Virtual Tip Jar

Things are quite different here in Augusta, Georgia than what everyone was planning on for this weekend. Instead of multitudes of people from all over the world packed on to Washington Road, our street is much more quiet and empty. I am still trying to have a little Masters Tournament vibe by eating a pimento cheese sandwich and enjoying my Club Magnolia apparel today.

After my hospitalization and open heart surgery, I did not have any musical events for 4-months. That was a huge change of pace for me since I had spent every weekend gigging with The Family Fold since I was 13-years-old. It’s rough putting an 18-year weekend tradition on hold.

The coming of Spring was a hopeful thing because I was finally well enough to be back in to all of my musical activities. The annual Springtime gigs were lined up... Playing for Augusta West Rotary Club’s “Taste of Something Wild,” preparing to perform every day of the weeklong “Masters Golf Tournament” either at the airport or at Club Magnolia, planning to have my “Birthday Pickin’ Party” in mid-April, continuing on with St. Paul’s Celtic Services, and looking forward to Augusta Canal’s Music Cruise... But, everything came to a halt again due to this Coronavirus Pandemic.

Once again, I am very much missing being out in public playing music for y’all; but I am trying to make more use of technology in order to stay connected with y’all and still bring music your way. I am striving to do more with The Family Fold’s YouTube Channel, and I am learning the ropes of FaceTime and Zoom.

I’ve also learned about PayPal and Venmo, and now I am setting out a “Virtual Tip Jar.” My public gigs are gone for now, but honestly, my mountain of medical bills is still there. I’ll keep chipping away at it the best I can, and I know that it’s tight times for a lot of people right now. But if my music has touched your heart, and you ever feel like making a donation, I would greatly appreciate it. Most of all, know that I am forever grateful for your prayers for me. Thank you!

-Eryn Eubanks

PayPal: http://www.paypal.me/eryneubanks

Venmo: http://www.venmo.com/eryneubanksfamilyfold

E-Mail: eryneubanks@me.com

More Prayers for Ricie

We pray that you all are doing as well as you can through this anxious season.

I wanted to send this video in hopes to bring some tranquility to your ears and spirit.

I also hope that it will remind you to remember my mom, Ricie Eubanks, in your prayers. We are grateful for how y’all have prayed for her eyes so many times. Things are looking up in that department.

But we would love for y’all to especially remember her during this time of the Coronavirus Pandemic. As most of y’all know, she has been a nurse for decades at University Hospital.

The rest of The Family Fold and I aren’t around a lot of people right now, but Mom is still out there - along with the other medical heroes - serving many people in sickness. Please pray for their safety, health, and peace.

We thank you, and we pray for you & your loved ones to stay well during all of this.

~ Eryn Eubanks ~

Eryn Eubanks & The Family Fold (featuring Ricie Eubanks on penny whistle) play "As The Deer Panteth For The Water" at Saint Paul's Church (Augusta, GA - 02/0...

New “LIVE” Album from The Family Fold

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW “Live” Album is here! This CD is an energetic recording packed full of Family Fold favorites...

1. Watson Allman Blues
2. Old Joe Clark
3. Monroe Blues
4. Kitty’s Wedding
5. Big Ball In Brooklyn
6. Orange Blossom Special
7. Ring Of Fire
8. Orphan Girl
9. Ashoakan Farewell
10. Amazing Grace

To get your copy of Eryn Eubanks & The Family Fold “LIVE,” e-mail eryneubanks@me.com, or purchase it the next time you come to see The Family Fold.

13 Is My Lucky Number

It has been 13-weeks since the saga of my heart journey began... 13-weeks since that Friday the 13th in September 2019 when I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve.

Since then, a lot of you have heard me share about this experience. I’ve tried to write thorough accounts of what we faced and what has happened along the way. But I have been wanting to write about the very personal thoughts that were running through my head 13-weeks ago.

I had no clue that such an event would happen to me at 31-years of age. Even though I didn’t feel well, I didn’t look like a person who was in heart failure with an aortic valve that was “in shreds” due to the destruction of endocarditis. I was already shocked to have gone to the doctor for a routine echo and be told, “You have to have open heart surgery.” (And my first thought was, “Good Lord! September 11th is even more of an unforgettable date for me now.”) As I was starting to get my swirling head wrapped around that news, I thought, “What’s that new term they keep saying? Starts with an E... What’s that all about?” After finding out all of the damage that “endocarditis” had done to me in such a short period of time; I quickly memorized that word, spelling, and description. “Dear God, I never knew that I could get such a bacteria. How did I even get this? They talk like they’re not sure how.” When my surgeon told me that the operation would have a “60% mortality rate,” I thought, “I don’t think I want to clarify whether ‘death’ is the 60 or the 40.” My surgeon explained that open heart would be even more dangerous for me because of this infection, so they had to wait for the antibiotics to get to work in my body. But he said that they didn’t want to wait too long to do surgery because pieces could break off from my shredded aortic valve and cause me to have a stroke. And that is when tears started rolling down my face. I signed the paper to have the open heart surgery. I read the part that said if I didn’t have surgery my prognosis was death. “Well, Lord, I have no other choice. There is no other choice. There’s nothing that I did that caused this. There’s nothing that I could have done to stop this. This is it.”

My family & I were so thankful for all of the people who came to visit us while I was in the hospital waiting for surgery. I can actually say that I had fun seeing everyone. My room stayed packed like we were having a party. The love, prayers, and testimonies from everyone encouraged us and strengthened us. The visits helped keep us from being eaten up with worry.

But I would stay awake all night. “I don’t want to fall asleep and have a stroke. I’ve got to stay alert, and take care of things that I need to do before surgery.” My family, my medical team, and I had faith and hope. “Thank You, Lord, that they think this is worth doing. I mean, it’s a good sign for me that they’re going through with this, right?” But there was still plenty of room for fear to creep in. I felt like I had a lot of hurdles coming up that I was going to have to jump. It’s wasn’t just a straight shot to the finish line. “Dear God, I’ve got to get through these days waiting on surgery. I don’t want to have a stroke. The antibiotics need to work so I’ll be safer for surgery. I have to make it through the actual surgery and not die on the operating table. I don’t want my vocal cords to get nicked when they run that tube down my throat. And then there’s after surgery! I don’t want to get pneumonia, or another infection, or die of a blood clot. They’ll want me to cough and go to bathroom before they release me. And then I have to work on staying well at home! I’ve got 6-weeks worth of antibiotics and a PIC-line in my arm. Everything needs to go smoothly with that. And God, I don’t ever want to get this frightening ‘endocarditis’ again! How do I keep from getting something like this?”

I thought about the last two “Family Fold Church Gatherings” I had led. I went into the large, private, hospital bathroom while my loved ones caught a nap. I locked the door, folded a towel, and put it on the floor to cushion my knees. “I’m going to kneel down while I’m still able to ‘cause I sure won’t be after surgery.” That “bathroom” became my “prayer closet.” “Father God, I have believed in You my whole life. I have preached Your Word wholeheartedly. I know You work miracles. I told my church group about a lady that I met that the doctors gave her and her daughter no chance to live, and they are alive and healthy, twenty-years down the line. I know You did that! I have always believed in Jesus, and that He is the only way I can go to Heaven. I know that! But I want to know that more, ‘cause now more than ever I am having to put my money where my mouth is. The last sermon I preached, I shared 2 Timothy 4:6-8. ‘For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me on that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.’ God, I pray that those words could be said at the end of my life... But I don’t want my funeral happening anytime soon! I want to keep fighting the good fight. I want to live and stay on the course. I know You, Lord, but please help me because I want to know even more that I am in Your hands, that I am safe in You, that whether I live or die, I belong to You... And if I die on Friday, I want to know even more that I’m going to Heaven. I believe with all of my heart, and it is only because of what Jesus did on the cross for me. I’m trusting and depending on You. My all is on Your altar.”

The Prince of Peace continually filled me with His Peace as I awaited Friday the 13th of September. Over a 24-hour period, He sent me Isaiah 41:10 three times. My mom & dad ordered a beautiful flower arrangement with a little angel statue in it for me. They wanted to write a Bible verse on the card, so Mom got to searching for a Scripture. She stumbled on Isaiah 41:10, they liked what it said, and put that on the card for me. At another time, my husband brought me a card from my stack of “Ruth Bell Graham Memory Verses” that I keep in our guest restroom at home. (“After all, you do have a ‘captive audience’ to share a Bible verse with in the restroom, right? I mean, their eyes will have to see the Scripture card sitting there at the sink right beside the soap.”) Every morning at home, I would flip the memory verse cards and find a new Scripture for the day. It was always a surprise. Greg said to me in the hospital, “This card was sitting out in our bathroom at home, and I thought it was perfect for you, so I had to bring it to you.” It was Isaiah 41:10. “Wow!” And God added to that wow-factor when a friend of mine in Africa wrote me later on that day and said, “I am praying Isaiah 41:10 for you.” Prior to that, Isaiah 41:10 had not been a verse that anyone associated with me or that I had marked out as one of my “absolute favorites”... But it is now! I truly believe God was repeatedly and personally telling me, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

The evening before my open heart surgery, the minister came to serve communion to my family and me. (“This is not my ‘last rites.’ I’m doing like Jim Jewell used to do and taking a special communion because I am in need of some healing.”) Before we partook of the bread and wine, the minister shared a Scripture from Matthew 9:27-30 (NASB). “As Jesus went from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘It shall be done according to your faith.’ And their eyes were opened...” Sitting in that hospital bed, facing all of those hurdles and not knowing just how everything would turn out, verse 28 of that old familiar story strongly struck my heart and moved me to tears. It was like Jesus was asking me, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord. I believe in You. I trust You. All of my faith is in You.”

13-weeks later, I can tell you that Jesus did it! He has been with me and upheld me every step of the way. It was no walk in the park getting my chest cut open and all... But I feel like God did a miracle for me because so many parts of my story could have easily been way worse.

My first close relative unexpectedly passed away when I was 11-years-old. When I was 13, the second gig Mom & I ever did was a funeral. We’ve done many, many funerals since then. Pa (my dad’s father) passed away when I was 15. I’ve had several close music friends who were decades older than me, and they are playing with the “Angel Band” now. My uncle (Dad’s brother) passed away last year due to the flu. I’ve seen death strike people who are younger and healthier than me, too. And my whole life, I have believed the Bible, the Word of God that reminds me that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. (See James 4:13-15.) But my experience has driven this home for me even more, and I hope that my story encourages you in your faith. God loves you so much and is working personally in your life! He wants to be The One to walk with you through the raging storms and the fiery trials. You are not alone. And He wants to give you His peace so that no matter what happens to you - an unexpected obstacle, a tragedy, or even death - you can know that you are safe in Him. He wants you to know that you belong to Him, that your sins are forgiven, that you are in right standing with Him, and that you have eternal life. That’s how much He loves you! All you have to do is believe.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. (See Romans 8:38-39.) Call out to Him; for He says to you, “Come now, and let us reason together. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, NASB) 

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10, NASB)

~ Eryn Eubanks ~

12/11/19

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

We hope you’re having a happy Thanksgiving weekend! I have been especially thankful for the progress I have made as I heal up from my open heart surgery.

