Author: Jayne Lawson

“LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.”  – Psalm 26:8

This verse is so much more meaningful to me due to covid. Even with livestream services, I greatly missed being in the house of God during our quarantine. Although I know it is not the building, but the people, being in church envelops me with a serenity and peace that is not in my house. I am not distracted by the phone ringing, the dog barking, the aroma of the morning coffee, or simply the ability to get up at will. In my Father’s house, there is a deeper reverence for worship that I do not find at home even though my heart seeks it.

I truly never thought I would see a day in America when there would be a mandate for churches to close their doors, but it happened in some places due to the pandemic. Fortunately, my church had the capabilities to livestream its worship services during the covid quarantine, but for me, it was not the same as being in the church building. While the actual place we meet is not what is important, the physical fellowship of like-minded individuals worshiping in spirit and in truth is essential in the practice of one’s faith.

During the height of the pandemic, our church services were livestreamed over the Internet. This was a tremendous blessing, but there was a subtle difference from meeting in the church building. After the quarantine, my church chose to meet in its gymnasium to facilitate social distancing, and that first Sunday I was back together with my church family was exhilarating! Psalm 122:1 states, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” It was as though a prison sentence had been lifted!

I have heard it said that a person never realizes what they have until it is gone. I can truly say that I never really understood the deep need in my own heart to be with other believers until I was no longer able to do it. Thankfully, I live in a place where churches are considered essential, and the doors have never been mandated to be closed. However, there is no guarantee that that will not happen in the future, so for now, I will happily wear a mask, have my temperature taken, and maintain social distancing if it means that I will be able to attend my church and worship together with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I cherish the time I can be in my church hearing the Word of God preached and surrounded by like-minded Christians.

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing;
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be;
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

(from “We Gather Together” – author unknown)

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrew 10:25

**********

“The difference between listening to a radio sermon and going to church…is almost like the difference between calling your girl on the phone and spending an evening with her.” – Dwight L. Moody

(photo courtesy of James Miyashita)

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”3 John 1:4

One of my greatest joys is being able to be an active participant in the lives of my grandchildren, especially in areas that concern the Lord. Today, I have the wonderful occasion to share a devotion that my 15 year-old granddaughter wrote. It is my hope that it blesses your heart as much as it blessed mine.

Philippians 4:4 — “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.”

Everyone has had a bad day at least once in their lifetime. I have had a few myself. Sometimes it is hard to be joyful during bad days. It’s pretty easy for me to be joyful whenever I am having a good day, but it’s much harder to be joyful when my day is going badly. God tells us in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS! This includes the bad days. Even when our day isn’t going the way we planned, we should rejoice. God has done so much for us, and one way to thank him is to rejoice! Luke 1:47 says, “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” He saved us and gave us a promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven! I think that is plenty enough reason for us to rejoice.

**********

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” – 2 Timothy 1:5

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” – Jeremiah 33:3

Have you ever been burdened with something, and you just didn’t know what to do about it? I have. It can be such a concern that it often stops me from accomplishing anything else because I am so consumed by the worry surrounding this situation or problem. Usually I try to find the solutions on my own. You’d think I’d have learned by now that trying to solve my problems by myself is rarely the way to go, yet I still seem to find myself making feeble attempts to fix whatever it is. This often  leaves me frustrated, despondent, and sometimes in tears!

It is usually when I feel most defeated that I remember I have a Father in heaven who yearns for me to call upon Him for everything! His Word reminds me again and again that if I just go to Him, He will gladly help me in each and every situation. Jeremiah 29:12 states, “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”

Not only does the Bible repeatedly remind me to seek God’s help in all things, it bluntly states that the reason I don’t have the answers I seek is simply because I fail to ask Him. James 4:2 records, “…yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

I can get easily upset when things go awry, especially when I don’t see a way out of a mess, but I do know that I can trust God to handle anything that comes my way. If I pray to Him, He promises to answer… every single time! It may not be in the way I had hoped, but I must remember what God said in Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” However God chooses to respond to my prayers will be the very best for me and those concerned, and I know that He will only do that which is right and good.

It remains my responsibility to trust God completely. The Bible tells me in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” In our sinful world of chaos and uncertainty, it is good to know my God has it all under control. Being able to trust Him to relieve my burdens and order my steps affords me with His precious peace that passes all understanding! (Philippians 4:7)

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
 
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a Friend that’s well known.
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone. 

(from “Tell It to Jesus” by Edmund S. Lorenz)

“As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.” – Psalm 55:16

**********

God is always available to hear me when I call!

