Silent Night

Today, I am reminded of a Casting Crowns song that I recently heard. It talks about how long ago it was a silent night for Bethlehem. That night the Messiah was to come to earth, yet there was no room for Him, therefore, the King of kings was born in a lowly manger.

I wonder. Would that have changed if they knew the Messiah was coming? Would Bethlehem have made room for Jesus if they only knew?

And yet here we are over 2000 years later and the church for the most part is silent. We accept the fact that nothing can be done to change the world we live in. We accept mediocrity from ourselves, our leaders, and our politicians. Now, tolerance is the new god. The right way according to the world is "bringing people together" and Christianity by its very nature goes against this world veiw because Jesus said "I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE." Yet the world wants to replace "THE" with the word "A" so that there can be other alternatives.

And hence, another silent night approaches. But make no mistake, the Messiah is coming. This time, He will make room. And he will reign!

Be prepared. Make room for Him now! Accept Jesus now...and reign with Him later!

May God bless you this Christmas!

You Better Recognize!

Step 2 in Breaking the Cycle of Disobedience is recognizing that there is a problem. Actually this should be Step 1 but I didn't place them in the right order. In 2 Chronicles 29:6-8, Hezekiah realizes what his father's generation had done before him and the consequences that they were suffering because of them.
I wonder how many Christians are mad at God for the things going on in their life, all the while not even recognizing that what is going on is a consequence of disobedience to God. Hezekiah recognized the problem and then began the process of breaking the cycle.
Satan wants to keep you and I blinded to the truth. He wants us to blame God for every bad thing that happens to us. He wants us to forget that there are "wages of sin", but friends the fact is that we do "reap what we sow". Therefore if you are reaping the bad consequences of your sin and you are tempted to blame God instead of taking responsibility for your own actions and repenting....you better recognize!

Now, go back and read STEP 1 which is really STEP 2...May God bless you all and have a great Christmas!

Note: If you have never accepted Christ as your savior or have any questions about the whole "Jesus" thing, contact me at lfbcedu@verizon.net . I would love to discuss my Jesus with you.

Take Out The Trash

Ok, so you want to live for God but nobody has ever taught you how. Your parents didn't teach you. Your school never taught you how. Maybe even your church never taught you how to break the cycle of disobedience in your life. How do you do it?

2 Chronicles 29:5 gives us Step 1. Hezekiah says, "Hear me , Levites! Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place." In order to break the cycle of disobedience to God, the people had to first remove the trash!

It is the same for us. Every one of us has trash in our lives. Some of it is easy to see (such as sin). Some of it is not so easy to see (such as our overscheduled calendar or favorite Tuesday night drama). Anything that stands in the way of our relationship with Christ is rubbish which needs to be removed. Let me give an example. My children watch and often imitate what daddy does. If they see me spending 3 hours watching TV and never see me spend time with God, which do you think they will think is more important TV or God? TV because that is where I spend my time. Therefore, in this instance TV is rubbish and should be removed. Also, I love to golf and fish. However, if I do this and never spend time with God it is trash that needs to be taken out.

I look at the many people who grow up in families where the man and woman are living together and having sex, and think that it is ok to do so. Friends that's trash that needs to be taken out.

Much of the way we believe, speak, and act we learned from observing others. If it goes against what God teaches, I don't care if momma did it, daddy did it, or my best friend did it, it is trash and has no business in my life.

Today's challenge for all of us is to take out the trash. Look at our lives. See if there is any trash lying around and if there is....take it out.

Next blog: STEP 2: You better recognize!

Dec. 11- Who's Your Daddy!

Fact: We all have issues!

Many of our issues stem from how we were raised as children. While it is true that we are to some extent products of our environment, our upbringing is not a valid reason for neglecting to live for God.

Hezekiah, as seen in 2 Chronicles (beginning with Chapter 29) is a perfect example of hope to those who were not raised in Christian homes and gives hope to those who were who have caught ourselves making some of the same mistakes that our parents did.

Hezekiah's father King Ahaz was unfaithful to God. He went as far as removing articles from the house of God, shutting the doors of the house of the Lord, and worshiping false gods instead. The nation that Ahaz led followed suit. This was the culture that Hezekiah grew up in.

And yet when we look at 2 Chronicles 29:2 it says that Hezekiah "did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to his father David". Isn't it interesting that though Hezekiah was Ahaz's son it says that he did right in God's sight just like his father David?

We all have earthly fathers. Some were good fathers. Others were not. The point is that no matter who raised us or how we were raised, we can all still do what is "right in the sight of the Lord". Hezekiah had a choice. He could continue to live in disobedience to God like his father Ahaz or he could change the culture and live like his father (ancestor) David. We too have a choice. Whether we were raised by daddies such as Ahaz or daddies such as David, we must decide for ourselves whom to follow. Hezekiah followed David, and thus the teachings of the Lord. David was the daddy that Hezekiah followed.

We will be looking the next few days at HOW Hezekiah broke the cycle of disobedience to God. But today I want to ask you to stop and look at your life for a moment. Based on the way that you are living it....Who's your daddy?

Topic of next blog: STEP 1: Take out the trash!

December 10, 2008

This morning God showed me that I had been living wrong. I thought I was living "THY will be done" when in truth I have been living "MY will" be done and wanting God to be a part of it.

God, I confess:

I have not been the minister that you want because I have wanted you to be a part of MY ministry.

I have not been the husband that you want because I have wanted you to be a part of MY marriage.

I have not been the father that you want because I have wanted you to be a part in ME raising MY kids.

I have not been the Christian that you want because I have wanted you to be a part of MY life.

Father forgive me! I truly want THY WILL to be done in all of these areas…in all of this life that is yours that you gave me…and I will depend on you to accomplish your will.