Goals are a very important part of our lives; in fact, without goals, life would often seem pointless. Imagine playing a game like football or basketball without goals…it would be just a lot of running around, passing or kicking a ball without any intended purpose.
Life needs purpose; thus, life needs goals. But all too often, we make what we are and who we are about how we measure up to our goals. We tend to define our very existence by how accomplished we are at meeting or exceeding our goals. When we let this type of mentality take a foothold in our psyche, we set ourselves up to become boastful.
Consider the scripture in James 4: 13-15 that says, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” – yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring, What is you life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Yes, the crux of the matter for us as Christians is ALL about understanding the difference between setting our goals or making our plans to living and planning as the Lord wills.
There’s an old saying that goes something like this, “If you want to make God laugh…just tell Him your plans.” Yes, it’s oh so easy to tell God what we are going to do…then, pray and ask (or even demand) that He give us his blessing; but, if we are honest with ourselves, we know God does not work that way!!!!!
Rather, we should begin the year 2009 on our knees, with God’s word in our hands and our hearts open to His direction. We should be praying for divine insight into what God has already put in motion for next year and we should be constantly adjusting our heart and our hearing as we listen for and follow God’s leading in our lives.
If we do this, God will provide any and all of our goals for the upcoming year….and moreover, we can count on being successful in any endeavor that God has set before us….not because of who we are; how smart or talented we may be or how connected we may be…unless that connection is to the source of all power and light, Jesus Christ.
So, the year 2009 is at the doorstep…plans and goals are being made, calculated and forecast. How will you begin this New Year…setting your own agenda, establishing new resolutions or letting go and letting God? Why not plan a different approach this year…ask God what He would like to accomplish in and through you in 2009 and then, read His word…pray unceasingly…talk with wise and godly counselors and last, but not least,
Look to the Savior and follow His footsteps.
Walking His Way…Asking Others to Follow,
WPQ
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Getting Ready for a New Year
Well, it’s that time of year again…when we put away the Christmas ornaments, tinsel and lights and begin the task of getting ready for a New Year. We stop looking back at our past failures and mistakes and look forward to the prospects of new beginnings….we call them New Year’s Resolutions.
This year let’s try something simple….no resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking, get more exercise, eat better, eat less and on and on the list goes. This year let’s make one simple decision that will forever immeasurably impact our lives and the lives of those around us….let’s resolve, with the Lord’s help, to sin less.
You see, sin is all about us…it’s evident in the very center of the word …the letter “I”! Life becomes all about what I want, what I need, what I deserve, what I should have….I…I…I! It’s no wonder that God’s blessings can’t get through to us …they are held back by the dam of sin that separates us from His love and from our fellowship with a loving and caring Heavenly Father.
If you’re not sure of this, then take a look at Ephesians 2:1-10 and there you will read of God’s mercy toward us while we were yet sinners. But, God did not leave us in our hopeless state for scripture tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing: it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
It’s not about what you can do to make yourself better in the coming New Year…it’s about what God has already done through His Son, Jesus Christ. It’s about the mercy and grace of God. It’s about your desire to walk closer with Him on a daily basis and the only way to accomplish this is to sin less…..so we ask; how does one accomplish that?
The first thing to do is to replace the “I” in sin with the “O” and the word, sIn becomes the word, sOn ….and it’s always about the SON!!!! If you want to sin less, you need to be more like the Son of God in all you do. Is it easy, NO! Is it worth it, ABSOLUTELY!
God is calling each of us to begin the New Year resolved to sin less and to walk more like Jesus in our daily lives. He is waiting to bless each of us in ways we can not even imagine if we will just surrender to Him and allow Him to be the center of our focus. If we focus less on ourselves and more on Jesus, WE WILL SIN LESS AND OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL BE EXALTED …..
And that’s the best way to start a New Year….walking with our Lord so that others may see Jesus in us.
Will it be easy to fore go the trap of New Year’s resolutions and the fallacy that we can somehow make ourselves better and more acceptable to God? I don’t know…but this I do know; God is calling us to be salt and light to a dark and desperate world. We can not expect to keep doing things the same way and get better results…we must change and that change comes from God and God alone.
So put down your paper and pencil and your anguish over making resolutions that are too easily broken…rather focus your energies on reading God’s word and asking for the power to become the man or woman God has called you to be in 2009.
He’s just waiting to open the floodgates and make 2009 a year like no other ……the choice is up to you!
May blessings abound,
WPQ
This year let’s try something simple….no resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking, get more exercise, eat better, eat less and on and on the list goes. This year let’s make one simple decision that will forever immeasurably impact our lives and the lives of those around us….let’s resolve, with the Lord’s help, to sin less.
You see, sin is all about us…it’s evident in the very center of the word …the letter “I”! Life becomes all about what I want, what I need, what I deserve, what I should have….I…I…I! It’s no wonder that God’s blessings can’t get through to us …they are held back by the dam of sin that separates us from His love and from our fellowship with a loving and caring Heavenly Father.
If you’re not sure of this, then take a look at Ephesians 2:1-10 and there you will read of God’s mercy toward us while we were yet sinners. But, God did not leave us in our hopeless state for scripture tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing: it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
It’s not about what you can do to make yourself better in the coming New Year…it’s about what God has already done through His Son, Jesus Christ. It’s about the mercy and grace of God. It’s about your desire to walk closer with Him on a daily basis and the only way to accomplish this is to sin less…..so we ask; how does one accomplish that?
The first thing to do is to replace the “I” in sin with the “O” and the word, sIn becomes the word, sOn ….and it’s always about the SON!!!! If you want to sin less, you need to be more like the Son of God in all you do. Is it easy, NO! Is it worth it, ABSOLUTELY!
God is calling each of us to begin the New Year resolved to sin less and to walk more like Jesus in our daily lives. He is waiting to bless each of us in ways we can not even imagine if we will just surrender to Him and allow Him to be the center of our focus. If we focus less on ourselves and more on Jesus, WE WILL SIN LESS AND OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL BE EXALTED …..
And that’s the best way to start a New Year….walking with our Lord so that others may see Jesus in us.
Will it be easy to fore go the trap of New Year’s resolutions and the fallacy that we can somehow make ourselves better and more acceptable to God? I don’t know…but this I do know; God is calling us to be salt and light to a dark and desperate world. We can not expect to keep doing things the same way and get better results…we must change and that change comes from God and God alone.
So put down your paper and pencil and your anguish over making resolutions that are too easily broken…rather focus your energies on reading God’s word and asking for the power to become the man or woman God has called you to be in 2009.
He’s just waiting to open the floodgates and make 2009 a year like no other ……the choice is up to you!
May blessings abound,
WPQ
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Final Curtain on the Cast of Christmas
The stage was set…all the cast members and their understudies, past and present, were in their proper places. The director of the universe stood motionless as all creation waited for that one word…. “ACTION!”
And the spotlight of heaven shone…center stage…on the main character of this heavenly production. In fact, scripture says the following in Luke 2:6-7, “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
All creation had been waiting for this time...the perfect time in history for God’s plan of salvation to be set in motion...the perfect time for JESUS.
Now, surely, Mary was ready, after nine long months of waiting, to give birth to her son that night; but that’s not exactly the entire meaning when the scripture says “the time came for her to give birth.” God is telling us in this passage that He alone had set the stage, informed the cast and prepared the audience for His plan to unfold. His timing is always impeccable….and He would not be rushed into bringing His Son into a world that was lost and without hope.
And so, our focus each Christmas is simple….God directs the world to receive His Son whether we are ready or not. He didn’t ask for permission or consult the stars or hope this was the right thing to do …He brought His plan to fruition…and sent His Son in a form that we would understand and embrace….a baby born just like each one of us. Ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes and heart that beat within his chest….wrapped in cloth strips and laid next to his mother in a cattle’s feeding manger. The timing was God’s timing and it was perfect!!!
