Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

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There is no light in heaven for the Lamb is the Light!
There is no light in heaven for the Lamb is the Light!

They call me the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved…. Well, actually, I’m the only one who called me that. But, oh, how I loved our Jesus, our Messiah. It’s been decades since we watched Him ascend into the Heavens. But that hasn’t stopped followers from following. There are communities of faith throughout the region. From Rome to Babylon. Sadly, I believe I’m the only one of the 12 left. All the others were martyred for our faith in Jesus. Some days, because of the pain of this island prison, I think I’d rather be dead, as well.

You see, I’m exiled on this lonely, desolate isle called Patmos.  There is not another soul in my life who loves the Master or follows the Way. I, too, have been cast out by the authorities for proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Light of the World. He loved us so. There are days when I am so consumed by His great love that I can hardly move. I remember those final hours like they were yesterday.  The way the crowd jeered. The beatings and lashings. The public humiliation. The pain when He cried out from the cross. And the final exclamation, a weary, “It is finished.”

We were all stunned to think that a man would lay down his life for us like that… oh, how He loved us! But He was not merely a man, He was and is our Lord and our King!

My name is John. And the other day when I was praying and fully enveloped by the Holy Spirit I saw a vision… well, many visions, actually. And Jesus was in the midst of them. And He told me to write it all down. Messages of the future, the end of the earth as we know it. Challenges to churches. And a picture of the glory of eternity.

I saw Heaven in this dream. Oh, it is a beautiful place. The streets are paved with glistening gold. There is a river that flows through it; it sparkles like crystals. The gates never close for there is nothing to keep out.  There is no evil here. There are no tears, no sorrow, no pain. And there is no darkness in Heaven, for the King, Jesus… He is the Light! And He sits on the throne in the center of Heaven. And from the throne there are flashes of lightning, and peals of thunder. And all around the throne I saw leaders, the elders, each one themselves worthy of commendation. But each one bowing low before Jesus. And day and after day, they worship the great King! They say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty. Who was, and is, and is to come again.”

And in my vision, I finally understand the answer to the question: “Why, why did Jesus have to die?” You see, many years ago, on that hill called Golgotha, all I understood was that He loved me. And in God’s grand plan of eternity, Jesus had to die for me. But in my vision, it all became crystal clear. He, Jesus, is the Passover Lamb, the final and ultimate sacrifice. As the Baptizer said: “He’s the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

Ever since the Garden of Eden — when God slaughtered an animal to give its skin to clothe Adam and Eve, to surround them with love and to restore them — God has required blood, shed on behalf of each of us, for the forgiveness of our sins and for our salvation. In the days of Abraham and Moses, it was the blood of bulls and rams. And every year people had to offer God many animals to cover their many sins. But Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice. It was His blood that was shed. And He became the Passover Lamb, slain and sacrificed. No lamb or bull ever volunteered for that assignment.

His love for me was so great… He voluntarily laid His life down for me! For you. Jesus had to be the Passover Lamb, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. Jesus, fully human, fully God, was the only solution to be the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

And the compassion He showed to others? The world could not hold a library full of books detailing His great actions and love for the people we met together.

And God rewarded Him. We saw Jesus alive in this world after the resurrection… and I know for certain that He lives in Heaven and sits on the Throne for all eternity!

In my vision, He once again said: “It is finished. It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” On the cross He cried out, “I am thirsty.” And now, in the glory of eternity, Jesus is the one who says: “To the thirsty I will give water from the spring of the fountain of life! Come and drink!”

He has shown me the New Jerusalem. And three times He told me that He is coming back… He is coming soon!

And to that, I say: YES! Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus, come!

 

Some of the words, and perhaps thoughts, of the Apostle John, the writer of Revelation and the one whom Jesus loved.

 

(2015) Rich Ronald

The Secret to Success?

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The secret to success? Meditate. Study. Read. The Word of God.
The secret to success? Meditate. Study. Read. The Word of God.

When I was in high school, a speaker at a conference I attended asked, “Do you want to be successful? I know the secret to guarantee your success!”

Like many teens at that stage of life I had one foot that was finishing 12 years of education and my second foot in the “almost-an-adult” world of college. I had plans. I had dreams. I had a career picked out and I couldn’t wait to get there. So of course, the speaker’s question piqued my interest.

He then began to unveil this great mystery by reading a passage of Joshua, from the Bible. The words of the LORD to the new, young captain of the army of God.

“No one will be able to defeat you all your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forget you. Joshua, be strong and brave! You must lead these people so they can take the land that I promised their fathers I would give them.  Be strong and brave. Be sure to obey all the teachings my servant Moses gave you. If you follow them exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. Always remember what is written in the Book of the Teachings. Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything.” Joshua 1:5-8 (NCV)

Remember. Follow. Study. Obey. If you follow, if you do this, you will be successful.

What a great promise from God!

Another version says to “meditate” on God’s word. It can mean to pour yourself into it night and day. Listen to the wisdom in the Bible.  And then, follow it. This week our pastor told us the Greek word for meditate is “logizomai.” The root of the English word “logic.” He suggested that when we meditate on God’s word, we are thinking clearly, logically, about what it means to us. And it’s the stongest way to fend off anxiety.

Whenever I have found myself in seasons of challenge, times of confusion or wonder, I go back to the Bible to study and hear first-hand what God’s instructions are. I’m a verbal processor, so not only do I read it and think about it, I will often read it out loud to myself so that I can fully grasp it.  I may even write the words down in a journal or write out what I perceive God wants me to know about Him through those words. Then, with the Holy Spirit as my guide and the One who gives boldness and courage, I do my best to follow. And God has granted success every time!

Have there been times of trial? Absolutely. For example, I’ve had 22 jobs in the last 34 years. But God has been faithful to me through it all. Why? By His grace I believe it’s because I have done my best to be a student of His word. To read it. To learn it. To teach it. To model it. To meditate on it day and night. I’m so thankful for His promises and the truth that is revealed on page after page of the Text.

It brings comfort. It brings wisdom. It brings understanding.

Have I lived a “successful” life? In the world’s eyes, probably not. My bank account is not overflowing. I don’t live in luxury.

But in God’s eyes? The eyes that matter most to me? Yes, absolutely. I am successful because I am walking every day under His umbrella of true grace, true forgiveness and true joy!

And that’s a secret He calls me, and all of us, to share with the world.

(c) 2015 Rich Ronald

“Nothing is impossible with God”

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GodSaves

 

From the Journal of Miriam (Mary), the mother of Jesus:

I’ll never forget that night. It wasn’t all that long ago. Ah, the little boy is growing up. Just turned two at his last birthday.

So, that night… Jacob, oh my, had been running crazy. We had to get to Bethlehem for the Census. His family is from this region. The four day journey on that donkey? Yes, of course, I grumbled and complained almost non-stop.  I told him we couldn’t go to Bethlehem for the baby was due any day.  He told me we had to do what the law required. And so, we went. Dear sweet Jacob. We looked all over town for a suitable place. And at each door we knocked, the pain only intensified.  The contractions were closer and closer. The hour was later and later. Jacob was at his wit’s end. “Oih vey, it wasn’t supposed to be this way,” he said over and over mostly to no one in particular.  And when he finally found me a place, it was really not a suitable place at all. Of course, I told him it would be fine, but inside my head I kept thinking, “No, no, no! This is not what we had planned.” The air was damp. There was a cow and her nursing calf less than ten feet away!  The place smelled! All we had was a single candle, we could hardly see.

The agony of the labor. The challenges of the delivery. I had no mid-wife. Unless you consider Jacob. But he was venturing into places few husbands ever go. This was the hardest thing I have ever done! And yes, there was much pain, and much blood. And even though Jacob held my hand, I felt very much alone. But all of that changed in an instant.  When that little child was born… it was all so worth it! It was amazing. You wouldn’t believe the little glint in his eyes or the turned up smiled of his pursed lips.

Oh dear Yahweh! I kept thinking, “How am I going to be able to be the mother to this child, Your son? He’s so perfect. And we are so not perfect. I mean, look at this place where he was born. Such an awful, smelly place!  And we are so ordinary people. We are obviously not wealthy. Where was I to put him to rest? In the cow’s manger, the feed trough? Really?”  I wrapped him in the only cloths we had and laid him down and he went fast asleep. Jacob said we are to give the boy the name Yeshua, “Yahweh saves.”

Some shepherds came to visit us. Who knows how they found us? I’m reminded of the prophet Micah who said that Messiah will come from Bethlehem and will shepherd his flock in the strength of Yahweh.

Even now, I wonder how Yahweh will use this sweet child? Will He be a mighty warrior like David?

This has been such an amazing experience! I continued to ponder and treasure every moment as I watched him rest that night in that unlikely crib.  “Impossible,” I thought. But then I remembered the words of the angel nine months prior – the message of the manger: “Nothing is impossible with God.”

 

(c) 2014. Rich Ronald.

The Madman of the Decapolis

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The view from the Tombs. Sunset on the Sea of Galilee. Photo taken by the author, June 2013.

My name is Kyros. My family is from the Decapolis. My father is a teacher. My brother is a soldier. I was studying to be a teacher as well. Our family is close. We enjoyed good times together. Rome has treated us well. Some of the publicans have asked my father to enter politics. He would be good at that.

My story is simple, really. And, yet, for some reason, many in our region say it is extraordinary. I was a typical kid growing up. Studied hard. Played hard. I guess the turning point in my story starts on a night a few years ago. I was 18 and desired to prove my manliness. One night some of my friends and I hired a slave girl. It was innocent fun at first. But something about it was controlling… even though it was out of control. That first night led to night after night… you know that Rome is known for such wild parties.  It really consumed me… every day I’d make plans for the night….

And then the guilt came… it ripped me up inside, but I tried not to let others see that side of me.  Soon the behavior was controlling me… and the guilt was consuming… something I just could not handle. I would easily fly into fits of rage. My friend Lychas tried to help, but I would tell him to “Shut Up!” and I often followed the verbal abuse with a punch or two.  Then I would feel guilty and ask him to forgive me. Which he would… but then I would engage in more immoral behavior… and feel guilty all over again.

I moved to the tombs.  I found solace in just being alone… and cutting myself. I thought if I punished myself it would make the guilt go away. But it only made things worse. One day Lychas came to visit and this supernatural power came over me. I threw a large bolder at him and almost killed him. My best friend. He brought ten men with him the next time and they chained me up for my own good.  As soon as they left, again this power came over me and I broke the chains and then engaged in more immoral behavior.  I was a mess. Something was inside of me.  No, many things were inside of me. They controlled my feelings. They controlled my thoughts. Yes, they even controlled my actions. I could never get free. My only freedom was found in continuing to fly into fits of rage and hurting myself.

How did I get like this? It drove me mad. Why I was once a decent citizen of the Decapolis. My family was respectable… I was planning to be a teacher, like my dad.  Now, I was Crazy Kyros, the naked mad man of the tombs.

One day, there was this terrible raging storm on the Sea. I loved it! I shouted to the lightening to strike me and it did! And I was filled with power and rage. But then suddenly, in an instant, it got calm… and I saw this small little fishing boat breaking through the mist of what was left of the storm… it came up on shore. There were maybe 8 or 10 people in it.  A man got out and walked right up the hill to see me at the tombs. He asked me my name and the demons in me told him my name was Legions, not Kyros, for there were many of them living inside of me. With compassion in his eyes I had never seen, he commanded the tormentors living inside me to leave. I spoke, but it was not me, nor my voice. “Can we go into those pigs?” There were 2,000 pigs grazing in the fields around the tombs. The man said “yes” and before I knew it I collapsed to the ground and I heard the pigs stampeding over me and over the cliff and drowning in the sea.

I was physically spent, but not sure why. He sat down next to me. He ran his hand through my hair and touched my shoulder. I still cannot put words together to describe the sudden peace I felt. I had no immoral desires any longer. There was no need to hurt myself. There was no rage. There was only peace. I washed myself for the first time in months. He gave me clothes to put on.

Somehow, word spread to town… I think it was the pig shepherds… people came to see me and were very confused. I just felt peaceful.  As he climbed back into the boat, the man told me his name was Yeshua… Jesus. I begged him to let me go with him. But he told me to return to my family and tell them my story.

I did. My first stop was the home of Lychas. He couldn’t believe it was me. Then we ran to my parents’ home. My father also was full of disbelief.  But when my mother entered the room and her eyes caught mine, she smiled and shouted and cried and jumped up and down all at the same time. I told them all about Jesus.

