December 31, 2006 by admin.

The year of 2007 is on our doorstep. Sometimes I wonder why God has made time to travel so quickly. Does time fly because we were created to live much longer, but sin has corrupted that lifespan? Is the Lord being merciful to us so that we won’t have to live through hundreds of years of pain and sin? Or was God just tired of enduring hundreds of years of sin from every individual? Either way, time is fast. When I look back on this year, I see a year of waste. I haven’t seen spiritual growth and I battle new and old things against the flesh. I wish I could be rid of every sin and have a clean start. New year resolutions won’t help me conquer the flesh. Only self-spiritual-discipline and turning to Christ in every matter will make me separate myself from the old. I long for the day when I get to heaven and can feel free from the continual battle with the flesh. There is no way for me to clear up old ends and make a new start. Yet, that doesn’t give me an excuse to give in. It means I must press on. Why? Christ has commanded and I have a short time-frame to do it in. So get busy. We only have this quick life to do our best for Jesus Christ

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December 23, 2006 by admin.

Just a few hours ago I went to go see the movie The Nativity Story. Coming from a secular company I expected some embellishments and untruths. Yet, I was surprised to see how closely it followed the Biblical story of Christ’s birth.

The movie opened with a passage from Jeremiah. Whenever there were scenes with the angel Gabriel, the movie was nearly word-for-word Scripture. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, their greeting followed Scripture to the tee. I was very impressed with accuracy of Zachariah’s experiences in the Bible.

It was also very pleasing to watch how they built up Joseph. His role was very developed and put in a good light. The movie did not worship Mary like the Passion of the Christ did. Joseph was a leader and a “good man”. His doubts and concerns were completely understandable.
The Nativity Story was completely based around the coming of Jesus. Decisions, conversations, and trials were centered on Jesus. The movie seemed to be historically sound. The only thing that was not Biblically accurate was the timeline. Most likely the wise men would not have arrived on the day of His birth since He was born in a cave but Mary and Joseph were in a house when they found Him (Matthew 2:11). They also left out some things that I wanted to see: I would like to have seen Simeon and Anna; It would have been interesting to watch the hosts of angels singing to the Lord in front of the shepherds; Also, to see the shepherds running through town announcing His birth would have been exciting; Lastly, I wished the wise men would have turned aside from Herod because of the dream from the Lord rather their own discernment. The movie could not have been nearly two hours on straight Scripture due to the few chapters in Luke and Matthew. So the situations that the movie presented could have happened.

The trials Mary and Joseph faced were very real for that time in history. I had never thought about their possible hunger on the way to Bethlehem. Money for taxes had never crossed my mind as a likely problem. The Nativity Story put in a lot of new thoughts that I had never even considered, but seemed very probable. For example: Who is to say that Mary’s parents ever believed her? Who is to say that the town did not look down on Mary and Joseph because of her untimely pregnancy?

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December 18, 2006 by admin.

This past Friday night, my family and I went to go hear a choral society sing. I was thoroughly impressed with their ability. When they sang in harmony and in parts, it took my breath away. One thing stood out the most to me: It was the music conductor. I got to see a large group of accomplished singers waiting for every little motion of the conductor’s hands. They waited so eagerly to see what he would command next. The organist and pianist would only play at his order and with his tempo. The choral group would not make a move without their conductor. They were lost without him. With the smallest motion, they would come in to sing their part and adjust their volume. They needed him to perform. Should we not be that way as Christians? Should we not wait for every word from the Lord with immeasurable eagerness? We should gasp when we see His lips just begin to form words. As one body, we should work cohesively together at His command. We should be lost without Him. We should be terrified to make a peep without His order. As believers, we should be spellbound with His will and His will only.

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December 13, 2006 by admin.

This one passage stood out to me so strongly that I had to let you read it. As the Lord speaks, it really comes across very personal and direct. I left out sections of the verses to make it flow like the way I read it.

