GIVE?

“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”  (Proverbs 23:26 KJV)

Christmas carols are being sung, trees decorated, cookies and candy baked and made, brightly colored lights lit, decorations being hung, and the list can go on and on as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.  I ever so fondly remember going through these rituals as a child and hardly sleeping through Christmas Eve in anticipation of presents waiting under the glittery decorated Christmas tree.  When we were little we believed in Santa Claus with reindeer and sleigh alighting on rooftops so he could come down our chimney to deposit all those delightful gifts.  Children do not try to reason things out.  Things do not have to be logical to them.  The idea that a very fat man could squeeze down a narrow chimney and come out of the fire unhurt in a spotless red suit is a “given”.  They accept such things with trusting hearts full of anticipation.  Sometimes I think we should be more like children at Christmas, at least when it comes to our faith in Jesus, after all; it is His birthday.

Talking about Jesus, do you remember the Christian advertising that was popular not too long ago?  Everywhere you could see “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season”.  I believe we need reminders such as these to show us just where our focus should be; after all it is HIS birthday!

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”  (Psalm 57:7 KJV)  “O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.”  (Psalm 108:1 KJV)

So, what are you doing this Christmas?  Are you gathering with your family and friends?  How do you celebrate Christmas?  Most of our Christmas traditions come from time honored customs such as decorating an evergreen Christmas tree, having a great feast with turkey or ham, candied yams, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and giving gifts to each other.  These are all good things, but sometimes traditions pull us away from what we should be focused on, remember; after all it is HIS birthday!

“Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.”  (Psalm 18:49 KJV)  “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”  (Psalm 29:2 KJV)

When someone has a birthday all his relatives and friends usually get together and throw a party and everyone brings a gift for the honored birthday guest.  Children often celebrate by playing games, eating cake and ice cream, getting “party favors” and giving the birthday kid gifts.  Adults often celebrate by going out to dinner and enjoying each others company, and give gifts as they share stories about the honored guest.  Would it not be great if we did some of this with Jesus, after all; it is HIS birthday.

“Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”  (Psalm 97:12 KJV)  “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.”  (Psalm 105:1 KJV)

I started a new tradition a number of years ago.  About two weeks before Christmas I ask the Lord what He wants for His birthday.  Each year I ask Him and He has answered something different every year.  Last year He asked for my obedience.  I found more and more opportunities in 2011 to obey Him.  Sometimes it was something as simple as keeping my mouth shut when I wanted to put my own ‘two cents’ in a discussion.  Once someone offended me and His Spirit stirred my heart to forgive right away.  Not an easy thing to do when you are still hurting from the offense.  There were many other opportunities to obey Him and I wish I could say that I obeyed right away every time; there were times He had to remind and push me, but every time I obeyed I felt the joy of His Presence and the pride He has in me when I am completely submitted to Him.  Is it irony that when I give Him what He asks for that I am blessed?  No, it is just His way.  So, with this said, I am asking Him what He wants for His birthday this year.  I am excited to find out what it is and know I will be delighted to give it to Him, after all:  it is HIS birthday!

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”  (Psalm 30:12 KJV)

What will YOU give Him this year?  After all it is HIS birthday!

 

WHILE I AM HERE - Part I

[As a believer I know I am only here on earth for a short time.  I know by the signs of the times that I am living in the beginning of the end of times (Matthew 24) and will be leaving with Jesus when He comes.  I sense the days drawing short and want to be ready when He does come so I am seeking God as to what He wants me doing until that very hour.  "WHILE I AM HERE" articles are snapshots, if you will, of that discovery.  I hope what I share in this series stirs you into action as well.]

Revelation 3:1-6

“And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the very end (doing the works that please Me), I will give him…”  Rev. 2:26 AMP

Chapters two and three of Revelation are messages written to seven churches.  When we think of these churches we tend to focus on what their problems were.  God not only revealed to the churches what their problems were, but he gave them solutions and promised great things if they enacted those solutions.  I encourage you to read these two chapters in Revelation because I think you will find yourself like at least one of these churches.  Probably the most remembered is the Laodicean Church for being “lukewarm” but right now let us discuss the church in Sardis.

Sardis had a major problem in their church: they were dead!  There were a few people in the church who were still alive but they were not enough to keep the church alive.  It was dead.  We have all probably attended a dead church once or twice in our lives.  You enter the church and sit down; no one greets you or acknowledges you.  The service starts with a prayer read out of a prayer book and then a hymn is sang, a scripture is read, an offering is taken, a singer sings a solo and the minister stands at the pulpit and talks about something that is acceptable or even pleasant to hear but might not even open his Bible or give scripture reference to back up what he is saying.  There is a prayer of blessing over people to close the service and then everyone gets up and walks out.  You did not sense anything from the church:  no joy, friendship, sorrow – nothing.  A dead church is a sad thing.  The potential God had for them is no longer possible, or is it?

God told the Sardis church to rouse them selves and keep awake.  They needed to strengthen and invigorate what remained and was on the point of dying.  He told them how to do this.  They were to call to mind the lessons they received and heard.  They needed to CONTINUALLY take them to heart, obey them, and repent.  If they did not do this then He would come upon them like a thief (not knowing what day or hour He would come).

“Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his clothes, so that he may not be naked and [have the shame of being] seen exposed!”  Revelation 16:15 AMP

If the church of Sardis did CONTINUALLY take the lessons they had learned to heart, obey them, and repent then they would not find their sinful lives exposed at Christ’s return.

This rings true in our individual lives as well.  How alive do we feel?  Are we excited to go to church?  Do we feel the move of the Holy Spirit during our times of worship?  If not than maybe we need to do what God told the Sardis church to do:  call to mind the lessons we have received and heard.  We need to CONTINUALLY take them to heart, obey them, and repent.  Only then will we overcome and be victorious. 

“Who then is the faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household to give to the others the food and supplies at the proper time?  Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is that servant whom, when his master comes, he will find so doing.”  Matthew 24:45-46 AMP