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December 16 2019

The Praises of Christmas – Advent Week III – Thanksgiving Praise

“And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

“Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2: 14

“Then the Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. ‘ Luke 2:19

Enthroned In The Praises of Israel

This advent season we have been talking about Praise! What a wonderful topic at any time but especially at this time of year as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and as we prepare to welcome 2020. The Word of God tells us that God is holy “Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3). Do you understand what that means? God is lifted up and is in the midst of our praises! Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary defines enthrone as “to assign supreme virtue or value to, EXALT”. How exciting is that thought! When we step out in faith and obedience and open our mouth to praise the Lord, we exalt Him and place him in a high and virtuous place and at that moment, He comes and inhabits our praises. He is there in the midst of us.

Praise of Thanksgiving

Throughout the Christmas story, we see various types of praise. We’ve already talked about Praise in Uncertain Circumstances and Revelation Praise. Now let’s look at the Praise of Thanksgiving. Mary and Zacharias and Elizabeth were all thankful to the Lord in their praise but in an indirect way. As the Christmas story culminates with the miraculous birth of the Saviour we begin to hear some pure Praise of Thanksgiving.

The Birth

“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 24-7).

The promised Child has been born, in a stable, surrounded by animals and attended only by his mother and Joseph. It seems like a lonely scene. But what was happening elsewhere while this Miracle arrived in the world?

In The Field

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manager.” (Luke 2:8-12).

God Is Always At Work

Once again a wonderful picture of how God is always at work even though we cannot see what he is doing. If Mary and Joseph had just looked at the stable and the animals and the manger and focused on their immediate circumstances, it would be likely that they may have felt alone and dejected. But I believe that as that Precious Baby was born, even then, they were filled with peace as they found themselves in the presence of their Saviour. And meanwhile, even though they were not aware, God was at work out in the fields, proclaiming the Good News of the birth of the Christ Child. We are never alone and we can never trust only in what we see around us. We must always know in our hearts, minds and spirits that the Father is always at work in ways we may not see or understand.

The Good News

Now, let’s look at what is going on in the countryside. There are shepherds, minding their own business, taking care of their sheep, when all of a sudden an angel appears and they are surrounded by the glory of the Lord. Not a regular evening in the fields by any stretch of the imagination! This angel assures them that there is no reason to fear because the news is good, and it is more than good, it is miraculous. The Christ Child has been born! The Promise of the Father has been fulfilled! And even better, it has happened nearby! How excited they must have been.

Heavenly Thanksgiving

The proclamation of the angel of the Lord resulted in Praises of Thanksgiving bursting forth from the heavens! “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2: 13-14).

Changed Lives

The Word of the Lord and the Glory of the Lord changes lives. When you hear the Word, really hear the Word in your spirit, and find yourself in the Presence of Almighty God, you will never be the same again. The shepherd’s lives were changed forever. The shepherds had to know, had to see this Baby. There was no hesitation in their decision. “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2: 15). The Proclamation and praises of thanksgiving that come forth from us will touch the lives of others and spur them on to action, just as the shepherds were moved to action after hearing the Good News and the praises of the heavenly host!

Thanksgiving Requires Action

“And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who hear it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” Luke 2:16-20

The shepherds went and found the Christ Child – and it was all as they had been told. Thanksgiving comes in many forms. The shepherds began their praise of thanksgiving by sharing the proclamation of the Lord with everyone they met. They were not only able to say, “we were told”, but also, “we saw”! When the Lord speaks into our lives and we experience the joy and peace that comes from seeing His promises fulfilled, we can begin to praise in thankfulness by sharing our experiences with those around us, that they may be drawn to the Father.

Sharing The Good News

But the shepherds didn’t stop there and their praise didn’t stay in the stable. The shepherds went back home. And as they went they went “glorifying and praising God”. They recognized the fulfillment of the Promises of the Lord in the birth of this Child. They shared their information with all those they met. And even as they returned home to their everyday duties and tasks, which would never be the same again, the praise of thanksgiving was continuously on their lips. Can you imagine the story that these shepherds had to share for the remainder of their days? Sitting around the fire at night watching their flock, “do you remember when”, “you should have been there”, “it was amazing”, “I’ve never been the same”. Can you imagine the joy they enjoyed in sharing this with their families, spouses, children and grandchildren, in years to come? Can you imagine how many times when life got hectic and chaotic that they were able to sit back and remember the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises and how it felt to be in the presence of the Saviour? And even then, the praise of thanksgiving would once again rise within them and strengthen their spirits!

Where Do We Find Ourselves?

