For it was our way to go onward; to go forward and to try to shape our world into something that would make our lives easier, even if more complicated. Our struggle was for time. Our leisure was bought from hardship, and we needed leisure to think, to dream, to create.”
–Louis L’Amour (Bendigo Shafter)
“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.'”
–Matthew 1:20 (NKJV)
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Put a marker in your Bible at Psalms. We not through, but I’m taking a break from the Psalms until 2021. I thought I’d spend a little time looking at the First Advent, and this holy season of Christmas.
Dreams! We all have them. I’m not sure of the science behind them; mostly I think they come from the things we eat before going to bed. I heard that Rod Serling (who was born on Christmas Day) would eat crazy things so he would dream, then would write them into stories for his Twilight Zone. Dreams may come from a taxing day, or stressful circumstance. Freud, (Fraud??) believed that dreams “represented a disguised fulfillment of a repressed wish. He believed that studying dreams provided the easiest road to understanding of the unconscious activities of the mind.”
We all dream, usually more than five dreams a night, very few of which we remember. My daughters have told me of strange dreams they had. They must think I’m an Oneirocritic. Now, how’s that for a term? An oneirocritic is someone who is able to interpret dreams. Most likely they have a lot of Freud (and fraud) in their background.
In the Bible, especially the Old Testament, we see that a number of people had dreams. Dreams can come from God, that I will not deny. When we look at the birth of Jesus we see the use of dreams (and I am not including visions). The magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod (Matthew 2:12). Joseph was spoken to twice through dreams. First, in regard to Mary and her pregnancy (Matthew 1:20-24) and again he was warned to flee Bethlehem to Egypt in a dream (Matthew 2:13). Since the outpouring of the Holy Spirit very little is said about dreams, except that we know Paul had them, and there is the prophecy of Joel mentioned by Peter, “And it shall come to pass in the last days…Your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17).
Dreams do not always come at night. I dare say that most of us spend time in day-dreams. Some may call it wishful thinking, others may call it “strategic planning” :-] But we do dream about things, about the way we wish things could be.
“The whole world needs, a Christmas dream,
We need it to warm us, to calm us, to love,
To help us to dream our Christmas dream!”
–Andrew Lloyd-Weber/Tim Rice
Perhaps you remember that lively little song, sung by Perry Como. It is a cheerful little song. This world is in a fix. There is turmoil, there is terror, there is fear–perhaps it would do us some good to dream a Christmas dream.
“Crazy things, said an’ done,
Every single day but one!
Every night should, I believe,
Be the same as Christmas Eve,
Nights should all be silent,
Days should all slow down,
And end to the hurry, the noise and the worry!
And I hope that you believe that too!
It’s Christmas!”
Quit the panic, put away the anxiety and enjoy Christmas. The season where we celebrate the birth of God’s Son and our Hope–the Savior. Oh, and if you think you have a dream from the Lord, check it out. Nothing in the dream will go against or add to the Bible; it will not confuse or bring fear into your life.
Author: Ira Paine
Coffee Percs
The ol’ cook] had a bucket of snow water coming to a boil. He emptied half a pound of coffee into it, and began yelling, ‘Coffee-time, you mountain bums! Boots and saddles! The herd’s broke over the big mountain!’”
–Richard P. Hobson, Jr. (Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy)
Git yur coffee, Pard, drink it down, but I’m feared we can do little to stop the stampede! The senseless stupidity of ignorant, foolish men have started to run and I’m not sure there are enough of the stalwart ones to stem the tide.
Sorry, Pard, don’t mean to be alarmin’ yuh on a Saturday mornin’. I know this is a time for relaxin’, doin’ some talkin’ and enjoyin’ good coffee. I jist got riled this mornin’. I started singin’, “Silver Bells,” and realized that most likely those days are over. “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style…” ha, fear has taken over. Where is the feelin’ of Christmas? Why the bureaucrats are tellin’ yuh to stay home, away from friends and family this Christmas. Looks as if Scrooge has won.
Better drink up, that cup needs to ease the bile in my gizzard. That’s it, calmed down, I’m not goin’ to let some ruin my love of Christmas, the season, and all that it means. Why, this is the Lord’s birthday! They want me to stop seein’ my family and celebratin’ His birthday?
Yuh know, what I think? Well, I’m a-goin’ to tell yuh. One of the saddest things is that those that die from this devilish virus die alone. Now think of that–family at home, beside the Christmas tree, unwrappin’ presents, and the ol’ sick person is lyin’ in bed, in some forlorn hospital–alone. I sure hope those hospital “Sky-Pilots” are there with them. Good time to snatch them from the flames if’n they don’t know the Lord.
Let’s finish up this pot, then yuh can join me, “Ringa ling, hear them sing, Soon it will be Christmas Day…” Yeehaw, Pard, let the stampede continue. We’ll enjoy Christmas! Say, in all the jinglin’ and ringalingin’ don’t be forgettin’ to check yur cinch. It’s be terrible to fall off in the midst of the stampede.
Vaya con Dios!
Echoes From the Campfire
It’s not how good you are with your fists, or with a gun. It’s what you are inside. Your loyalty, and your courage. And your self-respect.”
–Brad Dennison (The Long Trail)
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
–Luke 6:45 (NKJV)
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I’m borrowing some from an anecdote that was posted in an newly found, “old” friend’s facebook page. As many times as I’ve gone camping, sat beside a fire whether in the woods or in a fireplace, this example never came to my mind. Guess it’s not meant for my “deep” thinking.
A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek. “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.” We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.
This “virus” that is among us has become a grand tool for the devil. Some have awakened to what is happening and have become “hot” for the Lord again. In the lives of others, however, it has caused them to make an excuse to not get up and go to church. It has caused them to become fearful, and that, causes them to lose trust in the Lord. Some say, I go to church online. Hmmm, maybe so, but you are missing one of the most important things of the church and that is the assembling together of the saints. That gathering is important, especially in this day, for it helps to cleanse the person from the dirt that rubs off on them through the day.
Make this Christmas season one where you receive the blessing of the Lord as well as from loved ones. Stir up the flame that is in your heart and let the Holy Spirit speak to you during this wonderful time of year.
Echoes From the Campfire
I’ve seen enough country to know there’s beauty spread in all directions. If a place is ugly, you can pretty much figure it was something men had done to cause it.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Along the Way)
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.”
–Psalm 90:17 (NKJV)
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I enjoy sitting in my chair, whether it be morning or throughout the day. From where I sit I can view the woods from the window in my cottage; watch for visitors, all sorts of four-legged animals and birds. In the morning I do my devotions and watch it turn from dark to graylight to seeing the sun sends its rays through the trees. From that chair I can also gaze out across the room to fix my stare on the decorated tree with all its lights and ornaments.
I have been told many times that my first word revolved around the tree and seeing the lights as we would go out. They must have attracted my attention for the first thing out of my mouth at that tender young age was–“Pretty.” I wouldn’t say that I’m an optimist, and most certainly I am not a pessimist; hmmm, that makes me a realist. We live in a dirty, ugly world, but I try to see the things that God created, whether in nature or in humans. There are beautiful things out in the world; there are those “pretty” things.
Maybe some of this stemmed from my Mom. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. It was never hurry, hurry, I’m late, I must buy this. Oh, there was some of that, but it never detracted from Mom’s Christmas. In fact, one of her favorite things was to buy something for everyone. She enjoyed giving, and on that Christmas Day, watch as her presents were opened. She loved the colors, the music, the food, and all that went into Christmas. She enjoyed hearing the carols sung, whether in church, or TV or in days past–carolers.
It was a bleak sight that first Christmas. The stable, most likely a cave, meager supplies–I imagine they felt like a cast-out being forced to stay with the animals. The weather, probably cool. Most likely it was a clear night with the stars shining brightly. I don’t know what food Joseph and Mary had with them, or whether or not they were able to purchase something to eat. Simple–yet I can see the anxious look on both their faces with the soon coming of “their” son.
Then I thought to the scene of the throne. That very throne from which the Son of God had recently left to take His place as a babe on earth.
“…and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald… And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal…”
–Revelation 4:3,5-6 (NKJV)
Frightful, inspiring, tremblings, and I must add “pretty.” What a sight that will be! The throne, quite a difference that the manger, in the stable, on Christmas. Now the sight of holiness, the “living creatures” flying continuously around the throne, never resting, crying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 5:8, NKJV).
Enjoy the lights and sounds of Christmas. See them in the light of the Lord, and keep your focus upon Him. Think in terms of giving, loveliness, joy and thus rejoicing. Ahhh, it’s all so PRETTY!