Author: pastortimswanson

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Walking

My year old grandson started walking last night. He was standing by my chair and just let go and walked over to Haylee who was about six feet away. Then he walked back.
Once he discovered what he was doing he would walk some 15 feet across the living room and back.

He was as excited as the rest of us. With each step he’ll grow more confident and steady and there will be no stopping him.

It’s an experience every parent and grandparent goes through.

It’s hard to imagine that Jesus went through it too.

After his birth and dedication the Bible says,

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40

There was the day he rolled over on His own.
The day He started crawling and waving bye and hi.
Then the day came when He let go of the chair and walked across the room, much to the thrill and excitement of Joseph and Mary.

There was no stopping Him.
He kept on walking.

He walked Galilee and Judea.
He walked through Samaria and through the streets of Jerusalem.
He walked in the mountains and He walked on the water.

Then the day came when He walked to Golgotha and was crucified.

But death didn’t stop Him. He walked up to the devil and took the keys of death and hell. He walked out of the tomb. He walked among His disciples. He walked for forty days.
He walked to the Mount of Olives but He didn’t walk back down.
He ascended to heaven where He now sits at the right hand of Father.

And He has passed the walking over to you and me now!
It’s up to each of us to walk by His grace and walk by faith.

Abba, use my legs to carry me where You want me to go. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Singing Christmas

I love Christmas music, despite the fact that many times it doesn’t really deal with Christmas in my area of the country.

Still, I associate Christmas with sleigh bells, snow, chestnuts, and a red-nosed reindeer.

There are plenty of songs that deal with the true meaning of Christmas like the classics like Away in a Manger or Silent Night.

But being in Christian radio affords me the opportunity to hear what today’s artists are writing and singing. Many of those songs have also been rooted in me as a Christmas song.

Many Christmas songs seem to indicate the singing of the angels.
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plain.
But you cannot find anything in the Bible that says that the angels sing. What you do have is from the birth of Christ,

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, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:13-14

Here the angels said their praise to God.

I believe singing praise to God may be left up to you and me. And if that’s true, then sing!

Sing your praise to God! Praise Him in a way that no other creature in all creation can.

Sing!

Abba, I will sing my praise of You. I will praise the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. YES&AMEN

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Chestnuts and sleigh bells?

Christmas songs are on the radio. We’re playing more and more on KSWP, where I work.

I call them Christmas songs but they have absolutely nothing to do with any Christmas that I have ever experienced.

The classic Nat King Cole song with chestnuts roasting on an open fire and folks dressed up like Eskimo’s.
Not in Texas!

The classic Bing Crosby song about a white Christmas where tree tops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I did have snow earlier this year. In fact, there were three different snows all within two weeks of each other but none earlier than January 24th.
I don’t ever remember a white Christmas.
I’ve never heard sleigh bells. I’m not sure there’s a sleigh in the state of Texas.

Though songs like these are reminiscent of Christmas, I truly doubt they are appropriate for California or Florida either.

But there is one part of Christmas that is good no matter where you live.

She brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

That’s Christmas!

Go ahead and sing Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls; sing about French hens and mom kissing Santa Claus – but Christ is what Christmas is all about.

Abba, I enjoy all the songs and decorations of Christmas. But I rejoice in the Christ of Christmas. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Pushing Others!

Last time I looked at Preceding Others and how you pave the way for someone else.

I had things happen to me but only until I gave my life to Jesus. It would have been easy to go the opposite direction. But I had teachers, grandparents, friends that pushed me to be better.

History is full of evil and villains that were mistreated as children and ended up being psychotic killers or ruthless dictators without conscience.

It’s really no excuse. Each person is responsible for their own actions, whether good or bad. You have the choice to overcome the bad done to you. You can overcome it. Too many have already.

Sometimes it takes someone to push you in a positive way. I admire people like Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen who do such a great job at encouraging others to move forward.
I believe the best encouragement comes from the Lord.

Even Jesus had that encouraging person to pave the way for Him.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

He pointed all of mankind to Jesus.

He could have said, “There’s another rabbi or preacher!”
But John pointed to Him as the Messiah – the Savior.

So how can you encourage someone today?
What can you say or do that will pull someone up and get their feet back on the ground?

Do it!

Abba, I just want to be a blessing to others. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Preceding others!

Everyone knows the name of Billy Graham. But do you know Mordecai Ham?
He is the evangelist that was preaching when Billy came forward and accepted Jesus as Savior.

Everybody has someone that precedes them – that paves the way for them. Billy Graham, DL Moody, Tony Evans, or Chuck Swindoll all had someone that paved the way before them and help lead them to Christ.

Even Jesus had someone go before Him.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Mal 4:5

That was fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist.

John’s father, Zacharias was told,

He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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. Luke 1:17

Today you will go before someone. Will you pave the way to the Lord for them? Will you show the way?

Think about that before you act or say something today. You may be just the person to lead the next Billy Graham to Christ.

Abba, use me to point the way for others. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Christmas Every Day!

Was Jesus born on December 25th. Anything is possible but it’s hardly likely. It really doesn’t matter because Jesus should be celebrated every day!

It’s a shame that so many don’t recognize that and only think of the Savior on Easter or at Christmas.
He is not recognized as the Lord of all!

Not long after His birth something wonderful happened.

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:22-24

He was taken to the Temple. Now remember He is only about 6 weeks old or so.
While at the Temple a man named Simeon and a elderly widow named Anna recognized this Baby as the Messiah.

Both spoke and prophesied over Him,

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Luke 2:33

It is a shame that more did not recognize Him as Messiah at that time.
It is a shame that more do not recognize Him as Savior and Messiah today!

Those two in the Temple that day, weren’t around to celebrate the birth of Jesus at the manger. They won’t be around to celebrate with the Wise Men. But they did celebrated Jesus forty days after His birth.

He is meant to be celebrated each and every day!

Abba, every day I see the Savior in all the things around me. Christmas and all that comes with it, reminds me of the Savior, but then I choose to be reminded! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Christmas Gift

Nearly every nativity scene contains three wise men. Though this story is not included in any other Gospel other than Matthew and follows immediately after the birth of the Christ.

It is unlikely that the Wise men showed up at the birth since the star was over a house and Jesus is called a young Child.

One thing for sure,

And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matt 2:11

Of course, gifts are given at Christmas and justified by this story. More than that, the gifts are evidence of God’s provision.

The little family will be traveling to Egypt to escape the tyranny of King Herod, who orders the killing of all male children two-years old and under.

A trip to Egypt could not have been cheap; plus the time spent living there. Like you, they may have had some money to live day to day but a sudden trip is an extra expense. The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh could have been used to finance such a trip and stay.

God provides!

I have many stories of Him providing for us and I am not alone. I have heard many stories of providential provision.

I like to give gifts. I love to make someone happy with a small gift. But if I pray earnestly before getting a gift for someone, I would find myself getting a gift of provision by being led by the Holy Spirit.

Abba, Your gift of Salvation through the Babe of the manger is the best ever. YES&AMEN

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Christmas Trees Rejoice Before the Lord

There is a Christmas tree in my living room. It’s not a real tree, though I do love the smell of a fir.

We have lights on our tree and there are ornaments on it. Some of the ornaments are the baby pictures of me, my wife, children and grandchildren.

I’ve said previously that the lights remind me of the twinkling stars that shine in the night.

But is my tree a pagan symbol?
Many think so!

For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. Jer 10:3-4

This was not a Christmas tree in Jeremiah. Christ had not come. Were they worshipping the tree?
It’s likely. They also cut wood and stone and made little statues to worship.

I’ve cut wood and have made things but never worshipped them. Neither do I worship the Christmas tree.

What I am reminded of is that a tree got us in trouble and a tree got us out of trouble.

It was a tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat it’s fruit. They did. It was called sin and it has affected everyone.

It was another tree that was cut down, put in the shape of a cross, and upon it was nailed the Son of God.
This act on the second tree took away the reproach of the first.

I often think how cruel people can be with what God had created; and I often wonder what kind of tree became the wood of the cross.

I think of how the Bible says,

The trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, 1 Chron 16:33

What a joy that the trees rejoice before the Lord. I rejoice before the Lord too!

Abba, all of Your creation is beautiful to me. I love the change of leaves in Autumn and I love the budding of green in Spring. I love the beauty of snow (or ice) on the pines around my home. I rejoice in your creation, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Christmas Crowds

I don’t like Christmas shopping. There are way too many people in the same store at the same time, trying to buy the same things.

When I have to go shopping I entertain myself by watching other shoppers.

Some are oblivious to the world around them. They’ll block the aisle without any thought to the other people that need to get by them.

There are mom’s with kids and it’s a juggling act to keep them all under control.

The comparison shopper stands around the same area and looks at different varieties of the basic same product.

Some others, like me, are happy to just sit down and wait while watching others go by.

Some areas of the stores or mall are so crowded that I just avoided it.

All of this reminds me of another crowd.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Bethlehem was crowded when Joseph and Mary arrived and were “shopping” for a place to stay. The streets were crowded. The doorways were crowded. The restaurants were crowded. There were people everywhere.

And there were so many that no rooms were available for the night.

The innkeeper did his best to offer the couple some type of shelter.

I doubt the stable was very comfortable but it did shield them from the elements and gave a place for the King of kings to humbly be brought into the world.

So next time you are in the crowd’s, think of the crowded town of Bethlehem where the Savior was born.

Next time you’re out in the crowd’s, remind yourself that Jesus came and died for all of them.

Abba, everyone I meet today needs you as Savior; whether it’s a crowd of a hundred or just one person. I want to be the light to shine the way to You. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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It’s Christmastime

With the end of Thanksgiving and November, we enter the season of Christmas. Lights start appearing in neighborhoods and trees will soon be shining in living rooms.

You will hear ringing bells as you walk into stores and cards will begin arriving in the mail. Santa shows up at the mall and kids by the dozen will stand in line for their turn to sit on his lap and tell what they want for Christmas.

Christmas music is heard more often on the radio and there’s the hustle and bustle of shopping for gifts.

All these things say Christmas to me.

I love the smell of green Christmas trees and cinnamon spice.

I realize that Christmas is about the birth of Christ and I am reminded of it in all I see, smell, and hear.

Let’s start with the lights.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Luke 2:9

The lights are a reminder of the glory of the Lord shining around the shepherds as they hear the Good Tiding of great joy!

I look at my own Christmas tree and think of the stars in the heaven’s twinkling silently from light-years away and yet the Babe in the manger is the One that placed them there.

So don’t frown at the Christmas around you – embrace it and see Christ in all there is.

I’ll share some more thoughts about it next time.

Abba, I love Christmas and all that comes with it. I want to honor Jesus in all I do with Christmas, YES&AMEN