And on Earth Peace

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “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 this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace,
goodwill toward men!”

-- Luke 2:1-14

God With Us

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
-- Matthew 1:23

How do you show someone you really love them? How do you tell them that they mean everything to you? Not with words, for words are easy to utter and can be used to hide true meaning. We give them something that shows great consideration and care in picking out the gift. We make great personal sacrifices, do for them what others would not even think of. We give of ourselves to them.

That the Creator of the universe and all within it would love us, part of His creation, is incredible enough. That He would go to such great lengths to show us His love would be unbelievable had we not the very evidence of the birth of Jesus. First He chose a young, devout couple, engaged but not yet married, that He trusted enough to raise His own Son. Then He sent His emissaries, the angels, to convince them of His intent, to ensure them of their part. The teenage girl, so clean and pure, would bear His seed and bring forth into this world the Son of God, the Son of man, the Word made flesh. The young man, devout in his love of God, would take the girl as his wife, shelter and support her and her child. Together they would raise the boy as their own, preparing him for the greatest role ever played on the stage of life. And God allowed His Spirit made flesh to be born into lowly squalor, a food trough for cattle serving as his bed, a few simple shepherds watching over him and his parent as he slept.

God gave us Himself, made His Spirit to walk among us, born of woman in the most humble of settings. Emmanuel, God with us. God chose to walk among us, as one of us. He chose to suffer and sacrifice for us, that we might be washed clean by the blood of the Lamb so as to be pure in the presence of God, forgiven of the very sin we were born into. The greatest gift imaginable, only to show us God's love.

Emmanuel. God with us. Then, now, and for ever and ever. Amen.

Come, Jesus, Come

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
-- Matthew 1:21

When they learned that Mary was with child, Joseph did not wish for her to be made a public example, and so considered hiding her away until the child was born. But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel told him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, for the baby within her was conceived by the Holy Ghost, not by man. He assured Joseph that Mary would bear a Son, who would be the Savior of mankind.

What a glorious message! What a wonderful dream! Can you imagine how the weight suddenly lifted from Joseph's shoulders, how the burden left his heart? Can you imagine the joy he must have felt? The woman about to become his wife would bear God's own Child, Whom he would raise as his own for the Lord! What a marvelous thought!

And what a wonderful time of year for Christians the world round. We know the story, we know the history, the beginning, even the ending. More importantly, we know the story actually has no end, for our Savior defeated death, arose from His grave, and rules in heaven forever. But that is getting a little ahead of the story, the wondrous story of Christ's birth. We await that birth, anxious, yet filled with hope and praise and glorious expectation because we do indeed know how the story goes.

We await the advent of our Savior. We walk alongside the burro that Mary rides to Bethlehem, keeping pace with Joseph. We plead with Joseph's voice for some small room for her to rest within. We fill the stable manger with the softest, freshest hay we can find, covering it with clean rags for the One whose birth was heralded by angelic host. We hold Mary's hand, grip Joseph's arms, as she delivers the small Child. We look in awe upon the Messiah, the Christ, the One named Jesus. We bow, with the oxen and lambs, and honor Him. We greet the shepherds who have heard of His birth, the wise kings from far off lands who have followed a star. We watch as Mary lovingly coos and comforts the small, precious baby that is our King, God in human flesh, our Lord.

For now, we simply wait. It is all we can do to patiently sit by, for we know how the story goes. Come, Holy Spirit, come. We welcome you into our hearts. Come, baby Jesus. We await you.

Fear Not

"Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
-- Isaiah 41:10

All of us have fears, some minor, some very major. Some fears are of physical things, like spiders or snakes. Some arise because of our dread, our not being prepared for what may come. We may know something difficult lies ahead in our day and all we want to do is crawl back in bed and hide under the covers.

Our fears grow as we age. As children, we were afraid of monsters in our closet or under our bed, or the upcoming math test in school. As teens we felt dread and near panic on our first date, our first kiss. Later our fears arose from more intangible sources: our jobs, our futures, our own abilities. Will we be able to reach retirement, and will we be able to live on what we retire with? Can we protect our loved ones when the need arises? Will the boss like our proposal? Will my spouse still love me when I tell them what I did?

