The Incarnation — God in the Flesh
December 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
“You may go if you must, but not me! The church is rubbish. Christmas is pure sentimentality…….”
The man was an agnostic. And though his wife and children pleaded with him to join them for services on Christmas Eve, he would not. “I don’t need Christmas” he would say. “It’s for children not for me.”
It began to snow. The man now, at home alone, peered out the window at white swirls dancing across his lawn. He settled down with the daily paper, hoping that his wife and children would soon be home. And then, ‘Thump…..’ on the window pane above the sofa. The man went to the door. He cracked it open to see a little ball of feathers – a barn swallow- sitting in a lump beneath the window. Apparently it crashed into the pane wanting to escape the blowing snow that now threatened to become the first storm of winter.
The man, who was not much given to sentimentality, felt nevertheless drawn to the bird. It must have a family he thought, among the many swallows that nested in the tool shed. It must have gotten lost. Perhaps it felt panic as the sky lowered and the snow began to fall.
“If only I could point it to the shed” he thought to himself. “ There the little fellow would find shelter against the storm”. He made a gesture with his hand, but he knew it would be useless. He picked the bird up and set it on the path to the shed. But it only sat there. Running to the kitchen, the man brought bread crumbs and laid them out in front of the bird thinking to lure it toward the shed.
But this, too, had no effect. “I’ll never make it understand” he thought to himself. “It speaks another language. The little thing is confused – it misunderstands my intentions.” And then he thought, “I’d have to become a bird myself and show it the way……”
Just then, above the wind, he heard a church bell ring. It reminded him suddenly of the season – it was Christmas. And in a flash he understood that Christmas was necessary after all. “How else might God let his creatures know His intentions? How else might he lead them to shelter? It required becoming one of us….”
God has become one of us. And he has entrusted us with the same message – to become a genuine part of people and cultures around the world. How else will they ever know?
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
CHALLENGE: Are you listening and following after Him?
My book and study guide “Developing a Secret History with God” will inspire you on your journey to hear His voice that you may follow after Him.
Book available on Amazon/ Barnes&Noble/ Walmart/Lulu/ itunes/ Kindle/ Nook/http wwwclfrance.com/ W.H. Smith UK/or a bookstore near you.
Languages: English/ French
Rethinking “Twas the Night before Christmas”
December 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house.
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hope that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed
Not once ever knelling or bowing a head.
And Mum in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter.
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His Hand
Was written the name of every saved man,
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said “Its not here” my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound.
While all the rest were left standing around.
I feel to my knees but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate,
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh! If only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There’s only one way life and when comes the call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!
CHALLENGE:
Since there are approximately 300 prophecies about His first coming and over 1500 prophesying He will come again, His second advent is imminent. In the middle of all the hustle and bustle in preparing to celebrate His Birth do we even give it a thought to prepare for His second coming?
Unraveling the Stress of the Christmas Season
November 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
As we head into heat of the Christmas season with the frustrating lines in the stores, the tangled lights that don’t work after hours of decorating, the strained relationships especially within families, the baking that was a flop, the stress to fit all the activities into your calendar are only examples of the pressure cooker we make of the season as we blow our tops and lose the joy of the season, I am cautioned by this word my heavenly Papa dropped into my heart.
Dear Child,
The pressure and stress that robs you of the joy of this season has been manufactured by man and led man into slavery when this season was to set man free from the bondage of this world. The angels cry “Joy to the world” not “Stress to the world”.
Do not try to package my gift in wrapping paper of stress tied up with a bow of pressure!
My gift came wrapped in joy and tied with love.
May the joy of the season overflow from your hearts as you extend your arms as ribbons of love to others.
Thus saith Papa
Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
CHALLENGE: Do not let the world pour you into its mold of stress during this season of joy.
Chasing After Honor or Does it Follow You?
November 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Dear Father,
Forgive me for the times that the flesh has sought for honor, depriving the spirit of honor that only comes from you! Teach me and mold me, I pray!
Dear Child,
When your heart motivation is truly just to please Me, who sees all things, you will receive a reward and honor.
You will have the reward of contentment knowing you can commit all things to My faithful hands. The stress and sweat of trying to prove oneself to others will be overcome by My peace that passes understanding.
You will be able to love and accept others because you will not be in competition with others!
Yes, you are running a race, but you will be running to please Me, not to prove anything to others.
Your life is hid in the cross!
The source of your life is hid beneath the soil of your heart and in your spiritual root structure, which is developed in secret times with Me, which no man sees.
Thus saith Papa
Matt. 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
When we minister only to be seen and approved by men, the word tells us we already have our reward, but that temporal reward comes at the expense of an eternal reward which we would receive if we minister only for our Audience of One.
John 21:21-22 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
In the above scripture Peter questions Jesus about the calling of John. Jesus’ reply helps me understand that I should not be competitively concerned about what He has called others to do, but only be responsibly concerned about what He has called me to do!
CHALLENGE: “Honor is like the shadow, which flees from those who pursue it, and grasp at it, but follows those who flee from it.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Seek the honor that comes from solely serving your Audience of One, rather that temporarily satisfying the flesh with the honor and approval of man.
For more information about your quiet time with God read “Developing a Secret History with God”
Book available on Amazon/ Barnes&Noble/ Walmart/Lulu/ itunes/ Kindle/ Nook/http wwwclfrance.com/ W.H. Smith UK/or a bookstore near you.
Languages: English/ French
Languages: English/ French