Christmas Archives - Ivey Ministries Ivey Ministries

Merry Christmas

Ivey Rorie On December 19, 2022 / Word of the Day / Leave a comment

John 15: 9

Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love.

I will forego the Luke 2 account of the Christmas story this year though I really do enjoy that old, old story. Instead, I want to tell you a Christmas story of my own which, incidentally, embraces my Christmas prayer for you.

My elementary school principal, Mr. Turner, had a beautiful voice, a deep, rich, resonant bass voice. At Christmastime, we would gather in the cafeteria to sing Christmas carols, as well as lively Christmas songs, for there is a difference, you know. Well do I remember those precious moments. I remember with my heart as clearly as I do with my mind, for even in recollecting this story for you, my heart seems to change its beat and I am transported, heart, soul and mind, to that little cafeteria miles and years away.

It was always a time I enjoyed but the thing that makes it stand out to me is the way it made me feel. I vividly remember how close to Jesus I felt in that moment long ago. He was there with us, moving amongst us and the tenderness of a grade school child was able to sense him and enjoy his presence.

Many of my adult years were spent chasing that feeling, but the adult was no longer tender for strength had to replace vulnerability and openness. None the less, I longed for that tender touch of Jesus’ presence and to give him the truest praise of all, the pure, unadulterated joy of simply being with him. I remember how much I loved him and how close we felt.

Every Christmas, I have chased that closeness and it truly seems that I find it easiest to draw nigh unto him in this season. People have their favorite holidays and for many Christians, it is the Easter season. For me, Christmas is when the Spirit is closest and that is probably because my heart searches and yearns, remembering Christmas’ of old. My heart and spirit are probably more open than at other times. Of course, this makes me more vulnerable which means I could be hurt more easily and that is dangerous, but on the other hand, the open heart can embrace Jesus much more easily and fully.

So, my Christmas wish for you is that your heart is open and receptive. I pray for you to be surrounded with people and music who nurture and protect you and who draw you deeper into the presence of the Holy Trinity. I pray for Jesus to touch your heart with his tender yet strong love that you may feel, within your own heart, the depth and passion of his love for you. And, may your love for him and for the Father, be unbridled. Most of all, I pray that you find this love and remain in it all year long.

Merry Christmas, one and all!

Priority One

Ivey Rorie On December 12, 2022 / Word of the Day / Leave a comment

Acts 18: 5

But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

Here is a clear recitation of the responsibility of the minister. This passage just says it so clearly that it is a blessing. And this is what we all want our ministers to do, dedicate themselves completely to the Word.

Before this time Paul was still plying his trade as a tent maker. He came to a point, though, where he realized it was time for him to go into full time ministry. Then he needed to dedicate his time to the Lord and the Word.

It is so very easy for ministers, and especially pastors, to involve themselves in everything that goes on in the church and the congregation. It is so very easy to encumber oneself with good works and meetings to the degree that the special time that should be devoted to the Lord and to His word begins to slip away.

If you are a pastor or minister, read this as a warning. Check yourself routinely to make absolutely certain that you are doing as Paul did, devoting yourself to the Word. If you are a lay person, you have a role in this too. Ask yourself what you and your congregation can do to afford the pastor the time to do the things she or he really need to do. How can you help your pastor? Are there some small things you can do for them like mowing their lawns? Perhaps there are responsibilities around the church that can be shared among congregation members. Ministers, rededicate yourself to your time with the Lord and his word and allow your congregation members and friends to help you in your primary mission.

Truth be told, while this is a great reminder for all of us ministers, the reality is that this is the calling of every believer to some degree. It is a good time of year for us to step back and remind ourselves what it means to be a Christian and perhaps, carve out a few more minutes for the Christ.

Party Invitation

Ivey Rorie On December 10, 2021 / Word of the Day / Leave a comment

Ephesians 3: 12

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

I thought we might hangout in Ephesians 3 a bit more. We all know that the Apostle Paul had a revelation of Christ. Part of what makes the letter to the Ephesians so special is how on display that revelation is. Paul wrote this from prison. I often think that Paul’s imprisonment was for our good. Rather than travelling around setting up churches and speaking, he was forced to convey his thoughts via letter. What Satan meant for bad, God turned for good. It is, Romans 8: 28; lemons for lemonade. Anyway . . .

I see so much of the Apostle John’s revelation in Paul. Paul continued John’s revelation of God with us. He certainly understood about living our lives with and through both the Christ and the Father. In today’s passage, we can see how the life of faith in Christ and our life intertwined with him leads us to a bold and dynamic, full faith relationship lived in the very presence of the Father. Hallelujah! Because of Jesus, and equally importantly, because of our faith in him, we now have confident access to the Holy Presence of God.

The Passion Translation reads thus, “[W]e have boldness through him, and free access as kings before the Father because of our complete confidence in Christ’s faithfulness.” In reading this, one can feel Paul’s complete confidence in the person of Jesus as well as his faith, i.e. full belief, in the faithfulness and completeness of the Christ. He knew that our presence with the King is fully assured in Christ. Paul doesn’t have to humble himself with ridiculous gestures because his eyes are full of the magnificence of Jesus. To even talk about our worthiness, or lack thereof, is almost sinful. It is to take the focus off of Jesus and put it on ourselves. Absurd! It is he who is worthy and because he is so glorious and his faithfulness to the Father so profound, we can walk boldly into the throne room without a qualm. My big brother is the king of kings and I go with him. Who is going to be looking at me with Jesus in the room anyway? But, where he goes, I am always welcome.

If your heart doesn’t almost burst with love for this brother who is prince and king, you just need to see through Paul’s revelatory eyes more. When you see through Paul’s revelation, the glory of Christ so covers you that you shine as he does. Jesus gets on you. His glory shines all about and the Father is overjoyed at your presence. Jesus is the reason for the season, but we are the reason for the Christ. It’s crazy, but we are the reason there is a Christmas. Father sent Jesus down here to get us so that we could hang out in the throne room, no longer to be separated by sin, doubt and worldly distractions. The light has come and filled the room and all who love him are invited to the party, daily. It is a place of great joy and you are always accepted.

Go to Him, child. Go to the Father. Go sit upon His lap and gaze upon the face of love. Listen to the music. Sing aloud and with great joy. Glory to the world indeed, for the Christ has come and in his wake is laughter, singing and confident access to the King. Glory to God and I’ll see you in the throne room.

Feeling Good

Ivey Rorie On December 3, 2021 / Word of the Day / Leave a comment

Proverb 3: 27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

I suppose I am feeling the cheer of Christmas for this verse leapt out at me today. Now, it is not an uncommon verse or idea, but I think for many of us its message becomes even more meaningful during this season of celebrating the birth of the Christ.

First, I wish to thank all of you who have sent gifts through this ministry to Deneen and Mike. Your gifts are going to mean much to them, and your kindness and generosity have blessed my heart as well. Thank you! I would have you know that Ivey Ministries contributed to the fund too, as did I personally. Together we have raised a bit over $2000.

It used to be that the church played a significant role in helping people with needs. That role has diminished tremendously, but at this time of year, the joy of Christmas and the pure delight of a savior sent to us, helps us to feel the love of God at a deeper level than at other times of the year. We enjoy doing for others and we feel that warm glow within us. That is the furnace of God burning in our spirits. When fed with acts of charity, it warms us through.

We have so much and are so blessed. I know you support many other organizations. I saw during the MS fund raising campaign how your kindness cannot be contained. There are so many people who need help, so many worthy organizations that sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming. What can any of us do? Maybe we don’t withhold good intentionally but just don’t know how to help sometimes. And, I know that a $20 check doesn’t feel like a lot sometimes, but when we all give, each bit does matter. Because we work as a team, before you know it, we have a sizable amount to give. As I wrote in the initial email regarding Deneen and Mike, Ivey Ministries is not taking out any part of your contribution. There will be no administrative fee or any other cost, not even the cost of the stamp, deducted from your gifts. I want you to know too that this ministry tithes and has since the first dime we received. That means that when you give to Ivey Ministries, at least 10% is moving on to support others.

We do have the power to do good because our Father has blessed us richly. Let us never withhold good from others as long as it is within our power to bless. Let us become known as givers of the highest magnitude. Some people say, “Give until it hurts.” I get it but I say, let’s give until it feels really good, until we feel the blessing of God ignited within us.

For those of you who would still like to join the team in this effort, you can. Send your check to Ivey Ministries at 7726 Amber Forest Lane, Lewisville, NC 27023. Or, to donate through PayPal, click Here.

Three Magi

Ivey Rorie On December 15, 2020 / Word of the Day / Leave a comment

Matthew 2: 11

Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In western culture, the gifts of frankincense and myrrh hardly seem on par with the gift of gold. Is this, then, a dialogue on valuable gifts? Or, perhaps, invaluable gifts? It turns out that historically, frankincense and myrrh were at least as valuable as gold and many historians believe them to have been more valuable than gold.

I got this from Dr. Axe regarding these ancient oils. Visit his website at draxe.com.

Myrrh is a resin, or sap-like substance, that is one of the most widely used essential oils in the world. Historically, myrrh was used to treat hay fever, clean and heal wounds and stop bleeding. Studies conclude that myrrh strengthens the immune system with its antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties.

A 2012 study validated myrrh’s enhanced antimicrobial efficacy when used in combination with frankincense oil against a selection of pathogens. Researchers expressed that myrrh oil has anti-infective properties and can help to boost your immune system.