Questions. Fears. Dreads. Our heartbeat quickens, our breath comes in ragged gasps, our hands tremble, our spirits flag and grow weary.

Many of us fear death, for the unknown that it carries. Even those prepared in every possible way still wonder and worry about their last breath, for they fear the pain that may come with it. Yet there are some who walk among us that are not afraid of death, they may even welcome it. No, they fear life, and living one more day. Their fear is of the known, for each and every day for them is filled with pain, with suffering, with loss. They find no rest and little joy, their worlds closely resembling the trials of Job. They fear that each tomorrow may offer simply more of the same, and that becomes unbearable.

We all have fears, we are all afraid of something. But God tells us not to be afraid, that He will hold us, help us. Don't be afraid, don't despair, for He will lift us up and uphold us by His mighty and righteous hand. When we are weak, he will strengthen us. That is His promise, as relayed to us and recorded for all time by His servant Isaiah. Our Lord is there, all the time. We need only reach out to Him when we are afraid. Trust in Him when our fears threaten to overcome us. Relax and rest in His loving hands, protected from worldly woes. How can we fear death, when Jesus our Christ conquered death by His sacrifice for us? How can we fear life, when our Savior went before us to prepare a place for us beside Him for eternity? What fear or dread can life or death hold over us, when our glorious and awesome God holds us in His loving hands?

When our child awakens in the night, frightened from some nightmare, we rush to their side, hold them in our arms, and say "Hush, don't be afraid. I am here with you. I will protect you." God is saying the same thing to His frightened children. "Don't be afraid. I am here." Reach out, take His hand, trust in His strength and righteousness and grace, and fear no more.

Doing Good Pays Afterall

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing.
But righteousness delivers from death."

-- Proverbs 10:2


How many times have you looked around you and wondered just how life works? How can some people appear to reap such great rewards, to own so many things, to have so much going for them in life, yet you know they have hurt other people along the away, you think they have lied to their own benefit, you have watched as they climbed to greater heights only by standing on the backs of others around them. And then you see someone who has done no wrong in their life, has inflicted no harm on others, yet they seem to have nothing at all to show for their lives; no grand mansions or fancy cars or remote island vacation homes. Have you even asked the Lord why this could be, where is the justice in allowing one who has wronged others to possess so much while one who stands blameless has nothing to show for it, no material rewards for goodness and doing good?

We're used to being rewarded for doing good. From an early age, some form of payment has been used to reward us for doing the right thing, and to encourage us to keep doing the right thing. Maybe our mother complimented us for cleaning our plate, or gave us a nickel for helping to set and clear the table. We got higher grades in school, and maybe a bit of cash, for studying hard and doing all our homework. We get promotions on the job, and subsequent pay raises, for working hard and helping the company stay profitable. If we do good, we expect some form of reward. So why do some who surely do good in the eyes of God not also benefit in earthly rewards?

In Proverbs, the wise king Solomon tells us that our reward for doing the right thing will be our delivery from death, that our righteousness will deliver us. This is not mortal death Solomon speaks of, but the eternal death reserved for those who do not receive God's grace, the same death that Jesus defeated after three days in the tomb. King David reiterates this message, giving additional weight to Solomon's words, when he sang, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer." (2 Samuel 22:2) God and only God, through His grace and the sacrifice of His Son Jesus the Christ, can deliver us from eternal death and allow us to live by His side in heaven for ever and ever.

Solomon tells us that the one who compromised the commandments of the Lord, who hurt others on his climb to earthly wealth, will profit nothing from the treasures he amassed. He may enjoy them on earth, during this fleeting mortal life, but his wickedness will be revealed and he will suffer death for eternity. But the humble one, the righteous one who seems to have nothing, instead has gained everything, and will live with our Lord and Master forever.

What greater reward could we ask?

Find Stillness and Pray

"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed."

-- Luke 5:16


Luke was reporting on yet another busy time for Jesus. He had just healed a man of leprosy. Jesus charged the man to tell no one, but to show himself to the priests and make an offering for his healing in their honor. But somehow the news spread throughout the area and the word grew and the people flocked to Him. Luke notes that "great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities". (Luke 5:14)

So Jesus once again found Himself surrounded by people, engulfed by the very ones He strove to teach. He knew He needed to talk with God, to seek counsel from His Father. Yet how could He do so when so many crowded around? How could He even hear Himself speak over the noise of the throngs around Him? He could find a quiet place in the wilderness, away from the mass and the sounds of humanity, in the stillness of being by Himself. And there He prayed. He lifted His voice to God, and quietly listened for His Father's reply.

It isn't that Jesus didn't love the people and want them around Him. Just the opposite is true, for He truly loved them, and still loves us today. And He needed them around to hear His word, to learn His way. But He needed the solitude He could find only when away from the crowd, He needed the stillness of being by Himself so He could hear His Father's reply.

When we pray, we need to find our own place of stillness. We must stop for a moment and listen for God's answer. We should strive for open communications with God, and that requires listening to Him as well as talking. So stop what you are doing, find some place of stillness and pray. God wants to answer.

Where Were You?

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding."

-- Job 38:4

Job lost everything, and could not understand why. He sought counsel from his friends and leaders of the temple. How could so many bad things befall a believer such as he. He even questioned God, that He could allow this to happen to him, of all people. Job knew he did not deserve such a fate. When seeking counsel of the wise religious men, in his arrogance he counted off all the good he had done. And he spoke as if astounded that the Almighty did not listen to his pleas for help, did not hear his cries, would not answer his prayers.

After many tried to chastise him for such questioning of God, it is recorded that "the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind" (Job 38:1). And the Lord held nothing back, pulled no punches, in quickly putting Job in his place. I can almost hear that thunderous voice now: "Who are you to question Me? Who are you to doubt My intentions, to second-guess my promises, to call Me to task for what you think I do or don't do? Who are you to think himself smarter or more capable than the Master of Creation?"

There are a few instances recorded in the Old Testament where we can see God angry at the behavior of His children. While anger is certainly a human emotion, we can surely understand how even He could suffer it, considering how frustrating it must be for the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the Ever Present to have to deal with we silly humans. This is surely one of those times when God was just downright mad. How dare Job think he knows better! And in His frustration he finally answers, saying "Where were you when I created everything you see? If you know so much, tell me: Where were you and what did you have to do with any of it?"

Sometimes I hear God asking me "Where were you?", usually when I start to question Him, wondering why so many good people seem to suffer so much. In my heart I can see Him shaking His head and saying "If you know so much, tell Me where you were when I created the world you live in. Don't question Me, child. Just do those things you know you are supposed to do and leave the world to Me." And of course, being the intelligent adult male that I am, I don't much appreciate being told what to do. But I eventually open my heart and listen and obey, realizing how little I truly understand about the known universe. There is so much I can see with my eyes that I cannot fully understand. How could I even hope to grasp all the marvels that my God has created?

But other times I hear God speak those words, "Where were you?", when I have forgotten to do just those things His Son instructed. When I miss the opportunity to speak up for Him, when I pass by someone I know desperately needs my help, when I can't take time to get involved and make a difference in this world, I hear those words. They start as a whisper, barely audible above the breeze. Then they grow, in strength and intensity, until they thunder throughout my very being, echoing in every corner of my soul. "Where were you?", He shouts, His frustration with me building. I know God loves me, and I also know He can be disappointed in me when I do not choose the right course. "Where were you?", He accuses! "Where were you!?!"

Sometimes it takes me a while, for I am human, but I finally do get it, I finally understand my own lack of understanding. And I put my trust in God. I am here, Lord. Right here. Use me as You will.

That We Might Have Hope

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
-- Romans 15:4

So many of the passages in the Bible carry great meaning, including this one which, in essence, tells us why the Books themselves were written - so that we might have hope. And this one sentence conveys many impressions. Paul wrote these words within his ministry to the Gentiles, where he taught of the wonders of Christ, the basis of the church, and even the reason for the scriptures recorded through time. He taught as if his students knew little of the subject, and in that manner covered the material thoroughly. And we benefit from its reading.

Paul starts out by assuring us that everything was written for our learning. It is easy to consider that when he says "our learning", he is talking about us, you and I and all that try to follow the teachings of Jesus, that try to walk His path. But Paul was not speaking to Jews or converted Jews. He was writing to Gentiles and referring to himself and them as "our", to a group that could have included as its majority those who merely showed curiosity in this Jesus of Nazareth and wanted to learn more. So by this pronouncement, Paul lets us know right off that the Bible, the inspired word of God, was written for all mankind, not just some subset known as "believers" or another called "God's chosen people". No, it is provided for all of us mortal humans, so that we may read and learn.

