Happy Birthday!
April was/is a big birthday month for my family. Both of my parents, my youngest son, my grandmother, my brother-in-law, and my only niece were born in April. Through the years we often got together at some point to celebrate these special days.
It’s funny. Once her two grandchildren were born in April, my mom pretty much quit counting her own birthdays. It was not out of vanity. She wasn’t attempting to remain “39” forever. She simply said that she wanted the focus to be on the children. Her birthday didn’t matter anymore.
In late July we are scheduled to welcome a granddaughter into the Butler family. It is at least possible that she could be born on my birthday. One day I was “pressuring” my daughter-in-law to make things happen on that day, and Lillie, my first granddaughter said, “But Papa Brad. You don’t want her to be born on your birthday. Everybody will forget about yours.”
I smiled and replied, “That would be the best birthday gift I could ever receive.” And I meant it. If I am “relegated” for the rest of my life to spending my birthday celebrating a precious little girl I will be quite satisfied. And even if we are a couple of days off in either direction, I will still do the same.
Isn’t it funny? I’m already excited to sacrifice for a yet unborn baby girl. But on so many occasions, I’m not willing to compromise on what I want with friends and family who are already here.
Paul wrote in Philippians 2, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” And throughout the New Testament we are reminded that Jesus was a servant and He has called us to serve others.
That’s a hard thing. I am selfish by nature (no offense, but so are you). God has called us to love and serve others. I pray that I can follow that example of Jesus more closely. I pray that I might serve others as I should. I pray the same for you.
By the way, her name is Mary Violet.
Complaining
There is nothing quite like springtime in the Bluff. Cars and houses covered in yellowish-green pollen. Sand gnats, “nipping at your nose.” And let’s not forget the winds that can almost knock a full-grown man down, not to mention tearing shingles off of the roof.
Will you just listen to that? In one short paragraph I have griped and moaned about the sights of the season, when indeed, if I would simply open my eyes and my mind, I would see the beauty of the world around me.
First there are the azaleas. So many other flowers are also in bloom. Trees are filled with buds. My cardinal couple spends much of its day at my birdfeeders. And I saw my first hummingbird of the year this past weekend. For the first time in my life I put out a feeder for those magnificent creatures. And sure enough, God rewarded my efforts.
Why is it that we are so quick to see the bad rather than the good? When the Hebrew children were in the wilderness, having escaped the slavery in Egypt, they whined to Moses that they had better living conditions and food in Egypt than where they were. Never mind they were on their way to the Promised Land!
Lest we judge these folks, we are prone to the same malady. How many times have I complained about the pollen and gnats, and missed the flowers and the birds!?! God forgive me.
And then, may God give us the grace to see the many blessings He has given to us all. Let us be thankful…joyful even, over the goodness of God. As the old gospel song says, “Count your many blessings, see what God has done!”
Death and Life
I didn’t write about it last week, but last Monday would have been my Mom’s 84th birthday. Last Thursday marked the 17th anniversary of her death. I will never forget that Thursday morning. I sat up her through the night, catching an occasional catnap, and listening with care for her breathing.
Around 6:30 am I was wide-awake, and I knew that the end was near. I moved from the recliner to a kitchen chair, sat by her bed, and held her hand. About 7:30 that morning she took her last breath.
I was a few months shy of my 46th birthday at the time. It seemed far to early to me to lose the one who gave me life. We had known for nine months that the cancer was fatal. We had been given time to prepare for what was to come. But there is nothing that can fully prepare you for that moment.
As I ponder the fragile nature of life in this world, I cannot help but be thrilled by the teachings of the Bible. Christians the world over celebrate Easter this coming Sunday, recalling the day of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Death is a troubling experience for us, as it should be. Paul refers to it as our enemy. Even Jesus cried at the death of his friend, Lazarus. The truth is that death was not God’s intent for us. It came to be as a result of sin. We were created for eternity, and it is the resurrection of Jesus that makes it possible for us to experience that eternity.
I am fully aware that resurrection is a difficult concept for many. It is not natural. It is in fact, supernatural. But I want you to know this for sure. If there is a God, and if He is great enough to have created all that is, and if He became flesh and dwelt among us, and if He was put to death on the cross, then He is also risen, and because He lives, we, too, can live.
