Archive for December, 2012
Thank you to everyone who helped boost my statistics!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 2,200 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 4 years to get that many views.
Do not forget your daily dose of wisdom from Proverbial Thought!
It seems fitting to finish off the year right: by praising God! Without further ado, here is the poem for today:
to Him, my Lord, the One
hallelujah
hallelujah
praise to my King
the One Who Loves
the One Who gives
the One Who gave
the Son of Gloryhallelujah
hallelujah
give Him the praise
to Him in heaven
to Him Who lives
to Him with grace
to Him that shows
His peace in turmoilhallelujah
hallelujah
show honor to Christ
my Lord on High
my Lord of lords
my Lord of my life
my Lord that gave
His life up for mine
Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by Daniel m klem, page 256.
Happy New Year!
Be sure to see the thoughts on Proverbs today over at Proverbial Thought!
In our world today is much pain and sadness. Whether it is from the loss of a child, sibling, parent, grandparent, husband, wife, or friend; the pain of divorce; the shame of losing everything; the misery of an illness; or any other unhappy and unjust circumstance, there are plenty of people who find today another reminder of their loss and suffering.
We must remember all those who see sadness at Christmas. We must pray for them, sit and talk with them (usually listening), and offer our encouragement.
We must also remember that giving our God praise in all things can help us with … anything, really. It is amazing how our spirits can be lifted, our health can feel better, and our overall demeanor can improve.
Therefore, on this Christmas Day, we remember One has come who was born King of the Jews … and of all Creation!
To help encourage you this day, here is Hillsong with Born Is the King (It’s Christmas!):
Here are the lyrics to help with singing along:
Born unto us this day a Savior
Gifted from heaven to a manger
The hope of the world
A light for all mankind
All of the earth rejoice
It’s Christmas time
[Chorus]
So lift up your voice and sing out His praise
It’s Christmas
Born is the King, rejoice in the day
It’s Christmas
Make a joyful sound
It’s Christmas
Let His praise resound
It’s Christmas
Goodwill to all the earth
And peace divine
All of the earth rejoice
It’s Christmas time
It’s Christmas time
[Chorus x2]
MERRY CHRISTMAS! OUR SAVIOR HAS COME!
Head on over to Proverbial Thought for your daily dose of wisdom!
After the last two weeks, I am continuing this little poetry series on listening. It is really fitting for Christmas.
About 2000 years ago, God knew few were listening to Him whenever He spoke. Therefore, He came as a baby to grow up and speak with us personally. This baby became a Man, Jesus of Nazareth, who taught us how to listen better to God, and He sent the Holy Spirit to help us.
Are you listening this Christmas? Do you hear the call of the Savior?
talk with
talk to people
and they will shame you
talk to children
and they will not listen
talk to God
and He will listen
but He may not move
talk with people
and you have friends
talk with children
and they behave
talk with God
and He will listen
and help you move
Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m klem, page 246.
I consider this work a work in progress.
It can be considered a Christmas poem. It can be considered a piece on the Gospel. It can be considered a prophetic word.
In any event, it fits this week leading into Christmas, and it is a good reminder after the events in Connecticut and around the world this past week.
A couple of weeks ago, I shared some thoughts on the two people, Simeon and Anna the Prophetess, who were waiting for the Messiah and saw Him in their old age. My thoughts concluded (indeed, centered around) expecting the soon return of the Messiah Jesus.
The entire reason for Jesus Coming to Earth was to save us from our sins and bring us into a right relationship with God. His return will be to finish the entire process, by bringing the physical up to speed with the spiritual, and bringing about ultimate peace on Earth for ever and ever.
It was easy for Jesus’ followers to forget His promise of coming back to life, and their new-found hope was a very pleasant surprise later at the resurrection of Jesus.
Because of His resurrection, we are able to give all of our troubles to Him, and we must remind ourselves of His soon return.
Now, see if you can find where I share each of these in this poem:
Seeing Salvation
They waited for years,
worshiping God daily in prayer.
God ever feeling more near,
as they awaited His Answer.As their twilight years waned,
dutifully keeping their stations,
in came a couple with a babe.
They knew they were seeing Salvation. (Luke 2:21-38)They walked with Him for years,
gladly hearing what He taught.
Now they only had tears,
with their Lord dying on a cross.As their hope began to wane,
the women came with a proclamation.
The Lord was alive again!
Their faith was restored at seeing Salvation. (Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-12)We live for many years,
wandering all over this earth.
We have troubles and fears,
wondering if we have any worth.As our strength begins to wane,
there is hope in each situation.
We must turn to the Lamb who was slain.
Our souls are renewed in seeing Salvation.There are not too many years,
this world will soon be decimated.
For God-lovers are jeered,
while sin and pride are celebrated.After His long-suffering has waned,
His wrath will pour out on the nations.
