“PRAISING GOD!”

 Luke 2:8-14                        (KJV)

“8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE round about them: and THEY WERE SORE AFRAID. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOUR, which is CHRIST the LORD. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the BABE wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host “PRAISING GOD”, and saying, 

     14 Glory to GOD in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

According to tradition, this is the day before JESUS the CHRIST was born in a stable, a glorified cattle lot, in Bethlehem when Joseph and Mary were mandated by Caesar Augustus to be taxed (Luke 1:5).  The KING OF GLORY wasn’t introduced to the affluent nor majestic people, but the angel instead delivered the message to “shepherds”, lowly people who were assigned to care for sheep, by ALMIGHTY GOD’s PLAN!

Certainly, with GOD fulfilling HIS PERFECT PLAN to redeem mankind, HE wasn’t leaving anything to chance, trusting man or any other being of HIS CREATED to not mess things up?  But what jumps out to me is “the angel a multitude of the heavenly host “PRAISING GOD”!  GOD THE SON was taking on flesh in order to provide the SACRIFICE required for our SALVATION!  

Colossians 1:16 says that “by HIM (JESUS) were ALL THINGS created”!  And Colossians 1:17 says “And HE is before all things, and by HIM all things CONSIST”, or “are composed”! Therefore, JESUS is the reason, not just for the Season, but HE is why we were even composed!!  When “the angel a multitude of the heavenly host “PRAISING GOD” opened their hearts, they “KNEW” MERCY and GRACE unlike anything humans had ever experienced was about to be offered to mankind.  

All of CREATION had yet to experience GOD INCARNATE!  When our EYES are OPENED and we SEE what GOD has done for us, “PRAISING GOD” is something that we MUST DO!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

“THEY FEARED GREATLY!”

 Exodus 14:10                     (ESV)

“[10] When Pharaoh drew near, THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LIFTED UP THEIR EYES, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, AND “THEY FEARED GREATLY”. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD”.

How often do we find ourselves in a situation similar to what the Children of Israel found themselves in at the Red Sea?  ALMIGHTY GOD had just placed ten separate plagues on the Egyptians, then had caused the Egyptians to surrender a huge bounty to the Children of Israel, then caused the Egyptians to tell them in Exodus 12:31-32 “Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and BLESS ME ALSO!”  The Egyptians were MOVED BY GOD to not only release the Israelites, but to also give them earthly wealth!  

Do we fail to recognize that the same GOD WHO released the Israelites from the mightiest army known to man at the time is still on HIS THRONE?  HE can do whatever HE pleases, even deliver a person from a seventeen day coma with no physical disabilities!  HE isn’t limited by what we SEE as situations too difficult to be overcome, nor by medical conditions with no way through.  GOD DOES AS HE PLEASES (Psalms 115:3), whatever and whenever is required of HIM!

The Children of Israel weren’t SURE that GOD was going to deliver them , even though HE had caused their enemy to release them from their control.  The Scripture above states that “THEY FEARED GREATLY” when THEIR EYES became fixed on the threat of the Egyptians.  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause my EYES to be fixed upon YOU and YOUR BLESSINGS and NOT on the threats of the enemy.  Whatever the enemy places in my path, help me to KNOW that YOU are with me and never allow “THEY FEARED GREATLY” to enter into my heart and mind!!!

“I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF!”

 Mark 9:14-29                    (ESV)

JESUS Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

“[14] And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. [15] And immediately all the crowd, when they saw HIM, were greatly amazed and ran up to HIM and greeted HIM. [16] And HE asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” [17] And someone from the crowd answered HIM, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. [18] And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” [19] And HE answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to ME.” [20] And they brought the boy to HIM. And when the spirit saw HIM, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. [21] And JESUS asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. [22] And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if YOU can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” [23] And JESUS said to him, “‘If you can’! ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR THE ONE WHO BELIEVES.” [24] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I BELIEVE; HELP MY UNBELIEF!” [25] And when JESUS saw that a crowd came running together, HE rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” [26] And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” [27] But JESUS took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. [28] And when HE had entered the house, HIS disciples asked HIM privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” [29] And HE said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.””

The chosen Scripture is more lengthy today than other days, so my comments will be few.  The father of the boy that was afflicted with the “mute and deaf spirit” probably knew that JESUS was able to cleanse his son, but when he responded “I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF”he was admitting that he wasn’t convinced that JESUS was led by the SPIRIT OF GOD to perform such a work.  

If it had been me in the scenario above, would my FAITH have been more abundant?  I have two sons and would gladly give my life for either of them to live without pain or any discomfort.  

HEAVENLY FATHER, “I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF” needs to be my prayer in my life until YOU call me HOME!!!

“THEY WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD!”

 Isaiah 40:29-31                    (ESV)

    “[29] HE gives power to the faint,

        and to him who has no might HE increases strength. 

    [30] Even youths shall faint and be weary,

        and young men shall fall exhausted; 

    [31] but “THEY WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD” shall RENEW their strength;

        they shall mount up with WINGS LIKE EAGLES ;

    they shall run and NOT BE WEARY;

        they shall walk and NOT FAINT.”

