STRAW for the MANGER .... Advent 2011



And she brought forth her firstborn SON+

and wrapped HIM+ in swaddling clothes,

and laid HIM+ in a manger;

because there was no room for them in the inn.

Advent 2011

STRAW 2

...For the humiliation HE+ endured

for our sakes,

we give THEE thanks...

From the moment HE+ entered His+ birth-mother's womb, Our LORD suffered humiliation... as the good people of Nazareth whispered about His+ seeming "illegitimacy"  even from the beginning.

Being born in a stable, with a manger as His+ first cradle, no loving grandmother or precious aunts around to help with the birthing, Our LORD suffered humiliation even as a rejected Babe +. 

Humiliation was to be His+ portion from the time of His+ birth until HE+ said, "FATHER, it is finished... into THY Hands I +  commit My+ SPIRIT. "

+  +  +

O LORD,

I see Thy+ deep humiliation which was Thy+ portion from the beginning of Thy+ earthly days. Help me also to embrace the low portion, the low seat, the humiliation that others put upon me.

And, help me to embrace it with a Spirit of Humility,  joining myself to the Suffering CHRIST-CHILD+ , with true thankfulness of heart and meekness of soul.... as I enter into every new situation.... even as I interact with old familiar family, neighbors, and friends. 

Forgive me for fleeing from humiliation... forgive me for refusing to  practice humiliation when THOU+ hast sent it to me for my portion for that hour.

Help me with this, O LORD, that I may with a gladsome heart embrace Thy+ Cross here on earth ..... in order to hear Thy+ Words: "Well done,  good and faithful servant! Enter thou into the Joy of Thy LORD !"

In the Name of JESUS, 

The LORD of the Humble of Heart ,

I pray. 

Amen.    

Straw for the Manger is a necessary thing for the CHRIST-CHILD'S first earthbound bed. Let us provide that straw, as a memorial of good works and repentances, to prepare for HIS+ coming, to remember HIS+ first Advent among the sons of men. For every good deed, kind deed, for every turning the other cheek, for every submission of our tongue to CHRIST JESUS, let us put a straw into the empty manger box and prepare our hearts for the Coming of The LORD.

Straw for the MANGER.... Advent 2011



And she brought forth her firstborn SON+
and wrapped HIM+ in swaddling clothes,
and laid HIM+ in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Advent 2011
Straw 1

Straw for the Manger is a necessary thing for the CHRIST-CHILD'S first earthbound bed.   Let us provide that straw, as a memorial of good works and repentances, to prepare for HIS+ coming, to remember HIS+ first Advent among the sons of men. For every good deed, kind deed, for every turning the other cheek, for every submission of our tongue to CHRIST JESUS, let us put a straw into the empty manger box and prepare our hearts for the Coming of The LORD.  

STRAW 1

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of HEAVEN.

Are we living our lives "poor in spirit," ... or do we clamor to have our way in things around the house, on the job, with others at church, etc. ? Do we make certain to give place to others and relinquish our "rights" or our demands , for CHRIST'S sake, Who+ blesses the humble of heart? Are we witnessing for CHRIST in this manner.... or are we the ones who try to control everything and everyone around us?

*

O LORD of the Humble of Heart, 

Help me to stop being "in control" of everything. Help me to work towards what produces GODLY fruit in me, first, and then in others. ... so that others may see THEE+ , not me. Amen.



