In Him Is Life

In Him Is Life

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

John 1:1-4;10-14

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men….He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word 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.”

The essence of Christmas is the eternal, divine and glorious life given to the believers when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

What did Jesus give up in order to come to earth? 

Philippians 2:5-8

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

The most humbling aspect of Jesus’ appearance on earth as a full human being is that He gave up his glory and came into a world system that vilified Him 2000 years ago and continues to vilify Him today.

In the Garden, He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was (John 17:5).”

Jesus left heaven and the Word become flesh.

He created all that has been created.  Yet, He submitted himself to the authority of His parents, the government of Rome, the religious leaders and even unto death. He gave up the glory of heaven to pay the price for our redemption.  He gave up everything for our salvation.

God loves us so much that He gave His Son.  That truth is what makes Christmas truly merry.

If That Isn't Love

By Dottie Rambo

He left the splendor of heaven

Knowing His destiny

Was the lonely hill of Golgotha

There to lay down His life for me

If that isn't love

The ocean is dry

There's no star in the sky

And the sparrow can't fly

If that isn't love

Then heaven's a myth

There's no feeling like this

If that isn't love.

Carpe Vita/Carpe Diem

Carpe Vita/Carpe Diem

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

The Latin poet Horace wrote, “carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero, which can be translated as "Seize the day, put little trust in the future".  The first two words, “carpe diem” have become a cultural watchword. We are rightly encouraged to “seize the day”, but only in the context of seeking the Kingdom of God, in the context of seeking to live the way God would have us live.

Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For after all these things the unbelievers seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:31-34).

The psalmist asked the Holy Spirit to teach us to number (to value) our days, not just today. In valuing our days, in valuing our lifetime (which includes eternity to come), we find a source of wisdom.

Another Latin phrase is “carpe vita” which means to seize life.  In seizing the opportunities of life, of both our earthly life and our eternal life, we find the scope of God’s plan and, therefore, our purpose.  Our journey has purpose.  We often ask, "What is our purpose?"

That is the first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism.  The answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”  When we read the Bible through, from Genesis to Revelation, we see that God’s desire is to restore us to Himself that we may walk with Him as Adam walked with Him before the Fall. When we see His purpose, we embrace His glory and dance with the angels as we enjoy Him now and forever more.  That is carpe vita.

As we embrace the scope, the sequence of life opens before us.  Each day presents opportunities to know Him more and to glorify Him more in our lives.  Let's put things in order.   First, carpe vita.  Then, carpe diem.

Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving

Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Psalm 100:4:  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  

If we desire a closer relationship with our Lord, thanksgiving is the first step.

The Israelites murmured in the wilderness even though the Lord had brought them through the Red Sea, guided them by day and by night, supplied manna and fresh water and kept their shoes from wearing out.  

As a society, we have no grounds for throwing self-righteous stones at the Israelites.  I don’t recall any scriptures that tell us to overlook our blessings and wallow in what we consider to be our misery.  Complaining has, unfortunately, become a cultural trait. 

God is calling us out of that complaining and into more than occasional thanksgiving.  He is calling us to a lifestyle of thanksgiving and praise. "Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous, for praise is comely for the upright.  Praise the Lord with harp; sing unto him with the psaltry and an instrument of ten strings.  Sing unto Him a new song" (Psalm 33:1-3).

Praise is “comely”?  Yes, the Word of God says that we are more attractive when we are praising.  Furthermore, scientific research indicates that not only are we more attractive when we are overflowing with praise, we are both physically and emotionally healthier.  

 “New research shows that practicing gratitude may be the fastest single pathway to happiness, health, long life, and prosperity. In a remarkable study performed by Dr. Emmons, people who kept a gratitude journal for just 3 weeks measured 25% higher on life satisfaction afterwards. They exercised more, drank alcohol less, and their families and friends noticed that they were nicer to be around. And the effects lasted for several months beyond the initial 3 week study.”  Read the entire article at: http://www.happylifeu.com/Attitude-of-Gratitude.html

 A lifestyle of thanksgiving is key to our relationship with our Lord.  It is thanksgiving and praise that usher us into His presence.  Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.”

As we come before Him in thanksgiving, we can lay all our cares and petitions at His feet knowing that He is our provision, our hope, our peace.  Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

We often hear Christians say that we must be thankful for all things.  That is a misquotation of 1 Thessalonians 5:18. The scripture says, “in all things be thankful; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  It is not the will of God that we be thankful for disease, devastation, and despair because those things are not good gifts which come from above from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). However, we are to be thankful in the midst of and in spite of those things.  God is with us and in Christ we have victory over death itself.  

 Let’s be thankful as for the creative power of the One who created the universe and holds it in the palm of His hand.   Let’s rejoice in the mercy and resources of the One who supplies our daily  bread and loves us with agape love. More than anything else, praise Father God for sending Jesus to pay the price for our sins and for the Holy Spirit Who indwells all believers.

“Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ His Son”—Henry Smith