Pavement Ends Ministry

The Last Star It is early. The sky is clear. The night is fading as the darkness gives way to the rising sun. There is one last pinpoint of light in the southeastern sky. Is it a stubborn star or a distant planet? I don’t know. But I do know that as the sun rises it will disappear. God has appointed the moon and stars the task of being lights in a dark sky. Their beauty and brightness silently sing of His Majesty. But they always give way to the rising sun. However, this last stubborn star seems determined to hold its place in the night sky. Why? I don’t know. Maybe God is using that star to teach me a lesson. I am a child of God and a preacher of His gospel. He has appointed me to be a light in a dark world. My calling is to let my light shine before all men and glorify my Father in Heaven. Jesus has promised that soon He is going to return. When He does, His light will shine in the darkness and the darkness will be overcome. Then my little light will no longer be needed. Some people have tried to tell me where, when, and how my light should shine. The opinions of these people mean nothing to me. I have committed my way to the Lord. I trust Him. It is His Holiness that makes my light shine in the darkness. His glory is my purpose. It is late. The future is clear. This dark world is going to give way to the coming Day of the Lord. My prayer is that like that last star, I can continue to shine my light in the darkness. I will give way only to the coming of the Son of Righteousness.

This Old House On April 16, 1978, Deborah and I were married. In 1979 we purchased a house and it has been our home ever since. In this house we have laughed and cried, fought and made up, celebrated and mourned. This is where we live. In this house, we raised our family, and every inch of it is coated with memories. It is our home, but it is not us, it is not our marriage This house greatly reflects our personalities. We are familiar with all the creaks and pops and every crack in the walls. There is contentment to be found in its every flaw and there is no more comfortable place than our house. But if it is taken from us tonight and if tomorrow we are homeless, we will still have each other. You see this house is our home, but it is not us, it is not our marriage. All over this land, there are buildings that people call churches. Some are beautiful brick-and-mortar structures, while others look more like metal warehouses. In these buildings church members have laughed and cried. They have fought and made up and they have celebrated and they have mourned. In these buildings, the family of God has grown and they are filled with memories. But we would still gather if all these buildings were destroyed today and we had no place to gather. We would still worship God. These buildings are not the church, they are not our salvation. The church is the bride of Christ, and Jesus is the Bridegroom. He loves the church and He gave His life for her. But when Jesus said," I will build my Church” He was not talking about brick and mortar. No. He was talking about us. We are His bride, and we are His church God has chosen us to be precious, living stones in the spiritual house that Jesus is building. One day all these buildings that people call churches will rot and burn. They were never meant to be permanent. However, the church that is the bride of Christ is built on a firm foundation and will never fail. Christ loves the church and gave Himself for us. He has sanctified and cleansed us. One day we will be presented to Him as a glorious church, holy and without blemish. Because we are the Church that Jesus is building.

A Tale of Two Men In the fourteenth chapter of The Gospel of Mark, we find the story of two men who betrayed Jesus. One of these men betrayed Him for money, and the other one was afraid. One of these men betrayed Jesus with a kiss, and the other one denied Him with an oath. The first one had maliciously schemed to sell Jesus and the second one had boldly proclaimed that he would never deny Jesus. But he did. They were both guilty. Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Peter denied Jesus because he was afraid. Both men felt shame and regret for what they had done. The name of Judas will always be synonymous with treachery and deceit but Peter will always be remembered as a saint. What was the difference? When Judas saw that Jesus was to be crucified and he was sorry for what he had done. So, he tried to fix it. He tried to take it back. But a sin that has been sinned cannot be unsinned. It cannot be taken back. Judas could not live with the devastation of his sin, so he took his own life. Thus, he will always be remembered as the man who sold the Savior for thirty pieces of silver Peter also was devastated by his sin. But he did not try to fix it himself. He knew, that His sin could not be unsinned and it could never be taken back. But unlike Judas, Peter received forgiveness for his sin, not because he was sorry for his actions but because he repented of his sin. Later as they shared a breakfast of fresh fish Jesus forgave Peter and cast his sin as far away as the East is from the West. At some point in time, we have all betrayed Jesus. Don't say you haven't, that would just be a lie. We are all sinners, and the sins that we sin cannot be unsinned. But Jesus has promised that if we repent of our sins, He will have compassion on us and will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Our sins cannot be taken back and you and I cannot fix them. But when Jesus forgives us He also forgets about our sin and it is just as if we had never sinned. The Bible says “Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. Happy is the person whom the LORD does not consider guilty." Psalms 32:1-2 NCV

The Tomb Was Not Empty In none of the Gospels are we told that the borrowed tomb of Jesus was empty. If someone had stolen the body of Christ, the tomb would have been empty. If the body of Jesus had been left to rot, the tomb would have been worse than empty. If the tomb had been empty, then Christ would not have risen and we would be most miserable. But Christ is risen and the tomb is very full. On that Sunday morning, the ladies came to anoint the dead body of Jesus. Instead, they found the tomb full of the Glory of God. They were met by angels who said “He is not here. He is risen.” When Peter ran to the tomb, he did not understand what had happened. But later he would realize that the tomb was permeated with peace and forgiveness for his troubled soul. Indeed, on Resurrection morning the tomb was enveloped in the settled hope of eternity and saturated with the power of God that brings salvation. So often we find ourselves in a field of headstones. Heartbroken we watch as a loved one is lowered into the grave. But when we are in the valley of the shadow of death we are not without hope. Without a doubt, we can find comfort in the knowledge that our Savior has already traveled this way. Fear not. Jesus’ tomb is filled with victory. Death has lost its sting and the grave has lost its power. The stone was rolled away proving that the grave could not contain the Son of God and will not hold the child of the King. On Resurrection Sunday we celebrate our risen Savior. An angel rolled the stone away to give us a look inside the tomb. There we see a folded napkin and crumpled grave clothes. But that is not all we find. You see the tomb of Jesus is filled with a promise. This is the promise Jesus is alive, death is not final and life in Christ is eternal.

Triumphant “A great multitude, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!” John 12:12 Most triumphal parades are for the benefit of those who understand them the least. This one included. Most of the people along this parade route did not know why they were there. They just happened to be there and a parade broke out. The people who enjoyed this parade the most understood it the least. They would shout “Hosanna” today, but cry out, “crucify Him” next week. Someone asked, "What are we here for?" Well, we are here to see Jesus, the Messiah. He is going to be the national Liberator, and that is why we are waving these palm branches. You see, Jesus is going to save us from the Romans. I believe Jesus had tears flowing from His eyes that day because these people were looking for the wrong thing. You see, Hosanna means save us now, with an emphasis on “now”. The freedom they wanted was temporary and fleeting. But Jesus came to give us eternal peace. He came, not on a great white horse as a conqueror, but on a lowly donkey as a Suffering Servant. The Suffering Servant on a donkey brings peace and drives away fears. He says to us today, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27). Things taught by men are often wrong but things revealed by God never are. What is revealed to us by this story of Jesus riding on a donkey? This simple truth, kingdoms won by victorious conquerors are temporary but Life given to us by the Suffering Savior is eternal.

Preacher Jack’s Kids Their age is around the half-century mark. They were raised in a small country church called Falling Creek. Some are in heaven today, but most are still making their mark on the world. They are a small but highly privileged group. They were and are Preacher Jack's Kids. During the Sunday morning worship service right after the offering, Brother Jack would call his kids up. Then he would sit on the edge of the platform while the children gathered around him in a wonderfully unorganized fashion. Using his homespun wit and some object he had found that week, he would tell them about Jesus. Jack and his children were unpredictable. You never knew what he might say. But you especially could never tell what the kids would say. Many times, Jack and the parents would end up red-faced and embarrassed. But the congregation would howl with laughter. It seems that today our churches have lost something precious. Most preachers are too dignified to sit on the floor and teach kids. Most congregations don’t want the flow of the service to be interrupted by a bunch of children. Meanwhile, the bulletin contains an order of Service that does not have space for the Holy Spirit or Kids. Jesus hinted at a true worship service when He said, “Let the little children come to Me, for such is the kingdom of heaven.” Do you wonder why church attendance is dwindling? Maybe we need more pastors who have time for the children. Maybe more children need the opportunity to learn like Preacher Jack’s Kids did. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2

Time Ain't on Our Side Time slips away. How often do we look at the clock and say, oh no, I'm late.? How often do we wish that we could manage our time better? But then, who can manage time? Like a great threshing machine, time is mowing down the days of our lives. Time marches on and it has no concern for our plans or desires. No, we cannot manage time. But we can manage our actions. We can learn to make better use of our energies and activities. The important thing is to prioritize. Decide what matters and don't waste time on things that don’t. I have found that the energy spent trying to impress people is energy and time wasted. Entertainment can also be a stealer of life. The hours squandered in front of the TV, on video games, or even reading meaningless books are gone forever. And I know this is true because I often wish that I could have my hours back. Yet these are not the only time thieves. Sometimes things that are good and important steal our time. Jobs are important. But there are times when a job will rob us of valuable family time. Hobbies and sports often take us away from the more important things and yes, even church can have a detrimental impact on the wise use of time. But know this, God has a plan for us. We need to seek His will for our time. Every minute of it. We are not here to please ourselves or others. We are here to glorify God. Think about this we don’t know the number of our days! Any second now our life here on earth could end. When it does you will answer to God for, “among other things” your use of Time. If He calls you today, would you be ashamed of how you spent Time?

God Still Says, “It is Good” In the first chapter of the Bible, we read about the creation story. It is a simple yet magnificent record of God, who came from nowhere, stood on nothing, and spoke everything into existence by the power of His Word. After creating everything, God created rest. On the day of rest, He looked around at all things and said, "This is good." Deborah and I once spent a weekend on Lookout Mountain. From the top, we could see the beautiful and majestic world that God created. The grandeur of the river and woods is a testament to the goodness of God's creation. From the top of the mountain, we could also smell the smoke of a distant fire and hear the lonesome whistle of a faraway train. Looking at the cities and towns with their busy factories and highways, I realized that this was God's plan. After creating all things, God turned to man and said, "This is yours to have dominion over." I believe when God looks at the works of man, He smiles and says, "This is good also." Sometimes it's good to go up on a mountain because from down here the world looks messed up. Wars, rumors of wars, and the wickedness of man make this world look hopelessly bad. But on the mountain, you can see the world as God sees it. He is The Great I Am. He has said, "I am God and I change not." Because He does not change, His creation is still good. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, and God the Father still says, "It is good."

There is No Fear in Love The Bible says; "There is no fear in love; for perfect love cast out fear, --- he who fears has not been made perfect in love." The words, “There is no fear in love” may conjure up images of white doves fluttering away in the sunset while violins play in the background. But really, what does this verse mean? How is it possible that love can drive away fear? Love, what does this mystical word mean? The Greek language has many different words which translate as love. There is erotic love, brotherly love, and then the word “agape” which translates as Godly love. This is the word that is used in this text which we read. The word “agape" has a fascinating meaning. The love it describes is a love that drives away fear. It is a love that is not victim to whimsical human nature; it is a love that conquers all. This love has a unique origin. Its origin is God Himself. This love is based on a Godly decision that overcomes all fear and anguish and is not made on emotions or feelings. For this love is not a feeling, it is an act of your will. Love is a decision made by your will, which goes over into deeds. I will repeat it; love is a decision leading to action and deeds. Yes, love is a choice to be made. Make the choice to trust God, follow God, and be obedient to God. Choose to love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might. And choose to love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will find that love will cast out all your fear. Douglas & Deborah Huff

