Notes of Faith December 26, 2023

Notes of Faith December 26, 2023

Time to Rest

O God, restore us and cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

— Psalm 80:3

Elijah was bone tired — body, mind, and soul. Fresh from clashing with the 850 false prophets on Mount Carmel, the prophet found himself on the run from the evil queen Jezebel, who was determined to have him killed. He fled ninety miles on foot to Beersheba. Finally, he was so completely drained that he despaired of life, sat down under a juniper tree, and said, “It is enough” (1 Kings 19:4).

Perhaps you understand Elijah. Maybe now that Christmas has come and gone with all its activities, visitors, gifts, cleaning, and complications, you find yourself completely exhausted and ready to declare, “Enough!” just as he did.

Few conditions deplete our faith and joy more rapidly and completely than weariness.

Thankfully, the Lord understands our limits and restores our souls.

Sometimes we need to follow Elijah’s example, taking a step back from the situation and letting the Lord refresh us. We may need a physical break like a day away from work or from our burdens. But stopping from all our activities and taking time to simply be with the Lord can help clear our minds, give us perspective on our circumstances, and provide the energy to keep going in the days ahead. So sit down, rest, and be strengthened in the Lord.

Jesus, thank You for being my rest and restoration. Amen.

God is more than willing to uphold and sustain you.

In God’s Strength

Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength... they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. — Isaiah 40:31

I remember meeting the late missionary Bertha Smith at the airport when she was a spry seventy-two-year-old. I’d gone to pick her up for a speaking engagement at our church, and I was amazed at how lively she was. At that time, she had the next five years of her life booked with meetings around the world.

At the end of the first long day at our mission conference, Ms. Smith was still going strong, so I asked her, “Don’t you ever get worn out?” She replied,

“I’m not operating in my strength. I am going in God’s.”

That was it. No fluffy theology — just straight-forward faith. She said, “Here’s what I do: I tell God what I have to do each day, and I let Him know I cannot accomplish it in my strength. Remember that Jesus said, ‘You can do nothing apart from Me.’ So I claim His power for each task, thank Him for it, and move on.”

That may seem simple, but it works. In your weariness, weakness, tiredness, or frailty, God is more than willing to uphold and sustain you. He will fortify you with power from on high. So wait on His strength and count on Him.

Jesus, I will wait on You. Strengthen me, Lord. Amen.

Excerpted from Trusting God with Today by Charles Stanley, copyright Charles F. Stanley.

Isa 40:31

31 those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will soar on wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary

God would have to be giving me His strength to soar like an eagle because I am afraid of heights! Soaring in every day life is also a difficult task if you are afraid to take risk. We need to take risk to stand for the name and good news of Jesus. Let us spend our lives in the strength God gives every day to live for Him, proclaiming truth to the world that they might believe and receive eternal life… and soar with us!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 25, 2023

Notes of Faith December 25, 2023

A Savior Is Born for You

Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. — Luke 2:11 HCSB

Would it surprise you to know that December 25 probably isn’t the exact day of Jesus’ birth? Many Orthodox Christians, whose churches never adopted the Gregorian calendar, celebrate Christmas on January 7. And what about the calendar year? Would it shock you to know that many biblical scholars believe Christ was born between 6 and 4 BC? We simply do not know the exact date that the angel declared, “Today a Savior… was born.” But that isn’t the most important part of the message.

Whether today ends up being a wonderful day, or if it doesn’t end up as you hoped it would, the events of today are not the most important part of the celebration.

Wherever today finds you, the message is still the same.

Messiah the Lord was born for you! What a life-altering fact!

Jesus did not come to give us a sweet story to tell. He did not come so that we could have a reason to exchange gifts. Christmas Day is about God giving the gift of His Son to you so that you could belong to Him.

The gift is the same whether you are surrounded by family or alone in your living room. It is the same on January 7 as it is on December 25. In fact, not knowing the exact date of Christ’s birth may be a gift in itself. We do not have to limit our adoration to just one day! A Savior was born for us, and that is worth celebrating any day.

Today, let us commit to celebrating God’s gift each day of the year.

So much about You, God, remains a mystery. But knowing You sent Jesus to save us is enough. Thank You for the gift of your precious Son, amen.

Excerpted from Devotions for Christmas, copyright Zondervan.

Merry Christmas! Remember Jesus every day!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 24, 2023

Notes of Faith December 24, 2023

Silent Night, Holy Night

Originally written in German, “Silent Night, Holy Night” is the only one of Joseph Mohr’s works to be translated into English. It was written for a Christmas Eve service at Mohr’s church, but it didn’t catch on for a couple of decades. By the middle of the nineteenth century, however, its popularity had spread. Bing Crosby’s version of this Christmas classic is the fourth best-selling single of all time. (You really can’t go wrong with a Crosby-Christmas combo.)

Over the years, some have questioned the concept of a “silent night” when the song is about a baby being born in a stable. Surely, they claim, there were cries of babe and mother mingled with the noise of various animals. I fear those individuals may have missed the point entirely. It was a silent night in that it was a holy night.

There is a stillness in holiness that causes worldly noise to fade into the background.

Take a moment and read the words to Mohr’s hymn. Think about it not in terms of a birth story but as God entering the world.

Imagine the hush of Heaven as all the host held their breath.

Envision the awe of the shepherds. See a silent Joseph who just witnessed the Son of God being born. Did a cattle low? Sure. A baby cry? Absolutely. But make no mistake. It was a silent, holy night.

Lord, what a holy night it was when love came down to earth.

Excerpted from 100 Favorite Hymns by Stacy Edwards, copyright Thomas Nelson.

Joseph and Mary have arrived in Bethlehem, brought there to be counted in a census for the Roman government. But God brought them there to fulfill prophecy, that Jesus would be born in the town of David. The sky was filled with loud praise and worship by the angels proclaiming the coming of “Immanuel” God with us. The Son of God took on flesh that He might redeem mankind from the curse of sin and bring intimate relationship back with God! Worship Him today and every day. Give thanks for His love for you and tell everyone about the giver of true life and life eternal.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 23, 2023

Notes of Faith December 23, 2023

The Incarnation

LUKE 2

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” — Luke 2:10-11 NIV

One of the hardest scenarios to process as a human is when we’ve been looking forward to something and it falls apart.

We wait in eager anticipation for it... We tell our friends about it... We dream about the fulfillment of it...

And the moment that it all comes crashing down is devastating.

Maybe it was something you were dreaming up on your own. Or maybe it was a promise made to you by someone else they didn’t keep.

Broken promises and broken dreams lead to broken pieces of our heart.

What a tragedy it would be if all the events and promises in the Old Testament of the coming Messiah never took place. What an immense heartbreak if we opened our Bibles and in the table of contents we only had the Old Testament but not the New Testament. But because of God’s faithfulness, none of these hypothetical heartbreaks are true. And as we’ve journeyed through the Old Testament looking for Jesus, we’ve seen rich evidence over and over again of just how very present Jesus was and is. He’s never been absent.

The Messiah, the Anointed One, was present at every turn of every page in the Old Testament in so many different ways.

01 Think back on all you’ve learned about Jesus. How do these truths encourage your heart in places you may feel disappointed or disillusioned today?

02 How do these truths challenge you to look at something you’re facing with more assurance that the Lord is with you?

For such a long-awaited moment in human history, we may expect the most glorious, highly produced, red-carpet entrance. The most spectacular palace filled with the largest banquet of food and drink. And maybe some orchestra music and a choir singing His praises as He’s so warmly welcomed.

This is what we would expect. In fact, this is exactly what the wise men expected when they saw a sign in the heavens that told of the birth of a new King. This is exactly why the wise men’s first stop was King Herod’s palace (Matthew 2:1–3).

Where else would a future king be born but in a palace?

But King Herod’s palace was empty, and the King of Heaven and earth instead was born in the most unforeseen place: a barn.

*

The greatest miracle of all is not just that Jesus came... but that He came down from Heaven to take on human flesh to be with us.

Before we continue studying the incarnation and birth of Jesus, there is some historical background information that’s important for us to grasp.

The emperor of Rome at the time was Augustus, and he was known as the one who brought peace to Rome. In fact, Augustus was such a big deal that he was seen as the hope of the world at the time. We can know this because various historians have noted how:

The empire celebrated him.

Choirs in the palace sang his praises.

He was viewed as a god.

He was thought to have saved Rome.

He allegedly brough peace.

He proved he had power by taxing the people.

Luke is such a brilliant historian in the way he details the birth of Jesus in Luke 2. It’s intentionally designed to help us see how Jesus, in a peculiar way, surpasses everything that Augustus accomplished. But Jesus does this through the most unorthodox ways.

He was born in humble circumstances, yet all of creation celebrates Him.

He had no earthly palace, yet angels sing His praises.

Some denied His divinity, but Jesus is God.

Through self-sacrifice, Jesus saved not only Rome but the entire world.

Jesus did not focus on political peacemaking but brought a more important spiritual peace.

Jesus proved His power not by exerting His authority and causing others to suffer (like Augustus’ taxes) but by laying His own life down and suffering on the Cross.

03 What stands out to you the most as you see the comparison between Augustus and Jesus?

You see, if we expected Jesus to come as a triumphant earthly king and behave in the same way as Augustus, we would have absolutely missed Him. We would have been disappointed, confused, and grown even more weary over time that God was just getting our hopes up. In fact, we probably would have believed that Jesus never even showed up. It would have left us empty and even defeated.

04 How does it encourage you that every single promise of the coming Messiah was fulfilled through Jesus?

The greatest miracle of all is not just that Jesus came... but that He came down from Heaven to take on human flesh to be with us. He could have come in so many other ways that were grander, less every day, and certainly in ways that required much less suffering on His part. But He didn’t choose that. Instead, He came to be with us and suffer alongside us.

05 Take a moment to close today and thank God for sending Jesus to earth and how present He has been and will forever be with you.

Excerpted from 30 Days with Jesus by Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle, copyright Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle.

2 Cor 9:15

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 22, 2023

Notes of Faith December 22, 2023

No More Humbug

One holiday season, A Christmas Carol was the only Christmas play offered in our town, so Barry and I took our then eight-year-old son to a matinee performance. I tried to prepare Christian for the appearance of the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future so he wouldn’t be afraid.

“I’m not afraid of any old ghosts, Mom!” he said indignantly. “It’s just a play — and I’m eight!”

It was a wonderful performance, and as we walked to the car, Barry asked Christian if he’d enjoyed it.

“I did, Dad,” he said. “I loved the ghosts too. I just didn’t like the hamburger guy until the end.”

It took a few moments for us to realize that he was referring to Ebenezer Scrooge and his memorable line, “Bah! Humbug!”

Scrooge is probably the most famously stingy character in all of literature. If you’ve ever read or seen A Christmas Carol, though, you may have noticed that he wasn’t just stingy with his money, but with grace as well.

Scrooge was bitterly critical of everyone — his nephew, his employees, even people going about their business observing the holiday! As a matter of fact, his catchphrase “Bah! Humbug!” has become a universal condemnation. It means “Nonsense!” as in, “All of this Christmas stuff is a bunch of absolute nonsense!”

I have a feeling Ebenezer Scrooge would have gotten along pretty well with the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Almost every time we run into them in the Gospels, they are self-righteous and mean-spirited, doing their best to catch someone — anyone — in some transgression of the law. Over and over again they go to ridiculous lengths to try to trick Jesus into making a mistake that would call for His arrest.

I think the Pharisees’ strangest moments were when something amazing happened right in front of them. Everyone else in the room was filled with awe and rejoiced… but the Pharisees completely missed it, because they were so focused on the way someone broke the rules!

It’s a sad waste of a life to be a joy-killer. These days I see many modern-day Pharisees perched on social media, just waiting for someone to say something they disagree with so they can pounce. Why would we waste time judging and tearing down people when we could spend our lives looking for ways to bring them joy…

Or praying for those who are struggling…

Or helping those who are hurting… Or spending time with God in His Word and in prayer? A critical spirit is a real joy-killer. Today, let’s make the most of every opportunity to show people God’s beauty and kindness. Let’s splash the world with grace, the gift that keeps on giving!

Be a blessing — spread grace and joy, not judgment.

Five Minutes in the Word

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

— Romans 14:10 ESV

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

— Matthew 7:1-2

Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. — Romans 14:13 ESV

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.— 2 Peter 3:18

The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. — Titus 2:11

Excerpted from 5 Minutes with Jesus: A Fresh Infusion of Joy by Sheila Walsh, copyright Sheila Walsh.

The older I get the more my human nature wants to have a “bah-humbug” attitude... everything hurts, nothing works, life is not a bowl of cherries, which by the way I did not like until I tried one. But the joy of the Lord, the Holy Spirit within me lifts me up each day to new heights of what it means to be a child of God, chosen, redeemed, saved, sanctified, and glorified…all because of this baby that we celebrate being born on Christmas day. Without Jesus, there would be no joy, life would be a bitter battle…and then you die…eternally…in judgment that you deserve. But God the Father, sent His Son, Jesus, to take on flesh, to live as we live (without sin), and give Himself as a sacrifice to pay the debt of sin that we could never pay! God loves us so much that He surrounds us with Himself inside and out to those who will believe in Jesus and the saving work that was finished on the cross. One day He promised to come back and take all who believe in Him to live with Him forever, even the dead, (He raised the dead, you know, remember Lazarus? And he was not the only one then!) We have reason to be joyful every day and a promised hope of our Lord’s return. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 21, 2023

Notes of Faith December 21, 2023

Son of God, Son of Man

Like the Father and the Holy Spirit, Jesus is God. He always was, always is, and always will be. But unlike the Father and the Spirit, Jesus is also a human being. Though charged with blasphemy and crucified for claiming to be one with the Father, Jesus’ resurrection validates His claim to be God’s Son in a unique way.

When we confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, we share in the love the Father has for the Son, becoming adopted children of God.

Though Jesus was the Son of God, he was also the Son of Man, a title that emphasizes both His lowliness and His eventual dominion. Near the end of His life, when the high priest asked Him whether He was the Son of God, Jesus no longer avoided the title but said that He would one day

see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of Heaven. — Matthew 26:64

When you pray to Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man, you are praying to the One who is your Brother and your Lord.

He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” Yeshua replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in Heaven revealed it to you. — Matthew 16:15–17

CHRIST REVEALS HIS NAME IN SCRIPTURE

DANIEL 7:13–14; MATTHEW 16:13–21

Open your personal Bible translation and read the same passages. Make note where the SON OF GOD or the SON OF MAN is used as God’s name.

In my visions during the night, I saw among the clouds in Heaven someone like the Bar-Enash. He came to the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, and was presented to Him. He was given power, honor, and a kingdom. People from every province, nation, and language were to serve Him. His power is an eternal power that will not be taken away. His Kingdom will never be destroyed.

When Yeshua came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”

Yeshua replied, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in Heaven revealed it to you. You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.”

Then He strictly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

From that time on Yeshua began to inform His disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem. There He would have to suffer a lot because of the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day He would be brought back to life.

Together the titles Son of Man and Son of God express the incredible mystery of the incarnation.

Understanding the Name

Though the phrase “sons of God” was occasionally used in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Greek phrase “Son of God,” Huios tou Theou (hui-OS tou the-OU) belongs to Jesus in a unique way. Jesus Himself indicates that He and the Father are one. He is the only man who could bear the title without dishonoring the Father.

But Jesus is God’s Son not in the sense that most Westerners think of sonship, as though the Father preexisted Him. Instead, Jesus is God’s Son in the sense that He shares His nature and represents His intentions. He is fully divine and therefore perfectly capable of representing the Father on earth. Twice in the Gospels — at Jesus’ baptism and at the transfiguration — a voice from Heaven announced:

This is My Son, whom I love.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, even the demons recognized Christ as the “Son of God.” However, it was this politically charged title that led to Jesus’ death, which may be why He avoided it until the end of His life. Recognizing this as a primary title of Christ, the early church baptized those who confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of God. These early believers understood, as we do, that our relationship with Christ enables us to become adopted children of the Father.

Though Jesus was the Son of God, His favorite title for Himself was the “Son of Man,” Huios tou Anthropou (hui-OS tou an-THROW- pou). It’s a somewhat enigmatic title.

But certainly one meaning of it is that Jesus is the perfect human being. He shows us through His life on earth what men and women were intended by God to be before we fell prey to sin. But the title also has messianic connotations and is closely connected with Jesus’ second coming. The passage from Daniel 7:13-14 is speaking of a powerful messianic king.

Together the titles Son of Man and Son of God express the incredible mystery of the incarnation — that the second person of the Trinity came down from Heaven to become one of us so that we could be one with Him.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended into Heaven, not just as God but also as a man. C. S. Lewis remarked on this truth: “I seldom meet any strong or exultant sense of the continued, never-to-be-abandoned, Humanity of Christ in glory, in eternity. We stress the Humanity too exclusively at Christmas, and the Deity too exclusively after the Resurrection; almost as if Christ once became a man and then presently reverted to being simply God. We think of the Resurrection and Ascension (rightly) as great acts of God; less often as the triumph of Man.”

Connecting to the Name

How did Jesus fulfill Daniel’s vision of “one like Bar-Erash, a son of man”

What do you think it means to say that Jesus is the Son of God?

Why do you think Jesus cautioned His disciples against telling anyone that He was the Messiah?

Describe your image of the ideal father. How does this compare with your image of who God is?

Describe your image of the ideal son or daughter. How does this compare with your image of yourself in relationship to God?

How does Jesus as the ideal human being reflect your understanding of God’s purpose for all human beings?

Praying a Passage with God’s Name

Thank God for revealing Jesus as His Son to you. Ask Him to deepen your own understanding of being His son or daughter. Focus on the name Huios Tou Theou, “Son of God” and Huios Tou Anthropou, “Son of Man,” as you read

Matthew 27:50–54.

50 Then Yeshua loudly cried out once again and gave up His life.

51 Suddenly, the curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split open. 52 The tombs were opened, and the bodies of many holy people who had died came back to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after He had come back to life, and they went into the holy city where they appeared to many people.

54 An army officer and those watching Yeshua with Him saw the earthquake and the other things happening. They were terrified and said, “Certainly, this was the Son of God!”

Praying the Names Son of God and Son of Man for Myself

Look up and read: Matthew 16:13–16

Unbelievers are blinded to Jesus’ true identity. Pray and ask God to open the eyes of the blind. Ask Him to make you into a “little Christ” so that others may know Him.

Promises from the Son of God and Son of Man

4 But when the right time came, God sent His Son into the world. A woman gave birth to Him, and He came under the control of the laws given to Moses. 5 God sent Him to pay for the freedom of those who were controlled by these laws so that we would be adopted as His children. 6 Because you are God’s children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into us to call out, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer slaves but God’s children. Since you are God’s children, God has also made you heirs. — Galatians 4:4–7

27 The Son of Man will come with His angels in His Father’s glory. Then He will pay back each person based on what that person has done. — Matthew 16:27

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Read the following passages, considering the names SON OF GOD and SON OF MAN and how their meanings relate to the context of the passage.

Matthew 12:38–42; 20:20–28; 25:31–33; 26:63–66

Mark 9:2–7

John 3:16–17; 14:12–14

Romans 8:14–17, 28–30

2 Corinthians 6:18

Hebrews 1:1–5

1 John 4:9–12

Revelation 1:12–18

Excerpted from Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks by Ann Spangler, copyright Ann Spangler.

You will never be disappointed when studying the Bible. It’s truth about God, and the relationship He desires to have and provides for us Himself through the Son of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are clearly revealed. Spend perhaps more than just today looking at Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 20, 2023

Notes of Faith December 20, 2023

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). — Matthew 1:22–23

Advent is about waiting, anticipating, yearning. Advent is the question, the pleading, and Christmas is the answer to that question, the response to the howl. There are moments in this season when I don’t feel a lot like Christmas, but I do feel like Advent.

Advent gives us another option beyond false Christmas cheer or Scrooge. Advent says the Baby is coming, but He isn’t here yet, that Hope is on its way, but the yearning is still very real.

Advent allows us to tell the truth about what we’re grieving, without giving up on the gorgeous and extravagant promise of Christmas, the Baby on His way.

God fulfilled so many promises when Jesus came as a baby in Bethlehem.

Consider Advent a less flashy but still very beautiful way of being present in this season. Give up your false and failing attempts at merriment, and thank God for a season that understands longing and loneliness and long nights. Let yourself fall open to Advent, to anticipation, to the belief that what is empty will be filled, what is broken will be repaired, and what is lost can always be found, no matter how many times it’s been lost.

God fulfilled so many promises when Jesus came as a baby in Bethlehem. Dare to hope and trust that He will fulfill His promises to you as well.

Excerpted from Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are by Shauna Niequist, copyright Zondervan.

He’s almost here! Jesus, the One who makes the world right. Even now, if we would believe in Him and follow Him in obedience to God, our world would surrender its evil practices and painful lies and we would live surrounded by love! Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming! Jesus is here! Let Him come and live in your heart!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 19, 2023

Notes of Faith December 19, 2023

Do You Hear What I Hear

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

When the angels had left them and gone into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

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 this Child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things

and pondered them in her heart. 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 2:8-20

I love this story, and I especially love that it’s a familiar one.

