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Singing AT the Throne

Singing AT the Throne

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“What are we gonna do in heaven?” people wonder.  Then perhaps they add, “Just standing around God’s throne and singing forever sounds kinda boring!”

Maybe you’ve heard similar comments?  Maybe you’ve even secretly thought them?

I was privileged to attend the winter conference for the area pastors and teachers in our church body earlier this week.  Chatting with spiritual brothers and sisters is always enjoyable, and there are always some beneficial presentations.  But the very best thing about conferences, at least as far as I am concerned, is the singing.

 Of course, our conferences always begin with a worship service, and the days are interspersed with multiple chapels.  And we sing in each one of them!  Gives me goosebumps and lifts my soul every time.

Lutheran pastors and teachers … SING!

Put 125 of us in a church sanctuary, and we’ll lift the rafters!  Often in 4-part harmony.  Double that number, and people can hear us in the parking lot and across the street.  Maybe even downtown and upstate.

The pastors and teachers don’t sing so loudly simply for show.  They just do it naturally and confidently.  It’s a trait that is born from years of singing in choirs, church services and chapels throughout their school years …  elementary school, high school, college and the seminary.

Unless you’ve been able to sit in on a service filled with hundreds of Lutheran pastors and teachers (or future pastors and teachers), it’s probably difficult to comprehend.  But maybe you’ve been at a Christian concert when 20,000 people join in on a familiar song?  Pretty incredible, isn’t it?

All of which makes me wonder: what will the songs in heaven sound like?

If singing together on this flawed earth can move us so profoundly, try to imagine the singing in salvation.  All the believers of all time joined with all the angels in existence – both numbers being countless except to God! – joining their holy voices together in praise of the Lord.

Every voice flawless.  Every pitch perfect.  Every note at full volume.  Everyone singing in unison.

Can you even begin to imagine what it might be like?  How many harmonies will be incorporated?  How overwhelming we will find it? 

And can you doubt how satisfying, joyful, uplifting and glorious the songs will be?

The Apostle John gives us an insight:

“Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him [all] who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.  And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.  And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except [those] who had been redeemed from the earth.” (Revelation 14:1-3)

The heavenly singing will be a “new song” … one only the “redeemed from the earth” can learn and sing.  A song of incredible beauty, absolute awe, intense thankfulness, and unending praise to the one who purchased their salvation.  A song of love for the Lamb.

I like to think of it this way:

Here on earth in our worship of our God, we sing because of the throne.  Because of the One who sits on the throne … our Savior, Redeemer and Lord.  Because of all that he accomplished for us.  Because of the love and forgiveness from God we have now.  But perhaps especially because of the heavenly salvation we WILL experience one day as a direct result of his shed blood. 

But when we finally get there, our worship changes.  We will sing around the throne and at the throne.  Or rather, at our Savior sitting on the throne.  And we will sing because of the salvation we ARE experiencing and WILL continue experiencing throughout eternity.

In that unending moment, David’s words become our never-ending reality: “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.  Lord my God, I will praise you forever” (Psalm 30:11-12).

We can’t possibly comprehend heaven and any of its wonders now.  I expect our everlasting reward will encompass much more than song. 

But if it does entail “just standing around the throne and singing,” I assure you it won’t be boring.  Rather, we’ll be more than content to join the chorus.  Compelled by thankfulness actually, overwhelmed with joy, and therefore tireless in our praise!

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Addendums below:  Psalm 89 verses & Garrison Keillor’s “Singing with the Lutherans”

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Psalm 89 (selected verses)
1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? 7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.

8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. ,,, 13 Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. 16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. 17 For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. 18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

52 Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.

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SINGING WITH THE LUTHERANS by Garrison Keillor

I have made fun of Lutherans for years – who wouldn’t if you lived in Minnesota? But I have also sung with Lutherans and that is one of the main joys of life, along with hot baths and fresh sweet corn.

We make fun of Lutherans for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them. If you ask an audience in New York City, a relatively Lutheranless place, to sing along on the chorus of Michael Row the Boat Ashore, they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Lutherans they’ll smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach! And down the road!

Lutherans are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony. It’s a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that person¹s rib cage. It’s natural for Lutherans to sing in harmony. We’re too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you’re singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it’s an emotionally fulfilling moment.

I once sang the bass line of “Children of the Heavenly Father” in a room with about three thousand Lutherans in it; and when we finished, we all had tears in our eyes, partly from the promise that God will not forsake us, partly from the proximity of all those lovely voices. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other. I do believe this: People, these Lutherans, who love to sing in four-part harmony are the sort of people you could call up when you’re in deep distress. If you’re dying, they’ll comfort you. If you’re lonely, they’ll talk to you. And if you’re hungry, they’ll give you tuna salad!

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Enough

Enough

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When it comes to earthly wealth, I have never been rich.  Not even close.  And it seems highly unlikely that I ever will be rich.

I’m OK with that.  The reason?  Because the Lord has made sure that I always have enough.

Furthermore, I’m quite confident that even though you may not have everything you want … and even though life may have been exceedingly difficult at times for you … still, you have always had enough too.

David wrote about this very thing:

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.  I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread” (Psalm 37:23-25).

Yet the world teaches us to always want MORE.  Our sinful natures eagerly take up the theme – MORE is better.  MUCH MORE is best of all!

