Merry Christmas. Rejoice and be glad, for the Savior of the world is born. The Lord blessed us with wonderful and glorious Christmas Eve services. I preached from Luke 2. The Lord of Heaven and Earth came down to earth, where the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. Sunita and Andy are at home with us, along with Laureen. It is a wonderful blessing to be together. Jessy and Tom are planning to come home this afternoon. Janice and Jeremy, Micah, and Simeon are in Boston, enjoying Christmas on their own for the first time. We have just enough snow on the ground to make my wife happy. Parts of the country are experiencing blizzard conditions - but not in the places you would expect.
Our first Christmas call of the morning was from "down under" in Sydney, Australia, from my nephew. It is summertime there now. We have heard from family and friends from around the globe, and praise the Lord for you. It is a great thrill to know the Savior, and to share His blessings with those who love Him around the world. What a way to live and what a way to celebrate. Praise the Lord for the way His love fills the globe.
I read the following Christmas song which came from "down under":
"Carol our Christmas, an upside down Christmas;
snow is not falling and trees are not bare.
Carol the summer, and welcome the Christ Child,
warm in our sunshine and sweetness of air.
Carol our Christmas, an upside down Christmas
snow is not falling and trees are not bare.
Carol the summer, and welcome the Christ Child,
warm in our sunshine and sweetness of air.
Sign of the gold and the green and the sparkle,
water and river and lure of the beach.
Sing in the happiness of open spaces,
sing a nativity summer can reach!
Shepherds and musterers move over hillsides,
finding, not angels, but sheep to be shorn;
wise ones make journeys whatever the season,
searching for signs of the truth to be born.
Right side up Christmas belongs to the universe,
made in the moment a woman give birth;
hope is the Jesus gift, love is the offering,
everywhere, anywhere here on the earth."
At the time of Jesus' birth in 4 B.C. the Roman Empire was filled with discouraged, dispirited, and confused people. This confusion, despair, and discouragement was the end product of many years of warfare and destruction and turmoil. The conquered peoples did not know who or what to believe in anymore. Back then each nation had its own gods on whom it depended. When a nation lost a war, that meant their gods had either forsaken them or were not powerful anymore. The Roman Empire was filled with conquered people, so these people had no gods left. Without the gods, on whom would they depend, to whom could they look? No wonder these people were discouraged, dispirited, and confused.
Augustus, who was a very ambitious man, planned to change all this. He decided to provide the security these despairing people needed after the loss of their gods. He would give them a new way of life, a new world order. He would give them the order, peace, and justice of Rome. Augustus asked the conquered peoples to forget about their gods – who had not been able to help them anyway – and to depend on the new Roman order, that way of life of which he, Caesar Augustus, was the symbol. Worship Augustus, hail Caesar, and he will provide peace and prosperity! Augustus proposed a new world-wide religion, the worship of the Caesars of Rome.
To achieve this, to bring all the world to his feet in worship, Caesar ordered a census to be taken of all the people and nations under his rule. This was the first step in establishing the new world order. This was the first step in getting all people to worship Caesar.
Augustus proclaimed himself as the savior of the world's discouraged, dispirited, and confused people. He was going to save the world by his brilliant politics, his careful administration, his powerful military, his excellent economics, and by the beauty and magnificence of Roman culture.
People today still practice the religion of Caesar Augustus. People today still believe in the greatness of man. Man continues to look to himself, his abilities, his discoveries, for his own salvation, but man can't save himself. No Caesar, no political freedoms, can spell an end to despair and bring the beginning of hope.
For hope and salvation, we are invited to a "a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger". He comes with Good News that results in salvation: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you". This Savior's name is not Caesar Augustus; rather, "he is Christ the Lord". Caesar, as savior, is worth nothing. His plan of salvation comes to nothing. But Christ as Savior is beyond worth. His plan of salvation works and results in redemption. The anthem that echoes forth with this Savior, the refrain that is heard, does not praise man; rather, it praises God. In the heavens, there was a multitude of angels singing, "Glory to God in the highest".
That's the big difference between the two saviors and the two salvations: one brings praise to God, the other brings praise to man. No wonder the salvation of Caesar fails whereas the salvation of Christ succeeds.
Christmas is a story not only of two Saviors but also of two kings. The name of the one is "Caesar Augustus." That is not his real name, of course. It is a title that he took for himself. It means "The Exalted One." Caesar was one of the great men of the world. He commanded the thousands of the Roman legions; his was an empire that stretches to the far corners of the earth. His was power and might. Augustus commanded and the whole world set out on the road to be enrolled. People heeded his every command and followed his every wish. His birthday was a holiday for the entire Empire.
On the other side was a little child born in the city of David, called "Christ the Lord." Over 2000 years have passed since the days of Caesar. Where is Caesar today? He is gone, His empire is gone, His legions are gone. But we can't say that about King Jesus, can we? Christ is still here.
What a turn-around: Christ's birthday, not Caesar's, is a time of celebration. Christ's Kingdom, not Caesar's, is growing day-by-day. Christ's rule, not Caesar's, is still in effect. Caesar is gone. His kingdom is gone. Christ still rules. The Lord of the Heaven and Earth, the New Born King, calling us to make a choice between the two saviors and two kings of Christmas. Who is our savior: Caesar or Jesus, man or God? Who is our King: Caesar or Jesus, man or God? We have to make a choice between "Glory to man" and "Glory to God."
All is well, our Savior is Born.
In Him,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQrCYzaWUU0
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Brown's Daily Word 12-24-09
Praise the Lord for Christmas eve. We had a grand time last night sharing a special Christmas banquet. Praise the Lord for this season of celebration. Praise the Lord for the way we can come from the malls to the manger of Bethlehem. We once again think about how the Lord of majesty came down to dwell among the ordinary and the mundane. Praise the Lord for the way the Lord announced the Birth of the Savior of the world , by the angels as He did announce the Resurrection of the Savior from the dead by the angels. I don't know what the angels look like. Scripture does not describe them very carefully. The best description we have of the appearance of angels says that they are like young men dressed in white garments. Those were the angels that appeared at the resurrection. Never once are they referred to as having wings. I don't know where that idea came from, unless it came from the concept that angels are free to move about rapidly, and to us that suggests flying.
But the angel suddenly appeared out of the darkness of the night. Around him shone the radiance of glory -- a nimbus -- as the glory of the Lord shone round about the shepherds. And as the Authorized Version puts it, "they were sore afraid." Luke 2:10:
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." {Luke 2:10-11 NIV}
Thus the birth of God's long-awaited redeemer was introduced to a darkened, weary, and exhausted world. History tells us that the time of our Lord's birth was indeed a time of weariness and widespread despair among men and among the nations of the earth. The civilizations of that day had all played themselves out. This is how Matthew Arnold describes the world into which the Lord came:
On that hard, pagan world, disgust and secret loathing fell.
Deep weariness and sated lust made human life a hell.
It is striking that the human emotion that was first encountered by the angelic messenger was that of fear. Men were afraid in that day. They were afraid of many things, as they are today. There was Herod the Great on the throne. Herod was cruel, and was able to accomplish his wrath upon whoever was the object of his disfavor. He had personally put to death many, even in his own family, because of their antagonism to his plans. Also there were the Romans, too, with their proud legions, marching up and down across the face of the earth, holding everything in a severe and iron bondage. Many wars broke out and the economy was uncertain. The people were afraid.
Perhaps the most striking thing to us about this story is that we can so easily put ourselves back into that situation of fear, for by far the dominant mood of the hour today is that of fear.
Yet the first word of the angel to those shepherds in the field was "Fear not. Be not afraid." I do not think any greater news can come to us than that announcement. It came to them, as the angel went on to say, because a Savior was born in Bethlehem -- a Deliverer. Because of the presence of a Deliverer, they need not be afraid of anything.
You and I know how frequently we draw the parallel between the coming of Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem and the coming of Jesus into the human heart. Even our carols do this. The third verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" says,
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
Every Christmas season we remind each other that it is not enough for Christ to have been born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. What really counts is Christ being born in the human heart. Your Bethlehem is when Christ came to you and was born in your heart. It is that remarkable parallel that constitutes the good news of Christianity today -- that Jesus can be born in us as certainly as he was born in Bethlehem. Therefore, to us, the angel stands to make his welcome announcement: "Fear not. Fear not, for unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
We studied the Book " The Purpose of Christmas", by Rick Warren during our Wednesday Midweek services. We learned that the words "Fear not" appear in the Bible exactly 365 times. Did you ever wonder why? The reason, of course, is that a Savior has been presented -- a Deliverer, a rescuer, one who is adequate to free us from any threat and danger in any situation. That is why the shepherds were told not to be afraid. It did not make any difference what Herod or the Romans would do, or what the clever, manipulative minds of men would try to set in motion; there was a Deliverer, a Savior among them. A Redeemer had come who would change the situation and use it for his own glory and bring them through. Therefore the announcement of the angel was "Be not afraid."
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAyplzXmjVE
But the angel suddenly appeared out of the darkness of the night. Around him shone the radiance of glory -- a nimbus -- as the glory of the Lord shone round about the shepherds. And as the Authorized Version puts it, "they were sore afraid." Luke 2:10:
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." {Luke 2:10-11 NIV}
Thus the birth of God's long-awaited redeemer was introduced to a darkened, weary, and exhausted world. History tells us that the time of our Lord's birth was indeed a time of weariness and widespread despair among men and among the nations of the earth. The civilizations of that day had all played themselves out. This is how Matthew Arnold describes the world into which the Lord came:
On that hard, pagan world, disgust and secret loathing fell.
Deep weariness and sated lust made human life a hell.
It is striking that the human emotion that was first encountered by the angelic messenger was that of fear. Men were afraid in that day. They were afraid of many things, as they are today. There was Herod the Great on the throne. Herod was cruel, and was able to accomplish his wrath upon whoever was the object of his disfavor. He had personally put to death many, even in his own family, because of their antagonism to his plans. Also there were the Romans, too, with their proud legions, marching up and down across the face of the earth, holding everything in a severe and iron bondage. Many wars broke out and the economy was uncertain. The people were afraid.
Perhaps the most striking thing to us about this story is that we can so easily put ourselves back into that situation of fear, for by far the dominant mood of the hour today is that of fear.
Yet the first word of the angel to those shepherds in the field was "Fear not. Be not afraid." I do not think any greater news can come to us than that announcement. It came to them, as the angel went on to say, because a Savior was born in Bethlehem -- a Deliverer. Because of the presence of a Deliverer, they need not be afraid of anything.
You and I know how frequently we draw the parallel between the coming of Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem and the coming of Jesus into the human heart. Even our carols do this. The third verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" says,
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
Every Christmas season we remind each other that it is not enough for Christ to have been born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. What really counts is Christ being born in the human heart. Your Bethlehem is when Christ came to you and was born in your heart. It is that remarkable parallel that constitutes the good news of Christianity today -- that Jesus can be born in us as certainly as he was born in Bethlehem. Therefore, to us, the angel stands to make his welcome announcement: "Fear not. Fear not, for unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
We studied the Book " The Purpose of Christmas", by Rick Warren during our Wednesday Midweek services. We learned that the words "Fear not" appear in the Bible exactly 365 times. Did you ever wonder why? The reason, of course, is that a Savior has been presented -- a Deliverer, a rescuer, one who is adequate to free us from any threat and danger in any situation. That is why the shepherds were told not to be afraid. It did not make any difference what Herod or the Romans would do, or what the clever, manipulative minds of men would try to set in motion; there was a Deliverer, a Savior among them. A Redeemer had come who would change the situation and use it for his own glory and bring them through. Therefore the announcement of the angel was "Be not afraid."
