To have Him walk in the darkness of my face ...

Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face … Psalm 89:15 (ESV)

God my God, my Father God,
I must confess to Thee that too often I am like those who does not know the festal shout.
Surely I have heard it from Thy servants!
Surely I have read it from Thy sacred Scriptures!
Surely I have proclaimed this festal shout!
Yet just as surely, I have not known this shout!
For too often my itching ears long for some other shout that will say and save what my sinful flesh hungers for.
And I have made my walk, not in the light of Thy face, but in the light of men’s faces,
Hoping that in the light of their faces I shall hear the shouts that will set me free to indulge myself and forget my responsibilities to God and my neighbor.
Yet, I find that in the light of their faces and in the sounds of their shouts –
there is no light, no shout that can that set me free from me and the darkness that is mine in sin.
How sadly do I lament that so often it is only here, in the bondage of my own sinful darkness,
that I long to hear and know that festal shout.
How sadly do I lament that too often it is only here,
in the darkness that all human light brings,
that I long to see the “light of your face”,
let alone walk in it.
Yet it is here, in this darkness that I fear the festal shouts,
“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.” Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)
What God, what a glorious God is He who has loves us, loves me!
What God is so loving that He sends His Son,
to have Him know my sinful shout,
and know the deafening silence of God against my sinful shout,
that I might forever hear and know the festal shout of God’s forgiveness in His Son.
What God is so loving that He sends His Son,
to have Him walk in the darkness of my face and walk in the darkness of God’s face against my darkened face,
that I might forever walk the light of Lord’s forgiving face upon me in His Son.
What is the Festal shout?
What is the light of God’s face?
Surely it only and always the Lord Jesus Christ, 
only begotten Son of God and Son of man. 

Give me ears to hear Thy festal shout!
Lead my heart to walk in the light of Thy face!
Make my spirit to exalt in Thy name!
Exalt me in Thy righteousness,
because Thou art the glory of my strength,
and by Thy good favor, my horn is exalted.
Exalt me in Thy righteousness,
because my shield belongs to Thee O Lord,
my King, my Holy One, my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. (Ps 89:16-18)

- pmwl

Power to still all that storm tosses ...

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalms 46:10-11 (ESV)

When all seems as if you will fly to pieces because of some inner storm or turmoil,
Hear His words and heed them well, "Be still, and know that I am God."
With these words He declares to you in no uncertain terms,
“It is enough for you, for your storm, for your turmoil, that I am your God.”
“If it was enough for you that my Son has quelled the turmoil of your sin and my wrath against you for your sin, how much more so is enough for you and all that is surely less than these – that I am your God?”
“Be still, and know that I am your God and thus greater than you or your troubles.”
Let these words put both you and your turmoil into perspective that you might have real peace even in the midst of them.
This word has power to still all that storm tosses you within or without.
This word made flesh for you, this Lord of hosts is with you and He is your strength and your stillness in perfect peace.

- pmwl

How December 25 Became Christmas Day

by Andrew McGowan

 TALKBACK  Add Your Comment

Click to view a slide show of larger images and captions.

On December 25, Christians around the world will gather to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Joyful carols, special liturgies, brightly wrapped gifts, festive foods—these all characterize the feast today, at least in the northern hemisphere. But just how did the Christmas festival originate? How did December 25 come to be associated with Jesus’ birthday?

SEE THE REST OF THIS GREAT ARTICLE  @  http://www.bib-arch.org/e-features/christmas.asp

... no believer ought expect another person to make it possible for them to live their faith ...

Just as you cannot make out of the gospel a sacrifice or a work, so you cannot make a sacrifice or a work out of this sacrament [of the Lord's Supper]; for this sacrament is the gospel.
Therefore, in this matter no one can achieve anything for another person.
Each one must believe for himself just as I must believe all the Gospels for myself.
I cannot hear or believe or keep for anyone else so much as a single letter of the gospel, even as I cannot be baptized for anyone else.
In living the faith, no believer ought expect another person to make it possible for them to live their faith.
What wolves in sheep’s clothing put conditions upon others which must be met before one will worship and serve with such fellow believers.
Nothing manifests the falsity of one’s faith more than the conditions they set upon other or the church before they will do what saving faith freely and gladly does.
This is a rejection of the faith and Christ because it is a rejection of right worship and service out of love for God our Savior.
Yet when it comes to good works, that is serving,
I can always do to another person and for another person.
Indeed, I have to do them for somebody else or they are not good works.
For example, I can pray for you, serve you, work for you, suffer for you, and so forth.
There is a great difference between faith and good works, just as vast as the difference in value between the tree and the fruit.
Fruits disappear and return each year, but the tree remains always.
Faith also remains always, but works disappear. ...
Be careful, therefore, to stay on the track.
Don't let anyone pull you away from the Word through any statement of man … [Gal. 1:8].
"The elect will be led astray," says Christ [Matt. 24:24].
Therefore we cannot build on the mere word of one of the elect saints, without Scripture.
Christ has warned us faithfully enough, and our own experience has probably taught us, that saintly men can make mistakes and have made mistakes. ...
No good work can free us of our sins or give us grace or life or salvation.
But this sacrament [of Lord's Supper] does give life, grace, and blessedness, for it is a fountain of life and of blessedness.

