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.

Happy Thanksgiving

May we remember and be grateful for all that God has done for us.

Freedom

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude vs. 4. (ESV)

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.Colossians 2: 20-23. (ESV)

These are extremes. They were part of the early Church and they are with us today. John and Jude fought against those who would trade upon the grace of God to live a life gratifying any of their desires. The elderly disciple John would write that “anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God.” 2John: 9. (Message). The Apostle Paul was in a continual battle against those who would want to place burdens, rules and regulations on the Church to secure a place of control. Paul would say that “they want to shut you out of the free world of God’s grace so that you will always depend on them for approval and directions, making them feel important.” Galatians 4:17. (Message). You can find Churches that are close to one extreme or the other. Most of the arguing we have among ourselves as Christians is because our doctrines lean toward one or the other. To be honest I find this battle rages inside me. So what is the answer? Jude tells us to “carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love. Keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life.” Jude vs. 20-21. (Message). Spend time in personal communion with God. Read Scripture and practice the freedom of living deeply in Christ. We are free to imitate Jesus. We are free to be the person He wants us to be. We are free to walk with Him. We are free to talk with Him. When you commune with Christ wherever it may be, the living room, bedroom, outdoors or anywhere, heaven and earth become one, the seen and the unseen. Christ is all that matters and He lives in us. What a glorious time.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18. (ESV)

Thanksgiving Council

Better is a dry morsel and quietness with
it
Than a house full of feasting with
strife.

Proverbs 17: 1

Example

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance of a man, humbled himself and became 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 confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Philippians 2: 5-11.To me this is one of the most exciting passages of scripture. My heart beats a little faster when Paul writes that every knee should bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus is so wonderful, but Paul uses this as an example which we should follow in our relationship with others. This is how we should behave toward other believers. Paul writes in these verses that Jesus did four things and expects us to do them as well.1. He made himself nothing.2. He took the very nature of a servant.3. He humbled himself.4. He became obedient. When we are asked to do as Jesus did the passage becomes daunting. It is our very nature to exalt ourselves, to be self important, to be dominating and to do as we please.It is clear we are unable to do this without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Do we really believe that we can do nothing without Christ? If we do we will pray. The very act of prayer is an act of humility. If we cannot humble ourselves before God how are we going to be able to humble ourselves before man? If we do not pray then we are trying to be self-sufficient and we will never be able to obey.The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2 what we should be like with other believers. Is this how we are when we gather at our local church? “Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God. Philippians 2: 2-4, 14.” Let us pray

Quote 5

Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin, the sin that is left over without any excuse, after all allowances have been made, and seeing it in all is horror, meanness, and malice, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it. That, and only that, is forgiveness. C.S. Lewis

Road

“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.” Matthew 7: 13 & 14. This is another of those verses that are disturbing. If you ask a group of people if they were going to Heaven most would say they are. According to Jesus that is not the case. How I wish this verse were reversed and told us that the majority would find life and only a few of the very worst of people would go to destruction. To write that most will go to destruction and not find life is difficult. But I didn’t say it, Jesus did. Am I more loving and compassionate than Jesus? No, no, no, and neither are you. For Jesus is love, and he came to this earth to die. To sacrifice his life, to suffer, that all who would accept his sacrifice, might take the narrow road to life. “Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15: 13. In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul wrote about the narrow road to life and it has become known as the Roman Road. “All have sinned and fell short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 23. I have heard it said that we are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners. We all in our heart fall so short of the goodness and purity of God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6: 23. But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5: 8. This is to me is the most amazing verse in scripture. To think that the Sovereign Creator of the universe would care for us at all is unbelievable! Add to that, that we are far short of what he created us to be and he still cares! He still loves! What is man that God is mindful of him? Yet Christ died for us! The last verses of the Roman Road state; “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10: 9. Welcome to the narrow road. “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10: 11 & Isaiah 28: 16.

Quote 4

" Man achieves the fullness of prayer not when he expresses himself, but when he lets God be most fully present in prayer."

