THE MAN AND THE BIRDS...GOD'S CHRISTMAS STORY!

I remember the first time I ever heard the story that follows. I was driving in my car in the mountains of northeast Georgia. I remember being so moved to tears as Paul Harvey, in his most eloquent manner, told this story. In fact, the tears were running down my face so much that I had to find a place to pullover or run the risk of driving down the side of a mountain. Yet, even today, as I reprint this wonderful Christmas story, I am forever reminded of God's great love for you and me...and for the sacrifice that Jesus made to come to earth as a baby, die on a cross and then be raised to new life so that one day, ALL WHO BELIEVE IN THE MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS AND THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED ON THAT CROSS WILL LIVE WITH HIM...FOREVER!!!!

So enjoy this story and the little poem that follows and when given the chance this holiday season, wish all you know a MERRY CHRISTMAS...FOR CHRIST IS THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON!!!!

This is a reprint of a former post.....

The Man and the Birds...A Christmas Story

Each year at Christmas, I eagerly search across my radio dial trying to find the story of the Man and the Birds, as told my Paul Harvey. I find that in listening to that story, I am so wonderfully reminded of the love of God for each of us. On many occasions, I have been forced to pull off on the side of the road to listen to the conclusion of the story…it’s so hard to drive when your eyes are water-logged and leaking.

I hope and pray that during this Christmas season, you will have the wonderful opportunity to hear Mr. Harvey’s captivating telling of this timeless story…of Emmanuel, God with us. If not, then please read on and be forever blessed to know that the love of God was expressed…in human form…in a manager in Bethlehem…in a baby named JESUS.

The Man and the Birds by Paul Harvey:

The man to whom I'm going to introduce you was not a scrooge; he was a kind decent, mostly good man. He was generous to his family and always upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn't believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas Time. It just didn't make sense and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn't swallow the Jesus Story, about God coming to Earth as a man.

"I'm truly sorry to distress you," he told his wife, "but I'm not going with you to church this Christmas Eve." He said he'd feel like a hypocrite. That he'd much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed and they went to the midnight service.

Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later he was startled by a thudding sound...Then another, and then another.  Sort of a thump or a thud...At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They'd been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window.

Well, he couldn't let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat, galoshes, tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs, sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted wide open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs, and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them...He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms...Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn.

And then, he realized that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me...That I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them… But how?....since any move he made tended to frighten them, confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.

"If only I could be a bird," he thought to himself, "and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to the safe, warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see and hear and understand." At that moment the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. As he stood there listening to the bells ….listening to the bells pealing forth the glad tidings of Christmas, he understood …. And he sank to his knees in the snow.

I trust that this Christmas, when you hear those church bells ring or the sounds of carolers lifting their voices in praise to the newborn babe, you too, will understand the message of Christmas….

Jesus Christ is born and God is forever with us!

Merry Christmas….Happy Birthday, Jesus!

WPQ

Poem for the day...

 

On that starry Christmas night

Many centuries ago....

The King of Heaven left His throne

And came to earth below.

 

Not as a ruler or mighty king

but as a simple child;

Born of God and woman

This babe so meek and mild.

 

And in lowly cattle stall

In a manger filled with hay

The God of all creation

In a feeding trough did lay.

 

For one day he'd lay down His life

So our sin debt would be forgiven.

This precious babe of Christmas

Was the greatest gift that was ever given!

 

WPQ © Dec 2017

No Room in the Inn

One of the great joys of each Christmas season is spending time with friends and family…being close to the ones you love. But, often that joy is pushed to the limited of extinction due to the hassle of getting to their particular locations. What if you traveled for days and when you finally reached your destination, you were told there was no place for you to stay…not a single room to be found….ANYWHERE! You would be highly bummed out and probably a little on the cranky side…but what if you were the bearer of those bad tidings …and what if the couple you turned away were expecting a child and were in desperate need of shelter and warmth….how would you feel? Our next character of Christmas is not officially listed in the program, but in every child-like play of the Christmas story, he has the toughest part, even though he speaks but one line….”I’m sorry but I have no room in the inn.” Here’s the rest of his story…and please, if you identify with the innkeeper…. May God Bless you this Christmas as you open your heart to the babe in the straw. NO ROOM IN THE INN I was tired, weary; it had been a long, long day When came the knock at the door; I turned to walk away, But peering out the window, there on the dusty street A young man, his pregnant wife…stood shuffling their feet. He knocked again upon my door and pleaded to let him in. I opened the door just a crack to say, “There’s no room in this Inn.” “Please, dear sir,” I heard him beg, “don’t turn us away, We’ve been traveling for so long; my wife needs a place to lay.” “Be gone,” was my curt reply, “there’s no room in this place; You should have made better plans; your steps you should retrace. Go back to your home, for this small town is filled to its brim. There’s not a room to be found in this little village of Bethlehem.” “I can’t go back” came the reply, “I must follow Caesar’s decree, I’ve returned to my ancestral home…my wife and our child to be.” I closed the door and turned to go; there was much that must be done, With guests to feed and beds to make before the setting of the sun. But walking down the hallway of my busy, bustling inn I thought of that young family and how I spoken then; Sorrow filled my heavy heart …Oh, how I wish that I was able To give them shelter for the night. Wait! What about the stable? So turning on my heel, I raced to open the closed door To catch a fleeting glimpse of this young family once more “Come my son,” I said to him, “I think I have some room Out of the dust and dirt; away from the despair and gloom.” “It isn’t what I would want for you; but, maybe it will meet your need. It’s warm, dry and quiet…it’s where the cattle feed.” So there Joseph and sweet Mary, safe from the city’s danger Began to prepare their baby’s bed …a lowly cattle’s manger. The time came late that night that she would deliver In swaddling clothes she wrapped her son so he wouldn’t shiver. The sky had such a wondrous glow…darkness gave way to light I knew not why, but my heart was warmed on that special, glorious night. For in my haste and weariness, I almost missed His birth The night the Holy Son of God came down to live on earth My life was full; my heart was cold…there was no room for Him then I turned away God’s most precious gift for there was no room in the Inn. Oh, don’t be too busy…too filled with life’s chores To turn away the Savior from behind a closed door Just let his love envelop you and know beyond all reason To celebrate His birth each year is the greatest gift of this season. W. Patrick Queen written 12-14-07

God's Favor…Your Fervor!

This is a reprint of a former blog that I felt needed to be shared again in this Thanksgiving season as we prepare to thank our Heavenly Father for His grace, His blessings, His bounty and His never-ending, all-encompassing love. 

When's the last time you stopped and took a good look at your life? Are things going about as well as you expected? Is your life as joyous and enthusiastic as it was when you first asked Jesus to come into your heart and create a new life within you?

If not, then it may be that you've lost your FERVOR for God and thus, He is holding back His FAVOR!

Now, many theologians would probably debate me on this issue, but let's try a closer examination and see what the Scriptures might have to say on such an important matter. First, let me make sure that you understand my premise…You can't be good enough to win God's favor (the outpouring of His blessings on your life) any more than you can earn your salvation…God doesn't play that game!

He does say, however, in Proverbs 12:2,"A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns." And paraphrasing "good" or "righteous" would allow us to use the word, FERVENT…which means stretching or straining…as Paul says in Philippians 3:14, "I press (strain) for the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

When we have lost our fervor for God, we have placed him in the passenger seat of our life and we have taken over the controls. We no longer strain to be the believer that He has called us to be and it shows in all the areas of our lives. How can God be expected to open up the storehouse of Heaven and shower us with His favor when we have not given Him the proper place in our lives?

If we have lost our enthusiasm for spending time in His Word; become complacent in our prayer life; lost our zeal for sharing the Good News and no longer run after Him with ardent fervor in our hearts; why should we expect our Creator to be more than casually concerned about us and our desire to see an outpouring of His favor on us and our activities?

In Revelation 3:16, we read, "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." What does that mean in context of the favor of God?

Simply put… if you are not fervently seeking the Lord in worship and in service for Him, He can hardly be expected to release His favor on you…so if you are a born again believer these days and are not seeing or experience the FAVOR of God in your life, you might want to take your temperature…hot or cold or just lukewarm.

God is waiting and willing to help you regain that fervor that has you straining for the goal of becoming a "sold out" convert for Christ…commissioned and battlefield ready to be all that God wants you to be in the war against our foe…and when you are back in the trenches, you will see the FAVOR of God poured out on you like never before. So, don't delay one more day, fervently seek the face of God and see if He is not willing to shine down His abundant favor on you.

Fervently Following My Commander, Jesus Christ….

WPQ

Poem for the day....

If you are waiting for God's blessings

to fill your life today;

Then you must give Him honor

as you seek to walk His way...

For you are called to live for Jesus

in all you say and do

And be an ardent follower...

 that's what He wants from you.

So if you lost your fervor

 for serving our Lord each day;

Then give your life in obedience

as you seek to walk His way.

Just know that He is waiting,

each blessing to bestow...

For He always walks beside you

no matter where you go!!!!

WPQ © Nov 2018

Persevering in Turbulent Times

My wife and I recently bought a new home in Hayesville, NC, about two hours West of Asheville, NC. It is a lovely home with a bad grooming problem...it practically has no grass growing in the yard due to the rocky, clay soil. So, together, we scratched around in the dirt; planted seed and fertilizer...and now we have a new morning ritual ....we spend time together, WATERING THE GRASS, because we have had no rain since August 30th. During my part of the ritual this morning, I moved some rocks around a flower bed and found a number of black insects milling around...it reminded me of a blog post of several years ago that is reprinted today. I hope you enjoy and take to heart its message of PERSEVERANCE. 

 Big Black Bug

 For the last few summers, here across the South, it has been brutal when it comes to the drought conditions that have beset us. In fact, it’s made me do something I have never done before in my adult life…..water the grass and surrounding plants in my yard. Why just the other morning, I was out at the crack of dawn to perform my new ritual, when this great BIG BLACK BUG (or wasp or mutant bumblebee) altered its flight plan and made a straight beeline (no pun intended) for me. Well, I did the only manly thing I could do…I switched the nozzle on the water hose to JET and shot that sucker right out of the air before it collided with my forehead ( I’m sure it would have left a mark). It plummeted to the grass, but I could tell it was only deterred, stunned or dazed: but definitely not ready to give up the fight; so, I sprayed even more water on it to make sure it would stay down. After about 40 seconds of watering the grass in that “special” spot, I once again turned my attention to the rest of the yard. After several minutes, I made my way back to that area of conflict and found that bug struggling to climb out of that wet grass and get airborne. Well, you just got to admire that kind of perseverance!

 And I do….in fact, one of my favorite scriptures in James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops PERSEVERANCE. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete….not lacking anything.”

 Yep, that big black bug reminded me that I never know from day to day or moment to moment what trial or problem or persecution is headed my way. I may be off to do my thing, minding my own business, when trouble rears its ugly head; but God’s word tells me to count it all joy when those trials come my way so that I can persevere and be COMPLETE….LACKING NOTHING!!!!

 I trust that today you are ready to be tested and to be found complete in the grace and love that our Heavenly Father bestows on each of us. Be like that BIG BLACK BUG and don’t let a little water (or heartbreak or disappointment or catastrophe) keep you from getting airborne and becoming all that God has ordained for you to be.

 If your not sure how to get that done, read the rest of James 1…..there’s a lot of God’s instruction just waiting for you….Have a Blessed Day as you persevere for the Father.