Separating the second half of the sentence two pieces, Paul next uses a rather curious phrase: "through the patience and comfort of the scriptures". Patience is a trait normally attributed to a living being, usually a person. So is Paul saying we should be patient while reading the scriptures? Perhaps. But more likely, Paul is applying the word patience to the living word of God as recorded in the scriptures. As we learned earlier, the Word is God, so here we see yet another example of God's steadfast patience with us and love of us. His word offers us patience and comforts us even as we read it. As we read, we learn and are comforted by the word through God's own patience and love.

Finally, we come to the answer to the unspoken question: Why was all of this done? Why did so many people take the time, the trouble, even the risk, to record all the scriptures, to preserve the word of God? What other benefit comes from our learning? That we might have hope. We learn that God loves us, that He is ever patient with us, that He will comfort us when our hearts are heavy. We find hope in His words through the darkest night. He provides refuge from the storm. And He prepares a place for us at His table, so that if we only believe in Jesus the Christ as our Savior and Lord, we shall live forever in the glorious presence of God. What more could any of us hope for? What more could be given?

God gives us so much, while asking for so little of us in return. Yet even though He offers us Heaven, He knows how weak we truly are. And thus he provides us with one more wonder. He gives us His word, that we may learn the truth of life and understand the price He paid for our salvation. And that we might have hope; hope that will drive us onward when the path grows difficult, hope that will light our way when darkness falls, hope that can make us push one step further, hope that can sustain us when others turn against us, hope that we will see His face, His glorious face, and sit by His side forever.

That we might have hope, God give us His all.

Follow Me

"As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' So he arose and followed Him."
-- Matthew 9:9

I remember, from my carefree youth, times when a bunch of us grade school buddies would gather. Someone would invariably shout out "C'mon, guys! Follow me!", and off we'd go. Whether to the playground swings, into town for a movie, or through the woods for some wondrous adventure, we would gleefully follow the leader with expectations of great fun and new discoveries. We seldom worried about hidden risks, associated costs, future demands, or even our own worthiness to follow along with the gang. We joyfully fell in line for we knew great things lay ahead.

During a very busy span of days, Jesus went from place to place healing the ill and infirm, driving out demons, and teaching and preaching to those who needed to hear His word, He happened by a tax collector's office. He spoke to the man sitting behind the counter and said simply, "Follow me.", and the man arose and followed his new leader. Matthew joyfully fell in line behind Jesus, for he somehow knew that great things lay ahead.

The records of the Gospel hold no shorter command given by our Savior. Two simple words, ones we once jumped at the chance to obey. "Follow me." Why do we find it so difficult to do so now that we are older? Because we have a better understanding of the risks, the costs, the demands of being a Christian? Members of the early church suffered greatly at the hands of those who would not believe. Even today, Christians worldwide face persecution and death for their belief. But Matthew recorded the words Jesus spoke when he gathered His disciples by His side and taught them: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12) So as rational, thinking adults, we should easily be able to do a quick mental calculation and see that the rewards, namely eternal life in heaven, far outweigh the risks of insult, persecution, injury, or even the end of this life on earth. For great is our reward in heaven, if we only follow.

Perhaps we don't feel worthy to even attempt to follow in Christ's footsteps. We don't have a couple of hundred Bible verses memorized and ready to employ when the occasion arises. We fail to tithe on a regular basis, or even attend church each and every Sunday. We don't understand everything we've read and been told about God. We don't even know how to pray correctly. There are any number of excuses we could come up with, but excuses they would still be regardless of quantity. Jesus walked up to a tax collector, one of the most reviled class of people during those times. He did not ask Matthew to recite verses, to donate a portion of his wealth, or even to lead a prayer. He asked for no credentials at all! He looked the man in the heart and said "Follow me", and he arose and followed Christ. If Matthew felt himself unworthy, it certainly did not slow him down. The Gospel makes no mention of hesitation or deliberation or of Matthew questioning Jesus or saying "Why me, Lord?". He merely rose, and followed.