The IDENTITY Crisis

~~~ OR ~~~~

Leaving the World of FANTASY and Entering

REALITY in CHRIST 

When we die to Self and live unto CHRIST ( our baptismal vow ), we take on CHRIST and become a New Creature in CHRIST.  That entails a brand new identity, Bless GOD! 

It takes the SPIRIT of GOD to break the stronghold of our earthly identity and to be totally identified with CHRIST JESUS, as one of HIS+. We change our dress, our talk, our life-style, usually our friends, and sometimes the way we earn our living. 

Our identity becomes only one thing: Christian.

We become Single-of-Eye. 

But being human, we soon move away from REALITY+ and  REVERT back to some former identities or even, take on new identities. We become un-Single of Eye. And again, fantasies creep into our inner man.

If we go into ministry, we "become" pastors, missionaries, translators, and teachers, as our identity. We start out doing  all for CHRIST, but we end up thinking of ourselves in terms of what we DO, as defined by our work, our "position" when we relate to others. We assume a "social" identity along with our Christian identity.  

But, Scripture teaches us that Our GOD is a jealous GOD; only ONE+ can be on the throne of our hearts at a time: us or GOD. Never will HE+ share HIS+ glory.

[ You can test the truth of this: imagine losing your "social" identity. What would be left? Only your identity in CHRIST JESUS. If it is painful to lose your social ( how people see you)  identity, then you can see that Self was on the throne and you are not content to be ONLY identified as CHRIST'S. ]

If we teach school, we do start out "teaching for CHRIST"... but we end up being known as a "teacher" in the inner man! The same is true of nursing or doctoring or farming or ministering.

Our identity becomes

something in

ADDITION TO CHRIST. 

If we become parents, then we become mothers in our inner man... not Christian women who have been assigned the blessed duty of raising children. Our identity again becomes something OTHER than CHRIST. The same is true for fathers.

And, here's the test: When your child or children grow up and leave the home, are you suddenly forlorn and without motive or desire? Does the house have an empty feeling?  If that is the case, then your identity, dear one, has shifted from CHRIST to motherhood (or fatherhood) !

Likewise: If you teach school or are involved in the pastoral or medical fields or running a business or farming.... and it suddenly ends and YOU CAN DO IT NO MORE, does your life feel empty and futile, with no "meaningful" work to do? If that is the case, then your identity has shifted from CHRIST to " something in ADDITION TO CHRIST."

That EMPTINESS,

NO PLACE TO "FIT IN",

I'M USELESS... 

feeling is a sign that your identity has slipped away from CHRIST and onto the temporal, to your destruction; all fanatasy leads to destruction.  

People do NOT give you identity; that is a futility because here is one thing you can DEFINITELY COUNT ON:  people change. Neighbors move, family and friends grow old and die, children grow up and leave. It is impossible  to cling to "how it's been" for security and thus, your place amongst people , your identity.

Work and skills  do not give you identity; that is fantasy.  Companies and systems change, as do their locations. Skilled or not, educated or not, tested or not qualified... the work place changes for everyone; it is in constant flux.

Even being identified as a pastor or minister, missionary or translator makes you un-single of eye. Eventually, you will leave that post, that appointment. If you have no other church to pastor, you will have an identity crisis UNLESS your identity is solely upon CHRIST JESUS the LORD. The same is true for Bible translators and even aging choir members !

Thus, our ONLY identity needs to be in CHRIST JESUS our LORD. Yes, we may and indeed must love and raise our children, we may nurse or teach or farm as our daily assignment. But remember, EVEN THAT DAILY ASSIGNMENT comes from HIM+.

HE+ places us and removes us from the "daily assignment" for three reasons, all of them good:

1. for our own good , growth, and protection

2. for HIS+ glory

3. to further the work in HIS+ Kingdom

Dear ones, search your hearts and establish the RIGHT identity.... that which is found in CHRIST. If you do this WITH ALL YOUR HEART, your children will grow up, move away, and your house will not be empty and your life will still have meaning.  If you do this, public work will come and go,  and it will not affect your sense of worth.

