Today I am traveling home for Christmas...and I am traveling on a Greyhound Bus. I do expect it to be an adventure; of sorts, not like hunting big game in a distant land kind of an adventure, but an adventure none the less. And as a reference point I feel like I need to share with you all that this is "not" my first time to board a Greyhound Bus for places unknown...I have traveled by bus many more times than I would really care to admit.
For those of you that went to School with me, either Junior High School OR High School...most of you weren't privy to the fact that by the time I was 13...8th grade(?)...I was nearing the "Professional" status of utilizing buses as a mode of transportation. One of the things my younger brother Joey and would do as children; was to travel to where ever my oldest brother was during the summer and spend the summer with him....AND one such adventure was when I was 9 and Joey was 8 (you see Mom and Dad got "busy" when they got married, and Joey and I were born 1 year and 18 days apart). Our Little ol' Momma; Thelma, for those of you who do not know her. Put us on the Greyhound Bus bound for Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Now Momma being "our" Momma (the little Cajun gal that she is) told us all about "those men" who liked little boys, and for us to always stay together, AND to never...never go to the rest room alone, under any circumstances. We were from then on armed with the essentials that we needed to know about traveling alone - and that was all she needed to do. Because "we all" listened to Momma's when she told us to do something back then...didn't we? And OF course she also told the bus driver to make sure we got from one bus to the other. It was almost like the bus driver "knew" Momma would hunt him down and "slay" him if anything happened to us, and being the little Cajun that she is..."that" is exactly what would have happened, BUT he did as he was asked and we did wht she told us, and he lived (hopefully he live a long and productive life), and we made it all the way there and back.
Now jump ahead a few summers when I was 13...after baseball season - I started a new summer tradition and I would go to Houston and work as an Commercial Insulator's Helper with my Uncle Pick (which is a whole story in itself). I bought my first dirt bike, and kept it in Houston at my Aunt and Uncle's house, SO Momma would put me on a "Greyhound Bus" on Friday afternoon and pick me on Sunday afternoon - just so I could go and ride my dirt bike. My Momma is truly the bomb (thank you Momma)...and I did this for a number of years every few weekends until I got my driver licenses and I started driving, and working after school and of course cruising the Nederland drag. All the things that children (young men and women) did when we were growing up. But that in a nut shell that is how I gained the Professional status at such an early age of riding Greyhound Buses.
Now you guys are most likely trying to figure out what this has to do with my walk in Christ by now...and to be totally honest - I was just sharing a little about my crazy childhood; some of my fond memories. But it all really ties together, because it played a large roll in getting me to this place I am at today (Dec 23, 2009)...riding a Greyhound Bus. While on this particular bus ride...of course there is the perpetual people watching of all types, sizes and shapes. But I got to witness an exchange between two totally different people from two totally different walks of life. AND it was glorious in the eyes of God.
And it all started out with the most fundamental aspect of being a Christian. Which is: "we", as Christians are suppose to share with others our love for "our" God through how we carry ourselves, and to being a witness for God through the sharing of His word(just to name a couple). And we are suppose to be on stand-by for when God opens that door for us. I got to witnessed a simple exchange between two "extremely" different cultures...two totally different people, and as I said it was a testimony of how great God is. I don't know what religion is prevalent in Nepal...BUT I am thinking it isn't Christianity. I believe it may be something like Hinduism, Buddhism...doesn't really matter, but what does matter is I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman from Nepal, and his name was Broon(I believe that is what he said). Broon had sat a few rows ahead of me after this one stop so he could enjoy the countryside, and an Amish gentleman sat next to him.
