Yuletide Cheer

Flip-flops, sunglasses, and sunscreen – yup, it’s clearly time for some Yuletide cheer! The countdown is on: only five more months until Christmas! And what better time to think about the birth of our Lord without the distractions of gingerbread houses, snowball fights, and wrapping presents than in the middle of summer?

Really, think about it with me: God created the world and everything in it, including man, who He specially fashioned after His own image (Genesis 1:26-27). Then man broke his extraordinary relationship with God by sinning against Him (Genesis 3:6). The consequence? Death, both physically and spiritually (Genesis 3:19). In His inexhaustible grace, God promised to send a Savior who would mend the relationship between man and God by being the flawless sacrifice for man’s sins and overturning death itself (Isaiah 53:4-6). In God’s perfect timing, Jesus was born (Luke 2:7).

Jesus was born. Did you catch that? Jesus, the Son of God, God Himself, was born a human for the very purpose of dying. Hebrews 9:26 says, “…but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” The very thought sobers me. Why on earth would the God of the universe abase Himself by becoming human in the first place, let alone to die a horrific death for our sakes? He tells us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Jesus was born so that we, as recipients of God’s love, might live life everlasting with Him. Jesus had a magnificent impact on this world as He taught, challenged, and healed during His lifetime, an impact that has greatly multiplied over the centuries. What a wonderful reason to rejoice and celebrate!

Philippians 2:6-11 says, “…Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Take part in our Yuletide Cheer celebrating Jesus’ birth

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff

Lemonade Stands

It’s the middle of summer now – can you believe how time has flown? School’s been out for weeks, the sun is out, and the heat is on. Kids are starting to go stir crazy, and they’re taking their parents down with them. As I drive, I see more and more kids sitting at lemonade stands in their front yards – a great antidote to under-stimulated children and parents who are at the end of their ropes.

Lemonade stands sure have changed since I was a kid. Back then I would pick the lemons from my grandma’s tree, twist them by hand on the juicer, and go through the painstakingly sour process of figuring out the right lemon juice-to-water-to-sugar ratio. Now, kids have traded the real deal for powdered lemonade – a backwards move in my opinion. BUT they’ve added homemade cookies and cupcakes to up the ante. Kids are such entrepreneurs nowadays; it’s rare that I walk away from a lemonade stand for under $5. How sweet the taste of lemonade to quench one’s thirst on a hot summer’s afternoon!

In John 4, Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman who had come to draw water from Jacob’s well. He said, “…Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).

As we just read, Jesus began this conversation with the woman by talking about ordinary water, H2O, which requires continual consumption to live. Then He claimed to be able to give her a different kind of water that eternally quenches thirst: salvation. The analogy He used is so true, isn’t it? Like the Samaritan woman, whether we know it or not, we all crave something of significance, of necessity, to our very souls. Often we learn the hard way that the satisfaction we want can’t be found in the things of this world, and wind up feeling empty and broken. But like Jesus communicated to the woman, the fulfillment found in His gift of salvation is the only lasting, meaningful satisfaction available to us, one that fills us with hope and joy.

I marvel at Jesus’ ability to turn normal conversation into one of spiritual significance so He could witness to the Samaritan woman about Himself. Christ, as God incarnate, gave us a great example of how we can implement His “Great Commission” of teaching others about Him (Matthew 28:18-20). Let’s not neglect this approach by letting it fall by the wayside, but try to make it a part of our daily lives to the glory of God.

God also has this to say about thirst:

Psalm 42:1-2 “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

Psalm 63:1 “O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is…”

John 6:35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

Are you thirsting after the things of this world? Or, even better than the sweet taste of lemonade on a summer afternoon, is your thirst being quenched by Christ, the giver of eternal life?
Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff

Permeating the World

I sat straight up in bed.

“Oh no!”

My husband turned over. “What’s wrong!?”

“Basher’s been sprayed by a skunk!” I lamented.

Our American Akita lay by the bed, innocently licking himself as if nothing was amiss. The smell was so strong I could taste it. My sleepy mind reeled. The dog is inside. How did he get sprayed by a skunk? Is there a skunk inside our house?

“Is the back door open?” I questioned my husband. “And how did you sleep through that smell?”

“Oh dear.” He started to get up. Basher had been on antibiotics that caused him to need the doggy potty at a moment’s notice, so our solution to save the new carpet in our rental home was to leave the sliding back door cracked open so he could exit when nature called in the middle of the night. It seemed to have misfired. Mission not quite accomplished.

We left the dog in the backyard and futilely tried to sleep. The entire house reeked. In the morning, I showered and went to work as usual. But I could still smell it on my clean clothes. I could even still taste it. My whole world had been permeated.

When a skunk sprays, it’s because it’s protecting itself. So really, the spray is beneficial. Just not for our noses. Although, there are a few oddballs who like the smell of skunk. Some companies even produce skunk-scented candles. To each his own, I suppose. But whether or not you like it has no effect on the sheer and utter permeation of the scent into everything in its proximity.

Matthew 5:13-16 says,
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Salt permeates food, giving it flavor and preserving it. Light permeates darkness, eliminating fear and doubt. Jesus calls believers to imitate these things. We are to permeate the world with our good works so God will be glorified.

Permeating the world implies engaging those who live in the world. Otherwise, no one can see or be recipients of our good works. We can participate in community events. Join a garden club.

Take an exercise class. Build relationships with the people who populate our daily lives. Let’s be around others so we have opportunities to love them to the glory of God.

As we go out, people will be watching, so let’s be careful how we represent our Lord. II Corinthians 5:20 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.” Let’s put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), and personify the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Titus 2:7-8 says, “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

God, speaking through the Apostle Paul, said, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). We don’t need to be shy or fearful; God is with us and will give us the right words.

What are you waiting for, a skunk to motivate you? Go permeate the world with God’s love!

If you’re reading this on social media, post in the comment section how you can be a part of your community.

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff

Land of the Free

America. The land of the free, and the home of the brave. Many fought for the independence of this country where we enjoy the freedom to worship God at will. Not everyone in this great wide world has the opportunity to experience this privilege. Let us stand united, thanking God for the incredible blessing of religious freedom lest we take it for granted.

The Bible tells us that spiritual freedom lies in Christ. It cannot be taken away by man or government. Romans 8:1-2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Praise the Lord!

Yet if Christ frees us from sin and death, Romans 6:22-23 says that we become His servants. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” But wait – how can we simultaneously be both free and servants? Isn’t that a contradiction?

I Corinthians 7:22-24 explained it nicely for me, “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” Christ purchased us by His blood, making us His servants by definition.

So our servanthood isn’t one of oppression; instead, it means we belong to God’s family. “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:3-7). How wonderful to discover that being a “servant” of Christ is merely referring to our joyous task of “serving” Him out of love, as a fellow child of God.

Freedom, both political and spiritual, doesn’t come without sacrifice. Christ gave His life for us, and we may also be called on to give up our time, money, or even life for the sake of the spiritual freedom of others. Isaiah 61:1 says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound…”

As we live in the Land of the Free, let’s look forward in anticipation to our heavenly Home of the Brave.

“…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Corinthians 3:17

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff