We Came. We Saw. GOD Conquered.

I Raise a Hallelujah! Oh, yes, I do! Oh, yes, we do! Veni, vidi, vici – the Latin for “I came; I saw; I conquered” – attributed to Julius Caesar who used the phrase in a letter to the Roman Senate in 47 BC after he had won a quick victory in his short war against Pharnaces II at the Battle of Zela. The phrase is used to refer to a swift, conclusive victor. And, it was also used after the 17th-century Battle of Vienna, saying “Venimus, Vidimus, Deus vici”t ("We came, We saw, God conquered"). Our victory was also a swift, conclusive victory! Hallelujah!

I like that last one the best: “God conquered”! All praise and honor and glory be to Him for the incredibly powerful, and truly God-orchestrated, last couple of weeks. As a team who came, who saw and put full-on gusto of prayer, intercession AND really hard work into the sale of my children’s home, getting the move and closing in before the end-of-the-year – was a WIN of mammoth proportions. “Through our God, we shall do valiantly. It is He Who will tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:12)

I won’t go into the ups and downs of accomplishing this task, but I will give credit to where credit is due – and that is our little team of just a few who wouldn’t think negatively or yield to the temptation of speaking negatively either. We just dove in with relentless ambition and audacious faith in the power of the Holy Spirit Who gives us the power we need at times like this. “Praise God! Hallelujah!” That’s what I said Thursday night when I shut the door to the thoroughly cleaned out, beautiful home that looked so different years ago when my kids moved in. It was dated, was in disrepair in many areas – and they did a makeover -- that would entice women and men to come and open up their hearts to the love of this family and to the love of God. Oh, the lives that were changed in this home. Oh the blessings of inspired faith and relentless hope and great expectations for tomorrow. Halleluljah!

Over 50 million people have now watched a YouTube clip of unsuspecting shoppers who get a surprise while eating lunch. A young woman, seemingly enjoying her lunch in a food court, stands up. She appears to be on her mobile phone. She begins singing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. All around her, over 100 (clearly prearranged) opera singers stand one by one and join in. I got holy goosebumps when I watched it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

“Messiah” is George Frederick Handel’s most famous work. It tells the story of Jesus – the Messiah. Part Two is about His death on the cross, His resurrection and His ascension into heaven. It ends with the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. In the spring of 1742, King George II rose to his feet as the first notes of the triumphant ‘Hallelujah’ chorus rang out. Royal protocol has always demanded that, whenever the monarch stands, so too does everyone in the monarch’s presence. Thus, the entire audience and orchestra stood. King George II had accepted that he, too, was subject to the Lord of lords and King of kings.

The word ‘Hallelujah’ is an invitation to worship – it literally means ‘Praise (Hallal) the Lord’ (Yahweh). It occurs twenty-four times in the Old Testament (mainly in the Psalms) and it occurs four times in the New Testament.

And it occurred for us when we had plowed through the obstacles, the season, the traditions, AND, this move at Christmas that will take my family into 2020 with freedom, gusto, and many others being touched by He Who conquers – and many times – conquers by using the frailties of human beings to prove His strength is made perfect in our weakness. So, today,
I raise a hallelujah in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I'm gonna’ sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna’ hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
(From Bethel Music, I Raise a Hallelujah) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XtRuPfaAU

Was the Innkeeper Really So Unwelcoming?

I've been "gifting" in my blogs the last few days AND gifting is what I’m doing at my dining room table. No food allowed on that table right now because it's loaded with wrapping paper, ribbon, scissors, tape, gift cards and gift items to wrap. I’m getting my Christmas gift list checked off, one-by-one.

Speaking of lists, this time of year stirs up memories from my Holy Lands bucket list trip in 2017. Celebrating Christmas in June in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity was awe-inspiring. Singing "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem", receiving Holy Communion and worshipping the King in the actual cave of His birth and the opportunity to go down to the grotto where a star is embedded in the floor that recognizes the actual birthplace of our Savior. We bent low to touch or kiss the star. It was a profoundly emotional and spiritual experience. Our guide said, "Say thank You, Jesus, for my salvation!" We did.

So what about that innkeeper? I've always thought he must have lived with regrets for turning down the “royal” family to stay in his inn. He appears to be cold-hearted. After all, he's the guy that shut the door on Joseph and Mary, right? I read this beautiful contradiction to that mindset by Jeff Taylor.

"I had never thought much about the innkeeper. He is depicted in Christmas stories and pageants generally in one of two ways. Either he closes his door in the faces of the couple, or he shows them around back to the stables with the animals. What is the truth about the innkeeper?

None of the biblical accounts of the birth of Jesus even mentions the innkeeper. In fact, the only reference to a manger or an inn is in the Book of Luke. “And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke.2:7). On the basis of that single sentence, we convict the innkeeper of shutting Jesus out. Perhaps we have been too hard on him.

I think the innkeeper is an improbable hero. He had no reason to know that the strangers at his door were about to bring the Messiah into the world. Had he known, perhaps he would have made room for them, but that would have meant that some other weary travelers would need to be displaced. Yet, rather than making excuses, the innkeeper was resourceful, and gave what he could give -- not a room or even a corner in his already crowded inn, but the stable (or cave) that demonstrates that the King of the world is at home with the humblest of the humble.

The arrival of the long-expected Messiah stood out in contrast to peoples’ expectations. He did not come in a manner befitting of a king. No pomp and circumstance, no great earthquake, no thunder and lightning, no burning bush, but anonymously and humbly. Jesus born in those surroundings would grow up to teach us to believe the unbelievable, to be prepared for the unexpected, and that the poor and meek will occupy a prominent place in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Less prominent than even the lowly shepherds and animals, the innkeeper is neither mentioned by the writers of the Gospel nor placed in the crèches that adorn our mantels and tables during Christmastime. Rather, he was and is behind the scenes, humbly and anonymously playing a major part in God’s great plan. He serves as a reminder to us that God uses what we have. Perhaps we should be more like the innkeeper.

Dear God, please give me the compassion of the innkeeper. Even when circumstances indicate that I have used up everything I have to give, give me the courage to stand out in contrast to the status quo, and the awareness and the resourcefulness to make room for Christ. Amen."