I have placed all of my hope in the living Lord, Jesus Christ. I believe that His death is sufficient for the forgiveness of my sin, and that His resurrection assures that I can be raised as well. His only requirement? That you trust in Him. In this Easter season, I implore you to put your trust in the One who has conquered death. His name is Jesus.
Music: God’s Gift
Music is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. In Genesis 4:21 we are introduced to a man named Jubal who is described as, “the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.” Jubal is often lauded as the first musician in the Bible.
Throughout the Psalms we are told to praise the Lord using a variety of musical instruments. Several of the psalms are introduced, “for the choir director,” which many scholars believe means that they were given to this choir director for him to put the words of the poem to music. The Psalms, for the most part, were intended to be sung.
I grew up in a musical home. Neither mom nor dad could read a note of music, nor could they play any instruments. But they could sing. In fact, they sang together on the radio before they had their first date. They sang in our church choir, and they made certain my sister and I were given the opportunity to receive formal musical training.
I began playing the piano in third grade and the saxophone in fifth. My sister played the piano and clarinet. And when I was in high school, my parents and I sang as a trio with Pam accompanying us on the piano.
I love music. I cannot imagine Sunday morning worship without music. Much of the theology we learn comes in the form of song. That is why the words of the music matter so much. We must be sure that we sing words that bring honor and glory to God, and that tell His story truthfully.
At Shellman Bluff Baptist music is an important part of who we are. Our choir is skillfully led by Terry Barnard. And fortunately for me, the standards for joining are low enough that they allow the preacher to sing with them. This Sunday we will sing our Easter Cantata, “Is He Worthy?” If you don’t have a church home we invite you to join us. Or, you can watch it later on our Facebook page.
Or, you can support your own church and its music program by singing with your whole heart as you join your church family in worship. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord.” Those words still matter today. What a blessing to be able to sing to the Lord a new song!
Vertigo
Several years ago, within a couple of weeks of each other, I had two episodes of vertigo. One time I stood up from my chair to get a snack from the kitchen. All of a sudden the room was spinning and I went to my knees. I became quite sick, and literally crawled to the bathroom. The only way to get relief was to lay down and close my eyes.
The other time I was out walking. Less than half a mile from home I became so dizzy that I had to sit down. I didn’t get sick this time, but when I tried to walk I could not go straight. A neighbor came to my rescue and helped me get back home. He wanted to call 911, but I convinced him I would be okay. It’s never happened again.
What a strange feeling not to be able to walk a straight line! My equilibrium was so off kilter that standing up was a problem. It was not a fun moment.
In Isaiah 5 we read, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light…and bitter for sweet…” He’s talking about people who are so disoriented that they do not know right from wrong. In fact, they have gotten to the point that they believe up is down, and left is right. And he wrote that almost 800 years before Jesus was born.
We live in a day when people call good evil, and evil good. We have decided that we can make our own rules, and that God’s instructions are irrelevant. That is a dangerous thing to do. Many follow the adage, “Let your conscience be your guide.” The problem is that God did not say that. Those words come from Jiminy Crickets.
God’s word says that the heart is deceitful, and difficult to understand. The last verse of the book of Judges says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Clearly that was not a good thing then, nor is it today.
There are times I would rather not follow God’s standards. They are hard. They follow the lonely road. But I know it is in my best interest to do what God has called me to do. I pray that you will see that, too.
Total Commitment
I love to read, and a few years back I bought and read a book entitled, Spurgeon’s Sermons on Prayer. The author was pastor of London’s New Park Street Chapel for almost 40 years in the late 1800’s.
The book was quite challenging. The language and stories were not easy to relate to our modern way of living. And yet the sermons were a great help to me as I sought to understand how to become more effective in prayer.
One story has been emblazoned on my brain. I can’t forget it. Pastor Spurgeon told of a man who was converted to Christ from a very sinful background. He had lived a rough life. In fact, it had been so difficult, and he had been in that way so long, that he had one major fear. He was afraid that he might be drawn back to his old ways. He was afraid that he might hurt the reputation of the church and even of the Lord if he were to do that.
As he met with Spurgeon, the man finally said to his pastor, “I want to pray right now.” They bowed and he prayed aloud words something like this. “Lord. It’s going to be hard for me to change my ways. I’ve been such a sinner for so long that I don’t know if I can do it, even with your help. Lord, you know all things, and you know the future. If you see that I am going to return to my old ways and thus hurt the cause of the kingdom, will you strike me down and take me home.”
