Month: December 2018

 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

     “A voice of one calling in the desert,

     ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

      Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.

     The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.

     And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”

Luke 3:1-6

Words written a long time ago

To a people living a long time ago

But what if we read:

In the second year of the reign of Donald Trump—

when Mike Parson was governor of Missouri,—

and Bishop Robert Farr was the presiding Bishop

of the Missouri Area of the United Methodist Church,

the word of God came to the people of  fill in the name of your church  .

And the people of the congregation went into all the country,

preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

That changes the message doesn’t it?

It becomes up close and personal.

It is no longer about what God is telling them.

It becomes about what God is telling us.

We are the ones calling in the desert.

John was not only preaching to his church . . .

But to his government officials

He stood up to the powers that were – In his church – In his community – In his world

He called for repentance. He called SIN – SIN !

Are we as willing to stand up – to stand out – to go against the prevailing culture – for the sake of the Gospel?

I’m not just talking to you. I’m talking to me because I don’t like confrontation and strife.

But when we allow things to go on that we know are wrong because we don’t want to make waves we are sending a message that it really doesn’t matter.

That what we say in church on Sunday and what we do at work on Monday are not really connected.

Is it any wonder our children grow up and leave the church when we’ve taught them by example that the Scriptures don’t really apply to us today.

NEWS FLASH –  YES THEY DO!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

 

We claim the name of Christ. We should proclaim the name of Christ.

That doesn’t mean getting up in someone’s face and screaming at them.

It does mean living every day for Jesus. It means doing what God says even when others mock and ridicule us for doing it. It means turning the other cheek. It means loving the unlovable. And it means spending time with God, developing a relationship so that every moment of every day is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Christ is the Way.

 

We light this candle as a symbol of Christ the Way.

May the Word sent from God through the prophets lead us to the way of salvation.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

 

 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

 

Appropriate words for this last day of the first week of the Advent Season. We are to be a light in this world. The light is not our own but Jesus in us, shining through us.

Marva J. Dawn writes in her book The Unnecessary Pastor,

If we are the lamp in this parable, let’s be consistent.

We don’t light ourselves, do we?

Nor do we set ourselves on the lampstand.

Nor do we invite the people into the house.

God sets us on fire by grace,

appoints us to our places of ministry by grace,

and by grace liberates us simply to shine!

When we clean out the ashes in our woodstove we also clean the glass on the door and the side panels because watching the blazing logs seems to warm us as much as burning the logs. But we must keep the glass clean.

In the same way, we must keep the glass in our lives free from the soot of sin so that others may see the light of Christ in us.

Where has God placed you this day?

Who needs to see your light?

The world needs to know of Christ our Hope – let your light shine this day!

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

 

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Luke 21:25-28

We live in a time of great fear. This nation that was founded on the debate of ideas has become fearful of even listening to a different opinion.

Why?

What has happened to us?

Do our schools no longer host “Debate Clubs” – it seems that our educational focus has shifted. Where we once challenged students we now insulate them from any idea that might make them uncomfortable. How will they be able to stand when real troubles come?

Jesus said “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

In today’s passage from Luke Jesus speaks of the fear and confusion that will come but he offers us the assurance that all is not lost –

Look Up!

Lift Up Your Heads!

Your Redemption Draweth Nigh!

 

This Advent Season reminds us that it is God who will have the final say. Keep your focus on your relationship with Him. Keep your light shining brightly that others might see and believe!

The earth is the Lord‘s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lordmighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.           

Psalm 24

 

Before I ever began reading the Bible I learned scripture from the hymnal. I just didn’t realize it at the time. God’s grace! He used my desire to play the piano to get His Word into me. There was an old upright piano on our back porch and an old Methodist hymnal was the only music available to me. So as I was picking out the notes I absorbed the words written by Charles Wesley,  Isaac Watts, John Newton, Fanny Crosby, and many others.

When I began to study the scriptures I found familiar words that spoke to me anew. God had been preparing my heart long before I consciously began to seek Him.

The words from Psalm 24 are found in the hymn Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates written by George Weissel.

 

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates; Behold, the King of glory waits; 

The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here!

Fling wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple, set apart

From earthly use for heaven’s employ,

Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come, with us abide;

Our hearts to Thee we open wide;

Let us thy inner presence feel; 

Thy grace and love in us reveal.

 

 

 

Ought I not to do what I can for the Lord Jesus while he tarries, and to rouse a slumbering church?

George Mueller

 

The Psalm and the song remind us to always be ready – not just for the return of Christ – but for God to show up in our daily lives. We should be ready to share our faith with everyone we meet.

Is your light shining brightly this day?

Sunrise is at 7:15 this morning. As I write this it is still dark.

