THE DAY

I Was Just Thinking About – THE DAY.

Christmas morning –a day that will be marked by gleeful children, a mess as carefully wrapped gifts are torn into, busy households and a family meal around the dining table. All of this is a great time for happy reunions with family and friends.

But – one night long ago in a busy little town of Bethlehem, people were scurrying to find places of refuge so they would be able to meet with the tax collectors. One couple – Mary (who was pregnant) and Joseph - arrived and were too late to find any place of refuge available. The inn-keeper allowed they could have a place in the stable. They took it. It wasn’t too long before that stable become more of a throne room of heaven. I love the summary given in Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT), “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” Jesus Christ manifested God’s great love (John 3:16) and came to redeem His own (John 3:17).

After being startled by an angel, Shepherds would leave their flocks at night to see for themselves this great event they had been told about. Angel Choirs would burst into song because the Savior was born. Wise men would journey a great distance to see this child. The King would later issue a purge of all male children under the age of two so there would be no king-rival to him.

Emily E. Elliot (1864) penned the beautiful words of:

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,

When Thou camest to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room

For Thy holy nativity.

      Refrain:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

The crowded and commercialized world does not have too much time or room to celebrate the occasion marking the birth of Jesus Christ. Weary and over-spent, it is more of a necessary festivity than a time for worship and offering gratitude to God that He loved us so much that He gave us His Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life in Him. Have you made room in your heart and life for Him? Does Jesus reign there as your Ruler and King? He is there for you! Just reach out by faith and receive Him - God's Gift to you - today.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

TIMELY REMINDERS

I Was Just Thinking About – TIMELY REMINDERS.

One of the things we had on our “To Do” list before my recent Hospitalization was to complete an Absentee Ballot for a State US Senate runoff. As we were ready to leave the Tax Assessor and Collector’s Office, I was asked if I would like to have one of their 2018 Calendars. For me, there were some timely reminders that ministered to my soul in a special way.

Timely Reminder #1: Psalm 136:26 – O give thanks to the God of Heaven, for His mercy endures forever.

Timely Reminder #2: John 13:34 – A new commandment I give unto you. That ye love one another.”

Timely Reminder #3: Luke 1:37 – For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Timely Reminder #4: Psalm 120:1 – In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and He heard me.

As I reflected on these Scriptural Reminders, my mind drifted in thinking about God - His vastness and greatness. My thoughts were on the Lyric of a song from years ago:

Though man may strive, to go beyond the reef of space;

To crawl beyond, the distant glimmering stars.

This world's a room, so small within my Master's house.

The open skies, but a portion of His yard.

Chorus

How big is God?  How big and wide his vast domain.

To try and tell, these lips can only start.

He's big enough, to rule this mighty universe.

Yet small enough, to live within my heart.

A point that resonates with me is the fact that approx. 7 billion people inhabit the planet at this time. However, His eye zooms down from His Throne Room and reminds us that He cares for you/me and our particular need/issue. The particulars of His creation are important to Him – the words spoken by us; the sparrow who falls; the hairs on our head; the concern of anxiety of one’s heart. 

As I am scanned for up to 2 hours later this morning, I trust the Holy Spirit will bring to my mind of Isaiah 43:2, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Also, Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

-->

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

CONCENTRATION

I Was Just Thinking About – CONCENTRATION.

Several thoughts have occurred to me during the past few days. As I concluded my public sermons, I closed with Colossians 4:12 (NLT), “Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God.”

I also thought of the words of the Puritan Pastor, Richard Baxter, who was known to have said: “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” In that vein, his sermons and teaching were noted to have the compelling urgency to act upon the word now rather than at some more convenient day. In a day and time in which we live, there is demonstration of the obvious drift away from the things of God. An old Hymn captured that sense when the lyrics were written:

Drifting carelessly with the tide,
Drifting over the waters wide,
With no Captain your course to guide,
Drifting over life’s sea.

          Refrain:

Drifting, drifting, no port in sight,
Drifting far from the gospel light;
Lest you go down in the stormy night;
Drifting over life’s sea.

Choices are often made without any due concern for consequences. You see this in the absence of moral values with politicians and media people as they are accused of behavior from decades ago. This is also seen in the investigations of corrupted justice entities. Wherever one looks, it seems there is the presence on undeniable past history that is disappointing and causes a loss of confidence in the revealed double standard behavioral living.

In the midst of the disappointments and complex lifestyles, the person who has a reason for confidence and hope is the relationship of The One whose character and integrity is beyond reproach. In Hebrews 6:18-20, “…by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our fore-runner has entered on our behalf.” Don’t find yourself among those who are adrift, and without hope. May you desire and know where and with whom your soul is anchored, Jesus Christ.  

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

SOMETIMES

I Was Just Thinking About – SOMETIMES.

For the child of God, are we exempt from the sometime moments as or when they occur? My son would often remind me about situations for which there seemed no resolve: “Dad, sometimes stuff just happens.” That thought occurred to me yesterday as I spent several hours moving from place to place in the Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham, AL. Inasmuch as I was there as a patient rather than an observer, and as I was hearing the diagnoses and treatment plan, I could not avoid that which my son had so often shared – “Stuff” is not happening but is happening to me - NOW! As I reflected upon the “stuff”, an old Hymn came to mind:

Sometimes when my faith would falter
And no sunlight I can see;
I just lift my eyes to Jesus
And I whisper, "Pilot me."

Often when my soul is weary
And the days seem oh so long
I just look up to my Pilot
And I hear this blessed song.

    Refrain:

Fear thou not for I'll be with thee
I will still thy Pilot be
Never mind the tossing billows
Take My hand and trust in Me.

When I come to Jordan's river
And its troubled waters see
On the brink I'll see my Savior
And I know He'll pilot me.

When hearing about that which I did not want to hear, and weighed the potential possibilities of what I was being told, my heart became heavy. Sitting in that bust waiting area, I said to my wife: “I was hoping we would have several more years together.” Peggy, in and with her wisdom, touched my hand and replied: “We’ll just put this in the Lord’s hands. He’ll do what is right and best.”

Two verses we have often shared together came to mind. Psalm 37:23-25, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken…” Then, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

-->

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.