Wonderfully Forgiven

Of Good & Perfect Gifts

2011-12-25T13:00:00.007-06:00

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

2011-01-09T14:00:00.004-06:00

It has only been the last few years that I have made "New Year's resolutions" for myself. It started two years ago whenI Resolved to Resolve. Then last year toGrow 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.

Christmas in Your Heart

2010-12-25T10:00:00.005-06:00

You know what it's like to have a song stuck in your head? Sure you do! Well, I have a song that's been playing over and over in my mind all morning, but in a good way! I know, I was surprised that such a thing was possible, but it is!

So about this song - well technically, it's just a line of the chorus, but anyway... When I stop to think about it, after Monday's entry, it's really not a wonder that this song would be special to me today. I've gone around it enough, so what are the lyrics? (Have you been dreading that I might truly get to this?) Actually, the title is part of it:

This Christmas, make it Christmas in your heart.

It's not from a very popular song, at least not anymore, but I heard it a lot when I was younger. It has such a sweet, simple melody that complements the simple message of the song. The oh-so-sweet message of the song. The full lyrics (you can also hear the complete song here, song 3):

Christmas in Your Heart
Ron & Shelly Hamilton

Jesus came to earth and laid aside His princely crown.
Came to His creation, then a room could not be found.
At this special time of year, the call is heard anew.
Will you hear His pleading voice? Let Christ be born in you.

Christmas in your heart, make it Christmas in your heart.
Open wide the door, and let Jesus in your heart.
As the Saviour knocks today, will you coldly turn away?
This Christmas, make it Christmas in your heart.

You may sing the carols that exalt the Baby's name,
But when Jesus calls to you the answer's still the same.
There's no room for Jesus, He is crowded out again.
Will you open wide your heart and let the Saviour in?

We celebrate Christmas every year, but is it Christmas where it truly matters? Is it Christmas in your heart? That is the heart that we love with, the heart that we sorrow with, the heart that ache with... not the organ we call the heart.

Jesus Christ came to earth for one reason: to offer salvation to a sinful world. He offers it to all; He offers it to you. If you have received Him, it really can be Christmas in your heart because you know the true joy of Christmastime. In fact, every day of the year can be Christmas for you because He is in you. If you haven't will you make this year the first year you can celebrate the true meaning of Christmas in your life, in your heart?

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.
...
And may you never forget the Christ in Christmas.
...

A Wonderfully Forgiven Birthday

2010-12-20T14:15:00.000-06:00

Many of you know some of my favorite programs on my favorite radio station, there's even a few links on the side to help you locate them on the web. I was thrilled when I heard that WCTS would be airing a new, in-house Bible study. (It's hard to believe that it's been almost 2 years since they started broadcasting!) What a joy it was to hear today's study in I John. Today Rebecca, Sarah, & Crystal delve back into verses 9-12 of chapter 5.

"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

This delights my soul so much because of a decision I made 20 years ago yesterday, a decision that I would like to tell you about....

Having been born at Christmastime, and with a name that means "Christmas child," it's natural to be thinking about birthdays and presents during the Christmas season. My parents did a rather good job at not letting my birthday get swallowed up in the midst of all the festivities, too, which couldn't have been easy. I also had the privilege of growing up in a Christian family and in a church dedicated to preaching God's Word as it ought to. Of course, this means that from the time I was just a little tot, I knew that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, God's very own Son, on this earth. I learned early on that He came for one reason, and that was to save His creation from their sins, and that it was available to anyone who would come to Him

So, with my birthday being just one night's sleep away, I'm sure I was thinking of Christmas and birthdays and presents as we were getting ready for church one evening so many years ago. My train of thought might have even been that I receive presents on my birthday and His birthday, that He deserves so much more... and what could I give Him? I don't really recall that, but I know I went up to my mom and said that I wanted "to give Jesus a birthday present. I want to give Him my heart."

All preparations ceased at that point, and in my mom's presence, I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart and save me from my sins and told Him I loved Him.

... And I still do. He's done so much for me, and I want the world to know what He can do for them, too. He showed His love for us those many, many years ago for us when He left heaven's glory and came down to this sin-cursed, imperfect world. Then He lived a perfect life for us, never once falling to the temptations His human body felt, which is so important because an imperfection can't redeem imperfection. He went on to show those around Him who He was by the things He said and the miracles He did, never ceasing when people believed not. Instead, when their unbelief caused them to falsely accuse Him and sentence Him to the capital punishment of the day, He willingly went to the cross for us because our redemption required His blood to be spilled. The greatest agony He went through was when God the Father had to turn His back upon God His Son because the sin of the world was upon His shoulders. He died, but three days later He conquered death and hell with His resurrection. Now, He's seated at the right hand of God, making intercession for those who call upon His name. Because of His life, because of His death, because of His risen life, we can be saved from sin, from eternal death, from hell if we will humble ourselves, admit we can't do anything to redeem ourselves, and call upon Him. I have done that, and I'll never regret it.

It thrills my soul to think of all that He has done for me. As much as it actually hurts to think of all He went through, I'm so thankful He came. I'm also thankful that this is something I can reflect upon during this special time of year. And maybe, or rather more than likely, this is why one of my favorite childhood Christmas songs was and still is Happy Birthday, Jesus.

How about you? Have you also trusted Him to be your Saviour? If not, why not? There's no better time than the present, and it's a very special time of year indeed.

Thanks For It All

2010-11-25T08:00:00.024-06:00

King David obviously loved to praise & worship the Lord in psalm, and we must admit he wrote quite a few. Among those many Psalms, one theme that occurs again and again is thanksgiving. Since David, a man after God's own heart, loved to praise in song and singing happens to be a favorite pastime of mine, I'd like to share a few verses of a psalm and then song.

Psalm 136 is a medium-length psalm that has been a favorite of mine for many years, ever since my youth group went over it verse by verse. It has become special to me over the years because each verse lists the mighty power Jehovah has. It's a direct reminder of who He is and all He has done, which should remind us of all He still can do. And I love its uniqueness. Every verse ends with "for His mercy endureth for ever." Not only did He do these things, but He did them because His mercy endures forever. The verses I've chosen to highlight extol a few of Jehovah's wonderful names and describe the creative power that He, our Maker, has.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercyendureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 136:1-9, 26

The song I'd like to share with you today carries on with the theme of our Maker. It is one I haven't heard in at least 10 years. In fact, I'm not even sure if I'm correctly guessing its title. I hadn't even thought of it for years, but then one day I tried to recall the lyrics. Since then I've been trying to track it down. After many months of searches, I was absolutely thrilled to discover it on a tape I didn't even know existed, let alone packed away in the basement below! I'm still not sure who to credit as the author or composer, but at least now the lyrics are sure.

Thanks to Your Maker

Did you ever say "thanks" to your Maker?
Did you ever say "thanks" for your sight?
There are many who never see flowers,
There are those who know nothing but night.
There are many who never see springtime
Nor the change of the leaves in the fall
So when you see the dawn of morning
To your Maker say "thanks" for it all.

Did you ever say "thanks" while you listen?
There are those who cannot hear a sound.
Never hear children’s voices and laughter,
For the silence is ever so long.
Never hear the whispering wind in the treetops,
Nor the sound of the leaves in the fall;
So when you hear the voice of your loved one,
To your Maker say "thanks" for it all.

