The Old Shepherd

The little boy sat next to his grandpa and said, “Tell me again Grandpa about that night.” The old shepherd drew the little fellow close to him and began, “I will be glad to son because I never want you to forget it.” Pointing toward a hillside across from where they were sitting he said, “It was right over there on that hill about forty years ago. I was a young lad myself and was with my older brothers as we were keeping watch over our sheep as we had done a hundred times before. As we were getting ready to bed down for the night all of a sudden there was a bright light that appeared about a stones throw away from us. It was brighter than any light any of us had ever seen before. As we were shielding our eyes from its glow there appeared a man in the midst of it! We were terrified! Never had anyone seen anything like this.” The little boy asks, “Who was he Grandpa?” The old man smiled and said, “We did not know at first. We bowed our faces toward the ground in submission to him. He then spoke and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I have come from God to give you some Good News that will be for all people on earth.’ I raised my head and sat on my knees along with the others. ‘In the City of David, called Bethlehem, there has been a birth. For this night, a Savior, who is the Christ, the Lord, has been given to the world!’” The little boy asks excitedly, “Was he an angel from God?” The old shepherd said, smiling, “You know he was, as I have told you before.” The old man continued, “But we did not know that at first. Then he said, ‘This is how you will know this Child; He will be in a stable, lying in a manger, and will be wrapped in the swaddling cloths. His mother Mary, and Joseph, will be there with Him.’ Then at that very moment there was a multitude of angels, more than we could count, and they began praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God the Most High, and on the earth, peace and goodwill toward all people!’” The little boy said, “I would have liked to have been there! Then what did you do Grandpa?” The old shepherd said, “The angels then disappeared just as quickly as they had come. We then decided that we would leave a couple to watch the sheep and the rest of us would go down to Bethlehem to see this Child which the angel had told us about. We entered the city and began searching for a stable in which there would be a mother with child. When we checked the one behind the Inn, there we found them, just as the angel had said!

We stopped outside and bowed our faces to ground and told the couple how we had found them. Mary then motioned to us to come closer.” The little boy asks, “Did you see Him Grandpa?” The old shepherd, wiping away a tear from his old eyes nodded. Hugging his grandson close he continued; “As I looked into the manger upon that little face there was a peace that came over me that I cannot explain. For the first time in my life I was not afraid of anything. For just a brief moment nothing seemed important anymore, only this Child!” The little boy asks, “Did He look at you Grandpa? Did he?” The old man says, “I could barely see His eyes. But when there appeared a very small opening in them, I felt as though He knew me! I was lost in His presence for just a brief moment, but I would have liked to have stayed in that moment forever! We all bowed and worshipped Him and then we went into the town and began to tell everyone what we had seen and all that had happened to us!” The little boy then asked, “Did you know Him when he grew up Grandpa?” The old shepherd, smiling as some of the other younger shepherds came closer to hear, said; “I heard tell of Him. I heard people talk about John, the preacher that came from the wilderness areas, and how that he had baptized this Man named Jesus in the Jordan, and that He was the Lamb of God, the Promised Messiah!” I heard about all the miracles that He wrought among the people. That blind men received their sight; that the deaf was made to hear and the dumb to speak! I heard that He brought a little girl, a widow’s son, and even a man that had been dead for four days, back to life!” The little boy then asked, “Did you ever see Him again Grandpa?” The old shepherd, nodding and then lifting his eyes toward heaven said, “It was a month or so after they had crucified Him on a Cross. The religious leaders said He was a blasphemer and had Him put to death. His disciples then began telling everyone that He was resurrected three days later! It was true because He continued to tell hundreds of people about the kingdom of God again! Many did not believe it was really Him, but I do! Then one day as He and His followers were heading out of the city I was in the market as the crowd went by. I heard some say, ‘That is Him; that is Jesus.’ I turned and looked and then my eyes met His! At that very moment I knew it was Him! It was that same feeling I had that night in Bethlehem! He smiled at me as He made His way toward the gate along with the rest of His followers and I watched them leave.”’ The little boy asks, “Did you ever see Him again Grandpa?” The old shepherd said, “No. His disciples came back into town later and told everyone that He had gone back up into Heaven.”

Then pulling his little grandson close and looking him in the eyes the old shepherd said, “But do not ever forget; we will all see Him again one day son!”


May the Christ of Christmas shine in your hearts!
In Christ: Br Mike <><

Fear Not

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."*


She watched intensely as the man came to open the door to let them in the store. “They will sell out before I get one” she thought. He sat in the office waiting for the report from his tests. “Its cancer, I just know it is” he thought. Two different people, two different situations, and two different worries but both based in the mental monster that we face often; fear. Fear tell us that we will never have enough or that we will not pull through. Fear tells us that things will never be the same and we can just quit thinking they will get better. Fear tells us that there is no hope and we just need to put an end to the misery our life has become.