God sent His Son to a world that was not prepared for Him….there was no place in the inn; but, that’s where the last member of our cast of Christmas characters comes in…cue, you and me!!!!
You see, we have the same opportunity as the old innkeeper …we can decide if there is a place for the Savior in our life. We can tell him that we are just too busy; too many things to do, places to go and people to see to be bothered with all this Christmas pageantry …or we can surrender our will and our desires at Christmas to celebrate the perfect timing of our Father who gave His only Son at Christmas.
Christ left his throne, laid down His crown, stripped off His royal robes and came to earth so He could remove, once and forevermore, the great chasm of sin that separates us from our Heavenly Father.
This was the first step in the story of the cradle, the cross and the crown. It was the reason that God prepared Mary and Joseph, established the connection between Elizabeth and Mary, sent Gabriel and then, the multitude of the heavenly host to a lowly band of shepherds. Even the wise men were ordained in God’s great salvation story to present this little babe with presents fit for royalty.
And now, the final act is on stage….how will you respond as the last character in this Christmas story? Will you accept this free gift of a little babe who came to give his life to restore a right relationship with God….or will you pull the curtains closed and walk away with out professing that Jesus Christ is Lord indeed?
The question is simple….do you know this baby Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not invite Him into your heart this Christmas and for the first time ever…you will be able to celebrate the real, true and everlasting meaning of Christmas.
My prayer is simple this Christmas…May all those we know and love celebrate the TRUE meaning of our Savior’s birth this Christmas.
Happy Birthday, Jesus …Merry Christmas to all,
WPQ
And the spotlight of heaven shone…center stage…on the main character of this heavenly production. In fact, scripture says the following in Luke 2:6-7, “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”
All creation had been waiting for this time...the perfect time in history for God’s plan of salvation to be set in motion...the perfect time for JESUS.
Now, surely, Mary was ready, after nine long months of waiting, to give birth to her son that night; but that’s not exactly the entire meaning when the scripture says “the time came for her to give birth.” God is telling us in this passage that He alone had set the stage, informed the cast and prepared the audience for His plan to unfold. His timing is always impeccable….and He would not be rushed into bringing His Son into a world that was lost and without hope.
And so, our focus each Christmas is simple….God directs the world to receive His Son whether we are ready or not. He didn’t ask for permission or consult the stars or hope this was the right thing to do …He brought His plan to fruition…and sent His Son in a form that we would understand and embrace….a baby born just like each one of us. Ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes and heart that beat within his chest….wrapped in cloth strips and laid next to his mother in a cattle’s feeding manger. The timing was God’s timing and it was perfect!!!
God sent His Son to a world that was not prepared for Him….there was no place in the inn; but, that’s where the last member of our cast of Christmas characters comes in…cue, you and me!!!!
You see, we have the same opportunity as the old innkeeper …we can decide if there is a place for the Savior in our life. We can tell him that we are just too busy; too many things to do, places to go and people to see to be bothered with all this Christmas pageantry …or we can surrender our will and our desires at Christmas to celebrate the perfect timing of our Father who gave His only Son at Christmas.
Christ left his throne, laid down His crown, stripped off His royal robes and came to earth so He could remove, once and forevermore, the great chasm of sin that separates us from our Heavenly Father.
This was the first step in the story of the cradle, the cross and the crown. It was the reason that God prepared Mary and Joseph, established the connection between Elizabeth and Mary, sent Gabriel and then, the multitude of the heavenly host to a lowly band of shepherds. Even the wise men were ordained in God’s great salvation story to present this little babe with presents fit for royalty.
And now, the final act is on stage….how will you respond as the last character in this Christmas story? Will you accept this free gift of a little babe who came to give his life to restore a right relationship with God….or will you pull the curtains closed and walk away with out professing that Jesus Christ is Lord indeed?
The question is simple….do you know this baby Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not invite Him into your heart this Christmas and for the first time ever…you will be able to celebrate the real, true and everlasting meaning of Christmas.
