The Final Word
Father, thank You for the ability to accomplish so much this weekend. My body is rebelling a bit, but I am pushing forward. Thank You for extra hands and the determination of youth.
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I love Christmas music, as anyone knows me can attest. And I have very eclectic tastes, as well, as can clearly be seen in my Christmas playlist on Spotify. It is composed of 972 songs by a wide variety of artists in a wide variety of styles. If you listened to every single song it would take you more than two days – it is 54 hours and 38 minutes in length!
But one thing that gives me pause every Christmas season – and this is a bit morbid – I cannot help but think that so many of my favorite songs are sung by people long dead. And it just makes me stop and think.
Not many listen to music from the 1940s but a lot of us do at Christmas time. In fact, many of us know many of them by heart!
“White Christmas” (1941)
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1943)
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1944)
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1949)
…to name a few!
And who sang them in those early years? Bing Crosby, Perry Como, The Andrew Sisters, Frank Sinatra…again to name a few. And not one of them is still with us.
Another famous Christmas (technically Advent) song goes back even further, all the way back to the 700s – not the 1700s but the 700s! Its author is long gone, and it is so old that we don’t even know who wrote it! The hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel to our knowledge was originally written in Latin and was used in a call and response fashion during the vespers, or evening, service in worship. Eventually, it was translated into English by John M. Neale in 1851 and that is the version we know. (If you’d like to read a bit more of its history, click here.)
The point I want to make is that regardless of who writes a song or who sings a song, it can go on literally for centuries, impacting innumerable lives. But most important of all is the fact that Christmas did not begin with snow or jolly old Saint Nick, it began with the birth of Jesus over 2000 years ago!
And, truth be told, though He lived amongst us so long ago, and yes, He died as well, but the difference is, He did not remain in the grave. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, rose from the dead on the third day, conquering sin and death. And because of His victory, we too can conquer sin and death, as we live in obedience to Him.
Know that as we once again enter this time of remembering Jesus’ birth that death, though it is all around us, does not have the final word! God Himself saw to that!
[Christ] has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:26-28 NIV
A beautiful rendition of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel for you to enjoy.
Nov 29th, 2020, Sun, 9:51 pm
Choose Wisely
I day for giving of thanks, Father. Were we of a mind to make it not just this fourth Thursday of November but every day as we think of You and the blessings which You richly pour out on each of us. May we not forget.
Luke 21:34-38 (<<click here to read the passage)
Though I don’t watch a whole lot of them, I do enjoy movies. Adventure movies pique my interest. In a few of them, characters die rather than let go of what they have strived so long to obtain. It usually is some great treasure to which they have gone to great lengths to finally hold in their hands. And in the end, they must relinquish their hold on their treasure or perish with it.
One film of fiction that stands out in my mind is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. At the end of the movie a leading female character, finally holds in her hands the chalice that Jesus used at the Last Supper. She tries to leave with the treasure causing the structure in which they find themselves to begin collapsing around them. When the grail falls into a chasm in the floor, she plummets to her death trying to recover it. She dies solely because of her obsession.
As Jesus wraps up His discourse on what the last days of earth will consist of, He proclaims,
…be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down and depressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life… v34 AMP
Here’s a little expansion of our understanding of a few words in this passage,
Depressed – unhappy, miserable, despondent
Giddiness – frivolous
Debauchery – excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
In our lives today many are delusional, seeking some sort of happiness and fulfillment no matter what path it takes them down. They frivolously immerse themselves in all kinds of sensual pleasures – you name it, they’ve tried it! – to lay hold of the elusive treasure which the seek…but to no avail. And unfortunately, many lose everything in the process, their livelihoods, their families, their sanity…even their lives. All in the pursuit of that one great reward.
We all have a choice to make. A reward beyond our wildest dreams is easily within our reach but we stubbornly wish to seek it on our own and reject what will truly bring fulfillment and eternal satisfaction.
Jesus has paid the price…with His very life’s blood. It cost Him everything, but it costs us nothing but giving ourselves over to Him. We each have but one life to live.
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28 NLT
The question we all must answer – for it is no one else’s responsibility to do so, we each must answer for ourselves – we must decide if we will follow Jesus…or not.
We cannot wait with the hope of squeaking in at the end for we must not let it come on us suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth. But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].” vs35-36 AMP
Don’t delay, choose wisely…
Nov 26th, 2020, Thurs, 6:48 pm
Now Thank We All Our God
This year we continue to experience things totally foreign to the norm but through all the ups and downs, through the victories and loss, God has not left our side. In the midst of it all, we can be grateful for a Father who cares enough, not just to hold our hands here in this life, but enough to prepare for us hope beyond it.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 AMP
The text in the picture for today is the opening verse of the old hymn Now Thank We All Our God, a beautiful hymn regularly sung at this time of year. I thought this was going to be an orchestral rendition, then I thought a choir was going to sit the hymn but boy was I surprised! Enjoy!
