Jealous Cain, Jealous Me

I can relate to Cain. Yes that Cain who killed his brother Able. Are you ever the least bit jealous of others at church receiving recognition? Sometimes I am. Cain was jealous of Able because Abel's offering to God was accepted but his was not. God gives Cain and us a warning that there is danger in the jealousy.

If you do well, will you not be accepted?
And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.
Its desire is for you, but you must (master it) rule over it.”
Genesis 4:7

Jesus tells us to be last of all, servant of all and to sit in the last chair.
Mark 9:35

Paul says to treat everyone in the church as more important than yourself.
He further instructs us to outdo each other in bringing honour to one another.
Romans 12:10

I don't want to be a Cain. May we rejoice at the recognition given to our brothers and sisters in Christ. May we find abundant joy and satisfaction in quietly serving our Lord.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all the earth!
For all who are hurting,
may you hear the song,
God sings for you.

He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.
I will rescue the lame
and gather those who have been scattered,
I will give them praise
and honor in every land
where they were put to shame.
Zephaniah 3:17,19.

Come to me, all who labor
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11: 28

Christmas Thoughts About Joseph

Life just never worked out the way Joseph had planned. I'm sure he imagined how wonderful marriage to Mary would be. The pain and disappointment he felt when Mary told him she was pregnant must have been great. Before he was told in a dream that the situation was from God, he showed great love toward Mary. He wanted to quietly take her away, to save her from disgrace. The marriage was not working out the way he had planned but God was in it.


How did he feel when arriving in Bethlehem, after a long and exhausting trip, to find there was no place for them at an inn? He could not find suitable accommodations for his wife, who was so close to giving birth. How did he feel when the child he would raise, was born in a stable with the livestock? Did he feel like a failure, an insufficient provider? This was not as he had imagined, but God was in it.


I wonder if Joseph liked living in Egypt? In one instance he had plans of returning to Nazareth with his expanded family. He probably was looking forward to the joy of being reunited with friends and loved ones. Introducing them to the new arrival. In the next instance the family are fleeing for their lives to Egypt. Egypt instead of Nazareth, but God was in it.


Sometimes life doesn't seem to be working out. Maybe, just maybe, God is in it.

The Offering

They gave to thee
Myrrh, frankincense and gold
But, Lord with what shall we
Present ourselves before thy majesty,
Whom thou redeemedst when we were sold?
We've nothing but ourselves, and scarce that neither,
Vile dirt and clay;
Yet it is soft and may
Impression take.
Accept it, Lord, and say, this thou hadst rather;
Stamp it, and on this sordid metal make
The beauty of the golden mine.


Jeremy Taylor
1613-67

The Christmas Wise Men

It amazes me that men not from Israel but from Persia(Iran) , made their way to Bethlehem to see the child Jesus. In their country they were men of wealth and influence. They were the priest of their region of the world. God gave these men a way to the truth through their own religion. These astrologers were given light by the grace of God. They proved how hungry for God they were by traveling all that way on camel and donkey. It was no easy trip and was extremely dangerous.

Compare them to the scribes and Chief Priest of Israel who in Jerusalem, informed the Magi and Herod that the Anointed One would be born in Bethlehem a scant four miles away. Why did not the religious leaders of Israel who had been given and knew the ordinances and prophecies of the one true God go with the Magi? Their reaction was one of complete indifference. They were so busy in their Temple duties and religious obligations that Jesus meant nothing to them. He was completely disregarded. I believe that in the United States that we react like the scribes. There is a church on every corner, a Bible in every home and hotel room, and most of us know something about Jesus, his birth, death and resurrection, but we are indifferent to it all. Too busy.

May we be like the Magi who hungered and thirst for the truth of God. May we also be willing to go through any hardship to find Him. May we cease to be indifferent when God has blessed us with so much. May we lay down at the feet of Jesus in worship and adoration. May we bring Him the very best gift we have, ourselves.

The Blade of Grass

'A SWORD SHALL GO THROUGH THINE OWN HEART.'
PROPHECY OF SIMEON

Oh! little blade of grass,
A little sword thou art,
That in thy haste to pass
Hast pierced thy mother's heart!

Oh! little blade of grass,
A little tongue thou art
Of cleaving flame,-alas!
Thou hast cleft thy mother's heart!

Oh! little blade, upcurled
Leaf, sword, or fiery dart,
To win thy Father's world
Thou must break thy mother's heart!

Dora Greenwell

Mary's Response To The Angel Gabriel

"Behold I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.
Luke 1:38

Mary realized what this birth meant for her. How would Joseph respond? She knew there would always be whispers about her fidelity among the community. She has been told that she was favored among women but the blessing from God would bring hurt and pain along with it. She does not pray to change God's mind but accepts His plans. What a great example for us. It has been said that "Jesus Christ came not to make life easy, but to make men great." Mary had great courage and strength and a submissive attitude toward God. God chose well. May you and I develop these same qualities so we too may be used and blessed.

Salus Mundi

I saw a stable, low and very bare,
A little child in a manger.
The oxen knew him, had Him in their care,
To men He was a stranger.
The safety of the world was lying there,
And the world's danger.


Mary Coleridge (1861-1907)

The Shepherds of Christmas

Jesus says “I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10: 11. I have found that shepherds in Jesus time were looked down upon. They were continually in the field with their sheep and could not keep the rules of the orthodox, hand washing, ceremonial cleansing and stated hours of prayer. I have heard them called the homeless of their day. They did the hardest most time consuming work for the smallest of pay. Society did not think much of them but yet scripture, Old and New, is full of their example. I find comfort that Jesus identifies himself with the most humble of people. The shepherds may not have been able to keep the rules of the orthodox, but they spent their time with a strong awareness of God. Whenever they slept under the stars and were caught in the elements of nature, they, more than others were aware of God’s presence. I am reminded of the story of Christ birth. When God announced the birth of his son he did not announce it to the wealthy or the powerful. He did not announce it to Caesar. He did not announce it to Herod. He did not announce it the orthodox, Scribes and Pharisees. He did not announce it to the wise. The Magi had to study, search, and seek, but God split the skies open with angels who said to the humble shepherds, He’s over there! Be last of all. Be servant of all. Sit in the last chair.