Author: Don

Painting Our Self portrait
God gives us all a canvas; we paint it as we choose.
It isn’t paint by numbers, nor paint it wrong, “you lose.”
We’re free to choose our pallet – the thickness of our strokes;
Sweeping strands of color, or spots from careless pokes.
And when we feel we’re failing and cast our paints aside,
There waits the Master Artist who wants to be our guide.
He’ll take our feeble efforts, if we will just release,
And guided by his steady hand, we’ll paint His masterpiece.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

The Greek word that is translated masterpiece “poiēma” is where we get the English word poem. As we read this Scripture we are reminded that “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow may have had this in mind as he wrote the final stanza of his epic Poem “A Psalm of Life.”

“Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.”

Blessings, Your Friends in Christ

Happy New Year!

More often than not, New Year’s resolutions seem to set up a series of “would have”, “could have”, and “should haves.” We would have read more books had we not watched so much T.V. We could have lost twenty pounds, if we didn’t like ice cream so much, and we definitely should have prayed more … With this truth he mind, we offer an important rule for life:

Our Rule for Life – we’ve only one: we’ll never say, “I should have done.” What’s done is done, that coin is spent. Have faith in God – reflect – repent. Accept the things you cannot change and change the things you must. Why worry now? It happened then; in God’s grace you can trust.

Too many people go through life oppressed by their regrets. They carry guilt from long ago – for sins that God forgets. “As far as East is from the West,” that’s where our guilt should be. Lord, help me leave my past behind, and find my hope in Thee.

In Matthew 5:14-15 (NLT) we read, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

As we begin a New Year, we are trusting God to direct our steps, leading us to live lives that are lights in a dark world. Echoing the words of Saint Paul in Romans 15:13, we pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

New Year Blessings, Your Friends in Christ

Civility seems to be disappearing in America.

Recently I found myself behind two ladies in the checkout line at a Walmart. The checker was scanning their large collection of purchases when one of the women stopped her to question the price of an item. The checker pulled out a pocket calculator and verified the price. She started to ring up the next item when the woman once again insisted that the clerk verify the price. Glancing at the melting carton of ice cream in my cart, I became extremely impatient and was prepared to say something snarky. Instead, I turned in disgust and found another line.

There was a time when people were kinder and more considerate of others. There was a time, we are told, when people could disagree without being disagreeable, when opinions could be discussed without the tone becoming disgusting, and when ideas could be debated on their merits, rather than on their conformity to a particular ideology.

Some might attribute the increase in incivility to politics; others might blame the press, while cultural, ethnic, racial or religious differences would be cited by others. The Apostle Paul would lay the blame on EGO.

Paul wrote, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:2-3 (NIV)

Incivility is, for the most part, a by-product of ego, which manifests itself in judgmentalism, selfishness, and impatience. When I think back to the incident at Walmart, I am forced to question whether I would have been as judgmental, impatient, and yes, selfish had the ladies in line been people I knew from church or my neighborhood – probably not.

Not to let myself off the hook, but to put the Walmart episode into perspective, the price checking wasn’t the only thing that triggered my ire. While lady #1 was having the clerk check prices, lady #2 was taking her cart and gathering additional items based on how the price check came out. Not exactly civil behavior.

Nevertheless, I am forced to wonder how often am “I” am less than civil? How often do I edge God out by thinking of myself first? When will I finally internalize the truth that I am a child of a loving God, a God who – as we read in Romans 2:11 does not show favoritism? When will I make it my lifestyle to do unto others as I would have them do unto me?

We can’t change the pattern of the world, but we can change the pattern of our lives. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The time is always right to do the right thing.”

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

Verse for the Week: Romans 12:18 (AMP) “ If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Blessings, Your Friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

During the past month we have been blessed to hear the familiar sounds of Christmas. Everyone has their own personal favorites – some enjoy the old standards like “Away in a Manger” and “Silent Night;” others turn to songs by Christian contemporary artists such as Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin, and Casting Crowns. Our personal tastes are quite eclectic, so we run the gamut from deeply spiritual songs like “Mary Did You Know” to outlandishly secular tunes like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”

Why does Christmas music fill us with joy? Psychologists report a number of research findings about the immediate psychological and medical benefits of music: increased happiness, less stress, reduced depression symptoms, greater autonomy, and increased competence, hope, and optomism.