Do the praises of thanksgiving flow off our tongue and through our lips? Are the praises of thanksgiving evident in our actions, words and attitudes? Do those around us know of the faithfulness of God in our lives? Have we even acknowledged the faithfulness of God in our lives? This advent season I pray that God will grant us a supernatural realization of how blessed we are by Him every moment of every day. And from that realization, I pray, the praises of thanksgiving will rise within us like a mighty wave that is unable to be held back; that we will open our mouths and our lives and let the praise of thanksgiving flow so sweetly from our words and our lives that all those around us will want to know what it is that we have! Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? Sharing the love and joy and peace of our Saviour with the world!

“Behold, the virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23).

Let Us Pray Together

Father grant us sweet and supernatural revelation this advent season, that we, like those shepherds of long ago, will never be the same again; that the praise of thanksgiving will be continually on our lips and shown forth in our lives! We ask this in the most precious name of that Babe born on Christmas morning, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen and Amen and Amen

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

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December 9 2019

The Praises of Christmas – Advent Week II – Revelation Praise

“But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Luke 1: 43

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.”

Luke 1: 76

Praise In The Midst of Uncertainty

Here we are again, another Christmas season in which to rest in the Father and take time to reflect on the precious gift of His blessed Son, Jesus Christ. Oh, what human mind could wrap itself around the power and majesty, grace and saving power that arrived that Christmas morning, wrapped in the covering of human flesh, even the flesh of a newborn babe?

Even those who were directly involved and present at His birth could not fully comprehend the meaning of His arrival. As we reflected last week, Mary was able to lift her voice in surrender and praise to the Father even as she realized the uncertainty of her future as the mother of a Child born of the Spirit, the very Son of God. But even as she praised the Lord she did not fully understand the things that were to come. That was what made her praise so sweet in the hearing of the Father!

Revelation Praise

This week I would like for us to consider a different type of praise; the praise that, even as it bursts forward from the lips of mankind, grants sweet revelation from the Father. Let’s take time to look at the praise of two individuals, Zacharias and Elizabeth.

The Background

In Luke, we read: “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.” (Luke 1: 5-7)

All Things Are Not As They Seem

I never cease to be amazed at the faithfulness and timing of the Lord. All things are fulfilled in His perfect timing! Zacharias was a priest, set aside to serve the Lord. Elizabeth was of the daughters of Aaron (of the daughters of the priesthood). The Bible tells us they were righteous and blameless before the Lord, but yet they were without a child; a tragic condition for any woman to find herself in Biblical times. Why had God withheld this blessing from Zacharias and Elizabeth?

Have you ever heard the expression, “all things are not as they seem”? Well, this is a perfect example. It would seem that the Lord had withheld the blessing of a child from this couple, long past the time when it would be “humanly” possible for any hope. But God……..

Once In A Lifetime

As we read further we find Zacharias in the temple preparing to “to burn incense”. We understand that this was something that a priest only performed once in his lifetime. And this was indeed a “once in a lifetime” experience for Zacharias as the angel Gabriel met him there, announcing to him that his prayers had been heard and that his wife would bear a child. His barren and advanced in age wife would not only bear a son but that son would have a mighty calling on his life:

“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children.’ And the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1: 15-17)

Show Me A Sign

Now as would be understandable, Zacharias is a bit overwhelmed and doesn’t really take this all in. He actually questions Gabriel, asking for a sign. This is a priest of God, one who serves the Lord in the temple as his livelihood, one who would be familiar with the prophecy of and anticipating the arrival of the Messiah. And yet, he is overwhelmed with the thought that God is able to cause a barren woman to bear the child who will grow to be the forerunner of the Lord. As a result of his unbelief he remains mute until the time of the naming of his son, John.

His Name Is John

Fast forward a bit. Elizabeth is with child. The pregnancy progresses as it should and the time comes to deliver the promised child. Zacharias has literally watched all this in silence! And now the time has come to name the child. As the relatives are ready to name the child based on family tradition, the mother speaks up, “No, he shall be called John.” (v. 60). Everyone is confused and they look to Zacharias to confirm his wishes. He asks for a writing tablet and as he writes “His name is John”….immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.” (v. 61, 63-64)

Have you ever thought about why his tongue was loosed at that moment? Why not when he returned home and Elizabeth discovered that she had conceived? Why not when the child was delivered? Why was it at the moment that Zacharias wrote on the tablet “His name is John”? Even as I began to write this devotion the Lord spoke into my spirit, “obedience and belief release the tongue of praise”! In writing “His name is John” Zacharias was demonstrating obedience to the Lord and belief in the promise of the Lord not only regarding the birth of this child but of the plan the Lord has for this child’s life! How amazing is that?

His Tongue Was Loosed

As soon as his tongue was loosed, Zacharias began to praise the Lord. Wouldn’t you have loved to be there in that moment? I can only imagine how amazing the praise was that came from those lips that had been bound – all the amazing things that Zacharias had to endure silently now burst forth from his lips towards his God! God had heard his prayers, had sent him an angel and had promised a son, a son that would be the forerunner of the Messiah…and all had come to pass just as the Lord has promised through his angel.

