Classic Christianity:A Year of Timeless Devotions - Our Two Mites, a christian devotional blog to encourage believers

Classic Christianity:A Year of Timeless Devotions

In an Instant

12/23/2018

In our family, we call today "Christmas Eve-Eve." It is a funny, left-over-from-childhood saying, yet it indicates that we are all leaning forward to the joy, the celebration, of Christ's birth. We long for that day, as we long for his return, because his coming changed everything - in an instant.

In the instant that Jesus was born in that manger, time, and eternity changed. Even the little letters which divide our history into two great eras reflect the reality that everything has changed: B.C., (Before Christ) and A. D. (Anno Domini, the year of our Lord).

Christmas affected our personal lives in a dramatic way, too. Christmas brings the joy of knowing the nature of God. Christ was and is Immanuel, God with us. Now we can know Him.

Also, the joy of having access to a divine mediator is now ours. Christ is indeed our great High Priest, merciful and faithful to his flock. Today, having satisfied our need for forgiveness, He makes constant and effectual intercession for us. Therefore, our access to peace came through His birth as well.

Still anther joy we celebrate at Christmas is the joy of our conscious adoption into God’s family. As children of God by faith in Christ, with His name upon us and His spirit in us, we are welcomed, loved, and cherished members of His family.

We also celebrate the kindlier graces, the fruits of the spirit which Christ provides to each of us through the Holy Spirit. He said, “Blessed are the meek…Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the pure in heart…” To follow Christ is to exchange the harsh and hard way of the law for the way of love.

Finally, this Christmas let’s celebrate the eternal flame of hope that was kindled that long-ago morning. The birth of Jesus was the earnest of our expectation, a prophecy of a day to come when the Son of Righteousness will reign in glory!

This Christmas, the world is one year farther away from the birth of Christ but one year nearer His blessed return. Merry Christmas!

Dear Father, We gather before You humbly thank You for the greatest Gift ever given, from the greatest Giver. As we await the celebration of Christ's first coming, we also look forward to the day of His second coming. In the meantime, may our words, deeds, and lives bring glory to Your name, amen.

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

After the Hosannas Ended...

3/27/2018

By Monday, the party was over. The upcoming Passover Feast would commemorate the deliverance of the Children of Israel from Egypt. That particular Passover also marked the closing period of Christ’s earthly ministry.

            Jesus entered the very stronghold of His enemies when he came to Jerusalem. On Friday night and Saturday He stayed at Bethany, the home of Mary and Martha. On Saturday night a feast was given in His honor by Mary. On Sunday morning Jesus sent two of His disciples to a village to bring Him a donkey colt tied there. The disciples placed their garments on it and seated Jesus thereon.

            Soon the multitude gathered. They knew He was announcing Himself as King. Soon they were chanting Psalm 118, and shouting Hosanna. “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9). The city was moved. Yesterday, we celebrated this welcome as Palm Sunday.

    And yet, because of the wickedness of the human heart and the frailty of the human soul, this same Jesus, in less than a week, was killed with no one to own His cause or protect His name.  They found fault because He ate with the lowly. They misquoted Him and made false reports about Him. These led to death-plotting, aggravated by every kindness He did, every good deed He performed, every soul He relieved of suffering. At last, the suffering and the sin of the World was laid on Him and in the fullness of time the King humbled Himself to the death of the cross. In that majestic, yet terrifying hour, He paid the ransom price for sin in His own body.

            How strange for a nation to kill its King instead of acclaiming Him. This king had done nothing worthy of death. Even Pilate protested repeatedly, “I find no crime in this man.”

            When Our Lord rode to Jerusalem, He knew the hour of His destiny had arrived. There would be no more throngs eager to hear the words of His teaching. No more tenderly anointed feet lovingly dried with the long hair of a grateful sinner. No more feeding 5,000 with the lunch of one small boy. No more walking on the water. That part of His life was ended. He steadfastly advanced toward the cross.

           Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday. We remembered the crowds, and the acclamation. We saw Jesus, about to lay aside His servant-king robes and accept the role of the Lamb. He rode that colt of a donkey into Jerusalem and began the week-long journey through the horror and degradation of the Cross, to the final victory, the triumphant Resurrection. And, beloved, He did it all for us. As we go through this week, let's focus on that love - the love for us that took Him to the cross.

