SWEET COMFORT

 

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and He shall give
you another Comforter, that He may abide
with you forever.
John 14:15,16

We, like many folks around the country have had our share of snow and cold weather. Even when the heat is turned up to what is normal for us in our house, there still seems to be a bit of a chill in the air. Upon visiting with my sister Kay about three months after our Mother died, I deposited my bags and belongings in the bedroom I would be staying in for those few days. As I entered the room, there was a lovely fleece afghan with the tied knots on all four sides laying on the bed. Kay had told me that this particular bedroom tended to be cooler than most during colder weather so I thought the afghan was for further insurance that I wouldn't be overly chilled. She let me know that she had made it for me and wanted me to take it with me when I left. I was thrilled. I don't know when I had received such a nice gift that I knew was not only made with love but for Kay and me, it indicated a new start of a fresh relationship. 

During these chilly days, I have spent hours with that afghan, mostly during times of reading my Bible and having something warm to drink. It's also as if I have a touch of comfort from Kay even though just a few years ago, she went to Heaven after a time of being so very ill. I can't begin to say how much I miss her. She and I did a lot of growing up together. Wrapping up in that fleece throw gives me a sense of comfort from her kindness, knowing she is with the Lord now.

In John 14, Jesus was trying to prepare His disciples for His leaving. He wasn't clear with them as to specifics, but He wanted those precious men to know that in His leaving, another would come who could be closer to them than He ever could. This Comforter would not only abide with them but would dwell within them. In verse 26, Jesus went further with information as to how this Comforter, the Holy Spirit, would work in and through them. He said,

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in My name, He
shall teach you all things and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever
I have said unto you.

I love how Jesus used the term “Comforter” for the Holy Spirit. We all need a touch of comfort in our lives every now and then, but no one can comfort like God's sweet Holy Spirit.

When just little girls, Kay and I shared a room and bed. We lived in a house with one big round coal stove that stood in our living room. Of course, at night, the stove was tended to the point that the house really got cold during the night. My Mother would come into our room to add extra covers on our bed, on top of what was already there. Some of those items were quilts that had lovingly been sewn by one or both of our Grandmothers. Some of those quilts weren't exactly quilts but were referred to as comforters. They were much thicker with extra “stuffing” in them to provide even more warmth. It's for sure we wouldn't freeze to death with all of that weight on top of us. We slept in very cozy surrounded by those comforters that also gave a sense of security.

The Holy Spirit isn't a literal quilt, afghan or comforter, but His comfort is so much more. Jesus made very clear what the Holy Spirit would be in the lives of His believers. The Holy Spirit doesn't indwell an unsaved person. He enters into a person immediately upon accepting Jesus as Savior. From that point, He is with us, in us, abiding every moment we live and breathe. You and I benefit from His comfort more often than we realize, but He does some other things as well.

Jesus said that this Comforter will teach us all things. He stands ready to teach us as we read the Word. He interprets it to our hearts. Many Christians don't realize that they can learn so much more from their Bible reading, if they first invite the Holy Spirit to teach them from what they are reading. I also love that Jesus says that our Comforter will bring all things He has taught to our memory. I don't how many times, a verse of Scripture will pop into my mind seemingly out of nowhere. That comes from the Holy Spirit...our Comforter.

So tonight, I'm sitting with my Kay Komforter around my legs, with Bible in hand while my Holy Spirit blesses me from His Word while wrapping me in the Comfort that no quilt, blanket, afghan or man-made comforter can. My Kay Komforter was made with love and love is of God. It reminds me not only of her, but of THE Comforter Who inspired its making.

Dear Father, how I praise You for sending the Comforter to indwell those of us who have come to love you and Your Son Jesus. We take so much for granted when it comes to Your goodness in our lives. I thank You tonight for Kay making me such a gift that still blesses me, but thank You more for the Comforter You have provided in my life that guides and teaches me...and that at the same time, comforts me. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

FAIR TRADE

For God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

One of the most enjoyable things I recall from my grade school years was the fun of trading comic books. In those days gone by, comic books cost a nickle or sometimes a dime if the comic book was thicker in size. I loved western theme comic books, but also liked mystery ones....Dick Tracy, Green Hornet, etc. Superman was a favorite of most of us. There were classic comic books that were more expensive. Classic books such as Ivanhoe, Tom Sawyer, Heidi, and such were put into comic book form. There were romance comic books, but my Mother would never let me buy them or trade for them. They were really very tame compared to what they would be today.

Trading comics (as we called them) was usually a neighborhood thing. In those days, playmates, close family and friend associations were within one's neighborhood. We never traded comics at school. Trading was almost an art. Most kept their comics in good condition. Comics were then more valuable in trading. If you had a couple of comics without covers, you could probably only get one good comic for the two unsightly ones. Even comics with torn or messy covers lost out in the trading process. Classic comics were thicker. If one of those was in good shape, you could get two regular sized comics for it.

Americans have bargained for things back into our history. In the mountains where I live, folks back in the 1800's often had to bargain for basic needs. Storekeepers especially, took in farm commodities such as eggs, butter, chickens, animal hides for things like coffee, nails, sugar and such things that the average farm couldn't provide. Farmers selling animals would bargain between seller and buyer for the best deal.

Most people have gone into a car dealership with a used car hoping to purchase a new(er) car after bargaining with a salesperson for the best deal possible. Most know that the salesperson can be talked into a lower price on the car to be purchased, but anyone knows the company has allowed for all of that in their pricing process. Nonetheless, when an apparent good deal is in place, the buyer walks away feeling a financial victory has been won.

