–G. Michael Hopf  (Last Ride)

       “But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners.  Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

                    –1 Timothy 1:16 (NLT)
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“I want patience so give it to me now!”  Have you ever heard anyone say those words, or imply them in some manner?  Patience is a fruit, it must grow.  There are different things that help us gain patience:  a good heart (Luke 8:15) and trials (James 1:3-4) among them.  I came across an article written by an early church father–Cyprian.  I enjoy his writings.  He lived around 200-258 and was well educated.  He became a leader in the church in Carthage and eventually became a bishop there.  During the reign of Decius, Cyprian had to hide in a place near the city and led the church from there.  He was exiled in 258 and soon beheaded.  Ponder the words, take time for this is the last Echo of 2022.  Be patient…

       Let us stay alert and hold fast to Christ’s patience, but which we can reach God.  This patience, abundant and diverse, is not restrained by narrow limits, nor confined by straight boundaries.  But the virtue of patience is demonstrated widely.  Even though its fertility and liberality come from a single source…patience both recommends us to God and preserves our relationship with Him.  It relieves anger, bridles the tongue, governs the mind, guards peace, rules discipline, and breaks the force of lust.  It represses the violence  of pride, extinguishes the fire of hostility, checks the power of the rich, and soothes the needs of the poor.  Patience protects the blessed integrity of virgins and the careful purity of widows, and those united under a single affection in marriage.  It makes men humble in prosperity, brave in adversity, and gentle towards wrongs and disrespect.  It teaches us to pardon quickly those who wrong us, and, if we do wrong, to beg earnestly for forgiveness.  It resists temptations, suffers persecutions, perfects passions and martyrdoms.  Patience firmly strengthens the foundations of our faith and elevates our increasing hope.  It directs our actions so that we hold fast to the way of Christ while walking by His patience.  While we imitate our Father’s patience, we persevere as sons of God.

       The new year is coming–have patience, it will soon be upon us.  The old year, with all that happened in it is almost over, passed away into history.  The new is upon us with all the decisions that have to be made because of circumstances brought to us in the new year.  One thing not changing is Jesus Christ–He will be the same Savior and Lord in 2023 as He was in 2022.

                    –Elmer Kelton (The Way of the Coyote)

       “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

                    –John 15:15 (NKJV)
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Prayer, what a force!  Prayer plus reading God’s Word–a force that cannot be reckoned with–too powerful for natural understanding!    Add the power of the Holy Spirit and we can be “more than conquerors.”
       The other day my eldest granddaughter and I were having a conversation about prayer.  She said it was “crazy” in today’s vernacular.  “Why pray when God already knows, yet I know we should.  It was a good discussion.  Prayer is one of the most vital spiritual disciplines yet is one of the most neglected.  I told her that indeed God already knows but when we pray we are building up a relationship.  Everyone is saying that Christianity is a relationship, not a religion, but only, only if we pray and read the Bible.  That is how the relationship grows.
       How prayer works is for the most part a mystery.  God is omniscient, therefore, as my granddaughter said, He already knows, yet there must be more to it.  The more I contemplated it over the weekend, the more I began to think that there is indeed something more that happens when we pray.  Because of prayers, we see needs met, lives changed, miracles happen, but that is what the eye can see.  What about the spiritual realm?  What happens there?  I have come to the conclusion that prayer not only builds a relationship with Christ, but that there is something taking place in the spiritual realm.  Something far beyond our understanding.
       Prayer is simply talking to Christ, or to the Father.  Now don’t get me wrong, there is a time for formal prayer, and there is nothing wrong with the habitual prayer said over meals as long as it is meant and not perfunctory.  However, the stronger relationship comes through conversational prayer; talking to God in a conversation.  The more you know your Bible the better and easier this becomes.  Talk to Him as if He were beside you and a friend, for He is.  Your personality will dictate greatly to how you pray.  I remember a well known preacher lying in bed after heart surgery.  In walked one of his colleagues and began to shake the walls of his infirmity down.  He was a boisterous man and so was his prayer.  A while later another colleague came in and prayed over him, “Father, this is Joe.  My friend is in need…”  Get the picture?  Neither prayer was wrong.  Don’t let the devil trick you into thinking that God can hear only certain types of prayers.

               “When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
                          –Ephesians 4:14-19 (NLT)

The best gifts around any Christmas tree:  the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”

                         –Burton Hill

 

       “Thank God for his Son–a gift too wonderful for words!”