 Blessed and Believing,

WPQ

LIVING WITH MY CHOICE....

I have been struggling these last few weeks with elevated blood pressure; even had to go to the Emergency Room about 3 weeks ago at 11:30 at night. I realized that it probably had more to do with the uncertainties I have been facing in my life than any physical problems (although I do have a doctor's appointment next week to check out all systems). I have been wrestling with how and what to do with my "extra" hours now that my wife and I are settled in our new home here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I know that God is not finished with me yet or I would have caught a heavenly transport to my mansion in the sky...so what is God expecting me to do with these remaining days of my life?

 Maybe you too have been dealing with similar questions? You've asked but still have received the answer that would calm a troubled soul. But when I read #12 in my list of Queen's Truthies, I   realized I needed to get back to trusting in Jesus rather than looking for answers in all the wrong places. I do not need a job, money or any of a thousand other things to define who I am; I need a Savior that accepts me for who I am, but loves me too much to let me stay that way....and with His love and the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of me, I am constantly becoming more like Jesus as I seek to know Him and follow Him in these remaining days (or years) of life. It is my choice to serve Christ as the Master of my life and the Redeemer of my eternity.

So if the report at the doctors' office is bad rather than good, NO PROBLEM! I have made my choice to serve my Savior all the days of my life and to rejoice no matter my circumstances or what may come against me....for the power in me is FAR GREATER than ANYTHING the devil may bring my way....I pray that will be your choice as well!!!!  AMEN!

QUEEN'S TRUTHIES...

 # 11) No man can serve two masters...BUT HE WILL SERVE ONE...SO CHOOSE WISELY!

 #  12) It is not important for us to know the when, the where, the how or the why? We just need to know the WHO  in our lives....JESUS....knowing and following Him takes care of all the other questions!

 

Poem for the day...

Living for Jesus is a choice to be made,

A choice you must make every day.

It's not something you do

When Life comes at you;

You don't stop, drop, roll; then pray!

 

By choosing the Savior to follow each day.

Twill make living for Him a true "must";

So whatever you do

Know others are looking at you;

For in Him you have placed all your trust.

 

Let there be no mistake in the choices we make;

Let us not falter, nor wiggle, nor squirm.

For when we trust in the Lord

And lean into His Word;

The our future with Him we affirm.

 

 

WPQ  © September 2021

COUNT IT ALL JOY....

I was having  my morning quiet time with my Lord, reading his Word and meditating on that which I had  just read. It was the Scripture from James, the half-brother of Jesus, who was one of the first pastors of the Judeo-Christian church in Jerusalem. In James1: 2-8, it reads as follows:

 

"² My brothers and sisters, you will face all kinds of trouble. When you do, think of it as pure joy. ³ Your faith will be tested. You know that when this happens it will produce in you the strength to continue. ⁴ And you must allow this strength to finish its work. Then you will be all you should be. You will have everything you need. ⁵ If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone and doesn’t find fault. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe. You must not doubt. That’s because a person who doubts is like a wave of the sea. The wind blows and tosses them around. ⁷ They shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ This kind of person can’t make up their mind. They can never decide what to do." (Reader's New International Bible)

 It was in this passage that James was telling Christ's followers to be prepared to face rough times ahead. In fact, all of us no matter our lineage, our religion, our social status or any of 100 other things know life's central truth...HARD TIMES COME UPON US ALL!!!

 But for us as believers, we are to count it ALL joy! Now, that does not mean that we should always walk around with a big smile on our face, pretending that nothing is amiss or troublesome in our lives. Rather, it means we expect troubles; however, we should see trials as God's refining fire, melting our the dross of disobedience or disbelief and refining us for service to our Master who gave His Son for our redemption...and that is where the inexplicable JOY comes from in our lives. WE ARE SAVED FROM SOMETHING TO SOMETHING GREATER THAT GIVES US JOY OVER OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

 Many believers are caught up on trying to be happy in this life; but one thing I have learned is God is not all that concerned about my happiness. He is concerned about my character and how I represent the Savior of the world to those I encounter. Let's face it...Joy and Happiness are NOT the same thing! Happiness is fleeting, usually tied to the circumstances of the good or bad things taking place in our lives; however, JOY is and should be a constant fruit in the life of a believer...

