Where Is He?

Matthew 2:2 – “…Where is he that is born king of the Jews …?”

This is a question that is real in today’s world. Satan is continuing to launch insidious attacks against the Christ of Christmas. Oh, some say that the date of December isn’t really even the actual birthdate of Jesus – we don’t know when His birthdate really was – some say spring – some say fall. And that is true – we don’t know the date. But in reality, we don’t celebrate His actual birthdate – we celebrate His birth. And we just use the traditional date that the Catholic church established. What’s important is not the date, but the event – He actually came into this race of men to provide for us the free gift of salvation.

And back to our original thought, if Satan can fuzzy that up in our thinking – if he can direct our thoughts to Santa (that’s Satan with the letters a little mixed up) – if he can get us to accept the commercialization of the season – if he can even distract us with arguing over the date, etc – then he has won the battle. A national news network has reported about the war on Christmas, and it is a war. But it’s only a distraction. The real issue is leading men to Calvary – and it’s that issue that should be getting all our attention. The devil is not going to win – I’ve read the end of the book. He’ll lose – but let us not let him take men and women with him. Let’s work to snatch brands from the burning.

We’ve Taken Christ Out Of Christmas

Why have we forgotten Jesus
When we should remember Him most?
Why do we live without Him?
Why in our own selves boast?

He gave up the splendors of Heaven
To be born into our worthless race.
For we who were sinners by nature
He was humbled for our sins to erase.

We’ve established a date in December
To celebrate the dear Saviour’s birth.
Yet, we now leave Christ out of Christmas –
We’ve made it a time of fleshly mirth.

We’ve made it a season of snowmen,
And Santa Claus, elves, and reindeer.
We’ve now taken Christ out of Christmas –
We now call it X-mas each year.

We no longer remember His coming –
We now look for Santa instead.
The babe in the manger’s forgotten,
But now a jolly man clad in red.

We need to put in Christ back in Christmas
To get our priorities right,
To give proper worship to Jesus,
And guide others into the light.
© 2006 Paul Stultz

Quote – “Ah, Christians, ring the bells of your hearts, tire the salute of your most joyous songs, ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.’” – C. H. Spurgeon

Your Love is Better Than Life

Psalm 63:1-3 – “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; …because thy lovingkindness is better than life.”

One hot Sunday evening in the middle of the summer I heard Bryan Galloway of the Galloway Family give this testimony: “Thank God there’s a heaven someday. It’ll be sooner than we think, that’s for sure. If Jesus came back right now, I wouldn’t have to go back to North Carolina for a thing. That’s right. I wouldn’t have to go back for a thing. As a matter of fact, I’d as soon go to heaven from right here as anywhere I know of. But the glory that God’s got in store for his young’ns – hey it’s not even entered into our minds. It’s so big and vast it’ll take a glorified body to take it in. But I’m persuaded that God doesn’t just want us to experience heaven someday – I believe God wants us to experience heaven today. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

They’re in an uproar over there – they’re in absolute, complete, unhindered worship. The weighty presence of God is just so thick and so manifested – Holy, Holy, Holy – and they don’t get familiar with it. Y’know sometimes I’m afraid we get familiar with worship, in a sense. But they don’t get familiar with it, and man what an awesome time it’s going to be. But God wants that in our lives now. Honestly I’ve been in some great services. I was thinking of one service when the power of God hit a church and simultaneously – without any announcement or anybody standing up and saying I want you to do this – everybody in that building hit the floor on their face. I mean the presence of God just came in so thick, you couldn’t help but do it. It was like God just pressed us all down in the dirt and I just cried and squawled, and everybody was crying and squawling.

You say you don’t believe that. Honest before God, that never strained God one bit. There’s more of that – my heart needs it. I don’t know about you, but I’m a square peg driven in a round hole. I don’t fit down here. I’m a misfit down here. I need heaven now in my body and in my soul. That’s what David was crying out for – is for heaven right now and to see God’s glory, that manifested presence as he’d seen it in the past. Hey, I don’t believe God’s done – I don’t believe God’s through – I really don’t. Sometimes I think we think He’s through – we act like He is.” The Galloway Family then sang this song,

Better than Life

In a dry and weary land where is no water, My soul is thirsting for you.
I have seen you in the sanctuary, beheld your power and glory.
My lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live – In your name I will lift up my hands.
Your love is better than life. Your love is better than life.
Earnestly I seek you, my soul is thirsting for you.
Cause your love is better than life.

