Category: Luke

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Everlasting Father

I remember a time when I was about 6 or 7, I had gone to the grocery store with my Dad. Some how we lost sight of each other. I remember starting in the first aisle, and searching each row for my Dad. When I completed that search I went to the meat department and looked for him there. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, I went to the check out at the front of the store and with tears streaming down my face I told her I was lost and couldn’t find my Dad. She got on the intercom and said, “We are looking for Kristi’s dad. You are lost but if you come to the front register, she will find you”.

I was so glad to see him come around the corner of an aisle and head to the register. I was flooded with relief.

“ For to us a Child will be born. To us a Son will be given. And the rule of the nations will be on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Teacher, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NLV

Or as stated in another version, Everlasting Father.

That experience was one of the first times I had a living example of my heavenly Father’s love. My Dad scooped me up, wiped my tears and gave me a big hug. I was lost but he found me!

That’s exactly how our heavenly Father treats each of us. He searches for each one of us; we are precious to Him, He scoops us up in loving arms, wipes our tears and calms our fears.

Maybe you’re like me. For a long time, I didn’t feel as if I was valuable enough to have anyone search for me. One day, I sat and read the story of the prodigal son. It was a story I had heard in Sunday School for years but it really hadn’t made an impact on me. However, this day I was sitting at my office desk, looking out the window, waiting for Dave to come home and when I read it I was overwhelmed by the Father’s love.

I could see in the mind’s eye of my imagination, the Father staring out the window and waiting for His child to come home. The Father came down the road to welcome the prodigal. As the face came in focus, it was mine! I could feel the Father’s embrace and hear Him say welcome home my dear child.

“‘… While he was yet a long way off, his father saw him. The father was full of loving-pity for him. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him…22 But the father said to the workmen he owned, ‘Hurry! Get the best coat and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet…24 For my son was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found. Let us eat and have a good time.’” Luke 15:20-24 NLV

The story of Christmas is the story of the everlasting Father, searching for us, welcoming us home and wrapping us in His forgiveness. We were lost and now we’ve been found!

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Renovations at Christmas

Last night we flew in after dark. The Christmas light display from the air was beautiful. Once on the ground we had quite a drive to get home, again I was taken by the lights. Someone, many some ones, had gone to great effort to renovate these homes into winter wonderlands.

That got me to thinking about our theme of yesterday, “Mighty God”.

“…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 KJV

When you think about who God is and think about that phrase “mighty God” what comes to mind?

I think about the millions of lives that have been changed.

“On one of the days while Jesus was teaching, some proud religious law-keepers and teachers of the Law were sitting by Him. They had come from every town in the countries of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was there to heal them. 18 Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus. He was carried on a bed. They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was. 19 But they could not find a way to take him in because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood. Then they let the bed with the sick man on it down before Jesus.” Luke 5:17-19 NLV

Here was a man who was paralyzed. He had four friends who knew if he could get to Jesus something miraculous would happen. In comes the “home reno”. Not being able to get into the house where Jesus was, they went to the roof and began to dismantle it. They removed enough of the roofing material to lower this man, on his bed, to the floor below, just in front of Jesus.

I’m sure the homeowner was less that thrilled. Debris began falling on the religious leaders as the demo started. Jesus knew things were about to get real, someone was exhibiting great faith in Him, after all, He was Mighty God.

That man was completely healed, and his sins were forgiven. The vestiges of his old life had been completely demolished and a new life of walking free had begun.

Throughout the life of Jesus, we’ve seen many examples of renovated lives. A prostitute had the shame she had been living in destroyed and a new life of respectability was built. A rich man named Zacchaeus had his high-rise penthouse renovated, all greed removed, and compassion filled each room.

The demoniac who was living in a shack of fear, torment and disassociation saw his home, his life, rebuilt where there was no room for mental torment, anxiety, fear and humiliation.

All of these people, and more, were touched and changed by the one called “Mighty God”.

“ For if a man belongs to Christ, he is a new person. The old life is gone. New life has begun.” II Corinthians 5:17 NLV

Be open to renovating this Christmas. The “Mighty God” reconstruction company comes to work as soon as a prayer is made. He’s willing to change the home, the heart, of anyone who asks.

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Ring Out the News

I remember when our first granddaughter celebrated her first Christmas. She and her Momma were at our home because our son-in-law was in the Navy and his ship was out to sea.

Seeing the Christmas decorations through her eyes was such a joy!

She wasn’t big enough to walk so I felt safe in hanging my bell ornaments from the lowest branched of the tree and then would lay her on a blanket where she could reach up and touch them with her little fingers. She was occupied for long periods of time and it was so fun to hear the tinkle, tinkle of those little bells.

Don’t ask me why but that memory came back yesterday as I was reading Luke 1 when the angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zechariah, John the Baptist father, and told him his wife was going to have a baby.

“But the angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,'” Luke 1:13-14 NLT

The birth of a baby is always a reason for great joy and this child was being given to a couple, well advanced in years. Elizabeth had been ashamed of her bareness and when she learned she was pregnant, she stayed in her house not wanting to expose herself to any more public ridicule.

Elizabeth had a cousin, a young girl named Mary. Mary went to visit her cousin and when she did, the two women experienced great joy!

“For even when I just heard the sound of your greeting in my ear, the unborn child leaped with joy in my womb.” Luke 1:44 TLV

These two women had both been blessed with pregnancies, but those miraculous conceptions opened them to ridicule. One was an older woman, well advanced in years and the other was a young, unmarried teenager.

“Then Miriam said, ‘My soul magnifies Adonai, (The Lord) 47 and my spirit greatly rejoices in God, my Savior. 48 For He has looked with care upon the humble state of His maidservant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.” Luke 1:46-48 TLV

Neither woman allowed the possible shame or public ridicule they would face to steal the joy of the blessing that God had given them. They both embraced the Lord’s blessing with grateful hearts.

Is there a blessing the Lord has given you that others don’t understand? Maybe the Lord has led you to make a move that is bringing criticism from your “friends”. Could it be that others might be jealous of something you know was the hand of God in your life?

Long before telephones, internet and text messages the way news was spread through a town was by a herald. He would walk through the streets of the city, ringing a bell, announcing the news.

Isn’t it time that we ring the bell and announce the good news of Jesus and His love to those around us?

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Great Joy!

Joy.

It can be seen in the faces of little children playing in the sprinklers on a hot day, throwing snowballs on a cold day, giggling while playing with a new puppy. Joy is induced by many different situations.

Great joy.

Experienced by a couple on their wedding day, seen in the face of grandparents at the birth of their first grandchild. The arrival of loved ones. This kind of joy not only comes with smiles and laughter but also with tears of joy. It’s uncontainable!

“but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ” Luke 2:10-11 NLT

Great joy to all people, not just a few chosen elite, but to all! An uncontainable joy.

God’s message of Good News is for all. Remember what Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave…” Everyone who experiences life on this earth is part of “the world”. This was an entirely new concept to some of the religious rulers of His day. In their eyes there we only two divisions of people, the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews had been God’s chosen people for thousands of years but now, through Christ, the whole world could be adopted by God.

“And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:6 NLT

Our joy is very important to the Father. In fact, it is one of the characteristics that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives; the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.

The angels announced the great joy of Jesus coming and Jesus prayed for that joy to remain in us right before He was crucified. Joy was always forefront in the life of Christ.

“Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are…13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word…” John 17:11-14 NLT

It’s so easy to become overwhelmed by life’s circumstances. These were some of the final moments of Christ’ life. He was praying for our lives to be filled with joy. How? By staying grounded on His word.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 AMP

If the thief has stolen your joy, come to the Father and ask for a refill. We are a testimony and light to this world and He wants our lives to reflect His joy, to the full, till it overflows!

Great joy!

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The Christmas Bird

Yesterday Dave and I put up the last of the Christmas decorations. We added more lights, another nativity scene and turned our storage shed door into a gingerbread house.

First thing in the morning I refilled the bird feeder with seeds and the hummingbird feeders with juice. Kaci, Stephen and the kids were coming, and I know how the grandkids love watching the birds come to eat.

We had a wonderful afternoon! We spent time going for a long walk, meeting the neighbors’ dog and collecting rocks. All afternoon the birds came and went from the feeders. At times the kids were too busy with other activities to notice them but then there were the occasions when a bird would land and eat for a while, and they would oo and aah. The biggest response came from the Nothern Cardinals, both a male and female.

I don’t remember when I first started noticing that more and more cardinals were being used in Christmas decor’ so this morning I “goggled” it. Cardinals have been nicknamed the Christmas Bird for their bright color.

“Today, the cardinal represents constancy no matter the season like the constancy of God’s love, and the atoning sacrifice of his Son which gives us peace and hope in this life and in the next.”

They represent the peace and hope that we have in Christ…I like that. In fact, as I was praying about what to share this morning I was drawn to the word peace.

We’ve just come through Black Friday and tomorrow is Cyber Monday, then comes Small Business Tuesday and oh, it goes on from there. The hustle and bustle of Christmas activities has a way of robbing our peace. That isn’t God’s intention.

“Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying, 14 “Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.” Luke 2:13-14 ERV

God’s purpose in sending Christ was to bring peace. The prophet Isaiah gave us a list of names for Jesus and one of those is Prince of Peace.

“ This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ERV

Some of you know that several years ago I wrote a daily devotional for the Christmas Advent, “The Best Gifts of Christmas, Receiving and Giving God’s Best”. One of those gifts is peace.

“ We pray that the Lord of peace will give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.” II Thessalonians 3:16 ERV

For the next several days we will focus our attention on Scriptures that speak of peace.

When you’re out and about, take note of the Cardinals that you see in the stores, on television and on the Christmas cards you receive. Let the “Christmas Bird” be a reminder of God’s constancy and of the peace He gives to us all.

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Nothing Missing

One thing that I missed this Thanksgiving was a good jig saw puzzle. My daughters and I always have a puzzle to work on over the holidays.

We can sit for hours, hunting for the right pieces and visiting as we do. There have been evenings that we have been tired and needing to go to bed but only 50 or so pieces would remain so we would stay up “just a little bit longer” to finish our labor of love.

The frustration comes when we are down to just a few more pieces and realize there is one missing. The hunt is one. Did it fall on the floor, is it on a chair, did the dog eat it? Where did it go? One missing piece will ruin the whole work.

Life is like that.

We have all the pieces and begin putting them in place. The right spouse, the career, the home, or perfect 2.3 children. The car, the clothing, the financial plan, the prestige. All the pieces are coming together.

Yet something is missing. What?

“The angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy. 11 Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.’” Luke 2:10-11 ERV

The missing piece of a fulfilling life is wrapped in pieces of cloth.

As we look forward to Christmas there will be many distractions and even some frustrations. These can leave us searching for the missing piece, the peace that only comes through relationship with Christ.

“ Be sure you are not led away by the teaching of those who have nothing worth saying and only plan to deceive you. That teaching is not from Christ. It is only human tradition and comes from the powers that influence this world. 9 I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:8-10 ERV

The world tries to imitate and counterfeit what can only be found in Christ. In Christ we are complete having everything that we need. He is the missing piece.

“God put everything under Christ’s power and made him head over everything for the church. 23 The church is Christ’s body. It is filled with him. He makes everything complete in every way.” Ephesians 1:22-23 ERV

In Christ our joy is complete, our peace is certain, love is unconditional, and forgiveness is everlasting. In Christ, we have all we need for a full and abundant life.

He completes the puzzle and there is nothing missing!

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It’s Supper Time

Maybe some of you are like me, no family this year at Thanksgiving. Our kids and their families will all be in different places. It makes me a bit envious of those who have their families living close by.

When the kids were little, we lived close enough to be with my folks but as time passed, we moved farther and farther away. The kids grew and they moved. Although we are close in heart, family holiday traditions were not high on our list.

This year we’ll be doing something new. I volunteered to cook the turkey and dressing, make the gravy and then we will share it with our neighbors, who also won’t be with family.

As I woke this morning a song was going through my head, imagine that. It was written in the 1940-1950’s by Ira Stanphill and was recorded by a myriad of Country and Gospel singers. Come Home, It’s Suppertime.

“Come home, come home, it’s suppertime
The shadows lengthen fast
Come home, come home, it’s suppertime
We’re going home at last”

Jesus told his disciples a story about a banquet that was thrown by a King. He invited many people to attend but some refused His invitation. They made one excuse after another. So, the king sent out His servants to invite those of lesser reputation in society.

“‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.'” Luke 14:21-24 NLT

We are some of those who have been invited to this banquet. God the Father has issued the invitation. “Come home, it’s suppertime”. There will be one more banquet, a type of wedding feast. This one will be in heaven and all of us who have accepted Christ as Savior will be invited.

“A voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Give thanks to our God, you servants who are owned by Him. Give thanks to our God, you who honor Him with love and fear, both small and great.’

6 Then I heard what sounded like the voices of many people. It was like the sound of powerful rushing water. And it was like loud thunder. It said, ‘Thanks to our God. For the Lord our God is King. He is the All-powerful One. 7 Let us be full of joy and be glad. Let us honor Him, for the time has come for the wedding supper of the Lamb…

9 The angel said to me, “Write this: ‘Those who are asked to the wedding supper of the Lamb are happy.’” And he said, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:5-8 NLV

God, the Father, is anticipating having all His children home. The banquet will be great. Whether you are joined by family and friends or alone this Thanksgiving, give thanks that the Father has welcomed you to His table.

Very soon we will hear, “Come home, it’s suppertime”!

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A Different Perspective

Today’s Thanksgiving memory takes me back over 40 years. Our oldest daughter was not quite a year old. We had gone to the grocery store to get the things we needed for our Thanksgiving dinner.

She was in the grocery cart, smiling at the grandparent-type people passing by. One older man was startled when she reached out to touch his hand. He scowled at her and made a grumpy comment. Her face puckered and she was on the verge of tears when an older woman and her husband stepped up. They told her how pretty she was, and the smile returned to her face.

May I say here that not everyone is happy about Thanksgiving. Theirs is a different perspective.

Maybe it’s there first year to be alone; no family will be around their table or maybe their spouse is ill. It could be they are just grumpy.

Today we’re going to look at thankfulness in another way – how do we treat the unthankful? I’m glad you asked. Jesus gave this instruction to his disciples.

 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:35-38 NLT

Jesus’ instruction was clear – we are to be an example of God to those we deal with each day. We were all sinners by nature but Jesus freely gave His life so that we could have eternal life and be brought into right relationship with God the Father. He gave freely and so should we.

Look at the second phrase in today’s verses, lend without expecting to get anything back. What have we lent, our time, friendship, our assistance, tools, car, money, our love, our compassion, our attention and genuine interest? When we lend without expecting to get things back then we’ve really made them a gift and in giving we’re an example of our heavenly Father.

Let’s look for an opportunity to give to someone who is by nature unthankful. Maybe they were raised to be skeptical and feel that anytime someone gave something there was a hidden agenda.

Give today, genuinely give. Give because God has given freely to us. Who knows, we may be the one God is using to bring out an attitude of gratitude.

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Come & Sing

Dave and I had a wonderful day yesterday. We hope you did too. We enjoy being together, after 50 years we are still each other’s best friends. It’s a gift and we are grateful!

Last night, instead of driving all the way home, we stopped at a hotel for a good night’s sleep. This morning I’m sitting here on the couch, drinking my coffee and writing to you all and I have to chuckle. This hotel suite is close to the same square footage as our RV. It’s a space I am comfortable in.

Dave’s still sleeping and I’m enjoying the quiet. Just the Lord, the little coffee brewer, my keyboard noise and you.

On our drive here we were discussing some decisions we will need to make in the next few months. Nothing that has to be decided today but something we need to begin discussing. You know how that is.

The one thing we kept saying last night as we put different scenarios into the discussion was, “We don’t need to decide this today, we can discuss it and let the Lord lead. He’ll work out all the details. We can trust Him.”

At different times through the night, I woke with these words filling my heart.

“It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 12 You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! 13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” Isaiah 55:11-13 NLT

God’s word will prosper. It will lead us with joy and peace. When we follow Him the events of our life will bring Him honor and be a sign of His power and love. Even the mountains will burst into song. (Sounds like a line from the Sound of Music)

Jesus taught on worry. He asked the question, why do you worry and fret. He went on to say that worrying won’t add an inch to our height.

“Look at the birds. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They have no grain buildings for keeping grain. Yet God feeds them. Are you not worth more than the birds?25 “Which of you can make yourself a little taller by worrying? 26 If you cannot do that which is so little, why do you worry about other things?” Luke 12:24-25 NLV

Dave and I have learned not to follow any decision we don’t have a peace about. The Lord’s faithful to lead and we can trust Him.

“Trust your work to the Lord, and your plans will work out well.” Proverbs 16:3

Join me this morning, join the trees, the mountains and the birds. Join the chorus and sing praise to the Lord for He is good.

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Promises Kept

We all know what it’s like to have someone break a promise. It can be heart-breaking but on the other side of the coin we also all know what it’s like to have promises fulfilled. That is what I want to talk to you about this morning.

Fulfilled promises.

God’s word is filled with promises and He is a promise keeper.

“God is not a man, that He should lie. He is not a son of man, that He should be sorry for what He has said. Has He said, and will He not do it? Has He spoken, and will He not keep His Word?” Numbers 23:19 NLV

When I was little I remember singing a chorus in Sunday School, “Every promise in the book is mine. Every chapter, every verse, every line. All are blessings of His love divine. Every promise in the book is mine.”

Some of you who have been christians for a while know what it’s like to believe God’s word and then to stand, maybe for years, waiting for God’s promise to come to pass. We are tempted at times to get weary and give up but we can’t because it’s God’s Word and he never lies and His word never fails.

When Jesus was born his parents had to take him to the temple and offer the sacrifices that were required since he was the first male child to be born to them. That was the custom, so when Jesus was 8 days old they went to the Temple.

In the Temple were two people who had looked each day to see the promised Messiah -one was Simeon and the other Anna. Both were very old but each day they waited and today was the day!

Luke 2:36-38 tells of Anna’s reaction when she saw the baby. “There was also present, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, who was a prophetess. She was a very old woman, having had seven years’ married life and was now a widow of eighty-four. She spent her whole life in the Temple and worshipped God night and day with fastings and prayers. She came up at this very moment, praised God and spoke about Jesus to all those in Jerusalem who were expecting redemption.”

Another version says Anna gave thanks – she had waited all her life to see the Christ and Simeon made comment that now he could die because he has seen the promised Messiah. There was no complaining about why it had taken so long to see the promise but thankfulness that they had been able to see the wonderful blessing of the Messiah.

As parents, grandparents and adults in general it’s important that we don’t give up on God’s promises. Hold on to them, they will come to pass but it’s also important that we raise our children and grandchildren to know faithfulness and His commitment to never break a promise.

If you’ve been waiting – don’t complain but rejoice and thank God that He is faithful to His word and it will come to pass and share that testimony with those in the younger generation.

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