Let Go and then Hang On

Before the believers were filled with the Spirit, it is important to note what they were doing. Acts 1:14 tells us that the believers “all met together and were constantly united in prayer.” They had a decision to make (replacing Judas with either Joseph or Matthias) and they prayed for direction from God. They were united by spending time together and they were united in prayer and “everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit” (2:4).

That explains what they were doing before they received the Holy Spirit, now what did they do afterward?

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to the fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47

They still found unity, not only in time spent together and prayer but also in their generosity toward others. The result of this unity: each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Do we experience that kind of unity today? It is probably rare. We give of our time and join hands in prayer, but there is concern on how generous we can be without leaving ourselves in need or without the security of our possessions or income.

Acts 3 tells us that Peter and John were approached for money by a lame man who was being carried to the Temple Gate to beg. As the man looked up at them eagerly, with expectation of receiving money from them, Peter responded, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you…” Of course they did not have any money, they had already sold all their possessions and given everything they had to the group of believers. So they were left with nothing to give, right? Wrong.

It was when Peter and John had let go of everything this world had to offer that they were able to extend to someone else everything that God has to offer. “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple ahead of them.

All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John. – Acts 3:6-11

When we let go of everything of this world and stop trying to protect ourselves or provide for ourselves, God steps in and we begin to see HIM at work. Self-preservation will get us just that – self-preservation. But letting go of this world and hanging tight to God, praying for wisdom and direction and then following His lead, will give us a life where we are daily astounded by God’s power.

That’s the kind of 2013 I want – a year where God’s work is evident and God is glorified! So this morning I let go and then I hang on tight to God because life is about to get interesting!

When was the last time I was “Peter-bold”?

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter stepped forward and preached what might have been his first sermon. Scripture says: Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles – all who have been called by the Lord your God.” – Acts 2:37-39

We have all been called by God to salvation with the promise that we will receive the Holy Spirit. I want to have a Peter kind-of year! I want to bold in my actions, stepping forward and speaking God’s truths. I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that hearts can be pierced by what HE has for them to hear.

Lord, help me to grow in YOU. Forgive me for my immaturity and my sinful attitudes. Forgive me for my delayed obedience, fear and complacency. Lord, empty me of all that is sinful and fill me with your Spirit. I know that you have called me. Lord, I wholeheartedly say “yes” to your call.

Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day – about 3000 in all. – Acts 2:40-41

Now that’s what I call being a “fisher of men”. Peter’s “catch” that day was great and here’s what I believe is the secret to his success:
– He accepted God’s call, took action and stepped forward
– He did not preach his own words but was filled with the Spirit
– This infilling of the Spirit was because he had confessed his sins and turned to God for the forgiveness of his sins
– He preached for a LONG TIME
– He STRONGLY URGED his listeners

How hard do we try? Do we simply live a good life and hope someone will notice and follow God or do we follow Peter’s approach? When was the last time I was “Peter-bold”? If I want results like Peter saw that day, not for my glory but for the sake of those coming to Christ for forgiveness, I must consider the possibility that there will be times when God is calling me to step forward without hesitation and be patient. It may take a long time and many discussions before a heart is moved. I may need to use persistence and passion in my approach.

In Sunday’s sermon at Pekin First Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Lloyd Brock laid out five things that we can do to get read to be used by God in 2013. The first step falls in line with Peter’s message in Acts 2 – I must purify my heart. Consider these Scriptures shared in Sunday’s sermon:

If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer! Get rid of your sins and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten in innocence. You’ll be strong and free of fear. You will forget your misery. It will all be gone like water under a bridge.” – Job 11:13-16

Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.” – Joshua 3:5

If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

If you keep yourself pure you will be a utensil that God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. – 2 Timothy 2:21

So, if I want the Master to use me for every good work in 2013, I must prepare my heart and pray to Him. I must purify myself, but how? I cannot make myself clean but, if I confess that I have sinned, He is faithful and will forgive me and purify me from my unrighteousness.

Persistence, Passion, Prayer and Purity – these are what I need to have to Prepare myself for 2013.

Step forward knowing God has already been there

After the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter stepped forward (Acts 2:14). We could stop right there, couldn’t we? What powerful words – Peter stepped forward. Peter, the one who left his nets and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:20), the one who walked on the water toward Jesus but lost courage and began to sink (14:29), and also the one who denied him three times and then walked away – this same Peter is now the first to step forward. He was no longer sinking in his faith or pulling out a sword to fight or opening his mouth and saying something foolish. Peter, when filled with the Spirit, was stepping forward.

Peter began to preach the first of many sermons to the crowd, several of which we will study in the coming weeks as we explore Acts. His sermons often included the same general message:
– That Jesus was the Messiah and His death fulfilled prophecy
– That the message of the apostles could be trusted because they were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry on earth and chosen by Him to continue the ministry
– That the message they were called to proclaim is of our need to confess our sins and have faith in God by believing in Jesus so that we, too, will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.” – Acts 2:22-24

“But God knew what would happen…” – Acts 2:23a. There are no surprises for God, He knows all and is not bound by time as we are. For us, tomorrow is a mystery, but there are no unknowns – no mysteries for God. God knew the people would reject Jesus as God’s son and the promised Messiah. He knew they would cry out for His death and demand His crucifixion. But He already had a plan in place – a plan to resurrect Jesus from the dead. He revealed this plan to David long before Jesus was born.

“King David said this about him:
‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today…So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” – Acts 2:25-36

My prayer for all of us this morning is that we can “step forward” into our year with confidence that God knows what is ahead for us. If He can conquer death, He can reign over any situation or challenge that comes our way. I pray that we, like King David, can see that the Lord is always with us. We will not be shaken for He is right beside us. May our hearts be glad, our tongues shout His praise, and our bodies rest in hope. Precious Father, you have shown us the way of life – fill us today with joy in Your presence. Amen.

The gift of the Holy Spirit

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” – Acts 1:8a

Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit and described the result as the receiving of power. The book of Acts described the Spirit’s entrance as a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm and like flames or tongues of fire. The sound was so loud that it was heard across Jerusalem and everyone came running to see what was going on.

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” – Acts 2:1-13

The gift of the Holy Spirit is available for us today and could make a powerful difference on what this coming year is like for us and for those around us. Imagine the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives being so “loud” that people around us take notice. Imagine how God could use us if the Holy Spirit put the words in our mouths so that those to whom we are witnessing or ministering could understand the message – not our message, but His.

Today is January 3rd – we are already into our third day of the new year. Today would be a great day to stop and consider the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives and to ask God for a fresh infilling of His Spirit. To sit in our “upper room” and simply breathe in His presence and ask Him to empty us of all that is who we are and fill us with all that is Him.

Heavenly Father, fill us with your Spirit today. Give us a spirit of wisdom to direct our words and our actions. Give us a spirit of compassion to lead our hearts in the direction you pull. Empty us of our own selfish desires and give us a heart that beats for only you. May we be witnesses of your power in our lives this year. Amen.

2013 – The ride is about to begin…

Resolutions – to make or not to make, that is the question. I am one of those people who like to set goals for myself, whether it is for today or for this week or for this month or for this year. Because I am wired this way, as I am guessing many of you are, I like taking time to consider what resolutions I should make for the coming year.

I know there are several things I would like to do this year – some weight I would like to lose, some new habits I would like to form, some books I would like to read, some improvements I would like to make. But beyond my own heart’s desire, I find myself asking God this morning what He would like to do with my year.

I asked God this question a year ago. I gave Him permission to direct my ways and choose my paths and OH what a year I had. The year was full of blessings but, in many ways, one of the most difficult years I have experienced so far. But that is what I signed up for, right? Whatever, wherever, whenever. But, as I sit in this place of commitment again, I must admit I sense some hesitation on my part.

Let me reveal a little something about myself – I have a love / hate relationship with roller coasters. I love the thrill of the ride…when it’s over. As I move closer to the front of the line, I get a little more nervous. As I listen to the current riders screaming and the loud sound of the roller coaster rushing by, my heart starts to beat just a little faster. I know I am going to be safe and I know I am going to get off the roller coaster with a smile on my face, but the anticipation is nerve-wracking. I sit down, buckle up, and tighten my grip on the bars.

This is much truer when I ride a new roller coaster for the first time, like I did this week on vacation. I am unsure of what to expect. The ride is about to begin, zero to 70 mph in 3 seconds. The commitment has been made, seat belts fastened, but the upcoming ride is unknown and I find myself a little nervous…okay, scared. The next two minutes of my life are now completely out of my control.

My natural tendency is to want to be in charge, I like being in control. But my natural pattern is to really mess things up when I try to do things of my own strength or follow my own plan. I hear God asking me this morning, “Do you trust me? Can I have another year?” Yes, of course I trust You, Lord. Please calm my fears and help me to loosen my grip as I place 2013 in Your hands. The commitment has been made but the upcoming ride is still unknown and I find myself nervous…okay, scared.

Imagine how nervous the disciples were when they went to the upper room in anticipation of what was next. They had just watched Jesus ascend into Heaven. They had made the commitment to follow Him but the road ahead was unknown, the anticipation great. But they did not need to ask God the question, “What would you like for me to do this year?” or “What resolutions would you like for me to make?” Jesus had already given them directions in His last few days with them. Now it was time to do what Jesus was asking them to do, just as it is time for us to do what God has already made clear to us.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

Resolution #1 – Be a witness of Christ Jesus wherever He places me each day, a witness in my conversation, in my actions, in my attitudes.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20

Resolution #2 – Go and make disciples, reach out and share the gospel with those who need Jesus, then disciple them as they learn what it means to be a follower of Christ.

“Feed my lambs…Take care of my sheep…Feed my sheep…” – John 21:15-17

Resolution #3 – Compassionate ministry – daily reaching out to those around me and around the world, meeting their physical needs as well as their spiritual needs.

“Peace be with you.” – John 20:19,21

Resolution #4 – Don’t be afraid. Trust God with what is ahead. Rest in His care and in His plan, sit back and prepare for the ride of your life. Loosen your grip, raise your arms in the air and enjoy the ride.

Strain to see Him

Happy New Year! If you are like me, you have spent some time yesterday and today looking back at the last year, as well as looking forward at what the new year will bring. We look back and try to understand our last year – sometimes with mixed feelings of the good and bad, the things we are thankful for and the things we regret, the things that brought joy and the things that were difficult.

In the first chapter of Acts, we see the disciples at a similar point in their lives. A chapter is coming to an end and a new chapter is beginning. They have just spent 40 days with the resurrected Christ, listening and learning from Him, gaining understanding on what His life was about, why He had to die and about what was to come. Now He is leaving them and they are caught between “straining to see him” and anticipating what He said He would be sending to them.

In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. – Acts 1:1-13

In the midst of the celebrations and parties today, I pray each of us is able to take some time to look back and look forward. Let’s look back at all God has taught us in 2012, all the wonderful times mixed with all of the hard times. He has been faithful and He has been present. The evidence of His presence can be seen in a glance but, when we take the time to “strain to see him,” we recognize His hands and feet in even more ways than we initially remembered.

Then let’s look forward in anticipation of what 2013 will hold for us. God has promises for each of us for the coming year. “John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” In the same way that He spoke to His disciples, Jesus is speaking to us – this is what you look back and realize…and this is what is coming. Here are the wonderful things I have done for you, but in a few days…

Precious Father, we thank you for your Presence in our lives this past year. You have been faithful and You have been generous with us. You have blessed us beyond our expectations and we praise You! Lord, today we sit at your feet and intentionally seek You as we end one chapter of our lives and begin a new one. Thank you for all you have done in 2012 and thank You for all You will do in 2013. We love you. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

May you find PEACE this week by focusing on the Christ Child – finding peace in the presence of God, who says to you, “Come…give ear and come to me; hear me…seek the Lord…call on me…” If we want to find peace this Christmas, we must bring ourselves to the One whose way is perfect. We must find ourselves daily in His presence, listening and hearing. It is in the presence of our Prince of Peace, seeking His will, that we will find joy and peace – a place where we are not seeking to please men but a place where the mountains become the choir and the trees supply the applause.

Isaiah 55:1, 3, 6
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.

3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

We have come to worship Him

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”- Matthew 2:1-2

We have come to worship him. What a great reminder for me this morning to check my intent when I enter into my quiet time or go to a service at Church. I think there are a lot of times when I am going through the motions instead of sincerely entering into His presence to worship Him. When I wake up, grab a cup of coffee, turn on the fireplace, and open my Bible, it would be helpful to pause and consider that this time is not about me but about Him. When I walk into the Church, it is not about who I get to see or whether or not I am going to like the song selection, I am there to worship God.

But it is so easy to be distracted by everything else going on – my own thoughts wander or I am distracted by focusing on people instead of the Savior. The wisemen could have easily been distracted as well. The wisemen came to Jerusalem intently looking for the King of the Jews. This was not something they were doing half-heartedly. They had spent years studying for this journey and their hearts were committed to this search. But there was one who tried hard to distract them – to make this search about him instead of about the newborn King.

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I may go and worship him.” – Matthew 2:3-8

This was the moment when their purpose for their search could have changed. This is the person who could have distracted them from their calling. This is time in which their quest could have become about earthly success or acclaim, but the wisemen stayed focused on their original purpose – to find and worship the King of all Kings.

After they heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. – Matthew 2:9-11a

The Message describes their reaction as “They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him.” The NLT says they were “filled with joy.”

When we enter into God’s house or enter into His presence during our daily quiet time, if we have truly come to worship Him and if we block out distractions and focus on Him, we can be overcome with joy. We can bow before Jesus, open up our hearts to Him, and sincerely worship Him. Then we can empty ourselves and offer Him everything we have to give.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. – Matthew 2:11b

Have you picked out your gift for Jesus this year? It’s not too late. There are six more shopping days:) I can tell you what He wants from you this year. He wants YOU – all of you, focused on Him and entering into His presence sincerely intent on worshiping Him.

Why shepherds, why me?

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared among them and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” – Luke 2:8-12

Have you ever wondered why shepherds? Why did God choose this group of shepherds to be the first visitors to the Messiah? I wonder if they had the same response – Why me? Out of everyone you could have given this opportunity, why did you choose me? I am not the smartest or the funniest or the most attractive, and definitely not the most talented. Why choose me to be a part of this big plan? I am not perfect. I have definitely made my share of bad decisions and spoken words I immediately regretted, yet you love me and have a plan for my life.

Terrified – do you know what it is to be scared to death of God’s plan? It is in those moments, like this one the shepherds experienced, that we do not fully understand what is happening. Yet God calls us to trust Him. “Don’t be afraid!” Trust me, even when it means not understanding.

“I bring you good news…” This is a good thing. There is no need to be scared, no need to worry. This new thing, this change in your life, is a good thing. You may not see it now but trust me – “Don’t be afraid!”

“And you will recognize him…” I’m not going to hide from you. Seek me with all your heart and you will find me. Look around, there is evidence of my hands all around you. If you take the time to watch and listen, you will recognize me and you will hear from me.

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heavens,
And peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
– Luke 2:13-14

Lord, we praise You. You are Almighty and You are wonderful! To You be ALL the glory!!! From the humblest of hearts to the highest heaven, may Your glory be seen and recognized. Thank you, King Jesus, for the peace you allow us to experience each day. May You look down on us today and be pleased with our worship! Amen.

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. – Luke 2:16

They hurried… They did not hesitate, they did not pause. They did not go around asking for advice. They had heard from God and they hurried to do what He had told them to do. Because of this response, they did not miss out on what God had for them. And oh what a wonderful experience God had for them, what a good thing!

After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. – Luke 2:17-20

How many kings?

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancé, who was now obviously pregnant.

And when they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. – Luke 2:1-7

How many times can you hear the same story and still feel something when you hear it again? It is amazing the emotions the story of Christ’s birth awaken inside of us each time we read it. The Christmas carols never grow old as we dust them off and sing them each December. Our local Christian radio station has been playing all Christmas music since Thanksgiving and I have really enjoyed the variety they have played – the fun, silly songs, the classic Christmas hymns and carols, as well as several new worship songs.

Last night at our youth-led Christmas service at church, the teens led us in a new Christmas song made popular in 2008 by a new group, Downhere. I have heard the song on the radio and even sang along with it, but last night the words touched my heart as if hearing it for the first time – really grasping the meaning of the words. As you read through the lyrics of the song “How Many Kings” by Marc Martel, I encourage you to acknowledge in your heart what God has done for us. Last week’s tragedy makes us even more aware of how broken our world is and how much we need this great and compassionate King.

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we’ve projected,
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother’s shawl –
Just a child –
Is this who we’ve waited for? ’cause…

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we’ve waited for?

How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

All for me…
All for you…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw3EG6kVNtI