TerryLema

If you have been reading through the Gospel of Luke one chapter a day in December, you have come to the Garden.

Jesus had prepared and warned his disciples about what was coming. Now He leads them to the Garden of Gethsemane and tells them to pray that they do not fall into temptation.

Going on a little farther, He also prays about what was ahead for Him. He prays so fervently that an angel is sent to provide strength. He sweats great drops of blood as He sees the Cross and the Bitter Cup He must drink.

He asks of His Father … “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” [Luke 22:41 HCSB]

“Nevertheless.” What a glorious word. Such a little word. An adverb, plén, it is sometimes translated as “yet” or “however.”

And on that little word hinges the salvation of mankind. Jesus prayed for the cup to be taken away – if the Father was willing to do so. But even if He did not take the bitter cup away, Jesus would do the will of the Father. That’s what nevertheless means.

From that moment on Jesus never wavered, never looked back. He was in complete control, during the betrayal, during the trials, on the cross. He finished the will of the Father, and it will forever be finished!

And because He did, we have an eternity to spend in the glorious presence of our LORD. Amen.

I found my way to Psalm 47 this morning. It is a song of the sons of Korah and in my Bible it is titled, God Our King!

It begins with a shout of triumph. “Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a jubilant cry. For Yahweh, the Most High, is awe-inspiring, a great King over all the earth.” [vss 1-2 HCSB]

In the middle we are commanded to sing praise! “God ascends among shouts of joy, the Lord, among the sound of trumpets. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our King, sing praise!” [vss 5-6 HCSB]

And at the end we are reminded that God reigns. “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne…. For the leaders of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.” [vss 8-9b HCSB]

God came that first Christ-mas morning as a Babe in a Manger. We celebrate His birth. But our LORD and Master Christ Jesus is no longer in that manger.

God came to walk among us. He died on a Roman cross to take away our sins. He was buried in a borrowed grave. But our LORD and Master Christ Jesus is no longer in that grave.

He has ascended to the Right Hand of the Father. He reigns over the nations. He is seated on His Holy Throne. It may not look like it, but the leaders of this earth belong to Him. [Acts 2:33a]

So clap your hands. Shout to God with a triumphant voice! Sing Praise! Exalt the LORD our God for He Reigns – FOREVER! Amen.

A few days ago, Pastor Monte posted on Facebook, “A thousand times in history a baby has become a king. But only once has a king become a baby.”

As I read it, I immediately began to sing the chorus from a song I heard years ago written by David Phelps, “One King.” [Released 2006] Here are the lyrics. They speak for themselves.

In the beginning there was the Word / Pure love was spoken to reach every man / They stopped and listened but all that they heard / Was language that they could not understand / No joy, no peace, no hope in sight

So He came with starlight and love in His eyes / No regal welcome for His infant cries / There have been many babies to become a king / But only one King became a baby

He left behind His throne of pure light / Gave up His crown that we might be free / He chose a manger that Bethlehem night / And reaching through time and space He saw me / With no joy, no peace, no hope in sight

So He came with starlight and love in His eyes / No regal welcome for His infant cries / There have been many babies to become a king / But only one King became a baby

He could have chosen to break through the sky / With anthem and angel wing / But He knew we’d understand a baby’s cry / And learn love from a servant King

So He came with starlight and love in His eyes / No regal welcome for His infant cries / There have been so many babies to become a king / Only one King, one King became a baby

(LINK to Song:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb1Uof_gWF0 )

A few years ago I was floundering spiritually. Not in the sense that I was in danger of falling away, but I was physically tired, emotionally drained, and wondering where things were going with the church.

I received an invitation to a pastors’ prayer summit, but when I inquired about going, it was an event that did not welcome women pastors. (Because of some delightful young pastors, that restriction was lifted, and women were able to attend the following year.)

But that year I knew I needed to do something. I decided to do my own prayer summit, found a local hotel, and tucked myself away for four days. I prayed, and I prayed, and I prayed. I read my Bible, studied, tried to quiet my spirit before the LORD and got … nothing. Nothing for three days.

Then on the fourth day, the Holy Spirit took me to Revelation Chapter 3, and as I read, my heart quickened on -the message to the Philadelphia church. [vs 7-13]

Two phrases in that passage ministered to my soul – Verse 8 “you have limited strength,” and verse 9 “Hold on to what you have.”   

It wasn’t a grand message, but it was a quiet reaffirmation. First, I came away knowing that God understood my physical limitations (since this was right after my auto-immune diagnosis). Second, I came away reassured that I was to “hold on” at The Way.

I had no idea what “holding on” would create. But every Sunday when I walk into Christian Faith Center Middleton, I am blessing knowing that sometimes just “holding on” is a foundation stone in God’s plan!

An app on Facebook keeps asking me to play a game … it wants to tell me what 2024 will hold for me. Part of me thinks I would love to know what 2024 holds. Another part of me knows that if I knew what was about to happen I would either worry about it if it was bad or try to make it happen earlier if it was good. Either way would not be good.

Add to that what the past few years have been like and what the political climate has been lately for the 2024 presidential election, and I am sure I do not want to know!

A recent verse of the day reminded me, however, that I do know something about 2024 … and 2025 … and 2026 … and ….

“Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” [Luke 1:30-33 HCSB]

God’s emissary, the Angel Gabriel, proclaimed to Mary something we tend to forget, or perhaps just overlook at times. Not only would Mary bring forth a son who would be great and would be called the Son of the Most High … He also would be given a throne.  AND a Kingdom. AND that Kingdom will have no end.