What I love about this song is that it thanks the Lord, who is rightly called our Maker, for the things we so easily take for granted. It doesn't just mention our senses, but also describes what those senses allow us to enjoy. The song could even be expanded to encompass other pleasures as well!

On this day of thanksgiving, I hope you truly are giving thanks to whom it is due - the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who fainteth not, neither grows weary, of whom there is no searching of His understanding (Isaiah 40:28). Not just today, but every day & always.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Week of Blessings

2010-09-29T21:00:00.004-05:00

What an absolutely marvelous week I just had! As many of you are aware, my favorite radio station had their annual fundraiser, which they call "sharathon." I love their daily programming - the Biblical preaching, Christ-centered music, & other programs. Yet, even though they take a short break from most of the programs, I also love their sharathon!

My love for the WCTS Sharathon really began back in 2000 when my family started homeschooling. It was the first time I'd had the chance to hear it during the day, and it was a delight to hear the conversations of the different radio personalities uninterrupted by anything but music. Added to that, we were also able to schedule a field trip down to the station during the sharathon.... And now, for the last 3 years, I've had the wonderful opportunity of being down at the station every day of their fundraisings, which has led to volunteering in other ways throughout the year as well!

There is so much to enjoy about volunteering there: working with the WCTS staff, speaking with the guest speakers who come in, hearing from other listeners & taking their comments, and in general just staying busy helping the station. This year, it was also fun to hear my siblings give the station phone numbers on the air live! I didn't know about it ahead of time, so it was quite the surprise when I heard their little voices! (As it turns out, they didn't know ahead of time, either... they had come in to see me, and were asked if they could read the numbers on the sheet of paper in front of them. Next thing they knew, they were on the air!)

Yet, if one was to ask me what was the apex of Sharathon 2010 (and every other sharathon as well), I would say that it is seeing how the Lord meets the needs of a ministry that seeks to please Him each & every moment of the day. The daily goal was exceeded a few times, and other times it was close. Those times were so exciting! But it's not really the excitement I'm talking about - it's seeing how God's people are responding to what He has laid on their hearts. That's one reason that I can confidently say that we know the Lord will provide even though the overall goal wasn't quite met. People don't need to pledge during sharathon; they can give whenever it's put on their hearts. Or maybe the Lord has something else entirely in His mind. I don't know. However, I do know, and this is my other reason, that when the Lord is for something, nothing can hinder it! And it's a thrill to watch His plan come together.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
~ Romans 11:33-36 ~

P.S. If you would like to read more, check out friendsofwcts.blogspot.com.

My Soul's Sunshine

2010-09-09T23:36:00.001-05:00

It's been a good summer for us so far, even though it hasn't been an easy summer. I know that it might even seem odd to some that I can walk around with a smile on my face and a song spilling forth from my heart.

(For those who may not know, my parents, siblings, and I have lived with my dad's mom for almost the past 10 years, taking care of the needs she has had due to Alzheimer's Disease. But Grandma [or "Grammy" as my littlest siblings call her] has not had an easy time physically for quite some time, especially since early summer. Soon, yet oh-so-slowly, August was upon us. On the 24th her suffering ended when she went to be with her Saviour Jesus Christ ... and so peacefully too, without any pain or agitation, not even needing any medications to assist her comfort level.)

So, in the midst of a time of pain & grief, I can see why others might not understand. But it's because we have so much to thank & praise the Lord for, that I can carry on as I do. As I alluded to in the paragraph above, our greatest comfort & confidence is knowing that Grammy is now with our Lord, because there was a time when she put her personal trust in Jesus Christ alone. It's also wonderful to know that she's now reunited with my grandfather & other loved ones as well, including her twin sister, and no longer confused nor mostly blind & deaf. Also, there are so many answered prayers to think back upon, and the way we have already been able to reach out to family & friends has been a joy. Now, our greatest desire & prayer is that all glory & honor would go to our Lord Jesus Christ, and that our friends & loved ones would come to know His saving grace.

I know we'll all miss her. Indeed, we already do! There have already been so many times I've thought of her, anticipating her needing something, or expecting to hear her clear her throat to get our attention. And yet, if you could see me now, you'd also know that I'm not sorrowing my days away. Instead, you would see my heart is full with a deep, resounding, peace-filled joy ... and yes, a smile to fill my face.

With that in mind, I'd like to share a hymn that I've always enjoyed, and now has become extra special to me over the summer.

Sunshine in My Soul

Eliza Hewitt

There's sunshine in my soul today, more glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly way, for Jesus is my light.

Oh, there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,

When the peaceful happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in my soul.

There's music in my soul today, a carol to my King,

And Jesus, listening can hear the songs I cannot sing.

Oh, there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,

When the peaceful happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in my soul.

There's springtime in my soul today, for when the Lord is near

The dove of peace sings in my heart, the flowers of grace appear.

Oh, there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,

When the peaceful happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in my soul.

There's gladness in my soul today, and hope and praise and love,

For blessings which He gives me now, for joys "laid up" above.

Oh, there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,

When the peaceful happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face,

There is sunshine in my soul.

Of Fathers and Fish: Feeding 5 or 5,000

2010-06-20T21:15:00.004-05:00

Isn't it amazing how some memories are so clear in your mind that it's almost like you're right there instead of looking back? I'm thinking about one in particular today, a story about my brother and I fishing with our dad and grandpa when we were quite young.

The day was picture perfect. It's a bright & sunny, nearly cloudless winter day, so the sky is a gorgeous shade of blue. The temperature that day was lovely, too, so even though we had access to an ice house, we didn't have to bundle up to check on the tip-ups. On nice days our usual set-up was a pole for each of us in the house for crappies, a possible rattle wheel in the house for northern, & 3-4 tip-ups outside for northerns, and this day was no exception.

Before I go on, I must say that ice fishing with Dad & Grandpa was always fun, even if we weren't catching much! (Actually, fishing was fun, regardless of the season.) Grandpa knew how to have fun, and he passed that down to Dad. There was always plenty to talk about, and always something to do, even if it was as simple as taking out a snack from our cooler. Sometimes, Dad would tell us to get in the sled and he would spin us around and around, kind of like a merry-go-round except better. Or sometimes, if fishing was really slow, Kev and I would romp around, always careful to stay in site of the ice house.

But we didn't need to find ways to stay occupied on this day! We were already having a rather successful day fishing, which means we were going to bring home enough for a meal or two by the time we pack up to leave, when suddenly, our bobbers were going down in tandem, and the tip-ups were sending up their flags, too! We're hurrying to set the hooks and pull up the lines (this was way before ice fishing poles had reels). Wow! That's enough to be a special memory all by itself. Even more so, perch had hit the tip-ups! That just doesn't happen. So we get the hooks set up with minnows again and put the lines back in. Next thing we know, the bobbers are going down again and the flags are going up!

Well, it must have been a huge school of fish! We soon realized that we would need to keep count because perch had a new limit of possessing 99 that year, and the fish kept biting without any sign of slowing down! For the next hour or two (you sort of lose track in the excitement), as soon as our lines went down, they were needing to be brought back up! By the time things seemed to be slowing down, we were nearing our limit, not including the small ones we tossed back (not that there were many to toss back - most of them were keepers). We caught number 99 when things had almost tapered out, and decided to try for the 100th keeper before we packed up. We did catch it a little while later, then tossed it back where it belonged.

