The Light of Christmas, part 4

We have already established, in previous blogs, that the Light of Christmas is Jesus, and  Jesus is the light of the world.  Now -- in the beginning, God said "let there be light," and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).  John the gospel writer recorded: In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men ... And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it (John 1:4-5 AMP). John also recorded in 1 John 1:5 -- This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

Yet, there seems to be so much darkness -- darkness in people, places, things, circumstances, situations.  We have the Word which is the truth; and we have so much of life which is presented as the facts of the matter.  On which do you focus? Is it on the truth or on the facts of the matter?

Headlines -- blaring at you, up in your face -- from a recent Birmingham News edition:  Gate City Explosion ... Accused Chelsea school gunman remains in jail ... Apartment fire suspect in custody ... Victim identified in fatal fire at barber shop ... Homeless man dies from hypothermia ... 2 charged in holdup of CVS pharmacy ... Man dies after crashing into utility pole ... Girl Scout slain in cellphone theft missed by loved ones ... . 

Has darkness taken over?  So what really is the truth?  God is light.  Jesus is the light of the world.  You are the light of the world.  Therefore, you must declare more loudly, speak more boldly, state more clearly, walk more uprightly, let your light shine more brightly.  Why? Because Jesus commanded you to "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

The Light of Christmas, part 3

Jesus says "You are the light of the world ... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (see Matthew 5:14, 16).  During this Christmas season, be encouraged to think before you speak and act, so that both your words and deeds are light filled.  Consider -- When you are greeted with Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings, graciously respond with Merry Christmas. Kindly let it be known that Jesus is the reason for the season, that is it His birthday that you celebrate.  Never choose xmas over Christmas.  Do not let Santa Claus rule and reign over this season.  Do not be overwhelmed and overcome by gift giving, especially when you cannot afford the gifts.  Teach your children the reason for this season, the true meaning of Christmas.  Pray for an increased spirit of creativity.  How can your giving and that of your household most glorify God?  What can you and your family do for others, give to others, share with others, especially those who are less fortunate and have special needs?  How can you better live the rule that is golden?  That is, do unto others as you would have them do to you. 

Stay mindful to the words of an old hymn, This Little Light of Mine, which are quite simply ... this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  Everywhere I go, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. All in my house, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.  Out in the dark, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. 

As Jesus says "You are the light of the world ... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (see Matthew 5:14, 16).

The Light of Christmas, part 2

The Light of Christmas is Christ, Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, the Light of the World. It is amazing to see how God's plan unfolded for His Son to come into the world. Where and when did God's plan get started? Consider a part of Scripture that you may tend to overlook. For many students of the Word, it is the genealogies, often viewed as the listing of difficult to pronounce names, and names of unknown persons. Consider the genealogy of Jesus as recorded by Matthew (see Matthew 1:1-17). Matthew, writing to the Jews to convince them that Jesus was the King of the Jews and the promised Messiah, included the names of five women, four of them Old Testament women.  This is not the customary order of things, and quite unlike the genealogy according to Luke (see Luke 3:21-38).

 

Among these five women, we can understand the inclusion of Mary, the mother of Jesus, given the miraculous circumstances surrounding His birth. However, to include Tamar, the widow of one of Judah's sons who, while acting as a prostitute, got pregnant by her father-in-law who threatened to have her burned to death upon first learning of her pregnancy ... Rahab, the Gentile prostitute, who hid the spies ... Ruth, the Gentile from Moab ... and to note that David was the father of Solomon whose mother had been Bathsheba, Uriah's wife all made for interesting, unlikely, and unusual inclusions.

 

Why? For what purpose? To what end? Could Matthew have included these women to emphasize that God's choices in dealing with people are all of His grace? Could they have been examples of sinners Jesus came to save? Or could they have been representative Gentiles to whom the Christian mission would be extended? All of this is a reminder that God's thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and ways. I would encourage you to pay special attention to your thoughts and ways. Allow the Light of Christmas to shine brightly on them.

The Light of Christmas

A recent trip over the Thanksgiving holiday to Gatlinburg was a beautiful display of what we call Christmas lights. It seemed that every display was designed to be grander, more elaborate, more beautiful than any of the other displays.  I looked with eager anticipation to see what the next display would be, what colors would be used.  The color blue was used more than I've ever noticed before.  Beautiful lights, bright lights, colorful lights, the lights of Christmas -- I began to think, are they really the lights of Christmas?  Is this what Christmas is all about? Is this the spirit of Christmas?  Is this the message to the world?  What is this message to unbelievers, to the unsaved, the lost, the weak, the weary, the poor, the lonely, the sick, the children?

As I continued to ponder these questions, it seemed that a good study would be on "the lights of Christmas."  Study began.  Important lesson quickly learned.  The biblical study would not be on "the lights of Christmas" but on "the Light of Christmas." Please look closely and see the difference between "the lights of Christmas" and "the Light of Christmas."

What and where is the most logical starting place for the study? Christmas, the who, what, why, when, where, how of Christmas were the questions to be firstly answered.  Its all so obvious that the name Christ makes up most of the word Christmas. When did the holiday get started? Possibly as early as the third century with dates and specific practices defined over the next two centuries. Throughout the Roman Empire, many festivals were celebrated.  In Rome, the Feast of the Unconquerable Sun celebrated the beginning of the return of the sun. When Christianity became the religion of the Empire, the church either had to suppress the festivals or transform them. The winter solstice seemed an appropriate time to celebrate Christ’s birth. Thus, the festival of the sun became a festival of the Son, the Light of the world (see Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birthday, a festival of the Son who is the Light of the World, and the Light of Christmas.

Positioning Yourself for a Miracle, part 6

How would you respond if God asked you to do something stupid? Outlandish?  Make you look like a fool?  Make a public spectacle of yourself?  Would take many years to accomplish?  Would require all your available financial resources? Embarrass yourself and your family?  Had never been done before?  Could not understand it? How would you respond?

Consider Noah (see Genesis 6-9).  Noah was 500 years old when God spoke to him.  He didn't know what rain was because it had never rained before.  His instructions were precise, it would take an incredibly long time to complete them.  He had to use his own resources to make this happen. Was this really God giving him these instructions?  Noah's confession may have been -- I will do this, I can do this, nothing will keep me from doing this, God will help me, nothing is impossible with Him. 

How did Noah position himself for the miraculous when he and his household would be saved from the floodwaters that destroyed the whole earth?  Obedience, not just hearing the word but doing it.  Patience, taking the time to accomplish the mission.  Faith to believe that God said it, and that settled it.  Commitment and follow through, I will finish what I started no matter how much time it takes.

Will you allow Noah to be an example to you? Will you position yourself so that God can do for you exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or think ... (see Ephesians 3:20)?

 

Positioning Yourself for a Miracle, part 5

If God were in a conversation with satan, how would he describe you?  Yes, you.  How would God, in a few words, describe you to the devil?  Saved ... unsaved?  Righteous ... unrighteous? Positive speaking ... negative speaking?  Truthful ... liar?  Lover of God ... lover of the world?  Faithful ... unfaithful?  Trustworthy ...  untrustworthy? Good person ... bad person?  Committed ... uncommitted? Humble ... prideful?  Prayerful ... prayerless? Lover of God ... lover of self? Pure ... impure?  Patient ... impatient?  Giver ... hoarder?  Forgiving ... unforgiving?  Kind ... unkind? Knowledgeable ... ignorant?  Obedient ... disobedient? And of course, the list goes on.

Once, God was in a conversation with satan on two different occasions.  Both times, God described Job in the same manner (see Job 1:8, 2:3) -- blameless, upright, fears God, and shuns evil. In addition, the book of Job opens with this same description of him (see Job 1:1).  Not once, not twice, but three times God repeats to us and for us this description of Job -- blameless, upright, fears God, shuns evil.  Job's experience became the worst of the worse.  He lost everything including his 10 children, his health, and his wealth.  Job reached a place where he absolutely needed a miracle.  The good news is that Job was already positioned for that miracle, for God to do exceedingly, abundantly above all he could have asked or imagined (see Ephesians 3:20).  How so, you may be thinking?  According to God, Job went into his great loss as blameless, upright, feared God, and shunned evil.  Indeed Job was already positioned for a miracle?

Are you in such a position today?  What do you need to do to be in position for your needed miracle?

Positioning Yourself for a Miracle, part 4

Is there hope for an unbeliever, a sinner, an unsaved person? Can such a one position herself/himself for a miracle?  Yes, there's always hope.  Yes, such a one can position himself/herself for a miracle.  Not sure of what to believe in such a case.  Consider a biblical example.

