New Years Resolutions

 

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

The reason why we make New Year’s resolutions is so that we take a little time to look at ourselves and see what it is that God would have us to do better. I know, we all think that we are good, and for the most part we probably are, but there is always room for improvement and with God, it is possible.

So, let us not deflect the nudging of the Holy Spirit when it comes to making our resolutions for the New Year, and know that our willingness to change opens the door for God to work through us and for us to work better for God.

Have a changed and happy New Year.

Stir Up One Another

 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…

Hebrews 10:24

How do we get out of a slump? You know what I mean. It’s cold outside. We want to stay home and read or watch television or surf the net.

The best way to get stirred up is to go somewhere where there are people. We don’t have to spend money; we can go to the park for a walk or the library or maybe, if we are bold, try a new group or a new hobby.

You could join a Bible study and see what others are thinking and saying about the Word of God, and in the process enjoy some Christian fellowship.

The point is that God made us to be social creatures and when we socialize with others we are inspired and gravitate to projects we can do together.

So, put on your coat and your boots and go somewhere and stir and be stirred.

Something New

 

Do not call to mind former things,

Or ponder things of the past.

Behold I will do something new,

Now it will spring forth;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will make a roadway in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18-19

It is the end of the year and some people like to ponder the past year and reflect on what happened.

A rear view mirror is just that a rear view. Instead of pondering the past, let us greet the New Year with anticipation and open minds and hearts and willing hands to serve God.

Behold God wills do something new.

Testing Your Faith

 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

After we experience many trials we learn to recognize what trials we need to work on fixing, and what trials are just trials which we must go through and come out on the other side. Let’s face it, there are somethings which we cannot do anything about and worrying and concocting possible solutions will do nothing to change the outcome.

In all trials we can turn to God and ask for direction and the strength to do that which He would have us to do. If the answer is “nothing” then we need to have faith that God has it under control and stop worrying about it.

So, give those pesky trials over to God and have faith that God’s plans are far superior to anything we can concoct on our own.

I am praying for you, and if you will, pray for me.

Amen.

Fear Not

 

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

Psalm 28:1

God is with us no matter what happens. In good times and in bad times, He is always there with us.

Be brave.  Face the unknown without fear.  God is on your side. 

And, be grateful.

High Voltage

 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven or on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to His be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generation forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

If you aren’t charged up for God, after reading this prayer, you should be.

God welcomes our prayers, in whatever words we chose to use. However, He also provides us prayers we can pray. This prayer is powerful in that it opens us up to receive from God the knowledge of His great love for us.

God’s love is high voltage and it is in us.

Merry Christmas

 

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the City of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the City of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace among men, with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about the Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Luke 2:1-20

Christmas Eve

 

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,

And in His word do I hope.

Psalm 130:5

We wait with anticipation the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus.

Immanuel

 

Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

It seems silly that God would choose to reveal Himself to the world as a baby. He sent men, like Isaiah to tell the world about Himself, but people did not listen. Then, at the right time He sent a tiny baby called Immanuel, which means “God with us,” to prove that He intended to claim us as His own.

When we ask Jesus to be our Lord, Master and Savior, our sins are forgiven and God claims us as His own.

Joseph, What A Man

 

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:18-21.

What is so remarkably human about Jesus’ birth is that his earthly foster father, Joseph, was a good but practical man. He did not want to embarrass Mary, but he also did not want to embarrass himself. He made a sensible plan, but it was not God’s plan. Joseph upon hearing God’s plan, yielded his will to God’s will.

So, it was that Jesus was not put away quietly, but came to earth with great fanfare as it should have been for the Savior of the world.

And, this we still celebrate. 

Upside Down

 

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas is all about the coming of Jesus our Lord, Master and Savior.

So, take time to talk about Jesus being the most unexpected Savior of the world. Who would have thought a baby born in a stable 2000 years ago would turn the world upside down? 

We can celebrate the joy of knowing Jesus and His transforming power for us and the world.

Celebrate God's Love

 

The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

Make ready the way of the Lord,

Make His paths straight.

Mark 1:3

As we prepare for Christmas, we are making way for the coming of the baby Jesus.  It is a time of celebration and of family and friends gathering to share in the love that God has for us in that He sent His Son to redeem us and claim us as His own.  

Make merry and celebrate God's love for you. 

Seekers

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:1-5

Christmas is one big, free spending celebration in the United States. Almost everybody celebrates it; even people do not know what they are celebrating. For many people Christmas has no religious significance. It is all gifts and parties.  We could say, "The lights are on, but nobody is home."  

But what if all this celebrating is a good thing?  

In the midst of all this revelry, there are seekers, who like the Wise Men, are looking for God. 

The celebration of Christmas brings the Gospel to everyone's front door.  A glimpse of the baby in the manger reminds us that the reason we are celebrating is that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to us to teach us and to ultimately redeem us from our sins.   

We are the hands of Jesus on earth, and it is our job to help the seekers understand who He is: Our Lord Master and Savior.  

Visitors

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 10:11

At Christmas and Easter churches are filled with people who only come to church for those two occasions and sometimes the regular attenders get a little bent out of shape because they may crowd them out of their regular seats.

And, rather than warmly greet the visitors, Pastors sometimes make snide remarks about being glad to see all the visitors and that he will see them again at Easter.

All these Christmas and Easter people are a good thing. It is a great opportunity for them to hear the Gospel and for us to extend the hand of Christian fellowship to them.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He gave up His life for us. The least we can do is willingly give up our seats for His sheep.

So, get ready to celebrate Christmas with everyone who comes to worship the new born King.

 

Put The Merry In Christmas

 

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it until it gets the early and late rains.

James 5:7

I know this verse has to do with the second coming of Christ, but it can also be applied to us as Christmas approaches because we are sometimes so anxious in our preparation that we forget what we are preparing for and the merry is missing.

Perhaps, we could do a little less preparing a little more celebrating. We could visit a live Nativity scene or go for cookies and caroling or go to a Children’s Christmas pageant. Doing something different can help us focus on what Christmas is about: the arrival of the baby Jesus – our Lord, Master and Savior.

And, help put the merry in Christmas.

Count To Ten

A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.

Proverbs 19:11

God loves us and treats us with love. If we are to do this to others, then we need to get the beast of anger under control. Grandma’s idea that we should count to ten before we say anything in anger is a good one. For some of us, counting to twenty or thirty is better yet.

And, as this scripture says, sometimes the best course of action is no action. When we ignore small things that irritate us, we open up the door to minister to those who bug us. Not everyone may be receptive to the Gospel, but everyone is receptive to a break. Just the fact that we do not snap at a person who offends us is a testimony of God’s love.

 

All Those Parties

 

He who receives you receives Me, and He who receives Me receives Him who sent me.

Matthew 10:40

Jesus makes it clear that God goes with us when we set out to preach the Gospel and it encompasses all manner of sharing the love of Jesus and the message of salvation with everyone.

It is Christmas season and we may be invited to parties.  We should not shy away from accepting invitations from those who are not Christians and even those who openly proclaim their unbelief, because we can’t bring them to Jesus if we don’t talk to them. And, if the invitation appears to be for an event which we find objectionable, we can counter with, “Well, I can’t make it, but how about if we have coffee on Tuesday? I’ll buy.”

When we are welcomed by unbelievers, we have an opportunity to share the love of God.

Possible With God

 

But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

Luke 18:27

For centuries people have tried to explain away the miracle of Jesus’s birth and His ministry. The problem is how do you explain the unexplainable? No matter how deeply they delve into history or how much money is spent, in the end they are left with a choice of one of two things: Either Jesus was a great con man or He was who He said He was, The Son of God.

While we may get frustrated with all the questioning, we need to understand that the questioning has nothing to do with us. Our faith is based upon the truth that God cannot lie and that if God says Jesus is His Son, then Jesus is His Son.

The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.

Yielding the Celebration

 

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3

Sometimes, along with all the holiday parties and celebrating comes bickering among families regarding who will celebrate where and when. And, sadly, this often involves children.

Let us step back and take a look at what we can do to make all this better for our families. Rather than quibble about the celebration, let us declare our decision to forgo fighting for Christmas on Christmas Day and yield to the other side and have our party on another day so that the children get two or three or four celebrations filled with the love and joy that Christmas is all about.

Just so you know, we have done this for years - celebrated with the our children and grandchild on a day other than Christmas.  There is no better feeling than knowing the blessings of family gathering together. 

And, by doing this, we all will have a Merry Christmas.

Get The Job Done

 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Yes, it is true that we sometimes get tired doing the work of the Lord.  We get discouraged when we don't see the results we want to see, or if we are criticized by people as being foolish.  But that does not detract from the fact we are working for the Lord and following what He has directed us to do.  

Remember we are not working for the approval of people, but to accomplish that which God has called us to do.

So, when only two people show up for your Bible study group, keep teaching and when the church bus won't start, call some people to go pick up people.  

Don't give up.  Give in to God.  Get the job done.

Ask For Prayer

 

Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me….

Romans 15:30

What do you do when something awful happens in your life? What do you do if it is embarrassing? What if it makes you feel ashamed of yourself and your family?

I will tell you what I did when this happened – I hid out. I did not show my face anywhere including at church. I was so worried about what people would say or think that I shortchanged my friends at church by assuming that they would accuse me or gossip about me or snub me, that I walked away from the very people who wanted to comfort me.

I denied myself the blessing of feeling loved and cared for and I denied my friends the opportunity to bless me and my family with their prayers. 

I was wrong. I left myself wallowing in self pity and shame.

We cannot control everything that happens in life, but we can trust God to send people to help us through the hard times. We just need to be open to receive the prayers and love that God will send our way.

God is there for us and God’s servants are there to minister to us. Be bold ask and receive prayers and comfort.

Truth Is Your Friend

 

… And you will know the truth and the truth will make you free….

John 8:31

The bad part about lies is that they are ever changing and evolving because we cannot remember the exact story we tell. When we live a lie, we spend way too much time trying to keep our story consistent. The hype and the spin and the conjecturing are exhausting for us and for those who hear us and try to make sense of our senseless explanation.

The truth, once said is the truth and nothing can change it. The truth brings light and understanding and freedom. When we speak the truth we take control. As much as gossiping lips may try, they cannot alter the truth.

So, what can we do when we are confronted by people who perhaps know things about us which we would rather not have known? We can do one of two things: We can tell the true story, own it and move on, or we can say nothing and let the past be the past. It is up to us. Either way, we choose not to lie.

Truth is your friend. Embrace it.

Wandering Donkey

 

If you meet your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.

Exodus 23:4

God gave the Israelites rules dealing with good human relations. With God it is always about doing what is right, not what is convenient.

I think the proof of our commitment to God is not how we treat those who we love, but how we treat those who we don’t like. It is easy to be kind to those who are kind to us, but it is hard to do so to our enemies.

So, when the grouch down the street, who called the police because your kids were making too much noise, asks you for a ride, go pick him up. 

No Brinks Truck

 

Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich,

When the glory of his house is increased;

For when he dies he will carry nothing away;

His glory will not descend after him.

Psalm 49:16-17

I did not know the Bible said that. It is so true. When we leave this life for the other side, there will be no Brink’s truck following us to the cemetery.

Our best hedge is to be sure we have liberally distributed our wealth, no matter how great or how meager, where we want it to go.

Christmas is a giving time. What better time, to give a little away? Buy a toy for a needy child or give a few dollars to the Salvation Army or bake a pie for a free dinner.

Your gift will be gratefully received and your heart will sing.

So What!