Thank God for the message from the angel! Jesus emphasized this statement again and again to His disciples. They thought they were going to drown but they didn’t. They thought the Jews or the Romans would kill all of them for this new movement they were starting, but they didn’t. They thought their Leader was dead, but He wasn’t! What we think and what God can do is totally two different things. Fear comes naturally and is an attribute given to us by God for a specific purpose; to protect us. He never intended for it to rule us or to paralyze and torture us mentally. We should never allow it to divert our attention away from Him. Little birds are not afraid that they will not find food but they watch for cats. Jesus said we are of much more value to Him than they are. Where Jesus is there is always hope! Our church mission statement is, “A House of Prayer giving Light for today and Hope for tomorrow!”

I don’t know what you fear today but God does. You know, that message the angel gave to the shepherds was not just for them but is given to you as well: Do not fear Jesus is here! Good news for everyone, now and forever! Tell Jesus what you are afraid of and He will take care of it. Pray now and fear not.

Father God, thank You for Jesus! Lord strengthen my faith and it will weaken my fears! Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Thank you Jesus!

In Christ: Br Mike <>< (brmike@ntelos.net)

* The New King James Version. 1982 (Luke 2:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Teach the Teacher

Then Agrippa said to Paul, *“You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

Hannah got in the car at school when I picked her up: “Dad, Miss (Wahwah) needs Christ!” I could tell she was upset with Miss Wahwah about something serious so I asked what happened. She did not go into detail but said again, “She needs Christ.” Let me give you some background information on Miss Wahwah. On orientation day when I met her she had an inappropriate wall paper picture on her computer monitor which everyone coming into the room could see. There were about twenty kids and parents in line with us waiting to talk to her. I requested a sidebar and asked her if she thought it was a good idea to have such a picture displayed with all the problems with sexting in the schools. She told me a student had set it and she did know how to change it. I told her I could change it for her but she then said she had called the techs to do it. She did turn it around. After school started the next week Hannah said she had changed it.

Now you know why we have the issues among our youth that we do. We no longer have the morale role models we once had in our schools. I had a little book I received from Billy Graham with Christmas devotionals in it. I gave it to Hannah and told her to pass it on to Miss Wahwah. “She don’t need a book she needs Christ!” Hannah said. I told her that she knew that and I knew that but unless Miss Wahwah came to that conclusion on her own, she would never accept Him. “Give her the book and we will pray that God will use it to speak to her heart,” I said. The Apostle Paul knew that King Agrippa needed Christ too but the king’s answer gives us insight on how others perceive our witnessing. I would love to be able to persuade Miss Wahwah to become a Christian but the truth is unless she decides on her own to accept Christ she will never do it. Only the Holy Spirit can change hearts and then only if the person is willing to allow their hearts to be changed. We have to let them know that Christ will do for them what He has done for us and pray that they will be convinced just as we were. As much as we would like to, we cannot force Christ upon anyone.

Father God I pray for Miss Wahwah. I hope she will listen to Your Holy Spirit as You speak to her heart. Thank You Lord for Hannah and her desire to see people saved! Jesus, I come in Your Name!

In Christ: Br Mike <>< (brmike@ntelos.net)

* The New King James Version. 1982 (Ac 26:28). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Promised King

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”*


What were you doing this time last year? If you are like me you probably have no idea. Many can remember what they were doing especially if it involved an experience of some sort such as the birth of a child, a wedding, or maybe a funeral. We always remember things that have a major impact on our lives don’t we? The closer we are to an event the more impact it has on us. The human mind is programmed to remember things that cause emotional pain or excitement. We only have to mention 9-1-1 and the majority of us can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news; unless you happen to be nine years old then you would have to rely on what you are told about it.

Now you can understand why so many people today do not get as excited about Christmas in the same way that Christians do. When the Prophet Micah spoke these words hundreds of years before Christ was born into the world I am sure many of the people in his day had no idea who he was talking about. A king being born would not be a major thing to them but listen carefully about the description given about this King; “His goings forth are from old, from everlasting.” In other words this King comes from an Ancient Ancestry, the Ancient of Days as a matter of fact.

Jesus is that King of course but for many people today Jesus does not arouse any interest. He is a historical figure to many of them and celebrating His birth is more about parties and presents than it is about sacrifice and redemption; because we are two thousand years down the road. Had any of us been standing at the Cross and gazing upon the Man that healed the sick, caused the blind to see, and raised the dead, watching Him die a painful death for no apparent reason, we would remember Him differently. This Christmas season let’s help others to know and experience Him as we do.

Father, I come to You with Jesus; thanks for the memories and the promises! Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <>< (brmike@ntelos.net)

* The New King James Version. 1982 (Micah 5:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Lion Whisperer

My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”*

I was watching a program the other night on the National Geographic Channel called the “Dog Whisperer.” Now many of you may have seen it before or even watch it regularly. The guy was able to communicate with the dogs in such a way that they seemed to understand him in doggy language. You know, this fellow may be kin to Doctor Doolittle.

