Finding your Voice

The Christmas story starts off with John, "A voice crying in the wilderness." A couple is blessed with a child in their old age, but the husband, a priest, loses his voice during the pregnancy. An emperor is used by God when he tells everyone in his empire to go home and be counted. A young girl and carpenter accept the proclamation of an angel to be the Messiah's earthly parents. Then a choir of angels and a caravan of magi herald the arrival of the new King, who would never serve as King in that life. 

Each of us has to find our voice in the Christmas story. Some of us, like me, will be preachers, pastors, and teachers, working in our field to tell the story, or the part of it that we teach to children, teens, and adults.  A young friend I know has found one of her joys in serving others in physical ways. My friend Beth just graduated this week with her CNA, giving care to those who need help. And some of the best voices are those stilled so that they can listen to others tell their story. In doing so, their voice becomes valuable in sharing God's love. 

So please, whether you sing like an angel, preach like Billy Graham, wash feet like Jesus or listen with love, find your voice, your way to share the Joy and life the Baby brings. 

Angels Among us (including Sarah Bell!)

Good morning, friends!

As we continue looking at the messengers of God, I would like to bring out two points from Hebrews.

God sends Angels to help believers. Hebrews 1:14 says "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"

We don't always know when Angels are around. Hebrews 13:2 tells us "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

I have to give a shout to my daughter, the now 17-year-old Sarah Bell. There are parallels. Angels bring God's message, and the good news of Jesus, to others. Sarah does that in conversation, service, music, and leading children. Angels brighten places where they are, as does Sarah. And they serve the Lord and God's people, which Sarah does wonderfully.

So look for God's messages through others. and be a serving, sharing witness to God, like my daughter!

Good afternoon, friends!
Today we continue our journey to Jerusalem. This week we will be talking about proclaiming the gospel, the good news of God's love.

Our passage today comes from Luke 1:19, where Gabriel lets Zechariah know he will have a baby. When the priest doesn't believe him, he shares who he is. "19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news." He then strikes him mute for 9 months. 

We need to find our self-image, and who we are, from being in the presence of God, as the angels do. God's Spirit lives inside us and will help and guide us at each step of our journey. Live today knowing God's presence and blessing in your life!

Sight & Belief

 It is ironic that we are talking about sight and belief today. Today is the 80th birthday of my father-in-law, Larry Smith, the closest thing I have had to a father for 24 years. I am blessed to know and be loved by him. 

Larry says we have to believe. We should believe enough to follow Christ and do what Christ wants us to do, including living out our faith, being honest, and generous, and sharing what God has done for us.

Many say seeing is believing, that they will believe what they can see and understand. I think of Larry and a couple of others who would argue. 

Judy was the wise elf in The Santa Clause. She said that rather than that, believing is seeing. 

Saint Augustine went further. He said, from Hebrews 11, that faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.I think they are right. When I believe, and live out that belief, I am getting the vision of what God wants my life, others, and the earth to be. As I see God's vision, I begin to see what I believe, about God, myself, and the world. Believe and you will see!