Directions

When I was a child, the compass points were words to me, and a set of directions in my mind. North was "up" and the front door of my home was "up" as well, so going out the front door meant I was going north. I was disturbed when I found it wasn't so. The front door, in fact, faced south. It was the back door that was north. Things just didn't "fit," and it was a long time before I understood why this bothered me. Understanding came when I learned to drive.

As I traveled around town and our area, the surroundings became more than simply connected memories. They became a territory in my mind. To say "go down this road" didn't mean "see these views." It meant go in a certain compass direction.

As a child, my "direction" was totally limited to the home in which I lived. To find that it didn't fit with the compass the way I thought it should was disturbing, but as my sense of other areas expanded, so did my understanding of our house.

Now I live in a house where the front door faces west, and this is a fact which does not trouble me. My sense of belonging does not depend on that small truth, but rather on the whole area in which I live and which I know because of my travels through it.

In life, many people have a constraint. Their "home" is themselves, their interests, their desires, their one little spot of warmth, direction and relevance.

If they find, or are told, that their little spot doesn't fit the outside compass the way it ought, they feel threatened, insecure and diminished. It is only when they are willing to let go of themselves and grasp the true principles of God that they begin to have more understanding of themselves and the things around them. By following God's direction, their experiences chart the map of His reality in their mind.

Those who fully commit to God, find that the little house of their desires, while a nice place to occupy, is of little importance as to what direction it faces. What matters is the larger area of their knowledge, experience and perception of God moving in their lives.

To give yourself to God is not to deny that self exists. It is to recognize how small self actually is, and how unimportant it will be in the end. People huddled inside themselves, clinging to that small spot, will never be able to understand God's greatness and plan for their lives. Only those who willingly walk with Him through His territory have a chance to learn that from God's perspective, our little selves are small indeed.

Let's Consider Our Influence!

A little girl strolled into Bible class one morning. Her hands were dirty, her dress was soiled, and there was a curious dirty ring around her mouth.

Her teacher asked her how she had gotten so dirty so early in the morning.

She explained that on her way to Bible school, a neighbor boy asked her to blow up his wading pool. She blew and blew until she had enough air to make the rubber wall stand up. Then, the boy picked up the hose and started filling the pool.

The little girl asked him why he didn't come to Bible school with her. He told her, "No, I want to play in my pool."

Then, with her pretty blue eyes looking straight toward the teacher, the girl said, "I pulled the stopper out of the air hole and let the air out so the pool would go down, because if he didn't come to Bible school with me, I didn't want God to blame me for it!" ~Olsen Cook

As we consider the influence our lives have on others, could God ever blame us for their conduct?

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Galatians 5:9

Our Heavenly Father Cares For Us!

Once a boy fell and hurt his knee. His mother saw his fall and she gathered him into her arms, kissing his wet cheeks and whispering words of love into his ear. She comforted him and patched his injury.

"Help me!'' cried a little girl to her father as her feet struggled to catch the runaway pedals on her bicycle. Quickly, her father raced after the bicycle and stopped both bike and daughter from falling. He rescued his child and she was thankful.

One time a mother came to Jesus and asked that He heal her daughter of a bad spirit. Jesus denied her request of assistance. Then Jesus commended the mother and said her faith had set her daughter free. (Matt. 15:21-28.) In each of these incidents, loving parents were concerned about their children's well-being. A child is a part of his parents and very precious to them. Jesus said His Father's love was like unto the love of good parents.

"What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?'' (Matt. 7:9-11) The Lord wants us to keep faith in Him just as a child believes in his parents to supply his basic needs.

When that mother saw her child fall, she picked him up and loved him. So the father rescued his daughter before she was hurt. Our heavenly Father cares about our needs in just this way, and even more so because we never outgrow His arms or ability to help us. No problem is ever too big for our Father. Notice how Jesus honored the mother who kept insisting on His help? She was not discouraged when Jesus refused to help her daughter, but she humbled herself and asked until she received. We need to follow her example and humbly bring our needs to our heavenly Father. He asks that we do so. (John 15:16.) He knows about our needs and troubles before we even ask, but He wants us to communicate with Him. (Matt. 6:5-8.) He is a loving parent and He wants a close relationship with His children. Let us not be discouraged in bringing our troubles and sorrows to Him. He may test our faith as He did this mother's, but He does care.