I have received good reports from my surgeon (Dr. Timothy Hunter) and my infection doctor (Dr. Richard Kilgore). We even found out what I got that caused my endocarditis. It is called “Cardiobacterium Hominis.” Essentially (from what I could understand and remember from that doctor’s report), it is a common bacteria that is in the mouth, and there is nothing I could have done differently to have prevented it.

A couple of weeks ago, I started the “Cardiac Rehab” program at University Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute. I’ve never been a “gym person,” but I am having fun working out there. It’s a boost to my spirit to know that I am strong enough to do that now.

The Celtic Service at Saint Paul’s Church on Sunday, November 24th was a special time for us because it was the first time I publicly played music with The Family Fold since having my open heart surgery (Friday, September 13th, 2019). Prior to being hospitalized, our band had provided the music for Saint Paul’s Celtic Service on September 8th. 11-weeks later, we felt like we had come full circle getting to be back at Saint Paul’s Celtic Service after all we had been through. On our YouTube channel (eubanksfamilyfold), you will find a video of one of the songs we played that evening (“Hallelujah + In The Garden”). I especially enjoy when we provide the music for these services because my mom gets to shine and have the lead on her beautiful penny whistle. I love getting to play off of her on those instrumentals! And of course, Mike Merritt faithfully provides a strong rhythm for us. I am so grateful for my band mates, and I felt very privileged to put on my black beret and share our music with others that evening!

I am thankful for your prayers for me through all of this, and I ask that you please continue to remember me. The medical people still remind me that it could be a year before I’m fully healed up from all of this. But I am feeling better with each passing week, and they encourage me to be inspired by that.

I will have an appointment with my cardiologist (Dr. Michael Johnson) on December 12th, and I will have an echocardiogram done that morning to see how my mechanical aortic valve and heart is looking. Please pray for me to have an improved “EF.” The “Ejection Fraction” is the percentage of blood in the heart that is pumped out with each heartbeat. The normal range is 55-75%. Right after open heart surgery, my EF was below 35% due to the heart failure and endocarditis I had. With this lower EF number, they don’t turn me loose on all of the gym equipment at cardiac rehab, and they remind me to pace myself. Anyways, please pray that my EF will improve.

Through it all, my heart is full of thankfulness... Thankfulness to God for shielding me through all of this, for keeping me alive, for letting me see another holiday season, for letting me play music again... And I am grateful for the love & prayers of precious family & friends like you! I pray The Lord will keep you and fill you with His peace & hope this season and every season.

God bless you, and always remember... GOD LOVES YOU!!!

- Eryn Eubanks -

11/28/19

Check-Ups & Checkin' In

A couple of days ago, I had a few medical appointments. It was wonderful to see my cardiologist, Dr. Michael Johnson, and my infection expert, Dr. Richard Kilgore. These doctors are awesome, and have been so kind to me on this journey! Both of them are pleased with the progress I am making.

I’ll have another visit with my infection doctor next month after I make it through a few more weeks of these IV antibiotics, and I will see my cardiologist again in December.

Although the freaky-sounding term “heart failure” is part of my history now, I thank The Lord that - as my cardiologist put it - I’m “not ‘in’ heart failure.” In December, I will have a heart echo, and my prayer is that my numbers will be better and that my heart will be stronger.

Thank you all for continuing to care, encourage me, and remember me in your prayers! Y’all have filled my heart with a lot of love and hope.

~ Eryn Eubanks ~

10/21/19

Endocarditis & Open Heart Surgery

Thank you all for holding me up in your prayers! I was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, September 11th. I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve on Friday, September 13th. I came home on Thursday, September 19th.

Although I was born with the heart condition, “bicuspid aortic valve,” it never gave me any problems and it was regularly monitored. My heart echos always made surgery seem like it would be 20-30 years from now.

In August 2019, I developed “pneumonia-like” symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, a little fluid in my lungs, and a cough that wouldn’t go away. It progressed to where I couldn’t sleep peacefully at night in the bed because I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I went to prompt care, received antibiotics, and was advised to make a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist “for safety’s sake.” A heart echo was scheduled for September 17th, but I was not getting any better. My mom messaged my cardiologist and my husband called prompt care to also send a message, and we had a heart echo the following day. On September 11th, my heart echo showed that I had major leakage caused by “endocarditis.”

Somehow (and we’ll probably never know how) bacteria got in my blood. It completely destroyed my aortic valve, caused a hole in my aorta, and a tear in my mitral valve. The doctor said that all of this had probably transpired in the last month. I was having “acute heart failure.” It was urgent for me to have the open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve, but they had to pump me full of antibiotics so my surgery wouldn’t be as risky. But, we couldn’t wait too long for surgery because a fragment of my aortic valve could have broken off and caused me a stroke. It was scary news to receive! At the age of 31, I did not know how ill I was, and I could have died if this would have gone untreated or been put off. I am so thankful to The Lord, though, because I see how He was working through every family member, every doctor, and every nurse to save my life.

I still have quite the road to travel for recovery. It is enough in itself to heal up from open heart surgery, but I am also taking multiple IV antibiotic infusions every day to prevent infections from getting on my new, mechanical aortic valve (or anywhere else in my body). These treatments will last for a minimum of 6-weeks. Currently, the percentage of my heart function is not as high as we would like. But we are doing our best to get me stronger, and I know that nothing is impossible with God!

