Standing alone in the desert at night one feels that all about one there is this listening, an alertness for movement, for life, for change.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Taggart)

    “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
              –Luke 2:8 (NKJV)
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The warning is out–Don’t travel during the holidays.  Don’t go celebrate Christmas!  If you have to celebrate Christmas, do it in the secrecy of your own home.  Especially do not gather together with other believers in a crowded setting, such as a church.  Oh don’t, just don’t, your life is at stake.
    Perhaps we should stop, and try to listen for the sound of the angels as on the evening of old.  Stop, ponder the words one more time.  Don’t listen to the cries of the media, or the fretful sounds of the powermongers.  Stop, listen to the Word of God.

         “And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.'”
                   –Luke 2:13-14(NASB)

There are those out there that would shut out the words completely if they could.  They do not want the celebration of the truth of Christmas to ring forth in the night.  Even the hustle and bustle of the crowd detects something of Christmas.  For why the rush of the crowd, but not to buy and then to give.  Oh, it might speak of commercialism, but it also speaks of happiness.
    There is a “pandemic”, there is terror on the streets, there are riots in the cities.  Fear abounds!  Stop, look, listen for the words of the angels.  

         “The angel-music seems out of place.  We have almost forgotten the heavenly strains in the harsh and brutal antagonism of immediate events.  To listen to the angels just now–it is as though the carol singers are at our door, and while they are singing outside the house a fierce quarrel is going on inside.  And some people are thinking, and some people are saying, ‘The old song is a fond illusion!  It is an old song, and nothing more!  Its peaceful vision is a mirage!  Its fair promise is a baseless dream!  The music has no background in reality!  It mocks where it used to comfort, and it irritates where it used to inspire!’  That is what many people are thinking, and what some people are saying.  And therefore it might be well to listen to the angels again, as the music comes to us through these two thousand years; ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men.'”
                   –John Henry Jowett

There are those who fear that the gathering together will spread a “virus,” however, the real cause of alarm is that it may do damage to their power.  Fear has always been used by those in power to maintain their power.  Fear has always been a means to manipulate people.  They will clamor that the old songs are mundane, archaic, an illusion, and are actually mocking the fear that those in power are trying to promote.
    “Bah!” they cry, there is no peace.  The whole story is a bunch of humbug.  Phooey.  And when I hear that I feel pity, and give a smile.  For one, they did not read the verse, “peace among people with whom He is pleased.”  I do not see the Lord being well pleased with many people today.  People who vote for abortion and for abominations cannot be pleasing to the Lord.
But to the believer He is pleased, for He sees His Son.  
    Listen to the words again.  Let the song come forth from the depths of your heart–be like the angels and say “Glory to God in the highest,” then thank Him for His wonderful peace.  In this time of year, this wonderful season of Christmas, do not walk with fear in your heart, but step in faith, sing His praises and thanking Him for the birth of His Son–Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!”
              –Commander Howell Forgy

    “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
              –1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV)
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The word came out loud and clear that morning seventy-nine years ago.

         AIR RAID, PEARL HARBOR.  THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

This was an event, a date that will forever change the face and direction of America.  Never again has our military been taken by so much a surprise.  (Note, the attack on 9/11 was on civilian targets).
    When I look around me, I wonder what would happen if it would happen today.  How would America respond?  How would the snowflakes and twinkies react?  Would they say, “not worth it, let the Japanese have the Pacific”?  (Which is what the Japanese, in fact, hoped would happen).  Would there be a resolve to face the foe and vanquish it?  Think of the lives, just American, that were lost in defeating Imperial Japan.  Add to that a few days later, December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.
    With the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States was thrust into an already bloody war.  Most likely we would have entered at a later date to aid our allies, but with the dastardly, sneak attack by the Japanese the war came earlier.  It would be a hard, blood-drenched road to victory.  Many lives of young American boys would be lost in the jungles of the Pacific, much blood would soak the beaches of once unknown Pacific islands.  Much was the same in Europe.  Across the heat, and barrenness of the North African desert we would send men to fight and die.  On then, into Italy and finally that momentous day on June 6, 1944, when the beaches of Normandy–all held the same feature:  death, wounds and sacrifice.
    Sacrifice!  It is one of those sublime words.  Words that have rang true and deep throughout the history of this great nation.  Sometimes a tear comes to my eye and I shake my head when I see the moronic view of socialism coming into our country.  An idea that is deadly, and will cost this nation dearly if it decides to go in that direction.
    Sacrifice!  A term that many, if not most, really do not comprehend today.  Oh, we see a photo every now and then about someone who has been killed in Afghanistan or some far off place.  However, when we see the sacrifice of a police officer there is not the clamor of hurrahs and cheers.

         “Yesterday, December 7, 1942–a date which will live in infamy–the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked.”
                   –President Franklin D. Roosevelt (addressing Congress)

But is it fading?  There are those who would whitewash the sacrifice of the red stain left by the blood of thousands.  There are those who would change history.  I like the statement by Lamar Underwood:

         “Pearl Harbor wasn’t just an attack, or a battle.  It was a turning point in history.  From the moment the first Japanese torpedo cut through the water, Japan’s conquest of the Pacific region was doomed; Adolph Hitler’s destruction of civilization was doomed.  The price would be high.  Pearl Harbor was where America began to pay that price.”

    Beware of the fading color of blood.  Beware of becoming cozy with ideas and attitudes that would destroy this nation.  Pray for this country.  May that flag continue to wave over the home of the brave.
    GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Men can’t live without Him, and be men!”
              –Ralph Connor  (The Sky Pilot)

    “For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”
              –1 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV)
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    E.M. Bounds said, “The fire burns altogether too low.”  Ponder that for a few seconds.  Does the fire of the Holy Spirit burn brightly in your heart, or is that fire only a faint glow?  I think many have missed what God is trying to do in the souls of His people and in the hearts of men in general.
    No, God did not send the “corona”, but He did allow it.  He was not surprised, and it should serve as a warning in many areas.  First, it should awaken each of us to fan the fire of the Spirit back into a flame.  Second, it should warn us how quickly a government  power can take over.  Third, it should awaken in us the power of fear.
    It is the devil who wants to “kill, steal, and destroy.”  He doesn’t necessarily want your financial destruction, but through that he’ll make you bitter, depressed, and fearful.  A panic produced by a disease, promoted by the media is used to destroy your health, add stress to your life, and turn your focus away from God.
    In this time, where the Lord is trying to speak to us, the devil has attempted to turn our thoughts away from God and toward the epidemic.  Instead of seeking God, men are living in fear, afraid to see family and friends.  They are worried about self-preservation instead of seeking the Lord and allowing Him to meet their needs.
    Christmas, that wonderful season, that beautiful time of the year, when we look forward to so many things.  Satan will try his best to keep you from the real truth and reason for the season.  This is the time when Jesus came to earth to begin His earthly life that would eventually lead to Calvary and the salvation of mankind.  This Christmas year, turn for a moment to dwell upon the words of the Psalmist.

         “My soul longs, yes, even faints
          For the courts of the LORD;
          My heart and my flesh cry out
             for the living God.”
                  –Psalm 84:2 (NKJV)

    I would encourage you this Christmas to focus on the meaning of Christmas.  Don’t let the media throw panic in your path, don’t let the joy of the season turn to fear.  Seek the Lord, focus on Him, cry out with your whole being to Him.  Cherish the purpose of Christmas and all that goes with it.

Life’s mighty sweet when you take it as she comes.”
              –Ernest Haycox  (Trail Town)

    “But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
              –Matthew 8:26 (NKJV)
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Are you going to spent the next four years, maybe longer, worrying and fretting?  The devil wants you to be anxious, worrisome, without peace in your soul.  Don’t let him deceive you in that manner.  In reality, most of the things we become anxious over never happen, we just think they might, or they are out of our control.  Since there is nothing we can do about that, why worry?
    Yesterday I wrote about having that “Blessed Assurance…” because Jesus is mine.  There is nothing that can jerk you out of the hands of God.  The devil may even come along saying that you’re not a Christian, that you don’t feel anything, but always remember the blessed assurance that you are a child of God.
    Today I want to look at another way of being assured.  I cannot confirm whether the lyrics are by Dallas Holm or Bill Gaither.  You can search if you wish.  But Dallas Holm sang the song, and he tell us that there is a “Calm Assurance.”

         “Well, I’ve a calm assurance
          I’ve a calm assurance, I’ve a calm assurance
          He is Lord, He is Lord
          He’ll see me through.”

One of the things that I see missing in the church today is that quiet working of the Holy Spirit.  Oh, I know He is working, but we often want to be like the world and get all noisy and in a twitter over things.  Hurry, hurry, and we hop and sway down at the front of the church, then want the preacher to say something that will not only scratch our ears but will tickle our innards.  There is very little time spent in quietness, meditation, and contemplation.
    For us to be quiet and meditate means that we have to be in God’s Word, that we have to study, and, oh, that takes a little effort.  In my morning devotions this week, I came across the following by Thomas Traherne, “As nothing is more easy than to think, so nothing is more difficult than to think well.”  To have that calm assurance we must be in the Word of God then peace will begin to soak in our soul.
    One more verse from the song:

          “There’s nothing else that really matters,
           There’s nothing else that really matters,
           There’s nothing else that really matters,
           ‘Cause He is Lord, He is Lord
           He’ll see me through.”

Coronavirus , pestilence, natural disasters, if you really know the Lord, if you really trust Him, then He’ll see you through and give that calm assurance.  The life of the believer should not be one of turmoil.  It should be one of knowing God and having an assurance that He is in control.  There may be stress, that is part of life, but in the midst of that stress we should depend upon the Holy Spirit.  Let Him give you joy and peace that you need in these times that the enemy seeks to use to steal your confidence.  Rest in Christ.