Writing On Eagles Wings

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.” –  I Corinthians 13:4-8

The word “charity” is another word for “love”. This chapter in 1 Corinthians refers to a godly love – the kind of love that we should all have for one another. The word of this in the Greek is “agape” love. This is the type of love we should aspire for in our lives. Now, I thought this chapter was all about how I should love other people, but it is much more than that.

1 Corinthians 13 is a chapter that actually describes God and His love, which is “agape” love.  Let’s take a few minutes and see what God’s Word tells us about His .love for us

1. “Charity suffereth long.”
   1. Remember that charity means….? Yes, that is right. Charity means “love”. “Suffereth long” refers to having patience. It means putting up with something for a long time.
   2. Our God is patient with us. The Bible tells us that God is not willing that any should perish. That means He waits patiently for us to come to Christ.
      1. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 2:

2. “Charity is kind.”
   1. God is kind.
      1. “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” – Psalm 36:7
   2. God demonstrates His kindness to His children through His compassion and mercy on a daily basis. He withholds punishment choosing to teach and guide us through His Word instead of pouring out His wrath upon us.

3. “Charity envieth not.”
   1. God is not jealous when it comes to what we have in this life. it is not that God is jealous or envious because someone has something He wants or needs.
   2. The only thing that God is jealous of is our worship of false gods. He wants us to ONLY worship Him because He is the ONLY true God.
      1. “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” – Exodus 34:14

4. “Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.”
   1. My God is not proud or boastful.
      1. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” – Philippians 2:5-8
   2. Of anyone that ever lived, Jesus is the only one who has the right to be “puffed up” because He is God, but He isn’t. He was a humble servant to His Father God, obeying everything God wanted of Him including going to the cross.

5. “Charity doth not behave itself unseemly.”
   1. My God does not act unrighteously.
      1. “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” – Psalm 11:7
   2. Everything God does is right. When things happen in our lives that we think is unfair on God’s part, we just remember that He never does anything that is not for our best…never!

6. “Charity seeketh not her own.”
   1. God does not seek self-gratification.
      1. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” – 2 Corinthians 2:8-9
   2. The word “GRACE” explains it for us… God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. He died that we might have life. His act unselfish love bought our freedom from sin.

7. “Charity is not easily provoked.”
   1. My God is not easily angered
      1. “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” – Psalm 103:8
   2. The patience of God is well-documented in Scripture, but we must remember that it doesn’t say God is never provoked. It says that He is not easily But that patience God shows I because of His great love for us.

8. ”Charity thinketh no evil.”
   1. My God does not think evil
      1. “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” – Psalm 5:4
   2. God is love according to I John 4:16, and this love was manisfested at the cross, where God sacrificed His own Son to save us from our sins.

9. “Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity.”
   1. My God does not rejoice in sin
      1. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” – Isaiah 59:2
   2. God hates sin… it was sin that separated Him from His beloved Son for the first time in all eternity when Jesus took our sins upon His body on the cross… yet God forgives our sins when we confess to Him and seek His forgiveness.

• “Charity rejoiceth in the truth.”
  1. God’s Word is truth.
     1. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – John 17:17
  2. God also gave us His Spirit to guide us into all truth. Jesus Himself stated that He alone was the way, the truth and the life. God’s love rejoices in the truth of His Word.

11. “Charity beareth all things.”
    1. My God bears all things.
       1. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24
    2. Jesus bore the humiliation, rejection, and betrayal for us. He had the power to destroy all those who hated Him, but He reached out in love to save them all.

12. “Charity believeth all things.”
    1. God believes in the redemption of His children.
       1. “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” – 1 John 4:14
    2. John 3:16 reminds us of the love of God and His belief that we are worthy of salvation.

13. “Charity hopeth all things.”
    1. God love provides us with hope for eternal life.
       1. “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” – Psalm 71:5
    2. Because of His love, we have the hope of Jesus’ return and eternity in heaven with God.

14. “Charity endureth all things.”
    1. God’s love endures forever
       1. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” – Jeremiah 31:3
    2. God’s love compelled Him to provide a way for us to have access to His love.
       1. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

15. “Charity never faileth.”
    1. God never fails – He will never remove His love from us!
       1. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell.
The wand’ring child is reconciled by God’s beloved Son.
The aching soul again made whole, and priceless pardon won.

O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure— the saints’ and angels’ song.

(from “The Love of God” by Frederick Lehman)

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

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February is the month of love. When you think about those you love, remember the One who loves you with an everlasting love!

Finally after nearly 20 years, I decided to adopt a cat. Not just any cat. I wanted an adult cat that needed a home, so after looking online, I decided to go to the local shelter to see a rescue cat they had available… to see “if she would be a good fit for me,” they said. They brought her in; I was smitten, and just like that, I was the owner of a 5-year-old female tuxedo cat!

My dream was to have a cat like the ones I’d had before. One who would cuddle with me, sit on my lap, and let me love on her whenever I wanted to hold her. Needless to say, this was not the case with Mochi. I didn’t know her history, but 5 years is a long time to be moved from one shelter to another, one foster home to another, never knowing if this might be her forever home, so I expected a period of adjustment. I did not expect this to last for weeks, but Mochi made it clear that being held, cuddled, or even petted was off limits! So I read countless articles online about caring for cats and gaining their trust. I tried everything suggested – giving treats, using catnip, etc. Nothing worked. What cat doesn’t like catnip toys, right? Not Mochi. One sniff, and she ignored every toy. I refused to quit. Time, patience, and love. I was convinced that would be the key to her heart.

A few weeks have passed, and while Mochi doesn’t appear to be afraid of me, she definitely does not crave my attention. I am, however, learning to interact with her on her terms. She does allow me to pet her now, and even once, she rubbed up against my leg! I was elated!! Then that very same night, she nipped at me when I went to pet her. Frustrating? At times, but it doesn’t matter. I love her dearly, and I will not give up on her. However, I will not force my affections upon her either. I will feed her, clean out her litter box, give her treats, and give her the space she needs, all the while, waiting for the day when she will accept me into her life. That will come when she realizes that I love her and will not abandon her regardless of what has happened in her past or what she does now in our home.

As I watched her sleeping on the end of the sofa, my heart was sad for her and what she may have endured in her five years of life. Then it occurred to me that there are many parallels between my relationship with Mochi and my relationship with God.

Mochi and I both…

…have a past that haunts us at times.

…have been abandoned by those we did trust in our lives.

…have emotional scars that need to be overcome to allow love into our lives.

…have been resistant to accept love from those who desire to give it.

…have attitudes that definitely make us unlovable at times.

…demand our own ways at times.

…want to feel safe, wanted, and loved.

The parallels between what needed to be done in order to be accepted by Mochi, I have to do what God did for me to bring me to where I would accept Him.

1. I have to love her unconditionally as God loved me when I was unlovable.
   1. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

2. I have to keep my promise to never leave her as God has promised to never leave me nor forsake me.
   1. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:20

3. I have to forgive her when she does wrong as God forgives me when I sin.
   1. “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

4. I have to help her feel safe, believing my love for her will not change.
   1. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

5. I have to guide and teach her to do what is right as God teaches me through His Word.
   1. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” – John 14:26

6. I have to listen to her when she communicates with me just as God listens to me when I pray.
   1. “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” – Psalm 34:17

7. I have to protect her as God watches over and protects me.
   1. “The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; thou savest me from violence.” – 2 Samuel 22:3

8. I have to provide a home for her as God is preparing a place for me in heaven.
   1. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” – John 14:2

In time, I am confident Mochi will be able to accept my love for her, just as I have accepted God’s love for me. Understanding that He loved me enough to die on a cross for me is overwhelming, and I am so grateful for His gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. My life has never been better, and I cannot imagine living without Him! One day, I will look upon my Saviour’s face and thank Him for His unspeakable love!

There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
it sounds like music in my ear,
the sweetest name on earth.

It tells me of a Savior’s love,
who died to set me free;
it tells me of his precious blood,
the sinner’s perfect plea.

O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
because he first loved me!

(from “Oh, How I Love Jesus!” by Frederick Whitfield & Anon)

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.” – Psalm 145:3

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One day, my Mochi will understand how much I love her, just as one day, when in His presence, I will fully understand the depth, breadth, and height of God’s love for me!

Today during my quiet time with God, I was struck by His great love for me. This is not a new concept for me. It is written in His Word again and again, but today I was reflecting on a message I heard during our week of revival at my church, and the thought of who God is, who I am, and why He loves me inundated my thoughts.

God is not Someone I can fully comprehend. I know what I have read in the Bible. Words like “holy” and “eternal” describe Him, but in my humanity, I cannot really grasp the characteristics of God.

• “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” – Isaiah 6:3
• “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”- Psalm 90:2

Not to mention, the fact that there is only one God, yet three-in-One.

• “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” – 1 John 5:7)

To help me understand Him better, God chose to come to earth in the embodiment of Jesus Christ. As the Son of God, He was a man, yet He was God. He came to do what mankind could never do… atone for their sins.

• “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” – Philippians 4:6-7
• “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10

However, when I sat quietly and pondered, my thoughts focused on one question, “Why?”

Why go through all of this knowing what would happen? The exponential growth of sin in the world, the rejection of God Himself by His own creation, the horrific payment for sin that would have to be made for any reconciliation with Him… Why?

Why did God choose to save mankind knowing that one day that would result in His Son going to the cross?

• God could have destroyed the world totally when Adam and Eve sinned, and He could easily have started all over, destroying Lucifer and the rebellious angels and not having to deal with the sins of mankind.
• God could have placed angels with flaming swords around the tree of the knowledge of good and evil preventing Adam and Eve’s disobedience and the introduction of sin into the world.
• God could have mandated that we would have to find our own way to salvation through works or deeds, which of course, we would never be able to do or even want to, and then let us die in our sins and go into a Christless eternity without Him.

But God didn’t do any of that. Instead, He made a plan to save all of us from our sins. He would send His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to the cross.

• “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” – 1 John 4:14

But, why?

Why did Jesus choose to go to the cross? Why not decide on a different path for redemption? Why would He want to save a sinner like me, knowing how I would fail Him again and again… even after accepting His free gift of salvation? Why is God faithful and just to forgive me over and over? (1 John 1:9) When I reflect on who I am, I truly am amazed that God would even care about me. After all, I am not a great teacher of the gospel; I am not a missionary; I am not prominent in the Church. I am just a plain ordinary person, unworthy, sinful, and often resistant to His leading. Yet Jesus chose to sacrifice Himself as the answer to the sin problem of the world. Not only did He provide salvation for us, but we don’t really have to do anything for it except to ask for His forgiveness and trust Him as Saviour. I don’t have to perform certain tasks or give a certain amount of money to the church. I don’t have to pray a certain amount of times each day or even attend church so many days a week. I don’t have to do anything but trust Him as my Saviour and ask Him to forgive me. Why?

• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Romans 10:13

Why does God’s Holy Spirit dwell within me? I know what the Bible says about the responsibilities of the Spirit of God, but me? I take Him into situations that He would not voluntarily go. I expose Him to sins that hurt, disgust, and disappoint Him. I often don’t listen to Him when He speaks to me through His Word. Why does He persist in correcting, convicting, teaching, and guiding me? He doesn’t need me at all, nor will He ever need me, yet He is with me 24/7, and will be for all eternity. Why?

• “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” – 1 Corinthians 3:16

The answers to all my “whys” are found in one place – The Bible.

God did all of this for one reason only. He loves me. Over and over again in the Scriptures, God reiterates how much He loves me and all of humanity. It is this love that stayed Him from utterly destroying every living thing on this planet. It is this love that compelled Jesus to walk the road to Calvary. It is this love that brought the Holy Spirit into our lives fulfilling God’s promise that He would never leave us. The reason is love.

• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

This is the God I serve…or at least try to serve to the best of my ability. This is the God I love because He first loved me. This is the God who created me knowing that I would fail Him time and time again – that I would seek His forgiveness over and over – that I would choose sin over Him. This is the God who loves me with an everlasting love.

• “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” – Jeremiah 31:3

This is the God who desires a relationship with me despite all that I am and all that I am not. This is the God who sacrificed Himself for my sins.

• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

This is the God who invites me into His throne room any time I want to go there.

• “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”- Hebrews 10:19

This is the God who listens for my prayers and then answers them in a way that is best for me and those for whom I intercede.

• “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers…” – 1 Peter 3:12

This is the God who knew me before I was even conceived… I began as a thought in the mind of God, and then He formed me in my mother’s womb. He wanted me to exist.

• “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…” – Jeremiah 1:5

This is the God who blesses me every single day. He has a plan for my life and continues to work in me, making me more like His Son Jesus.

• “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

This is the God who is preparing a place for me in heaven to life with Him forever because He loves me.

• “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”- John 14:2

This is THE God. This is MY God. This is the only true and living God. Not only does He love me, but He knows me by name.

• “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” – 1 Corinthians 8:3
• “But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee…” – Jeremiah 12:3

I am so blessed.

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
 
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!

(from “I Stand Amazed in the Presence” by Charles H. Gabriel)

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” – 1 John 4:16

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Jesus loves me, and He also loves YOU!

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and my pastor, Tim Campbell, shared several messages this Christmas season focusing on key persons we often think of during this time. Here is a message about the travels of Mary and Joseph that he shared in church and on his social media page. I have blended the two together (adding a few verses as I don’t his references written down), and I hope it is a blessing for you.

“Mary and Joseph were making the last few miles of their 93-mile trip, more or less, heading to Bethlehem from Nazareth for the census mandated by Caesar Augustus, the emperor of the Roman Empire. Luke 2:4 says, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)” Depending upon how much Mary could handle, Joseph had led the donkey along, bearing Mary and the Son of God. As I write this, it is cool and raining in Bethlehem. Sometimes it snows in the shepherd’s hills. No, that was not an easy trip – it was forced upon them by the Roman government. Carrying a baby? No excuse. About to deliver? That did not matter to Rome – the tax and census must be accomplished. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” (Luke 2:1)

Cold, rainy, eating meager fare along the way – Joseph with Mary and the Son of God endured. That was a real hardship. These were real people. Jesus was a real living person in His mother’s womb. He was already the Son of God, even before He was born. At conception, Christ was made flesh for the purpose of living for us, dying for our sins, and rising again for our justification (John 1:14).

Looking toward the heavens, what they could not see was God’s eye upon their journey. He had planned it all, and the angels of heaven were surrounding the young cold family on their way, assuring they would arrive at their appointed destination safely. God knew there would be no room in the inn, and He knew where their journey would end at a sheep cote where Jesus would be born. Nothing could stop the plan of God because He loved us so much. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

As I write this, it is about 7:15 pm in Bethlehem. Darkness is settling on the shepherd’s hills. Not long after this time of day, the Blessed Hope would be born, and the Light of the World would be laid in a manger. “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12). The shepherds were called by the angels, and the star continued its shining to lead the wise men on their way.

That night, the dying world began to live again because the Word was Made Flesh. The day I trusted Christ as my Savior, I began to live, really live because He Really Lives!”

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing!

(from “Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts)

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”- Matthew 1:21
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Jesus came for YOU!

I read the main points of this post online and felt it would be wonderful to share here. While I did add the verses, commentary, and song, the author of the main concepts was unnamed. I hope this is a blessing to you especially in this Christmas season as it was to me.

So, Who is He?

• In Chemistry, He turned water to wine.
  • “So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine…” – John 4:46a
• In Biology, He was born without the normal conception.
  • “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14
• In Physics, He disproved the Law of Gravity when He ascended into Heaven.
  • “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” – Acts 1:9
• In Economics, He disproved the Law of Diminishing Return by feeding 5000 men with 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread.
  • “And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude… And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” – Matthew 14:19,21
• In Medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs.
  • “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” – Mark 10:52
• In History, He is the Beginning and the End.
  • “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”- Revelation 21:6
• In Government, He carried the government upon His shoulders as the Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9;6
• In Religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him.
  • “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”- John 14:6

So, who is He? He is Jesus, the Son of God… the One who God the Father sent to be the Saviour of the world! (1 John 4:14)

*Jesus had no servants, yet they called him Master.
*Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.
*Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.
*He had no army, yet kings feared Him.
*He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.
*He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.
*He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today!

And it is this Jesus who loves me with an everlasting love! (Jeremiah 31:3)
It is this Jesus who walked the road to Calvary and died for my sins on that old rugged cross to give me everlasting life! (John 3:16)  It is this Jesus who is preparing a place for me in heaven! (John 14:3)

That’s my Jesus! It is He whom I celebrate this Christmas!

Isn’t He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,
Isn’t Jesus my Lord wonderful?
Eyes have seen, ears have heard
It’s recorded in God’s Word,
Isn’t Jesus my Lord wonderful?

(from “Isn’t He Wonderful?” author unknown)

“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

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How will you celebrate the birth of our Saviour?

For several years now, the specific seasonal greeting of “Merry Christmas” has changed to a more generic form of salutation during Christmastime. Now, we often hear “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” in place of “Merry Christmas.”

Another interesting thing to note is the substitution of the letter “x” for “Christ” in Christmas. Some people may know that “X” came from the 16^th century Greek, and refers to “Christ,” so that’s a good thing, but many people are unaware of that. Sadly, it is a very subtle and deceptive way to remove Christ from Christmas.

More obvious ways to remove our focus from Christ is the attention given to Santa and his reindeer, the buying and giving of gifts, and even listening to traditional secular Christmas music, none of which are not “evil” by themselves, but when the emphasis for Christmas is placed on these things, ignoring the celebration that rightfully belongs to the Lord Jesus, it becomes a subtle form of idolatry.

It is very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas and forget the real reason for Christmas, but the Bible reminds us that the birth of Jesus was extraordinarily special, so much so that the angels of heaven rejoiced over His birth.  “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” – Luke 2:13-14.  The birth of Christ truly caused all of heaven to rejoice! This angelic display alone clearly demonstrates the divine importance placed upon the birth of God’s only begotten Son.

While it is true that many people do recognize that Christmas as the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the real question to ask ourselves is “Do we really keep Christ in Christmas?”

Here are a few ways to keep Christ in our Christmas AND our hearts!

1. The number one way is to keep Jesus in your DAILY life. How? You must have a personal relationship with Jesus. Is there a time in your life when you asked Jesus to forgive you and become your Savior? This is the reason God’s Son came to earth that very first Christmas day… to pay for our sins on the cross and provide salvation through Him for everyone who chooses to trust Him for forgiveness of their sins and make Him Lord of their life. I John 4:14 states, “… The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”  Acts 16:31 goes on to say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…”

Other ways to keep Christ as the center of your Christmas holiday:

2. Set aside a special time to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5 – 2:20. Remind yourself of the specialness of Jesus’ birth. Isaiah 7:14 records the uniqueness of this birth. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

3. Set up a nativity scene in the main room of your home. Near the Christmas tree is a great place to place the manger scene because it will be plainly visible when you are enjoying the lights and beauty of your decorated tree. If you don’t have a nativity set, you can set up a Christmas card that has a picture of the nativity in a place where you can see it every day. “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:7

4. Do something nice for someone. Maybe you can spend some extra time with someone here who needs a friend during Christmas. The Bible tells us, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32. Doing a random act of kindness shows others the love of God through you! Remember, you may be the only Jesus some will ever see!

Here are a few ideas of what you can do:

*Spend some extra time with someone here who needs a friend during Christmas. Maybe it is someone who has no nearby family or who has lost a loved one the past year. Maybe it is someone who is unable to go to church or get out on their own. Your visit will brighten their day and put the love of Jesus in you to action.

*Write a note to a special family member or friend. Personal communication has almost gone by the wayside due to technology. With email, social networking, texting… we’ve almost forgotten how wonderful it is to receive a handwritten note from a friend! It truly blesses one’s heart to be a recipient of a card or letter.

