Live in the present

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34

Live in the present. This thought is one that has been on my mind for quite a while now. It is only recently that the Lord has been teaching me just how important this is. I admit that I am not fully conformed to this way of living, but I have found that life is so much fuller in Him when I live it this way! Perhaps through my journey of finding out how to live my fullest for Christ each day, I may be able to shed some light on a subject I believe is far too ignored and far more important than our future on earth we are constantly building our lives up to receive.

     Time is a fascinating thing to ponder about. If it weren't for a knowledge that God exists outside of time, I am sure, my mind would be sore from trying to figure out what seems to be unreachable and unrecognizable in our feeble point of view. Whenever I imagine this universe God has created, I mentally visualize it as a bubble that encapsulates all of space, matter, and time - where God, as great as He is, exists outside of this bubble in an eternity we will one day be a part of. Eternity past, eternity present, and eternity future is where God exists; time present is where we exist. He is the Creator of time - all past, present, and future of it. I've always imagined that we are moving forward in time. That time flows from our past, to our present, and then we flow along with it towards the future. If you take the time to stop and think about it though, I think you'll find that the exact opposite of that is the truth. That the future is actually the source of which time flows from, not the past - it flows from the future, to our present, and then to the past. We never move. We are constant. We always remain in the present. Time passes through moment by moment, without us stopping to appreciate its quiet presence. Nathan R. Wood's book, "The Secert of the Universe" so clearly explains this phenomenon of time:

     "The future is the source. The future is unseen, unknown except as it continually embodies itself and makes itself visible in the present. The present is what we see, and hear, and know. It is ceaselessly embodying the future, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. It is perpetually revealing the future, hitherto invisible..."

     "The future acts, and reveals itself, through the present. It is through the present that time...enters into union with human life. Time and humanity meet and unite in the present..."

     "The past in turn comes from the present. We cannot say that it embodies the present...The past does not embody the present. Rather it proceeds silently, endlessly, invisibly from it."
     "But the present is not the source of the past which proceeds from it. The future is the source of both the present and the past. The past issues in endless, invisible procession from the present, but, back of that, from the future out of which the present comes."

     "The past issues, it proceeds, from the future, through the present." "The past acts invisibly. It continually influences us with regard to the present. It casts light upon the present. That is its great function. It helps us to live in the present which we know, and with reference to the future which we expect to see."

     I first read this excerpt as an illustration of the triune nature of God as Father ("Future" - eternally the source), Son ("Present" - eternally proceeding from the source, the Father), and Holy Spirit ("Past" - eternally proceeding from the Son through the Father, who is the source of both the Son and the Spirit). What I saw in it, though, was a phenomenon shown forth through time of a Biblical truth that the Lord Jesus Christ told us, but I have neglected to recognize. So often we try to live in the future or are obsessed with living in the past, but fail to embrace living in the present. Why? Isn't it comforting to know that in reality it is impossible to live in the future or in the past, but we are always living in the present? Just take this in for a moment - we literally remain constantly in the present time, but the Lord Jesus Christ, who is eternal and exists outside of time, dwells in us through faith in the present time and HE is the One who remains constant within us, HE is our Rock and Foundation who keeps us stable, HE is the one who holds us together in this chaotic sinful world we live in, and as we are constantly changing HE forever remains the same - always grounding, stabilizing and rooting us in HIS love - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8. Absolutely blows my mind in a wondrous way!!

     Aren't you glad God is a God of order? If you stop to consider just how amazing one day is, I think you'll be blown away at just how orderly God is. Consider the renewal of a sunrise starting off a new day; the flow of time that passes through the day where people work, play and survive; sunrise that brings a silent and relaxing closing to a well used day; then if you're anything like me, you'll enjoy the night sky He created where the stars are God's most beautiful artwork to wonder at. And then our 24 hour cycle of time encapsulated into a "day" continues on again. That's it. Only 24 hours to focus on at a time.