Rahab, the prostitute, is one such example (see Joshua 2 & 6).  She and her entire family were saved when Jericho, their homeland, was totally destroyed. Why?  Good question.  Her faith, her courage, and her efforts positioned her for the greatest miracle of all.  Yes, I know you're thinking, how could an unbeliever have faith? Remember that salvation, according to Romans 10:9-10, is belief in the heart and confession with the mouth.  What did she believe?   What could she have known about God?  More good questions.  She, along with all the people of Jericho, knew how God had moved on behalf of his people for the past 40 years.  They had heard about their miraculous deliverance from Egypt and Pharaoh ... they knew about their miraculous crossing of the Red Sea on dry land ... they knew how God led them with a cloud by day and fire by night ... they knew how God supernaturally fed them ... and so much more. She believed that God would destroy Jericho just as He had destroyed the Amorites. She had come to realize that their God was all powerful, nothing could stop Him from moving on behalf of His people, nothing was impossible for Him. 

Rahab's faith gave her the courage to hide the two spies.  She put forth the efforts to help them escape.  And she put forth the efforts to follow their instructions to her.  Her house would be identified by a scarlet cord that she had to hang from a window in her home.  Every family member in her home when the Israelites came would be saved. You know the end of the story.  This unbelieving prostitute and her family were saved when all others in Jericho were destroyed. Rahab's faith, her courage, and her efforts positioned her for the miracle working saving power of God to be displayed.

You can position yourself for a miracle just as she did.  Act now – in faith, with courage, make the effort.

Positioning Yourself for a Miracle, part 3

As Christians, we serve the miracle working God.  We serve the God with whom nothing is impossible.  We serve the God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever more.  We find throughout the Scriptures miracle after miracle after miracle.  Around us today, we need only look to see the miraculous.  We can expect and experience the miraculous in our own lives.  One of those interesting questions raised in an earlier blog -- is there a greatest miracle?

Yes, I believe there is.  Now your question may be, really, what is it?  I'm glad you asked.  The greatest miracle is a gift, a gift that only God gives.  It is a gift that, according to the Word of God, is without repentance or irrevocable (see Romans 11:29).  The greatest miracle is a gift that is undeserved. It is not something that we have to work for or that has to be earned.  We don't have to be either good or clean enough to receive it, nor be either bad or filthy enough to not receive it.  No matter how little your faith, God has given you enough faith to receive this miracle.  Maybe, you've figured out what the greatest miracle is.  Or just maybe, you're still pondering over it.

Well, I believe that the greatest miracle is the gift of salvation which leads to eternal life.  Ephesians 2:8-9 -- "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast."   This miracle gift opens the door to everything that we need for life and godliness. It is through this single, solitary gift that we may receive God’s great and precious promises, and experience the miraculous.  And the gift of salvation opens the door to eternal life.  Romans 6:23 -- "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Receive the greatest miracle of all.  Read Romans 10:9-10 -- "That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Positioning Yourself for a Miracle, part 2

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." 

Isaiah 7:9b

God has given to us many biblical examples of those who positioned themselves for a miracle.  A doctor's report that you are going to die is terrifying, but a report from God Himself that you are going to die is likely even more terrifying. It is more likely indescribable.  With a doctor's report, there is place for expectation of a miracle.  But with Almighty God, the giver of life, can we really expect a result different from His report?

Consider what happened with one of Judah's kings, Hezekiah (see Isaiah 38).  God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him to get his house in order because he was going to die. God had spoken, that settled it. OR did it?  Following such a report, could you believe God for a miracle? A different report?  A change of mind? Should you?  Interesting questions, yes?  Pay attention to Hezekiah's response.  Even so, he positioned himself for a miracle.  After hearing the report of the Lord, Hezekiah still prayed and cried out to the Lord to spare his life.  He reminded God of his faithful walk before Him and his wholehearted devotion.

Now you might find this hard to believe, but God changed His mind. God not only heard Hezekiah's prayer and saw his tears, but He changed His mind.  All of this happened before Isaiah could leave the king's palace. God sent him back to tell Hezekiah that He would add 15 years to his life.  WOW!!!  For you, for us today, can we, will we position ourselves for a miracle when the situation and circumstances seem impossible? When God has spoken?  Will you stand firmly, boldly, and confidently in your faith? Try it, I dare you. 

