Clinging to Carrier Pigeons
“When the Swiss Department of Defense announced in 1994 that it would have to give up its 77 year old carrier-pigeon service because of financial constraints, a pro-pigeon group emerged to protest. If enough signatures were gathered, the issue of whether to abolish one of the world’s last units of military carrier pigeons would go to referendum.
“Although the country’s then 400,000-man reserve army has not fought a foreign war since 1515, its military traditions are almost sacred. The Swiss army’s pigeons, which fly faster than 35mph, were used in both world wars to relay messages over mountainous terrain. Until 1994, the army owned some 7000 pigeons and had another 223,000 birds owned by private breeders on standby in case of a national emergency. Pigeon breeders were especially angered by the plan because they trained the birds for difficult missions. The abolition of the carrier service meant that 250 militia soldiers would be trained for other duties, and a carrier-pigeon station near the capital city of Bern would be closed.”
Carrier-pigeons, as messengers, played an important role during times of war. Keeping lines of communication open can mean the difference between victory and defeat. This holds true in the conflict between heaven and earth as well. As this spiritual battle plays out, the Bible describes the important role played by angels (a word which means messenger) as they relay vital information among themselves, as well as to man. But this important work isn't left only for the angels. God has also employed apostles (sent ones), preachers, pastors, evangelists and those who do the work of an evangelist, to carry His message across enemy lines.
"And there came war in the heaven; Michael and his messengers did war against the dragon, and the dragon did war, and his messengers" (Revelation 12:7).
Ordinary Night / Holy Night
Reading , Ordinary Night/Holy Night by Max Lucado
“There is one word that describes the night He came—ordinary. It was a beautiful night—a night worth peeking out your bedroom window to admire—but not really an unusual one. No reason to expect a surprise. Nothing to keep a person awake. An ordinary night with an ordinary sky.
The above is one in a series of Christmas readings by Max Lucado. Each reading can be used separately to emphasize a single element of the Christmas message or used as part of a series of readings and carols to create a moving Christmas Eve Candlelight Service as follows (the additional readings can be found on this site under the same category "Christmas" or by visiting the source above):
Reading , Ordinary Night/Holy Night
Song – O, Holy Night
Scripture - Matt 1:20-21
Reading, From One Father to Another
Song – Hymn #262, Away In A Manger
Scripture - Luke 1:46-49
Reading, Mary’s Prayer
Song - Mary Did You Know
Scripture - Luke 2:8-20
Reading, The Meek Were Kneeling
Song – Hymn # 265, The First Noel, vv. 1,2,6
Scripture Matt 2:1-2
Reading, Following the Star
Song – Hymn # 288, We Three Kings
Scripture – Luke 2:25-32
Reading, Wide-eyed And Watching
Song – Come, Thou Long Expected
Scripture - John 1:1-5, 14
Reading, Love’s Remarkable Plan
Song – Hymn # 277, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Scripture – Phil 2:5-11
Reading, Timeless, Boundless Love
Song – Love Came Down At Christmas OR Love Has Come
Reading, Silent Night, Holy Night
Divine Eyewear
On April 8, 2024, the world stood in awe as God put on a great, cosmic show in the form of a total eclipse of the sun.
According to NASA and Space.org,
The great North American total solar eclipse of April 8 [2024] is over, but remember: Never observe the sun without proper protection. Get a pair of safe solar eclipse glasses from reputable dealers ... to ensure you and your family remain safe when observing future solar eclipses.
If you were actually going to see the moon eclipse the sun you had to put on a pair of specially made glasses. If you decided you were going to do it your way to look at the eclipse without proper eyewear, not only would it appear as nothing more than a big, bright blur, but your eyes would stand to suffer severe damage.
So in other words, to observe the sun, you need special glasses to not only see clearly, but to see safely.
In much the same way, we need God's spiritual glasses to clearly see Him and the world of activity, circumstances, and experiences all around us.
Our spiritual eyes were opened the day He touched us and we believed, but the need for us to daily see His will in our lives requires us to put on the glasses He has provided in His word.
The problem we all have, even if we are already believers in Christ, is that we have a distorted view of what God wants us to see. We go through life ignoring divine perspective.
As we face trials of all sorts that cause us pain, or aggravation, or even anger in us, we struggle to make sense of it all. Yet here are spiritual battles going on all around us. If we could physically see the spiritual world, we would be like the shepherds who saw the angels at Christ's birth and were greatly afraid. We are a part of a greater reality than our 5 senses can perceive.
Only in putting on the glasses of divine perspective, afforded through the Word of God, can we clearly (and safely!) navigate the challenges of life.
"Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law" (Psalms 119:18, Amplified Bible).
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, ESV).