We live in a mixed up world.
I know I don’t have to tell you that. It’s not news. In fact the evening news more accurately could be called the crime report. A shooting in a high school in Michigan which claims the lives of four young people. A crazed 18-year-old driver, released too soon from jail, intentionally ramming his van through a crowd, killing as many as he could.
Drive-by shootings which claim innocent victims. The Supreme Court, deciding if it is alright to kill preborn babies, just because they are inconvenient.
On the other hand there is so much good in the land. This is the season of giving and we are a giving people. While ringing the bell for a local mission, I am excited about the generosity of many. Recently I set by a young lady who described a local ministry called “Harley’s House.”
She shared how it exists to show love and grace to those in need. They serve families with young children from birth to age 4 in Western Oklahoma. They provide childcare at no cost to the family and supply children with a backpack filled with diapers, wipes, clothing and other needed necessities such as car seats, formula and food.
In Weatherford, the Caring and Sharing program makes sure every child receives a Christmas gift. Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program, tries as much as possible to see every child of an incarcerated parent receives a gift. This gift is purchased by some unknown person to be given in the name of the incarcerated parent.
Samaritan’s Purse provides a shoe box filled with gifts and the story of God’s love and forgiveness for millions of children around the world.
There was an old radio program in the 1940s with the opening phrase; “Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of man?” The response was “The Shadow Knows.” You may not be old enough to remember that program but the awful truth is there is the potential for evil in the heart of each of us, given the right circumstances.
We all are flawed creatures. That is what Christmas really is about. God seeing our evil heart, knew the bridge from our heart to the love of God would be laid at an awful cost. The babe in the manger took upon himself the cross of Calvary. An old hymn written by William E Booth-Clibborn in 1921, tells it well:
Down from his glory, Ever living story, My God and Savior came, And Jesus was His name; Born in a manger, to his own a stranger, A man of sorrows, tears and agony.
Refrain: Oh, how I love Him. How I adore Him. My breath, my sunshine, my all in all; The great Creator became my Savior, and all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.
What condescension, Bringing us redemption; That in the dead of night, Not one faint hope in sight, God, gracious, tender, Laid aside His splendor, Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul.
Without reluctance, Flesh and blood His substance, He took the form of man, Revealed the hidden plan, Oh, glorious myst’ry, Sacrific of Calv’ry, And I know Thou art the great “I Am.
Oh, how I love Him. How I adore Him. My breath, my sunshine, my all in all; The great Creator became my Savior, and all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.
To comment, email jhm82@outlook or call (580) 772-2311.