HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018

December 29, 2017December 24, 2017 | lindamowles

In the Book of Revelation, chapter 22, verses 20 and 21 read as follows:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Reading these words so soon after the celebration of Jesus’ birth I am reminded of the words written in Isaiah 9:6-7 where the prophet says:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder: and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end ….

The Child Jesus was born long after Isaiah made this prophesy, yet the Child born in a stable was the same Person Isaiah prophesied would be born. The Child laying in the manger was the same Person the Apostle John wrote about when he penned the words quoted above from Revelation 22:20-21.

John was one of Jesus’ disciples. He knew that Jesus had been crucified and died. In fact, he was standing at the cross when Jesus told him to care for Mary, Jesus’ mother. And, even before he wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book in our Bible, John knew that Jesus rose from the dead and had ascended to Heaven, our Savior and King. He also had confidence that Jesus would come again as He had promised. John 14:3.

So, what is Isaiah saying when he said that the government will be upon this Child’s shoulder?

The US Capital Building — U. S. Capitol Building

For us, the concept of government does not necessarily carry connotations of security or permanence. Not only do we have elections with the associated change of personnel, there are upheavals in governments all over the world with various groups fighting for control. On top of that we have numerous allegations of sexual assault leveled at high government officials, with multiple investigations undertaken that seem to overwhelm the news cycle each day. Permanence and righteousness in government is hard to find these days. So, what is the Scripture saying here

The Hebrew word translated in Isaiah 9:6 as government is transliterated as misrah which, according to Strong’s Number reference, has a Hebrew definition of “dominion” and it comes from a root word which means “to rule”. We understand that someone who rules, governs. But when “dominion” is incorporated into the meaning of “rule”, an entirely different picture is created.

The Reformation Study Bible says that these words in Isaiah 9:6-7 mean that “He will carry the burden of rule and authority.”

The Scripture allows for no change. Full dominion and authority will be Christ’s. Isaiah does not say that He might rule for some period … His ruling dominion will not end. Whatever needs to be done, will be done. He has absolute supremacy in all things.

What does this mean? Simply put, it means that this Ruler can handle whatever is happening in your life, because He is in absolute control.

Who will be doing this ruling? It is the Child for whom sovereignty is just one of His divine attributes. It is the Child who was born in the stable and who was wrapped in swaddling cloths. It is the Child who has incredibly wonderful, powerful names:

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The Christian knows this Child by the name of Jesus.

The One who heals the sick. The One who takes our sins and burdens. The One who carried a cross and endured its torture and shame on our behalf. If you don’t know this Child, Jesus Christ, please take time at the beginning of this new year to seek Him and respond to the Holy Spirit’s quickening of your heart — believe in and follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

The concluding verses of Revelation 22 say:

“Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

Revelation 22:20-21.

As we look forward to 2018, may we pray along with Henri J. M. Nouwen:

“Lord Jesus, master of both the light and the darkness, send Your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas. We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear Your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to Your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of Your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Your presence. We are Your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To You we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”

Father, we come to the close of the year 2017 and think back of all that You in your providence gave to us, and we thank You for your presence and support in both the blessings and the difficulties. We look forward to 2018, a year that is as fresh and clean as new fallen snow. While we don’t know what will happen, we can face the unknown with confidence because You are in control, and we know that Jesus will one day come again, but this time it will be in power and glory. Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

PALACES, DOMINION, AND ME?

January 7, 2016 | lindamowles

I watch the BBC drama Downton Abbey when it is being aired, and I will record it if I am not able to see an episode when it first comes on television. We have DVDs of the earlier seasons and will watch those episodes on occasion “just because.”

One of the main characters, in my humble opinion, is the castle itself. Rather than being called Downton Abbey, the castle’s real name is Highclere Castle. It is located in Hampshire, England and is the home of Lord and Lady Carnarvon. It is an imposing, but beautiful, castle which is decorated with exquisite furniture, massive portraits and paintings, ornate staircases … well, suffice it to say that it is what little girls dream of when thinking of the princess in the palace!

I recognize that Downton Abbey is a drama and that it is a fictional representation of how titled English landowners lived in earlier days. But for me as an American, who has never lived in that type society, it is a fascinating look at how the Dukes, Duchesses, Ladies and Lords lived while the servants were living and working behind the scenes.

When we were in England several years ago, we did not see Highclere Castle but we did have occasion to see a number of other castles and palaces.

I had always heard of the White Cliffs of Dover, so we went to Dover, England and discovered an incredible castle, thriving busy port, and beautiful chalk cliffs.

Dover cliffs — The white cliffs at Dover, England.

According to information obtained about Dover Castle, William the Conqueror strengthened the defenses at Dover with an earthwork and timber stockade in 1066, and from that point on, Dover Castle was garrisoned uninterruptedly until 1958. The stone castle was built by King Henry II in the 1180s and it sits above the white cliffs where there is the shortest sea crossing distance between England and the continent.

Dover castle 2 — Dover Castle sitting high above the cliffs and defending the narrowest waterway between England and the continent.

Dover Castle was an incredible example of a medieval castle. In short, the trip to Dover, England was great!

Of course, we also visited Buckingham Palace in London. The crowds made it difficult to get a picture of the palace in its entirety, but suffice it to say, it was huge, and beautiful.

This is Buckingham Palace from the gardens between the commercial area and the palace. The palace is protected by a huge gate as well as uniformed officers.

