Tag: Advent Devotion

Today’s Christmas Word Is … LISTEN

Christmas 2019
Thu-Dec-5-2019

The Christmas story has several key characters who listened to God. An angel came from God to both Mary and Joseph, and they obeyed. The shepherds listened to his angel messengers and literally rushed to find the baby. Wise men heard him calling them to a journey to Bethlehem, then again for directions to return home another way. After the birth event, Joseph and Mary listened again to God calling them to Egypt for safety.

If we are going to follow the Lord by trusting and believing him, then we also need to listen to him for guidance. Many of us do our listening by reading God’s Word, plus hearing sermons from pastors and lessons from teachers. But how about listening to “his voice” speaking to us at times when we are not necessarily doing those things?

“You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4 NASB)

There seems to be some suspicion of people who say, “God talked to me.” Maybe that comes from seeing TV shows and movies where the one who claims to have heard God then goes out and kills somebody … because “God told me to.” I assure you, God did not tell them any such thing.

But I am inviting you to reach a comfort level where you can safely share with others that God spoke to you about something. Does that sound uncomfortable? Don’t forgot that the Bible is the story of God speaking to people. Besides those just mentioned, Abraham heard God’s voice, so did Moses, King David, all the prophets, the disciple Simon Peter, the Apostle Paul.

Now … a voice can be heard both externally and internally. You can hear in your spirit as well as in your ears. In my case, God speaks to me inwardly. Somehow, I must figure out if what I am “hearing” is my own series of thoughts, or the temptations and lies of the enemy, or if possible, the true voice of God guiding me.

For example, many years ago as I was going through a struggle regarding self-acceptance, I once heard a voice in my head say, “Stop beating yourself up.” I was a bit stunned at such a clear directive. But it was true … I called myself clumsy when I dropped something, uncoordinated when I tripped, stupid when I didn’t know the answer. I would often say “you idiot” to myself. And some of you have done the same.

When I heard that voice in my spirit, I sat there for a moment asking, “Is that you, God? If so, why is this important to you?”

I waited a few seconds, and then he said, “I don’t beat you up.” This was one of the most convincing and profound instances of hearing God’s voice that I ever had, at a time when it was crucial for my faith journey. It boosted me into a new realm of more clearly hearing God speak to me. He was telling me in this instance that I was treating myself in a manner he would never treat me, and I needed to hear that!

You, too, can hear God’s voice if you listen. Don’t be afraid to share with others that you have heard God speak something into you. (Tell them that you believe the Bible, and it’s in there!)

I would throw in a word of caution here, because as much as I believe heartily that God speaks to us, I can have difficulty with a person who says, “God told me, God told me, God told me,” throughout every conversation. Of course, I know plenty of people who can say “God told me” all they want to, and I would believe it, because I know them and their genuine faith quite well. And if I ever had a doubt, it would not offend them for me to question it. But for some people, peppering every conversation with “God told me,” is very self-serving. It allows them to avoid godly input from wise people and to steer away from the correction of God. It’s hard to question someone like that, because you sense they would get offended if you ever said, “Are you sure that’s what God told you?”

What God tells us matches his nature, his love, his purposes, and the Scripture. We all should learn to listen for God’s voice, but none of us hears “perfectly.” Still, we are called to do so.

“… Today, if you would hear His voice, …” (Psalm 95:7)

Christmas is a great time to listen,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Christmas Word Is … MEANING

Christmas 2019
Wed-Dec-4-2019

Getting ready for Christmas for many people in our society usually means putting up decorations and launching into gift purchasing. When my now-middle-aged children were kindergarten age, in order to add more meaning to this wonderful time of year, we decided (this means I decided) to put up a manger scene that would serve a purpose.

We put the stable in Bethlehem, which was on the buffet in the dining room. The rest of the cast was spread out over the house. Shepherds were out in the field with their sheep, close by in the living room.  Nazareth, the beginning point of Joseph and Mary’s journey, was at the far end of the house, and the wise men began from the East far away, meaning upstairs in the back bedroom. I suppose the angels could have started out on the roof, but I thought better of that.

These characters made their way to Bethlehem and the manger by being moved along an appropriate distance every few days. As we did this, we would talk about how they were feeling … excited? tired? … Did they encourage each other when they were weary? I did most of the talking, of course, while they rolled their eyes. Singing an appropriate Christmas carol helped. Their occasional comments, some funny, some profound, some absurd, and their child-like singing were precious moments.

Mary and Joseph arrived at the manger first and settled in. The shepherds stayed put in their field until the last moment, when the angels showed up with a notification, and all headed to Bethlehem on Christmas day to see the baby Jesus. The wise men arrived last, and a good time was had by all!

Have you thought about devising a way to stay focused on what your journey to Bethlehem really means this Christmas? It is, of course, far more than gifts and decorations. And considering the difficulties of late … hurricanes, floods, wildfires, droughts, not to mention personal difficulties and tragedies … we are surely thinking about how precious life is, and how unpredictable.

Make this Christmas season memorable for yourself and your family as we remember that God came into our world for a purpose. We didn’t make up the idea of Christmas gift-giving ourselves. God did that … and gave the first and best Christmas gift. The wise men followed suit and the tradition continues. A memorable Christmas is one upon which we may reflect long afterward, and sense our eyes getting moist or a smile breaking out, as we think about the amazing work that love does in our own heart and in our family.

Let the season of joy fill our homes!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Christmas Word Is … ABSORB

Christmas 2019
Tue-Dec-3-2019

What creates fear in you? Relationship problems? Financial problems? Health issues? How about fear of failure? Fear of death? Fear of rejection? Something else?

Unaddressed fear contributes to worry, and the combination of fear and worry becomes heavier and heavier. Sometimes we try to fix it by isolating it into a back corner of our minds and then just trying to live with it. In the medical field we know that infected wounds don’t go away. And likewise, personal and emotional woundedness, which manifests in fear and worry, festers in the same way.

So … how do we get rid of fear? What can we do to be less afraid of threats? Is there a way to reach the point where fear is not our automatic reaction? Can fear be cleansed out of us and replaced with a sense of peace and security?

Would the best tool be to have more courage? Could we fix it by just frequently and habitually reminding ourselves of truths as a way to quench our fears? Of course, some people would tell us, “Just get over it.” In my experience that rarely works.

Although courage is good and necessary, and thinking on God’s truths is a very effective thing, the Scripture reveals the root method by which fear leaves us. You might know the answer if I ask it this way: What does the Bible say will cast out fear?

It is love … perfect love.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1st John 4:18)

Christmas is a celebration that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” (John 3:16) After all where could “perfect” love come from other than from him?

Why not use this Christmas to start or renew this constant process of considering how deeply, thoroughly, unconditionally, and perfectly God loves you … and not just thinking about it, but feeling it? Personally, I like to think about and know that someone loves me, but being hugged along with hearing that whisper of “I love you” is powerful and absorbs into my inner being, not just my mind, but my soul and spirit.

As you use this season to intentionally engage in absorbing God’s amazing love, you will be able to tell if it is being effective when you realize that in return your love for him is growing noticeably. You see, this “perfect love” is two-sided … God’s love for us … our love for him. Of course, God’s love for us is already perfect, whereas our love for him is not. But … our love for him is not to be static. As we absorb his love for us, our love for him is growing and “being perfected.”

And when you have absorbed more and more of his love (usually over a long period of time) into your inner being, fear will have less and less room within you to function. As the incredible love of God goes in, the fear within you is being “driven out.”

Be at peace this Christmas!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Christmas Word Is … SHINE

Christmas 2019
Mon-Dec-2-2019

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

I have my own Murphy’s Law: “You can’t find a flashlight when you need one.”

However, in the world of faith, light is in abundance. God is showing us the way by shining into our world in as many ways as possible. Sometimes we think it is a drawback that he usually gives out his light in such small doses. We wish that we could see much further down the pathway of our lives, but as the above verse points out, God’s Word and his divine presence typically give us just enough light to see our feet and to take the next step. The only way to operate in this manner is by faith.

So, a good way to launch this year’s Christmas journey would be to give thanks for the love and mercies of God, to trust in his faithfulness, and to be willing to take one step at a time, according to how much light he provides.

The reason I said above that he “typically” lights the path in small doses is that there are occasionally circumstances in life where you may need to take a bold and giant step, even a leap. At those moments, God provides whatever extra light is required. Right? Are there some small steps or even bold steps that you need to take?

Remember also, that the light shining before you is freely provided. It is his light, a gift. That light has a source. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)

But then again, Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:16), meaning that his light is also reflected through us in various ways and multiplies in new directions. Jesus wants to give you his light because there are certain people whom he specifically wants to reach through you.

God is providing a way for you to see clearly what you are doing. Believe that. And may his light shine in you, through you, upon you, around you, and ahead of you. Not only does this help you to find your way but also assists others to find their way.

If you are going to a attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service, as my wife and I do every year, then at the end of the service you will find yourself standing tall along with those around you and lifting up high your “one little candle,” declaring that “I want my light to count!” It is a solemn and emotional act of courage, commitment, and hope.

Whether you attend such a service or not, take a moment to make a declaration that “I want my one little candle to make a difference in this world!”

Shine On!

Chaplain Mark