 And it rest on the fact that we are now at PEACE WITH GOD!!! It is in that peace, that passes all understanding,  that we can be joyous in the midst of the trials and tribulations that we all face. WE CAN BE JOYOUS BECAUSE WE KNOW GOD IS AT WORK IN OUR LIVES, HELPING US TO BECOME THE BELIEVERS THAT NEED NOT BE ASHAMED!

 It has been said that in life, most of us are coming out of a storm, in the midst of a storm or heading into a storm; so if you want to be joyous and know that the safe harbor is within reach and that the God of the Universe is at your helm, just ask Him for wisdom and discernment on how He wants you to proceed. But, ask in faith, believing without doubt, so that those crashing waves will not sink you, but rather the storm will subside as God leads you safely to your eternal destination.

 Yes, trials are not fun for any of us. I believe that the trials of life have this effect on almost everyone, regardless of their faith or lack thereof.... The trials, testing and tribulations of life help us dig up the soil in which we have been planted so we can see how deep our roots really go.

 How deep are your roots in this life of trials and desperate times? If you are firmly planted in the soil of salvation and know that God the Father gave His only Son to redeem you for an eternal life with Him...then grow strong and tall in the LORD and blossom where you are planted. Then,

 YOU CAN COUNT IT ALL JOY!!!!

Living in this life...Counting it all Joy for Christ,

 WPQ

 

 

Poem for the day....

 

The troubles that we face each day

May surely drag us down;

But when we’re planted in Holy sod

Then we’re on solid ground!!!

 

We need not fear what comes our way

As in turbulent seas we're tossed;

For when we put our trust in Him

His love has paid the cost!

 

So let life's  troubles come at us

We pray, yet do not doubt;

For we know that in the Father's love

He's already worked things out.

 

To make each of us a vessel;

Holy, pristine and pure...

And because we ask and do not doubt

Our joy is forever sure!!!!

 

WPQ ©  August 2021

 

I was out early, in the cool of a mountain morning, attempting to blow away the effects of last night's rain storms. One stubborn piece of what looked like tree bark, turned out to be a moth, doing his utmost to stand against the strong wind of my leaf blower. I would blow him a few feet; he would right himself, and then get pummelled again as I continued my onslaught to remove the debris from my driveway.

In watching this small insect fight against this horrific wind, that surely came out of nowhere to him; it got me thinking...aren't we alot like that moth? When the strong winds of life blow up and knock us over, we get up and try to get going again; but before we can get ourselves moving forward, here comes the next big gust and we find ourselves knocked over once more.... And if we are not careful to stay connected to the true source of power, we will eventually think, "why bother to try"and just give up...like the poor moth in my story....he eventually ended up in the tall, wet grass which presented him with another challenge to face.

I hope this little poem that follows helps you connect or stayed connected to our TRUE SOURCE OF POWER...THE ONE WHO STANDS ALONE ON THE SHORE.....

For He Alone Is Waiting.....

When storm clouds begin to gather

And the winds begin to blow;

That's the time that matters

Not what... but who you know.

Is your house built on solid rock

Or on shifting, sandy shore?

Can it stand against the raging winds

And offer refuge as in times before?

For the Master of those stormy skies

Is waiting to hear your pleas;

As you offer up your heart-felt cry

For His rescue from stormy seas.

For He wills no one should perish

As in life's seas you're tempest tossed;

And when you put your faith in Him,

You shall not suffer loss...

For He alone is waiting

On that far and distant shore...

When the storms of life are over

And you're at home with Him once more!!!!

WPQ © August 2021