Reading an old story with new eyes always gives God a chance to speak a fresh word and remind us that His Word is alive and that He desires to meet us there!

When I read this, and I try to put myself in the scene, I can’t help but wonder what it was like not only to see a host of angels but to hear them! Can you imagine? I picture the shepherds bumping elbows like, “Did you hear that!? Do you hear what I hear?!”

With the theme of hearing in mind, I want to spend a few moments with you, asking ourselves a few questions.

I think it can be easy to read a Bible story like this one and think, “I love that for them. It’s magical and Christmassy, but what does this mean for me? What does it mean for my life today? What does this mean for my relationship with Jesus?”

When we hear God’s voice, it changes our life.

Let’s start here:

How do I hear God’s voice?

You might be saying to yourself, Jennie, this scripture is amazing and inspiring, but I’ve never experienced anything like this. I haven’t experienced the angels telling me at work how awesome God is.

One of the best parts of this story is that the shepherds didn’t know that these angels would show up that night. It was a regular night on the job for them, and they had shown up for their shift on a seemingly insignificant night, and yet, the significant happened that very night.

How are you leaning into where God has you right now?

You may not be in the place you want to be; you may be experiencing things that you don’t want to experience – the heartache, the struggles of life. But how are you being present in your job, in your home, in your school? God can speak to you there, and He wants to speak to you right where you are.

I don’t think it’s about hearing God audibly (although He can do that!) I don’t think it’s about whether or not you see the angels in the skies. I believe it’s about hearing from God in your everyday life. It’s about reading the Bible every day and carving out time to spend with your Savior. It’s about walking in the things He’s called you to and asking Him to speak to you. It’s about being willing, and it’s about waiting on Him and letting Him lead right here and right now.

What does my life sound like?

What does my life sound like? If we genuinely tune our ears to hear from God, to hear the sound of Heaven, we will live lives that sound like Heaven. What does Heaven sound like? What does a life in tune with God’s word sound like? My husband likes to say, “worship is the sound of a healthy soul.” Are you letting God’s love and word and worship pour into you so that in return, it can come ringing out of you?

Psalms 89:15 says,

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound. They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.

The goal of our lives isn’t to live perfectly. Sweetness, love, and kindness won’t always come naturally from our lives. We’ll have bad days and hard moments, we’ll make mistakes, but the goal is this: that we imperfectly follow Jesus, that we forgive, that we show grace, that we love, and that the overarching sound of our lives is God’s love, His grace, His kindness, and His word.

What do I hear God saying to me?

Think about this for a moment, when was the first time you heard God speak to you? And again, I’m not necessarily saying audibly, but when was the first time your ears were opened, and you first heard that God loved you, and that He created you, and that He had a plan for you? Think about that first time. If you’ve forgotten, God’s telling you right now that He loves you.

Sometimes we can let the things we’re struggling with, the life that we’re barely making it through, the madness or the pain of the holiday season keep us from hearing the fact that God loves us so much. And if you’ve never heard, hear now what I’ve heard, that your Father in Heaven loves you.

He created you. He created you with a purpose in mind. And He loved you so much that He sent His son Jesus, our Savior, into this world as a baby. So that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

When we hear God’s voice, it changes our life, and my prayer is that you wouldn’t ignore Him speaking to you but that you would hear Him. And that your everyday life would be filled with purpose and joy and power as you surrender to Him and His voice in every little moment.

Written for Devotionals Daily by Jennie Lusko, author of The Fight to Flourish.

I was reminded recently about hearing/listening to others, especially God. In that reminder was a nuance that we may need to pay more attention to if we want to hear what others/God is saying to us. If you take the word listen and rearrange the letters, it spells silent! Makes the Christmas carol “Silent Night” take on a whole new meaning. When we are silent we hear better those who are trying to communicate with us. God was speaking loud and clear then and He still does today…if we will be silent and listen. Do you hear what I hear?

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 18, 2023

Notes of Faith December 18, 2023

The Greatness of Servants

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. — Mark 10:43

A baby was born in Bethlehem so that He could grow up and give His life away.

Jesus came to us to pour Himself out in love and service.

So it’s no wonder that when He found His disciples striving for a position of honor in God’s Kingdom He told them, “Whoever wants to become great will serve others.”

The way Jesus talked about God’s Kingdom kept surprising the disciples — and it’s still pretty shocking even today. How often do we give our highest respects to people in humble, service-oriented positions?