Jesus knows we are sinners. He sees into our hearts and our thoughts. He understands better than we our imperfection. Yet He also knows that great things lay ahead. He still stands before us and beckons us. His words still ring in the air... "Follow Me."

C'mon, folks! Let's follow Jesus!

Help Wanted: Laborers

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'"
-- Matthew 9:37-38

This passage comes at the end of this particular chapter, after Matthew related five miracles Jesus performed: healing a paralytic, curing a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years, restoring the sight of two blind men, raising the daughter of a ruler from the dead, and casting out a demon from a mute so that he might speak. This short, but action-packed chapter also included discussions with a group of Pharisees and another with some disciples of John the Baptist, as well as Matthew's conversion. In other words, it was a very busy time for Jesus, during which he encountered throngs of people needing His mercy, and even more questioning His words and deeds.

Matthew recounts that as Jesus traveled through the cities and villages, He came upon so many people in real need of His teaching, so many longing to hear Him preach, so many so desperately seeking His healing touch. And just as the woman who sought merely to touch the hem of His garment, whose faith made her well, all that believed in the power of Jesus, and that His power came from God, were made whole once again. All that needed to hear His word were made or allowed to listen. But there were so many of them, so very many, more than one man could attend to, more than even the mortal Son of God could see to in the time He knew He had remaining. The harvest of souls needing God's loving touch indeed was plentiful. But at that point, only one laborer worked the fields - Jesus Himself.

In the first verse of the next chapter, Matthew tells us that Jesus spoke to his disciples and "gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease." (Matthew 10:1) Jesus recruited His twelve trusted and faithful followers to go out and labor in the fields alongside Him. He knew that His time with them grew shorter with each passing day, and He wanted to ensure His work would go on long after His ascension and return to the Father. And He instructed them to pray that more follow in their path, that even more laborers join them.

The greatest, most wonderful harvest we can imagine is our loving Father gathering His children back to Him so that they may live with Him for eternity in heaven. He is still in the business of harvesting souls, and He still enjoins us to pray that more laborers help in the great effort. Just as the twelve disciples were simple men before laying aside their past to follow Christ and to join Him in the harvest, so may we mere men and women also take up the cross and clothe ourselves with His word and help with His harvest. We may not see the direct effects of cast-out demons or illnesses slowly cured. But if someone sets aside the temptations of the devil and accepts Jesus as their true and only Savior, then we have indeed been empowered by Christ's own words and have rid that person of their personal demon that had otherwise bound them for hell. What more glorious gift could we give our Father, our Lord and Savior, than to help bring one of His children home?

Make no mistake... If we should prove successful in helping to turn even one soul back to Jesus, it is not by our acts or deeds, but by the power of God working through us as His tools. We are just laborers, working in the bountiful fields of the Lord, helping to bring in His harvest.

The harvest truly is plentiful. Pray that you may be a laborer for the Lord of the harvest.

Paid In Full

"By grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not your own doing;
it is the gift of God -- not the results of works,
so that no one may boast."
-- Ephesians 2:8-9

Some people just seem to always exhibit the type of behavior we consider as being Christ-like. They always smile, always have a kind word for everyone, always try to help others, always stoop to serve. Everything they do, every act they make, every word they utter, we attribute to their passionate following of the teachings of Jesus, and we are sure they are bound for heaven.

Some folks are boisterous in their religious life, always giving the loudest amens and never afraid to affirm their belief in public, vigorously exhorting all around them to be born again to a life with Jesus. Some are more quiet in their faith, never lifting their heads or hands in worship, but ever meek and humble in service to the Lord. Yet as different as these two groups may seem, they also appear to be assured of their seats beside the Father's throne.

Many of us think doing good works will earn us a pass to heaven. We feel that performing good deeds, being kind to everyone we interact with, helping others, attending church on a regular basis, tithing, and all other such acts of goodness will help pave our way to God's right hand. We just know that although we may stumble and trip up at times -- maybe we have a big sin we're hiding or a list of small transgressions we feel shame for -- altogether we do more good deeds than harbor bad thoughts or acts, so God will understand and let us into His kingdom.

And if we think like that, then we do not truly understand why Jesus Christ walked the face of this earth as a man. Only He has the power to grant us passage to heaven. Only He can intercede with God on our behalf. Jesus paid the ultimate price to assure us of our place in glory, and nothing we can do in this world could ever equal that cost. We are sinners, all of us, and not worthy of heaven. Yet God gave the world His Son, and Jesus suffered, was crucified, and died so that we might gain our place at God's side. The price of our admission has been paid, and paid in full. No amount of good works, no percentage of our possessions, no whispers or shouts can repay what we were so freely given. God's grace alone, through Jesus Christ His Son, can open the gates of heaven before us.

All that is required is that we believe. We must realize that we are sinners, unworthy of the salvation already paid for us. We need only ask God's forgiveness, and mean it. We may be able to convince others that we are something we are not. We may even be able to effectively lie to ourselves, for a time. But we cannot fool God. He sees us as we are, not as we would have others think of us, nor even as we think of ourselves. God truly and surely sees into and knows our very hearts. We must completely and fully believe in God, and in Jesus Christ as our Savior. We must ask forgiveness and pray for our salvation. But that is all we must do. The full cost of our salvation has already been covered. Chances are, though, that by this simple admission and by complete acceptance of Christ, we will strive to more closely follow His example while He Himself trod this earth, and by doing so we will want to do good works. But remember: Good works alone will not buy our way into heaven.

"By grace you have been saved through faith." Those beautiful words assure us, comfort us, yet remind us to keep that faith. By God's grace we have been given what we could never afford to pay. As long as we believe, our bill for salvation is marked "Paid in full".

Follow the Signs

"Oh, that You would rend the heavens!
That You would come down!
That the mountains might shake
at Your presence..."
-- Isaiah 64:1

"Lord, please just give me some sign. Show me what You want me to do. Prove that You really exist." At some point in our lives, we've all probably uttered those words, or something very similar. Usually in moments of desperation, when the weight of the world rests squarely on our shoulders, when our need is greatest. We beseech God to talk to us, to point us in the right direction, to make Himself and His plan known to us, to let us know that He does indeed exist and all our efforts are not in vain. Where is the burning bush, the spinning wheel, the manna from heaven, or even the angels appearing before us? Why can't You split the heavens wide open, cause the hills and the hearts of men to tremble, walk among us once again and remove any shred of doubt from all naysayers and nonbelievers?

Before our Father sent His Son to live and walk beside us, books in the Old Testament tell us that He spoke to people in a voice they could hear, gave them signs they could see, made known His power through acts unimaginable. While Jesus walked with us, and after His ascension while His closest followers still took breath, God showed His love and majesty through the Son and His workings of great and wonderful miracles. Christ also became teacher, with His instructions to all mankind recorded in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The God of power and the God of love, made known to man through various ways.

But what of today, how does God appear to us now? Some say God does not exist, or at least no longer cares, since He does not show Himself to modern man. But is it true that God does not appear to us or talk to us, or could it simply be that we don't stop long enough to see Him, to hear Him? Our modern world is such a busy place, our lives seemingly in constant turmoil. Our Father speaks to us softly, in the sound of a sleeping baby's breath, happily, in a songbird's trill, powerfully, in the roar of the crashing surf. He appears to us daily, in the face of the nursing home resident, the rainbow after a torrential storm, the very talents we ourselves possess. God is all around us, if we but use our heart's eyes to see and ears to hear.

Perhaps the most visible evidence of God in our day-to-day lives can be found in the acts of our fellow man, those we interact with frequently as well as those we may see once and never notice again. Oftentimes God works His wonders through us, His children, allowing us to help each other, letting His angels direct us to do His bidding. Please do not discount the tremendous comfort received from a friend as simply an act of kindness, but consider that it may very well be aid provided by the grace of our Father. Perhaps that tip your neighbor gave you about a home for sale when you were house hunting may have been whispered in her ear by an angel. Or maybe that raise you finally received at work was not entirely gained by your good work, but by the mercy of a loving Father who knew you needed help paying the bills.

If you have prayed and prayed for some form of relief - someone to complete your life and make you whole, a job to fulfill you, the health of your mother - and it one day comes to pass, please do not forget the One who was listening and who answered your prayers. It is usually too easy to think that kind acts come from people, or that our good works are recognized and rewarded by others, or that our talents are somehow a product of our abilities, when the truth is that all these come from God.

