"But He Gives More Grace"

( James 4:6 ) 

On a cold morning last week as I walked around the sheep field taking stock of the new lambs - I don't normally do winter babies, but since we've had several mild winters in a row I didn't protest when the Farmer decided not to sell Big Mac after last winter's breeding season or send him off to "freezer camp," plus Katahdins have proven to be an exceptionally robust breed with super capable mamas - however that day as the flock circled around the hay bales and I made my way through their morning mealtime, I could see Skipper our lead dog in the distance sitting on a clump of flattened hay in guarding position. 

When I got a bit closer it became clear that she was protecting a dead lamb, and as many times as I've encounter this scene it still socks me in the gut. We weren't suppose to experience death. I reached down and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Baby, it's not your fault. You did your job; sometimes, unbeknown to us, these little creatures are just swept back up to their Creator." 

Having made sure no vultures landed, Skipper relented of her duties after I collected the small body. Skipper reminded me of the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep, the Good Shepherd who refused to leave the lambs helpless even when they were dead in their trespasses and sins. ( Ephesians 2:1-10 ) 

In John 6, Jesus tells the disciples and those gathered around curiously listening to his teaching that no one comes to him unless the Father draws them. He says it twice, expounding on the meaning more the second time. 

This was a hard teaching for the people to receive and John goes on to say that 'many' of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. Why? I believe because it's human nature to want to call into question how God is commanding his universe and the salvation of his people in his redemptive story. This notion of God's sovereignty strikes at our independence, our cavalier spirit, and goes all the way back to Eden where sin and rebellion have their wicked roots. "We'll decide if we obey; we'll decide if God is really trustworthy by our own standards. We'll decide if we follow Jesus or not." 

Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:17 that God gave his only Son in order that the world might be saved through him. He said that God didn't send his Son to condemn the world - because if you don't believe in the name of the only Son of God, you're condemned already. "What?" He doesn't need to condemn us. He needs to save us because he's the only One who can make us acceptable to God since Adam, our covenant head sinned, resulting in our physical and spiritual death. We're born condemned - the seed of Adam. Yeah I know, another hard saying. 

And the only way to be right again with a holy God is for our hearts to be completely changed. We need a new heart. Anything else is like slapping a fresh coat of shiny, red paint on the exterior of an old grey, dilapidated barn. It might look good for a bit, but in the long run the paint doesn't do much good to restore the structure. 

Jesus likened the fallen condition of man to beautiful, whitewashed tombs, but full of dead people's bones. ( Matthew 23:27) He told the religious leaders that they were concerned about cleaning the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ( Matthew 23:25 )  It's what is on the inside of a person that is evil and defiles them.  ( Mark 7:20-23 ) 

The understanding of the doctrine of original sin or total depravity, not meaning that we are as bad as we could possibly be, by God's grace, we are not, but it means no part of us has been left unmarred by sin, including our body, soul, mind, will, and emotions. ( Romans 3:9-18, Psalm 14: 1-4, Psalm 53:1-4, Isaiah 53:6 ) We are still created in the image of God, but that image is shattered and muddied. 

The Good News of the Gospel is that God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God has imputed to us Christ's righteousness, the sinless life he lived, as if we lived it ourselves. ( Romans 4:24, 5:8 ) 

God draws us to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit regenerating and convicting our hearts, by granting us repentance and giving us faith to believe and trust in Christ. This is the greatest work of the Holy Spirit. Now with us forever, the Holy Spirit enables us to live worthy of Christ and transforms us into his image. ( Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10, Titus 3:4-7 ) 

The Holy Spirit truly changes us, and this truth will change how we live. That's the good fruit Jesus said we would produce in him. This knowledge also changes how we raise our children and our grandchildren after us. ( Matthew 7:15-20 ) 

When our children disobey, we don't just tell them that they need to be good and change their conduct, this is only behavior modification and law with no Gospel and no power to help them truly change. God's law is beautiful and good because it reveals his character and standard, but it doesn't have the power to save us, because unlike Jesus, the God-man, in our sin nature, we don't have the ability to fully obey God's holy requirement. 

"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it." ( James 2:10 ) 

We must explain the requirement of the law along with original sin so they can fully grasp why it is they are acting out against God's commands. Then we can share the Good News that because of his grace, God loved them even in their sin so much that he sent his Son to pay for those sins and live the perfect life they could never live. We must unpack for them that in their salvation, God graciously and mercifully gives them a new heart and a new desire to obey his commandments, to do what pleases him and not themselves. 

We need to explain that this is the only way that they can truly change their behavior, by God giving them this new heart. "Regeneration" is a big word for children, but we can break it down for them - a new heart that only God can give us by his grace, through faith, and by way of the cross of Christ. 

If we only teach them the law with no Gospel, this is basically works righteousness. They are only going to become more frustrated in trying to behave because they think it should be in their power to do good and they can't. ( Romans 7 )  No one can.( Romans 3:9-18 ) No, not one. 

We can certainly do some good things and curve our behavior a bit, but not lastingly, and not for the right reasons like "I'm obeying so I can get a toy, not because I want to obey God for all he's done for me." This certainly applies to us adults as well. 

We must be continuously sharing the Gospel with the children in our circle everyday, maybe concentrating on one aspect at a time for their little minds to understand - catechisms are the best way I know. They are wonderful biblical teaching and training tools. It's a precious thing to share the Word of God with the children in our lives and our privilege. 

This should be our first line of evangelism. "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and talk of them when you sit in your house..." ( Deuteronomy 6:7 ) Yes, the Gospel is all through the Old Testament, not just the New Testament. God promised Adam and Eve that he would send a Redeemer and where ever we find ourselves in any of the biblical narrative, the promises of God find their Yes in Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 1:19 )  

We never get beyond the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. "To everyone who believes." The Gospel is not just for unbelievers, but for believers too! We need it to help us in our on going struggle with indwelling sin, ( Romans 7 ) in our progressive sanctification process until the promised glorification of our bodies and soul in the next life! Another important doctrine to teach our children! ( Romans 1:16-17 ) 

The Gospel is God's Word to us. It is the only thing that saves us and then continues to satisfy our souls and transform us into the image of Jesus. As Paul instructed to Timothy, it's sitting under the expository preaching of God's Word from our pastors and elders as a weekly means of grace, and studying it each day on our own as a daily means of grace. 

Jesus said that man doesn't live by physical bread alone, but by every bit of God's Word. It's our daily spiritual bread. Not self help, not three steps to know God's will for your life or five points to live prosperous and healthy in the New Year. No. That's just shiny, red paint that will eventually peel off. ( Matthew 4:4 ) 

Neither is the Gospel necessarily walking an aisle and saying a prayer, filling out a card, or an emotional experience we feel at summer camp. It could be, but we must be careful of false confessions of faith because we get caught up in the moment. The Gospel is brokenness over our sin, not "repeating after me," but feeling shame and guilt over our sin, that's God drawing us to him. It's his mercy. I know, I never thought of feeling shame and guilt as mercy, but it is. This is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. ( 2 Corinthians 7:10 ) 

When I felt shame, guilt, and a heavy, deep darkness looming over me in my alcoholism, that was God's grace and mercy because it drew me to him. The brokenness is God drawing us to him. Don't ignore it. Respond to him in repentance. "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." ( Romans 2:4, Matthew 3:8 ) 

If you say "ouch" more than "Amen," believe me, you're in good company and on the right track. 

Repentance is wrestling with our sin, being broken over it, confessing it to God, trusting Christ's death was sufficient to pay for it and believing in his resurrection from the dead. Depending on Him alone and the Holy Spirit to see us through the struggle of sanctification each day is the life we now live and what we will look like as we move out into the world as Christ followers. 

These good works that we desire to operate in are proofs of our salvation. We're not saved by them, but for them, as we gladly take up our own cross each day to follow him, counting the cost and knowing beyond everything that Christ is worth it all. ( Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 2:8-10 ) 

And looking forward to his appearing on that last day when he promises to raise us up. 

Because the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation, is the only thing that can satisfy our hungry souls, but first and foremost, it is the only thing that can bring a dead creature back to life. 

Amen. 

All glory be to Christ. 

💜

 

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." ( Titus 3:4-7 ) 

My first breeding ram, Fernando. From the HBF archives. 

T.G.I.M. / The Wonder of the Implanted Word

"Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgements he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob his chosen ones!" ( Psalm 105:5 ) 

It's both - Israel was not just to remember the miracles God did, but also the judgements he uttered. Both were considered his "wondrous works," and the first verses of this Psalm indicate the people were to be thankful for all of these "wondrous works" and praise God for them. Most of the time it seems we're quick to recall the miracles, not so much the judgements. 

This applies to us in Christ's Church today as we thank him for the miracles he has done in our lives, and the judgement that will take place when Jesus Christ comes in all of his glory to judge the living and the dead, to judge the hearts of men. ( 2 Timothy 4:1, Romans 14:10, Matthew 25:31-46 ) As we recite in the Apostle's Creed. 

When we recall or pray for miracles, I believe we forget the greatest. Or maybe we just don't realize the blessing in the first place. Today I'm thanking God for a particular miracle we see in the Scriptures that I've overlooked and taken for granted. 

Last night before bed I was reading this text, and it came alive to me in a way it hasn't before: "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls." ( James 1:21 ) 

The "implanted" word, meaning it has been planted in us - We didn't put it there, but it was put inside of us. When? and by Whom?

In the Book of Jeremiah God speaks of the New Covenant to come: "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." ( Jeremiah 31: 33-34 ) 

God promises to put his Word in us at the new birth. Listen to this: 

"For thus says the Lord God, 'Behold I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness." ( Ezekiel 34:11-12 ) ( John 10:11,14 ) 

And to rescue us. One more:

"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all of your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules." ( Ezekiel 36:25-27 ) 

The KJV uses the word "engrafted," the Greek word "emphutos" meaning "implanted by nature or by others instruction" and "inborn" - my mind goes to Jesus telling Nicodemus that in order to see the kingdom of God one must be "born again." 

So we see the greatest miracle of all toward us is the one accomplished in the human heart at conversion in the regeneration of that sinful heart, separated from God, now by the power of the Holy Spirit granted repentance and given faith to believe and trust in Christ alone for our salvation because of His atoning sacrifice for our sins and God's sovereign grace. ( Ephesians 1, Romans 5:8 ) 

God removes our filthy garments and applies the work of Christ to us, thus replacing our dirty rags by clothing us with His Son's righteousness, supernaturally changing our hearts in a supernatural, inward change and not just an outward mopping up of our mess. 

And not only does he "implant" his Word in us, but He promises in the above verse in Ezekiel to help us obey it by his power, not ours. 

Did you ever "wonder" why you have this hunger for God's Word? Not just to do a surface level reading to check off a box, but to read the Bible with the goal of understanding it? And obeying it because of the grace he has shed upon us? Well, that's a "wondrous work" wrought inside of you at your salvation. God puts his Spirit and his Word in each of us. 

Hold on to that. Remember that truth because it's a promise in his Word, and God faithfully brings all of his covenant promises to pass. Isn't that Good News? I love this. 

Feast on that miracle and his Word today. 

💜

 

"The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart ( that is the word of faith that we proclaim ); because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ( Romans 10:8-9 )  

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth." ( John 1:14 ) 

Prayer Answered By Crosses

By John Newton 

1 I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow In faith, and love, and ev’ry grace, Might more of his salvation know, And seek more earnestly his face. 

2 ‘Twas he who taught me thus to pray, And he, I trust has answer’d pray’r; But it has been in such a way, As almost drove me to despair. 

3 I hop’d that in some favour’d hour, At once he’d answer my request: And by his love’s constraining pow’r, Subdue my sins, and give me rest. 

4 Instead of this, he made me feel The hidden evils of my heart; And let the angry pow’rs of hell Assault my soul in ev’ry part. 

5 Yea more, with his own hand he seem’d Intent to aggravate my woe; Cross’d all the fair designs I schem’d, Blasted my gourds, (1) and laid me low.

6 Lord, why is this, I trembling cry’d, Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death? “’Tis in this way,” the Lord reply’d, “I answer pray’r for grace and faith. 

7 “These inward trials I employ, “From self and pride to set thee free; “And break thy schemes of earthly joy, “That thou mayst seek thy all in me.” 

(1) Jonah 4:6-7, “6 And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.” 

"And the Darkness has not Overcome it"

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness." ( Genesis 1:1-4 ) 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." ( John 1:1-5 )

The famous British philosopher Bertrand Russell who, depending on his audience identified as an agnostic or an atheist for most all of his 96 years, was asked once in an interview what he would say to God if he did in fact come face to face with him after he died. Russell replied, "God! Why did you make the evidence for your existence so insufficient?" 

To which I imagine God replying, "I made my existence abundantly clear, you simply refused to see it." 

Romans 1:19-21 says, "For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." 

While atheists claim they do not believe in the existence of God, we see God saying in his Word that he doesn't believe in the existence of atheists. 

Not only can we look at creation and see beautiful and powerful proof of the Great Creator, but we can look inwardly and see that proof in us as well. After all, we're a part of his creation too. We were made by God, and intricately so. 

Inside each of us at birth is a hunger for identity, meaning, purpose, morality, satisfaction, a way to deal with suffering, and hope. Where did these yearnings come from? The horrifying processes of the strong eating the weak then somehow, someway in the randomness of it all becoming all mushy and lovey-dovey? I don't think so. 

Russell may have been a brilliant man, but he couldn't live consistently inside of his world view. For instance, what I mean by that is in order to account for the hope that lies deep within the marrow of our bones, atheists must borrow from another belief system because secularism is going to fall way short on offering hope. 

Secularism says that when we die we will slip back into the bleak darkness of oblivion to exist no more. There is no light at the end of the tunnel waiting to embrace us and for now that means living in such a way as to trick our brains into avoiding the question of how such shallowness could be attached to the devoted, loving relationships we encounter in this life. 

Our lives will be snuffed out like a candle for all eternity without rhyme or reason or meaning. And the existential despair that overtakes the mind when this lack of hope pervades it has succumbed to much self- medicating as one attempts desperately to make the narrative fit. 

Why do we long for hope? For a happy ending? Why when we attempt to suffocate hope in our human heart does it resuscitate itself again and again refusing to die even as some of us continually try to smother it to death? 

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." ( Proverbs 13:12 ) 

We are born desiring a happily ever after ending to our story. 

In the 2012 movie "The Grey," Liam Neeson plays John Ottway an oil worker whose plane has crashed in the Alaskan wilderness with his team. He and the other crash survivors now fight to survive the harsh weather conditions as a pack of grey wolves stalk and kill them one by one. Something to note is that Ottway's wife has died of a terminal illness and before boarding the plane he contemplated suicide. 

Oh, and Ottway claims to his fellow workers that he is an atheist. In spite of the grisly circumstances, he struggles to live. Interesting. 

The reality of Ottway being an atheist means that his life was extended a bit in an icy, Alaskan wilderness only to be snuffed out forever. His life will not just end in utter darkness, but in tormented, bloody pain. The help he has offered to his fellow coworkers is meaningless. His life is meaningless. He'll never see his wife again, because in a secular world view, her life too was meaningless, everything is meaningless.

And everything in us screams out against this knowledge. That's why this film, although I think is a good conversation piece to open up dialogs about our existence, was met with numbness from many viewers, mostly because of the existential despair in the ending. 

Listen to Roger Ebert, from the famous movie critic team Siskel and Ebert, after he watched "The Grey" and began to watch the next movie after it to review that day: "It was the first time I had ever walked out of a film because of the previous film. The way I was feeling in my gut, it just wouldn't have been fair to the next film." 

Coming to terms with the lack of hope, that's not even the right words, the dark despair of the atheistic future world view, or lack of future, and the horror it evokes in us is a clue we should not ignore. 

We were created for a happy ending that never ends. 

The biblical narrative of fallen mankind being redeemed by a loving God through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son who will come again for his children that they may live with him, holy and blameless, for all eternity fills every need in the human heart. Every single one of them. Our lived human experience matches the biblical narrative in a way that no other world view or religion does. Please don't miss this. 

"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." ( John 1:5 ) 

"a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." 

And Jesus Christ - the light of the world - is the fulfillment of that hope. The darkness in us is swallowed up by the atoning work of our Savior on our behalf. 

Repent and believe. 

💚

Pearls and Diamonds

I didn't read many books in 2024. I mostly stuck to my Bible. I say this not out of any measure of personal piety whatsoever, but out of neediness. Crazy as it may sound, my favorite book I read last year was written by a Puritan. It is one of the most helpful I've ever read outside of the Bible, for me it is up there with J.I. Packer's "Knowing God" and is actually a series of sermons written by the famous theologian Richard Sibbes. The book is based on Matthew 12:20 - Isaiah's prophecy of the bruised reed and the smoking flax: 

"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him, 

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

He will not quarrel or cry aloud, 

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

until he brings justice to victory;

and in his name the Gentiles will hope." ( Matthew 12:18-21 ) 

I think Charles Spurgeon said it so well in his quote listed on the back cover of the book that "the heavenly Doctor Sibbes" scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands. 

"The Bruised Reed" is a thin book, divided into sections, so it can easily be used as a daily devotional if that's something you're looking to add to your mornings or evenings. Sibbs lived from 1577 - 1635; however, the language is easy to comprehend even if the richness and beauty of its content take time and effort to absorb. It's well worth the meditation. 

The Scriptures reveal many firm and serious depictions of our Lord Jesus. There's the one in Psalm 2 that says, "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled." Before it says, "Blessed are all who take refuge in him." 

There's Jesus at the final judgment in Matthew 25 coming in his glory with all the angels and then sitting on his glorious throne saying to the goats on his left, "Depart from me you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." 

Then who can forget John's description in Revelation 1 of Jesus in his long robe and golden sash with his hair like white wool and his eyes like a flame of fire. His voice is like the roar of many waters, out of his mouth comes a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face like the sun shining in full strength. 

If you're like me, maybe you tend to focus on these powerful images and forget as Sibbs reminds his congregants, "There's more mercy in Christ than sin in us."  The cross proves that this is true. 

Like Dr. Packer reminds us in "Knowing God," and Chesterton in "Orthodoxy" ( 2nd favorite last year, thanks, Johnny ) we must hold both truths in our hands and live within the tension of God's sovereign will and man's responsibility; we must also live within the complexity of his severity and his mercy. He's both. 

We need him to be both, and He is. If we refuse to live in this tension and attempt to explain in our limited human thinking how our all-mighty, sovereign God rules and governs his universe, we can land in aberrant territory, embracing the open theism view that has seeped into the western church in the past few decades. 

Christ is severe, yet merciful. 

Sibbs points out the first bruising we undergo is when the weight of our sin is realized, and when we understand the helplessness of the condition we are born into because of the fallen state of mankind. If we aren't grieved over our sin against a holy God and crushed by the law, we aren't ready to hear the Gospel. 

We have to know we are bruised.  

After our conversion, even before our progressive sanctification process starts, already life has wounded us. We come to faith bruised, and in our weaknesses and struggles with sin, in the still fresh wounds of our past abuse and the present lingering of pain, Christ promises not to break us. There is no part of our pain that his love can not heal. 

So gentle and tender is Christ's love that he likens himself to a mother hen longing to gather and protect her chicks beneath her warm wings, against soft feathers, as he laments over Jerusalem. ( Matthew 23:37-39 ) 

Our Lord knows what it's like to wear human flesh, he understands the temptations we face, the sin we struggle to overcome. He knows that life is fragile hanging by a thread and painful. He promises not to break us. 

At times we feel our faith is so small and weak, but we can trust that Christ will not quench our little smoking wicks. "First because this spark is from heaven:" Sibbs reminds us, "It is his own, it is kindled by his own Spirit. And secondly, it tends to the glory of his powerful grace in his children that he preserves light in the midst of darkness, a spark in the midst of the swelling waters of corruption." 

"Ungodly spirits, ignorant of God's ways in bringing his children to heaven, censure broken hearted Christians as miserable persons, whereas God is doing a gracious, good work with them. It is no easy matter to bring a man from nature to grace, and from grace to glory, so unyielding and intractable are our hearts." 

"In pursuing his calling, Christ will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, in which more is meant than spoken, for he will not only not break nor quench, but he will cherish those with whom he deals." 

This is the mercy and love of our Savior. 

Pearls and diamonds. 

💜

T.G.I. 2025 / "Yes, That's the Book for Me."

One day on a whim while I was keeping my grandchildren I played the VeggieTales version of a kids' Sunday school song on Spotify for them. I had no idea it would be such a big hit. I was singing the tune in my sleep that night. 

Baby's ears just tend to harmonize with a catchy beat and a spunky rhyme. I'm guessing that's why these type of songs are good learning tools with a number of subjects. Maybe I'll try it with the Farmer. lol Plus the VeggieTales were a bit after my boys, so like the grandkids, I was new to and enamored with Larry the Cucumber. Along with the present day Paw Patrol pack, of course. Those pups are so stinkin' adorable. We each have our favorite. 

I had intended before the New Year to blog about the best book I read in 2024, but then just now realized, duh, that would have to be "The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E." 

As we turn the corner into another year and also as people of "the Book" I've seen many friends posting their intended Bible reading plans for 2025 and encouraging others to read along together. I love this. So I just want to add to the conversation a few, ( actually just one today ), hopefully helpful suggestions that have served me well in the past few years, nothing groundbreaking, simply reminders. 

I believe most of us aspire to be better and more consistent readers of the Bible. It seems to be a perpetual goal, doesn't it? That's a good thing. 

It's difficult to come at the Bible with a fresh set of eyes. In America, most of us have been raised with some "knowledge" of the Bible, in a particular faith tradition with our cultural blinders firmly set on the end of our noses and our background beliefs seated straight and tight in the upright and locked position. 

How do we see the truth through such dusty, doctrinal spectacles? Maybe by simply being aware of them in the first place. For some stepping outside of these beliefs to examine how their denomination's claims stand up against God's Holy Word doesn't just feel scary, but sacrilegious, and that perhaps is another clue that we might be more at home with our theology than our Bibles. We have to let the Bible correct and shape our eyesight, ( 2 Timothy 3:16 &17 ) which leads to point one: 

Let the text stick. 

Don't try to soften it up or read your meaning into it. And as we read and study remember!! the three most important rules for sound biblical exegesis: Context, context, and context. Read the entire chapter surrounding the text. I can't tell you how many times over the years that I've hijacked verses to fit my messed up doctrinal beliefs only to find out later as I read them contextually that they did not resemble a hint of the meaning I had assigned to them. Many times I was believing promises that God never promised and at the same time, not realizing my true blessings in Christ nor understanding the Gospel of God's grace. Nor sadly, knowing Christ himself. 

As I began to study my Bible better and learn to allow the tension to stand, I've found freedom. God's meaning is always better than ours. 

Jesus told us that when we know the truth it would set us free, and it does just that. Even if it's a hard truth; nonetheless, it supernaturally and amazingly brings us out of bondage and into liberty. The Bible is powerful in this way, if we will simply let the text stand, then savor and work through the hard layers like a green apple Jolly Rancher, slowly, not crunching down breaking our teeth and demolishing the sweetness. 

We've been trained in the American church at times that we are being helped if we feel good about something or ourselves, and have a positive experience attached to it, but the Bible doesn't teach this. I'll give an example as I close. 

"For his anger is but for a moment, but his favor ( one of the Hebrew meanings is 'acceptance' ) is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." ( Psalm 30:5 )

I don't want to make this too long, so I'll share the rest of the points next time because I want to close with a prayer for reading our Bibles this year. There is nothing we can pray to God better than praying his Word back to him. In John 17, we have an entire chapter devoted to a prayer Jesus prayed to his Heavenly Father. It's known as "The High Priestly Prayer." 

Now, I believe that God hears all of our prayers, even if the answers aren't always what we were looking for, so how much more does he hear the prayers of Jesus and answer them!? Even Jesus's most difficult prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane of God's will being done was answered. Praise God! 

Jesus's prayers being answered is something I think I have more than just a little mustard seed size faith to believe in. 

When we feel we don't have the integrity or courage to read God's Word properly, allowing it to shine through all of the spiritual, theological, and traditional darkness we have set in place, refusing to confront them, for whatever reasons, may we pray the prayer of Christ our Lord and High Priest in John 17:

"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth." ( John 17:15-19 ) 

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." This is my prayer everyday, that God would please sanctify me and my family in the truth, your word is truth. I know he will. I also know it will not come without weeping and at times grieving, but it will always and forever end in freedom and joy. 

That's the power of God's Word. 

Peter, who, by the way, didn't get everything wrong, told Jesus that he wouldn't leave him like so many other disciples because of the string of hard truths Jesus taught them in John 6. Why?  Because he said that Jesus had the words of eternal life. 

If Jesus has the words of eternal life, and he most certainly does, why in the world wouldn't we let those eternal words stand and devote ourselves to wrestling with the text? Why wouldn't we allow them to pierce our hearts and divide the truth from the error? 

What have we got to lose? Our false beliefs, that's what. I'm convinced to the marrow of my bones that if we pray earnestly this year that God will sanctify us in his Word, in the truth, he absolutely will do it. So join me and my friends this year in reading our Bibles and also praying this prayer before we read and study. I'm willing and determined to read the Bible better this year. 

Because "that's the Book for me." 

Happy New Year! 

🎉

Happy New Year! 

Christmas / The Advent / Our Savior's Song

As we prepare for Christmas Eve candlelight services and family gatherings this evening, we'll light the final candle in the Advent wreath. The Center. One word pierces through my busy thoughts, invades the often inadequate prayers I pray and the struggles that remain unresolved, reminding me of how and why I can celebrate this night:   

Grace. 

Grace sums up the Christian life. In Christ it is a grace life we live.

I love that the first verse my grandson learned and memorized was Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

It's beyond beautiful, isn't it? This passage is the eternal, divine heartbeat of the Gospel of God's Grace in Jesus Christ his Son. 

I know it's Christmas and not Easter. Before Jesus can die he must live, and before he can live as one of us, he must be conceived. In a virgin's womb, no less, born of woman, but conceived by the Holy Spirit and not of man's corruptible seed. Truly God and truly man. Human and divine. Known theologically as the "hypostatic union." Two natures existing in one person. Only Jesus can be this. Christ alone. 

In his flesh as our representative he can experience and understand our struggles while his perfect Godhood could pay the penalty for our sins and intercede as our High Priest. ( Hebrews 2:17 ) 

In Bible days, and throughout most of human history, the visible church gathered in the house of God on the Sabbath and the Lord's Day to hear the Scriptures read and taught to them. Precious few owned a copy of the Scriptures. 

Luke 4:16-22 explains to us, after his birth, his baptism by John the Baptist, and after the temptation in the wilderness by the devil, how Jesus began his earthly ministry: 

"And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 

'The spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.' And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth."

We know that the words all spoke well of him would eventually sour because in three years time Jesus would be hanging from a Roman cross. 

And yet the gracious words that came from his mouth would manifest themselves into living words through His life, death, and resurrection for all those who would repent and believe in Him. ( John 1:12 )

"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." ( John 1:17 ) 

"Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." ( Hebrews 3:15 ) 

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

And it is a time of need. 

Today a "weary world rejoices," so listen to the Savior of the world's song of grace. 

In your need, repent of your sins and believe! 

This is the glorious, gracious song of Christmas! 

Merry Christmas, Friends! 

💜

T.G.I.M. / Advent Week 4 / Elizabeth's Song

Tomorrow as we light the fourth candle in the Advent wreath, we'll take a look at one more song in the nativity narrative: Elizabeth's song. Her humble melody is short and sweet. 

The angel Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth's husband the priest Zechariah as we saw last week while he was serving in the temple and told him the couple would indeed have a son in their old age who would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. And he would make ready for the Lord a people prepared. ( Luke 1:5-24 ) 

Their son John the Baptist would be the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, "A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." ( 40:3 ) 

After Mary's visit from Gabriel with the magnificent news that she would conceive the Christ Child by the power of the Holy Spirit and her barren relative Elizabeth would also bear a son and was, in fact, already in her sixth month, Mary went with haste into the hill country to visit her. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 

"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." ( Luke 1:41-45 ) 

The baby in Elizabeth's womb was foreordained to prepare the way of the Lord and to point the people to Him. And the very first person he pointed to Christ was his very own mother. How beautiful is that? 

I love that babies can be filled with the Holy Spirit in their mother's womb. I don't understand the theology behind it, but I do understand that "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases." ( Psalms 115: 3 ) And it pleased him to fill a baby in the womb with his Holy Spirit, and it pleased him to send his Son for " a people prepared." 

That's the thing, isn't it? There is no way to prepare ourselves for Christ because we can't, because there is no preparation. There is nothing we can do to make ourselves worthy except to know that we are unworthy. That's how we prepare. That's how a people prepare - by knowing their unworthiness and need of Christ the Savior. 

The only way we can prepare our hearts in this way is by the power of the Holy Spirit pointing us to Christ and preparing our hearts for us. ( John 16:14 ) 

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ( Matthew 3:2 ) 

Elizabeth's humble words show us the way, "And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Let's meditate on her song these few days left before the blessed Advent. 

"A people prepared." 

For our coming King. 

💜

T.G.I.M. / Advent Week 3 / The Song of Zechariah

 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God..." ( Luke 1:76 & 77 ) 

As we light the third candle this week in the Advent wreath, we'll look at another song in the Scriptures. And that's the song of the high priest Zechariah - John the Baptist's dad - which is another prophetic word given of the promised Messiah soon to come. 

The story of Zechariah is similar to Mary's in that the angel Gabriel appears to him to let him know that the long awaited Savior is coming to redeem his people, and as the virgin Mary would carry the Christ Child, Zechariah's son would be the one to prepare His way. 

Except Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had no children. Elizabeth was barren, and now both were advanced in years and far beyond the child-bearing stage. Have you ever noticed in the biblical narrative how God seems to work through barren women in his story? 

God works salvation miraculously by a virgin and a barren woman each conceiving and giving birth to ensure to all of us that it is Him and Him alone who brings about the rescue of his people. He's the only One who can. As we saw in last week's blog, God worked the miracles in Egypt, "so they will know that I am the LORD." ( Exodus 10:1-2 ) 

The Bible lives and breathes, not as a disjointed arrangement of stories, but as one cohesive, soul-stirring narrative of the redeeming work of God through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son. 

The angel Gabriel appears on the right side of the altar as Zechariah is serving as priest, burning incense before God according to the custom of the priesthood in the temple of the Lord. Gabriel tells him that Elizabeth will indeed bear a son in her old age and they are to name him"John." Gabriel says that Zechariah's prayer for a child has been heard. Going past the eleventh hour, has to be like a Red Sea moment. ( Luke 1:5-25 ) 

Although the Scriptures tell us that Zechariah was fearful with Gabriel's appearance, one can't help but wonder if he didn't suppress a laugh as well. Surely the couple had given up on this prayer for a baby decades ago. It rings of Abraham and Sarah, doesn't it? 

God told Abraham that he would bless all nations of the earth through his offspring with his barren wife Sarah, and here we are again. God will prepare the way for his Offspring, born of a virgin, no less, by another barren woman. You have to love the way God works. ( Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15 ) 

But if we get focused on things other than Christ, we'll miss God's true work and what he is accomplishing through his Son. Zechariah's prophetic song helps remind us. 

Because of his unbelief, Gabriel informs Zechariah that he will be unable to speak until the child is born. And once his lips are loosed, this is what flows out: 

Let's meditate on these fulfilled words this third week of Advent: 

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

for he has visited and redeemed his people

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us 

in the house of David,

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

that we should be saved from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers 

and to remember his holy covenant,

the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people

in the forgiveness of their sins

because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace."  ( Luke 1:68-79 ) 

To God be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

💜

They called a "Ruber" lol Too much partying 

                                   

"Then Sings My Soul"

Awhile back I had a dear friend who was going through a very difficult time, so one week I decided to join her at her Sunday morning worship service for support. I noticed as I took my seat that the stage had fog machines and big screens wrapped around it. I told myself, "Rebecca, please don't be a big fuddy-duddy. Just sing and praise the Lord." 

When the praise band began singing one of my favorite hymns, "How Great Thou Art," my heart really did start to sing. Like most good hymns the words are theologically sound and grounded in biblical truth, and when sung, God's redeeming love, grace, and mercy cause hearts and hands to be lifted high and tears of joy to begin to flow. 

When we hear God's Word and what Christ has done on our behalf, it does cause an emotional response. It should. How could it not? It doesn't mean that we'll cry like a baby every time, but it does mean our souls will sing for joy because of our salvation. Not because any special effects have manipulated us into an emotional frenzy but because the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ transforms our lives. It causes us to weep at the feet of Jesus. 

Except that morning it didn't happen.

Because for what ever reason the praise team didn't sing the middle verse. They cut it out. 

I've tried to drop this for months now, but it won't stop bothering me. Let me explain in case you're not familiar with the hymn: In four verses the lyrics sum up the entire redeeming, biblical narrative with a power chorus in between each. 

The song starts off with two verses in what is known as "general revelation" - seeing God's eternal power and divine nature in the things that he has created as told to us in Romans 1. 

"Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder....." 

The Scriptures tell us that we can clearly see God's invisible attributes in creation, but not the Gospel. Jesus's disciples, and if you are in Christ, you are one of his disciples, are commissioned by Him to proclaim his Gospel to the nations before he ascended back to the Father. ( Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John )  

Paul sheds light on this command: "'For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" ( Romans 10:13-14 ) 

The third verse of "How Great Thou Art" is the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: "He bled and died to take away my sin!" 

The last verse is about Jesus returning to get his Church. "When Christ will come with shouts of acclamation...." 

So my question is this: Why in the world would a church sing the first, second, and last verses - seeing God's divine attributes in creation and then Jesus coming back to get us -leaving out the heart of the Gospel message? Half a gospel is no gospel at all. The first, second, and fourth verses make no sense without the third verse. It's stripped of its power. ( Romans 1:16 ) 

Maybe I'm a fuddy-duddy to some people when it comes to church liturgy, but I don't think I am when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How can we cut Jesus out in a church service of all places? 

Paul told Timothy in his pastoral instruction to "preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." ( 1 Timothy 4:2 ) Christ's Church gathers to share the sacraments, ( Luke 22:19 ) to read the Word, pray the Word, sing the Word, and teach and preach the Word. We are then sent out to the world. 

Christians have a saying around Christmas time "Keep Christ in Christmas, but this should most certainly apply to our church gatherings. Without Christ's atoning work and resurrection, there's no hope. 

I know many will think that I'm making too much of this and that I'm on a spiritual high horse, but I promise I'm not. The truth of the Gospel of Christ is the one thing we have to change people's lives - anything else is empty and meaningless. People are looking for hope. We have it. 

We also must have the courage to speak the truth in love, with gentleness, clarity, and kindness. I pray that I am. I have been mulling this over for some time now because I can't wrap my mind around a church worship leader doing this. I don't understand, but I want to be clear that there were many, many years when it wouldn't have bothered me a lick. And I'm still growing in my faith today, repenting daily for my sins and shortcomings, and many times with the help of the Farmer's insight which I'm thankful for. 

Recently I found out that the same church was hosting an event with some questionable speakers who are known for teaching some biblical errors and for not centering their messages on Christ but rather on a self-help, me-centered gospel. And it hurt my heart to see this. Even if event speakers are doing great works around the world, they mustn't be let off the hook for teaching a false gospel. Again, I've made countless mistakes in my choice of teachers over the years. It grieves me so much now, and I want to gently help others if I can. 

When we come in to a worship service, lost in our sin and our shame and guilt and are crying out for help, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can heal us, not being told that we are enough. However, we must proclaim that God's grace is more than enough to make us enough in Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 12:9 ) 

The hard truth that we are indeed sinners collides with the Good News that Christ has bled and died for all of those sins when we repent and believe in him. It means we are forgiven, clothed in Christ's righteousness, and adopted into the family of God. It's the only song that can regenerate the unbeliever's heart and also continually remind the believer's heart of the Good News that truly causes our souls to sing. 

Wherever we open the Bible and expound the Scriptures contextually, we find the Gospel. We never move away from it. Its hope is for both unbelievers as well as believers. Always and forever. 

We live in such uncertain, fearful times with many voices claiming to be the truth and crazy things going on inside and outside of our nation, above our heads, and the Church needs to operate in spiritual discernment more than ever it seems. People are desperate and need the hope and life-changing message of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, so we absolutely must stay on point. 

Let's sing the whole glorious truth to a lost and dying world this Christmas and always - because after all, God's grace and unending mercy were once sung to us. 

How will they hear? 

💜

Carl Boberg, 1886

O Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works
Thy hands have made,
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout
The universe displayed!

Chorus
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!

When thru the woods
And forest glades I wander
And hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze,

Chorus
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!

And when I think
That God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in –
That on the cross,
My burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
To take away my sin!

Chorus
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation
And take me home,
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And there proclaim,
My God, how great Thou art!

Chorus
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!

One of my favorite Christmas gifts from the Farmer - Atlas's granddaughter, my girl Skipper now runs the sheep show with one paw tied behind her fluffy undercoat. I couldn't do it without her. 

T.G.I.M. / Advent Week 2 / The Songs of Moses and Miriam

"A darkness to be felt" ( Exodus 10:21 ) 

Last week we looked at Mary's song, known as the Magnificat, that is recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke, and for the second week and lighting of the next candle in the Advent wreath, I thought it important to look at two other songs. These are found in the Book of Exodus, and sung by the great leader and prophet Moses and his sister Miriam. 

I decided to combine my weekly blogs for the month of December in the Advent season. 

The Exodus out of Egypt is the epic story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and toward the land of Canaan, the land God promised to give to Abraham and his descendants in Genesis 12 & 15 when he promised to bless all nations of the earth through him and his offspring. 

As the tenth and final plague strikes the Egyptians due to Pharaoh's hardened heart and refusal to let God's people go, the Israelites obediently smear the blood from their slain lambs on the doorpost of their dwellings. Because of the lamb's blood, God does not permit the destroyer to enter their homes but to pass over them. 

