I WISH

 

My Christmas wish for you and your family is that you find Jesus Christ in a way that you never have before.
That your hearts would be filled with the wonder and joy of knowing Jesus.
That for all of us, this night would be more than presents and food and family but that it would be the realization that without Christ, we are hopeless and lost. He makes all things possible.

My Christmas wish for you is that your hopes and dreams come in line with God's hopes and dreams for your life. That you, in this next year, would experience the joy of walking by God's Holy Spirit's leading.

My Christmas wish for you is that you would look outward and not inward. That your focus would shift to helping and giving away what God has so freely given to you. You don't need a program or an agenda or a church group. All you need is a heart that wants to give away. Find someone and do it. Simple as that. Give a meal or a ride or share your story with another. Look at the faces today as you walk about and ask God, "who do you want me to help?" 

Some of my most wonderful times have come in the most unusual places. Praying for people in Wal-mart. I remember being at Wal-mart some months ago and I was looking for some paint. I happened to step back and bumped into an elderly woman. "Excuse me, I 'm so sorry.....are you all right?" I asked. She laughed and said yes, but you could tell that she was not doing well. I asked again if she were all right and she began to tell me about her grandson and how he'd gotten into trouble with the law over drugs. I asked is I could pray for her and she said sure. When I started praying, she said, "you mean right here? right now?" I kind of laughed and said what better place and what better time. It wasn't a long prayer, just to the point. When I finished, she hugged my neck and said she never thought about God coming to Wal-mart but he had.
You don't have to be a theologian or a Bible master, you just have to be willing to go out on the limb and ask...."Hey can I pray for you."  The prayer doesn't have to be eloquent or wordy....Just from the heart. Try it .....you might find out that God really does show up at Wal-mart.

My Christmas wish for you is peace in your home.
If you don't have peace there, you don't have peace anywhere.
I pray that tonight would begin a time where Christ would rule over and in your home.
That those who come to visit would be be overtaken by divine peace and even comment on how wonderful your home feels.

I hope each of you is overwhelmed by Jesus today and tonight.
That the weight of God's glory would settle over you and you find the truth about yourself and this Jesus I have written about.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom and teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God"....................Colossians 3:15-16

Merry Christmas from the Bynum's
God on you.....

NEVER FORGET WHOSE CHURCH IT IS

 

Isn't it wonderful how the love of God is displayed in the photo above?
Don't you just feel the forgiveness and grace spilling out over the couple as they both express their view points. If you listen closely, you can hear them calling each other by cute pet names they've given each other. Loving titles such as "Heretic"...."Blasphemer"...
"Unbeliever". You know, and I know, that I may have exaggerated this photo a bit, but the truth is such view and behavior does take place within churches today.

Divisions come up....
Factions take sides....
Churches split and make more churches filled with wounded people from the battle that ensued during the split. All the while, those outside of church stand and watch this behavior played out for everyone to see. No wonder we can't get folks to join the church. Why would they want to? You may think I am talking a bunch of hyperbole. I don't think I am. I think one of the major tools the enemy uses to stop the advancement of God's kingdom (the dynamic rule and reign in our time and space) is to get the focus off of God and onto the structure and program we call the church. 

There is an unspoken ownership some have when it comes to church. They have invested themselves and their money into keeping the church afloat, there by buying them equity into any and all decisions made concerning the future (or lack there of) of the church. Never ever forget whose church it is. And the last time I checked, unless you personally hung on a cross and gave every ounce of your blood....then you really don't have a dog in this fight. It is the Risen, Glorified Jesus who claims ownership of the church. 
He isn't real interested in our denominations or movements, as much as He is our obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 16:15-18 is the credentials that Jesus has to claim ownership to any and all churches.  It reads as follows: 
He (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates (or government) of Hell shall not prevail against it."
Did you catch that?
The church Jesus will build is founded on the understanding that He is the anointed of God. He is the only begotten Son of the living God. As such, nothing that the devil and his minions can throw at Jesus' church will prevail. That is a scriptural view that translates into we win in the end. Game, set, match...over!

