Day by Day

[Soldier4Christ]

Pa-Rum-Pa-Pum-Pum

    And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).

A number of Christmases ago, we gathered with some friends for a Christmas party. The party was fairly normal but the gift exchange was what you might say a little out of the ordinary. During our party, we each wrote down on a piece of paper something about our lives that we wanted to give to Jesus. We then put our gifts into old ring boxes. The ring boxes were different colors and some were covered in felt. As we put our pieces of paper into the boxes, we thoughtfully considered how we would go about giving to Christ some part of who we were as a Christmas present to Him. And afterward, we each took our ring boxes home and put them away for one year, upon the completion of which time we were to take them out and consider how we did at following through with the giving of our gifts to our Lord.
We look at Christmas as the time to give, and we consider that which is the greatest gift: God’s Son to us. We remember the wise men who traveled far to bring gifts to Christ, the new born King, and we consider how we could give something to our King as well. Maybe we think we haven’t much to offer, or maybe we think that we will only give it half way. But we all know that He will take whatever we give from a genuine and loving heart.
Remember the story of the little drummer boy. Obviously he is not mentioned in the scripture, but is instead a character in a fictional story. Yet, for so many of us he would be a great example for us to recall. He looked at himself and he saw himself to have nothing to offer--no gold, frankincense, or myrrh, no gift to bring. But what he did have, he gave freely--an offering to the King of kings.
All throughout scripture the emphasis is never on how much you can give back to God, but the emphasis remains on the spirit in which you give it; willingly, not of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver. He desires us to have giving hearts even when our pockets are empty. He would sooner accept the generosity of a poor man who gives his all without regret, than He would accept the tenth from a stingy soul. All because it is more important to Him how we give, than what we give.
In all the gifts we give this year and every year, we will never top the giving heart of our Gracious Lord. But we can do our best to give even as He would give--sacrificially and thoughtfully. There is a greater joy to be found in giving as He gave, than that which is so much associated with the commercialized Christmases we have come to experience in our culture. So many gifts are given from obligation, bought in a rushed moment, and wrapped us in a display of a task completed. But to give as He gives is to reach into the heart of ourselves, to find the heart of another, and to give to them what they alone invoke within our hearts and minds.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Former Things

    We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised (Hebrews 6:12).

We are told by Paul that if we are in Christ, we are a new creation; “old things are past away, behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). In his words and throughout scripture we find a principle of change that takes place, and continues to take place, in the heart of any who come to the Lord. We are encouraged not to turn again to the “former things” we did before we knew Him. But to continue moving forward--building on top of what God has made us--growing to maturity in our faith.
Now that may seem a little easier said than done. For though we believe that we should progress and even still, we know that God will continue to work toward our spiritual growth, we sometimes find it hard to see that we have moved forward since we have come to Christ. Many of us look back at the time we first came to Jesus as the greatest moment of our lives--the pivotal point. And certainly it is. However, so many of us also look at the path we have followed since then and the life we have lived in Christ and we are not so sure that we see a progress like we think we should. We may feel instead that our faith has weakened, and that our walk has wavered, and that we are not near as strong as once we were.
But we should not let the weathering of our walk convince us that we have not grown. The fire and passion for the cause of Christ have surely dwindled over the years, and so we look back at the moment we came to Christ as what we would desire again. But just because the excitement of the newness is not there does not mean that the level of commitment has not increased. Even as the relationship of people change over time, so does that between us and our Lord. A long lasting marriage is filled with events that seem to douse the stars in our eyes, but once the stars are gone, we can see clearly and learn to love at a deeper level. Our passion for God may seem to have faded at times, but if we have continued with Him, we will have learned a greater love that goes beyond the excitement of the new relationship with Him.
The easy thing to do would be to continue looking back on the vibrant relationship we once had and wish that things were as once they were. But God would not have us wishing for things gone by. For if we put our eyes on what we once were, we cannot have our eyes on Him and where He would lead us. When our eyes are full of regrets and wishes, they cannot be focused on the possibilities.
In putting the former things behind us, we are able to move forward. We put behind us the former way of thinking, the former things we did, the former bad and the former good. We do not allow our regrets from keeping us from being all God wants us to be, and we do not allow our victories to keep us from doing the same. Whether the former things are bad or good, they must remain in the past, as we allow God to continue to moving us forward each day.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rekindling

    Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Psalms 51:10).