This act commanded by God of applying the blood to their dwellings is a type and shadow of the blood to come from the sacrifice of his own Son, the Lamb of God, who would come and die for the sins of his people, releasing them out of their life of slavery to sin and into a life of freedom in Christ. 

In the biblical narrative as the children of Israel hurry to eat their meal and make their way out of slavery that dark night, they reach the Red Sea where God has guided them and where there is seemingly no way of escape. Pharaoh's forces are pursuing close behind them, as Pharaoh has once again changed his mind. 

It's an impossible situation, but God does the miraculous by opening up the sea in front of them. He made a way - just as he does in the New Testament in his plan of salvation for his people. He again opens up the only Way. 

And this was his plan all along. We see it in the promise to Adam and Eve in the garden after their sin, and with each patriarch God's covenant becomes clearer and more intense, with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. 

Back in Egypt, the ninth plague that God imposed on the land after Pharaoh's stubborn refusal was darkness. "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.'" ( Exodus 10:21 ) 

I remember before I came to faith in Christ the darkness that permeated every area of my life - it was so heavy upon me that I couldn't find words to describe its bondage; until I saw this verse recently in the Book of Exodus. 

"A darkness to be felt." ( 10:21 ) 

That's exactly how I would describe my life before Christ. Maybe you understand exactly what I mean. The human condition of slavery to sin is such a horrific, dreadful feeling because it's a reality of the darkness that grips the lost soul. When this darkness is felt, that means there is actually hope. We must first be awakened to the darkness, the seriousness of our true condition of sin, in order for us to see the Light, the Way that is opened before us. 

In order for the Light to be good news, we first must understand and feel the darkness. If we don't know our need, we will never come to Christ for salvation. If we don't understand that we are completely cut off from God because of our sin with no way through the deep darkness, we will never see the beauty and abundant life Christ bled and died and resurrected to give us. "While we were sinners Christ died for us." ( Romans 5:8 ) 

That's the glorious good news of Christmas. When the Holy Spirit regenerates our hearts and gives us faith to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that truth leads us to praise him as Miriam and the other women did after they made it through the Red Sea. It's an organic act of worship out of a humble heart when we see our desperate need and then the Way opened up before us.

It's the angels piercing the dark night above the lowly shepherds watching over their flock, to proclaim the great tidings of joy that Christ the King is born in Bethlehem. 

And as we saw Mary singing and praising God for his salvation after the angel Gabriel visited her, we see the same with Moses after the children of Israel are saved from slavery and walking through the Red Sea. 

I think back to Moses as an infant floating in the Nile River inside of that little "ark" his mother constructed to save his life out of papyrus reeds that she daubed with bitumen and pitch. I think of his big sister Miriam watching her little brother from a distance to see what would become of him. 

Now they sing and dance together because of the LORD's saving grace. What a story. That's the story of God redeeming his children through his own Son. 

"The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." ( Exodus 15:2 ) 

"And Miriam sang to them: ( by the way, Miriam is the Hebrew name for Mary ) Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea." ( 15:21 ) 

"You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode." ( 15:13 ) 

This weekend and into next week take some time to reread Luke 1 and Mary's Magnificat, and Exodus 14 &15 and the Songs of Moses and Miriam. 

The Bible is so good when we learn to read it in context and for what it truly is - God's story of redeeming mankind through the life and death and resurrection of his Son. "Every verse whispers his name." "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." ( John 1:29, 1:36 ) 

That's the glorious, good news of Christmas. 

💜

( I thought I'd share a Christmas photo from the HBF archives of the late, great Atlas. I sure miss that big old boy. 💔💚 ) 

T.G.I.M. / Advent Week 1 / Mary's Song: The Magnificat

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." ( Luke 19:10 ) 

Today as we celebrated and lit the first candle in the Advent wreath, my mind went to Mary's song of praise in the beginning months of her pregnancy recorded in Luke 1:46. Although we don't pray to Mary or worship her, we must meditate on these wise words of Scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit through this young woman chosen to carry the Christ Child. Every year, Mary's song seems to bring a deeper degree of comfort to me in the shortened, dark days leading up to the winter solstice. ( Psalm 1:1-2 ) 

The early darkness that closes in each night is a reminder that the world God made and the image bearers he created are alienated from him because of their sin. Psalm 14, Psalm 54, and Romans 3:11-18 all describe the wicked and hopeless disconnect in no uncertain terms: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 

We are enemies of God. No one even seeks for him. Even if we did seek for God and stumble upon him in the bleak darkness, we have nothing to offer him for reconciliation but our own filthy rags of righteousness. ( Isaiah 64:6 ) 

Nineteen chapters over from Mary's Magnificat in the Book of Luke, a now grown Jesus tells a despicable tax collector and repentant sinner named Zacchaeus that salvation has come to his house. 

Because even though fallen humanity is incapable of seeking God, Jesus has come to seek us. 

That's the glorious good news of Christmas. 

Jesus goes on to proclaim to Zacchaeus and all of the curious and grumbling onlookers that day, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." ( Luke 19:10 ) 

And Jesus didn't just take the first step toward reconciliation, he took all of the steps. Since we are dead in our trespasses and sin, unable to take any steps back to God, Jesus took every step necessary for lost sinners to be reconciled with God. Jesus took every one of the steps, all the way to the cross. He fulfilled the words of praise his mother Mary spoke.  ( 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 ) 

Let's hold and ponder her words this week in our own hearts. I believe when we do, our hearts will sing with hers. 

"My soul magnifies the Lord, 

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things, 

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever." 

( Luke 1:46-55 ) 

💜

HBF Archive photo of Natasha and Atlas watching over the flock. 

"The Helper"

In my last blog post about the name of "Jesus" through out the Book of Acts to the Revelation of Jesus Christ being forever yoked to the name "Christ" and "Lord" and "Savior" we saw that Simon Peter first proclaims this truth in the gospels when asked by Jesus, "But who do you say that I am?"  

"You are the Christ the Son of the living God," Simon Peter replies. And Jesus answers him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven." ( Matthew 16:13-16 ) 

Peter not only acknowledges that Jesus is the Christ ( the Greek word Christos meaning Anointed One - the Hebrew equivalent Messiah ), but he declares that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is divine. And Jesus tells Peter that God revealed this to him. 

Throughout my life, six decades on this planet, in church all of them, I have heard many things, some quite fanatical, attributed to God the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, but the greatest work He does is connecting a lost soul to the finished work of Jesus Christ. 

Even though Christ's work is finished, we are still lost, dead in our trespasses and sins, unable to reach the cross until the Holy Spirit regenerates our hearts, giving us faith to believe in the Lord Jesus, granting us repentance, so we can be adopted into the family of God as his dearly beloved children to live with Him forever. 

"Salvation is of the Lord."  ( Jonah 2:9, Psalm 3:8 ) 

"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." ( John 16:7 ) ( We see here that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. ) 

And even if our theology isn't filled out on the matter, that's okay. Repent and believe - you can fill in the blanks later as you begin your journey as a student of God's Word. For now: Our Sovereign God had the plan, Jesus carried it out, and the Holy Spirit yokes us to the work and stays with us forever. 

Paul explains it to Titus this way as he reminds him what to teach Christ's sheep: "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." ( Titus 3:4-7 ) 

It seems this vital work of regeneration is often overlooked in the church, and ironically, no other spiritual work in the Holy Spirit can be done without His initial working in our dead, dark hearts to bring us from death to life. Jesus came to give us abundant life, but without the Holy Spirit yoking us to Him, we remain spiritually dead. 

Since this truth seems to be largely ignored or possibly misunderstood in the Western church, we neglect to thank God for the move of his Spirit to actually save us in the first place. 

