Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
                                                                                                                          ​Psalm 90:1-2

These verses from Psalm 90 remind us that God exits outside the boundaries of time and space, and yet He is sovereign over time.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."  (Revelation 1:8)  God, who was from the beginning, who spoke into existence all of creation, who has ruled and continues to rule this world according to His purposes, holds all of time, past, present and future in His hands -- He created time and He has given it to us as gift.  Each day is truly a gift from God; every breath that we take is an expression of His grace and as such we are called to be good stewards of our time.

We are to value the time we've been given, recognizing that we only have one life; that our days our numbered and we must use each one wisely.  So we pray...teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.  (Psalm 90:12)

Many of the great hymns of our faith speak about this truth. 

Consider for example, Isaac Watts' 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past:

Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come,
our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home.

Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame,
from everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight are like an ev'ning gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the op'ning day.

Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come,
be Thou our Guide while life shall last, and our eternal Home!

In 1777 John Ryland wrote 'Sovereign Ruler of the Skies':

Sovereign Ruler of the skies! Ever gracious, ever wise!
All my times are in Thy hand, all events at Thy command.

He that formed me in the womb, He shall guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be ordered by His wise decree.

'Abide with Me' (Henry F. Lyte, 1847)

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour; what but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Though cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

'Christ Be in My Waking' (Steward Townsend and Simon Brading, 2011)

Christ be in my waking as the sun is rising
In my day of working, with me every hour
Christ be in my resting, as the day is ending
Coming and refreshing, watching through the night

     Jesus, this is my devotion
     All my life to know You
     Everyday to walk with You
     Savior, You’re my deepest longing
     You’re the One I live for
     Teach me, Lord, to walk with You

There are many more worship songs that could be added to this list -- great hymns of the past and more contemporary songs of praise.  What songs, what verses from the Holy Word encourage you to be good stewards of your time; to set aside time throughout the day to worship or God and live for Him?

Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come,
Be Thou our Guide while life shall last, and our eternal Home!

It was an unusual Christmas greeting; the words at the end of a message from a friend caught my attention:  May the blessings of the season abide with you.

His words prompted me to pause and reflect, for truly Christmas gives to us cause to rejoice, for in the Babe of Bethlehem we find great blessing, both temporal and eternal, physical and spiritual.  

Paul writes:  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.  (Ephesians 1:3)  In the opening chapter of his letter to the believers in Ephesus he reminds them that they have been chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed and forgiven according to the riches of His grace.  In Him we a promised inheritance, the sure hope of heaven, sealed by the Holy Spirit who guarantees our inheritance. It's no wonder Paul offers words of thanks and prays that these believers would know Him better.

We are richly blessed in Christ Jesus!

Beyond the rich spiritual blessings we have in our Lord, we have also received many physical blessings; a measure of health and strength; a warm place to live, clothes to wear and food on the table.  We have been given so much!  

I was thinking about this as Janice and I did some grocery shopping in preparation for a Christmas dinner we will share with our family.  Our pantry is full, our fridge is full, we have more that enough and it's all a blessing from our good and gracious God.  

The Bible reminds us that everything we enjoy in life is a gift from God; life itself and all the earthly blessings we enjoy -- that we enjoy in abundance in the land in which we life.  May we not take these blessings for granted; may we find within us a desire to gives thanks to the One who is the source of all blessing and may we be a people who give generously to bless others.  You've heard me say this often before but it is still true, especially at this time of year...we have so much opportunity to do good.  

As you enjoy the company of family and friends, as we gather as His church in the coming days, may your heart be encouraged as we celebrate the coming of our Lord and the joy that is our to be 'in Christ'. 

For those who will experience feelings of both joy and sorrow because there is an empty chair around the table, may the memories of those who have gone before us bring to you a measure of joy as you give thanks for the time shared with them and for the hope that is our in Christ. (One day, we will meet again; and as we say so often around Valley, 'what day that will be'! 

May you be used of God to bring a smile to someone else who needs a word of blessing and encouragement, be it a family member, friend or neighbor or the a stranger who crosses your path.

May we all have those quiet moments when we pause and reflect on the blessings of the season.

​Merry Christmas, everyone!

Does God ever 'check His calendar'?  We plan our lives around the calendar; we are driven by the clock, but God, who is sovereign over time and space is not bound by the limitations of human time.  God is never in a hurry, but it sure seems like we are at times!  He is always working out His purposes according to His eternal plans and no sense of urgency on our part is going to alter or thwart those plans.

I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
                                                                                                                            Job 42:2

It was in His perfect timing that Jesus was born, at just the right time in the history of the world; when God's people were burdened under the oppressive rule of the Romans and many wondered, 'is this the way it's always going to be'?  When a sense of despair had weighed them down, at just the right moment in time, God sent His Son.

When Jesus, who was and is God (John 1:1),  became flesh and dwelt among us  (John 1:14), the course of human history changed forever.  God's plan of salvation was unfolding; the way has been opened for sinful man to be reconciled to the Father, to be forgiven and to know the sure hope of eternal life.

If God can be trusted to provide for our salvation, can we not also trust Him to look after the concerns of our hearts; to respond in grace and kindness in HIs perfect timing? Because God is faithful and true to His word, we can learn to wait upon Him, knowing HIs timing is always perfect.

You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises
​the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.
                                                                                                                                                        Joshua 23:14

May the Christ of Christmas remind us:  
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
                                                                                                                                                  Philippians 4:6-7