No matter what 2024 holds for me or for the nation, the kingdoms of this world will bow to the eternal, everlasting, mighty Kingdom of the Lord God Most High. That may be in 2024, or 2025, or …? But it will happen! Amen & Hallelujah!

Luke 17 contains one of my favorite events in the life of Jesus. Verses 11-19 tell the story of the ten lepers who came to Jesus asking to be healed. They stood at a distance and cried out to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” [vs13]

Jesus told them to do what was prescribed in the law and go show themselves to the priests. That is what they did and along the way they discovered that they were “cleansed.” Their skin disease (likely leprosy) was gone.

One of them, however, upon finding out that he was cleansed, made a U-turn. He came back to Jesus and fell at His feet, giving glory to God and thanking Him. Only one? Only one – and even more remarkable, this only one was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked where the other nine were who were also cleansed. Then He turned to the only one at His feet and added a remarkable blessing, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.” [vs19 HCSB]

That word for “well” is sózó. It means to save, rescue, preserve. It means to deliver out of danger and into safety, and in the Scriptures, it is used primarily of God rescuing believers from the penalty and power of sin.

Only one returned and gave thanks and glory to God. Only one received a further blessing. Not just one healing of the body but also a healing of the soul.

How often have I noted that I am blessed – and I am. God has given me grace, mercy, redemption, love, peace, and a future. Yes, I am blessed.

Being blessed by God is wonderful, but there is an accompanying responsibility that we are also to be a blessing to others. “Others” incorporates both fellow believers and non-believers – even those who are hostile to us.

Peter wrote of this in his first letter. “Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble, not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.” [3:8-9 HCSB]

As Christians we are born again into God’s loving family. As His children we are to live in harmony, love, and humility among other Christians. Those are not natural qualities but are born of the grace God has lavished upon us.

But Peter notes, there is more than just loving family. There is also the way we are to respond to hostility and turmoil. Christians are to respond to evil with blessing.  They are not to retaliate or respond in kind to insults.

“On the contrary” Peter says, they are to give a blessing.

That is not easy, but oh, it is so necessary. First, it is a matter of obedience – God calls us to respond in this way. In addition, it appears that “giving a blessing” is crucial to “inherit a blessing.”

Father, thank you for the blessings you heap upon us. Help us to now be a blessing to all! Amen.

One of my favorite Christ-mas carols is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. While I love the words expressed in the many verses, I love the small “chorus” that comes at the end of each. “O Tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, oh tidings of comfort and joy.”

 I love that word comfort.  God is our comfort.  David expressed that wonderful truth in that most blessed Psalm 23. “I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” [vs 4]

I was a Hospice Chaplain in California before coming to Idaho. I conducted a lot of funerals. Too often, the elderly were unable to attend church and as churches changed pastors or congregations, they lost touch. I did some for others also who just never made a church connection. I tried to make each service as personal as possible, but I almost always recited Psalm 23 just prior to the closing prayer.

Our LORD is our comfort. Jesus identified Himself as the Great Shepherd. Because He is, we can fear no evil. He is always with us. His rod to protect and correct, His staff to lead and guide bring comfort to our souls.

Comfort. During the holidays we often reflect as much on what we have lost as what we have gained. Many have lost loved ones, family, or friends. Some have lost income, or experienced divorce. Children have grown up and perhaps left home. Christ-mas reminds us that what we used to have may not be ours anymore.

That is when we need those “tidings of comfort and joy” that flow from the Nativity. God has come to comfort us. We have a LORD who knows what it is to experience loss and pain with us, who mourns with us, who weeps with us. In that I find the greatest of “comfort.”

Who’s Talking Now? That’s a great question! The answer seems to be “Everyone!”

We are in one of the most bitter and vicious presidential elections I have ever experienced in my seventy-seven years. Presidential candidates are constantly attacking each other. Everyone is talking. And not just talking. They are shouting, swearing, pointing fingers, name-calling, and even challenging each other to physically fight.

We can add incendiary media to that mix. The left-leaning media is culling out the most hurtful words and actions from the right-leaning candidates and displaying them on the national media. The right-leaning media is doing the same thing in reverse. It is ugly.

Who’s talking now? Everyone! BUT … Who is actually saying something worth listening to? Only One.

“Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son [Christ Jesus]. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” [Hebrews 1:1-4 HCSB]

Christ Jesus is talking now. He’s telling us He is Creator, Redeemer, Savior, LORD. He is declaring that He is our hope, our peace, our future. He reminds us that His Presence in our lives gives strength, courage, love, victory. He is our anchor in this storm, our anchor beyond the veil.

The great question is not, “Who’s talking now?” The great question is “Whom are we listening to?”

I did several things on my birthday last week. I met with a young woman in the afternoon who recently lost a child. Then Bob and I went to dinner at Cracker Barrel and afterwards drove through a living nativity scene.

It was very well done with Roman Soldiers, pilgrims heading to Bethlehem, wise men, shepherds and their flocks, prophets, an angel and choir, and finally Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child. As we drove through there were signs with verses from Luke Chapters 1 and 2.

There was also something that had me laughing when I noticed one group of pilgrims heading toward Bethlehem accompanied by a labradoodle. He was having a great time greeting all the other pilgrims along the way.

As I drove through this living nativity I was deeply touched by its portrayal of Christ’s birth. My heart had been heavy most of the day as I thought about those experiencing loss and grief. Driving through the living nativity I saw a living example of what Christ-mas is all about – the Joy of Hope.

Christ came. As a babe. Destined for an ignoble cross. Through His resurrection, He became our Living Hope that this life, with all its sorrows and tears and partings, is not all there is.

“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” [1Peter 1:3 HCSB]