Moments

A preacher once remarked that if you like his children, treat children good, you would have about won him over. My Mother is a hundred years old and in the nursing home. And once I thanked one of the many dedicated nurses aides there for treating my Mother so well. I went on to say that as she treats my mother well she treats me well. As we treat others well, we are indirectly treating Jesus well too - not a bad thing. How many of those who are the "least" have I treated well? How well have I treated Jesus today? And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40

Out there in the pasture four to five deer were grazing. I noticed that they looked up, ears aright, occasionally to check for danger, then it was back to searching and nibbling; finding the next tasty tidbit; looking for the next acorn. And I wondered what they get out of life but this: living in the moment; finding the next acorn; watching for danger. For deer, perhaps that is enough. But what about people? How often do we find ourselves living only in the moment, on guard for danger, trying to find our next acorn? But God has breathed into us His Spirit and we are called to do more and be more. In the words John Baille, "Thine was the Spirit that first led them out of their brutish estate and made them men." We were called higher from our momentary satisfactions from the beginning. My belief is that God would like us to find our way past the moment into His eternity; to live the enlarged life He has prepared for us.

Mother is a 100 years old and often says when I ask about her recent weakness - I will be OK. I'm fine. While acknowledging her recent and somewhat rapid deterioration mentally, and physically, she seems to have that peaceful, "I will be OK" attitude about it all. I believe it is true. I believe her. I believe she will be OK. Coming soon is healing, Coming soon is eyesight, hearing, capability, and joyful eternity. It is like the John Phelps song says, "There will be no more night, no more pain, no more tears, neither crying again." I love that song. I believe it. So, I understand my mother's meaning when she says she will be OK. Better than OK even: she "will live in the light of the Risen Lamb." The song is mine as well. The best is yet to come. I will be OK.

"How old will I be when I get married?" "Much older," I answered my six-year old granddaughter. "Nineteen or twenty or even more?" "Yes, I would hope at least that old. But, I probably won't be around to see it." "Where will you be?" "I will be gone home to be with Jesus by then, my dear. But, I will be looking down from above, standing next to Jesus and saying how pretty you look, and how proud of you I am at the fine young lady you are." "Pop-Pop, you are very big, but you will have to look up to talk to Jesus. Jesus is very, very big; much bigger than you." "You are right. Jesus is much bigger than I am, and if I want to talk to Jesus, I will have to look up. Up is where the Hope is."

Abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night and suddenly----- The lights came on. The quiet night, their quiet lives were impacted with a Word from God. They were afraid. Natural reaction to the sudden and unknown, but soon they were reassured..."Fear not." How many times in the scriptures does God tell us to "fear not?" You would think by now we would have gotten it. Then the message, the Good News, the Gospel. And fear evolved to wonder and anticipation. Let's go see - and they did. Wow! Just like God said - How many times has that happened in our lives? - they had been with Jesus; they knew He was the Son of God; they knew this would change their world - Emmanuel: God is with us - go tell the story; and they did; simple shepherds, the first preachers. When they returned to their "abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night," things were different. God had entered their lives in a mighty way, and t...

The shepherds couldn't wash their hands enough to suit orthodox religiosity. Because of their constant care of their herds, they could not observe all the ceremonial hand washings and all the other rules and regulations required to be good and proper. These simple men were looked down upon by orthodox religious leaders. Yet, it was these simple men that the coming of Jesus was first announced. And, I think about the wise men who had to come from afar whereas these shepherds were "in the same country." The wise men had to follow a star, but the second class citizen shepherds were honored with an angel of the Lord making the announcement. The "glory of the Lord shone round about them." The angel made the announcement giving clear directions to the Christ child. And a multitude from heaven had a praise service glorifying God. The shepherd had lots more than a single star to follow across a foriegn country. They got the message vividly, personally, and they...

They had traveled for probably a week or more, on foot or riding a donkey through tough terrain. She was in the last stage of pregnancy. Yet, when they arrived at their destination, there was no room at the inn for them to stay. The gift of love God was sending to earth was turned away, to be born in a stable. Everyone had been ordered to go to their hometown to be taxed, so the hotel business was booming. There was no room for the Savior to be born. However, the innkeeper did let them have the stable. At least that was someplace as crude as conditions might have been. But, all the rooms inside were already occupied. A law of physics says that two things can’t occupy the same space at the same time. The only way for the family of Jesus to have a room would have been if one of the guests would be removed from their room. Are my rooms all filled? Are yours? The Gift of Love comes to our doors daily asking for room. Does He find the rooms filled with the things of earth? ...