Besides being a cherished memory, this story holds a two-fold meaning to me.

The Heavenly Father will always provide for His children, just as He tells us in Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." We never have to fear a need not being met, and He is always right on time, too. The Lord certainly provided for us that day. You see, as much as we enjoy fishing, it also fills a need - our physical need for nourishment and sustenance. We went home with enough for quite a few delicious meals.

The Heavenly Father wants to pour out His love and care upon His children, as He tells us in James 1:17, "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." In that, He blessed us thrice: we experienced the thrill & enjoyment that day; with a memory to look back upon; and He blessed us with an abundance of food. The memory was sweet to recall when I was younger, but it has become even more precious since my grandfather left this world and entered life everlasting. The thrill of bringing that many fish in, and in such a short period of time, not to mention the excited busyness, is hard to describe. Even knowing how exciting that was, it's hard to imagine what it must have been like to be in the crowd when Jesus fed the 5,000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread ... and had twelve baskets remaining!

This present day, I realize how blessed I am to have such a wonderful grandfather and father, too. I'm thankful for Grandpa's influence in my life, and so very thankful that I'll see him again someday because I know he put his trust in Christ alone, asking Jesus to save him. Grandpa raised a wonderful son - who is a great dad, and has taught me what it means to love the Lord.

Happy Father's Day, Dad! Thank you for being the godly example you should be and for teaching me in the wisdom & knowledge and admonition of our Lord - not only in my growing up years, but even now. I love you!

A Canopy of Protection

2010-04-27T22:30:00.002-05:00

If we could see the big picture instead of the tiny snapshot-through-a-window that we think we see, I wonder how much we'd realize we take for granted. I'm guessing we would begin a seemingly never-ending list. There's so much we could list with just considering the tangible alone, and that the more we find to make our lives and daily tasks easier, the more there would be to list. But, of course, there's so much more besides, things that are even more important than the things we can see and touch.

The Lord's protection of His children would rank high on such a list. Oh, we trust in Him for it all the time when we know there's danger around us; indeed, we pray for it. But how often does He supply it and we don't even realize it because we aren't even aware of the danger that had surrounded us? Or how often do we thank Him because of what might have been?

This past Wednesday was a wonderful reminder of how precious it is to have such an One looking after us. My dad had asked my brother to keep our younger siblings occupied so he could concentrate. Since they were already in my room, Kevin decided it would be a good idea to keep them in there (and it would have been if it weren't for the clean laundry in piles to put away, the ironing board in the middle of the room, and some miscellaneous things taking up floor space).

So my 3 siblings are in there with me, I'm taking a moment to relax with a book, and Kev is annoying me. Soon a faux tug-of-war ensued between he and I, but when I eventually let go, his footing wasn't sound, and he's thrown off balance. In the very next instant, glass from the ceiling light fixture is raining down into every corner in the room, in all shapes and sizes, including the entryway that should have been shielded by an outcropping wall.

Yet none of us were hurt. Despite the fact our younger sister was standing under the light and glass fell all around her, or that both little ones looked up when they heard the crash. Nor Kev even though evidence shows a good amount showered toward him. Nor myself.

Almost a week later, I'm still cleaning up shards of glass that serve as a reminder of just how bad things could have been. And to think that this is just one instance when it was obvious the Lord was covering us. How else could one explain that, despite glass shattering everywhere, no one in the room was hurt, neither was there any trace of glass found on us? It would be pointless to try finding another explanation.

Psalm 145 is a beautiful psalm that speaks of God's goodness, power, & mercy, and I can't think of a better way to conclude than meditating on a few of the treasures found in the passage.

I will extol thee, my God, O king;

and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee;

and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

and his greatness is unsearchable.

I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty,

and of thy wondrous works.

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion;

slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The LORD is good to all:

and his tender mercies are over all his works.

All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD;

and thy saints shall bless thee.

The LORD upholdeth all that fall,

and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways,

and holy in all his works.

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,

to all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:

he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Psalm 145:1-3, 5, 8-10, 14, 17-19

The Resurrection and the Life

2010-04-04T23:00:00.000-05:00

We read a beautiful promise in John 11:25-26. While the passage it is in is of Mary and Martha's grief over their brother's death, Jesus' response addressed the physical issue at hand and the spiritual life of those who believe in Him. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

We can claim that promise because of what we commemorate today: Jesus' resurrection. What a wondrous thought that God would provide our salvation through Himself! He had to come to earth as a man (one hundred percent man, yet still one hundred percent God!) to provide that Way, the only Way. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Paying the price for our sins came at a high cost: He had to give His own life for us on the cross. A painful death, the death of a criminal with the shameful sentence of capital punishment. Not only that, but because my holy God can't look upon sin, and because Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, God the Father had to turn His back upon God the Son until it was finished by Jesus' death. Then Jesus was buried. For 3 days and 3 nights He was in the sealed tomb, and by the time Mary Magdalene came with spices at the dawn of 4th morning, He had risen just as He had said. Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead was the completion of His work on the cross, and by it He conquered death and hell.

Because of Jesus' triumph, those who place their personal, permanent trust in Him may say, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:55, 57) Death has no sting, the grave has no victory over us because Jesus has redeemed and justified our lives, and even when our lives on earth shall end, we shall be with Him for the rest of eternity. Our Redeemer lives, and so shall we. And that's a promise for forever.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Bubbling in My Soul

2010-03-31T07:00:00.002-05:00

Do you ever stop to ponder some of the things you think about when you're in the midst of some of the tiniest daily tasks, and why? I do! Sometimes, it's simply amazing. Other times, interesting... Or laughable.

This time, I was bringing a pan of water to a boil, and it triggered a memory I hadn't thought about in a long while. It was of me in my younger days when my mom would ask me to boil water for her. I would stand by and watch it until it did, and when the water was finally at a rapid, hard boil, I would sing a favorite childhood song:

It's bubbling! It's bubbling!

It's bubbling in my soul!

There's singing and laughing, (ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!)

Since Jesus made me whole.

Folks don't understand it,

Nor can I keep it quiet.

It's bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, bubbling -

Bubbling day and night!

Even now, I can't help but smile when I hear the song. It's such a fun little song, and so very true!

It's bubbling day and night! The Christian life really is like that: a picture of true joy. When we trust Jesus to be our Saviour, He gives us a deep inner joy, an abiding joy. No matter what the circumstances may be, true joy still floods our soul day and night because it is not dependent upon the world around us. It is dependent upon one thing: our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And there's no better place to be than when we are allowing the Lord to guide us, following His leading, walking in His will.

Folks don't understand it. This, too, is true. Those who don't know Jesus as their personal Saviour, don't know what "all the fuss is about". The world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (I John 3:1b) Because the world knows Him not, our joy is an anomaly. So are we... and that's okay. Why? Because we have Jesus as our Saviour and no one can take that joy away.

Nor can I keep it quiet! When we are excited about something, it's so easy to tell people about it. In fact, we can't wait to share it with someone else. Salvation and the joy thereof is something to be excited about, something that ought to thrill our souls so that we can't keep quiet! Even if those around us don't understand it, we can still share with others. Our testimony and our personal joy can be what the Lord uses to draw others to Himself because they see a difference in us.