Are you wounded so deeply inside that words cannot express the hurt? Your heavenly Father already knows about it and He can ease the pain. ( Rom. 8:27 ) Have you fallen and injured yourself? Your heavenly Father still loves you and He can lift you up. (Isaiah 55:7.)

Perhaps you are weary and laboring under heavy responsibilities. Our Lord says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mat. 11:28) Don't let the cares of life keep you from talking to your heavenly Father.

Do you have a burden or a concern for a loved one? Take it to the Lord in prayer. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.'' (I Peter 5:7) Our heavenly Father is concerned about everything that touches our hearts. He has said that a mother may forget her child, but He will not forget His, because "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.'' (Isa. 49:16) His children are a precious part of Him and He will not forsake us. As we draw nigh to God, He will draw closer to us. (James 4:8.) "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.'' (Heb. 4:16)

Give As He Gave!

"Give as the morning that flows out of heaven;
give as the waves when their channel is riven;
give as the free air and sunshine are given,
lavishly, utterly, carelessly given.

Not the waste drops of they cup overflowing,
not the faint sparks of thy hearth every glowing,
not the pale bud from June's roses glowing.
Give as He gave who gave you to live!

"Pour out thy life like the rush of a river,
wasting its waters forever and ever,
through the burnt sands that reward not the river,
silent or songful thou nearest the sea.

Scatter thy life as the summer shower's pouring.
What if no bird through the pearl-rain is soaring?
What if no blossom looks upward adoring?
Look to the life that was lavished for thee!

"Give though thy heart may be wasted and weary,
laid on the altar all ashen and dreary,
though from its pulses a faint Miserere,
beats to thy soul the sad passage of fate;

bind it with cords of unshrinking devotion;
smile at the song of its restless emotion;
'tis the stern hymn of eternity's ocean;
hear, and in silence thy future await.

"Almost the day of thy giving is over.
Ere from the grass dies the bee-haunted clover,
thou wilt have vanished from friend and from lover.
What shall thy longing avail in the grave?

Give as the heart gives whose fetters are breaking--
life, love and hope, all thy dreams and thy waking.
Soon Heaven's river, thy soul-fever slaking--
thou shalt know God and the gift that He gave."

What kind of Man?

Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost . . . Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. (Matthew 1 18 - 25)

Although there are many traditions and stories told of Joseph, the Word of God tells us very little about him. Let's consider for just a few minutes what we can gain from thinking on the few references made to him. First of all we are given his impecable linage from David down to the present day. God made no leeway on either side of Jesus geneology. Some might say that the blood line should have been traced through Mary, since she was his mother. But we must remember in that day the blood lines were traced through the father. By knowing that Joseph was of the "house and lineage of David" we can know that he would have chosen a wife of equal descent. Also remember that the responsibility for the training and upbringing of the sons rested specifically on the father. Although Jesus was not the biological son of Joseph, he was most certainly the physical son. As the son of God, it was necessary for him to be raised with the pure teachings of the Old Law. Joseph was entrusted with this responsibility. How much confidence God must have had in him!

We are told in one simple sentence that not only was he a man of integrity regarding the Law, but he also loved his espoused wife. When she was found with child, being just, he was within his rights and responsibility to declare her an adulteress and repudiate the marriage. But he loved her enough that he didn't want to shame her so he, not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly. (amplified) The disgrace on Mary would have been tremendous and he didn't want to do that to her. He surely must have loved her.

And while he was planning how to accomplish these things with the least trauma for Mary, the Angel of the Lord came to him and told him all the circumstances instructing him not to fear taking her as his wife. Consider the faith that Joseph must have had in the Lord. How many of us would accept a dream as a direction from the Lord? We would question. We would talk to the pastor and all the elders. We would waver and consider the awful scandal that would most certainly arise. We would certainly have to "pray about it" and finally, hopefully, maybe, decide to believe God. But Joseph took God at His Word without hesitation.

Then in an example of integrity almost unknown it society today, although he married her, he had no marital relations with her until after her child had been delivered. What self control and love he demonstrated in his cholce of lifestyle for those long months.

Think then of how much it took for Joseph to marry this woman who was surely known to be pregnant and claim the child as his own. How much spiritual fortitude and social courage he must have had to not only accept Mary as his wife, but to accept this Child as his own and take the responsibility to raise it!

How much confidence God had in Joseph--to entrust him with the care and training of His Only Begotten Son. May we walk so closely with Our Heavenly Father that we might be worthy of such great confidence!

