Month: December 2023

We have babies coming out of our ears on the LeMaster side, last baby 28 years ago; now, three in six months. It’s awesome! Precious, precious, precious gifts. It’s caused me to think more and more about the Baby whose birth we celebrate in a few days. The births of our babies in modern day is quite easy-peasy (the mothers may disagree) compared to the circumstances of Jesus’s birth. Conceived in a miraculous way, knit together in His mother’s womb as His Father (Our Father) prescribed. He was born under very harsh conditions. No mother/baby hospital, no heat or AC, no glow lights, birthing plan, labor bed, epidural. The Lamb was immediately on the lam from King Herrod. And then folks who wanted to stop by their house with baby gifts didn’t find them for two years. When they finally caught up with Jesus, they didn’t bring diapers, a bouncy seat or a onesie He’d already outgrown. They brought some pretty cool gifts. They brought gifts fit for Royalty. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. Gifts fit for a King. My King. Your King. Our King.

Christmas isn’t about Santa, gifts, cookies, decorating our houses, hanging tinsel, or whether or not there are two different colored white lights on the tree. It’s about the Light that came to Shine in the darkness. It’s about the Light that will never be extinguished. All of preparations for Christmas are a-okay, if we do each of them with the Baby in mind.

Baking cookies, decorating our homes, giving gifts are all good things if we do them to honor our King. If we are just going through the Christmas motions to get-it-over-with, we may need to change our focus. There’s still a few days left to remind ourselves that Jesus is the best gift ever, He’s the Light of the world. I think most of us can agree that our world is a pretty dark place these days. We need a Light. Jesus can be honored in every we meal we make and every cookie we bake, every gift we buy, every gift we wrap, every light we hang — even if the colors don’t match.

We’re not in control of very many things these days but we can be in control of our Christmases. Let’s remember that Christmas is to celebrate the Birthday of the King, our Savior, Christ the Lord.

What Are We Going to do About This Baby? Repost From December 2018

You do know we’re having a baby tomorrow, right?  Had you heard that?  Are we ready for it?  Not Christmas silly, the baby.  There’s lots of preparation that takes place before a baby comes, right?  Babies change our lives, completely upside down, right?  Not only a newborn coming into the world, but in a way when the baby arrives, we too are reborn.  Old habits, old routines, chucked right out the window.  Right?

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her first child, a son.  She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.  Luke 2:6-7

So, what are we going to do about this baby?  Anything?  Remember the story of Lazarus, Jesus’ friend?  Lazarus died.  Jesus raised him from the dead.

Many of the people were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.  But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together to discuss the situation.  “What are we going to do?” they asked each other.  John 11:45-47

See there, the Pharisees and the leading priests were asking the same thing.  What are we going to do about this baby?

You know, a baby changes everything.  Babies, this Baby, changed the course of the world.  Will this Baby change us?  What will happen if we don’t allow ourselves to be changed, to experience new birth, to be reborn?

So, what are we going to do about this Baby?  You know, the one swaddled at birth and placed in a manger.  You know, the one swaddled at death and placed in a tomb.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and He was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  This light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.  John 1:1

The light that gives light to all mankind left behind the cloths in the manger and the cloths in the tomb.  He was born!  He did die!  He is risen!  Indeed.

So, what are we going to do about this baby?

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.  The stars in the sky look down where He lay.  The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby awakes.  But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.  I love thee, Lord Jesus!  Look down from the sky.  And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay.  Close by me forever and love me, I pray.  Bless all the dear children in thy tender care.  And take us to heaven, to live with thee there.

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:34-35

This Word is a pretty familiar passage to most people. It is repeated every year this time, although not as often as it used to be. We’ve talked often about the revelation of the Word. You know, how familiar passages, even one’s we can quote, those we’ve heard over and over that we give a nod to, come to life at just the right time. Familiar passages spoken to those long ago that speak right into our now’s. Those that drop us to our knees when we see them revealed in all their fullness. Thank You, Lord! That’s this passage to me. It made me wonder if I’d ever really spent time meditating on this Word. I love how Holy Spirit, our Helper, teaches us about His Father!

As I spent time pondering this passage, I thought that I’m a lot like Mary — How can this be? Throughout the scriptures, God reveals His character over and over. And then, when He says this is what I’m going to do, don’t we say — How can this be? We’ve often talked that one of the characteristics of God is that He is Omnipotent, He is All Powerful, His ways are not our ways, He doesn’t work in our power, He is the Powerful Mighty One. But the thing I love most is that He doesn’t get frustrated with the question — He gives an answer.

…The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35

Doesn’t that just blow your mind? Now, we know a little about babies in the LeMaster family. Our family has been in the baby business lately — three baby boys in six months!! One sweet guy came this summer. One is my grandson, my precious Baby Beau. One we’re waiting to arrive any second — for real. Here’s the thing, we all know how these babies were conceived, how they were made, that they were knit together in their mothers’ wombs. God saw it.

But, Mary was a virgin. How can this be? Our God does the impossible! No kidding, this phrase has been popping up everywhere I turn. Our God does the impossible! The Holy Spirit’s revelation to me in this passage was that God is capable, He is able, to do the impossible. A virgin conceived. Roll that around in your mind.

If the Lord caused a virgin to conceive by the work of the Holy Spirit through the power of the Most High, is He not capable of handling my life stuff? How can this be? Our God does the impossible!

I also learned through this passage that He is willing. We know by now that God is not going to do anything that He doesn’t want to do, anything that doesn’t fit into His plan for good for His people. He is God, He clearly saw that His people needed saving (we make that obvious, don’t we?). And He willingly sent His Son to do just that. How can this be?

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. John 3:16

God “gave” His Son. He wasn’t forced to, He willingly gave Jesus because of a love for us that we cannot possibly comprehend.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:18-19

Our God is not only capable and willing to save, He desires to save! Just chew on that for a hot second. God wants us — He wants me! He wants you! He desires us! When we look at the mess of our lives we may be thinking – How can this be?

This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he desires everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

He wants everyone! Not just the good (who is?), not just the ones who already have their acts together (who does?), not just the ones who deserve it (who does?). He desires EVERYONE!

He isn’t just capable, He isn’t just willing, He isn’t just desirous, He will do it! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together – spirit, soul, and body – and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.

The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

God can save us. He alone can make us holy and whole. Such good Words. Don’t we need to be made holy and whole? The long and short of it friends, is that we need a Savior. We were born in sin, we were born already missing the mark. Every last one of us needs saved from ourselves. It’s not something we can do on our own. We can’t be good enough, positive enough, nice enough, serve enough, care enough, or love enough to remove our own sin, to save ourselves. There is only One Way. That Way is Jesus. The One who is capable, willing, desirous and who will do it, if we humble ourselves, admit our sin, admit our complete lack of control, our powerlessness, and call upon Him.

Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone. Acts 4:12

Lord of the Virgin Birth, the God of Possible, thank you that through Your Holy Spirit, Your Mighty Power, that Your Holy Work is done. Thank you for revealing, Lord, that if you are capable of breathing into Mary a Savior for all people, that you are capable of working in our impossible life situations. How can we doubt you, Lord? The act of sending Your Son, of manifesting Him, making Him visible to me in this Word, all because of Your great love for us, doing something we cannot do for ourselves, and was never intended to. You sent your Son in an incomprehensible, miraculous, world-take-notice, impossible way. Thank you, Lord! And if you did this to save my life and the life of everyone who accepts you, won’t you also save the days of Your children? Won’t you also do miraculous work in our daily circumstances. Just when the world was about to break, you did the impossible! How can this be? Because You love us so much that You want us to be with You forever, but not just in eternity, but in the now too. You delight in us! You cherish us!

And now to Him (all glory, praise and honor), who is able (willing, desirous and surely will) to do more than we can think or even imagine (He already has!), move Holy Spirit in our lives and the lives of the people we are connected to, to the nth degree. You Are The Only Holy God — The God of the Impossible!

That was the title of the Family Bible Church’s float in last night’s Christmas Parade in downtown Martinsburg. We wanted to take the real message to the world. It’s super easy to completely lose the real message this time of year — twinkling lights, pretty packages, parties and all. This reminder was not just for the parade-watchers, but it was also a reminder for us parade-walkers too. Jesus is the Greatest Gift given to us by God the Father. All else pales in comparison.

This morning’s get up and get going was a little slower. I think it probably is for most of my church family who worked so hard on loading and unloading hay, moving the trailer, wrapping packages, making bows, arranging the gifts on the float, securing the gifts on the float, decorating the float, crawling around, tying signs, running home for this, running to church for that, etc. It was hard work and we used many muscles we’re not used to moving. And then…we had to actually walk in the parade! Again, sets of muscles we may not be used to using. A mile walk , up hill and down, thankfully it was a straight shot.

But as I creaked out of bed this morning, being reminded of the muscles I didn’t know I had, I also thought about Paul’s instruction to Timothy:

Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. 1 Timothy 4:7

It made me wonder, are there spiritual muscles I don’t know I have? You know, muscles I haven’t used in a while or even at all, spiritual muscles that need to be worked, or worked more so that I’m not stiff and limping along in my faith? Preparing in and walking in a parade is a once-a-year-thing, frankly, my muscles should be aching a bit.

But, preparing for and walking with Jesus in His Way, should not make me too achy. If it does, maybe there are some faith muscles I need to be exercising more. Maybe reading my Bible a bit more, spending time in prayer with the Lord a bit more, serving a bit more? When it gets right down to it, the more we read our Bibles, spend time in prayer, fellowship with Christian friends encouraging one another — have fun and cry with one another, the more our spiritual muscles will grow. We will creak a little less, hurt a little less, grow a bit more. When the world sees us easily moving about in our faith, speaking Jesus, trusting in God, relying on the Holy Spirit to teach, guide and intervene at the Throne on our behalf, living the peace only He can offer, they may take notice of Him.

Exercising our spiritual muscles isn’t just for the present, just so we can get through the parade, but it prepares us for the future so that we may easierly (is that a word?) walk the road that God calls us to with Love.