 

Positioning Yourself for a Miracle

 

Does God perform miracles today? Will He? Will he perform a miracle for you? Do you need God to perform a miracle for you? Can you expect Him to perform a miracle for you? OR should the first question be what is a miracle? I'm glad you asked. Should God do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think," in a given situation for you, would you consider that a miracle (see Ephesians 3:20)? If God does the "impossible" for you, would you consider that a miracle (see Luke 1:37)? OR if miracles are supernatural, do we experience the supernatural today? OR are there levels or degrees of miracles? SO is there a greatest miracle?  Interesting questions -- what do you think?

 

God sent the prophet Isaiah to deliver a message to King Ahaz, the king of Judah (the southern kingdom consisting of two tribes).   At that time, the larger nation of Israel (the northern kingdom consisting of 10 tribes) had joined with the large nation of Syria to war against the small nation of Judah. As you would expect, the king and the people of Judah were very fearful. Greatly outnumbered, they were probably absolutely terrified. Does this sound like where you may be even now? Know that God sent the prophet to explain to the king how to position himself and his people for a miracle. 

 

Not being a respecter of persons, God has sent the same message to you today on how to position yourself for a miracle. The message is found in Isaiah 7:4 -- Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart ... ."

 

To Fear or Not To Fear

God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

To fear or not to fear, that is the question.  Sound familiar?  In thinking about the answer, other questions may be raised in our minds.  What is fear?  Fear used as an acronym has been described as False Evidence Appearing Real. Looking at the reference scripture in other translations, we find the words timidity, cowardice, afraid, cowardly spirit, and fearfulness.  Fear is also described as craven, cringing, fawning. 

Recently in a group discussion, the question -- what is fear -- was asked? One ready response referred to fear as an emotion.  Responses to the question -- is fear a spirit -- were half YES and half NO.  Not unusual responses, typical responses.  What is your response? Through the discussion, I was reminded of how easy it is to not see the very word before our eyes ... how easy it is to be blinded by the evil one ... how easy it is to overlook the truth ... how challenging it is to move out of our comfort zones.  You now maybe thinking, what is she saying?  Thank you for asking.  Read the reference Scripture again, and again, and again. What is it that God has not given us? It is the spirit of fear.

Whether we like it or not, fear is a spirit.  Fear is an evil spirit.  Fear is from the enemy, the devil, satan. Fear is demonic.  To fear or not to fear, that is the question.  Whose report will you believe?

 

If You Do, part 5

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

As part of an early morning bible study, we've been using individually favorite scriptures for more in depth study.  One favorite was from Habakkuk 2:2-3: ^"And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, That he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, But at the end it shall speak, and not lie: Though it tarry, wait for it;  Because it will surely come, it will not tarry." KJV

The response follows a very familiar line of questioning God and complaining by Habakkuk.  Why God why? When God when? How come God? When are you going to get them God? What are you going to do about this terrible situation? God, please help me understand. What's going on God?  What's up with this? Okay God, it's your time, the balls in your court. Where are you God? All familiar questions, yes?

God's answer to us in many of our situations and circumstances remains the same -- write the vision. My child, my son, my daughter, write down the vision I have given you.  What have I placed on your heart and in your mind to do?  Remember, nothing is impossible with me (see Luke 1:37).  With me, the sky is the limit.  What dream have I given you?  There are no limitations on your dreams, so don't set any.  Remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (see Philippians 4:13).

The vision is in the future, it is forward moving, it is ahead of you.  You can't see it in the natural because it  is for an appointed time in the future.  As God instructs, it may tarry but you wait for it.  What happens while you wait?  You do everything possible in the natural in preparation.  Develop the plan to achieve the vision. Write it down, make it plain.  Never made a written plan before, never developed a written budget, never thought 2-3-5-10 years ahead before.  If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

If You Do, part 4

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

What do you expect from God?  The last time you asked God for healing, how was your prayer answered?  Did you ask someone to pray for you and then your healing manifested?  Now you're sick again, do you go back to the same person for prayer and then get no result?  So what do you do?  Unemployed, been unemployed before, prayed for a week or so, then a new job came. Unemployed again, prayed for a week or so, still unemployed.  Months later, still unemployed.  What do you do now?  Something different? What?  Remember -- if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

Now you are facing the most difficult challenge you've ever experienced.  You may be thinking that even to God, this presents a real challenge.  Doctor's report bleak ... unemployment checks stopped ... your dream house in foreclosure ... got to sit through another trial of the one that killed your son ... 16 year old daughter pregnant a second time ... relative been missing for 30 days.  Is any of this too hard for God?  I know God has done the impossible in the Bible stories.  I’ve even heard of miracles He has performed for others. Can I expect God to do the same for me?