-Martin Luther
The Adoration of the Sacrament Vol. 36]

THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY

How Shall I Journey By Faith?

How shall I journey by faith?

Live baptized soul, live in repentance and faith each day until the last day.

Never in days of ease feel too secure, never so sure, but walk in Godly fear.

Never in days of defeat in sin, believe all is lost, for yet again you shall praise the Lord as He visits you with His salvation.

Walk with King David and John the Baptist, becoming lower and lower in your own eyes.

You have learned to lay your sins on Jesus and you have found healing under His wings.

Never abandon your first love [Rev 2:4].

Live by the Spirit’s enlightening through the Sacred Word, then you shall see yourself more and more clearly and grow in a deepening awareness of your need for grace.

Trials, troubles and worldly temptations shall not be lacking as tutors in your daily wakening to your weakness and your need for the hollowed humblings that follow.

By the hand of Christ you shall be led from the judgment hall to the way of sorrows toward Golgotha.

Turn not away from this journey oh baptized soul, let the journey take you deeper into a fellowship with His sufferings, and deeper into the sweet communion of His grace!

This is the journey that leads to the mount of the Ascension.

This is the journey of faith by which our Lord will bring you with unveiled eyes you shall see the Lamb on throne who makes all the saints rejoice with eternal joy.

Live baptized soul, live in repentance and faith each day until the last day.

- pmwl.

A prayer when there is too much

Blessed Father, there is much I need to do this day, much I would like to do, and much that I cannot do.  As You are able to do much more that I can possibly the think or imagine, let Your much be sufficient to do for me, in me and through me, all that is pleasing in Your sight.  In Christ. Amen.

O LORD, I AM EMPTY – LEND ME....

An Advent prayer according to our emptiness and the fullness our Lord brought, brings today, and will bring.

O Lord, You and You alone are full, and the fullness of all that was, is, and ever will be.
O Lord, I am empty of all that is good and by myself can only remain empty.
O Lord, I have a fullness, that fills my every thought, word, and deed with what is sin and vice.
O Lord, of my sinful fullness, I cannot ever make myself empty of it.
O Lord, You allowed Yourself to be filled with the fullness of my sin so that my fullness might be emptied by the fullness of God’s wrath against me and my fullness.
O Lord, You emptied Yourself of Your fullness that You might meet me in my emptiness and there fill me with Yourself.
O Lord, empty me of my sinful fullness that I might be filled with You.
O Lord, even in their perfection, Adam and Eve were created to live as borrowers of all things, Your image, life, and all that Your perfect creation provided for them.
O Lord, being so empty in sin, how much more must I surely borrow from You, if I am to be full.
O Lord, lend me Your goodness, for I have no goodness of my own that works good in all things.
O Lord, lend me Your truth, for I have no truth of my own that is eternal truth.
O Lord, lend me Your love, for I have no love of my own that is a saving love.
O Lord, lend me Your wisdom, for I have no wisdom of my own that is proved by its children.
O Lord, lend me Your passion and death, for I my passion and death is not sufficient for my sin.
O Lord, lend me Your life, for I have no life of my own that lives in God my Redeemer.
O Lord, lend me Your Word, for I have no words of my own that speak of God my Savior.
O Lord, lend me Your grace, for I have no ability of my own to do that which is necessary to be right with God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
O Lord, lend my prayer the name of Jesus so that it might acceptable and pleasing in Your sight. Amen.

- pmwl

Selah - Rose of Bethlehem

Praying to He who has come, comes now, and it coming again.

Petitions to, and according to, He who has come, comes, and is coming again.

Blessed Jesus, Word of the Eternal Father, convert me.
Teacher of Truth, teach me that I may learn.
Only Prince of Peace, give me Your peace.
Eternal Refuge, receive and secure me.
Good Shepherd, feed my soul and shepherd me.
True Consolation, comfort me.
Pure Patience, wait for me.
True Humility, humble me.
Truly Meek, give me peace in my humiliation.
Blessed Redeemer, save me.
Everlasting Truth, instruct me.
Source of Life, make me to live in You.
Sure Support, strengthen and sustain me.
Just Judge, judge me.
Divine Grace, justify me.
Mediator From On High, reconcile me to Your Father.
True Physician, heal me and make me whole.
Holy Justice, pardon me.
Sovereign King, rule over me and in me.
Sacred Sanctification, make me holy.
Abyss of True Goodness, grant me Your good.
Living Bread from heaven, feed and nourish me.
Oldest Brother of the prodigal and his older brother, welcome me.
Eternal Joy that the world cannot give, make me joyful.
Peace that the world cannot give, make me peaceful.
Holy Help, aid, assist and help me.
Perpetual Protection, defend me.
Sure Hope, fill me with confidence.
Fountain of mercy, refresh me.
Sacrificial Victim, atone for me.
The End of All in Glory, be my end in all things.
Glory of the Father, glorify me in You.
True God, lend me my all.
All in All, possess all of me.
THE Savior, save me and be ever saving me, for I am a sinner in need of Your constant salvation.
Name Above all Names, Jesus Christ. Amen.

-pmwl