Buckingham palace guiard — Buckingham Palace guard.

We also had the privilege of going to see Blenheim Palace, the place where Winston Churchill was born. Today, it is the residence of the 12^th Duke of Marlborough.

It, too, was immense and ornately furnished. We were not able to take pictures inside and the outside was undergoing some renovation, but the scope of the palace is clear.

This picture is of the gate that you go through before you get to the palace building itself.

Blenheim palace Gate — Blenheim Palace Gate.

After you go through the gate, you come into a courtyard with the palace surrounding you on three sides. This is one of the sides of the palace. On the right edge of the you can see the main section of the palace. There was a great deal of renovation work going on so we were not able to get good pictures of the front of the palace itself.

Blenheim palace buildings — One part of Blenheim Palace. Incredible beauty on a gigantic scale.

The palace grounds were beautiful. This is just a small portion of the grounds surrounding the palace.

Blenheim palace grounds — Just some of the palace grounds surrounding Blenheim Palace.

The size of the palace was mind-numbing for me. A picture of one of the statues that surrounded the walkway outside the palace with a man standing nearby is, for me, a real perspective setter.

Blenheim palace statuary — Statue at Blenheim Palace.

Obviously, I cannot imagine living in this type of opulent surroundings, complete with the incredibly large staff that would be required to run the place.

But, watching Downton Abbey brings into sharp relief one clear fact.

The lord was the absolute ruler of the house and realm associated with the palace. Indeed, the serving staff referred to the Lord of the house as “M’lord” and his wife was “M’lady”. No first names … no pet names … no familiarity expressed, even though they may have known many secrets about the family members. The immutable fact of sovereignty over-rode anything else.

Simple as that. The will of the master was controlling and it was carried out by those under his authority. In short, the lord of the house had dominion over all his realm. Even the people in the village attached to the castle would bow or give homage to the lord of the estate when he rode past. This was the person who had control of their destiny; this was the person whose will would prevail and to whom they were subject.

The Old Testament prophet named Daniel had a vision of the son of man who was given dominion over all things:

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7:13-14 ESV

And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Daniel 7:27 ESV

Here, the word “dominion” was taken from the Aramaic, and the transliterated word used is sholtan. The meaning for this term is “sovereignty” or “realm”.

Imagine living in a realm where the One in charge has full dominion and authority. Imagine a Sovereign who is loving and Who puts the interests of those in His realm over His own. Imagine a realm where the Sovereign is not questioned and His edicts are not reversed.

Imagine living in a realm where the Sovereign loves us so much that He died in our place so that we become His redeemed people. Imagine being under the sovereign rule of the Child whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, Who was, is and always will be the One who bears the name: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, … Jesus.

If you have not watched Downton Abbey, check it out. I think you will find the setting beautiful and the interaction between characters intriguing.

But, on a matter of eternal significance, if you have not met the Lord of all Creation Who will have a kingdom where all dominions will serve and obey Him, open your Bible and meet Jesus.

And, if you have met Jesus, and He is your Lord and Savior, then bend the knee, humble yourself, and thank Him for the salvation that has been given to you, for His grace and mercy and love, and seek to know Him more and more each day in this new year.

Father, help me to love you more, help me to serve you, and help me to learn more of your holiness, love, mercy and grace so that I can reflect that to those I come in contact with at home, work, school, church. Thank you for your Spirit and for your grace.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016

January 2, 2016 | lindamowles

On the last day of 2015 we completed reading through the Bible with the concluding passage of Revelation 22, verses 20 and 21:

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Baby Jesus — The Babe in the manger with Mary and Joseph caring for Him, with the animals looking on. A tree skirt my daughter and I made while she was in middle school.

Reading these words so soon after we celebrated the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day, we were reminded of the words written in Isaiah 9:6-7 where the prophet says:

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.

This passage in Isaiah was read at the Christmas Eve service celebrating the coming of the Child Jesus who was born long after Isaiah made this prophesy. The child born in the manger was the same person the Apostle John wrote about when he penned the words quoted above from Revelation 22:20-21.

John was one of Jesus’ disciples. He knew that Jesus had been crucified and died … he was standing at the cross when Jesus told him to care for Mary, Jesus’ mother. And, even before he wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book in our Bible, John also knew that Jesus rose from the dead and had ascended to Heaven, our Savior and King. He also had confidence that Jesus would come again as He had promised. John 14:3.

So, what is Isaiah saying when he said that the government will be upon this Child’s shoulder?

The Hebrew word translated in Isaiah 9:6 as government is transliterated as misrah which, according to Strong’s Number reference, has a definition in Hebrew of dominion and it comes from a root word which means to rule. Clearly, someone who rules, governs. But when “dominion” is incorporated into the meaning of “rule”, an entirely different picture is created.

The Reformation Study Bible says that these words in Isaiah 9:6-7 mean that “He will carry the burden of rule and authority.”

The Scripture allows for no change … full dominion and authority will be Christ’s. Isaiah does not say that He might rule for some period of time … he says that total dominion will be on His shoulder and his ruling dominion will not end. Whatever needs to be done, will be done. He has absolute supremacy in all things.

What does this mean? Simply put, it means that this ruler can handle whatever is happening in your life, because He is in absolute control.

Who will be doing this ruling? It is the Child for whom sovereignty is just one of His divine attributes. It is the Child who was born to us. It is the Child who has incredibly wonderful, powerful names: