Glory in the Highest

Today's Reading: Luke 2:8-20

"Glory to God in the Highest,

and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

It began as another ordinary night for the shepherds, bedding down for the night in the fields with their sheep.

"... behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them... 

the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid." vs 9

No wonder they were afraid, imagine the ordinary night transforming to the brilliance from the realm of glory as an angel appeared right there before them. The angel said:

" 'Do not be afraid, for behold,

I bring you good tidings 
of great joy

which will be to all people.

For there is born to YOU this day 

in the city of David

a Savior. who is Christ the Lord...'

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!' " 
vs. 10, 11 &14

 Imagine the spectacle of glorious light, majestic splendor and radiant hope for all people.

I wonder if David the Shepherd King was seeing from heaven at that moment the glory of the birth of his promised son. The birth of our Savior is the answer to David's question to God,

"What are people that you should think about them, 

mere mortals that you should care for them?".

We ARE in God's thoughts and He does care enough to send His Son to be born from a human in a stable with animals in it. (Very messy place to be born.)

When the angels departed the shepherds left and found Mary, Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. After seeing them they  

"returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen... " 

"Mary kept all these things 

and pondered them in her heart."

Let us ponder in our hearts God's mercy for sending His Son 

and glorify Him for all that He has done for all of us His people.

Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men

Wednesday: 

"Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men."

Fast forward from the Declaration of Independence, 224 years to this year, December of 2020. 

 

Hate, violence and intense stress mock the hope of peace on earth. Sin has continued as before. As I write this post in December 2020, I have never seen a greater degree of stress and hatred in our country. We've had a worldwide pandemic strike and it continues indefinitely, a stock market crash, lock downs that are destroying businesses, people are out of work. Child abuse and suicide has increased greatly. Many children have not gone to school since last March. The loneliness and lack of socialization is very difficult for them. Churches that could have brought encouragement have been closed or in various stages of lock down as well. If that's not enough stress, then in early July the riots flared up. In Portland Oregon, they were every day for over 100 days. Then in early September, the riots suddenly subsided for a while, then started up again. During this time fires ripped through communities in California and all the way up through Oregon. From Southern Oregon, all the way to Northern Oregon, moving through communities along the I-5 corridor, west of the Cascades, burning down homes. Just in our area 2600 homes were burned to the ground and nearly 2000 businesses were destroyed. So many walked away with nothing but the clothes on their backs. These were not typical forest fires that occur in our area, they were fires burning entire communities of homes. Never happened here like that before. And even now there such deep hatred emanating from the riots, continuing through the election even now as we approach Christmas. Lord, I long for peace on earth and good will toward men.

 

So if we don't have peace on earth right now in our country, then what good is the verse of "Peace on Earth and Good will toward men"? Is it just a slogan... just words in a song? As I typed above “Hate and war mock the hope of peace on earth;” a few lyrics of a Christmas Carol kept playing in my mind.

But I could not remember the name of the carol. In prayer, the words "I heard the bells on Christmas Day" came to mind. So I looked it up, and there those words were. I think this year we can identify with these poignant words.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Further down in the poem it continues:

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

This carol was originally a poem was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. “In 1861, two years before writing this poem, Longfellow's personal peace was shaken when his second wife of 18 years, to whom he was very devoted, was fatally burned in an accidental fire. Then in 1862, during the American Civil War, Longfellow's oldest son, Charles Appleton Longfellow, joined the Union Army without his father's blessing.” He survived the war, but came home seriously wounded. Henry took care of his wounded son.

This story involves another war, the Civil War. In this war the North fought to free the slaves. Many of our ancestor’s blood saturated the ground in the numerous battles of citizens against citizens. I had two ancestors in that war, that I know of. One great, great great grandpa survived the war. After the war he married the widow of another great, great, great grandpa who did not live. Both solders fought for the Union to free the slaves.

This poem brought tears to my eyes. It later became a Christmas Carole that most of us are very familiar with. The original poem poured out this man’s broken heart. There are many more verses, so I will conclude with this:

 

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Yes, despite our struggles this year, we press on and press in knowing that “God is not Dead nor doth He sleep.”

We look to Him who loves us and trust His love for us regardless of what happens.

 

Here is the poem in its entirety:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

To Form a More Perfect Union

Tuesday:

I wrote this last year. My hope was that by now things would be better in our nation by now. Sadly not so. If you don't want to read this discouraging look at the state of our country, just skip this. More hope is to come in the following blogs and hopefully more hope to come in 2022. 