Do we manage to keep quiet, or is our joy in the Lord so precious to us that we can't wait to share it with others? Do we love the Christian life so much that we want the world to know the saving grace of Jesus, too? Do we love Jesus that much? He loved us so much that He willingly endured the cross, and I hope that we, as Christians, can't keep quiet. That we feel the need to share with others. That we will boldly proclaim the love of Jesus.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
~ Galatians 5:22-23 ~

True Love

2010-02-14T23:04:00.001-06:00

Yet another Valentine's Day is here again, and I think it's so special that it has fallen on a Sunday this year. On this day that we focus on those we care about deeply, we ought to remember the greatest love of all and the One whose love is so vast.

Agape, the love that is unconditional, nonreciprocal, and non-withheld... forever. There is only One who completely fulfills the qualifications of such a love, and He is the Lord God of heaven and earth.

We read in the greatest Love Letter of all, the Bible, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) It would take a great love indeed to be willing to die for someone. Yet that is what Jesus did for us. First, He came down from heaven to be born of a virgin. Then He grew up, living a perfect life without sin. He allowed Himself to be falsely accused and to be put to the death of capital punishment, that He being made the curse for us could take our sins upon Himself. Then He rose from the dead to conquer death and hell. All so that we who ask Him can be saved, which is the greatest valentine of all.

Because true love is so important, the Bible has much more to say about it.

In I John 3:18 we are exhorted, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." In other words, true love is doing, not just saying. Our actions should be living proof that we love God, and that we love others just as the Lord Jesus Himself has commanded us: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13:34)

Then there's the famous "Love Chapter", I Corinthians 13, which tells of how empty our actions are without true love. It defines what true love is and is not, and concludes that true love surpasses everything else.

Through the Holy Spirit (whom He has given to dwell in us upon our salvation), the love that surpasses everything else is passed on to the believer. It is humbling to think that He has given me the capability of loving others just as God loves me... and you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Redeeming the Time

2010-02-02T18:34:00.002-06:00

I just want to take a moment to publicly honor my grandmother. Today she celebrates 90 years of life! When she sees her cards and gifts, she doesn't always believe us that she's 90 ... 40 or maybe 60 - and that's a BIG maybe - is more like it. But that's okay. And when she does believe us, she laughs and says she doesn't feel 90. And that's a good thing.

Helping provide my grandma's care every day has taught me so much. Patience, for instance. I know there have been times when I have chosen, whether subconsciously or unintentionally, to suppress and ignore such spiritual lessons, but they are lessons all the same. Back in 2001, if I had tried to think ahead to the years to come, I think I would have said that 90 is so far away. Yet 90 is here today! And I wouldn't trade these years away.

90 years is a long time... and yet it's not. Compared to eternity what is 90 years? James 4:14 says, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." Life, the length of our lives, compared to eternity is a vapor. Not even a drop in the proverbial bucket! The Psalmist accurately says, "The days of our years are threescore years and ten." What a blessing the Lord gives us when our lives surpass that number! The Shepherd-King David goes on to say in Psalm 90, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

What are we doing with our years? I'm 24. I'm almost halfway to 50. If I live to be 72, a full third of my life has passed! Where has the time gone? I'm not really sure how it has gone by so fast. And so I wonder, "What have I done with my life thus far? Have I done anything important, that truly matters?" I hope so. I think I've strived toward that goal. More importantly, I hope that when I look back I can say I truly did redeem the time I have been given.

Psalm 90 concludes, "And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." In order for the work of our hands to be established, then we have to be doing the Lord's work. We must be walking in wisdom and redeeming the time as the apostle Paul says in Colossians 4:5 & Ephesians 5:15-17, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

Redeeming the time, an important thing to do. I pray that we seek after it.

Teach me, Lord, to number my days.

Growing Deeper, Richer, Fuller

2010-01-31T22:24:00.002-06:00

This whole month I have been thinking a great deal on this past year and this new year. So much happened in such a short amount of time ... and now the cycle has begun again. But before I start with some thoughts on this year, a few moments of reflection would be nice.

At the beginning of last year, after reading The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, I came to the conclusion that resolutions are a very fine thing if they are done in God's power and not our own, much like Mr. Edwards says in his preface: "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will for Christ's sake." So, for the first time in a very long time, I resolved to resolve. It was indeed by God's grace that He allowed me to stand as firmly as I did. I know that I haven't been perfect; in fact, there were times I failed. Thankfully, that's not how our Lord looks at us. That is to say, that He isn't waiting and watching to see how often we fail so that He can then say "I'm done with you." No, instead, when we fall He will pick us up (if we let Him), say that we are forgiven, remind us His grace is sufficient, then let us carry on with Himself walking beside us once again. And that's what He did for me. I know that, in my own power, I could never be as true to Him as I'd like to be, that's why He tells us to come to Him. And in looking backwards, His promises were true throughout the year, He drew me closer to Him, allowing me to grow closer into His image.

Well, now for the year ahead.... Resolutions one the first day of the year are nice, but there is another thing I like about Mr. Edwards' resolutions: they weren't necessarily written on the first of the year, for the duration of that year, and then it was okay to quit. No, Mr. Edwards' resolutions were from that point - that day, whichever day that might have been - from then until the end of his life. And I truly think that's a God-honoring way to live our life. Spiritually we should never quit striving for something, because on this earth we can never fully attain.

So, at this moment, this last day of the month, dated January 31, 2010, I shall add onto the list as found in II Timothy 2:15 & I Peter 3:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" This year and in the years to come, but especially this year because it's an area that needs strengthening, it is my goal to dig deeply into the Word of God. Not because I've neglected reading His Word because there are studies I'm involved in, but my own personal study needs to be deeper, richer, fuller. For myself, yes, very much so! Because for as much as I grew closer to my Lord, I yearn to grow closer still to the One who loved me first. And also that I may be able to further tell others about the Lord Jesus and to be able to answer any questions they might have about spiritual needs.

And just like I saw in the year past, I know I will see that my Lord - all that He is, all that He has said and promised - is again true in the year ahead.

He Shall be Light and Glory

2009-12-25T07:00:00.008-06:00

In recent years, I have been struck by a portion at the end of the most commonly read Christmas passage. Interestingly enough, this part of the passage that isn't always read, but it pauses me every time I read it. Jesus is born, and just shortly after is seen by Simeon, of whom we read:

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

~ Luke 2:25-32

Jesus, the Promised One, the Messiah of Israel was finally born! Yet this Anointed One is proclaimed "a light to the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel." I am stilled by Simeon's proclamation which announces that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies in yet another way, specifically the prophecy in Isaiah 49:6 foretelling that the Messiah is to be the Saviour of the whole world, not only Israel. All the love, peace, and comfort Jesus offers is for everyone. He was promised to the Chosen People, a promise that is spoken of over and over in the Old Testament, but the rest of the world was no after thought.

How marvelous that God's plan included a Way for everyone, most especially His people, but also all other nations as well! How wondrous that Jesus would choose to leave heaven and all its glory to come here to a sin-filled earth, all the while knowing the suffering He had ahead of Him! And He really thinks we're worth it. What an amazing thought, and a what an tremendous love the Lord God must have for us! His purpose for coming to earth was to give redemption and eternal life to all who ask, and that is something money cannot buy and death cannot take away. What a truly indescribable gift God has given us through His Son!