*Send a Christmas card to someone you haven’t seen in a while. Sending a note of Christmas cheer to someone will touch your own heart as well as the one who receives your card.

5. Make sure to have a special personal devotion time on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Maybe it’s just to reread the Christmas story from the Bible. Maybe it’s a short devotion from a booklet. Start the day with Jesus. It will help you remain focused on Him. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” -2 Timothy 2:15

6. Attend a church service if you can. Nothing replaces the gathering together of fellow believers in a time of celebration for Christmas. There are services on television, radio, the Internet also for those who cannot get to a church. “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.” – Hebrews 10:25

7. Share your faith with someone. A quiet Christmas evening is a wonderful time to share how Christ became your Savior or how God has blessed you in the previous year. Find a friend to sit with and share your faith. Hebrews 10:23-24 states, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised; And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” The Christmas season is the time of year when people are more receptive to hearing the gospel. Take the time to share Jesus, and you may be blessed by the results!

As you celebrate Christmas this year, remember the real reason for the holiday.       CELEBRATE CHRIST!

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, oh night divine!

(from “O Holy Night” by Placide Cappeau & Adolphe Adame)

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”- Luke 2:11

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How will you remember Christmas this year?

When I  think of Christmas, many things come to mind. Decorations, trees, family gatherings, shopping, church… I’m sure you can think of many other things about Christmas, but today, I want to share with you a very important part about Christmas. That is the giving of gifts.

I have heard that there is too much emphasis on giving gifts, but it is important to realize that without the giving of gifts, there would be no Christmas. It’s true! Think about this…

1. Christmas began when God gave the world its very first gift. That gift was His beloved Son, Jesus, and He was given to be our Saviour. Through Jesus Christ alone, we can receive forgiveness of sins and the promise of life forever in heaven. That is the gift that literally keeps on giving.. for all eternity!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” –  John 3:16

2. The second gift was given by Mary, Jesus’ mother. Luke 1:27-38 records the event when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of God’s only Son.  She chose to “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.” – Proverbs 3:5,6 Mary gave the gift of TRUST to her heavenly Father.

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” – Luke 1:39

3. The third gift was given by Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. In Matthew 1:18-25, the Bible records the account where Joseph is unsure of what to do with Mary once she has told him she is with child. In a dream, Joseph receives instructions from an angel to take Mary as his wife. Joseph gave the gift of OBEDIENCE to the Lord.

“Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:” -Matthew 1:24

4. The fourth gift was given by the shepherds. As they sat watching their flocks, they were astonished to see the angels of heaven appear in the night sky! Luke 2 records the angels appearing to the shepherds and announcing the birth of Christ! The shepherds began to rejoice and gave the gift of PRAISE to God.

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”- Luke 2:20

5. The fifth gift was given by the wise men. Matthew 2 shares the story of the journey of the magi as they followed the star leading them to the home of Jesus. With them, they carried gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Once they found Jesus, the Bible records in Matthew 2 that they bowed down and presented their gifts to Him. These wise men gave the gift of WORSHIP to Jesus.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:11

The question to ask ourselves now is “What is our gift to God?

Here are 4 letters that explain four precious gifts that we can all give to the Lord.

• The first letter is “T” – talk to God (pray)
  • “Pray without ceasing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
  • God desires to hear our voices. He asks us to be in the spirit of prayer continually. Think of this… if you knew someone, but they had never spoken a word to you and you had never spoken to them, how would you cultivate a relationship? You couldn’t. Converse with God throughout the day. Develop a deep and abiding relationship with Him. He loves you and longs to hear your prayers. There is no special place you must be or position you must be in to pray. You can be driving your car (don’t close your eyes here!); you can be cooking in the kitchen, or you can be reclining on the couch. It doesn’t matter if it is morning, noon, or night… God is always there, waiting to hear from you!

• The second letter is “I” – intercede (pray for others)
  • “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” – 1 Timothy 2:1
  • Praying for the needs of others is an essential part of a Christian’s life. We are to bear the burdens of others, and in doing so, we can pray for them when they are unable to do so for themselves. There is no greater honor that to bring someone’s name to our Lord in prayer and ask Him to help them. We are even to pray for those who have hurt us, those with whom we do not agree on issues, and those that even dislike us! God always responds to the prayers of His people according to His perfect will.

• The third letter is “M” – meditate on his Word (read the Bible)
  • “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” – Psalm 119:15
  • “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” – Psalm 119:11
  • The way to know God is through His holy Word. The way to equip oneself for the challenges of life is through God’s Word. The way to fight against the forces of darkness in this world is with God’s Word. It is vital for a believer to read and study the Bible because it is only in its pages can one find truth, wisdom, guidance, and the knowledge needed to live a godly life. The Scriptures are used by the Holy Spirit of God to guide, convict, and teach each of us. When we commit to memory the precious Word of God, we are equipping ourselves to “fight the good fight” and do the work of God. Memorizing and meditating on the Scriptures is an invaluable part of the Christian’s life.