Jesus turns the world upside down: those who are considered lowest in the ranks are actually on top.

When you choose to serve others, know that Jesus honors your choice. He’d say you’re pursuing true greatness.

John Bunyan wrote, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”

Can you see a need to meet? Go make a difference. Can you find a way to lift someone up? Go do it. Be generous with your time and effort. Live like Jesus did, giving yourself to love and service.

I praise You, Jesus, for being the greatest servant of all.

*

God chose to send the Savior in a way that involved the cooperation of a human.

Be Actively Available to God

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” — Luke 1:38

An angel appeared to Mary and told her astonishing news: Mary would have a baby who’d be the Son of God. In that moment, Mary had a choice. She could have pushed back, saying, “No, that doesn’t seem likely. I don’t believe you.”

But instead, she said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” She said yes to God.

No matter how many times I think about this, I’m always stunned that God chose to send the Savior in a way that involved the cooperation of a human.

Today He wants us, even with our weaknesses, to be participants in His work too. And in order for that to happen, we have to make ourselves available to Him. Mary did this in a profound way.

— she gave her body, heart, time, and future to her new role as a mother.

How can you follow Mary’s lead and be more available to God? Maybe you need to be open to making a change. Maybe it’s simply a matter of pausing and praying more often before reacting, or showing more of God’s patience to your family.

Instead of focusing on what’s stressing you today, think about how you can be used by God in every situation you’re in.

I am Your servant, God. Use me any way You choose.

Excerpted from Calm Your Anxious Mind by Carrie Marrs, copyright Zondervan.

In those every day situations that God wants to use people for His work and glory, He says, “Whom shall I send?” We must respond, “Here am I, send me!” Let us give thanks for the indescribable gift of God in Jesus Christ and prepare our hearts to give back in service to our Lord. How might you be used today?

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith December 17, 2023

Notes of Faith December 17, 2023

The Innkeeper in Bethlehem:

Living Beyond the “No”

For nothing is impossible with God. — Luke 1:37

The Innkeeper who gave Mary and Joseph a stable to stay in should be a model for us as we celebrate important seasons like Christmas without our loved one. That’s because the innkeeper had the ability to think and live beyond the “no.”

“No room in the inn” could easily have been his complete conversation with the visiting strangers who came to his door. But he didn’t let perceived limitations stop him. Instead, he thought of other options.

In contrast, many of us who grieve are quick to say “no way” to people and circumstances. Too often we limit God’s possibilities. When faced with a seemingly impossible circumstance, we convince ourselves there is no hope, no chance, no way!

What is the circumstance on your “no way” list?

My list is probably similar to yours. It’s long. It contains names of insensitive people who will never understand my loss and people who care but won’t stop giving advice and answers to why God allowed my loss. It includes people whom I think will never have a relationship with God, and others who are proud and will never see the need to change or learn humility. My list includes expectations that others have of me that I can’t fulfill and

my inability to cope with my new identity since my loss.

The names and circumstances on my list and yours share a common theme... a need for hope, a need for someone bigger than the circumstance, a need to think and live beyond the “no.”

Christmas is God’s reminder that He has heard our cry and responded.

Because of sin, humankind was eternally separated from God. No hope. No chance. No way! But God thought beyond the “no.”

He provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him and eternal life through the birth and death of His Son, Jesus. Celebrating Jesus’ birth at Christmas and His death and resurrection at Easter remind us that the door of healing and salvation is open wide to all who will receive Him.

Don’t allow your grief to limit God’s possibilities in your life or in other’s lives. Give Him your “no way” list today. Ask God to help you see beyond your circumstance and to change your “no way” thinking. It’s time to journey on and to live beyond the “no.”

God, thank You for being Emmanuel, God with us. Thank You for Christmas and for Easter and for thinking beyond the “no.” Please forgive me for my “no way” thinking. Help me to trust You and to have Your perspective. Your Word says that with You nothing is impossible. Be my hope. Help me to see new possibilities and live beyond the “no.” Amen.

Excerpted from Grieving the Loss of a Loved One by Kathe Wunnenberg,

copyright Kathe Wunnenberg.

We share in the grief of those who are missing someone for the first time this Christmas. Let us be used of God to encourage and uplift our friends in a time of special need. God has us walking together for the purpose of being His body, strengthening and upholding one another for His possibilities!

Pastor Dale