Almighty God, Who sent His only Son to be our example, our teacher, and our Savior, give me the faithfulness not to follow the whim of the crowds around me. May my praise be genuine and unwavering, not dependent upon the opinions of those around me. Help me to realize the magnitude of the sacrifice Jesus made for me and may I live my life accordingly. Amen

Blessings,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity

Lessons From the Cross

4/14/2017

We wear tiny crosses around our necks not because Jesus died on one, but because He triumphed over one. That instrument of torture and execution, the roman cross, is now a symbol of love. Designed to humiliate and punish, that cross showed the sovereignty of Jesus as He reigned there.

First, He demonstrated sovereign grace. The first thing Jesus did when He got to the cross was to seek forgiveness for those who had placed Him on it. He interceded for pardon for His enemies.

Then, He showed sovereign power. “Today you shall be with me in Paradise.” This part of the Crucifixion story is like a flower of rare beauty planted among dreary crags of agony and blood. Christ poured an overflowing reward upon the dying thief who recognized His sovereignty.

Next we heard His sovereign love. “Woman, behold your son. Behold your mother.” He had already made precious gifts. To His murderers He bequeathed forgiveness. To His companion in crucifixion, He gave the pleasure of paradise. Now to His mother and beloved disciple, John, He bequeaths one to another.

Through it all, He gave a sovereign sacrifice. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” Around, there was dense darkness, for the Light of the World was being extinguished. In such a dark moment He felt the terribleness of the load of human sin. But, blessed be His name, He stayed on that cross. He endured that God-forsaken experience that we might be forever saved.

Finally, He suffered sovereign humiliation. For twenty hours this Royal Sufferer had tasted nothing. For six hours His lovely battered form had hung upon the cross. Vinegar was offered Him but He would not touch it. He could easily have refreshed Himself and numbed the pain with the opiates of man, but He who made all the wells and rivers was smitten by a bitter raging thirst. “I thirst!” Truly He was never as kingly as when in His cry for water He revealed His humanity and humbled himself.

Truly, every attitude I need to learn in order to live, I can learn from my Savior as He died.

Praise God this is not the end. Praise God this execution ends with redemption!

Luke 23:38 “Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

John 18:36 “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Lord God, may I learn from Christ at His most anguished moments how to live in love. Thank you for the amazing sacrifice that bought my soul. In the name of my only King, Jesus, Amen.

For HIS Glory,
Cara and Patti
Classic Christianity

A New Commandment...

4/13/2017

Maundy Thursday – also known as Holy Thursday – is the day we look back at the Last Supper and commemorate the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples. This was the establishment of the Lord’s Supper and the tipping point in the final days of Christ on earth. What a meal that was!

It was at the last supper that Christ announced he would be betrayed by one of his closest associates, to the shock of all the rest. It was at this last supper that Christ broke bread and shared the cup around the table, giving us the sober reminder of his sacrifice that is repeated in churches and Christian gatherings throughout the world, until he comes again.

Yet Maundy Thursday refers to the Latin word mandatum, which means commandment. It recalls the moment when Jesus is washing his disciples feet, in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

So along with the celebration of communion, many traditions have foot-washing ceremonies on Holy Thursday. It is so humbling to participate, to allow someone to wash our feet is unsettling, and brings to mind how uncomfortable it must have been for the disciples to allow Jesus to kneel in servitude to cleanse their dusty feet.

As we commemorate Maundy Thursday today, we need to remember the sacrifice represented by the bread and the wine. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who gave himself for our sake, taking the punishment of our sins. But we also should remember the humble heart of this servant-king who died for us, and remember that we are called to walk in his footsteps. We are commanded to love one another as he loved us.

So, consider today how he loved us. He loved humbly; serving those he came to save. He loved without concern for status; as he dined with sinners, with tax-gatherers. He loved with patience; as he continued patiently explaining and teaching the disciples despite their apparent dullness at times. He loved with truth; he loved the Samaritan woman enough to confront her. He loved generously; as everywhere he walked, people reached out to touch him, to speak with him, to have a moment of his time.

Today is a good day to consider those words. Imagine the power of loving as Jesus loved!

John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Blessings,

Cara and Patti

Classic Christianity

In the Midst...Silence

4/11/2017

Holy Week. Passion Week. Paschal Week.

Chances are, you have heard the week between Palm Sunday and Easter referred to in at least one of these ways.

Holy – because the Holy Son of God entered Jerusalem hailed as a king, left it bearing a cross, and conquered it through death.

Passion – not for the passionate, pure love He held, not for the outburst of emotion that carried him into the city amidst waving palm branches, not for the angry mob’s passionate demand to “Crucify Him” – but, like Paschal, derived from the Greek verb pascho, to suffer.

This is a Holy week of suffering in the life of Christ. The timeline in the gospels lays out the week with greater detail than any other period of time in His earthly life. We know that Sunday was the triumphal entry, but that the people hailed him as what they wanted to see, not what He came to be. We know that Monday brought the cleansing of the temple, the cursing of the fig tree, and our Savior’s weeping over Jerusalem.

We know from the gospels as well that Tuesday he had verbal sparring with the Pharisees, as they tried to entrap the Holy Son of God in a trap made by man. We know he talked with his disciples about future events at the Mount of Olives, on his way back to Bethany. Jesus was already preparing them for the time beyond his crucifixion. Facing His greatest suffering, He thought of His beloved friends, He thought of the future church, He thought of us.

And today, on what is sometimes called Holy Wednesday, or Great Wednesday, or the Day of Silence, the gospels are silent. No record appears of exactly what Jesus was doing or saying on this day. Obviously it was a day of preparation. The Last Supper will be the next day. Jesus must have been making arrangements. Likewise, another one – Judas – was probably making arrangements with the Sanhedrin to negotiate Christ’s arrest.

Does it strike you that here in the very midst of the busiest week in the gospels, there is silence? Does it move your soul that preparations were being made for ultimate good, and for ultimate evil? That in the silent gospel record as Jesus moved to achieve our ultimate salvation, there is preparation via the schemes of man to try to take down the ministry of Christ, to stop it for once and for all?

This is a good day to stop and be silent. To be still and know that HE is God. To prepare our hearts and souls to celebrate the next four days. Join us, won’t you, as we meditate on the happenings in the life of Christ in the three days so far in Holy Week, and pray for God to speak to our hearts as we commemorate – yes, even celebrate – the coming days of suffering through which eternal triumph emerges:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

“And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “it is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”” Luke 19:45-46

“…the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him,”Tell us by what authority…or who it is that gave you this authority.”…”The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour…” “So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said…” (Luke Chapter 20. Just read the whole chapter!)

Blessings as you seek Him!
Cara and Patti
Classic Christianity

Not Just a "Candy-Hearts" Kind of Love

2/14/2017

Happy Valentine’s Day! You know, today as we are all busy showing those we love how much they mean to us, I want to tell you a story about the power of God’s love. Our Papa loved to tell this story – it was one of his favorite memories.

Years and years ago, back in the 1920’s or 30’s, at a national denominational meeting, 200 Christian Native American Elders were attending as honored guests. I had been asked to lead the worship that year, and the Native American Elders were seated in a reserved section in the front rows, all in traditional dress for the occasion. Their section made a colorful and unmistakable swath across the convention floor.
After the singing and opening remarks were done, a Reverend Mr. Tyson, an aged pastor, got up to speak. Addressing those seated in the front rows, he began slowly, “I was once your enemy, for I was in Custer’s campaign in Wyoming and I fought you to the death.” He went on to describe the bloody battle and then he tried to express his remorse for all that had been done there. The hush in the convention center was uncomfortable.
Suddenly the crowd moved as one, turning in their seats. A large, aged Indian man had slowly risen to his feet, and lifted his hand. He was recognized.
“Mr. President,” said he, “I was in that battle, and we fought you like demons.”
A thrill like an electric shock brought that crowd to the edge of their seats. The Native American elder continued, “I was Mr. Tyson’s bitter enemy, but now I am happy to hear him preach the gospel and we are brothers in Jesus.”
Tense with emotion, the Reverend Tyson eagerly asked, “I want you to come to the platform. Shake hands with your old-time enemy, now your Christian brother?”
With great effort the broad-shouldered, brown-faced old man made his way down the aisles and up to the platform. As the two men approached each other, tears were in their eyes. They did not stop to shake hands. They could not speak, but they fell into each other’s arms and sobbed joyfully. As they stood in that embrace the great audience rose as one and spontaneously began to sing, with hearts throbbing, “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.”

