Have you ever wanted to go to a party, but you werent invited? For whatever reason, your name was NOT on the list. Maybe you were just not part of the in crowd, or you were purposefully left off the list because a statement was being made to exclude you. Maybe you just werent on the social register of your time. When I lived in South Carolina, I learned about the blue-bloods on the social register who were defined by either living north or south of the drain which was there standard (socially or non socially elite based on wealth). When I started working in the music industry over three decades ago, you always wanted to be invited to the after parties or the film industry it was the academy awards. The only after party I ever went to that was probably the best was after the Academy Awards when a movie I loved had won, it was the Forest Gump party where yes, they served Bubba Gump Shrimp and there were lots of boxes of different chocolates. Going to the Inaugural Ball was the second biggest highlight to see the president and the vice president dancing with their wives. What an honor to be invited to good parties right? We all like pictures taken of cool parties and our smiles. So think about this, going from the smallest invitation to the greatest invitation is a treat, but now we usher in the greatest party of them all. It is the birth of a Savior and a star has appeared in the East. The kings began to follow the star, heads of state were trying to find out where it was going to happen because prophets wanted to go. The priests themselves were on a new level of excitement to try and find where this party was happening and in what high court. They all wanted to be part of the socially accepted, but none were invited, except...a group of stinky shepherds? The ONLY invitation came to a group of shepherds who were watching sheep...there must be a mistake. What is interesting was that these shepherds prepared the sacrificial sheep for the priests who used them in their rituals. The little lambs would be bound up in swaddling garments because they would be sacrificed. The shepherds were so unclean and smelled so bad to the priests and their handlers, they were never even allowed to be near the priests, much less the Holy of Holies and were obviously excluded from the ceremonies. The lambs were bound up so they would not kick the priests and laid in mangers in preparation before they were to be slaughtered for the cause of washing people from their sins. Can you imagine this picture? Just think about the foreshadowing of the mangers to this group.... Now, the time had come for the real party of Gods son being welcomed into the world in the form of a child...and only the shepherds were engaged by the heavenly angels inviting them to watch for themselves and see a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger. Can you imagine what they thought...of a small lamb who would one day be sacrificed for the sins of the world. However, this was no little lamb, but a very tiny beautiful baby. Here before them, crying or even smiling in the manger back at them with eyes of joy. The most unclean of all people gathered to worship, invited by God Himself and at the top of the guest list were them. We Were Soldiers are the shepherds. You are this important to God. You see, its you He sent His son to come into this world and it doesnt matter which day, which evening, which exact time frame it happened, the bottom line...this party was for us. This birth of the Christ child was for those of us who know we are unclean, we smell bad and we are not worthy to be in the room. For every party I never was invited to and every step I have always wished I could be someplace where I wasnt, I thank the Lord for asking me to come to come as a shepherd to this manger and see a child whom God loved and called His son. I am in awe of the love He has for me and for you. I am blown away by His grace and His mercy extended to me when I never deserved it. THE MOST IMPORTANT PRAYER YOU WILL EVER PRAY Father, forgive me as an unclean man for every sin in my life. I ask that you remove my dirtiness from me. Im sorry for all the times I did not act or behave in the way I should have. Thank you for removing all of the bad things in my life by the cleansing of what you did for me so long ago. I commit a new my life to you on this Christmas 2014 and I accept your very real and personal invitation to the party. You know something... There is a feeling that happens in me when I pray this prayer as I did this morning... that simple prayer of faith. I pray it a lot. Each and every day, I have to die to myself and transfer my missing the mark mistakes to His side. I am so very far from where God wants me to be, in every way. The power of having a dialogue with God has changed my life. The strength from the Bible brings me to my knees and the joy of my celebration causes me to want to worship. There is a song, I Know My Redeemer Lives and it is one of the greatest songs I have ever heard where David Mullen produced and Nicole Mullen sang it which challenges me. The second song is Mark Lowrys beautiful song, Mary Did You Know that arrests my heart. This Christmas, I will remember Denise Behymer singing O Holy Night and thank the Lord for this party each of us are invited to come attend. Merry Christmas to you dear friends. This has been an incredible time to share with you the joy of Christmas. If you are alone tonight, please email me. Allow our family to call you. If you need a place, a meal or anything would you write me. You can come over. In Christ, we are a community and you are not alone, ever. You have a spiritual family. Find a church tonight, go where people are singing about this party in this manger. I love you all and am thankful for our Veritas 300. You still have time to join our prayer team. Write us at info@veritasmissionfilms today. Come to us lowly shepherds as our shepherd family is gathering at the table, the angels are inviting you... once again. God bless you, every one.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 13:52:04 +0000
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