TerryLema

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.  [NIV Col 1:12]

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!

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

 Because we are sons (and daughters).  I love the past 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 also 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 the 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 the 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 the Son, which comes to us through redemption, they cannot understand the intimacy found in those two little words … our Father.

“Wonder of Wonders!” 

Galatians 4:4-5: 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.

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. Adoption is a wonderful word to me.

Before our California kids arrived yesterday to celebrate Christmas, we spent Christmas Day with our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson here in Idaho.  Our grandson carries none of Bob’s or my genes, but he sure carries our hearts.  I wanted nothing more than to be a grandmother, it was one of my greatest desires.  Then little Carter 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.  Now I have three grandsons. The love I have is the exact same love for all three.  Each one is a delight in his 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 2017 winds down!

Our son, daughter-in-law and grandsons arrived yesterday by plane from California. We can’t wait to get together with them today!  I remember Bob and I driving to California for Christmas two years ago to spend it with them. We were hoping for non-eventful-weather driving.  We watched the Weather Channel and picked what we thought was the best day for winter traveling.

Hopes for uneventful were dashed about 25 miles from home.  As soon as we hit the Owyhee’s, we had snow, which at times became sleet. Roads were slick.  At Jordan Valley turning south, we thought it would improve.  Snow got heavier.  Roads were slicker.  All the way to Winnemucca, and then we had rain and heavy rain.  Over Donner Pass we had heavy rain and fog, and one lovely microburst which pelted us with rocks.  Finally, around Sacramento, we had sunshine and 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. I read that 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, 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.

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

Our plans for Christmas Eve to drive to Boise and spend time with our daughter and son-in-law at their Annual Christmas Eve Chinese Restaurant “event” were spoiled by snow. All those people around here who were “Dreaming of a White Christmas” got their wish.

It definitely snowed … there were numerous accidents (mainly slide-offs) on the interstate and side roads. It was a mess throughout most of the evening. Maybe if we were younger and had a little more adventure left in us we would have tried to go the 20+ miles, but Bob was reluctant and I agreed it probably was a bit foolish to put ourselves through that. Still, I missed seeing any family on Christmas Eve.

In spite of not seeing my natural family, the snow held off until afternoon so my church family was able to meet in the morning. We had a different style of service with music and message divided into three parts (Let Us Go and See, Let Us Go and Tell, Let Us Worship). We had special music, Christmas carols, and corporate worship at the end.  And while it seems silly, we had an altar call for salvation at the beginning in which several people responded. It was a lovely time with people I have grown to love and appreciate over the years, along with new people I only met that morning.

There was one special song that touched my heart that morning. I’ve provided a link below so that you can listen to it also.  It’s a simple song. Yet it reminds us that everything on earth changed because of that first night, “When Love Was Born.” God Who is Love, came to us, so that one day we might dwell with Him forever.

That truly is a “Wonder of wonders.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKSU9Dbxvrw

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 heard that song two lines stood 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 lines had me thinking?  “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 of all trouble, 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.  Good news of great joy!

Thank you, Father, for taking the greatest burden from me. Amen.

Wonder of wonders!

*Lyrics Ralph Blane and Music Hugh Martin

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” [Luke 1:30-33 NIV]

“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 NIV]

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”  [Luke 2:11-12 NIV]

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God . . .. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” [Revelation 19:11-16  NIV]

His name is Jesus, Jehovah saves.  His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His name is Savior; He is Christ the Lord.

His name is Faithful and True.  He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This babe who was born in Bethlehem, this man who died on a cross on a hill called Calvary, who ascended into the heavens to sit at the right hand of the throne of God, He is Faithful and True.  He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

We celebrate His coming to Bethlehem long ago.  We rejoice in His Promise to return one day to claim the kingdoms of this world as the Kingdom of our God.  Amen, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

“O come all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant.

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels.

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

O Come.  “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  [Matthew 11:28-30]

Joyful and triumphant.  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  [John 15:9-11]

Come to the Manger with me.  Come to the Child.  Come, heart prepared to give Him room.  Come with adoration.  Come to Christ the Lord.

May this Christmas Season be the best and brightest.  That is my prayer for you.  I know that not everything in your lives will be perfect.  I understand that during this time of year, you may have many sorrows.  But I urge you to come to the manger with me.  Come to the Child.  Come joyful and triumphant, knowing that no matter the sorrows we may have at this moment, the Lord has come and His joy is in us and our joy is complete.

One of my favorite traditional Christmas carols is “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”

It came upon the midnight clear / That glorious song of old / From angels bending near the earth / To touch their harps of gold! / Peace on the earth, good will to men / From heaven’s all gracious King! /The world in solemn stillness lay / To hear the angels sing. 

Ah, but if we are honest, we must admit there is no peace on this earth.  Daily we see war in nations, battles on social media and in government, discord  in families and among friends and neighbors.  We are always at odds with someone.  We long for the “peace on earth, good will to men” that the Christmas carols remind us of each year.  Have we mistaken the message of the angels?

No, not mistaken, but perhaps misinterpreted?  The old KJV says, “On earth peace, good will toward men.”  The NIV says, “On earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”   (Luke 2:14)

Neither one promises a world-wide, all-encompassing peace—at least not yet.  The promise of peace sung by the angels, flowing from heaven’s all gracious King, is not a general peacefulness with prosperity and a trouble-free life.  Scripture is clear, our most fundamental need for peace is peace with God.  We have been at war with God since the rebellion in the Garden.  We are hostile to Him and His rule in our lives.  We do everything we can to keep control for ourselves.  There is no peace on earth because there is no peace with God.

But that all changed that night.  Peace was now born into this world.  The true peace had come and will never depart – that true peace lives in the hearts of all those who accept God’s offer.  We now look forward to a time when the King of King comes to reign and all war will be banished forever.  Only then will true peace be world-wide and all-encompassing.  We look forward to that time  …

When peace shall over all the earth / Its ancient splendors fling / And all the world give back the song / Which now the angels sing.

Tonight, at The Way Assembly of God in Middleton is our Annual Candlelight Service where we remember and celebrate the lives of those who have gone to be with the Lord ahead of us. It’s a special time where we can acknowledge the fact that amid all the “Wonder of wonders” our hearts may ache with loss.

Whether a spouse, sibling, parent, child or that special friend, losing a loved one changes our lives forever. Life will get good again, but in a new way, a way not always welcomed. And even amid that new good, we grieve still, especially so when holidays and anniversaries roll around.  We celebrate but often with that tinge of sadness included.

Some people think (and may even admonish us) that we should hide our feelings of sadness, or be over our grief, or have moved on with our lives. Understanding doesn’t come until they experience loss themselves.

So, on this special night, we remember, and we celebrate. We celebrate those we love who are no longer with us. We celebrate with laughter and tears freely expressed. We remember and we are encouraged.

The church at Thessalonica wondered what happened to those who died in Christ and Paul in his letter gave this reassurance. It’s still valid today.  “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” [1 Thess 4:15-18 NIV]