Yet we will be reborn in His Name,
when we finally are seeing Salvation. (Revelation)
We must remember that all people are seeking redemption.
Some seek it and must wait.
Some are swept up and almost miss it.
Some find it out of their pain.
All people one day will see the Redeemer bringing redemption to all of Creation.
At Christmas, we must remember that God loved us enough to save. He came to us, born as a baby. He lived a perfect life, and died as the only acceptable sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. He seeks us out, and will one glorious day return to claim His redeemed and redeem all of Creation.
That is the true promise of Christmas. Peace on Earth will only come at the final consummation. When we pray for peace on Earth, we are asking for Jesus to come and save us all, people and Creation!
Head on over to Proverbial Thought for your daily dose of wisdom!
Last week I shared a poem about listening. Today I continue that theme.
speaks volumes
when i stop to listen
it speaks volumes
when you speak up
it speaks volumes
when i sacrifice for you
it speaks volumes
when i live to help
it speaks volumes
i rarely need to speak
when i live out this love
Christ dying for you and me
that spoke volumes
Taken from deeper words for God from a simple man of God by daniel m klem, page 239.
Good thoughts here from David. We are not alone, but we travel differently than others. We work and worship together, but we are in different places in our walk with God.
A few years ago I had a dream in which I undertook a long and difficult journey, eventually arriving at a place of rest. When I entered this place I found it to be a single room. There were about twenty people there already, only of two of whom I recognised. It appeared that they had been waiting for me. This place of rest or retreat was not a place where I was allowed to remain for long. I felt quite shocked that I was expected to leave and continue my journey so soon after arriving. I felt that I deserved a rest. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to stay in this place for a while? The people there seemed so content.
The moment any of us asked Jesus Christ into our lives it wasn’t the end of a journey, but the beginning. There are certain things we need to…
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As usual, here is your friendly reminder to head over to Proverbial Thought for your daily dose of wisdom.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2
Last week I discussed expecting the coming Messiah. I am continuing this little series, not from the standpoint of believers, but from the perspective of “outsiders” to the faith.
Star-struck
Nobody is completely sure who they were, but the Magi were definitely by our modern definition astrologers (study the stars, planets, and other such heavenly bodies to better understand the present and future) and possibly Zoroastrians. This could make sense, as Zoroastrians, like the Jews, are monotheists (yes, they still exist), worshiping only one god. In fact, they may be willing to accept that the Jews worship this god in their own fashion.
Regardless, they would have had reason to believe that this “king of the Jews” could indeed be Savior of the world, for Zoroastrians also believe one is coming.
While they were watching the stars, they saw this one star that, according to all of the various alignments and timing, meant someone in the area of Palestine of the Jewish people was being born as a king. This king was worthy of their worship.
Misguided
What is amazing is that foreigners knew the Jewish Messiah was coming.
How many in Israel knew?
Some were expecting, as discussed last week, but none knew until He was right in front of them or someone (such as angels?) told them.
How is it that the very people who should have seen the Savior of the world coming missed it, but outsiders recognized the times for what they were?
Part of it is that most of the Jews had an idea of what the Messiah should look like, and he was not exactly what they envisioned.
These Magi, however, were open to the fact that the Creator of everything could work however He wanted. They could see what most others could not, because they expected God to move in unusual ways.
Many Jewish leaders ended up getting hit over the head with their own sins and obtuseness. They had all the answers, but could not see the Rock of Truth flying straight at them.
Us
Would we have known Jesus was coming?
Are we paying attention to our times? Can we judge (with the help of the Holy Spirit, especially) whether Jesus may be coming soon?
Think on this (keeping in mind this is simply food for thought): If many religions and even atheists are expecting a highly probable (some would say definite) end to life as we know it, perhaps even to our planet, why is it so weird that some Christians expect the soon return of Christ to this world?
What are you looking at? What are you watching?
Or are you going to be surprised by God coming and ruining your plans?
Once again, Matt Appling is listening to God. Read his great words about “The War on Christmas”:
The Advent season has officially begun.
Cheri and I put our tree up and the decorations. Our shopping is almost done, save that one difficult person to shop for. Our soundtrack for the season is the record Vince Guaraldi created for Charlie Brown. For the next month, I’ll try to not let the laundry pile up in the chair next to the Christmas tree.
But you know that in between hanging lights and caroling, a lot of people are rolling up their sleeves for another Christmas tradition, the annual Christmas culture war.
You know what I’m talking about. We’ll hear a few stories from around the country – lawsuits forcing Nativities to be taken down, or retail stores that forbid employees to wish shoppers “Merry Christmas.”
And a bunch of Christians will scream and shout that those godless heathen Jesus-haters are taking Christmas away.
It almost seems that How the Grinch Stole Christmas is coming true.
So what battlegrounds in the war for Christmas matter this year? How will the fight to save Christmas turn out?
a simple man of God 