Luke

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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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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 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

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Liberty in Christ

To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18

Liberty is freedom!

The Founding Father’s were all about liberty and freedom. Reading the Declaration and the Constitution will give you a real sense of the liberty they meant for all that live in these United States.

But liberty and freedom doesn’t not give people the right to loot, pillage, and destroy property.

There are laws pertaining to these crimes. There are thousands of laws pertaining to all kinds of crimes. Still people continue to freely disobey the law.

How can the death of a young black man by a policeman justify the burning of police cars and the stealing of television sets?

What people need is Jesus – not more protesting and rioting.

If you feel oppressed, it is Jesus that can give you liberty.

I am free to do anything – ANYTHING in Christ Jesus. But the Holy Spirit keeps my spirit in submission on what that anything is! I am not free to sin but am set free not to sin.

This country (and the world) needs the liberty of Jesus against oppression.

Abba, I pray for those that are oppressed by sin and seeking liberty through crimes, drugs, hurting themselves, suicidal tendencies, or excuses. I pray that I may deliver the message of deliverance to those I meet, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement

Lev 23:27 Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement.

It is the Day of Atonement, the second fall Feast Day of the Lord.

The instructions to the Hebrews this day are as such –

It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.
And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.
For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people.
And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.
You shall do no manner of work; Lev 23:27-31

There is no mention of the word ‘atonement’ in the New Testament using the NKJV. It is found only once in the KJV –

Rom 5:11 We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

This may be because Jesus has not fulfilled this Day as of yet. But He will.

Before you were born, Jesus fulfilled Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost.

I find it exciting to think that we will see the fulfillment of the three fall Feasts – Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28

Abba, I praise the word of God for the salvation and atonement it offers to me. And I praise Your name for the promises that will be fulfilled for me, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Predicting Prophecy

Giving prophecy is not as difficult as predicting prophecy, which seems somewhat ironic – to predict what is predicted.

To give it properly you would just speak what God has given you to speak, just as the prophets of old did, like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and so on.

What each gave can be a more difficult thing.

For instance in Rev 17:9 it says,

Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

I know Rome sits on seven mountains (hills) but it is not the only city to do so.
Here are a few on that list.

  • Kampala, Uganda
  • Albany, NY
  • Athens, Tx
  • Athens, Greece
  • Tehran, Iran
  • Amman, Jordan
  • Mecca, Saudi Arabia
  • Barcelona and Madrid, Spain
  • Moscow, Russia
  • Lisbon, Portugal
  • And Jerusalem, Israel

Now does Rome seem likely? In my opinion so do Athens, Mecca, Moscow, Tehran, and Jerusalem.

Only time will tell how prophecy is fulfilled.

Keep the words of Jesus in your mind at all times,

“Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28

Abba, Your word will be fulfilled as You see fit. I await that fulfillment but until then I will be diligent to share the Gospel of Jesus. YES&AMEN

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Believe the Unbelievable

Here is an interesting scripture,

Remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32

Jesus spoke those words and it adds validity to the story in Genesis where Lot, his wife, and daughters were fleeing from the judgment of God on Sodom and Gomorrah.

But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Gen 19:26

I know that sounds impossible but even Jesus did not dispute it.

Jesus did not dispute the Jonah story. In fact He said,

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matt 12:40

The fact is the wild and fantastic unbelievable stories of the Old Testament are very believable in and of themselves; but more so because the Savior believed them.

To me this makes all of the New Testament believable and to be expected.

1 Thess 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

While that sounds utterly fantastic and many doubt that it will occur, if the Bible speaks the truth about the past then it speaks the truth about the future.

Believe it!

Abba, I believe the word. Guide me to live according to what I believe. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN!