Scripture: "When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am."
I am teaching a friend of mine, through correspondence, about Christianity. He has very little religious background, so I am teaching him, beginning with the very basics.
While writing to him a few days ago, I explained how incredible it is that God is an entity that cannot be measured. God, I explained, is sort of like oxygen - it encompasses the entire world, and yet each of us breathes it individually. But that's where the comparison ends. God spoke the world into existence, placed the stars in the sky, and knows each by name. (Psalm 147:3-4). He has always been, always will be; He knows the past, present and future. He hears each of our individual prayers, knows each of us intimately, and He cares deeply for each and every one of us.
In my letter, I explained how size cannot be attributed to God. I noted how God wanted relationship so much with the Israelites, He contained Himself in a burning bush in order to communicate with Moses. Furthermore, when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, GOD carefully led them through the desert: "By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." (Exodus 13:21)
Not only that, but when He came to dwell in the Tent of Meeting, where only Moses and the Levitican priests could enter, they were given several distinct instructions on what was expected of them before they could enter into His Most Holy Presence.
What I found astounding as I wrote this letter to my friend -- is the realization that we are each just a tiny little speck in relation to God!! I mean, I always knew that on some level. But to look at the Old Testament, and to think how Great, Big, Awesome GOD contained Himself in a comparably teeny, tiny tent is astounding! He is immeasurable, and can be merely described in terms of "vastness". Yet, He chose to "limit" Himself, in a burning bush and pillars of fire and clouds. And as I considered how the One who created the universe -- met personally with the priests in the temple, I thought about how He chose to cloak Himself in a tent, so as not to frighten or burn against "the common man."
Think about a miniature dollhouse. Little homes, little cars, little people. Can you imagine how small you would have to be to fit on such a model? To fit into one of those tiny cars or walk through the front door of a home no taller than a couple of inches?
God wanted relationship so strongly that He chose to confine Himself in a tiny little tent to speak with Moses! (Exodus 33:7-11)
At the same time, God was not to be reckoned with haphazardly. There were consequences to treating Him without due respect, as noted in Leviticus 10:1-3: "Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when He said: "Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored."
As I explained all this in my letter, it made me all the more appreciative of Jesus coming to be our Mediator. GOD became man in the form of Jesus to meet us down here. He could be touched, His feet washed, His hands held, without fear of being struck down and turned to dust. He chose to suffer a torturous death in order for us all to be saved. He could have destroyed His tormentors, opening the ground underneath their feet to fall to their deaths.
He didn't. Because He was on a mission to save the world. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: light has come into the world but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." John 3:16-19
Reflect this Easter on how Great, Big, Awesome GOD came to earth, this little speck of a planet, embodied in Jesus Christ, and dined with the disciples, healed the sick, did more miracles than could even be recorded; suffered, died and rose again, all because He wanted a personal relationship with each one of us!!! He loves us THAT MUCH!!
That really is GOOD NEWS!!!
Prayer request:Pray for those who don't yet know Jesus, and that perhaps God can use you to share with them the The Good News.
Prayer: Lord, as we enter into Good Friday and Easter, please help us to keep in mind the greatest sacrifice you paid for each of our lives. We love and adore You for what You did on the cross, and we can never repay You. By Your blood, our lives were redeemed in full. Help us to be better evangelists by our words and actions so others may be saved. Amen.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Scripture:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". (Proverbs 3:5)
Over the last couple of months I have been dealing with the symptoms of a medical condition that has afflicted me. Through numerous visits to different doctors the cause of my ailment was determined and a treatment plan was prescribed for me. Basically the doctor told me that the key to my getting better would be plenty of rest. Doing this was not so hard at first. I wanted to sleep a lot, and the medication the doctor prescribed made that easier for me.
My family and friends have been a real encouragement. My youngest son David has been particularly helpful taking me to doctor's appointments and doing chores and errands that I did just a few months ago. And the Lord has led my friends, some of them from different parts of the world, to email and chat with me online lifting my spirits and reminding me that God has his hand on me in the situation I am in, in my life and I can fully trust in Him.
As I rest here every day, my mind is filled with many questions reviewing what caused this condition, and how, and when, and even if, I will be fully able to do the things in my life I did before.
These 5 things I know:
I know I am fully in the Lord's hand and this did not come as a surprise to Him.
I know, "all things will work together for good" because I love my Lord.
I know I am "called according to His purpose".
I know that God's "grace is sufficient" for me.
I know that God's "power is made perfect" in my weakness.
So I am not going to trust the "mental ramblings" that bounce around in my head. Instead I will trust in the solid truth of the Word of God that gives me strength, life and purpose.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you love me, you saved me and you care for me every day.
Lord, I love you, I trust you and I surrender to you all the way.
Thank you for leading me through this trial,
I know it will only last just a little while.
And you have given me your mercy and grace,
Where I am right now resting, in this place.
My mind and heart are on you and your Word
And you will see fit to deal with, what has occurred.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". (Proverbs 3:5)
Over the last couple of months I have been dealing with the symptoms of a medical condition that has afflicted me. Through numerous visits to different doctors the cause of my ailment was determined and a treatment plan was prescribed for me. Basically the doctor told me that the key to my getting better would be plenty of rest. Doing this was not so hard at first. I wanted to sleep a lot, and the medication the doctor prescribed made that easier for me.
My family and friends have been a real encouragement. My youngest son David has been particularly helpful taking me to doctor's appointments and doing chores and errands that I did just a few months ago. And the Lord has led my friends, some of them from different parts of the world, to email and chat with me online lifting my spirits and reminding me that God has his hand on me in the situation I am in, in my life and I can fully trust in Him.
As I rest here every day, my mind is filled with many questions reviewing what caused this condition, and how, and when, and even if, I will be fully able to do the things in my life I did before.
These 5 things I know:
I know I am fully in the Lord's hand and this did not come as a surprise to Him.
I know, "all things will work together for good" because I love my Lord.
I know I am "called according to His purpose".
I know that God's "grace is sufficient" for me.
I know that God's "power is made perfect" in my weakness.
So I am not going to trust the "mental ramblings" that bounce around in my head. Instead I will trust in the solid truth of the Word of God that gives me strength, life and purpose.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you love me, you saved me and you care for me every day.
Lord, I love you, I trust you and I surrender to you all the way.
Thank you for leading me through this trial,
I know it will only last just a little while.
And you have given me your mercy and grace,
Where I am right now resting, in this place.
My mind and heart are on you and your Word
And you will see fit to deal with, what has occurred.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
St. Patrick
There are times I like to stop and ponder the origin of certain things that cross my path.
When I am sent a forward, for instance, warning me about the latest danger (ie: perfume sellers in parking lots drugging victims, Pyrex glass exploding in microwaves) or offers to "forward this email to 20 people and you will get a free ...." I rarely send those on as "fact". I visit my favorite hoax and urban legend websites to find out if there is any truth in the matter. More often than not, they are hoaxes being sent around like modern day "camp fire horror stories" or just plain rumors.
It's March 17th, so everyone wears green, to celebrate "St. Patrick's Day". But how many of us were told as children -- and have told our children more than, "Wear green so you don't get pinched!" We cook up the traditional St. Patrick Day foods, drink green beer if you like beer, order Shamrock Shakes from McDonald's. (Do they even make those any more?) And relish in this happy holiday.
So who WAS St. Patrick and why do we celebrate this day on March 17th? I was given pause to wonder that today, and thought I would share with you my findings of this awesome missionary who led an extraordinary life, and brought most of Ireland to Christ before he died!!
There is a lot of folklore and legend wrapped up with the facts about St. Patrick. But what I could glean off the internet, I thought I would share. I don't list anything I write as fact, only what I found in my research. I claim no infallibility in my sources, so I will list my sources at the end of this blog.
St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat around 375 A.D. in Scotland or Wales. In his teens, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates or raiders and sold into slavery, where he worked as a shepherd. In the book he wrote in his latter years, "Confessions", he described his time with God as he tended sheep: "...every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed -- the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was moved so that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers and ... almost as many in the night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountains; ... and I felt no harm, and there was no sloth in me -- as now I see, because the spirit within me was fervent."
After 6 years in captivity, Maewyn had a dream in which God told him to escape from Ireland. He obeyed and boarded a ship and ended up, after a long journey, in Britain.
By some reports, he eventually joined a monastery in France and changed his name to "Patrick" which means 'father of his people' in Latin. No one can say for sure when, or how old he was, when he felt God calling him back to Ireland to spread the gospel. Obediently, he went, knowing Ireland was steeped in paganism and druidism.
He and his disciples traveled extensively throughout Ireland and converted thousands over 40 years. The tales about his ministry are varied, and it's difficult to sort fact from legend. I encourage you to read through his amazing story online. I am inspired to some day read his book, "Confessions."
St. Patrick died on March 17 between 461 A.D. and 490 A.D.
Ireland has celebrated St. Patrick's day for hundreds of years, as a religious festival.
Why we wear green: The original color associated with St. Patrick was blue. In the 17th century it was changed to green. It is also one of the colors in Ireland's flag, and Ireland is also called the "Emerald Isle" for their lush, green landscape.
Corned beef and cabbage: Often considered to be an authentic Irish meal, only cabbage and potatoes were the staples of the Irish diet. "Irish immigrants in America couldn't afford bacon, so they substituted it with corned beef, a cheaper alternative ...."
Pinching: This tradition started in America in the early 1700s. Wearing green was thought to make one invisible to leprechauns - who would pinch anyone they could see (not wearing green.) "People began pinching those who didn't wear green as a reminder that leprechauns would sneak up and pinch green-abstainers"
So Happy St. Patrick's Day. Remember this incredible man of God, a missionary who spread the gospel to all of Ireland!
Sources:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/031102_stpatrick.jhtml
http://holydays.tripod.com/shamrock.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11554a.htm
http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/life_of_saint_patrick.htm
http://personaldividends.com/culture/miranda/the-origins-of-st-patricks-day
http://www.kentuckianacoinandjewelry.com/1/post/2011/03/this-story-of-st-patrick.html
http://cedarcreekvoice.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/why-do-we-wear-green-on-st-patricks-day/
When I am sent a forward, for instance, warning me about the latest danger (ie: perfume sellers in parking lots drugging victims, Pyrex glass exploding in microwaves) or offers to "forward this email to 20 people and you will get a free ...." I rarely send those on as "fact". I visit my favorite hoax and urban legend websites to find out if there is any truth in the matter. More often than not, they are hoaxes being sent around like modern day "camp fire horror stories" or just plain rumors.
It's March 17th, so everyone wears green, to celebrate "St. Patrick's Day". But how many of us were told as children -- and have told our children more than, "Wear green so you don't get pinched!" We cook up the traditional St. Patrick Day foods, drink green beer if you like beer, order Shamrock Shakes from McDonald's. (Do they even make those any more?) And relish in this happy holiday.
So who WAS St. Patrick and why do we celebrate this day on March 17th? I was given pause to wonder that today, and thought I would share with you my findings of this awesome missionary who led an extraordinary life, and brought most of Ireland to Christ before he died!!
There is a lot of folklore and legend wrapped up with the facts about St. Patrick. But what I could glean off the internet, I thought I would share. I don't list anything I write as fact, only what I found in my research. I claim no infallibility in my sources, so I will list my sources at the end of this blog.
St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat around 375 A.D. in Scotland or Wales. In his teens, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates or raiders and sold into slavery, where he worked as a shepherd. In the book he wrote in his latter years, "Confessions", he described his time with God as he tended sheep: "...every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed -- the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was moved so that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers and ... almost as many in the night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountains; ... and I felt no harm, and there was no sloth in me -- as now I see, because the spirit within me was fervent."
After 6 years in captivity, Maewyn had a dream in which God told him to escape from Ireland. He obeyed and boarded a ship and ended up, after a long journey, in Britain.
By some reports, he eventually joined a monastery in France and changed his name to "Patrick" which means 'father of his people' in Latin. No one can say for sure when, or how old he was, when he felt God calling him back to Ireland to spread the gospel. Obediently, he went, knowing Ireland was steeped in paganism and druidism.
He and his disciples traveled extensively throughout Ireland and converted thousands over 40 years. The tales about his ministry are varied, and it's difficult to sort fact from legend. I encourage you to read through his amazing story online. I am inspired to some day read his book, "Confessions."
St. Patrick died on March 17 between 461 A.D. and 490 A.D.
Ireland has celebrated St. Patrick's day for hundreds of years, as a religious festival.
Why we wear green: The original color associated with St. Patrick was blue. In the 17th century it was changed to green. It is also one of the colors in Ireland's flag, and Ireland is also called the "Emerald Isle" for their lush, green landscape.
Corned beef and cabbage: Often considered to be an authentic Irish meal, only cabbage and potatoes were the staples of the Irish diet. "Irish immigrants in America couldn't afford bacon, so they substituted it with corned beef, a cheaper alternative ...."
Pinching: This tradition started in America in the early 1700s. Wearing green was thought to make one invisible to leprechauns - who would pinch anyone they could see (not wearing green.) "People began pinching those who didn't wear green as a reminder that leprechauns would sneak up and pinch green-abstainers"
So Happy St. Patrick's Day. Remember this incredible man of God, a missionary who spread the gospel to all of Ireland!
Sources:
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/031102_stpatrick.jhtml
http://holydays.tripod.com/shamrock.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11554a.htm
http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/life_of_saint_patrick.htm
http://personaldividends.com/culture/miranda/the-origins-of-st-patricks-day
http://www.kentuckianacoinandjewelry.com/1/post/2011/03/this-story-of-st-patrick.html
http://cedarcreekvoice.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/why-do-we-wear-green-on-st-patricks-day/
Thursday, February 17, 2011
To God Be the Glory!
Scripture: "Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." I Chronicles 29:10-13
Yesterday I was reading status updates on Facebook, and my nephew in Maryland posted an incredible testimony. In the middle of the night, while his family was asleep, he put his face to the ground before God in humility and surrender. There was a storm howling outside his home, and as he prayed, he spilled his heart out, wanting to have FAITH - and at the same time, asking, "Are you even listening, Lord?" In my nephew's desperation for connection with his Savior, he asked Him, "If You're listening, calm the storm outside my window." Sure enough, the wind stopped howling, but he could still hear the wind chimes.
In his own words: "The selfish man I am thought, 'That doesn't count. The wind is obviously still blowing because I hear the chimes.' Thirty seconds later, that stopped as well. For two or three minutes I laid there in complete silence. God stopped the wind for me, a lowly nobody ...."
He had much more to say about that moment, but the point in my sharing this part of his testimony is because it made me think about my own prayer life. I try. I really do. My passion for Christ is always in flux. Sometimes I feel like I'm walking the right way, and other times, I find myself in the brambles, off the road HE would have me on, barely hearing His voice, and I have to ask myself, "Now how the heck did I end up HERE?"
I found myself admiring my nephew's "realness" with God and his passion to hear from the Lord. He stopped to listen and God revealed Himself.
God speaks to each of us in very unique ways. I have no desire to copy what my nephew did, but I can certainly take time to be real with God. And I've known for a while the importance of LISTENING, which has been very difficult for me these days. Lately, I start my prayers with thanks, and move into petition for others' needs and then my own.
What I love about David's prayer in I Chronicles - is the way I feel I need to speak to God; not verbatim, but with the same kind of reverence and awe. I memorized this prayer at one time - not to recite it back to God - but to emulate the holy admiration it holds. "Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours." Meditate on each of those words. Greatness. Power. Glory. Majesty. Splendor. Such powerful words to describe our Lord. These five powerful adjectives can never really be used together to describe anything on earth!!
I lost my awe and my reverence of the One who created me! I'm having a hard time hearing my Creator. I am about to turn off all my electronics on this day off - and plant my own face to the ground - and listen.
I openly share my own struggles and breakthroughs with you - in hopes that I can encourage you in your own walks. I may drift, but I never let go of my Lord, the One who created every fiber of my being. I am always aware of His omniscient presence and of His grace and mercy. When I look back and find myself straying from Him - I always see His arms open wide, because He's been patiently waiting for me to step back onto the Straight and Narrow.
We serve a mighty God, a loving God, and He deserves as much adoration and honor as we can possibly give Him every day. He is my heart beat. He is my every breath.
He is everything to me. I just need to remember that!
Prayer request: Pray for those who feel distant from Christ today. Pray for those who feel as though they are in a desert, and need to hear from the Lord. If you know them, send them an encouraging word, a card, or an email today. Pray for a breakthrough in their lives, that their ears be opened and can hear their Shepherd's voice once more.
Prayer: Lord, forgive those of us who have forgotten Your place in our lives. Help those of us who are walking through a desert and can't see nor hear You. We know You are there and hear our cries. Help us to seek You with open hearts and remind us of your glory, majesty and splendor. Not in a fearful way, but with hearts of thanks and gratitude for all You have done in our lives and all that You will do. Amen
Yesterday I was reading status updates on Facebook, and my nephew in Maryland posted an incredible testimony. In the middle of the night, while his family was asleep, he put his face to the ground before God in humility and surrender. There was a storm howling outside his home, and as he prayed, he spilled his heart out, wanting to have FAITH - and at the same time, asking, "Are you even listening, Lord?" In my nephew's desperation for connection with his Savior, he asked Him, "If You're listening, calm the storm outside my window." Sure enough, the wind stopped howling, but he could still hear the wind chimes.
In his own words: "The selfish man I am thought, 'That doesn't count. The wind is obviously still blowing because I hear the chimes.' Thirty seconds later, that stopped as well. For two or three minutes I laid there in complete silence. God stopped the wind for me, a lowly nobody ...."
He had much more to say about that moment, but the point in my sharing this part of his testimony is because it made me think about my own prayer life. I try. I really do. My passion for Christ is always in flux. Sometimes I feel like I'm walking the right way, and other times, I find myself in the brambles, off the road HE would have me on, barely hearing His voice, and I have to ask myself, "Now how the heck did I end up HERE?"
I found myself admiring my nephew's "realness" with God and his passion to hear from the Lord. He stopped to listen and God revealed Himself.
God speaks to each of us in very unique ways. I have no desire to copy what my nephew did, but I can certainly take time to be real with God. And I've known for a while the importance of LISTENING, which has been very difficult for me these days. Lately, I start my prayers with thanks, and move into petition for others' needs and then my own.
What I love about David's prayer in I Chronicles - is the way I feel I need to speak to God; not verbatim, but with the same kind of reverence and awe. I memorized this prayer at one time - not to recite it back to God - but to emulate the holy admiration it holds. "Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours." Meditate on each of those words. Greatness. Power. Glory. Majesty. Splendor. Such powerful words to describe our Lord. These five powerful adjectives can never really be used together to describe anything on earth!!
I lost my awe and my reverence of the One who created me! I'm having a hard time hearing my Creator. I am about to turn off all my electronics on this day off - and plant my own face to the ground - and listen.
I openly share my own struggles and breakthroughs with you - in hopes that I can encourage you in your own walks. I may drift, but I never let go of my Lord, the One who created every fiber of my being. I am always aware of His omniscient presence and of His grace and mercy. When I look back and find myself straying from Him - I always see His arms open wide, because He's been patiently waiting for me to step back onto the Straight and Narrow.
We serve a mighty God, a loving God, and He deserves as much adoration and honor as we can possibly give Him every day. He is my heart beat. He is my every breath.
He is everything to me. I just need to remember that!
Prayer request: Pray for those who feel distant from Christ today. Pray for those who feel as though they are in a desert, and need to hear from the Lord. If you know them, send them an encouraging word, a card, or an email today. Pray for a breakthrough in their lives, that their ears be opened and can hear their Shepherd's voice once more.
Prayer: Lord, forgive those of us who have forgotten Your place in our lives. Help those of us who are walking through a desert and can't see nor hear You. We know You are there and hear our cries. Help us to seek You with open hearts and remind us of your glory, majesty and splendor. Not in a fearful way, but with hearts of thanks and gratitude for all You have done in our lives and all that You will do. Amen
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A New Creation
Scripture: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Unexpectedly, my band was asked to play two weeks early for church. I felt unprepared, as I usually practice much, much harder at least the week prior to our playing on Sunday. Between my job and evening commitments, I found it difficult to practice at all before Sunday.
That being beside the point, we played a new song for the congregation, called "New Creation" by Leeland. It is one of my favorite songs to play on the drums, but I also felt it was an appropriate song on the heels of the beginning of a new year. Part of the song's lyrics are: "For behold, the old has passed away/There's a hole inside of me/And I'll never run away from you anymore, anymore."
When each of us accepted Christ as our Savior, in that moment, we each received the Holy Spirit within us. We became a "New Creation" - our lives changed. For some of us, it didn't feel any different, for others, the change was dramatic. We each have our own unique stories. But instantly we were ushered into the Kingdom, angels sang, we chose eternal life. This was no trivial matter.
But once we became new in the eyes of the Lord, we entered into a lifelong process of being a new creation. We were saved, but then it is our responsibility to continue to learn about the Lord, His will in our lives, growing accustomed to His voice in our lives; and as a result, we grow in faith and obedience. It all works together, like gears and shifts coming together to make a machine move. One missing piece, and the machinery will stall.
Spiritually, we must always continue learning and growing, or our faith will atrophy, like an unused muscle. It's difficult to grow in faith if you don't listen to God's voice, if you don't take time to learn what is expected of you, if you refuse to give up pieces of yourself in areas you know that the Holy Spirit is pointing out where change must begin.
The "hole inside of me" that the lyrics point out is the hole where you gave yourself up to be with Christ. Everyone is born with a God-shaped hole inside of them. People try to fill it up with worldly things, influences, addictions - but nothing ever satisfies the emptiness until one allows Christ to reside within and heal them from the inside out.
It's a new year. You are continually a new creation.
Don't make crazy new year's resolutions about praying for an hour every day or reading a chapter a week - don't set yourself up for disappointment. But do make a stronger effort to spend time with Him. I have found myself making time in my car, while doing dishes, right before I go to sleep, or even sitting in front of the computer. Commune with your Lord. Don't just talk to him ... the definition of "commune" is "1) ...to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity, intimacy; interchange thoughts or feelings. 2) to be in intimate communication or rapport." Continue to grow and prosper in your faith and relationship with the One who "created your inmost being and knit you together in your mother's womb" (Psalm 139).
I pray that this will be one of the strongest years of spiritual passion and growth that you have experienced yet.
Prayer request: That we will each embark on a renewed relationship with Christ this year.
Prayer: Lord, we come to You humbly and ask You to help each of us have a better and stronger relationship with You this year. Help us to learn the true meaning of "communion" and may we bask in Your awesome presence with awe and wonder as we draw closer to You in each of our unique ways. Amen
Unexpectedly, my band was asked to play two weeks early for church. I felt unprepared, as I usually practice much, much harder at least the week prior to our playing on Sunday. Between my job and evening commitments, I found it difficult to practice at all before Sunday.
That being beside the point, we played a new song for the congregation, called "New Creation" by Leeland. It is one of my favorite songs to play on the drums, but I also felt it was an appropriate song on the heels of the beginning of a new year. Part of the song's lyrics are: "For behold, the old has passed away/There's a hole inside of me/And I'll never run away from you anymore, anymore."
When each of us accepted Christ as our Savior, in that moment, we each received the Holy Spirit within us. We became a "New Creation" - our lives changed. For some of us, it didn't feel any different, for others, the change was dramatic. We each have our own unique stories. But instantly we were ushered into the Kingdom, angels sang, we chose eternal life. This was no trivial matter.
But once we became new in the eyes of the Lord, we entered into a lifelong process of being a new creation. We were saved, but then it is our responsibility to continue to learn about the Lord, His will in our lives, growing accustomed to His voice in our lives; and as a result, we grow in faith and obedience. It all works together, like gears and shifts coming together to make a machine move. One missing piece, and the machinery will stall.
Spiritually, we must always continue learning and growing, or our faith will atrophy, like an unused muscle. It's difficult to grow in faith if you don't listen to God's voice, if you don't take time to learn what is expected of you, if you refuse to give up pieces of yourself in areas you know that the Holy Spirit is pointing out where change must begin.
The "hole inside of me" that the lyrics point out is the hole where you gave yourself up to be with Christ. Everyone is born with a God-shaped hole inside of them. People try to fill it up with worldly things, influences, addictions - but nothing ever satisfies the emptiness until one allows Christ to reside within and heal them from the inside out.
It's a new year. You are continually a new creation.
Don't make crazy new year's resolutions about praying for an hour every day or reading a chapter a week - don't set yourself up for disappointment. But do make a stronger effort to spend time with Him. I have found myself making time in my car, while doing dishes, right before I go to sleep, or even sitting in front of the computer. Commune with your Lord. Don't just talk to him ... the definition of "commune" is "1) ...to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity, intimacy; interchange thoughts or feelings. 2) to be in intimate communication or rapport." Continue to grow and prosper in your faith and relationship with the One who "created your inmost being and knit you together in your mother's womb" (Psalm 139).
I pray that this will be one of the strongest years of spiritual passion and growth that you have experienced yet.
