TerryLema

I was praying through one of the prayers in my prayer book the day after Christmas when I encountered a thought that stayed with me. May I … “Never make the multitude my model …” [Valley of Vision, Edited by Arthur Bennett]

Later in the day a few commercials flashed across the television announcing the Golden Globe Awards. I realized we have entered the “awards season,” when Celebrities pat themselves on the back repeatedly. It starts with the Golden Globes and then they’ll roll by at lightning speed, the Emmy’s, Grammy’s, People’s Choice, Critics Choice, MTV … on and on and on.

Female celebrities will be adorned with dresses barely there, sparkling jewels, and imaginative hairstyles. Male celebrities will try to outdo each other in wild tuxedos and formal wear. They will be photographed and fussed over and adored. And if we are not careful, we might think this is something to imitate. (Unfortunately, many of our young fall into this trap of the enemy.)

Paul made it clear whom we should imitate. “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” [1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT]

If you want to know how Paul imitated Christ Jesus, read 2 Corinthians 11:22-28. Read about prison, hard work, lashings, beatings, shipwrecks, long journeys, dangers, sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, homelessness, and burdens and concerns for the church.

Let us “never make the multitude [our] model.” Amen

The hoopla of the holiday season is behind us. Most football is also behind us with just a few playoff and championship games in the next few weeks. (In case I haven’t mentioned it, I like football.)  January begins with a bang but ends much differently. Winter is setting in across the nation. Routine will be the theme of the next months.

Some will make resolutions; some might even keep them. At least for a while. We’ll go back to work, possibly lamenting the extra money we spent (or the extra pounds we gained). All the flashy sales are over; the great deals are gone. It’s back to “usual.”

Our “usual” might be health issues that we still must deal with, or problems in relationships. Maybe we’re still out of work or working but unable to keep up with our increasing economy. Maybe we’re struggling in school, or with addictions or with home situations that are volatile or dangerous.

Our “usual” might seem more than we can handle. If that is so, we need to remember God’s “usual.”

God is in His “usual” place, on the throne. He has not, will not, cannot abdicate His glorious LORD-ship. He is, “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” [1 Tim 6:15-16]

Nor will God ignore the plight of His people. How many times do we read the pronouncement in the New Testament? “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” [2Thess 1:2]

So today, as we contemplate our “usual” in the new year before us – let’s never forget that God’s “usual” is always ours and that it trumps all difficulties and problems we might face. Blessed be His Holy Name.

I want to begin 2025 with a last thought from the past Christmas season. That age old discussion that comes up every year at Christmas – just when was Jesus was born. Some groups say April is a better option. Others says Jesus was conceived in December. I say, who cares.

I mean does it really matter the date we CELEBRATE when God came to be with us, Immanuel. What matters is that He did come. He did live and die and was resurrected the third day. He did ascend into heaven to be seated at the Right Hand of the Father. And He is coming again to receive His own.

 I think sometimes the enemy of our soul loves to get us down in the weeds arguing over some trivial fact rather than focusing on the grand scheme.

God sent His Son to us, in the fullness of time, meaning at just the right time. If that’s April, great. Or July, great. Or December, great. What is important to me at least, is not the when, it’s the why. “When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” [Gal 4:4-5 NKJV]

God sent His Son so that I might be redeemed from the marketplace of sin to be adopted as His daughter. If the world wants to celebrate that fact on December 25 each year, I’m fine with that … because I’m celebrating that every day in every month in every year. I’m bound to get it right at least once a year!

Wonder of Wonders!

Tomorrow is a new year; in a way it is a new beginning. But I thought it would be great to end this year with this verse from Galatians 4:7: “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Therefore. The reason the therefore is there for is to remind us that this is the outcome of what preceded it. Because God brought forth His Son in the fullness of time, because God brought forth His Son so that we might be redeemed and receive the adoption as sons and daughters, because God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts so that we might share the same intimacy Jesus had and call God our Father, we are now no longer a slave but a son, and in addition an heir of God through Christ.

No longer are we a slave bound to sin, serving the god of this world, frightened by death and the grave, outcast, shunned, unclean, full of evil thoughts and desires. Now we are a son and have been qualified to “share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”  [Col 1:12 NIV]

Too often as we approach a new year, we look back on the old one thinking only about the things we want to do differently. We want to eat better, lose weight, make better choices, save money, spend less, be more thankful, find a new job, etc.

This year however, I want to approach this New Year knowing that I certainly did something right so many years ago when I came to Christ. I want to remember that I am “no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

“Wonder of Wonders!”  See you in the New Year!

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” [Galatians 4:6 NKJV]

 Because we are sons (and daughters). I love the present tense, especially in Scripture. We are already sons and daughters of God. We are not waiting until we get there to become sons and daughters. Our adoption is a done deal.

Isn’t it interesting that in the Old Testament God is not addressed as Father? He is referred to as THE Father, but the intimacy of addressing Him as Father is absent. Not until the New Testament when Jesus arrives on the scene do we hear God addressed as Father, and not just Father, but OUR Father.

God, as part of the redemption brought to us by Christ, has now placed the Spirit of His Son in our hearts so that we can share the same intimacy that Jesus had. We can boldly approach God as our Father and not fear that we will be spurned or ignored.

We need to remember that this intimacy comes to us when the Spirit of His Son is in our hearts. It is not an intimacy shared with those who have rejected God’s plan of salvation. They may think of God as a Father, such as the Father of Creation, but without the Spirit of His Son, which comes to us through redemption, they cannot understand the intimacy found in those two little words … OUR FATHER.

