Healing Rays of Righteousness

Today another “Ash Wednesday” begins the annual 40 days of “Lent” during which we are encouraged to give serious thought regarding our relationship with Jesus, as we  journey with him toward his death and resurrection on “Easter Sunday.” 

Two questions that will focus our self-reflections are; 1) In what ways has my love for God deepened and become more precious? and 2) In what ways have my attitudes and behaviors become more like Jesus? Sincere pondering of these questions will energize our efforts toward becoming a better Jesus-follower in our world of relationships.

“Take a deep breath and count to ten” was the advice that I gave to my children whenever they became upset or angry because of what was said or done to them. Unfortunately, I did not always follow my own advice and instead said or done things I later regretted.

But this may also be good advice as we review our relationship with God during the past months. I am reminded of this advice whenever I hear the words of Jesus recorded in John 20:21-23, “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”

This surprise visit by Jesus was more than just a friendly, neighborly visit to confirm His aliveness. It was a life-changing mission-sending visit, empowering His disciples to continue His mission of forgiveness and peacemaking in the world. In these few verses, I believe we are hearing Jesus say to his disciples and us, “I am sending you to be peacemakers, so take a deep breath of my Holy breath and receive my forgiving peace, which will enable you to embody the Father’s love and forgiveness for the world.”

Taking a deep breath of God’s forgiving, healing, energizing Spirit is advice that I think fits well into the purpose of Lent. For in taking a deep breath of God’s forgiving, healing, energizing Spirit, we will be encouraged, enabled, and energized toward a deepening love-relationship with God. And as we breathe God’s Spirit-breath, creativity is awakened, and his profound wisdom and love are empowered in us to do his will on earth as it is in heaven.

Yes, the days of Lent can be a painful time of repenting as we remember our stumbling and failures in being a Jesus-follower. But Jesus’ breathing on us his Spirit’s gift of forgiveness and empowerment, “Peace be with you,” removes all fear and anxiety that may be holding us hostage and invites us into a deepening love relationship with himself and others.

Jesus’ Spirit-breath of peace was to enable his disciples and us to embody and demonstrate the Father’s love and forgiveness for the world. And as he had told them and us earlier, their peace-mission will be known by their love for one another, “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.”  (John 13:34-35).

Edwin Hatch has written a prayer-hymn that is so appropriate for the days of Lent. It is titled “Breathe on Me, Breath of God.” I invite you to join me in making it our prayer during this season of Lent.

Breathe on me, breath of God. Fill me with life a-new that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God, until my heart is pure, until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God, till I am wholly thine, till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.

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Ray M Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13@wordpress.com – 3/05/25

Although the story is old, happening during the 18^th century, it does illustrate a biblical truth that we who claim to be Christian need to remember and live by. I say this because I often ponder how much it must grieve the heart of God to hear the heated voices of evil divisiveness in almost every religious and community gathering of today. And should it also not grieve our hearts? For, undoubtedly, it is the deadly viruses of stubborn pride, selfishness, and demonic lies that fuel this relational turbulence.

The earthly story:

A beautiful and famous monastery in central Europe had fallen on tough times. In earlier days, its many buildings were filled with young priests and monks, and its big church resounded with the singing of the chant, but now the buildings and church were mostly deserted and silent. Only a handful of monks shuffled through the buildings praying their prayers and praising their God with heavy hear

On the edge of the monastery grounds there were beautiful woodlands, in which an old Jewish rabbi had built a small hut. The rabbi would often come there to fast and pray. And whenever he appeared, the word would be passed from monk to monk, “The Rabbi walks in the woods.”

One day the Abbot, who was the head of the monastery, decided to visit the Rabbi and open up his heart to him regarding the bad conditions at the monastery and seek his advice.

The Rabbi welcomed him into his little hut. In the middle of the room was a wooden table with the Bible laying open upon it. The two men sat down at the table, looking at the Bible in prayerful meditation.

Finally, the Rabbi lifted his eyes and said, “You have come to ask a teaching of me. I will give you a teaching, but you can only repeat it once. After that no one must ever say it aloud again.”  The Rabbi looked straight at the Abbott and said, “The Messiah, the Christ, is among you.” 

For a while there was more silence, then the Rabbi said, “Now you must go.”  The Abbott left without saying another word or looking back, but his mind and spirit were filled with questioning wonder as he returned to the monastery, pondering the Rabbi’s teaching.

The next morning, he called all his monks together. He told them he had received a teaching from the rabbi “who walks in the woods.”  But the teaching is to be spoken only once and never again. Then looking at each of his fellow monks, he said, “The rabbi told me that the Messiah, the Christ is among you.”

The monks were very puzzled by this saying, and from that moment on, they continually pondered the rabbi’s teaching that the Messiah, the Christ, was among them as they lived, worshiped, and worked together as a community of monks.

As time went by a significant and visible change happened among the monks as they began believing that the Messiah, the Christ, was present among them. They began treating one another with incredibly special reverence. And soon, a new spirit of love and appreciation for each other, began to grow and shape their relationships as a community of young priests and monks.

The community outside the monastery soon became aware of this new spirit of love among the monks. People from near and far were coming to be nourished by the prayer life of the monastery community. The visitors were deeply moved by what they saw and heard. And to the delight of many, the big church once again resounded with the singing of the chant.

The heavenly truth:

Through the prophet Zechariah, God said, “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you, declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 2:10).

Jesus told the questioning Pharisees, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20b-21).

And Jesus promised his disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. …I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. … On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”  (John 14:16,18,20).

Yes, the Rabbi’s words were and are correct. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is among us and abides in each and all of us. And when we begin to fully understand this truth and its meaning for us, it will significantly reshape our lifestyle and relationship with others. This truth, when lived out in our churches and communities, will cause the presence of God and His Kingdom to gloriously unfold in our world.

Then we will joyfully proclaim with the psalmist, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! … For there, the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”  (Psalm 133:1,3b).

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 2/19/25

Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a day of expressing our love to another. Valentine’s Day is also an excellent day to be reminded that God sends us a most beautiful and glorious love message every day of our lives, and not just on one special day of the year. 

This most amazing love message is found in the fourth chapter of John’s first letter, which he wrote to instruct and encourage the early Christians.   In verse 8, John tells us that “God is love.” And these three little words get to the heart of what John believed about God’s character.  These three little words describe God as pure self-giving love and that he so greatly cares about you and me.

How do we know this to be true?  How can we be certain that “the love of God is greater far, than tongue or pen can ever tell”?  My friend, if you daily walk close with Jesus, you will know it to be true. 

Never has there been a more awesome display of LOVE than on Good Friday, when Jesus shouldered our sins upon himself and carried them to the cross.  And never has there been a more awesome display of the power of LOVE than on Easter morning, when God raised Christ from the dead and he emerged victorious from the tomb.

This is the reality that John points to when he writes in verse 9 that “This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him.”  And in verse 10 he adds, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

I fondly remember the bedtime ritual of our small children coming to me for a goodnight kiss. Each time I would say “I love you” and they would respond, “I love you, too, Daddy.”  This bedtime ritual later became our good-bye ritual as they became teenagers and young adults, and continues yet today.

I have no doubt that my children dearly love me.  But I can recall a time when love was not the issue. They needed Mom and Dad.  They were utterly and totally dependent on us.  Their love for us as their parents came later. Their ability to love was and is a “learned” emotion.  And their learning was in response to our enduring, sacrificial, parental love for them throughout their growing, maturing years. 

From the very first sight of our children, the first touch, the first sound of a cry, the first cradling, I was deeply in love with them.  I loved them simply because they were our children.  They did not earn it, and neither did they necessarily deserve it. Furthermore, they expected a lot from us as their mother and dad and were costly in both time and money.  But above and beyond any of that, they were our children.  And nothing they could ever do or become would stop us from loving them.        

Most importantly, while growing up in that steady environment of love, they began to love me and their mother as their parents.  And today, when they say “I love you” we know they speak from their heart, because we now are frequently the recipient of their many acts of love.

In verse 19, John says God’s parental relationship with us is like our relationship with our children.  We love (God) because he first loved us.”  And nothing we could ever do will stop God from loving us.

But there is something more.  As our children grew and matured, year after year, we modeled and encouraged certain expectations of them.  We desired that they would deeply love the Lord Jesus and others, being honest, fair, and kind in all their relationships, becoming like Jesus in every way.

And, it should not surprise us that as God’s children we too are greeted with expectations from our Heavenly Parent.  John believes that the implications of God’s amazing love is clear.  “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  (v.11).

If we are experiencing God’s atoning forgiveness and love through Christ, and if we are experiencing God’s love through the indwelling presence of the God’s Spirit, then God expects us to be loving others. “And he has given us this command; Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”  (v.21). There is no wiggle room in that commanded expectation from God.

Echoing the apostle John’s teaching letter, Mother Teresa urges us to “Spread love everywhere you go; first of all, in your own home.  Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor. … Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.”

SO BE IT, and may your Valentine’s Day be extra special with God’s love spilling over you!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 2/12/25

I invite you to open your bible to Colossians 3:12-17 and read Paul’s list of resolutions for those who claim to be God’s chosen people. I suggest this list of Christ-like virtues worthy of your serious resolve to be more Jesus-like in the coming months of this new year.

To better understand Paul’s thinking regarding these virtues, I offer my summary of the prior verses 1 through 11.  “Since you have been made alive in Christ, set your hearts and minds on things above, for your life is now with Christ in God.  Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature, the things you did in the life you once lived. Get rid of these things and put on the new self which is being renewed in the image of your Creator God.”

Having set the stage of past life-events, Paul shouts, “Therefore” to get our attention and addresses us as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.”  The Scriptures repeatedly affirm that this is really who we are, and how we live and what we do flows out of who we are. The Scriptures also teach that being and doing cannot be separated.

“Holy” has to do with our character, which shapes our attitudes and actions.  That’s why in the previous verses 5 through 9, Paul urges us to put away the sins that flow from our earthly nature. “Holy” also has to do with being set apart and dedicated for special purpose. As Creator of all things, God claims us and calls us to respond to his love. And when we do, we are made alive and given a new pattern and purpose for living in our world.

Both meanings of “holy” help to define our identity.  But most importantly, we are “dearly loved.”  I do not think there is anything more important than knowing that I am loved.   

Paul passionately believes this truth and shouts to us, “Therefore …”

Be Caring (vv.12-13)

“… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 

God’s royal garments are graceful, beautiful, and life changing. Each morning, God lovingly invites us into his dressing room to be clothed with garments from his priceless collection.

Compassion –    I will care about my world and do my best to bring it help.

                              I will be moved by your pain and seek to act on your behalf.

Kindness –          I will do useful things to improve your well-being.

Humility –           I will remember who I am in relation to God and other persons.

Gentleness –      I will exercise self-control because I am God-controlled.

Patience –           I will tolerate and bear unpleasant situations, unexpected hurts, and problems.

Forgive –             I will graciously forgive because God has forgiven me.

Be Loving (v.14)

The difference between a nice wardrobe and stylish look is the “tied-together” appearance of the accessories. Love is the garment that brings the parts of our character into a single whole. Love “binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Be At Peace (v.15)

Living with others in family, community, and church, can be difficult and stressful, causing us

to become arenas of conflict and competition. How can these feelings to be arbitrated and harmonized?

The literal meaning of the word “rule” comes from the athletic arena, and Paul is literally saying, “Let the peace of God be the umpire in your heart.”  Paul knew that only within the peace that Christ gives, are we motivated and empowered for having a good relationship with ourselves and with all others.

Be Thankful (v.16)

The body-life of the Christian congregation is described in this verse as teaching, admonishing, and gratefully singing together with all wisdom. The “word of Christ” is a synonym of his living presence within us. We are admonished to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.”  The Lord Christ wants to be “at home” in our hearts and worshipping community.

We are to be a grace-filled, grace-equipped, grace-celebrating people, in whom Christ dwells richly and through whom grace flows to the people around us. Yes, the church is to be the reality of God’s Kingdom today in our world.

Be Purposeful (v.17)

The name of Jesus Christ stands at the center of Christian living, and provides both our identity, “I am a Christian,” and our authority, “I do this in Jesus’ name.”  As a Christian acting in Jesus’ name, I need not cower nor bully, neither whine nor despair, in my conduct and conversations.

I believe being in Christ, filled with his Spirit, and committed to the above resolutions, will assure our being adequately prepared for the new year of 2025. And whatever the year may bring into your life, always remember you are chosen, holy, and dearly loved by God.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 01/22/25

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”  (Isa. 60:1-2).

The prophet/pastor, Isaiah, was writing to God’s people in a time of deep darkness and despair, most likely gloomier and more desperate than that in our present time.  The return trip to their homeland in Israel, after 70 years of exile in Babylon, was exceedingly difficult and disappointing. 

The back-to-back imperative verbs, “Arise, Shine” constitute a hope-filled “wake-up” call announcing the Lord’s new day, signified by his glorious light. This glorious light is evidenced in God’s majestic, redeeming presence and provision. This glorious light awakens and encourages their prophetic hope for a Messiah/Redeemer whose glorious light will overcome the deadly darkness of Godlessness and evil.

This promised glorious light links us forward to what the apostle John says about Jesus Christ, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  …The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. …The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:4-5,9,14). 

And it also links us to the story of the “Magi from the east” who were looking for a hopeful sign about the future and then seeing it, followed the brilliant light of a star to Bethlehem. The star that appeared in the nighttime sky led them to the place where the young child was with his mother Mary.

In that child, the Magi recognized that God had finally brought light and hope into the world’s darkness.  They believed this child was the beginning fulfillment of God’s promise of a whole new world called the Kingdom of heaven, “and they bowed down and worshipped him.” {Matthew 2:11).

Ponder this glorious truth and make it your personal reality. Because this sovereign, creator God so loved you and me, he clothes himself in human flesh and being born of a woman, comes down to earth as glorious and holy light incarnated in Jesus Christ. And it is this glorious light that “rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”

Unlike the people of Isaiah’s day, we have received more than a promise of light.  As John says, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.”  (Jn.1:14).  The promise is fulfilled.  We now live in the new reality of God’s Kingdom of light and glory shining on us in the here and now.

Should we not be more confident and enthusiastic regarding God’s presence and goodness to us as we daily pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt. 6:10)?

The glorious evidence of a living, loving God in our midst, is made visible over all the world with each sunrise, as people of every nation are inspired and mobilized by the Christ-like spirit of love and compassion to care for and help others in their need; that is, “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8). 

The remarkable truth is that this glorious light of Christ does much more than just make us feel good and confident.  This “Jesus” light changes our attitude toward the world and the people around us.  We see them, all of them, in a new light as human beings created, just like us, in the image and likeness of God, and who are dearly loved by God.

And yes, the glory of God’s new promised Kingdom shines brighter and brighter as the glory of the Lord overcomes and sweeps away the darkness of sin in persons and nations far and near to us.  The apostle Paul says it this way in his second letter to the Corinthians (3:18) – “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”          

HAPPY NEW YEAR – Rise and shine!  God has come down to us in Jesus. The true light of the world and our salvation is here! Let the glory of the Lord shine over you, in you, and through you!  Do not hide it under a bushel. Step into this new year with confident faith, believing Christ’s new kingdom of redeeming light, hope, love, peace, joy, and life has dawned upon us and is moving toward complete and glorious fulfillment as the glorious eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth.

“O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.” AMEN!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 01/01/25

Things were not going well for God’s people during prophet Isaiah’s lifetime, and many of his family and friends had become despondent and hopeless. This is why we hear Isaiah crying out to God for his help, to intervene, to come down and break into the sufferings and injustices they were experiencing and restore righteousness.

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”  (Isaiah 64:1-4).

Many of us feel that we are living in similar times of darkness and despair today and Isaiah’s crying out gives voice to our longings for God to show up in the world as he did in the past.

With heart and mind, we long for the transforming presence of God in our world, church, and families. We feel threatened by the evils of wars, violence, and injustices. We feel powerless against corrupted authorities and selfish leadership, politically touting their lies and conspiracies theories.

And many are weeping in anguish, thinking the Christian church is being swept away with disputes, divisions, and disregard for God and neighbors. With disappointments and fears, we cry out for God to come down to save and heal us as his “redeemed and empowered” church in the world.

The Christmas story is about God’s gift of a Savior, named Jesus, who brings the empowering gifts we need to save and heal us. The Christmas story tells us that from God’s eternal glorious heavens, he looked down upon us and heard our crying for help and hope. And because God so greatly loved us, God, in Jesus, left the glories of heaven and came down to earth and into our world to be with us. And by putting on human flesh and becoming fully one with us, God in Jesus, was born into our world to live and journey with us.

The eternal significance of this love-event was so amazing that God rolled back the heavens to make space for the angelic choir to burst forth in song announcing the birth of this Jesus, who wants to be our Savior, Messiah, Lord. And the grand good news is that the good gifts he brings to earth for all the peoples of the world are just what we need and desire, love, joy, peace, and hope.

Yes, God did come down in Jesus, and now lives and walks among us. What Isaiah and the other prophets could only hope for based on God’s prophetic word, we annually remember and joyously celebrate by retelling the story of his coming down to us and reopening his gifts of redeeming love. The world still trembles in awe and wonder at the miracle of that birth. God came down and through the infant Jesus said to the world and each one of us, “I dearly love you.”  

Yes, the world’s suffering and sobbing is loud and relentlessly fills our daily news. Even our personal world may be presently darkened with painful disappointments, griefs, and fears, making it difficult to join in singing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” But we know and believe that Jesus has come and journeys with us to encourage our full healing of mind, body, spirit, and to restore his joy in us.

Yes, there are wars, rumors of wars, and all kinds of violence swirling around us, but Jesus has come and lovingly moves among us to heal our angry divides and establish peace. And there are tragic losses of personal property, income, physical health, and deaths of loved ones, but Jesus has come and embraces us with his amazing peace and reassurance that he will never leave nor forsake us!

Yes, there are horrors, devastations, and tragedies playing out all over the world, but Jesus has come to move among us powerfully and patiently, to comfort and restore hope. Even though there continues to be much painful struggle and despair, we know that Jesus has come and walks with us to strengthen and encourage our hope.

Listen again to the angel’s Christmas message, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11).

May God’s good gifts of love, joy, peace, and hope,

be forever enjoyed in your life and mine!

“MERRY CHRISTMAS”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 12/18/24

I remember as a young teen-ager walking home from the neighbor’s house after darkness had settled across the field, railroad tracks, small stream, and meadow that separated our two houses. I remember how much less fearful I was when I could see the porch light of our house, and how relieved I was to have the darkness of the night give way to the bright lights of home.

I think of this experience whenever I read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and ponder the many difficulties that Mary experienced in giving birth to Jesus. It was difficult for Mary to walk anywhere in her hometown without hearing derogatory whispers and remarks about her pregnancy. Her joy of carrying the promised Christ child was many times tainted with the hurt of cynical neighbors. The pregnancy was not pleasant.

The trip to Bethlehem was imposed on them by the government authorities. And the timing of the mandated trip could not have been worse. Mary is heavy with child, making walking difficult and riding atop a donkey uncomfortable. For many hours and miles, she alternates between walking and riding, feeling every bump in the road, every misstep of the donkey as it was pulled along by Joseph. The journey to Bethlehem was not pleasant.

Mary and Joseph’s bodies ache with soreness and exhaustion when they enter Bethlehem. They must find a guest room to rest. But the only room available was with the innkeeper’s smelly animals. At least they could rest on the straw, and there was a manger that could be used as a protected place for the baby if it should be born that night. The night’s lodging place was neither comfortable nor pleasant.

Some weeks later the government authorities again interfered, causing Mary and Joseph the need to flee to Egypt with their baby until the nation’s ruler died. When Mary and Joseph left home in Nazareth they never planned for this trip into Egypt. Everything seemed to be happening contrary to the way Mary dreamed it would be. This intrusion into their family plans was neither easy nor pleasant.

From the moment of the angel’s announcement to Mary of Jesus’ birth and until the moment of his death at Calvary, life for Mary and Joseph took many unplanned, difficult, and painful turns. Nevertheless, they remained faithful in believing God’s promise to them and submitted to his plan for their lives as honored recipients and parents of God’s gift to the world.

During this past year, life has not been easy for many of us. There were unexpected bumps in the journey that have shaken us with confusion. There were twists and turns we did not expect. There were major detours that caused us much uncertainty, fear, and grievous losses. With so much confusion, pain, and darkness, we may find it difficult to find a reason or desire to celebrate Christmas.

However, I encourage you to hear the invitation of the Christmas carol, “And you, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow: Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing.” 

God enters our world and pierces the darkness of doubt and fear with the joy and peace of his light and presence. This is God’s Christmas gift to the world, to all of us.It is his answer to our brokenness. It confirms the prophetic voices that God wants to do something about our failures and fears, our pain and confusion; that he wants to forgive, heal, and restore us to wholeness.

Even as darkness and doubts may be clouding your thoughts and spirit this Christmas Day, hear the message of the heavenly angel, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Lk. 2:10-11). This is God’s gift to you and me. Let us receive, open, and gratefully treasure it now and throughout the coming new year.

Let us pray.     

“O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray, cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today! We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Immanuel.”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 12/4/24

How grateful are you for memories, both the joyous and the painful? What memories will fuel your expressions of gratitude on this “Thanks-giving” day? Why do you think God gifted us with memory? I suggest that God intends for memory to shape and deepen our relationship with himself, and to inspire in us a grateful response of praise and prayer.

From his memory and meditation, the psalmist, David, writes two songs of praise. In Psalm 103, he remembers God’s presence and provision of “forgiveness of sins” in human life. And in Psalm 104, he remembers God’s presence and provision of “order and harmony” in all creation.

For David, the gift of memory inspires his grateful praise to God. Even though David does not directly address God, he does pile up reasons that show God is most deserving of our praise and worship.

David begins his words of thanksgiving by addressing his “soul,” which is better understood as his “inmost being” – or the “all” of who a person is. It is the Hebrew way of addressing oneself. So, when we say, “Praise the Lord, my soul,” we are worshipping with our whole being, which means our physical actions and expressions are mirroring what is happening deep within us, revealing the depth and sincerity of our gratitude.

In these two psalms, David gratefully remembers and stacks up the many things God is doing and will continue doing for his soul. And so, David reminds us to praise God not only because of what God has done for us in the past but also because of how God will love us into the future. And as you read them, note that these memories are from both individual experiences and shared collective experiences.

Yes, the Bible frequently does call us to thank and praise God because of what he has done, continues to do, and will yet do for us. And often the word “remember” accompanies this counsel, suggesting that our worshipful praise will be minimal and lacking emotion, if we do not gratefully remember God’s many acts of goodness and mercy to us.

Such information leads me to believe that God gifted us with memory for the ultimate purpose of inspiring our praise to him and deepening our love relationship with himself.

It is easy to say, “Thank you, God” for the big things and significant events in our life, but do we also give God thanks for the little things in life. I suspect that many of us tend to take such for granted, expecting God to provide these daily necessities to us because he should do so as our Creator. We too easily forget that such an attitude and behavior will quickly hinder and diminish the fervor of our daily relationship with God, which he so greatly desires.

I agree with James Waltner who writes in his commentary on this psalm, “Forgetting and turning away from God begins when we no longer praise.”(Believer’s Church Bible Commentary). And, the apostle Paul encouraged the early Christian church, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

On the tombstone of her husband’s grave, a southern mountain woman had chiseled in rough and uneven letters this epitaph, “He always appreciated.” I hope that the same tribute can be said about me and you after our deaths.

On “Thanksgiving Day” let us join the Psalmist in remembering our blessings and expressing our thanks! “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits –

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – November 27, 2024

The same God who created time and worked in time, sending his Son in the fullness of time to rescue, redeem, and adopt us, as His children, will someday say with a trumpet shout, “There will be no more delay!” (Rev. 10:6), and earthly time is ended. But, more likely, before God’s final shout, ending time, he will whisper to you during one heartbeat moment, “Your time on earth is ended. Come home.”

That is why the apostle Paul writes, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2). And it is why Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Mt. 24:42).  And so, the passing of time, which we call aging, is not just for the elderly, but is an urgent reality for all of us, whatever our calendar age.

God created time and gives it to us human beings as a gracious gift, heartbeat by heartbeat. I like to think of time as being an individually designed package of life, which is gift-wrapped by God and sent to us, heartbeat by heartbeat. And, most importantly, what we do with this precious gift very directly shapes our future eternal destination in a world of either life, light, and love in God’s Kingdom or the opposite realities in Satan’s Kingdom.

For that reason the apostle Paul admonished the Ephesian Christians, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Eph. 5:15-17).

But sadly, when confronted by God’s Spirit with this truth, many respond with, “Lord, I understand what you are saying to me and what I need to do. And sometime, Lord, I will accept your invitation and become a Christian. Sometime, I will turn my life over to you, be baptized, and commit myself to being a Jesus follower. Yes, Lord, sometime I will get around to accepting your invitation. But right now, I am too busy enjoying all that is available to me in this world.”

And sadly, many a marriage relationship has crashed, causing immense pain and suffering to family and children, because a spouse, or both, have said, “Sometime soon, Lord, I am going to take my marriage vows seriously and work at building a love relationship that endures. Sometime I am going to be the dad or mother my children need me to be. Yes, Lord, sometime I will do that, but right now I am just too busy enhancing my career, trying to get ahead in this world, preparing for my family’s future.”

From my earlier years, I remember the story of a very popular musician by the name of Jim Croce. He wrote a song entitled, “Time in a Bottle,” in which he said he was going to put “time” in a bottle. He was going to put a cork in the bottle and bottle up “some time.” Then when he needed “some time” for his family, or with his friends, he could uncork the bottle and take “some time” out to enjoy life with them.

However, it was less than twelve months from the day he recorded the song that he was killed in a plane crash, and his bottle of “sometime” was smashed to pieces. The truth is that bottled “sometime” is seldom, if ever, used as was planned. Today is the time that God has given us. “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2).

Today is the only time we hold in our hands, as Bill and Gloria Gaither sing so beautifully; “We have this moment to hold in our hands, and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand. Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow may never come, but we have this moment today.”

Now is the time to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords! Now is the time to prepare for our future life in the timeless world of eternal love in God’s Kingdom. Now is the time to do what I want to accomplish before my time in this world of time is ended? Now is the time to be the person I want people to fondly remember me being?

My friend, now is the time to “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.” (Song by Helen Lemmel).

And, yes, Thanksgiving Day is a time to gratefully thank God for his gift of time.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 11/20/2024

The image of the Christian life being a walk is firmly rooted in the New Testament teachings.  The apostle Paul admonishes us to, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:1-2).

I hear the apostle saying that God’s “way of love” should directly motivate and frame my relationship with you, and is not dependent on whether or not you agree with me?  No! My relationship with you and all others should be rooted in full acceptance and respect, even though we may disagree on particular issues.

The reason so many friendships, churches, communities, and nations are severely fractured and in destructive disarray today, is because we do not acknowledge the biblical difference between agreement and acceptance.  Nor do we give heed to the many behavioral studies which show that much of our human anxieties are caused by an egocentric, neurotic need to have others agree with us.

We also are prone to ignore the fact that the dynamics of every healthy people grouping, whether it be church, community, or nation, includes lively disagreement.  The “loyal opposition” is needed to keep us from getting too comfortable with our human tendency toward selfish, narrow, and off-times marred visions. 

Furthermore, I believe that for anyone of us to presume others need us to correct their thinking or behavior, but that we do not need them to correct our thinking or behavior, is to assign to ourselves an omniscience that belongs only to Almighty God. 

Regretfully, many Christians have been misled by the King James Version of Amos 3:3, which asks, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  They understand the prophet to be saying that any disagreement is detrimental to healthy relationship and community and thus, “no agreement, no relationship.”  But that is not the meaning behind the original Hebrew.

The New International Version better clarifies the original meaning as follows; “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?  This more correctly suggests an agreement with neighbor to meet for a walk together.  It is a commitment to a planned and scheduled activity together.  In other words, I agree to walk with you because I accept and respect you regardless of our disagreements.

With his knowledge of the Scriptures and historical experience, Dietrich Bonhoffer warned that “He who can no longer listen to his brother will soon no longer be listening to God, either.”

To the Christians in Rome, Paul says, “Love must be sincere.” (Rom. 12:1).  And included in his list of loving behaviors is this admonition in verse 18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”   He then concludes with this word, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (v.21).

These voices, and the whole of the New Testament clearly tell us that the followers of Jesus will live a lifestyle built around GOD who is LOVE. Sacrificial, accepting, forgiving love, as seen in Jesus’ crucifixion death is to be at the core of our relationships with fellow believers, and should also shape our attitude and behavior towards all people at all times. As true followers of Jesus, this is our calling and mission.

For that reason, I am deeply troubled by what appears to be a serious drift by many who call themselves Christian, away from the biblical principles of “community by acceptance” and toward a more totalitarian view of “community by agreement” and its very low tolerance for disagreement.  It is a kind of mentality that fixes its eyes on another with a cold look and says, “If you don’t agree with us, get out.  Go somewhere else.  You don’t belong here.” 

O beloved church, we call ourselves Christian, so let us walk our talk.  Let us love, accept, and walk together with all people, respectfully listening to the “loyal opposition” toward seeking common ground and guidance in making a better world for all of us.  AMEN!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 11/6/24