This Week's Scripture and Quote

The scripture goes along with my previous post encouraging all of us to seek out Christ this Christmas season. The Quote is simple common sense. I failed to follow that sage advice once - but only once. Never again, boy was that messy...

Is God Getting Your Attention This Christmas?

I caught this thought on the radio the other day - I don't know what I was listening to, so I can't give proper credit but at least you know it is not completely original! It is however, well worth considering.

Think a moment about that evening in the pasture where the shepherd's were. Here they are doing their job with no knowledge that this seemingly ordinary night is about to change their lives. I imagine them sitting not far from the flock, leaning back against a rock. Eyes are getting heavy, some may be dozing. Suddenly, they are called to immediate attention - what is it? An angel. An angel. A cute little cherub with chubby cheeks and loin cloth fluttering about with a harp? Hardly. Not if the shepherds reaction is any clue. They were terrified! This was not what we so often picture when thinking of the angel's appearance. This was an impressive specimen, a heavenly creature that brought fear to the hearts of these men. The angel quickly allays their fear, but when God wants to get our attention about something - He can certainly make a great impression. You might say it is unforgettable.

That night Christ was not received with great fanfare in many respects. He was born to humble parents, away from home, in a dirty barn, surrounded by beasts created by his very voice. However, He is still God - the King of the universe and Lord of all, and someone was gonna hear about it and acknowledge it as such! Heaven made sure of that with the angelic announcement.

In the same way today, Christ is often regarded with little fanfare. However, He is still God - the King of the universe and Lord of all, and God still makes sure that is acknowledged. Has He gotten your attention lately? Have you seen the little signs? Have you been too busy to even notice a heavenly host? Be sure to take the time this Christmas season to allow God to reveal Himself to you. Then respond the way the shepherds did, seek Him out and worship. Seek Him, you will find Him. As with the shepherds, it will change your life!

Come on now, tell me what you really think!

She may be a very silly, beautiful, brilliant 3 year old with an irresistible impish grin, but my daughter sounded more like a child suffering from the onset of premature teenage angst this morning. In the spirit of Lindsay Lohan's "Confessions of a Broken Heart (daughter to father)", in which Lindsay truly heartbreakingly shares her hurt over their poor relationship, Karsyn sang me a song.
Karsy at her brothers b'day party.
Look at that smile - see what I mean!

Afterwards, she was very clear that if this was going to be made public, I had to be careful to do it exactly the way she did. So, here is Karsy's song as best I remember it - a truly original and unexpected composition:

Chorus

I love my Daddy

for many years and many days,

I love my Daddy

for many years and many days,

I love my Daddy

for many years and many days

Bridge...

Sometimes he gets really mad!

I laughed - she wasn't too happy about that, but I quickly assured her that I loved it, praised her for her creativity, timing and pitch and then told Robbin. Funny thing is, for those of you who don't know me, I rarely get "really mad" - honest! But, I guess I have made an impression. Notice though what impression is greater... love. She sings about love 3 times as much as she sings about anger! Still though, don't you just love surprise endings!

Coming Soon to "The Hope of His Calling..."

Check back soon to see the invisible man in the post: "Mr. Nobody"... well, I guess you can't see him but you can at least read about him!!!

New Features on "The Hope of His Calling..."

Looky looky to your righty. I've added a scripture of the week and quote of the week. This weeks scripture, being the first, happens to be my first "favourite" verse. I now have many favourites, but this one became my first favourite verse during a particularly frightening thunder and lightening storm in which I was home alone at the age of 12.

The power went out while I was watching a hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs that I had taped the night before (I wasn't allowed to stay up in those days!). Reed Larson had one of the hardest shots in the league for the Wings, and I think that Glen Hanlon was in goal. There was a young kid the announcers were raving about named Steve Yzerman. For the leafs, the starting goalie was Ken Wregget, the blueline was anchored by Borje Salming, and P.E.I.'s Rick Vaive led the charge with a kid named Wendel Clark who hit everything in sight!

Anyway, back to the storm... yes, it was the middle of the afternoon but it was still scary! When the power went off and everything was grey, flashing and booming outside, I went to my room and opened my Bible. I went to the back and looked up "fear" under topics and one of the verses was the one I posted. It has stuck with me ever since...

As for the quote, I thought it went along well with my recent post on procrastination. Enjoy, don't be shy to comment, and check back frequently for updates!

Digging In: Thoughts on Spiritual Consumption

As promised, here is a post that was inspired by a sermon series I heard from Pastor and writer, Chuck Swindoll. He is one of my favourite preachers for both his conversational style and studied content, and I find I always glean something from his messages. This series was no different.

He spoke for several days on the importance of God's Word. Many things stood out to me, but the biggest impression I was left with was the need for all Christians to independently and intentionally study the scriptures for ourselves. Many of us I'm sure have and hopefully use some of the innumerable daily devotional publications that are out there - "Our Daily Bread", "My Upmost for His Highest", "Quest" (!!!), internet offerings, and more. These are great tools that augment our study of scripture, but they cannot be a replacement for looking at the actual Word of God for ourselves.

It is so easy and convenient to allow other believers, often great scholars with far more impressive credentials than our own, to do the study, the work, the chewing for us and then consume the pureed product set before us. Again, there is nothing wrong with these tools when used to assist us, But Rev. Swindoll implored all believers to dig in for themselves. Bite off a piece of succulent meat, the biblical kind, and chew it up for yourself. Enjoy a juicy mouthful allowing the flavours to titillate your tastebuds, then swallow and let the food digest as you gain every advantage the morsel has to offer. Let the vitamins and nutrients enrich your soul. Then, when you are ready, dig in for another bite.

Deut. 17:18,19 gives instruction for the king of Israel. These instructions are appropriate for us all:

Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom,

that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book,

from the one before the priests, the Levites.

And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life,

that he may learn to fear the Lord his God

and be careful to observe all the words of this law

and these statutes

I've been tagged!

I am currently engaged in a game of "cyber-tag". After ducking underneath the first swipe, then deftly spinning away from another attempt, David finally got me when he wasn't fooled by my head fake and quick juke to the left. He does have a significant reach advantage. Anyhow, he tagged me for some answers to these following questions:

1. What comes to mind/what is your heart's response when you think of or hear the word..."CALVARY"?

2. What would you like to have inscribed on your tombstone?

3. Which attribute of God do you find yourself revelling in the most?

You will find my answers here. Check out the rest of David Fisher's excellent blog "Pilgrim Scribblings..." for more answers to these questions and many other posts that are well worth the read.