Prayer request: That we will each embark on a renewed relationship with Christ this year.
Prayer: Lord, we come to You humbly and ask You to help each of us have a better and stronger relationship with You this year. Help us to learn the true meaning of "communion" and may we bask in Your awesome presence with awe and wonder as we draw closer to You in each of our unique ways. Amen
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Magi's Gifts
Scripture: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him ... On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:1-2, 11)
As Christmas draws near and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I thought I would look into these gifts the magi brought to Jesus upon their arrival to see the baby King.
Oftentimes, I read the bible, and I read it almost like a novel, because some stories are so interesting! I take note of direction for my life, what is expected of me and allow the Lord to speak to me through it, of course. But sometimes I miss deeper meanings, such as the three gifts Jesus was given by the magi. Why gold, frankincense and myrrh? I don't know what the custom of the day was in the Middle East when babies were greeted into the world, but I had to find out more about these three special gifts given to Jesus.
I do most of my research through the internet, so I don't claim to be any kind of expert on the topic. However, this week in church, I found it interesting that my pastor pointed out to the congregation that no where in the bible does it mention that Joseph walked to Bethlehem while Mary rode a donkey. There weren't necessarily three magi (who are not kings, by the way) - in fact, although "magi" is plural - we don't know if there were 2, 6 or 20. But because three gifts were brought to Jesus, it's common to see three men depicted in cards and movies.
Although we have been inundated with these visions over the years and take them as fact, I don't believe there is anything necessarily wrong with these depictions, although it makes me want to delve more into stories I pretend to be familiar with because once I think I know anything in the scriptures, I realize there is so much more I do not know. It's almost dangerous to simply believe what is presented to us without finding the truth out for ourselves.
That being said, I'd like to dig a little into the gifts, because it was pointed out to me recently that they seem to have symbolic significance.
Gold. The gift of gold not only gave the young family a financial means to survive , but symbolically, gold signifies kingship. After all, the magi were looking for the King of the Jews.
Frankincense is a gum resin derived from trees native to the area. Used as perfume during biblical times, it was also used as a sweet smelling incense during worship. In Exodus 30:34-38, Aaron was instructed by God to burn frankincense with other spices as an offering in front of the ark of the covenant. However, this mixture was never to be created for anyone to enjoy freely, because it was a most holy mixture meant only for the priests to use as an offering. With this in mind, the frankincense represented Jesus' divinity, because of its use as a burnt offering. Being used only by priests, it also symbolized Jesus' priesthood as well.
Myrrh, like frankincense, is also a resin derived from native trees, but it's use was different. Also used in perfumes and incense, myrrh was also used in ointment for embalming, and as a medicine for sores and wounds. In Mark 15:23, Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh, to help ease his pain and suffering. But he refused to take any of it. When Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body away after the crucifixion, Nicodemus "...brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs." (John 19:38-40)
While gold and frankincense symbolize Jesus' royalty and divinity, myrrh foreshadows our Saviors future death. Myrrh was burned during funerals, and has an earthy, bitter odor when burned. One commentary I read states how myrrh represents the bitter cup that Christ had to drink in suffering for our sins and the healing for us that his death brings. "The Magi's gift of the bitter herb is a picture of things to come."
We give gifts to each other in honor of the gift God gave to us in the package of a baby who would become a man and save us all. As we spend time with our families and friends, sharing gifts, feasting and celebrating this holy day, take a moment to reflect on the three gifts given to Jesus, and the meaning He holds in each of your lives.
God bless you all throughout the holidays. May God keep you and yours safe and healthy as we celebrate Christmas.
Prayer request: For those who don't yet know who Christ is, that we may be able to share Him boldly with others throughout the coming year.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for coming into the world, a helpless baby, to save mankind. There is so much depth and meaning I can barely put it into words, and I can barely finish this prayer. Your love for us is beyond comprehension.
As Christmas draws near and we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I thought I would look into these gifts the magi brought to Jesus upon their arrival to see the baby King.
Oftentimes, I read the bible, and I read it almost like a novel, because some stories are so interesting! I take note of direction for my life, what is expected of me and allow the Lord to speak to me through it, of course. But sometimes I miss deeper meanings, such as the three gifts Jesus was given by the magi. Why gold, frankincense and myrrh? I don't know what the custom of the day was in the Middle East when babies were greeted into the world, but I had to find out more about these three special gifts given to Jesus.
