Each week Lou Lamothe shares his thoughts on various passages of Scripture. Read and reflect on the passages and commentary. See what God's Word has to offer.

December 27, 2009

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. NIV

There is a big difference between celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and actually receiving the “Gift of Christmas.” And the distinction is found in the favor of the Son of God Himself as He opens our eyes to His abiding presence, our hearts to His enduring peace and our souls to His eternal rest.

Jesus, alone, is the reason for the season: He is our ever present, Present.

And everyone who receives Him knows that Christmas doesn’t get any better than this.

Love in Christ
Lou Lamothe

December 20, 2009

Luke 2:13-14
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (NIV)

What peace? What favor?

It is easy to ask ourselves these questions during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, especially with the benefits of "on-line" shopping, instant text messaging and all that comes at us with the speed of light in this computer age.

Without question, the pace of life is more hectic today than it was when our Savior was born into this world two thousand years ago; but that doesn't mean "The Gift of Christmas" has changed any over the millenniums. Truth is we can still experience a calm, quiet stillness within our troubled minds and a profoundly satisfying comfort within our weary souls, if only we slow down enough to receive into our hearts the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the One who brings Glory to God in the highest.

My prayer this Christmas, for all of us caught up in rushing from one place to another place, is that we will discover the "Quiet Place" where the peace of Christ rests upon whom He chooses to show His favor.

Merry Christmas and may we find rest in the peace of Jesus Christ: "The Gift of Christmas."

Love in Christ
Lou Lamothe

December 13, 2009

1 Peter 2:18
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. (NIV)

In what ways have we developed the mindset of a slave, a person who thinks about God mostly in terms of being either a good or harsh taskmaster?

If we believe our Father in heaven demonstrates His love for us, more or less, based upon our interpretation of rewards and punishments here on earth, (the silk pillow upon which we are invited to rest our head in the most elegant mansion, or the straw mat upon which we are forced to sleep in the most deplorable prison) we are not thinking clearly as free men in Christ.

Friends, the blood stained cross is the symbol of our emancipation. By grace, we have become "willing servants" of the Most High. And our faith is not based upon personal circumstances, but solely upon the unconditional love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The gift of eternal life is ours through the atoning sacrifice of our Redeemer. Fact is, all our sins have been forgiven, whether we find ourselves sleeping in a palace or a dungeon. And to believe otherwise is to succumb to the notion that we are merely the property of God and not His beloved children.

Love in Christ
Lou Lamothe

December 6, 2009

Psalm 19:1-3
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. (NIV)

Are we paying attention? Are we listening? Have we heard the proclamations of the universe?

I am beautiful beyond description.
I have no limits, no dimension.
I contain the secrets of all creation.

The laws of nature are all mine.
Everything happens by design.
There is no chaos of any kind.

Colliding galaxies remake
the stars I form by no mistake.
I am "I am," for heaven's sake.

Love in Christ
Lou Lamothe