Together, every day now, we start our day by praising the God of Israel. I cannot fully express my thanksgiving to the one I now call Master.

It’s been a year since that day and we have heard that he’s coming back to our town next week. The people are already preparing for his visit. They want to bring the lame and the deaf and the sick to him. I’m sure he will set them all free… just like he did for me.

My interpretation of the story in Mark 5.
(c) 2013. Rich Ronald.

Pray for my enemies? Are you kidding me?

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Keep Calm and Love Your Enemies
Keep Calm and Love Your Enemies

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Romans 12.  Look at the very last verse of this chapter:

Verse 21:  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Message says:  Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

This is the summary statement in a chapter full of actions that Paul encourages us to take as part of a life of transformed into Godly discipline.  Some are easy. Verse 13: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” I can do that. Verse 15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice.”  Yep! That’s a piece of cake.  “Mourn with those who mourn.” Yes, I can come along side someone and share their grief.

But what about the verse in between those two? Verse 14: “Bless your enemies. No cursing under your breath.”

Bless those who persecute me? Are you kidding me? I have had some people really treat me badly. We all have. And the text says to bless them? And if that isn’t enough, we can’t even grumble about them under our breath. No, we are to be pure in heart towards them.

Paul is actually mirroring words spoken by our Master. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus says: “Love your enemies. Bless those that curse you.” (Matthew 5)

Look at how The Message translates Matthew 5:43-48: “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.”

Then look how Jesus sums up this thought: “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

So, when we pray for our enemies, and those who have messed up our lives, Jesus says it causes us to grow up… to mature in the faith.  I think what it says is this: “I’m gonna let God deal with this person, because if it were up to me and my self-centered spirit, I would want to make their life miserable.”  What happens when your enemy finds out you’re trying to bless them? Many times, they drop their affront, don’t they? It changes their heart. But more importantly, it changes our heart as well.

There have been people in my life who have really offended me and I carried around the angst of that offense for years. It caused bitterness and a cancer-like growth of ugliness to take root in my heart. It would cause the hair on the back of my neck to stand up and my heart to beat faster when anyone mentioned their name. And the thing is, they had moved on. Forgotten about it. Never bothered them in the least.

So, as a lesson in living a transformed life, I can say with confidence that I have moved on as well. It is not easy. But it is a choice I can make. With God’s Holy Spirit in me and comforting me along the path, and my taking increasingly greater steps of prayer for them, I am “growing up” and maturing in the faith as Jesus encouraged.

May I encourage you to meditate on those who may have offended you, and offer a prayer for them. I know it may not be easy. As God works in His divine ways, it will actually be a blessing to you.

P.S.  And if that person was me, please forgive me.

(C) 2013. Rich Ronald.

Putting God First in 2013.

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May you be able to put God first in 2013 so that everything will fall into order.
May you be able to put God first in 2013 so that everything will fall into order.

So we are already a week into the New Year and I’m finally putting thought into what 2013 looks like. Can it be the best year to-date? Well, I’ve lived some pretty awesome years, but, yeah, why can’t we start the next turn around the sun with the thought that this will be the best one?

We were challenged this past weekend by visiting Pastor Robert Morris that if you want to live “The Blessed Life” you need to put God first. It’s pretty easy when you are in a full-time ministry to say that putting God first comes naturally. But does it really? Can I make God the top of every single list?

What I read. What I watch.

What I write. What I think.

What I do for exercise – body, mind and spirit.

How I love my wife?  What are my motivations for my children?

How I manage my time?

Can 2013 truly be a year above all the rest?

Robert Morris says “When God is first in your life everything falls in order.”

Order.  That would be nice. No more clutter. No more hunting around for files, phones, keys, shoes or… vision.  Putting God first. Seems simple enough.

And because His Holy Spirit is in me, it IS possible. No, it will not be simple, because my flesh gets in the way, you know?

One of my favorite verses about putting God first is found in John 3:30. From the mouth of John, the Baptizer: “He must increase. I must decrease.” If there be but one prayer for the New Year, I will echo John’s words. “More of Jesus. Less of me.”

Will you join me in putting God first in your life this year? Truly putting Him first? You will be blessed beyond measure when you do.  And then you can truly be a blessing to all the people  God puts in your life.

(c) 2013. Rich Ronald.

From the dust of the manger… to our heart.

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Available at amazon.com in paperback or Kindle.

Christmas Day is one week away… wow! Where does the time go? Wasn’t it just spring break? Or summer vacation?

In the midst of all that is wrong in the world today, as we think about the Christmas story, the one thing that we might perceive to have been wrong, was actually right. Yes, it was right for Mary to place Jesus in a manger.

From Chapter Five of Be Born in Me:

While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough.[1]

She placed Him in a feed trough.  In the Ancient Days most feed troughs in caves were merely hollowed out logs or rocks sitting on the ground.  You can’t get much lower than that.  Jesus, God in the flesh. God who sits on the highest throne in the highest Heaven, squeezed Himself into a human form. And if that wasn’t low enough, He was then placed mere inches above the dirt and manure that was in that animal cave.  Why would God do that?  Send His son.  To the lowest possible place on earth?!  To a feed trough?

Think about the trough being in the dirt and mud on the cave floor. Like Adam from the Garden of Eden, we all began our lives in the dust of the earth and Jesus knows that we all have dirt and mud in our lives.  That’s where we need Him most!

“Jesus, be born in me!” 

The apostle Paul also notes that Jesus gave up His place with God in heaven and made Himself nothing (Philippians 2).  Why? Simply because He loves us.

He loves you. He really does. Even though you may be a little dirty. Even though you may be a lot muddy.  It doesn’t matter to Him… He has been there too.

Isn’t that incredible!?! God in the flesh has been where you are… only His love can pull you out of the pit you are in. He is uniquely qualified to be our Savior. He knows how messy our lives are… and it doesn’t stop Him from reaching out His loving arms to lift us up.

May I encourage you to make this prayer, your prayer: “Jesus. Be born in me!”

Be Born in Me is divided into five sections and includes discussion questions so you can use in a weekly small group, family devotional or class setting.

Here’s the link to the amazon web site: http://amzn.to/SNOkND.
And here’s the link to the Kindle site: http://amzn.to/RI7ODe.
(c) 2012. Rich Ronald.

[1] Luke 2:6-7 (NCV)

 

“Somehow I believe that You chose me.”

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Available at amazon.com in paperback or Kindle.

This is the second week in Advent, a time to celebrate Christmas for a whole month, not just a single day. How are you doing at preparing your heart for the season?

From Chapter Three of Be Born in Me:

God chose Mary for an incredible assignment, didn’t He?  Think about it, this is the biggest assignment of anyone in the Bible!  You think your wife fussed about what to eat and what to do when she was pregnant?  Mary is carrying God’s Son. No pressure there!  Can you imagine what she thought about having to climb up on the back of a donkey and travel for four days to the city of David?  Can you hear her in the cold of the night?  “Joseph, sorry I can’t do that, I AM carrying the Son of God here, you know!”

Looking again at Luke 1 we see that the angel, Gabriel, has told Mary that she has been chosen. Mary asks, “How?” The angel replies,  “Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.” [1]

Do you know that you have been chosen by God for an assignment today and everyday? How does that make you feel? For some, it is overwhelming. For others it is exciting. For me it is humbling.  Humbling, because most days I feel completely inept at doing something for our great (announcer voice here) GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.

But that is the point, isn’t it? For the greatest impact, God uses the everyday person to reach the everyday person. You don’t have to have a Bible degree or years of ministry training. You can grab a cup of coffee and walk to the end of the driveway and share His story with your next door neighbor.  You can sit on the floor with a bunch of preschool students and sing simple songs. You can offer a hug to an elderly woman in a nursing home wheelchair.

He has chosen you to carry His message and His love to those around you. And there is no better time to do so than at Christmas. People in our culture are open to hearing about Jesus, and talking about spiritual things, more so during December than any other time of the year. So may He give you the heart of Mary to bring His joy to your world this Advent.

And be encouraged to know that He has chosen you to do so.

Be Born in Me is divided into five sections and includes discussion questions so you can use in a weekly small group, family devotional or class setting.
Here’s the link to the amazon web site: http://amzn.to/SNOkND.
And here’s the link to the Kindle site: http://amzn.to/RI7ODe.
(c) 2012. Rich Ronald.

[1] Luke 1:37 (The Message)

 

“Help me see with Heaven’s eyes…”

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Available at amazon.com in paperback or Kindle

Advent starts this weekend.  Like the onset of a new season or the New Year, it is a beginning. A time to prepare our hearts for celebrating the birth of the Messiah. It is a time to renew who we are as children of God. A time which allows us to truly celebrate Christmas for four weeks, rather than just a single day.

It is a time to cry out to God with the same prayer as Mary, the mother of Jesus: “Be Born in Me.”

It is every Believer’s cry from the depth of our heart as we ask Jesus to take over our lives.  We need Jesus to be born in us, fully and completely.

This new little book is designed to help you celebrate the joy of Christmas by looking back from Mary’s perspective.  It takes you into the times and culture of her day.

From Chapter Two of the book:

Francesca Battistelli recorded the song: Be Born in Me.  In the first verse there is a lyric that says “Somehow help me see with Heaven’s eyes.” What does this mean?

For starters, it means seeing the potential and possibilities of someone, who the world sees and rejects, with God’s eyes. It means seeing the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40) and accepting them. God sees and accepts everyone who comes to Him, no matter our story. Harlot. Beggar. Murderer.  Adulterer. Thief. Pharisee. Sinner. You. Me.  Once we’ve bowed our knee to Jesus, God sees us from Jesus’ point of view. All redeemed. All restored. He sees us the way He created us, like a new born baby, fresh, like a new day with no mistakes in it.

May I encourage you as you go through the day today to look around and ponder what you see. The crowded shopping malls. The crazy traffic. The homeless on the corner. The eyes of hope at your dinner table.  Can you see as God does?

Yes. When He is born in you.

The booklet is divided into five sections and includes discussion questions so you can use in a weekly small group, family devotional or class setting.

Here’s the link to the amazon web site: http://amzn.to/SNOkND.

And here’s the link to the Kindle site: http://amzn.to/RI7ODe.

(c) 2012. Rich Ronald.

New Book for Advent (my first!): Be Born in Me.

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Available at amazon.com in paperback or Kindle

A little more than a year ago, the worship planning team at Oak Hills Church began planning our Advent season. Worship Minister Jeff Nelson recommended a theme around the song, Be Born in Me (Mary). It was written by Bernie Herms and Nichole Nordeman and beautifully recorded by Francesca Battistelli. It is on the album Music Inspired by The Story from Word Entertainment.

I admit, I was hesistant at first.  “We’re going to preach a song for Advent?” But the more I meditated on the words, the more I let the Holy Spirit work in my heart, the more enthused I became.

Each week the ministers at OHC’s five campuses would unpack a certain line from the song.  I had the honor of preaching all four weeks at the North Central Campus.

This booklet is essentially that sermon series.

Have you ever prayed the prayer: “Be Born in Me!”?

It is every Believer’s cry from the depth of our heart as we ask Jesus to take over our lives.  We need Jesus to be born in us, fully and completely.

From the Preface of the book:

Can you see her? The angel Gabriel had just left this young teenage girl with the news that in today’s language is an announcement that would “rock her world.”  She would become pregnant. The Biblical text says she was “confused” [1] or “shaken.” [2] She was engaged to a man named Joseph, of the lineage of the Tribe of David. She had a deeply devout faith and had found favor with Adonai. 

We can imagine in the moments after the angel’s ascension that she is standing alone, dazed and numb. She looks to the heavens and offers a prayer, a song. She completely gives herself to the Father in heaven and cries “Be Born in Me.”

Let’s take a close up look at four lines from the song, four prayers.  They were cries from Mary’s heart.  Can they be ours?
  1. Be born in me.
  2. Somehow help me see with Heaven’s eyes.
  3. Trembling heart, somehow I believe that You chose me.
  4. Make my heart your Bethlehem.

My prayer for you this coming Christmas season… that you will be able to embrace these prayers and believe all that they capture. May you let Jesus be born in you!

With great joy,

-rich

The booklet is divided into five sections and includes discussion questions so you can use in a weekly small group, family devotional or class setting.

Here’s the link to the amazon web site: http://amzn.to/SNOkND.

And here’s the link to the Kindle site: http://amzn.to/RI7ODe.

[1] Luke 1:29, CEV.

[2] Luke 1:29, The Message.