Tag: Christmas

Pizza Note: Don’t Forget, Jesus is Coming Back Again

Jesus came as a baby. This we remember.

God gave the greatest gift to the entire world. We hear hymns of, Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. And we respond, as we choose gifts for those we love.

And we remember Easter. God’s greatest provision for us by sending His precious Lamb to earth, to die on the cross that He might pay our debt of sin, the debt we could never be free of on our own.

But we forget, He’s coming back again. And it is very soon.

We know how to clean up house for guests, but our we ready for the return and second coming of the King of Kings?

Jesus is coming soon.

We must let this awesome and fearful news wake us up and make preparations in our heart, mind, and spirit. Do we know Jesus? He came not to condemn the world, as John 3:17 reminds us, but Jesus came “in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

Don’t forget: Jesus loves you. He’s on your side. Don’t be tempted to turn your back to Him. He will never do that to you.

 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here Romans 13:11,12.

If your heart is touched by the soon arrival of the King of Kings, and you’re house is out of order, or you aren’t sure your door has been opened to Him, simply talk to Him, and pray a prayer from your heart, (along these lines, or perhaps not,) telling Jesus,

“I’m sorry for my sins. Forgive me of all of them.

Change me Lord.

Help me let go of my past hurts and losses, each and every one of them.

Help me believe You Jesus and know You more. Make me a new creation. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might have Your peace, hope, and resurrection power working in me to love in a true and real way.

In Jesus name, Amen.”

The evergreen, in the midst of night …

The evergreen is brought in, this time again. Adorned with lights, and gifts, and angels of white, baubles of red and garlands of thread. With my thoughts ringing, “Do not be afraid, …”  remembering what the angel said.
“So much has changed.” as I hang a nativity up on the tree. “Dear God, I need You to speak in such a time as this. Please don’t be silent. I’m tempted to doubt that I can get through this …
So I open up the story, told over and again, and I read the words of the angel to Mary, from a long, lost time, from way back when: “… for you have found grace with God … you will give birth to a Son and  you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the most High … and of his reign there will be no end.”
Luke Chapter 1 verse 33, Amplified. And, then You hear my heart cry, “Oh God, what does all this mean for me? In the midst of the night, let me hear, let me rest. Let me simply sit in this uncomfortable – ness!
So, I sit. In the night. But I marvel at the sight. Amidst anxious thoughts, wrestling to overthrow my rest and peace, I look upon the evergreen.
“For with God nothing is ever impossible, and no word from God shall be without power …” the Amplified version of Luke 1:37 speaks. I read them, and I wonder, “Do I believe?
Do I really believe the Word of God? Or only on sunflower days, and when the sod is soft and green. do I believe God when all seems against all my understanding?”
So as I look at the evergreen in the room. Adorned with lights, and gifts, and angels of white, I see the baubles of red, and remember the blood that was shed. I see the garland of thread, and think of the Good Word I have read:
Mary’s response to the news of the angel: “My soul glorifies the Lord
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, …”
Somehow I forgot Luke 1:47. How could I miss the response that was given.
“Oh dear Lord, may I choose to rejoice as well, and worship You, for, …
 “…for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant …
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.”
This is the story, Luke 1:48-50. These are the words breathed by God, to tell –
to tell me that today, even in the midst of night, that He is great and will extend mercy, even on me, all the same. “Give me grace, dear Lord Jesus, to magnify and give You my praise, through my heart’s tears and through the dark rain. The Son dwells in my heart forever. The Son Of God does great things,
and this Christmas, I will again, believe.
“O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

Struggling to see light this Christmas . . .

“O soul are you weary and troubled. No light in the darkness you see. There’s a light for a look at the Savior and life more abundant and free.” (1)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, a hymn quite familiar to many, speaks compassion and comfort for the brokenhearted and lonely. God says, “Speak of the hymns,” in His Book of Ephesians. So, speak we will, seeking a light for a look at the Great Physician.
Others are praying in this time of great pain. Prayers going out during this dark of night. But greater still – Jesus is praying – He, the giver and keeper of Life itself.  The King greater than all other Kings, He’s praying for us. The prayers, “Through these tears – “O Lord,Give us sight, through this  darkness and night.”
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (2)

“Behold the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him, Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. He will feed His flock like as shepherd; He will gather His lambs in His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” this is Isaiah Chapter 40 verse 10 and 11. These are words breathed out straight from heaven.

Chapter 30 verse 5 in the Book of Psalms:  “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

“Oh Lord God, give us sight. Give some relief as we wait and are tempted to wonder, ‘why.‘ Open our eyes for spiritual things. We are weak, our mouths are so dry . . .

“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.” The LORD speaks, He is our Immanuel, yesterday and today. He is near, forever.

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double (forgiveness) for all her sins.” (3) This is the word that will not fail, this is the Word of our Immanuel.

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill shall be made low …” (4)

Oh, how we need to be reminded that God, the Creator of the Universe – He’s in control.

“The crooked places shall be made straight, And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”(5)

These are promises given for our hearts to take hold. When there’s darkness and pain and endless oppression, we must remind ourselves, ‘the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’

“All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, …but the word of our God stands forever. O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain, . . . You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities, . . . “Behold your God!” (6)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (7)
There’s a light for a look at the Savior . . . His word shall not fail you, He’s promised . . . Over us sin no more hath dominion – For more than conquerors we are!
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (8)
The light has been given, the weak hands that hang down, are strengthened to hold the sword of God’s word. Nothing has changed, save the spirit inside us, now transformed and encouraged to hope and have faith and to love – Victorious!
 There’s a light for a look at the Savior. A light, so abundant and free : God’s love never fails … For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. (9)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
 (1) Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

(2) John 10:11

(3) Isaiah 40:1,2.

(4) Isaiah 40:3,4a.

(5) Isaiah 40:4b,5.

(6) Isaiah 40:6-9.

(7) Romans 8:34.

(8) Romans 8:37-39.

(9) 1 Corinthians 13:8,12).

The People Keep a Comin,' but the Train's . . .

The people keep a comin’ and the train done gone. Do you remember an old Christmas spiritual called, Mary Had a Baby? Today, I think on this St. Helena Island Spiritual.
It has deep soul and sweet simplicity: Mary had a baby, yes, Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes my Lord,
Mary had a baby, yes Lord,
People keep a-comin’ an’ the train done gone.
There is natural melody, even if the true melody is unknown. But, I can’t stop thinking about the phrase,  People keep a-comin’ an’ the train done gone.
There was a lot going on then.  (Which doesn’t take away from thae fact that there is a lot going on now.) 
This story isn’t only about the past, this story is about today, right now, this very moment. Mary had a baby, yes, Lord.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up . . . out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to . . . Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, Luke 2:4.
OK, now it makes sense: The people keep a comin, but what about the thought, the train done gone?
The kids sing it so simply: Mary had a baby. Yes, Lord.  The familiar Bible Story, found in Luke 2 and Matthew 1.
What did she name Him? Yes Lord?
What did she name Him, yes my Lord,
What did she name Him, Yes, Lord, …
A virgin shall be with Child and they shall call His name, Immanuel. Matthew 1:23.
 Immanuel, God with us. Mary had a Baby and He is God with us. 
The people keep-a-coming, and the train done gone. Have we missed something. Have we missed the Everything?
 
The word of God is living. It’s alive. It rings true yesterday, today, and forever: At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. Luke 2:1.
We’re traveling here and there. Days are busy. We are occupied with important things. We are “counting” on many things.
Does this song bring about an urgency? Is there a “train” we might miss?
Do we really have time to seek out this Jesus?
 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
‘Mary had a baby, Yes Lord…what did she name Him? Yes,  my Lord… ‘She named Him King Jesus, Yes Lord, …the people keep a coming but the train done gone.”
Have we put Jesus in the barn?
Let us wake up to the sounds of angels. The birth announcement is made: Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid, Luke 2:8.
And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” 
 A Savior has been born to you.
To me, to you, to everyone in the whole world: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
The Immanuel has here.
He is Savior of the world. That Babe left all His glory of heaven to be born in a barn and wrapped in a few rags for me, for you. Today, the story is true.
‘Mary had a baby, Yes Lord. The glory train is here today. Let us choose to get on, right now, for Love has come.
Mary had a baby, Yes lord!
The people keep-a-coming and the train’s all mine. I see it, and I’ve boarded, will you join me this time?
 
 

"Oh! How we need Christmas in July!"

“Oh! How we need Christmas in July!”
“Christmas?! For what?! Please, tell me why?”
“Well, it’s not about shopping, the stress and all that- it’s remembering Jesus-He came to save us-to redeem us-complete!”
“Oh! How we need Christmas and hear once again, “Joy to the world, the LORD is come!” How we so desperately need to let these words ring…‘Joy to the world, the LORD is come! Let -earth -receive- her -King!”
“The news is SO bad, but to ‘whosoever’ has received, we cry out in the wilderness: “Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing…” Yes, we need Christmas in July! We will sing with the heavens, ‘and heaven and nature sing’ – we choose to rejoice and sing to our King!”
We are told in God’s word what to do when times of dark, thunderous clouds appear. We are to ‘aim at and seek the rich and eternal treasures above’ – to ‘set our minds’ on higher things – not on things that are near! (Col. 3:2, Amplified, and my paraphrase)!
“Oh, how we need Christmas this July to raise our thoughts and praise even higher than the skies! “Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!” This is the song we must sing again! The media is one-sided, we MUST HAVE GOOD NEWS! “Joy to the earth, the Savior Reigns!”
“He rules the world with truth and grace. And makes the nations prove, the glor -ies of  – His righteousness – and wonders of His love! AND – WONDERS of HIS LOVE!” The people raise their fists against Him to mock and scorn and fight and sue…
But JESUS, in great agony on the cross, spoke these words: “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).
“Oh, how we need Christmas! Everyday, in fact. To bear gifts of myrhh, and gold, and frankenscence- “No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground.’ For ‘as the world is concerned, we have died – we have been crucified with Christ (Col 3:1) – but He rose! And we live! It makes perfect sense:
“The life that we now live in the flesh we live by faith IN HIM – and He comes ‘to make His blessings flow. Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found… “He comes to make His blessings flow! Joy to the world, the Lord is come! He is King. He rules the world, and He rules with Truth and Grace! ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16). Oh the ‘wonders of His love’ He comes to make – His- blessings – FLOW!’ Jesus came so HIM we could know!”
“Oh- Let us bring Christmas to our hearts each new day. Let us bring ‘Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns!’ He’s on the throne! He’s in control! Let us sing, let us say, (even today), “Let men their songs employ!” When Christ who is our life appears, then we will also appear with Him in glory! Let us bring Christmas to each and every day, giving thanks to Him with praise and hope and sharing the gift of the Good News! His-STORY!’
You don’t need a hymnal, you have heard this song. Hear the words and be glad today: He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove – the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, And wonders of His love…“Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”(Luke 23:34).
“…and won-ders, WON-DERS – of – His – LOVE!” Yes, we must set our minds on things above! Christmas in July- because a ‘cheerful heart is good medicine’ this is all the medicine I need for today! Jesus Christ came as a baby to die on that dreadful cross that I might have LIFE, instead of death…for my sin!
“O Come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvations.” (Ps. 95:1). “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion…(Hebrews 3:15). Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let men, their songs…employ! Even in July, let us remember these things and tell the world that the LORD REIGNS!
(Joy to the Word, Isaac Watts).

Today, Jesus is King

Happy Birthday to the King. Happy Birthday to the One who reigns. You are King of my heart, O Lord. You are King of my heart!
Today You are King, on Your special day that the angels did say to all of mankind, blessing and goodwill and peace You give…
I choose to receive Your love, Your great love. I choose today, a-new in my heart to receive all that You have for me- right now My God, a-new THIS day.
Jesus, You reign, You are King over all. And blessings abound to those who acknowledge this truth that’s been given from time and again, prisoners are set free from the chains of great sin, and the weary find rest for their fretful souls when they call out Your Name which is higher than all!
You are King today, today I will choose, even in want and in great pain and great loss, even in all that – I choose to trust You.
I love You my King, keep me close by Your side. Help me to trust. Help me abide. I will rejoice today with many others, and I pray that as the sun rises tomorrow, I’m in this same place- singing Your praises and exalting Your name.
I love You Lord Jesus. To You I do bring, the gift of my heart, please keep it my King, because it’s prone to wander so far . Please keep it and help me to follow You true.
strong>”For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11).

Some POWERFUL Christmas fun!

OK,I feel as a worship leader, ( well, to my own little world,) I am going to make the effort to get the world to sing a new song with a powerful flow.
Most of us are very familiar with the melody of the traditional Christmas hymn, “Hark the Harald Angels Sing” written around 1739 by Charles Wesley. But today, try singing the words to the Wesley hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” …
to his ‘Hark the Harald Angels’ melody! Really! It is quite remarkable!
I tell you, if the lights are not shining bright this Christmas, this will bring the Christmas joy to any ‘ba-humbug’ heart! Jesus came to earth for each of us to…die for our sins and failures. But He didn’t stay in the grave! Sing with me a ‘new-old, switched around song: (remember to Hark the Harold melody),
“Christ the Lord is risen today, sons of men and angels say, “Raise your joys and triupmphs high, Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply.” “Lives again our glorious King, Where, O death, is now thy sting? Dying once He all doth save, Where thy victory, O,O, grave? Alleluia, Allelu….Glory to our Savior King!”
“Love’s redeeming work is done Fought the fight, the battle won! Death in vain forbids Him rise, Christ hath opened Paradise! Soar we now where Christ has led, Following our exalted Head, Made like Him, like Him we rise, Ours the cross, the grave, the skies…
Hark the Harold Angels sing, “Alleluia, Christ our King!”
(OK, I took some liberties at the end to make it flow!)The baby came to die and to rise again! He is ‘the author and finisher of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:2),
He is the one ‘who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ (Hebrews 12:2).
This is how we can sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth prepare receive her King!”
Yes, every heart needs to be prepared to ‘make Him room’. He is our victory. ‘Where, O death, is now thy sting, Dying once He all doth save, Where thy victory, O grave? Aaaaaleluia!
Christmas is a time to be encouraged in the light. The light of God has come into the world – to remind us what is true,(because there is one who lies and ‘steals,kills, and destroys’ roaming about to see whom he can devour), “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”(Romans 8:37).
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. (!)(Romans 8:34, exclamation point, mine).