Will we as a nation continue to aspire to the quest for A More Perfect Union now? Or let our Constitutional Republic devolve into a totalitarian communist government? It is happening right now, unless we can stop it.

Over the last 100 years thanks to Karl Marx’s false utopia, various nations have fallen into forced government control. It has brought the massacre of millions of people, poverty and untold misery to the populations of these countries. Their liberty was forbidden, horrible violence to force top down control over everything. They set up re-education camps to control the thoughts those who do not believe in their propaganda. This is not the way to peace on earth. We are at the cusp of certain disaster if we cannot turn this around.

 

To find some peace on earth, leaders in our country and across the world, need to come to Christ, to seek His heart to understand the principles of fairness and justice for His created people. From these principles emerge a much greater potential for freedom and peace. Peace through equal fairness and justice. 

 

To Form a More Perfect Union

 

In 1787, a group of devoted men gathered together to form a new government. They were brilliant and highly educated. With much discussion and proposing of ideas and principles on which to draft The Constitution of the United States, these men composed the greatest document for human liberty and peace known to man. In this little book, roughly 4" x 6" and no more than 1/4 of an inch thick lies our system of government and rights as citizens for our entire nation. And now, more than 200 years later our courts continue rely on this document for bringing justice to a nation. It begins with: 

"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America."

This document did not come about easily. Before this Constitution was written there was a long and bloody Revolutionary War to separate our people from Britain. The American colonists had suffered greatly under British control and tyranny. It came to a crescendo on July 4, 1776. This was the day that The Declaration of Independence was signed.

 

Thomas Jefferson wrote, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations,.. evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right and duty to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government." 

As the Founders signed the Declaration of Independence; English battle ships were just off the coast as the signers pledged "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor."

Most of us as Americans hold to and treasure these documents as our guarantee of our liberty, religious and civil rights. Now there are violent hateful, extremist forces as well as the silent ones in support of those who are determined to abolish these documents of liberty and "burn the country down." They are tearing down and destroying the statues of the very men who established liberty for all.  In this document the Founders assert,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident,

 that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator

with certain unalienable Rights,

 that among these are Life, Liberty

 and the pursuit of Happiness."

 

They agreed upon the obvious truth that every human being is created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights... rights that are "unable to be removed" and "cannot be transferred" to anyone else because these rights come directly from God. To live in peace, we must see our fellow citizens as equal creations of God and honor their rights.

 

However, what do we do when they hate us and continue to commit crimes? What do we do when our closely held values and beliefs are repugnant to them? What do we do when we are so opposite in our beliefs and their beliefs, that no compromise or agreement of any kind that can happen? In the words of Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount,

 

"Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven, for he makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust." Matt 5:44,45

 

Yikes, that is not easy! However, those words are said by the Prince of Peace, our Prince of Peace. Lord, show me how to pray for our enemies with your great love. In that, we come to You Lord and pray for a break though for our nation that will bring unity, liberty, fairness and justice. In doing that we can aspire to peace.

His Name will be Called the Prince of Peace

Monday:

“For unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

His name will be called… Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6

 

Over 2,000 years after the birth of this child, the Prince of Peace, there is still no peace on earth. Why not? Because this verse speaks of both the First Coming of Christ and His Second Coming. With His First Coming as a child, He was born to rescue humanity from the eternal penalty of sin.

 

"For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and 

transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, 

who purchased our freedom 

and forgave our sins." 

Colossians 1:13, 14 NLT

“He was pierced for our rebellion, 

crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could whole”.

Isa 53:5 NLT

In His first coming, He paid the penalty for the sins of those who come to Him.  After His Ascension, 10 days later, He poured out His Holy Spirit to those willing to receive. By abiding in Christ, in His Holy Spirit, He enables us to transcend evil, as we walk in His Spirit. The fruits of His Spirit are revealed in His true followers. They are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. This promise remains until this day for lovers of God. As His people, we must lean into Him, be continually filled with His Spirit so that we can be seen as lights in a very dark world. The world Jesus was born into was very dark. There was a lot of division as the Romans ruled over the Jewish people. John says of Jesus: 

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

And the Light shines in the Darkness, 

and the darkness did not comprehend it." 