What’s more, new research indicates that these two essential oils are even more effective in combination. Two things of interest I noted as I researched frankincense in myrrh are that they are useful in treating blood disorders. In fact, I was surprised how often blood came up in the articles I read. Secondly, myrrh was used as an embalming fluid. Both of these facts seemed to foreshadow Jesus’ future. How poignant is it that the baby Jesus would be given a gift commonly used in embalming? The two were also ingredients of the incense Jews burned in the temple.
Frankincense and myrrh were very expensive and highly sought after. The trees which produce these resins could not be grown in Israel. Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt greatly sought the two, one article claiming that conquest of foreign lands was sometimes motivated by the desire for the plants which yield the sought after resins. Since the trees would not grow in all climates, the Egyptians would seize territories where they would grow so that they could have their own supply of frankincense and myrrh rather than having to pay exorbitant prices for it.

Today, many medicinal uses have been identified for these two oils. Some believe the potential benefits number in the hundreds. They can be applied directly to the skin but are often burned. Inhaling the essential oils is another healing methodology which has to be a point of interest when considering that the ancient Jews used these two resins in the temple incense. So, going to church really could be good for your health!

I hope as you read the Christmas story this year you will have a better appreciation of how valuable the gifts of frankincense and myrrh really were. It turns out that the offer of gold was likely the lesser of the three gifts. Frankincense and myrrh were very expensive, extremely hard to get and medicinally beneficial. wealth alone, did not secure the valuable oils. Three “Gentile” magi travelled from afar and gave Jesus invaluable gifts. Perhaps the fact that three non-Jewish people travelled a long distance to take the Messianic baby such valuable gifts was a prophetic message in itself.

Comfort and Joy

Ivey Rorie On December 10, 2020 / Word of the Day / Leave a comment

Jeremiah 31: 13

Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

I told you I spent Monday outside setting up Christmas decorations and singing Christmas music at the top of my voice (sorry neighbors). One song that made a big impression on me was God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. How many times have you heard that song and even sung it for yourself? I especially heard and appreciated the line which wishes us tidings of comfort and joy. This year, as a group, we need comfort and joy as perhaps we have not in recent years.

I told you in yesterday’s Word of the Day that as I sang it was if I was transported to that little town on Bethlehem all those many years ago. I thought about the situation into which the child savior was born. The people of that day were as desperate for God’s help as we are today. The lived in an occupied territory. Think of that in present day military terms. They were not under self-rule accept to the degree that the Romans did not wish to be bothered with what they considered mundane issues. The big questions of the day were decreed by the Roman rulers. The people cried out for the promised Messiah to come relieve them of the burden of Roman rule. They were oppressed. It is into this environment that the babe was born.

Mary should have been home preparing for the birth of her child. Instead, she was forced to journey to Bethlehem because Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken. Can you imagine having to travel with those primitive transportation means when you are near your due date. However, the Jews had no choice but to do everything the Romans demanded. Those were some people who needed comfort and joy.

God promised he would send a savior. He promised He would turn their sorrow to joy and their mourning to gladness. He pledged to give them comfort. And He did. He sent His own son so that generations of people could receive comfort and joy in the place of sorrow.

May you be comforted and may your heart receive joy. The Christmas miracle is reborn in you today!

It’s Time for Christmas

Ivey Rorie On December 9, 2020 / Word of the Day / Leave a comment

Isaiah 19: 20

And it will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of armies in the land of Egypt; for they will cry out to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will save them.

We have entered the period of Advent. It begins the fourth Sunday preceding Christmas Day. This year that was November 29th. The Advent is the preparation period when Christians ponder the miracle birth of the Savior as well as anticipate Jesus’ triumphant return in the second coming.

I have felt that I should do more than one Christmas message this year. Perhaps something more in line with the concept of the Advent. This year has held tremendous challenge and we certainly need a little bit of Christmas right now, as the song goes. Truly, I think we need a whole bunch of Christmas beginning right now.

Monday I spent several hours outside putting up Christmas decorations. The weather was a balmy 41 degrees and overcast but I was rewarded with several moments of the sun breaking through the cloud cover. It seemed like a personal bestowment of God’s benevolence and I reveled in it.

Some southerners might not have enjoyed being outside for hours in coolish temperatures but to our northern friends it might sound kind of nice. The point is, the day was to be what I made of it and I chose to look at putting up decorations as play rather than as work. Second, I have warm clothes and all it took was a polar fleece shirt and a hat to feel toasty. However, the coup de grace was my music, which dealt the death blow to any humbug sentiments. I had my iPod playing one Christmas album after another. The bad news for my neighbors was that it was blue toothed to a headset so that as I sang along, I didn’t have to hear me and so, could sing as freely and loudly as I wished. I had a grand time.

My spirit got a much needed lift singing songs to my Father about the miracle gift of Jesus. As I listened to the lyrics of some of those ancient hymns, my faith was fed and renewed. I was transported to a little town in Israel where a baby was born who would be the life of my soul. I am glad I was born after that great event and thus, get to celebrate Jesus’ birth. I am grateful he came to rescue us.

I hope you are already in the Christmas Spirit but perhaps this message will give you a little boost this Christmas Season; that it will lift your heart and help you ponder both the savior’s birth and his promised return. I am sending you warm Christmas wishes. May music and joy infiltrate your abode and may your heart continually bask in the glow of Christ.

Posts Tagged Christmas