My prayer is simple this Christmas…May all those we know and love celebrate the TRUE meaning of our Savior’s birth this Christmas.
Happy Birthday, Jesus …Merry Christmas to all,
WPQ
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
HEALTHY...WEALTHY.....WISE MEN!
The story of the Wise Men really takes place some time AFTER the birth of Christ…but, for all of us, the Nativity scene would not be the same without the figures of the wise men kneeling at the manger. In scripture we read, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2
The first thing we learn regarding these men of wisdom…. they were searching for answers….that’s why they were constantly viewing the night sky. They were looking to the stars in the heavens to divulge the secrets of the universe. They were able to predict the changing of the seasons, the coming of storms or other weather conditions; perhaps, even the fortunes of men and countries…all from charting the movement of the constellations.
But now they had witnessed a phenomenon of great magnitude …a star in the Eastern sky that ancient manuscripts foretold would acknowledge the birth of a king…and their search of the skies led them to leave hearth and home to find this king. So, they packed up their camels and with caravan in tow, they set out to find this emperor that would rule the Jews. Unfortunately, their first encounter was Herod….a real buzz kill to be sure!
After hearing the story of the wise men’s journey, Herod was greatly troubled and sought to dupe the wise men into telling him when and where they would find this child-king. “Go and search diligently for this child and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him. After listening to the king, they went on their way.” Matthew 2:8-9a
But the best part of the story occurs next, “And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9b-11
The journey had been long; the path fraught with danger and disappointment….a surly king who offered little help; but, they had come too far to go home empty-handed. So they did what had gotten them to this point…they sought answers in the heavens and behold, the star went before them. That single, bright, illuminating star that held their focus at the beginning of their journey was still leading them to their final destination…an opportunity to worship the King…and they would not be denied.
When the star stopped, they stopped ….their search for the king was rewarded. And so they entered his presence with presents….and falling before this child, they worshipped the Savior of all mankind.
Are you wise enough to seek the child of Bethlehem….are you willing to go the distance to lay your gifts at the feet of this King of the Jews…are you searching the heavens looking for answers only God can provide?
This Christmas seek the Christ-child …diligently follow the star to the place where Jesus awaits your worship…open you heart and give him the gift greater than gold or frankincense or myrrh…give him your heart, yielded and still. Give him you obedience …give him the love and adoration of one who belongs to Him.
For on that first Christmas, He came to us so that we could come to Him….and forever belong to Him.
Be wise this Christmas….seek the Child, God’s Only Son. Then you, too, can rejoice with exceeding great joy…just like the three wise men of old.
Wiser in worship of the newborn king….Merry Christmas,
WPQ
The first thing we learn regarding these men of wisdom…. they were searching for answers….that’s why they were constantly viewing the night sky. They were looking to the stars in the heavens to divulge the secrets of the universe. They were able to predict the changing of the seasons, the coming of storms or other weather conditions; perhaps, even the fortunes of men and countries…all from charting the movement of the constellations.
But now they had witnessed a phenomenon of great magnitude …a star in the Eastern sky that ancient manuscripts foretold would acknowledge the birth of a king…and their search of the skies led them to leave hearth and home to find this king. So, they packed up their camels and with caravan in tow, they set out to find this emperor that would rule the Jews. Unfortunately, their first encounter was Herod….a real buzz kill to be sure!
After hearing the story of the wise men’s journey, Herod was greatly troubled and sought to dupe the wise men into telling him when and where they would find this child-king. “Go and search diligently for this child and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him. After listening to the king, they went on their way.” Matthew 2:8-9a
But the best part of the story occurs next, “And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9b-11
The journey had been long; the path fraught with danger and disappointment….a surly king who offered little help; but, they had come too far to go home empty-handed. So they did what had gotten them to this point…they sought answers in the heavens and behold, the star went before them. That single, bright, illuminating star that held their focus at the beginning of their journey was still leading them to their final destination…an opportunity to worship the King…and they would not be denied.
