Into the Arms of Love...

"For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost..."
Matthew 18:11  NKJV

 

 

God blessed me.

He blessed me.

He went ahead and blessed me!

I never thought He loved me.

He is so very far above me.

Why would He love me?

Why would He care?

I don’t know the answer.

I only know the question

That was always in my heart.

If God could see me as I am

Would He ever want to be with me?

Would He even know my name?

Would He run as far away from me

As His big God feet could carry Him?

Would He pretend He didn’t hear me

Calling out His name?

 

Would He pretend that He was occupied,

with fortune and with fame?

With important things,

important people,

I’m sure He has important things to do,

that is why He came.

 

What is this? 

I see Him stop. 

He’s calling out my name!

He said that I’m the one He came for,

the little lost sheep He’s searching for,

The one that wandered off…

He says He saw me from the start

and tucked me deep inside His heart.

He sees me in my weakness,

and in all my many failures,

In all my ugly sins.

He says He knows it all and loves me anyway!

I can’t believe He loved me

when no one else was there.

He’s bending over heaven

to hear my desperate prayer!

 

Did I tell you,

He’s my father,

my daddy,

my Hero,

my all?

The One who picks me up and carries me every time I fall?

Have you met my Heavenly Father,

Do you hear Him calling out your name?

He’s searching for you like He searched for me

And loves us both today.

Listen for the whispers that surround you,

That’s the God Who made the universe.

 

He made you, every little inch of you!

 

He loves you like a daddy who won’t give up His baby

No matter what they say.

I hope this Christmas finds you running back to Him

And jumping in the arms of Love

Before it is too late.

I hope you hear the Father’s voice,

Singing over you.

I love you,

I love you,

Just the way you are…

The Innkeeper Makes Excuses...

Here's a little poem that I really love about missing Christ, written from the Inn-Keeper's perspective.  Teaches us to always be aware that He comes to us disguised not as a King but as a beggar, poor and in need and when we least expect Him.  Wonder how astonished the Keeper of the Inn that night will be on resurrection day when he discovers Who it was He turned away.  Wonder if we will be too...

The Inn-Keeper Makes Excuses

Edgar Guest 

---

"Oh, if only I had known!"

     Said the keeper of the inn.

"But no hint to me was shown,

     And I didn't let them in.

"Yes, a star gleamed overhead,

     But I couldn't read the skies,

And I'd given every bed

     To the very rich and wise.

"And she was so poorly clad,

     And he hadn't much to say!

But no room for them I had,

     So I ordered them away.

"She seemed tired, and it was late

      And they begged so hard, that I

Feeling sorry for her state,

     In the stable let them lie.

"Had I turned some rich man out

     Just to make a place for them

'Twould have killed, beyond a doubt,

     All my trade at Bethlehem.

"Then there came the wise men three

     To the stable, with the morn,

Who announced they'd come to see

     The great King who had been born.

"And they brought Him gifts of myrrh,

     Costly frankincense and gold,

And a great light shone on her

     In the stable, bleak and cold.

"All my patrons, now are dead

     And forgotten, but to-day

All the world to peace is led

     By the ones I sent away

"It was my unlucky fate

     To be born that Inn to own,

Against Christ I shut my gate—

     Oh, if only I had known!"

From Collected Verse of Edgar Guest

NY:Buccaneer Books, 1976, pg. 614

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

If ever the world was crying out for a Savior, it is now.

One doesn't have to be a prophet to see that the world is headed in a downward spiral.  World economies are crashing, millions of people cannot find work, and we watch in horror the steady march of governments that rule by terror and inhumane cruelty, the aborting of millions of unborn children, the enslavement of women and children for sexual exploitation, the erosion of morality that even ten years ago was not imagined, and on and on.

Into this world of sin and despair came our Savior on a cold, harsh night so long ago.  Was He uninformed?  Did He think it would be a much 'kinder, gentler' place than it really was?  Was He shocked at the horrifying realities of the world He was born into?  Did He wonder how He ended up in a stable on the night of His birth?  Did He know He was born to die for the very sinners who would hate Him and nail Him to a cross? Was He sorry He was ever born?

If it had been anyone other than Jesus, the answer would surely be, yes.  But the incredible reality is that Jesus knew it all before it happened and fully consented to be the Lamb that was born that night - the same Lamb to be brutally, mercilessly slain on the cross.  Why would anyone do this?  Why?

The Gospel of John tells us the reason: "For God so loved the world..."  Amazing, incredible, unbounded love that would agree to take on our corrupted flesh and live among a sinful and rebellious people. He so loved us...  How amazing a truth is contained in those few words.  May I never get over the miracle of His love for me, while I was yet a sinner with no redeeming grace to be found without His love for me.

This is what we really celebrate on the night of Jesus' birth.  He came to die.  For a world that had lost hope and descended into the hell of sin unbridled.  He came to be with us.  Emmanuel.  He still comes into the same kind of world.  We can't fix this world.  We so need our Savior.  Come, Lord, Jesus.  Come quickly and save your people from our sin.

Scripture Reference:  John 3:16   NKJV

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

A Christmas to Remember...