Though we should not dwell on the past, looking back in regret and shame; and though we should not consider the victories we once knew to be our future goals; we must consider the embers that remain, and strive once more to rekindle those that draw us near to God.
It is not in the seeking of the feeling or the revived spirit that we shall find such things. It is not in the seeking of joy or contentment that we shall come to know either. It is in a steadfast seeking of our Lord that we come to know all the fruits of His goodness, wherein we can confess with an experiential knowledge, “Taste, and see that the Lord is good.”
We strive so very often for what we once knew, but the fires of yesterday are behind us. Our hope lies in the rekindling of the embers that remain into the flames that will take us ahead. For though it may seem that we sleep in the Garden in regard to our faith, our Lord is with us. We can still tap into His love within us, and through His strength we can still reach out our hand to Him to lift us up--and our voice to Him to save us. We must remember that though it may at times seem as though we have forgotten or lost sight of our Lord, He will never lose sight of or forget us. Our lives are constantly before Him, our needs are forever on His heart, and He remains there with us regardless of what we think or feel.
To rekindle the flames in our heart that burn brightly for Him, we first realize they will be new flames of a new heart. They will be the evidence of what God is doing in our hearts today. So in seeking Him, rather than the flames and rather than the feelings and rather than the revival of hearts that sleep; we will find Him and feel the flames revived within. The measures we take are for today as we seek God to give us this day our daily bread, and our focus should not waiver from the moment with Him.
To rekindle the flames, the flames must not be our focus. But we must do that which we know to do and we must do it with such determination as though our life depends on it. What we do must be that which we know that He has directed us to do, and we must resist sin so that God’s work in us is not thwarted. Prayer, Bible reading, service to others, self-control, self-sacrifice, doing as our Lord would do--these are a few of the things that we know to do. Selfish anger, gossiping, prideful concern, boasting, deceitful misleadings and lies, impure thinking, poor treatment of others, lack of consideration for others, neglecting one in need--these are a few of the things we must avoid; and more so, we must fight against.
“My cup runneth over,” the Psalmist exclaims. If only it could be for us the same. That we be so filled with the Lord that He overflows out of us into the lives of others. That we would not need to make an effort to be a cup that pours itself into others, but that we would be so full that we cannot stop the overflow into all who come near to us. But this can only come through purposeful behavior on our part. For even as the cup must be placed beneath the fountain that fills it, so we must also place ourselves beneath Him that is to fill us. We must remain near to Him, allowing Him to fill us, being where He has called us to be so that the overflow will spill into the lives of others around us. And we must refrain from filling ourselves with the acids of this world. For they put holes in our cups and cause the cups to require repair before God can fill us. So much of what we put into our cups these days are things not of God, and we should pray that God will help us to see how we are impairing His desired outpouring by our drinking from the impure fountains of this world.
We may wish things were as once they were, but we must not. Instead, we must “fix our eyes on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.” The rekindling of our flame will only come by making Him our focus. But should we let the world and its pleasures have a place in us, we will surely quench the flame only to live with the stench of regret that will be to us even as the pool that surrounds a quenched and dying fire. And we will continue looking to what once was, because we will be so filled with things other than God, that we cannot see anything in front of us--no hope, no victory, and no revival.

[Soldier4Christ]

Heart-Wings

    Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (James 2:15-17).