Dr. Spurgeon went on to say that within a week of this prayer that gentleman died. To say that grabbed my attention would be an understatement. So many thoughts cross my mind as I try to comprehend it. I want to touch on just two.
First, God heard this man’s prayer. It’s not your normal prayer. But when a child of God bows to speak to the Lord we can be certain that God is listening.
Second, this man was fully committed to the Lord. He wanted God’s will to be done, no matter what it cost Him. I wonder. Do I have that kind of love for God? Do I want His will more than I want to live? I pray that I will be as wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord as this man was. God can do great things with those who are so steadfast. And the rewards for doing so are, as they say, “out of this world.”
Under Pressure
March Madness begins in earnest tomorrow. Over the next two days 64 basketball teams will take the floor, and by Sunday night it will be whittled down to the sweet sixteen. Over the next two weekends after that more teams will be eliminated until there is a champion crowned. I do love me some basketball!
There is an inordinate amount of pressure placed on the backs of young men and women between the ages 18 and 23 as they play this weekend. In both the men’s and women’s brackets will be upsets. Teams that no one expected to be here are trying to take that next step. And there are great expectations on the favorites.
In life we all face pressure. Some people seem to have a handle on that. Their hair is always in place. They are dressed impeccably. They drive the right cars and live in the right homes. They seem to have it altogether.
Then there are those who look like they’ve been, “rode hard and put up wet,” as the old saying goes. They are clearly disheveled, obviously rattled, and absolutely overwhelmed by the situation at hand.
Sometimes I wonder. Are those who look so calm and collected really so? Or is it possible that ulcers, high blood pressure and heartburn are resting just under the surface? Are they hurting, and yet hiding that fact?
I think I’ve discovered one of the major problems we have in our churches. We believe that we are supposed to have it altogether all the time, and so even when we don’t, we try to act as if we do. We think that makes us all the more attractive. In reality people look at us and think they can never live up to the appearances we project. And so many in need look in other places for joy and peace.
Here’s the truth of it all. The church is not a place for those with no needs. Rather it is where we ought to be able to go to find relief and help. We are all sinners in need of God’s grace. As Jesus said in John 15, “Without me you can do nothing.” Some don’t like that idea at all. It indicates that we are broken without Him. And indeed we are.
But Paul said something we all need to hear. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Please quit trying to do it alone. Depend on the One who can help us do all things.
The Seed
Ah, the sights and smells and sounds of Spring! Pollen on the hood of my car. Birds chirping in the trees. Flowers budding. Our annual reminder that the world in which we live is very much alive.
I took biology in high school and college. I have a basic understanding of how seeds germinate. But I must admit this to you. I remain fascinated by the fact that I can take a small part of last years crop, place it in the ground, water and fertilize it, and soon I will see a plant break through the ground. In the case of my vegetable garden, I will be able to eat from the bounty of that one small seed.
Again, I know that it can be explained scientifically. But I see it as a miracle. It boggles the mind the way that the tiny tomato seed can produce a full crop of tomatoes on one plant!
And then there is the miracle of human life. Again, I know it can be explained. But to realize that God allows a young lady to carry her own child within her. There is pain and discomfort along the way. But then the baby is born. And there is no other way to explain it than to call it the miracle of life.
I don’t think I’ve told you this, but I’m going to be a Papa again. Another little girl is expected sometime near the end of July. And to say that I’m excited would be the understatement of the decade.
My wife and I adopted both of our boys when they were toddlers. Our first granddaughter was part of the package when our son married her mother. This will be the first baby of our own that we have been able to hold at that young age. Just writing about it floods my emotions. I pray for her each day, even months before her birth. May God protect her, and may He grant her His blessing on her life. And may He do the same for you.
Ukraine
As I write these words the headlines are blaring. “Russia Invades Ukraine.” In the Atlanta paper, the first eight pages of the front section are filled with stories about this tragic situation.
I’ve been to Russia and Ukraine. In 1993 I traveled there with a group of pastors from Indiana. We flew into Moscow, and took a train to Kiev. From there most of our group went to Donetsk, with two of us going to the city of Mariupol, on the northern border of the Black Sea. All of these places along the eastern border of Ukraine are now in trouble.