In short, if you  IDENTIFY with CHRIST... if you define yourself ONLY and SOLEY with CHRIST...  instead of with careers, jobs, motherhood or fatherhood, or people-defined functions, you will never experience the crushing loss of identity.

YOUR WORTH , IDENTITY, AND FUNCTION

will be tied up with CHRIST....

as it should have been all along.

+  +  +

Waiting on HIS+ Timing...

Waiting on The LORD to move... to change a circumstance or a situation... to restore a relationship, renew a marriage, or heal a broken heart. We wait on The LORD , sometimes patiently but more often, chafing to get on with the changes!

Here is a story to help us WAIT upon The LORD:

.

There were 3 little kittens who were the delight of their mistress. She herself was confined by her parents to a stone cottage to tend the fig trees in her father's grove. She was lonely but she loved her work... except for the mice. There was a small army of mice tending the figs also!

They also ate her flour, her clothing, and anything else they could sink their teeth into in her little stone cottage.

So she prayed to The LORD and asked for a cat. Instead, HE+ sent her a hawk, a raptor, who caught mice. That was fine.

But she was still lonely, having been banished to the cottage for about a year.  The LORD looked upon her loneliness and sent her 3 little kittens. Oh, what a joy those dear little kittens were to her heart! They played with her toes and played with each other, tumbling about her cottage freely. 

But there was ONE PLACE she did not want them to go: to her high window ledge, the one with bars across it. 

Why? The hawk, the raptor, sat on a tree limb close to the high window. She knew what the hawk would do to the kittens. 

She talked every day to her beloved kittens as she fed them and played with them, telling them to stay off the window ledge... although she knew, she KNEW that one of the adventurous ones was trying to climb his way to the ledge to see out.

Oh, how those darling kittens hated to be confined to the cottage! Oh, how badly they wanted to scamper outside, to explore. 

They had NO IDEA that the raptor was there in the tree, ready to pounce on them and devour them for sport. 

Suddenly, The LORD spoke into her heart... telling her to REMAIN where she was until HE+ moved her. She couldn't see the ones lurking in the shadows to destroy her life... but HE+ could. 

She understood! Her love for the well-being of her beloved kittens made her understand WHY The LORD confined her... for her own well-being against foes she could not see nor would understand. 

[Adapted from EIGHTH SHEPHERD, Bodie and Brock Thoene, A.D. Chronicles. Some things changed so that I would not reveal the plot of the story!]

  

But they that wait upon The LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 41 

TEACH ME, LORD,

O LORD,

TO WAIT.

A TRUE WITNESS...

...begins in the inner man.

Do not begin to think your testimony to the outside world begins with your words or your deeds towards them.

NO.

A true witness begins in the heart... your heart... as you line your heart up with My+ Words.

You must learn to stand against your fears... which are all lies from the adversary and the tormenting spirits.

You must learn to "tell" the unseen forces that YOU will not believe them anymore. You must learn to shut the door to the unclean voices clamoring for you to mis-trust ME+, saying "HE+ will not take care of you-ou-u!" There are no ... NO, NONE ...  others who can thwart My+ plans for your life if you walk in My+ Will.

Your fear casts aspersions upon My+ Character, but  I+ always have and always will  take care of My+ Sheep.

Do not cast aspersions

upon My+ Name;

I+ never forsake My+ own. 

I+ do not lie to you.

Never.

I+ will always guide you and care for your every need... the needs of your heart and mind, as well as the needs of your physical person. 

Is not My+ eye upon the littlest sparrow? Do not agree with the adversary against ME+ and question My+ integrity towards you.

How can you doubt My+ care of you, after so many years? Do not hurt My+ heart so. 

+  +  +  

GOD has in these last days spoken unto us by HIS SON+

WHOM+ HE has appointed Heir+ of all things,

by WHOM+

also made the Ages;

WHO+,

being the Radiant Splendor of HIS Glory,

and the express image of HIS Essence,

and upholding all things by the Word of HIS Power,

when HE+ had

by HIMSELF+

