CSN Sunday - LightWing Messages for 12/26/2021
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”
But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50 (NIV)
A CITIZEN SENTINEL’S MESSAGE:
It is never too late to extend the greeting Merry Christmas to you one more time is it? After all, though the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth is past for this year, Jesus lives! While Christian holidays can be helpful in reminding us of important aspects of our faith, secular twists are always added. In this way Satan seeks to take away that Christian focus. Today’s feature article, titled “A New Beginning for the New Year,” is from our Founder, Dennis Jamison. He reminds us that Jesus expects us not only to celebrate him but to live a life that reflects him.
It is good to take an introspective look at our lives. However, it can be a real downer when we see that we too have “sinned and fall short of the glory of God“ (Romans 3:23). Yet even in that honest, sometimes gut-wrenching acknowledgement of our own sin, our spirits should be lifted high as we see how incredible the grace of God is! WE ARE FORGIVEN! He uses the law to show us our sin so that we appreciate the forgiveness we have in Jesus.
God’s grace is not a license to sin. His gift of Jesus, our Savior, when fully appreciated should well up in us a desire to live to please him. It’s what we do when we love someone; and “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). May your New Year be filled with a deep appreciation for God’s love and a desire to please him.
A New Beginning for the New Year
By Dennis Jamison
December 24, 2021
Every Christian is likely to look forward to Christmas in great anticipation for various reasons, some more than others. But, every true Christian realizes that amidst the “magic of the season,” as the narrative goes, in the rush and bustle of the holidays, Jesus may not be among the first considerations with so many of the various Christmas festivities or traditions crowding him out.
But, more than “magic,” as it is sold in the secular world, Heaven worked miracles in bringing the Messiah into the world. All who have received the gift God gave to the world should realize
the most essential element of Christmas is the Christ child and the teachings of Jesus.
Most Christians realize that Christ should be the focus of Christmas - intellectually. We read it, we say it to ourselves, we strive to maintain this correct priority, but sometimes we drift away from a deeper and more sincere realization of this fundamental reality. It is undeniable that as life unfolds, the culture that we are immersed in presses against us, or upon us all, and it shapes our daily lives in ways in which we are not always comfortable. The pervasive culture even has some innocuous ways of edging Jesus out of Christmas. And, even reading such a statement may be a bit annoying or irritating to those who know it is true. Yet, it was Jesus who taught us that knowing the truth would set us free.
Now, another Christmas has come and gone for one more year, and Christians, especially true Christians, should consider the truth of the world in which we live in a more comprehensive and honest way. Even though the truth can be painful and can hurt, it is true that it is not just those Christmas holidays that can be diminished by the culture, but it is also any of our best intentions that can be adversely affected by the cultural environment. The world is in desperate need of each of us to reconsider the greatest gift of all at this time of year. Christmas is a special time; it is true. But, despite the worldly “magic,” it is more about the miracle of God loving His children enough, that He gave His only begotten son so that we could come to the Father through the Son. But, it may be only some who claim to be Christians who are willing to “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Even though Christmas has passed, each of us should consider one of the deeper questions to be candidly asked and that is whether it is safer to love the infant Jesus as opposed to love the Christ who challenged his followers to do the will of God. It is a serious question. Is it much easier to love the baby Jesus more than the Messiah who came to be the intermediary between God and His children? Let us put it in perspective. There is a very memorable event recorded in the Gospels in which Mary and Jesus’ brothers come to speak with him while he was preaching to his followers. It was such a memorable event that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all give witness to Jesus’ perspective at such an event:
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50 (NIV)
This event may not have made much of an impression in Christians minds, but at Christmas, when family is supposedly so very important, the words of the adult Jesus should have a greater impact upon us. Family is critically important in this world – even within secular realms; it is undeniable. Yet, what Jesus was saying in this incident has at least a double meaning. On the one hand, he was equating the value of family, which was deeply important among the Jewish people (it still is), with being “those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” Luke 8:21 (NIV) On the other hand, there is the implication that his mother and his brothers did not put into practice the word of God.
On the other hand, Jesus was imparting to his followers a greater value than his physical family. It may have been an awkward moment, but it made an indelible impression on Matthew, Mark, and Luke. So, if we as Christians come seeking a connection with the baby Jesus, is it safer for us rather than seeking a connection with the risen Christ? What would he say of us if we were waiting and wanting to speak with him? Would he recognize us as his mother or brother or sister because he sees that we put into practice the Will of God? Is the infant Jesus easier to embrace? Is it safer for us who claim to be Christians? I submit that one of the simplest tests of whether one is a true Christian or not is whether one can put into practice the word and Will of God. And what is the Will of God?
Did not Adam and Eve know the Will of God as they communicated with Him directly in the Garden? Did they put into practice the word of God, the Will of God? They ignored the words of God in the Garden. Is this not the moment humans fell away from God? Are people ignoring the word and Will of God today? Are not even those who call themselves Christians ignoring the word and Will of God in such a time as this? Look around. What kind of culture is now dominant in America? On the one hand, we can embrace the baby Jesus, but many of us cannot even forgive our knucklehead family members for doing stupid things at Christmas. What about being able to love our enemies? It does not mean submission to our enemies, but do we love them enough to confront their evil in a loving way and expose it? Would a parent not instruct his or her children in the ways of right and wrong? It is not by accident America became so corrupted.
Good parents will raise up their uneducated children in love, forgiving them when they err, but demanding they know the difference between right and wrong. The concept of “tough love” based upon Dr. James Dobson’s perspective does not just apply to children. It also applies to all the knuckleheads in our lives. Another fundamental question is whether we are our brothers keepers? It seems we have denied or dismissed the responsibility. Especially, at this time of year we should reconsider putting into practice the word of God – the commands of Jesus.
Jesus definitely stated that “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35 The problem of the culture could be changed or rearranged in the family. Good parents who know better are required to teach their children to know better – to know the difference between right and wrong. Good children who know and practice showing the difference between right and wrong would make for a healthier culture and a more stable society. Have such families become the minority in America?
We are aware that there are plenty of dysfunctional families and many families facing serious problems. The mainstream media always reminds us, whether we want to know or not. But, there are many spiritually healthy families in which the conscience in children grew strong, and it is not an exaggeration to estimate that most Americans know the difference between right and wrong. That reinforces a stable civil society.
Although another Christmas has come and gone, consider the truth of what Jesus was saying – we who put this into practice are not only disciples of Jesus, but truly, in his mind, we are part of his family. The bond of love with such a family is powerful, and can impact the society as well. It is crucial we mature our faith, demand of ourselves that we protect the family of faith, support the family of faith, and demand that leaders within our society acknowledge and practice God’s Will, to the greatest degree possible.
A more mature level of faith and a healthy conscience permits greater understanding, greater involvement, and a greater ability to put into practice the biblical admonition that we love one another, and that includes the tough love of teaching right from wrong to our children and to the society at large. A greater degree of maturity of faith is not just requested of God’s children - it is truly necessary now more than ever. If families do not reinforce faith or some spiritual values in their children, it is detrimental to the society overall and over the long term.
The culture will take a toll upon the faithful, if love itself is not valued. Christians and people of faith in general must demand in a loving manner that those who operate the “machinery of the culture,” have a healthy conscience and their leadership is in accord with God’s Law, which is just law, which is what Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught. This is why his efforts were so vital to the Civil Rights Movement in that critical time. He practiced putting tough love into action and demanded better from the culture and society around him.
The Christmas season comes closest throughout the year in offering a foundation to rekindle a genuine desire to not only acknowledge and embrace the word of God, but to put it into practice as well. For those who desire it, the Christmas season offers an opportunity to jump start a commission to set out on a journey for the new year to join the Messiah in seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness! Consider the beginning of your new year a new beginning
for one’s life of faith. Consider the opportunities of a new beginning!
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Onward and Upward!
From Jennifer Thomas: CAROL OF THE BELLS-- Arranged/Performed by @Jennifer Thomas w/Ensign Symphony (Epic Piano/Orch) - 11/28/2018
From The Victory Channel - FlashPoint: The Turning Point! Trump, Feucht, Kirk & AmericaFest - 12/23/21
From Zach Williams: I Don't Want Christmas to End (Official Audio) - 10/21/2021
From OANN (w/ video): Made in the Image of God with RedState's Brandon Morse | One America News Network - 12/25/21
From Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon by Trans-Siberian Orchestra - (Official Music Video) [HD] - 10/26/2009
From OANN (w/ video): Historical Spotlight: Church of the Nativity | One America News Network 12/25/21
From Skylight: The Best Christmas Song I've Ever Heard. It Will Give You Chills. - 12/17/2014
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American Minute by William J. Federer - American Minute for December 25 - On the evening of Christmas day, 1776, George Washington's rag-tag army crossed the Delaware River.
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Recommended Reading…
From The Christian Post: The advent of Christ changed the world forever - 12/25/21
From The Christian Post: The first Christmas: God's sovereignty and man's free will - 12/25/21
From CBN News: The Birth of Jesus in the New Testament: One Event – Four Narratives | CBN News
From The Christian Post: Franklin Graham: Satan has been trying to destroy Christmas for 2,000 years - 12/25/21
From National Review: 'It's a Wonderful Life': Still Wonderful | National Review - 12/25/21
From The American Mind - Salvo: Between Creed and Clan - The American Mind - The question of American identity and citizenship has always been complex. - 12/22/21
From The Epoch Times: USA Swimming Official Quits Over Trans Swimmer Competing Against Women - 12/25/21
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What affects one, can affect all!
From National Review (w/ video): London Breed Calls for 'Aggressive' Policing to End 'Reign of Criminals' in City - December ‘21
News From Florida -
From CBN News: 'My Steps Are Sure': Miss Florida Talks Faith, Overcoming Bullying, and Living for a Higher Purpose | CBN News - 12/21/21
News From Illinois -
From Christianity Daily: Christians Protest Against Satanic Display Satanists Placed Beside Nativity Scene In Illinois Capitol - 12/23/21
News From Virginia -
From CBN News: Virginia's Attorney General-Elect Sets Sights on Loudoun County, Parent Rights | CBN News - 12/20/21
News From Wisconsin -
From The Epoch Times: Wisconsin Supreme Court Takes Up Challenge to COVID-19 Mask Orders - 12/25/21
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Recommended Resources - follow the links…
Excellent Election Education Resource: US 2020 Election Fraud at a Glance
Excellent Non-Partisan Election Resource: Election Integrity Project California
Excellent Citizen Comprehensive Resource: David Horowitz Freedom Center
Excellent Citizen Activist Resource: Precinct Strategy: Home
Excellent Christian Homeschool Resource:
https://ed-exit.com/
SIGN UP> Join with Students For Life: Sign the Moral Outcry Petition to have your name filed with the Supreme Court
SIGN UP> From The Heritage Foundation: Oppose Biden's Unlawful Vaccine Mandate!
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