Merry CHRISTmas, Friends!

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who is called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38)

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 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.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, and angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then 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. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth, peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.  (Luke 2:1-20)

As the heavenly host praised God and celebrated the birth of the Savior, let us praise God and celebrate Him today. As the shepherds sought out the Savior, praising God for revealing such a gift to them, let us likewise seek out our Savior and praise God for such a miraculous gift of Love. As Mary pondered these things in her heart, let us ponder the wonder of Christ in our hearts.

Merry CHRISTmas, friends!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (sing it with me!). Everywhere we go. There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel,

one in the park as well, but if you have one in

your house you’re going to hell.

Yesterday a friend on Facebook asked me to add my opinion to her post regarding a passage in Jeremiah, and OF COURSE, I knew I had to discuss it with all of you!

Thus says the LORD: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple.

-Jeremiah 10:2-4

I remember years ago reading this portion of scripture. I became so convinced that having a Christmas tree in my house was complete disobedience to God that I threw my tree stand out, right along with my ornaments, lights, garland, and countless other Christmas paraphernalia. I was DONE celebrating this pagan holiday in which all anyone did was spend money, complain about spending money, and then complain some more when they didn’t get that one perfect gift. Where did Christ fall into all of this? What about His gift to us? And if I see one more fat bearded man in a red suit, why I’ll…….

Ok, so I can be quite dramatic and passionate in my beliefs. If only I could take that zeal and use it for the things that really DO matter. Yep, that‘s what I said, things that DO matter. Because honestly, a Christmas tree really is the least of our problems.

If we look closely at this portion of scripture, we find that the word workman (verse 3) is not referring to a lumberjack going out into the local field and chopping down a Christmas tree. No, this word speaks of “a fabricator of any material… carpenter… craftsman… engraver”.* This workman is someone who takes the chisel and forms a ‘tree’ into any number of different shapes. The issue being addressed here: don’t cut down a tree, form it into a god, decorate it with fine silver and gold, and worship it! I recall a similar situation in the scriptures, only it involved gold rings which were fashioned into a golden calf and worshiped as the god “that brought [the Israelites] out of the land of Egypt” (Ex 32:4). To say it is sin to have a Christmas tree in our home would be equal to professing sin on those that wear gold rings because someone once, thousands of years ago, used gold rings to make a false god.

Now that I have briefly shared my convictions, I challenge you to search the scriptures yourself, if you haven’t already, and seek God for His truth regarding this issue. However, with all of this comes a word of caution: wherever your convictions lead you, be fully convinced in your own mind and do not despise and judge others in their convictions (Rom 14:1-6). As with most things, I suppose this boils down to a heart issue- Please don’t worship your tree this season.

Oh, and Merry CHRISTmas from...

I anxiously anticipate hearing about your convictions on this issue, and where God has led or is leading you in this area. Please share! And if you want daily updates, ‘LIKE’ my Facebook page.



* Strong, James H. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House Company, 1989. Print. – (Hebrew #2796 charash, khaw-rawsh)

Images courtesy of: http://aboutmyrecovery.com/no-christmas-tree/, http://mitchellk.photoshelter.com/image/I0000XckwF8cX6CI

A Thankful Heart

Do you have a favorite book of the bible? A favorite scripture passage maybe? I do, but they seem to be constantly changing. However, one of the Psalms I continually go back to and reflect upon is Psalm 95. I just love to read the praises of God; to be reminded that He is a great God, the King above all gods, the Creator of everything we see; that He is my God. These reminders encourage me to be grateful on this Thanksgiving Day. These truths stir my spirit to worship Him, to kneel before the LORD my Maker!

There is also a warning within this Psalm that I must heed: the hardness of my heart. Oh, I can look back and see so many Thanksgivings I spent being anything but thankful. How I sulked and moped about, ruining not only my Thanksgiving but that of my family. I remember the year I defrosted the turkey incorrectly, leaving it inedible, forcing my hubby to go in search of another one Thanksgiving morning. Have you ever tried to find a store open Thanksgiving Day in Douglas County? It's no easy task! I recall being so stressed and grouchy no one wanted to even be around me. Who wants to spend Thanksgiving Day with an unthankful, cantankerous wife and mother? Not my family!

