Category: Grace

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Ask For the Baby Jesus

A few days ago, Dave and I were in one of our favorite artisan shops in Tubac. I was reminded of one of the first time I visited there.

I love Nativities. I have the one from our first year of marriage; I have one that was made for me in 1980 and all the little ones I have added along the way. My most recent was one I purchased with Christmas monies from my Mom. I purchased it in that little shop I was talking about, it’s made from Mexican pottery called talavera.

I studied each figure in the set; their smiling faces, their clothing, the shape of the stall and then I realized there was no baby Jesus! Where did He go? What happened to Him? 

That shop has many Nativity scenes from Mexico, South America, and the US. There is a sign close to the larger sets telling shoppers to ask for the baby Jesus. When I asked the shop keeper why, he replied “People steal the baby Jesus. We don’t have a theft problem in the store except for that.” I was told they keep the baby Jesus in the back room and you have to ask for Him.

Ask for Jesus! Wasn’t that the Father’s intent from the beginning? He wanted us to recognize that our lives were not complete without Jesus. 

Who would steal the baby Jesus? That is completely counter to the reason He came. When Jesus was born the angels filled the heavens with the announcement. The shepherds were told to go find Him. The wise men saw and followed His star. Everyone was welcome to come see Jesus!

Jesus came to forgive the sins of all men, even the ones who would steal the baby Jesus.  Jesus wasn’t born in a palace where only a few of the elite would be allowed to enter. He wasn’t born in a monastery where only the religious and the holy would be. No, He was born in a barn; anyone – man, woman, child, elite or poor, educated or unlearned was welcomed at the manger. 

“Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” 13 Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,

14 “Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.”

15 The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.” Luke 2:11-16 ERV 

I want to encourage you to put Jesus on display. Don’t hid him, let the world see that He lives in you. Love the way He did; reach out to everyone the Father brings your way. The sign on our lives should be “if you want Jesus, just ask!”

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Sweet Immanuel

Earlier this week I was out in our 5th wheel trailer doing some cleaning. I hadn’t really done a thorough cleaning since we returned from the mountains. Music makes the cleaning process more enjoyable for me. I found my treasured copy of Kenny Rogers’ “The Gift” in the CD/DVD basket, put it in the player, turned up the volume and went to work.

I play this CD many times throughout the Christmas season and have for over 20 years. It’s one of my favorites. (I’ve given copies of it to my kids) I sing along with each song and let the music saturate my heart. So, I wasn’t surprised when I found the melody of one of the songs filling my mind yesterday as Dave and I traveled from Rio Rico to Apache Jct. and back.

“Oh a man named John The Baptist
Had been hearlding the news
About the coming of a Savior
For both the Gentiles and the Jews
And it happened in Judea
In the town of Bethlehem
With a bright star o’er the stable
Was born the Son Of Man
Oh the angels were rejoicing
As the tiny baby cried
For the hope of man’s salvation
In a manger had arrived
Meek as a lowly shepherd
But the mightiest of kings
He gives peace and life eternal
To whosoever calls His name
Oh Emmanuel
The Father’s precious Son
Who forgives our sins and washes clean
The hearts of everyone”*

“Oh, Immanuel, the Father’s precious Son, who forgives our sins and washes clean the hearts of everyone”!

Forgiven and cleansed!!! Can there be any greater gift than that?

When we lived in Idaho and Montana, I always welcomed our first good snow. It left a blanket of perfect white covering the pastures and the yards. The grasses that had turned brown were no longer visible, instead there was a glistening sparkle of white.

That’s what the Father does in our lives. Our past, with our sins, our failings, our guilt, leaves our hearts ugly but the Father’s loving forgiveness washes them clean, fresh like new fallen snow.

“I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this. Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 ERV

Clean and Forgiven. Immanuel – thank you for coming to earth!

“ So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 ‘A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”‘” Matthew 1:22-23 CEV

The meaning of Immanuel – God is with us. Christ’s coming brought the presence of God to the earth. No longer alone, no longer left to struggle by ourselves, no longer without hope, no longer strangers to God’s love.

Ohhh, oh Immanuel, the Father’s precious gift to us. Sweet Immanuel, God with us!

*Song Title: What A Wonderful Beginning. Writer(s): Allen Shamblin, Austin Cunningham, Paul Cunningham

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Handwriting on the Wall

This morning I was looking for a document in my “documents” folder when I came across a picture I had taken when Dave and I visited the Petrified Forest this summer.

Petroglyphs are some of the earliest forms of communication. Unfortunately, it’s a language I do not speak. But it’s a language God has always understood.

“One evening, King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his highest officials, and he drank wine with them. 2 He got drunk and ordered his servants to bring in the gold and silver cups his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Belshazzar wanted the cups, so that he and all his wives and officials could drink from them.