The boys of my high school Sunday school class were rowdy as usual. I stepped up to the podium and opened my Bible in preparation to teach a lesson on Christian discipleship, and looked around at the boys as they gabbed on. Pulling out a small piece of notepad paper, I asked if there were any prayer requests. One of the boys began telling the class about a girl who was having a lot of problems and really needed a friend. As I listened, my lesson that I had planned quickly was replaced by some other words the Lord gave me for that moment.
The impromptu lesson was on the parable of the good Samaritan. We began discussing what it meant to be a true and honest help to someone in their time of need. We talked about how we could reach out to all different kinds of people, especially those who were not generally accepted by the majority of society, as well as the church. We talked about how to reach out to some who needed help, but who fought against getting the help. We talked about reaching out to people who have suffered loss--how to be there, what to say and when not to say anything. In the last few minutes of class, the thought occurred to me that we had discussed this subject pretty thorough, and that the only thing left to do was to ask a simple question, “What are we going to do with what we have talked about?”
It’s amazing sometimes how much talking goes on and how much planning is done, only to go no further. We find it difficult to commit to a new task or effort as a group, and we find ourselves too preoccupied with the busyness our lives to remember to do anything on our own. It seems that only a few of the good intentions actually become a good work; while so many get heaped on the pile of regrets and “if only’s.” “If only I had more time. If only I had more money. If only I had more help...” If only we were more committed to a cause greater than ourselves.
But lest I sound too cynical, there are efforts that are being made to reach out, to help the needy, to share God’s love to a stranger. One example can be found in a couple of pieces of paper I found on my television set at home. My wife had picked up the heart shaped cut-outs from the church one Sunday and had brought them home to commit us to filling the request printed on them. Each one represented a child for which a gift was to be bought for Christmas. The interesting thing about these red, cutout hearts is that they were not alone. They each had two, white, cutout wings attached to them. This struck me with the profound truth they represented--love in action--hearts with wings. They were a visual aid that spoke volumes on the verses in James depicted above: We can have hearts that are filled with love, but until the love takes action, what good is it?
We know that there are many things we can do to help the needy of this world. We could each probably make a list of at least two or three things that could be done. But we must remember that the list will never be complete until we have done something more than just right it down. Pray today that God will give wings to the hearts of His children this Christmas. For if each of us would turn one good intention into a good work, we will truly see God’s love take flight this Christmas.
And so His gift of love goes on...

[Soldier4Christ]

Star Of Wonder

    . . .Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).

The Wise men had come a great distance to find the new born King. They had followed the new star as far as Jerusalem when, for some reason, they stopped following the star long enough to inquire of the King, “saying, ‘Where is he that is born King of the Jews?’” We don’t know why they stopped, the star had guided them thus far. Nevertheless, they did stop to ask directions, but apparently received none. But when they left king Herod, the star once again became their beacon to guide them to the baby Jesus.
We do not know how long the Wise Men’s journey had already been or how long it had taken them to reach Jerusalem and finally Bethlehem. We can expect that it was about two years, judging by the context of Matthew chapter two; which puts Jesus close to two years old by the time the Wise Men reached Him (not quite the baby in the manger scene that we are so familiar with). The point, however, is that the journey was long. The Wise men traveled many nights to get to the point they were when they came to Herod. They probably knew they were getting close, especially since they would not be able to go much further before running out of land. And thinking that they were getting close, they probably thought that someone in the kingdom they were in already knew about the birth of their new king, and had probably already been to see Him and worship Him. So it seemed only natural for the Wise Men to stop and ask directions for the remaining stretch of their long journey.
There is a quote these days that has made its way to the faces of holiday cards and such. I’m not sure of its origin, but perhaps you have also seen these words, “Wise men still seek Him.” And so it is true, for those who truly seek Him are truly those who are wise among men on this earth. But we know that even as the journey was long and wearisome for the Wise Men, so it might also be for us. Like them we become overjoyed at the appearance of the star, as we see it in the new birth that we find in our Lord. The first steps of our journey seem so very easy; our energy is high and our direction is clear. And so we take off toward our destination with great enthusiasm.
But the road becomes long, and it seems at times to be a tedious struggle to press on. It might even seem as though it would be easier to pitch a tent where we are and just stay there for a while--waiting for the star to speak to us rather than just shining. But we know we must press on.
Then one day we feel that we are so close that everyone around us should know exactly where we need to go--that they too will be familiar with the destination for which we strive, and so we stop to ask directions. Then only to be disappointed because we presumed wrong in figuring out the course and the plans of God. But we know we must press on.
And so we put aside our presumptions, assumptions and interpretations of what we are doing and where we should be; and we determine again in our hearts to move forward in the same path that has always been laid before us. And we open our eyes once again to His direction and look for His star, and then we see--and we press on.
Each one of us has a path for us that God has set before us. That path is lit by our personal star found in our relationship with the King of Kings. It may be that we spend hours going in circles rather than moving forward, and second guessing when we must keep moving ahead. But in the end we shall discover, that so long as we keep God ahead of us, we shall reach our destination--God’s will for us--discovered through His only Son who is the focus of our journey.
What is the star you follow today? Is it God’s Son? Or has something distracted you from the journey that leads you onward to your Savior?

[Soldier4Christ]

What Comes In Small Packages

    What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Cor.6:19-20).

