He Came at Night

Fourth Sunday of Advent… Monday Musings #27, Dec. 25, 2023

When Jesus came to the world, He came at night. All was enshrouded in darkness.

It was night for Mary and Joseph. They had journeyed far over hilly roads at an unpleasant time of the year to fulfill an unhappy duty. Of the little living they had, the Romans were now demanding more, and they had to come to pay for it.

As the night drew on, they sought rest and refreshment but found only disappointment. Joseph, unable to provide for Mary as he felt he ought, was troubled. Mary knew her time was near, but she knew not what to expect. In the stable where they found shelter from the damp and cold, it was night.

It was night for the Jews. Everywhere were signs of bitterness, unhappiness, and despair. Their Roman conquerors sent tax collectors and soldiers who rankled their Jewish pride. The soldiers could demand their strength whenever they wished, and the tax collectors their money. And there was no recourse.

But the Romans were not the only blight of the Jews. Disease was rampant. Leprosy, palsy, insanity, blindness–to the thousands these had brought down the curtains of night. Over the hillsides, among the tombs, along the roadways an army of sick and afflicted roamed and begged. Some screamed their defiance and sought release from this living death. All hated the diseases that kept them from home and family and usefulness. They longed for help, but none was available. It was night in Jewry.

It was night for the Romans, too. Their empire, once so great, was crumbling from within though still controlling the world. Their government, founded by honorable and courageous men, had descended to those who were self-seeking and licentious. Civil strife was spreading. There was self-indulgence and unmentionable immorality. Roman rulers played fast and loose with the power and money entrusted to them. Rome had plunged into darkness.

It was night in the religious world. For 400 years the voices of the Hebrew prophets had been silent. Jewish sects had added to the Law until it was burdensome beyond bearing. The pious Jews were following manmade rules, trying to save themselves. The Romans, fearful of overlooking some god, worshiped a whole collection and were still not satisfied. The Greeks in their search made an altar to “The Unknown God.” Everywhere there were gods, but none offered peace and satisfaction. Religion had not found the way. It was night.

But into this night Jesus came. He brought light to the shepherds on the nearby hills. To the Wise Men, learned in the science of this world and struggling to find the true way, He brought the light from a world above.

To the Jews He opened again their dialogue with God–a God of love and healing by teaching them the way of love and restoring them to wholeness in soul, mind, and body.

To the Romans and Greeks He opened the door that they, too, might end their search for truth.

No one was left out. He did not come to a certain political party or nationality or religious sect. He came to everyone! Everywhere He went, He brought healing and hope.

To the leper He said, “I will: be thou clean;” to the sinner, “Thy sins are forgiven thee;” to the immoral, “Go, and sin no more.”

To the blind, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” To the palsied one, “Take up thy bed and walk.” He left the insane restored and the demon-possessed delivered. Truly the people who sat in darkness saw a great light!

Is it night for you? Have sin or sickness or the difficulties of living enclosed you in darkness? Are you being pushed and pursued until you are on the brink of suicide or insanity?

You need not be. Jesus has come. Just as He came in the night long ago, He will come into your night. Nothing is too hard for Him. He will bring you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Open your heart and let Him in.

“Cast Sheep” and the Good Shepherd

Third Sunday of Advent… Monday Musings #26, Dec. 18, 2023

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:4, 5).

Psalm 42:11 ” Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

From reading Phillip Keller’s book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,” I learned about “cast” sheep; a sheep, often an ewe heavy with unborn lambs, may lie down in a slight depression to rest, but ends up on its back with feet in the air. It struggles to turn over and get back on its feet, but cannot. When a good shepherd counts his sheep and finds one or two missing, he immediately begins a search. But he is not the only one looking for them: wild dogs, coyotes, buzzards, and vultures, all hoping for an easy meal, know that “cast” sheep are helpless. They cannot rescue themselves. In fact, if the weather is hot and sunny, they may die within a few hours.

Just as a “cast” sheep, lying on its back, cannot get right-side-up without help, so the sinner cannot get right with God without accepting His salvation. Jesus came to find the “cast” sinners of our world and help them get restored to wholeness by accepting the salvation He offers. Even when Peter was “cast” down and denied being Jesus’ disciple three times on the night the Sanhedrin condemned Him, Jesus didn’t give up on Peter. After Jesus was resurrected, He met with some of His disciples by the sea in Galilee and recommissioned Peter. Later Peter wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (l Peter 5:8). The “cast” sheep had been rescued, and now he warns others.

David, Israel’s renowned shepherd king, was one time a “cast” sheep. He committed adultery, then when he learned the woman was pregrant, he had the woman’s husband put on the front lines in battle to be killed. David, like a “cast” sheep, was kicking his legs but getting nowhere. After the child was born and died, David repented and God brought him out from the “cast” hole he had been in. (Read the whole story in 2 Samuel 11:7-27.)

The “good shepherd” theme continues as New Testament writers present Jesus as the Good Shepherd. “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people” (Matt. 2:6).

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep….the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:1-3).

If you are like me, there are times when you have ended up not obeying the shepherd, falling into a hole, and unable to get yourself right side up again. But the Good Shepherd comes looking for His “cast” sheep and sets you on your feet, because He loves you.

End Note: Jesus Christ is also compared to a shepherd in Matthew 9:36, Matthew 25:32, Matthew 26:31, Mark 6:34, Mark 14:27, John 10:2, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:25, 1 Peter 5:4, and Revelation 7:17.

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Personal notes. A bright, clear Monday  morning in Springfield, MO, with temps around freezing, but expected to warm up as the day progresses. Thanks for all the cards, notes, and visits I’ve received. Your thoughts and prayers have helped me through some rough spots. Unless I have a brace on, my right knee continues to lose strength unexpectedly. I am less able to do things for myself and must depend on the staff here. Most of them try very hard to help.

As you think of me, say a prayer, and when you can, send a note or card. Our God is a loving God and it pleases Him when we show love to each other. My prayer is that His presence will continue to guide you toward heaven.  Peace, love, joy,  Joyce Booze

Green Pastures and Still Waters

Advent Sunday #2

Monday Musings #25 Dec. 11, 2023

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:2, 3

The Good Shepherd seeks a place with plenty of food and water for his flock. In hot climates, he arises early, so that his flock can be out at daybreak when the grass is still covered with dew. Grazing on dew-covered grass is one of the best ways for his herd to get both the food and water they need.

To take advantage of the grass covered with dew, the shepherd must be up before daybreak. He gathers his long staff to use if a sheep wanders beyond his reach. Later in the day when the sun is hot, the herd finds rest in shady pastures.

Growing up in Oklahoma and Arkansas, I seldom saw sheep. One of our Bibles had a picture of Jesus the Good Shepherd carrying a little lamb and leading a flock. As a child, I studied that picture. Years later when my husband and I were traveling through some of the western states, I saw a shepherd sitting under a shade tree blowing on a musical instrument while his herd lay resting around him. They were the picture of peace.

In the realm of the spirit, those who rise early to feed on God’s Word before they begin their day’s activities are the most likely to hear the Master’s voice and commune with Him. He prepares them for the day ahead. Also, the Holy Spirit can speak with insistence at times. I remember a night when the Holy Spirit woke me from sleep to pray for a son of a church family. He had strayed into using drugs. I didn’t know that night how crucial the situation was, but he was in a small local jail being beaten by members of a rival group who intended to kill him.

I prayed, then dozed back to sleep. Again, the Holy Spirit woke me and gave me the knowledge that the young man’s life was in danger. I prayed for some time before I felt that God had met the need. I later learned that about 2 a.m., a state law officer from a large city came to pick up the young man and move him to a state operated facility. I believe that action saved the young man’s life.

Often missionaries in foreign countries need someone to pray for them. The first missionaries I knew personally were Murray and Majorie Brown, who served in Africa. Murray’s parents attended the church my father pastored in Charleston, Arkansas, in the 1940s. Murray Brown was severely burned in an explosion and was in a 5th floor room in a hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. His hands, abdomen, and legs were heavily bandaged, and doctors had told him he would need skin grafts. Early one morning, he watched as an army of African ants marched into his room, got on his bed and under the bandages. They began chewing on his tortured flesh. Murray called for help, but at that early hour no one was on duty to hear his call.

Three times Murray repeated his anguished cry. No one came. But, on the other side of the world at midnight in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, a friend of Murray’s was awakened by his cry. At first the friend thought one of his children was calling, but he checked, and they were all sleeping soundly. He returned to bed, heard the cry again, checked on the children a second time, but they were still sleeping. Back in bed, he distinctly heard Murray’s voice calling, “Help! Isn’t there anyone to help me?” He awakened his wife and told her, “I’ve just heard Murray Brown’s voice calling for help.” They prayed until they felt the need, whatever it was, had been met.