“Wonder of Wonders!” 

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” [Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV]

God had a plan for Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child. When the fullness of time arrived for Jesus to be born, God’s plan was working right on time. God’s plan for us, unveiled in that Child was also right on time. That plan was redemption, so that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Adoption is a wonderful word to me. Bob and I have grandchildren that carry none of our genes but all of our hearts.

Little Carter (our first) miraculously appeared, 9-months old, big blue eyes, blond and beautiful. He became my ‘bud’ and was my only grandchild until Marcus arrived eight years later, and Travis six years after that. Recently, we added four more grandchildren and one great grandchild. The love I have is the exact same love for all of them. Each one is a delight in their own way, each one fills my heart with joy.

When we came to Christ in our helpless state, He redeemed us by His sinless life, His death on a cross, and His Resurrection and Victory over sin and death. That redemption allowed us to be adopted into the family of God, to be called children of God, sons and daughters of the King.

God’s plan for each of us might be different here on this earth, in the here and now. It might take us to different places, involve different ministries and life experiences, but the one thing that is sure in God’s plan is our adoption. The love that He has is the exact same love for His adopted sons and daughters as it is for His Only-Begotten Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord.

“Wonder of Wonders!”  What a thought to focus on as this year 2024 winds down!

I remember a time when Bob and I drove to California to spend Christmas with our son’s family. We were hoping for non-eventful-weather driving, checking the Weather Channel for what we thought was the best day for winter traveling.

Hopes for uneventful travel were dashed about 25 miles from home when we encountered snow, which at times became sleet. Roads were slick. Turning south at Jordan Valley, snow got heavier. At Winnemucca we had heavy rain. Over Donner Pass we added fog to the heavy rain, and one lovely microburst which pelted us with rocks. Finally, around Sacramento, the sun came out with 55-degree temperatures.  We laughed and noticed that we hit everything but hail. Shouldn’t laugh at Mother Nature. We had hail and fierce winds on Christmas Eve in Modesto. All in all, a typical winter trip of 635 miles and about 12-hours. At least it was in a warm comfortable car.

It is about 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, that’s how far Joseph and Mary traveled … with Mary 9-months pregnant.  I wonder what the weather was like then. I wonder how many days it took and if there were places to rest along the way. I wonder if they understood that the Child she carried had to be born in Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecies. I wonder if they truly understood God’s plan or if they were simply obeying the king’s decree to be registered for military and tax purposes.

“When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…” [Gal 4:4 NKJV]

That first Christmas “the fullness of time had come.”  God was appearing in human flesh, in Bethlehem, in humility. God had a plan, and the time had come for God’s plan to be unveiled.

God has a plan for each of us. We don’t always see the pieces and parts as they fall into place, any more than probably Joseph and Mary understood all the reasons behind this arduous trip at this time, a trip that ended in a most humble place, a gathering place for animals.

God, in flesh appearing. “Wonder of Wonders!” 

There have been many times over the Christmas Season that things did not go as planned. One year we wanted to gather with our daughter and son-in-love at their annual Christmas Eve celebration, but a storm was raging and we were not able to get there. Another time our son and his family were unable to travel from California because Donner Pass was closed.

Sometimes disappointment is as common over a holiday as celebration is.

But one thing about Christmas that never changes is the reason for the celebration. It is the night LOVE was truly born among mankind. Listen to the song “Love Was Born” by Songwriters: Bernie Herms, Stephanie Lewis, Mark Schultz.

“Starlight shines, the night is still / Shepherds watch from a hill / I close my eyes, see the night / When Love was born.

“A perfect Child gently waits / A mother bends to kiss God’s face / I close my eyes, see the night / When Love was born.

“Angels fill the midnight sky / And they sing /Hallelujah, He is Christ Our King

“Emmanuel, Prince of peace / Love come down for you and me /Heavens’ gift, the Holy spark To let the way inside our hearts

“Bethlehem, through your small door / Came the hope we’ve waited for / The world was changed forevermore / When Love was born

“I close my eyes, see the night / When Love was born.”

Wonder of Wonders

Christmas Day is behind us now. The constant Christmas music on the radio is done for the year and we are back to regular programming. I think I must have heard the song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” at least 100 times over the last weeks. Every time I hear that song two thoughts stand out.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas / Let your heart be light / From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas / Make the Yuletide gay / From now on, our troubles will be miles away

Can you guess which two thoughts?  “From now on, our troubles will be out of sight” and “From now on, our troubles will be miles away” are the two.

Really? I don’t know about you, but I woke up this morning after Christmas Day with pretty much the same troubles I went to bed with last night. They are not out of sight nor miles away! Christmas Day changed not a one.

AND YET, Christmas changed everything. God provided a simple solution for my greatest trouble of all – my relationship with Him. In the giving of the Son, God provided salvation and peace with Him. Now I know that whatever troubles I have, they are temporary, and that He will shoulder the burden of them (if I let Him). So maybe the songwriters are right after all … our troubles are out of sight and miles away.

“The angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.’” [Luke 2:10-11 NLT]

Wonder of wonders!

Just a simple “Merry Christmas” from my house to yours. May your day be filled with joy and may you know the Presence of our LORD JESUS CHRIST in everything you do today.

Lots of Love and Hugs from me and Bob. God’s Blessings!

 “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” [Isaiah 9:6 NLT]

Wonder of Wonders!