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAyplzXmjVE
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Brown's Daily Word 12-23-09 2
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. It was on this day, December 23, 1973, that my father died at an early age of 48. We (my mom, my brothers, my sisters, and myself) all go through moments of grief on this very date every year. Praise the Lord for the "sure and certain hope" the Lord has given us.
Sunita and Andy drove from Washington, DC last night and they arrived at home early this morning. Jessica and Tom will be coming home on Christmas day. Janice and her family are staying in Boston to celebrate Christmas at home - Boston style - this year.
We will meet for a special celebration this evening at 6 PM for a Christmas banquet followed by singing of carols and rejoicing. We will meet for two Christmas Eve services tomorrow evening, one at 7:00 PM and the other at 10:30 PM.
Alice has once again transformed the parsonage in to a Christmas house with 35 Christmas trees large and small, (and some that are very tiny). Praise the Lord for the Birth of our Savior and Lord. Christmas time is a time of hope, a time of joy, and a time of reconciliation. I am reflecting on Christmas in light of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol". There is an echo of Christmas past that echoes down through the pages of history, whose timeless message haunts our every Christmas present. If we were to travel back further than the history of our own Christmas past, if we were to travel back further than the history of Scrooge’s Christmas past, if we were to travel back and re-visit that very first Christmas... 2000 years ago, if we were to gaze upon that first nativity scene – the Christ Child born in Bethlehem and lying in a manger, then all of our Christmas fears and disappointments would be dispelled and we would be filled with hope.
For on the night that Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds and declared to them the good news that a Savior had been born. This good news was for “all people”. It was meant for young and for old, for rich and for poor, for Jews and the Gentiles, for you and for me. Christ had come, God in the flesh, to save us all. His birth wipes our past clean. All of our pain, all of our sorrows, all of our rejection, all of our broken relationships, all of our hurts are wrapped up in His love for us. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever might believe in him would not perish but receive eternal life’. That’s the hope and the promise of Christmas past. That is the hope and the promise of the God of second chances.
What becomes very obvious in reading "A Christmas Carol" is that Scrooge is a product of his history, of his Christmas’ gone by. Thus, the second spirit to visit him is the ghost of Christmas present. This spirit comes to gave him an opportunity to see what his life is truly like in the here and the now. He is shown the home of his employee, Bob Cratchit where, despite their poverty, it is filled with joy, compassion, and love for one another. There, as they sit down to their feeble Christmas dinner, Bob Cratchit still takes the time to share a toast to his greedy, selfish, miserly boss (the one who keeps him in abject poverty).
He is also shown the home of his nephew, the only person alive who has any affection for Scrooge whatsoever, even though that affection is totally unwarranted. Year after year this nephew had invited Scrooge to come and share in the joy and merriment of Christmas with him and his wife, and year after year Scrooge had rejected his invitation, but still the nephew invites.
The ghost of Christmas present shows Scrooge exactly what he has become. He reveals to him the hardness and callousness of his heart, as shown in his dismissal of the poverty and the needs of those around him. He shows total disregard and disdain for humanity itself.
Though he tried to justify his actions by the money that he had earned and how successful he was, in the things that counted he was nothing and he had nothing. The ghost of Christmas present shows him that even though he is utterly hard-hearted, bitter, and twisted, and though he may well seem beyond the point of redemption, despite all that the spirit shows him that others still love him and have not given up on him.
This is the promise of Christmas present. Every Christmas we are reminded that, no matter how bad we are, no matter how selfish we are, no matter how greedy we are, no matter how rebellious we are, no matter how much we reject him… God loves us and never gives up on us. Christmas is a time of love, joy, peace, and goodwill to all men. Scrooge was so self-centered, embittered, and materialistically motivated that he had lost sight of that completely. Before we become too critical of Scrooge, we need to remember that every one of us is capable of falling into the same trap, neglecting that which is truly important in life, and seeing money and the things it can buy as the answer to our problems. If we’re not careful the spirit of Scrooge can highjack every Christmas; turning our pilgrimage of faith into a pilgrimage to the shops.
Christmas is exactly what it says it is – a holy celebration of the Christ. However, for many people Christmas stopped being about Christ a long time ago. It has come to be about self- indulgence, extravagance, materialism, and money. And yet the story of Christmas is the very opposite. The story of Christmas is about the one who left all riches and all glory, gave them up, and came to be born in a stable, laid in a manger, and wrapped in swaddling clothes. That child was the one who came, not to be served but to serve. That’s the certainty of Christmas present.
At the heart of "A Christmas Carol" lies Scrooge’s transformation. Through his encounters with Christmas past, present, and future Scrooge was changed from a selfish, greedy, and bitter old man, into a grateful, generous, and compassionate figure. On that Christmas Eve he is confronted by the reality of who he is and where he is headed and he responds by changing his ways, he repents and changes his destiny.
Jesus, the Son of God, invites us to do the same. What better time than Christmas to receive his forgiveness, to renew our faith, and to rebuild our friendships? There’s a Scrooge in all of us that needs to be repented. The good news of Christmas is that we can learn from the past, to change now so that we can create a better future. It’s not too late: we can choose to change. Whatever our past has been, we can have a better future in Christ.
Scrooge learned his lesson well. When he was given a second chance he seized the opportunity and changed his ways to make the days of his life count. He became a man that understood the value of life and the joys of life, and he learned to truly love life.
I doubt that any of us will be visited by the Spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, or Christmas Future as Scrooge was. However, you will be visited by God’s Spirit this Christmas and every Christmas because He never stops trying to reach us. His Spirit will point us to the only pathway to a second chance for a new life. Jesus is not just another lifestyle choice. He claimed exclusively to be ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’. If you want to make this Christmas one to remember, you need only to ask Jesus to forgive your past and invite him to enter your Christmas present. Then your life will be transformed now, and forever.
God bless us, Everyone!
In Christ,
Brown
P.S. I have recently had some difficulty sending some of my bulk mail by AOL. Therefore, I plan to change over to Roadrunner in the new year. I will be posting my daily devotional on my home page at brownnaik.com . Our dear friend, Julie Huff, from Broken Arrow, OK, posts these for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_8kmOmxyk
Praise the Lord for Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. It was on this day, December 23, 1973, that my father died at an early age of 48. We (my mom, my brothers, my sisters, and myself) all go through moments of grief on this very date every year. Praise the Lord for the "sure and certain hope" the Lord has given us.
Sunita and Andy drove from Washington, DC last night and they arrived at home early this morning. Jessica and Tom will be coming home on Christmas day. Janice and her family are staying in Boston to celebrate Christmas at home - Boston style - this year.
We will meet for a special celebration this evening at 6 PM for a Christmas banquet followed by singing of carols and rejoicing. We will meet for two Christmas Eve services tomorrow evening, one at 7:00 PM and the other at 10:30 PM.
Alice has once again transformed the parsonage in to a Christmas house with 35 Christmas trees large and small, (and some that are very tiny). Praise the Lord for the Birth of our Savior and Lord. Christmas time is a time of hope, a time of joy, and a time of reconciliation. I am reflecting on Christmas in light of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol". There is an echo of Christmas past that echoes down through the pages of history, whose timeless message haunts our every Christmas present. If we were to travel back further than the history of our own Christmas past, if we were to travel back further than the history of Scrooge’s Christmas past, if we were to travel back and re-visit that very first Christmas... 2000 years ago, if we were to gaze upon that first nativity scene – the Christ Child born in Bethlehem and lying in a manger, then all of our Christmas fears and disappointments would be dispelled and we would be filled with hope.
For on the night that Jesus was born, an angel appeared to shepherds and declared to them the good news that a Savior had been born. This good news was for “all people”. It was meant for young and for old, for rich and for poor, for Jews and the Gentiles, for you and for me. Christ had come, God in the flesh, to save us all. His birth wipes our past clean. All of our pain, all of our sorrows, all of our rejection, all of our broken relationships, all of our hurts are wrapped up in His love for us. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever might believe in him would not perish but receive eternal life’. That’s the hope and the promise of Christmas past. That is the hope and the promise of the God of second chances.
What becomes very obvious in reading "A Christmas Carol" is that Scrooge is a product of his history, of his Christmas’ gone by. Thus, the second spirit to visit him is the ghost of Christmas present. This spirit comes to gave him an opportunity to see what his life is truly like in the here and the now. He is shown the home of his employee, Bob Cratchit where, despite their poverty, it is filled with joy, compassion, and love for one another. There, as they sit down to their feeble Christmas dinner, Bob Cratchit still takes the time to share a toast to his greedy, selfish, miserly boss (the one who keeps him in abject poverty).
He is also shown the home of his nephew, the only person alive who has any affection for Scrooge whatsoever, even though that affection is totally unwarranted. Year after year this nephew had invited Scrooge to come and share in the joy and merriment of Christmas with him and his wife, and year after year Scrooge had rejected his invitation, but still the nephew invites.
The ghost of Christmas present shows Scrooge exactly what he has become. He reveals to him the hardness and callousness of his heart, as shown in his dismissal of the poverty and the needs of those around him. He shows total disregard and disdain for humanity itself.
Though he tried to justify his actions by the money that he had earned and how successful he was, in the things that counted he was nothing and he had nothing. The ghost of Christmas present shows him that even though he is utterly hard-hearted, bitter, and twisted, and though he may well seem beyond the point of redemption, despite all that the spirit shows him that others still love him and have not given up on him.
This is the promise of Christmas present. Every Christmas we are reminded that, no matter how bad we are, no matter how selfish we are, no matter how greedy we are, no matter how rebellious we are, no matter how much we reject him… God loves us and never gives up on us. Christmas is a time of love, joy, peace, and goodwill to all men. Scrooge was so self-centered, embittered, and materialistically motivated that he had lost sight of that completely. Before we become too critical of Scrooge, we need to remember that every one of us is capable of falling into the same trap, neglecting that which is truly important in life, and seeing money and the things it can buy as the answer to our problems. If we’re not careful the spirit of Scrooge can highjack every Christmas; turning our pilgrimage of faith into a pilgrimage to the shops.
Christmas is exactly what it says it is – a holy celebration of the Christ. However, for many people Christmas stopped being about Christ a long time ago. It has come to be about self- indulgence, extravagance, materialism, and money. And yet the story of Christmas is the very opposite. The story of Christmas is about the one who left all riches and all glory, gave them up, and came to be born in a stable, laid in a manger, and wrapped in swaddling clothes. That child was the one who came, not to be served but to serve. That’s the certainty of Christmas present.
At the heart of "A Christmas Carol" lies Scrooge’s transformation. Through his encounters with Christmas past, present, and future Scrooge was changed from a selfish, greedy, and bitter old man, into a grateful, generous, and compassionate figure. On that Christmas Eve he is confronted by the reality of who he is and where he is headed and he responds by changing his ways, he repents and changes his destiny.
Jesus, the Son of God, invites us to do the same. What better time than Christmas to receive his forgiveness, to renew our faith, and to rebuild our friendships? There’s a Scrooge in all of us that needs to be repented. The good news of Christmas is that we can learn from the past, to change now so that we can create a better future. It’s not too late: we can choose to change. Whatever our past has been, we can have a better future in Christ.
Scrooge learned his lesson well. When he was given a second chance he seized the opportunity and changed his ways to make the days of his life count. He became a man that understood the value of life and the joys of life, and he learned to truly love life.
I doubt that any of us will be visited by the Spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, or Christmas Future as Scrooge was. However, you will be visited by God’s Spirit this Christmas and every Christmas because He never stops trying to reach us. His Spirit will point us to the only pathway to a second chance for a new life. Jesus is not just another lifestyle choice. He claimed exclusively to be ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’. If you want to make this Christmas one to remember, you need only to ask Jesus to forgive your past and invite him to enter your Christmas present. Then your life will be transformed now, and forever.
God bless us, Everyone!
In Christ,
Brown
P.S. I have recently had some difficulty sending some of my bulk mail by AOL. Therefore, I plan to change over to Roadrunner in the new year. I will be posting my daily devotional on my home page at brownnaik.com . Our dear friend, Julie Huff, from Broken Arrow, OK, posts these for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_8kmOmxyk
Brown's Daily Word 12-23-09
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this wonderful season of seasons when we pause and ponder about the wonders of our Savior's birth. Praise the Lord that we can share and serve, receive and give, work and worship, and visit and declare the glories of His grace and love. The Lord blessed us with full soul and heart during the weekend, with the Living Nativity, Handel's Messiah, preparing and serving the meal for the needy in our area, gathering for a banquet and singing of Christmas carols, the worship time yesterday, the choir presenting the Cantata, the gifting to the children, and the reception with food and fellowship.
Praise the Lord for all His gifts. As we were celebrating in giving and receiving here at home, the Lord blessed us with over $5000.00 which is being sent to the persecuted Christians in Orissa , India. We will be providing food and clothing for the refugee camp( They are celebrating their second Christmas in the refugee camp) and for the children in the children's home, and give some support to some local Evangelists who are proclaiming the good news under difficult circumstances. Praise the Lord for your participation through your gifts. It is a great thrill to serve the Lord around the corner and around the globe. John Wesley said, "The World is our parish".
What is Christmas all about? Along with the Scriptures I love to read Dickens’s "A Christmas Carol", in which an ugly spirited man finds that “it is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). We meet Scroog, the miser, and become acquainted with all of his miserly ways. We encounter Scrooge rejecting pleas for food for the hungry, Scrooge to cheap to buy coal for Bob Cratchet’s fire, and Scrooge being warned by Marley’s ghost about the greed he forged in life which will curse him with an eternity of sorrow. Yet, there is another side to the story of Scrooge that is easy to miss. That is, Scrooge is not simply a miser, but he is utterly miserable. Not only is he unable to give, but he is unable to receive. Year after year, his only living kin, Fred, invites him to share in Christmas dinner and family love, and every year Scrooge refuses. Scrooge must learn the lesson of joyful sharing, but Scrooge must also learn what so many adults need to learn—that sometimes it is as blessed to receive as it is to give!
For some reason, it is often difficult for adults to receive gifts. Christmas is certainly about giving. We celebrate God giving Jesus to be our Savior. But Christmas is more than giving gifts; it is also about receiving gifts in general, and one simple gift in particular. Christmas is about opening our hands to receive the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
One of the readings for yesterday was the Magnificat, as it is recorded in Luke 1.
Mary was the recipient of an incredible gift: God gave Mary the gift of being the mother of Jesus, the very Son of God. Her response was beautiful, “Be it unto me according to your word.” It was as if she opened her hands to receive God’s gift of love, peace, hope, and joy to the world. God offers his gift of love in Jesus Christ to the whole world, but there are some who will not receive that gift. As Mary thought about the precious gift of God’s love he offered to her, she burst aflame with praise. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” She could not help but praise God for what God had done, but then she realized that not every one would receive God’s love and mercy. “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” God’s mercy is for everyone who will receive it—that is what Mary is saying. The sad truth, however, is that there are those who have closed themselves off from receiving God’s love. Their hands are not reaching to receive, but are closed.
There are those who consider themselves too smart to need God. Imagine these people with their arms folded across their chests, protecting themselves from God’s love. Praising God, Mary said, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts”. There are those whose hearts are closed to anything that cannot be proven to their satisfaction. For them, faith is unreasonable, and so receiving God’s love is impossible. Carl Sagan was certainly like that. Belief in God, any god, could not measure up to his scientific standard. Carl Sagan ,who taught at Cornell University and died at a very early age, once said, "I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking." Sagan was so incredibly open to the wonders of the cosmos, his arms were wide open to receive facts and evidence, but when it came to faith his arms were folded tightly across his chest. His intellectual pride closed him off from the love of God. He could not allow himself to receive God’s mercy.
There are those who consider themselves too powerful to need God. Mary, in her song of praise, said “God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly”. The problem with the powerful is that they believe they have no need for God. It is no coincidence that faith in Christ is fastest growing in developing countries where the vast majority of people are powerless to affect positive change in their lives. All over the world, where people are oppressed, the Christian faith is growing and churches cannot be built fast enough. However, in the powerful west, thousands of churches are being closed every year. Receiving the gift of Jesus as Savior means surrendering to the love of God, but the powerful do not like to raise their hands in surrender. Instead, they prefer to raise their hands in a fist of power. It’s not power that is the problem, but it is the belief that because one is powerful that one has no need for God. Hands clenched in a fist cannot receive God’s love.
There are many who have a difficult time receiving the mercy and love of God, such as those who are too comfortable to feel a need for God. Mary sang out that God “has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty”. If you are not hungry, food doesn’t look good to you. There are some who will not receive the gift of God’s mercy and love. You cannot accept God’s love if your hands are folded across your chest in pride. You cannot accept God’s mercy if your hands are clenched in power. You can only receive a gift when your hands are open.
