Song, and Prayer for the Day

Song for the Day “Tell Me the Story of Jesus” by William H. Parker

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank You Lord for giving me the privilege of hearing the good tidings of the significance of Christ’s birth.  Thank You that Your faithful servants told me the truth.  Also Lord, I want to thank you for saving my soul.  Thank You for giving your Son because You loved me when I was a bitter young man who was far from You.  Please help me to music your message as long as You give me breath.  These things I am praying in Your wonderful and faithful name.  Amen.

“Get Thee up into the High Mountain"

“Get Thee up into the High Mountain"

Isaiah 40:9 states, “O thou that tallest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tallest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!”[KJV Cambridge Ed. Margin]

       The responsibility of Zion was to not only” go tell it on the mountain” but to tell it with all their might.  We know this because this verse states, “lift up thy voice with strength”.  We as Christian musicians are responsible to not only music the message of Christ’s coming to this earth, but to also do so at a double forte.  Furthermore, we are responsible we should not be negative about the good news.  People are lost and in need of a savior.  They are hungry to have peace in their hearts and some of them will respond to the gospel message.

       Finally, we are admonished to say unto the people to whom we minister, “Behold your God”.  Although they may know that they are lost, they need us to go to the high mountain and shout the message that Christ has come to save them from their sin.  All Christian musicians who have the privilege of  musicing the gospel during this Christmas season, and in the new year that starts tomorrow, must remember that they are telling good tidings of great joy to all those who hear the message of Christ’s coming to earth to save sinful men and women.

Song and Thought for the Day

Song for the Day And Can it Be by Charles Wesley

Thought for the Day

God is still seeking holy men and women to go and tell His message on the mountain

The Holy Spirit Was upon Simeon

The Holy Spirit Was upon Simeon

St. Luke 2:25.  “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.”  It is a great testimony left behind by Simeon, attested to by St. Luke who wrote under the inspiration of God, that Simeon was a just (dikaios 1342) and devout (eulabes 2126) man.  Simeon was just in that he was innocent before God and therefore a holy man.  He was also called a devout man because he walked circumspectly before God and therefore was a religiously pious man.

       Simeon was another example of a person whom God trusted so much that He promised Simeon that he would see the Christ before he died.  We have further evidence that Simeon was a holy man in that the Scripture states very clearly that “the Holy Ghost was upon him”.  Even before the dispensation of the Holy Spirit was ushered in at the day of Pentecost, Simeon was said to be holy because the Holy Ghost was upon him.

       This holy man was able to not only see the Christ child, but also able to take Him up in his arms and proclaim with great faith in chapter two verse 30, “For now I have seen thy salvation”.  Praise God, as Simeon proclaimed in verse 32 that Christ was “A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.  Praise God that verse takes me in because I am a Gentile.  Christ not only came for His own, but also for all the rest of us, who required, in our lost and alienated condition, to be adopted as sons and daughters of God.

Prayer and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank You Lord for leave g the portals of heaven and coming all the way to earth to redeem mankind. I also want to thank You that You are truly Emmanuel—God with us.   Lord, I am humbly asking You to help me to truly give You all my worship this day.  Give me a new understanding of the wonder of your birth, suffering, death, and resurrection. I want to thank you for coming all the way the Eastern Kansas Camp meeting in fort Scott Kansas to redeem my soul and to forgive all my sins.  Thank You.  Amen.

Thought for the Day

Jesus came all the way for us.  How far are we willing to go for Him?  He gave His life for us.  How much or our lives are we willing to give for Him?

Now We know "The Rest of the Story"

Now We know "The Rest of the Story"

St. Luke 2:17-18, “And they [the shepherds] came in haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.   And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.”  Earlier, we discussed the fact that God trusted the message of the coming of the Savior first.  When I read this passage of Scripture I am reminded of why God trusted them with the good news that Christ had been born in Bethlehem that night. 

   First of all, the Scripture tells us that they did not mess around about seeking out the Christ child, but rather they “came in haste” to find Him.  They did not doubt the word of the angel that he had been born in a manger.  They were simple people with a simple faith that made them God’s choice to hear and see first.

       Second, after they had seen and heard they went back to the mountains and “…made known abroad the saying which was told them…”  God knew that they would go and tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ was born to save sinners.  Their reaction was to go and tell which was much different than Herod’s which was to go and kill.

       Third, St Luke 2:20 tells us that, “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”  God chose the shepherds because He knew that they would not only worship Christ at the manger but that they would go home and give Christ true worship by telling everybody they met that the Messiah was indeed born to save sinners.

        So, we should learn from this three part lesson that we should we, like the shepherds, should “taste and see” that Christ is good.  We should go home and tell everyone unashamedly that Christ was born to save lost men and women.  Finally our musicing should give glory to God as we tell the good news of Christ’s birth.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

I want to take time at the end of this year to thank You Father for the gift of salvation.  Thank you for sending people like the shepherds of the Judean hills who told me the story of the significance of Christ’s birth. Also, I want to thank You for allowing me to have a praying mother who faithfully read the Bible and Bible stories to me as a very small child.  Thank you Father that I had the privilege of growing up in a church where the pastor’s preached Christ crucified.  These things I pray in Your wonderful loving name.  Amen.

Song for the Day “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” by Henry van Dyke

Thought for the Day

Have you ever wondered why people who have been recently saved usually are the ones who light a fire under a sleepy church?

The Wise Men Saw Jesus

The Wise Men Saw Jesus

St Matthew 2:11, “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.”  The wise men did not stop until they had come all the way to the house where Jesus was.  They didn’t come part of the way but rather they came all the way to find Jesus.  When they were in the presence of Jesus they were able to worship Him.

       If we are going to truly worship Jesus, we must get past the earthly palace of Herod, past the dusty road of problems that we encounter on our journey to worship, and past all the distractions that would keep us from coming into His presence.  We must take the journey from the natural to the supernatural if we intend to come into his presence.  We can only truly worship Christ when we are in His presence.

       The magi believed in the authenticity of the Christ so much that they “fell down” before Him.  Notice that it was after they fell down before Him (I believe that they prostrated themselves before Christ) that they presented gifts to Him.  I believe that this signifies that we must give Christ our hearts and worship before we are able to give gifts to Him.  The grateful magi gave Him the emblematic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Adam Clarke stated that they “offered Him the things which were in most esteem among themselves…”

       If we are going to truly worship Christ at this Christmas season, we should present to him the things we esteem the most.  We value our time, our money, and our lives.  It is easy to offer prayers and say words of honor, bit it is a different thing to dedicate our time, money and our ambitions and talents to Him!  The greatest gift that we can give to Christ is a willing heart.  If we are going to bring this gift to Him, we must let Him remove all sin and submit our heart to Him so that He can purify us through and through.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Thank you Lord for looking down on an eighty acre farm three miles east of Fort Scott, Kansas and seeing me as a lost soul worth leaving heaven, being born in a manger, suffering and dying for over two thousand years ago. I want to thank you for honoring me with a praying mother, and thank you for convicting me of the awfulness of my sin.  Thank You Lord for giving me mercy rather than justice.  Thank you for caring for a “nobody’ like me.  Thank you for making it possible for me to receive forgiveness of my sins and for purifying my heart.  These things I am praying in Your matchless name.  Amen.

Song for the Day “O Holy Night” by John S. Dwight

Thought for the Day

God found a few magi who would follow Christ’s star and a few shepherds that would leave the Judean hills and immediately go to Bethlehem.  Can He trust you and me to seek after Christ right now?

Shepherds Heard the Message First

Shepherds Heard the Message First  

Luke 2:8-9, “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks 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.”

       Can you imagine what it was like for the shepherds to be startled by an angel surrounded with the glory of the Lord shining all around the camp site?  We sometimes chuckle when children and willing adults present a Christmas pageant at our local church.  They all look startled when the angel, dressed in a white sheet, appears suddenly—if and when the designated deacon remembers to turn on the spotlight.

       It may be a bit amusing to us, but I assure you it wasn’t to those shepherds that night when they were visited by an angel.  Think of it—they saw the glory of the Lord.  Then the Bible account states that “suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God…”  I believe that I would have fainted dead away at the sight of the first angel let alone a whole bunch of them is bright shining light.

       Wow, those humble shepherds were blessed and honored by being the ones who received direct notification of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. God didn’t send His angel to the “big boys’ down at the synagogue, bit instead He chose men that were not important to most people.   If you, like me, are a “nobody” in this world, take time right now to praise God that He cares about “little people”!  Someone has said that common people must be special to God since He made so many of us.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank You Lord for being the living Christ.  Thank You for being the God who “is” and not merely one who “was”.   Thank you for making it possible for a Kansas farmer like me to come to a saving and sanctifying knowledge of You.  Thank you that You suffered without the gate to sanctify your people (Hebrews 13:12).  Thank You for Your great love and sacrifice in coming to dwell on earth and to dwell in my heart.  Amen.

Song of the Day “We Three Kings” by John H. Hopkins

Thought for the Day

Although many of my generation believe that seeking after Christ is a waste of time since they do not believe that He is truly God, I want to go on record as one “Baby Boomer” that is a seeker after Christ.

Wise Men Came to Worship Christ

 

Wise Men Came to Worship Christ 

Matthew 2:1-2 states, “Now when Jesus was born on Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

       We do not know when the kings came to Jerusalem, or when they appeared at Joseph and Mary’s home.  It is generally believed that it was about a year after Christ’s birth.  There is much conjecture about just who these Eastern Magi were.  Many believe that they were astrologers and or philosophers.  There is some possibility that they were Jews of mixed descent who lived in distant lands and were knowledgeable of the Messianic prophesies in the Jewish Scrolls.  If so, then they would have believed that the time of Christ’s coming was at hand.

       Since they followed Christ’s star, there possible were astrologers among them –and thus the statement “We have followed his star”.  However, the thing that really mattered was that they traveled all those miles to worship Christ.  They believed that he was the “king” so they diligently sought after Him.  They believed that they would indeed find the Christ child.  Even more importantly it sees that they believed that He was the Messiah and that He was worthy of their worship.

       Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Wise men and women still seek Him.  In their seeking it is still necessary for them to believe, like the wise men who sought after Christ; and they must believe, not only that he is, but that he will reward those who seek him with salvation." 

      Matthew 2:1-2 states, “Now when Jesus was born on Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” We do not know when the kings came to Jerusalem, or when they appeared at Joseph and Mary’s home.  It is generally believed that it was about a year after Christ’s birth.  There is much conjecture about just who these Eastern Magi were.  Many believe that they were astrologers and or philosophers.  There is some possibility that they were Jews of mixed descent who lived in distant lands and were knowledgeable of the Messianic prophesies in the Jewish Scrolls.  If so, then they would have believed that the time of Christ’s coming was at hand.

       Since they followed Christ’s star, there possible were astrologers among them –and thus the statement “We have followed his star”.  However, the thing that really mattered was that they traveled all those miles to worship Christ.  They believed that he was the “king” so they diligently sought after Him.  They believed that they would indeed find the Christ child.  Even more importantly it sees that they believed that He was the Messiah and that He was worthy of their worship.       

       Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Wise men and women still seek Him.  In their seeking it is still necessary for them to believe, like the wise men who sought after Christ; and they must believe, not only that he is, but that he will reward those who seek him with salvation.

No Room for Jesus

No Room for Jesus

St. Luke2:7 states, And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

       Can you imagine that there was actually no room for the Son of God in the inn in Bethlehem?  Many times we as musicians have a hard time understanding why bad things happen to good people.  Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus were certainly good people.  Why did God the Father let Jesus, His only begotten son, be born in a cattle shelter which was perhaps a cave?  From our very finite understanding it would seem that there could have been at least a tiny room that no one was using.  However God the Father let His only son be born in obscurity and humility.  On this blessed day of days, we should remember that, regardless of our circumstances, most of us were not born in a place of humility like Jesus.