I do most of my research through the internet, so I don't claim to be any kind of expert on the topic. However, this week in church, I found it interesting that my pastor pointed out to the congregation that no where in the bible does it mention that Joseph walked to Bethlehem while Mary rode a donkey. There weren't necessarily three magi (who are not kings, by the way) - in fact, although "magi" is plural - we don't know if there were 2, 6 or 20. But because three gifts were brought to Jesus, it's common to see three men depicted in cards and movies.
Although we have been inundated with these visions over the years and take them as fact, I don't believe there is anything necessarily wrong with these depictions, although it makes me want to delve more into stories I pretend to be familiar with because once I think I know anything in the scriptures, I realize there is so much more I do not know. It's almost dangerous to simply believe what is presented to us without finding the truth out for ourselves.
That being said, I'd like to dig a little into the gifts, because it was pointed out to me recently that they seem to have symbolic significance.
Gold. The gift of gold not only gave the young family a financial means to survive , but symbolically, gold signifies kingship. After all, the magi were looking for the King of the Jews.
Frankincense is a gum resin derived from trees native to the area. Used as perfume during biblical times, it was also used as a sweet smelling incense during worship. In Exodus 30:34-38, Aaron was instructed by God to burn frankincense with other spices as an offering in front of the ark of the covenant. However, this mixture was never to be created for anyone to enjoy freely, because it was a most holy mixture meant only for the priests to use as an offering. With this in mind, the frankincense represented Jesus' divinity, because of its use as a burnt offering. Being used only by priests, it also symbolized Jesus' priesthood as well.
Myrrh, like frankincense, is also a resin derived from native trees, but it's use was different. Also used in perfumes and incense, myrrh was also used in ointment for embalming, and as a medicine for sores and wounds. In Mark 15:23, Jesus was offered wine mixed with myrrh, to help ease his pain and suffering. But he refused to take any of it. When Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body away after the crucifixion, Nicodemus "...brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs." (John 19:38-40)
While gold and frankincense symbolize Jesus' royalty and divinity, myrrh foreshadows our Saviors future death. Myrrh was burned during funerals, and has an earthy, bitter odor when burned. One commentary I read states how myrrh represents the bitter cup that Christ had to drink in suffering for our sins and the healing for us that his death brings. "The Magi's gift of the bitter herb is a picture of things to come."
We give gifts to each other in honor of the gift God gave to us in the package of a baby who would become a man and save us all. As we spend time with our families and friends, sharing gifts, feasting and celebrating this holy day, take a moment to reflect on the three gifts given to Jesus, and the meaning He holds in each of your lives.
God bless you all throughout the holidays. May God keep you and yours safe and healthy as we celebrate Christmas.
Prayer request: For those who don't yet know who Christ is, that we may be able to share Him boldly with others throughout the coming year.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for coming into the world, a helpless baby, to save mankind. There is so much depth and meaning I can barely put it into words, and I can barely finish this prayer. Your love for us is beyond comprehension.
"For God so loved the world, he gave his one and only son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Christmas 1881
I received the following story as a forward recently.
As I noted in my last blog, it was too long to add last week, so here it is this week. A Christmas story with a very poignant message for us all. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve, 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though; I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.
Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, its cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what ...
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed.
"I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me."
The high sideboards!! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on.
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something.
"Pa," I asked, "What are you doing?"
"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before leaving her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?
"Yeah," I said. "Why?"
"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jacky was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.
"What's in the little sack?" I asked.
"Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jacky just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat, flour and shoes to the door and knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"
"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out, one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your Ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your Ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jacky out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."
I understood and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensen's, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
~Author Unknown
As I noted in my last blog, it was too long to add last week, so here it is this week. A Christmas story with a very poignant message for us all. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve, 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though; I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.
Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, its cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what ...
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed.
"I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me."
The high sideboards!! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high sideboards on.
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something.
"Pa," I asked, "What are you doing?"
"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before leaving her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?
"Yeah," I said. "Why?"
"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jacky was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.
"What's in the little sack?" I asked.
"Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jacky just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat, flour and shoes to the door and knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"
"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out, one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your Ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your Ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jacky out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."
I understood and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensen's, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
~Author Unknown
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