3-4 When the gold cups were brought in, everyone at the banquet drank from them and praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. 5 Suddenly a human hand was seen writing on the plaster wall of the palace. The hand was just behind the lampstand, and the king could see it writing….25-28 The words written there are mene, which means “numbered,” tekel, which means “weighed,” and parsin, which means “divided.” God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has brought it to an end. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall short of what it takes to be king. So God has divided your kingdom between the Medes and the Persians.” Daniel 5 CEV

I encourage you to read the whole chapter of Daniel 5. King Belshazzar defied the Lord and defiled the sacred items of the Temple. The Lord got his attention by writing on the wall at Belshazzar’s party.

Handwriting on the wall.

Each one of us have been subject to the “handwriting on the wall”. All of our sins were written down as an accusation against us, very similar to a list of charges that are read before the judge in a court room. However, the handwriting against us has been blotted out – removed completely.

“Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.

15 [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].” Colossians 2:14-15 AMPC

The handwriting against us was nailed to the cross and wiped away. The blood that Jesus shed for us, covered our sins and cleansed us. Through His death, Christ defeated satan and his powers and we now share in His triumph!

Now, there’s something to be grateful for. All of my sins were nailed to the cross and because of His death I am forgiven…so are you!

We are no longer subject to the handwriting on the wall.

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Dusting Things Off

After being gone for almost five months let me assure you that our house needed a good cleaning when we returned. I can write my name on nearly every piece of furniture and even on the tile floors.

First thing we did was tackle the yard and patio. Dave has been working on cleaning the patio and all that was on it, while I have focused my attention on pruning and trimming the bushes, pulling out flowers that didn’t survive the summer heat and monsoon rains and replanting. Each day has been consumed with getting things spruced up and dusted off.

I see a couple more days of work ahead but I also see that we are making headway.

So, as I sit here this morning, coffee in hand, I am grateful for the dimmed lights in my office because it keeps me from seeing the layers of dust on the desk, bookcase, table and lamps.

I am also grateful that this presents me with an opportunity to reflect on God’s grace.

How many of you know that life can get dusty? We seem to deal with the issues that are most urgent, bringing them to the Lord in prayer, asking Him for help and intervention but there are other “small” things in the corners of our heart that never truly make it to the light of day and it’s these things that the layers of dust build up on. These are the little things that we choose to ignore.

Selfishness, hurt feelings, small outbursts of anger, little exaggerations (white lies), pride, wanting to be recognized for a job well done and the resentment that comes when we aren’t.

The Apostle Paul gave us instruction in half the book of Ephesians on daily living, chapters 4 and 5, teach us to clean up our lives and imitate God in the same way children imitate their parent.

“Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say. 30 Don’t make God’s Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.

31 Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32 Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.

1 Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2 Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.” Ephesians 4:29-5:2 CEV

Please don’t be condemned by what I’m sharing this morning. The Father loves us and His word is never meant to condemn but it does correct. Sometimes we need a reminder of how we are to act.

If we let love be our guide and do as our Father does, we will see the “dusty” places in our heart and by His grace, He will help us clean them up.

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All The Time

My thoughts are all over the place this morning. For the first time in months I slept in. I was shocked when I woke and saw that it was already 4:30 am.

I came to my chair in the living room, after starting the coffee, and told the Lord I loved Him. My heart was instantly stirred with the words of the old hymn, How Great Thou Art.

Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

I sat here – reading, praying, and letting those words minister to my heart. How Great Thou Art!

In the morning God is great! At noon time God is great! In the evening, God is great! There is never a time when God is not great, loving, kind and good!

“Let the name of the Lord be praised now and forever. 3 From dawn until sunset  the name of the Lord deserves to be praised. 4 The Lord is far above all of the nations;  he is more glorious  than the heavens. 5 No one can compare with the Lord our God. His throne is high above,” Psalm 113:2-5 CEV

No matter the time, the day or the year God is great – all the time! Tell Him of your love today.

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Redemption

Sometimes we, Christians, use words the rest of the world doesn’t really understand. I think redemption is one of those. Redemption, in its simplest terms, means to buy back; to purchase something that had originally been yours and had been lost.

That’s exactly what happened to the human race.  God had created man in His image and His desire was to have a loving relationship with us. Adam disobeyed God and that relationship was broken. Sin entered and the communion between God and mankind was interrupted. But the good news is God immediately put a plan into motion that would restore the relationship which had been lost – redemption.

“ Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.” Romans 5:19 CEV

We discussed yesterday how precious and valuable we are to the Father. He would go to any length, and He did, to see that we were redeemed. His love for us is unconditional and His grace is unfathomable. He sees us with a pure and loving heart.