That year was a memorable one in our lives as a family and not for reasons I was proud of. As a newly divorced single mother, only two months into the realities of single parenting, I had zero dollars to spend on Christmas and four kids who had been accustomed to very generous Christmases up until that year.

I was depressed. Not only was I grieving the loss of my marriage, but the thought of Christmas was sending me over the edge. I didn't want my kids to be on the receiving end of any further losses. The break up of our family had forced me to sell our home, move the kids into a tiny apartment, get rid of our family pet, since the apartment wouldn't allow dogs, and forced me to take a job that took me out of the home and left the kids as “latch key” kids for the first time in their lives. Now, Christmas was chasing me down and I was dreading telling my four children they shouldn't expect gifts this Christmas. I was broker than broke and feeling pretty miserable about it all. I was wishing, if there were any way possible, could we just skip Christmas that year?

But, sometimes, our kids surprise us in the most amazing ways. And that was the case that year. I sat them all down and laid the cards on the table. We didn't have any money for Christmas. Period. Just that simple. Sorry, but, that was the reality. No way to fix it. Or so I thought.

In the middle of my explanation of why we would have to cancel Christmas, my youngest son, then only ten years old, smiled at me with a grin that spread across his face from ear to ear and said he didn't see why we couldn't still exchange gifts. He suggested that we pull names from a hat and buy a gift for the person whose name we had pulled, limiting the gift to no more than five dollars. I wasn't too big on the idea but the enthusiasm he had for the plan was contagious. All the kids jumped on the band wagon and playfully embraced Matt's plan, all pretending it would be the best Christmas they had ever experienced.

They sat and mulled it over for quite awhile, as if it were a master plan requiring hours of thoughtful, strategic planning. I marveled at these kids – so willing to accept,with grace and love for each other, the hand that had been dealt to them that year – the worst they had ever experienced in their young lives.

I could not have imagined the care that these kids put into their shopping that year. On the smallest of budgets, they shopped for just the right gift for each other, chosen to tickle the heart of the one on the receiving end of the gift. The entire month before Christmas was a ritual of playful teasing and guessing who had who and what had they purchased. I'm not sure they ever had more fun with Christmas.

I could not tell you today what any one of those gifts was that night. As their mom, I sat and watched the love of these kids so beautifully on display as they wished each other a Merry Christmas, ending a year of heartache and pain that none of us would ever forget. The little five dollar gifts we gave each other that year were just cover! Wrapped over and under and in between those silly little gifts was the priceless message “I love you – no matter what...”

As I watched my kids celebrate Christmas that year, I realized God had used my children to teach me the meaning of real love. It cannot be broken - not by divorce, not by hardship, not by the experience of “poverty” that we found ourselves in that Christmas.  'Love never fails!'  

Christmas was simply never sweeter...

Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NKJV

“Love suffers long and is kind;

love does not envy;

love does not parade itself,

is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely,

does not seek its own,

is not provoked,

thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity,

but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.

Love never fails...!”

Ready?

Anybody out there getting a little cranky? It's six days before Christmas and I'm getting dangerous.

My granddaughters were over yesterday. If they played Justin Bieber singing his Christmas Song one more time, I definitely would have put a hole in the wall! Anybody know what I'm talkin about? They just can't get enough of Justin, 'Baby-Baby", Bieber. After perhaps the 10^th time in a row of hearing the Justin dude slaughter (in my humble opinion!) a series of Christmas classics that I have always loved, I suggested they play some of my Christmas CDs... When I pulled out an old Elvis CD, they responded with, 'Who is that guy?' and 'He needs to do something about his hair!' Are they kidding me - really? Have they even looked at Justin Bieber's hair?!

And so it went. Generation clash, Christmas over-kill, too much music, too much noise, too much pressure to buy, buy, buy, too little money, too little patience, too little emphasis on the real reason for Christmas!

Even the kids, normally very cute and adorable, were getting on my nerves!  They were jabbing each other verbally and physically, restless and crabby.  Even they were showing the signs of too much stress and unrealistic expectations! They seem to instinctively know that all this emphasis on shopping and gimme, gimme, and gimme some more, isn't satisfying. We really aren't made to go on an all out “lets see how much I can get” binge without becoming sick on our own selfishness.

Christmas just has to be something more. If we allow Christmas to completely dissolve into a pagan spending ritual, please excuse me from the holiday. If that's what we celebrate, then count me out – it's nothing more than an ode to greed.

I do long for a simple, old fashioned Christmas - one that doesn't cost much but is a priceless treasure.

I just want to enjoy the gathering of loved ones around the family table, grateful for each one that is still with us and remembering those that are gone before us who are dearly missed this Christmas. I want to watch the snow fall outside while being warmed by the light of the love of family and friends around me. I want to remember that my Savior came for me this night, so long ago. He knew I would be cranky if you push my buttons one too many times! He knew I would need His arms around me, loving me anyway, forgiving me for my very real limitations this time of year and others as well! He knew me. He loved me. He came for me. That's what I really want to celebrate this Christmas. The older I get, the more I realize the beauty and gift of Christmas is in the simplicity.  Jesus was born this night for me.  A simple and glorious truth to celebrate!

How about you? Got all your Christmas shopping done? Wrapped? Broke yet? Got the house all cleaned and decorated?  Baked the homemade cookies, candy and fudge yet?  No?!  Me neither! Feelin a little cranky? Take a deep breath and say a little prayer.  Jesus still loves you.  He still forgives you. He is still the reason we celebrate.

I hope, after Justin Bieber has grown old and grey (or, maybe even bald!) the world will still remember why we celebrate Christmas. It's all about Jesus. It always has been...

Scripture Reference:  Mark 1:3  NKJV

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 
'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.' "

Joy to the World...

To the orphan and the widow, 

Heartbroken and alone,

I pray for you the Comfort of the Christ Child,

On this beautiful Christmas morn.

To the prisoner in isolation

Deserted, all alone,

I pray the Presence of Jesus will surround you,

On this glorious Christmas morn.

To the sick, the dying,

The fearful, the afraid,

May you be able to trust in Jesus,

On this fearless Christmas morn.

To the children, the mother or the dad,

Abandoned and alone,

I pray you know His love for you,

On this loving Christmas morn.

To the sinner falling in despair,

Afraid you've gone too far,

May you know the freedom of forgiveness,

On this grace-filled Christmas morn.

To the one who stands outside the church,

Afraid to enter in,

I pray you find your Savior's love for you,

On this peace filled Christmas morn.

To the poverty stricken,

Too poor to buy a gift,

Receive the gift of Jesus,

On this extravagant Christmas morn.

To the child abused, abandoned,

Confused and all alone,

May You feel His arms around you,

On this tender Christmas morn.

To the martyrs laying down their lives today,

Suffering and alone,

May the angels welcome you to heaven,

On this glorious Christmas morn.

To the one surrounded by riches that never satisfy,

May you come to treasure riches of a very different kind.

May you find the only gift that matters,

On this priceless Christmas morn.

Joy to the World

to the Prisoner and the King.

Proclaim the glorious message

Of Jesus Christ we sing.

Joy to the World

to rich and poor alike,

Joy to the World,

Our Christ is born tonight!

Joy to the World

to everyone of us,

He came for you, for me,

He came for all of us.

Joy to the World,

the little baby Jesus

loves you, loves you, loves you!

The little baby Jesus,

Asleep on the hay.

Joy to the World

This beautiful Christmas Day,

No matter where it finds you,

He was born for you today.

Joy to the World

Let every tongue proclaim,

The riches of His love for us

This gorgeous Christmas day!

Scripture Reference: Luke 2:10 NKJV

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all the people.

For there is born to you this day, in the city of David,

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

It's Christmas Time in the City...

Just wondering...

Is Christmas just for the rich of the world?

Is it just for those who can afford to buy gifts for everyone on their list?

Is it just for those who can afford to decorate with beautiful lights and expensive ornaments?

Is it just for those who can throw lavish Christmas parties in their beautiful homes?

Is it just for those who have all of their shopping done by the middle of December and all of their gifts wrapped and under the tree for all to admire?

Is it just for those who can afford to take a Disney Cruise for Christmas?

Is it just for those who can afford to go from mall to mall, buying whatever meets their fancy?

Is it just for Christians who drop a dollar in the little red bucket and feel like they've done their part for the 'needy'?

Is it only for those who sit down to a sumptuous meal on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well?

Would the Son of God, Who left all of the riches of heaven behind to be born in a dingy stable, naked and cold among the filth of the animals in the barn, recognize our Christmas?

Would He feel welcomed?

Would we even recognize Him if He came to our party, dressed in rags and begging for our care?

Would He feel welcomed in the richest church in the world - the church in America?  Even if He came, do we have any room for someone like Him at our table?  In our pew?  I wonder...

Or would He choose instead to spend His Christmas with the orphans, the widows, the poor, the abandoned, the neglected, the rejected and despised, the persecuted, the reviled, the lost, the sick, the dying, the brokenhearted?

Do we care where He goes as long as He doesn't mess up 'our' Christmas?  Or, does He think it belongs to Him?

Scripture Reference:  John 1:11   NKJV

"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not."

I Will Carry You...

As I prepared this post on the Persecution of Believers around the world, I found myself having two definite reactions to what I was reading.  One is an overwhelming sense of grief for those who are suffering so deeply for the Cause of Christ.  Second is a deepening awareness that we who are not touched by persecution in our homeland must be moved to compassion and pray, pray, pray for those who are suffering and dying around the world.  We must be aroused from our complacency and answer the call of Christ to get on our knees and 'carry them to Jesus'.

Especially as we prepare to celebrate the joyous birth of our Savior, let's remember those who cannot celebrate openly; those who will be targeted, especially because it is Christmas and Christ is hated for being born; those who will pay the ultimate price and will die a martyr's death this Christmas.

Let us weep with the widow and the orphan and pray for the persecuted wherever they are found around the world.  May God strengthen them for what He calls them to and may God be glorified in the blood of the martyrs.  And may we be found faithful to the call of Christ.  May we be found faithful...

Scripture Reference: Psalm 44:22   NKJV

"Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."