There will always come moments when our frustrations with ourselves and our fellows comes to a head and we scream to God to show Himself, to rend the heavens and cause the mountains to tremble before Him, just so we can show others His power, just to convince ourselves He still speaks and acts on our behalf, or, as Isaiah put it, "To make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!" (Isaiah 64:2) But He need not go to such ostentatious extremes. He still speaks to us. He still shows us His presence. The signs are all around us, if we but stop long enough to see them. Follow the signs, and find God.

The Light At the End of the Tunnel

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'"
-- John 8:12

How many of us have uttered the words: "I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but it turned out to be an oncoming train."? I know I have, and more than just once or twice. There have been times when I have plodded and trudged in darkness, thinking I was nearing the end of the tunnel, just to turn a corner and see no break in the endless night ahead. And I am not only speaking of seemingly interminable projects, but also those experiences with inner endless nights, emotional darkness stretching on and on. I have known of many who suffered the ordeal of long term sickness or terminal illness, or those who could never seem to catch a breath in a torrent of bad breaks befalling them, who must surely have felt themselves trapped in a tunnel stretching further behind into the past and further ahead into the future than they could see. How sweet, how relieving to finally see the long-sought light before them.

But what if your tunnel appears unending? What do you do when there seems no relief in sight, when darkness threatens to overwhelm you, to engulf you body, spirit, and soul?

There are but two choices we can make when we find ourselves in this kind of situation. We can continue to grope around in the dark, plodding on endlessly, lost for eternity. Or we can choose to follow the One who brings light to the world, who shows us the correct path to take so we will never be lost again. The second option does require a great amount of effort on our part. We must first admit we are lost, walking the wrong path, and only He can lead us. We must study and pray and ask forgiveness. And most importantly, we must willingly accept that which is so lovingly and freely given, eternal salvation through God's grace.

When we feel like we're hopelessly lost, don't we hope for someone or something to guide us? Don't we really just want to know, need to know, that the light at the end of our tunnel will actually appear?

Our final destination is our Father's house where we will reside forever. In the Bible, John assures us that: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) Jesus promised us we would not walk in darkness if we would follow Him while we dwell on earth. As difficult as it may be to believe at times, if we make the choice to take God's hand, His compassionate love will light our way until we reach that long sought goal.

Walk into the light.

An Introduction to...

The Power of His Word

The Christian Bible is often described as the inspired word of God, that while it was indeed penned by mortal men, they labored under divine guidance and influence. The text of the Bible also provides a good history of the region it covers, much of which has been borne out by artifacts and other discoveries throughout the Middle Eastern lands during modern times. In this blog we will examine both, using the history of the region to make the text relevant to today, and drawing inspiration from His word.

I am merely a layman, a sojourner through this earthly life. My analyses of scripture should be considered as merely my opinion. I offer it here, not so much in attempts to sway or inspire others, and certainly not to cause anger or grief to anyone. No, my intent is simpler... My hope and prayer is that this exercise will allow me to study more closely the words my Father and my Teacher spoke so many centuries ago, to help me walk truer to the path my Savior laid out for me. If anyone else joins me along this lane and gains insight from my discussions, then I will be humbled and will feel blessed indeed.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God."

-- John 1:1

Before anything we can comprehend, there stood God, Who always was and always will be. There is no greater power than His words, by which all existence began with the simple phrase: "Let there be light." (Genesis 1:3). John goes on to say:

"He was in the beginning with God. All things were made
through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life,
and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness did not overcome it."

-- John 1:2-5

From this passage we can see that the Word of God is also the Son of God, Jesus, our Savior. With this simple phrase, these few sentences, John tells us that Jesus has been with God since before time, and indeed is God. We learn that through Him all things are made, and that not even the darkness can overcome His light. And what greater darkness is there than the ultimate evil manifest in Lucifer? So John assures us that Jesus will overcome the Dark One.

There is great power in the Word of God; to create, to heal, to inspire, to console. This will be our journey, one verse at a time, toward a destination far more wonderful than any may imagine. Join us in this exploration of the Power of His Word.