David’s son, Solomon, alludes to humans’ unending longing with these words, “The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:8).  He also states this is a “meaningless” exercise.  (Ecc. 1:2).

I find the Lord’s manner of providing food for the migrating tribes of Israel fascinating.  (And telling!)  You’ll recall that the Lord had miraculously delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, and as they were enroute to the Promised Land, they had to travel through a huge barren area. 

What you may not realize is that the nation almost certainly numbered between two and three million people!  (Exodus 12:37 tells us 600,000 men left Egypt.  Add in women and children, and the numbers grow exponentially.)

Garnering enough food for all those mouths would be a monumental challenge for humans.  But it wasn’t difficult for God.  He simply provided them with wafers called “manna” 6-days-a-week.  The Bible tells us, “it was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:31).

But where this gets really interesting is when you consider the special instructions the Lord gave to the people in regard to gathering the bread.  Each morning they were to gather what they needed for the day, but no more.  If they tried to keep extra for the next day, the manna would be foul and maggot-filled. 

The exception to the “only-as-much-as-you-need-for-the-day” rule was the morning before the Sabbath Day (Friday).  On Fridays, the people were to gather sufficient manna for two days.  Astonishingly, the manna kept just fine for the extra day over the Sabbath.

Moses provides another incredible insight:

“The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed” (Exodus 16:17-18).

None of this was coincidence!

The Lord was teaching the Israelites an incredibly important truth; he was teaching the people to trust him.  He would supply their needs.  Day-by-day he would bless them with food.  They would have enough.  With the Lord, they would always have enough!

And not just enough food, but enough of everything.  Enough guidance in their journeys.  Enough protection from all their dangers.  Enough provision for all of their needs.  Not necessarily a surplus, but enough.  Always enough. 

The Lord wasn’t only trying to teach the Israelites this truth.  But you and me as well!

He wants us convinced that our God will always provide for us – spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.  As Paul reminds us, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

We don’t need MORE.  We just need what God gives us.  It will be enough.

And when we recognize this truth – when we embrace it – we will come to realize that when God is our supplier, we have more than enough!  In fact, we are actually rich beyond measure. 

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1 Timothy 6:6-8
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 

Hebrews 13:5
… Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Philippians 4:11-13
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

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The First Valentine

The First Valentine

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As I begin writing this post, it’s Valentines Day.  Consequently, I was curious to explore the origin of the holiday. 

It actually goes back a lot further in history than most realize.  The roots of Valentines Day reach way back into the 3rd century when the then Roman priest (and now Catholic Saint) Valentine was martyred and buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14.

The exact reasons for Valentine’s death, and even the manner of his death, are lost in the mists of time.  However, tradition states that he was imprisoned for ministering to and providing care for persecuted Christians. (The Dictionary of Christianity, J.C. Cooper).

Bede’s Martyrology contains this fascinating addition to the story: It states that Saint Valentine was personally interrogated by the Roman Emperor Claudius II.  The emperor was impressed by Valentine and attempted to convert him to the pagan gods of Rome in order to save his life.  The priest wanted nothing to do with them, and instead tried to convert the emperor to Christianity.  This resulted in his death sentence.

Supposedly, before his execution, Valentine healed the jailer’s daughter, Julia.  This resulted in Julia’s father, Asterius, Julia herself, and their entire household converting to Christianity and being baptized. 

An interesting addition to the story – almost certainly an embellishment, (though apparently shared nonetheless by both “The History Channel” and “American Greetings!”) – suggests that Valentine, on the evening before his execution, wrote the first Valentine note to Julia and signed it as “Your Valentine.” (Wikipedia.com).

Despite the very early origins of the day, it wasn’t until the late 1700’s that the concept of paper valentines blossomed in England.  They became so popular in the UK that by the early 1800’s the cards were assembled in factories.  With the invention of the postage stamp in 1840, the numbers of valentines mailed in England exploded to 400,000 in just one year!

Here in the United States, the valentine card business was begun by Esther Howland in 1847 in Massachusetts.  She imported the decorations she needed from England and proceeded to produce valentines in the States.  Just a few years later, Valentines Day was essentially a national holiday. 

“The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year in the US. Half of those valentines are given to family members other than husband or wife, usually to children. When the valentine-exchange cards made in school activities are included the figure goes up to 1 billion, and teachers become the people receiving the most valentines.” (Wikipedia.com).

Of course, that doesn’t even count the electronic messages shared via modern technology (texts, e-cards, emails, etc.). 

All of which is interesting and hopefully informative.  However, I maintain that the first “Valentine” was actually given by our God.

Now exactly when that happened is open to debate.  Not only do we not know the exact date, but which was the first and most meaningful is certainly subjective.  Here are just a few love notes from God to consider:

It could be argued that the first was God’s promise to Adam and Eve to send a Savior who would make things right again after they brought sin into the world.

(Genesis 3:15) “And I will put enmity (bitter hatred) between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring (those who follow you) and hers (those who follow me); he (one of her descendants) will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Then there is this astounding statement of our God’s unending love for us:

(Jeremiah 31:3) “The Lord … [says], ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’”

Or maybe it’s this remarkable passage that God’s love for us moves him to sing joyfully over us?

(Zephaniah 3:17) “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Perhaps you feel God’s best “Valentine” passages don’t just share loving words, but show loving action?  Like the love of our Heavenly Father in this famous passage:

(John 3:16) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Or these passages that express the love our Savior showed us with his intentional sacrificial death:

(John 15:13) [Jesus said,] “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

(Romans 5:8) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Or the love note that describes the saving work the Holy Spirit did inside our souls:

(Ephesians 2:4-5) “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Then there is one of my personal favorites.  (It’s actually framed and hanging in my church office.)

(Romans 8:37-39) “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

But one could argue that the greatest love message from our God is one that will be spoken to us personally at a future date when he calls us home to heaven, and repeated again to us on the Last Day:

(Matthew 25:34)  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’”

Of course, God’s love for us fosters our love for God … AND our love for our fellow human-beings:

(1 John 4:19) “We love because he first loved us.”

(John 13:34-35)  [Jesus said,] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

So, I maintain that the first “Valentine” message actually came from God.  But which is the greatest?  Is it one of the above passages, or do you have another suggestion?  If so, please share it in the comments section of this blog.

How blessed we are to be loved by God himself!  It is the deepest and purest love possible, and it literally lasts forever!

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The Unappealing Path (A Story)

The Unappealing Path (A Story)

The archangel streaked through heaven’s glory, drawn to the brightest Light in that brilliantly lit place.  Or more accurately, to the Beacon whose radiance radiated throughout the entirety of heaven. 

The angel drew to sudden but smooth stop before Jesus – effortlessly executing the transition from an upright posture to a prostrate one in one seamless motion, coming to rest before the Lord with his extensive wings draped over his head in deference to the Mightiest One before him.

“Greetings, Michael,” Jesus said.  “Well done on the battlefront.”

“Our foes are relentlessly fighting.  And they continue to gain spiritual ground among the humans, as you know,” the angel replied. 

“Yes, they are.  It is the way things were predicted, so it is the way things will go.”

“I want to banish them to the darkness immediately!” Michael retorted.

“I know, Michael.  All in due time,” the Lord replied.  He sighed, then he continued.  “As earthly time marches on, more and more people will reject me altogether.  It is prophesied and it is inevitable.  That’s tragic enough, and I grieve for every one of their souls.”

Jesus paused.  “But what really saddens me are all of the people who DO know me … yet miss out on so many of the blessings I intend for them in their earthly lives.”  It was impossible to miss the sorrow in Jesus’ voice.

“Stand, mighty warrior.  I will show you the human dilemma you already understand, but in a manner you haven’t seen before.”

With a single, swift and strong flap of his wings, Michael lifted himself up.  Jesus nodded at him, then swept his arm before them.  Instantly a window opened in the multi-hued glory, revealing a view of an incredible sight. 

Before them stretched an expansive corridor, as wide as a seven-lane freeway.  It was paved with large, impact-absorbing – yet firm, strong and resilient – panels of material.  It was perfectly smooth; even the seams were tight and even. 

Wide billboards lined the way and impressive signs hung over the road.  Simple but brightly lit messages scrolled across their faces: “You are doing great!”  “Relax and enjoy the journey!”  “No doubt – the best route!”  “The wisest don’t despise it!”  “The best way to a new day!”  “The easy leads to the pleasey!”

Food stands were readily available; cold refreshments easily accessible.

The highway descended at a gentle grade with no elevation gain visible at any point.  Comfortable benches were situated throughout for resting where needed.  There were even escalators for the ease of those who preferred not to walk the easy downhill!

Demons, invisible to the people on the path but clear to Michael, were flurrying every which way to provide the support needed to keep the walkway functioning and to promote the comfort of the travelers.

Throngs of people covered the road … across the width and throughout the length.

Impressive gateways stood at the end, beyond which was a swirling, cloudy darkness.  Many paused at that point, but the words emblazoned above the arches seemed to put the travelers at ease.  To their eyes the words said, “ALL WILL BE WELL!”  In reality, they read “WELCOME TO HELL!”

As the people passed through the gates and into the darkness, they toppled helplessly into the pit … while watching demons cackled in evil glee.

“Let us put an end to the demons!” Michael scowled in righteous anger.

“We will.  Again, in due time,” Jesus replied.  “You, of course, recognize what you are seeing.

“Yes, Most Exalted One,” said Michael.  “This is the wide and easy road to the abyss that you spoke of on the mount.  I well recognize it.”

“Indeed,” Jesus replied.  “And what are your observations regarding it?”

“It has always been heavily trafficked.  But lately, even more so.”

“Correct.  Absolutely tragic that so many insist on traveling it,” said Jesus, as a tear slide from his eye.  “The demons coerce, but the people acquiesce.  Travelers on this route think this is the easy way, but it is the opposite.  They are actually miserable already now, but the worst is yet to come.”

The Lord diverted Michael’s attention to the mountains rising immediately beside the highway.  A small, rocky and uneven path wove its way slowly up the flanks and eventually into the heights above.  It appeared to be a challenging route with few amenities available.

Leading to the main but small path were multiple tinier paths which had diverted from the expansive freeway.  The exit signs on the wide way which called attention to these scrabbles were simple and nondescript; barely noticeable among the flashing promotions all around them.

Each exit sign to the narrow path said two simple words: “The Way.”  Further up the mountain where the tiny trails converged into the larger (but still small) path was a sign stating the same: “The Way.”  In comparison to the wide, smooth freeway, only a few people could be seen scrambling up this rough route.

Michael spoke.  “Fewer on this path these days.”

“Thankfully though, some still walk the path of Truth and Life, and pass through the narrow gate into glory,” Jesus replied. 

Then he continued.  “This is the long view … the overview of the two paths to different destinations.  Now let me show you the closer view of the narrow path to heaven.  In some ways, what I’m about to reveal is almost more tragic than the throngs on the highway to hell.  (Though that is the ultimate tragedy!)  Thankfully though, this next tragedy is generally temporary.”

Jesus waved his arm again, and the view changed.  Now they were looking at the narrow, rocky, rising path to heaven.  Angels walked along with the travelers, their wings stretched above and around them in a protective canopy.  “My faithful fighters for you, Most Exalted One,” Michael stated proudly.  Jesus nodded in agreement. 

Demons were also situated along that way, feinting attacks on the people and promoting various side paths.  Naturally, they heavily, alluringly and effectively tried to seduce God’s people down sin paths. 

In addition, the devils sponsored attractive advertisements posted over side paths offering everything the human heart could desire.  Popularity.  Wealth.  Success.  Power.  Fun.  And yes … Ease.  None of which is essentially evil, but all of which can be distracting.

They even tried to pull “The Way” travelers down paths of ongoing poor choices – ones the people knew were unhealthy and unwise.  And down paths of past hurts and heartaches.  Down paths of oppression even!  The devils promoted these routes as “A Familiar Path” or “The Usual and Comfortable.”  And a surprising number of God’s people chose to take them!

In short, the demons promoted any alternate and adjusted route along “The Way” that might attract and appeal, and pull God’s people off the main path.

All these meandering routes still led to heaven, but they increased the difficulty of the trip.  Each side path brought greater struggles – physically, mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually.  Even the paths labeled “Easier” were harder! 

All of these side path led to multiple additional path options … each extra option heavily pushed by the demons … and each leading only to more problems.  If a traveler on “The Way” took too many side paths or followed them too eagerly or too long, they could eventually find themselves back on the wide and easy path to hell.

But after every side excursion … and even after multiple diversions … the small, least appealing path labeled “The Way” was always accessible. 

Jesus shook his head sadly.  “The tragedy of this view is that all of the people on this path to some degree … and some people to a large degree … get sidetracked from the simplest, most beneficial path onto other detours that rob them of the fullness they can have in me.  And they know better!”

The Savior continued.  “My Way seems less appealing, but it brings so much more!  Even during their lives on earth!  Love!   Forgiveness!  Salvation!  Peace!  Joy!  Self-worth!  Fulfillment!  Purpose!  I bring all these things to people to the degree that they remain on ‘The Way.’  And yet so many choose the detours that bring only more burdens and heartaches.  Any side-trip that turns a person’s focus off me, my saving sacrifice, my love, and my truths essentially robs them of truth, joy and fulfillment.”

The angel responded emphatically, “If only your people recognized this!  The demons!  The distractions!  The disillusions of other paths!”

“Yes, Michael.  If only they did.  My path seems empty, but it is full!  It seems barren, but is alive!  It seems mundane, but is exciting!  It seems more difficult, but is easier!  It seems a dead end, but it leads to life!  It seems unappealing, but is actually most appealing!” 

“But you know all this,” the Lord stated.  He paused, then asked.  “What are your observations from this view?”

“As stated earlier, there are fewer on this path than in the past.  And the travelers seem to be more easily diverted.”

“It has always been a challenging journey.  But now, more than ever,” Jesus replied.

In holy fury, Michael snapped his wings with a load crack.   “Then let us finally do away with these tormenting demons who continue to defy you and deter your people!”

Jesus closed the “window” and looked directly at him.   “I know how you feel, dear archangel.  And this is why I summoned you.  I wanted to share all this to make it clear that we draw closer to the End … to the time when your unending battles will finally end.”

Michael snapped his wings again.  “It cannot come soon enough for me, Most Exalted One!”

The Lord smiled and said, “There are still some who will be brought off the wide and easy road to destruction and onto the narrow path of life.  When the last one steps onto ‘The Way,’ the End will come.”

It was the angel’s turn to smile.  He responded, “I am glad to hear it!  In the meantime, may your people remain on your path, Lord Jesus, and rejoice in all the blessings you bring them there!  It is a narrow path, but the best one!  It is the path to life – both temporally and eternally.”

“That it most definitely is,” the Savior replied.

Then the archangel extended his wings and sped back to the battlefront.

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Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Revelation 22:20-21
[Jesus,] who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” 

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

He Knows

He Knows

It was a year-and-a-half in the making, and I still don’t have all the information I need.

I’ve been serving these mid-Michigan congregations as pastor all that time, and it took all that time to sorta-kinda figure out who is who, as well as who is connected to who … and how.  And I am well aware that I still don’t have a lot of it figured out.

Furthermore, it was clear when I first arrived that one of the top priorities for my ministry initially would be to try to figure out who was still connected to the congregations, and who was not.  There are plenty of reasons for disconnection.  Among other things, they include simply drifting into un-involvement for whatever reason, or getting involved in another congregation; moving to another part of the country, or being moved by God to heaven.

The goal has been to compile an accurate membership directory for the two congregations.  Sounds simple, right?  Ah, but it’s not as easy as it might seem.

In addition to the situations mentioned previously, there is also the factor of the local “snow-birds.”  In our area, a good number of our people abandon their summer homes – and the snow and frost that impacts the region – for warmer climes down south.  They joyfully return to this lovely area in the springtime, of course, but they are missing for a good portion of the calendar.  Just another situation that needs to be understood.

Furthermore, do you recognize how often people move these days?  Or how many are leaving behind their landlines for cell phones?

Couple all these issues with the woefully outdated membership directories I was given when I arrived here, and perhaps you begin to understand the dilemma.  It has taken all this time (18 months!) of information gathering to arrive at a reasonable facsimile of an accurate list!

And I am well aware that it’s still not wholly accurate!

This morning, after several days of crunching information and compiling the new directories to share with the congregations, it struck me.  It has taken me all this energy, effort and time to pull together directories of less than 200 people – and the Lord knew all the information all along!

And not only does the Lord know all the information for our congregations, but also for our cities, our county, our region, our state, our nation, our world!  He knows the numbers in our church body.  The numbers of total Christians – both in our country and across the continents – and the number of those who aren’t. 

He knows every address and every phone number.  He knows every single name of every single person, and he knows every single thing about every single one of them too!  As well as of all who lived in the past, and of all those who will live in the future.

God knows!

Most comforting of all, not only does the Lord know each of us and everything about us … (and still love us despite our significant flaws!) … BUT he also knows everything we are going through.  The pain we are enduring.  The hurts we bear.  The challenges we struggle with.  The fears we face.  The needs we have.  The dreams we hold.

He knows about them and he knows what to do about them.  He knows, he cares, and he provides. 

What a great God is our God!

“ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!  ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?’ …  For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”  (Romans 11:33-34, 36).

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Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Psalm 139:1-6
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

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Guarded and Guided by the One Who Never Sleeps

Guarded and Guided by the One Who Never Sleeps

I am not an early-morning person.  I have some family members who are, but that would never describe me.

I can wake up early, if need be.  Say for a fishing or hunting trip, a hike, a metal-detecting excursion, or some other outdoor adventure.  But normally I would not choose to crawl out of bed before a seven is registered on the clock.

Consequently, it is always eye-opening when I am awake early and out-and-about to see how many others are up before the crack of dawn, and clearly are routinely early risers … often by necessity.

I recall when my wife and I still lived in Washington state and needed to be up in Seattle for a follow-up surgery on her eye.  (It was her sixth – and thankfully so far, her final one!)  Check in at the hospital was at 6 a.m., so we were up and going at “0-dark-thirty” in Tacoma.

It’s remarkable how many people in a larger city are circulating in the wee hours of the morning!  On my caffeine run to a 24-hour convenience store before our commute, there was the clerk … AND a delivery truck driver … AND others getting their fixes before heading to work.  A police cruiser rolled by as I returned to my vehicle. 

Furthermore, the freeway was filled with folks flying north or south to their jobs. (Not as filled as it would be later at a more decent hour, but filled sufficiently nevertheless.)  The hospital was buzzing with activity as personnel carried out their various responsibilities. 

There’s a lot of people up early doing what they need to do!  Those of us who prefer to sleep a bit later into the morning sometimes fail to recognize the many folks who start their days … or end their nights as the case may be, while we are embracing our ZZZs.

But they all have to sleep sometime!

Sleep isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity.  The human body must sleep.  It doesn’t take long for lack of rest to severely impact a person’s well-being.  Just 24 hours without it can result in irritability, altered perception, memory deficits, impaired judgement, vision and hearing setbacks, decreased hand-eye coordination, an increased risk of accidents, greater muscle tension, and even tremors.

Add just another 12 hours to that, (36 hours without sleep), and one’s body is significantly affected.  Appetite, metabolism, temperature, mood, and stress level all take hits, creating issues with hormonal imbalances, decreased motivation, inflexible reasoning, decreased attention and risky decision-making. Sleep deprivation can make routine tasks like driving exponentially more dangerous. (www.healthline.com).

Which is why we all sleep.  Why we all HAVE TO sleep.  In fact, we humans actually spend a third of our lives sleeping!

Consequently, the concept of our God never sleeping is challenging for us to grasp. 

But he doesn’t!  The Lord never crawls under the heavenly covers and “crashes.”  He never sneaks in a “cat nap.”  He never accidentally nods off for a moment.  He never intentionally “shuts it down.”  He never even closes his “eyes!”  Never, ever!  We’re told in Job that God “views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24).

Not only does our God never rest.  He never loses his concentration; his mood is never altered; his perceptions remain unphased; his perfect abilities continue unhindered. 

Furthermore, the Lord never ceases to be vigilantly watching over us and acting on our behalf!  God’s unwavering attention is riveted on his people; his loving heart, guiding hand, and providing and protecting arm are always engaged in the goings-on of our lives.  “The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them …” (Psalm 33:18-19).

So while our Lord never sleeping is a challenging concept to grasp, it is at the same time tremendously comforting.  We are continuously guarded and guided by the Loving One who never sleeps.

The psalmist summarizes this truth beautifully!

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you — the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121).

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Angels Among Us

Angels Among Us

Have you ever seen an angel?  I actually may have during several remarkable occurrences in my life, though I can’t say definitively. 

Have you ever seen an angel’s work?  I’m much more confident in saying “absolutely!” to that scenario.  The last time actually happened just a few days ago on our dock.

My wife and I knew that living on a lake would provide a wealth of entertainment opportunities in the spring through the fall.  Little did we realize that it pays out fun times even in the winter!

Especially for our grandchildren. 

On their post-Christmas visit, the grandsons found great pleasure in breaking the ice around the dock.  Recent warmer temps had weakened the surface ice and made it soft enough to smash through, but still thick enough to force one to work hard to do so.

This, of course, presented a delightful challenge!  With great delight, the boys did whatever damage they could do with lighter tools (plastic handles and wooden sticks).  However, they were ecstatic when adults took my sledge-hammer to it!

All this ice-breaking left at least 2 feet of unfrozen water all around the dock.  Rather thick ice remained outside the reach of the sledge.

The last morning the grandchildren were here, my oldest grandson – the cautious, careful one! – was trying to chip away at the ice perimeter.  And he slipped and pitched forward off the dock!

Here’s where things got strange.

He was leaning forward to reach the ice when he fell.  The laws of nature would dictate that he toppled headfirst off the dock … either unintentionally diving directly into the water, or worse, headfirst onto the edge of the ice.  If he was able to maintain a semblance of balance, perhaps he could go feet first into the water, or perhaps crash somewhat upright onto the edge of the ice, or … best case scenario … flop on his belly on the surface of the ice with perhaps just his feet going into the frigid water.

But he landed on the ice surface … on his bottom! … 3-4 feet from the dock! 

He immediately stood up and called out to his uncle, who reached over and lifted him to the dock.  A successful rescue and no harm done.  It seemed my 7 ½ year old grandson largely dismissed the incident; he went back to breaking ice completely unperturbed.

But the adults realized something rather incredible had just occurred.

The young man’s uncle who was on the dock with him … AND his mother and grandmother who just happened to be watching from the bay windows in the house … thought he had jumped!  (This boy would never have deliberately leaped!  It is not in his nature.)  But that’s how he appeared as he flew through the air onto the surface of the ice – like he had jumped.

This grandson is also honest to a fault.  When asked what happened, he said he slipped.  And he wouldn’t lie about something like that.  Or if he tried, it would be obvious to all that he was bending the truth.

How then did he go from leaning over the water, his weight distributed forward, and his feet slipping out from under him … to looking like he leaped and subsequently landing on his bottom 3 feet away? 

When asked if he felt anything as it was happening, he replied that he felt like he was pushed!

It was a fortuitous “push.”  It’s chilling to consider what might have happened had he not been “pushed” after he slipped.  Head injury from hitting the ice?  Broken bones?  Landing in the freezing water, the bitter cold making him gasp and swallow water?  His forward momentum possibly taking him under the ice?  Maybe even several of the above!

His uncle would have gotten to him quickly, wherever he might have ended up or what he might have suffered.  But things could have been much more traumatic. 

Yet they weren’t.

I’m sure some would argue that my grandson’s reflexes kicked in, adrenalin causing him to somehow leap at the last second, or that he simply took a fortunate fall.  But anyone who was present that day can find no other explanation than that there was some angelic intervention that morning. 

What an amazing experience – to be lovingly, gently pushed by an angel to a safe landing!  Perhaps at an older age, my grandson will better appreciate how the Lord miraculously protected him that day.

The rest of us are already in awe.  We never doubted it, but now we know that there are angels among us.

What marvelous creatures the angels are!  And how comforting it is to know they are near!  But as marvelous as they are, they are just another one of God’s incredible creations, created to serve God and God’s people.  They are yet another way our Lord demonstrates his providence and protection to you and me.  And if the angels are so awesome, how awesome must our God be?

For another personal example of God’s incredible intervention on this blog, check out this post: “Dead Man Walking”

For more posts on the angels, you might find these stories interesting: “An Invisible Reality”  and  “Before They Call”.

Best of all, read the Bible passages below that give us insight into those magnificent beings and how the Lord uses them to protect you and me.

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Hebrews 1:14
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Psalm 103:20
Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Psalm 91:9-12, 14-15
If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. …

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

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What If …?

What If …?

The start of a new year has always been a logical time for people to reassess their lives, and recommit to beneficial personal goals.  According to online articles, almost 40% of people make New Year’s resolutions.  The most common ones are health related, followed by finances. 

Unfortunately, most commitments fall to the wayside – often quite quickly.  Almost 25% don’t even make it a week; the majority of the rest fall off in just a month or two.  Less than 10% actually keep their resolutions for the entire year.

Nevertheless, I thought I would toss out some possibilities for spiritual resolutions.  Though most people wouldn’t consider these at all important, as Christians we realize spiritual matters are actually the most significant … even if perhaps we don’t always properly prioritize them.

A few disclaimers, suggestions and significant points ahead of the list:

  1. It’s a long list! Some suggestions are more church related; others more people related.  All, however, are personal.  They relate to each of us as individual believers.

  2. No one can or will be able to fulfill all of these perfectly. Unfortunately, we’re all perfect sinners and therefore imperfect people. (Rom. 3:23).

  3. I certainly don’t have all these down, (not even close!), so I am in no position to claim superiority over anyone.

  4. This is NOT an exercise in guilt! Rather, it’s an opportunity to reflect and consider.

  5. All that being said, please don’t simply disregard the list offhand. Our Lord does want us to grow in our thankful living for him.  (Rom. 12:1).

  6. Perhaps a beneficial way to approach this list is for each of us to note the points where we are lacking and might want to improve. Choose a few (maybe even only one!), and strive to make the necessary changes to grow in these areas.

  7. Finally … thanks be to God! Through his grace, we are adopted into his family and made his children.  We are dearly loved and abundantly blessed by God himself!.  We are fully forgiven, people filled with peace and hope, and heirs of salvation. (Gal. 4:4-7).  This affects where we will live forever, and also how we live already now.  God’s profound love for us is our motivation to live for God.

So on to the list.  What if …

  • Every Christian read a portion of the Bible every day? (Acts 17:11)

  • Every parent faithfully taught their children God’s truths from little on? (Deut. 11:18-19)

  • Every believer was active in their prayer life? (1 Thes. 5:17)

  • Every church member actively prayed for their church and their fellow members? (Jms. 5:16)

  • Every member attended one of their church’s worship services every week? (Heb. 10:23-25)

  • Everyone sang all the hymns and worship songs with all their heart? (Ps. 9:2)

  • Every talent (musical and otherwise) was utilized to enhance worship?

  • Everyone regularly attended at least one Bible study offered at their congregation? (2 Pet. 3:18)

  • Every child regularly attended Sunday School?

  • Each believer’s spiritual light shone brightly all the time so all could clearly see? (Mt. 5:14-16)

  • Every person invited at least one person to church per week? (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

  • Every congregational member brought at least one new person a year into the church family?

  • Everyone made a point to talk with at least one new/different person a week at church?

  • Everyone greeted any new faces at worship, Bible study or church activities? (Php. 4:21)

  • Every adult member was making regular visits of some kind to other members?

  • Every person begged to have their gifts utilized in the Lord’s work? (1 Pet. 4:10)

  • Each of us tithed (gave 10%) of our income to the Lord? (Mal. 3:10)

  • Every member designated a gift to their congregation in their will?

  • Every member did at least five special activities of ministry (service) a year? (Eph. 6:7)

  • Every believer eagerly filled Jesus’ “new command” to love one another? (Jn. 13:34)

  • Each of us “clothed ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” as we deal with one another? (Col. 3:12)

  • We forgive one another as the Lord forgave us? (Col. 3:13)

  • Everyone made it their goal to encourage others in their walk with God? (1 Thes. 5:10-11)

  • Everyone perfectly understood and applied Christian freedom? (Gal. 5:13)

  • Everyone put the best construction on everything others said and did?

  • Every member was willing to lovingly rebuke a believing brother or sister where necessary? (2 Tim. 2:2)

  • Everyone was able to rejoice in and listen to a loving rebuke from another?

  • Everyone was comfortable enough to talk to others and seek godly advice about their life decisions?

  • We totally trusted the Lord regarding everything? (Prov. 3:5-6)

  • Each of us gave thanks in all circumstances, as God wills? (1 Thes. 5:18)

  • Everyone strived to glorify God in every thought and action they did? (1 Cor. 10:31)

  • We didn’t make excuses; we just did what we know is right?

Are there any items that should be added to this list?  Any that especially spoke to you?  I’d be delighted to hear your thoughts in the comments section. 

Thanks be to God for Jesus our Savior – for the atonement he made for us, the forgiveness he won for us, and the salvation he earned for us!  And thanks be to God that we are able to live for Jesus our Savior!

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2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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The Incomprehensible Transition

The Incomprehensible Transition

The golden goal … the certain hope … the lift in life when circumstances seem to keep dragging us down and our spirits are flagging … the profound promise that we hold before our spiritual eyes and the eyes of fellow Christians … is our heavenly home. 

The concept entails so very much.

Finally finding ourselves before our loving Lord.  Leaving behind our sinfulness, imperfections and frustrations once and for all.  Glorified bodies and souls.  Perfect happiness forever and ever.  Salvation. 

These wonders comfort, uplift, and motivate us as broken people in a broken world.  The hardships here are all temporary; the blessings of heaven are eternal.

Heaven is almost taken for granted.  And it should be!  It’s a fundamental biblical truth given to us from God to comfort, uplift and motivate us.  To provide hope when circumstances can seem rather hopeless.

But here’s perhaps the thing we lose sight of.  Before his birth on earth, Jesus was already there! 

And not just as a guest to heaven, but as the Lord of lords and King of kings!  The holy, almighty, all-knowing, eternal God … the very Creator of heaven itself … the incomprehensible One worshipped and adored by the angels … the Supreme Deity who answers to no one and rules over everyone and everything … makes heaven his throne room.

God’s essence is heaven’s centerpiece; his “everything” is everything in heaven.  His holiness fills its halls and lights its farthest reaches.

And frankly, it would be ludicrous for you and me to expect to enter that place. 

But then Christmas happened.  The inconceivable God did an inconceivable thing; he exited that glorious place and entered this inglorious place called earth.  And he did it for an even more inconceivable reason – to be ridiculed, rejected, tortured and killed as our Substitute.

Who in his right mind would do such a thing? 

Only Jesus, the Son of God.  And he did it for the rightest of reasons – to make it possible for us to transition one day from here to there.  So you and I could be forgiven and finally be right with God.  So you and I could enter that incredible place when we leave this impossibly difficult one.  So we could be with Him!

The Scriptures describe this truth – this incomprehensible transition – beautifully:

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  “For the wages of sin is death, [both physical and eternal], but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

This transition is doubly incomprehensible. 

First, Jesus’ journey to earth and the purpose for it is incomprehensible.  It only makes sense in light of God’s boundless and unfathomable love – a love he holds for us.

Secondly, our journey to heaven one day is equally incomprehensible.  It also only makes sense in light of God’s boundless love for us, coupled with Jesus’ astounding sacrifice for us. 

The God of heaven left heaven to come to earth.  And he did it specifically so that all who know him and love him could leave earth and enter heaven. 

Incomprehensible transitions indeed! 

How awesome is our God!  And how incredible is Christmas!  It’s where God makes the incomprehensible visible and plain.  Just look at the Baby in the manger.

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Philippians 2:6-11
Christ Jesus … being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Bah, Humbug ???

Bah, Humbug ???

We knew it was coming.  We just didn’t know when.  Nor did we know if it would be good news or bad.

Short story long, I was told I needed a special medical test.  When I asked if it was really necessary, I was told it was.  (The situation is nothing truly horrible; but it is serious.  Severe sleep apnea.)

What I should have asked, apparently, is if my medical insurance would cover it.  I assumed the medical staff had checked on this important detail; evidently they hadn’t.  Maybe like me, they assumed our insurance would pay for it; they’re normally very reliable about coverage.  (Had I been aware that insurance would not, I would have refused the test.)

All of which led to the shocking notification that we owed the hospital thousands of dollars for the prescribed “in-hospital sleep study.”  That’s thousands of dollars that aren’t actually within our means to pay at the moment.

Fortunately, there was an avenue to appeal the insurance company decision.  So I prayed about it, wrote the best appeal letter I could write, and submitted it to the insurance company.  They acknowledged the appeal and informed me they would send their decision via standard mail.

That was several months ago.  A few days ago – exactly two weeks from Christmas – the response arrived via the U.S. Postal Service.  The return address was our insurance company’s “grievances and appeals division.” I knew immediately what it was.  I said another prayer, held my breath, and opened the envelope. 

“Denied.” 

Of course, they elaborated much more than that, and did so in polite fashion.  But the answer was still the same: “denied.”

Bah, humbug!  What a lousy way to enter the final few weeks before Christmas!

Of course, literally the day before the decision arrived in our mailbox, I had “splurged” on probably the largest Christmas present for my wife I have ever purchased. (It wasn’t even a thousand dollars, but it was hundreds.) She had endured a challenging year and I wanted to surprise her with a special gift.  (Thankfully, she was surprised, and she loved it!)  

Nevertheless, we were both aware of the “denied” notification which had just been delivered. 

Double bah, humbug!

Perhaps you have your own challenges in these days approaching Christmas?  None of us floats  through life unencumbered with difficulties.  “Bah humbugs” can arrive in a multitude of fashions.  Satan loves to bring them, and delights in attempting to undermine our Christian and Christmas joy.

Unfortunately, too often he is successful in his endeavors.

The message the angel brought to Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather, is a message for you and me as well.  Joseph realized that Mary, his fiancée, was pregnant.  He also knew with complete confidence that he was NOT the father.  Consequently, he decided to quietly break off the engagement.

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:20-21)

To which, Matthew adds this commentary: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,’ (which means “God with us”).” (Matthew 1:22-23)

No matter the seriousness of our other problems, our most serious problem has always been our sin, and the need for atonement for that sin.  The Spirit-conceived Baby inside Mary was God-sent – and God himself! – sent to make the atonement that only the holy God could make!  As promised by the angel, “He will save his people from their sins.”  And Jesus has!

That takes the “bah humbug” out of all our other bah humbugs.  Because of Jesus, we are freely and fully forgiven by the Lord.

A Savior from our sins is astounding and exhilarating enough.  But Jesus is even more than “just” God come to earth to be our Savior.  He is also God here on earth even now; He is Immanuel, “God with us.” 

Which means we are not facing our problems and hardships alone.  Immanuel himself is with us!  Even if he doesn’t solve them for us, (which he often does!), he will help us through them.

All of which replaces our “bah humbugs” with the “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).  In fact, it allows us – moves us! – to join wholeheartedly with the angels’ refrain, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:10).

Problems?  Difficulties?  Bah humbug to them!  Jesus was born for you and me!  Both to save us … and to be with us. 

This glorious truth changes everything – our perspective, our attitude, our heart, our life!  It makes Christmas wonderful, despite the sometimes less than wonderful frustrations we endure in our lives.

Thank you, Lord, for hope, help, and happiness!  Thank you for Christmas.

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To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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