I cannot explain it, but about this date every year, yes, on or about December 23rd, I get a fresh dose of childlike celebration from an undeniable Pre-Christmas anticipation that spreads like a strange and wonderful warmth throughout the depths of my soul. It's as if my heart is a welcoming manger and the Bouncing Baby Boy of Heaven, Jesus the Baby King, is laughing out loud because of the Life and Hope He knows He has brought to me from Heaven when He was delivered on Christmas Day.
Lord, my heart is Bethlehem. Thanks for being born again within my eternal soul. Amen.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel!
I posted this Youtube once already this month. Hear it again.
Sarah McLachlan's "O Little Town of Bethlehem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPMDD8fGeA
Grateful
Showing posts with label born again. Show all posts
Showing posts with label born again. Show all posts
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
God's Child -- God's Children
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given...
-- Isaiah 9:6a (NIV)
God the Father gave His Child to be physically born in Bethlehem so we could be spiritually born again as children of God the Father.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
-- Luke 19:10 (NIV)
So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
-- Galatians 3:26 (NLT)
Look Up And Be Radiant! Let Your Hearts Swell With Joy!
Grateful
-- Isaiah 9:6a (NIV)
God the Father gave His Child to be physically born in Bethlehem so we could be spiritually born again as children of God the Father.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
-- Luke 19:10 (NIV)
So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
-- Galatians 3:26 (NLT)
Look Up And Be Radiant! Let Your Hearts Swell With Joy!
Grateful
Monday, September 20, 2010
New Life
Recently, I was blessed to make an early morning boat trip to Cape Lookout Lighthouse along the crystal coast of North Carolina. It's the most beautiful of all the east coast lighthouses in my estimation -- a beautiful beacon painted with a black-and-white diamond pattern. As a boy, I was raised on the interior island, Harkers Island, very near this inspiring lighthouse. My childhood home is only about a 20-minute-boat ride across the sound to what locals call "The Hook of the Cape".
I am always rejuvenated when I visit this lighthouse location, but on this particular visit the lighthouse was secondary in inspiration, because one of the Shackleford Banks wild ponies had given birth in the night to a precious foal. We were likely the first humans to view the breath-taking vision of this new life on the shoreline.
I climbed out of the boat near "The Short Turn" and walked with my camera towards the mother and her newborn standing for the first time on shaky little legs. In amazement I clicked priceless images. Take it from me, witnessing new life is an unmatched gift on planet earth. The only event that compares to and surpasses physical birth on planet earth is witnessing what Jesus called "being born again".
Thank you, Creator God for new life -- physical and spiritual. We are speechless in the presence of Your creation and re-creation. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
John 3: (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (NKJV)
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
I am always rejuvenated when I visit this lighthouse location, but on this particular visit the lighthouse was secondary in inspiration, because one of the Shackleford Banks wild ponies had given birth in the night to a precious foal. We were likely the first humans to view the breath-taking vision of this new life on the shoreline.
I climbed out of the boat near "The Short Turn" and walked with my camera towards the mother and her newborn standing for the first time on shaky little legs. In amazement I clicked priceless images. Take it from me, witnessing new life is an unmatched gift on planet earth. The only event that compares to and surpasses physical birth on planet earth is witnessing what Jesus called "being born again".
Thank you, Creator God for new life -- physical and spiritual. We are speechless in the presence of Your creation and re-creation. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
John 3: (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (NKJV)
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Monday, December 14, 2009
TIME Magazine's Person of the Year?
This morning I heard a news station talking about who should be TIME Magazine's Person of the Year? Who's your person of the year? I cast my vote for The Baby, yes, count my vote for The little bitty, Baby Who was born, born, born in Bethlehem.
The Christ Child may not be TIME'S Person of the Year, but rest assured He already has been HISTORY'S Person Across the Years and will continue to be ETERNITY'S Person Beyond the Years.
ALL... JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful
The Christ Child may not be TIME'S Person of the Year, but rest assured He already has been HISTORY'S Person Across the Years and will continue to be ETERNITY'S Person Beyond the Years.
ALL... JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Birth Comes Before Growth
A Basic Christian Commentary
A while back, I was talking on the phone with a dear friend of mine. The most basic idea of Christianity was the topic – being born again. So many people sadly seem to have the cart before the horse and the tail wagging the puppy when it comes to being a Christian. In other words there must be a spiritual birth before there can be spiritual growth. It seems that some people are trying to become fully devoted followers of Jesus without first coming to Jesus to be born again. In other words, we should never expect to grow in Christ until we first know Him as Christ! Unless we have been forgiven of our sins and are willing to forsake our lives of sin, trying to grow spiritually will only be an exercise in futility. If we have not yet been born again and are still dead in our sins, trying to grow in Christianity may only lead us to insanity.