God Prepares The Way

Scripture text: Luke 1

Before the Christ-Child was even conceived and long before His birth, the Lord had already set the events in motion to prepare the way for him. I've condensed the story for the sake of brevity, but if you read the first chapter of Luke you will see that Zacharias had difficulty believing what the angel was saying because his wife, like Sarah before her, had been barren into her old age. To verify his words the angel told Zacharias that he would not be able to speak until all these things had been accomplished.

The Bible doesn't tell us if he told Elizabeth about his message or not, but when she conceived she accepted it with just a quiet joy and felt that her reproach in being barren had been removed.

He sent reassurance to Mary who must have been concerned at what people would think of her--pregnant and not yet married. The angel affirmed the wonder in Mary at her own pregnance by telling her of the circumstances of her cousin's pregnancy. stilling all doubts and fears by letting her know that others had been informed of her situation and that it was ordained of the Holy Spirit.

There was a certain priest named Zacharias,...and his wife was Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass while he executed the priest's office before God,. . . that there appeared unto [Zachaarias] an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. . . . The angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And he shall go before him [Christ] in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, "Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."

When the Angel told Mary the impending birth of the Christ child he instructed to her to look to her cousin Elizabeth of confirmation..36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

And Mary arose, and went into the hill country with haste; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. . . And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

How wonderful it is! Our Heavenly Father never forces us to exist in a vacuum of ignorance or misunderstanding. Just as he sent Mary three instances to reassure her and give her encouragement, He will also do the same for us. If Mary, without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit with in her could please Him, we can do the same with the power of Salvation. All we need to do is serve Him faithfully as she did.

The Dedication of Mary and Joseph

And she brought forth her first born son and laid him in a manger for there was no room for them at the inn...

Much has been written about the sad circumstances that caused the Son of God to have to be born in a stable. Many have regretted it and wished they could have been there to offer their house or offer their room. We have all talked about the spiritual reasons that this occurred. How it pointed out the significance of Jesus' humility and His salvation offered to the most humble of mankind. Much has been said of the awesome condescension displayed in this act---that the God of all Heaven and Earth would lower himself to having his Son be laid in a manger---what great grace He offered and how considerate he was in offering the gift of Salvation to all so that none could find it above their reach.

But let us consider what it means to us---the average Christians of today. The Bible doesn't say that Joseph and Mary were poor. In fact a carpenter would have work in all seasons and probably a decent income either in cash or barter for that time. They didn't plan to sleep in a stable. They obviously applied to the inns first. Joseph, I'm sure took enough money along to pay for their provisions along the way and a place to sleep. And his wife, after all, was not just pregnant, but about to have the child. They weren't the kind of people used to sleeping in barns. And just consider the bacteria and unsanitary conditions of that birth in the stable!

Consider the humility that was involved in their accepting the lodging of a barn. We always put a positivie spin on the situation by saying it was an "unused barn", so it was "cleaned out for the season." Or that it was 'abandoned' because a newer one had been built. And even in those stories that accept a 'real' barn, with animals etc, the situations is adjusted to imply piles of sweet-smelling, summer-clean hay. None of this smelly animal place for Jesus! But that isn't at all what the Bible says. That's just the way we fix the situation. Otherwise, it just doesn't seem something a decent person would do--eat, sleep, have a baby in a barn!

Look at the humility of Mary and Joseph. God took them to Bethlehem. He provided them only with a manger in which to put their precious baby! How many of us would have accepted it with so much forebearence and patience? . Or would we have demanded some better place and used the mother's pregnancy as an excuse to push our way in to more acceptable rooms--insisitng that someone else be turned out because after all (!) this woman was about to give birth! And she can't do so in these conditions!

I've known many missionaries during my life. Although all of them profess a call from God, few of them actually pursue that call with full faith in God. First, they seek the permission and support of a mission board. Then, they spend weeks, months travelling to different congregations within their denomination raising money for their trip and their support after they arrive at their field. Many 'calls' are delayed for long periods of time while the missionaries beat the bushes securing enough cash and pledges to support themselves in the manner to which they have grown accustomed. And when they arrive they begin looking for lodging that will accomodate them comfortably. If it is not available for the funds they have on hand, they find it necessary to return home due to "Satan blocking the endeavor" or at least they petition the mission board for more support. Their primary consideration is to achieve their own comfort first and then do the work of the Lord. (Now I know not all missionaries have this attitude, but I've met many who have and still do.) How many are willing to set out with just what God gave them in hand, willing to sleep in housing equal to that of the people they are reaching, willing to sacrifice, not just comfort, but bodily needs, for the sake of Christ?

