Advent

As we enter Advent season of another year, we focus our attention upon one of God's sign posts. This neon sign reminds us of God's sovereignty, that His ways are beyond finding out or explanation. His plan, purposes and the working of His power defy our best explanation. What God does, how He has responded to the sinfulness of man should bring astonishment and wonder to us-always. Some hear the message and call it foolishness. Some hear, see and believe and through a power and authority not their own are transformed into children of God. A transformation that defies description and is experienced through faith. A song of praise replaces a cry of despair and emptiness. God is still working His plan. The Incarnation was only part of the story. Let's fix our eyes upon Jesus and refuse to settle for a Christianity that is less than what Jesus illustrated. He defines love, mercy, compassion, holiness, obedience, faith. He defines God. Fix your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith-the Word became flesh.

God's Rule

It is reported that when Churchhill was dying, after reflecting about the world and life he stated, 'there is no hope.' As we view the landscape of history, as we look into the troubled waters of tomorrow and work to make sense of the noise of today, it would seem that hope is in limited supply. One would especially come to this conclusion if you lived in other world areas. Areas constantly stressed and decimated by famine, war, genocide, disease, extreme poverty. The good news is God rules. In His sovereign purposes He is working His story and bringing to pass what He has planned. There is a solid foundation, there is an unshakable kingdom. The life of Jesus was reflective of this stability. Hanging from the cross, breathing the last breath of his earthly existence, He entrusted His spirit to the Father. Each day we should do the same. Each day we should submit to God's rule and live in His peace. Each day we can have hope because He is at work in all things. Someone said, 'life without Christ is a hopeless end, but life with Christ is endless hope.' Let's turn our eyes upon Jesus and live under God's sovereign rule-today!

Tune My Heart

The thanksgiving season is upon us, but for Christ's people, thanksgiving is to be a continual attitude and practice. The hymn states, 'come thou fount of every blessing tune my heart to sing thy grace.' We need a heart tuning to sing praise and thanksgiving and separate ourselves from complaining. It is a great sin for Christ's people to complain. We need to practice one minute praising throughout the day not only for each other, but for Almighty God. The King of kings deserves our praise. Israel had a tendency to forget. When we forget God and His blessings we become ingrates-ungrateful people. The opposite of an ingrate is a Christian. The person who remembers grace and mercy, who has not forgotten that they were once darkness, once without hope and without God, but now they have come to new abundant life in Christ. O Holy Spirit tune my heart to be a heart of praise and thanksgiving to God.