Nov 25th, 2020, Wed, 2:27 pm
Prayer and a Good Grilled Cheese
Today, Father, has been like many other days – with the exception of a root canal being completed… And even that is not nearly as bad as they have been in the past. Regardless, I am weary in mind and body and feel the need to just crash tonight. May the word given continue to impact as it has in years past. Amen.
Colossians 4:2 (<<click here to read the passage)
“Devoted to prayer” “alert mind” “thankful heart”
Some of the best things in life are not complicated. We can make them complicated but at their core, they are quite simple, sort of like a grilled cheese sandwich. Even I can make a good grilled cheese. All it takes is bread, cheese, and butter. It’s not that difficult.
Prayer – it’s not that difficult. Paul’s recipe is quite simple – devotion, an alert mind, and a thankful heart.
Lord, help me to pray. Sometimes we feel like it has to be this huge list of requests that are tough to get through and we just can’t take the time to go through it in one sitting. Paul elsewhere directs us to “never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and our initial response is usually “I can’t pray all the time – I have way too much to get done!” When Paul says to “devote ourselves to prayer” it’s more of a mindset. “Lord guide and direct me throughout this day.”
Prayer is not just about talking – it’s also about listening. Getting in the habit, devoting ourselves to prayer helps us to be more attuned to hearing God’s voice of guidance. And that’s where an “alert mind” comes in. Lord, we have to pay attention! So many things distract us! And we have to be alert because as Peter says in 1 Peter 5:8 our “enemy the devil prowls around like a raging lion looking for someone to devour” Prayer helps us to pay attention to do good and to avoid and/or stand up to evil.
The last ingredient then is a “thankful heart.” There is nothing better to keep us focused in life. Humble gratitude enables us to realize that we didn’t get where we are through sheer talent and hard work. Those are surely elements but they are also gifts our Creator has given us. Understanding that keeps us focused on Him – we need His support and guidance to get us through this life. Being thankful also goes a long way to keep our own pride in check. Acknowledging God’s generosity in our lives keeps us humble. This makes us better servants, too. We all are part of God’s loving creation and we are called to love each other.
Lord, this day and in all the days ahead, may I be devoted to prayer, help my mind to be alert to You and what’s around me and help me to give thanks when it is due and to humbly serve You in my interactions with others. Amen!
July 2nd, 2015, Thurs, 6:59 am
Know Without Being Told
Father, I need this time tonight. Help me to focus on You and to clearly hear what You have to share with me. Amen.
Luke 21:29-33 (<<click here to read the passage)
In looking at today’s picture, what comes to mind? You can tell that it is not dead. It is most definitely alive. It is vibrant. It is new growth. It has not reached its fullest potential. It’s just getting started. But…we know it’s headed somewhere. It is just a hint of what it will become.
This is a picture of a fig tree in Artas, Palestine, budding. Budding means its spring but, “When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near.” v30
It is not a difficult concept to comprehend. Children understand the differences between the seasons.
I think one of the big problems we have with what Jesus had to say about end times, is that we make it far too complicated. I’m going to go with the idea that it is not complicated. I am not too proud to announce that I can tell when spring arrives. It is not a challenge to know that summer is just around the corner when the leaves come out.
On the Church calendar, this coming Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. We often speak of Jesus’ first coming – his first Advent. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival”. The ancient Greek uses the word parousia and it means the same thing but to flesh it out a bit more it can mean presence, arrival, or official visit.
We get His first coming, but we struggle with comprehending His second coming – His second Advent. For whatever reason, we balk at it. But just as we readily see the signs of spring’s arrival and know, without a doubt, that summer is near. Jesus is coming back!
In poking around a bit concerning Advent, I came across this wonderful quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.”
Hm…seems to fit me to a T. I know beyond doubt that I am the Lord’s, and He is mine, but that doesn’t mean I have my spiritual act together 24/7/365. There are times when I am troubled in soul. Jesus understands and accepts me though I am poor and imperfect. But most exciting of all, I am looking forward to something greater to come.
And if there is any doubt to the validity of this truth? Latch hold of Jesus’ words in verse 33,
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. AMP
No confusion. No fear. Only hope at the promise to come!
Nov 23rd, 2020, Mon, 7:28 pm