 John 1:4, 5 NKJ

The darkness did not understand the light, nor was it unwilling to receive the light. However the darkness could not quench nor extinguish the light. Even though they crucified Him; the light of His Spirit moved across the whole world through his followers. So today the darkness seems to be pressing harder than I have ever seen. It is time for us to rise up, lean deeper into His Spirit than ever before. In that we will reveal His Light shining in us across our nation and world.

And the second coming? There will come a day when Jesus Christ will return as the Prince of Peace and there will be true, everlasting peace. 

“His government and it’s peace will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice

from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.”

Isaiah 9:7 NLT

Until that time when Christ returns, sin still reigns upon the earth. The government of people past and present still rests up on the shoulders of various rulers. Yet, through His Spirit and His Scriptures; we can aspire to His government and it’s peace through fairness and justice. We do this by seeking God for a changed heart. If the people in our Country could aspire to live according to even two passages that Jesus spoke in The Sermon on the Mount; the strife in our nation would calm down. 

"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. 

This is the essence of all that is taught in the low and the prophets." 

Matthew 7:12 NLT

"You have heard the law that says, 

'Love you neighbor and hate your enemies!" 

The hatred in our country right now is epic. But gentle loving Jesus says: 

"Love your enemies! 

Pray for those who persecute you! 

In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven." 

Matthew 5:43,44 NLT

I am speaking to myself in this post, as well as you dear readers in the verses above. Don't we all need to be on our knees in prayer for all the people of our nation?

Tomorrow we will explore how the founders of our country aspired to a country of peace, fairness and justice as well as how America became a nation.

The Prince of Peace is Born

The Prince of Peace is Born 

Today's Reading: Luke 2:11, Isaiah 9:6,7

 

"For there is born to you this day...
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Glory to God in the Highest
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
Luke 2:11

Birth of Christ - Carl Bloch

 "For unto us a child is born, 
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be 
upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, 
Counselor, Mighty God, 
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and 
peace there will be no end.
Upon the throne of David and 
over His kingdom, to order it 
and establish it 
with judgment and justice.
From that time forward, even forever."
Isaiah 9:6,7

 

In this world for the last 2,000 years since the coming of the Prince of Peace; there has been times of peace and times of war and strife. Right now in 2020, there is very little if any peace in America right now. The division is the strongest I have ever seen it. So when I look at the verse above: "Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men." I think, how can this be? Christ, the Prince of Peace has come. Why is there so much strife in our country and our world? An old familiar Christmas carol keeps coming to mind. Here is one of the many poignant verses:

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

This is the theme for this week. The Prince of Peace is Born. How does this apply in the day and age we live in? Stay tuned and more will come.

 

The Parable of Two Sons

Tuesday

Matthew 21:28-46



When Jesus came into the temple the day after He drove out the money changers, the chief priest and elders question Him,

"By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" 21:23 Jesus answered them with a question that ultimately would cut to the heart of their own salvation. Let's see how this plays out:

"I will tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question. 

Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?"

They discussed his question and reasoned that "'If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn't believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we'll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.' So they finally replied, 'We don't know.' And Jesus responded, 'Then I won't tell you by what authority I do these things.'" 21: 24-26

Then Jesus tells them the Parable of the Two Sons. Would they see themselves in this word picture?
What is a parable? Why does Jesus tell them? We will answer these questions.

The Light of God's Great Love Poured out for Us

 Reading: John 3:16-21, Ephesians 3:14-21

Last year a precious little grandson was born into our family. I love to hold him, this precious gift from God and look into his bright face with wonder, and consider who will he be, what has God purposed in his life, how will his life affect our family and the world around him.

Birth of Christ by Carl Bloch

I wonder if the first day of Jesus life, Mary held Him and looked into His brilliant face and wondered what He would be like, how God's purpose would play out in His life, how it would affect her and Joseph and what He would mean for the entire world? 

"Mary kept all these things 
and pondered them in her heart."  
Luke 2:19 NKJ

Could she have known that God's plan for humanity would pierce her own heart? Probably not yet, though Simeon would tell her in eight days. Could anyone have understood how God's plan would pierce His Own Heart? God, the Father knew from eternity past what it would take to rescue human kind. He foretold this in the life of Abraham. How must Abraham have felt when God said:

"Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, and... 
offer him as a burnt offering".
Genesis 22:2 NKJ

 

This verse foretells God the Father's plan and the pain it would cause Him.. Somehow, the suffering of humanity was an even a greater pain. It reveals the extent of His profound deep love for us. We are His Creation. He formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Gen. 2:7, We are His workmanship, His masterpiece, His work of art. Eph. 2:10 We are lovingly crafted by Him.

 

 On Saturday, December 5th, we looked at David's question to God. To paraphrase: In light of Your majesty, Who are we that You would even think about us, let alone care? Look how God answered that question, by sending His Son, His one and only, beloved Son, knowing full well we'd kill Him. In fact that was the plan, that He would provide once and for all people, a perfect sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins.

"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."  
John 3:16 NIV

 

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,  according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21 NIV

The Passion of the Christ

Some years ago we saw the Passion of the Christ, produced by Mel Gibson when it first came out in the theaters.  It is so hard to watch... the cruel violence inflicted on a loving and innocent man. Even worse is the cruel violence inflicted on the Son of God who came to save mankind on all earth and time!!!  It was likely true to what really happened to Jesus, as gruesome as this movie is. Now as more and more study has been done on the Shroud of Turin using 3D imaging, not only do you see the blood dripping down His face; but also the marks on His body of the whipping and scourging. The Passion of the Christ was no exaggeration, it was reality.

You see, over 700 years before Jesus came to dwell among us, a prophet named Isaiah, through the Spirit of God had a vision of a suffering servant who would come and bear the sins of many, he would intercede for transgressors. This description of the suffering servant describes what I saw on the movie. Many times I covered my face from the horror of what was playing. Here is what Isaiah prophesied:

“Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness... He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” Isaiah 52:14, 53:3 NIV

How does the Bible describe the torture of Jesus:

“ after having Jesus severely whipped (scourged), he handed Him over to be crucified.” Matt. 27:26 AMP

”A victim to be scourged was stripped and tied to a whipping post. Then he was beaten mercilessly with a whip consisting of several leather thongs, each loaded with jagged pieces of metal or bone and weighted at the end with lead. Fragments of flesh would be torn from the victims, some of whom did not survive the ordeal.” Footnote - Matthew 27:26 NSFL Bible

As awful as the scourging scenes were in the Passion of the Christ, I don’t believe they were exaggerated.

Going back a bit, to Jesus being taken to Pilate:

“When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” Matt 27:1 NKJ

Jesus was quiet as His accusers make accusations. Pilate spoke with Him and he realized that the Jewish leaders handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat his wife sent a message to him say, “Have nothing to do with this just Man, for I have suffered many things in a dream because of Him.” Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus... he tried to release him, or Barabbas as was his custom on the holiday. At that time the Roman leaders were encouraged to keep peace in their jurisdiction.

“But the chief priest and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. Pilate asked, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ They all answered, ’Crucify him.’ ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. They shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but instead an uproar was starting, He took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ’It is your responsibility!’ All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!’’ Matt 27: 20-25

Sadly, they had no idea what they were doing and the misery that would soon come upon them and their children. On Palm Sunday, in the midst of all the praises of the crowd, as Jesus approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it and said this:

“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden form your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Luke 19:42

And yet in so many of the poignant scenes of this movie, verses came to mind that I thought to share a few with you.

Prophesies locked up for centuries... people puzzled by what they could possibly mean, until they were fulfilled before His disciples own eyes... I would imagine His disciples, sometimes during the horror of it all and other times; they remembered the things He had told them before this day.

Jesus said to His Disciples, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written, "I will strike the Shepherd,  And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'  Zech 13:7

Peter said to Jesus that "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." Jesus said to Him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!"

Matthew 26:31-35

Later all the disciples left Him and fled... But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priests courtyard. As He sat outside, a servant girl said, "You were with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied it, saying "I do not know what you are saying. " Then he went out the gateway and another girl said, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." He denied again. "I do not know the man!" Later, some came up to him and said, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then Peter began to curse, and swear saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Peter remembered the word of Jesus who said, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out ad wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:56, 58, 69-75

John was watching the crucifixion, expression on his face... and him having memories of being with Jesus, and hearing His closing words for His disciples before He leaves them. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” He recorded this in his gospel of their life with Jesus.

