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The Government is On His Shoulders

                 “…and the government will be on his shoulders” (Isaiah 9: 6 NIV84). In a few days, we will celebrate the birth of a baby.   At this time of the year, we see Jesus as a small, innocent bundle of joy, much like the babies in our own lives.   Even as the shepherds celebrated the birth of the Savior, the baby lay helpless in a manger.   Just like all babies, He had to rely on His earthly parents for food, shelter, and the basic necessities of life.   In those early years, it was probably difficult for even Mary and Joseph to comprehend how this young child could be the Savior of the world.   Yet, it was all part of God’s plan! As Isaiah wrote the words of chapter 9, the country of Israel was in turmoil.   It had been divided in half, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel was about to be overrun by the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom of Judah would ultimately succumb to the same fate.   The...
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A Child is Born!

                 “ For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given…” (Isaiah 9: 6 NIV84). At the beginning of time, shortly after God created Adam and Eve, sin entered the world, turning God’s perfect creation upside down.   Every time I think about God’s response to that first sin, I become more amazed.   After all, He is the Creator of all things.   He could have very easily destroyed His creation and started all over again.   However, “throwing out the baby with the bath water” was not God’s way.   He knew that by giving man free will, there would be trouble ahead.   He knew from the beginning that sin would create a great divide that would have to be crossed so that His creation could be reconciled to Him.   I, on the other hand, would have said, “Let’s start this over and see if they can get it right the second time.”   Thankfully, I’m not God! God wasn’t surprised.   He already had a...
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Does God Grieve?

                    Did you ever consider whether God grieves?   In recent months, I’ve had several friends who have experienced the loss of loved ones.   Their grief is still raw, but at the same time, they rejoice because their loved ones were believers and are now experiencing the joy of heaven.   Grief and joy filling the same moments seems impossible, but as Christians, we’ve probably all seen these two emotions joined in a way that is beyond our comprehension.                 My friends are facing their first Christmas without their beloved family members.   I’ve been there.   I know that their grief probably comes in waves as their loss becomes a series of firsts.   There’s the first Thanksgiving without them at the table.   There’s the first time they don’t need to buy a gift or have that special dish that onl...
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Joy to the World!

                 Joy to the world!   It’s that time of the year when our thoughts turn to joy.   We remember that baby in a manger, and we can’t help but be overwhelmed with the reality of the sacrifice He made for us.   So, we sing joyful songs, share festive meals, and exchange gifts—all in an effort to reflect our joy.             The problem is that there is no joy for some people.   A friend in the hospital, another in hospice care, others burying loved ones, and still others mourning the recent loss of their loved ones.   Some can’t provide even one gift for their kids this Christmas.   Some may go hungry on Christmas Day.   Where is the “joy” for each of these people?             The truth is that we shouldn’t be surprised when the troubles of this world invade our “joy.” God never pr...
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The Blessings of Humility

                 Recently, while reading the newsletter of a mission organization that my Church has supported for many years, I saw a picture of an elderly missionary being helped up a wet, muddy mountain road to a church.   He had his arms around two younger gentlemen whose smiles told their delight in the privilege of assisting this servant of God.   The missionary has given his life to serving the Lord.   He has spent years in prison for his faith.   He has traveled to countries where he risked further imprisonment, and he and his wife have served in more than half a dozen countries in their efforts to spread the Gospel.   He is an esteemed servant of God.             Yet here he was relying on the help of others just so he could complete his mission.   He was there to dedicate a new church building, and he wasn’t going to let a little mud or his p...
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Remember and Give Thanks!

                 In two days, we will celebrate Thanksgiving.   For many of us, our first thoughts will be of turkey, dressing, mac ‘n cheese that will melt in your mouth (my favorite, in case you hadn’t guessed), and all the delicious desserts.   We’ll be eager to give thanks for all those mouthwatering goodies, but will we take the time to consider what it means to give thanks?             Giving thanks requires remembering.   It requires reflection as we look back over our lives and pause to acknowledge how blessed we are, despite our current circumstances.   The Hebrew word for “remember” is Zakar, and it appears over 200 times in the Old Testament.   I think that might be because God knows that we have short memories.   From the 4 th Commandment, when He said, “Remember the Sabbath” (Exodus 20: 8) until He spoke through the prophet Isaiah (Isaia...
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Persecution Continues!

                 From very early in His ministry, Jesus lived under a cloud of persecution.   When He healed a man on the Sabbath, the Jews challenged the action as a violation of the law.   As He declared His relationship with His Father, the plot to kill Him began to take place (John 5: 9 – 18).   They grumbled about His family tree (John 6: 41 – 42) and waited for an opportunity to take His life (John 7: 1).             My question is why?   What was there about Jesus that caused the Jewish leaders to pursue a murderous plot against Him?             First, the response of the people probably made the leaders pause.   Many of the people became believers—even some Samaritans!   Many saw Him as a good man and marveled at His teaching ability.   Some even thought that the leaders’ silence mig...
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