Yesterday, we were able to give gifts to the children. We had collected over 60 gifts that were given. Children are eager to receive gifts with hands open. That is why they are able to accept gifts so easily. There’s nothing holding them back, and they want it all. That is the picture for us today. We can only receive God’s love when we reach out to God with arms and hands wide open. That is how God wants us to come to Him. He desires that we come with arms outstretched and hands open to receive. God desires us to take the gift of love in Jesus Christ that he offers us. The well of God’s love can never run dry. His mercy knows no limit. There is an endless supply of God’s grace.
Christmas is about giving because Christmas is about God giving us his Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. But Christmas is also about receiving God’s gift. Let us open our hands, reaching out to God, and accept His love and mercy. When we do, we will join Mary in her song, and shout out, "My soul magnifies the Lord"
In Christ our Saviour and Lord,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHMAQKSJFhI
Praise the Lord for this wonderful season of seasons when we pause and ponder about the wonders of our Savior's birth. Praise the Lord that we can share and serve, receive and give, work and worship, and visit and declare the glories of His grace and love. The Lord blessed us with full soul and heart during the weekend, with the Living Nativity, Handel's Messiah, preparing and serving the meal for the needy in our area, gathering for a banquet and singing of Christmas carols, the worship time yesterday, the choir presenting the Cantata, the gifting to the children, and the reception with food and fellowship.
Praise the Lord for all His gifts. As we were celebrating in giving and receiving here at home, the Lord blessed us with over $5000.00 which is being sent to the persecuted Christians in Orissa , India. We will be providing food and clothing for the refugee camp( They are celebrating their second Christmas in the refugee camp) and for the children in the children's home, and give some support to some local Evangelists who are proclaiming the good news under difficult circumstances. Praise the Lord for your participation through your gifts. It is a great thrill to serve the Lord around the corner and around the globe. John Wesley said, "The World is our parish".
What is Christmas all about? Along with the Scriptures I love to read Dickens’s "A Christmas Carol", in which an ugly spirited man finds that “it is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). We meet Scroog, the miser, and become acquainted with all of his miserly ways. We encounter Scrooge rejecting pleas for food for the hungry, Scrooge to cheap to buy coal for Bob Cratchet’s fire, and Scrooge being warned by Marley’s ghost about the greed he forged in life which will curse him with an eternity of sorrow. Yet, there is another side to the story of Scrooge that is easy to miss. That is, Scrooge is not simply a miser, but he is utterly miserable. Not only is he unable to give, but he is unable to receive. Year after year, his only living kin, Fred, invites him to share in Christmas dinner and family love, and every year Scrooge refuses. Scrooge must learn the lesson of joyful sharing, but Scrooge must also learn what so many adults need to learn—that sometimes it is as blessed to receive as it is to give!
For some reason, it is often difficult for adults to receive gifts. Christmas is certainly about giving. We celebrate God giving Jesus to be our Savior. But Christmas is more than giving gifts; it is also about receiving gifts in general, and one simple gift in particular. Christmas is about opening our hands to receive the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
One of the readings for yesterday was the Magnificat, as it is recorded in Luke 1.
Mary was the recipient of an incredible gift: God gave Mary the gift of being the mother of Jesus, the very Son of God. Her response was beautiful, “Be it unto me according to your word.” It was as if she opened her hands to receive God’s gift of love, peace, hope, and joy to the world. God offers his gift of love in Jesus Christ to the whole world, but there are some who will not receive that gift. As Mary thought about the precious gift of God’s love he offered to her, she burst aflame with praise. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” She could not help but praise God for what God had done, but then she realized that not every one would receive God’s love and mercy. “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” God’s mercy is for everyone who will receive it—that is what Mary is saying. The sad truth, however, is that there are those who have closed themselves off from receiving God’s love. Their hands are not reaching to receive, but are closed.
There are those who consider themselves too smart to need God. Imagine these people with their arms folded across their chests, protecting themselves from God’s love. Praising God, Mary said, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts”. There are those whose hearts are closed to anything that cannot be proven to their satisfaction. For them, faith is unreasonable, and so receiving God’s love is impossible. Carl Sagan was certainly like that. Belief in God, any god, could not measure up to his scientific standard. Carl Sagan ,who taught at Cornell University and died at a very early age, once said, "I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking." Sagan was so incredibly open to the wonders of the cosmos, his arms were wide open to receive facts and evidence, but when it came to faith his arms were folded tightly across his chest. His intellectual pride closed him off from the love of God. He could not allow himself to receive God’s mercy.
There are those who consider themselves too powerful to need God. Mary, in her song of praise, said “God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly”. The problem with the powerful is that they believe they have no need for God. It is no coincidence that faith in Christ is fastest growing in developing countries where the vast majority of people are powerless to affect positive change in their lives. All over the world, where people are oppressed, the Christian faith is growing and churches cannot be built fast enough. However, in the powerful west, thousands of churches are being closed every year. Receiving the gift of Jesus as Savior means surrendering to the love of God, but the powerful do not like to raise their hands in surrender. Instead, they prefer to raise their hands in a fist of power. It’s not power that is the problem, but it is the belief that because one is powerful that one has no need for God. Hands clenched in a fist cannot receive God’s love.
There are many who have a difficult time receiving the mercy and love of God, such as those who are too comfortable to feel a need for God. Mary sang out that God “has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty”. If you are not hungry, food doesn’t look good to you. There are some who will not receive the gift of God’s mercy and love. You cannot accept God’s love if your hands are folded across your chest in pride. You cannot accept God’s mercy if your hands are clenched in power. You can only receive a gift when your hands are open.
Yesterday, we were able to give gifts to the children. We had collected over 60 gifts that were given. Children are eager to receive gifts with hands open. That is why they are able to accept gifts so easily. There’s nothing holding them back, and they want it all. That is the picture for us today. We can only receive God’s love when we reach out to God with arms and hands wide open. That is how God wants us to come to Him. He desires that we come with arms outstretched and hands open to receive. God desires us to take the gift of love in Jesus Christ that he offers us. The well of God’s love can never run dry. His mercy knows no limit. There is an endless supply of God’s grace.
Christmas is about giving because Christmas is about God giving us his Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. But Christmas is also about receiving God’s gift. Let us open our hands, reaching out to God, and accept His love and mercy. When we do, we will join Mary in her song, and shout out, "My soul magnifies the Lord"
In Christ our Saviour and Lord,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHMAQKSJFhI
Monday, December 21, 2009
Brown's Daily Word 12-21-09
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this wonderful season of seasons when we pause and ponder about the wonders of our Savior's birth. Praise the Lord that we can share and serve, receive and give, work and worship, and visit and declare the glories of His grace and love. The Lord blessed us with full soul and heart during the weekend, with the Living Nativity, Handel's Messiah, preparing and serving the meal for the needy in our area, gathering for a banquet and singing of Christmas carols, the worship time yesterday, the choir presenting the Cantata, the gifting to the children, and the reception with food and fellowship.
Praise the Lord for all His gifts. As we were celebrating in giving and receiving here at home, the Lord blessed us with over $5000.00 which is being sent to the persecuted Christians in Orissa , India. We will be providing food and clothing for the refugee camp( They are celebrating their second Christmas in the refugee capm) and for the children in the children's home, and give some support to some local Evangelists who are proclaiming the good news under difficult circumstances. Praise the Lord for your participation through your gifts. It is a great thrill to serve the Lord around the corner and around the globe. John Wesley said, "The World is our parish".
What is Christmas all about? Along with the Scriptures I love to read Dickens’s "A Christmas Carol", in which an ugly spirited man finds that “it is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). We meet Scroog, the miser, and become acquainted with all of his miserly ways. We encounter Scrooge rejecting pleas for food for the hungry, Scrooge to cheap to buy coal for Bob Cratchet’s fire, and Scrooge being warned by Marley’s ghost about the greed he forged in life which will curse him with an eternity of sorrow. Yet, there is another side to the story of Scrooge that is easy to miss. That is, Scrooge is not simply a miser, but he is utterly miserable. Not only is he unable to give, but he is unable to receive. Year after year, his only living kin, Fred, invites him to share in Christmas dinner and family love, and every year Scrooge refuses. Scrooge must learn the lesson of joyful sharing, but Scrooge must also learn what so many adults need to learn—that sometimes it is as blessed to receive as it is to give!
For some reason, it is often difficult for adults to receive gifts. Christmas is certainly about giving. We celebrate God giving Jesus to be our Savior. But Christmas is more than giving gifts; it is also about receiving gifts in general, and one simple gift in particular. Christmas is about opening our hands to receive the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
One of the readings for yesterday was the Magnificat, as it is recorded in Luke 1.
Mary was the recipient of an incredible gift: God gave Mary the gift of being the mother of Jesus, the very Son of God. Her response was beautiful, “Be it unto me according to your word.” It was as if she opened her hands to receive God’s gift of love, peace, hope, and joy to the world. God offers his gift of love in Jesus Christ to the whole world, but there are some who will not receive that gift. As Mary thought about the precious gift of God’s love he offered to her, she burst aflame with praise. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” She could not help but praise God for what God had done, but then she realized that not every one would receive God’s love and mercy. “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” God’s mercy is for everyone who will receive it—that is what Mary is saying. The sad truth, however, is that there are those who have closed themselves off from receiving God’s love. Their hands are not reaching to receive, but are closed.
There are those who consider themselves too smart to need God. Imagine these people with their arms folded across their chests, protecting themselves from God’s love. Praising God, Mary said, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts”. There are those whose hearts are closed to anything that cannot be proven to their satisfaction. For them, faith is unreasonable, and so receiving God’s love is impossible. Carl Sagan was certainly like that. Belief in God, any god, could not measure up to his scientific standard. Carl Sagan ,who taught at Cornell University and died at a very early age, once said, "I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking." Sagan was so incredibly open to the wonders of the cosmos, his arms were wide open to receive facts and evidence, but when it came to faith his arms were folded tightly across his chest. His intellectual pride closed him off from the love of God. He could not allow himself to receive God’s mercy.
There are those who consider themselves too powerful to need God. Mary, in her song of praise, said “God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly”. The problem with the powerful is that they believe they have no need for God. It is no coincidence that faith in Christ is fastest growing in developing countries where the vast majority of people are powerless to affect positive change in their lives. All over the world, where people are oppressed, the Christian faith is growing and churches cannot be built fast enough. However, in the powerful west, thousands of churches are being closed every year. Receiving the gift of Jesus as Savior means surrendering to the love of God, but the powerful do not like to raise their hands in surrender. Instead, they prefer to raise their hands in a fist of power. It’s not power that is the problem, but it is the belief that because one is powerful that one has no need for God. Hands clenched in a fist cannot receive God’s love.
There are many who have a difficult time receiving the mercy and love of God, such as those who are too comfortable to feel a need for God. Mary sang out that God “has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty”. If you are not hungry, food doesn’t look good to you. There are some who will not receive the gift of God’s mercy and love. You cannot accept God’s love if your hands are folded across your chest in pride. You cannot accept God’s mercy if your hands are clenched in power. You can only receive a gift when your hands are open.
Yesterday, we were able to give gifts to the children. We had collected over 60 gifts that were given. Children are eager to receive gifts with hands open. That is why they are able to accept gifts so easily. There’s nothing holding them back, and they want it all. That is the picture for us today. We can only receive God’s love when we reach out to God with arms and hands wide open. That is how God wants us to come to Him. He desires that we come with arms outstretched and hands open to receive. God desires us to take the gift of love in Jesus Christ that he offers us. The well of God’s love can never run dry. His mercy knows no limit. There is an endless supply of God’s grace.
Christmas is about giving because Christmas is about God giving us his Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. But Christmas is also about receiving God’s gift. Let us open our hands, reaching out to God, and accept His love and mercy. When we do, we will join Mary in her song, and shout out, "My soul magnifies the Lord"
In Christ our Saviour and Lord,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHMAQKSJFhI
Praise the Lord for this wonderful season of seasons when we pause and ponder about the wonders of our Savior's birth. Praise the Lord that we can share and serve, receive and give, work and worship, and visit and declare the glories of His grace and love. The Lord blessed us with full soul and heart during the weekend, with the Living Nativity, Handel's Messiah, preparing and serving the meal for the needy in our area, gathering for a banquet and singing of Christmas carols, the worship time yesterday, the choir presenting the Cantata, the gifting to the children, and the reception with food and fellowship.
Praise the Lord for all His gifts. As we were celebrating in giving and receiving here at home, the Lord blessed us with over $5000.00 which is being sent to the persecuted Christians in Orissa , India. We will be providing food and clothing for the refugee camp( They are celebrating their second Christmas in the refugee capm) and for the children in the children's home, and give some support to some local Evangelists who are proclaiming the good news under difficult circumstances. Praise the Lord for your participation through your gifts. It is a great thrill to serve the Lord around the corner and around the globe. John Wesley said, "The World is our parish".
What is Christmas all about? Along with the Scriptures I love to read Dickens’s "A Christmas Carol", in which an ugly spirited man finds that “it is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). We meet Scroog, the miser, and become acquainted with all of his miserly ways. We encounter Scrooge rejecting pleas for food for the hungry, Scrooge to cheap to buy coal for Bob Cratchet’s fire, and Scrooge being warned by Marley’s ghost about the greed he forged in life which will curse him with an eternity of sorrow. Yet, there is another side to the story of Scrooge that is easy to miss. That is, Scrooge is not simply a miser, but he is utterly miserable. Not only is he unable to give, but he is unable to receive. Year after year, his only living kin, Fred, invites him to share in Christmas dinner and family love, and every year Scrooge refuses. Scrooge must learn the lesson of joyful sharing, but Scrooge must also learn what so many adults need to learn—that sometimes it is as blessed to receive as it is to give!
For some reason, it is often difficult for adults to receive gifts. Christmas is certainly about giving. We celebrate God giving Jesus to be our Savior. But Christmas is more than giving gifts; it is also about receiving gifts in general, and one simple gift in particular. Christmas is about opening our hands to receive the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
One of the readings for yesterday was the Magnificat, as it is recorded in Luke 1.
Mary was the recipient of an incredible gift: God gave Mary the gift of being the mother of Jesus, the very Son of God. Her response was beautiful, “Be it unto me according to your word.” It was as if she opened her hands to receive God’s gift of love, peace, hope, and joy to the world. God offers his gift of love in Jesus Christ to the whole world, but there are some who will not receive that gift. As Mary thought about the precious gift of God’s love he offered to her, she burst aflame with praise. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” She could not help but praise God for what God had done, but then she realized that not every one would receive God’s love and mercy. “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” God’s mercy is for everyone who will receive it—that is what Mary is saying. The sad truth, however, is that there are those who have closed themselves off from receiving God’s love. Their hands are not reaching to receive, but are closed.
There are those who consider themselves too smart to need God. Imagine these people with their arms folded across their chests, protecting themselves from God’s love. Praising God, Mary said, “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts”. There are those whose hearts are closed to anything that cannot be proven to their satisfaction. For them, faith is unreasonable, and so receiving God’s love is impossible. Carl Sagan was certainly like that. Belief in God, any god, could not measure up to his scientific standard. Carl Sagan ,who taught at Cornell University and died at a very early age, once said, "I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking." Sagan was so incredibly open to the wonders of the cosmos, his arms were wide open to receive facts and evidence, but when it came to faith his arms were folded tightly across his chest. His intellectual pride closed him off from the love of God. He could not allow himself to receive God’s mercy.
There are those who consider themselves too powerful to need God. Mary, in her song of praise, said “God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly”. The problem with the powerful is that they believe they have no need for God. It is no coincidence that faith in Christ is fastest growing in developing countries where the vast majority of people are powerless to affect positive change in their lives. All over the world, where people are oppressed, the Christian faith is growing and churches cannot be built fast enough. However, in the powerful west, thousands of churches are being closed every year. Receiving the gift of Jesus as Savior means surrendering to the love of God, but the powerful do not like to raise their hands in surrender. Instead, they prefer to raise their hands in a fist of power. It’s not power that is the problem, but it is the belief that because one is powerful that one has no need for God. Hands clenched in a fist cannot receive God’s love.
There are many who have a difficult time receiving the mercy and love of God, such as those who are too comfortable to feel a need for God. Mary sang out that God “has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty”. If you are not hungry, food doesn’t look good to you. There are some who will not receive the gift of God’s mercy and love. You cannot accept God’s love if your hands are folded across your chest in pride. You cannot accept God’s mercy if your hands are clenched in power. You can only receive a gift when your hands are open.
Yesterday, we were able to give gifts to the children. We had collected over 60 gifts that were given. Children are eager to receive gifts with hands open. That is why they are able to accept gifts so easily. There’s nothing holding them back, and they want it all. That is the picture for us today. We can only receive God’s love when we reach out to God with arms and hands wide open. That is how God wants us to come to Him. He desires that we come with arms outstretched and hands open to receive. God desires us to take the gift of love in Jesus Christ that he offers us. The well of God’s love can never run dry. His mercy knows no limit. There is an endless supply of God’s grace.
Christmas is about giving because Christmas is about God giving us his Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. But Christmas is also about receiving God’s gift. Let us open our hands, reaching out to God, and accept His love and mercy. When we do, we will join Mary in her song, and shout out, "My soul magnifies the Lord"
In Christ our Saviour and Lord,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHMAQKSJFhI
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