I Say: Merry Christmas!

I saw a video on Facebook today showing a Flash Crowd doing a portion of Handel's Messiah replete with Hallelyah Chorus! It was glorious but made me think back to a time not very long ago where I learned that 1700's composition for an Christmas Concert performed in a public school.

We all know from secular history that this country was founded on the bedrock of Judeo-Christian beliefs. So when did we become an atheist nation, afraid to mention our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? The truth is ... we didn't. There are certain voices in the liberal media trying to dictate and rather harshly so, what Americans are supposed to believe.

This sort of intimidation includes ridicule and singling out Biblical beliefs as being "myths". This is serious because it is our faith in Yahshua's words that will either save or judge us:

"There is a Judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." John 12:48

No way of getting around it. Yahshua believes the Law and the Prophets because he said he came not to abolish the writings of Moses but to fulfill it:

"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose." Matthew 5:17

All of that which was written was a foretaste of the glory and redemption to come! So, Jesus wasn't ashamed to believe the Law and the Prophets. Now that his work has been accomplished, we shouldn't be either. We are NOT a nation of agnostics and atheists no matter what the mainstream media would have us believe. Think for yourself and don't let anyone quiet you for your beliefs. Freedom of Speech is part of our National Heritage. So I say, "Merry CHRISTmas"!

Heart Matters

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight Oh Yah!" Psalm 19

Yahshua was more concerned with a man's heart than his outside actions. In fact he made a point to show that it is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him but what comes out! What is inside definitely will come to the surface:

"Out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:24

Listen to someone or yourself speak and you will quickly see where the deepest thoughts and affections lay. If we are always talking about money, material things and our pleasures, well, there you have it! If we bless God and then curse people who are made in His image, we are showing which is the dominant spirit within us. God really can't do His work within us if we allow our thoughts and motivations to be dominated by the flesh.

We know that Yahshua is our righteousness and his finished work is enough to prepare us for the Kingdom, still in order for that set apart spirit to dwell richly within us, we must examine our hearts. People may say, "Follow your heart!" but the course of wisdom is to lead it.

A Thankful Thanksgiving

"...and be thankful!"

This is the time of year that we are supposed to do that. When I see the glorious blaze of fall colors, the geese fattened up for their migration and all the lovely vegetables and flowers, I can't help but bless God for them all. Thanksgiving is about having an attitude of gratitude for all God has given us. Really every good and perfect gift comes down to us from our Heavenly Father through Christ. Still there is something more our Creator wishes to give us.

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." Colossians 3:15

So what is robbing you of your peace? Worries and anxious thoughts over the Bush Tax Cuts? Perhaps your health is not what it should be. Maybe your finances are a mess and family members or friends are mistreating you. Whatever it is, this is not God's will for us to be worried, afraid and apprehensive about the future. We are told:

"Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

When we do this, then we can invite God's peace to rest on us. With that peace should come a thankful heart for all that Yah does for us each day down to the smallest details. The Bible says He opens His hand and satisfies the desires of every living thing. How much more so will He care for those made in His image and subject to Yahshua? Jesus trusted Him and now we can also!

"You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing." Psalm 145:16

This is something that we surely can be thankful for! The peace that we have comes from a lifetime of trusting in God, looking back on all He has done to preserve, guide and bless us. This gives us rest and confidence in His future provisions seen or unseen. Yes, and be thankful!

Compassion

"[It is of] Yahweh's loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn't fail." Lamentations 3:22

How awesome to know that even when our faith and power to do good fails, our Heavenly Father's does not! This is because of who HE IS:

"If we are faithless, he remains faithful. He can't deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13

What God looks for however is a contrite and honest spirit. One that acknowledges our inability to be sinless on our own. Self-righteousness is one of the main things Yahshua cited the Pharisees on during his ministry. Why? Well, when we are so full of ourselves, there is no room for God to fill us with His spirit. Not only that, we can become cruel and lacking in compassion of others who like everyone except Yahshua have sinned and missed the mark of full obedience to God:

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

So if we recognize our own short-comings, it will be easier to reach out to others with the Good News of God's Kingdom. People need to know that right now they can have peace with the Creator of the Universe through His Son. We can and should show the same compassion towards them as Yah has shown us!

"for through the Messiah, God was reconciling the world to himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us." 2 Corinthians 5:19