We’re always free to choose but the consequences that come are NOT our choice.  “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap..”  Galatians 6:7.  Consequences will always be more than you sowed, later than you sowed and more costly than you ever expected when you sowed.  You can choose God’s way or your own way.  I am deeply disturbed that in the “land of the free”, we are unable to express our beliefs, religious or otherwise, without ridicule unless they agree with the popular “thinking” of our day.  But as much as that disturbs me, I am disturbed even more that this issue of “sexuality” has brought a form of hypocrisy that grieves my heart.  I am saddened that many will ‘like’, ‘share’, ‘post’, ‘comment’ and spread the word of this man who is under attack by A&E, BUT will not order their own lives as HE HAS and live what they say they believe.  As I understand it he is a godly man who lives and practices his belief in ‘Biblical Christianity’.  This man doesn’t claim to be perfect, only redeemed and living for Jesus.  Some of us ‘claim’ that same name of Jesus and are NOT living like the redeemed.  Some are shacked up, drinking up, drugging up, lying up, stealing up, cussing up …etc., etc. How can you identify with this man? John 14:15 says, “ If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Whose commands are you following?  The Bible’s or man’s?  Is your behavior worldly or Biblical?  Can you speak the truth as this man has and have a life that backs it up?  1 Corinthians 6:9-11 sums it up, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  Jesus is coming soon—will you be found a ‘faithful servant’ or will you hear Jesus say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  (see Matt. 7:14-29).

Christmas Fortnight Day 10

Here we are –one week until Christmas Day.  A question.  Which do you enjoy most, giving or receiving gifts?  Of course we all love to receive gifts, it’s nice to know that someone cares about us enough to give a gift.  But when I give, why do I give?  To receive, to be noticed, obligation??

I think the key is to remember the GREATEST GIFT!!

 John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world, that HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

God loved us and gave HIS SON to die for us.  What do we give?  Some of us choose and give the perfect gift for each person according to their needs or likes.  Others of us buy a dozen of some great bargain and give one to each person on our list.  Now each style of giving has it’s positives and negatives.  But what is important?  Money, self, time?

1 Peter 4:9-10 says, “Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God..”

This refers to spiritual gifts, but I think we can learn about giving here.

We are to be hospitable–-‘friendly & welcoming to strangers and friends’.

We are to give as we have received,

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required….”  (Lk 12:48b).

In a word—YOURself.  God gave Jesus–I can give ME!!

Don’t get caught up in “price” or “vogue”.  Is there someone who’d love to hear your voice, spend time with YOU, have your help for a difficult task?   Maybe just a visit?  Think about it!! Is there someone on your list who just needs YOUR time?  Is there someone you need to call today?  Is there someone who needs a token of your LOVE?

Stop!! 

Think!! 

Listen to your heart!! 

Then just DO IT!

Christmas Fortnight Day 9

Ornaments, lights, a manger and even trees—we’ve looked at all of these during this Christmas “Time”.  We are a culture of “Time”.  Clocks, watches, alarms, appointments, deadlines, punctuality!!!   All things related to time, so let’s take a ‘minute’ to talk about “Time”.  We mention Christmas ‘time’ as a special ‘time’ to reflect on the incarnation of our Messiah, our Savior, our Lord, yet is this not something that we should reflect on, celebrate and share all the ‘time’?

 Philippians 2:7-8 says of Jesus, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” 

Jesus stepped into “Time”,

he took on Himself the ‘likeness of men’.

He ‘humbled himself’,

took on servant hood and

walked to the cross for us.

Born to die!!!  It all goes together.  We should celebrate Jesus coming every day.

God exists irrespective of ‘time’.

He created ‘time’.

It’s a tool not a dictator.

Are we so hung up on ‘times’ and seasons that we forget to use our ‘time’ celebrating and sharing the love of God each and every day. Christmas and Resurrection go together.  Jesus is LORD of all ‘Time’.

Paul tells us how.

Philippians 2:12b-16a, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life;…”     JESUS!

So?  As someone said, ‘Just do it’…  Let’s celebrate Jesus all the “Time”—everyday, everyway ALL days!!!

Christmas Fortnight Day 8

We’ve looked at ornaments and lights and even the manger.  Let’s look today at ‘trees’.  Not Christmas trees particularly, just trees—let’s stack some “wood”.

 Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”. 

Jesus took our curse—“For the wages of sin is death”!!  (Ro 6:23a)

 Deut 21:23b, “(for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”

Jesus became our curse, by hanging on a tree.

Born to die on a tree, for you and for me.

 “.…He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:8b.

 “…., There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.”  Romans 15:12.

 “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” Isaiah 11:1.

He came to die for me.

What a gift.

Remember from day 5, that Jesus not only gives light, but that He IS light.  Similarly,

He is the ‘root of Jesse’,

also ‘a rod out of the stem of Jesse’,

and yet He is also a ‘Branch” growing out of the root.

An oxymoron of sorts, Jesus—

creator of trees—

is our tree, our curse.

Yet He gives us life when we trust in what HE did on that tree called Calvary.

He purchased my salvation there.

My ‘Christ’mas tree?

So?  Jesus calls— ‘take up your cross’ and follow ME!!!

The manger is humbling but the cross saves.

Yes worship the ‘newborn king’,

but don’t stay in the barn—

take up your cross and FOLLOW HIM.

YOUR cross???

YOUR calling???

Will YOU follow HIM?

It’s YOUR choice!!

Christmas Fortnight Day 7

As we continue looking at Jesus and His birth, let’s think about the ‘manger’.  A cattle trough, a feeding container for cattle or horses.  What is the import of the “manger”?

Luke speaks of the manger 3 times. Why 3 times? Let’s look.

Luke 2:7,  “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:12, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:16, “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”

First we see that Mary, “laid him in a manger”.

This precious young mother, chosen by God had nowhere to lay her newborn baby but in a trough.  Her humility and faithfulness are overwhelming to me.  Nothing is recorded of Mary complaining, whining or being dissatisfied with her lot.

Philippians 2:8 says that Jesus also chose to humble himself, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” 

This King of kings accepted a manger for HIS bed.  What about us—what are we unwilling to accept from God?

Then we see the angels, giving the shepherds instructions to look for a babe ‘lying in a manger’.  Christ’s first ‘cradle’ wasn’t a surprise to God.  He KNOWS where You are as well.

Lastly we see that the shepherds found Him in that very ‘manger’.  They didn’t scoff at this strange tale, nor hesitate to obey.  How about you and me?  Do we respond to God in similar manner? Or do we hesitate at what may seem to us the “strange ways” of God.  Remember His ways aren’t our ways, nor are our ways His.  Thoughts to ponder in this Christmas season.  Think about ‘CHRIST’mas.