John Paul II
Crossing The Threshold of Hope

Danger

“Forgive seventy times seven.” Matthew 18: 22. There are many times in scripture that what I read disturbs me. When I first read, Jesus wants me to forgive others infinitely, continually and completely, I think to myself, I can’t do it. This is impossible! Then I remember that Jesus doesn’t tell us to do anything that he doesn’t do himself. The greatest danger to my fellowship with Christ is when I sin and must ask him to forgive me for something I have asked forgiveness for time and time again. When this occurs I am so ashamed. Thoughts come to me that he will not forgive, that there is a limit. He is so holy. He is righteous. He is perfect. He also is love and he is merciful. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9. Another danger is if I do not forgive. After Jesus tells Peter to forgive seventy times seven he tells the parable about the unmerciful servant. The servant after being forgiven a large sum of money by his master did not forgive a small amount that was owed to him. The master finds out and “in anger turned him over to the jailers to be tortured.” Matthew 18: 34. I have been in that prison, the prison of anger, bitterness and resentment. There is no happiness or joy in that place. Jesus paid a heavy price so that we may be forgiven. He “being the very nature of God”, “made himself nothing, and taking the very nature of a servant.” “He humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!” Philippians 2: 6, 7, 8. Torture. To not forgive shows us as insincere and ungrateful for what He did.

Thunder

“And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.” Revelation 4: 5. One of the things I like best about Oklahoma is the thunder storms. I thrill to the hard rain, the low roll of thunder followed by the flash of lightning. Then the loud boom, which shakes the ground and the house. I feel the power of God and yet I realize that this is only an infinitesimal fraction of that power. In our own solar system Jupiter’s red spot is a storm that can swallow the earth whole. On a 12 inch scale, Earth would be one inch away from the Sun, Pluto 3 ½ feet. The nearest star other than the Sun would lie 4 ½ miles away! Our sun is only one lonely star among several hundred billion throughout the universe. Our galaxy is one amongst millions. Yet the Sovereign Almighty God who created all this became a man and lived among us! He was born not in a palace but a stable. He cried. His wonderful mother not much more than a girl herself cleaned him. He grew. He played. He worked. His muscles ached. He hungered. He ate. He was thirsty. He drank. He grew tired. He slept. He showed anger. He laughed with our children on his lap. He prayed. He fasted. He had compassion. He healed us. He fed us. He forgave us. He told stories. He taught. He taught us how to love. He showed us how to love. He told us to pray for those who persecute us, to love our enemies. He washes our feet and told us to do likewise. And then we killed him. I hear thunder.

“And I looked and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.You are worthy to take the scroll,And to open its seals;For You were slain,And have redeemed us to God byYour bloodOut of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,”Revelation 4: 6, 7, 9.

Quote 3

What can't be cured can be endured.
Puritan Adage

Faithful

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 108: 4. God is so faithful even when I am not. It is so amazing to me how He has taken care of me in the times when I have been in the process of going further and further away from Him. I was on staff at the church when I had been hurt by members whom I had loved in it. I did not leave immediately but stayed on even after they had gotten a new Pastor, about six months. When I resigned I had only a part-time job that I worked along with the church work. My wife works fulltime so she was supporting us. After about six weeks she told me we were behind for the month, about 280 dollars. I had to get a job.I went to a grocery store that I had been employed with while in collage. The store is family owned and one of three in the town. It was just before Thanksgiving and the day before I walked in asking for a job, they had lost an Assistant Manager. Rick a son in- law of the owner told me to go to one of the other stores the next day and speak with Larry, Manager, and son of the owner. The next day Larry hired me and then told me that his father Coy wanted to speak with me. In his office he said to me, “Gary, I knew I was going to hire you before you did.” He went on to tell me how two days previous he his son and sons in-law were discussing what they were going to do with Thanksgiving a week or two away and short one Assistant Manager. As Coy left the meeting he told them “Hire Gary Wood”. This was the same day my wife informed me that we were behind 280 dollars for the month. Just before I left his office he asked me as he reached for his wallet if I could use some help. I told him no that the job was enough and we would be fine. Then he said “Let me put it to you this way would you take a bonus for being hired?” He then laid 3 one hundred dollar bills on his desk! I went home put the money on the table with a short note and then went to my other part-time job and gave my two weeks notice. My wife came home and wept when she saw the way God had taken care of us. I wish I could say that this experience made me stronger with God but it did not. I continued to grow more bitter and cynical and further away from Him. Even when I am not faithful God is. Today the family that God used to help me at that time attends the church that my wife and I joined. When I see them I am always reminded that God is faithful and His love truly is great.