In my mind, these words are associated with Christmas.  To some folks, the “hustle and bustle” are what make Christmas fun.  They conjure up mental images of past Christmases that included shopping with the crowds at the mall, merriment with the crowds at the office, and gathering with crowds at Grandma’s house on Christmas Day.  Christmas for these is a time to break the monotony of life and to enjoy a tenderness in mankind that seems to manifest itself only in the Christmas season.

  To others, the “hustle and bustle” are what make Christmas a real drag.  They prefer a few quiet restful days at the camp, with snow lightly falling in the dark of night, a colorful wood fire dancing in the fireplace, an aromatic Christmas tree filled with dazzling lights and twinkling tinsel that reaches to the ceiling, hot chocolate steaming on the hearth, and the warm presence of a beloved soul mate.

  But Christmas is not about “hustle and bustle,” nor is it defined by their absence.  Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ—the day that the Prince of Heaven, God’s Son, laid aside the splendors of His glorious home to condescend to a barn in Bethlehem and inhabit the body of a poor babe nestled in a feeding trough, wrapped in ragged swaddling clothes fit only for a pauper’s child.

  The Bible tells us that an angel announced His coming to the poor shepherds near Bethlehem.  They knew from the angel’s message that this was no ordinary babe, for he had said, “ Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:10-14)”

  Jesus came then to be our Savior, and soon He is coming back as King of kings and Lord of lords!

  For years I have known individuals with dual citizenship (i.e. citizens of two countries at the same time).  Without understanding the laws, one might imagine that dual citizenship is, or ought to be, illegal.  They might argue that a dual status will divide one’s allegiance and cause him to be less than committed to one country or the other—or maybe both.

  Christians are described in the Bible as belonging to Heaven (Philippians 3:20).  Those who will live with God in eternity, are only sojourners for their short pilgrimage on earth.  But because everyone has to belong somewhere in the here and now, many citizens of Heaven are American citizens as well, and we see this as our beloved homeland.  Could our hearts and allegiance be divided?  Do we have the right, or responsibility to put America First in the overall scheme of things, or should our allegiance be over there?  Should our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ have first place, or does it belong to our government officials?  The answer is simple, we are citizens of Heaven first, and Jesus must have preeminence.“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)”  But Why?

  The truth of the matter is that citizens of Heaven make the very best citizens on earth, if they follow the instructions of our gracious Lord.  But many of us  have forsaken God, and America has declined and suffered great loss as a result.  We have celebrated god and COUNTRY with the emphasis on COUNTRY, while we have neglected the eternal God who gave us life.  History doesn’t lie, though some historians might.  The blessings of God have always been abundant to those nations who have acknowledged the Lord, and their  dependance upon Him.  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (Psalm 33:12)”

  Want to make America great again?  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Ch 7:14)”

  I have personally heard people, in these post election days, refer to the next four years as a “reprieve.”  A reprieve is the postponement of punishment, in this case, from God.  We’ll have to see what happens around the globe in the coming months, but these individuals could be right.  Maybe God is going to give us believers an opportunity to do what we have refused to do for years—persuade people to consider Him again.  Our nation is divided in almost equal parts between individuals who appreciate the rule of law and the freedoms it has helped to sustain, and those who have blindly abandoned themselves to drastic change that will quickly deteriorate the moral fabric of America, and bring her to anarchical ruin.

  The conservative faction of our nation is, to some extent, the remnants of families and tribes that were once followers of God.  Years of prosperity and blessing have caused us to lose our focus and to lay aside our faith, supposing ourselves to be the captains of our own fate.

  If you believe in God, and know that “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6),” please join me in a renewed faith, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD… (Psalm 33:12).”  Let us ask for boldness to speak to our friends and neighbors of Him.  But we know our nation will not truly belong to the Lord until we, her citizens, know Him individually and submit to His Lordship.  You and I must show them how!

  It was sin that came between God and His creation from the very beginning, and sin will keep us apart today.  There is only one remedy for sin:  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)”  Jesus purchased our forgiveness when He died on the cross, and paid sin’s wages with His own blood.  He rose from the dead and lives at the Father’s right hand, willing and able to restore your relationship with God the Father when you put your faith and trust in Him.

  I have accepted God’s gift of forgiveness and have embraced the bright eternal future He has promised. I hope you will join me!  In God we trust?

  We live in a part of the world where there are four distinct seasons.  Some have espoused five: Winter, Mud Season, Bug Season, Summer and Fall.  Everyone seems to have a favorite, but most are thankful for the change of seasons.  Someone has said, “Change is the spice of life.”

  “Seasons” has also been used to describe the various periods of life (i.e. Seasons of Life): Childhood, Adolescence, Young Adult, Middle Aged, Senior, Elder.  Many seem in a hurry to get to the middle of life, only to start dreading the end.  It would be advantageous to enjoy every season of life and live it to its fullest potential.

  Similarly, one’s spiritual life seems to consist of “seasons” that correspond to the seasons of life.  Spring may represent one’s entering into a relationship with God by faith and growing exponentially in grace and knowledge in his youth.  Summer may describe the physically mature years in which spiritual service is not hindered by diminished strength or cognitive decline.  Fall often represents our advanced years, the time in which physical strength fades, but spiritual impetus, biblical knowledge, and practical experience are at their height.  In the fall of one’s spiritual life, he tends to do more of the heavy lifting with his mind and heart rather than with muscle.  Winter represents the time of accelerated decline in everything related to body or soul, but it is also the climax of one’s awareness of God, and the joy of quiet, intimate fellowship with Him.

  As in the meteorological seasons, and the seasons of life, God would have us rejoice in the seasons of our spiritual life as well, to grow and serve Him as our physical and spiritual strength allow.  There is nothing to dread in the life of a believer; Jesus said, “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)”

  Missionary C.T. Studd once said, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  And there is truly joy in serving Jesus in every season of life.  “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)”

  Once again, America has made its choice.  In January the baton will be passed to our next President, and all of those chosen to serve in the various offices of our federal, state and local governments.  Some may argue that the elections were not fair, and perhaps they were not; corruption is not the best environment for conducting a fair election.  But corruption is not limited to elected officials; corrupt officials in our constitutional republic are elected by the ever growing corrupt segments of our population.  Any way you look at it, America has indeed made its choice.  We are now, what we have been becoming.

  Perhaps more importantly we should concern ourselves with what lies ahead.  Political ideology, though important, is not the determining factor in forecasting our socio-political or economic future; there are divine principles in play as well.  Though many have forgotten God altogether, and others serve a god of their own making, the God of the Bible—the only true God— has not abandoned His creation, nor His design for its order and governance.  

  If you love America you must understand that its blessing or its cursing is inseparably linked to its dependence, allegiance and obedience to God.  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD… (Psalm 33:12)”  For those who require proof, any comprehensive, non-revised history book will provide all the evidence needed to rest the case. But be advised, many revisionists would mar the record of our past dependence and adherence to the Judeo-Christian principles that were at the foundation of our republic. They are liars.

  God told His people years ago, “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee  …15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments…; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15)”