The Pharisee’s shouted to Pilate... “His blood on us and our children” ... Luke 19: 37-44... Jesus’ prophecy... Romans destroying Jerusalem
While the Romans whipped and beat Him“He was pierced for our transgressions...
When Mary was wiping his face after they took him down from the cross... the expression on her face dull with the trauma and pain, reminded me of Simeon’s prophecy to her when Jesus was just a baby...“A sword will pierce your own soul...”

The first time I saw this movie in the Theater, I had met my husband in town and was driving home alone, completely overwhelmed by the horror of the crucifixion. I had to pull over, sit in my car, cry many tears and process what I had just seen.

God Will Hear Our Cries From Heaven

Covid 19 Update - 3/31/20
Last Sunday, March 29,  the stay at home order was extended to the end of April. I wonder if that will be enough time for the virus to run it’s course? I also wonder what that will do to our economy? Will we collapse into a depression? On those not so cheery notes; I will share a verse that has been on my mind in the last few days... a verse that is really our only hope.

“If MY people who are called by My name 
will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, 

and turn from their wicked ways, 

then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJ

King Solomon dedicated the newly finished temple to God for Him to dwell among His people.*  The night after Solomon dedicated the temple, the LORD appeared to him and said,

“I have heard your prayer 

and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, 

or command the locusts to devour the land, 

or send pestilence among My people,

if my people who are called by My name 

will humble themselves...” 

The key verse at the top of the page,  is what God said for His people to do when pestilence comes. I didn’t know what the word pestilence meant so I looked it up. The concordance says it is a plague. My dictionary defines it as:
 “Diseases that spread rapidly, causing many deaths. Smallpox, yellow fever,  and the plague are pestilence. A synonym is epidemic.”

Wow, very sobering, yet at the same time hopeful. This verse is well known and loved by God’s chosen people across the globe who are struggling in an enormous crisis beyond their control. Now is such a time of global crisis with nearly every country in the whole world infected with this virus.

In this verse at the top, God Himself sets forth what His people are to do to receive His gracious healing. This verse gives God’s chosen people a path to restoration, through the prayers of His people, and provides a guide for prayers for revival across our world.  

The verse begins with ”IF”, which brings up implies questions. Will we even do what He is calling us to do in a crisis? We need to ask ourselves: “Am I willing to do this? Am I His one of His people? Am I called by His name? A CHRISTian? Am I willing to answer His call and do what He says?”

He is calling us who are His people, who are called by His name to do two things:

Hungering for Righteousness - Covid Update 2

Reading
Matthew 5:6

“God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice (righteousness).”

Matthew 5:6 NLT

Our country, our world is in crisis. The World Wide Pandemic of the Covid 19 virus is highly contagious and spreading like the wild fires we had a few years ago. Just one little spark could ignite an entire forest. And so with this disease. During times of adversity, the goodness in people is seen. Many rise to the occasion, jump in, to do the right things to help others. Then you see other people taking advantage of the situation for their own selfish interests.

Can we see evidence of people doing right and wrong actions? Is there such a thing as good and evil? Justice and injustice? Many think there isn’t... we should just do what seems right to us. And who are you to judge right and wrong, good and evil? Though over the centuries, millenniums of human history there were good things done, and there was also evil perpetrated on others. Justice? Injustices committed? Can we all agree that Hitler perpetrated evil and committed genocide when he murdered Jews, Christians and others?

Today is March 27, 2020, the 12th day of the Federal guidelines to slow down the spread of this disease, which began March 16, 2020.  We are still mostly staying home, and if we need to go out for a necessity it is brief. We avoid crowds and practice “Social Distancing” as best as possible. I stocked up on food and other necessities a while back. Both the Federal Government and the State of Oregon has asked people to stay home and many businesses deemed unnecessary are ordered to be closed. And schools are closed as well. So many parents find themselves home with their kids, getting restless and needing to get out. But now all the parks are closed, so where do you take the kids to run and play?

The Blessing of Hungering for Righteousness

Reading:
Matthew 5:6
Romans 3:21-25

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.” 

Matthew 5:6

As human beings we long for things to be right; in our own lives and in the world.  Most of time they are right, at least in some ways, and we manage to get through our lives with a semblance of feeling good or at least okay about the world. There are the really great times, like having good family and friends, moving into a new home or apartment and setting up your life. Maybe you’ve started a new job opportunity or a new business. Perhaps you started a new life getting married to the sweetheart of your dreams. And at some point your union you brought a new life into the world. You look into that little face and see hope and promise for this new little life. Then you have the satisfaction of seeing growth and good things come in your life; whether it is the success of your new job/business; or watching your children grow.

