God’s Kindness Changes One Life at a Time

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, 
not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 
Romans 2:4 ESV

It is easy to become overwhelmed with a sense of hopelessness, when reading the headlines of the latest cruelty, perversion or political movement that seems to hate even the merest vestige of Christianity. Such temptations to despair sometimes can get our eyes off of what God has called us to do and call us to respond with harshness, criticism or sarcasm. But Jesus had another way when He faced an unreasonable and seemingly hopeless mission. The path that Jesus took, unleashed the power of God’s kindness.

Yes, Jesus wept over the city, but then He walked down into it and gave His life. No, Jesus did not stop teaching the hard things about the Kingdom of God, but when they nailed Him to the cross, He didn’t hurl angry accusations against His opponents, instead He prayed, “Father forgive them.” How foolish and weak that must have sounded! Forgive? What good would forgiveness do? How could that change the situation? The answer came not only on the third day, when they found Jesus alive again, it also unfolded on the day of Pentecost when three thousand of the people He had wept over repented and believed. Soon all of Jerusalem was shaken, and tens of thousands became Christians. It all began in a moment on a hillside, when judgement seemed the more logical response, but Jesus chose the power of kindness, and that kindness has changed the world. Kindness doesn’t win military victories, elections or Hollywood awards but God’s kindness changes the world one life at a time. I know it has changed mine!

I Hope the French Don’t Mind!

One of the older titles for Angels We have Heard on High is, “The French Carol” whose original title was Les Anges dans nos campagnes. But, on Sunday, we sang it in English! (And I hope the French don’t mind). I hope you also don’t mind and that you will enjoy Gary Jenkins and I singing with our friends at Watermark Assisted Living.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!
Luke 2:13-14 ESV

Silent Night and Communion at Nursing Home

We had a wonderful time at Watermark Assisted Living yesterday afternoon. If you are interested at how we put things together for the nursing home outreach, I will be posting a few more of the videos of our caroling over at Walking With Lambs later on today. We had folks come from not only the assisted living, but also memory care and independent living. It was an especially touching experience, and I so appreciated all the new volunteers who showed up to make this possible (even Mr. and Mrs. Santa along with their granddaughter elf!)

In today’s crazy world, we need to rest in Jesus Christ, trusting that no matter what is going on, that in His presence there can still be a silent and holy night. We can still find the baby lying in a manger and we must still treasure those moments in our hearts.  

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Luke 2:16-19 ESV