Let us not forget that, while it is His birth we celebrate at this time, the reason He came is because of His love for us. As you contemplate this precious Gift, I hope that your heart will truly be filled with the wonder of all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for you.. just as the wonder of it all has filled mine.

So, as we commemorate the birth of Christ today,
May the light of His Word shine in your hearts,
And the glory of His presence be very real to you.
...
And may you never forget the Christ in Christmas.
...

In My Heart, He's Lord of All

2009-12-20T06:30:00.001-06:00

So much has touched my heart this Christmas season, and it's not nearly over yet. One, specifically, was a favorite hymn that has become all the more dear. This year, the words seem so much deeper. As I contemplate the words, the love of the Lord Jesus is very clear even though my mind could never fully comprehend the greatness of it, and my heart soars at the chorus.

I was rather surprised to see that it was from the mid-1800s. For some reason, I thought it might have been a little later, maybe much later. Although this hymn I am about to share is typically sung around Christmas, it could be sung any time of the year, and I just might request it on a "favorite hymns night" during a summer service.

Who Is He in Yonder Stall?

Benjamin R. Hanby

Who is He in yonder stall, At whose feet the shepherds fall?

Who is He in deep distress, Fasting in the wilderness?

'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!

'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!

At His feet we humbly fall;

Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!

Who is He the people bless For His words of gentleness?

Who is He to whom they bring All the sick and sorrowing?

'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!

'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!

At His feet we humbly fall;

Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!

Who is He that stands and weeps At the grave where Lazarus sleeps?

Who is He the gathering throng Greet with loud triumphant song?

'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!

'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!

At His feet we humbly fall;

Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!

Lo! at midnight, who is He Prays in dark Gethsemane?

Who is He on yonder tree Dies in grief and agony?

Who is He that from the grave Comes to succour, help, and save?

Who is He that from His throne Rules through all the world alone?

'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!

'Tis the Lord! the King of glory!

At His feet we humbly fall;

Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!

I find myself thinking on how, during the time Jesus Christ was on earth, the people wanted Him for what He could do for their earthly state, but so many refused Him for their eternal state. And still today, people continue to refuse Him.

He's done so much for us. His compassion is a beautiful thing, something that ought to be cherished. Do we give Him the place in our heart He deserves? Do we crown Him and allow Him to rule our lives? I have been finding out that the more that I love Him, the more that room in my heart is made to love Him more. The more room is made to love Him, the more there is room on the throne of my heart to crown Him as my Lord of all - all that I am, all that I have, all that there is to come.

How about you? Is He your Lord as well?

Abounding Thanks

2009-11-30T09:00:00.004-06:00

On Thursday I said that I have so much to be thankful for, and I truly do. I went into this month intent on it being a month of thanks, and through it, I saw just how often I can be thankful for things. I didn't limit myself to one thing to be thankful for a day - that would be contrary to the point - so when I thought of something, I took a moment to be thankful.

Some of the things I thought on are the typical things to list, others things were something I realized I have been taking for granted, others still were things that have been a major blessing or helped shape me into what I am today.

It would have been nice to share something every day, but time doesn't allot for that. Since I haven't done that, what better way is there to close this Month of Thanksgiving than with a list of things I'm thankful for? Therefore...

The following list isn't all-inclusive by any means, nor is it numbered because several things might be of equal standing, but the majority are the things most important to me. Although a note or two beside each one will probably make this a bit long, I just can't let it go without doing so.

El Shaddai (Almighty God), Jehovah-Elyon (The Living God), The LORD God - The One Who created us even though He knew we would choose to go against Him; Who never fails nor changes but is always triumphant, always just, always true, & always the same; and Who loves us enough to have made the way for us:

Salvation - There has never and will never be a more precious gift than the one given to us through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. He gave His own life so that those who trust in Him alone would not just know real life on this earth, but that we shall live eternally... with Him!

His Written Word, the Bible - There are possessions that are important to me (family keepsakes, photo albums, letters), but if everything else had to go (never to be replaced!), my Bible would be the one thing I would hold tight. His Letter can never be read enough that we could exhaust what He has to tell us, nor will the promises therein ever be broken.

My Family of 7 - What a blessing it is to be part of a loving, Christian family! To have Christian parents who strive to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; a younger brother who is one of my closest friends; little "tag-a-long" siblings who love me even when I am "upset" or "out-of-sorts" (pretty names for what God calls "sin"); and a grandmother who, although suffers with Alzheimer's Disease, can love us still even when other things are forgotten is a marvelous privilege.

Extended Family - Aunts, uncles, and cousins, those special people I may not see all the time, but whom I still dearly love.

Friends - When I think of friendship Proverbs 27:17 comes to my mind: "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Of course, the opposite is true, too - if you keep company with people who are a bad influence, it is as if they dull the countenance of those around them. I'm thankful that my friends are such wonderful people; when I'm around them, I do walk away feeling sharpened, and thankful for the time we had to come together before the Lord. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

My Church and the Bond of Believers - I'm blessed to be in a church that has God-fearing pastors who preach God's Word as it He has given it to us, and such caring people who give real meaning to the phrase "church family". The bond we have as believers in Christ is such a precious thing, the fellowship between one another is so sweet ... and not only does it apply to those in your church, but it carries over to when you meet other Christians as well.

Faithful Men & Women - I have known quite a few saints in the Lord in my life who serve as good examples of what it means to live a life devoted to God. Now I have only memories of many of them, but their lives still have left an impact on me today. Their lives are and were sincere and strong in character because they walked closely with the Lord, and thinking of them reminds me of how sweet life can be when my focus remains on Christ and when I am truly thankful to Him no matter what the circumstances.

Christian Schools (& Christian Homeschools) - Although I finished my schooling by homeschool and my younger two siblings are being homeschooled, too, I'm thankful that I also attended Faith Baptist Christian School for Kindergarten through 8th grade. Christian schools are more than just an alternative to the public schools. They provide a higher education along with, and even more importantly, training in God's Word so that today's young people will have a strong foundation in tomorrow's world. Those same things are true of many Christian homeschools, too.

Conservative Christian Radio - Christian radio has become an important thing in my life. At our house you don't have to check which station we are tuned into; no doubt, you would see the dial is on our favorite station. WCTS is a wonderful station with staff dedicated to making the station live up to being our "Christian Companion." Their programming is filled with Christ-centered music, Biblical exhortation in preaching, morning and evening Scripture reading, as well as moments throughout the day being devoted to reflecting on verses of Scripture, plus programs for all ages. Based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, they can be found at 1030 AM on the radio dial in local areas or streaming online at wctsradio.com.

Being Made in God's Image - What a special thing to be chosen by God Himself to be made in His very own likeness! The list here is limitless to the things we could include. From logic & common sense to creativity & expression, there are so many things that are unique to mankind than all the rest of creation.

Neighbors - Nice neighbors are something wonderful to have, and we have some very sweet neighbors. Our "Queen of the Hill" (as my mom calls her because she has lived all of her 80+ years here in her house on the hill and seems to have connections with everyone through someone) is caring enough to keep us all informed. Another dear lady is always ready to talk or lend a helping hand. And who would have thought that a backyard neighbor would be the answer to our prayers for stringed instrument lessons, or that we would be the answer to his prayer to find someone with whom to share his talent?!