 

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or peril, or sword? But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35, 37-39.

If there is a Bible verse which gives us the courage to say “so what” when things go wrong, this is it. Great or small, there is nothing in life that can remove us from the love of God. The Bible is full of stories of people who made mistakes, who God loved and redeemed. From Moses who argued with God that he could not lead the people of Israel to the promised land (Exodus 3-4) to the Apostle Paul who held the coats of the men who stoned Stephen (Acts 8:54-60), God has revealed His unchanging and compromising love. His desire is for us to declare Jesus to be Lord, Master and Savior of our lives, and to bask in His unconditional love.

Hallelujah!

Chosen and Appointed

 

Jesus said, “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.”

John 15:16-17

We are chosen, not because we are perfect but because God loves us. We are to go and do the will of God. What is the will of God? It is that we love one another. Once we embrace this truth, serving others becomes second nature and we freely offer prayer for the sick and the needy and for those who rejoice. We become willing to step out in faith and extend help to those around us.

We are chosen and we will bear the fruit of God’s love spread to those around us.

Everyone Is Welcome

 

Opening his mouth Peter said, “I most certainly understand that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”

Acts 10:34-35.

The disciples of Jesus were all Jews, and had been taught that they alone were the people of God. They believed that by obeying the laws of the Old Testament they were working their way to heaven. Jesus taught the disciples that the old rules no long applied, because everyone was under a new covenant; the covenant of grace.

Today, there is civil and religious unrest around the world. We need not to label those embroiled in conflicts as enemies of the faith, but rather to pray that they will come to a place where they recognize Jesus as their Savior. Peace comes when the hearts of men are changed, both ours and theirs. 

God does not ration His grace.

Get Holy, Get A Better Life

 

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix all your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be Holy, for I am Holy.”

1 Peter 1:14-1

People sometimes say they don’t want to be Christians because they will have to give up too much – meaning give up their sinful lifestyles which they know are sinful, even if those lifestyles cause pain to them.  What they don’t realize is that there is so much to gain from becoming a Christian, that the old lifestyle is not missed. Once we make up our minds to change, the rest comes easy.

It is easier to be holy than to be sinful.

Jesus Came For Everyone

 

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17

The early Christians had a magnificent revelation from God that salvation through Jesus was for everyone. Jesus, the Messiah, did not come as a political leader as the Jews expected, but as a spiritual leader who broke the barrier of sin which separated man from God.

The power of the Gospel is that through Jesus, God extends His forgiveness and love to everyone. No one is too good or too bad. We are all candidates for forgiveness.

All we have to do is ask Jesus to come into our lives, forgive us and to declare Jesus to be our Lord, Master and Savior and we are forgiven.

When we have faith, God does the rest.

Not Exactly What We Plan

 

When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brethren, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.”

Acts 28:16-17

The Apostle Paul traveled all over the Mediterranean area preaching the gospel, but what he really wanted was to go to Rome. He did get to go to Rome, but not as he had planned – he went as a prisoner, arrested for preaching the gospel. It was not smooth sailing; the journey included a shipwreck. Paul got his wish. He preached as a prisoner. He was released when his jailers could find no grounds to hold him, and he preached to large crowds in Rome.

Sometimes God’s plan for our success is not exactly what we plan. We need not lose heart, but to be confident that the best plan is God’s plan.

Happy, Happy

 

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

For some unknown reason, happy people are out of style. I first observed this several years ago when I worked at a small business populated by sad people. I do not know why they were sad. They had good paying jobs in nice offices, nice families, boats, houses and leisure time to enjoy all their stuff. Yet, everyday they arrived at work looking like their world had collapsed.

I tend to lean the other way. I am generally happy and when things are really awful, I get funny. I say things which make people laugh. So, even if things are crappy, all this joy tumbles out. I do not know why. All I can think is that my faith in God, keeps the blues away. He has said, “… I will not leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

How can we be anything but confident and happy, knowing that?