Glory to God in the Highest

I've been thinking about several Point of Grace Christmas songs and the sermons at church this month.  I am encouraged by the words of both.  Their common denominator is glorifying God.  That term is used all the time in our churches, in God's word, and in Christian literature but I wonder if we really know how to do that?  Here are snippets of the lyrics from three songs that move me every Christmas to focus on Christ at Christmas and all year long and they all glorify God.

Let there be light.  Let it shine bright.  Piercing the darkness with dazzling light.  Hope for the hopeless was born on that night when God sent His son.  We who are His have this calling to
PRAISE HIM AND MAKE HIS NAME KNOWN  so one day the presence of Jesus shines in every heart and every home.

Oh Emmanuel, God with us.  Spirit revealed in us.  That we may be your hope to the world.  Oh Emmanuel, God with us.  With a light to break the darkness that we may show your hope to the world.

We're alive. We can breath.  But do we really care for this world in need?  There's a choice we must make each and every day.  So close your eyes and share the dream.  Let everyone on Earth believe.  The Child was born, the stars shone bright and love came down at Christmas time.  Love came down at Christmas time.  The time has come to celebrate so let your voices fill the air.  Everyone, watch and pray.


Paul Reese brought to our attention that we have the same ministry as John.  His assignment was to prepare the people for the King and we are to prepare them, also.  We have been given the tools.  We have God's word.  It shows us how to praise and shapes our thinking and our lives if we let it.  We must believe in our hearts and trust His word then we must use words to prepare others.  Use God's words.  Use God's words to praise.  Use God's words to pray.  Use God's words to teach.   Use God's words to comfort.  These all glorify God.  They make Him known.  Words are necessary.

Rob Crust reminded us that we want glory but God deserves glory.  He is magnificent in all things.  God sent Christ His son to save us and this sacrifice points us further to His glory.   Everything about Christ teaches us about God and shows us how to make God known to others.  Christ served humbly for our benefit.  He is our model for all godly living.  Are we servants to others?  Are we willing to take the burdens of other people as Christ did?  Are we willing to serve gladly for those around us?

What does humble service look like?  As you go through your day are your eyes and ears listening for ways to serve?  Here are some examples?  If you are married, when you're done with your shower do you take the best, dry fluffy towel for yourself or do you think to leave it in just the right place for your husband to reach it?  Do you have room mates?  Do you take the last yogurt in the fridge and leave your trash and dirty spoon on the counter or do you eat something else not as appetizing to yourself, empty the dishwasher, and run to the store at the first chance to get more for the fridge?  At work are you looking to get the respect you deserve or do you do a couple of extra things for your coworker who is laid low with a cold this week?   At the grocery store do you park further away because your legs are strong and nimble so those whose legs are weak can park closer?  Do you notice what might needs to be done at church.  Do the shelves need to be straightened?  A meal delivered?  A card sent?   There are thousands of ways to serve.

In it all you are not looking for glory for yourself as such a nice person but serving as a loving sacrifice to God in an effort to MAKE HIS NAME KNOWN.  This is glorifying God at Christmas and all year long.

Merry Christmas everyone and may you know and make known our Savior each day you are given.

Be Joyful Always

I was thinking more about 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18 again.  "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  How can we really understand that God is with us in all circumstances?

The only way I know to do that is to be where He is.   If you spend each day walking in the world with no conversation with God how would you know He is with you?  In that situation you are fed what the world has to say, which is often a distorted perspective, or you are having conversations with yourself that get you nowhere.  How do you have conversations with God instead?

We have His Word and we have prayer.  God has already given us these ways to communicate with Him.  There are many precious nuggets of truth to guide our perspective right on our nightstands or coffee tables.  The bible is not for Sundays only.  Here is a method that will help you hear better when God speaks in His Word.

Meditate on what you have read.  If you just read it and close the book God has not had time to speak into your situation.  There are many ways to meditate on a passage.  When you meditate on the words you absorb them into your mind.  You can start with the guide in the back of your bible to find passages about trials or love or Jesus whatever you are needing to hear.  The Psalms are great to meditate on.  Read the words then pray through them with your situation in mind.   Rewrite them in your own words.  Repeat the words with emphasis on different words each time and see how the verse speaks differently.

These ideas came from the book "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald Whitney.  It is a great resource to help us spend more time with our God who loves us and promises to be with us in all things.