I miss getting to play my musical instruments and sing. (I haven’t gotten clearance from the doctor on that yet, so I haven’t even been able to pick a little tune on my cozy, little mandolin while curled up in the easy chair.) I miss getting to go out to my Family Fold gigs and teach my music students. But my spirit is with y’all, and I ask that your prayers would stay with me as I go through this season of my life. Thank you!

God bless you, and always remember... GOD LOVES YOU!

Eryn Eubanks

9/26/19

Notes on selected songs from "Sampler" album

Do You Want To Experience The Love of God?

God wants you to be reconciled to Him.  He wants you to have peace, joy, and hope while you’re on this earth.  He wants you to have eternal life with Him in Heaven when you die.  He wants to cleanse you of all your sins and change your heart.  He wants to be your Savior and your friend.  All this can be done through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only way to God, and his death on the cross and resurrection gives us salvation.

All you have to do to start walking with God is say this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross for my sins because You loved me.  But because You're God, I believe that You were raised from the dead three days later.  I believe that You are alive forevermore and You want to reconcile me to God, the Father.  So come into my heart.  I know I'm a sinner, but I'm sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive me.  Help me to live for You from now on. I give myself, my life, and everything of me to You.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to do good for You.  Thank You, Lord, for what You've done and what You are going to do for me!  In Your Name, Amen.”

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."  (John 3:16, 17)

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

-Eryn Eubanks (March 26th, 2015)

"Soul Love"

A Song Commentary… This summer I have found myself fascinated with the music of David Bowie - particularly his 1972 album “The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars.”  For a couple of months now, I have played this album on a regular basis.  I genuinely love every track on it, and the more I listen to these songs, the more I learn about music.  Over the past couple of weeks, not only have I gained inspiration, but I have found myself relating to Bowie on a philosophical level.

My mom recently posted a link to his song “Soul Love” on her Facebook page.  She asked, “What do these lyrics mean to you?”  One friend replied, “Gibberish.” All I could say at the time was that I was still trying to figure it out.   After all, who can thoroughly understand David Bowie’s lyrics except the man himself?  And to be completely honest with you, whenever I listened to this song, I was only reminded of the place where I had first heard it: Sonic’s drive-thru window.  Thoughts of summertime, vanilla ice cream, and ridiculous teenage boys’ fashion distracted me from taking in the depth of the lyrics, so I simply enjoyed the song’s melody.

But since my mom had posed her question, “Soul Love” unintentionally became my personal “song of the week.”  I didn’t try to make myself understand where David was coming from, but as I played the song on my stereo while going about tasks here at the house, I began to gain understanding.  I talked with Mom about what the lyrics meant to me, and at her request, I am posting my commentary on “Soul Love.”

According to the Greek language, there are three types of love.  David Bowie’s song “Soul Love” speaks of all three.

The first verse points to “phileos” (brotherly love)... “Stone love, she kneels before the grave, a brave son who gave his life to see the slogan that hovers between the headstone and her eyes, for they penetrate her grieving.”  These words remind us all of the pain of bereavement.

The second verse shows us the budding of “eros” (the romantic kind of love)... “New love, a boy and girl are talking new words, that only they can share in new words; a love so strong it tears their hearts to sleep through the fleeting hours of morning.”  I am reminded of how my grandmother says that this kind of love all starts with “just talking.”  Thanks to Facebook (where you can be discreetly nosy), I see this particular verse of Bowie’s played out everyday online by a few friends of mine.

The writer continues with the chorus... “Love is careless in its choosing, sweeping over cross a baby; love descends on those defenseless; idiot love will spark the fusion.”  Some people claim that when they were not looking for it, that is when true love found them.  While this experience is meant to give those who have not yet been “swept over” or “descended on” by love that “sparks the fusion,” I sense discouragement in David’s voice as he sings these lines.

The third verse speaks of “agape” (God’s love)... “Soul love, the priest that tastes the word and told of love, and how my God on high is all love; though reaching up, my loneliness evolves by the blindness that surrounds him.”  We know from the Scriptures that absolutely nothing shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (see Romans 8:39); but sometimes our doubts, trials, weaknesses, and emotions may cause us to feel temporarily separated from His love.  When we’re disillusioned like this, our “loneliness evolves.”  But God is not blind to our pain, and we know that He can open our eyes to see His love and presence in our lives.  My prayer is that He will help us not to be surrounded by blindness to the point where we can’t see to give hope to those who are in this kind of pain of not knowing His love.

In this song, Bowie seems to be on the outside of love looking in.  Yet if we are completely honest in our recollections, than there has been a time, if nothing more than a moment, where we’ve felt lovelessness.   As he closes this song, I believe that his heart’s cry is something that all of us can relate to... “Inspirations have I none, just to touch the flaming dove; all I have is my love of love, and love is not loving.”  It is one thing to have a “love of love,” yet possessing this is not necessarily the fulfillment you find in “loving.”

I do not know exactly what David Bowie was trying to express, but this is what his lyrics to “Soul Love” mean to me.  So I pray that you will always keep a “love of love;” that you will be grateful for the “phileos” (brotherly love) that graces your life; that if you have “eros” (the romantic love), you will treat it with respect, goodness, and faithfulness; and that “agape” (God’s love) will always be the steadfast foundation of your life.  May you spend your days with this kind of soul love.

Words & Music of “Soul Love” were written by: David Robert Jones (a.k.a. David Bowie).

True To His Word

Once I taught a Bible study on the gospel of John.  One night, our group was reading chapter 10.  In this section, Jesus talked about how He is the Good Shepherd.  His sheep hear His voice and follow Him (see John 10:11, 27).  All of us had something to say about these verses.  A person can’t help but ask, “Can I really hear the voice of God?  Does He even speak to me?  How do I know what He’s saying to me?”

