Isn't There Anyone Who Knows What Christmas is All About?

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

    “Glory to God in the highest

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."  (Luke 2:1-20 ESV)

This morning, as we celebrate Christmas, I ask you: are you too busy and self-serving to worship Him?  Are you too proud and self-centered to recognize His great love for you and to give back to Him your full devotion and service?  Have you worshipped Him today as the Ancient of Days, the one that fulfilled all prophecy?  Do you recognize him as the Captain of the Hosts, almighty God?  He is your Lamb, slain to pay the price for your sin?  Is He the Great Shepherd of your life…leading you beside the still waters as well as through the valley of the shadow of death? 

A.W. Tozer is quoted as saying “What is worship? Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven.”

Characteristics of a Godly Mother

Adapted from Mother's Day Sermon: May 8, 2011
Associate Pastor Jeff Rudd

Introduction: There has been enough said about mother’s over the years to fill an entire library. Everyone has their own idea of what a mother should and shouldn’t be, and many men and women have tried to pay tribute to the women that raised them, others have blamed their mother’s for the wrong they’ve done in their own lives. Here are some things one writer said his mom taught him:

• To appreciate a job well done when she said "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside - I just finished cleaning!"
• Religion when she said "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
• Time travel: "If you don't straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
• Logic: "Because I said so, that's why."
• Irony: "Keep laughing and I'll give you something to cry about."
• The science of osmosis: "Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"
• Contortionism: "Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!"
• Weather: "It looks as if a tornado swept through your room."
• How to solve physics problems - "If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming toward you; would you listen then?"
• The circle of life - "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

One of the things I always remember my mom trying to teach me was to appreciate what I had in life along with concern and compassion for others. However, it wasn’t always an easy task for her. One time when I didn’t eat something on my plate, she told me there were kids starving in Africa that would be happy to have what I refused to eat. I replied, I’m sure with a sweet grin on my face, that she should pack it up and mail it the kids in Africa. 

On a serious note, Washington Irving once said “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”

Today, in honor of Mother's Day, which we just celebrated, we are going to take a look at what God’s word says about His standards for a mother and the characteristics of a godly wife and mother.

I. Her Trustworthiness: Proverbs 31:11-12

1. Husband does not maintain a jealous guard over her
2. Husband does not lock up his valuables (common in ancient days)
3. Wife has access to the family resources
4. Wife demonstrates loyalty to husband in by bringing good to him

II. Her Behavior: Proverbs 31:13-24

1. She provides food and clothing (verse 13-15)  We see this as an act of meeting physical needs; however, Jesus saw those that diligently worked to provide food and clothes as engaging a spiritual act of worship. Matt 25:34-36 says “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me”
2. She properly manages their resources (verse 16). While we may sometimes find mom’s efforts to squeeze the last bit of mustard out of the jar or scoop the last bit of laundry detergent out of the box as silly or annoying, Jesus saw such efforts as godly stewardship. In Matt 25:20-21 Jesus, near the end of the parable of the talents, says “And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents;here I have made five talents more. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
3. She is busy and provides for her family (verse 17–18)
4. She cares for others (verse 20-21). That desire for mom to always protect, nurture, and provide for even those outside of her family, even at the expense of meeting her own needs and desires at times, is seen as archaic and foolish; however, once again this is one of mom’s spiritual acts of worship. Proverbs 19:17 says “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”

III. Her Character: Proverbs 31:25-26

1. She finds strength and confidence in the Lord (verse 25). Psalm 121: 1-2: I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The greatest example that I have of one lifting their eyes to the hills for daily help is my mom, who each morning did a much better job at spending time with her Lord than I ever did. She knew each day there would be a struggle between what the world would try to convince her she needed and wanted in her life and what God had called her life to be, and she understood that she could only win that battle by admitting how weak and frail she was and allowing the strength and confidence to come from Christ.
2. She teaches wisdom with mercy and kindness (verse 26). Proverbs 6:20-22 speaks of the importance of a mother’s teaching: "My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.

IV. Her life: Proverbs 31:27-31

1. Her children call her blessed: one of the greatest joys for a mother should be for her children to grow up and praise her as their source of wisdom.
2. Husband praises her and in his eyes she surpasses all others.
3. She views holiness and virtue as far more important and desirable than charm and beauty.
4. The labor she does for her family and for others brings praise to her and ultimately exalts her Lord and Savior as these are acts of love for others and worship of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: Billly Graham once remarked that “Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children”. Sadly, millions of children right now don’t know the love
trustworthiness, provisions, character, and love of a mother or a father. In closing today, I want to share with you how you can help. 