Though it has been 29 years, I still think about the good people I met there. Pastors who had been faithful to the Lord and their people in the midst of communism. Older saints of God who had suffered much under the Soviet regime.
But what struck me the most on that visit was the vibrant faith and optimism of so many younger Christians. Most had been forbidden to attend church services prior to the age of 18, but under the careful teaching of their parents and grandparents at home, they had learned of Christ, and were following Him with joy! And they wanted to share that faith with others who had not been so blessed to hear of Him in their homes.
I wonder what has become of them since that time. I wonder what might happen now. Those “young people” are now in their forties and fifties. I pray that they have remained faithful, and that their children are also serving the Lord today. And I pray that somehow God will care for them, and for all of the people involved.
Let us remember to pray for the people in Ukraine. Let us pray for the Russians as well. And let us pray that the day will come when we will experience true peace, the kind that passes all understanding, and that is available only in Christ.
"Bitter for Sweet"
About 800 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah spoke and wrote as a spokesman for God. Some of our favorite passages are found in his writings. He penned a marvelous text about worship in Isaiah 6, concluding with his commitment to follow the Lord, “Here am I. Send me.”
He predicted the coming of the Messiah in chapter 9, declaring that this special child would be called, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Near the end of his book he wrote words of hope about the children of God, “They who wait for the Lord will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
But there is a little known text in Isaiah 5 that I believe sums up much of what is happening in our world today. The prophet wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
What do you think Isaiah had in mind as he wrote these words? He is telling us that there are those who stand so opposed to what God says that they will actually claim that God’s Word is bad, and that what He says will harm us.
Does this ring familiar to you? We live in a time when this is certainly true. “Up is down, and in is out. Right is wrong.” Or so it is claimed. But this is not a new thing. It was happening 2800 years ago.
Here’s the deal. We live in a time just like it was at the end of the book of Judges. “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” And that was not a good thing.
The Bible says that our hearts are deceitful. It was Jiminy Cricket, not the Bible who said, “Let your conscience be your guide.” The Bible often says things that are hard for us to follow. But God’s Word remains true. We do best when we do what He says. I pray that we will have the faith and the courage to follow Him, even when society tells us we are wrong.
This is a Test
I should have known it would happen. But still, it caught me off guard. A good while back I wrote an article for another paper reminding the readers that all people are created in the image of God, and are worthy of our respect.
Later that week my wife and I were driving to Savannah. We stopped by the hospital to see a friend, went to Lowe’s to get stuff we needed around the house, and stopped to get a sandwich for lunch. I quit counting after the fifth car cut me off. I’m not talking about having to slow down a little. No, I had to swerve into the other lane to avoid an accident twice. And the last vehicle to cut me off was fire truck. No sirens. Just stopped on the side of the road, and suddenly pulled out without so much as a turn signal.
Before I could get angry Tina was giggling. “Remember what you wrote in your article. You knew God would test you, right?” Sometimes I wonder why I take her to town. Except, she was right. Again.
It is true that the Lord often tests His children. He wants to know if we mean what we say. Are we going to live in the way that we claim we will? It’s easy to talk the talk, but not so much to walk the walk.
James wrote in his little letter, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourself.” The fact is that we indeed deceive ourselves if we believe that the only things that matter are our beliefs and our words. They do matter. But what matters even more is what we do.
The Bible says, “Jesus went about doing good.” His children should be doing the same thing.
God?
I have a very large extended family. Dad was the eighth of nine, and Mom was the ninth of ten children. On both sides those brothers and sisters obeyed the biblical command to, “be fruitful and multiply.” I have 52 first cousins.
It is sobering to note that of the three of us who graduated together in the class of 1977, two are gone. Scott and Carol have passed away. There were only 59 total students in my class. I know that at least ten of them are gone.
I am on the back side of 60. I get the senior discount today without asking. But it still takes your breath away when you think of lives taken too soon.
Something within us cries out at the injustice of young nursing students dying in a interstate accident. We all cringe at the thought of an infant facing heart surgery, or a toddler dealing with cancer. It bothers us, and we cry out to God. Some have given up on Him because of such tragedies. Often the first reason many give for atheism is the existence of evil and suffering.
