Celebrate with Praises

Did you celebrate your gifts today?

Chosen before the foundation of the world so that one day you can stand in God's presence holy and blameless--a citizen of Heaven.
Lovingly adopted into His family through the willing atonement made by His Son, the focus of the Father's eternal loving care.
Redeemed through His blood, even our transgressions--our deliberate sins forgiven; His grace lavished upon us.
Given the insight and wisdom to know His will--that in the consummation of human history Christ, our Savior, will be the center of it all, "that everything that exists in Heaven or earth will find its perfection and fulfillment in Him."
Obtained an inheritance, a guaranteed hope--a confidence--that we will be to the praise of His glory.
Sealed as His eternal possession by the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit.

"Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ!"

"And this is my prayer: That God, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ and the all glorious Father, will give you spiritual wisdom and insight to know more of Him: that you may receive that inner illumination of the Spirit which will make you realize how great is the hope to which He is calling you--the magnificence and splendor of the inheritance promised to Christians--and how tremendous the power available to us who believe in God." (Phillips)

These gifts resting totally in the good, pleasing will of God the Father can never be lost or stolen or tarnished or rusted through or moth eaten or in anyway diminished.

Is there any day, then, under any circumstances that our hearts should not be filled to overflowing with joy and gratitude and trust and loving obedience?

Nonsense

"The preaching of the cross is, I know, nonsense to those who are involved in this dying world, but to us who are being saved from that death it is nothing less than the power of God.

It is written:

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the prudence of the prudent I will reject.

For consider, what have the philosopher, the writer and the critic of this world to show for all their wisdom? Has not God made the wisdom of this world look foolish? For it was after the world in its wisdom had failed to know God, that He is His wisdom chose to save all who would believe by the "simplemindedness" of the gospel message. For the Jews ask for miraculous proofs and the Greeks an intellectual panacea, but all we preach is Christ crucified--a stumbling block to the Jews and sheer nonsense to the gentiles, but for those who are called, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. And this is only natural, for God's "foolishness" is wiser than men, and his "weakness" stronger than men." (Phillips)

Trust

Trust is always a scary proposition. Why? Humans. All of us at times unintentionally and intentionally prove ourselves to be untrustworthy. Everyone that you trust will at times disappoint. Your trust will at times, by some, be taken advantage of. Some of the greatest sorrows in life come when those who above all others should have been true and trustworthy chose instead to deliberately, callously, dare I say, maliciously, betray our trust. What to do? How should one respond?
The answer is simple: trust. Think of it this way. What if the Lord quit using us as His light and salt, quit using us to take His place as His witness to the world, quit trusting us when we had proved ourselves untrustworthy? We'd all be "on the shelf," would we not? Way back in that shelf in the back of the garage. Forgotten. Labeled "useless." "This 'product' cannot be trusted to do God's work."
We need to understand that loving someone and trusting someone are inseparable. Can a love not resting on trust even exist? Sure, there will be moments of disappointment. Some times we will be the "disappointer." But as we continue to trust--and forgiveness is essential to a life of trust--love matures and grows. Deepens. In fact, we can never grasp the full depth of love until we are trusted again after we have failed to be trustworthy. Neither can those in our lives whom we are called to love unconditionally begin to understand the full measure of love until we trust them to be trustworthy after they have failed. If God continues to trust us, humans that we are (humans who have even been given the Holy Spirit to enable us!), even after we fail to be worthy of trust, how can we not continue to trust?

You see, the real reason we don't trust is because we are more in love with ourselves than we are with the other person. You call that selfishness--the worst kind of selfishness, selfish love.

Is trusting easy? Not a chance. Will you be hurt and taken advantage of at times? Undoubtedly. But you and the people in your life will never understand what it means to be loved if we don't trust. And tell me, who in your life has God called you to love as unconditionally as He loves you? Exactly.


I cannot trust and obey Him if I do not trust others.

Christmas

Christmas:

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am the worst. And if He can save me, He can save anyone."

"Hope makes us not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts."

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to all men."

"I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God to everyone who believes."

"Sanctify them in the truth; Thy Word is the Truth."

"Take My yoke on you and learn of Me for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

"My word which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire."

"All we like a sheep had gone astray each in our own way but the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

"Search me O God and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any way of pain in me and lead me in the everlasting way."

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story:

The old shepherd had been up all night tending the fire, alert for dangers. As always, his thoughts this time of year were on that miraculous night of--what was it now--over thirty years ago? A clear, starry night just like last night. That angel nearly gave us all a heart attack . . . he could laugh now. And what a sense of calm and serenity and peace had overwhelmed them all at those two words, "Fear not." And then the message--"The Messiah has been born in Bethlehem!" And then the whole choir showed up! Over thirty years ago . . . seems like just last night. But only three of us are left now who remember--the rush to town, the young couple, and that beautiful boy in that manger. The King . . . born in a manger. Never will forget that. Been telling people that story for . . . well, thirty years now. Not many believers. They think I'm crazy. "Spent too many days and nights hanging out with those sheep." Humph.
Went into town a few times after that to try to get another glance at the child. Didn't want to disturb the parents again though. Just kind of moseyed down the streets keeping my eyes open. Asked the townspeople about him. The folks said that he was such a gentle toddler. Everybody loved Him. Even the animals loved him.
And, of course, everybody went to town when those magi guys showed up. Impressive. Said they had come to worship the King of the Jews! Caused a few people who had questioned our story to think twice. And then that evil fox Herod sent those soldiers. To kill little babies! He answered for that when he stood before the King of the Universe I'm sure. The heart of man . . . wicked. Oh, we need a savior!
Up here in the fields we were stunned and heart-broken when we heard about it. And then we heard that the husband--Joseph, I think his name was--had taken his wife and child and left just a couple days before the soldiers came. Warned by God I'll bet. Don't know where they went. And I haven't heard a word about that baby boy--he'd be a young man by now. Puzzling. By this time shouldn't the Messiah have made Himself known to the people?
And then those rumors started coming in--even to us poor shepherds out here in the wilderness. A young rabbi, preaching about a kingdom, performing miracles. Same name too--Jesus, Jehovah saves. Sounds as if he's about the right age. From Galilee though. But maybe that's where the family ended up when they fled Herod. They weren't from Bethlehem originally. Had just arrived that night the child was born. Came from somewhere. Came to register for that tax thing. Ahhh, well.
"Josiah! Time to get up boy!" He shook his young grandson awake. "Sun's coming up. You need to get going. It's a little bit of a trip. Wish I could go with you but my old arthritic legs won't allow it. You pay particular attention to everything he says so you can tell me when you get back. I know that I would recognize him if I could just see him, look into his eyes. Sounds crazy, I know, Josiah, since I only saw him as a baby and a toddler. But I'm sure your old crazy grandpa would know Him. And I have to know Josiah! I have to know if it's Him--"little Jesus" all grown up! You won't mind missing a couple of days up here in the fields will you? Remember tell me everything He says--and does. I just have to know! And be careful. Oh, I packed you a small lunch--just some loaves and a few fish. Remember--I want to know everything he says--and does!
Is this rabbi, miracle-worker my Jesus? I must know."

Simeon and Hannah

We focus often on the shepherds and the magi. I wonder why we pay so little attention to the second "group" that encountered our Savior--Simeon and Hannah. A month or so after His birth, they embraced Him in the temple. What a place to meet the Savior!! Perhaps the two greatest scholars in Israel. Both knew He was coming--and why. "A light to the Gentiles and the glory of His people Israel." We assume Simeon was an older gentleman--don't know for sure; Hannah was in her eighties. A long time prayer warrior!! Two saints who spent their days in fellowship with the Father--and knew it. Rejoiced in His presence in their daily walk! I can just see Simeon holding that baby in his arms, blessing the promise keeping God and then blessing Mary and Joseph. (I wonder how many times he had come to the temple in expectation: "This is the day I will see Him!") Joy and sorrow in his eyes as he gently, I'm sure, told Mary of the deep and piercing sorrow she would experience by loving her Son. And Hannah coming over in the beauty of her old age (Is there anything more beautiful than the countenance of Christ radiating from one of His elderly faithful saints?) to embrace the little child as well. And then off to tell her "Bible study group" that the Redeemer had come! "I've seen Him. I've held Him!" The rewarding of the saints in the land of the living! May we who love Him having not seen Him--yet believing in Him, bless our Father and tell all who will listen, "The Redeemer has come! The Light and Glory of the world! Embrace His salvation freely offered to all who will believe."

"For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given . . . and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!"

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities;
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit;
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagles."

Hannah was a young 87 that day!!

The Lord God

In Exodus 34 God describes Himself: "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and faithfulness; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity and transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

You don't get to pick and choose the attributes you want and discard the others. And no, you don't get to define iniquity, transgression, and sin. And yes, should the Lord tarry, the choices our nation makes will impact--at least--the next four generations. And yes, the choices you make do not just impact you. We need to brand the word "consequences" on our minds--and hearts. "Choose you this day whom you will serve."

One of the devil's biggest lies is that "there are no consequences."