     Is there something you have always said you will do one day? What would you do if you found out that day will actually never come? I'm not talking about skydiving, climbing Mt. Everest, surfing off the coast of Australia, or some other fun aspirations we may have - I'm talking about serving Christ. Do we keep putting off the day we'll finally serve Christ to our fullest? Would if that day never comes? Would if you are granted the gift of a long life, then you get to the end of that life, and come to the bitter realization that you never lived your fullest for Christ? How bitterly painful. Painful to know that time passed you by into the past where you can never retrieve it. There is always a future and a hope, though! (Jer 29:11) From that point on you would still have at least one more day to live your fullest for Christ. Just one more day to seek first the kingdom of God. One more day to open your mouth and tell of the salvation you have received! And I know it is overwhelming to think of living EVERY day of the rest of your life to the fullest for Christ (especially if you are young!), but if you look at just today, I'm sure you'd think, "yeah, I can live to the fullest for Christ this day." Then, as time flows on, you'll find you've lived your entire life for Christ. Oh, what a wondrous thought! May we all keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and stay constantly in Him this day.

Only God knows what each day will hold -

"Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." Psalm 139:16

Cross references:

1. Psalm 139:16 : Job 10:8-10; Eccl 11:5
2. Psalm 139:16 : Ps 56:8
3. Psalm 139:16 : Job 14:5

Many times we live in fear of the unknown future that we are moving towards, but the ironic thing is that we aren't moving toward an unknown future at all; the future is absolutely and completely known by the Father, (because He is the source of it), and it is actually moving toward us. We are still. So rest in faith, "Be still and know that I am God" Ps 46:10. We have no reason to fear tomorrow - it is in His hands. "Do not be afraid, only believe" Mr 5:36. We have no reason to worry about tomorrow, because even if the worst thing you can imagine happens, we have a beautiful promise to rest in: "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" Ro 8:28. Daily rest in His purpose for your life, whatever it may be. Take life as it comes at you, day by day, and take it all as from Him. Don't worry about tomorrow, learn from yesterday, and live today. Walk by faith and not by sight, moment by moment. This day, don't lay up for yourselves treasures on this temporary earth, but lay them up in heaven, which is eternal. Look to Him who knows what is ahead. Every day, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and make the decision to choose Christ over your own desires. At the end of the day, have no regrets, because you know you chose Christ. If you serve Christ, follow Him wherever He is and, get this...."him My Father will honor" Jn 12:26. Live in the present with your heart ever gazing upon eternity. What a bountiful, happy, wondrous life to live in Him - no matter what happens, good or bad, what an absolutely wondrous life to live...one glorious day at a time until we will finally be with Him in His eternity!

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Matthew 6:33

Inconvenient?

Today I was cleaning out my closet and came across one of my old journals. I found an entry from January 1, 2007, and it touched my heart deeply when I read it. For His glory! (My journal entry simply says "Most influential writing to me in 2006"...)

Taken from It is not Death to Die, a new biography of Hudson Taylor by Jim Cromarty, pg 147-148. This happened on Hudson Taylor's way to Ningbo, China, in 1856:

     "...before leaving they met Peter, a Chinese national who had travelled overseas, even visiting England. He had met the Parkers on his travels and was on his way to Ningbo to assist as a nurse. Hudson intended travelling by boat to Songjiang where he was going to preach, and as Peter indicated that he wanted to learn of Christ, they settled down to what they hoped would be an uneventful journey.

     The first morning, when the boat was not far from the shore Peter accidentally fell overboard, head first. By the time Hudson reached the deck he had disappeared.

     Hudson immediately lowered the sail and began a search by jumping into the muddy water. Seeing men trawling for fish with a net and hooks, he pleaded with them to come and assist in the search.

     The reply was simply, 'Veh bin!' (It is not convenient!) No, they wouldn't come to save a life as it meant a break from fishing. Hudson offered them money if they would help and after much time spent bargaining, for the sum of fourteen dollars they slowly made their way to the general area where Peter had disappeared.

     A minute after dragging the area his body was found. Despite the fact that Peter had been submerged for a long time Hudson performed resuscitation, but without success.