Isaiah 43:1c-3a; 4c
NASB

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God… and I love you.”

The affection and poetical beauty is astounding. He speaks like a father who promises to his little children that no harm will ever come to them. Then he kisses their heads and says to them sweetly, “I love you.”

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December 10, 2006 by admin.

My whole life I have underestimated John the Baptist. I suppose I always stereotyped him as a super-spiritual person who wasn’t very human. But John had emotions, desires, and a struggle with sin like every other individual. He was led by Spirit of God and extremely close to the Lord (not like every other individual). Did he have to set aside his dreams and plans when he realized God’s purpose for him was to be the forerunner of Jesus? How long did he know that he was created to make way for Christ? At the sight of Christ did he tremble in reverence or was he consumed with peace? What was he thinking as Jesus walked back onto the muddy bank? As John’s disciples left him to follow Christ, did his soul yearn to be at the side of his Savior too? John probably didn’t feel like he had to have a family or have riches with a mansion and herds of sheep. He was the herald of Jesus Christ, and I think he was content and at peace with that purpose.

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December 8, 2006 by admin.

Do we really appreciate how Christ came to earth for us? Is it appreciation when we read the first chapters of Luke or Matthew only around Christmas time but don’t think about it anytime other time? We sing hymns to the Lord rejoicing His miraculous birth in December, but January through mid-November we put it aside. Why? Is His birth more special in the late autumn, early winter season? Is it just because of the Christmas holiday? Churches and believers won’t sing songs of His birth after this month and definitely won’t sing of it before. Throughout the year we sing of crucifixion and resurrection. Why can’t we sing of all these three events all year long? Without Christ’s birth, we would never have had a Savior. Without his death, Christians would not be redeemed from their sins. Without His resurrection, our faith would be nothing. Let us sing and appreciate all of these key events all year long. Forget the seasonal tradition, sing hosanna!

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December 7, 2006 by admin.

Are feelings a solid reality? Should we make decisions by the emotions that feelings produce? When I mention feelings, I am not referring to the human emotions from natural circumstances, but the feelings that guide our decisions. Throughout Scripture I do not recall being advised by the Lord to “use your feelings”. I recommend you go to Bible Gateway and do a search for the keyword “feeling.” In the New American Standard version you will only pull up six results and none of them are suggesting that we should live by them. So why do we allow something to motivate us unbiblically? Is it because everyone is? Feelings are wonderful, deceiving, honest, evil, pure, illogical, unpredictable, unstable, lasting, passionate, fickle, and strong. It would near impossible to lead a life apart from feelings, so what should we do? Strive to detach ourselves from the feelings that try to guide our decisions. Only Christ can remove feeling’s colored glasses that I sinfully put over my eyes. How many reckless relationships have we witnessed under the premise, “We love each other”? In my journal I always refer to my feelings as “my old friends.” These friends I liken to the friends of Job. They always have an opinion about everything and seem to have the clearest ringing voice. Always remember that feeling’s best friend is impulse. Amazingly, their advice is completely disastrous and devoid of any sensible reason. Lord Jesus, only you can help us separate ourselves from the feelings that try to lead us. Give us discernment against our cultural motivator.

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December 6, 2006 by admin.

There are many times in your life when all you see is the bad that is happening. Yet, all the time we don’t see what is going on behind the stage curtain of the world’s tempestuous waves. The Lord works primarily out of our simple eyesight doing great and mighty things. The world is not home. I long to be anywhere the Lord resides. Sometimes all I see is sin, wickedness, and total evil. I see the government abusing the rights of Christians; I see the schools shut down any discussion of God; I see the lost fake Christianity as if they knew what it meant; I see the believers conform; I see the fundamentals of the Bible tossed aside; I see my own faith daily challenged. But in all these things, I find my comfort in the Lord. I turn to my strong tower. I flee to the only isle of hope in my despair: the Lord Jesus Christ.

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