For the world at large, it may be that music evokes memories of joy-filled past Christmases. For others, it may be anticipation of a family gathering, a turkey dinner, or a load of gifts. For Christians, it is a time when songs are one way we can express thanks to God for the most amazing gift of all – Jesus.

“Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy! ” Psalm 98:4 (NLT)

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.” Psalm 100:1-2 (NRSV)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” Colossians 3:16

Melodies can be powerful emotional triggers, but lyrics carry the message. The sounds of Christmas have words that remind us of the miraculous birth of our savior. Whether in psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs, when we listen for the message God wants us to hear – we never know what will come to mind.

Recently, we were listening to “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” – not exactly a Christian classic- when a couple of new stanzas came to mind.

Grandmas Got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas Eve.
Now She jingles bells with friends in heaven;
Thanks to Jesus Christ whom she believed.

We are sad that she”s not with us,
But her loss we had to face.
Now at Christmastime we focus
On Christ’s birth and on God’s grace.

Christmas is a very difficult time when you have lost friends and loved ones, as we have. We pray that you will find peace and hope this holiday season by focusing on Jesus and by trusting in God’s limitless grace.

Verse for the Week:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

We wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ

Dear Friends,

This week we continue our imaginary encounter with one of the shepherds who was present at the first Christmas. Our objective is to breath new life into the characters who adorn our nativities.

“Through the Eyes of a Shepherd – Part 2”
Hello again, Jedediah here. The last time we spoke, I told you how God had blessed me by letting me be part of the first Christmas. Finding Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus in that humble stable was just the beginning of the story. When Jesus was about two years old, Magi, or wise men, came to Judea asking, “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.”

Just who were the wise men? Some believe (based on Psalms 72:11, “May all kings fall down before him” ) that they were actually kings from as far away as India or even China. Others believe they were astrologers from either Persia (which is modern day Iran) or Babylon (which is modern day Iraq).

Want to know the real significance of the Magi? This is important. The Magi weren’t even Jews – they were gentiles who had come to worship the King of the Jews. They recognized that Jesus was born a king – not that he would become one –  and they realized that he wasn’t just King of the Jews; he is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

I wish I could have been there when the Magi presented their gifts: gold symbolizing Jesus kingship on earth, frankincense symbolizing his deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of sacrifice.

Later I learned that King Herod, a ruthless ruler who was overseer of Judea had taken the news of Jesus birth as a threat to his rule and wanted to kill the child. He decided to use the Magi to help him find the young Jesus.

By consulting with the chief priests, herod learned that about 700 years earlier the Prophet Micah had foretold that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem.   Micah had written (5:2):  “But you, Bethlehem, in the Land of Judah, Are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,  For out of you will come a ruler Who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”

I always liked that verse, particularly the part about Jesus being the shepherd of his people. Take it from me, a shepherd cares for his flock.

if one of my sheep gets lost, I will leave the other ninety-nine and immediately go to find the one that is lost. I have read that Jesus feels the same way about us.

King Herod’s plot was foiled when the Magi were warned in a dream, so they left town by another route rather than returning to King Herod.  Joseph was also warned in a dream, so he took Mary and Jesus and escaped to Egypt…

I, Jedediah, could never imagine the miraculous things that Jesus would do.  I guess it’s true what the scriptures say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Each time I heard of another miracle, I thought back to that tiny baby I has seen in the manger, and wondered why God had been so gracious as to let me share in the miracle of the birth of His son.

At Christmas time, God gives each of you the opportunity to share in the miracle of Jesus birth. May the lights on the tree remind you of the stars that filled the night sky over Bethlehem. May the gifts remind you of the wise men who came to worship the King, and may the tiny baby in your nativity remind you of the greatest gift of all – Jesus.

Christmas Blessings,
Jedediah the Shepherd