Two things stand out to me. The first is simple, but often overlooked. If there is no God, that is if there is no standard, then the very existence of good and evil is called into question. In other words, if there is no God, then death is neither good nor bad. It just is. If we are nothing more than a cosmic accident, then pain and suffering simply do not matter.
Clearly I disagree with that line of thinking. So that leads to my next thought. There has to be something more than what we see and experience in this world. As a Christian I point to this placed called Heaven. I do believe it is real. I long for it to be real. There has to be a greater purpose in life. I’m counting on it.
I am certain that his brief article will not have the power to change the mind of the committed atheist. But I hope that it will encourage you if sometimes you have doubts and questions. The very idea of good and evil cries out for the existence of God. He is the standard by which we measure good. And He can be trusted, even in the midst of suffering, to care for His children. I hope you have trusted in Him. He is faithful, no matter what you are facing.
A Slave
When is the last time you received an actual letter? Do you remember those? When I was in college my mother wrote me faithfully every week. Her letters meant the world to me. I looked forward to finding one every time I went to the mailbox. What I would give today to receive a letter from my Mom!
Much of the Apostle Paul’s life consisted of writing letters to churches and friends. In Romans 1, he introduced himself to a church where he had never been. He was planning a visit, and so wanted to share some things about himself.
Paul referred to himself as a “servant,” a word that could also be translated “slave.” That is a politically charged word. It is impossible for many of us properly to understand the full meaning. But here is something very interesting. Some have estimated that up to 90% of the population of Rome was enslaved. So Paul was writing to people who understood the term.
Keep this in mind. Paul was actually a Roman citizen, though he never been to Rome. But he called himself a slave of Christ Jesus. In doing so he was saying that he was fully committed and submitted to Jesus. He was completely at the disposal of His Savior. He would do whatever he believed Jesus wanted him to do.
May I confess something to you? On more than one occasion I have willfully and intentionally done something, or said something, that I knew Jesus would not approve. I call myself a Christian, but too often I choose to do my own thing.
Our culture encourages that sort of behavior. We live in a day when “doing your own thing” is a sign that you have arrived. But again, that is not such a modern attitude. The very last verse in the book of Judges says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” In other words, they were doing their own thing.
God has called us to obey Him. James tells us that we prove our faith by the things that we do and say. It is true that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone. But we are called to submit to the Lord’s will. It is my prayer that you and I will be more faithful in doing just that.
It's the Message, Not the Method
I like to read the newspaper. I receive a paper daily and read it from cover to cover. I know I am a dinosaur. Newspapers are not what they once were. There was a time when every major city had at least two major newspapers, one printed in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. They were the major source of news, along with the nightly TV news, for the majority of the American people.
I started reading the paper at about age eight. I discovered the comic section and the sports page where I could read about my beloved Braves every day from April to September.
By the time I was 12 we received two papers daily, one from Atlanta, and one from our local county (The Gwinnett Daily News). The latter paper became my favorite, especially when I played high school baseball and basketball. Do you know what a big deal it is to a 16-17 year old boy to read about himself in the paper? I was never the star player, but to see my name and the phrase, “pitched in with 10 points and five assists,” was heady stuff. I still have all of those articles in a scrapbook in a closet at my house.
Why all of this conversation about the paper? I believe that the newspaper still has an important role to play in our society. But I also know that we must adapt in order to get message out. The papers that have adapted are the ones that have survived, and even thrived.
This is applicable to the church as well. When we cling to old methods and ways of doing things, we make them more important than the gospel itself. It is not our methods that make up the good news of Jesus Christ. It is the message of who He is and what He has done for us. I want to encourage you to help your church adapt its methods so that we might reach the next generation with the wonderful message of Jesus. Don’t hold tightly to the way we do things. Rather hold on to the One who gave Himself for you and me.
The Lemon Tree
Have I told you about my lemon tree? When we moved into our new home last March some friends gave us a small lemon tree as a gift. It was about 24 inches tall. I planted it and began to nurture it with care.
It has been remarkable to watch that tree over the last ten months. By May it had several blossoms. By August there appeared seven lemons. They all grew and we harvested them just prior to Christmas. My wife made me a lemon pie for Christmas Eve dinner. And it only took the juice from one lemon.