The Revelation

That in itself is exciting praise. But it gets better! God blessed Zacharias’s praise by granting him revelation.

We read “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: Blessed is 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 His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His Holy prophets.” (v. 67-70).

Zacharias whose tongue was bound because of his unbelief now speaks freely of the coming of the Messiah! And he doesn’t stop there; he continues to speak prophecy over the son that he didn’t even believe would be born!

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us.” (v. 76-78).

This revelation of the Messiah and of Zacharias’s own son as the prophet of the Highest could only have come from God as the Holy Spirit descended upon him. Here we see not only the Praise of Obedience but also the Praise of Revelation, through the Holy Spirit, that comes with it!

Elizabeth's Story

Now, let’s move back a few steps and consider Elizabeth. Elizabeth is barren and advanced in age.

“Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among my people.” (Luke 1: 24-25).

Elizabeth recognizes and acknowledges God’s hand on her situation right from the beginning. After Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel and surrenders her body to birth the Son of God, she goes to visit Elizabeth, as the angel has also told her the news about Elizabeth’s blessing. “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,

“Blessed are you among woman and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1: 41-45)

Revelation

Here we see again the Praise of Revelation brought forth by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth hears the voice of Mary and the babe in her own womb leaps for joy as he recognized the presence of His Lord, even from the womb! At that moment Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit opened her mouth and granted her revelation that Mary was carrying the Son of God! Furthermore, the Lord blesses Mary for her belief through the lips of Elizabeth as she Praises God.

This Season

Oh, the mighty work of the Father through the precious Son, Jesus Christ and through the working of the Holy Spirit! How amazing it is to read that the Lord grants revelation and speaks through ordinary people in ordinary situations and that the impossible is never impossible with God!

This advent season, will you take time with me to reflect on the Praise of Revelation? Are you waiting for the fulfillment of the promises of God in your life? Have you become weary in waiting? Have you begun to doubt what you heard or that God is able? Or has that fulfillment presented itself before you and you are yet unable to believe that it is so? Today is the day to step out in faith and to be obedient to what the Lord is speaking into your life. And in your time of obedience, as you open your lips to praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He will bless you further as He grants you understanding and revelation in your life!

Let Us Pray Together

Mighty God, Heavenly Father, even now, thousands of years after You sent Your precious Son, we still have difficulty comprehending the fullness of what was done. This advent season we ask You, Lord, to open our hearts and minds and spirits to receive a clear revelation of the enormity of that Christmas morn. That as we willingly open our mouths to praise You and seek to be obedient to Your will in our lives, that You would grant us understanding and revelation of Your mighty and precious Word! We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen and Amen and Amen.

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

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June 3 2019

Hope Begins in the Darkest of Places

Hope Begins In The Darkest of Places

Good Morning all my Shining Ones! What adventures were you on this week? What challenges did you face? How did you face them? This week I thought we would dive a bit deeper. I would love to share with you a bit about my journey with “Hope Begins in the Darkest of Places.” Using my journal writings I will share the hope I found during one of the darkest times in my life. A spark of hope that began and endured despite the feelings I felt and the circumstances I saw.

A Lot Can Happen In 6 Months and 5 Days

On October 14^th, 2001, I entered the hospital for treatment of severe depression and anxiety. I emerged, into the world again, 5 months and 6 days later. It was “a year from hell. I crashed, completely withdrew from life, hit rock bottom, died a thousand deaths, began to resurface, learned to trust, found myself (in bits and pieces) and began to fight to learn who I was.”

It was a challenging time yet a time of great growth; a time of great despair but also a time development of a new and enduring hope that would help to propel me forward in the years to come.

Hope Bubbles Up In The Midst

“Hope Begins in the Darkest of Places.” I wrote those words without knowing what they would mean – they were an unconscious encouragement to me, offered up from somewhere deep within.”

It was, as I sat on my hospital bed and looked at the wall ahead of me, paper and pencil in hand, trying to capture some of the wayward thoughts to help make sense of the chaos, that these words came to me. It wasn’t a voice. It wasn’t a feeling. It is hard to explain the experience. The words just bubbled up inside of me and I immediately started writing. I must admit, when I looked closely at what I had written, I was disappointed. Hope, what hope? It was like another empty promise in the midst of the darkness; yet another contradiction in my life.

“At that moment when I knew I couldn’t fall any further, I could only envision despair. However, the darkest, coldest, bleakest day of winter is the one that inspires the wistful longing for the renewal of spring. I laid at the bottom of the pit, mired in hopelessness and helplessness, a soul scarred with anger, abandonment, distrust and hatred. My body and soul on fire, the world crushing my chest, each breath a struggle to survive. My mind was a constant torment to itself; critical and hateful, a constant barrage of darkness and evil.”

A Gift of Words

When one is desperate, at the bottom of the pit and finding it hard to get even a glimpse of the sky, one takes notice of those things that bubble up from within. I went to work, painted a large piece of paper and wrote these words in large red letters. I hung it on my wall. There it stayed for the duration of my time there. It generated much discussion. Many stopped and asked what it meant. Some questioned whether I believed it or not. Some thought it foolish. But there it stayed. Why? I believe these words were a gift to me from the Lord. Heaven knows I couldn’t have come up with them myself in my current state!

“From the bottom of that pit I had cried out to the Lord and He heard my voice. He lifted my head when I could no longer move, placed this, “Hope Begins in the Darkest of Places” in my heart, and in doing so, generated a spark of hope. There was no light, no warmth, no voice, but in that moment I knew hope.”

In that moment, despite how I felt, despite what my circumstances looked like, despite the hopelessness and helplessness I found myself in, these words that were given me, generated hope.

There is much I could say about the rest of my stay, but really there is no need for details. Suffice to say, the gift of these words was a catalyst, a reminder and a challenge all in one, to stay the path, dig in deep and do the work I needed to do.

Words Matter

As was my practice, I spent much time in my Bible, seeking comfort, direction and encouragement. These words reminded me of the importance of words in my life and reminded me to stick to what I knew.

Were the days easy? No! Was the work difficult? Yes! Did I often want to quit! For sure!

But the words I saw on my wall everyday reminded me that all the words I needed to read were available to me whenever I needed them. My Bible became my close companion and within it I found words of life that taught me about my value and worth, the purpose and plan for my life and the love of a Heavenly Father.

“I cried out for release from my torment and my voice was heard. I cried out for guidance and a hand reached to me. Form the darkest place I found hope. From the darkest place hope grew and sustained my spirit. From the darkest place I uncovered parts of me hidden for a lifetime. From the darkest place I learned to reach out, to trust, and to believe. From the darkest place I regained my faith. From the darkest place I became aware, grew more mindful. From the darkest place I learned to fight the resistance within.”

I read, I cried out, I worked, I reached out, I learned about myself and my God, I grew. In time the hope grew stronger, not only impacting me but those around me.

What You Need To Know

Why do I share this with you? I want you to know that:

1) you are not alone in your pit

2) you are not the only one who is struggling or has struggled

3) there is hope

4) if you are not ready to hope on your own, I will begin to hope for you

5) hope, acknowledged, will, in time, grow and strengthen and become believable and then undeniable

6) there are no quick fixes –life requires effort and commitment and work

7) no matter where you find yourself today, you can do this

What I Know!

Hope Begins in the Darkest of Places! I believe it with all my heart. I watched it at work. I watched in amazement and disbelief in my own life, and yet it worked anyway. 2001 feels like a lifetime ago in terms of where I’ve come since them. If I could change it all around, I wouldn’t change it. That time, although dark and full of despair, was a time of great growth. It taught me the importance of the Word in my life. It drew me closer to my Jesus and took my faith walk up several levels. It created within me a stamina and courage that I didn’t know I could ever have. Most of all, it took me on a journey that now allows me to speak hope into your life.

Hope Begins in the Darkest of Places

Hope Begins in the Darkest of Places still sits amongst my papers as I couldn’t bear to toss it.

The Step For Today

Where are you today? What hope do you need generated in your life? Today, I am believing for you. I have created a number of printables and social media posts for you to use. Click here to download. Print them off, hang them on your walls, physical and social media, and look at them often. Create your own if that works better for you. Just take that first step.

I’ve also done up a printable of a portion Psalm 40 for you – a Psalm that I read and reread in that season – a Psalm of truth and reality and great hope. I hope you will be encouraged by it.

Thanksgiving

I went home from those 5 months and 6 days in hospital a very different and much stronger individual; prepared to continue to do the work I needed to do. A year later on Thanksgiving Day I wrote this:

“There is a season for all things and I give thanks for my season of darkness and the resulting renewal I have been granted. I stand in the meadow of my soul, hand thrown up to heaven, and offer my heart and soul in thanks. My soul cries out to the Creator a song of praise for life and living, for despair and growth, for past and present, for enemies and friends, for the me I was, the me I am and the me I am to become.”

This is true 17 years later as I continue to sing out a song of praise! In time, I believe, it will be true for you as well!

Until Next Time

If you are interested in more Devotional reading, head over to my Facebook Page where you will find a Weekly Devotion early every Monday morning. Click the button below to go directly to the Weekly Devotions.

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

laurie

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