But then there are other times, when “the proverbial shoe drops” as they say; and life becomes extremely difficult. Perhaps your dream job/business or your marriage falls apart. Or one of your children has problems, a disability or gets into trouble of some kind. Or you go to the doctor only to hear a dreaded diagnosis... cancer or ? Maybe, or likely, it is more than just one of the things above. You realize that while there are a lot of things that are right in the world; there are also things that are just not right and you long for things to work out much better. Why is it that as much as we may want things to go well, there are times they just fall apart and disaster comes despite our best efforts?

Today, as I write this post, March 26, 2020, the entire world is in the midst of a worldwide pandemic... the Covid 19 Virus or as I call it, the “WuFlu”. My husband and I, our children have experienced pretty much all of the good things and difficulties above; the hopes and joys; as well as the stress, sorrow and setbacks. Yet in all our decades of life challenges, we have never experienced a world wide pandemic and quarantine. We have friends in their 90’s who have never experienced this. There is a lot of uncertainty and fear of what lies ahead. Will a family member or friend become gravely ill and we lose them? How long will it take to stop the spread of the disease? Will family members and/or friends lose their jobs? Their businesses? Will there even be an economy left in the wake of the disease? If the disease slows, will it come back in the fall? Will it last weeks, months or years? When will our free society return? Our economy return? When will life be back to normal again?

Humble to Rise

Reading: James 4:1-10, 1 Peter 5:5-7, Psalm 37.

This is our final post on the Beatitude, Meekness. These first three beatitudes relate together. They reflect the beginning stages of both true conversion and growth in the Spirit of God. When you or I catch a glimpse of how amazing God is and where we stand in comparison, suddenly a realization takes place, deep in our heart... He is God and I am not!!! We realize our need for Him, for you see apart from Him we can do nothing of lasting value! This is what it is to be poor in spirit and is the entry point into the Kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit 

(realize their need for God. NLT)

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

Matt. 5:3 NKJ

When you truly see your own sin and need for God, you will experience the important godly sorrow of mourning. "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted... just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness... what desire, zeal, vindication, you have done everything necessary to make things right"  2 Corinthians 7:10, 11 NKJ/NLT  This is the kind of sorrow necessary for true repentance and conversion. With this godly sorrow, comes the comfort of the comforter, the Holy Spirit of God.  

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." 

Matthew 5:4 NKJ

Once a person has seen their need for God and mourned over their sin and the lost opportunity of what might have been; a meekness and humility may emerge. Meekness and humility are not weakness but power under perfect control. A person moving in this beatitude, fully trusting God and not his own strength will be blessed by God.

What is the Blessing of Meekness?

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." 

Matthew 5: 5 NKJ

"... the meek shall inherit the earth, 

and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." 

Psalm 37:11 NKJ

When you get a chance, read all of Psalm 37 and you will see what meekness looks like in a very practical way. You will also see the blessing of Meekness in the lives of those who completely trust in God.

Exalted Humility

Reading: Matt. 5:5, Philippians 2:1-13,

"Blessed are the Meek.." 

Matt. 5:5

As we looked to Jesus in the last post to consider what the attitude of meekness looks like in a person; we saw Him becoming a servant and washing the disciples feet. Jesus even says of Himself,

"For I am meek and lowly, (humble) in heart." 

Matt. 11:29

In Jesus' life on this earth He demonstrated greater power than a political leader. He moved in the power of humble wisdom and penetrating love. Today we will look at powerful verses speaking of this humility and love. The apostle Paul calls us to have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

The Master Serves

Reading: Matt. 5:5 John 13:1-17, Matt. 5:43-48

"Blessed are the Meek..." 

Matt. 5:5

As we have been looking at the beatitudes, we have talked about the Meekness of Jesus, our Messiah. He is the one we look to. Our hope should is to be found in His image. Yes found in His image, transformed from our flawed human nature to His glorious nature.  In our reading today lets look on at Jesus' last meal with His disciples. He knew this was His last time with them, so everything He says and does is full of meaning for them and us, who love Him today. In this private evening with them, He demonstrated His meekness in a very powerful way.

"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. The evening meal was being served... Jesus... got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.

When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. 'Do you understand what I have done for you? You call Me Teacher and Lord,and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will blessed if you do them.'" John 13:1-17 NIV