Consider 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 where Paul reminds us that for 40 years in the wilderness, God provided manna (spiritual food) and water (spiritual drink) for the Israelites. The Word says they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed  them: and that Rock was Christ.  Tell yourself that God provided water in the wilderness desert from a Rock that followed them for 40 years.  Do you know and serve the same God that did the impossible for them?  Will He do the impossible for you? Will He make a way out of no way for you? Will He provide rivers of water in your wilderness experience?  Will He make streams in the desert for you? Yes!!! 

Can you keep doing what you've always done and expect a different result? No!!!  If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

 

If You Do ... part 3

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. One of the Proverbs tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (see Proverbs 23:7).  Ummh, so what are you thinking?  What are your thoughts?  Did you know that only good thoughts can produce good fruit, and only bad thoughts can produce bad fruit?  Old maxim -- a tree is known by the fruit it bears.  Your every thought is reflected through the words that you speak and the actions you take.  Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. Scripture commands that we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:5).  Does God really mean every one of our thoughts? 

Yes he does! He also tells us what kind of thoughts to think.  See Philippians 4:8.  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." 

Concerning your thoughts, ask yourself -- is this thought true? Is it noble and honest and honorable? Is it right and just? Is it pure?  Is it lovely? Is it admirable or of a good report?  Is it excellent or praiseworthy? What would the disciple Ananias have been thinking as the Lord told him in a vision to go lay his hands on Saul who at the time had been a great persecutor of the Christians? What would Saul have been thinking as the Lord let him know how much he would suffer for His name?  What would the young virgin Mary have been thinking when the angel Gabriel told her that she would give birth to a child? If you were in either of those shoes, what would your thoughts have been?  Would your thoughts line up with the Word of God?

Remember: If you do [think] what you've always done [thought], you'll get what you've always gotten.

If You Do ... part 2

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. What are you believing God for, right now? The desire of your heart? Your greatest need? Your inmost longing? I believe that God's response back to us may be -- so, what are you willing to do differently?  What are you willing to do that you've never done before?

In need of healing?  Are you believing the promise of Proverbs 4:22 --  "for they [the Word] are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body."  This is an amazing promise that we all should believe and expect and accept as our own.  Why is it that many of us may repeat this promise ... we may read it ... we may meditate on it ... we may claim it as our own?  Yet, the health issue, the disease, the sickness, the infirmity doesn't change for the better.  The change we experience is for the worst. What are we missing?  We keep reminding God of His great and precious promise.  Yet, nothing changes.  Why?

In the Word, the Holy Scriptures, God has made many promises to you.  You've claimed this one, but its not manifesting. Remember, if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.  Ummmh, maybe you should look at the verse within the context of the immediately surrounding verses.  Where does the thought begin and where does it end?  Consider the passage of Proverbs 4:20-23.  It looks like there are not one, not two, not three, but four conditions that you must meet if you are to receive this great and precious promise.  You've got to do something more than lay claim to the promise.  You must meet the conditions.  What are they? Read verses 20 and 21 where the conditions are to 1) pay attention to the Word, 2) listen closely to the Word, 3) don't let the Word out of your sight, and 4) keep the Word within your heart. Read verse 23 where the fourth condition regarding your heart is emphasized.

If you want a different result, you must take different actions ... think different thoughts ... speak different words.  If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

If You Do ...

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten -- a long used expression, thought provoking, attention getting.  What are you getting in your life?  Out of life? Are you satisfied?  Are you getting what you want?  Are you healthy? Are you prospering? Do you have enough? More than enough? Less than enough? Are you enjoying life? Is your work rewarding? Is it satisfying? Is it meaningful? Do you have a good marriage? Are your children doing well? Overall, on a scale of 1-10, 10 high, how would you rate your life?

To all whose rating was less than 10, something's missing.  If something is missing, then something needs to change.  Are you ready and willing to make the changes necessary to obtain a different result? Remember -- if you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.  It has been said that stupidity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result.

So what does God say?  I'm glad you asked. Consider Colossians 3:23-24.  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  "Whatever" means what? "With all your heart" means what? Must you do everything as unto the Lord? Umm ... so stop doing what you've always done ... you'll stop getting what you've always gotten.

Live Well, Live Wisely

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. 

James 3:13-18 MSG

 

How Great Thou Art, part 2

When does life begin? Is it before the sperm and egg come together? Is it at conception?  Is it hours after conception, or days, or weeks, or some time during the first trimester? So what did God mean when He said to Jeremiah that He knew him before He formed him in the womb (see Jeremiah 1:5)? To what was the writer referring in Psalm 139:15-16a?  "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body."  

So, when does life begin? The questions came to mind again as I recently stood before an incubator in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.  The little girl was taken from her mother's womb at a mere 25 weeks (6 months).  This was my first time to see a preemie at this young age.  My naked eye saw very clearly a baby ... just very tiny, weighed in at just over one pound ... hair on her head ... fully formed arms, hands, fingers w/nails ... fully formed legs, feet, toes w/nails ... very active arms and hands, legs and feet ... used hands to take hold of connectors to her body ... stretched out her legs, sometimes moved them from side to side, sometimes up and down.

Not knowing what to expect, I stood there in awe and amazement. And I could only think, my God, how great Thou art.  How amazing are you, God.  How could anyone ever believe that man is a product of evolution? The process of birth, how miraculous?  Our minds are incapable of understanding how this development unfolds.  So we merely just take this development for granted.  We assume that life just happens. And it doesn't, it can't.  Who then is this Master Creator? Master Designer? Life Giver? Sustainer of Life? And my thought remained the same, O Lord my God, how great Thou art!!!

How Great Thou Art

As part of my family's 40th year reunion in Phoenix, we traveled to the Grand Canyon, one of the seven wonders of the world.  On this my first visit, I stood and looked in awe at the handiwork of Almighty God.  The formations, the colors, the depth, I viewed all with my mouth open, bottom lip hanging, saying "Wow," and thinking how great is our God.  I can only imagine its immense size -- 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep.  I could literally feel the words of the songwriter . . . O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art!

What a Mighty God we serve.  My thoughts wandered as I considered the Creator of this universe, His sovereignty, His awesomeness, His might and power, His majesty, His glory and honor.  I thought, who is man, what is man that Almighty God is mindful of him?  Of me? Of us? 

On the return trip as I was jolted back into the present, my thoughts turned to the foolishness of man.  Who do we think we are?  How little do we actually know or understand? Yet, how much do we think we know?  How much in control do we think ourselves to be?  What power do we imagine ourselves to have?  We lie, steal, and cheat.  We take into our own hands the lives of others.  We ignore Almighty God, our Creator. 

Forgive me Father for my thoughtlessness.  You are great, and greatly to be praised. How great Thou art!

Mission Impossible, part 3

"For nothing is impossible with God." 

Luke 1:37

Sometimes, a woman wants nothing more than to conceive and give birth to a healthy child.  She and her husband try and try and try again.  They pray and pray and pray all the more.  Nothing happens.  Sometimes, the heartfelt desire is not just to give birth, but to give birth to a son who will carry on the family name.  Years pass and the woman finds herself beyond her child bearing years.  Too late, it won't happen, it can't happen. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't God's plan, you think. 

Consider Sarah, the wife of Abraham.  When Abraham was 75 and Sarah was 65, God promised that he'd be the father of many nations. This followed with a more specific promise of a son born to them (see Genesis 17).    As they grew older and older, no child was conceived.  Only when they reached the ages of 100 and 90 respectively, when conceiving and giving birth was an absolute impossibility, did Sarah conceive and give birth to the son of promise, Isaac.  What was impossible for man was possible with God. 

Ask Elizabeth, Zechariah's wife and the mother of John the Baptist about God's possibility (see Luke 1).  Ask Samson's mother, the wife of Manoah, how long she had been sterile and childless before he was born (see Judges 13).  Ask Hannah, Samuel's mother, how much time she spent in prayer before she was able to conceive (see 1 Samuel 1).  Ask the virgin Mary about the impossibility of becoming pregnant even though she had never had a sexual encounter (see Luke 1).

God's word is before each of you, all of us.  It is the truth.  For nothing is impossible with God.  What does God mean when He says "nothing"?  Your heartfelt desire, your greatest need, the desires of your heart are all included in God's "nothing."

Mission Impossible, part 2

"For nothing is impossible with God."

