Fear and Joy; A Savior Born!

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (Luke 2:8-11 KJV)

I would be most probably be sore afraid too if an angel of the Lord showed up and the glory of the Lord shone around me. This is not a little thing. It would be a shock and awe moment. A bit of fear and a whole lot of awe.

But, this angel who brought fear to the hearts of the shepherd also brought good news; very good news of great joy. Their Savior was born. He lives! 

The shock and awe of Christ's birth seems to have worn off a little in these days. Now, it's not so much about celebrating the birth of a Savior and King; but, about personal celebrations of a holiday; not so much a holy day.

May the wonderment of a child born in a barn for the sole purpose of saving us from our own sinful ways be with you this Christmas season.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Give Thanks!

Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

                                                                                  1 Chronicles 16:8 KJV

Thanksgiving isn't a religious holiday! I hear that every year from certain family and friends. My reply always is something to the effect of then who are are we giving thanks to on Thanksgiving if not to God. God has given us all things. To Him we give thanks and praise for that He has done for us. Count your blessings this and every day and give thanks to the Lord for them.

May you all have a blessed day of giving thanks to the Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Halloween; All Hallows' Eve; All Saints' Eve; Reformation Day?

"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Gal 2:19-21 NIV)

This 31st day of October seems to always present me a slight dilemma. Actually, it frustrates me a little. Who and what is it that we celebrate this day? 

It appears to me that the devil has managed to get many of us to switch our focus from Jesus and the grace of God to something quite different on this day. Way too many Christians no longer recognize the significance of this holy day and even the pagan holiday has lost its punch.

Today, it seems that most of the country is celebrating the pagan holiday of Halloween. But, are they really? The celebration of this secular holiday has changed by leaps and bounds just in my lifetime. Today it seems that it's more about who can find the most elaborate costumes or how many parties one can attend. The celebration of Halloween seems to stretch across days, even weeks, rather than just on the Eve of All Saint's Day. Halloween is much different than what it once was.

There are still many Christians who do celebrate All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Eve on this day. They remember all of the saints who have given their lives to service of God. They remember all the saints of times past, present, and even the future.

There are those of us who also remember that today is the day that is considered to be the birthday of  the Great Reformation of the church. Today, this day in 2017, is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. This is not just a day for Lutherans to celebrate; but for all who believe in Jesus to celebrate for through Martin Luther and many other men and women the truth that we are righteous in the eyes of God; the truth that has set us free from bondage to sin, death, and the devil; not by anything that we do; not by any of our good works; but, by the grace of God through faith alone in the one who lived and died and lives again for us and through us, Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9)

Let us on this day and every day give thanks to God for His abundant mercy and grace!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Give Thanks

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

Well, I woke up this morning feeling a sense of loss. It is the eve of our national holiday Thanksgiving. Yes, Thanksgiving is the day that our government set aside many years ago for the citizens of this country to give thanks to God for all the bounty that He has blessed us with.

This evening will be the first time in decades that I have not led a Thanksgiving Worship Service. Yet, I will give thanks as I do every day for I do not know and do not want to know what I would be without the Lord's blessings. The greatest blessing of all being that He gave His only begotten Son; that through Jesus, I have been reconciled to God, our Father. Not, just I; but, all who would believe in Jesus and his life-giving sacrifice for you.

Wherever you are and whomever you are with; please remember to thank Him for all His goodness to you and to this country. And, if you find yourself alone on the holiday, remember that you are not alone. God is with you always. He love endures forever; his faithfulness never ends.

God's Peace - Pr. J