purged our sins,

sat down

at the RIGHT HAND

of the MAJESTY ON HIGH.  

+

Then having a Great High Priest

WHO+ has passed through the Heavens,

JESUS, the SON+ of GOD ,

let us

hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a High Priest

not being able to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but One+ WHO+

was tempted in all points like we are,

yet without sin.

Therefore,

let us come near with confidence

to the Throne of Grace

that we may receive mercy,

and find Grace to help in time of need.

+

The Path of No Regrets....

There is no way around it: You MUST pick up daily discipline in order to grow. Otherwise, you will be vigorously tossed about by all the daily trials that beset you. Yes, trials DO come to every Christian every day. But, if you establish a daily discipline in your daily routine , your walk will become much smoother in spite of the trials.  

And he that taketh not his cross,

and followeth after ME+

is not worthy of ME+.

Matthew 10:38

How do we "pick up our cross" if we have no persecution?

We do it by applying DISCIPLINE to ourselves. 

Discipline does not mean that we beat ourselves with whips and cords. No, it is far more of an endurance trial than that.

Discipline entails self-denial of "softening" pleasures. It entails replacing time spent in worldly activities with GODLY pursuits. It means submitting our daily schedule to HIM+ to embrace prayer stops at 9 a.m, noon, and 3 p.m. It involves submitting our reading material to HIM+, replacing much of it with The Word of GOD.

Discipline involves stopping ourselves at the doors that say, "No Trespassing -- This Concern of Yours Will Be Handled by ME+. " 

This is the way the serious disciple of CHRIST JESUS learns to make HIM+ LORD... truly LORD...  of his life.

Let us learn to practice discipline.

It is the one path of

no regrets.

+  +  +

A Funeral for the UN-SAVED...

...is a hard one to engineer, much less endure.

What do you do when a family member stoutly REFUSES to forgive others for real ( or imaginary ) wrongs ? What is there to be done when the counsel of FORGIVENESS as CHRIST forgave us... is despised and repudiated? When the glare of hatred emanates from the eyes of the begrudger ?

WHAT IS TO BE DONE ?

Nothing.

You can but pray for the sinner... and eventually, hurt for the grievous and UN-NECESSARY hurt caused by unforgiveness.

When sudden death claims that begrudger, you are only left holding the hurt... the hurt of your own heart, the hurt of the begrudger, the hurt of the person begrudged-against, and the HURT of the LORD, Who+ loves them all.  

GOD is not mocked; His Word still stands as the ultimate TRUTH. No-one... yes, no-one... escapes the Judgment. And the judgment is this: That CHRIST has been rejected.

YES... When someone refuses to forgive , he/she is rejecting CHRIST JESUS, the author of forgiveness, the living example of forgiveness.

Forgiveness is forgiveness when we pardon someone who has done us wrong, not when someone has done us "right."

So, is a pile of rusty metal taken, perhaps, without permission, worth losing your soul FOR ALL ETERNITY ?

Correctly, then, there is no funeral service for the person holding the grudge. That, however, does not allow anyone in the family to bury their remains. And so, only hurt remains... with no opportunity for healing.

+  +  +

In the Name of The FATHER, Who created thee;

His Beloved SON+, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ saves thee,

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies thee

and brings the conviction

of the sin of Unforgiveness

to our hearts.

+

Amen.

A WORD from The LORD...

The days are close at hand

when sorrow shall fill this land.

MY+ people are drowning

in a sea of goods,

in a sea of lies.

Their hands are filled with pleasures

and their hearts are full of Self.

No-one shall see GOD

if he does not do MY+ Will.

Gadgets, conveniences, eye-pleasures

are consuming the thoughts of MY+ people.

Learn to live simply.

Learn to sit quietly

in MY+ stillness.

I am the TRUE LIFE...

not modern conveniences !

+  +  +

A Word from Sister Judith Hannah:

Throughout the month of July, I have been away from the computer to minister to my Mother, who has been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure.  Although there is no known cure, dietary changes can enable a person to live more active with a better quality of life.

Changing dietary patterns is not a welcome effort, however, amongst the elderly !