                         –2 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!  to one and to all.  This is the time of year to take time to understand and appreciate all the benefits that Christmas brings to us.  There are many, both grand and small.  The primary, numero uno, most wonderful benefit is to recognize the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  But also look up at the stars, not only that they are magnificent in their creation–a word spoken by God, but they also remind us of that one star–see that bright one?  Hmmm…

       Go someplace, take a drive (weather permitting) and see the lights.  Our square here in Coldspring is brightly decorated.  The courthouse lights are beautiful and the nativity is brightly lit.  My first word was “pretty” upon seeing the pretty lights at Christmas.  Then there are the smells of Christmas.  Yes, we have to put up with exhaust if you’re living in the city, but out here, we can go out in the cold and the air seems fresher and cleaner.  Walking back inside, what is that smell?  Could it be an apple pie, or pumpkin?  Christmas morning will be the tradition of beignets, bacon, and coffee.  Ahhh, such a benefit.

       Christmas brings a smile as we remember the Christmases of the past.  However, the smiles don’t stop there, for they continue with the giving of gifts and watching loved ones open them.  They are all around the table as the turkey, ham, dressing, and all of the other bounty are there.  Look at each other once in a while, and enjoy their presence as they eat.  Oh, and let me say one thing–put away the phone!  It has been a blessing, but also a handicap.  

       Christmas is a time to remember to enjoy life as the One who gave life came into the world as a baby for the purpose of redeeming mankind.  Remember the past, but value the present.  Christmas teaches that we need to thank God for the things of the day; live in the present by giving thanks and sharing not only gifts but one another.

       Be as the wise men when the star again appeared to them.  “It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!” (Matthew 2:10)  Seize what God has for you this Christmas season–be filled with joy.  That joy is unspeakable and full of glory as is the knowledge of His Son.

       This is the last Echo until after Christmas.  I’m not sure what will be out the week afterward; it will depend upon whether or not my mind takes a vacation and I want to get up early to send out my morning note.  So don’t get up early and anxious next week to read my thoughts, but still be ready in case they come your way.  I wish I had the ability to send all my friends and readers a present, but you’ll have to take to heart when I say I pray that your Christmas is full of the wonder of Christ and of family and friends.

                    –Dan Arnold  (Bear Creek)

       “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; he who keeps his way preserves his soul.”

                    –Proverbs 16:17(NKJV)
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Brrr, when I think of winter I think of cold and snow.  Not so much now that I have lived in Texas for several years, but I have memories of those cold winters in Colorado, as my wife does of Pennsylvania.  The winter solstice, the 21st of the year.  Brrr.
       In light of that I want to bring you a song by Michael Martin Murphy.  It is a Christmas carol, but there is sentiment in the song.  It reminds me of winters of the past, of Christmases of the past, and of my childhood and youth.  I remember the days of having to work in the cold, to shovel snow, ahhh, but then there are the times of playing “king of the mountain”, or ice-skating on the lake, and sledding down the hills.  

               That ol’ north wind
               Howlin’ high up in the timber
               The only choir that I remember
               When I was ridin’ on the line.

               One lone star hangin’ over the horizon
               Like the one that led the wise men
               As they followed heaven’s sign.

               Snow-capped peaks
               Like the angels and their glory
               Seem to sing the old time story
               As the wind blows through the pines.
               Driftin’ along, the sounds of spurs jingling
               Like silver bells ringing
               Christmas on the line.

       We must remember that Joseph and Mary didn’t understand the concept of Christmas.  They knew they were chosen for something special, that the Child was given to them by God.  I have often wondered about their thoughts, but no matter they couldn’t have known the fullness of what was taking place.  Was it cold in the stable in Bethlehem that night?  We don’t know, but surely it was a bit drafty.  The smell probably wasn’t so great, and they for sure weren’t expecting visitors.
       No mid-wife, no hot water (in the movies there is always the need of hot water), no comfort except what they had in their heart.  Did God give them a special peace and joy when Jesus was born or was it like any other baby born under dire circumstances?
       We make what we want out of circumstances.  The spurs reminded the cowboy in the song of bells, the bells of Christmas.  A star in the horizon–the snow-capped peaks sang a song to him as he traveled to the line shack to spend Christmas alone.  But truly never alone.  The angels are there whether we see them or not.  The joy of ringing bells is there if not actually heard, but only in the heart.  The peace and joy from the Lord is there.  Dare, in your situation this year, to reach out and accept the heavenly Gift.    If you do, the sounds of Christmas will resound throughout your soul.