     He later told this story many times, using it to illustrate the attitude of the ungodly to human life. He wrote: 'To myself this incident was profoundly sad and full of significance, suggesting a far more mournful reality. Were not those fishermen actually guilty of this poor Chinaman's death, in that they had the means of saving him at hand, if they would have but used them? Assuredly they were guilty. And yet, let us pause ere we pronounce judgment against them, lest a greater than Nathan answer, "You are the man." Is it so hardhearted, so wicked a thing to neglect to save the body? Of how much sorer punishment, then, is he worthy who leaves the soul to perish, and Cain-like says, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The Lord Jesus commands, commands me, commands you, [go] into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Shall we say to Him, "No, it is not convenient"? Shall we tell Him that we are busy fishing and cannot go?... Before long, "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body." Let us remember, let us pray for, let us labour for the unevangelized Chinese.'

     Hudson returned to Shanghai, and after much trouble left Peter's body with his mother and sister - and the money to meet the cost of his funeral."

Let us remember, let us pray for, let us labor for the unevangelized around the world.

Pray for the people of Niger

About Niger:

Niger is more than three times the size of California and is a landlocked country consisting of 80% desert. It is one of the hottest, poorest, least developed, and least reached countries in the world

86% of Nigeriens live under the international poverty line

The population is approx 16,000,000 people

49% of which are 14 years and younger - that's 7,840,000 children

Furthermore, two-thirds (66.7%) of the Nigerien population is under the age of 25

98% of the population in Niger is Muslim

There are 38 people groups in Niger. 29 of them are unreached. It is estimated that 98% of the entire population in Niger have not heard the Gospel

Still, the church in Niger is believed to be 30,000 believers strong (and growing!)

Over half of the population of Niger belongs to the Hausa tribe, who live in the arable southern tier of the country. The remainder of Nigeriens are nomadic or semi-nomadic livestock-raising peoples

There is an estimated 12,000 villages in Niger

Niger's economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits; agriculture contributes about 40% of GDP and provides livelihood for about 80% of the population

Rainfall varies, and when insufficient, Niger has difficulty feeding its population and must rely on grain purchases and food aid to meet food requirements

The child mortality rate in Niger is 274 deaths per 1,000 children. Meaning, over 20% of children die before their 5th birthday due to malnutrition/malaria, unfortunately, that is in the best of times

Niger has the highest fertility rate in the world with 7.8 births per woman

More than 36% of girls, ages 15-19, have already been pregnant and/or have children

There is 1 doctor per 33,000 people and 1 nurse per 10,000 people in Niger

28% of adults, ages 15-49, are literate. Literacy rate: 20.9% for Men, and 7.5% for Women

About 60% of children who finish primary schools are boys, as the majority of girls rarely attend school for more than a few years. Children are often forced to work rather than attend school

Slavery is rooted in the traditional customs and culture of Niger. The precise number of slaves in Niger is uncertain, (besides traditional slavery, slavery also exists in the form of human trafficking, forced labor, forced marriage, and forced prostitution), but there is a low estimate of 43,000 slaves and a high estimate of 870,000 slaves in Niger today. Slaves are told that, under Islam, their paradise is bound to their master and that if they do what the master tells them, they will go to heaven.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; beseech the Lord to send out laborers into His harvest!

Famine

The Sahel region of West Africa is bracing for one of their worst famines in nearly 40 years, with Niger being the epicenter of the crisis. Nearly 6,000,000 lives face severe food shortages in Niger alone during this upcoming year due to low rainfall, locusts, and compounded by a 2010 famine where many Nigeriens sold off their livestock and seed crops to survive. Sadly, the main victims are the children who often have no immunity to fight such malnutrition. It hasn't rained in Niger for four months now, and the rains usually won't start again until June-July. Both their crops and seed crops have already been consumed. As of January 2012, some villages have already completely run out of food. In some areas food prices have already tripled, (a few months ago a bag of millet cost $20, it is now $60). With no available jobs, Nigeriens are scavenging the land for whatever they can find and resell. Usually they find something to resell (sticks, wood, straw, etc) to stave off starvation, but the vulnerability to infections and malaria then hit them, which is what takes their lives.