Freedom - The freedom in America is unique to America, and I'm so thankful that the forefathers of this nation cared enough about those who would come after them to put laws, such as the Bill of Rights, in place. I'm also thankful for the many who gave their time, effort, & lives to make it so, and the many to then uphold it.

Christian Literature, Music, & Poetry - In a passage of Scripture, and between two particular verses, about the contrast of unsaved life to new life in Christ is Ephesians 4:23, which says, "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;" Romans 12 also talks about living a life acceptable unto God, where renewing your mind is mentioned once again. Our mind and thoughts are pretty important; indeed, it's a major part of our very beings. So I'm thankful for Christian authors who seek to please God with their writings, who want to strengthen fellow-believers.

Housing, Clothing, Food, et cetera - As I've gotten older, I realize more and more just how much of a blessing it is to have the basic necessities. When I was younger, I didn't really think of what it would be like not to have these things - and if things were a bit lacking, I still never went without. Looking back, I can see how the Lord as provided! He has promised to provide for our needs in the future, too. And now I am beginning to understand just what a blessing that is.

Modern Appliances & Luxuries - We don't need many of the things we have, but they sure can make our jobs easier... and how nice it is to have the extra time those useful things "add" to our day! These little things that we often take for granted can be a blessing if we use them wisely.

We all have so much to be thankful for - even life itself! - and there are so many more blessings besides. I hope you truly are thankful to Whom it is due because we could never begin to thank Him enough!

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
~ Colossians 2:6-7 ~

With Grateful Praise

2009-11-26T23:41:00.002-06:00

These past few weeks have reminded me just how much I truly do have to be thankful for, and it was such a blessing to have our midweek service dedicated to praising the Lord. Testimony after testimony of God's wonderful goodness were shared, and it was a delight to come before the Lord as one heart in gratitude.

We also lifted up our voices in song, and one hymn that we recently sang really caught my attention. Written in 1864, with a tune composed in 1838, these words of sincere praise bid its readers to raise their hearts in thanksgiving. While I contemplated the words, my heart was indeed stirred with gratitude for the many things that are listed that I so dear to me. And maybe that was part of what caught my attention - the things I have been thanking the Lord for were right there in a song so sweet I could raise my voice in prayer.

For the Beauty of the Earth

Folliot S. Pierpoint

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth over and around us lies;

Lord of All, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light:

Lord of All, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child;

Friends on earth and friends above; for all gentle thoughts and mild:

Lord of All, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thy Church that evermore lifteth holy hands above,

Offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love:

Lord of All, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thyself, best gift divine, to our race so freely given:

For that great, great love of Thine, peace on earth and joy in heaven:

Lord of All, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. Psalm 147:1

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Month of Thanksgiving

2009-11-02T20:27:00.003-06:00

In a way, it's almost hard to believe that November is already here. There are many things that I like about this month, but one that is extra special to me is a day of thanksgiving. It's especially important to me because, even though we could and ought to pause to give thanks quite often throughout each day, just how often do we make the effort? (Too often the Holy Spirit convicts my own heart for not giving thanks nearly as much as I should.) Our thanksgiving should never cease, but it's something that can easily be neglected. It's also something I have been thinking on quite a bit....

The words "thanks" and "thank you" imply that there is someone to whom such sentiment is due. To whom are we thankful for the many things we could list? There is only One Who could and should receive credit for such things: the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who by him and for him were all things made, and by whom all things consist (Isaiah 40:28, Colossians 1:16,17).

With all of the above in mind, this year I've decided that I'm not going to set aside just a single day. No, indeed! This year thanksgiving will be the focus of this whole month with the intent that, at the end of November, it will carry over into the months to come. So I'd like to dedicate this month with a little one-stanza song. Its sweet melody is one of complete reverence, yet so full of joy and peace that it causes me to reflect and give Him praise & thanks every time I hear it.

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul!
Thank You, Lord, for making me whole.
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation, so rich and free!

We truly do have so much for which to be thankful. We may not always have everything we want, but He will supply everything we truly need. And what more could we ask for than an everlasting life with Him? Having that is worth more than the world!

May we all truly be thankful for the blessings He sends our way, and for the great salvation He has given to us through Jesus Christ. For the Christian, this is where thankfulness begins.

What God Hath Promised

2009-07-25T17:45:00.006-05:00

Throughout our lives there are points in time that will mark the end of something special. With my grandmother's promotion to Glory in the month of June, these past few months hold the last of some precious memories for me. She was so dear to me, one of my most favorite people in the world, and when I recall our special moments from years past, I also see just how blessed I am to have her for a grandmother.

There is much I could tell you about her, about all the times we shared together, and the close relationship we shared. I could tell you about how sweet and caring she was, the hand she had in training up this child in the way I should go, and all she meant to me. Or I could tell you what made her to be everything she was, which is the greatest impact she had on my life. I could list the many titles that describe the special bond we had, just a few of which are my confidante, prayer warrior, encourager, & beloved grandmother whom I called "Grandy". Then I could work my way down the list one by one, recalling memory after memory, and ending with the most important. Or I could offer a glimpse solely at what defined her most, and this is what I shall do.

The thread that binds the tapestry of memories of my Grandy together, whether picking berries from her berry patches, shopping in the grocery store, or going to monthly checkups at the clinic, is the love for her Lord and mine, Jesus Christ our Saviour. No matter where she was, who she was with, or what she was doing... Oh, how much she loved Jesus! She placed her trust exclusively in Him when she was a teen, and it was her deepest desire to live her life fully dedicated to Him. Even to a child, her devotion to Him was evident, for her life was indeed a living testimony of His love. She truly wanted everyone she met to come to know Jesus as their Saviour, too, and indeed a shining light for Him she has been.

As for me, she helped nurture my love for Him, first by telling me of His love and His sacrifice on my behalf, then after I came to know His saving grace by placing my own trust in Him, she encouraged my walk with Him. There was always a verse or passage in the Bible that we could share in as we enjoyed the moments we had together. She was always directing me to the promises and truths He gave to us through His Word, and I often looked to her as an example of a lady striving to be a Proverbs 31 woman because her life was a wonderful example.

In light of her love for Him, I should like to take a look at a poem that was special to her, a copy of which she gave to my mom some 30 years ago.

What God Hath Promised
Annie Johnson Flint

God hath not promised skies always blue
Flower strewn pathways, all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptations, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labour, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

I love how the poem ends with the things that God has promised! The promises we have in God's Word are so special. Sometimes it takes the hard times to realize just how special. Let's look at the poem again. However, this time let's not focus on just what He has not promised for the first three stanzas, but rather on the promises He has given for all the stanzas with some of the corresponding Scripture verses it brings to my mind. There are some, such as II Corinthians 12:9, that I have looked to time and again over the years, and have shown themselves true once again. Then there are some, such as Philippians 4:7, I am coming to see that their depths are incomprehensible, that I have just scratched their surfaces even now as I am experiencing the promise and feel it in the very depths of my soul.

God Hath Not Promised & What He Hath Said:

Skies always blue: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Flower strewn pathways, all our lives through: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Luke 12:27-31

Sun without rain: For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

Joy without sorrow: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. II Corinthians 1:3-4

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

Peace without pain: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

Toil and temptations: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:13

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12

Trouble and woe: Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. Psalm 91:15

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Many a burden: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Many a care: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7

Smooth roads and wide: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14

Swift, easy travel, needing no guide: Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalms 37:23-24

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Never a mountain, rocky and steep: He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. Psalm 18:33

Never a river turbid and deep: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2

Strength for the day: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. II Corinthians 12:9

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: Isaiah 26:4

Rest for the labour: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Light for the way: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

Grace for the trials: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Help from above: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:5-6

Unfailing sympathy: Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful [extremely compassionate, sympathetic], and of tender mercy. James 5:11

Undying love: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

Speaking of promises, this wouldn't be complete without a closer look at greatest promise of all, the one that all the others hinge upon: the promise of salvation. God, in His great love for us, gave us the greatest gift ever when His Son Jesus came to earth to pay the price for our sins. This gift is ours for the asking, and all we have to do is ask. He knows our hearts, so He knows if we truly trust Him. And when we come to Him with a repentant heart, He saves us for all eternity, once for all - past, present, and future - never to be lost.

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.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; Titus 3:5-6

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9-10, 13

We love him, because he first loved us. I John 4:19

My Redeemer Liveth!

2009-04-12T22:43:00.003-05:00

It is such a blessing to have a radio station committed to furthering the Gospel and strengthening the walk of believers, and Sunday morning is a time I especially love to tune in. It's so encouraging to go through my morning preparations listening to "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs", God-honoring music interspersed with verses of Scripture. Being Easter Day, the focus was especially on Christ's work on the cross and His resurrection. What a beautiful reminder of how merciful it was that He would give His life a ransom for me!

One of the verses from this morning was Job 19:25. "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" When I think of Job, I not only think of how he lost everything all at once, but also how the Bible says that in all this "sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:22). What a trust he had in God! Later, he proclaimed his confidence again. That is, he knew his redeemer liveth!

From the time of Jesus' birth, it was declared that the forgiveness He came to offer would be for everyone - "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32).

After His death, His disciples went back to their occupations, still not fully understanding just what it had to cost Him to be the Saviour He said He was, nor how He would yet accomplish it to the fullest.

Then He rose again! O glorious morning! How marvelous it would have been to experience seeing Him alive again! But blessed are they who believe without seeing (John 20:29), and truly we do experience His resurrection when He restores the soul of one who looks to Him for redemption because He liveth in him. And just as Job knew his Redeemer liveth, so can we!

I have so many songs I enjoy for each special commemoration, and more besides for the days in between (although, those around me might hear me break into song from any occasion at any given moment), so I have yet another hymn I'd like to share with you for this magnificent day... one that captures the triumph we have in Jesus Christ.

He Lives

Alfred H. Ackley

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today;

I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way!

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!

In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And tho' my heart grows weary I never will despair;

I know that He is leading thro' all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing will come at last.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way!

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way!

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Who'll Be Like Gideon?

2009-03-21T13:14:00.005-05:00

This has been a month of remembrances for many people, including myself, as we looked back upon the years of service of two faithful couples: a pastor and his wife serving 40 years at a local church, and a missionary husband & wife who, after 40 years service in the Amazon, are transitioning to ministry here. I thank the Lord for their wonderful examples, for they have taught me so much: how to exhibit Christ's love by caring for and helping others, being a missionary wherever you are (whether called to a foreign field or not, you can win souls to Christ), trust in God's provision, just to name a few ... and they still have so much more to share.

It was delightful to have special services and fellowships to rejoice with them in their ministries. Even in the celebrations, all the glory pointed to Jesus Christ because He is the reason for their ministering and also because He gives the grace to continue on. It's a blessing to have such examples, and it's also a challenge. Now that we've reflected on what God has done in the last 40 years, what are we going to be doing for Him for next 40 years (and beyond)? Their ministries aren't over, and neither are ours! Someday, those who are faithful will look back and be able to say "Jesus led me all the way", but for now, are we going to be like Gideon ... are we stepping up to the plate, doing all that we can for the One Who gave His all for us?

Where is a Gideon?

This is a day when idols are worshiped,
Even God's people are trapped in their snares.
Good men have fallen, standards have shaken -
Where is the answer? Who even cares?

Where is a Gideon? Where is the man
Who'll be a leader, and follow God's plan?
Where is God's champion? Who'll be the one
To stand like Gideon? I'll be that man!

Where is a man who gives up ambition,
Worldly desires are all set aside!
Where is the man, though lowly be service,
Who's satisfied only in Him to abide?

Where is a Gideon? Where is the man
Who'll be a leader and follow God's plan?
Where is God's champion? Who'll be the one
To stand like Gideon? I'll be that man!

Who'll be a Gideon? I'll be that man!
That man!

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (I Thessalonians 5:24, Matthew 28:19-20)

What Love Is

2009-02-14T09:00:00.001-06:00

It's Valentine's Day, and love is back on display. When we observe the world around us, we see the secular definitions of love. When we read the Scriptures, however, we see that mankind's definition doesn't even compare to what God describes as love. Indeed, the Bible speaks very clearly about the meaning of real love, and we are to love one another not only as we love ourselves, but also as He has loved us (Matthew 22:39, John 15:12). Since we are commanded to love, we ought to be clear what is expected of us. I Corinthians 13 is often referred to as "The Love Chapter" because it unmistakably describes what love is ...and isn't, too.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

When we examine what love is, as well as the reciprocal of what it isn't, we see that the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit - joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance - is woven throughout the passage and are all used as part of the description for the first fruit in Galatians 5:22-23: love.

For such an endeavor, there's no one better to look to for an example of such unconditional love than Jesus Christ. Jesus had one purpose in mind when He came to earth, and He wouldn't return Home until it was complete. His purpose was to provide the sole means of redemption for mankind, and that could only be accomplished through the shedding of His blood. He came even though He knew how great His suffering would be, and He came because of love. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 Through Jesus' finished work of the cross, God offers everyone salvation. It took His death on the cross to pay the price for our sin and His resurrection from the grave to conquer death. Jesus Christ is God's valentine to you.

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." I Corinthians 13:13

Happy Valentine's Day!

I Resolve to Resolve

2009-01-01T12:28:00.004-06:00

The new year is a wonderful time to reflect. There are other good times for that, of course, but with a fresh year ahead it can give a different outlook.

So with a clean slate before us, so to speak, I think of Romans 12:1-2. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I haven't been one to make New Year's resolutions in the past because many of the examples I've heard were made so flippantly, and there seem to be so few taken seriously that the resolution isn't kept. Perhaps, that's because in our own strength, we simply fall short like an arrow dropping before the target. Recently I've acquired The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, who was one of the well-known evangelists of the 18th century. The key resolution, written as a preface to the 70 resolutions to follow, is this: "Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will for Christ's sake." With Mr. Edwards quote in mind, I have one goal for the coming year for which I'll strive for more than previous years. My resolution, my goal for 2009 is Romans 1:16 & Philippians 1:20. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Looking back at the entries of this past year, I realized that most included a song. For the start of this new year, I am going to and yet another one. One that accurately reflects the verses on my heart today, of proclaiming Christ's love, growing closer to Him, and looking for His coming.

I'll Tell the World

Baynard L. Fox

I’ll tell the world, that I’m a Christian;

I’m not ashamed, His name to bear.

