Peace

And Safety

 

 

Somewhere in time, I have prayed a prayer that requested peace and safety.  When driving, I don’t want to be in a wreck, so I pray for safety.  I pray for peace on the job because people under stress can get unpleasant at times and I want to keep everyone calm.  The prayer is not a bad one, but can we really serve God one hundred percent and be safe.

As Christians, our examples are the authors of the New Testament.  Men who walked and talked with Jesus and could give us eye witness accounts.  Other men who were not eye witnesses, but they were able to speak to those who were.  We read their writings to learn and grow closer to God. Were they safe?

Peter was crucified – upside down.

Paul was imprisoned and later executed.

John was imprisoned. 

It is believed that eight of the twelve disciples were martyrs in some way. 

In no way was their life safe, yet each one helped spread the gospel that revolutionized the world. 

Philippians 1:21

King James Version (KJV)

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I’ve touched on this subject before and I’ll be honest, I really want to be brave in the face of any persecution I might face - but what if I’m not.  This has really bothered me lately. I assumed it’s because I didn’t have trust in myself to be strong.  God has really dealt with me on this.  My trust is in Him, so if I lack trust, it’s in His ability to keep me close to Him no matter what.  That realization was an eye opener and I repent. I will trust God to keep me faithful in all circumstances. This is my heart’s desire. 

My prayer for 2014 may still be for peace and safety, but more than that I want to pray for strength.  Strength to do what God has called me to do.

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Hillsong United cover- Lauren Daigle from centricitymusic on GodTube.

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.

I'm adopted

how about you?

 

 

Somewhere in time, when I was growing up, I thought I was adopted.  Seeing me with my family now, you may wonder how I could ever think such a thing.  Who knows, but I did.  I have thought about adoption, but it’s something I never did.  Lately, I have been noticing posts on Facebook by one of my nephews and his beautiful wife.  The have three small adorable children and they are considering adopting another child.  I want to cheer them on.       

When I was teaching, I had the pleasure of having several adopted children as students. One was a precious little girl that had come from Eastern Europe.  A few other kids had decided to tease her and they chose to do this before my class.  She and I worked out a way for her to avoid them and of course parents and officials were alerted. I shared with her my surprise that someone would think adoption was something to make fun of.  Adoption is wonderful.  She was chosen to be part of the family she was in.  She’ll never have to wonder if she was wanted, she knows she was.  Her family had to spend time and money just to include her. Could she be any more special?

If you really think about it, we are all adopted.  God created us, but we were not born into His family.

Ephesians 1:5 (NKJV) “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

Galatians 4:5-7 (NKJV) “to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then and heir of God through Christ.”

What I don’t understand is why when given the opportunity to be adopted into God’s family, some people reject the opportunity. 

All of us who are Christians, are adopted.  We were redeemed because of the love of our adopted Father.

I’m glad God adopted me, how about you?

Third Day - Children Of God - Official Music Video from third-day on GodTube.

Thanksgiving

Or Giving Thanks

 

 

Somewhere in time, next Thursday, American celebrates Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving was declared a holiday by President Lincoln.  It was designed as a day to just stop what we normally do and give thanks.

The pilgrims the holiday was inspired by had a feast day.  They had come through a harsh winter.  Some had died, many had gone hungry.  Together with the Native Americans that preceded them to this land, they had a day to celebrate survival.  For the first time since landing in a new land, they had plenty of food to eat and they had shelters built for a place to live.  They were celebrating a better year than the one before.  They knew what many people today forget.  They knew to give thanks to God for He is the giver of all good things.

This November the radio station I listen to and a couple of friends on Facebook decided to spend November remembering something different to be thankful for each day.  When I heard about it, I thought, what a great idea.  It was a great idea, but I got busy and forgot.  Oh well, I guess it’s never too late to start.

Like the Pilgrims, I’m thankful for my health, for enough food to eat, for a home in which to live. 

I’m thankful for a job in a world where many people can’t find one.  I’m thankful for a car to take me back and forth to work.  It runs good and I don’t have to worry about it breaking down.  I’m thankful I work with nice people.  I’m thankful I’m able to work from home two days a week.  This leads me to being thankful there is a room in my house I can work out of. 

I’m thankful for family and friends.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Then I heard the words of a song which reminded me of what I am really most thankful for.  I’m thankful for Jesus.

 

This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You would lay down Your life
That I would be set free
Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me

 

 

Phil Wickham - This Is Amazing Grace (Official Music Video) from phil-wickham on GodTube.