NOSTALGIA

 

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

 

NOSTALGIA

 

Ps 63:3-7

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. KJV

 

          The word “remember” can be found 148 times in the King James Version of the Scriptures. It is not always set in a wistful manner. Twice in the Book of Revelation we see the phrase “remember therefore” and both times it is a warning, first to Sardis and then to Ephesus. But I am feeling nostalgic today and there is much to remember.

 

          Nostalgia is defined as a sentimental or wistful affection for the past. I am old enough to remember that even difficult and painful circumstances had some pleasant things that linger beyond the pain. Perhaps that is a better definition of nostalgia.

 

          The rolodex of memories yield to selective memory. I can flip through the truly painful things and pick out a card with a blessing or a treasured memory. It is a favorite pastime of those who have already lived most of their life. We can choose which events to review.

 

          Do you remember how it was before you were saved? Perhaps, as Paul pointed out, there are some things that bring shame.

 

Rom 6:20-22

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. KJV

 

          Take time to remember those situations from which you were rescued. Oh, those are the times when God is very real.

 

1 Peter 1:6-8

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: KJV

 

Dear Lord, let us remember that you have been our help in ages past. Let us take refuge under the shadow of your wings. AMEN

 

I’VE ANCHORED MY SOUL!

 

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

 

I’VE ANCHORED MY SOUL!

 

Heb 6:18-19

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

 

Ps 107:29-30

29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

 

Henry Gilmour came to the United States from Ireland as a teenager and perhaps this is why his hymn seems best sung by a male tenor. He practiced dentistry for several years and then spent the last 25 years of his life as a gospel musician. He was a gifted soloist and was greatly respected as a choir director. “The Haven of Rest” first appeared in Sunlight Songs, published in 1890.

 

I love this old hymn. It is what some would call my spirit song. For some reason this old song often invades my sleep, and my soul sings it throughout the night as I wake from time to time. I used to walk through our fellowship hall on the way to my office and this old hymn would burst forth from me. It echoed from the empty place and became a chorus of assurance and hope. It is a great comfort to know that “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” (Psalm 107:29)

 

My soul in sad exile was out on life's sea,

So burdened with sin, and distressed,

Till I heard a sweet voice saying, "Make me your choice!"

And I entered the Haven of Rest.

 

Chorus:

I've anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest,

I'll sail the wide seas no more.

The tempest may sweep o'er the wild, stormy deep,

In Jesus I'm safe ever more.

 

          Is your frail craft being beaten by the waves of circumstance? Whether you have foolishly set sail in winter against the advice of the seasoned sailor or whether some summer squall has caught you by surprise, know that the Master of the Sea is ready to take the wheel and speak to the wind! Set sail for His fair haven and anchor your weary soul.

 

Dear Lord, even salted and seasoned sailors may be overtaken by a sudden storm. Let us flee to your haven and anchor our souls. AMEN

MY BIRTHDAY BENEDICTION

 

Monday, November 28, 2022

 

MY BIRTHDAY BENEDICTION

 

Heb 13:20-21

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. KJV

 

          I suppose the day should begin with an invocation instead of a benediction but this one in Hebrews is one of my favorites. There are no less than ten benediction scriptures in the Bible and all of them wish good things for those who hear or read them.

 

          I was born on Thanksgiving Day 1946, and this has confused some who can’t remember the date but manage to recall that I was born on the holiday. Yes, I have already received many happy birthday wishes last Thursday. It is actually somewhat rare that my birthday should fall on Thanksgiving.

 

          The is a repeating pattern for number of years apart that Thanksgiving falls on November 28th. Three years ago, it falls on November 28, 2019. Before that Thanksgiving fell on the November 28th, 2013 (6 years before), and the time before that was 2002 (11 years before that). The next time Thanksgiving will fall on the 28th will be 2024 (2 years from now) and the time after that will be 2030 (6 years later), and again in 2041 (11 years later), and so on. So, henceforth, if you wish me a happy birthday on Thanksgiving Day, I will simply say thank you.

 

Rom 15:13

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

Lord, you have blessed me with bounty and given me a happy purpose. Give good things to your people today. AMEN

LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM

 

Sunday, November 27, 2022

 

LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM

 

Heb 10:35-37

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

 

          Today is a pivotal day in the life of the church because we celebrate the promise of the past while looking forward to the future. Unlike most Christmas carols, Joy to the World has a forward look.

 

          Isaac Watts wrote the poem in 1719 while still in his teens. He became bored with the Psalms and wanted something new although it is based upon the 98^th Psalm. It was published in a collection of poems and rested unnoticed for a hundred years.

 

          A Boston music teacher named Lowell Mason discovered the poem and set it to music. Because it was released at Christmastime it immediately became a holiday favorite and is still so today.

 

Joy To The World

 

Words: Isaac Watts

Music: "Antioch" arranged by Lowell Mason

Meter: 86.86

Ps 98; Luke 2:11

 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

 

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

 

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

 

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

 

Dear Lord, as we begin a wonderful season of remembering, let us look forward to your soon coming. Thank you for making your blessings flow “far as the curse is found.” AMEN

 

HOW DEEP THE DARKNESS

 

Saturday, November 26, 2022

 

HOW DEEP THE DARKNESS

 

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

Matt 6:22-23

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! ESV

 

          Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote a commentary on the Book of Matthew and in it he says this about chapter 6: “The motive is the eye of the soul, and if it be clear, the whole character will be right; but if it be polluted, our whole being will become defiled. If our faith is presumption, our zeal selfishness, our prayer formality, our hope a delusion, our experience infatuation, the darkness is so great that even our Lord holds up his hands in astonishment and says — “How great is that darkness! “

 

          John wrote that the Light shone in the darkness, but the darkness was not illuminated or made aware. The world has walked so long in the darkness that it must close its eyes to the light to find its familiar way. The very motives have become darkness and the light is foreign and unwelcome.