The last half of Psalm 95 speaks of those who have seen the works of the Lord, yet during times of trials and difficulties refuse to remember those works, refuse to choose to worship God with a thankful heart, refuse to enter the rest He beckons us into. I know that I am not alone and that we all have burdens this morning. Today I am afflicted with thoughts of spending the holidays without my gramma, with tension about financial stresses, with worry that this day may not turn out to be the best Thanksgiving Day ever. Today I am busy. BUT... I am choosing to remember who God is. I am choosing to shout joyfully to Him. I am choosing to come before Him with thanksgiving. Today I choose to set my eyes on my King! On this Thanksgiving Day, I choose to hear His voice and rest in Him.

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

For the LORD is the great God,

And the great King above all gods.

In His hand are the deep places of the earth;

The heights of the hills are His also.

The sea is His, for He made it;

And His hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture,

And the sheep of His hand.

Today, if you will hear His voice:

"Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,

As in the day of trial in the wilderness,

When your fathers tested Me;

They tried Me, though they saw My work.

For forty years I was grieved with that generation,

And said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts,

And they do not know My ways.'

So I swore in My wrath,

'They shall not enter My rest.' "

~Psalm 95

A People Who Worship

Last night my family watched a National Geographic documentary entitled ‘Inside North Korea’ with reporter Lisa Ling. You can view this documentary on Netflix as we did or on YouTube by clicking here. You will be overwhelmed by the things you experience through this short, powerful video.

The citizens of North Korea live in oppression, poverty, and slavery under a dictator they fear, yet revere. They are allowed no communication with the outside world: no TV, no cell phones, no internet, and the only observed literature are books written by Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s preceding leader and father of the current leader Kim Jong Il. Reporter Lisa Ling enters the country with an eye doctor on a mission: to give sight to the blind by performing surgery to over one-thousand cataract sufferers in only ten days. Secretly she is attempting far more than to simply accomplish this medical feat; Ling hopes to get an inside look at the life, people, and leadership of North Korea.

During their ten days, the team is closely monitored and kept under strict supervision. Nevertheless, they are granted permission to visit the home of an elderly blind woman awaiting surgery. When questioned about her loss of vision and desire to see again, her heartfelt response is of her hope to again lay eyes on her cherished leader Kim Jong Il. This reaction is seen repeatedly as the documentary reveals suffering, wounded, stricken citizens of an impoverished country offering great thankfulness and devotion to an iron fisted dictator.  It is mindboggling to witness patient after patient receive their sight, then drop to their knees, hands raised, in worship and thanksgiving to a hanging portrait of Kim Jong Il, as if he himself were their god and healer.  

How can this be?  Why are thousands of uncared for individuals who suffer starvation and the risk of being captured and thrown into concentration camps for the simplest offense, honoring and worshiping the very man responsible for this neglect and terror? How can these men and women raise their children to love, respect, and advocate for a man of such evil intent? Is it because they know nothing else?  Could it be that these people have no idea what health, freedom, joy, or life is?

Scripture says God has placed eternity in their hearts (Eccl 3:11) and that all creation (including those of North Korea) groans for deliverance from the bondage of this life (Rom 8:21-22). Are the people of North Korea worshipping the only ‘deity’ they’ve ever known simply because their Creator fashioned them to do so? God has built within us a desire to worship and these people are doing just that. Sadly they are worshiping a false god while yearning for the true God; a God unknown to them. I pray the eyes of North Korea will be opened to turn to their unknown God, just as Paul proclaimed to the people of Athens: “I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:23-24).

I likewise pray that our country would turn from the gods of this life: riches, pleasure, pride, envy, sexual sin, murder, and turn to the true God, the Creator, the One who fashioned and formed us to love, worship, honor, and spend eternity with Him. I pray we turn from the gods that tear us down to the God that builds us up.