Valentine’s Day February 14th is Valentine’s Day. It is a day of celebrating the romantic love between men and women. It is also a day when Jared, Hallmark, and FTD Flowers celebrate an increase in their revenue. I do not think many people know the real story behind all the candy, flowers, and heart-shaped cards. While it is good that we celebrate love and marriage, we need to remember the man who was Saint Valentine. Valentine lived during the time of Claudius II. This evil Roman emperor persecuted the church and outlawed marriage. The time in which Valentine lived was much like today in that it was a very permissive society. All lifestyles were permitted and encouraged, except traditional marriage. Valentine refused to submit to laws that subverted the will of God. He was eventually imprisoned and tortured to death for performing marriage ceremonies against the commands of Emperor Claudias. We know that there are many similarities between the time of Valentine's life and ours. In the permissive society that we live in, traditional and Godly marriage is under attack. Today the government and the court system have proven to be anti-God and anti-marriage. For this reason, now more than ever, we need people like Valentine who will stand and say no to an evil and corrupt culture. Remember this, when loving righteousness and serving God becomes a crime, being an outlaw will be honorable.

But God Did It was Friday morning. The last day of Vacation Bible School. On this day, before we could eat our cookies and drink our Kool-Aid, we had to listen to the Preacher. Pastor Suttles talked about how much God loved us. He asked us to trust Jesus and give our lives to Him. That day I decided to follow Jesus. I asked Him to save me. I was only nine years old. I didn't understand everything about salvation. But God did. It was a Sunday afternoon. The middle of April. She and I stood at the altar in a crowded church. Her Pastor and my Pastor stood before us. Preacher Jack prayed and Preacher Charles officiated. He asked us if we would love and honor one another until we were parted by death. We both said we would. I was 21 she was 18. We were just babies. We didn't know everything about love or marriage. But God did. It happened twice in the next few years. I stood in a hospital delivery room. I knew she was a maker of miracles as I watched my babies being born. I felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of fatherhood. I didn't know much about being a daddy. But God did. I was 29 when I was called to preach. Shy and backward, I was afraid to speak in public. I asked God, “Are you sure you know what you are doing?” He said, “I do.” I told him, I don't think I can do this. He said, “You can't, but I can.” My life has been full of situations where I did not know what I was doing. Because I am hard-headed, I often make a mess of things. At these times, I learned to say to Him “Lord, I did it again, and I can't fix it.” That is when God says, “Just give it to Me and I will.” I have found that when I am afraid, the Lord is with me. When I am weak, God is strong. If I stumble, it is He who catches me. Sometimes in the darkness, I cry out, “Who is my help? “Then God whispers loudly in my ear, “I AM and I will.”

He Is Enough Last night before I went to bed, I stood in my front yard looking up at the sky. It was a clear night. As always, the stars were beautiful and awe-inspiring. Now, I have a limited knowledge of the science of the stars. I know a little bit about light years, galaxies, and solar systems. However, I often imagine the stars I see are pinpricks in the floor of Heaven. I think of these pinpricks as a gift from God that allows me to see tiny glimpses of my home in Glory. Later as I lay in bed, this simple phrase came into my mind “If you have everything, you have nothing and if you have nothing, you have everything.” What does that mean? As I lay on my pillow, I tried to parse this thought out. Eventually sleep took over with the thought still unresolved in my head. Today I am reminded of a truth that I learned as a result of my ministry. Serving as a pastor I was often called to minister to and pray for people approaching death. Sometimes I would go into the homes of relatively wealthy people. At other times I would go to people who lived in extreme poverty. The truth I learned is that wealthy or poor it does not matter, death treats everyone the same way. Life on earth is as permanent as the frost on an early autumn morning. It is going to melt away. When you were born you had nothing, when you die everything, you own will immediately belong to someone else. Those who live only to gain wealth will find their wealth to be a destructive trap. The greatest thing you can gain in this world is the contentment of living a Godly life. If you have everything this world can offer but don’t have Jesus, you have nothing. If in this world you have nothing, but Jesus is your Savior, you have everything. The bottom line is this, wealth and poverty are only temporary but God is eternal, and He is enough.

Do The Right Thing “Today is the sum total of all your yesterdays and today is the common denominator of all your tomorrows. What you are today is a result of all your past decisions. The things you said or did not say, the things you did or did not do have shaped your life today. Everything you have seen or heard and everywhere you have been or refused to go has been working in your life to form the person that you have become. Listen to the local news. You will hear how illicit drug use and alcohol abuse is fueling the foolish choices that people make. No doubt most people will say they cannot help themselves. Most will try to blame others for their actions. They will say their lives have been shaped by their circumstances. That is bull. Circumstances do not shape anyone’s life. Circumstances do not cause people to be what they are. The course of a person’s life is determined by what they choose to do with their circumstances. History is filled with stories of great men and women we all admire and call heroes. However, our heroes became heroes only because they overcame their circumstances. Ordinary people become great when they reject drugs and alcohol. They become great when they make wise and good choices. Great men and women do not do great things, they simply make it a habit to do the right things. Now it is a sad fact that you cannot change yesterday. You have to live with the consequences of your past. But God in His mercy has given you a gift. He has given you today. And today is the common denominator of all your tomorrows! Today you will impact your future, so this is your chance to make good choices. This is your chance to speak good words and see good sights. This is your chance to do the right thing. Your actions yesterday may have made you a loser today, but your actions today could cause you to be tomorrow’s hero. And here is the first right thing you can do, trust God! He is the one who made you and He knows about your future. If you ask Him, He will forgive you for your yesterdays, and be your guide for tomorrow.

The Door The door separated the waiting room from the examination area of the doctor's office. As he stood there looking out, there was a look of confusion on his face. She saw him standing there and her heart broke. Wise, gentle, and strong, she had always leaned on this man. But now, fear was on his face. A nurse spoke to her and said, “The doctor wants to see you.” After several visits to the doctor, the issues were worse. This morning he had been adamant that she did not need to go with him as he talked to the doctor. Watching as he followed the nurse back, she began to pray. Now he stood at that door looking so scared and small. She already knew what the doctor was going to say. She whispered, “God, I love you but I don't like how you answer my prayers.” It was Alzheimer's. This explained the memory loss, confusion, and flashes of anger. There was medicine to take. It would slow the progression of the disease but not stop it. It was going to get worse. Ahead of them were years of heartache and tears. The disease would rob him of many things. But it would never take away her love. Ronald Reagan had rightfully called it, “The Long Goodbye.” This was only the beginning. Now he stands at the last door. He is almost home. The journey had been long and hard. She had been by his side the whole way, praying and crying. She whispered, “God, I love him, thank you for hearing my prayers.” His family was gathered around him as the struggle became a victory. Clouded eyes became bright. Confused thoughts suddenly became clear as his tangled memories were unraveled. With tears of grief and joy, his loved ones said goodbye. But all of heaven stood and applauded when he stepped through the door that separated Heaven and Earth

The Speed of Yesterday At five years old, the days seemed to crawl by. He didn't think Christmas would ever get here. As a seventeen-year-old senior, he couldn't wait for graduation. At twenty-two, she said yes, but the year-long engagement seemed to last forever. In his twenty-fifth year, the nine months he waited to meet his baby was interminable. As a young man, his tomorrows were always slow in coming. Then middle age breezed in. While his children grew, he often attempted the impossible task of being in two places at once. Forty-hour work weeks often required fifty-five hours. Vacations, when they were not postponed, seemed to be something to endure not enjoy. Today, well today it seems like the beginning and end run together. He hasn't noticed it yet, but he's not waiting for tomorrow anymore. Old! He wonders, when did I get old? He remembers things he did yesterday, but wait, that was twenty years ago. Now, he watches as his children try to be in two places at once. His house is not one of those two places. High school reunions, well they happen mostly in the funeral home these days. And last week was their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary. He celebrated by putting flowers on her grave. He knows now that life travels at the speed of yesterday. From Psalms 39 we are taught to say “Lord, make me to know that my end is near. Teach me the length of my days so that I may know how frail I am. You have made my days short. And my age is as nothing before You. Every man at his best state is but a vapor. Every man walks about like a shadow. We busy ourselves in vain. We pile up riches, but we don't know who will gather them. So now Lord what do I wait for? You Lord. My hope only is in You.”

There Will Be Hope Except for using it as a marketing scheme, the world hates Christmas. Why? Because Christmas represents hope. Hope, the national news media will misreport it, the entertainment industry will misrepresent it, and politicians will attempt to misappropriate it. But there was, there is and there will always be hope. God has promised that He will secure the hearts of all who are of good courage and place their hope in Him. From the Bible, we are taught that long ago in Bethlehem a Child, a tiny baby was born to a virgin named Mary. We are also taught that a Son, The Son of God was given to the world. And now, because of the birth of this Child and the gift of the Son, the Light of Life is shining for people who once walked in darkness. God became a man and dwelt among us. So now we no longer have to dwell in the land of the shadow of death. The Lord’s promise of hope has been kept. The Word of God tells us that He will multiply His people and increase our joy. Indeed, we can rejoice because Jesus has silenced the accuser and broken the rod of our oppressor. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and He is the Prince of Peace. We triumphantly celebrate Christmas because God’s promise of hope has been kept. Yes, the world hates Christmas, because Christmas is about hope. But it does not matter what the news media, the entertainment industry, or the politicians try to do. Jesus Christ is King forever. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. God sits upon the throne of His Kingdom. He will order and establish judgment and justice from this time forward, even forever. The passion of the LORD of hosts has ensured that the promise of hope will be kept.

Peace on Earth The soldier has a few hours of downtime. He spends this time cleaning his weapons and checking his equipment. Christmas is coming. From his pocket, he pulls a picture of his family. He kisses his finger and touches his wife’s face. With a smile, he thinks about how excited his children will be on Christmas morning. He wishes he could be there to put their bikes together. It is hard to keep the sand out of his equipment. He wonders, "Will there ever be Peace on earth?" The young mother drives home late at night. The brakes on her car have started making a squealing noise. Christmas is in a week. She thinks about the tip money she received tonight. It won't buy many gifts for her two children. Her heart still trembled from the fear she felt when that customer was so rude. She had wanted just to run and hide. But that other customer was so kind, he left her that twenty with a simple note that said, “God bless you”. She thought, "Maybe there will be Peace on Earth after all." A policeman sits in the backseat of a mangled car. He leans forward to hold the hand of a young man whose broken body is barely clinging to life. The policeman prays as the young man cries for his mama. As the jaws of life loudly rip the car apart a jolt brings the radio to life. As the radio plays, "Joy to the World, the Lord Has Come” the young man's life slips away. The officer continues to pray. He hopes that the young man has found the Peace that is not of this earth. An old preacher sits on the back pew of a quiet country church. The worship service is over and the people have all gone home. In his heart, he still hears the choir singing and the children laughing. It was a good service tonight. Christmas plays are always special. His heart filled with pride when the youngest member playing the part of the angel said, " For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord." When the choir sang, they really did sound like a chorus of Angels. Before he leaves for home the old preacher bows his head and prays that there will be peace on earth tonight. Christmas is about hope. The soldier, the mother, the policeman, and the preacher all hope and pray for the same thing. We all hope and pray for the same thing. So, like the angels let this be our song, " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