• The last letter is “E” – evangelize (tell others about Jesus)
  • “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” – Mark 16:15
  • This world is a very dark place, full of wickedness and evil. It is sin-cursed and in desperate need of God. However, if no one shares the gospel with the unsaved, how will they ever hear of the Saviour? It is not just a job for a pastor or missionary. Jesus has called each of us to tell the world the good news of salvation through Him, and there is no better time to do this than during the Christmas season because people are more receptive to taking a gospel tract or listening to your personal testimony of how Jesus has changed your life! Share Jesus with everyone you meet!!

Now we have four gifts of letters, and when we put these four letters together, we get the gift that God wants from us. He wants us to give Him the gift of our TIME. Time with Him in prayer; time praying for others; time reading His Word, the Bible; and time sharing Jesus with others.

Christmas is truly a time for giving gifts. I challenge you (and me!) to take time with God daily and take time to share the gift of Jesus with others as often as you can! Your holiday season will be doubly blessed!

Silent night, Holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

(from “Silent Night” by Joseph Mohr)

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” James 4:8a

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What gift will you give to God this year?

This is definitely the month for thoughts on the topic of thankfulness. Recently, I heard the youth pastor of our church, Jared Butler, share a Thanksgiving message with us, and it was a great blessing. Since I am an interpreter for our church, I don’t have the opportunity to take notes, so I am sharing the acrostic and the words he used in his message, adding my own choices of verses and thoughts to go with each item for which I am grateful. I hope this is a blessing to you.

During this time of the year, as I focus on giving thanks for my blessings, my thoughts cannot help but turn to God. Using the acrostic, GIVE THANKS, here are ten things for which I am most grateful today and every day.

G – Grace

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” – Ephesians 2:8

There is nothing that you or I could do to merit the favor of God. The Bible tells us clearly that everyone is a sinner (Romans 3:23) and undeserving of anything God has to offer, yet He has loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and gave us His Son, Jesus, to become the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). The grace of God provided what we could never have attained ourselves. It is through His grace that we have been given forgiven and saved from our sins. For that, I am eternally grateful.

I – Instruction

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” – 2 Timothy 3:16

God didn’t just create us and then leave us to exist on our own. He gave us His Word to teach us. It’s like our “owner’s manual” for life. Whatever we need can be found in the pages of the Bible, and then as Christians, we have His Spirit indwelling us (Romans 8:9) who teaches through God’s Word. So many countries of the world forbid their citizens to own a Bible. I am so grateful for the Word of God that I have in my hand every day.

V – Verses

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” – Psalm 119:105

Going along with “Instruction”, I am so grateful for individual verses in the Bible that God uses to speak to my heart. The Bible has often been referred to as the “living Word”, and this is demonstrated in my life when I read it. So often I have read a verse with which I am quite familiar, yet it takes on a new meaning for my life and a particular situation I am facing. There are also specific verses that I cling to when challenges come… ones that I have memorized from years past, and the Spirit of God brings them to remembrance just when I need them most. For that, I am exceedingly thankful.

E – Eternal life

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:15

God has promised me a home in heaven! In fact, Jesus is there right now preparing a place for me (John 14:2). When I trusted Christ as my Saviour, I immediately became a joint-heir with Him (Romans 8:17) and a recipient of all the promises of God, including an eternal dwelling place in heaven! I am so very grateful for my future home with my Saviour!

T – Truth

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – John 17:17

In a world where “truth is relevant”, the Bible has a truth that is absolute. There is no need to rewrite the Scriptures because they are timeless and 100% true. There is no need to wonder if certain passages of the Bible are “relevant” for this generation because every part of the Bible is relevant and speaks absolute truth for everyone today, just as it did for those in the past and will do for those in the future! My faith is not founded on shaky ground, but rather it is based upon the solid truth of Scripture! That is truly something for which I am incredibly thankful!

H – Help

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

Knowing that my heavenly Father is the Almighty God who made all things, can do all things, controls all things, AND invites me to come to Him when I need help is amazing! Because I am His child, I can go to Him at any time, and He can and will help me through anything that life throws my way. When I am afraid, God helps me (Psalm 56:3). When I am in need, God provides what I need (Philippians 4:19). When I am at my wit’s end, God reminds me He is there for me (Isaiah 41:10). His mercy truly endures forever (Psalm 136:26), and He extends that mercy to me when He helps me each day.  Thank You, Lord, for your help in all areas of my life!

A – Access

“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” – Ephesians 2:18

When Jesus died on the cross, the Bible records that “…the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom” (Mark 15:38). This act signified that all those who will come to trust in Christ as Saviour now will have access to God Himself… the barrier has been removed by the work of Christ on the cross. I don’t need anyone to pray on my behalf when I want to share my heart with God. I can pray to Him directly and have the assurance that He is listening to me. In fact, He wants me to come to Him in prayer continually (I Thessalonians 5:17). Knowing that I have access to the Creator of the universe, Almighty God, twenty-fours a day is a blessing beyond words. I am so grateful that I serve a God who is approachable and desires me to come to Him.