One thing I've learned in my years of walking with the Lord is that He is nothing like a car salesman, comic book trader or country store owner. Too often we view Him as Santa Claus Who we can go to with our list of wants and sometimes even demands. God cannot be bargained with. God is Who He is, can be no more or less. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”

I love seeing in so many portions of Scripture those things the Lord IS. Those statements are easy to be found. I love reading those characteristics of the Lord that not only warm my own heart, but is a constant reminder that those things that are Him are not for sale, cannot be changed and cannot be bargained away. Those things are set in concrete...you and I can rest in Him with complete trust.

For instance....I've been studying Psalm 145. I love this Psalm as it is not only a song of praise to God but spells out many specifics of who He is. Let me give some of those things in this Psalm that speaks to who He is:

The Lord is gracious, merciful, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness (8)
The Lord is good to all (9)
The Lord sustains all who fall (14)
The Lord is righteous (17)
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him (18)
The Lord keeps all who love Him (20)

There are so many more of those things in Scripture we can relish, but I can just get chills reading those few things. He's not asking anything in return. He only extends invitations to all who will accept Him and walk in relationship with Him as well.

In this same Psalm, the writer puts in words what we can do for God out of gratitude. We are often people of “I wills” in our relationship with the Lord. We mean well as this writer does, but we forget and often fail. Not only does this Psalm speak of those things, but also points out “I will” statements that have to do with us personally. Here's where some things break down...purely on our part. We are quick with the “I will's” hoping to keep in God's favor as if we want to strike a deal with Him much like we would a car salesman.

When I see that God SO loved that He gave, I must say that my trading off with Him seems to fade. There is nothing I can do for Him or give Him that would be a tear drop in the ocean compared to all He's done for me. Anything I might want to trade off with him is as an old, dirty, torn up comic book that no one would want. Scripture tells us that even our righteousness is as filthy rags. No swaps with God. I will be happy pouring out my heart to Him and will just let Him have His way.

Dear Father, thank You for Your ultimate gift to us in Your son Jesus. Forgive when we become frustrated and try to make demands of You when we have no right to do so. I thank You for listening to us patiently and then doing for us what You know to be in our best interest. May we always stand in awe of You and not treat You in a casual way. In Jesus name...Amen

Spiritual Workaholics

And He said unto them,
Come ye yourselves apart into a
desert place, and rest a while: for there
were many coming and going, and
they had no leisure so much as to eat.
And they departed into a desert place by
ship privately.
Mark 6:31,32

There are some people, especially executives and corporate ladder-climbers who are known as “workaholics” because of the ridiculous hours and even days they put in where the workplace is concerned. It isn't unusual for such people to work 18 hour days, usually six days a week or more. Even when they when arriving home, they may still work late into the night doing paper work.

Let's leave corporations for a time and look at churches, their staff members and members who hold various offices in the church setting. Again, this is not an indictment involving every Christian, whether full or part time workers or laypeople fulfilling various responsibilities in their churches. I have heard pastors from pulpits brag on the long hours they put in at the church office, arriving home at night when his children are already in bed. I've heard some pastors who boast of heavy responsibilities, building programs, various meetings, counseling sessions, hospital visitation and somewhere in there, they study for Sunday's sermons. As I have listened to the list, it makes me weary in listening to it all. You see, there can be such a thing as church workaholics. I really hesitate to use the word “spiritual” at this point because I'm not sure being a church workaholic is spiritual.

Lest you judge me as being hyper-critical of others, let me tell you that on this subject, I have been there and back with this kind of thing more than I desire to admit. I'm not going to list the responsibilities I sometimes had all at the same time. In one position, I can think of eight major jobs I was responsible for. I couldn't say “no” and in some instances couldn't refuse to do certain things because of employment. Guess what? I got lots of attention and praise. I also learned with all of that going on, some people thought I was a super spiritual person. There were those who thought me wise beyond my years and could rarely be wrong. Little did those folks know that I had little time to read my Bible or pray. In those days, my family was often neglected. My dear husband often took up the slack. Guess what...it all had become compulsive...there were no brakes...I honestly believed if I didn't do it all, no one else would or could.

Since when are we to base our spiritual worth on being as busy as we can be doing church work. Church work is different from serving the Lord. If you and I can't “serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing” then something is wrong. Some church workers are too tired doing the work to come before the Lord with singing ... serving with gladness has perhaps gone by the wayside long ago.

The above opening verse was written under the title of this blog for a reason. I can't imagine the physical weariness of Jesus and the disciples at times as they ministered. They didn't have planes or vehicles to get them where they needed to go. They didn't have fast food places where they could eat and probably often slept under the stars. Ministry is wearying no matter the century or times. I've noticed through the Gospels, though, that Jesus always knew when to go to one side to rest and pray. He often pulled away from the crowds to pray. Notice in the opening verse the disciples had been so busy, they hadn't had time to eat. Jesus saw the necessity of His disciples having a time to rest, and yes, to eat as well. I've heard church workers brag on their lack of sleep and having no time to eat. I doubt Jesus would approve.

There are those who serve the Lord for the personal satisfaction and even glory for their efforts. That can be very tiring and wearing on the human system. I have found when the Lord calls me to a task, He not only equips me for it, but also gives me the strength to bring the task to a satisfactory completion. When I become worn to a frazzle in serving Him, I usually find that I'm functioning in my own strength and not His.

The glory part of doing God's work can be addictive. There will always be folks who will pour praise and compliments out on God's servant. Don't get me wrong, there are times to encourage God's servants. Too much of such can take our focus off of the Lord and onto our own efforts and even successes. Any success should be to God's glory alone. I find the way to please the Lord is through His words in Jeremiah 9:23,24:

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man
glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty
man glory in his might, let not the rich man
glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that
he understandeth and knoweth me, that I
am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:
for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

If we serve the Lord as we should, there is no need to completely wear ourselves out. Whatever we do to serve the Lord will reap rewards for the Kingdom in good time. It can be enjoyable, satisfying and yes, even fun serving Him. God doesn't mind if we have a good time serving Him. He's delighted that we love serving Him, especially when we do it for Him and not for self honor and glory.

Father, we love You and want to serve You with pure motives. We want You to be honored in all You've called us to do. Help us to recognize Your calling in our lives and how You want us to best use the gifts and talents You've given us. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

WHO CARES?

 

Casting all your care upon Him,
for He careth for you.
I Peter 5:7

In our society, we are always learning new words or see the resurrection of old ones that suddenly become relevant. One of those words that has become prominent in the last ten or more years is the word “caregiver.” This word has become relevant because of other words we've also become familiar with such as: cancer, dementia, wounded warriors, blindness, mental disturbance, paralysis, debilitating accidents...and the list goes on and on. All of these conditions may require a caretaker in some form be it through an individual person or more in depth professional care. To a fault (and I say this tenderly) all attention is given to an individual who is in need of care while very little attention is given to that person's caregiver. Caregivers are usually spouses, adult children, close friends, professional nurses or volunteers.

Carolyn and Richard for a time didn't know when or if they would be able to return to their mountain home here in our small town. In April of 2015, Richard had a terrible accident in the yard of his home where a tree or part of one fell on him crushing ribs and with an added complication of a stroke. For weeks, it wasn't known how or if Richard would come out of it all. It was going to be a long road and has been in these months. Richard mentioned toward the beginning of his recovery, that he hoped to one day return back home. We wondered if that could happen.

Because of having a few days before another surgery, it happened that they could return home from a few states away to spend some of that time. Although using a cane, not firm on is feet and obviously very much in need of continued care and treatment, Richard with Carolyn by his side, walked out of the airport and into our car that would take them to their mountain home. This could never have happened without Carolyn's dedicated care of Richard through these months and Richard would attest to that. It hasn't been easy for either of them. Richard has been a gutsy, strong, independent and capable man as he has always been. It can't be easy for such a one to be on the receiving end of care in every way. However, Carolyn is also a gutsy, strong, independent and very capable woman whose life was drastically changed on the day of that accident...a life that was changed, never to be the same again. Carolyn walked ahead of us to open the door and turn off the alarm. We walked with Richard. As we walked through the front door, it was as if Richard just drew a deep breath, taking in the smell of his lovely house.

Just about every church I've been a part of publishes a prayer list or does it verbally in a class setting. The list of illnesses and problems go on and on. My personal conviction through what I've seen my friends experience is that although I've been very burdened for the recovery of my friend who experienced a horrible accident, I should be just as conscious for that one who is his helper, confidante and caregiver, business manager, nurse, decision maker and on and on goes the list.

A caregiver is often called on in a time of emergency to make life and death decisions on the spot. Following that may be decisions regarding medical insurance, wills, property upkeep, and bills. This can hit one person all in a moment...no notice...with the added concern for the person needing extensive care. In our day when people are living longer, caregivers ha moved to the forefront as being some of the most needed persons in our society. There's usually no extra salary if any at all for the service provided.

It sounds very business-like minus sincere feelings, but I don't mean it that way. For too long we haven't taken a good look a dear people who are giving their lives to care for people they love...people who are incapacitated and have no way of caring for themselves. Scripture speaks throughout of folks who were either caregivers or in need of care. For instance:
Think of the blind people we find in the Bible.

Those who were blind begging for alms.They definitely needed care.

• Lazarus was obviously ill to the point of death. He had the care of two sisters
• Four friends brought a paralytic to Jesus. That man had to have other caregivers.
• Peter's mother-in-law lived in his home and was very ill until Jesus healed her.

Many caregivers are long range but some may be short term. I've always been amazed at Jesus' example of the Good Samaritan who found a man by the side of a road, beaten up and in bad physical condition. Jesus said when the Samaritan saw the man, he had compassion on him. Compassion is the key when rendering any kind of care to another person. I love what Jesus said about this temporary caregiver:
And went to him, and bound up his wounds,

pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his
own beast, and brought him to an inn, and
took care of him.
And on the morrow when he departed,
he took out two pence, and gave them to
the host, and said unto him, Take care of him;
and whatsoever thou spendest more, when
I come again, I will repay thee.
Luke 10:34,35

That Samaritan didn't even know the man who was hurt....a despised Samaritan did all of that for a stranger. We may be called on at times to be temporary caregivers in times of great need. It may mean finding ways to be of encouragement to a family where special care is needed...phone calls, offering to sit with an ill person to relieve a caregiver, taking a good meal into the home, but being a prayer partner most of all. We all know caregivers. Look at your church prayer list at folks with serious conditions and you will need to recognize the fact that for every name, there are caregivers. Caregivers get tired, discouraged, feel lonely, may suffer abuse of different types from the one being cared for and may wear down to the point of becoming ill themselves. These are folks who will rarely express negative thoughts about their situation except to a few very dear friends. They tend to keep their feelings to themselves and that isn't always healthy. My hope is to just raise an awareness that for every person suffering from a physical or mental condition that is debilitating, there are caregivers on vigilant duty providing care, not giving up on their loved one.