The Sound of Christmas When God delivered His final message through Malachi, (who wrote the last book of the Old Testament), He stopped communicating with man for nearly 400 years. It was a deafening silence in divine revelation. After 400 years God broke His silence by sending angels to speak to Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph. The angels brought this message; “The fullness of time has come and the promised Messiah will soon be born.” God had broken His silence with the sound of Christmas. Another year is winding down. We have celebrated a day of Thanksgiving with our families. December has rolled in with a blast of cold air. The shopping season has begun with a vengeance and the Salvation Army bells are ringing. Someone is singing, “Do You Hear What I Hear” and on the radio, “The Little Drummer Boy” is playing. Our hearts are now lifted because these are the sounds of Christmas. There is a sound of laughter as people decorate the tree and a rustling of paper as the gifts are wrapped. Excited children are whispering: “Let me tell you what I want for Christmas”. Listen carefully and you can hear the sound of hope, especially if your hope is in Christ. Tune your ears just right and hear the sound of joy that is inexpressible and full of glory. Lift your heart with a song of praise. All around you are the sounds of Christmas. I pray that the melody of joy will fill your hearts today. Let us have peace with each other as our hearts hum the songs of forgiveness, love, and charity. I hope the song of God’s peace will rule in your heart. I pray you feel His hand on your shoulder as He guides you through life and may you hear His voice as He whispers words of comfort. Be still and listen to the heartbeat of Jesus. It is in His heartbeat that you will truly hear the Sound of Christmas.

Joseph His name was Joseph. His calling was the most important task ever given to a man. Joseph was chosen to be the earthly daddy to the Son of God. He could have rejected this responsibility but He didn’t. Instead, Joseph chose to be the daddy he didn’t have to be. If I asked you to tell me what Joseph said, you couldn’t do it. None of his words are recorded in scripture. From the Bible, we learn that he was a just, thoughtful, and patient man. Yet it appears that he was not a vocal man. Being a righteous man, and knowing that actions speak louder than words, Joseph simply stood up and did as the angel of the Lord commanded. The words of famous men are often immortalized, but the reserved and quiet man will not be remembered by many. His taciturn nature will frustrate his wife and children. But his love is revealed through his actions. God has created him as a quiet but faithful man. He does not seek to be noticed, he seeks to please God. Great men show their greatness not with words but with deeds. Most men are like Joseph. God chooses them for an important task. They may never build great buildings or lead great companies. But God chose them to touch the world with the hope that is within them. That is the most important task. Remember, I said the words of Joseph were not recorded in the Bible. Well, that’s not entirely right. One thing he said was reported in Matt. 1:25. In this scripture we are told that when Mary gave birth to her Son, Joseph called His name “Jesus”. Now the truth is people may forget everything you say or do in this life. So, it is important to live your life in such a way people will remember that like Joseph, you spoke the name of Jesus.

Walking after the Will of God A carpenter goes to the wood yard to buy lumber. Because He has a reputation as an expert craftsman, he chooses his material carefully. Turning each board, he examines it from every side. It is important to him to choose boards that ideally suit the project that he is working on. Jesus is the Master Carpenter; He is working on a great project. In John 15:16, He says; "You have not chosen Me but I have chosen you. “God has a plan and purpose for your life. He chose you because you are ideally suited for His project. So, therefore you can know His will for your future. How can you know God's will? You can find God's will in the Bible, so read it. We are also told in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. So look for and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes God will lead you through circumstances. But always make sure that the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, agree with the circumstances. The will of God never contradicts the Word of God. If you feel that you are being led to do something unbiblical then you are not being led by God. If the Bible does not teach it, then it is wrong, flee from it. Remember it is important that we walk in the will of God. But two people cannot walk together unless they agree. So, adjust your direction to follow The Lord, don't think that He will adjust His path to suit you. He won't do it. If you are going to walk with God you will have to take big steps, you cannot say that you are walking with Him if you are willing to lag behind. You can tell what is in a man's heart by his walk, so always walk after the will of God. After all, He has chosen you for a mighty purpose. He has chosen you to be straight and upright.