Isaiah 40:31 was made known to me when I was a child, but only this morning did the HOLY SPIRIT reveal to me the WORDs “THEY WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD” shall RENEW their strength!  The book of Isaiah was written almost 3,000 years ago, but these words are apart of GOD’S WORD, which means that they don’t lose their impact nor efficacy.  “This world” doesn’t have the capability to HEAR from THE WORD as GOD ALMIGHTY 

We MUST be willing to become “THEY WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD” to HEAR what HE is trying to tell us, not expecting HIM impart knowledge to we who won’t even take the time to listen for HIM!  This is THE LORD, CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES, and HIS interest is to see us grow into vessels that GLORIFY HIS NAME!   “THEY WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD” might be avoiding serious pitfalls they were headed for???

“FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION!”

 Luke 2:25-32 (ESV)

“[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was RIGHTEOUS and DEVOUT, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON HIM. [26] And it had been revealed to him by the HOLY SPIRIT that he would not see death before he had seen the LORD’s CHRIST. [27] And he came in the SPIRIT into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child JESUS, to do for HIM according to the custom of the Law, [28] he took HIM up in his arms and blessed GOD and said,

    [29] “LORD, now YOU are letting YOUR servant depart in peace,
        according to YOUR WORD; 
    [30] “FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION” 
    [31] that YOU have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 
    [32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
        and for glory to YOUR people Israel.””

In general, most people are TOO BUSY to be able to SEE BLESSINGS from GOD even though we experience them daily! Isaiah 42:5
says rather plainly “Thus says GOD, the LORD,
WHO created the heavens and stretched them out, WHO spread out the earth and what comes from it, WHO GIVES BREATH TO THE PEOPLE ON IT and SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO WALK IN IT:”. Since our CREATOR “gives breath” daily to our wretched souls, why can’t we SEE the BLESSING it is to even be able to breathe???

We take SO MUCH for granted, that we are able to exists AT ALL! Were we able to sit down and plan out our lives before we were conceived in the womb? Simeon was a man whose reputation was that THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON HIM. His life had been spent in waiting for the Messiah to appear before him. When JESUS was revealed to Simeon, he wasn’t introduced as the KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORDS, but Simeon KNEW WHO JESUS the CHRIST was! He KNEW!!!

Do I “make a big deal” about JESUS CHRIST living inside of my body? The CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES, through HIS HOLY SPIRIT, abides within this wretched temple and I sometimes don’t edify HIM??? HE has brought me through SO MUCH that I should be shouting HIS PRAISES to a lost and dying world, but I mostly don’t want to make a scene???  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to constantly evaluate who and what I am because of the miracles YOU have performed in and through my life! May the WHOLE WORLD be aware that YOU are the reason that I am still here, “FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION”!!!

“TO GIVE EVERY MAN!”

 Jeremiah 17:9-10                        (ESV)

    “[9] THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS,

        and DESPERATELY SICK;

        who can understand it? 

    [10] “I the LORD search the heart

        and test the mind,

    “TO GIVE EVERY MAN” according to his ways,

        according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Where does GOD’S GRACE intervene and PREVENT us being apart of HIM giving “TO GIVE EVERY MAN” according to his ways???  The idea that I would expect to receive that which “I have earned” can bring a sense of dread or turmoil to a life?  That every time I hastily dished out my idea of JUSTICE instead of GRACE literally makes me nauseous, if I am honest.  

Thankfully, we have the HOPE OF CHRIST JESUS to intervene on our behalf. We can TRUST that HE has GRACE “TO GIVE EVERY MAN”, unless they choose to have JUDGEMENT come on them instead of THEIR CREATOR???  

I CHOOSE JESUS!  I CHOOSE LIFE!  I CHOOSE to allow HIS PAYMENT for my sins to be my redemption!!!

“BE STILL, AND KNOW!”

Psalm 46:10-11                                (ESV)

    “[10] “BE STILL, AND KNOW” that I am GOD.

        I will be exalted among the nations,

        I will be exalted in the earth!” 

    [11] The LORD of hosts is with us;

        the GOD of Jacob is our fortress.“

This morning I was reading an article about hearing from our CREATOR when “the enemy”, the one who is against everything good, is so loud and so vocal in our lives?  “The natural” thing to do to address what is causing so much disruption in our lives, especially when it is LOUD disruption!  A paragraph from the article stated:

“Because we’re afraid to be alone with our own thoughts. WE’RE AFRAID OF QUIET AND SOLITUDE. We AVOID peaceful fellowship with our SAVIOR because we fear that we might not be good enough without all our “stuff.” We’re afraid of what GOD might say to us or ask us to do if we sit still long enough to hear HIM speak. We’re not quite sure how to handle the “sacred responsibility” of BEING STILL AND KNOWING THAT HE IS GOD (see Psalm 46:10).”

It could be easy for a man who has been BLESSED with life, especially through the journey I have been assigned, to accept whatever is presented to me?  But THE PEACE that ONLY comes through being in the PRESENCE OF GOD’S WILL is something that can NEVER be mistaken, nor improved upon.  

Several days ago I read on a social media site from a professor who shared “I struggle with sitting still”!  Now this is a professor who was recently employed at a public university, but admitted that he STRUGGLED WITH SITTING STILL!  There is NO SUBSTITUTE for KNOWING you are precisely where GOD has called you to be.  KNOWING you are where ALMIGHTY GOD can use you for HIS GLORY is something that cannot be matched!

To find ourselves in this place, we are instructed to “BE STILL, AND KNOW” that HE is GOD!  We aren’t required KNOW a lot about how things came the, nor about how how everything works, but to “BE STLL, AND KNOW” that HE is GOD and we are NOT!!!