When the star stopped, they stopped ….their search for the king was rewarded. And so they entered his presence with presents….and falling before this child, they worshipped the Savior of all mankind.
Are you wise enough to seek the child of Bethlehem….are you willing to go the distance to lay your gifts at the feet of this King of the Jews…are you searching the heavens looking for answers only God can provide?
This Christmas seek the Christ-child …diligently follow the star to the place where Jesus awaits your worship…open you heart and give him the gift greater than gold or frankincense or myrrh…give him your heart, yielded and still. Give him you obedience …give him the love and adoration of one who belongs to Him.
For on that first Christmas, He came to us so that we could come to Him….and forever belong to Him.
Be wise this Christmas….seek the Child, God’s Only Son. Then you, too, can rejoice with exceeding great joy…just like the three wise men of old.
Wiser in worship of the newborn king….Merry Christmas,
WPQ
TENDING TO THE FLOCK
That night began like any other of a thousand nights…the blazing sun sinking majestically behind the rolling Judean hills. The air became thicker, so we built a big fire and began to huddle the sheep in circles of ten. A glance to the south revealed the flicker of lights as, one by one, families began their evening prayers and gathered round the table to break bread and share the events of the day. It is a lonely and very thankless job…being a shepherd… having all who know you look down on you and your filthy occupation. But, someone had to care for the sheep; to tend to these tender lambs, so there might be meat in the village and spotless lambs for our sacrificial offerings. Besides, I was simply following in my father’s and his father’s footsteps…I had little choice in what I had become….despised by the religious rulers and tolerated by the villagers.
I was patrolling the northern perimeter of the encampment as the wind whipped around me, chilling me to the bone; I listened intently for the sound of movement through the brush… the sounds of predators on the prowl. I cinched my belt tighter and drew my cloak around me, hoping to stave off the winter night’s chill.
And then, IT HAPPENED!!! The sky was like midday as a bright light lit up the blackness of the night …for there, hovering above us all, was an angel. I fell to the ground, shaking, not from the cold but from fear…who was this and what did he want with us. He spoke quietly; softly, as he told us not to be afraid, for he came bearing Good News that was for all mankind. A savior was born and just miles away in the sleepy, little town of Bethlehem, we would find him…wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Then, to our utter amazement, the entire heavens were filled with an angelic host who sang and proclaimed the Glory of God and his desire for peace on earth.
And as suddenly as they had appeared, they vanished ….gone in an instant. At first, we were all too stunned to even speak…but as we regained our wits, we knew what we had to do…WE HAD TO SEE THIS FOR OURSELVES. So gathering our staffs and entrusting the sheep to two of our own, we quickly set out for the stable of Bethlehem.
We arrived to find everything just as the angel had described…mother Mary, her husband Joseph and their little baby, Jesus. We could not contain our joy as we told them all that had just happened to us …out in the fields, tending our flocks, doing what we were called to do.
And yet, I could not help but ponder, why us, O God? Why come to the lowliest of mankind with the greatest, most wonderful news …EVER? Why entrust us to tell others this Good News….that a Savior was born who is Christ the Lord? I could not answer that question, but neither could I constrain myself….so I did the only thing I could think to do….I set out to tell others!
Before I returned to the flock that night, I knocked on EVERY door in Bethlehem and told them the exciting news; in fact, we all did. Traveling in what could only be described as an uproarious caravan, we told everyone we knew that in a stable, just yards away, lay the Christ child…the Savior come to earth. Some believed what was told to them, though many just slammed the door, cursing that they had been disturbed by a drunken mob of shepherds. But, it did not matter to us….WE KNEW WHAT WE HAD SEEN AND WHAT WE HAD BEEN TOLD….and we glorified God for including us in telling others of what He had done that night ….that GLORIOUS night in Bethlehem.
