Immanuel

 Immanuel

Composed 12/4/11

In the Old Testament God showed himself to his people,

sometimes in a cloud, sometimes through visitations from angels.

When the Israelites wandered 40 years in the wilderness

God presided over them, leading, guiding through every test.

But the sinful nature causes us to rebel

and ignoring God's directives causes trouble.

History is shown to repeat this cause and effect

of either praying for help - or of willful neglect.

So God's blessed people chose to follow their own, selfish will

only to be lead on a continual spiral downhill.

Will humanity ever learn

that God is waiting for their return?

Later a promise was made to Isaiah, fortunately,

for it seemed like there was no hope for humanity.

This promise was the coming of Immanuel

though hundreds of years before his coming would befall.

Years pass. The New Testament begins

with a reminder of this promise again.

An angel told Joseph in a dream that Mary would have a son.

He should be named Immanuel. God's solution for the world had come!

Today we commemorate this first Christmas

with celebrations and decorations in mass

often forgetting the reason

we celebrate this season.

We forget that God's solution

to the world's many problems

came that night as "God with us" or Immanuel

when Jesus comes into our heart to dwell.

"God with us" replaces the restlessness,

the searching to fill the emptiness,

to fill the void, to make us complete.

“God with us” is what our soul seeks.

* * * * *

December – a month of fa, la, la, la, la.

Of festive gatherings of those near and far.

With twinkling lights and decorated trees.

Of gifts that delight you and me.

Then suddenly Christmas is over

without a thought of whatever

is the reason

for the season.

Matthew records why Jesus came.

The reason is found in His names.

Jesus means the Lord saves.

Christmas Day that way was paved.

As promised long ago,

the name Immanuel

means God with us

when we simply trust.

His name Messiah means The Christ,

the Anointed One, despite the price

that would be paid on Calvary's tree

where Jesus died for you and me.

Died to save us from our sins

when we believe in Him.

So that's what Christmas is all about -

when the birth of Jesus came about.

God's Christmas gift to us

is His beloved son Jesus.

So this year when Christmas is over and done

can you say you made room for God's Son?

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.

Exodus 13:21

The Lord will go before you,

the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 52:12

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,

and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel – which means, "God with us".

Matthew 1:22-23

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Memory Tree

 Memory Tree

Time to get out the Christmas tree

and decorate with memories

for most of the ornaments were given to me

while others were homemade and crafted for me.

There are crocheted cotton angels from mom

and her plastic canvas ornaments which don

many of the branches each year.

These ornaments have become dear.

Many ornaments were given

representing angels from heaven.

I know for a fact the ones giving

were friends disguised as angels from heaven.

Some from nieces and nephews

made from pine cones and lots of glue.

More are added every year.

Each one becoming more dear.

Other ornaments were made by me

from a little bit of nothing, you see.

Clothespin angels and cross-stitched poinsettias look swell

and a little ribbon with some glue make the tree sparkle.

Every year more Christmas ornaments are given and received

making a special holiday memory for me.

I just received three more today

though Christmas is two weeks away.

And every year I make more ornaments to give away

to friends, family, and you if you visit today.

This year crocheted snowflakes.

Almost 100 to date.

I’m beginning to forget

who it was that gave me what.

Should I make a list?

Will I then find my list?

Irregardless, the ornaments are reminders

as every year they are unwrapped from tissue paper

of old and new friends and family I hold dear

and of God’s faithfulness to us this past year.

* * * * *

I pray you have sweet memories

as you decorate your tree.

Does your tree remind you of Jesus

when you decorate it for Christmas?

As sweet memories from childhood

when the first time you understood

the real meaning of Christmas –

the birth of baby Jesus.

Perhaps your tree is decorated with a star

that led the wise men from distant lands afar.

Do you have decorations in gold

that remind you of their gift of gold?

Do angel choirs sing

with "good news" ringing

from your tree

for all to see?

Maybe there’s a heart-shaped ornament

to remind you of what God’s gift meant?

For Christmas is love

from heaven above.

Do you hang bells

that foretell

“glory to God in the highest”

from your tree’s green branches?

Are there sheep hanging upon the branches?

Maybe doves in droves your tree enhances?

A dove represents peace.

Christmas is about peace.

Maybe you decorate with a cross

to remember the price it cost

when Jesus gave His life

to give us eternal life.

However you decorate your tree

I’m sure it is lovely

and makes a memory

of friends and family.

Then all the trees of the forest

will sing for joy.

Psalm 96:12

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Go and Tell

Go and Tell

Why were the shepherds chosen, do you suppose,

to be visited that night out in the cold

by a surprising angel of the Lord?

Why were the shepherds chosen, do you suppose?

We do know that the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem

to witness this wonder of which the angel had spoken -

bringing good tidings of great joy to all peoples

born that day in the city of David's humble stable.

That night the shepherds saw with their own eyes

a newborn baby in the manger lie

cooed too by the cattle's din

for there was no room in the inn.

Mary and Joseph hovered nearby

as the showed off their new little guy

to these shepherds who came from distant plain -

a Savior, Christ the Lord, who would one day reign.

After bearing witness to this sight

the shepherds overwhelmed with much delight

returned to the hillside to guard their flocks

after telling others what they had sought.

They had made known abroad

all they had seen and heard -

witnesses to the Savior's birth

when God's own Son was born on earth.

Is that why, do you suppose,

the shepherds were the ones chose?

For they went and told

all they had seen and heard.

* * * * *

Christ the Savior is born

celebrated Christmas morn

for the shepherds went and told

and today we too have heard.

"Go and tell" is our mission

to spread the news of salvation

to every person

in every nation.

"Go and tell" good tidings of great joy

to all men and women, girls and boys

for Christmas is more than toys.

It's a season for joy.

Joy that's given when we believe

that God sent His Son and we receive

this gift of salvation,

redemption and pardon.

Joy in God's perfect gift to us, a Savior,

who loves us with unconditional favor.

"Go and tell" so everyone everywhere will know

the good tidings of great joy to all peoples.

"Go and tell"

one's heart swells

with God's love to everyone everywhere.

Today let someone you know God does care.

When they had seen him,

they spread the word concerning what had been told them

about this child,

and all who heard it were amazed

at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2:17-18

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Fear

Fear

In the dark of the night

under stars shining bright,

quiet except for a bleat

from a sheep that couldn't sleep,

shepherds faithfully kept watch

for sheep tend to get lost

then wild animals prey

on lone sheep gone astray.

Suddenly without warning

one night long before morning

the glory of the Lord shone around,

brighter than the noonday sun shining down,

causing these humble shepherds to be overcome with fear personified -

afraid, frightened, panicked, petrified, terrified for their very lives.

Heart stopping, shaking in their sandals,

consuming fear gripped their innards.

Not only did the glory of the Lord shine around,

an angel of the Lord of heaven and earth came down

who immediately spoke timeless words of comfort and cheer

to allay any hint of overwhelming worry or fear.

Words that even today calms our fears:

“Do not be afraid” or “Do not fear”.

Words that God's Word repeats over and over for fear

grips our fickle hearts depleting it of joy or cheer.

The angel declared words of hope to the shepherds that night.

Words of good news that brought great joy dispelling their fright.

These words of hope triumphed over any fear;

in fact, turned their fear into holy, reverent fear

for these shepherds quickly hurried to Bethlehem

where they found exactly what the angel had told them.

The promised Messiah, Christ the Lord, God's son,

the long-awaited Savior, had finally come!

That moment of quaking fear one starry night in the field

had now turned into holy, reverent fear, though not stilled,

for these shepherds told everyone, giving testimony,

repeated down through the ages – the first Christmas story.

A holy, reverent fear where they could not

not stop glorifying and praising God.

Those who heard their report were amazed!

Hope soared again. Prayers of thankfulness raised.

Just think, Christ was born at the time of the census

when the city was full of King David's descendants.

This wonderful, glorious news must have traveled quickly

from house to house, inn to inn, great joy added to the revelry

of seeing long-lost loved ones, friends and family, who had come

not knowing that God's promise to Isaiah would finally come

one miraculous night in an unpretentious stable, lives now guaranteed a new lease -

our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Those returning home continued to spread the good news

until this present-day civilized world also knew

that Jesus had come, he came to save

and through his love for us his life he gave.

This good news still reaches out to hurting human hearts today

as in the name of Jesus, God's peace is only a prayer away.

Yes, our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace

can turn our quaking fears into a holy, reverent fear that brings great joy and abiding peace.

When fear comes

go to the One

who is waiting to hear from you.

Abide in him each day anew.

The promised Immanuel, God with us,

will relieve our fears when we learn to trust.

Turn whatever it is that brings fear into holy, reverent fear

of glorifying and praising God each and every day of the year.

* * * * *

Fear, in the form of worry,

dispels any peace or calmness.

This fear doesn't bring God glory.

In fact, worry is doubting God's goodness.

Worry says God isn't big enough,

as we worry out loud “I've had enough!”

to solve whatever troubles us

eroding our faith and trust.

There is a God-honoring fear.

It's holy, reverent fear.

It's being in awe of God Almighty.

Showing Him respect continually.

To esteem the Lord God is to love Him,

to obey His commandments found within

God's Holy Word, the Bible.

Holy fear will enable.

Unholy fear disables

doubting it's possible.

Holy fear has hope in God

who sustains us when times are hard.

Christmas reminds us

that God is with us

as our personal, loving Immanuel

giving us hope through what seems impossible.

How deplorable, this holy, reverent fear so absent from today's society,

where OMG degrades the one true God's holiness every second continually,

where God and his Word, his good-for-us principles, are absent from the majority,

and noticeably absent from so-called 'Christmas' celebrations and festivities.

Tell someone today about how the shepherds quaking fear

was forever changed into holy, reverent godly fear.

Perhaps they too will exchange daily worry

into a testimony for God's glory.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people."

Luke 2:9-10

Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph,

and the baby who was lying in the manger.

When they had seen him,

they spread the word concerning what had been told them about his child,

and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2:16-18

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God

for all the things they had heard and seen,

which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:20

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26

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Destiny

 Destiny

Within each one of us is a God-given destiny.

In Luke 1 Mary is about to find out her destiny.

Mary, engaged to be married to Joseph,

was visited by an angel on earth.

It's true. That's how it really was.

The angel acknowledged Mary as:

“You who are highly favored”. (Luke 1:28)

That's how God see us – favored.

Loved, chosen, fortunate -

as in His favorite.

Yes, even before you were born,

God had your destiny formed.

The angel knew Mary was greatly troubled

and immediately consoled her with these words:

“Do not be afraid.

You have found favor with God”. (Luke 1:30)

You know, God knows, too, when we are worried

as scripture reminds us often with these words:

Do not be afraid.

Do not be terrified.

Do not be troubled.

Do not be discouraged.

Do not be fainthearted with sorrow.

Do not worry about tomorrow.

Because God knows the fear in our hearts

His word will strengthen us when we start

a daily routine of reading it

with just what is needed to lift our spirit.

The angel told Mary she would give birth to a son

whose name would be Jesus who would rule an endless kingdom.

This baby would be the Son of the Most High,

he would be great and would reign by and by. (Luke 1:31-33)

When Mary questioned

the angel answered,

“nothing is impossible with God”. (Luke 1:37)

Yes, with God there is nothing too hard.

What was Mary's statement?

“I am the Lord's servant”. (Luke 1:38)

She willingly carried out her destiny,

one that affects everyone's eternity.

Mary, chosen to be

mother to this baby

that would change the destiny of the world

with this greatest story ever told.

* * * * *

You, too, have a chosen destiny within you

for God has chosen you for something special, it's true.

Perhaps you have the gift of giving

to someone in the need of receiving.

You've learned that the more you give

the more blessings God in turn gives

so that you can bless others more

from God's wonderfully, abundant store.

Maybe your gift is encouragement

for everyone needs encouragement.

If you find your world is a bit more cheerful,

perhaps your encouragement made it so.

And you'll find cheerfulness

is quite contagious

as others will offer needed encouragement

often in the form of a hug or a note sent.

Whatever your personal spiritual gift is,

it is your destiny to bring it to pass.

Your destiny will affect generations after you.

Perhaps like Mary, living out the gospel message true.

Will you be like Mary and say,

“I am the Lord's servant” everyday.

This is your destiny

for all eternity.

I am the Lord's servant.

Luke 1:38

I tell you, do not worry about your life...

Matthew 6:25

Do not be anxious about anything...

Philippians 4:6

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

If a man's gift is prophesying,

let him use it in proportion to his faith.

If it is serving, let him serve;

if it is teaching, let him teach;

if it is encouraging, let him encourage;

if it is contributing to the needs of others,

let him give generously;

if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;

if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Romans 12:6-8

Encourage one another

and build each other up.

I Thessalonians 5:11

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,

who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

II Thessalonians 2:16-17

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Abiding

Abiding

Shepherds abiding

at night residing

on the hill

where moonlight spills

when suddenly the night sky

is filled with angels who fly.

That dark sky was lit, we are told,

with the glory of the Lord.

The shepherds were afraid,

in fact terrified,

but the angel said, “do not fear”

and spoke these words loud and clear:

“I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;

he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

After hearing these words

these surprised and stunned shepherds,

filled with awesome wonder,

hurried to find the manger.

We read they did not tarry.

In fact, they quickly hurried.

They wanted to know if what the angel said was true,

for it seemed to them to be too good to be true.

It was just as the Lord’s glorious heavenly messenger said

as they did find the newborn baby in a manger bed.

Because it was true they told everyone what they had seen and heard

before they returned to the distant hillside to tend to their herds.

Were these abiding shepherds insistent

when they affirmed this awesome event?

Is it because of their persistence the Christmas story is everlasting?

These abiding shepherds had a part in history that remains enduring

for today the Lord Jesus Christ’s, the Savior’s, birth

is celebrated throughout the whole universe.

The shepherds returned to their abiding

filled with much glorifying and praising

for all the things they had seen and heard

which was just as they had been told.

I'm sure they were never again the same

for after seeing the Christ they were changed.

These abiding shepherds saw and believed

and wanted everyone else to believe.

As they continued to abide in the fields

I imagine they also remained filled

with all that Jesus Christ represents -

their Savior, the first Christmas present.

* * * * *

Though the story is old

its truth is never old.

The truth is still the same today

as it was those many yesterdays.

The Savior has come.

Is he welcomed?

Jesus Christ can abide in your heart

if you ask Him to come in, just start

by praying “Dear Heavenly Father

I realize I was born a sinner

but by your grace my sins can be washed away

so I ask your forgiveness right now, today.

I believe you died on the cross

to take my punishment. It cost

me nothing for you paid everything

so all my wrong doings to you I bring.

From now on for you I want to live.

My life, as it is, to you I give."

Such a simple prayer

the Lord will hear

and then abide in you

and help you each day anew

as you abide in Him.

He's waiting to come in.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God

for all the things they had heard and seen,

which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:20

See that what you have heard from the beginning

remains (abides) in you.

If it does, you also will remain (abide)

in the Son and in the Father.

And this is what he promised us – even eternal life.

I John 2:24-25

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Stable

 Stable

Sawn from rough-hewn wood

to house cattle it would

one starry night host a guest

that the world could never guess.

Did the innkeeper realize

or was he in for a surprise?

This stable in which donkeys and cows

daily sought shelter and bedded down

was loaned to God one wondrous night

to Joseph and Mary, his wife.

Did the cattle realize

or were they in for a surprise?

This lowly stable though crudely made

is where the shepherds found Jesus laid

in a manger box -

the cattle's feeding trough.

Did the manger realize

or was it in for a surprise?

You see, the world expected a King

born in pomp and circumstance to bring

salvation to the world,

not Jesus Christ the Lord

born in a humble stable

shared with barnyard animals.

His birth, quite remarkable,

with wonder filled that stable,

was rejected by the curious

and even made others furious.

So many curious never realized

and would be in for a bigger surprise.

Messiah was born that night

in a stable filled with delight

for when the shepherds entered in

that stable there by the inn

they found their Savior

who would bring favor.

They were in for a surprise

and that wonder and surprise

became their bold testimony

still today making history

as they went and told

so the whole world would know.

* * * * *

That little unpretentious stable by the inn

housed the One who provides stability within.

Good news? With God in you

your life is stable too

for God will remain steadfast

despite whatever comes to pass.

God can use the mundane

to bring praise to His name.

Never think God can't use you

for your life has worth and value.

God has for you a unique plan and purpose

and He's preparing you for the Master's use.

Sometimes God uses the pain of humbling

to prepare you for good that's someday coming.

Learn to ask "what is God teaching me".

Seeking God will provided stability.

It takes faith to realize.

You'll be in for a surprise!

This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths

and lying in a manger.

Luke 2:12

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