1 John 5:14-15 helps me deal with these tough questions...“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”   We know that God’s Word, the Holy Bible, is His will.  If it is written in John 10:27 that the Good Shepherd’s sheep will hear His voice, then we know it is God’s will for us to know when He’s speaking to us, and what He is saying.  As 1 John 5:14-15 assures us, if we ask for anything according to His will, it shall be done.  Jesus also said in John 14:13-14, “Whatever you ask in My Name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My Name, I will do it.”  Therefore, I believe that when we pray, “God, I ask that you would speak to me.  Open my ears to hear Your Words.  Help me to know in my heart that it is You.  Give me the strength to do whatever You say.  I ask this because You’ve written these things in the Bible.  I ask in the Name of Jesus.”...When we pray like that, I believe God will answer our prayers, and bring His Word to pass.  We need to listen; for I believe He will speak to us through the words printed in our Bibles.  When we pray, His still, small voice will whisper in to our hearts.  His conviction may come through a conversation with a wise, godly person.  His directions may be before us when situations and events providentially line up.  Let’s be alert, and check everything with His Word, knowing that He’ll never go against it!

God wants us to take Him at His Word.  I was talking with my Senior Pastor, H.K. McKnight, and he showed me something about Peter when he walked on the water to Jesus.  Peter said, “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.”  Jesus said, “Come,” and Peter got out of the ship, and walked on the water to go to Jesus (see Matthew 14:28-29).  Peter walked on the Word of God, that one word, “Come,” and Jesus made it possible for Him to do the impossible, walk on water!  Today we can still walk on the Word of God, and He’ll make things possible for us.

You may find yourself struggling with doubt, or you might be intimidated by things around you.  Peter became distracted by his surrounding stormy conditions.  He took His eyes off of Jesus and began to sink (see Matthew 14:30-32).  If you are sinking into despair, do as Peter, and cry, “Lord, save me!”  He can rescue you from drowning in your doubt.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.  The person who comes to Him must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  (Hebrews 11:6)  “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:16)  “But we must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person ought not to expect to receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded person, unstable in every way.”  (James 1:6-8)  God cannot lie, so let’s not insult Him by doubting His Word!

The Lord says to you this day, “Give heed to my reproof; behold, I will pour out My Spirit upon you, and I will make My Words known to you.”  (Proverbs 1:23)  It is my prayer for you that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones).  I pray that you can know and understand what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.”  (Ephesians 1:17-19, The Amplified Bible)

The Never-Changing Refuge

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”  (Psalm 46:1-2)  This earth is an unstable place.  People’s mountains are being cast into the sea, as they behold things that they thought they could always depend on crumble before their eyes.  All they are left with is fear.  Psalm 46:6 paints such a dreadful scene.  “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.”  Is there anything to save us from such terror?

“The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah.  [Pause, and think calmly on that.]  Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations He hath made in the earth.  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire.  ‘Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.’  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah.”  (Psalm 46:7-11)

This same Psalm that tells of such a horrendous world has shown us the way not to be consumed with fear.  Knowing that the Lord of hosts is with us gives us strength, confidence, and courage, come what may.  God is our eternal, unshakable, sovereign, all-powerful, never-changing refuge!

God is not just a person we have a relationship with....He is our safe haven.  I started to catch a glimpse of this truth when I wrote a devotional article called “A Home For The Lonely.”  The Scripture that it’s based on is Psalm 68:6 which says, “God makes a home for the lonely.”  I thought about Jesus’ words in John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you.”   “Abide” means “to dwell, live in.”  The Old Testament shows us we not only know and serve God, but we have Him as our secure dwelling place.  He is our home...That peaceful, loving, refreshing, safe place we can run to that welcomes us with arms wide open.  “God, Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.”  (Psalm 32:7)  “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”  (Proverbs 18:10)  “Moses said, ‘Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.’”  (Psalm 90:1)

“Lord, let us dwell in the secret place of the most High, and abide under Your shadow, Almighty God.  You are our refuge and our fortress.  O God, we trust in You.  Surely You shall deliver us from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  You shall cover us with Your feathers, and under Your wings, we will trust.  Your truth shall be our shield and buckler.  We will not be afraid, because of You, O God.”  (See Psalm 91:1-5.)

God doesn’t want us to be afraid.  He made it possible, through His love, that we would not have to live in such anxiety.  “There is no fear in love.  Perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment.  The one that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  (1 John 4:18)  The Lord wants to perfect us, make us complete and whole, in His love.  Knowing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ, gives us peace.  “And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison [defend, shield] and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:7, The Amplified Bible)

I believe the economy, political leaders, and our country’s status in this world concern a lot of people.  I was thinking about how the Lord compares to all of these subjects.  Unlike the economy, I don’t have to worry about God collapsing.  His precious gift will not lose its value, nor will His price increase.  Salvation remains free through faith in Christ.  When it comes to political leaders, many wonder who and what to believe.  I know that the Lord Jesus is my Leader.  He is true, and the policies in His Word will never change.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!  (See Hebrews 13:8.)  I do not know what the future holds for our country’s status in this world; but I, as a believer, confess with others of the faith, that I am a stranger and pilgrim on this earth.  I seek another country.  That country is my true home, God’s Heaven.  (See Hebrews 11:13-14.)  I do not have to fret over who will be the superpower when I personally know the One who is in control.  He has all authority, for all eternity.  Jesus is the Victor; therefore, I am victorious!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, “Jesus has left His peace with you.  His own peace, He has given to you.  Not as the world gives has He given unto you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful, intimidated, cowardly and unsettled.  He’s told you these things, so that in Him you may have perfect peace and confidence.  In the world, you’ll have tribulation, trials, distress, and frustration; but be of good cheer.  Take courage.  Be confident, certain, and undaunted!  For Christ has overcome the world.  He has deprived it of power to harm you and has conquered it for you.”  Hallelujah!  (See John 14:27, 16:33; The Amplified Bible.)

The Ladder

“Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran.  He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place.  He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants.  Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’  Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’  He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place!  This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’”  (Genesis 28:10-17, New American Standard Bible)

Jacob...The younger sibling who had his older brother sell his birthright to him for bread and lentil stew (see Genesis 25:29-34).  Jacob...The son who deceived his elderly, blind, dying father; and stole his older brother’s blessing (see Genesis 27).  Jacob...The man sent away from his home, fearful that his older brother would kill him (Genesis 27:41-45, 28:1-5).  Jacob...The one who brought these sorrows upon himself.  But now we see the Lord, the God of His fathers, reached down to Jacob.  Out of His mercy, God did not forsake His covenant.

In the New Testament, Jesus said in John 1:51, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."  In this verse, Jesus sounds like He is the ladder.  It kind of makes you think of Jacob’s dream.  The ladder was important for Jacob, and it is important for us today.  The ladder shows us that God hasn’t forgotten about us.  He hasn’t lost touch with us.  He’s reaching down to us, and He will still fulfill His promises of blessings upon us.

When we take the time to walk through these stories in the Bible, we realize that these people were just like we are today.  They made mistakes, they were unsure about the paths they were walking down, and they bore the same griefs we’ve carried.  Could you imagine how Jacob must have felt in Genesis 28 after all he had been through?  Even his deceitful soul needed an encounter with God.  God was compassionate enough to reach down to Him.

Likewise, all of us have found ourselves in dark pits that we’ve dug with our own sinful hands.  Even though we didn’t deserve it, we needed a Savior to bring us into God’s light, and set our feet upon a good, firm foundation.  God the Father threw His Ladder down into our pit, showed us that He had not stopped loving us, and gave us a way to be rescued.  That Ladder was His Son, Jesus Christ.  He is the only way we can ever ascend to heavenly places and holy fellowship.  Jesus Christ said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father God except through Me.”   God wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  There is one God, and one mediator between God and people.  That is Jesus Christ, and that is why He gave Himself as a ransom for everyone (see 1 Timothy 2:4-6).

God loves you!  That is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world (see John 3:16).  No matter what, He will always love you.  Just as I needed someone, you also needed someone to pay the price for your sins, and Jesus did that when He died on the cross for you.  But three days later, He rose from the dead, proving that He has the victory over death (both spiritual and physical), and has all power and authority.  He has ascended to Heaven, and He is at the Father’s right hand (see Ephesians 1:19-23).  He’s there to plead your cause.  If you open your heart to Him, believe in Him, and confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” you shall be saved.

All of us have times in our lives when we are in need of His forgiveness.  Thankfully we can ask Him to cleanse us of our sins, and He’ll wash us whiter than snow.  When we pray for Him to help us live according to His Word, He’ll grant us the strength to walk humbly with Him.  Out of His mercy, He won’t discard His covenant with us.  Praise God!

God has given you The Ladder.  It is your choice, and yours alone, whether you go up it, or not.  I pray that you will climb higher today, and find yourself in The Father’s sweet embrace.

Rejoice!

“Mary said, ‘My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.  For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.  For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.  And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.’”  (Luke 1:46-50, New American Standard Bible)

Praises resounded because Mary was chosen to give birth to the Messiah.  In Luke 1:47, the Greek word for “rejoices” is ”agalliao.”   That word means “to exult, leap for joy, to show one’s joy by leaping and skipping, denoting excessive or ecstatic joy and delight.”  Mary was extremely excited about what God was doing in her life.  In verse 48, she declared that all generations would count her as blessed.  Why?  Because God gave her Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Like Mary, we can also rejoice and know that we are blessed because we have Christ.   “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”   (Romans 5:1-2, New King James Version)

The “hope of the glory of God” has two meanings for me.  First, I think of Jesus, and how John 1:14 says that “the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”  Second, I look forward to going to Heaven and beholding with my very own eyes my glorious Savior.  Because of Christ, I can rejoice greatly, and count myself as blessed!

Unfortunately, trials are just as much a part of life as happy times are.  Can we still rejoice even in our times of trouble?  Romans 5:3-5 says that we can “also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Only God makes it possible for joy to still reign in our hearts when our circumstances get difficult.

You may think to yourself today, “What do I have to rejoice over?  Times are hard for me right now.”  Delight can abide in your heart when you know that God has promised in His Word to produce perseverance, character, and hope in you through these trials.  God, The Holy Spirit, is your Helper, pouring the comfort of His love into your heart. (See Romans 5:3-5.)  You can also rejoice and consider yourself blessed because you were given another day to live.  The Bible shows that that is something to be happy and thankful about.  Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  As long as you are living, you are called to serve a purpose for God.  “I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”  (Philippians 1:6, The Amplified Bible)  Your day of Jesus Christ is when you see His face.  You may see Him through death or through the Rapture, but until then, He has a unique work for you to do for His glory.

All of these things are just a portion of God’s goodness that we can delight in!  We are so blessed!  “May our souls magnify the Lord, and ours spirits rejoice in God our Savior.”  (Luke 1:46-47)

My Christmas Prayer for You

I pray for you, dear reader, that God will bless you with a happy Christmas, and a wonderful new year.

May He fill you with His Love;

for that is truly the most valuable possession, and the only thing that can provide peace in your soul.

It isn’t a prize that can be earned,

but a gift that is received when you open your heart, by faith, to Jesus Christ.

This month, we celebrate His birth in Bethlehem,

but He was around before the earth was ever created.

(In fact, John 1:3 says that He created it!)

He has always been, and always will be,

because He is God, the Son.

He came so long ago that first Christmas night for you.

Spend this Christmas with Him.

Boast In The Lord!

“The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  For consider your calling, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’" (1 Corinthians 1:25-31)

As we tell people about what great things God has done for us, we need to remember to “boast in the Lord.”  After all, the good things that we have in our lives, especially our relationship with Him, is through His doing (see 1 Corinthians 1:30).

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about the woman at the well.  You can find her story in the gospel of John, chapter four.  Jesus was kind to this Samaritan woman (whom Jews had no dealings with).  He asked her for a drink of water, and carried on a conversation with her, telling her about the living water which He could give her so she would never thirst again.  It was obvious that she had made mistakes in her life, and was still struggling.  Jesus knew it, and everyone in the town knew it.  She must have had some background in religion, because she said that she knew the Messiah would come (see John 4:25).  When Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He" (John 1:26), something happened inside of her!  “The woman left her water pot, and went into the city and said to the men, ‘Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; could this be the Messiah?’  They went out of the city, and were coming to Jesus...From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all the things that I have done.’  So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.  Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.’”  (John 4:28-30, 39-42)

What makes this story so wonderful to me is that this woman didn’t let anything stifle her witness for Christ.  She could have said, “This town thinks bad of me.  I need to clean up my act.  I’m not the one to be telling somebody about God.  This is all new for me...I don’t know enough to explain these things to someone else.”    She could have been silenced by the guilt of her sin, and she could have allowed feelings of inadequacy to keep her from telling others about Christ, but she didn’t.  Her message was simple, but true.  “Come see a man who told me all the things that I have done.  (John 4:29)”

Like that woman, after we’ve met Christ, we are supposed to tell others about Him.  You may say, “Well, I was a sinful person.  Who’s going to listen to me about coming to know God, and trying to live right?”  Well, we’re not boasting about our own goodness and trying to live right so other people will see how noble we are.  We’re boasting about the Lord, and telling folks how He saves sinners.  We’re now trying to please Him because we’ve come to love Him since we’ve seen how much He loves us!  You may say, “I don’t know enough about the Bible, or what to say to someone.”  Do like that woman at the well...Just tell somebody what you do know.  Tell someone what God did for you.  He will give you the words to say.  I don’t know how, but He does!  Like the people in that woman’s town, others can come to see God through your testimony.  But they will come to believe and know Him for themselves through the words He speaks to their hearts.

So I want to encourage you...Don’t be silent any longer!  Boast in the Lord!  In closing, I want to leave you with these passages from 2 Corinthians.

“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant...”  (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, New International Version)  

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  For God, Who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”  (2 Corinthians 4:5-7, NIV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.  And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God.”  (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

-Eryn Eubanks (December 2008)

The Blessings of Fearing The Lord

Psalm 103 has been my favorite Psalm for several years.  I’ve read it many times, but recently I discovered something that I hadn’t paid as much attention to before.  “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him...As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him...But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him.”  (Psalm 103:11, 13, 17)  There is great mercy given to those who fear the Lord.  That sent me on a search for more blessings associated with those who fear Him.

The Bible’s definition of “fear” means “to revere, to respect highly, to be in awe of.”  That kind of fear was what Isaiah possessed when he saw his vision of the Lord.  “In the year of King Uzziah's death, I (Isaiah) saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.  Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts.  The whole earth is full of His glory.’  And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of Him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.  Then I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am ruined!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’  Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said, ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.’”  (Isaiah 6:1-7, New American Standard Bible)  Like Isaiah, we need to have a greater realization of Who God is and how mighty He is! 

It takes faith to fear the Lord, because “without faith, it is impossible to please God; for the person who comes to God must believe that He is...”  (Hebrews 11:6).  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding.”  (See Proverbs 1:7, 9:10.)  “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no god.’”  (Psalm 14:1)  We may have never uttered that statement, but sometimes our wicked actions and words, our hidden sins, can make us look as foolish as the one living with no regard for God.  You see, the fear of the Lord also has to do with obedience to Him...obedience inspired by love for Him.  “What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul; to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which is commanded thee this day for thy good?”  (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)  Jesus said in John 14:5, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

All of us could confess our sins as Isaiah did before the Lord.  When we are sincerely sorry for what we have done wrong, and truly long to do what is right, God takes away our iniquities and purges us of our sins, just as He did for Isaiah (see Isaiah 6:5-7).

Our God is Sovereign.  He is all-mighty and all-powerful.  He is the Lord of all lords, and the King of all kings.  He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.  He has authority over everything.  He always has been, and He always will be.  He is unlimited.  He is too great for us to comprehend.  Isn’t it remarkable how He loves us so?  Let us love Him in return, and show it by obedience and reverence for Him.  May we be counted as those who fear the Lord.

I leave you today with a list of promises and blessings that are given to those who fear the Lord...

“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and his children will have refuge.  The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.”  (Proverbs 14:26-27, NASB)

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”  (Proverbs 19:23, NASB)

“Who is the person who fears the Lord?  God will instruct that person in the way they should choose.  That soul will abide in prosperity, and the descendants will inherit the land.  The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.”  (Psalm 25:12-14)

“How great is God’s goodness which He has stored up for those who fear Him!”  (Psalm 31:19)

“The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him.”  (Psalm 33:18)

“Fear the Lord, you his godly people; for those who fear Him will have all they need.”  (Psalm 34:9, New Living Translation)

“God’s salvation is near to those who fear Him.”  (Psalm 85:9)

“The Lord has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever.”  (Psalm 111:5)

“God will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.”  (Psalm 145:19)

“The Lord favors those who fear Him.”  (Psalm 147:11)

-Eryn Eubanks (December 2008)

In Quietness

“For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, ‘In repentance and rest you will be saved.  In quietness and trust is your strength.’  But you were not willing, and you said, ‘No, for we will flee on horses;’ therefore, you shall flee!  ‘And we will ride on swift horses;’ therefore, those who pursue you shall be swift.”  (Isaiah 30:15-16)

The first part of this verse has always been a comfort to me.  “In repentance and rest you will be saved.  In quietness and trust is your strength.”  These words remind me that in my time of calamity, I am the most strong and secure when I am before God, quiet and still enough to hear Him speak to my heart.

But I’ve had many times when I’ve been just as impatient as those Israelites!  Troubles would arise, and instead of going to God, I would mount up on the horse of my own understanding, and pursue my own ideas of how to tackle my problems.  Just like the Israelites, I was pursued swiftly by more difficulties.

We do not know what life will throw our way.  But whatever we encounter upon our journey, whether it’s good or bad, big or small, we need to take these things to God.  When it comes time for us to make decisions, we need to do more than just think about what to do next.  We need to ask God what we should do.  We need to ask Him what He thinks.  After all, the Lord Himself said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)”

More and more I see how I need to include God in every moment of every day.  Whatever hand I’m dealt in life, I need to go put it in His hands, and let His will be done.  Doing this takes faith and complete trust in Him.  It also takes obedience driven by love for Him.  To know what God wants for my life, I must make time for Him each day of my life and do as Psalm 4:4 says...“Stand in awe, commune with my own heart, and be still.”  I think that’s what it means to “wait for the Lord.”  When I do wait on Him, then I become strong, and my heart takes courage (see Psalm 27:14).  He proves true to His Word!

May we all “cease our striving and know that He is God!  (Psalm 46:10)”  Jesus made it possible for us to “go boldly before God’s throne, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us.”  (See Hebrews 4:14-16.)  Our righteousness is nothing but filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6), but Christ, our Savior, has clothed us in His righteousness, and that gives us right standing with God.  That’s what it means to be righteous.  “And the work of righteousness will be peace; and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.”  (Isaiah 32:17)  When we make time for God, take everything to Him in prayer, and get before Him so that we’ll hear Him when He speaks to our hearts; we will find that He fills us with peace and confidence.  “Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength.  They will mount up with wings like eagles.  They will run and not get tired.  They will walk and not become weary.  (Isaiah 40:31)”

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

One of the Christmas carols that I grew up singing as a little girl in the church Christmas play was “Hark!  The herald angels sing glory to the newborn King.  Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.”

That is the reason why God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world as that baby born in Bethlehem...So we could be reconciled to Him.  “All these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.  (2 Corinthians 5:18-19, New American Standard Bible)”  Every one of us needed a Savior to restore our broken relationship that we had with God.

As the second verse of that old Christmas carol exhorts us, this is the season to “Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!  Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!  Light and life to all He brings; risen with healing in His wings.”  In Malachi 4:2, we find an Old Testament prophecy of Jesus: “But for you who fear My Name, The Sun Of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings.  And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”  Christ is that “Sun Of Righteousness!”  In Him, there is life, and His life is the light that we need in our lives (see John 1:4).  Jesus was born into this world to die for the sins of this world.  He was crucified and laid to rest in a tomb, but He arose from the dead, and lives for evermore!  That is why we can sing, “He has risen with healing in His wings.”

All of these events in Christ’s life here on earth brought about our healing...our healing from the disease of sin.  All of us were born into sin, “for there is none righteous; no, not one.  (Romans 3:10)”  That is why the righteous Son of God became our perfect, ultimate sacrifice for our sins.  That is why God sent His Son into the world that first Christmas, so long ago.  If we know Christ, then we know that He has set us free from the bondage of sin, and we have a restored relationship with the Holy God.

The second verse of the song continues, “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.”  Jesus was mild, He was gentle.  He humbled Himself, and stepped down from the glory of Heaven.  God the Son took on human flesh when He came to this earth.  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.  (2 Corinthians 8:9, NASB)  

“Born that man no more may die; born to raise the sons of earth...”  John 3:16 shows us that Christ was born so that death would not have victory over us.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Jesus said, "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.  (John 6:40, NASB)"

“Born to give them second birth...”  Jesus said, “Ye must be born again” (see John 3:3).  The One who said it made it possible.  By receiving Jesus Christ and believing on His Name, we are born of God and become His children.  This is our second birth!  (See John 1:12-13.)

This Christmas as we celebrate Jesus’ birth, I want to ask you if you have been born again.  I hope you see how much God loves you.  Our sins separated us from Him because He is holy, but when Christ died and rose again, He made a way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to God.  “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10, NASB)”  Tell the Lord that you are sorry for your sins.  Ask Him for forgiveness, and He will pardon you.  Ask Him for His help to live for Him and do what is right in His sight, and He will grant you strength and purify your heart.  Read His Word and live by it, and you’ll have a firm foundation for your life.  Pray to Him and praise Him, and you’ll find that He is ever so near to you.

This holiday season, all of these precious truths from the Bible give us reason to celebrate, and “leap with joy like calves let out to pasture.  (Malachi 4:2)”

This Christmas...Hark!  Listen!  Those angels still sing.  Join in with them.  Give glory to the King Of All Kings!