Joy has come into the world, He makes intercession for us, and He has come to earth to die on the cross and to rise again and because of all of this, we can ‘be persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38,39).
Now we can rejoice and be exceedingly glad just like the shepherds that cold starry night, “A-a-a-a-a-le-lu-u-iah!”

There is a gift, and there is a GIFT!

Don’t your eyes just gravitate to signs that read “Buy One, Get One FREE!” We love the word ‘FREE’! But truthfully, when I really do the addition, I’m paying the right price for the product anyway!
The only thing that is truthfully free is the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ.
It’s FREE! (Well, it wasn’t free for Jesus, it cost Him His life, but for us – it’s FREE.)
Now, believing in Santa is fun, and you get presents, (if you were nice and not naughty); but the presents get old and wear out, they are the gifts that ‘keep on breaking!’
But believing in Jesus brings the gift of His gracious salvation, with a special add-on, the peace of God.He alone offers a free gift and He alone offers a gift that really keeps on giving!
His gift? Seventeen times in the New Testament the gift is:
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Who doesn’t want unearned favor? Who doesn’t want peace? But the only way to have peace, is to first have…grace! Unless we receive His grace, we will never know His peace.
You see, unlike Santa, Jesus is not checking His list of who’s ‘naughty and nice.’ And you don’t have to work harder to deserve His love.
“But I’ve really messed up,” You might say, ” I really don’t think I ‘do’ a lot of good things that make God happy.”
This is the message that we must “Go, and tell it on the mountains”:
GOD IS LOVE. He is gracious. He pours out blessing on the undeserved. God’s love is not dependent on my faithfulness – God’s love is dependent on His very nature of love.
Our nature? “All we like sheep have gone astray;” (Is. 53:6), (not just you, ALL of us ‘miss the mark’.) “We have turned everyone to his own way;” (not just you, everyone.)
God’s nature?”…and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
THAT is grace. That is saving grace. Songs are written of this ‘amazing grace!’
God didn’t wait until we all got on the right road, no, because God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:8)
Today, have you received His grace? It’s free. “Be still and know that He is God.”
Take time every day to receive God’s love. As if He is handing you, not a once a year gift, but a daily gift , and you say, “Lord, I receive Your love.”
There’s a lot of ‘Ho-Ho-Ho’-ing going on, so while we are out and about, let us receive the grace of God, His undeserved favor, and we in turn will be filled with His peace. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” But if you are not sure you have ever had that conversation with the Father in heaven about wanting to receive the love and forgiveness of His Son, …
it’s easy. You see, the work has been done by Jesus. He knows that we as sheep, have ‘all gone astray.’ He knows we have ‘turned everyone to his own way’, but “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6).
Simply come to Him, just as you are this moment. “Don’t be afraid. For there is born to you THIS day,… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). “This is the day the Lord has made…” (Psalm 118:24). He will receive you. Give Him your mess. He’s the only One who is big enough for it all. He will take it and make you new! “Therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
That’s what the age old songs tell us over and over again: “Joy to the world the Lord is come, …no more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground! He comes to make His blessings flow…”That’s the grace part! And we hear it as the song is played: “Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King. Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled…” That is peace.
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,…”(2 Corinthians 5:18), and in case we still don’t understand, the word continues: “…that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
That is “grace to you and peace multiplied!”(1 Peter 1:2, emphasis mine!)
There is a gift, and there is a Gift! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!…God is the LORD, And He has given us light;…” (Psalm 118:26). So just as the shepherds who were ‘harkened’ by the angels, after they had ‘seen this thing that the angels had told them about, they went about glorifying and praising God!’ (Luke 2:20).
Today is the day…the light has come into the world. The wise men saw it and ‘rejoiced and were exceedingly glad!’ (Matthew 2:10). Let us receive Him, one time for salvation…
daily for grace and peace! Amen!
Do I hear an Amen?

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