I love that old memory of my grandfather’s because it really gets at the root of what love is all about. It’s about letting the love of God change us -change our hearts, change our lives, change the way we interact with each other. We are his hands and heart in this old world of ours. The amazing, agape love we have in overflowing measure from our Heavenly Father isn’t supposed to stop with us…it is meant to overflow through our lives to those around us as a witness of the God, who is love.

I John 4:7-8, “…let us love one another. For love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another.”

With hearts full of love and thanksgiving for all of you,
Cara and Patti
Classic Christianity

This blog post is being rerun by request from its original posting of 2/2013. Thank you!

Between Christmas and the New Year...

12/28/2016

Have you ever noticed? In the week between Christmas and New Year's Day the world slows down. Everyone snuggles at home more. Even businesses seem to find a lower gear, shorter hours, more grace for family. We cocoon with the treasures of our hearts: family and friends.

The world takes a breath.

It is as if, between the celebration of incarnation and the headlong rush into our future, we collectively pause to assess. In a society that paces before the microwave of life, we ... suspend...for a brief, almost inperceptible, moment.

The path before holds no footprints. Every new year holds the promise of beginning again - of Jubilee come to our hearts.

Then comes the Rose Parade, all those Bowl games, the rifle goes off and the race is on...again...for another year.

So in the few dwindling days of this year, I pause to consider. What has my life meant in the last 361 days? Have I furthered the Kingdom? Have I been attractive for the gospel - or has my flesh pushed people away? Has the noisy, demanding tyranny of the world pushed out the still quiet voice of God?

Christmas as a celebration of the incarnation is not only our salvation story, it is a daily challenge to our way of life. Praise God that when Jesus came to earth, he passed by any bounds of race, nationality or origin. He considered our distress in sin to be more pressing than His position of deity. Do I consider the needs of others to be more pressing than my position - my rights - my selfish interests?

I do not want to live to be old. I want to live to be mature - mature in the mind of Christ. I do not desire many years, but to live graciously and broadly in the years I am given. Like a traveler, I do not wish to rush around in a circle - to be taught the same lessons year after year for my failure to learn them. Rather, I want to push out into new thoughts, new responsibilities, hopefully closer walking with God.

The old year peels off the days like an onion nearing its center, richer, fuller flavored than the dry husky days of last summer. Savoring them requires time spent doing nothing but perusing the dusty corners of one's own mind. But now I am fixing my mind on the unmarked path leading away from the fireplace and the solace of warm, snuggly places. The New Year beckons.

Blessings in this New Year,
Cara & Patti

Classic Christianity

Merry Christmas!

12/25/2016

Ornament: Nativity Scene
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-10; John 3:16-17
Songs : Go Tell It on the Mountain, Joy to the World, Away in the Manger

Today is the day! Jesus is born! Today we celebrate Jesus becoming a little baby. You know, Jesus is different from us. He is God’s only Son – in fact, Jesus was alive when the world was created, living in heaven with God the Father. Jesus had been alive from the beginning of time, just as our Advent Jesse tree mentioned on the first day. But on Christmas Day, we celebrate His coming to earth as a baby in the manger!

    Do you remember how we talked about sin coming to the earth to spoil God’s perfect creation? God planned for Someone to come to take away that sin. Jesus, God’s Son, was willing to come and be our Savior. That’s why the angels sang so gloriously on that first Christmas Day! Jesus has come to take away the sin of the world!
   That sweet little baby lay in a manger – a feeding place for animals – in a stable, because the town was so crowded for the census that there were no rooms for Mary & Joseph at the inn.

    Today, sometimes in our lives, there are a lot of people and activities that could make our lives too full for Jesus. But, if we realize how important Jesus is…believe in Him, ask Him to come take over your life, He will! Let’s make sure to make room for Jesus in our hearts and lives! He is wonderful!

Welcome Jesus! Happy Birthday! Thank You for being willing to come to earth as a baby to be our Savior! Please help us remember to make room in our hearts and lives this Christmas, and every single day. We love You! Amen.

