HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

For there is born to you this day

in the city of David a Savior, who

is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

My first birthday party was when I was two years old. My Mother gathered her friends of like age with little ones of like age as mine for the party. I don't recall a thing about it and wouldn't know anything about it except for a few old black and white photos. The main food was home made vegetable soup and birthday cake. It was really for my mother to enjoy opening the presents I received.

Birthdays have always been big deals in our culture and they still are. Great hurt can come from not being remembered on one's birthday. A couple of empty cards just won't “cut the cake” so to speak. The feel and sound of ripping gift wrappings are necessary or it becomes just an ordinary day.

However, friends or relatives, ahead of one's special day may ask what one wants for her birthday. The older we get, the more that list shrinks because wants and needs become less and less. In our older years, we may express a desire for good health both physical and spiritual. We may not want a knowing friend to announce out loud our birthday in front of a group of people. Where once in much younger years, we wanted gifts and loads of attention, that seems to wane with time and age.

I have thought about what Jesus would like for His birthday this year. I know He's God but was also born physically like we were. He would have too many candles on a cake to light or blow out. If asked, “What do You want for Your birthday this year?” I think I know what a likely answer might be, and an honest desire on His part. I think He would be so pleased if we would simply give Him the gift of ourselves.

Happy Birthday Jesus and thank You for coming to a very unappreciative earth. Thank You for the greatest gift ever...that of our salvation. May we in turn be generous in giving our lives fully to You for Your use. In Your precious name...Amen 

HOPE IN GOD

Why are you cast down,

O my soul? And why are

you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

for I shall yet praise Him for

the help of His countenance.

Psalm 42:8

I wonder how many times in my life, even beginning in very early years, how many times I have said the words: “I hope so..” I think in those early years, that I kinda, sorta knew I was wanting things to shake out to my benefit. Even as an adult, I still feel some of that even after these many years.

Psalm 42 is a Psalm of longing for God, especially in times of difficulty. We all know what those times are without giving anything a title. I also know that what may be difficult for another isn't necessarily difficult for me. The hard things of life we face are very individual but painful none-the-less. It is interestin ]g that in this chapter, verses 8 and 11 are almost identical in wording except for a last phrase and it is very similar. The cry out for God's presence at all times, especially in the hard times are so wonderfully speaking for us in this Psalm.

In just a matter of a few days, we will be looking at a new year. I'm not anticipating major problems coming my way bu t life can bring the positives and negatives during that year. But come what may, we have hope for the good and for the spiritual strength to plough through the rest. We may hope all we want but often fail to affirm that our hope can't be in the possible events of life. Whatever comes our way, any hope other than in our Heavenly Father is in vain.

Father, I'm so grateful that we a secure hope in You no matter our circumstances. In past days, we have thought we hope in doctors, neighbors and even family. All of those folks mean well but know our every need. We hope in You because You are our only help Thank You for Your individual care for us and consistent love. Thank You for Jesus who gave His all for us that our hope is safe and secure in You. In His precious name...Amen

 

PROMISES, PROMISES

The Lord is not slack concerning

His promise, as some count

slackness, but is long-suffering

toward us, not willing that any

should perish but that all should

to repentance.

II Peter 3:9

In days of childhood, we were quick to make promises. They didn't amount to much looking back but we were pretty serious about them at the time. If we made a promise we often sealed it by saying: “Cross my heart and hope to die...I'll stick a needle in my eye.” If we sealed our promise with that vow, probably most of us would have been blind by supper time.

So what is a promise? It is simply assuring firmly with an honest spirit that we will do exactly what we have told someone we will do. Of course, truth has a lot to do with promises. How often have we been lied to by someone who held a straight face stating they would come through for something on our behalf and probably had no intention of seeing that promise through.

We have learned through the years that our Bibles are full of the wonderful promises of God. Many in our lives have broken promises they have made to us. Such promises might have come from family or friends. However, even today, the media provides us with lots of promises through advertisements, news broadcasts or political events. It would seem in many areas that promises don't mean much anymore.

Aren't we thankful we have a Heavenly Father who ALWAYS keeps His Word. Scripture is full of His promises. It began in Genesis after the first sin, promising His plan for taking care of the sin problem. Noah after the flood was promised by God that there would never be again a flood that would be all encompassing like the one he had lived through. There are many promises regarding the coming of the Messiah. Along with this were prophecies of His sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

In the book of Hebrews, especially in chapter eleven we see mentioned many fulfilled promises by God on the part of Old Testament saints. It's an encouraging read. Unfortunately, we are often the recipients of unfulfilled promises so we tend to be a little hesitant in our believing in promises given to us at anytime.

Because God is faithful, keeps His Word and we have been on the negative end of broken promises, our faith is so necessary and grows as our relationship with Him grows. God never has and never will break a single promise He has declared on your and my behalf.  

I'm so grateful Father that You can be completely trusted concerning every single promise we see in Your Word. You have more than earned our trust. We love You and are so grateful for Your loving us, encouraging us in our relationship with You. In Jesus precious name...Amen

SCAREDY CAT, SCAREDY CAT

The LORD is my light and my

salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of

my life; of whom shall I

be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

It's been a long time but very clear in my mind putting up with name calling. When in the very young elementary years, being called a SCAREDY CAT wasn't unusual. It usually occurred when someone older was daring me to do something I feared or really was afraid to tackle whatever the challenge. Adults usually get past such name calling but often are challenged none-the-less minus the name calling.

In Scripture, we meet folks who had to face their own fears. Most of their fears we can understand. Some of those fears may not always have been clear. For instance, David as a shepherd had to kill some fierce animals in order to protect his sheep. As an adult, we see David fleeing for his life from Saul. Did David love God? He certainly did love God but in his humanity still faced times of fear.

The above verse was written by David. If fear had come into David's life, he was quick to say how he came to see it. From what we see of David, he didn't park himself in the middle of fear, staying there until the cause passed over. He saw such circumstances in light of how he viewed the Lord in his life.

When we rely upon our Lord as our light, He can guide us through any circumstance. Our Lord will save us in the direst of negative events. Finally, David saw the Lord as his strength...strength when at one's weakest.

We are living in a culture of fear. Even TV ads try to scare us with health threats including new out breaks of whatever, safest cars to drive, right candidates to vote for and don't forget wars all over the place. No matter the scare tactics of Satan, we see in II Timothy 1:7 that “God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Father, we are so grateful for Your guidance, protection and wisdom in our every circumstance. Help us to rest in You despite what our culture presents from one day to another. Use us in these days to be encouragers. In Jesus name....Amen