Whether a caregiver or “care-needer,” we all must remember whatever our care, Jesus is our burden bearer. He's the ultimate Caregiver and has hundreds of ways to see to our care.

By the way, welcome home, Richard and Carolyn! It's been a long road

Dear Father...You are our ultimate Caregiver. You cared enough to send Jesus to die for our sin that we might be free in You. The ills of this world still chase us while we are here. Thank You for those folks who have taken up the challenge of caregiving. You know who and where they are. Bless and strengthen each one right in the middle of their situation. Help us to stand ready to help where and when we can when a caregiving friend needs encouragement. In Jesus precious name...Amen

Defining Who We Are

Be ye therefore followers (imitators)
of God, as dear children...
Ephesians 5:1

I had to chuckle at myself two days ago as I was making spaghetti for supper. I browned the hamburger. I had already added strips of green pepper and sliced mushrooms into the meat to caramelize them. I then opened the jar of store-bought spaghetti sauce and poured it into the meat mixture. Without thinking, I then went to the sink, turned on the faucet and added a small amount of water into the empty spaghetti sauce jar. I swirled it around to get as much of the leftover sauce mixed into the water as possible and then poured it into the pan containing the other ingredients before throwing the jar into the trash. I caught myself at the end of the process recalling that I go through that procedure all the time whether it's a spaghetti jar or a soup can. We aren't poverty stricken, thank You Jesus, but I do that in cooking as if I must capture every drop of an ingredient for cooking.

Since then, I have thought of other things I do along that line that I wouldn't have to do. I've folded towels and washcloths the very same way as long as I can remember. I wash clothes as faithfully on Monday's as possible. Friends know me well enough to know that wash day on Monday is almost a ritual for me. I even put a new roll of bathroom tissue on it's little reel in a certain direction that is different than how some folks do it.

All of us could think of things we have done by habit for years and never give it a thought. In everything I've mentioned, especially the spaghetti sauce jar, is not done by accident. In all of these ways and probably in a hundred other ways, I learned by imitating without realizing it. The things mentioned are things I watched my Mother do for years. She didn't tell me to do these things when I grew up and got married. They just became a part of my routine, a part of who I am.

All of us have probably picked up habits along the way of living, especially as we observed our parents and how they did things. We may not have made mental notes to take on their way of doing things, but just in our being with them in close proximity, there were things that “rubbed off” on us, so to speak.

It isn't unusual today to hear of someone who has an “identity crisis.” Such a person seemingly has lost a sense of who they are, not in name, but in who they are at the core of their very being. We may even tend at times to take our identity from others with whom we associate. There can be a real insecurity for some in just being who they are without apology. Some like to be known by a certain name, ability, or even office held. Some like to be known for family name, talent or high position. What happens if one marries a “no name” or develops a disease of the vocal chords or loses her position in some notable organization?

Several years ago, I had a real identity crisis. For a few years I was a secretary on the church staff of the largest Sunday school in America. Thousands knew me on a first name basis. I had a lot of responsibilities that I dearly loved being a part of. The day came, though, when my husband accepted a job in a distant state. We joined a fine church there, where maybe only a dozen people knew me. The rest couldn't have cared what my name was or the things I was capable of doing. I found myself on a shelf for a time. It was among the loneliest days of my life. I had been known for certain things and abilities in the other church...now it was gone. It had felt good for a time being known on a first name basis by so many. I was asking myself who I was with issues of self worth...self identity.

Along the way, I have learned that it makes no difference what people think of me...what counts is what Jesus thinks of me. I may seek to imitate people in order to fit in or to feel secure. However, my only real security and identity is to be found in Christ alone. It does matter how I treat people, my testimony of Jesus working in my life. If I am imitating Jesus Christ, my testimony will take care of itself.

Philippians 2:5 tells us: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus....” and thus begins the list of who all He was as He took on flesh and walked this earth. As you and I too walk this earth, we are to imitate Jesus in all He did and was. I can remember people through the years, I wanted to copy, especially when in high school. In that process I was a failure and did myself personally no favors. I had to learn that with all my flaws and shortcomings, God still saw in me potential, talent that was unique to me.

My Heavenly Father still views me in a very individual way. By the way, He does the same with everyone. We don't need to find our worth or identity in anyone or anything other than in THE One that really matters. That thought is so freeing. As I live in close relationship with Him, He will leave His influence and imprint on me. Those rituals and habits I've learned through life are just an example to me of the effect God can have on my life if I observe His Word and the influence He wants to be in me as we walk together through life. It goes far beyond a particular wash day or rinsing out a spaghetti jar. God has called you and me to uniqueness in our world, but at the same time to be imitators as well, but of the only One that matters...Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, I want to be like You in every area of my life. I'm so sorry for the sin of neglecting You. I thank You for Your patience with me and for so many other considerations I don't deserve. Help me to function in Your strength, and yes, Your identity. In Your precious name...Amen!

BLAHS vs JOY

 

Thou wilt shew me the path of lie:
in thy presence is fulness of joy;
at thy right hand there are
pleasures for evermore.
Psalms 16:11

It happens around this time of year to many folks, including Christians...the blahs. By the time people manage to survive until the first week of January, all of the anticipation, excitement, gifts have been given and received. There have been choir presentations, decorations, shopping, family visits, school parties, over-eating and over spending, that all take a toll emotionally and maybe even physically on almost anyone. We sang with great fervor and joy through the month of December:

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come,
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart, prepare Him room
and Heaven and nature sing.”