Are you a shepherd this Christmas…busy tending to the affairs of family, friends, jobs, careers, even life itself? Are you out in the fields without a clue of what God has in store for you this Christmas? Maybe, he wants to shake-up your world…like he shook the world of those shepherds that first Christmas. Maybe, he wants you to know the excitement of the Good News that a Savior has been born; but, more importantly, He wants you to know the Savior; personally, intimately and without reservation.
Then, just like the shepherds, the excitement of that Good News will permeate everything you do as you knock on the doors of others to share what God did that very first Christmas night ….for a band of shepherds tending to their flocks in the hills near Bethlehem.
Oh, to be a shepherd this Christmas and share the wonder of it all…..
WPQ
I was patrolling the northern perimeter of the encampment as the wind whipped around me, chilling me to the bone; I listened intently for the sound of movement through the brush… the sounds of predators on the prowl. I cinched my belt tighter and drew my cloak around me, hoping to stave off the winter night’s chill.
And then, IT HAPPENED!!! The sky was like midday as a bright light lit up the blackness of the night …for there, hovering above us all, was an angel. I fell to the ground, shaking, not from the cold but from fear…who was this and what did he want with us. He spoke quietly; softly, as he told us not to be afraid, for he came bearing Good News that was for all mankind. A savior was born and just miles away in the sleepy, little town of Bethlehem, we would find him…wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Then, to our utter amazement, the entire heavens were filled with an angelic host who sang and proclaimed the Glory of God and his desire for peace on earth.
And as suddenly as they had appeared, they vanished ….gone in an instant. At first, we were all too stunned to even speak…but as we regained our wits, we knew what we had to do…WE HAD TO SEE THIS FOR OURSELVES. So gathering our staffs and entrusting the sheep to two of our own, we quickly set out for the stable of Bethlehem.
We arrived to find everything just as the angel had described…mother Mary, her husband Joseph and their little baby, Jesus. We could not contain our joy as we told them all that had just happened to us …out in the fields, tending our flocks, doing what we were called to do.
And yet, I could not help but ponder, why us, O God? Why come to the lowliest of mankind with the greatest, most wonderful news …EVER? Why entrust us to tell others this Good News….that a Savior was born who is Christ the Lord? I could not answer that question, but neither could I constrain myself….so I did the only thing I could think to do….I set out to tell others!
Before I returned to the flock that night, I knocked on EVERY door in Bethlehem and told them the exciting news; in fact, we all did. Traveling in what could only be described as an uproarious caravan, we told everyone we knew that in a stable, just yards away, lay the Christ child…the Savior come to earth. Some believed what was told to them, though many just slammed the door, cursing that they had been disturbed by a drunken mob of shepherds. But, it did not matter to us….WE KNEW WHAT WE HAD SEEN AND WHAT WE HAD BEEN TOLD….and we glorified God for including us in telling others of what He had done that night ….that GLORIOUS night in Bethlehem.
Are you a shepherd this Christmas…busy tending to the affairs of family, friends, jobs, careers, even life itself? Are you out in the fields without a clue of what God has in store for you this Christmas? Maybe, he wants to shake-up your world…like he shook the world of those shepherds that first Christmas. Maybe, he wants you to know the excitement of the Good News that a Savior has been born; but, more importantly, He wants you to know the Savior; personally, intimately and without reservation.
Then, just like the shepherds, the excitement of that Good News will permeate everything you do as you knock on the doors of others to share what God did that very first Christmas night ….for a band of shepherds tending to their flocks in the hills near Bethlehem.
Oh, to be a shepherd this Christmas and share the wonder of it all…..
WPQ
Monday, December 22, 2008
HOW BIG IS A MULTITUDE?
Have you ever played that game where you sit in a circle (or a straight line, sitting arrangements are optional) and one person whispers a statement to the next person in line? This continues until the secret is passed from one to another and has completed the entire circle …then the one who originated the secret tells what was last conveyed to them and it is compared to the original statement. The two are very seldom the same; in fact, they often have little in common.
