Daily Read (Isaiah 58-60)

Scripture:
Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

Observation:
Hear in the opening of the 58th chapter, we read of the real meaning of fasting. God points out that many Jews fasted because they felt the need to sit in sackcloth and ashes to mourn over their current state, whatever that state was. However, God declares that fasting is more than a day of atonement. It is indeed designed to take care of the less fortunate who have nothing and need everything.

Application:
I have always been akin to fasting at various times in my life for things that I needed or when led of the Spirit to fast in order to break down walls and barriers in the lives of others and myself. I have fasted at times to hear from the Lord especially in times of preparation for delivering a message to His people. I have known that fasting was for humans and not God. I know that fasting gives is that time of quietude we need alone with God and to discipline the body. By subjecting the body to an intentional lack of subsistence, we have to rely upon God to sustain our physical body’s need for energy, nutrition, and other vital factors.

However, have you ever taken into consideration this passage in Isaiah and what fasting really does? We break the yoke of oppression in the lives of people when we fast. Furthermore, we are to take the food and other bare necessities we have in abundance and share them with the less fortunate. Have you ever had a lunch with you or about to buy lunch and see a homeless person standing nearby outside in the blistering heat or freezing cold shaking with pangs from hunger and thirst? Did you ever stop to ask them if they would like to have something to eat or drink? Have you ever offered them a coat, jacket, shirt, shoes, or other clothing they need? When was the last time you even considered doing something for the less fortunate? Or are you too busy to even think about it? Have the cares of life put such a choke hold on you that you can’t see beyond self to think of others? God tells us not to neglect these less fortunate or members of our families either? That would seem to imply both physical family members and the brethren of the house and family of God. Are there those in your congregation who could use a helping hand?

Think about what Jesus said, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ ” (Matt. 25:34-40).

Let’s a little farther down into the words of Isaiah and see what else fasting does for us. In verses 8-9 God says to us, “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” Our light will break forth like the dawn. We will radiate with the glory of God and be the true light of the world that Jesus said we are (Matt. 5:14). Also, God tells us that our healing will appear slowly…of course not. He said it will appear quickly. God’s righteousness, which is the only righteousness we have, will go before us with Him also being our rear guard. When you call upon the Lord in prayer, He will hear you. You will cry for help only to be heard by God and have Him reply, “Here I am.”

Do you need a healing from God? Is He protecting your front and got your back? Have you called upon God and have Him reply to you? Take some time and separate yourself from the world around you and spend it in prayer and fasting before God. As part of your fasting, go visit someone in need. You usually don’t have to look to far in these hard economic times to find some one who is in need. Share the love of Jesus with someone and see God operate in your life. He is our exceedingly great reward.

Prayer:
Father, many times I have fasted and many times I have shared food and clothing with the less fortunate. I have never put the two together until today reading Your Word. I pray Lord that You help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit continually in order that I may respond to Your promptings when it comes to sharing with those in need. It just might break down a barrier in their lives and open up something in me. I pray that I am always able to share things needed in life with those who have need. May my heart not be so hard that I can’t stop to share an act of love and service with those in need including sharing with them the good news of the gospel. Thanks Dad for all the things You have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Why is the professing Body of Christ seemingly so divided, and who or what is causing it?

After all, we all claim to be following the Holy Spirit. That should give all sides something very serious to think about. We can’t all believe different things and still all be right.

According to the Scriptures, here are 3 things that cause division in the professing Church:

1) False teachers allowed to remain in the professing Church

Any time a teacher leaves the Truth, he is sowing division.

Romans 16:17-18 “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”

It is very important to keep in the “teaching we have learned.” That is, the doctrine of Christ and His apostles found in the Bible (not the doctrine taught in a church building or seminary. This is an important distinction.) Those who leave the teaching of Christ and His apostles and teach some other wind of doctrine, or doctrine of demons, are serving themselves and dividing the Body of Christ.

2 Peter 2:1-3 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

The “way of Truth” will fall into disrepute because of these false teachers whom “many will follow.” The phrase “denying the sovereign Lord who bought them” suggests that these teachers were walking in Truth at one time, but have left the right way and are now taking others with them. Those who follow these blind guides have stopped following Jesus, the only Way of salvation. Because they are deceived, they will claim they are still following God, to the shock and dismay of those who have remained faithful to Jesus. Now two opposing groups will claim to be serving Jesus and following the same Spirit. Thus division is created in the professing Body of Christ by false teachers and those who follow them.

Jude 18-19 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

2) Siding with the Truth (or not)

Jesus, who is the Truth, said He came to bring division that would even tear families apart.

Luke 12:51-53 “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Those who side with satan, “the god of this world,” will naturally despise those who side with Christ—the One who testifies that the world’s deeds are evil (John 7:7). A natural division occurs between light and darkness, Christ and Belial, righteousness and wickedness, and the temple of God and idols. (2 Cor. 6:14-16)

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Jesus is called the “Word made Flesh.” The Word of God is even said to divide.

Heb.4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Those who subject themselves to the Word of God will become divided from those who do not. (John 7:43, John 9:16, John 10:19)

In the world (and professing church) as it presently stands, there are wheat and tares growing up together. (Matt. 13:24-30) The wheat CAN BE distinguished from the tares by the servants of God. But they are allowed to co-exist until the time of harvest, when the “reapers” will permanently separate them. The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim. 2:19).

3) Testing

Believers are tested by heresies, to see if they will remain in the doctrine of Christ or not. This testing causes division between those who are approved by God, and those who are not.

I Cor. 11:18-19 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

It is also important to realize that we are to study to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed because we rightly divide the Word of Truth! (2 Tim. 2:15)

It is very important to abide in correct doctrine—so important that even salvation is at stake!

I John 2:24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father.

2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Paul cursed those who taught any gospel other than what had already been taught. (Gal.1:6-9)

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. (2 John 9-10)

We will be tested by heresies, just as Eve was tempted in the garden of Eden. Eve fell because she believed the words of a deceiver (she believed false doctrine) that questioned WHAT GOD HAD ALREADY SAID. Satan promised Eve an experience that she couldn’t pass up. The Holy Spirit will NEVER contradict the Bible, which He authored. The Scriptures are able to make us wise unto salvation, and thoroughly equip us to live holy lives abounding in good works (2 Tim.3:15-17).

So what about unity?

Didn’t Jesus pray that His disciples would be one? (John 17:17)

Yes, and His true disciples ARE ONE. They abide in His teaching, and His Word abides in them. They together abide in Christ, and they stand together against the false teachings that are threatening the flock. (Titus 1:9, Romans 16:17, Jude 3, 2 Cor. 6:17)

The disciples of Christ are denying themselves and carrying crosses, dying to this life and loving not this world nor the things in this world. Because their focus is on Jesus Christ alone, and they are not carried away by every wind of doctrine, they are united—even though they may not even know each other. They are satisfied with their daily bread, trusting that man shall indeed live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. They are not divided because of skin color or nationality. They are not divided due to wealth/poverty, or station in life. They are people of peace and they love one another. They do not take advantage of one another, or lord it over one another. They do not lie to one another, and they do not elevate themselves over one another—rather the greatest among them is the servant of all.

These love God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strength; and they love their neighbors as themselves. They help the weak and gullible by rescuing them from the mouths of wolves. They often do this by exposing false teaching and false teachers, which unfortunately earns them a reputation for being “divisive.”

God bless you.

Leviticus and Law in Post-Culture War America

As the pool of candidates narrowed in the 2008 Presidential Election primaries, pundits noticed a peculiar strength in eventual victor, Barack Obama. The 47-year-old African American was perceived by many as a peacemaker who would bring an end to the so-called “Culture Wars” which had dominated American politics since the Vietnam War. Laying aside whether or not one believes this really was Obama’s intention—and to what extent he has been successful—it is remarkable that our country has reached a juncture where such a perceived intent could be a political strength.

The factors contributing to this change of public heart are diverse and disputed, but at least one underlying cause is shifting views on the nature of personal morality and societal ethics—especially amongst those voting for the first time in the 21st century. Reflecting from within the Judeo-Christian tradition, I believe we can find a fresh relevance for our ancient texts in this environment of cultural redefinition. In particular, the portrait of Holiness as defined by ritual purity, individual behavior and social justice as found in the Law passages of Exodus and Leviticus offer a unique moral vision to the upcoming post-culture war generation.

The command from God to Moses in Leviticus 19:2 “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy,” presupposes two audacious ideas:

1) that the personal decisions of an individual has lingering effects on the Holiness of the community, and
2) no amount of personal Holiness can cleanse the stain of an individual who participates in an unjust system.

These two ideas—often held as conflicting by both sides in the culture wars—demand we revisit our definition of “Holiness.” What contemporary implications exist for a text which discusses premeditated murder in the same language as the unrestrained slaughter of created animals (Lev. 17:6) or a holiness code which equates the consequences of sexual immorality (Lev. 18) with those of defrauding the poor (Lev. 19)? Is the idea of a Jubilee year—and the specific notions of Sabbath and debt forgiveness—pertinent to a society of runaway resource exploitation and restless consumption?

Obviously, one cannot lift a context-less English translation from a printed page and call it a “relevant ethic” any easier than one can create a papier-mâché rod from its pages and demand he be called “Moses.” Yet, we do the text, our traditions and ourselves a great disservice when we delegate the messages of these Pentateuchal passages merely to the realms of ancient cult or antiquated superstition. As our societies revisit the entrenched battles and political labels of previous generations, the ancient law of the Pentateuch can provide us with refreshing perspective on ageless questions.

What Justin Martyr REALLY said!

Proud people can’t be grateful. So here are three very humbling truths for the sake of your thankfulness.

1. Nature teaches us that an infinitely marvelous, eternally powerful being created us and all we have. Therefore we are his creatures. He owns us. Our life, our breath, and everything we have is a gift. Our duty is simply to be thankful to him from our heart and to cherish his glory.

2. All of us have fallen short of this duty. We have not consistently prized the diamond of God’s glory with an affection anywhere near its value. Instead, we’ve exchanged it again and again for the cracked marbles that in our great “wisdom” we have determined are more valuable.

3. God, in his great mercy, sent his Son to suffer the judgment of people who are broken and contrite in spirit and who trust in him.

Proud people don’t say thanks, but people who believe these three truths do. We are utterly dependent; we are depraved sinners; and we are redeemed and forgiven through contrite faith.

If this penetrates our hearts today, we will be emptied of pride and filled with thankfulness to God.

The following is adapted from John Piper’s sermon, “Proud People Don’t Say Thanks.”

Tomorrow night I’ll be using this animation at Collins Street Baptist Church, for the first Sunday of Advent.



It is based on the lectionary reading from Jeremiah 33:14-16. Just before this section, Jeremiah has been talking about how God has allowed the Babylonians to destroy Israel, because of their evil. But he says they will have another chance:

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’(Jeremiah 33:14-16)

Jeremiah says that although God is disappointed in Israel, God is going to cause a new branch – a righteous branch – to grow out of the deceased King David. (I see King David as a reminder that the things and people that we put our hope in often disappoint us.) I was thinking, what are the things have been disappointing about the year that has just passed? I was also thinking, what it it we’re hoping and waiting for this Advent? The congregation will be invited to write or draw their disappointments on post-it notes, and stick them onto King David. They’ll also be able to write or draw their hope on a post-it  to stick on the young plant.

J. Grant Swank, Jr.

Sarah Palin’s deity is the God of the Bible. Her personal Savior is Jesus Christ. Her holy writ is the infallible, inerrant Bible. Her hope for eternity is heaven as described in the Word of God. Her hope for the present is God’s will activated in her dedication.

Barack Hussein Obama’s deity is the god of the Koran—Allah. His personal savior is Allah, though he professes to be a Protestant via his membership in the theologically liberal United Church of Christ (Congregational / UCC). That would make him out to be a witness to Jesus Christ; of course, that is bogus, including his testimony that at an altar at Chicago’s Trinity UCC he discovered Christ. If it was Christ, it is not the Christ of the New Testament.

Obama’s so-called holy writ is the abominable Koran. His hope for eternity is unknown; but if he becomes a suicide bomber for Allah, he will be guaranteed pronto a score of virgins for everlasting. His hope for the present seems to be his reliance upon Islam’s Koran furthered by his clandestine support of Islam World Rule via czars and a shadow government given to overthrowing our Republic.

In January 2009, Marxist Muslim’s Obama seemed to be riding high on mob hysteriacs seating him proudly in the Oval Office. Recall he told the world, “I won.” Countless devotees showed up at his inauguration. He was applauded throughout Congressional halls as the new messiah promising “hope” and “change.”

Not yet a year later, he has not produced productive “change” for America; therefore, there is no grassroots “hope” in the Pied Piper who led millions into his lying machine.

Today he is below par in polls. He has not accomplished anything worthwhile, per Saturday Night Live spoofs, for example.

Today he is on the verge of submerging America into the trenches due to his pro-Islamic policies installed by crooks and Muslim cronies surrounding him 24 / 7.

He stalls on Fort Hood investigations. He enforces the warmist religion by bowing down to Al Gore clones at global global warming sessions.

He cheers on 9/11 civil investigations, providing Allah disciples privileges not deserving self-confessed Muslim murderers.

Obama is being unsealed moment by moment so that even the young mob hysteriacs are starting to get the cruel message instigated by the chief betrayer set loose in America. In short order he has plotted to ruin our health care system, dump us into the devil’s debt and bankrupt our Christian heritage by uplifting Muslims and atheists on the same honorary level as biblical believers.

This cancer sore Obama is the most dangerous occurrence ever in all the Republic’s history for it promises us our doom.

Then comes along Sarah Palin. What does she hold out for the populace?

She speaks of common sense politics, a Christian heritage history continuance, reliance upon the God of Scripture, actual hope in prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in one’s personal faith life.

She comes from a biblical base regarding worship gatherings. It is not theological liberalism as touted in the United Church of Christ, Episcopal Church, Anglican Church, United Church of Canada, Unitarianism, Evangelical (a misnomer) Lutheran Church of America and other anti-Christ labels.

She worships with Christians who seek to live out the Bible, confess to following Christ as personal Redeemer, pray daily, conduct family devotions, believe in miracles, repent of their sins and then yearn to go forth in holiness.

Palin is the antithesis to Obama. Palin represents a biblical way of life. Obama represents a satanic cult.

America is now faced with the choice of Palin or
Obama. Of course, in weeks and months to come, someone else may log in to sideline Palin. But at the moment, it is Palin versus Obama.

To say that America is at a crucial fork in the road is to speak in understatement.

Read PALIN’S PENTECOSTAL FAITH: LIBERALS WILL POUNCE at http://zenithmax.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/palin%E2%80%99s-pentecostal-faith-liberals-will-pounce/

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Tim 3:16

Training in the Dojo Divine:

Philippians 4:8-9 (NASB95)
⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
⁹ The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

“Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord.” Zechariah 3:1

In Joshua the high priest we see a picture of each and every child of God, who has been made nigh by the blood of Christ, and has been taught to minister in holy things, and enter into that which is within the veil. Jesus has made us priests and kings unto God, and even here upon earth we exercise the priesthood of consecrated living and hallowed service.

But this high priest is said to be “standing before the angel of the Lord,” that is, standing to minister. This should be the perpetual position of every true believer. Every place is now God’s temple, and His people can as truly serve Him in their daily employments as in His house. They are to be always “ministering,” offering the spiritual sacrifice of prayer and praise, and presenting themselves a “living sacrifice.” But notice where it is that Joshua stands to minister, it is before the angel of Jehovah. It is only through a mediator that we poor defiled ones can ever become priests unto God. I present what I have before the messenger, the angel of the covenant, the Lord Jesus; and through Him my prayers find acceptance wrapped up in His prayers; my praises become sweet as they are bound up with bundles of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia from Christ’s own garden. If I can bring Him nothing but my tears, He will put them with His own tears in His own bottle for He once wept; if I can bring Him nothing but my groans and sighs, He will accept these as an acceptable sacrifice, for He once was broken in heart, and sighed heavily in spirit. I myself, standing in Him, am accepted in the Beloved; and all my polluted works, though in themselves only objects of divine abhorrence, are so received, that God smelleth a sweet savour. He is content and I am blessed. See, then, the position of the Christian–”a priest– standing–before the angel of the Lord.”

—Morning and Evening

“It is our heaven to lay many weights and burdens upon Christ. Let him find much employment in his calling with you; for he is such a Friend as delighteth to be burdened with suits and employments; and the more homely ye be with him, the more welcome.”

- Samuel Rutherford, from The Loveliness of Christ, p. 22

I hope all had a great Thanksgiving Day and that the prescribed gluttony wasn’t to excess (Is that an oxymoron?!).  Did you thank God for His interventions and miracles He has done for you?

27 days till the BIRTH of CHRIST,

and 2 days till the beginning of the ADVENT season.

“HO, HO , HO-ly God, We Praise Thy Name!”

Quote of the Day:

 Why settle for the lesser of two evils?

Today’s Meditation:

The Canticle of the Sun by Francis of Assisi (day 11 of 14): 

… Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High [Jesus], they will be crowned. …

“Let me be an instrument of your peace…”  If anything I have learned through my journey of Franciscan discernment, I have learned the meaning and significance of ‘peace.’  I was a man that was a very direct, to the point, and at times rude individual.  I always insisted on it being my way.  I think I was the typical American.  My philosophy was that if threatened, to ‘beat them down’ (verbally or physically) and do not allow them to tread on me.

 I still believe on the right to protect one-self.  But my aggressiveness in thought, speech, and actions has been tempered by the tenant of St. Francis’ peace, especially in an aggressive situation.  The louder someone gets, I purposely let me body and verbal interchange get softer and quieter.  This does two things.  It almost always seems to calm everyone, and it also allows me to control the conversation.  It seems ironic that one can win by peace over force.

 Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Pope John Paul II, all worked through peace to achieve their goals.  I am still not completely at their level of sustainable peace that they exuded, but I am working at it.

 St. Francis, please help me on my journey of peace and understanding of others.  Amen,

The full text of “The Canticle of the Sun” can be found at many web sites

including: http://www.poverello-society.org/prayer_canticle.htm.

Pax et Bonum

Dan Halley, SFO

*****

Franciscan Saint of the Day:  St. Francis Anthony Fasini

Born in 1681 at Lucera, southeastern Italy, Francis Anthony was the son of very poor peasants; but he was a bright lad, and received a good education from the Conventual Franciscans in his native town.  When he was 14 he received the habit of St. Francis among the Conventuals, and in 1705 he was ordained to the priesthood.  He was then sent to the Sagro Convento, adjoining the basilica in Assisi where St. Francis is buried, for the purpose of continuing his studies.  Two years later he received the doctorate in theology, and he was then appointed lector of philosophy in the college conducted by the Conventuals in his home town. He was promoted successively to regent of studies, guardian, and provincial, which latter office he held from 1721 to 1723.  After that he served as master of novices, and then as pastor of the church of St. Francis in Lucera. A bishopric was offered to him, but he declined it.

Among the devotions that he cherished there were especially a tender love for the Immaculate Mother of God, a childlike affection for the Infant Jesus, and fervent devotion, also night adoration, of the Holy Eucharist.  Once, while he was absorbed in prayer, someone who happened to be in the church heard a voice saying: “This priest prays much for his people.”

As a priest, he also became an eloquent preacher, a lover of the poor, a friend of the unfortunate.  He was a missionary, a retreat-master, and a Lenten preacher.  For hours he would sit in the confessional, hearing and absolving the sins of his penitents, consoling the afflicted, warning the hardened of heart.  He spent much time in visiting the sick, the orphans, and the imprisoned.  As a pastor he was a real father to his people.

After 35 years in the priesthood and a life of penance, union with God, and intense labor the salvation of souls, God called Father Francis Anthony to Himself on November 29, 1742.  On that day the people of Lucera came hurrying to the church of St. Francis, exclaiming as did the children at the death of St. Anthony of Padua, “The saint is dead!  The saint is dead!” And for 200 years since then, they have continues to kneel and pray at his tomb.  The cause of his beatification was introduced in Rome in 1832; and in 1951 Pope Pius XII solemnly enrolled him among the blessed.

from: The Franciscan Book of Saints, ed. by Marion Habig, ofm., © 1959 Franciscan Herald Press

 

Also on November 27th: In 1830-31 Our Lady appeared four times to St. Catharine Laboure in Paris and instructed her to have the Miraculous Medal struck.  On these occasions, Our Lady showed herself to St. Catharine as the Immaculate Conception and the Miraculous Medal is really the Medal of the Immaculate Conception.  On the medal are the words of the little prayer which Our Lady herself wishes us to say, “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”  This feast is observed by the Conventuals.

 (From http://www.franciscan-sfo.org website)

From the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) Prolgue, Chapter 1:

All who love the Lord with their whole heart, with their whole soul and mind, with all their strength (cf. Mk 12:30), and love their neighbors as themselves (cf. Mt 22:39) and hate their bodies with their vices and sins, and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and produce worthy fruits of penance.

Oh, how happy and blessed are these men and women when they do these things and persevere in doing them, because “the spirit of the Lord will rest upon them” (cf. Is 11:2) and he will make “his home and dwelling among them” (cf Jn 14:23), and they are the sons of the heavenly Father (cf. Mt 5:45), whose works they do, and they are the spouses, brothers, and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Mt 12:50). …

 

Gospel reading of the day:

Luke 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Reflection on the gospel reading: Jesus’ ministry, passion, death, and resurrection inaugurates the inbreaking of the kingdom of God into human history. What God gives us through Jesus is for keeps. God is not fickle: God keeps God’s promises. We can count on God to remain faithful even if we turn away.

Saint of the day: Born in Lucera (southeast Italy), Francesco Antonio Fasani entered the Conventual Franciscans in 1695. After his ordination 10 years later, he taught philosophy to younger friars, served as guardian of his friary and later became provincial. When his term of office ended, Francesco became master of novices and finally pastor in his hometown.

In his various ministries, he was loving, devout and penitential. He was a sought-after confessor and preacher. One witness at the canonical hearings regarding Francesco’s holiness testified, “In his preaching he spoke in a familiar way, filled as he was with the love of God and neighbor; fired by the Spirit, he made use of the words and deed of Holy Scripture, stirring his listeners and moving them to do penance.” Francesco showed himself a loyal friend of the poor, never hesitating to seek from benefactors what was needed.

At his death in Lucera, children ran through the streets and cried out, “The saint is dead! The saint is dead!” Francesco was canonized in 1986.

Spiritual reading: Where selfless love occurs in daily life; where people die devoutly, patiently, and hopeful of an absolute meaning despite of all the absurdities of existence; where people do the simplest tasks of their daily life without an egotistical turning in on themselves . . . this is what sainthood means. (Karl Rahner, S.J.)

“No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.” ~Proverbs 21:30

It has been a trying couple of weeks. I’ve been assaulted by all manner of strange philosophies and ideologies that claim Christ as their core, and yet they seem as far from Christ as possible. As one who associates with a certain subculture, I find it so frustrating to see self-professing Christians use awkwardly interpreted Scriptures to justify their actions and associations, and then stop there. As if they want to move forward in their hobbies and interests and pull the Christian card only when it’s convenient.

As a Side Note: Let me just say this, if you have to search the Scriptures for some loophole to justify whatever it is that you are doing, perhaps you shouldn’t be doing it. I have seen people search for loopholes to justify tattoos, piercings, clothing styles, listening to certain types of music, having a drink of alcohol, smoking, or whatever else it may be that they desire to do. If you are fighting your conscience on a matter, let your conscience win because how much greater is God than your own conscience? Tattoos, piercings, etc. (I’m picking on those because they are the silliest matters I’ve seen addressed) are not for everybody. If you are starting to feel a pang of guilt for considering that cool tattoo you want to get, don’t get it. It might not be for you at the moment, or it may not be for you at all.

What part of LORD do we not understand? Are we not to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship? Do we not know that we are not our own, for we were bought at a price? It as if we are more concerned with being our own unique individual self, than we are about denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following the Lord Jesus Christ who redeemed us with His Blood on Calvary.

Lord, help us. We are so weak, and we are so feeble.

Over the past few weeks I have listened to a man who is more interested in gathering disciples for himself, and convincing others that he has the right answers, than he is in seeking the Scriptures and giving his life over to God. A man who wants so much to be some grand spiritual leader, and yet his fruit bears witness to the spiritual death that is inside of him. And he is so enchanted by his own self grandeur, in love with his idols of education and antiquity, that I can’t help but to be reminded of the Word which says:

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

~2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

And it hurts because we’ve had this conversation, we’ve been down this trail, and that tree looks all too familiar.

Somehow, it seems that Christ isn’t important or exciting anymore. That He has somehow bored us, and now we have to dress Him up in the latest fashions just to keep Him relevant and inviting to ourselves and to the culture around us. It is absolutely ridiculous the idolatry that we have found ourselves in. And more and more as I see the culture around me, and Christians who look more like the culture around me than they do Christ, I’m starting to wonder where did it all go wrong.

When did Christ become not enough? When did the cries of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria become so offensive and trite that we simply let them fade away? It seems now, that what matters most is that we be inviting and welcoming with a message that reaches out to the community, and -as far as I have seen- more often than not, that message is a watered down gospel cluttered with all manner of gimmicks and funny jokes to make it entertaining and look attractive to a dying world that revels in its own decay.

THE GOSPEL IS AN OFFENSE to those that are perishing. THE CROSS IS AN OFFENSE to those that deny Christ as Lord and Savior. Watering down the gospel, or smoothing off the rough edges of the cross (to paraphrase C. H. Spurgeon), is to rob God. Are we somehow more loving and more wise than our Father in Heaven that we try to take the offense out of that which is incredibly offensive?

Man is wicked and at enmity with God. Man is on a fast lane speeding towards Hell with a smile on his face. Man is making merry to eternal damnation, and unless we tell him how offensive and heinous his sin is to God, and what Christ has done that men might be saved, man will continue happily on his way to an eternity that stops in the full presence of God’s wrath.

I am fearful also, that there are a number of people who call themselves Christians, that have gone to church all their lives, that have done all the churchy things expected of them, who were at every Sunday service, and maybe at various midweek and home services, that will stand before God and hear those terrible words, “Depart from me, you worker of iniquity. I never knew you!” When our lives have no sign of change, when sin is of no importance to us, when holiness means nothing to us, when Christ is a subject we already know all about, when we live like the devil (to paraphrase Paul Washer) shouldn’t we be terrified?

How is your life any different now from before you knew Christ?

The Manhattan Declaration was encouraging, but I’m afraid it is not enough. Spurring us to act in regards to certain moral issues with a piece of paper signed by Christian and Christian-like religious leaders is heart breaking. Why should we be compelled to do that which we should have been doing from the beginning? Should it not be second nature for us to oppose the murder of unborn children? Should it not be second nature for us to oppose the various sexually immoral unions and encounters that we are being pressured into approving? Why does it take a piece of paper to get some of us to act? Why haven’t we already been taking to the streets with the GOSPEL!?

What makes our lives different from the unbelieving? Is there something that obviously sets us apart from the world around us beyond our words? Do our neighbors look at us and know something is different about our lives? Or are we simply content with putting on a t-shirt that says “Jesus” in a logo similar to that of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, instead of putting on Christ each and every day?

I am tired of lukewarm Christianity. I am tired of the “Have it Your Way” fast food gospel. I’m tired of churchianity and a church culture that denies Christ and promotes a life given to moralistic deism.

It is as if somehow our wisdom, our understanding, and our counsel are greater than God’s. Somehow we’ve become more intelligent, more gentle, more loving, and more peaceful than God. And this blasphemy is taking us, and the world, straight to Hell.

Lord, help us. We are weak, and we are feeble.

“No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.” ~Proverbs 21:30

John 10

 ¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

 ²But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

 ³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

 ⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

 ⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

 ⁶This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

 ⁷Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

 ⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

 ⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

 ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

 ¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

 ¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

 ¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

 ¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

 ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

 ¹⁷Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

 ¹⁸No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

 ¹⁹There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

 ²⁰And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

 ²¹Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

 ²²And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

 ²³And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

 ²⁴Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

 ²⁵Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

 ²⁶But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

 ²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

 ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 ²⁹My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

 ³⁰I and my Father are one.

 ³¹Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

 ³²Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

 ³³The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

 ³⁴Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

 ³⁵If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

 ³⁶Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

 ³⁷If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

 ³⁸But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

 ³⁹Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

 ⁴⁰And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

 ⁴¹And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

 ⁴²And many believed on him there.

Rich Dixon, Author/Speaker
 www.relentlessgrace.com

What’s your personal theology?

A while back, I started a personal project. I wanted to identify one hundred scripture passages that form the core of my theology. I think we’re each accountable tor knowing what we believe, and I thought this exercise might help me crystalize my thinking.

I thought I’d share the first part of my list. They’re in no particular order or priority, except for #1 which is my life verse. See what you think.

1. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [Romans 8:28]
2. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:38-39]
3. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16]
4. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. [1 John 4:16]
5. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. [1 Peter 2:9]
6. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [John 1:1]
7. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:14]
8. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11: 28-30]
9. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. [Galatians 5:1]
10. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. [1 Corinthians 13:13]
11. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. [1 Corinthians 13:12]
12. 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. [Galatians 5:22-23]
13. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [Genesis 1:1]
14. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. [Luke 23: 34]
15. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” [Matthew 4: 19]
16. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. [Psalm 23:1]
17. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. [Psalm 23: 4]
18. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [John 10:11]
19. See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. [Exodus 23:20]
20. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. [Isaiah 43:19]
21. Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. [John 6:35]
22. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” [John 8:11]
23. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. [Matthew 5:44]
24. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” [John 8:12]
25. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” [John 8:58]
26. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. [John 13:14]
27. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [John 15:5]
28. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. [John 15:13]
29. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. [John 21:25]
30. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. [Matthew 5: 14]

Obviously, the list is incomplete. I’ll share the rest later, but what are your reactions?

Do any of these surprise you?

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The Christian Leaders uniting on Political issues are from 145 evangelical and both Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders. This group has created a declaration (manifesto), stating this: 

 “We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence to: participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we (the above) bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnership, treat them as marriages or the equivalent.”

Stop! This spiritual waste of time…We need jobs, food, clothing and shelter for too many Americans. Is the Church a santuary for these men and women? Are the doors of these huge structures wide open? Why not?

And! This minister believes that our gay folk deserve a world without moral pandering and a stupid manifesto. If embryo-destructive research saves lives…Abortion is not a playground for religion…It is a human situation both personal and personal and personal and…Old white men telling young women what they should do with? How about assisted suicide and euthanasia? This is again a human situation and is personal and personal and personal and…

From St. Matthew 7: 2… (Our Christ Jesus, as he was ending His “Sermon on the Mount”).

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

So many modern ministers appear to be exhausting their energies, condemning modern men and women. This disorderly order has created big business and the use of all ways and means to express discontent and fear and wealth.

…Churches survive not through peace and prayer but because the delivery of  judgments, sin and sinners identification and “pass that plate around again my friend…” and the efforts to sell salvation is, well – great for careers?

This minister is praying every day for: Respect and Understanding and Peace and Love for all. Powerful and Wealthy Religious Foks must realize that no mortal man stands in front of Heaven’s Doors.

And! I pray that our Right-Winged Clergy grow Left-wings so that our Dove of Peace may fly once more…Amen.

The following notes are based upon the Epistle text used in St Thomas’ day (Romans 13:11-14).  I’ll post his notes on the Gospel later today or tomorrow.  These notes provide some excellent points for meditation.

The Four-Fold Day

The day is at hand~Rom 13:12

The word day is to be taken in a four-fold sense-”The day is at hand;” the day of mercy, the day of grace, the day of justice, and the day of glory.  That Sun makes this a four-fold day, whose advent holy Church now celebrates.  The day of mercy is the birthday of the Lord, in which the Sun of Righteousness arises upon us; or more truly, He Who made that day so glorious.  The day of grace is the time of grace; the day of justice is the day of judgment; the day of glory is the day of eternity.  Joel speaks of the first-”In that day the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk” (3:18).  Concerning the second, st Paul writes- “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2).  Of the third Wisdom speaks- “The day of wrath, that day the day of tribulation.”  Concerning the fourth day the prophet Zechariah states- “But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord-not day, nor night; but it shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light” (Zech 14:7).  Psalm 134:10 has, “One day in Thy Courts is better than a thousand.”  The birthday of the Lord draws near, that devoutly the day of mercy may be celebrated and honored; the day of grace that it may be received; the day of judgment that it may be feared; the day of glory that it may be attained.  The Church celebrates the first meaning, “For the Lord is at hand” (Phil 4:5).  “For my salvation is soon to come, and My righteousness is soon to be revealed” (Isa 54:1).  On account of the second meaning, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 4:2).  On account of the third meaning, “Behold, the Judge standeth before the door” (James 5:9).  On account of the fourth meaning, “Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me to give to every man according as his work shall be” (Rev 22:12).

We ought to celebrate the birthday of the Lord, the day of mercy, with mercy and truth.  Christ came to us in these two ways, and so we ought to go to Him.  “All of the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth” (Ps 25:10).  Te celebrate the day of grace with purity and humility, for these two graces make acceptable grace.  Of the first, Proverbs 22:11 sates: “He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the King shall be his friend.”  Of the second James 4:6 has, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.”  The Church celebrates the day of judgment with meditation and fear.  As St Jerome says, “Whether I eat or drink, that voice seems ever to resound in my ears, ‘Rise up, ye dead, and come to judgment.’”  On the contrary, it is said of the wicked, “Evil men understand not judgment” (Prov 28:5).  We ought to hasten to run and meet the day of glory with righteousness.  “Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest” (Heb 4:11).  To four Christian virtues the Apostle exhorts us in this epistle.  To mercy and truth in the words, “Let us put on the Armour of light.”  For the arms of light are mercy and truth; for merch is the shield by which we are defended from the enemy, and truth is the power by which we overcome all things.  Of the first, “Shut up alms in thy store-houses, and it shall deliver thee from affliction.  It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and a strong spear” (Eccl 29:12-13).  Of course, “Truth is great and will prevail; it is great, and stronger than all things; the whole earth invokes truth, and it blesses heaven itself; it moves all work, and they tremble because of it, and there is no iniquity in it.  A wicked banquet, a wicked king, wicked women, all wicked sons of men, and all their wicked works, and truth is not in them, and they shall perish in their iniquity and truth shall remain” (Eccl 3:4).  The Epistle further exhorts us to purity and humility, “Not in chambering and wantoness, not in strife and envying.”  Chambering and wantoness are acts of riot which make impurity.  Strife and envyinig proceed from pride.  In prohibiting immodesty it exhorts to purity; in prohibiting pride it exhorts to humility.  In the words, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day,” it awakens us to reflection upon and to fear the judgment; that is, that we should so live as it is meet to live in the day of judgment.  A man is in the judgment by thinking upon the judgment; he lives honestly by fearing the judgment.  It exhorts us to justice and despatch-”Now it is high time to awaken out of sleep;” andm therefore, by hastening from the sleep of sin, to arise to the fulfilling of justice; and the reason is given why a man should do this: “For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed;” to which salvation may we be led by Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25; 1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2; Luke 21:25-28,34-36

As human beings, we do well with “either/or,” but we maybe weak at “both/and.” In fact, one of the tasks of our lives as we grow in wisdom, age and grace may very well be to move from “either/or” to “both/and” as we encounter the diversity and complexity of our world. One example is very present during the season of Advent: our God is a cosmic God, creator of the heavens and the earth. As the Hubble telescope keeps feeding images of a complex expanding universe, that cosmic sense of God keeps growing in our imaginations. Yet during Advent we are called to prepare for the coming of a God both cosmic and so very close to us that God actually became one of us as an infant born of a woman in a small town in an obscure oppressed nation on a medium-sized planet in an off-center galaxy in this universe. From the very personal to the very cosmic, our God is a God of “both/and.” Our challenge is to embrace both extremes in One God.

How has your understanding of God grown in the last year?

Scripture: At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:27 (NIV)

Christmas is coming soon. It is easy to tell. We see the signs all around us. What are the signs? We see Christmas decorations in the stores and on houses, we hear Christmas songs on the radio, we see ads on television and in the newspapers. What if we didn’t have all of these things to remind us that Christmas is coming? How would we know? I guess we would just have to look at the calendar.

Two thousand years ago, there was no television or radio. There were no newspaper ads announcing that a child would be born and that he would be the Savior of the world. When Jesus was born, very few people even knew about it, but it was an event which God had promised and which had been foretold by prophets many years before. Many people had been looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, they just didn’t know exactly when he was coming.

This Sunday marks the beginning of a very special season called Advent. Do you know what Advent means? The dictionary says that advent is “the coming of something very important.” What is it? Is it Christmas? Yes, we are looking forward to that, but we are also looking forward to the coming of another very important event. The return of Jesus!

Jesus promised to come again. You won’t hear much about it on the television or radio and you won’t read much about it in the newspapers, but he promised he would return and we believe it! We look forward to it just as people two thousand years ago looked forward the the coming Messiah. We don’t know exactly when he will come, it isn’t marked on the calendar, but we are watching and waiting.

As we look prepare to celebrate the birthday of our Savior, let’s also be sure we are prepared for the day that he will come again.

Prayer: Dear Father, we thank you for this special time of year and what it means to us. We thank you for keeping your promise to send a Savior — and we thank you for the promise that he will come again. Amen.

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.