Simple Thoughts

The first one up… makes the coffee, feeds the dogs. At Christmastime, the first one up… turns on the Christmas lights, plays the Christmas music.

What about that first Christmas morning? Who was the first one up? What did he/she do? I’m thinking it was probably Mary. The first one up… feeds the baby, rocks the baby, changes the baby. But this was no ordinary baby and Mary knew this. She had been told to whom she would give birth. The night He was born, the angels sang, a star appeared, shepherds came and worshipped. So, on that first Christmas morning, Mary took care of her precious baby, held Him, but more that that, she praised God for His sovereignty in using her, a humble servant, a believer in the one true God, to be a vessel for which God’s plan of redemption for all mankind would play out. And “Mary pondered all these things in her heart.”

Luke 2:8-20: “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, God has promised a Messiah. The prophets of the Old Testament spoke of the coming Messiah. Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

The Messiah would save them/us from sin. The Light would enter the dark world of sin and be received by all who put their faith and trust in Jesus, our awaited Messiah. The hope He brings, shining a light into our darkened heart and providing the way to God- His substitutionary death on the cross for me, you, them.

As we begin this Christmas season, let the Light of Jesus shine through us to those without hope, that they may receive, in faith, the hope Jesus brings.

Billy Graham: “For the believer, there is hope beyond the grave, because Jesus Christ has opened the door to heaven for us by His death and resurrection.”

Are you thawing your turkey? Chopping? Cleaning? Shopping? Traveling? The day before Thanksgiving is a busy preparation day ahead of your Thanksgiving gathering. Checking your menu, getting last minute items finished, making sure you are ready.

Preparation Day 2,000 years ago was the day Jesus died on the cross (John 19:31-37). The unlimited grace and mercy poured out at the cross, in anticipation of you and I coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, is the very point of preparation day.

We live our lives, serving self, preparing for our future, providing for our children and grandchildren. These are all good things and God says we should work. Are we also preparing our souls to live beyond this world? Are you securing a place in eternity? Jesus has already prepared a place for us (John 14:1-4). The good news is the work is done. Jesus invites you to come to Him. I pray you would receive this gift today.

John 19:31-37 “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶ For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

John 14:1-4 “ “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Christmas lights going up. Holiday music on the radio. Looking forward to Christmas earlier than in years past. Why?

Is it the unknown future? Is it a year of upheaval? Is it escaping the present?

Looking for Christmas means looking for the Savior. The hope He brings. The peace He is. The love He bestows. Hearts are tired. Hearts are anxious. The true meaning of Christmas is our Messiah born in a stable, a gift of grace and mercy brought to a world in chaos, then and now. Shepherds came and worshipped Him, kings bowed down before Him.

People today are searching for truth. Truth to believe, truth to follow. Examine your hearts. Remember the teachings of your parents, your grandparents, Sunday school teacher, youth pastor. The love they shared with you is the same love Jesus gives.

Stop looking. The Bible is your source of truth, hope, peace and love that you, me, we, so desperately need.

Merry Christmas.

Luke 2:8-14 “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

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

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

It is past the season for the swamp magnolia’s to be blooming, yet here is one last flower. The late bloomer. The aroma. The joy it brings.

How many of us are late bloomers? A career change we finally had the courage to take. A dream we finally will pursue. A gift/talent hidden until it had time to blossom within.

As a child of God, I was raised in church, went to Sunday school, prayed. I had all the outward signs of being a Christian. It was not until I was an adult, living on my own, that God began to draw me, working on my heart, bringing people into my life that could open God’s word and share the story of Jesus. Of Redemption. Of faith in Him alone. My eyes were opened to the truth of my sin and my need for a Savior. A true heart transformation took place and I have since pursued Jesus, to live a life of faith.

The seed had been planted as a child. Along the way, in God’s timing, watering took place, roots began to sink down, the stem grew upward and finally the bloom appeared.

Are you fully rooted in God’s word, blooming where you are today? Planting seeds of faith, offering encouraging life-giving water to those in need of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that our world, our country, our circumstances are ever changing. Are we putting our hope, our faith, all of our eggs into the hard-working basket of men?

Thankfully, God’s word gives us strength in these ever changing times so that we can rest in Him. What are your fears, anxieties, circumstances today? I pray that you would take time to read and meditate on God’s word. Block out the noise of this world. Praise and worship our God for that is what He calls us to do.

Ephesians 1:17-18 “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”

Ephesians 3:16-17a “that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

I pray these verses calm your anxious heart. Let His word fill your heart and mind. Calmly rest in HIs presence as you go about your day.

How should God’s people behave in these unsettled times? The apostle Paul tells Timothy: be kind, be patient, able to teach, be gentle, correcting opponents, praying for them that God may grant them repentance. Praying for God to capture their hearts that they may escape the snares of the devil.

The sun will come up Wednesday morning. God will continue to sit on His throne. We, His servants, will continue to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world who is desperately searching for the Truth.

God is holy. He is high and lifted up. I did an object lesson with children in Sunday school. We had a helium balloon, resting on the ceiling, next to the word “God.” As we confessed our sins, we put a clip on the string. The weight brought the balloon down to the ground, away from God. As we asked God to forgive us of those sins, we took a clip away, one a time. The balloon, free of the clips, was back, close to God.

As we walk each day, let us not only confess our sins to God, but ask for forgiveness, also. Let us draw near to God each day, living under His headship, humbly serving and walking in obedience to His word.

Psalm 96:2 “Let us sing to the Lord, bless His name, tell of His salvation from day to day.”

Walking outside this morning, I looked up. The bright and shining stars filled the sky. As my gaze stayed fixed upon them, my heart cried out to God in worship. Knowing that He is there, that He is sovereign, that He is God, I praised Him, I gave thanks to Him. My breathing slowed and my heart was at peace.

Psalm 8: 1,3-4: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,  what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

A friend recently shared this quote with me:

“God has plucked you out of eternity, positioned you in time, and given you gifts and talents to serve Him in this generation.”

Christine Caine

What if we thought less of our story and more about His story. Imagine the conversations we could be having if, instead of telling our story, we told His.

Let us be mindful and intentional of the words we speak. Let us have a heart of thanksgiving to God for placing us exactly where we are for this period of time to be part of His story.

To God be the glory!