       Jesus didn’t let his surroundings and his humble birth ever affect His ministry.  Likewise, His earthly parents did not let the humility of the circumstances of Christ’s birth affect their vision of who Jesus was and their role in the accomplishment of the will of God.  Thank God for Mary and Joseph who did not let their situation deter them from obeying God that wonderful night long ago in Bethlehem.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord, I want to tell You that I love and trust You right now on December 24th.  I know that You will never fail me or lead me astray.  Give me the courage and strength to keep on my journey of musicing for You.  I believe that You have placed me exactly where I am “for such a time as this”.  Please guide my musical ministry and help me to reach out to Your strong arms for protection.  Please guide me through the journey of life no matter where You lead me.  Lord, like Joseph I am willing to publically go on record that I trust your will and your path for me for the rest of my life.  I love You Lord.  Please help me to keep ministering musically for Your Glory. These things I bring to You because are worthy of all my feeble trust.  Amen.

Song for the Day “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Phillips Brooks.

Thought for the Day

It is one thing to say that we trust God with the “Journey” but it is another thing to start walking!

The Long Journey to Bethlehem

The Long Journey to Bethlehem

Luke 2:4-5 states, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David :) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”       The long trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem by Joseph and Mary was a journey of faith.  Caesar Augustus had decreed that all the people should be registered or “taxed”.  Joseph’s journey with Mary was not merely an act of obedience to Caesar Augustus, but also to God.  As we discussed yesterday, the angel had assured Joseph that he should not be afraid to accept Mary as his espoused wife.

       Now Mary and Joseph are on their journey toward Bethlehem the day before the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Joseph is not ashamed of Mary because he trusts he trusts God.  He is willing to sign the tax register and publically accept Mary as his espoused wife—going on record for all eternity that he trusts and believes God.

       On this the day before Christmas are you among the Christian musicians that trust God?  Are you willing to trust God with your life, your career, your future, and your music ministry?  Trust comes with implicit faith in god that He will guide you and protect you for the rest of your life.  Joseph’s implicit faith that the angel of God had told him the truth enabled him to take the long journey of faith to Bethlehem that day.  It will be by faith alone that you will enter the New Year knowing in your heart that God is saying to you “be not afraid”.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord, I thank You for Your faithfulness to me during this busy, busy season.  Thank You for helping me to feed your people with my little musical lunch.  Lord, it may have been small, but I gave it all to You.  Help me to remember that it was my responsibility to give 100%, and it was Your pleasure to feed the hungry people with my meager lunch.  Help me to keep believing your Word that encourages me that I am doing the will of the Father.  These things I am praying in your name.  Amen.

Song for the Day “O Come All Ye Faithful” Latin Hymn

Thought for the Day

Can God trust you like he did with Joseph to make right decisions? 

Joseph Was Truly Blessed

Joseph Was Truly Blessed

St Matthew 1:20 states, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto 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.”

       Joseph was in terrible mental anguish.  If he put Mary away publically, the Jews would probably stone her to death.  So, he was contemplating putting her away privately.  He certainly needed to hear from God.  So, God sent his angel to assure Joseph that God was going to take care of Mary and himself. 

       Did you ever think of what would have happened if Joseph had failed God at this crucial time in the history of mankind?  What would have happened to Mary?   What would have happened to the baby Jesus who was not yet born of the virgin Mary?  It is easy for us to postulate that God would not have let anything happen to the Baby Jesus, but it took the obedience of both Mary and Joseph for God to complete His perfect will.  If Joseph had not had a choice, I do not believe that his choice would have been recorded in the Holy Writ.

       Compared to Joseph’s choice, many of our choices in life seem somewhat insignificant.  At this time of Christmas, it behooves all Christian musicians to remember that our choices, no matter how small they seem, do matter.  If God could trust Joseph to make the right choice, surely He will help us to make right choices during this Christmas season.  Joseph was truly blessed because God could trust him to make the right decision.

       I know from experience that it is about this time in December that musicians go into depression.  We wish that our Christmas presentations would have been performed more accurately.  We can think of a thousand and one things that we could have done more efficiently.  However the Presentations are over and we are left with the “Christmas program blues”.  Look up! I believe God’s angel is saying to you “do not be afraid.  God has accepted your musical offering.”  It isn’t the grandness of our musical offerings that matter but it is the fact that we have given Him the best offering that we were capable of giving and that we offered it as an offering “in righteousness”.

Song, Thought, and Prayer for the Day

Song for the Day “Good Christian me Rejoice”  Latin Carol, 16th Century, translated by John Neale

Thought for the Day

Mary was truly blessed above all women to be chosen to bear the Christ Child.  She was blessed because God knew that she would be obedient to the will of God.  She was also blessed because she was obedient to God’s will.

Prayer for the Day 

I want to thank you Lord for placing all those music ministers out there in your kingdom to minister musically to those who experience the musicing of my choir and orchestra this Christmas.  May the words, melodies, and harmonies, that they produce bring honor to your matchless name.  Lord, help all those who are out there musicing for You this Christmas season to not become weary in well doing.  Help us all to be faithful to the task of telling the good news of Christ’s coming to those who attend worship services and sacred music productions this Christmas.  These things I am praying in your name.  Amen.

 

Mary Was Truly Blessed

Mary Was Truly Blessed 

St Luke 1:28 states, “And the angel came unto her, and said, hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”

       Yesterday we talked about God preparing the way for Jesus’ coming by a man who was not afraid to proclaim the message of Christ.  Today we are going to consider the virgin Mary who was not afraid to obey the angel of God who came to give her the assurance that the Lord was going to be with her and had chosen her to help prepare the way of Christ to bring salvation to sinful men and women in this sin cursed world.  What would have happened if she had been afraid to obey God?  God had planned that she should be blessed above all women.  However, she had to be obedient to the will of God in order to help fulfill the promise of god to all people.  The fulfillment of the gift of God through Christ Jesus was contingent on her obedience to God’s mysterious and wonderful plan.

       Chief musician you have been chosen to once again tell the wonderful story of Christ’s coming to earth to save sinful men and women.  Only eternity will reveal how important your obedience is to God’s strategic plan for bringing hope and salvation to post-modern and post post-modern men  and women who hear you and those who music with you during  this season.

 

Prayer, Song and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord, I want to thank You for sending John the Baptist to help prepare the way for the coming of Christ.  I want to thank you that you always seek out faithful men and women who are filled with the Holy spirit to proclaim your messenger.  Please help me as a Christian musician to minister with a passion that is only possible by the filling and power of the Holy Spirit.  Lord please fill with the dunamis of the Spirit today and throughout this Christmas season.  Please endue me with power so that I may seek out my “high mountain’ and proclaim the good news of your coming to earth to save sinful men and women in the twenty-first century.  These things I pray in confidence this morning.  Amen.

Song for the Day “Go tell it on the Mountain” by John W. Work Jr.

Thought for the Day

When a Christian musician comes to the philosophical understanding that God, in his great wisdom, has chosen to use holy men and women to music his message to a lost world, life and one’s musical ministry takes on much more significance and meaning.

God Uses Holy Men and Women at Christmas

God Uses Holy Men and Women at Christmas  

Malachi 3:1 states, “Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”

       Have you ever thought about the fact that God used a man to help prepare the way for His Son’s coming to dwell with us?  Why would god need john the Baptist to help prepare the people for Christ’s coming?  John was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (Luke 3:4).  His message was, “there cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.  I indeed baptize you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (St Mark 1:7-8).  The prophet Malachi stated, “He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer an offering in righteousness (Malachi #:2-4).

       If we as Christian musicians have any hope of offering the lord musical offerings in “righteousness”, we must have our hearts purified by the cleansing baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is coming again and we as Christian musicians are called to help prepare this world to be ready spiritually for His coming.  God has, in his great wisdom, chosen us to go to a high mountain and tell the good news of Christ’s coming to save sinful men and women. It is the Christmas season any we will have the opportunity of give God a musical offering in righteousness and at the time minister to some folks that we may not see again until Easter Sunday morning.  We need to make sure that we are filled with god’s Spirit as we minister musically during this Christmas season.

Prayer, Song and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day 

I thank you Lord for sending the wise men to seek and worship You long ago.  Help me to be a wise man and seek you today and throughout this Christmas season.  Help me to truly worship you during this Christmas season.  May I never lose the wonder of your journey to earth to save my soul from the fires of hell.  Thank you that you came all the way from heaven to find me and give me life everlasting.  These things I pray.  Amen.  