How different could two worlds be? One man lives where the sky and the earth become one. While the other one lives in a world of farming here in America and of simple-ness, or as they say - they live "plain" lives. BUT after thinking about this for just a moment; maybe there worlds aren't really that different after all...just a thought? I have to say that my arsenal is not that strong when it comes to testifying, or guiding people to God...I try, but I am lacking in this aspect of my walk for now. BUT before I knew it the Amish gentleman was showing Broon his bible...I found this totally amazing and I loved it. It was an awesome witness to the glory of God...and I sat there in amazement of the glory that was being shared between two total strangers...calmly...peacefully and with a total lack of concern with what was going on around them or who was around to see what was going on. Now that was a priceless moment - to me anyhow.
I sat there and thought just how appropriate that was for me to witness in the Christmas season...the "giving" that took place on a crowded Greyhound Bus in the middle of America, the melting pot of the world founded on the love of God for us all to be a part of; if we choose to do so.
Until next time...
Father God I can't thank you enough for putting me on that crowed uncomfortable bus to witness the love that only You can be the center of. For bringing Your love to the forefront for all to see in this season that You created for us. As You shared Your love by giving us Jesus all those years ago. We come to You to acknowledge that Your love still reigns in this world. Father we ask that You continue to show us Your love, Your peace, Your never ending truth...and for You to continue to be our purpose, our Guiding Light in this time of encroaching darkness. We come to You today Father seeking the truth in all You do for us, and thank You for your never ending love. In Jesus'' name we pray, Amen
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Glory To A Newborn King
Our growth in Christ is not an easy one, BUT it is one that we rejoice in. Christ is fluid, but at the same time He is never changing...HE is the same today as He was yesterday and will be a million years from now, but He keeps moving forward. So it is up to us to modify our beliefs, our patterns of thought, our actions to the will of God's. And the rewards are, and will be great...never ending and His children will all come to live at that place called heaven someday. I went to church today at a different church than I normally do. I am out of town, and not close enough to go to my normal church to venture over to it.
The pastor and the congregation are a little different than the church I normally go to, but in this case - the change is good (NOT all change is good - if you haven't checked the papers lately). The congregation as a whole is "happy" to be near God, and in His home. They were a blessing for me to be around. The pastor; while not like my usual pastor - who is a mighty solider of God, was in his own right; also a mighty solider of God. And it was so very refreshing to enjoy his sermon and know I was in the presence of another brother of like mind in Christ. And he delivered a great sermon. A small portion of his sermon revolved around "how Mary's life changed once she received word from God that she was going to be the bearer of His son incarnate." She accepted this role - thank God; for all of us, even though she could have very easily been stoned to death, or shunned from her family and village. Which would have been a slow death, because she was promised to Joseph, and she showed up pregnant. The point of this was to show how once we accept Christ into our lives in initially things may "not" be so good for us, and that these may come from the people that are closes to us. BUT in time through Christ - we will be led to that place of peace in our lives, and complete the things in our lives that He has set out for "us" to do.
Another point that he made was that "our" God belittled Himself to become a mortal baby, and He experienced the same life that we live from our birth to the day we die. He did this so that He could experience everything that we will/would have to experience in our life, but mainly (always putting us first) He wanted to give us an example of how we should live our life's. Thank you Jesus!
Since this is the Christmas season, one of the other things that he did - that really stood out in my mind was to sing the song "Hark The Herald Angles Sing"...not that I have never sang the song, but he took it a step farther, and broke it down...and pointed out things about the song that I had never taken into consideration. I've included the lyrics below for you to review, and maybe you will see things that you have never seen...it may possibly be that I am a Christian this year; while I wasn't last year, Or maybe that I am closer to God than ever before...I know that I have grown in our Lord during this past year, and I know that I will continue to grow in Him...He has chosen me/us for a reason...and I have so much to learn...it gives me goose bumps to think about all that I have yet to experience and learn, and I long for the chance to continue growing, learning and becoming closer to you Father...I love you Father, Abba, Jehovah - Jireh.