I've been reading a book on the history of revival in the United States, and the one thing that keeps coming up over and over is the way revival's were stopped. Dissension among the leaders and the people of different denominations and different churches. Fight's would break out and names would be called...over the silliest of issues. One revival that was breaking out in the north was cut short because there was a disagreement over the definition of "Sanctification". People were dying and going to hell because two groups could not agree on what this term meant. Other issues included a fight over who would preach first......types and styles of music to be used in the service.....and on and on. All the while, the devil stands in the shadows just laughing himself to death. "How easy these humans are to manipulate and get off track." 

For whatever reason, God has given me a simple theology. I guess because the people we have been called to minister to are in need of a simple message. Sin has warped and twisted us all.....God never intended for us to turn out this way, but Adam and Eve had a different take on things. Even with the mess that humanity made back in the garden, God sent Jesus to pay the sin/debt we owe. Because of His death and resurrection, the door has been opened for us to cross through and once again be able to have relationship with God.  Everything else beyond that is gravy to me.

So I have taken a cue from the Apostle Paul in defining my theology.
I Corinthians 2:2 - For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. In other words, everything begins and ends at the cross and what Jesus accomplished. End of story. Like I said, all the other stuff is gravy.

God on you...
michael b

WHO WERE THESE MEN?

 

We don't know their names....

Just a collective group of men doing a job....

A group of men outside the city on a hillside....

A group whose very lives reflected this truth of being "outside"...

They did not fit into the mold of being great men....

We don't even know their names.

Some may have had families......wives and children...

Others may have been single....

Being a shepherd was a lonely, hard job...

that usually gave birth to lonely, hard men...

We don't know their names....

Looking forward to the night....

they settled down for a meal and to share the warmth of

each others company and the fire in their midst.

Conversation of what might have been instead of what was....

We don't even know their names....

We not know their names....

but God did!

He specifically sent angelic messenger to them to announce

the birth of His Son, Jesus.

TO reinforce this announcement, the host of heaven (other angels)

joined in a collective praise to God
We don't even know their names.

The very first persons who knew of the culmination that would be the birth

of Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one...

Outside of Mary, Elizabeth and Zacharias and Joseph.....

were shepherds.

The very ones that were "outside" the city.

There was life in the city.

There was religion in the city.
There was culture in the city.

There was commerce in the city.
But God was outside with the Shepherds.

We don't even know their names.

I guess if I could take anything away from this story,

it would be that being on the inside does not always tie

you to God.

Sometimes, it is being on the outside...

the fringe....

that is where you find God.....

We don't even know their names.....

Merry Christmas!

mb

CHRISTMAS WAS NOT A HALLMARK MOMENT

 

Matthew 2:11
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him; gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Our brains and minds are forever etched with images such as the ones seen above in a Christmas scene.
Lambs....
Camels....
Wise men...
Shepherds...
Mary and Joseph...
And of course......the Baby Jesus.
Everything so neat and orderly.
So clean and pristine.
We want the perfect setting and the perfect arrangement of our own Christmas images.
Do you think maybe the place that Jesus was born in reeked of urine and dung?
Do you think maybe those involved in this divine play were unkempt and dirty from traveling?

I think that sometimes when our minds turn to Christmas, we want to portray this whole event in a way that doesn't remind us of why Jesus really was born.
He came to die....
Simple as that.
But His death would be unlike any other.
His would be a voluntary death, in obedience to His Father's plan for humanity.
His death would be a payment for a debt that mankind could never pay.
Sin, or the heart and mindset of living outside the will of God, demands a payment.
That payment is death......
But in this death, all connection with God is broken. The individual is forever in a state of separation from God. The place this occurs is referred to as hell. There are several different opinions as to what hell truly is...a place of torment and anguish. A place of eternal fire and misery.....it doesn't matter, because our finite minds cannot comprehend an eternity of pain, misery and, as the Bible puts it.....outer darkness where there is weeping, wailing and the gnashing of teeth. Sounds wonderful doesn't it.

Back to the Christmas card Jesus....
Strip away the everything from the story...
Shepherds...
Sheep...
Wise men and inn keepers....
The birth of Christ was a real event. It took place. There was such hatred among the political rulers of that day that when news of it reached the palace of Herod, he took action.
We love the Baby Jesus....
But at His birth, the forces of evil that rule behind the scene, took flight and mother's all across that region had their own infants and toddlers snatched from their arms.....
Snatched from their arms and put to the sword.
You see, the birth of this Son of God was so threatening to the kingdom of Satan that he would stop at nothing to see Him destroyed.
You won't see this on many Christmas cards, will you?
But it was all part of the story.
All part of the event we celebrate, as the Birth of Christ.

From the moment of His birth until Jesus cried out "It is finished" from the cross, He was surrounded by pain and suffering. Scripture says that "He has come to save that which was lost." To take back from the rule and bondage of the devil and his minions those souls which labor and suffer under the weight of sin.
For the wages, or that which you rightfully earn because of your work, is death.
Not just a physical dying....
We are all headed to that event.
But death becomes the final act on this side of eternity that cements every decision you make while you are alive. Once you die and make that transition to eternity itself, you have sealed your own personal fate by either receiving or rejecting Jesus' offer of eternal life.

So to me, Christmas is more than brightly lit trees....
And packages and gifts that are to be opened on Dec. 25th...
Christmas is the gift of real life from God to us.
Like all packages, you can only do one of two things...
Receive it....
Or
Reject it........
Which will you do?

Merry Christmas from the "B's" in Attalla.
God on you...
mb

TONIGHT'S CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE

 

Luke 2:25 / "Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon.........."

Tonight we will be hosting our annual candle light service @ The ReCovery Church. But tonight's service will be, to me, an unusual one. You see, every year I struggle with what to say......what approach to take.....Putting it down on paper so as to make sense of it all. Sometimes this struggle leads right up to a few days before the service before it is complete. This year was different.

Back in October Vicki and I were having our quiet time. I wasn't thinking about Christmas....it was no where on my radar. Out of the blue (or should I say Out of God's direction) came the word "Simeon". I knew who he was, and I even knew where the Scripture concerning him was located. I tried to dismiss the thought, but it would not go away. 

Finally turning to the Scripture, I read the passage in Luke chapter 2. It was as if I were seeing the words for the first time. They jumped up off the page, into my brain and dropped to my heart. I knew this was God that was speaking. I didn't know why it was happening at this time, but I knew it was God.

I think maybe God wants us to see something about this man, Simeon, that is important for our day and time. God wants us to understand that His Kingdom will and His Kingdom plans are not directed by the events that take place in our time and space. He is sovereign!!

So if you can, come out and be with us tonight at the ReCovery Church/  Service starts at 7. We are doing the social-distancing protocol, but that is not going to dampen or stop what God will do in the room tonight.

If you can't make it out, then join the live-stream of the service, as we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. You can catch it on THE RECOVERY CHURCH ON BROAD STREET Facebook page.

Mercy Christmas!! From the "B's" (Michael & Vicki) in Attalla.

CHRISTMAS PLUS

 

No matter what you may think during this time of year....
Christmas has a purpose....
It is a sign post...a day of remembrance....
A day to remember the birth of Jesus.....
"For unto you this day is born in the city of David a Savior, Christ the Lord."
But this day is only a directional arrow that points to something greater....
The cross.
A birth that would point to something greater.

Jesus was born to die.
That little baby, there in that stable in Bethlehem, was brought into this world to die.
But he was to die for a greater purpose.
He became the lamb that was offered up for me....and for you.
His blood was spilt on that rocky hill outside of Jerusalem to pay the price that the sin of the world demanded.
Every drop of that precious blood that flowed and fell to the ground was the key that opened to the door for you and me to have right relationship with God. We were reconciled on that day and salvation was brought to the forefront of humanity. No longer would the blood of sheep and goats and bulls and pigeons be needed. No longer would yearly trips to the Temple be needed to receive atonement for sin.
That baby boy, born in Bethlehem, was to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.
Hebrews 9:22 reads:
And according to the law, one may also say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The mention of a bloody Jesus....
Of crosses.....
Sacrifices......
Sin.....
is not very Vogue in some churches today....
This time of year, we may see Christmas pageant's and plays...
There will be live nativity scenes with men and animals....a woman and a baby....
There will be serenity and peace around such...
We will gaze upon them while singing "Away in a manger".....having warm and wonderful thoughts about that night long ago in Bethlehem....
But we must never forget that Jesus came to die.
It was for me....
It was for you that he mounted that cross and gave himself up to nail, hammer, whip and fist....
But the ultimate pain and agony came when the sin of the world was laid upon his shoulders.
There on that cross, Jesus' heavenly Father looked away from that scene.....
Hung between heaven and earth, Jesus was forsaken because of the sin that he bore.
God the Father poured out every bit of wrath to assuage the anger and hatred for sin....He poured it out on His only Son....That baby born in a stable, laid in a manger.....

But the story doesn't end there.
It only transition's....
Resurrection! Breaking the power of death, hell and the grave, Jesus stepped out of that tomb and ascended back to heaven.....
To sit at the right hand of His Father, as Lord and Savior.
Whenever I think of the baby Jesus, I can't help but get excited about who this child would become.
The very conqueror of Satan himself.
The power of sin IS broken.
Jesus is the POWER that we look for in this dark life of sin/addiction.
Praise God! This can be the first real Christmas for you if you don't know this Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Talk to Him....Just talk...
Confess (tell Him about) your sin.....
Do you feel that brokenness inside...that emptiness....?
Jesus is wanting to fill you up with His Spirit...
Ask Him to forgive you of your sin......
And believe that you are....Scripture says that "IF we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior...(Turn will and life over to Him)
If you do this.....
You have just received the greatest Christmas gift ever!
New life.....
Find you a Bible (One that you can understand) and begin reading in the gospel of John.
and get ready for a real Christmas!!!

God on you....
mb

SEEING CHRISTMAS IN A NEW WAY

 

Fifteen days out from Christmas....Doesn't seem to be as much hustle and bustle as in years pass. I've got several friends who are fighting the Covid monster, prayer over them for healing and restoration. 
This year seems a bit different, to which you may reply, "Well duh?" It's not because of the Covid thing...It's not because of the election battle over who gets to sit in the big chair. It's not even over the divide this country seems to have fallen into. What's different is that I have felt a sense of urgency to know Jesus even better than I ever have.

Is it preparation for some coming event? I don't know. Is it because of time running out until Jesus' return? Could be. But I have never been as focused on the event of the birth of Christ like I have been this season.

The manger....filled with fresh straw and a new born babe. Yet this babe is God in a way that you and I could see....understand...and relate to. He enters this world an innocent babe, and 33 years later leaves it as innocent as when He came. Maybe the message is that we are not to allow this world to taint us. Maybe we have been called to a life that seeks the ultimate Innocent One...Jesus. Called to a life that is more than church attendance and money-giving, but more of a life that follows the One that Jesus lived out before us.......the one we read about in the Gospels. We seek signs and wonders, and are blind to the greatest sign He ever gave us. What sign? To love!

What greater sign and wonder could you get than to love those that hate you? To care for those who seek your destruction. We exclaim, "But that is hard!" Of course it is. It isn't natural to our flesh. It isn't the example the world gives. The world gives love....but it is a selfish, dark love that only seeks its own good.

We see a bunch of shepherds moving through the alley's and streets of Bethlehem, searching for this baby that has been born. They were fresh from being surrounded by a heavenly chorus that declared this birth. I see them as those who "got up and went a lookin'". They could have stayed at their fire and talked about what had happened. It this had happened in out time, there would be t.v. appearances......book deals...........postings on the internet. In other words they would be celebrities (at least for 15 minutes before they became old news). Maybe that is the lesson!! Chase God and don't seek the approval of man. Don't advertise yourself and your experiences as if to lift yourself up to a spiritual super hero. I think somewhere we have been called to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

The wise men....we can't forget about them. Looking upward they saw the star. Don't know what got into them, but they left everything to travel. Left everything to find this babe and do one thing. Worship Him! Maybe I'm suppose to see the incredible value of worship. Not worship so I can get something in return, but worship simply because Christ is worthy of it. I mean think on what these wise men went through. A journey over mile and miles of unforgiving terrain, once arriving in Jerusalem, finding themselves involved in a heinous plot by the king to find and kill this babe. They eventually find the Christ child with His mother. They enter the house bearing gifts for Him....they fall down presenting their gifts, proclaiming this child the one that was foretold by the prophets. Then they get up and leave. All of this effort and expense to simply see, and worship Jesus. I think maybe I have a new perspective on what worship truly is. It is me giving to Jesus everything I have, including my time and my finances. I give Him my life, my family....everything. What Do I Get Back? HIM!!!

Ask God to show you Christmas in a different way this year. Don't let the world cover Christmas up with all the glitz and glamour that is fading and temporary. Find the manger...........find the Babe........Find the Shepherds and by all means....find the wise men. 

Merry Christmas from Michael and Vicki  a.k.a.  The "B's" in Attalla, Al.