Change

it’s a good thing!

 

 

Somewhere in time, on next Wednesday, we change years. We go from 2013 to 2014.  This made me think about change.  People have different perspectives on change. Some people hate it and they go into any change dragging their feet.  Some people love change and they search it out, even when it’s not necessary.  I’m right in the middle.  I understand that change needs to happen and sometimes change is fun, but it always requires adjustment.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.^[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

When you become a Christian, change in inevitable.  God immediately sets to work freeing us from the sin that binds us to our old nature.  I know from personal history, this is not instantaneous.

I like to tease people.  I like to see people smile and sometimes I can even get a laugh.  At one point in my life, God decided to work on this trait of mine.  He needed to because sometimes I wasn’t kind.  I was never intentionally mean, but sometimes I would still say things that would hurt people’s feelings.  I remember when God pointed this out to me.  It broke my heart to realize what I’d done to people I cared about. It took time, but I would notice that immediately after I would say something, a little voice in my spirit would remind me what I said wasn’t that nice.  I would then have to apologize.  I’m not completely cured, but I’m getting much better. 

I have also noticed that when God is working on us, sometimes he just has us focus on one thing for a while.  He may give you lots of opportunities to be patient until you can actually do it without complaining.  For me, he gives me golden opportunities to poke fun, while reminding me not to. I know I’m getting better, because the nudge to watch my words happens before I open my mouth.

Whatever God is dealing with you on, just hang on, it will get easier.

Becoming a Christian does promise us change.  We will be changed from the inside out and for the better when we allow God control of our lives. 

 

MercyMe - Shake (Official Music Video) from mercymemusic on GodTube.

The Miraculous

all Around Us

 

 

Somewhere in time, this week, I was trying to see if I could stream a Christmas concert given by my favorite radio station.  It was on television, but I missed it. I didn’t find the concert, but I did find a few clips and one of them was a song by Brandon Heath called “Just a Girl”. 

Luke 2:7

King James Version (KJV)

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

What happened when Mary and Joseph went to the inn?  Did the people in Bethlehem have any idea of the event taking place that night? Did they know what the night would mean to the world for generations to come?

Think about it for a while.  Bethlehem was not a large city and suddenly they had an influx of visitors due to Caesars decree.  Some were rich and some were poor. All had traveled from some distance to this small place and they all needed a place to stay. 

Did they notice a young couple in desperate need of a room?

Did the people notice the unusually bright star centered over their village.

Did they hear the host of angels sing as they made the announcement to the shepherds?

Many probably didn’t.  They were busy. The inn keepers where trying to feed capacity crowds.  Others were trying to make sure their own family was taken care of.  Many people probably didn’t even know that a miracle was taking place a few steps away from their doors.

Are we too focused on what’s right in front of us that we are missing something wonderful just out of our line of vision? Maybe we are.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior let’s remember the miraculous events of that special evening.  Let’s also keep our eyes peeled for the miracles that happen all around us. 

Merry Christmas!

 

Brandon Heath - Just A Girl LIVE from brandon-heath on GodTube.

Joy to the World

The Lord has Come

 

 

Somewhere in time, this week, it has been crazy busy at work.  I’ve been working overtime and the people around me have been working more overtime than me.  I have to admit that I’m tired.  I was trying to do many things, for many people, when it hit me; Christmas is a celebration of a joyous occasion.

Luke 2:10-14

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

It is a joyous occasion, but I wasn’t feeling joyful, I was feeling tired.  I know I’m not alone.  I work in a large building full of over worked people.  This time of year is stressful for many occupations.  Retail, delivery and every company trying to make sure payroll is perfect before W2’s are run. 

In the midst of the hustle and bustle we may need to consciously stop and take a moment to remember who we celebrate. I had to do it and maybe you do to.

Lord, help us to feel peace and joy as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

Joy to the World - John Tesh - Christmas in Positano, Italy from john-tesh on GodTube.

Christmas Carols

O Little Town of Bethlehem

 

 

Somewhere in time, this week, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.  I did some Christmas shopping so I could get things in the mail to my family.  I really like wandering through the store halls and listening to Christmas music.  I’ll be honest I sometimes listen to Christmas music in July.  I think it’s fun to hear and sing along when it’s really hot outside. 

Then I started to wonder how some Christmas carols came into being.  Was the writer just sitting around and thinking they should write a Christmas song?  I went to the book, “Then Sings my soul” by Robert J Morgan.  If you ever want to know more about some classic hymns, I recommend this book.

I read the history behind the Christmas song, “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem”. 

In 1867 a minister named Phillip Brooks pastored the Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia.  He wanted to compose an original song for the children to sing in the annual Christmas program.  Now Phillip was not a small man.  He was six feet six inches and three hundred pounds.  Not the type of person I would envision as writing Christmas hymn. A few years before, he had been to the holy land and he attended a service at the nativity church.  He was inspired by what he saw and felt.  This was the inspiration for the words he wrote for his song.

He had the words, but he didn’t have the music.  He gave the words to the church organist to see if he could set them to music. Lewis Redner was the organist and he struggled and couldn’t find a tune that would work. He worried about it and prayed about it, but no tune came.  The day before the program, he woke up with the music in his heart.  Together the two composed the song we know and love, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”.

Micah 5:2 (NKJV) “But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah. Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel. Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.

So I was right, someone was sitting around thinking they should write a Christmas song.  I’m positive God gave the inspiration, or the song would have been long forgotten. 

As we head into this Christmas season, let’s remember who the holiday celebrates and where it all began.

 

Ann Downing - O Little Town of Bethlehem from bill-and-gloria-gaither on GodTube.