Not so with Mary and Joseph. They set out to accomplish a required purpose. I'm sure they had some funds, but when the expected lodging and circumstances weren't available, they accepted what God had for them---a stable with a manger. And accomplished a Wonderful Purpose! How many of us today, called to do a work for God, look first to our own security and then to the work of God! How much more could be accomplished if we threw our own security to the winds, and set out to do God's bidding. Let us humble ourselves to accept God's provision, be it every so poor, to accomplish the purpose to which He has called us!

Peace

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13 - 14

One of the things we hear most about during this season is the concept of Peace. The message of Peace on Earth is bandied about freely by every religious or even semi-religious person. It is of course a popular topic and the thought of those angels singing about peace on earth and good will is overwhelming.

But we tend to take the message differently from the way it was spoken. We take it to mean that men on earth are going to have peace and good will toward each other. And while those who have experienced the redemptive power of Christ do have that peace and good will toward all their fellow men, it is not something the common man experiences or ever will experience outside of Christ.

So what was the message of the angels? They were glorifying God and stating His intentions toward the men of earth. Jesus came to bring peace and good will extending from the Father to men. One translation says 14Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased " We see by this more clearly that the peace of God rests among those with whom he is pleased. He offers it to the entire world, yes, but only those who receive His Son's offered Salvation will experience it. We must understand this concept or we will come up against one of the so called "contradictions" of the Bible.

Later in His Ministry Jesus said to His disciples: Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Matt 10:34. And then again, Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: Luke 12: 51 How does this division, this sword, this conflict come about? In Matthew he goes on to say: For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. How does this division come about? And how does that message align with the message that the Angels sang?

The peace that the angels sang of is that peace that Jesus came to bring to the hearts of His Own. Hearts of men across the world had been in turmoil with sin and confusion and darkness. This salvation separates those who receive it from those who won't. Jesus came to seek and save the lost and to instill in them His Peace. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: John 14:27 These are the people to whom that angels' song was dedicated.

So when we say, "I bid you peace" we are bidding men the everlasting peace of the spirit. In this world [we] may have tribulation . . . but [He] has over come the world! Let's bid men the salvation of the Father that brings peace in this earthly body.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16:33

Amen!

It's Just Not Fair!

My kids are at the age where they are always saying "it's not fair" when things don't go their way. I always respond, "Life isn't fair."

Last week I found myself thinking "it's not fair." My 76-year-old father was diagnosed with a debilitating, degenerative disease for which there is no cure. It always ends in death, after a few years of suffering.

It just doesn't seem fair. He faithfully pastored churches for almost 50 years. During his life he has turned down some very lucrative alternatives in order to live in poverty serving other people. And now, after all those years of sacrifice and service, he gets this diagnosis.

No, it's not fair. And when I stopped to think about it, I realized that not much in life is fair. After all, was it "fair" that the perfect Son of God was tortured, beaten, and killed because of things I had done? Was it "fair" that He who had done no wrong suffered so much for those of us who more often than not take for granted His great sacrifice? Is it "fair" that we who have sinned get to go to Heaven based on something that someone else did for us?

I'm really glad life is not fair.

God's Protecting Hand

12 And [the Wise Men] being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: . . .

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. . . 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2

God's protection is always accepted by His People, but often it is not really believed. We pay lip service to the thought but when it comes right down to the bottom line, we do all we can to plan to take care of things ourselves or make arrangements so that we don't have to rely on God. And many times when God does lead us to take certain steps we stand back and question until the opportunity is passed. If God is to protect us He must do it OUR way and on OUR terms or obviously He isn't going to do it.

When God spoke to Joseph, he didn't demand that God put a fence around the house and send armed guards. He didn't ask for a blaze of heavenly light to surround the house and scare everyone off. He simply packed Mary and the Baby on a donkey and took off for Egypt. And he stayed put until the Lord told him to return! How beautiful to see God's Protecting Hand working in such close unison with Man. Joseph did his job and most certainly he saved his wife and the Babe by being obedient. God's Protection in this case was the warning He gave to Joseph. Joseph simply cooperated.

How sweet to live in 'cooperation' with God. How secure to know that His Hand is over us and His Face is turned toward us. always vigilent for our eternal safety. May we be careful to live with our heart attuned to the voice of God that we hear His directions. May we be careful to accept His Protection in the manner He offers it and not demand that it fit our own parameters!

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