In the New Testament Gospel account of Jesus Christ according to John the Beloved we find the most memorized verse in the Bible – John 3:16. But did you know that John 3:16 was first spoken by Jesus to a seeker who was trying to grow in godliness without first being born of God? It’s true. The seeker’s name? Nicodemus. Old not-so-saintly-Nick, was at the top of the religious ladder. He was indeed considered to be among the most intellectual guardians of Jewish law. His opinions could sway votes on the ruling council of Israel and his words were among the most quoted after each board meeting. Yet, Nick was not growing in godliness and he knew it. So in an attempt to get some answers and to avoid being noticed, Nicodemus set out in the deep shadows of his own shallow spirituality to find the Savior, Jesus Christ. Yes, he met with Jesus at night.
In reply to Nick’s question, Jesus told him the most basic idea of Christianity: I tell you the truth, Jesus said, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. The highly educated Nicodemus was confused to say the least. I must be born again? How can this happen? Jesus went on to explain that in order to grow in true godliness, one must first be born again, not born physically again, but born again spiritually by believing and by embracing these words: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. It’s simple, but profound, my friends, unless we have been born twice – once physically and once spiritually – growing in God’s salvation will only lead to our frustration. Christ came so we could experience conversion from dying as sinners to living as saints. A sinner is one who belongs exclusively to sin. Death awaits. A saint is someone who exclusively belongs to God. Life arises.
So, do you belong exclusively to God? Has there been a conversion from spiritual death to spiritual life in your eternal soul? Have you been born again? If not, if you’re sincere, it’s as simple as praying a prayer like this: Father God, I admit that I’ve been wrong. You’ve been right. I accept Your Son, as my Savior. I do not want an intellectual religion. I want an intimate relationship with You. Help me to turn from sinning and to turn to shining. I believe that You gave Jesus so that I might know You, escape eternal death and have eternal life. I confess: Jesus is the only Way to Heaven. Thank you, for loving me too much! I want to know You and grow in You and in that order. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Perhaps you would choose to print this post and sign your name:
Signed: _________________________________________________.
And, I think Nicodemus finally did become an Old Saint Nick. Read John 19:38-42 and decide for yourself. After Jesus’ death, Nick came with Joey to get the body for burial. Seems he came out of his big hiding place to be born again as a little baby in Christ! :-)
A while back, I was talking on the phone with a dear friend of mine. The most basic idea of Christianity was the topic – being born again. So many people sadly seem to have the cart before the horse and the tail wagging the puppy when it comes to being a Christian. In other words there must be a spiritual birth before there can be spiritual growth. It seems that some people are trying to become fully devoted followers of Jesus without first coming to Jesus to be born again. In other words, we should never expect to grow in Christ until we first know Him as Christ! Unless we have been forgiven of our sins and are willing to forsake our lives of sin, trying to grow spiritually will only be an exercise in futility. If we have not yet been born again and are still dead in our sins, trying to grow in Christianity may only lead us to insanity.
In the New Testament Gospel account of Jesus Christ according to John the Beloved we find the most memorized verse in the Bible – John 3:16. But did you know that John 3:16 was first spoken by Jesus to a seeker who was trying to grow in godliness without first being born of God? It’s true. The seeker’s name? Nicodemus. Old not-so-saintly-Nick, was at the top of the religious ladder. He was indeed considered to be among the most intellectual guardians of Jewish law. His opinions could sway votes on the ruling council of Israel and his words were among the most quoted after each board meeting. Yet, Nick was not growing in godliness and he knew it. So in an attempt to get some answers and to avoid being noticed, Nicodemus set out in the deep shadows of his own shallow spirituality to find the Savior, Jesus Christ. Yes, he met with Jesus at night.
In reply to Nick’s question, Jesus told him the most basic idea of Christianity: I tell you the truth, Jesus said, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. The highly educated Nicodemus was confused to say the least. I must be born again? How can this happen? Jesus went on to explain that in order to grow in true godliness, one must first be born again, not born physically again, but born again spiritually by believing and by embracing these words: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. It’s simple, but profound, my friends, unless we have been born twice – once physically and once spiritually – growing in God’s salvation will only lead to our frustration. Christ came so we could experience conversion from dying as sinners to living as saints. A sinner is one who belongs exclusively to sin. Death awaits. A saint is someone who exclusively belongs to God. Life arises.
So, do you belong exclusively to God? Has there been a conversion from spiritual death to spiritual life in your eternal soul? Have you been born again? If not, if you’re sincere, it’s as simple as praying a prayer like this: Father God, I admit that I’ve been wrong. You’ve been right. I accept Your Son, as my Savior. I do not want an intellectual religion. I want an intimate relationship with You. Help me to turn from sinning and to turn to shining. I believe that You gave Jesus so that I might know You, escape eternal death and have eternal life. I confess: Jesus is the only Way to Heaven. Thank you, for loving me too much! I want to know You and grow in You and in that order. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Perhaps you would choose to print this post and sign your name:
Signed: _________________________________________________.
And, I think Nicodemus finally did become an Old Saint Nick. Read John 19:38-42 and decide for yourself. After Jesus’ death, Nick came with Joey to get the body for burial. Seems he came out of his big hiding place to be born again as a little baby in Christ! :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