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” – Psalm 103:2

Today is a day of reflection for me. I decided to “count my blessings,” but I found out that it was impossible to do so! God has blessed my life in so many ways that I cannot number them all!

When I think of all the wonderful things God has done for me, I naturally gravitate toward the obvious blessings: family, friends, health, home, etc., but when I really take the time to reflect on how God has moved throughout my life, there are a plethora of things that come to mind.

I am grateful for little things, like finding a lost piece of jewelry or gathering an egg from my chickens. I am grateful for big things, like having extra money to meet an unexpected need or having a working generator when the power goes out. I am grateful for trivial things, like not accidentally running into a spider web with its maker sitting dead center (I am terrified of those critters!), and I am grateful for extremely important things, like keeping my experience with covid mild.

When I really stop to ponder how much God has done for me, I am in awe of His goodness to me! The Bible reminds me that every good thing in my life comes from the Lord. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17). It reminds me again of His goodness in Matthew 7:11. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

The next time you can’t sleep, instead of counting sheep, try counting your blessings! When you do finally drift off, you’ll have a heart full of gratitude to the Lord!

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
 
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

(from “Count Your Blessings” by Johnson Oatman, Jr.)

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” – Ephesians 5:20

**********

So often our prayers focus on asking God for something. Be sure to take some time today simply thanking God for all He’s done!

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Have you ever been burdened by a past sin even after you’ve asked the Lord for His forgiveness? I have. I am often reminded of a past sin by a comment or picture, and I sometimes find myself begging God to forgive me… again… as if the first time I asked for forgiveness, it wasn’t effective. Nothing could be more untrue. God’s forgiveness is always complete. Because He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross and take all the punishments for my sins (and yours), I am assured of God’s eternal forgiveness of my sins when I accept Jesus as my Saviour and ask for His forgiveness of my sins.

1 John 1:9 reminds me that if I seek His forgiveness, God is faithful to do exactly that. There are no conditions to His forgiveness except that I ask for it. It doesn’t matter if I think it’s a “big” sin or a “little” one, He promises to forgive me if I ask. It doesn’t matter if I’ve broken one of the commandments or I’ve merely thought about doing something sinful, God forgives any sin when I come to Him with a penitent heart and ask Him to do so.

Not only does God forgive, but He forgets the sin as well. “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) Unfortunately, one of the consequences of sin is that, while God forgets my sins, I do not always forget them. There is an old saying that states, “Forgive and forget,” but when it comes to sin, forgetting is  not always an easy to do. That is one reason why I have found such peace in 1 John 1:9 and other verses about God’s forgiveness. It assures me that when I confess my sins to the Lord, it is HE who is faithful to forgive. It is HE who cleanses me from all the unrighteousness of those sins in my life. It is HE who dispenses mercy and grace to me. It is HE who promises to remember my sin no more! It is HE who gives me eternal life! It is HE who states He will not remember my sins anymore!

Am I forgiven? Absolutely! Without a doubt? Oh yes! His Word assures me that I am, and that settles it for me!

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.
 
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb.
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb.

(from “There is Power in the Blood” by Lewis E. Jones)

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” – Psalm 86:5

**********

The cost of God’s forgiveness was the cross. The reward of God’s forgiveness is a relationship  with Him and a home in heaven.

(photo courtesy of Samantha Campbell)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10

Today, many people will be making their 2021 New Year’s resolutions. Some will be health related; some will be financial, and others will involve other major changes in their lives. Unfortunately, shortly after January 1st, those resolutions will become things of the past. Resolutions are easily made, but they are also easily broken.

I often make resolutions on New Year’s Day, and like so many others, I have failed to keep most of them much longer than a few weeks.  But 2020 was a different year for me! This year I actually kept two of my resolutions for the entire year! I grew spiritually through the reading of God’s Word on a regular basis. I became healthier by changing my eating habits and incorporating healthy strategies into my life.

I learned something very important to my success this past year. In order for me to keep any resolution, I needed help. Philippians 4:13 states, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” I chose to become an active participant in the betterment of my life, spiritually and physically, but I chose to partner with God. Why? Because in my past, I have either tried to do it all myself, or I have sat back and hoped that God would do a miracle in my life. I finally understood that neither my pride nor my passivity was helping me become the person to whom I aspired. I am, in fact, a work in progress (Philippians 1:6), and it is God who is the potter, fashioning this lump of clay to His glory.“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

So, here it is January 1, 2021, and I am ready to make my resolutions for this year. I resolve to continue my spiritual growth through prayer and Bible study, and I resolve to follow more closely the footsteps of my Saviour, Jesus Christ. I resolve to be moldable in the hands of my Potter, and to be used of Him in whatever way He chooses. I also resolve to continue my physical health journey by following my nutritional plan and seeking guidance from my health coach. I resolve to learn more healthy habits, and in turn, share this information with others who seek a healthier and happier lifestyle.

God has promised that if I delight in Him, He will give me the desires of my heart. Sometimes, I don’t even know what those desires are until He opens my eyes to the blessings before me! I can’t wait to see what 2021 brings my way!

I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
 
I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.
 
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.

(from “I Am Resolved” by Palmer Hartsough)

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” – Psalm 37:4

**********

Start the New Year with God!

(photo courtesy of James Miyashita)

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” – Isaiah 43:2

2020 is coming to an end. Throughout the holiday season, I have heard comments about how great it will be when this year ends, and a new one begins. Unfortunately, not much will change on January 1, 2021. There is no magic wave of a wand that will make the coronavirus disappear or the political tensions in our country dissipate. In fact, New Year’s Day will come and go, and most likely things will continue much the same way as they are now.

It can be quite demoralizing to think that 2021 will still have increasing cases of covid and political upheaval. Small businesses will still be struggling to keep afloat, churches will still be threatened with closures, and frankly, wickedness will continue to be accepted and embraced by the world as we know it.

But there is hope. No matter what happens on January 1^st or any other day, God continues to be God. Nothing changes that. There is great comfort knowing that God remains in control, and although I cannot see the “big picture” through my limited vision, I can rest in the knowledge that He works everything out according to His perfect plan. He has a plan for me, and there is nothing this world can do to stop His plan from coming to fruition. That is very reassuring! “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Additionally, when troubles come my way, and they will, I know that I never have to face them on my own. God is always with me. He promises to see me through every single situation. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that my life will be without hard times, it means that God will always be with me, leading me through the adversities that will undoubtedly come. Psalm 23:4 states, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…”

As the Lord leads me through life, regardless of how difficult the circumstances, I can trust Him to see me through each situation. Proverbs 3:6 states, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” God is faithful to do exactly as He has promised in Scripture. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (Psalm 37:23) He has promised to order my steps, and as I follow Him, I can trust that He will never lead me astray. The road may be rough at times, but walking with God will get me through.

Regardless of what happens on January 1^st, 2021 promises to be a great year filled with blessings from my heavenly Father in the fulfillment of His promises. In fact, it just may be the year that the Lord Jesus Christ returns to take His bride home! Perhaps instead of listening to all the negativity in the media, we should be listening for the trump of God!

Earthly friends may prove untrue
Doubts and fears assail
One still loves and cares for you
Jesus never fails

Though the sky be dark and drear
Fierce and strong the gale
Just remember He is near
And He will not fail

Jesus never fails
Jesus never fails
Heav’n and earth may pass away
But Jesus never fails.

(from “Jesus Never Fails” by Arthur Luther)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10

**********

Perhaps today!

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:10-11

Have you ever wondered how the shepherds knew where to go look for the newborn Jesus? Bethlehem was not a small city, and it was overcrowded with visitors responding to the census, yet in all the hubbub, the shepherds knew exactly where to go simply based on the angel’s statement, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). A manger is merely a manufactured trough, often hewn out of stone and usually filled with water or feed for the animals. It would be a common fixture in and around Bethlehem, which again raises the question of how did the shepherds know to which one to go?

Just on the outskirts of Bethlehem is an area known as the “shepherds’ field.” This was a special field manned by special shepherds, sometimes referred to as Levitical shepherds, to care for special sheep, designated to be raised and eventually sacrificed in the temple of God in Jerusalem. These animals had to be carefully tended to as sacrificial animals had to be “without spot or blemish” (Deuteronomy 15:21) in order to be acceptable for use in the temple. In order to keep watch on the sheep, there was a stone structure, or tower, where a shepherd could keep watch over the entire field, while others were on the ground tending the flocks. This tower was known as the Migdal Eder, or the “tower of the flock.”

The Migdal Eder also served another purpose. On the ground level, the tower had a safe haven for ewes to give birth to their lambs. Here the priestly shepherds could protect the ewes during the birthing process and once born, they would wrap the little lambs in “swaddling clothes” to keep them from injuring themselves during the perinatal period, thus keeping them “without spot or blemish.”

When the angels announced to the shepherds that they would find Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, the shepherds knew exactly where to go… the Migdal Eder. This was place described by Micah centuries earlier, and this prophecy was most likely well known to these shepherds. “And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem” (Micah 4:8).

