December 16, 2024

The Inn-Keeper’s Perspective, Christmas Miracles Part 3

The Inn-keeper in the Bible Story of Jesus’ birth intrigues me. Not much is written about him. He leaves much to our imagination. With the census going on for the entire Roman World, you know his inn must have stayed jam-packed at 100 percent occupancy. He was truthful to Mary and Joseph.

He certainly wasn’t a mean man. In fact, I can sympathize with him. Guests checked out, then more guests with reservations checked in.  He was trying his best to be hospitable by offering a stable/cave and manger out back.

Little did he know he was too busy and lacked room in his life for the Savior of the World’s birth. Ouch. Doesn’t that hit close to home?

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” –Luke 2:7 NIV

Anything of value in our lives requires us to make room.

We make room in our time schedules, our budgets, our hearts for a new relationship we value. Even for Christmas we make room, don’t we?

To bring in our new wonderful-smelling Christmas tree, we move over our comfy chairs, reading lamp, plants–whatever it takes. Box after box of Christmas decorations require us to move our year-round décor and replace with our valued Christmas festive decor.

In the Bible Story of Jesus’ birth, the Inn-Keeper had no room for Jesus. Mary and Joseph resorted to a hay-filled stable, along with the smelly animals. Our Savior of the World Jesus was born in a tiny manger. The tiny manger was plenty of room for the King of Kings and was truly the first King-Size Bed. 

Even the favorite Christmas carol “Joy to the World” exclaims, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”

Frederick Buechner writes from the Inn-Keeper’s perspective in “The Birth” of Magnificent Defeat: “But this I do know. My own true love. All your life long, you wait for your own true love to come–we all do–our destiny, our joy, our heart’s desire. So how am I to say it, gentlemen? When He came, I missed Him. Pray for me, brothers and sisters. Pray for the Inn-Keeper. Pray for me, and for us all, my own true love.”

The big question is: Do I make enough room in my heart, my schedule for Jesus? He wants our whole heart, my whole heart. So many times I don’t make enough room with my hurried schedule, my shortened quiet time, quick prayers.

Jesus is our only Way “In” to eternal life. He is the Door, the Gate. “Therefore Jesus said again. ‘I tell you the truth, I am the Gate for the sheep.” –John 10:7 NIV

We who believe are all “IN-Keepers.” Jesus loves us so much and wants to reside in our hearts for eternity.

How much room am I making in my schedule, my budget, my heart for Jesus, the Savior of the World, my Savior?

Please forgive me, Lord, for being too busy. For not making room for You. Take my whole heart, Lord. Lord Jesus, move everything else out to make all the room You want and need in my heart. You are the only way IN to eternal life. I desire to be a true “IN-Keeper.” In Jesus’ name, by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“I’m prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.” –Come Thy Fount of Every Blessing

 Reflect:

–“Make room for us in your hearts.” –2 Corinthians 7:2a NIV

–“ ‘Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’” –Mark 14:14-15 NIV

Renew:

–How can I make more room in my heart, my schedule, my life for Jesus? Please comment.

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November 3, 2024

What are the Saddest Words in the Bible and Seven Encouraging Ways for Overcoming Them?

It’s almost Election Day 2024, the most important Election Day in my lifetime. As I consider how divided our country seems to be, I am reminded of some of the saddest words in the Bible. Let’s talk about them, and I will prayerfully offer some encouragement to overcome those words.

The Jesus’ powerful Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 is one of my favorite passages in Scripture and definitely an excellent moral compass for us. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, Jesus gives several profound messages, from “asking and it will be given to you” in Matthew 7:7,  The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12, and the  Gate is narrow and the way hard that leads to life (heaven) in Matthew 7:13.

Then Jesus begins to talk  even tougher. He warns us of false prophets in Matthew 7:15-16, 19- 20

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits….Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” 

And then the Lord does a “mic drop” with this harsh Truth in Matthew 7:21-22  ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

And here it comes… the saddest words from Jesus from Matthew 7:23…. “And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”  

Holy Moly! I don’t know about you, but my heart falls each time I read this.  Truly the saddest words from Jesus, I believe, in the Bible. So what can we do to bear fruit and not to hear those words that He never knew you or me and to depart from Him?

As we approach Election Day and the world seems to become darker and less Godly, we are living out these words daily. So how can we stay strong in our faith and deepen our relationship with Jesus, so He knows us well and we draw near to Him?

  1. Pray daily. Thank the Lord as you wake up, pray Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (ACTS). Pray on your knees and even face down as we bow low with humility. “As we decrease, He increases.” –John 3:30
  2. Read daily in God’s Word. The Bible is my most prized possession. Each of the 66 books written are God-ordained and serve as our moral compass, our encouragement, our Comfort through the Power of the Holy Spirit, our plumb line, our standard of excellence.
  3. Surround yourself with a handful of deep, Godly leader friends who encourage you and hold you accountable. Find a few true mentors/friends of faith who stretch and convict you. They are your mirrors. Iron sharpens iron.
  4. Join and become an active member of a Bible-based, Holy Spirit-filled, healthy church family. Sadly, the Church is where so many will be found as false prophets and where the Lord will say “depart from me, I never knew you.” Ensure your Church aligns with scripture. Ensure your pastor is humble and points all sermons to the authority of the Bible and scripture, not opinions from himself. Ensure the focus is on the Great Commission of making disciples and Acts 1:8 of Missions and outreach.
  5. Spend as much time as you can serving and volunteering for Kingdom-building efforts. We are only given 168 hours in a week. Evaluate how you are spending your time? Is it playing a ton of golf, tennis or pickle ball? Is it watching a ton of Netflix or Hallmark Christmas movies?  (ouch)  Let’s be encouraged to reevaluate how we are spending our time on more mission-focused, faith-based ministries that are leading people to a closer walk with Jesus.
  6. Shine your light for Jesus! Let your light shine. Tell others about the saving faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s not be silent on letting others hear our testimonies and how Jesus saved our lives and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
  7. Vote in a way that most closely aligns with Biblical values.  I pray you voted early. If you are waiting for Election Day, please vote for the Lamb in the way that most closely aligns with Biblical values with Judeo-Christian focus, pro-life (Psalm 139), pro-Israel (Genesis 12:1-3, Psalm 122:6, Zechariah 12:9 , capitalist economy (Matthew 25:14-30), and secure borders (Numbers 32:17).

These seven ways are only a few of the many ways for us to deepen our relationship with the Lord.

I pray to instead hear those precious words from the Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21)

I pray for revival in me, in each of us, and for our country and world, and for the Lord to know each of us deeply as His sons and daughters. Lord, thank you for blessing America. May America bless You, Lord.

March 31, 2024

He is Risen, Indeed, and He will Return!

Happy Resurrection Day! Today is my favorite day of the year!  May the early morning miracle of Jesus’ empty tomb shine hope, love, and a deep faith renewal into your soul.

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples; He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you.’  So the women hurried away from the tomb, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.” –Matthew 28: 5-8  

Isn’t it precious that two women found Jesus’ tomb empty and were empowered to tell the disciples the Good News? Women back then typically had no voice or place in society, yet were such an important part of Jesus’ ministry.

Like the women on Easter morning, Beloved, we may be afraid yet filled with joy to tell others about Jesus and what He means in our lives. Have courage. You have a voice to use it for His glory to tell this Good News and encourage others to strengthen their faith.

And even more,  I am encouraged that Jesus will return. Prophetically, Zechariah 14:4 says Jesus as our Messiah will return on the Mount of Olives.

Zechariah 14:4 ESV–“On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.”

Photo taken in March 2023 on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Kidron Valley and Jerusalem. 

Even the tectonic plates are aligned for the “split” to happen.  Jesus is ready. The Bible is all Truth.

Also, Prophetically Jesus will enter Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate. Sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane overlooking the Kidron Valley, you can easily see this Gate and the Temple Mount, currently occupied as the Golden Dome of Islam. Ironically, years ago Muslims blocked the Eastern Gate years ago, so no one can walk through. By doing so they were fulfilling Biblical prophecy that only the Savior, the Prince of Peace, will walk through when He returns.

Ezekiel 44:1-3 ESV: “Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east. And it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it. Therefore it shall remain shut.  Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord. He shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.”

Isn’t it exciting to know our Redeemer Lives AND will return again for us. Be encouraged and let’s use our voice to proclaim the Goodness of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Christ is Risen!

I am reminded of the following story about using our voices to tell others about Jesus.

In the mid-1950s, the Rev. W.E. Sangster noticed a strange feeling in his throat and that his leg had begun to drag. He promptly went to visit his doctor. Rev. Sangster was diagnosed with an incurable disease that caused progressive muscle atrophy. His muscles would continue to waste away, including the muscles in his throat, and he would eventually be unable to swallow.

Knowing that his time was growing short, Rev. Sangster decided to use his time in writing for British home mission and in prayer. During this time, he wrote numerous articles and books, and organized prayer groups throughout England. His disease did progress. Eventually he was unable to talk, but he could hold a pen.

On Easter Sunday, just a few weeks before he died, he wrote a letter to his daughter. Barely able to control his pen, he wrote, “It is terrible to wake up on Easter morning and no voice to shout, ‘Christ is risen, indeed!’ But it would be still more terrible to have a voice and not want to shout.”

Amen.

Reflect:

–What does Easter mean to you? Please comment.

–How does today strengthen your faith and how will you use your voice to tell others?

Renew:

–“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” –1 Corinthians 15: 3-6

–“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” –Galatians 5:22-25

Recharge:

–What will you do this week to spread the Good News? To bear fruit?

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