Luke 1:37

Consider a woman who suffered bleeding for 12 years which made her ceremonially unclean according to Jewish law (see Mark 5:25-34).  She had seen all the doctors and specialists, and had tried every possible remedy.  Nothing worked.  Instead of getting better, she only got worse. In addition to being sick, weak, and in consistent pain, her husband had divorced her, family had quietly backed away from her, she had no friends, couldn't even go to church.  Unable to work, she had finally spent all she had on doctors and medicine. Where to turn?  What to do? Life had become for her a mission impossible.

One day, she became sick and tired of being sick and tired. She had heard of a man called Jesus.  He was to be in her town the next day.  She had overheard snatches of conversation about how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil.  Could He be her one last hope for deliverance?  Would He talk to her?  If she touched Him, He'd be made unclean. Was it possible for her to be healed?  Would He charge her anything?  What would people say?

The more she thought about the man Jesus, the more a plan unfolded in the recesses of her mind.  Jesus, a Jewish Rabbi, would be wearing a prayer shawl. A blue thread would be hanging from each of its four corners.   If she could get through the crowd of people unnoticed, and touch any one of those blue tassels, she'd be healed. On her knees, she slowly but surely made her way through the crowd.  Fully persuaded, absolutely determined, persistently diligent, the blue tassel on his prayer shawl was but an arm's length away. And then, as she touched it, she knew that she knew that she knew that her impossible mission had been accomplished.

Will God do the same for you?  Yes!  "For nothing is impossible with God."

 

 

Mission Impossible

"For nothing is impossible with God."

Luke 1:37

Start a business.  Go to law school.  Move three children and a dog across country, away from all family, friends, and familiar places.  Quit your job.  Lose 100 pounds.  Go back to school.  Seek healing from a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. 

Before you is what seems to be an impossible mission or situation. You are facing insurmountable odds.  Others have been at this place and failed.  Others have had the same diagnosis and died. What makes you different from all the others before you? 

The Word of God often reminds us of impossible situations that with Him are made possible.  And that is why we are told by the gospel writer that nothing is impossible with God.  Even our unchanging God may change his mind as He did with King Hezekiah (see 2 Kings 20:1-6) when he was at the point of death.  The prophet Isaiah was sent to tell him that he would not recover and was going to die.  Hezekiah immediately went  in prayer to the life giving Source, his Creator, the Great Physician and reminded Him of his faithful and devoted walk.  God changed His mind, healed the king, and added 15 years to his life.

Will God, who is no respecter of persons, remove impossibility from your situation?  Yes, of course He will.  Can you pray and believe God for the impossible to be made possible? Will you speak to the mountain of impossibility facing you?  Can you believe that with God, nothing is impossible?

Speak those words.  Boldly declare them.  Act on them.  See God change the impossible to possible.

Love Self ... Deny Self: Which is God's Way?

Love self ... deny self: which is God's way?  Are we not commanded to do both? We know and understand that the first and greatest command is to love God, but is not the second to love your neighbor as you love yourself (see Matthew 22:37-39)? Isn't this a command to love your neighbor and to love yourself? Try reading the passage again. To love yourself would make a third command, right?  The Word says the second, not a third.  The command is to love your neighbor AS you love yourself.  We are neither commanded here nor any other place in Scripture to love ourselves. I believe God knows that we love ourselves, so there is no reason to command us to do so. After loving Him first, the second command is to love your neighbor. How?  AS you love yourself. 

So therefore, the greatest love cannot be learning to love yourself, as the world teaches.  God's way is not to love yourself but to deny yourself.  Really, you may be thinking.  Your next thought might be, I don't believe that.  And your thoughts may continue -- if I don't love and highly esteem myself, how can I be okay?  How can I be successful? How can I be victorious?  If my focus is on loving myself, how can I obey the command to deny myself?  What a dilemma? What really is God's way?

How do I receive God's great and precious promises?  He says that I can do all things ... I am the head not the tail ... I'm above not beneath ... the lender not the borrower ... will eat the best of the land ... nothing is impossible ... successful in everything I put my hand to ... and so much more.  Why do I not have these things?  Why is this not my experience?  What am I missing? What do I have to do differently?  Glad you asked.  If you believe that everything that you need for life and godliness is found in Christ Jesus, then consider this instruction from Luke 9:23-24.  Then he said to them all: ‎“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

Deny himself … deny myself.  Now what does that mean?