Because you are my help I will be singing in the shadow of your wing.
I’m staying close beside you. Your right hand upholds me.
I think of you through the night.
With singing lips I will praise. My soul will be satisfied
Your love is better than life. Your love is better than life.
Earnestly I seek you, my soul is thirsting for you.
Cause your love is better than life

O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you. I’m longing for you.
O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you I’m longing for you.
Your love is better than life. Your love is better than life.

Keith Lancaster

Quote – “How frequently have believers traversed in their experience this dry and thirsty land, where spiritual joys are things forgotten, and how truly can they testify that the only true necessity of that country is the near presence of their God!” – C.H. Spurgeon

God's Phone Number

Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

God in His Word tells us to call Him, but so often we don't. And I figured, "Maybe we don't know His phone number." Cause we sure don't spend any time talking to Him. Not long ago I received an e-mail that had these amazing emergency numbers in it. So I thought I would share them here.

A HANDY REFERENCE LIST OF EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:

When in sorrow.....................................call John 14

When men fail you.................................call Psalm 27

When you have sinned..............................call Psalm 51

When you worry.............................call Matthew 6:19-34

When you are in danger............................call Psalm 91

When God seems far away..........................call Psalm 139

When your faith needs stirring..................call Hebrews 11

When you are lonely and fearful...................call Psalm 23

When you grow bitter and critical.........call I Corinthians 13

When you feel down and out.....................call Romans 8:31

When you want peace and rest..............call Matthew 11:25-30

When the world seems bigger than God..............call Psalm 90

When you want Christian assurance............call Romans 8:1-30

When you leave home for labor or travel..........call Psalm 121

When your prayers grow narrow or selfish..........call Psalm 67

When you want courage for a task..................call Joshua 1

When you think of investments and returns..........call Mark 10

If you are depressed..............................call Psalm 27

If your pocketbook is empty.......................call Psalm 37

If you are losing confidence in people...call I Corinthians 13

If people seem unkind..............................call John 15

If discouraged about your work...................call Psalm 126

If self pride/greatness takes hold................call Psalm 19

If you want to be fruitful.........................call John 15

For understanding of Christianity...call II Corinthians 5:15-19

For a great invention/opportunity................call Isaiah 55

For how to get along with fellow men.............call Romans 12

For Paul's secret to happiness..........call Colossians 3:12-17

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ALTERNATE NUMBERS:

For dealing with fear............................call Psalm 34:7

For security...................................call Psalm 121:3

For assurance....................................call Mark 8:35

For reassurance........................call Psalm 145:18

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PLEASE NOTE: Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary.

All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day!

Love the Lord

Deuteronomy 6:5- “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

"I do love God," said a little girl to her papa one day when he had been talking to her about loving God. "Perhaps you think so, Maria." "Oh, I do, indeed I do, Papa!" "Suppose, my child, you should come to me and say, 'Dear Papa, I do love you,' and then go away and disobey me? Could I believe you?" "No, Papa." "Well, dear, how can I believe you love God when I see you every day doing those things which He forbids? You know, the Bible says, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments.'"

How many of us fail to show our love for God because we do not keep His commandments?He tells us to love Him with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our might. The best proof of this love is to obey His commands, one of which is to love Him. The Psalms also speak much of loving God. Psalm 31:23 instructs, “Love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.” And Psalm 145:20, “The Lord preserveth all them that love him.”

This command is so important that Christ reinforces it in each of the first three gospels when the lawyer came to Him and asked Him which was the greatest commandment. In Matthew 22:37-38, Christ responds, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” In John 14:15, He adds, “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” and in John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.”

The Apostle John takes it a step further in 1 John 2:5, “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.” Here’s that perfect love that “casteth out fear” of 1 John 4:18. Two verses prior, John says, “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

Love the LORD

Love the LORD with all thine heart Is what the Word commands.

Give to Him the praise that’s due With all that’s in thy hands.

Show to Him a heart that’s full Of love so strong and sure

By living here a holy life That’s right and clean and pure.

Love the LORD with all thy soul – To Him above give praise.

Extol Him for His mercies fine, And love Him all thy days.

Give Him thanks for all He’s done – With all thy soul do tell –

Exalt Him over all the world For saving thee from hell.

Love the LORD with all thy might, Yet not thy strength alone.

Put on the righteousness of Christ, And stand before His throne.

For in the strength of His Dear Son, We’ll worship Him above,

And give to Him the proper praise With heart so full of love.

© 2006 Paul Stultz

Quote – “God is love. If love is absent, God is absent.” - Unknown