Hold on to things that matter in 2018

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 2, 2018

          I remember in 1974 when I was in third grade, figuring up just how old I would be in the year 2000. I did and re-did the math to make sure.  35-years old!  I would be 35-years old in the year 2000.  And so, here we are in 2018, and here I am almost 53 trying to figure out how all of this time flew by so quickly.  I am sure you know exactly what I am talking about.

          When I look at today’s calendar, it seems really strange to me that I am living in what I used to think was the far distant future! On top of that, the world today looks a lot different than what I thought it would when I was nine.  So many things have changed based on inventions and new technology.

          There are some things that have thankfully remained the same for longer than any of us can remember, and their effects have not lessened one bit.

          1. The words “I love you” are still among the sweetest to hear.  2. Hugs from a loved one give us a feeling like none other.  3. A hand-written letter captivates our attention in a way that text and email can’t even come close.  4. A face to face conversation, even though social media video chat is handy.  5. Homemade meals and desserts from scratch.

          An old song written by Jennie Wilson in 1904 reminds me of one more thing that has thankfully remained the same: “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.”

          “Verse 1: Time is filled with swift transition, naught of earth unmoved can stand. Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand. Verse 2: Trust in him who will not leave you, whatsoever years may bring. If by earthly friends forsaken, still more closely to him cling. Verse 3: When your journey is completed, if to God you have been true, fair and bright the home in glory, your enraptured soul will view.  Chorus: Hold to God’s unchanging hand.  Hold to God’s unchanging hand. Build your hopes on things eternal. Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”

          In 2018, remember Psalm 136:26.  “Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” Have a great week!

Let’s think about Jesus Christ all year long

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 26, 2017

          Starting today, we have 364 days to celebrate the coming of our Savior before next Christmas hits. That may not be what most of the world wants to hear just as we are all recovering from the hustle and bustle of the 2017 Christmas season, but it is worth noting that we don’t have to wait another year before we can celebrate Jesus again.

          It is good to remember that even though the name of Jesus is so special to us, it was the title "Christ" that made His appearing so special to their day and to ours today, all year round.

          The Greek word Cristos means "the anointed one" or "the chosen one". The Hebrew version of those words we know as "Messiah". Jesus was God's anointed One, "the Christ," who fulfilled the Old Covenant prophecies. He was also the chosen One who came to save us from the sin of a broken world.

          The Gospel writer Luke records a time near the beginning of Jesus' ministry when He went into the synagogue, and opened the scroll to what we know as Isaiah 61, which was written 700 years before Jesus came along:

          "And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:17-21).

          Yes, the story of the coming of a baby makes us all feel cozy. But it is what Jesus did when He grew up that continues to make all the difference. He showed us how to live with courage, confidence, and humility. He showed us how to love selflessly and even sacrificially.

          God bless you, and have a great week!

Let your Christmas lights shine

by Barrett Vanlandingham

December 19, 2017

          What a nice surprise!  Two new homeowners on my street put up Christmas lights where there were none in previous years! I was actually contemplating not putting any up this year, or maybe the bare minimum. But when I saw evidence of my new neighbors’ Christmas spirit, I couldn’t resist putting up a few more decorations on my otherwise dark privacy fence: a lighted wreath, a lighted snowflake, and a projector that casts patterns of red and green.

          That’s actually the way life works, isn’t it? We don’t always know just by looking at people and even talking to them that they are down in the dumps. Most of us hide our true feelings pretty well, but there are usually signs somewhere if we take the time to notice. For me, it was my ho-hum attitude about decorating. There’s no way my new neighbors could have known what an impact their Christmas spirit would have on me. So encouraging!  Next thing I knew, I was at Keith Hardware and Big Lots looking for some new decorations to add to my small arsenal of Christmas spirit.

          The prophet Isaiah has some very encouraging reminders to help us in our time of discouragement:

          “28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).

          The key to this passage is the very thing I had forgotten to do: “hope in the Lord.”  I had become too absorbed in earthly concerns, and was forgetting to count the blessings in my life that really matter.

          We never know when something we say or do will make a huge difference in someone else’s outlook on life. God reminded me of that this week through my neighbors.  Merry Christmas and have a great week!