In the meantime, the tree never grew. Oh, maybe a little. It’s about 25 inches tall. But in late November, under the burden of those seven lemons, even propped up by a tomato cage, the poor little tree stood only 20 inches tall. I called it my, “Charlie Brown lemon tree.”
Back in the fall I was talking about my little tree and its fruit to some different friends who have several citrus trees. “Oh, you probably should have pinched off those blossoms the first year so that the tree itself would grow.” I asked if I should do that to the lemons and was advised to let them mature. But next year it might be necessary to encourage the growth of the tree itself.
The truth is that the fruit on that little lemon tree almost broke the tree. It wasn’t strong enough to bear them. Without the tomato cage the entire tree would have sagged. Branches might have broken.
There are so many lessons for us in this story that I could probably write several columns. But I want to focus on one major thought. You must have a proper foundation in order to grow in your faith. At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7) Jesus spoke about the two men who built houses, one on sand and the other on the rock. Only one house was able to withstand the storm.
You need to build your life on a strong foundation. That foundation is Jesus Himself. He will sustain you. He will strengthen you. He will bring you through the inevitable storms of life. Be sure to trust in Him, to lean on Him, and He will carry you. You can count on Him.
The Power to Love Instead of Hate
One of these days I’m going to write a book. I’ve already chosen the title: Things I Wish Jesus Hadn’t Said. Luke 6:27-28 is going to be the basis for one of the first chapters. Did you read it? Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” And I haven’t even gotten to the part about turning the other cheek.
Doesn’t Jesus know how hard it is to love those who love me? Even those who love me disagree with me from time to time. They do things that drive me crazy. I’m giving all my energy loving the ones who care about me. How in the world am I supposed to love my enemies?
It really is an impossible task. I cannot love my enemy. I would rather say with the psalmist (58:6), “Break the teeth in their mouth, O God.” And yet there it is right in front of me. “Do good to those who hate you.”
How do you obey Jesus when everything within you cries out to do the opposite? How do you bless the curser, or pray for the abuser?
I am reminded of two verses in the New Testament that point out our great need and potential. In John 15:5, Jesus declared, “Without me you can do nothing.” And in Philippians 4:13, Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
There is my answer! As I said before, I cannot love my enemy. I do not have that capacity within me. And recognizing that is the first step I must take. I am not able in my own strength.
But in Christ I have great power to do that which I could not otherwise do. Jesus allows me to love my enemies. He empowers me to do so. He lives within me. That is my only hope.
It’s not just that I can’t love my enemies. On my own, I don’t even want to do so. But in Jesus’ name I can do it. And so can you. “Love your enemies.” Do good to them and pray for them. Jesus did. He calls you to do the same. And He will be with you to help you as you do.
The Last Day of Christmas
Tomorrow is the last day of Christmas. Does that surprise you? Most of us long ago packed away the decorations and all of the other trimmings of Christmas. In many places the only remnants of Christmas are a few broken toys and several unwanted pounds added to the waistline.
But traditionally Christmas was celebrated through January 6, the Epiphany, marking the visit of the Magi to Jesus and Mary recorded in Matthew 6. I’ve been reading a devotional book that I will complete tomorrow morning. In many ways it has helped me to carry the spirit of Christmas beyond the “Big Day.”
There are songs that say it, and perhaps you’ve heard a preacher or teacher declare, “We should take the spirit of Christmas with us through the year.” And it is true. We should do that.
But the problem is simple. Even when we try our best to do so, life happens. And life can be messy and disappointing and even hurtful. Life is scary at times. We hear words like recession, inflation, cancer, death, and divorce, and our blood pressure rises. Our heart rate increases. And we are not sure how to cope.
So many times in Scripture we read, “Do not be afraid.” And then, we read these words. “I will not forsake you.” And it is clear to me that these words are most helpful when taken together.
I need not be afraid, because God is with me. He will not forsake me. He will not leave me to my own foolish choices. Paul wrote to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:13), “When we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” What an encouraging word! Even when I blow it, God is with me. I can trust Him. So can you. Happy New Year.
Jesus is Lord!
We have come to the end of another year. Every year has its challenges and its victories. Just consider what you and others around you have experienced in 2021. There have been weddings and the birth of babies. There have been divorces and funerals to attend.
Someone has learned they are expecting a baby. Someone else has suffered a miscarriage. Someone got a job promotion with an increase in pay. Another was laid off when the company downsized. Someone was diagnosed with cancer, while someone else is now in remission. And all along this one truth rings certain.