 

          Vince Gill wrote a very moving Christmas song with lyrics that form an apt commentary on both John’s and Matthew’s verses.

 

One Bright Star

Long, long ago in a world dark and cold

The night so still, winter's chill

One bright star was shining

On a bed made of hay, in a manger he lay

The shepherds came, they knew his name

King of kings, a brand-new day

 

They saw the light in the darkness

It shines on us in tenderness

It brings out the hope that's in all of us

May it shine its light on you this Christmas night

 

Dear Lord, on this day before the beginning of Advent, we reside in darkness, but we rest in hope. Give light to those in deep darkness and fulfill the expectation of those who hope. AMEN

WHEN THE BELLS WON’T CHIME

 

Friday, November 25, 2022

 

WHEN THE BELLS WON’T CHIME

 

Luke 2:13-14

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

Luke 2:18-19

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 

          Four years after they were married, Henry and Mary Longfellow were about to have a child. It was a difficult labor, and Mary died in miscarriage. Anyone who has experienced this knows it was a double loss and Henry was immediately thrown into an inconsolable depression.

 

          In 1836 Henry began a courtship with Francis “Fanny” Appleton. She was cool to his advances until 1843 when she agreed to marry him. They had six children.

 

          “On July 9, 1861, Fanny put locks of her children’s hair in an envelope and attempted to use hot sealing wax to seal it closed. Somehow, her dress caught fire. Longfellow heard her screams and rushed in to help her. He tried to stifle the flames with a small rug to no avail. He then stifled them with his own body by hugging her. Fanny had been so badly burned she died the next morning. Longfellow had also been badly burned and could not attend her funeral due to severe wounds.” (Source: a website called Creative Exiles)

 

          Another tragedy for Longfellow happened in the 1860s when his son was severely wounded during the Civil War. It was during this agonizing time that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem called “Christmas Bells.” He once said that “inwardly, I was bleeding to death.” Below is a portion of what we now know as “I heard the bells on Christmas day.”

 

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

 

And in despair I bowed my head

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men."

 

          Smiles often hide tears and some have become skilled at containing sorrow inside a cheerful crust. Empaths see through this and are blessed or cursed with an intuition they would rather abandon. Perhaps you are one of them. If so, please understand this: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.”

 

Dear Lord, bless those who silently suffer and bless those who can’t help but notice. AMEN

ONLY MORONS REFUSE TO GIVE THANKS!

 

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday, November 24, 2022

 

ONLY MORONS REFUSE TO GIVE THANKS!

 

Rom 1:19-23

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

 

          Set like a deformed stone in a horrible piece of jewelry, we find the words neither were thankful! Man began his journey well aware of who God is and much of His nature and character. Yet they disrespected Him and disobeyed Him. God released their distorted minds to imagine vile and foolish things.

 

          The word “thankful” which we find in verse 21 is the Greek word euchariseo and it means “to express gratitude towards; specially to say grace at a meal.” The word Eucharist is familiar because it is associated with the Lord’s Supper and because the Lord Himself “gave thanks” for the cup.

 

          The word eucharistia means “grateful language to God as an act of worship.” This is more than a casual table grace. This word indicates prayer and praise for good things provided or bad things withheld. It is easy enough to be grateful for good things provided but we are never aware of the bad things which might have come along were it not for the grace and mercy of our God. What about the accidents which never happened and the sickness which never afflicted us? Have you expressed your thanks to God?

 

          Another word, eucharistos, means “well favored.” It is the message of the angel to Mary. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour (charis) with God” Luke 1:30. Mary’s response was: “My soul doth magnify the Lord,” Luke 1:46. She gave thanks and, in her mind and heart, she “made God great.”

 

Only morons refuse to give thanks! This is the exact language of Romans 1:22 which says: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” The word which is translated “fools” is the Greek word moraino which means “a simpleton.” Thinking themselves to be “sophisticated” they bowed down before rocks, sticks and chunks of metal. Only morons refuse to give thanks!

 

Dear Lord, like Mary, I am highly favored. I am the recipient of many good things which I don’t deserve. I have also been kept from sufferings of which I am unaware. I think of you as large and great rather than small and portable. I am a speck of dust. I give you thanks. AMEN

WHAT CAN I GIVE?

 

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

 

WHAT CAN I GIVE?

 

Ps 116:12-14

12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?

13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people.

 

          It’s Thanksgiving eve! Many preparations are underway for the grand feast tomorrow. Or maybe it is not so grand for some. Some may plan to order a full Thanksgiving meal from a chain restaurant. Some will eat alone. A few will volunteer to serve others. Most of us have already abandoned work and school or we are only giving those things minimal attention. We are already celebrating.

 

          Two “I will’s” are found in our Scripture today. Let’s look at each one carefully.

 

          I will take the cup of salvation. The Hebrew word for “cup” has the idea of “holding together.” The word for salvation is yeshuw’ah and we can easily hear the name of Jesus in that word. The best way to thank one who has blessed us so sacrificially is simply to take what He has offered. To reject salvation – JESUS – is to devalue and disrespect His sacrifice and to wrongly assume we don’t need that gift. It is the opposite of giving thanks. It is a cruel insult.

 

          I will pay my vows! I will do what I have promised to do. I will do those things immediately and publicly. I will stop my hypocritical ways. I will stop pretending. Before the house becomes crowded with family and friends, take a few quiet moments to say thank you to Jesus.

 

Dear Lord, saying thank you seems such a small thing. My mind tells me to work and earn such an amazing gift, but your Word only urges me to say thank you. Thank you, Lord. AMEN