The Birthday of our King
Luke 2: 10-14 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Christmas!
What a Wonderful time of the year, not only for little girls and boys, but also people of all ages, and all nationalities. An account that has been recorded in the Holy Scriptures down through the years. This Word was spoken by the Prophets, revealed by the angel Gabriel, Born of a virgin, guided by a Star, and herald in by a multitude of the heavenly host worshipping and praising God.
When the time was right God sent His only conceived Son made of a woman to redeem mankind. Sin had separated us from God's love, but Jesus came to us as Heavens Gift to reconcile us back into the family of God.
1John 3:1 says, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Jesus is Gods manifested love to the world, which hath abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!
In the book of Leviticus the 17th chapter and the 11th verse, it states, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul.
Where sin abounded Gods Grace did much more abound. And it was JESUS, who became the sacrifice for our sins, and for the sins of the whole world.
At this season the world pauses to remember and to celebrate the birthday of our Saviour, Emmanuel! We join in harmony with the redeemed of the earth as we lift our voices and sing in chorus Salvations sweetest songs. We light candles and lights to shine through the darkness and to tell the world that our Light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon us!
Down through the ages many have tried to extinguish what the real meaning of Christmas is. But for those of us whose lives have been transformed by the power of the Highest, our lights will shine, and our voices will join together in unison all around the world, as we celebrate the Birthday of our King!
St Luke 2:6-14 And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
St Matthew 2:10-11 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”.
I can almost see Joseph watching Mary as she holds her newborn son. Pondering all the time at the words of the angel which appeared to him in a dream saying, "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
I've also wondered how Mary must have felt as she sat looking into the eyes of her baby, Gods Son. And to know that all this which has come to pass was prophesied of old saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
Jesus IS the reason for this Season. This is why we honor and celebrate Christmas today. It is a time of Joy, and Peace, and Goodwill toward all men.
May the Peace and Joy of Jesus Christ keep your hearts and minds as you celebrate the Birthday of our King!
An on-line ministry proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Drivers Training
Drivers Training
Many times the “life lessons” that we learn while growing up; have more meaning embedded into them than what we realize. Often I find myself thinking back to those times and drawing from them new and fresh resources to live by.
How excited I was when I turned 16 years old. I was now old enough to learn how to drive. I could not wait until summer vacation started so I could take drivers training.
I can still remember how I felt when I finally got behind the wheel of the drivers training car and headed out onto the highway. I could follow the signs pretty well, how fast to go, when to stop, yield etc. However, the only thing I was having a problem with, was keeping the car straight in the middle of the road. I would swerve to the left, and then to the right, my hands gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.
No matter how tense I was swerving all over the road, my teacher remained cool and calm. I thought if I were you, I would be afraid for my life, because I really do not know what I am doing! She instructed me to let go of my death grip on the steering wheel, and just hold onto it gently. Then she said to me, “Look down the highway as far as you can and fix your eyes on the center of the road, and not so much on what is going on around you”. That was the best instruction she could have given to me, and it has helped me to this day to keep me from swerving off the road and ending up into a ditch.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Drivers who continually look to the right and to the left may well go into the ditch. In addition, there are many things going on all around us today that try to get our attention. Satan is good at causing roadside distractions that tempt us to take our eyes off Jesus, and onto him. If he can get our attention by one thing or another, he may be able to get us off the path that we are traveling on and delay our spiritual progress.
The Bible encourages us to put aside every weight and sin that delays and hinders us in the race that we are running. Looking at those things that are going on around us, or putting our attention onto other things as we, travel down the road of life can cause us to swerve to the right and to the left, and before you know it; we end up in a ditch.
So often while traveling in my truck, I am amazed how distracted people are in their vehicles. Some people while driving down the freeway at high speeds have one of their feet resting on the dash while they have earphones in their ears listening to music. Others are busy eating and reaching for their drinks while they drive.
I have seen women putting on make up and looking in their rear view mirror instead of looking at where they are going. Others are distracted, by talking on their cell phone and texting their friends, and they have no idea of the danger that they are in as well as putting others at risk. So many people have been hurt, and even killed by people driving in their cars doing some of these things.
Therefore, I wonder, what are some of the things in our own spiritual life, that we have been “distracted” by while running this race. Has it caused us to take our attention off the path we are following, to give heed to those things going on around us? Have we been tempted to turn our eyes off the center of the road to look at those things going on around us in the world today?
1 John 2:15-16 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Because of my “life lesson”, in drivers training so long ago, I am reminded of what Paul the Apostle is telling me once again.
In this race of life that we are in, keeping our eyes stedfast upon Jesus is utmost important. Jesus said; Follow me for I am the Way. We must be aware of the distractions going on around us, and not allow them to take our attention off the “center” of the road, which is Jesus Christ. We must keep our eyes upon Jesus. He alone will keep you safe and bring you to your destination.
Rev. James A. Lewis Word of Life Ministry
Many times the “life lessons” that we learn while growing up; have more meaning embedded into them than what we realize. Often I find myself thinking back to those times and drawing from them new and fresh resources to live by.
How excited I was when I turned 16 years old. I was now old enough to learn how to drive. I could not wait until summer vacation started so I could take drivers training.
I can still remember how I felt when I finally got behind the wheel of the drivers training car and headed out onto the highway. I could follow the signs pretty well, how fast to go, when to stop, yield etc. However, the only thing I was having a problem with, was keeping the car straight in the middle of the road. I would swerve to the left, and then to the right, my hands gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.
No matter how tense I was swerving all over the road, my teacher remained cool and calm. I thought if I were you, I would be afraid for my life, because I really do not know what I am doing! She instructed me to let go of my death grip on the steering wheel, and just hold onto it gently. Then she said to me, “Look down the highway as far as you can and fix your eyes on the center of the road, and not so much on what is going on around you”. That was the best instruction she could have given to me, and it has helped me to this day to keep me from swerving off the road and ending up into a ditch.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Drivers who continually look to the right and to the left may well go into the ditch. In addition, there are many things going on all around us today that try to get our attention. Satan is good at causing roadside distractions that tempt us to take our eyes off Jesus, and onto him. If he can get our attention by one thing or another, he may be able to get us off the path that we are traveling on and delay our spiritual progress.
The Bible encourages us to put aside every weight and sin that delays and hinders us in the race that we are running. Looking at those things that are going on around us, or putting our attention onto other things as we, travel down the road of life can cause us to swerve to the right and to the left, and before you know it; we end up in a ditch.
So often while traveling in my truck, I am amazed how distracted people are in their vehicles. Some people while driving down the freeway at high speeds have one of their feet resting on the dash while they have earphones in their ears listening to music. Others are busy eating and reaching for their drinks while they drive.
I have seen women putting on make up and looking in their rear view mirror instead of looking at where they are going. Others are distracted, by talking on their cell phone and texting their friends, and they have no idea of the danger that they are in as well as putting others at risk. So many people have been hurt, and even killed by people driving in their cars doing some of these things.
Therefore, I wonder, what are some of the things in our own spiritual life, that we have been “distracted” by while running this race. Has it caused us to take our attention off the path we are following, to give heed to those things going on around us? Have we been tempted to turn our eyes off the center of the road to look at those things going on around us in the world today?
1 John 2:15-16 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Because of my “life lesson”, in drivers training so long ago, I am reminded of what Paul the Apostle is telling me once again.
In this race of life that we are in, keeping our eyes stedfast upon Jesus is utmost important. Jesus said; Follow me for I am the Way. We must be aware of the distractions going on around us, and not allow them to take our attention off the “center” of the road, which is Jesus Christ. We must keep our eyes upon Jesus. He alone will keep you safe and bring you to your destination.
Rev. James A. Lewis Word of Life Ministry
Saturday, December 11, 2010
The Parable of an Investor
The Parable of an Investor
A certain businessman desired to invest his monies and his time into something that would yield a great return, so he made an appointment with an Investing Firm and set out to meet with the Investor at the appointed time.
Upon arriving at the firm, He introduced himself to the secretary and she took him into the conference room and sat him down. After a few minutes, the Investor of the firm came into the room carrying his brief case, and a shiny red apple, and sat down at the table.
After introducing each other, the businessman began to describe to the Investor exactly what he wanted to do. He explained how he had saved some monies, and wanted some advice on how and what he should invest.
After a while of sharing some ideas and details, the Investor said, “I have just what you are looking for”, and got up from his seat, took the red shiny apple in his hand and carried it over to the businessman and set it right in front of him, and went back to his seat and sat down.
The businessman, bewildered and shocked said, “I don’t understand”, you want me to invest in apples? The Investor answered, not in apples, in this one apple. He went on to explain. In this apple that is set before you, there are generations of apple trees, with the possibility of thousands upon thousands of apples to come out of this one apple.
If you were to invest into this apple with your time and effort, you could have the benefits of reaping a great return, and enjoy the fruit of your reward.
The businessman’s face began to redden in anger and he began to shout, “You have not only wasted my time sir, but you have given me bad advice”. There is no way I am going to spend my time and monies on an apple! In addition, with that he shoved his chair backwards and got up to leave.
Now the Investor calmly and quietly answered back in his defense, “I think you have underestimated the worth, and the value that is set before you, hidden in this apple. With time and patience, this could be the beginning of something good for you.
Nevertheless, to no avail, the Investor could not get the businessman to see the value and the worth of the apple.
In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father”. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
A farthing is a small part of a coin, something of very little value, yet God knows and cares when one of His littlest creatures falls to the ground.
There are people today all over the world, who feel as if their lives are of little or no value to anyone.
It may be that you have been hurt very badly, or put down by the things that someone has said or done to you, or you may have lost so much in your life and in your relationships, that all you can do is cry and wonder what is the purpose for your life?
Maybe you are someone reading this today, who has been abandoned and left alone, rejected by those you may have at one time been very close to, or maybe feel unloved or unwanted by those who at one time loved you, then this message is for you!
You have underestimated the value and the worth of your life. God has invested into your life, and you are of great worth and value to Him, even more that many sparrows!
Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the thoughts I think concerning you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of hurt, to give you a future and hope.
He has planned for you to be here at this time, He has placed within you some very special qualities, and gifts that are unique only to you. He has purchased your salvation with the highest cost, His own Son’s life on Calvary’s cross, so that you may have a life worth living! He has done all this for you because He loves you, and cares about every area of your life. Did you know that God thinks about you constantly?
Psalms 139: 17-18 How precious it is, Lord to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I cannot even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
In addition, just like the apple in this story, within your life, God has placed all the abilities, the talents, the gifts, and the love for you to become all He has purposed for you to be.
Never allow others actions to degrade who you are. Never let them cause you to underestimate the value and the worth of your life, even if some get up and leave like the businessman in this story.
Embrace all the goodness that God has placed within you; nurture those talents, those abilities, those qualities that they may begin to grow up in you. Then begin to invest those same qualities that are in you, into other peoples lives. Watch the seeds in your life begin to bear fruit.
Let others see that no matter what they have done to you, or said to you, you are still a son and daughter of the Most High God, and that means you have all the rights and privileges as a member of the family of God.
Your life is of great worth and value to God. Begin to see the truth and rise up to the stature that God desires you to walk and live in, the very example of who Jesus Christ is. He will take all the broken pieces, and make something beautiful of your life.
Rev. James A. Lewis/Word of Life Ministries
A certain businessman desired to invest his monies and his time into something that would yield a great return, so he made an appointment with an Investing Firm and set out to meet with the Investor at the appointed time.
Upon arriving at the firm, He introduced himself to the secretary and she took him into the conference room and sat him down. After a few minutes, the Investor of the firm came into the room carrying his brief case, and a shiny red apple, and sat down at the table.
After introducing each other, the businessman began to describe to the Investor exactly what he wanted to do. He explained how he had saved some monies, and wanted some advice on how and what he should invest.
After a while of sharing some ideas and details, the Investor said, “I have just what you are looking for”, and got up from his seat, took the red shiny apple in his hand and carried it over to the businessman and set it right in front of him, and went back to his seat and sat down.
The businessman, bewildered and shocked said, “I don’t understand”, you want me to invest in apples? The Investor answered, not in apples, in this one apple. He went on to explain. In this apple that is set before you, there are generations of apple trees, with the possibility of thousands upon thousands of apples to come out of this one apple.
If you were to invest into this apple with your time and effort, you could have the benefits of reaping a great return, and enjoy the fruit of your reward.
The businessman’s face began to redden in anger and he began to shout, “You have not only wasted my time sir, but you have given me bad advice”. There is no way I am going to spend my time and monies on an apple! In addition, with that he shoved his chair backwards and got up to leave.
Now the Investor calmly and quietly answered back in his defense, “I think you have underestimated the worth, and the value that is set before you, hidden in this apple. With time and patience, this could be the beginning of something good for you.
Nevertheless, to no avail, the Investor could not get the businessman to see the value and the worth of the apple.
In Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father”. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
A farthing is a small part of a coin, something of very little value, yet God knows and cares when one of His littlest creatures falls to the ground.
There are people today all over the world, who feel as if their lives are of little or no value to anyone.
It may be that you have been hurt very badly, or put down by the things that someone has said or done to you, or you may have lost so much in your life and in your relationships, that all you can do is cry and wonder what is the purpose for your life?
Maybe you are someone reading this today, who has been abandoned and left alone, rejected by those you may have at one time been very close to, or maybe feel unloved or unwanted by those who at one time loved you, then this message is for you!
You have underestimated the value and the worth of your life. God has invested into your life, and you are of great worth and value to Him, even more that many sparrows!
Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the thoughts I think concerning you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of hurt, to give you a future and hope.
He has planned for you to be here at this time, He has placed within you some very special qualities, and gifts that are unique only to you. He has purchased your salvation with the highest cost, His own Son’s life on Calvary’s cross, so that you may have a life worth living! He has done all this for you because He loves you, and cares about every area of your life. Did you know that God thinks about you constantly?
Psalms 139: 17-18 How precious it is, Lord to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I cannot even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
In addition, just like the apple in this story, within your life, God has placed all the abilities, the talents, the gifts, and the love for you to become all He has purposed for you to be.
Never allow others actions to degrade who you are. Never let them cause you to underestimate the value and the worth of your life, even if some get up and leave like the businessman in this story.
Embrace all the goodness that God has placed within you; nurture those talents, those abilities, those qualities that they may begin to grow up in you. Then begin to invest those same qualities that are in you, into other peoples lives. Watch the seeds in your life begin to bear fruit.
Let others see that no matter what they have done to you, or said to you, you are still a son and daughter of the Most High God, and that means you have all the rights and privileges as a member of the family of God.
Your life is of great worth and value to God. Begin to see the truth and rise up to the stature that God desires you to walk and live in, the very example of who Jesus Christ is. He will take all the broken pieces, and make something beautiful of your life.
Rev. James A. Lewis/Word of Life Ministries
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