Abundantly Pardoned

Deuteronomy 16:b-17 tells us that “No man should appear before the Lord empty-handed. Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” Stop and allow that to sink in. It did more than sink in when I meditated upon that verse. It slammed into me with the force of gale winds. If I gave God sacrifices in proportion with how He has blessed me, I should give him all my paychecks along with every minute of each day and night to do His work And yet that would still not equal the blessings He has given me! We need to ask ourselves, “In what ways can I not be empty-handed whenever I come before the Lord? What can I give Him from my paychecks and from my life to show Him how much I appreciate His blessings? Does my prayer life reflect my gratitude? Does my work for Him reflect my gratitude? What can I do for my Lord to show Him how grateful I am for all His blessings? Is my life a living sacrifice for Him or a selfish existence?” What will our answers be?

^{Dt 32:10 In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye.... (NIV)}

^{Sometimes it's so easy to feel like we're in a barren and howling waste in our lives and in this sinful world. Sometimes it feels like violent winds are buffeting us about as we are stung by people's words that are as painful as desert sand peppering against our skin. We need to remember that God loves us and is with us and will take care of us. He will shield us from sorrow and sin and anger and hurtful words. We are His children, His beloved. If we lean like frail trees in the winds of life, we'll topple over. If we lean against the Lord, He will hold us up.}

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV) "Christmas Never Ends" Though Christmastime has come and gone, Each day will bring a brand new song, For hope arises with each dawn From Jesus Christ our King. Upon this Rock we cannot fall, Each day we heed the Savior's call And knock on kingdom's door, so tall, It opens for our hearts. The Father sent to us the Son, Pleased to give to us the One Who takes the sins for vict'ry won, For future hopes secure. Sweet Christmastime is ev'ryday Because our Jesus did not stay; His life rose up, our sins to slay, To bring eternal life. Oh, come rejoice and sing a song, For Christmastime is never gone, His blessings rise with each new dawn For Jesus Christ is King.

In Sunday School class we had a discussion on why Mary went with Joseph to Bethlehem. Why didn't she stay behind and wait for him? Why this? Why that? Our discussion led to the fact that it doesn't matter why she went; what matters is that she went, thereby fulfilling God's will that Jesus be born in Bethlehem. We humans tend to always question things: Father, why do You want me to do that? Why don't You want me to do this other thing? Is there a reason You want me to go there? Why do You want me to go to that person for You? We need to not question God's will in things. We need to just obey Him. Why? Because it's His will, that's why. "...Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10 NIV)

The first sentence of the first chapter of "Little Women" is, "'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,'" grumbled Jo, lying on the rug." The girls fret and fume and feel sorry for themselves during the first few pages. The Civil War is going on, and their mother says they shouldn't spend money for pleasure when the men were suffering in the war. During the pages that follow, the girls stop grumbling and decide to buy their mother something for Christmas. In chapter two, their Christmas presents from their mother are little copies of the Bible which she places under their pillows as they sleep. What better present to give someone than a copy of the Bible? "Marmee's" heart was definitely in the right place, and she even asked if her daughters would give up their special Christmas breakfast for a poor, starving family. When news of the sacrifice reached their elderly, wealthy neighbors, they made sure the girls received Christmas treats, i.e., ice cream and bon bons when they put on their Christmas play for the neighborhood girls. A Christmas they had grumbled about became a wonderful Christmas due to their change of heart. When we sacrifice for others, our hearts can't help but glow. Merry Christmas, everyone!

One of my Sunday School teachers passed out this prayer, and it's a wonderful Prayer of Commitment: Dear Father, I know I have a tendency to be judgmental and critical of others. I also know this displeases You, so help me accept other people as You have. I need Your wisdom to discern the difference between what You have said in Scripture and what is simply my own opinion. I also need to be more persistent in prayer and at the same time to leave the answers in Your loving hands as my Heavenly Father. Give me the wisdom and the courage to live by the Golden Rule on a more consistent basis. Amen.

It seems like the only time we truly call Jesus "Immanuel" is at Christmastime when we sing the song. I've been thinking about the meaning of "Immanuel" this week. "'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'---which means, 'God with us.'" (Matthew 1:23 NIV). "God with us." God come down to earth to die for our sins. And He is still with us, His Holy Spirit dwelling in us. "Immanuel." "God with us." Hallelujah!

^{Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,}

^{Eph 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.}

^{God can do so much more through us than we ask or think. We limit Him with our small expectations and with our small requests. We need to pray bigger and imagine bigger. We need to stop keeping God inside small boundaries and free Him to do what He wants to do. Don't limit God with human standards.}

^{Questions to ask ourselves: What are the ways I limit God? How can I pray bigger and imagine bigger? What are the ways I keep God inside small boundaries? How can I free God to do what He wants to do? In what ways do I limit God with human standards?}

Descriptions of Jesus from Isaiah 53: "no beauty or majesty," "despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering," "despised, and we esteemed him not," "He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows," "we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted," "pierced for OUR transgressions," "crushed for OUR iniquities," "the punishment that brought US peace was upon Him," "the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of US ALL," "oppressed and afflicted," "led like a lamb to slaughter," "By oppression and judgment He was taken away," "cut off from the land of the living," "stricken," "assigned a grave with the wicked," "the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer," "His life a guilt offering," "suffering of His soul," "He poured out His life unto death," "numbered with the transgressors," "bore the sin of many," "made intercession for the transgressors." Jesus Christ our Lord, from manger to Calvary. From God to earth. From life to death to life and back to God. More than a picture of a baby in a manger surrounded by people and animals with a star in the sky. More than candy and cookies and parties and gifts and cards. Much more than any amount of attention we choose to give Him. During this week leading up to Christmas, let's delve into prayer and personal worship and in the Word. Let's give Him the love and attention He so deserves. Let's praise Him by living for Him and giving Him our complete adoration and devotion. Our precious, precious Jesus!

Have you sought out the Lord today? If yes, did you find Him? If yes, did you have fellowship with Him? If yes, whatq did you learn? Any fellowship with the Lord results in learning. "'I will dwell in the midst of thee,' saith the Lord." (Zechariah 2:10b KJV)