“No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger.” Romans 5:7-9 CEV

I was once again overwhelmed by the absolute love of God in my morning reading. The Apostle Paul had such a grasp on God’s love and grace that he included the message of the good news, the Gospel, in everyone of his letters. 

He was a man who knew the Scriptures. He was devout in his religious commitment, but he was misguided in his actions. He pursued the Christians, he had them arrested, imprisoned and persecuted. He even had a place at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. God changed his heart, and his life was changed. He was redeemed and that became his message.

“[The Father] has delivered and  drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.” Colossians 1:13-14 AMP

The Father saw each and everyone of us down through time and He loved us. He put the plan of redemption in place. Christ willing gave His life to pay the price of our sins and that dear friend is the price that purchased our redemption.

“ Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified);” Galatians 3:13 AMP

We have been redeemed!

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Fare Well

Two phrases have been running through my mind – fare well (welfare) and well being. These two phrases are very much akin to each other.

Fare well: in the Old English meant to enjoy a life that was well provided for and later was shorten to become welfare. Fare well was used as you departed from someone, much like our word good-bye. I like that saying, it conveys a sentiment of concern for the other person’s good health and success.

Well being: is very similar to fare well. Again, it has to do with the condition of life. Well-being or being well implies more than just good health. It has to do with the whole man, spirit, soul and body.

When I pray for people I pray for the well-being and their welfare.

“I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.” I Thessalonians 5:23 CEV

“With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3 The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4 and protects us from death.
His kindness and love  are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle. 6 For all who are mistreated, the Lord brings justice.” Psalm 103:2-6 CEV

So many in the world think that God is wanting our lives to be filled with woe and agony, that is so far from the truth. From the time He chose Abraham to be the father of the nation and the people He called His own He has desired to bless us. He is our loving and gracious heavenly father.

If you have kids you understand that we give our children instruction and tell them to follow our words. They need to know not to touch a hot stove, to brush their teeth and wash their hands. We teach them to share and be kind and forgiving. We command them to rest, they may not want to take a nap but we know they must have good rest in order to be well and have a good temperament.

God has done the same for His children. He has given us instructions, commandments as it were, to follow. Each time He gave commandments He told his children to follow them and they would be blessed. They would fare well. He wanted them, and us, to walk in His blessings.

Part of my Bible reading took me to Leviticus 26 this morning. I won’t include all the verses here but may I encourage you to read it for yourself. Here’s an excerpt:

“ Faithfully obey my laws, 4 and I will send rain to make your crops grow… Your harvest…will be so abundant, that you won’t know what to do with it all. ..6 I will bless your country with peace, and you will rest without fear…9 I will treat you with such kindness that your nation will grow strong, and I will also keep my promises to you…11 I will live among you and never again look on you with disgust. 12 I will walk with you—I will be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God,…I have set you free; now walk with your heads held high.” Leviticus 26:3-13 CEV

These are the words of our God and loving Father. It is His desire that we fare well and have a life of well-being.

Fare well dear friends!

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Jumping In

Have you ever noticed how much fun kids have jumping? It can be jumping in to a pool or jumping in a puddle; they like jumping on trampolines and jumping rope. They have to be told not to jump on the bed and the furniture. Jumping houses have become a favorite at backyard birthday parties. Yes, jumping seems to be a favorite pastime for kids.

Now, some adults seem to enjoy jumping as well but it’s a different kind of jumping. They like jumping to conclusions. This kind of jumping can be quite dangerous.

Without much background information and little research, snap judgements are made and conclusions are improperly drawn. Reputations can be ruined and discontentment can surface when we jump to the wrong conclusion.

The religious leaders of Jesus day jumped to the wrong conclusion about Him.

They had been waiting for the “coming Messiah”. It had been prophesied by their prophets for hundreds of years. They talked in their synagogues of His coming – would He deliver them from Roman oppression?

But when He came, they accused Him of blasphemy. They said He came from the wrong region of the country, that He had a devil because He could do miracles and that the Messiah wouldn’t associate with sinners who drank wine or had scandalous reputations. They jumped to the wrong conclusion.

“Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there. 11 Some Pharisees asked Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?”

12 Jesus heard them and answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. 13 Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.’ I didn’t come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13 CEV

You know, I jumped to a few wrong conclusions about God’s love myself. I felt I had to be good enough to earn God’s love and if I messed up God would distance Himself from me. I felt my relationship with the Father was based on my good merit and didn’t understand His grace.

“But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam’s sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God’s gift of kindness to many people.

16 There is a lot of difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God’s gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times. 17 Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.” Romans 5:15-17 CEV

I had jumped to the wrong conclusion. God is gracious, loving and kind. He is forgiving. He desires to have relationship with us.