It was here in the Migdal Eder where God’s ultimate sacrificial Lamb would be born. In Bethlehem’s sacred fields, set aside for the sheep that were to be sacrificed to God in His holy temple, His perfect Lamb, Jesus, our perfect sacrifice for sin, first came into the world. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger, fulfilling God’s promise to send us a Saviour. It was to this place that the shepherds “… came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger” (Luke 2:16) exactly as the angel had said.

There are no coincidences in the Bible. The fact that Jesus was born in the place specified for the sacrificial lambs, and that He was referred to by John as “the Lamb of God” shows the divine execution of God’s plan and how it aligns perfectly with the Scriptures. Jesus was born to be the Saviour of the world, the perfect Lamb of God who would one day sacrifice His life upon an old rugged cross that we might have the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life in heaven with Him.

Your only Son, no sin to hide
But You have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God
Your gift of love they crucified
They laughed and scorned Him as He died
The humble King they named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God
 
Oh, Lamb of God
Sweet Lamb of God
I love the holy Lamb of God
Oh, wash me in His precious blood
My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God

(from “Lamb of God” by Twyla Paris)

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”  – John 1:29

**********

The real gift of Christmas is Jesus.

(photo courtesy of Samantha Campbell)

“When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” – Matthew 2:9

Tonight is supposed to be the night when the planets Jupiter and Saturn cross paths, appearing as a “bright star” in evening sky. There has been quite a bit of speculation as to whether or not this is the same type of event that spurred the magi on to their historic journey to find the new king just over 2,000 years ago.

According to Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer in the 17^th century, the Bethlehem star appeared in 7 AD and might have been the star that led the wisemen to Jesus. Modern day astronomers say the last time Jupiter and Saturn crossed paths was approximately 400 years ago, but it was during daylight hours and not visible. The last time it happened during nighttime hours was nearly 800 years ago.

It is interesting to note how humanity tries to find some kind of plausible explanation for supernatural events. If you follow the Christmas narrative in scripture, it is quite clear that the star guiding the magi did not stop over the manger. In fact, the Bible only records one group of visitors to the manger, which was the shepherds, not the wisemen. These kings from the east did not visit Jesus as a baby in a manger, but rather as a “young child” in a house. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him…” (Matthew 2:11).

In order for the wisemen to follow a star, it would have had to be visible for an extended amount of time in order for them to follow it from “the east” to the home of the 2-year-old Jesus. This would seem to necessitate a much longer occurrence that what we have with the  current conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

Impossible then for this to be same type of thing that happened when Jesus was born? Not necessarily. God can do anything. He made the sun stand still in Joshua 10:13. “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.” He is the creator of the universe, which includes the stars. “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.” (Genesis 1:16). Therefore, He can do whatever He wishes with the stars including making them behave in ways never before seen by mankind.

While I am not an astronomer by any stretch of the imagination, I do know that if God wanted to put a “star” in the sky, it would not necessarily have to be explained by natural events. But could it be? Absolutely! God can use natural phenomena as easily as He can use supernatural ones.

So is tonight’s event similar to the “Bethlehem star” of long ago? Maybe. Will I be outside tonight viewing the “Bethlehem star”? Yes, I plan to be! After all, the first time Jesus came to us, He was preceded by a heavenly sign. Maybe, just maybe, the next time He comes, there will be another astronomical wonder heralding His return! Just saying…

Oh, star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light.

(from “We Three Kings” by John Henry Hopkins, Jr.)

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” – Matthew 2:10

**********

Anytime something makes us stop and look to God, it is a good thing.

(photo courtesy of Samantha Campbell)

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” – Psalm 37:4

2020 has really been an interesting year. While there has been a lot of negativity associated with this year, there have also been a great number of blessings that I have experienced.

Here are a few of the wonderful things that have happened to me in 2020.

• Read through the Bible and deepened my relationship with the Lord
• Healed family relationships
• Mended friendships
• Made new friends
• Became healthier and embarked on a new career as a health and wellness coach

Here are a few verses that have supported me in my life journey in 2020.

• Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
• Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
• Psalm 37:5 – “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
• Psalm 19:14- “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

When I reflect on 2020, I will remember the faithfulness of my God, the love of my family, and the joy of friendship. I will remember how wonderful it is  to be in the house of the Lord, and to worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I will remember that I am kept firmly in the hand of God regardless of what is happening in the world, and my future is secure with Him.

I will always remember the good things in my life in the year 2020, and I will look forward to a wonderful 2021.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

(from “Count Your Blessings” by Johnson Oatman, Jr.)

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

**********

Praise God for His goodness to me!