The first way, obviously, is to be kind of wife and mother God called you to be. The second is to teacher other women how to do the same. But there are other opportunities I want to discuss with you today…the opportunity to support two ministries that has become very dear to me and my wife - Holt International and the Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes.  

Holt International is a Christian organization that works to find and support permanent families for children who are orphaned, abandoned or separated from families, or at serious risk of separation. This work is an expression of God's compassion for children. Holt is a global leader in providing services and advocating for the best interest of children, setting the highest ethical practices.  They are dedicated to carrying out God's plan for every child to have a permanent, loving family.  

My wife and I have had the joy of supporting a precious child now for several months and recently received word that he has bee adopted by a loving Christian family in the United States. We recently received information on the child we will be supporting now that our first one has been placed with a permanent family.  For only $30 a month you can help provide the food, shelter, clothing, and attentive care needed to meet a child's basic needs.  

The ABCHomes website says "The Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries (ABCHomes) is a non-profit agency of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Through residential childcare and counseling services, ABCHomes is seeking to be the foremost provider to children and families in crisis in Arkansas.

Since its’ founding in 1894, ABCHomes has been ministering to and meeting needs of some of the states most vulnerable. Today, ABCHomes provides a safe, secure home for an average of 320 children and youth each year, as well as provides about 2,300 counseling sessions a year."

Please visit the websites for ABCHomes and Holt International for more information on how you can help.

I leave you with this from James 1:27: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

12 Things That Remind me of the Resurrection Story

12 Things That Remind me of the Resurrection Story

Adapted from the Resurrection Eggs by FamilyLife

1. The Donkey: The donkey reminds us of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, during which the crowd shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to the highest.” This cry was the crowd's acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah.
   
   
2. Three Coins: The coins remind us of the 30 pieces of silver Judas received for betraying Jesus into the hands of the Jewish leaders. 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave. Judas was so focused on the riches and glory he would be a part of if Jesus established an early throne that he missed out on the heavenly kingdom.
   
   
3. The Cup: The cup reminds us of Jesus' last supper, with his disciples before his crucifixion, which we celebrated last week. The cup was used for the wine which is drunk in memory of Christ's blood that He shed for us and our sins.
   
   
4. Praying Hands: The praying hands remind us of Jesus time in the Garden of Gethsemane as he prayed to His Father. In the Garden Jesus called out to his Father and asked if there be any other way within His will that He provide an alternate plan, and prayed not what I will but what You will as a total commitment to His Father's plan of salvation.
   
   
5. Leather Strip: The leather strip reminds us of the whip used to administer the beating Jesus received after His trial at the hands of Pontius Pilate. Jesus was beaten with whip that was made up of several leather thongs, and in those leather thongs were embedded pieces of bone or metal. The body of the one being beaten could be torn to such an extend that muscles, veins, r bone were exposed. Often times the victim died from the beating.
   
   
6. Crown of Thorns: The crown of thorns reminds us f the crown that the soldiers placed on Jesus' head while mocking Him, saying “Hail, King of the Jews.” The crown was made from long spikes, up to 12 inches long, that would have cut deeply into Jesus head.

7. Three Nails: The three nails remind us of the nails that were driven into Jesus' hands and feet to nail him to the cross. To breath, it was necessary to push with the legs and pull with the arms. Crucifixion was excruciating and death was normally by asphyxiation.
   
   
8. One Die: This one die reminds us of the Roman soldiers dividing up Jesus' clothes and gambling for His tunic. While as Christians we benefit from His death through the new life we received, these solders benefited by receiving only a mere article of clothing.

9. The Spear: This reminds us of the spear that the Roman soldiers used to pierce Jesus' side when He was on the cross. The Romans normally left the victims on the cross until they were dead, which could take days, and then leave them there to decay, but Jewish law did not allow a body to hang overnight. The soldiers, when they needed to speed up the process, would crush the leads of the victim with an iron mallet so they could no longer push up to breath. When they came to Jesus, they found He was already dead – much sooner than expected. To be certain, the pierced Him and witnessed both blood and water flowing from His side.

10. Linen: The linen reminds us of the cloth used by Joseph of Arimathea to wrap Jesus' body after He died on the cross. As far as anyone could tell, it was over. Jesus was dead, laid in a tomb, and the tomb was sealed. The hope Jesus' follower had felt just a short time before was sealed in the tomb with Him.

11. The Stone: The stone reminds us of that an angel rolled back the stone from the tomb, not to let Jesus out – for if He could rise from the dead He certainly would not need help escaping the tomb – but to let the women and the disciples in.

12. The Empty empty: The empty egg reminds us of the empty tomb and Jesus' resurrection from the dead.