Song for the Day “Wonderful Story of Love” by J.M. Driver 

Thought for the Day

It is no joke that wise men still seek Christ.  Are you a seeker after God?

Astrologers on a Journey of Faith

Astrologers on a Journey of Faith

Matthew 2:1-2 states, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

       These astrologers who were kings came from the east to worship Christ.  Before Christ was born in Bethlehem, these Gentile kings started their very long journey from the east.  They weren’t Jews, but somehow they knew about the ancient scrolls that contained prophesies of the birth of a Jewish king.  Somehow they must have read the Isaiah scroll that stated, “Arise shine for thy light has come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the Gentiles shall come to the light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3).

       These Eastern kings understood the meaning of this passage from the Isaiah scroll in with a different understanding based upon their knowledge of the study of the stars.  Somehow when Christ’s star appeared in the heavens at night it sparked faith in them to seek out the Christ child and worship Him.

       If God can who spoke worlds into existence can call Gentile kings from the east to come to worship Christ, He can cause those in the community around your church to come to your Christmas presentation.  He can make it possible for them to hear the clear message that Christ came to earth to save sinful men and women from their sins.  Chief musician do not get discouraged.  It is your job to preach Christ crucified with your Christmas presentation and it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict men and women of their sin.  So, go tell it on the mountain top.  Tell them that Christ was born to forgive them of their sins.   You must take courage because you have a great job to do this Christmas season.

Prayer, Chorus, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

        I want to thank you Lord for coming to be with us.  Thank you for leaving the splendors of heaven to be born of a virgin so that you could dwell with us.  I Thank you heavenly Father that we can trust you to always keep your promises to us.  Thank you for coming all the way to the eastern Kansas camp meeting in Fort Scott Kansas to forgive me of all my sins.  Thank You for finding me on an eighty acre farm and convicting me of all my dark and awful sins.  Thank you for giving me a praying mother who wept and prayed over her wayward son until God for Christ’s sake brought me to a place of repentance on July 23, 1967.  Thank you Lord that I am experiencing Your presence right now as I write this little devotional prayer to You.  Thank you for giving me the witness that You dwell in my heart right at this moment.  Thank you!  Thank You!  Thank you!  Amen.

Chorus for the Day “Emmanuel” by Bob McGee 

Thought for the Day

It doesn’t make any difference  to me whether my generation believes in Christ as a personal Savior or not, I know that he is because He has forgiven me of all my sins and sanctified me holy and that is enough evidence for me.

God Really Is with Us

God Really Is with Us

 Isaiah 7:14 states, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and thou shall call his name Immanuel.”

       St. Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah’s prophesy and further explains that Emmanuel means “God with us”.  To a people long ago who were in great darkness, God promised to send His son to be with us!  It was a long time after Isaiah’s prophesy before Christ was born, but god always keeps His promises.

       Christian musician be sure to remind everyone who takes part in your Christmas musical ministry that Christ’s coming to earth in space and time was a fulfillment of God’s promise to mankind that God really would come to earth to dwell with us.  Although you, as a music minister, may believe that all those who minister musically with you know all about the story of Christ’s coming to earth—tell them again! 

       I get blessed just thinking about the fact that God was and is with us.  We are not alone on this earth.  We may not be able to see Him, but we can experience His presence very, very near us at this time of Christmas.  Christ came to abide with us—not just visit us.  He came to tabernacle with his children.  Be sure to invite all who minister with you to experience Christ in a special way as they music unto Him.   That will make their musicing real and very special this Christmas season.

 

Thought and Scripture for the Day

Thought and Scripture for the Day  

We should take advantage of this Christmas season to thank our heavenly Father for the plan of salvation.  We should not forget to be thankful that, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).”

Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

 

God’s Clock Does Keep Perfect Time

God’s Clock Does Keep Perfect Time

       For centuries the world had been in need of a Savior.  Surely the people were in darkness and sin.  In these dark times God the father sent His only son to come to earth that were under the law.  God knew that the wages of sin is eternal death, but God also knew that only the giving of His son Jesus could bring eternal life to this sin cursed world.  All those who loved and served Jehovah that lived during Old Testament times looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.  They must have wondered why they were left without the promised Emanuel. 

       I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have been born during those dark times.  It is amazing to me that many of the Jewish church leaders, who knew the prophesies about the coming of Christ, were not looking for a Savior who would be born in obscurity, humility, and poverty in a stable in the little town of Bethlehem.

       But when God’s clock said that it was the right time, He sent His son to this earth so that we would be able to receive remission of sins and be adopted into the family of God.  Although we do not understand why the time was right for our Savior to be born, we know that he did come and that He came to save us from sin.  Praise God that His clock does keep perfect time.  Because it does, we are the benefactors of this great salvation.

Prayer and Song for the Day

Prayer for the Day

I am asking you heavenly Father to protect my daughter Deanna and her husband Mark today as they prepare for the Christmas season.  Lord, please bless their ministry there in northern Ireland and make their ministry fruitful.  Please make them prophets to the nations.  Also, please comfort the hearts of all those who minister musically around the world and are separated from their families at this Christmas season.  These things I am praying in your wonderful name.  Amen.

Song for the Day  “Submission” by C. Austin Miles

In the Will of God at Christmas

In the Will of God at Christmas

Jeremiah 1:5 states, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

       Today is my firstborn daughter Deanna’s birthday.  At the time I am writing this devotional, she is thousands of miles away from us today.  She is a pastor’s wife in northern Ireland.  Before she was born God knew who she was and what He wanted her to be doing right now.  He sanctified or “set her apart’ and ordained her to be a minister’s wife who would minister to the nations.

       You may have loved ones who are ministering far, far from home today.  You and I need to constantly be reminded that God is awake.  Nothing slips up on Him.  There is no luck, happenstance and nothing startles God, because, in His awesome wisdom, He always knows what is best.

       I would rather have my children thousands of miles away from me serving God than to have them all around my table but out of the will of God for their lives.  With that in mind, we will celebrate the birth of God’s son Jesus Christ with joy and full confidence that He is working out his purpose in our lives.  My heavenly Father sent His only Son to Die.  I only sent my daughter to serve Jesus Christ.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord I want to thank You for giving me an older brother that loved me enough to give me what was at that time an unwanted gift.  I want to also thank You for giving your son to pay the awful penalty for my sins.  I also want to thank You for sending the Holy Spirit  to convict me of the awfulness of my sinful life.  Because of two unwanted gifts, I am Your adopted son today.  Thank You for caring for my soul.  Amen.

Song for the Day  Love Lifted Me by James Rowe

Thought for the Day

As  the Christmas season is now here and you will be giving gifts to others, try to give gifts to your unsaved friends and family members that will, cause them to think about their lost spiritual condition.

 

The Unwanted Gift

The Unwanted Gift

            Today is my oldest brother Dr. David Wolf’s birthday.  Thinking about his birthday has caused me to remember a gift that he gave me many years ago.  We all like to receive gifts but this gift was different. It was a beautiful and expensive gift but that did not matter to me because I did not want to receive it.  It is what I call the unwanted gift.  I cannot remember when he gave it to me but I will never forget the fact that he brought it with him when he came home from the US Navy.  The unwanted gift was a Bible.

            The reason that I did not want it was because I was not a Christian at that time and had no intension of trading it.  David has given me many fine gifts over the years but this was the greatest gift that he has ever given to me.  That is saying  lot because he once gave me a car!  It was  great gift because it brought me face to face with my lost condition.  It made me think about the fact that I was very sinful and needed to confess my sins and give my heart to God. 

            There was an even greater gift that was given to sinful men and women—that gift was God’s giving of his only son Jesus Christ to come to this sinful world to live, suffer, and give His life on a cruel cross at Calvary.  Many sinful men and women did not receive that wonderful gift, but thanks be to God, He gave his only begotten Son anyway.  My brother gave a gift to me because he loved me.  God gave His only son for sinful men and women because he loved us all with a wonderful unfathomable love.