Back in the Kumasi hospital, no nurse came. But suddenly the ants left Murray’s bed and marched across the hospital floor. Murray watched in amazement as they left, just as though someone had called them. Later, when the doctor removed the bandages, he saw new flesh growing, even on the hand that had been most severely burned. No skin grafts were needed, and only a small scar on Murray’s thigh remained. Months later Murray learned how God had alerted his friend in Nebraska to pray by allowing him to hear Murray’s calls for help.

The Good Shepherd allows the sheep to rest during the heat of the day, then graze again. They may stop by a clear flowing stream for another drink of water. As they come into the fold for the night, the faithful shepherd checks each one and uses salve he has prepared to treat any kind of sores or cuts he finds. Then they settle down to rest–the kind of rest that restores the soul and helps us walk in righteousness.

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Personal notes: A winter morning in Springfield, MO! Temps below freezing, but sunny, so warmer air is on the way! I have been blessed by a number of visitors lately, some retired missionaries, others from churches we pastored, and a mix of high school and college students that sat in my classroom at various times during the years. Now that my body limits what I can do to non-strenuous activities, I can still pray and send e-mails.

Thanks to all who send cards or notes; I love to get mail to open! May God’s blessings abide with each of you! Joyce Wells Booze

Following the Shepherd

Monday Musings #24 December 4, 2023

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1.

Sunday, December 3, is the first of four Advent Sundays preceding Christmas. Psalm 23:1 tells us “The Lord is my shepherd.” He is a shepherd who loves us and looks out for our care and well-being. We walk with Him to feed in green pastures.

When a Christian pastor in India was a young boy, he often went with his grandmother to set food before a huge idol. One day as they passed along the streets, he saw a group of Chistians standing on a street corner singing praises to the God of heaven. He asked his grandmother who they were. She replied , “They have a God who loves them.” This boy had never heard of a God who loves people; all the idol gods had to be given food and bowed down to.

How fortunate we are to know that the God of heaven –our Good Shepherd –loves us.

So what does a good shepherd do? He spends a lot of time with his sheep. He brings them out of the fold in the morning to find clean water and a place to graze. He knows the calm, peace-loving older sheep, and he knows the rowdy, sometimes dangerous behavior of the younger sheep…who will go close to the cliff’s edge for one more bit of green grass. When that sheep tumbles down onto the rocks, the shepherd’s long hook reaches out and brings him to safety. I’ve been that straying sheep a few times, and I’m always thankful when the Good Shepherd rescues me.

Each evening when the shepherd brings the sheep into the fold for the night, he checks for any injury and treats appropriately anything he finds. A big annoyance to sheep are nose flies. They crawl up into a sheep’s nose and lay eggs in the warm, moist fluid there. When the eggs hatch, their movement annoys their host, and the shepherd applies medicated salves to control the situation.

Because the shepherd loves his sheep, he wants the best for them. He seeks clean water that flows over rocks to satisfy their thirst; he takes them to graze where the tender grass is. He watches for lurking enemies seeking to steal a wayward lamb.

In his book, “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,” Phillip Keller tells about a ranch next to his. The sheep there were not well cared for. The tenant sheepman paid little attention to his flock, leaving them to forage for themselves. They sought food in impoverished pastures and bare brown fields. Every winter brought a shortage of hay and whole grain. Shelters to protect suffering sheep from winter storms were woefully inadequate. Some fell prey to wild dogs and rustlers. Others huddled against the fence, staring at the rich pasture on the other side. Yet nothing was done by their shepherd to help them.

As we begin our annual journey through Advent Sundays, stay close to our Shepherd. He loves you and looks out for your best interest. If you walk with Him in love and obedience, He will fill you with peace and joy. Even when the road gets rough, He provides, and you “shall not want.”

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Personal Notes: Gray skies and a cold wind in Springfield, MO, this Monday morning. Temps barely above freezing. Winter has arrived!

Thanks for your prayers, e-mails, cards…all the ways you encourage me. My knees are bone-on-bone and sometimes fold up unexpectedly…which means if I’m standing, I need to hold on to something solid to keep from falling. But I’m thankful for the mobility I have. Here in Maranatha many people have more severe problems than I do.  Pray I can be an encouragement to them.

Peace, love, joy in Jesus!  Joyce Booze