I’ll tell the world, that I’m a Christian;

I’ll take Him with me anywhere.

I’ll tell the world, how Jesus saved me,

And how He gave me a life brand new;

And I know that if you trust Him

That all He gave me, He’ll give to you.

I’ll tell the world, that He’s my Saviour;

No other one, could love me so.

My life, my all is His forever,

And where He leads me I will go.

I'll tell the world that He is coming;

It may be near or far away.

But we must live as if His coming

Would be tomorrow or today.

For when He comes, and life is over,

For those who love Him there’s more to be;

Eyes have never seen the wonders

That He’s preparing, for you and me.

O tell the world, that you’re a Christian;

Be not ashamed, His name to bear.

O tell the world, that you’re a Christian,

And take Him with you everywhere.

The Birthday of a King

2008-12-25T19:25:00.006-06:00

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
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.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name [was] Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
~ Luke 2:1-33

This passage is a favorite among believers this time of year. And with due reason: it is Christ's birth that we celebrate. As is the well-known saying, Jesus is the reason for the season! And He is. Why is Jesus the reason for the season? Because we needed a Saviour, and only He could be the one to redeem mankind. That's why verses 30-32 have been especially dear tome in recent years... because this is His reason for the season. "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." Jesus came to earth for one reason: to be our salvation.

As we commemorate the birth of Christ today,
may the light of His Word shine in your hearts
and the glory of His presence be very real to you.

Merry Christmas!

Light the Brightest Candle!

2008-12-20T18:55:00.004-06:00

One of my favorite songs when I was a little girl was a sweet little Christmas song called Happy Birthday, Jesus. It's always been a reminder to me off the preciousness of Christ's birth, the very essence of this celebrative season.

Happy birthday, Jesus!
Happy birthday to the Lord.
Happy birthday, happy birthday,
Happy birthday to the Lord!

Let the earth cry out, "Hallelujah!"
Let the people shout for joy.
Let the starburst light the brightest candle,
And the celebrate the birthday of God's baby boy!

Happy birthday, Jesus!
Happy birthday to the Lord.
Happy birthday, happy birthday,
Happy birthday to the Lord!

It's quite common to receive gifts on our birthday. However, His birth day is a gift to us. Because of His birth the gift of eternal life is yours for the taking by placing your trust exclusively in Him and His finished work on the cross, and that's a gift so great that it could never be matched! Truly, Christmas is this love gift of everlasting life being commemorated.

So as we look forward to a day of festivities, may your focus be on the things with greater than earthly value, and may you never lose sight of the Christ in Christmas.

Happy birthday, Jesus!

It Is Well With My Soul

2008-12-16T23:23:00.000-06:00

In recent weeks there has been a song that has been on my mind quite a bit. It was encouraging to think on its lyrics when we received the news that my grandma's twin sister was failing. Those last days were filled with precious times to remember. The special moments we had alone with her, reading comforting Bible verses to her, praying together, and, although my great-aunt was unable to speak, her gestures were telling us what she had been trying to communicate yet couldn't say in words: that she was trusting in nothing else, no one else, only Jesus as her Saviour. Trusting in Jesus removes the penalty of sin, the fear of death & eternal suffering of hell, and gives the assurance of God's promise of eternal life to believers. She is now with her Lord! The week following her promotion to glory, the hymn was sung at the funeral for the son of my father's good friend.

One thing that makes this song so dear to me, and seems to draw people especially during suffering, is that the author himself had trials of great sorrow within just a few years time. In this beautiful hymn, the writer attests that no matter the circumstances of life, with Jesus Christ as your Saviour, all can still be well with your soul. The history behind a song is always of interest to me, so, with the families of these dear ones in mind, I thought I'd share this one with you with the hope that all who read it will be comforted on their life's journey, too.

Horatio Spafford, a successful lawyer who invested heavily in real estate, and his wife, Anna, along with their five children, lived in Chicago, Illinois. With the help of Biblical teaching and preaching of his close friend Dwight L. Moody, he learned to live a life surrendered to God, and from that time forward, he committed everything he had into the Lord's care - his life, his family, and his earthly possessions.

A major time of grief came when their son passed away. His death was followed closely by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which left the Spaffords' financial state in ruins. Thereafter, he and his family made plans for an extended time in England, corresponding with Mr. Moody's evangelistic endeavors there (with whom they intended continuing their close friendship). However, last minute business hindered Horatio from leaving alongside his family. His wife and four daughters continued on ahead to England while he would follow shortly after to join them.

Anna and the girls set sail on the passenger liner Ville du Havre from New York. In mid-ocean, disaster struck when the Lochearn, an iron clipper, collided with their ship in the early morning hours on November 22, 1873. The Ville du Havre sank in just twelve minutes. That day 226 lives were lost at sea; the survivors of both vessels, totaling 172, were brought to Cardiff, Wales.

News reports reached the States of the tragedy, yet Horatio heard nothing about his family. Finally, nine days after the collision, Horatio received a brief message from his wife. "Saved alone. What shall I do..."

On the ocean voyage to be reunited with his wife, the vessel's captain approached Horatio to notify him that they were nearing the area where the Ville du Havre went down. As they passed through those mid-Atlantic waters where his four daughters left this earthly home, he penned the words to this well-known hymn, which no doubt was a comfort his wife also needed. Soon after he said, "On Thursday last we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid-ocean, the waters three miles deep. But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe, folded, the dear lambs."

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well, (it is well)

With my soul, (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trails should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, (it is well)

With my soul, (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin - oh, the bliss of this glorious thought -

My sin, not in part, but the whole -

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, (it is well)

With my soul, (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul.

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

"Even so" - it is well with my soul.

It is well, (it is well)

With my soul, (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Sometime later, he added verses that aren't commonly known, but still just as beautiful. When placed in their proper succession, these are considered the fourth and fifth verses:

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

The rest of the story: Mr. & Mrs. Spafford returned to Chicago where they raised 2 more daughters and another son, Horatio, Jr., whom they lost to scarlet fever in his childhood. The Spaffords journeyed to Jerusalem, and it was there that Mr. Horatio Spafford, Sr., passed on to his heavenly home.

Each and every verse of It Is Well With My Soul illustrates a little bit more of the comfort we have in Christ. The second and third verses clearly state why we can have that comfort and assurance.

Oh, this glorious, blessed assurance! Christ has seen our sinful condition. He willingly left His home in heaven to live a perfect life on earth, all with the purpose to shed His blood on the cross for us, then rise from the dead to conquer death. So if we will trust only in Him, all our sin is nailed to the cross for us to bear no more because He will save us. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

This hymn is also a reminder to me of another precious truth. It is comforting to know that others who have experienced similar circumstances as our own understand what we are going through. Yet how much more so to know that Jesus Christ understands all that we are going through and more besides! He knows the pain, the suffering, the grief. We can take all our burdens and sorrows to Him, and He will take them upon Himself and sustain us.

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. ...who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 42:5, 11b

Counting Our Blessings

2008-11-27T09:00:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving Day is here again! I love having a day set aside for the giving of thanks! It's something we should take time to do every day, yet to dedicate an entire day is also a special thing. When we give thanks we usually take the time to stop, reflect, and count our blessings. So why don't we take a moment to do just that as we also think about the words to this beautiful hymn.

Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.