I wonder if there are any lion whispers out there. If there are I have not heard of them. I can just picture some dude telling an unruly lion to shush and poking him in the side! How about these lions’ that David was fed to? One may think that David was a lion whisperer because they didn’t eat him. Let me share some information from historical guys that investigate things like that; the lions in that den were not fed on a regular basis so they would be hungry when someone was cast down to them.

This account teaches me that it takes a miracle to keep a hungry pack of lions from eating you. The thing about miracles is that they have a broader purpose than just benefiting us; they are designed to glorify God. God was proving Himself to King Darius when He took the lions’ appetite. The old king told Daniel God would protect him, and then fasted all night hoping He would. Once he saw God was real and would protect His people the king then ordered the entire kingdom to fear Daniel’s God! Do you need a miracle? Can God be glorified by performing it? Then expect it to happen.

Heavenly Father, thank You for protecting Your people! I pray that those who need a miracle today will find a way that You can be glorified through it. Jesus, I ask this in Your name Sir! Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <><

*The New King James Version. 1982 (Daniel 6:22). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Evil Men and Imposters

When the news came out that soldiers had been attacked and killed in a readiness station at Fort Hood on Thursday my mind went back to the days I spent in one of those stations at Fort Leonard Wood. I never went off to war thank God but we were prepared in case we would have had to. I can remember hundreds of soldiers standing in lines, getting physicals, talking to financial counselors, Chaplains, and others there who were trying to answer our questions to calm our fears. Never did I fear dying there. I am sure those at Fort Hood on Thursday never thought about it either. What is going on?! What in the world is happening to people?! God warned us about these things but it seems that we never really believe Him until it happens; *But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. The shrink that did the shooting was an imposter. An imposter is one who poses as someone else and this guy was posing as a stable, trustworthy, loyal, soldier. In the days to come we will hear of issues he has had for a long time. We will be told how all this stuff has gotten to him over the years and how that it eventually drove him to commit such an act of hostility toward innocent people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Before all is said and done he will be shown to be a victim of overwhelming circumstances. What we will not be told is that Jesus would have helped him if he would have ever reached out to Him. I do not read anywhere in the Bible of anyone that ever came to Jesus for help that He turned away. There will be hundreds of reports trying to explain the why behind it all, but none of them will give the true reason; humanities rejection of Jesus Christ. All the tragedy that comes upon us is rooted in that one reason. It will continue until Jesus comes back Himself to put an end to it. Before He does that though, expect more and more of these types of reports. If this depresses you or causes you to fear then know that God is dealing with you. If you could care less or just think it was happenstance and circumstances then you are basing your life on chance and fate. For the born again believer this is one more incident that causes us to look for the return of Christ. You and I will never be able to stop this stuff; only Jesus will, but you and I can place our trust in Him. We cannot change the direction humanity is taking but we can change the direction we are going. God allows U-turns you know. Repent, seek forgiveness, and follow Christ because the times; they are a changing.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed is Your name! Lord, minister to the families of those killed in this tragedy. Give comfort to them through Your Holy Spirit. Jesus, reach out to those who do not know You. Holy Spirit, call to the hearts of those that are in the same condition this man was in; that they may be saved. I ask all these things with Your permission Jesus, given to me by You when You died for my sins. Thank You. Amen.

In Christ: Br Mike <><

*The New King James Version. 1982 (2 Timothy 3:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Sick With Pride

I sit writing this message after coming home from the doctor. That is why there was not an Encouragement from me yesterday. I have been praying and petitioning God to rid me of this “gunk” that has set itself up somewhere in my body; which gives it plenty of room to hide. After having me tested by his lab techs this morning, my doc diagnosed me with swine flu. “You have got to be kidding doc, I can’t have the swine flu!” He asks, “Why not?” “Well, because I, I, I just can’t, that’s why!” He gave me some meds, a prescription, and a warning: Stay home the rest of this week or risk pneumonia! Driving up the road I had a few questions for God. I mean, hey, this week I have people to see, sermons to preach, people to counsel, a funeral to officiate, studying to do, a nursing home and hospitals to visit; why would Jesus let me get sick seeing I have all that stuff to do for Him? God was not quick to answer but when He did, this is what came to mind: *I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Could it be possible that my statement to my doctor, “I can’t have the swine flu,” could have revealed pride? Ouch! That is what it’s called though, human pride. After all, I am doing all this stuff for Him, right? Wrong. He uses me to do things for Him; it is not by my might or by my power that I do any of these things. As for all that work “I” had to do; another minister is preaching for me, the outreach minister is visiting the hospitals and nursing home for me, another pastor is going to do the funeral, and the counseling appointment has been rescheduled. That leaves me with only the studying to do; which I can do in bed. I got Your point Lord.

Father God, I am not giving you thanks for this illness but I am giving you thanks it is not unto death! Thanks for reminding me that I am just the servant and that You are God! Thank You Jesus as I ask in the authority of Your name! Amen!

In Christ: Br Mike <>< (brmike@ntelos.net)



*The New King James Version. 1982 (Php 4:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.