I am thankful for the prayer support I had during the time I spent in my childhood home and thus, was kept victoriously during the various spiritual battles that occur in such a setting; my birth family is not saved.  

I glory in The LORD'S  great salvation... so rich and freely given... to every person who humbles himself and repents, whether rich or poor. What a treasure we've been given, in these earthen vessels of ours!

Bless GOD: FATHER, SON+, and HOLY SPIRIT! Amen.

~ ~ ~

FILL THIS TEMPLE !

DAY

OF

PENTECOST !

Come, O Come

and fill the temple!

O, fill the temple

with the glory of The LORD !

We are hungry

for YOUR+ Touch;

We love YOU+

very much;

We live to proclaim

The Name of JESUS.

.

Forgive us , LORD,

for grieving YOU+

and set our hearts anew

with the fire and flame

of Pentecost. 

.

Come, O Come and

fill this temple... 

O, fill this temple

with the glory 

of The LORD. 

.

+  +  + 

[Whose temple are you ? ]

The Coffee Bubble... ILLUSION... FACT... or, TRUTH ?

Which one do you choose ?

.

It makes a difference

in how you live,

how you relate to others,

how you are with CHRIST JESUS.

.
Here is a Mother's Day story which illustrates this point.

There once was a little girl, old enough to walk but not quite old enough to talk. She was young enough to need a high-chair when she was at the table.

.

Her Dad was gone; her mother worked. She and her mother lived in a chicken house... remodeled into one room, a bath, and a kitchenette. On workdays, the mother would take her little girl up to the "big house" nearby where an elderly woman would watch children for working mothers. They would all sit at breakfast with their Moms, usually toast and coffee.

.

One day, the little girl noticed that her little friend was having the best of times at the table, as her friend's Mom would stir her coffee. Looking closely, she saw that her friend and mother were playing a delightful game.

.

Her friend's Mom would stir her coffee in just the right way to form a BUBBLE ! Then, she would spoon that BUBBLE into her daughter's mouth... much to their own delight, with much giggling and sweetness.

.

Oh, how that little girl wanted her Mom to do the same thing with her! The little girl was sure there was something delightful in the BUBBLE that made her friend and mother laugh and play.

.

Finally, after much tapping and gesturing, the little girl let her Mother know what she wanted... a BUBBLE, too! So, the Mother stirred her coffee with vigor, produced the desired BUBBLE, and spooned it up to her daughter with the words: "Is that what you wanted?" And then, the Mom quickly returned to eating her toast and coffee. 

.

The little girl was crest-fallen. She didn't understand it. Her BUBBLE was bitter-tasting. There was no laughter, no fun, nothing special about her BUBBLE at all. She never bothered Mother again for another BUBBLE.

.

This story is true, I know, because that little girl was me.

.

The problem, you see, was the difference between illusion, fact , and truth.

.

The illusion was that the BUBBLE was in itself delightful. The fact was that the little friend and her mother were delighting in each other.  The TRUTH was that my Mom loved me too, only she was not able to communicate it via the BUBBLE in the coffee cup, as her mind was on the troubles of the day. 

.

Dear ones, fight illusions. Illusions are really fanatasies. They are NOT BASED IN TRUTH. They come from the father of lies. Good ones, bad ones, accusative ones... stand against them all.

.

Dear ones, watch out for facts. They may be true ... but they are NOT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER.

.

Look only at the TRUTH, through JESUS CHRIST our RISEN LORD. HE+ tells us how to arrange our thoughts, our mind, and our emotions. HE+ tells us through His+ Word to think on things lovely, of good report. HE+ tells us to hold no accusation in our hearts against anyone... not even our enemies.

.

Those who hurt your heart are taken in a bad illusion themselves. Pray for them, that they might not be blinded by the enemy and miss CHRIST JESUS their SAVIOR... the only Savior available to mankind.

.

And last, but not least, do not covet another person's BUBBLE...  because it is just that: a bubble, an illusion.

.

CHOOSE TRUTH+

in JESUS CHRIST

Our RISEN LORD !

+  +  +



The 40 Days of the Resurrection Season...

"I+ am risen

and am still with thee."

.

HalleluJah

RESURRECTION... The Great Night...

Up from the grave...

...death, hell, sheol, Hades...

HE+

Arose !

.

The Firstborn+ from the dead !

.

Death hath no dominion

over HIM+ !

.

The LORD JEHOVAH said unto my Lord Adonai+,

Sit  THOU+
at My Right Hand,

until I make
Thine+ enemies

Thy+ footstool.

+ + +

Amen and HalleluJah !
Come, LORD JESUS, come!

GOOD FRIDAY

We remember the scourging HE+ unjustly received from Pilate's hand, after being mocked , slapped, and beaten by the Temple guard... and then Herod's men... and then by the Roman soldiers, giving HIS+ back to the smiters  and HIS+ cheeks to them that plucked out the hair.

.

Recalling that HE+ hid not HIS+ face from shame and spitting, we thank You that by HIS+ wounds we are healed. We remember the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM+.

.

Thank You for Your Beloved SON+, Whose most noble head bore the crown of thorns and which same sacred head was struck with a reed, HIS+ face with hands and fists.

.

We remember HIS+ refusal of the mixture of the myrrh and wine, fulfilling HIS+ word to HIS+ disciples that HE+ would no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until HE+ drank it new with them in HIS+ FATHER'S Kingdom.

.

And Who+ , at the 3rd hour of the ancient day, bore the wood of the cross through Jerusalem to Golgotha, and was nailed to the wood of the cross and lifted up from the earth, as HE+ had foretold, that HE+ might draw all unto Himself.+

.

We thank You that at this time HE+ uttered those words, "FATHER, forgive them for they know not what they do" ... while nearby, soldiers cast losts for HIS+ garments.

.

We praise You and thank You, HOLY FATHER, for Your Beloved SON+, The LAMB+ of GOD, Our Savior JESUS CHRIST, Who+ takes away the sins of the world, Who+ make a full, perfect , and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world... for everyone who comes to HIM+ in repentance and truth.  Amen.

.

+  +  +

Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ Prayer Book

O LAMB+ of GOD

from the  GOSPEL EXPRESS Mennonite Prison Ministries CD

"Echoes of Joy" song

Your only SON+

no sin to hide,

but you have sent HIM+

from Your side

to walk upon this guilty sod

and to become

Your LAMB+ of GOD.

.

Your gift of love,

they crucified.

They laughed and scorned HIM+

as HE+ died.

Your humble KING+

they named a fraud

and sacrificed

Your LAMB+, O GOD!

.

I was so lost

I should have died,

but You have brought me

to Your side

to be led by

Your staff and rod

and to be called

a son of GOD.

.

O LAMB+ of GOD

Sweet LAMB+ of GOD.

I love Your HOLY

LAMB+ of GOD.

O wash me in

Your Precious BLOOD

my JESUS CHRIST,

THE LAMB+ of GOD.

.

+  +  +

Passover... the Cost

O LAMB+ of GOD, Who+ takes away the sins of the world... have mercy upon us.
O LAMB+ of GOD, Bearer of our sins... have mercy upon us.
O LAMB+ of GOD, Savior of the world... grant us Thy+ Peace.
~ ~ ~
from the 6th Hour Prayer Stationg (noon)

We thank THEE that at this hour of HIS+ patient suffering, THOU didst send forth darkness to cover the whole earth, as a sign that could not be overlooked nor ignored by anyone.

.

We see THY perfect mercy as THY SON+ took the repentant thief into Paradise with HIM+ that very day, granting him Life while HE+ Himself+ was dying for our sakes as the perfect Passover LAMB of GOD.

+  +  +

PALM SUNDAY HOSANNAS!

SAVE NOW,

I BESEECH THEE+,

O LORD!

.

For the humiliation HE+ endured for our sakes, we give THEE thanks.... and also for the answers that HE+ gave to those who accused HIM+ wrongfully.

.

We thank THEE for the times HE+ gave no answer at all  to HIS+ accusers, as a LAMB+ led to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is silent.

~  ~  ~

O my people, put to death your desire for acclamation and praise; that desire will lead you astray.

.

Seek MY+ face, not the face of man. If you turn your flesh from seeking man's smiles and TURN YOUR DESIRE FOR APPROVAL UPON ME+, you will have the true wisdom which cometh from Above.

.

You will have that peace which no man can take from you.

.

You will have that abundant joy which turns every slight, every hurt, every rough word spoken against you into a glorious jewel for your crown.

.

Learn from ME+ as I rode the colt into Jerusalem to receive MY+ crucifixion, not my acclamation. 

.

Your greatest victory comes AFTER you have picked up your cross and died unto Self.

.

Practice it,

practice it,

practice it. 

.

.

. . . . .

.

.

.