Jesus is Lord!
That short phrase was the first church confession. For the first century believer to make this declaration could be viewed as treason. After all, Caesar was lord (notice the small l), and he did not share his authority with another.
But this remains our declaration today. Jesus is Lord. And because He is Lord we can face any and all that the world throws in our direction. Nothing can defeat you if you belong to Jesus, because Jesus is Lord.
I once heard it said that there are three kinds of people in the world. Some are in the midst of a storm. Some have just come out of a storm. And some, even if they do not yet see it, are about to enter a storm. In other words, storms in life are normal. They are to be expected.
But the good news that Jesus is Lord reminds us that no storm can defeat us. A storm may take your home away. A storm could take a loved one. A storm can radically alter your life.
But a storm cannot defeat you, because Jesus is Lord, even of the storm! And that good news can sustain you in the midst of the storm.
I am not a fan of the teaching that life will be easy for the believer in Jesus, because I know it is not true. The Bible makes that clear. Experience drives the point home. Every follower of Jesus will face storms. But the good news is still the same.
Jesus is Lord! And because of that we will be victorious. We may not have the victory in this world. But we will win the victory, because our Lord has already defeated death and the grave.
Jesus is Lord. With that news you can face anything. Never forget. Jesus is Lord. And that is enough.
Three More Sleeps
Just three more sleeps. Any parent of small children knows exactly what I mean. When they were younger our boys had a calendar with twenty-five pockets. Every day we would move the mouse to the next day, counting down to Christmas morning. One year my youngest got the idea that he could speed up the process by moving the mouse more than once in a day. We had to stress to him that this would not work. He had to be patient.
Patience. Oh, what a difficult concept! Waiting is never easy. And yet the Bible has much to say about waiting.
Consider this. The very first promise God gave concerning the Messiah was in Genesis 3:15. The coming one would bruise the serpent’s head. Then, writing 800 years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah in several places in his book. And still the people had to wait.
And now we have been promised that Jesus will come again. In John 14 Jesus promised, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself.” That is as clear a promise as you will ever hear. The Lord is coming back.
And yet, it has been 2000 years since that promise was made. Can we trust it? Can we trust the One who made it? Peter answered that in one of his letters, “The Lord is not slow concerning his promises…but is patient toward us, not wanting any to perish.”
Do you get that? The reason that the Lord tarries is so that we can tell more people, and they can come to faith in Jesus.
The first coming of Christ is the reason for Christmas. We celebrate His lowly birth. But then we also anticipate His return. And we wait patiently, confident that God does not lie. We trust, even when it is hard.
The next three “sleeps” will be difficult for young children. They can hardly wait. But until He comes again, we all can hardly wait. Be patient. He’s never lied. He will keep His word.
And please indulge me in this. Happy anniversary, Sweetie. Forty-two years today. I think we’re going to make it after all. Love you.
The Parties and Programs of Christmas
Churches are very busy during the Christmas season. That is certainly true for us at Shellman Bluff. Leading into December we gathered shoeboxes filled with toys and supplies for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse to children around the world.
We also collected materials and filled backpacks for children at a mission camp in Shelby, North Carolina. We receive an offering we call, “The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, along with Southern Baptist churches across the nation. That money, named for a lady who spent her life as a missionary in China, provides for those who serve as missionaries around the world. And that doesn’t even count the folks we help close to home.
And then there are the parties and the special programs. As pastor I am invited to every Sunday school class party, and it’s a wonder that I don’t gain 20 pounds every December. You may not be aware, but Baptists can cook.
And then there are the programs. Music is such a significant part of the season. There are all kinds of songs, both secular and religious that help us celebrate at Christmas time.
This Sunday our choir, of which I’m a part, will be singing our cantata at both services at 9 and 11 am. Our children’s choir will also sing at the 11 o’clock service. I will have a short message, but the majority of the message is in the music.
If you are looking for a special way to celebrate Christmas this year we would love to have you join us. You can come at 9 and still make it to your own church later in the morning. Or if you do not have a church home we would love to have you stop by. The truth is that we all need to worship with others, and there is no better time to start than at Christmas.
As we get closer to the day, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. May God bless as you celebrate His great work this year.