Thank the Lord this didn’t happen on that glorious night over two thousand years ago. I can just see the multitude of the Heavenly Host getting ready for their trip to earth to proclaim the birth of the King. One by one, wings were checked, halos were straightened and the word was spread, “Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth, good will to men.” Got it? Got it!
And then they were off to share the glorious news that God had come to earth…not as a great warrior or majestic ruler, but as a baby…and it all began in the surrounding hills of Bethlehem. For in the fields were shepherds, watching their flocks, when suddenly, out of nowhere, the sky was filled with a brilliant light as the messenger of God spoke, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for ALL PEOPLE (my emphasis). For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manager.” Luke 2:10-12
And now the plot thickens according to Scripture: “And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST; PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO MEN!” Like 2:14
A multitude of the heavenly host….how big is a multitude anyway? Yet, here they were, in one accord, singing and praising the Lord with the same words. No distractions; no fumbling for just the right words to express their joy; no lack of unity but perfect harmony in praising the Lord Most High for the gift of His Son that first Christmas night. Yes, they sang out so that all would know to whom praise belonged.
How about you this Christmas season….are you part of the maddening throng of Christmas pretenders or are you a member of the multitude of the heavenly host? Are you praising the Lord and giving glory to God in the highest or are you just going through the motions of wishing others a Happy Holiday?
This Christmas why not join the cast of the multitude of the heavenly host… or be that angel that first appeared to the shepherds. Let the glory of God fill your heart and mind as you share with others God’s most precious gift….His son, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It is a gift that keeps on giving…a gift of eternal life for all who believe on the name of Jesus Christ.
May we all be angels that have been heard on high, sweetly proclaiming He is born …He is born….Hallelujah, A SAVIOR IS BORN!!!!!
Joining the multitude….proclaiming His birth,
WPQ
Thank the Lord this didn’t happen on that glorious night over two thousand years ago. I can just see the multitude of the Heavenly Host getting ready for their trip to earth to proclaim the birth of the King. One by one, wings were checked, halos were straightened and the word was spread, “Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth, good will to men.” Got it? Got it!
And then they were off to share the glorious news that God had come to earth…not as a great warrior or majestic ruler, but as a baby…and it all began in the surrounding hills of Bethlehem. For in the fields were shepherds, watching their flocks, when suddenly, out of nowhere, the sky was filled with a brilliant light as the messenger of God spoke, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for ALL PEOPLE (my emphasis). For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manager.” Luke 2:10-12
And now the plot thickens according to Scripture: “And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST; PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO MEN!” Like 2:14
A multitude of the heavenly host….how big is a multitude anyway? Yet, here they were, in one accord, singing and praising the Lord with the same words. No distractions; no fumbling for just the right words to express their joy; no lack of unity but perfect harmony in praising the Lord Most High for the gift of His Son that first Christmas night. Yes, they sang out so that all would know to whom praise belonged.
How about you this Christmas season….are you part of the maddening throng of Christmas pretenders or are you a member of the multitude of the heavenly host? Are you praising the Lord and giving glory to God in the highest or are you just going through the motions of wishing others a Happy Holiday?
This Christmas why not join the cast of the multitude of the heavenly host… or be that angel that first appeared to the shepherds. Let the glory of God fill your heart and mind as you share with others God’s most precious gift….His son, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. It is a gift that keeps on giving…a gift of eternal life for all who believe on the name of Jesus Christ.
May we all be angels that have been heard on high, sweetly proclaiming He is born …He is born….Hallelujah, A SAVIOR IS BORN!!!!!
Joining the multitude….proclaiming His birth,
WPQ
Friday, December 19, 2008
Christmas surprises!
Christmas is all about ….SURPRISE!!!!! From the moment we begin the Christmas shopping season, we are all looking to buy our loved ones something that will surprise them…something that catches them totally off-guard. So, on Christmas morning, when they tear away the ribbons, bows and wrapping paper and they look inside the box….they will be surprised…. And our joy will come when we see that look of surprise on the face we love.
There is one member of the cast of Christmas who is the poster boy for SURPRISE…and his name is Joseph. A young man; son of David and a carpenter by trade, he had been engaged to a lovely young maiden for probably about a year. The wedding day is drawing near when Joseph finds out that his bethrothed is with child …Surprise! And he knows that he is not the father; he knows that the marriage has not been consummated. But, he is a fair and just young man and does not wish to cause Mary any additional embarrassment….so he resolves to divorce her in a quiet manner. But as he is considering his options, scriptures says, “behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “ Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21
SURPRISE….SURPRISE …..SURPRISE!!!!!
Joseph was going to be a father and his son was the Son of God. I don’t know about you, but that would have taken my breath away ….permanently. But not Joseph; he dealt with this monumental surprise in a clear and concise way. “When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded; he took Mary his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” Matthew 1:24-25
What can one learn from this young man of Galilee? Well, on the surface, we might discern that Joseph is a minor character in the life and story of Jesus; but, a closer inspection reveals that Joseph was a man of deep convictions and integrity. He could have done the “right thing” and simply divorced Mary and started over in his search for the perfect wife…or he could have ignored the dream as just a bad case of indigestion.
But He did neither; rather he did as commanded….and in spite of the ridicule and public shame that would be his…He loved and nurtured the surprise that was Jesus. He took lemons and made lemonade!
How ‘bout you this Christmas? Is there some “surprise” just lurking around the corner that will upset the delicate balance of your life? Will you let a “surprise” rob you of your joy this Christmas or will you, as Joseph did, step up and step out in faith to answer God’s call.
It might require a trip to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen ….a night of vigilance and prayer in the emergency room …a visit to a bereaved friend or someone in the throes of a deep depression…..not every SURPRISE is a pleasant one!
God may be waiting to see how you handle surprises….both good and bad. Why not be like Joseph and accept the challenge to serve the Lord this Christmas season…and all year through? Remember, Joseph took Mary and the child and it changed his life forever.
May your surprises be a blessing this Christmas,
WPQ
There is one member of the cast of Christmas who is the poster boy for SURPRISE…and his name is Joseph. A young man; son of David and a carpenter by trade, he had been engaged to a lovely young maiden for probably about a year. The wedding day is drawing near when Joseph finds out that his bethrothed is with child …Surprise! And he knows that he is not the father; he knows that the marriage has not been consummated. But, he is a fair and just young man and does not wish to cause Mary any additional embarrassment….so he resolves to divorce her in a quiet manner. But as he is considering his options, scriptures says, “behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “ Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21
SURPRISE….SURPRISE …..SURPRISE!!!!!
Joseph was going to be a father and his son was the Son of God. I don’t know about you, but that would have taken my breath away ….permanently. But not Joseph; he dealt with this monumental surprise in a clear and concise way. “When Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded; he took Mary his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” Matthew 1:24-25
What can one learn from this young man of Galilee? Well, on the surface, we might discern that Joseph is a minor character in the life and story of Jesus; but, a closer inspection reveals that Joseph was a man of deep convictions and integrity. He could have done the “right thing” and simply divorced Mary and started over in his search for the perfect wife…or he could have ignored the dream as just a bad case of indigestion.
But He did neither; rather he did as commanded….and in spite of the ridicule and public shame that would be his…He loved and nurtured the surprise that was Jesus. He took lemons and made lemonade!
How ‘bout you this Christmas? Is there some “surprise” just lurking around the corner that will upset the delicate balance of your life? Will you let a “surprise” rob you of your joy this Christmas or will you, as Joseph did, step up and step out in faith to answer God’s call.
It might require a trip to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen ….a night of vigilance and prayer in the emergency room …a visit to a bereaved friend or someone in the throes of a deep depression…..not every SURPRISE is a pleasant one!
God may be waiting to see how you handle surprises….both good and bad. Why not be like Joseph and accept the challenge to serve the Lord this Christmas season…and all year through? Remember, Joseph took Mary and the child and it changed his life forever.
May your surprises be a blessing this Christmas,
WPQ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