I remember many, many Christmases when I was growing up, where I always made a big deal out of the biggest presents under the Christmas tree. I also recall my mother often saying how she was going to buy me something really small and wrap it in a big package just to teach me not be so concerned over the size of the gift. I always hoped she would never follow through with that threat.
Now I have children of my own, and it is amazing to me how much they do just as I did when I was growing up. My son, in particular, makes his biggest fuss about the biggest gifts, expecting of course that the biggest is the best. That is, unless, the gift happens to be shaped like a video game box--that suits him just fine as well.
My son himself is not very big. Now you may be wondering what that has to do with big gifts or small packages, or you may have figured it out already; but, my son is kind of a small package. But what is within that small package is, to me, much larger than his small frame lets on. For one thing, he is very athletic. If the other boys don’t already know him, he is likely to be one of the last ones picked when choosing sides for a basketball team. But both teams are sure to be shocked once the game has begun--his size fools them all, and he has learned how to use that to his advantage.
But as I have looked at my son and considered the ability that God has placed in his small package, I have considered an even greater wonder. For there is something so magnificent and so incredible that resides inside of him--it is the Holy Spirit of God. And what is more, the same Holy Spirit resides in each of us who belong to God in Christ. With that, consider for a moment the small package and what is inside. My mind would say, “You cannot fit the God of the universe into such a tiny thing.” But my heart would quickly contend, “Oh yes you can!”
It boggles the mind to think what can come in small packages: a diamond, a gift certificate, a Christmas card that says more than any material gift could ever say. But the greatest gift of all came down from heaven, wrapped in flesh and bone, lived a life of service, died on a cross, rose from the grave, and now lives in many small and precious packages. What gift could possibly be any greater?

[Soldier4Christ]

Merry Xmas???

    And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

It is interesting to watch different TV shows and see the various ways in which each depicts Christmas or the events surrounding Christmas. Some just stick to getting a laugh, some touch on sentiment, and still others add it in almost as a passing thought. But there are some that actually attempt to touch on the true meaning of Christmas in some way. Some shows may strongly point to the birth of Jesus, while others may make allusions to it. Each, however, seeking to draw attention back to the Who behind the what. That is, to place Jesus above the event.
One sitcom depicts a man talking with his wife about a present he had bought for his parents. As he read the inscription on the gift, it said, “Merry Xmas, from. . .” He then made reference to the use of the word “Xmas,” and explained that he did not feel right about it because it seemed like he was crossing out the name of the birthday boy. To me, this was quite a powerful statement from a sitcom. It was done in a way that was sure to get a laugh, but there was a hint of “truth in jest” within the remark. I found it amusing--and I found it profound.
The usage of “Xmas” in place of “Christmas” has become very familiar in our society. It is not uncommon to see it used just about everywhere. I remember a time in particular where I found it used in a church bulletin; which made me kind of sad to think of it. I‘m sure that the use of “Xmas” seems quite harmless, but I would question, “Why is it done? How did it get started?” and “Why does this seem to be the only holiday hit with such a contraction?” Should we wonder why? Is the answer important? Should we really care? Perhaps we should care, and perhaps we should consider that the answer is important. Perhaps we should determine why it was done in the first place. Or perhaps we should let it go and see it as a fitting change--part of the transformation of “Christmas” to “Xmas.” For perhaps Christ’s removal from Christmas is a result of Him already being removed from the holiday (Holy-day).
Try on some of these: Happy X-ikah. Happy X of July. Happy X-ster. Happy X-giving. Happy X-year. Merry Xmas? It’s kind of like reverse cursing. Many people use God, Christ and Jesus only as swear words, putting the name of God where it does not belong. The reverse-curse, then, is the taking God’s name out of where it does belong. His name is taken out of “Christmas,” out of the schools, out of people’s daily lives, and some would even push to take it out of the Bible--and some already have.
The question that remains is, “What are God’s children doing about it?” In regard to “Xmas,” are we using it or refusing it. We may be using it but just never really thought about it. Some of us may still see nothing wrong with it, after all, it does seem harmless enough. But the question remains, “Why Christmas and no other?” Why is His name removed from its rightful place of blessing, and interjected in places of cursing? Have you ever heard people hit their finger with a hammer and exclaim, “Hare Krishna!!!” Or have you heard someone yell in anger, “O Buddha!!!” Why is it that our God is always the only One under attack? Perhaps it is simply because He is God, and there are no others.
You may still see nothing wrong with using Xmas, but my plea to you is this: that you would keep “Christ” in “Christmas” in the word and in the event, if for no other reason than to honor our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas.

[Soldier4Christ]

Things Hoped For

    Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen (Heb.11:1).

Gathering ‘round the Christmas tree, the excitement fills the eyes of the children; and we share in their excitement as we witness their anticipation. Their eyes move back and forth across the gifts, as they await the word to be given to open their gifts. And they’re off! Wrapping paper and ribbon, rustling sounds and colorful fragments fill the air. The boxes are opened and the present revealed, warmly received by an ear-to-ear smile of a grateful face.
Imagine the child’s horror if he or she were to open the package and find it empty. What might go through the child’s mind? What would the child be feeling? The glimmer would leave his eyes and the smile would turn to a frown in response to such great disappointment. It would be nothing short of betrayal. For the child trusted the giver to have put something in the package, and yet, there was nothing. What was expected was not there--the substance of things hoped for--the evidence of things unseen. It was all a lie.
But, in the normal scenario, we would see a child do all of the same things: rip into the package, flinging paper and ribbon in excitement. Yet we would also see a child who finds the gift inside as expected. And she is not disappointed, for inside she found the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.
Each Christmas as we open our gifts from our loved ones, we do not expect to receive an empty package. And though we may not always find inside the kind of gift we had anticipated, we believe we will find something. Therefore we place our trust in the individual giving the gift to us, for we have faith that when we open the gift we will indeed find something.
Jesus once said, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11). If then we can trust everyone who has given us gifts to have actually put something inside the wrappings, how hard should it be to trust our God who is far more dependable. We have little difficulty placing faith in hidden things that are wrapped--things that will be here for a short time and then gone; how much easier should it be to trust God who has always been and will forever be?
In considering the kind of faith we should place in God, we should always remember the children looking at the Christmas presents. They anticipate receiving their gifts and they believe, whole heartily that there is more to their gift than what they can see with their eyes. When the word is given, they are ready to rip open the wrappings to get to the inside--all because they believe that there is something inside the gift for them. In Luke 18:17 Jesus tells us, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”
Christmas time is a time when we sometimes talk about God’s gift to us; and we may also talk about what we can give to Him in return. So let’s consider this, that one of the greatest gifts we can give to Him is to receive what He has given us like a child with a Christmas present--anticipating what He has for us, ready to dig in, and believing that there is indeed something wonderful in store for us--even though we cannot yet see it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Forgive Us Our Debt

    Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law
    (Romans 13:.

I love Christian Book stores. I can literally spend hours slowly making my way from one row to the next, studying the titles and thumbing through pages. I remember one time when I had spent a couple of hours sifting through the many selections until I had found the one book I wanted. I then made my way to the checkout only to find out that the store did not accept credit cards. I could hardly believe it. I thought everyone accepted credit cards. But they did not, and so I walked back to where I had gotten the book and I put the book back on the shelf.
It’s really kind of funny when you think about it. I did not even think for a moment that a credit card would not be accepted. I simply assumed that it would be, and because of that assumption, I spent a lot of time picking out an item only to put it back on the shelf and leave with nothing.
The mindset of our society is one that has a “Buy now--pay later,” mentality. If we want something now but have no money, “why should we have to wait?” We should be able to have what we want when we want it--right? I would not care to mention how many credit card purchases I have made, only to justify them by assuring myself that I would pay the balance off with my next paycheck. But its funny how many other things would come up and seemingly make it impossible for me to do as I had planned.
We face a time of year in particular, when it is so easy to make the impulsive buys. We find ourselves in a bind where we got to get that last minute gift but have already run out of the funds to do so. Or we had the money, but just couldn’t stay within our Christmas budget for one reason or another. And after all is said and done, we get to “enjoy” the memories of Christmas for months to come--each time the bill comes in the mail.
In his book, “Debt Free Living,” Larry Burkett offers us “three personal traits that lead to debt:” ignorance, indulgence and poor planning. The ignorance refers to a lack of understanding about the true nature of your financial situation, and sometimes a kind of “living in a dream world” approach to financial matters. False perceptions of what can be handled can get us in trouble, especially during big spending times such as Christmas.
Indulgence must obviously be one of the worse downfalls of a “fast food” society that believes they should always “have it your way” and “get it in thirty minutes or less.” We have trained ourselves not to wait if we don’t have to, and we often and easily give in to the need for immediate gratification.
Poor planning hits us at many levels, but at this time of year it is often manifested in phrases like, “I should have put something on lay-a-way,” or “If only I would have put some money aside for . . .” I use to get the biggest kick out of hearing my wife talk about starting her Christmas shopping in June or July. Because, between her and I, I am the one who would wait to the last minute and wind up pulling out the cards. But her planning and buying presents throughout the year has been a tremendous help, and besides, she always has a lot of fun when Christmas approaches as she pulls out the presents she has stored away--most of which she had forgotten she had bought.
I have since learned to encourage my wife in her early planning and buying. For though I find it amusing to some degree, I also see how it helps us to avoid unnecessary debt as Christmas gets closer.
Credit and financial responsibility is something that varies so much from one person to another. But let’s consider this: the gift of Jesus to the world was given to bring us freedom, and as we echo the sentiment of love through our own giving of gifts, may it be that it does not ever become something that enslaves us--chaining us to debts for years to come. But may we find a joy in giving of what we have--whatever that may be--and doing so debt free.

[Soldier4Christ]

"God Bless Us, Everyone."

    Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10).

The Holidays often take us to the houses of relatives, or brings them to our own houses. The gathering of loved ones can be something that adds so much more than what we might have alone. So much more love, so much more joy, so much more sharing. So much more noise and confusion, so much more of lots of things that can keep life interesting and perhaps increase the stress level a little. But within the midst of the good and the sometimes not so good, there is always the potential for God to bless us--everyone.
I recall many hours spent in the car, to and from the Christmas gatherings. The trip to the gathering was filled with excitement about what awaited. The trip from was filled with reminisce. On the way there, there was a high amount of energy, especially in the kids. On the way home, we seemed in need of a vacation for all the nights we stayed up to late. The trip to, gave me a lot of time to think about relationships and how we could all grow from and enjoy our time together. And the trip from, well, it gave me time to think about the same.
As I have spent those hours on the road, I think some of the best times have been when everyone else had fallen asleep, and I would turn off the radio and just spend a while talking with God. That was usually when the thoughts about relationships and such would seem to come up. It seems that talking to God has a way of bringing out such topics. And I think that in those times, one of the best prayers that I have prayed, and still do, is that God will let us all bless each other in the time we will be together.
Now, I have prayed that we all get along, and that there be no serious incidents and that we all have fun. But as our Lord is so graciously a part of all of it, it seems only natural to take the goodness a step further--asking that we not only get along, but that there would be a true giving to each other of love, warmth and understanding--that we would simply bless each other.
As in the quiet times in the car, I have prayed that God would help me personally to be a blessing to those I will be with, God has spoke further to me regarding what it means to be that blessing. And what He has said to me is that it means several things: being a peacemaker, exercising understanding, being a servant, and so on. And one thing in particular that has helped me when I try to consider how to be a blessing is to make a conscious effort to look for opportunities to do something special for someone each day. Now, these are not always the easiest things to do. Some days I wake up tired or cranky. Other days, I may just be plain selfish or inconsiderate about one thing or another. But I have learned that God will be faithful to remind me of my request to be a blessing, and He will instruct me concerning my effort--or sometimes the lack thereof.
I feel certain that most of us would really like each Christmas to be the best one possible. I also feel certain that most of us would really like to be a blessing to everyone we will see at our gathering and beyond that. So then, as we make our journeys or simply stay at home and prepare, perhaps we could say a simple prayer asking God to make us that blessing, and show us opportunities to be so. And in our asking, I am sure He will prepare us to do just that--giving us good instruction and drawing our hearts and our minds toward an attitude of service for our friends, family and fellow man. This Holiday season, as we seek to be blessings to others, may it be that God will truly and richly bless us all--everyone.

[Soldier4Christ]

Fear Not

    And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:8-12).

I once heard someone say that there are 365 occurrences of “fear not” in the Bible. He pointed out that it meant there was once “fear not” for each day of the year. These words of God are echoed frequently throughout scripture. From early on, God has wanted to give us hope where their was worry, security where there was uncertainty, and assurance where there was fear. Many of us have faced various kinds of fears, and yet we are always sure to be met with these words from God each time: “Fear not.”

In Isaiah 43:1b-3a, God tells us, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Deuteronomy 31:8: “And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Judges 6:23: “And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.”
2 Kings 6:16: “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”
Isaiah 41:13: “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Luke 8:50: “But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.”
Luke 12:7: “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Revelation 1:17-18: “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

We may at times, believe we have much to be afraid of in this life--and much to lose. But may it be that when we are worried, scared or concerned, that when we become anxious or frightened or uncertain, that we will remember God’s great concern that we be not afraid, for He will help us in our time of need. He has been saying it all throughout scripture, history, and our daily lives. And He has sealed it with His greatest fear not ever, within the announcement of the birth of the one who would come to take away our fears. To look at God along side our troubles can be a wonderful and revealing experience, for we should see that with God, we truly have nothing to fear.

Romans 8:15: “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father.’"

[Soldier4Christ]

Christmas Night

Many writers have used the “’Twas The Night Before Christmas” poem as a template for a work of their own creation. And why not? It is a familiar and pleasing piece of work. So as you read below my attempt at the same, I hope it touches you just as it did me as I wrote it. For me, it was not so much the words or the rhythm that stirred my heart, but the thoughts that accompanied its composing. I really hope God will bless you now in the reading of it. Merry Christmas.

 

The Light Sent On Christmas


It was Christmas night, when all through the land,
the shepherds were watching, their flocks close at hand.
The stars shone so brightly, and one more than any.
It’s brightness was equal, to that of so many.
The quietness grew, and almost seemed eerie,
as travelers stopped, as their journeys grew weary.
Then suddenly, up in the sky there appeared,
a heavenly host, proclaiming good cheer.
“Glad tidings!” they exclaimed, “great joy will be yours!”
“A Savior is born unto you, Christ, the Lord!”
The shepherds were shaken, but rose to their feet,
and headed for Bethlehem, their Savior to meet.
They moved rather quickly, not one of them tarried,
And upon their arrival, they saw Joseph and Mary,
And so they drew closer, the moment to seize.
But when they saw Jesus, they fell to their knees.
The child had been wrapped, and laid in his bed.
Just as the host of Angels had said.
His face held fulfillment of prophesies told.
His eyes seemed to pierce to the depths of the soul.
His hands seemed so tiny. His stature, so small.
Yes, He was a baby, but that was not all.
From the top of His head to the tip of His toe,
this child was a King. So how could they know:
With a love, so majestic, in a body, so frail,
That His crown would be thorns, and his scepter, a nail.
But all who had gathered perhaps did not see,
That a cross was the course of this child’s destiny.
For as they looked on they were filled with elation,
for they knew that this child was the world’s great Salvation.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Christmas Cake

    For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world (John 6:33).

One of my family’s favorite Christmas traditions is to have a birthday cake for Jesus, and sing Happy Birthday to Him. That, along with the reading of Luke chapter two on Christmas morning, are a couple of the ways we seek to honor Christ on what we consider to be His day. I must confess that at times we have realized that the reading of the Christmas story from Luke, and having the cake have not just been tradition, but sometimes have been necessary to keep our minds on the real meaning of the day. Family being together, Christmas dinner, exchanging gifts, Christmas music, and all the rest are all very wonderful and enjoyable things. But I must admit that Jesus can very easily get lost in the shuffle--even in the houses of those who call themselves after His name.
But to stop for a moment despite the hurried season, and open our eyes to see and ears to hear, we will find much more beneath the wrappings of what we think our Christmas to be. For even such a thing as a simple Christmas cake can mean something more than what we might intend or think. And why not? Jesus taught much through the use of what was common. So why should it be any different today? Our Lord will still teach much to us through simple things, when we simply look and listen.
Within a simple Christmas cake, I see much that reminds me of my Lord. The sweet aroma that fills the air, reminds me of the sweetness of God’s love for us. The cake itself might remind us of Jesus’ body, the bread of life, broken for us so that we might know life. The frosting reminds me of the grace that surrounds Him, and the single candle placed on top perhaps is the most symbolic. For it represents a single Light sent into the world by God to draw all men unto Himself. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9).
Now, you may bake your Christmas cake, and see the same or different things. Or you may not make a cake at all, but see your Lord in other ways within your Christmas time. And still it does not matter where or how you see His hand or hear His voice. It is enough that your eyes are open and ears as well, and that you see and hear. That within the hustle and bustle you find a Silent Night within a thought that leads to Him. And you are drawn away to a manger, to gaze upon a Holy child, sent by God to manifest His love to us. And pondering the question, “What child is this?” your eyes drift off into a blank stare that none can penetrate. For it is within that moment that your eyes come to touch the depth of your heart, and there within to worship your Lord and thank Him for His gift.

[Soldier4Christ]

To Walk With God

    Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:24).

We strive for many things in this life. Our ambitions, goals and desires often takes us down paths we hope hold the fulfillment of our dreams. Our paths may change as our desires change, and as quickly as we started walking one direction, we may change coarse and begin to walk an entirely different direction. If we pursue a dream, perhaps we can say that we walk with that dream. Or if we pursue a short term or long term goal, perhaps it can be said that we walk with our goals. For if these things are strong within our hearts, we know by what Jesus has told us that these things will also be our treasures. And in some cases, the very things we desire to possess, will wind up possessing us instead.
But Enoch must have treasured God greatly, for we are told that Enoch walked with God. Certainly he had other dreams, aspirations and ambitions, yet as he walked he did not walk as in the pursuit of those things, but he walked in the pursuit of God. Many of us walk after our goals and desires with the best intentions. For in so doing, so many of us love God and remain conscious of God's presence. But I can imagine that for it to be said of one that he walked with God, it would seem to others that the person pursued God, while being conscious of the other aspects of life--and not the reverse.
Can you imagine if we as Christians could be taken as Enoch. What a fantastic and wonderful thing it would be if we could all reach a point at which it was automatic for us to be taken, and not have to see a physical death. That seems quite appealing, doesn't it? If that were the case, what do you suppose our pursuits would be in this life? If we knew that by truly walking with God with Him as our pursuit, that one day we might attain a righteousness that could deliver us from this physical world, and from the imminent death we would suffer in the future as human beings; how do you think it would effect our lives? Would we be more anxious to be called people who walk with God, and more excited when we reach short term goals on the way to righteousness? What would we treasure then?
But let us come back to reality and consider this: Christ came and lived and died in our place, so that we can say even as Paul said, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Jesus walked with God. And in so doing He became righteousness for us, and with that, He has provided to us deliverance from the physical world in that we can live within it, yet rise above it. He has made it possible for us to walk with God--to pursue Him while maintaining a conscious awareness of this life as such that we take notice of it, but that it does not make us anxious or become our pursuit.
Our life may take us many directions. Our walk may be one that is filled with pursuit of goals for this life. But how marvelous if we can only truly pursue the goals for the life hereafter, treasuring our abundant life with God as we walk with Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Ghost of Christmas Past

    Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).

Christmas may be over, but the memories linger on. For some of us, those memories are pleasant; while for others those memories are not so pleasant. For the latter, Christmas may have seemed to be lacking something; while for the other, it may have seemed complete. Yet, if Christ was not in Christmas, both were truly lacking in what might have been gained.
Their is a ghost of Christmas past that hovers over many. It steals away their joy from times that could be so much more. For, looking to the past times they cannot see what could be right before them, and all the possibilities die for lack of desire to let go. If looking at good Christmases gone by is something that we think fondly of, that of course is fine. But when we cannot find joy in the Christmases today because we want them to be as once they were, then we have chained ourselves to the prison doors of what can never be. And if we cannot forget the pain of Christmases long ago, then we will never find our joy in what awaits us in the present.
In either case, the trouble is the perspective. For what often makes Christmas too little or too much for any to handle is wrapped up in selfish concern and selfish pity. That is not be cruel and heartless toward anyone, for many have suffered and many still have lingering pains, and many wish for a time as once it was. Nevertheless, for us to find our joy we must be willing to throw aside that which keeps us from moving forward and we must find the strength to press on. We must also remember that it is not the past events that keep us from moving forward, but it is often that we have chained ourselves to those events, refusing to allow ourselves to heal.
It has been said that, for many, Christmas is one of the most depressing times of the year. If we were to hear the reasons why that is that way from those who feel it, we would probably understand why they are in pain, even though we do not understand their pain. For so many, the holidays means being alone, or without someone who was once there. Or it might mean trying to fake ‘happy’ for everyone else’s sake while on the inside things are not all that great. Once again, however, as the perspective changes, so does the surrounding feelings.
I would like to make it clear that I am not downplaying the pain or problems that we go through. Yet, a true and wonderful joy can be found by turning our eyes off of ourselves, and turning them toward the child in the manger, or the neighbor in need, or the homeless person, or someone without food. If we can find the strength to do so, then we can find the joy of Christmas once more, and no longer be haunted by the ghosts of Christmases past.