Christmas in Hebrews

Did you know the Christmas story was in the book of Hebrews? I sure didn't and I've read that book many times! But it's there! This morning Pastor Mike preached about the reason for Christmas, from Hebrews 10:5-13. What a message! My sermon notes are full of asterisks and exclamation points and even a few wowzers thrown in—it was that good of a sermon!

Hebrews 10 is tells us of a conversation between Jesus and God the Father just before Jesus came and was born in Bethlehem. Jesus said that all those animal sacrifices did not please God, they were to be a reminder to the people of their sin (Heb. 10:3). But Jesus came to earth to do the will of God (Heb. 10:7). Jesus offered Himself for the remission of our sin, of my sin, once and for all.

The priests of old, that we read about in the Old Testament, offered countless sacrifices, and kept offering them. When the high priest went in to the Holy of Holies once a year, he presented the offering and got out of there fast—but not Jesus! Jesus made the sacrifice and sat down, right there at the right hand of God. Wowzers. Nothing needs to be added or altered or adjusted or even tweaked when it comes to Jesus' sacrifice. It's complete. It's perfect. And He gave us a perfect and permanent standing with God (Heb. 10:14). That's what Christmas is about—Jesus offering Himself for us and the remission of our sin. That's why He came and that's why we celebrate Christmas.
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We have some winners from last week's author spotlights. Terra H. is the winner of Shirley Kiger Connolly's book I See God in the Thistles n Thorns. And Deborah (holycamp09) won Roseanna White's A Stray Drop of Blood. Congratulations, ladies! Be sure to get me your snail mail addresses.

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The Best Advice Ever

Jesus' public ministry was kick-started by His mother. In John 2 we see Jesus at a wedding feast where the wine has run out, and Mary steps in. She gives us the best advice an older woman could ever give.

“Whatever He says to you, do it.” ~John 2:5

If we follow that advice we won't go wrong. It boils down to obedience. The servants obeyed and look at what they got to witness! They filled the jars with water and they brought some to the headwaiter, just as Jesus instructed them to do. And they got to see a miracle up close and personal. Those that serve God are blessed to see His miracles.

If they had not obeyed, if they had shirked their job, or found someone else to replace them, they would have missed out.

This is such good advice that I had to pass it on—it came from Pastor Mike at our deacon ordination service the other night. His charge to the men being ordained as deacons was that one verse—but it applies to each and every one of us!



Don't forget the Giveaway/Challenge I have going! (It's yesterday's post.)

For links to more Word Filled Wednesdays
run to the 160 Acre Woods!



The beautiful picture of the pots (without the verse) by Harshad Sharma.

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Where's Your Focus?

When I was putting on my eyeliner the other day, I noticed that although I wasn't in a shadow, I wasn't getting the benefits of full, direct light. So, I tilted my head just a touch and I was able to see so much better.

I thought about this as I finished putting on my makeup, and how it parallels my spiritual life. There are times when I'm in The Word and growing, but I'm not tilted just right to catch the full benefit of the Light, so I don't see all the things God has for me to see. A simple fine-tune adjustment is all it takes to be fully in the Light. The other week, Pastor Mike showed me the adjustment I needed to make in my spiritual life.

For many months the cry of my heart has been for God to use me, that my life would count for Him. Although I was standing in the Light with that prayer and desire, I wasn't getting the full 'benefit' of the Light. I had wrong priorities.

And if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ~2 Chronicles 7:14

I realized I was seeking God's hand more than I was seeking His face. Yes, I was seeking Him, but my eyes were focused on His hands all too often. The words to the old hymn are a great reminder of this.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth
will grow strangely dim,
in the Light of His glory and grace.

I needed to make that fine-tune adjustment and shift my main focus from His hands to His face, and remember that He will take care of the rest. Yes, ask for His hand of help, mercy and blessing, but seek His face first and foremost.

Don't focus on what we face
but on Who we face—God Almighty.

...and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the Light of His glory and grace.

Heavenly Father, so many times I've sought Your hand—for help and guidance and blessing, but Lord, it's Your face that I long to see. Help me to remember to make that fine-tune adjustment and to seek Your face, knowing that You will take care of all the rest. I love You, Lord. In Your name I pray, amen.

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I'm Touched!

Today, as I went to church, my heart's cry was for God to speak to me, to refresh me, to touch me--and He heard my cry. When I left tonight I knew I had been able to touch the hem of His garment and that He had restored my weary soul. God is so good to me.

Pastor Mike preached on Mark 5:21-34 and the woman with the 12 year hemorrhage. Since I've dealt with a little anemia at times in my life, I shudder just imagining what her life must have been like, and she didn't have the modern conveniences that we do. The doctors hadn't been able to help her, her condition was growing worse, and she had spent all she had--she was out of resources. It sounded like a good description for how I felt this weekend: depleted and spent.

So when the woman heard about Jesus, she not only followed Him, but she made her way through the multitude that was crowding around Jesus. Moving through a thick crowd is difficult, at best, and Mark says “For she thought, 'If I just touch His garments, I shall get well.'” The verb tense there was that she was thinking that continually, repeating it over and over to herself as she slowly worked her way to where she was close enough to touch Jesus' cloak. She was determined to reach Jesus, knowing that He was her only hope. She was totally focused on reaching and touching Jesus--and she did.

Jesus knew the instant she touched His cloak and He asked who touched Him—NOT because He didn't know (He did!) but because He wanted her to publicly confess and so tell all those around her what He had done for her.

Jesus wanted her to testify to what He had done in her life.

The woman, knowing she was healed, fell before Jesus and told Him what had happened. All those around Jesus heard her testimony, and I can just imagine the news of her healing sweeping through the crowd, being passed from person to person until even those at the very fringes of the crowd had heard, like we still hear today. Jesus was glorified through her life and her witness.

Pastor Mike, knowing many of us were still tired from VBS, reminded us that when we do the Lord's work power flows out of us, leaving us drained and in need of refilling--in need of touching our Lord. He also reminded us that we can reach out and touch Jesus if we're determined enough to, if we don't let the crowd hinder us and keep us from Him. My heart soared because I knew this was God answering my prayer and speaking His words to me. I felt the worn out parts of me being mended and restored and I was able to sing with the rest of the church body “He touched me, Oh, He touched me and oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole!”

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. ~Hebrews 4:16

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