Pray

Effective, fervent prayers of a righteous man or righteous woman is what is so badly needed in this world today. Not an army of people committing to a glorious cause...just the quiet prayers of faith. I've come to see the importance in understanding that the Holy Spirit lays it on the hearts of specific believers to fervently pray for specific things. Also, that the fervent prayer that avails much is ONLY possible through the Holy Spirit, anyways. "...it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go 

Believers in Niger receiving food to distribute to those in need  Feb, 2012

away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" Jn 16:7-8. The absolute power of the Holy Spirit is far greater than anything we can do to move the hearts of mankind, especially in light of eternity. I may not fully understand the extent of this truth, but I do know I've witnessed His power recently. Although I have no connections to the people of Niger, the Spirit has put such a desire and need in my heart to fervently pray for them. I am writing this post to present a need. The need is great, to say the least, for the people of Niger facing a famine. Greater than that, most of these people do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior or have ever heard of Him. If the Lord has impressed your heart, would you pray for them? Trusting the Spirit will burden the hearts of those whom the Father desires to have praying fervently for the people of Niger? Knowing He answers the prayers of faith? The Lord Jesus Christ so deeply loves the people of Niger and gave up so much for them, may we learn how to follow in His footsteps and love them like He does.

"rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" Romans 12:15

Take time to sit at the feet of Jesus

     Learning today how vital it is for me to sit at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). My mind and heart has been consumed with certain people I have been praying for lately. Some of these people I personally know, but most are complete strangers. Some are brothers and sisters in Christ, but most have never even heard of Christ. Some are believers but have left the faith, and most don't know how to believe because no one has ever told them of the faith. Some who have twisted the inspired Word of God, and most who have never heard any words of God. Some who claim to serve the living God but don't care to do it His way, and most who don't care about the living God because no one has told them His way. Some who have faith for their salvation but not that the Lord will provide for them, and most who have neither salvation nor knowledge that there is a God who will provide for them. Some who don't believe God can work miracles, and most who need God's miracles. Some who are being deceived by Satan because he is trying to warp the work of God, and most who are being deceived by Satan because he is trying to prevent the work of God.

     

     Looking at these people in need and praying for these people brought me to a point this week where I was full of grief. When you so badly yearn for the salvation of lost souls and for faith to be restored in believers, but know there is nothing you can do about it that is of value to God, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, throws you into the most earnest prayer. I have been so busy in praying for these people that I have forgotten that the most important place I need to be is sitting at the feet of Jesus learning from Him. What have I learned from Him today? That His burden is light. That He has given us every liberty to come to Him and cast our burdens on Him. That Jesus points to the Father's exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us by allowing us to sit with Jesus in the heavenly places! What a gift and honor. Feeling overwhelmed with rest right now. Hear His gentle voice telling me to take it a day at a time and not worry about tomorrow (Mt. 6:34).

     How important it is for me to daily meet Jesus in the heavenly places and simply sit at His feet. I'll gladly take advantage of our liberty! I want to learn at the feet of Him who is gentle and lowly in heart. I want to daily partake of Him as the Bread of life. He is my sustenance to get me through each day. How thankful I am that He gives us rest so we can go and continue the work He has given us to do.

Brothers and sisters, pray without ceasing.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Bitter shame and sorrow

O the bitter shame and sorrow that a time could ever be when I let the Savior's pity plead in vain, and proudly answered, All of self and none of Thee

Yet He found me, I beheld Him bleeding on the accursed tree; Heard Him pray: Forgive them Father! And my wistful heart said faintly, Some of self and some of Thee

Day by day His tender mercy healing, helping, full and free; Sweet and strong and ah, so patient, brought me lower while I whispered, Less of self and more of Thee

Higher than the highest heaven, deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, Thy love at last hath conquered; Grant me now my supplication - None of self and all of Thee

-Theodore Monod

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." Philippians 3:12

Happy New Year

“This I know. That if next year is as full of sweet surprises and things to be wondered at as has been this last one (and I have no reason now to expect anything less; the situations are analogous in their impossibilities) it will be but stronger evidence of the good hand of God upon and over us, keeping His promises and confirming all we have hoped in Him. Is it not, for all its sting, a wonderful way to live, Betty? To dream, and want and pray, almost savagely; then to commit and wait and see Him quietly pile all dreams aside and replace them with what we could not dream, the realized Will?”
- Jim Elliot, "Shadow of the Almighty"



May your new year be full of sweet surprises and things to be wondered at. May it be stronger evidence to you of the Fathers good hand upon and over you. May you be reminded of His promises and may it confirm to you all you have hoped in Him. May you find it a wonderful year to live. May you dream, and want and pray, almost savagely; but commit and wait and see Him quietly pile those dreams aside. May you let Him replace them with what you could not dream...to realize His Will is perfect. Happy New Year :)

"May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 115:15

Four prayers. One Spirit. One Mediator. One God.

