Of Good & Perfect Gifts

Today is Christmas Day, a commemoration of the Salvation that came to earth.  He, who was and is the Creator of the Universe, literally put Himself in the humble form of mankind that we can be saved through Him.  It is for this reason we celebrate, and although we do so in a diversity of ways, most markedly are the traditions of remembering the "Christmas Story" found in Luke 2 and the giving of gifts to loved ones much as the wise men brought their gifts to the foretold King of the Jews.  And this is why I find myself meditating on James 1:17 which says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

We are likely to receive something this day, but may we not forget where everything truly good comes from.  Jehovah is the source of everything good.  It is He who loved us even before He created us, and He created us even knowing that we would sin against Him.  He also knew that because of our sin, we would need a salvation and that He would need to pay that price Himself.  Along with that, He knew we would not love Him until we came to the realization of His love for us.  And it is here that we can see the great mystery: He still loved us enough to created us and then redeem us by His death.  He was buried and then He rose again, so that we too can rise again.  And this salvation is freely offered to all!  All we have to do is receive it, just as we do with the gifts we find under the tree with our name on it.  Of all the good and perfect gifts we are given from Jehovah, this salvation, whose precious name is Jesus, is the greatest of them all.  It's the greatest gift you could ever receive, and your very self is the greatest gift you could ever give when you give it back to the One who made you.  I've shared with you before that it was such a thought that turned my heart to Him, and I hope that you have turned your heart over to Him as well.

So, as we commemorate the birth of Christ today,
It is my prayer that the light of His Word will shine in your hearts,

And the glory of His presence will be very real to you.

May you never forget the Christ in Christmas.

Gladly I Will Suffer These Things, Unashamed

It has only been the last few years that I have made "New Year's resolutions" for myself.  It started two years ago when I Resolved to Resolve.  Then last year to Grow Deeper, Richer, Fuller.  Before that I was unimpressed with the concept.  The premise faulty, the promise flippant, the proposition trite.  Maybe not always, but far too often, anyway. Long ago I determined that's not for me.  Then I acquired Jonathan Edwards' resolutions.  I liked what I saw, and what I read.  He was a man who sought to stay true to what he believed, and used his resolutions toward that end.  Not only that, but they were also continuous.  They didn't end at year's end, but were to the end of his life from that day forward.  Which brings me to my last point: They didn't necessarily have to start at the commencing of a new year; they were established the day he finished contemplating them.  And I realized I really liked that.  So far, I've been establishing my own around the beginning of the year, and this year is no exception, or so it seems... But, you know, there's always tomorrow for me to recognize something else needs changing!  The type of tomorrow that actually becomes today, that is.

So that leads me to what I've been thinking in the here and now.  I also like the idea of a clean slate at the new year's arrival, although any day is a good day to start anew technically.  So I've been considering how I'd like to kick-start the new year...  Then Pastor gave a fabulous message this morning.  For some background, our theme for this year, 2011, is Striving Together (part 2, if you will, of last year's theme Choosing God First).  This morning's sermon was based on Philippians 1:27, the context from verses 1-30.  We considered many things, one specifically being the word conversation, this specific Greek word appearing only one other time.  It was all quite fascinating!  Being one to always contemplate how to apply the truths of Scripture in my own life, that was also something I was considering throughout the message as well.

Well, the message hit its mark.  Most of the things I had been considering were rather general things, until the conclusion that is.  Really, it was a connection I had made of what my life needed to better become more like Christ, but it was just the chord that needed to be touched.  Something the Apostle Paul had down pat.

The invitation wasn't long in coming after that, and the invitational hymn was Close to Thee.  It's a beautiful song, a favorite of mine.  Solemn & sincere, and so very, very heartfelt.  There's always something that catches my heart when I sing it, this time it was a line from the second stanza that stood out, the second line to be precise.  Even before that verse, I had wanted to go forward, but I couldn't leave my duties with the sound system to go to the altar.  I knew something else, though, besides the need to take care of these things humbly before my Lord.  My heart could take a moment to pause in prayer, even if I couldn't leave my station.  And when I had finished, then I thought on what the song must have meant to the composer and what it had meant in her own life.

At the same time that all those thoughts were swirling around in my head, I knew exactly what my new resolve would be.  Interestingly enough, one of the verses of Scripture I think of when I consider this topic had become a cherished favorite last year, but I want to fully embrace it starting today.  "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (II Timothy 1:12)  And that leads me to the conclusion, my resolve:

Willingly suffering for Christ.

Oh, sure, in some way or another I've suffered for Him before.  Maybe not to great extents, but suffering in one way or another.  But lately, it hasn't been all that willingly.  Any recent suffering, I've "suffered" through it all right... but not with the right attitude.  Not as Jesus Christ would have me to suffer - willingly and meekly... for Him - and yet, that's the very attitude I should have had all along.

So, lastly, I'd like to close with the special hymn of invitation that continues to touch my heart's chords.

Close to Thee
 Fanny J. Crosby

Thou my everlasting Portion, more than friend or life to me,
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.

Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.

Lead me through the vale of shadows, bear me over life’s fitful sea;
Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee.