that would be.  This is how the creatures of the seas survive and yet they also provide food for humans. 

God uses these beautiful, gentle creatures like the deer to show us how we must prepare to reach the life-saving water of the Holy Spirit.  Look what is waiting for you, “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14 (NLT) Why should we long so much for a drink of water? In John 7:37-38 Jesus was teaching a crowd of people and offering them another opportunity to receive Salvation.  This is the way he offered it, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  This refers to the Holy Spirit who had not yet come.

This is a valid reason to long for Living Water, because we all need the Holy Spirit to survive in this lost and dying world.  Jesus knew when he gave his life for us that we would need a Comforter; a Helper who would remain with us until the end of time.  The Holy Spirit guides us and “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.”  [John 16:8]  He will make men realize their sinfulness and feel guilt for their misdeeds. The Holy Spirit is the Living Water!  Therefore, you can see why it is so important to long for, and thirst for this water of life we so desperately need. 

This powerful verse in the Book of Revelation keeps the door open for those who thirst after the Lord, “And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.”  Amen!

"Autumn Leaves"

Autumn Leaves

              “He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”    Daniel 2:21 (NKJV)

            Looking out across my backyard, I watched the autumn leaves falling off the trees and landing all over the grass.  The green of summer grass has changed and turned into a carpet of brown and beige.  Just as God changes the seasons of the earth, he also changes the seasons of our lives.  It seems like autumn always brings many changes.

            First, this is Harvest Time; a time when we gather the fruits of the fields and orchards.  The produce stands are filled with apples, pears, squash and pumpkins. Cider and donuts are readily available.  For some reason these sights are such a comfort.  Maybe it’s because these are familiar sights which have appeared year after year and it’s comforting to know that it hasn’t changed for decades. 

            Secondly, this is Halloween time or All Hollow’s Eve.  As Christians we do not celebrate the underworld or those that dwell in it.  We want nothing to do with witchcraft or demon figures.  The Christian’s enemy is Satan and his demons and to honor this day of Halloween is totally against what we believe.  This is really difficult for the children who are in school and want to be a part of what is going on.  After all, who doesn’t like to dress up and pretend to be someone else? 

            Many churches and groups have ‘Harvest Parties’ in place of trick or treating.  I’m not sure if it’s the ‘right thing’ to do, or if it’s ‘Compromise’.  As a child I loved Halloween; dressing up and getting bags of candy was a pretty exciting thing.  However, when I actually knew what it really meant, it changed my entire thought about it.  This is a good time to teach our children what Halloween is really about, the truth is scary enough that they might not want any part of it.  Of course it is up to each parent to decide the best direction for their children.  It might be a good thing to pray about.

            Thirdly, this is the time of year for elections.  This year is probably the most crucial election for a president that there has ever been in the history of the United States.  Our very country is at stake; our national debt is out of sight; our jobless people are at the highest level; poverty is at its highest and we won’t even talk about gas prices and energy.

            Look at the above scripture in the Living Bible; “World events are under his control. He removes kings and sets others on their thrones.”  Daniel 2:21 (TLB) Does this mean we shouldn’t even bother to vote?  No, not at all; rather it means that as God’s people we need to be praying about this daily.  God will give you direction and already has in his Word.  Let’s look at some of those answers.

1.                  “You shall not murder!”  This means we should not vote for anyone who stands for abortion.     Deuteronomy 5:17 (NKJV)

2.                  Same-Sex Marriage: “And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."  Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”           Genesis 2:23-24 (NKJV)

3.                  Un-Godly; we should not vote for anyone who does not hold up God Almighty, or does not practice Godly morals. “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”  Amos 3:3 (NKJV)

4.                  Other Religions:  It is one thing to be tolerant of people of another faith, but it is another thing to lift up those of a faith that breeds terrorists and jihad.  Do not vote for someone who lifts up those whose goal is to kill Americans and Israelis. Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."   2 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)

5.                  Backing Israel:  Do not vote for anyone who does not completely stand with Israel.  Israel is God’s nation of God’s chosen people.  Those nations who would come against her are in danger of being destroyed.  “For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.  For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.”  Zechariah 2:8-9 (NKJV)

There are many more things we should prayerfully consider in the Word of God before we vote.  I believe the outcome of whom we vote for will personally and seriously affect us in the near future. If you are satisfied with where our country is today and has been over the last 8 years, you know who to vote for.  If you think our country needs a change for the better, you know who to vote for.

      As for me, I’m anxious to see if all the ‘born again’ Christians who believe the Word of God is the Truth, will step up and vote The Bible.  Yes, it will take time to reverse the damage that’s been done, but be patient and wait on the Lord.  He has it all in control.  Amen!

      In the meantime, enjoy the beauty that God has given us even if it’s a short drive to admire the colors on the trees.  I believe that the beauty of autumn leaves is a gift from God that shows us the God who created us because he loves us, also reminds us of beauty he created for all of us.  It’s a time for harvest and preparation for the winter that is to come.  It’s a time to praise God and to give thanks.  All this He gave us in preparation for the greatest gift of all – His Son, Jesus Christ!

In deed it is more than Autumn leaves; God has given us everything.

"There Are Goats in Your Orchard"

THERE ARE GOATS IN YOUR ORCHARD

Have you ever been to a fruit farm and picked fruit; apples, cherries, peaches or pears? You may have been in the southern states where you picked your own oranges or grapefruit. I’m sure you have noticed that not all the trees in the orchard bear fruit. Some trees appear to have dried up and died; others look perfectly healthy, but have no fruit. However, I have come across very old abandoned orchards that are still bearing fruit.

In the northern regions of our country there are thousands of apple orchards. It’s quite common to find deer feeding on the fruit. Farmers find it difficult to keep them out of their orchards and consequently thousands of dollars of profit are eaten up every year by the deer. However, it would be a rare sight to see goats feeding in the orchards. Goats are very destructive. They will eat anything in sight, so farmers try to keep them away from the trees. Generally, you will find fenced in pastures where the goats graze along with sheep and cows.

Like Christians around the world, we are much like orchards filled with fruit trees, and the goats are those who are lost in sin, but are desperately looking for fruit to fill their emptiness. There are a lot of fruit trees and many goats that need to be fed from them, but sadly, not all the trees are bearing fruit. When we confessed our sin and asked Christ into our heart, we were appointed, or commissioned, to bear fruit. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit; fruit that will last.” (John 15:16)

What is this fruit we must bear? It is so important that Jesus warned of the necessity of bearing fruit that was compatible with citizenship in the kingdom of God. “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. (Matt. 21:43) As you can see it is of vital importance we bear fruit. If we don’t, the opportunity will be taken from us. What kinds of fruit are there? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5: 22) This fruit needs to be visible in the life of every believer. Why? There are goats in the orchard and they are watching to see what these trees are producing.

The lost are standing in the wings and keeping an eye on the Christians; the way they live, their attitudes, actions and reactions. Do they see the Christian reach out with love, or, with anger? Jesus was teaching his disciples about this very thing. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” This fruit we bear is so important, that Jesus went on to say in verse 19, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Listen! Bearing good fruit as a witness to the lost is the same as bearing fruit to God. “So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.” (Ro. 7:4)

                Have you ever taken a bite out of a big, red, juicy apple, only to find you bit right through a worm hole and you didn’t see the worm? You didn’t know whether to swallow what’s in your mouth or spit it out. This is what the lost (goats) are thinking when they see the Christian say one thing, but live in ungodly ways. You can witness to a sinner, from now until Jesus comes, but if you are not representing Christ with the fruit of the Spirit, they won’t know what to do with it. They’ll be thinking, “I don’t know if I should swallow this or spit it out.”

In Col 1:10, Paul tells the Christian, “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.” There are many people in this world who do good works. It gives them a feeling of self-worth and they use their good works as a way to show others how great they are. Good works are wonderful, but where is the fruit? Are these works done with the love of Jesus, with joy, peace, patience, kindness, or are they done grudgingly, out of guilt, or to make oneself look good.

Let me tell you this story about a king who had the richest kingdom in the world. He had a daughter, Princess Hope, who was not beautiful to look upon, but was of a sweet and gentle nature. She had reached the age to be wed, so the king sent invitations to several princes of the kingdoms, inviting them to visit his daughter. One after another they came from the four corners of the world. They brought wonderful gifts they were sure would please the princess. They bowed and scraped before her, trying to win her favor, whomever she chose to be her husband, would become the richest prince in the world. They kissed her hand and told her how beautiful she was. They promised to slay dragons, kill giants and do all sorts of great things for her, if she chose them.