As I mentioned we kind of dissected "Hark The Herald Angles Sing", and it has a totally new meaning to me now...here is the entire song, but my favorite passage has to be part of the second verse (and the third verse just drives it home). Where Charles Wesley (brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church in 1739) really describes what God...OUR God; has done. Like I said I have never looked at it like this, but it is so beautiful now that I have seen what God had done for you and me...he became a baby for us, so that we would have an example to follow, He didn't have to go through any of the hardships that he inevitably did on His way to Calvary, and during His crucifixion. Go ahead and take a look at the song below...hopefully you will be able to see the meaning of the song from a new perspective as well.
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Father God we come to you during this time of the year; as we do everyday to recognize You and You alone as OUR Lord and Master. May we all as a nation, as a world, as a race come to know you better, and to be molded by You in Your likeness Father. Thank for coming to us, and being the
God that You are. We will never be able to repay You, but as we grow closer to You we will Lift you up higher and higher ever try to become more like You Father. These things I pray in Jesus' name, Amen!
The pastor and the congregation are a little different than the church I normally go to, but in this case - the change is good (NOT all change is good - if you haven't checked the papers lately). The congregation as a whole is "happy" to be near God, and in His home. They were a blessing for me to be around. The pastor; while not like my usual pastor - who is a mighty solider of God, was in his own right; also a mighty solider of God. And it was so very refreshing to enjoy his sermon and know I was in the presence of another brother of like mind in Christ. And he delivered a great sermon. A small portion of his sermon revolved around "how Mary's life changed once she received word from God that she was going to be the bearer of His son incarnate." She accepted this role - thank God; for all of us, even though she could have very easily been stoned to death, or shunned from her family and village. Which would have been a slow death, because she was promised to Joseph, and she showed up pregnant. The point of this was to show how once we accept Christ into our lives in initially things may "not" be so good for us, and that these may come from the people that are closes to us. BUT in time through Christ - we will be led to that place of peace in our lives, and complete the things in our lives that He has set out for "us" to do.
Another point that he made was that "our" God belittled Himself to become a mortal baby, and He experienced the same life that we live from our birth to the day we die. He did this so that He could experience everything that we will/would have to experience in our life, but mainly (always putting us first) He wanted to give us an example of how we should live our life's. Thank you Jesus!
Since this is the Christmas season, one of the other things that he did - that really stood out in my mind was to sing the song "Hark The Herald Angles Sing"...not that I have never sang the song, but he took it a step farther, and broke it down...and pointed out things about the song that I had never taken into consideration. I've included the lyrics below for you to review, and maybe you will see things that you have never seen...it may possibly be that I am a Christian this year; while I wasn't last year, Or maybe that I am closer to God than ever before...I know that I have grown in our Lord during this past year, and I know that I will continue to grow in Him...He has chosen me/us for a reason...and I have so much to learn...it gives me goose bumps to think about all that I have yet to experience and learn, and I long for the chance to continue growing, learning and becoming closer to you Father...I love you Father, Abba, Jehovah - Jireh.
As I mentioned we kind of dissected "Hark The Herald Angles Sing", and it has a totally new meaning to me now...here is the entire song, but my favorite passage has to be part of the second verse (and the third verse just drives it home). Where Charles Wesley (brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church in 1739) really describes what God...OUR God; has done. Like I said I have never looked at it like this, but it is so beautiful now that I have seen what God had done for you and me...he became a baby for us, so that we would have an example to follow, He didn't have to go through any of the hardships that he inevitably did on His way to Calvary, and during His crucifixion. Go ahead and take a look at the song below...hopefully you will be able to see the meaning of the song from a new perspective as well.
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Father God we come to you during this time of the year; as we do everyday to recognize You and You alone as OUR Lord and Master. May we all as a nation, as a world, as a race come to know you better, and to be molded by You in Your likeness Father. Thank for coming to us, and being the
God that You are. We will never be able to repay You, but as we grow closer to You we will Lift you up higher and higher ever try to become more like You Father. These things I pray in Jesus' name, Amen!
Labels:
5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