    Amidst the busyness of Christmas shopping, Christmas events, Christmas parties with friends&families, Christmas concerts, Christmas baking, and everything else "Christmassy", I have absolutely cherished the down time where I have been able to quiet myself before the Lord and simply be in His Word. I've especially enjoyed being in the book of Malachi this Christmas season. When I celebrate the birth of Christ, I can't help but see it in light of the thousands of years of prophecy foretelling the coming of Messiah. The book I am most drawn to about Messiah is the book of Malachi, largely because these were God's last words to Israel before He sent His Son to be born as Man on earth over 400 years later. It's intriguing. To say the least.

    As I was reading through the book of Malachi, my mind kept wandering back to my favorite prayer in the Bible, which is that of Nehemiah's. Malachi's words seemed to so perfectly echo Nehemiah's prayer, but for some reason I always imagined these two men lived hundreds of years apart? I'm sure you can imagine how thrilled and surprised I was when I found out that Malachi was the prophet in Israel during the time of Nehemiah! It totally makes sense! In comparing the two, I kept coming back to Malachi 3:1, specifically to the fact that God told the Israelites that the Lord (YHVH) would come to the temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant. Naturally, I was intrigued by the only two Israelites awaiting YHVH in the temple over 400 years later; Simeon and Anna. I've been trying to find out how many Jewish people lived in Israel at the time of Jesus' birth, but I can't seem to find an authentic answer. One Bible teacher told me 500,000 to 600,000 Jews, but this could be wrong. Regardless, out of all the Israelites, only one man and one woman were recorded in the Scriptures as waiting for YHVH to come to the temple. Absolutely stuns me.  I mean, seriously, God told them that YHVH (Messiah) would literally COME to the temple!!! And only two people were waiting there? I'm certainly not going to cast the first stone though; makes me wonder how many of us will be watching, waiting, and ready for Christ's second coming (Malachi 4:1-3)? Though these four unique individuals be separated by either time and/or space, they all seem to have one mind. Only a God as great as our God could do this. Only one Spirit could move in the hearts of these four individuals and cause their hearts to beat in unity toward one thing. Ultimately, they all knew there was only one Mediator that could save them all. (Nehemiah 1:4-11; Malachi 1-4; Luke 2:25-35; Luke 2:36-38).

   The thing I love most about Nehemiah's prayer is his consuming passion for his people. May we all mirror Nehemiah in our love for people! I've asked myself when is the last time I have "sat down and wept, and mourned for many days" over people who have not come to the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ? Nehemiah was so burdened that it drove him to be "fasting and praying before the God of heaven...day and night" Ne 1:4,6. When is the last time we have fasted? How about the last time we have prayed all day or all night? "You do not have because you do not ask" James 4:2. It seems there were similar burdens on the hearts of Malachi and Nehemiah, and even after more than 400 years later, the Spirit still gave at least one other person the same burden: Anna. Her heart was aligned with Nehemiah's; "this woman...did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day" Luke 2:37. Nehemiah and Anna not only understood prayer, but they believed God would answer their prayer. And He did answer them, of course! "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" Matthew 21:22.

   Anna was a great woman of faith. She must have known the prophecies of the coming Messiah well, because it obviously did not faze her that YHVH was in the temple as a baby. I wish I could've seen her expression the moment she saw Simeon holding that tiny cooing baby! Luke says she immediately recognized who baby Jesus was, because she instantly gave thanks to the Lord for Him. "And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord..." Luke 2:38. Not only that, she went around Jerusalem telling those who were looking for redemption all about baby Jesus, their Messiah!