The sun will set at 4:44 this evening.

The shorter days of winter can bring on the blahs. Add in the effects of gray skies, cold winds, with ice and snow and it makes for a long winter.

Instead of focusing on the negative I choose to see the positive.

 

The beauty in a snow covered landscape, the pure joy the dogs find in a romp in the snow, the beauty of the Christmas Season, the warmth of the fire, the candlelight that brightens the dark days, and so much more!

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD,

that I will perform that good thing which I have promised . . .

Even in the darkest days of winter, we can hold fast to the HOPE we have in Jesus Christ.

Keep your light burning!

Photo by Juhasz Imre on Pexels.com

 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.    Genesis 1:1-2

 

The devotional reading for December 2nd from Living The Message by Eugene H. Peterson reads:

Those first verses of Genesis are paradigmatic for pastoral work, especially in the area of spiritual formation. The wonderful phrase “formless and void,” is a mess – and then in that mess, that chaos, the Spirit of God begins working and slowly creation and covenant begin to arise out of it: light, form, vegetation, animals, humans, love, virtue, hope, Christ. I once told a group of seminarians that the thing I like most about being a pastor is the mess. i do not mean I like messes as such, but I like that sense of being in a mess, held there by hope, knowing how God’s creativity works, slowly, slowly, slowly, but always with surprises. Creation, creative work, never ends up the way we thought it would. It is always a surprise.

Peterson’s words are not just for pastors. I believe his words are true for each and every person who claims the name of Christ. When we accept Christ as our Savior God does not immediately transport us to heaven. He does not take us out of this “mess” called life. No, He uses us where we are. Right in the middle of the mess. He works in us and through us to show others that He is still in the creation business.

Yes, we are in a “mess.”

Held there by HOPE.

Knowing that God is still working – SLOWLY – at least according to our timetable, but not according to God’s timetable. For God is always right on time and gives us exactly what we need. Even when we didn’t know we needed it!

This Advent Season, this time of waiting, is a chance to slow down, to be aware of God working all around you, everyday.

Stop! Look!  Listen!

Where is God wanting to use you this day?

Lord, You never cease to amaze me. What a journey You have led me on these past sixty-seven years, eight months, and five days! Thank You, Lord, for this new day. I can’t wait to see what You have in store for me this day.

This is the third day of this Advent Season and I have been reflecting on the message our pastor brought to us in the worship service yesterday. She read these passages from the Book of Habakkuk, 1:1-4; 2:2-4; 3:17-19.

The first candle on the Advent wreath represents Christ our HOPE and as the pastor read the words of the prophet we were reminded of others who have struggled throughout history and yet kept their faith.

The prophet cries out.

The prophet waits.

The prophet hopes.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

To make it more personal – if the summer is dry and the fall is wet and my garden does not produce as it should; if the roof leaks and the cellar floods; if my body seems to be failing me . . . I will trust in the LORD!

The answer may not come

when we want

how we want

the way we want

but we must remember

God always answers

Pastor challenged us to

have faith in the faithfulness of God

and to share this vision of hope

Jesus Christ

Be a light in someone’s darkness this day.

 

Hear the words from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 60, verses 1-3.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

 

 

We light this candle as a symbol of Christ our Hope.

May the light sent from God shine in the darkness to show us the way of salvation.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

We can choose to live in darkness, apart from God.

And this is the condemnation, that the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.     John 3:19

It is hard to fathom but there are those who prefer the darkness over the light. They rebel against God. Some deny His existence. They know that if they accept that there is a God, they also have to accept His judgment. For the wages of sin is death; (John 6;23). It sounds hopeless – but read on to the end of that verse. but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is hope!

We can choose to live in the light of His presence. We can share the good news with the world. God made a way for the relationship broken by sin to be restored by the blood of Jesus Christ. Let your light shine this Advent Season.

Christ is our HOPE!

 

 

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

Today is the first day of the Advent Season.

I have prepared the Advent wreath and it is on our dining room table ready for the first candle to be lit tomorrow.

Advent is a time of waiting and let us be honest, we don’t like to wait, for anything. However, some things are worth waiting for. Hear the words from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 40, verses 1-8.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

God never forgets His people. God keeps His promises.

So in these days leading up to the Christmas Season let us STOP*LOOK*LISTEN.

STOP!     Take time to prepare for Christmas. Don’t allow the advertising hype to hurry you through this time of preparation.

LOOK!     Search the scriptures. Read God’s promises. Meditate on His Word. Learn what God did for His people in the past and know that He can do the same today.

LISTEN!     Be still and know. God wants a relationship with you. When was the last time you really listened for God to speak to you? For that to happen you need to get in a quiet place and WAIT.