However, none of these pleased the princess. She knew she was not beautiful and therefore was aware that they were trying to win her hand for wrong reasons. They bragged so much about their bravery and exploits, she tired of them all. Would she ever find a prince who was of a true heart and would love her for herself? In her despair she decided to dress herself as a poor servant girl and wander throughout the countryside looking for a prince with a true heart.

At the edge of the sea was a very small and poor kingdom, called “The Kingdom by the Sea”. It had once been lovely, but there had been a famine in the land. The kind and loving king sold all that he had to buy food for his people. Soon there was barely enough food for the king or his son, Trueheart.

One day, Trueheart decided that he would no longer be a burden to his father, but would make his own way in the world. He set off across the land and in time came to the great kingdom of the rich king. He was walking down a dusty road when he met the princess. She had become quite faint and was resting under a tree by the side of the road, looking tired and dirty; not at all like a princess. The prince stopped and asked if she was all right. She told him she was very hungry and tired and longed for a soft bed and a night’s rest. The prince took the last crust of bread from his bag and gave it to her to eat, even though he thought he would probably starve to death. When Princess Hope regained a little strength, he took her to a nearby village and with his last coin, paid for a room so she would have a place to spend the night.

Once settled in her room, she thanked the prince and told him how grateful she was for his kindness. She explained she had a place to go to nearby and would return there the next day. He bowed low before her and lightly touched his lips to her small delicate hand telling her how privileged he was to do anything he could for such a beautiful maiden. The prince looked beyond the dusty appearance of the plain little princess and could see her inner beauty. He fell in love with her, but as he had nothing to offer, he bade her good-by.

Alas, her heart was smitten with Trueheart and she grieved that he was just a poor traveler and not a prince, for a true princess could only marry a true prince. As she leaned from the window to watch him leave, a rider came galloping up to the prince, and shouted to him, “Your father, the king, has been searching for you. He would rather starve than to have you gone from his side and begs you to return home to The Kingdom by the Sea.

When the princess heard that Trueheart was a prince, she cried with joy and called to him from the window. She asked if he would wait but one day longer before he returned to his father and visit her at her home. Trueheart agreed at once, for his love was great for the princess and he hated to leave her.

The next day following the princess’ directions, Prince Trueheart went to visit her. He thought there was some mistake, for her directions led him to the greatest castle he had ever seen. Its richness and elegance were beyond description. As he turned to leave, a servant came running up and asked if he was the prince, Trueheart. He said he was and the servant invited inside the castle. He was taken to a room where a handsome suit of clothing awaited him. The servant helped him bathe and then dressed in the new suit.

He was confused and frightened when he was taken to the great throne room of the king of the castle. His heart beat quickly as he was led down the red carpet towards the throne where the king was seated.

Beside the king, a small figure sat quietly, her face covered with a veil, as was the custom. The prince bowed low before the king and was more than startled when the king stood, took him by the hand and said, “Welcome to the kingdom, my son”. The princess threw back her veil and with great joy bounded down the steps and told the stunned prince, she was Princess Hope and how at last she had found the prince of her dreams. Prince Trueheart declared his love for her, even if she was still the dusty maid by the side of the road.

The whole kingdom rejoiced as the princess and prince were married. The Kingdom by the Sea was in time restored to the lovely place it had once been, due to the generosity of Prince Trueheart and Princess Hope and they all lived happily ever after.

This may be a fairy tale, but a scriptural truth is revealed. “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them”. (Mat. 7:20) The good fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, will draw people to you. If they do not know the Jesus that lives within you, they will recognize the fruit, the true heart of one who bears good fruit. There was a time when you bore bad fruit, just like the lost now do. Rom 7:5 says that “when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.” Let us now bear fruit for life. Take care of your orchard and allow God to prune your tree, so you will produce not only good fruit, but abundant fruit.

You can have goats in your orchard; open the gates, let them come in and offer fruit so good and so pure; they’ll want to be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11)