Blessings,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity

A Time to Rejoice & Remember: Advent, Christmas Eve

12/24/2016

We invite you and your family to join us for advent this season, as we consider Christmas through the lens of Scripture. As we celebrate the birth of the Christchild, we will look as a different aspect of his coming each day. Each day also has a downloadable coloring picture for children to color as they listen, and then hang on the tree as a reminder! We also suggest a song to listen to, play, or sing along with. Most of these can be found in a hymnal to play at home, or on youtube.com - to sing along with! Children old enough to read might enjoy reading the Scripture as well. We hope this simple journey through Scripture helps you celebrate the Greatest Gift of all.

Ornament: An angel to remind us of the angel messengers of Christmas
scripture Reading: Heb. 1:14; Luke 2:8-14; Rom. 6:23
Songs: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Angels We Have Heard on High

Oh, how lovely that first Christmas service was! The angels filled the sky and praised God with their glorious announcement of Christ’s birth! Angels are God’s special messengers and oh, how special this message was! Tonight the angels brought the news the people had waited for since the dawn of time. This is the “good news” that Israel had longed for over the centuries!

     And the congregation? Who was in attendance at that first Christmas service in the Judean hills? Why – the shepherds who were out watching their flocks, now staring in fear and amazement as these glorious angels make the world’s most important announcement to them! Not to royalty, not to important businessmen, but to shepherds on the hillside.

    When the angels left, can you guess what the shepherds did? Well, they BELIEVED the angels! So, they didn’t just go back to their sheep. They didn’t just sit around talking. No – they were excited to welcome this new baby King! So, into Bethlehem they went to search for the new baby, and worship Him there.

     Praise God! He welcomes everyone. Not just royalty, not just important people or rich people. God wants all to come. God wants you and me!

Questions:

What did the angels say had happened? (Luke 2:10-12)
What is an angel’s job? Who tells them what to do?

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for Your Son, Jesus! Thank you for welcoming all of us to worship Him, to love Him, and to follow Him. Praise Your Name! Amen.

Blessings at Christmas,
Cara & Patti

Classic Christianity

A Time to Rejoice & Remember: Advent, December 23rd

12/23/2016

We invite you and your family to join us for advent this season, as we consider Christmas through the lens of Scripture. As we celebrate the birth of the Christchild, we will look as a different aspect of his coming each day. Each day also has a downloadable coloring picture for children to color as they listen, and then hang on the tree as a reminder! We also suggest a song to listen to, play, or sing along with. Most of these can be found in a hymnal to play at home, or on youtube.com - to sing along with! Children old enough to read might enjoy reading the Scripture as well. We hope this simple journey through Scripture helps you celebrate the Greatest Gift of all.

Ornament: A Candle (To remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World!)
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38; 2:32; John 8:12
Songs: This Little Light of Mine, Silent Night

The Light of the World was about to be born. Do you know who the Light of the World is? (Jesus!)

     One day, a young woman was going about her day when an angel came to visit her! That angel told the young woman, whose name was Mary, that she would soon give birth to the savior of the world – to Jesus. Do you know, the Bible says that Mary started singing when the angel came to tell her that she was going to give birth to Jesus? Mary praised God for His goodness, and told God she would do whatever He asked. Mary trusted God.

       After Jesus was born, Mary & Joseph took Him to the temple. While they were there, Simeon told everyone Jesus is “The Light and Glory to all people.”

     Jesus is the Light of the World. Since Jesus has gone back to heaven, those of us who trust in Him can allow Him to shine through us to light this world. We can let people get a little idea of what Jesus is like by watching Him work in us!

     When you drive around to see Christmas lights on people's homes, or see a beautiful Christmas tree with lovely lights all over it, each little light can remind you of Jesus! It’s like having a million lights on a birthday cake just for Him!

     Questions:

Was Mary willing to do what God asked? (Yes she was.)
Who is the Light of the World? (Jesus)
How can we show people the Light of the World? (When we trust Jesus as our Savior, and He lives in our lives, people can get a little glimpse of His love & His light through our lives.)

Prayer: Dear Father God, thank you for sending Jesus to be the Light of the World….lighting our way to You, and lighting our lives with joy. Help us to allow Jesus to shine through us to all of those around us. Thank you, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Blessings,
Patti & Cara

Classic Christianity