I wonder, though, by the time we get past all the events and are left with let down emotions, if another song could be changed that would better describe our feelings. It's a child's song we used to sing also with joy:

I've got the blahs, blahs, blahs, blahs
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart.
I've got the blahs, blahs, blahs, blahs
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.

We've all been there. We don't like the feeling and we certainly didn't plan for it, but it can happen. Christmas starts in stores, on-line ads and catalogs as early as October and sometimes September. It is everywhere we go...can't get away from it. We find ourselves getting with the program. I remember as a little girl that the Christmas tree went up only a week before Christmas. Some people put their tree up on Christmas eve. Sounds odd, doesn't it and yet, I think there was more of a realistic view of the season back then. We weren't left in a huge emotional mess.

Keep in mind that these emotional let downs don't just happen with adults as they can happen with children as well. Children generally feel a letdown when they open their last gift and may even say or want to say, “Is this all?” All of us can remember as children the build up to a big day like Christmas or even birthdays. Parents along with the rest of their emotions feel a sense of guilt if they don't produce for their children those things other children are receiving. Forget Thanksgiving. In America there is a two month orgy our country has come to be called “Christmas” and even now, that word is hardly used in commercial entities. Just that fact can depress me as much as anything.

So what do we do? I'm speaking to all of us, common ordinary people who are emotionally healthy, at least ten months out of the year. We first have to recognize the cause of these feelings of depression, over-tired, listless, inactive, head achy, and perhaps not sleeping well. Some of the best advice I ever heard on this subject was to plan something eventful in the first part of January...it might be a trip, attending a special event, saving gift certificates until January or something you could think of that would be appropriate for you or yours that could be fun to look forward to. Most important is for us to maintain our spiritual priorities. It's easy over holiday times to let our Bible reading go. We might even be careless in church attendance and activities. Our spiritual strength isn't just going to happen. It should stem from an important relationship with the Lord that is vital to our well-being every day of the year.

The answer is a spiritual answer that applies to any time of the year. These blahs can attack us after coming home from a dreamed-of vacation or after a family wedding. I can remember as a girl being depressed for at least a couple of weeks after I had to return home from church camp. I had counted days until I could go to Lake Benton Baptist Camp. Suddenly it seemed, that day was there and each day there just seemed to fly.

As simplistic as it sounds, the Lord we sing of in “Joy to the world” is still the answer. That carol's first line is deep with meaning: “Joy to the world...THE LORD IS COME.” Jesus came then, but He comes everyday of the year into our lives. He wants the preeminence above all events, holidays, vacations, etc. If we are to get excited, He wants it to be over Him and not the things this world has managed to come up with. He understands happiness, but if our joy and happiness comes as a result of our relationship with Him, all other things will fall into place. Then when big events occur, we can get back to normalcy quickly because He is our normal.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if into the month of January, we could truly sing, even if quietly to ourselves:

“I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart.
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart.
Down in my heart TO STAY.”

There's only one reason we can sing that familiar song from childhood primary Sunday school. That reason is:

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King.
Let EVERY heart,
Prepare Him room.
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven...and heaven
And nature sing.”

That should not be just a song for Christmas, but for every single day because He is our joy. We must prepare Him room to work and move in our lives every day.

Thank You Jesus for being the only source of our joy. Forgive us, at times, for not making room for You in our lives when we get busy or preoccupied with so many things. Forgive our lack of consideration for You and all You've done for us. In Your precious name...Amen

The Best Present Ever

 

Thanks be unto God
for His unspeakable gift.
II Corinthians 9:15

All of us can probably think back to favorite Christmas gifts that meant a lot to us at the time. The highlight day at our house, prior to Christmas, was when our Sear's Christmas Catalog arrived in the mail. My sister Kay and I competed for time we could have individually with that precious book. Probably well over half of the catalog was full of toy items. If a toy had been created and ready for sale, it was in that catalog.

Along with the catalog on my lap, I also had in hand a pencil and piece of paper. This was almost an exercise of futility, but it was still worth listing those things a little girl only dreamed of finding under the family's Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Up until about the age of ten, our Christmas days were like many other families in our town. We got some nice toy items on Christmas morning along with gifts that came in the mail from various relatives.

One Christmas I got a play stove. Back then, they were made of a light-weight metal...none of that plastic stuff. My sister got the matching refrigerator so we could add a kitchen to our play house. The next year, I got a doll house (non-plastic, of course) and spent hours with it. It was so durable it even got handed down to the next two sisters. The Christmas I got my bicycle was really a special day except that I couldn't ride it for a week because of all the snow on the ground.

My favorite gift each year, however, up through about the age of ten, was a baby doll. I loved my dolls. I wanted to grow up to be a mom. I not only played house with them, but also played school and church with them as well. I once heard someone say, “Play, for a child, is a form of work although more enjoyable.” Often a child's play leads to their future, so toys parents provide their children at any time are important items. I would have to say that in the way of special Christmas gifts, my dolls were the most precious gifts in those days.

October 2, 1949 dawned with bright sunshine and on the chilly side. It was what appeared to be just a typical Fall day in our town. It was a Sunday and I loved Sundays because I loved going to church and Sunday school. (I've never been able to figure out why many people don't care if they go to church or not). I was ten years old and in the junior girls Sunday school class. My teacher was also my music teacher at my grade school. She liked that I could read notes and that I also sang a strong alto. I had learned to sing alto by sitting with my Mother in church, singing along with her alto voice.

On that Sunday, we had a special evangelist, C. W. Stucky. I'll never forget him and would know him to this day if I were to meet him anywhere except he's in Heaven but I'll still know him. He was very grandfatherly in appearance with the kindest eyes I had ever seen. We junior girls sat on the second pew, center section of the church auditorium...near the pulpit. If we got the giggles or were a little unruly, the “old ladies class” the Loyal Mothers, who sat on the pew behind us, would kindly tap us on the shoulder. That October Sunday was different. I recall listening carefully to the sermon with no wiggle problems. To this day I wouldn't be able to tell you a thing about the sermon. I do remember feeling as if my heart was beginning to warm inside of me, not like I was sick...just warm. The invitation was given to accept Jesus as Savior. A couple of my friends from our class and the junior boys class went forward, but wasn't terribly aware of them at the time. I stepped out into the sun-soaked aisle in my own time as if I were the only person in the auditorium. The sun was terribly bright coming through the window as I recall, but I knew in that moment as I stepped out that something magnificent was happening in my life. I look back now to that moment knowing that Jesus was doing something in my heart that no little girl could explain.

We were taken to a side room where the evangelist and pastor spoke to us. I remember sitting beside my Sunday school teacher who was quietly crying. I felt bad that she was so sad, but now with age understand her emotions more from that time. Even though I felt when I had stepped out in that aisle, I had accepted Jesus as my Savior, I was glad for the pastors to talk with us and share with us further Scripture. I was so happy then to be baptized the following Sunday night as an act of obedience to the Lord.

I know it was only the first Sunday in October and Christmas was yet to come in December, but I was told what a gift my salvation was. I knew it was mine because of what Jesus had done for me on the cross. I have to tell you that the gift of my salvation was not only the best gift up to then, but remains the best even now.

This gift wasn't a gift that could be purchased with money. It couldn't be found in the Sears Christmas Catalog. It wasn't one anyone other than Jesus could give to me. It didn't come gift wrapped. The only material thing I walked away with that Sunday morning was a little copy of the Gospel of John. On the back I had written my name and date that was like a “born-again birth certificate.” I still have that little Gospel of John. It's aged through the years as I have as well, but it's message is still fresh and as new now as it was that day in 1949.

My prayer today for any reader is that of all the gifts you can receive in your life, it is the gift of salvation that can only come through accepting Jesus into your life as Savior. We can all think of wonderful Christmas gifts we've received through the years, but God has given us the very best gift possible...His Son, Jesus. Years can dim some things in our thinking. Maybe some folks aren't as close to that Gift as sometime in the past. A renewed relationship with Him would not only benefit us, but would be of great joy to Jesus, the Giver of the best gift ever given to the world.

Dear Father...You gave us so much when You sent Your precious Son to die for us, giving us the wonderful gift of salvation. Forgive our lack of love and appreciation for all You do for us all the time. Draw us even closer to Yourself in these special days, that we will not only keep Jesus in the center of this season, but fully in our lives every day of the year. In Jesus' name...Amen

YOU ARE INVITED!!

And when they were come into the house,
they saw the young child with Mary his mother,
and fell down, and worshiped him: and when
they had opened their treasures, they presented
unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense,
and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

We've all received invitations of various types. Some invitations invite us to birthday parties, some perhaps to graduation events and then there are the wedding shower invitations. However, baby shower invitations, especially to honor a first baby, have an extra element of joy attached to them.

Brian and I talked about adopting a baby after we were married. My mother had been adopted and I felt something special about that process. After a couple of years of marriage, I had friends all over the place praying that a baby could be found for Brian and me to adopt. Before we knew it, Jennie came into our lives, into our home and into our hearts. In those days, no one knew the sex of a baby prior to birth so it remained a mystery until THE day. I can't tell you the friends who wanted to honor us with baby showers. I also can't tell you how many showers Jennie and I attended. She ended up with a wardrobe that would have shamed royalty.

No matter who the couple is that is going to welcome a baby into their home, it's such a special time that friends and family want to have a part in celebrating that baby. When babies come into the world, no matter how ugly (sorry, but a good majority are), everyone raves about the beauty of the baby. The beauty of the baby no matter the weight, amount of hair, etc. is in the fact that we are looking at a precious miracle.

New babies are remembered, but only for awhile. We mothers always remember that special day of a baby's birth, but babies grow up and we rejoice with every birthday. We remember our babies with pictures and home movies, but we celebrate the current year of one's birthday.

The only birthday in baby form I know of that is celebrated every year is that of Jesus. On December 25, we have no pictures in our mind of Jesus as a boy in the temple, working miracles in people's lives and really not too much even of the cross and resurrection. We know where that birth is going to lead future-wise, but still on Christmas cards, manger scenes, adoring shepherds and some of the wisest of men from the East, we celebrate the birth of a baby... Jesus...same baby every year. I find nothing objectionable about that for without that birth, nothing else of any note could have happened including our own personal salvation experiences.

Mary and Joseph were in difficult positions. An unmarried young woman found to be pregnant in those day could have been banished somehow or even executed. Where an expectant couple in our day can't wait to share their good news with parents and friends, there could be no rejoicing with others regarding their blessed event. Joseph was on a spot as well. He couldn't brag with his buddies about a coming baby in his family that he didn't as yet have and that in reality, wasn't even his. This baby was to be the very Son of God, something that couldn't really be explained to anyone.

This couple couldn't enjoy all of the things most married, expectant couples enjoyed. They couldn't do anything to draw attention to themselves. But that special time of Jesus' birth came...in a smelly stable, the baby King of Kings made His human appearance. There were those shepherds who came after the prompting of angels who appeared in their fields that night. Shepherds, however, wouldn't have been welcome even near most households, let alone visiting a new baby in a stable. They weren't well thought of in those days. But it was appropriate for lowly shepherds to visit THE One who in adulthood would be known as the Good Shepherd. When those shepherds arrived to see the baby, they had no gifts to bring...only their awe and adoration.

Wise men came but not to the stable. They arrived later at the home of Mary and Joseph to see the young child. They had traveled a very long distance at the silent bidding of a star they saw in the East. They followed that star and it eventually led them to the humble home of Joseph and Mary. There, they bowed down to the child and presented Him with gifts. This is the first we see of gifts being given in honor of Jesus. They brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh, all very expensive. Because of three gifts, it is usually pictured there were only three wise men who made the trip. However, there could have been more than three. Despite the number who made this visit to see Jesus, I wonder if they knew what would come to be the significance of those gifts.

GOLD: All we have to do is look back in the Old Testament to the Ark of the Covenant, encrusted with gold, vessels used for worship and all the gold incorporated into the Temple and one can see the importance and significance of gold. It was representative of divinity and royalty. Could they have known?

FRANKINCENSE: A white, milky resin taken from a tree that was processed into a usable resin. It is extremely fragrant and was often used in offerings, especially on the prayer alter of incense. It represented then holiness and righteousness. I think now of Jesus being referred to as being a sweet aroma.

MYRRH: This too is resin, reddish in color. When taken from the bark of a tree it first drips down the tree almost in tear drop form. It is gleaned after two weeks when it has hardened. It is a bitter spice often referred to as “gall”. It can be used in mixing drinks such as what was offered to Jesus on the cross. This spice, however, in Jesus' day was used for embalming or for the preparation of a body that wasn't embalmed but just wrapped. The spices were tucked into the folds of the wrappings to hide the smell of death.

In all three gifts, we now see significance. They were all very expensive gifts, but even now, in each, we see Jesus...who He was and who He continues to be. We can so appreciate this time of year in celebrating Jesus' birth. I have to ask myself, though, what I plan to give Jesus this year for His birthday. There's no gift I can purchase and nothing I know to bring. All I have to give Him is ME. And by the way, that's all YOU have to give Him too.

Thank You Father for the gift of Your Son Jesus. Thank You Jesus for coming so that we can have the blessing of salvation and for Your indwelling Spirit that keeps us connected to Yourself. Our Christmas season is very merry because of You. We love You. In Jesus' name...Amen

"XMAS"...Who Cares?

Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and
bestowed on Him the name which is above
every name, so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven
and on earth and under the earth
and that EVERY tongue will confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11

About a year after our marriage, Brian and I took a trip to his hometown of Albuquerque. We had only had a day or so at wedding time for me to visit with his family and I wanted to get to know them better. Among the family members was Grandma Lanoue, Brian's grandmother. I immediately found her to be a very interesting lady. Being a history buff, I talked to her about changes in our country she had seen in her lifetime. She spoke of horses and buggies, remembering the first airplane. It amazed her that man had gone from those humble flight beginnings to walking on the moon. She spoke of medical miracles that had occurred. She had seen presidents come and go and spoke of four wars she had lived to see. She had also seen changes in the social and moral conditions in the country and the decline in those areas. Changes in women were appalling to her and she would give examples that I won't go into. I have thought since those conversations and her passing away that today, she would really be shocked just as I am at declines I have witnessed in our country just in my own lifetime.

It took all I could do to even type the above title just now. On Facebook, I've been seeing the best of Christians downplaying the Christmas issue that has been flying through the air waves these days. Leaving the word “Christ” out of Christmas doesn't seem to be worth consideration. I've seen cute things like: “We need not think about a word or symbol...we need to think about feeding the poor, clothing the naked, etc.” Some of that will happen especially among believers. After some people have put their five dollars in the Salvation Army Kettle, then what? I'm not putting down folks who do a lot of philanthropic work. God bless them...we've got to have them and Christians should be at the forefront of such activity.

The thing that really bothers me is in these many years I've lived, I've seen the erosion of spiritual values in our country that are unbelievable. In many cases, that erosion has happened from the top...many pastors have lost their zeal and yes, guts to preach the Word of God even with raised voice. My public grade school was as close to attending a Christian school as anything I have ever known of since. We pledged to the flag and Bible and then recited in Lord's Prayer in most classrooms. If someone didn't like it, too bad, but I never heard of anyone protesting and doubt if the principal cared if they did. We had government leaders who, if not Christians, conducted themselves as if they were. Why did they do that? Because of the pressure REAL Christians brought to bear on our society. You might not like the pretense of such people...today, I'll take the pretense. Now, we have more corruption in Washington, DC than can be imagined. We have a Muslim president. For the first time in a presidency, the presidents wife doesn't have Christmas trees in the White House...they are holiday trees, breaking all tradition for more years than we can remember. Should all those things bother me...YES. There's little I can do about it, but I am to pray and so live my life that I will shine Jesus' light before others.

I'm not mad at anyone in particular, but in a situation. I am pretty disappointed in whatever Christianity we have left in our country. I realize our country is full of Godly people who won't be heard by anyone. I'm not willing to give up on us or our country for Christ, but change is not going to happen if we don't remain involved in the things of God. We fold if an atheist protests or if a person of the Islamic faith complains. What is wrong with us?

It's so odd to me that what I'm saying will be criticized, especially by CHRISTians or should I say Xians. Would that symbol (Xians) come as a great shock for us to see. That's the goal of atheists, satanists, Muslims and secularists in our country. We are slowly but surely being labeled and some trying times are coming.

As I looked at the beginning verses of this blog, I am reminded that the day will come when EVERY knee will bow at the name of Jesus. We usually think of Hitler, Lenin, murderers, etc. and think of the timing of such kneeling as being far into the future. Perhaps for some, it will be so. However, I remind us that we are a part of “EVERY knee” even if we are Christians. Not just at Christmas or Easter or any other special holiday, but it's just as appropriate for you and me to “bow the knee” now to Jesus' Lordship. I can't even imagine the influence that we could have for God in our day if such were to be done in mass.

It's not about a red cup coffee cup...it's not about the sale of “Xmas trees” or upcoming “Xmas sales.” This season isn't about “holiday shopping” or public schools' “winter breaks.” I hope we will get back to Christmas trees and Christmas sales if you know what I mean in word usage. We've moved way too far from precious traditions because of political correctness. This season has got to be about who we are in Christ and Who He is. His name is too precious to be discarded. This precious season isn't about an “X”...it's about Jesus.

Dear Father, forgive my lack of courage in standing for You when I should have and didn't. In our day, may we Christians have an awareness of Satan's ploys and our need to stand firm for Your principles. Help us all to be willing to stand for something or we will find ourselves falling for anything no matter the season of the year. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

BUT GOD

 

BUT GOD is the Judge;
He puts down one and
exalts another.
Psalm 75:7

Should anyone take a look inside my main study/teaching Bible, they would find two words I have usually tried to underline or circle...ALL and BUT. Both words, although only with three letters each have large meaning for me as I read. You see, when I come across that word ALL, I have come to realize when the Holy Spirit spoke of ALL, that's exactly what He meant. He wasn't even hinting at a piece or part of something...He meant just what the word indicates and that is something in it's entirety.

The word, BUT, is another word altogether. It is a word of exception, correction or addition of some sort, perhaps a combination of those three words. I love every time I come to the words “But God...” side by side. In many verses the two individual words can be found separately, but my personal blessing is seeing those two words side by side revealing God stepping into a situation to make Himself known and active in the lives of His people. (By the way, most of the time in this blog, I will capitalize those two words just for emphasis)

There were BUT GOD instances in many of the lives of Old Testament people, such as Noah (Gen. 3:3), Joseph (Gen. 50:20), Ruth (1:6) and David (I Sam. 23:14). There were others, of course, but too many to mention. Even in the book of Psalms, we find those two wonderful words proclaimed by an author:

My flesh and my heart may fail,
BUT GOD is the strength of my
heart and my portion forever.
(73:26)

What precious promises we have just in that verse of God's concern, love and power. He cares for us in our weakest moments. At the same time, He is the righteous Judge and there is never anything out of His control where you and I are concerned.

For me, personally, those two words (BUT GOD) came to land in my mind and on my heart when I got into an in-depth study of the book of Ephesians. When I came to chapter 2 of that dear book, I was stopped in my tracks for a time...couldn't move on to the next verses. The first three verses of chapter two speaks of who we were in our sin prior to our acceptance of Jesus in our lives. We are reminded in those verses of how we were dead in our sins and how we walked according to the course of this world, controlled by the prince of the power of the air. Paul speaks of how we all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and mind. Paul puts us all in the same basket of sinful behavior and indulgences. To be honest, after reading those three verses, I was ready to just put my Bible down for a rest. I knew that had been my pedigree and it didn't look very pretty.

Then I came to verses 4-7 of that chapter 2:

BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of His
great love with which He loved us.
Even when we were dead in our transgressions,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have
been saved),
and raised us up with Him, and seated us
with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the ages to come He might show the
surpassing riches of His grace in kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus.

I can't tell you how often I come to these verses when I go through a tough time of discouragement or when I don't feel well. We may wonder at times if God is really “there” in our various situations. The answer for us is to be in the Word of God and this is a wonderful place to be.

We are facing a holiday time when many folks tend to go into times of depression for any number of reasons. No matter the time of year, no matter our circumstances, God will always be rich in mercy along with His other loving attributes. No matter how low our circumstances or moods, BUT GOD is still a fact of our spiritual lives. He waits in the wings of our lives to step into those circumstances we face and in His time. I hasten to say though, that it is always His time for the lost to be found, for the sinner to repent, for the back-slidden Christian

to return to God's loving arms.

Along this same thought is Romans 5:8:

BUT GOD demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.

I Corinthians chapter 1 speaks of the foolish things of this world, and verse 27 speaks to that.

BUT GOD has chosen the foolish things of the
world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the
weak things of the world to shame the things
which are strong.

In Acts 13, Paul preached a lengthy sermon in Pisidian Antioch where he preached a very historical sermon. He began with Israel and Old Testament information on to the ministry and death of Jesus. He then made one of the most important statements that has to do with our faith. In verse 30, he said:

BUT GOD raised Him from the dead.

All Paul preached was for nothing without the fact of that statement regarding Jesus' victory over death. The fact of that statement is as real today as it was then. As Jesus was victorious over death, we who belong to Him share in that victory.

Can you recall some of those BUT GOD times in your life? Perhaps everything was in shambles around you, and then God miraculously stepped in. Those times are usually clear and memorable in our minds and should be kept for pondering in our hearts. Those times become a part of God's track record in our lives and contribute to the building our faith.

Thank You Father for those times You step into the muddled messes of our lives and bring beauty from ashes. Only you can interrupt our circumstances with such love and blessing. Thank you for not just those special moments but for every moment of Your consistent love for us. In Jesus' precious name....Amen