N – New life

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:4

My new life in Jesus doesn’t begin when I get to heaven. It began the moment He forgave my sins! My eternal life began when I surrendered myself to Jesus as Lord and Saviour of my life. That was when I became a new creation! 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” My new life comes with a level of peace and joy and contentment that the world cannot offer. Thank You, Lord, for my new life!

K – Knowledge

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6

I can vividly remember when I realized I was a sinner. That knowledge changed my life because it was then that I bowed my head and asked Jesus to forgive me and become my Saviour. From that moment, I have continued to learn more and more about the Lord, and my faith has grown. As His Holy Spirit continues to teach me through the Word of God, I develop a deeper knowledge of who God is and what my relationship to Him means for me. Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…”, and I am so thankful I continue to acquire more knowledge of Him through His Word.

S – Sanctification

“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” – 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Sanctification means being declared holy and free from sin. This has been accomplished in my life solely through my belief and acceptance of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The shedding of His precious blood and His sacrificial death purchased my salvation, thus sanctifying me and making me acceptable to God. When I accepted the free gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit began a “good work” in me (Philippians 1:6). I have been sanctified for a specific purpose by God, set apart for His use, to do His work. One day, that work will be completed, and I will be in the presence of my God! I am so thankful for sanctification!

Thank you Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

(from “Thank You, Lord” by Seth and Bessie Sykes)

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.”- Psalm 188:1

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Clearly, as Pastor Butler shared, it’s more than just “thanks-giving”. My life is to be one of “thanks-living”. How about you?

(photo courtesy of Deb Shirreffs)

Halloween is right around the corner! Most people associate Halloween with trick-or-treating, where children dress up in costume and go door-to-door to get candy. Houses are decorated for the night with various scary things… ghosts, goblins, and skeletons. Additionally, theme parks advertise their “haunted house” nights, and the entertainment industry often releases new horror movies in October. All of these are designed to generate a certain degree of “fun fear” in people.

Halloween is a day that capitalizes on people’s fears…witches, zombies, black cats, and of course, death. Part of its origin started with the Celts, who, like most people, were afraid of death and evil spirits. One of their customs was to wear costumes and frightening face masks on a day that we now call Halloween in an attempt to scare off the returning ghosts of the dead.

Later, the association of Halloween with the evil spirit world of Satan and his demons became more pronounced, and this generated even greater fear of ghosts, goblins, and monsters. The reality of a day when self-proclaimed witches and warlocks paid homage to their master increased the trepidation in the hearts of many individuals as stories of animal sacrifices and sorcerers casting evil spells surrounded Halloween. To combat the fears of the occult world, Halloween evolved into a day of “fun” fear.

In reality, genuine fear is not fun, and almost anything can be considered a fear or phobia from arachnophobia (fear of spiders) to coulrophobia (fear of clowns) to trypanophobia (fear of needles). Fears can cripple people, keeping them from completing simple acts of daily living such as going grocery shopping or sleeping with all the lights off. Intense fear can even create physical manifestations such as hallucinations or even heart attacks!

Fear is real, and we all experience it in one form of another. How do we combat fear when it is all around us, and when we are living in a world that cultivates fear around every corner?

The answer is found in the Bible.

In 1 John, we are told that perfect love drives out fear. Perfect love can only come from a relationship with God. Once a person has trusted Christ as their Saviour, the love of God is so real in one’s life, and that love has the power to conquer any fear. Here are some ways that demonstrate how God alleviates our fears.

1. God promises to be with us.
   1. “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
   2. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6
2. God promises to fight our battles for us.
   1. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31
   2. “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” – Exodus 14:14
   3. “…Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” – 2 Chronicles 20:15
3. God controls all things; He is all powerful.
   1. “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” -Psalm 147:5
   2. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4

By remembering who God is… the Creator of all things… the One who simply spoke and everything we know came into existence… and remembering that if you have trusted in Christ as your personal Saviour, God’s great love and protection is available to you through His Spirit. The all-powerful, all-knowing God loves you and will take care of you. Matthew 10:31 says “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” God cares for each little bird, and they are not nearly as important to Him as you are. He did not send His Son to die on a cross for the salvation of the birds… He sent His Son for you and me. Therefore, if God takes such great care of the sparrows, He most certainly will take care of you.

We don’t need to fear anything in this sinful world (including the very real world of the occult) because our Father in heaven, who knows everything, created everything, AND controls everything, has you firmly in the palm of His hand. Joshua 10:25 states, “And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.” He will take care of you in every circumstance and situation you face. He has promised that. Psalm 91 confirms this in verses 9 and 10, “Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”

It is important to remember that fear does not come from God, but He does control all entities from which fear emanates. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) He tells us in His word, that when we are afraid, we are to trust in Him and His ability to protect and save us from all evils… all things of which we are fearful. David, who faced fear many times in his life, wrote in Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” We should do the very same thing whenever fear threatens to overwhelm us; we must remember to trust in the Lord!

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face
While the storm howls above me, and there’s no hiding place
‘Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry
Keep me safe till the storm passes by
 
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

(from “’Til the Storm Passes By” by Mosie Lister)

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” –  Zechariah 4:6

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Face your fears with prayer, and rest secure in God’s love!

You know autumn is here when pumpkins begin to make their appearances, cool crisp weather replaces the heat and humidity of summer, and candy corn can be found in the seasonal aisles of the grocery stores. For me, when leaves of varying colors begin their dance to the earth below, I know fall has arrived.

Scientifically speaking, I know that the color change of the leaves actually means they are dying. The chloroplasts (the green organelles) that produce food for the leaves have died, and when they die, the other colors of leaf pigment become visible. This is manifest in the brilliant hues of red, orange, yellow, and even brown. However, there is so much more to these leaves than their colors, and that is what I’d like to share with you.

COLORS OF AUTUMN: BROWN

The first leaf color is brown. Brown often represents the earth. Its tones can be seen in the dirt and the hills. In the autumn, we see browns in the leaves, and as they fall, we see the barren trees. These fallen leaves are no longer living, and so brown also reminds us of death.

When I see the brown leaves, they remind me of mankind. Why? Because like the leaves that are becoming brown because they are dying, we are also dying. The Bible clearly states that we are all sinners, and that the punishment for our sins is death. Romans 3:23 states that all of us, no matter who we are or how good our works are, we can never math the glory of God. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Because of that, we are all dying physically and spiritually. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death…” But Romans 6:23 doesn’t end here. It continues. The complete verse states “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The brown leaves also remind me of the price that was paid for my sins. It reminds me of the cross that Jesus sacrificed Himself upon to purchase my redemption. 1 John 4:14 says, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” Philippians 2:8 states, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”  Lastly, 1 Peter 2:24 speaks of Jesus, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” So, while brown reminds me of my sin and death, it also demonstrates the incredible love of God for His creation through the death of His beloved son, Jesus, on the cross.

When I see brown leaves, I am reminded of the cross of Christ and His great sacrifice for me.

COLORS OF AUTUMN: RED

The second leaf color I think of at autumn is red. Red is most commonly associated with love, and the love of God is mentioned many times in the Bible. Perhaps the most familiar verse to most of us is John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Another verse that speaks of God’s great love is Romans 5:8, which states, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

While red is probably most noted for being the color of love, it is also the color of sin. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” The red leaves remind me of the curse of sin in this world and the curse of sin in my own life.

However, the color red also symbolizes blood, and that reminds me of the precious blood of Jesus that was shed upon the cross for my sins. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Jesus spoke of His blood at the Last Supper, when He spoke of the cup. He said, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. On the cross, Christ offered his precious blood as the atonement for our sins, and it was accepted by God the Father as the “once and for all” payment for our sin-debt. Once we ask Jesus to forgive us, His shed blood covers any and all sins we have or ever will commit. All fear of God’s judgment and punishment is removed as we are redeemed by the precious blood of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ.

When I see the red leaves of autumn, it reminds me of the blood of Christ that cleanses me of my sin and the enormity of the love of God for His creation… you and me!

COLORS OF AUTUMN: ORANGE

The next leaf color is orange. Orange is frequently associated with optimism and hope, deep understanding, and freedom. It also is representative of flames and fire.  When I think of flames in the Bible, I think of  I think of the fire of God as manifested by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:3-4 states, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The power of God’s Spirit was manifest in the visualization of flames! When a person accepts Christ’s free gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit of God takes up residence with us. Jesus tells us the work of the Spirit in John 14:26. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

Where are these things that the Spirit brings to our remembrance? These things are found in the Word of God. As we read and study the Bible, the Holy Spirit will bring verses to our mind when we need them. He will teach us, convict us of sin, guide us and equip us to serve God and represent Jesus to the world. Our responsibility is to read and study the Bible, so the Holy Spirit has the material by which He does His work in us.

This fall, when I see leaves of orange, I will think of the Holy Spirit that dwells within me and remember that He is the One by whom I will learn and understand the deeper things of God.

COLORS OF AUTUMN: GOLD

Lastly, I reflect on the yellow or gold leaves.Traditionally, yellow or gold is the color of wisdom, diligence, cheer, and wellness, but when I think of gold or yellow, I am reminded of heaven. Heaven, of course, is the place where God dwells. We have a small glimpse of heaven from the writings in the Bible, but there is nothing, I believe, that can prepare us for the glory of God that will be manifested there. So, what does the Bible tell us?

In Revelation 21:21, God’s Word says, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”

We also know the glory of God is seen in heaven. “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23). We know that there will be no need of the sun because God Himself will be the Light. Revelation 22:1-5 states, “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

When I see the golden leaves of autumn, it brings thoughts of heaven to my mind.

The colors of autumn are so abundant! Seeing God in nature and remembering Jis love story with humanity is a beautiful way to stay grounded during this season of change. Seeking evidence of His handiwork in our everyday routines makes for a great mindfulness exercise and spiritual growth tool! Being intentional about your thought life is so helpful in staying in touch with God as we enter into the busyness of the holiday season. As you notice the colors of autumn, take as many moments as you can to show gratitude to our Creator for all He has done for you.