Let’s all jump to the right conclusion – God is love; jump into relationship with Him, the conclusion will be acceptance and an abundant life in Him.

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Living With Purpose

This morning I would like to introduce you to two younger women I know. Each one of them has a heart for the Lord.

They are both wives, mothers, devoted Christians and have the ability to convey what the Lord puts on their heart with the written word. 

I met Hollie while we were living in Montana. She came to Dillon with her husband and two young sons. They bought some property and began building their dream home right across the canyon from our home. During those years Hollie faced some very real medical challenges but she always had a smile on her face, a love for Jesus in her heart and a desire to be a source of encouragement to her husband and to raise her sons to love the Lord and all He had made.

Her sons are now teenagers, almost, and they are maturing into young men who stand strong for the Lord. Hollie conveys the truths the Lord has taught her in a simplistic and heart-warming way. Here’s Hollie’s link: LivingLovingandWriting.com

The other young women I would like you to meet is Brooke. I have yet to meet her face-to-face but she is the daughter-in-law of our dear friends. Brooke and her husband have three small children and have just launched out on a great adventure, following the Lord’s leading and traveling through the country, sharing the love of Jesus in small churches everywhere they go.

Brooke also has a heart to raise her family to love and honor the Lord. She is a gifted poet and writer. The truths she shares are an encouragement to mothers of young children and to us who are grandparents of young children. Here’s Brooke’s link: www.brookelouvier.com

The word of God has no limits or boundaries in who it reaches with instruction and encouragement. These two ladies are willing ambassadors and share God’s word with candor and honesty. It been years since I had the joy of raising small children and teenagers so I appreciate the openness of these ladies. I hope that you will find practical truth as you read what these ladies share.

This past year I have been developing a study on “Bold Women of the Bible” for a teaching I will be doing in September. The stories of these women’s lives are truly encouraging – young, old, married, single, mothers, childless, respectable and those of disrepute. God used them all to bring the message of hope, redemption, grace, mercy and salvation to families, neighbors and to the world.  

“The plan of the fullness of times is to bring all things together in the Messiah—both things in heaven and things on earth, all in Him. 11 In Him we also were chosen, predestined according to His plan. He keeps working out all things according to the purpose of His will— 12 so that we, who were first to put our hope in Messiah, might be for His glorious praise.” Ephesians 1:10-12 TLV

We have all been given a story. There isn’t one of us that the Lord doesn’t want to use to touch the lives of others. Not one of us has been disqualified for service. No one has a story exactly like yours, no one can touch those in your circle like you can.

Be willing to be used just like Hollie and Brooke. Reach out and let the Lord touch others through you!

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All’s Forgiven

I hope you never tire of me telling you about the goodness of God. I never get tired of seeing His lovingkindness in action!

My morning Bible time still has me reading about the Israelites and their journey through the wildness on their way to the Promised Land. These people…they are consistently inconsistent.

They profess their love and faith for the Lord and then they murmur and complain. They say they will be devoted to their God and then they build a calf of gold and have an orgy. I don’t think there is a time they go more than a couple weeks without veering off on their own and ignoring what God has said.

But God…but God, is always faithful!

“Then he passed in front of Moses and called out, “I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. 7 I keep my promises to my people forever, but I also punish anyone who sins…” 8 Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord. 9 He prayed, “Lord, if you really are pleased with me, I pray that you will go with us. It is true that these people are sinful and rebellious, but forgive our sin and let us be your people.” Exodus 34:6-9 CEV

The Lord declares that He will always be loving and faithful. He will keep His word. He also says that He will forgive their sins and transgressions. He does hold them responsible for their acts of disobedience and that is why He gives them a priest to offer sacrifices of atonement.

He gives them a way to repent and to be restored by His mercy.  He does the same for us.

The Lord has always known the shortcomings of men. He knows that we fall short, and He has given us His plan of forgiveness and grace. 

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 CEV

Jesus is that heavenly plan.

The plan of sacrifice in the Old Testament could never completely cleanse the sins and transgressions of men. The blood shed by the animals only covered their sins. But the blood of Jesus completely cleanses us and puts us in right standing with God, the Father.

“The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9 Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. That is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all. 11 The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.” Hebrews 10:8-14 CEV

When we get hung up on how unworthy we are, how many times we have failed, we are focusing on our efforts to be good enough for God. Switch focus! Salvation is never based on our efforts; it is entirely dependent upon what God has done for us!

It is His lovingkindness, His mercy, His grace! It is His blood; He is the fulfillment of the plan. He is our salvation!

The Father’s love is unconditional. His plan is for all. Walk in the grace and mercy that He has provided. It will bring joy and peace to every day.

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