In the often quoted passage of Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus wasn't referring to physical rest when he spoke to them, although physical rest certainly comes from the knowledge of Christ, he was teaching them that being yoked to him, trusting him, brings the only peace possible with God and rest for their souls - the eternal rest that comes from knowing our sins are forgiven by Christ and not from any work we could do to earn out salvation. 

And we see in Titus and other Scriptures that the Holy Spirit yokes us to that beautiful, eternal rest in Christ. 

This is the greatest miracle that could ever be accomplished in a person's life. In fact, without this one, nothing else that happens really matters. That's why this work of the Holy Spirit along with the preaching of the Gospel should be at the center of everything we do. 

Because there's nothing as precious as hearing someone whose heart has been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit say, "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

It is written that it even makes angels rejoice. 💜

Happy Weekend, Friends! 

This was our first sheep, an Icelandic ewe. She is the reason we still have a touch of thick wool in our Katahdin flock. ( HBF Archive Photo ) 

T.G.I.M. / "A Time to Gather"

The terms "friendsgiving" and "thanksgathering" in recent years have become popular around the Thanksgiving holiday season, emphasizing the importance of the gathering aspect of this tradition with friends and family: Giving thanks together. 

When we gather as Christ's church, we are instructed, I believe it's found in the Augsburg Confession, to "gather around Christ's Word and the Sacraments." This is taken from the first century church observed in Acts 2:42  "devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."  

Meaning in our church gatherings we will position ourselves around Christ, in our prayers and singing, in the preaching of the Scriptures, and in the partaking of the Lord's Supper together in remembrance of Him as he has instructed us to do until he comes again. 

As Christians, may we carry this same pattern into our Thanksgiving holiday. 

Because we don't just have a God who says that he loves us - I mean, that's wonderful, but we have something even greater. We have a God who has demonstrated his love toward us in that while we were sinners, damned, condemned, he sent his Son, who knew no sin, to be the sacrifice for our sin, paying our debt in full. ( 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:8 ) 

"It is finished." ( John 19:30 ) 

This Son is worth gathering around when we come together, not our needs or our desire for miracles, but the One who bled and died to heal our greatest need and to give us the greatest miracle of all, a new birth. Because of his atoning work we now come into his kingdom and live with Him forever. If he never did another thing for us, wouldn't that be enough? How can it not be? 

This Thursday is an opportunity to share that love with the many others who come to the table to gather with us. May Jesus Christ our Lord be the centerpiece at our Thanksgiving meal, reflected brightly through our demonstration of love, humility, and service to the many others in our lives as God has so mercifully imparted his grace to us. 

Just like the divine service at our church gatherings, our Thanksgiving meal, with the many utterances of thankfulness we each will proclaim around the table for the various blessings in our lives, is our response back to God for the life and death and resurrection of his Son. 

Joy and thanksgiving go hand in hand; they flow out of knowing the Gospel of Christ. 

Of course, following this pattern of worship at our table will look a bit different than in does in church, but it's the same spirit of the Gospel of grace that's displayed in our lives outside of the church doors. What does it look like? 

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." ( Matthew 25 ) 

Physical food and spiritual meat, hot coffee and the Living Water, hospitality and Christian fellowship. 

"they flow out of knowing the Gospel of Christ" 

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." ( Hebrews 13:20-21 ) 

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍗

Thanks be to God! 

"The Name above all Names"

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs." ( Hebrews 1:3-4 ) 

Recently after I hung up from a call with my oldest man child, I was left pondering over the words I used to respond to some biblical questions we were mulling over in our conversation. And a truth began to set in that I hadn't thought of before: 

My Bible teachers rarely use the name "Jesus."

Let me explain: 

It started with Sinclair Ferguson's "Things Unseen" podcast - I've recommended Dr. Ferguson's five minute morning devotional before in my blog and still emphatically do! Let me tell you that Dr. Ferguson can pack some enormous amounts of biblical wisdom into those brief five minute lessons. I usually end up listening to them over and over. 

But this seasoned, beloved Scottish pastor and theologian, almost always uses the words, "the Lord Jesus" when referring to Jesus. 

It dawned on me that all of them are that way. I don't know why I didn't see this before. It's never just "Jesus," but it's "the Lord Jesus Christ" or "Christ," or "Christ Jesus," "Lord," or "Lord Christ." And furthermore, on the phone, I had caught myself doing it with Johnny. I kept saying, "in Christ" when identifying myself. I couldn't remember ever doing that before. 

The first thing to note is that it appears, whether we realize it or not, we are indeed influenced deeply by what we surround ourselves with. It shouldn't surprise me. After all, we've been told this since we were young children. 

Then I became curious as to what the writers of the New Testament called Jesus. I had never stopped to think about this as I read through the books of the Bible. I'm sure that this information is a quick Google search, but I had a desire to see it for myself. So I conducted my own word investigation. 

We must examine the Scriptures to see if our experience matches the Bible. I was very sure it would because these teachers had earned my trust beforehand, but still, we must be like the noble Bereans in Acts 17 who checked out what the Apostle Paul was teaching them to see if it indeed measured up to the Word of God. 

Never bend the Bible to match your experience; that's dangerous and how false teachings get started. Many a false doctrine and religion as well as cults began when someone had a vision or a visitation outside of the closed, canonical Word of God. 

In the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we see Jesus mostly called "Jesus" or "Jesus of Nazareth" because in Bible days people were often associated with where they grew up or currently lived. 

In the opening lines of the Book of John, the disciple and apostle calls Jesus "the Word" three times, which could be pointing to the Trinity. He then calls him "the true light." Continuing in the first chapter, John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him and says, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" 

But what I was concentrating on was how they addressed him. 

I know this might get confusing, and rightfully so, because to pin point the name of Jesus is an impossible task for his name is infinite because he is the infinite One, and his name is who He is in all of his infinite glory. This assignment is bigger than me, for sure, but this is what I am getting at:

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record Jesus asking his disciples, "Who do you say I am?" after he asks them who do people say that I am to which they reply that people say Jesus is John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 

"But who do you say that I am?" 

Peter responds in all three gospel accounts: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." ( Matthew 16 ) "You are the Christ." ( Mark 8 ) "The Christ of God." ( Luke 9 ) "Christ" is the Greek word "Christos" meaning "Anointed One." It is the equivalent of the Hebrew word "Messiah." 

And Jesus tells Peter that God has revealed that truth to him. 

In my own personal research from Romans to Revelation, it wasn't until I got to the book of 1 Thessalonians that I found the name "Jesus" used by itself without Christ or Lord attached to it, and it was apparent in context why Paul used it in this way. 

Have you ever wondered why God wouldn't let Moses lead the Israelites into the Promised Land? I have. I mean, he just committed one, seemingly little sin, and God refused to budge and let him take the people all the way into the land "flowing with milk and honey" after all that he had already done! The baby years, the burning bush, miracles in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna and quail, the wilderness years. 

Moses is so epic. He was such a devout, patient leader of the often rebellious people, from the amazing birth story when his brave mother constructed a little ark to save his life, then rescued by Pharaoh's daughter as she discovered him floating in the Nile, the meeting with God on Mount Sinai as God spoke with him and gave him the Ten Commandments "inscribed by the finger of God" on the stone tablets. 

And that last fact is why. 

Moses, as grand as his story may be, was the lawgiver. 

And the law can only take us so far. It is God's standard - it's what he requires and requires to be kept perfectly, which no one can do. One sin has the power to destroy us. Moses's sin against God reveals sin's power.  ( Romans 3, Psalm 14, Psalm 53 ) 

Think about this: The human condition of being born sinners, ending in death, spiritually and physically, came into God's perfect creation because of just one sin committed by our first parents. One sin separated all of mankind from God. Ponder this. That demonstrates the power of sin, and more importantly, the holiness of God.  

No matter how grand we think we are, we are all born sinners and without hope. Since the law is the standard that must be kept perfectly, and there's no way we can achieve this, it was impossible for Moses to take the people into the Promised Land. 

So, who did? 

Joshua. 

Remember him? Marching the children of Israel around Jericho seven times and blowing trumpets before the walls fell down? Joshua stepped into Moses's shoes after he died. Joshua or Yehoshua means "God is deliverance" or "Yahweh is salvation." 

Joshua and Jesus are the same name in different languages. 

Joshua the leader of the Israelites was a type and shadow of the Joshua to come. Our Redeemer. Jesus was fully God and fully man. Our only hope. One of us, but also God, the second person of the God Head, and the only One worthy enough to sacrifice himself for the sins of his people and ransom their lives out of slavery. 

Only Jesus Christ the Son of the living God can lead his sheep into heaven. He is the only Way. This story isn't just beautiful; it's true. 

"Jesus" was a common name in biblical days, and Jesus took that common name as one of his people. But what isn't so common is that he was also given the name that is above every name: "Jesus Christ" ( the anointed One, Messiah, Savior, Lord ) after he was crucified for the sins of the world and raised from the dead to new life! 

So now, along with Peter, and all of our brothers and sisters, we can say, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

And on that rock, our Lord Jesus Christ is building his church. ( Matthew 16:18 ) 

💜

Happy Thanksgiving! 

To be continued. 

T.G.I.M. ( I'm a bit late this week )

"Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God." ( Proverbs 30:7-9 ) 

Whenever we feel at a loss as how to pray, we can be greatly encouraged because God's Word is so satisfying and complete that he has even provided for us the prayers to pray to Him. We can pray his Word right back to him. ( And sing it too! ) 

We can turn any Scripture into a prayer, but the Bible is full of prayers already formed: The Lord's Prayer, the Book of Psalms, Paul's epistles to the churches, and the Lord Jesus Christ's prayers. 

The Book of Proverbs contains only one prayer. And the pray(er) asks for two things in that one prayer: 

"Remove me from falsehood and lying." We live in a day when more than ever we need the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us discernment to navigate the voices all around us claiming to be from him while keeping our own lips holy and pure, speaking truth. I think of Isaiah 6 when the prophet realized only after witnessing the holiness of God how unclean his speech really was. 

"give me neither poverty nor riches" 

"feed me with the food that is needful for me"

I love this so much because my Mighty, Sovereign God knows exactly what I need before I even ask him. Our Lord Jesus reminded us of this in his Sermon on the Mount. And I know what I want, but I in no way know what I truly need. 

So we can pray this prayer each morning and trust Him: 

"Our Father in heaven, I need you to lead me and to feed me."

"He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." ( Psalm 23:3 ) 

"Give us this day our daily bread." ( Matthew 6:11 ) 

I think of this as we enter into the Thanksgiving holiday season and how grateful I am to pray these two prayers and know that no matter what comes my way, He is sovereign over it all. He has ordered my steps. Nothing comes into my life that he hasn't allowed because I am needful of it as he leads me always in the Truth. 

💜

The New and Better Job

"For God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone 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 ) 

The problem of evil is the number one reason people give when asked why they do not believe in God. There's this world of suffering all around us and if an all-powerful, all-loving God really did exist, they assume he would end all suffering immediately because there can't possibly be any good reason for suffering to exist. 

What I've found to be more perplexing is how some movements within the visible church can deny the existence of suffering in a true believer's life, saying that God doesn't allow his children to suffer. If they are in fact suffering, they should be able to banish it immediately if they have enough faith and of course no egregious sin hiding in their lives. To me this is more disturbing than the first group. 

Sometimes we absolutely do cause our own suffering, but not always. More understandable are those Christians who admit God does allow suffering in his world and in the believer's life, but assume God has left us without insight into the mystery and pain. 

For those, I would like to offer comfort and submit into evidence exhibit A: The Book of Job. 

In the opening scene, the idea that God does not allow suffering in the lives of his "righteous"children is sharply refuted when God gives Satan permission to wipe away Job's own children, servants, and livestock. This suffering is granted to Satan after he insists Job only serves God because of his many blessings and the hedge placed around his life. Take it all away, and he will "curse you to your face." ( 1:11 ) 

But notice, God was the one who started the conversation with Satan in the first place, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" ( 1:8 ) 

Job remains steadfast through the suffering, and God asks the question again to Satan: ""Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" ( 1:8 ) 

"He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason." ( 2:3 )

Notice the words God uses: "without reason" 

Oh, Satan answers: "Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face." ( 2:5 ) 

"And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold he is in your hand; only spare his life.'" 

God in his divine sovereignty grants even more permission when Satan insists Job will certainly curse God once his body is inflicted as well. "

Except Job never curses God. 

Job is not Jesus; however, he is a type and shadow of God's suffering Servant prophesied of in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 53, by God's chosen prophet Isaiah. The Bible is not a book about us, we are not David, Daniel, or Esther; all of these biblical saints are pointing us to the Redeemer God has promised in his covenant of grace to rescue his people. Mere shadows, "but the substance belongs to Christ." ( Colossians 2:17 ) 

"Every verse whispers HIS name." 

Job was "blameless and upright." He was innocent. So was Jesus.

There was none like Job on earth. Absolutely a picture of Jesus.  

It's interesting Satan says, "skin for skin" before he plagued Job's skin since we know that Jesus took on human flesh. 

Job's friends saw that "his suffering was very great." Jesus suffered the worst suffering in the history of the world. ( 2:13 ) 

Job said "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return." ( 1:21 ) Jesus was stripped naked, nailed to a Roman cross, and bore our shame. ( Matthew 27:27-31 ) 

"In all of this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." ( 1:22 ) Jesus was without sin. ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ) 

Job did not curse God; however, he did cry out to him. Jesus cried out too, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ( Psalm 22:1, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34 ) 

God forsook his only Son on the cross, so he would not have to forsake us. 

God is angry with Job's friends for speaking of Him what is not right. He tells the friends to offer up a sacrifice for themselves and have his servant Job pray for them, "for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly." ( Job 42:8 ) 

This a beautiful picture of Christ, our great High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us. ( Hebrews 4:14, 7:25 ) 

God was sovereign over Job's suffering. God was sovereign over Christ's suffering. "the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world." ( Revelation 13:8 ) 

The critical difference is that Satan was not given permission to take Job's life, on the other hand, Jesus's life was not spared. 

"yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief." Jesus suffered the greatest suffering the world has ever known when he willingly drank the cup of God's wrath for the sins of the whole world. ( Isaiah 53:10, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 1 John 2:2 ) 

When we read the full counsel of Scripture, the pieces begin to come together for us through the power of the Holy Spirit as He reveals one cohesive, powerful narrative held firmly together by Christ. ( Colossians 1:17 ) The parts we formerly saw as disjointed, offensive, and contradictory are illuminated to us as the perfectly-fitting, brilliant Truth. 

And that Truth sets us free. 

Our suffering is wrapped up in the life of our Savior. It is no little thing. 

One last, beautiful shadow to behold in the life of Job and his suffering:

"And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all of his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him. And each gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold." ( 42:10-11 ) 

"And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning." ( verse 12 ) 

This portrayal of Job's latter end is pointing forward to our "latter end" - our eternity with Christ. There's so much richness to this passage, and really all of Job, that this flimsy blog post doesn't even begin to do it justice. 

Job eating bread with his brothers and sisters reflects Christ's church feasting on the bread of life together in a common faith and never being unsatisfied again. The comfort and plenty and gold are indicative of Heaven. And in the last paragraph of Job it tells us that Job gave his daughters as well as his sons an inheritance. This practice was not normative by any stretch in ancient, patriarchal cultures. But it is in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus. 

On that glorious day God will deal a final, fatal blow to the suffering in the lives of his children. 

"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth." ( Job 19:25 )