   And Simeon...how I admire him. Patiently waiting on the Lord is one of the hardest things for me to do...but, like Simeon, I have found it to always be worth it. I serve a Good and Faithful Father who knows me so much better than I know myself...how thankful I am for Him. Simeon understood and lived what it means to wait on the Lord. "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" Isaiah 40:31. You can just feel Simeon's agony of joy in his prayer. Reading his prayer almost always moves me to tears. He whose eyes were probably dimming from old age and ready to face death's door, got to behold the Salvation of the Lord and hold the Consolation of Israel! Simeon had truly found delight in Jesus, the Messenger of the covenant, just as Malachi prophesied would happen; "and the Lord [YHVH], whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight." Malachi 3:1. Just imagine what Simeon must have felt...put yourself in his shoes. Amazing. What a beautiful picture to see Malachi, Nehemiah, Simeon and Anna, all with one heart, looking forward to see their Salvation come from God YHVH, the Lord Jesus Christ. Although I know the book of Malachi is not a prayer, I can see his prayer in it; it echos the prayer of Nehemiah, as Simeon's prayer echos that of Malachi's, and Anna's prayer echos Nehemiah's prayer. Absolutely beautiful.

   You know, I've heard people speak of Jesus as if His life didn't "really" start until He started His ministry when He was around 30, but we should know that He, as the only begotten Son of God from eternity, started His life on this earth the moment His little human body took a breath, right? To Simeon, baby Jesus was not just a special little baby that would someday be someone great, but He was THE Prince of Peace to him the  moment Simeon beheld Him, "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation" Lu 2:29-20. Jesus, as a baby, fulfilled His role as the Prince of Peace almost 30 years before He started His ministry! It is because He is peace. We've all sung Christmas songs about peace on earth, but I wonder if this has partly been misunderstood? After all, even Jesus Himself said, "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division." Lu 12:51. The reaction Jesus, as Peace, made to this sinful world caused all kinds of havoc, because "...the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" Jn 3:19, and Satan would not stand by to let this Peace reign in the hearts of men. Have we forgotten that turmoil, evil, hatred and cold murder of innocent baby boys followed that peaceful silent night (Mt 2:16-18)? In fact, turmoil, evil, hatred and murder followed close behind Jesus all the way to His cross. And yet, amidst the turmoil, Jews and Gentiles alike found Peace in Jesus.

How is it possible to live in a world today that is full of evil and yet still have complete, whole, and pure Peace in your heart? "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33. It is only possible if you are in Him! There is no other peace, no other way, no other Mediator between us and God, except Jesus the Messiah. I am in Him! He reigns, first and foremost, on the throne of my heart, and I can celebrate His birth as knowing that was the day Peace stepped down from heaven and took His place in a manger to be Peace in the hearts of those on earth who know Him as their Savior. I say a hearty amen to the multitude of the heavenly hosts who proclaim, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:14! Merry Christmas to all :)

The Manger and the Cross

 

   Christmas is my favorite time of the year because it brings me to recall all of the wonderful things the Father has done for us, mostly in giving us His Son! In remembering the joy of His birth, I can't help but see it through the blood of His cross. This was His message, even as a babe in a manger. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21.

   That silent night was the beginning of a cycle Jesus was to complete in living out His life on earth. It wasn't until His death on the cross that we could see more clearly that He would end this journey with life in His resurrection and that He would be the Way in which we could receive new life. Life Death Life. In following His footsteps, we too experience this same cycle. The joy and privilege of life being breathed into us the day we were born into this world is something we should never stop thanking the Father for! The humility of dying to our sins is something we should never let ourselves forget. The pure happiness and honor of receiving new life through the blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, is something that demands our soul, our life, our all. This Christmas when we survey the manger, may we also survey the wondrous cross beyond it, and may it bring us all to our knees to worship this glorious King who came to save us from our sins!

Son of God

Son of God, purest light

Lord on high is here tonight

Stamping through this sacred sky

Suddenly our eyes behold

Heaven's perfect plan unfold

Son of God

Son of God, love divine

Timeless one steps in to die

Who could dream of such a thing

With us now the King of Kings

Man and angels bow and sing

Singing Hallelujah, Hallelujah

We're singing Gloria, Hallelujah!

Our God is with us

Emmanuel, our God is with us

We're singing Hallelujah

Singing Gloria

-Ferrante, Arthur/Teicher, Louis

(It's a Wonderful Christmas, Michael W. Smith)