Our heart is often like the undecorated tree or the empty stable. It is barren, awaiting the glories of God to come and reside there. Do we reach for the both delicate and sturdy beauties of God? Do we hang them upon the branches of our lives? Is the crowning touch of our life the guiding star of the living Christ? Do we fill our lives with the gifts of God, the wisdom of his servants and followers? Is there awe in our hearts and minds at the wonder of the Christ all year long? As you remove the decorations from the tree and as you take down the stable this year you might ponder these thoughts. What do these items represent to you, beyond the excitement of the Christmas season? What deeper meaning might there be as you remove an ornament from an old friend, one of your children, or a grandchild? What thoughts are there as you pick up a shepherd to place him in his box for the rest of the year? We might pause to reflect as we remove the baby to storage, but how often do we wonder about the importance of the animals presence? How can our lives hold the beauty of the decorated tree? How can our lives reflect the immense miracle of Christmas?
When the non-believer's challenge the reason for the season, remember that the miraculous Christ has offended the non-believer for over 2000 years. The fact that we believe is the essence of faith and the enemy of our souls will always challenge that. Rejoice that you stand for truth, whether or not it is believed.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Christmas thoughts....
As the season of Christ's birth advances we always hear a lot about many topics-some of it very good, some of it not so much. One of the things that I see folks do is become literally "consumed" in something such as decorating or buying or some aspect of the season which has become so commercialized. Sometimes it is hard not to become overtaken in this, especially if you are a parent of several small children. While much of this is enjoyable and in the spirit of giving, it can become a burden and a frustration-this is when we need to draw the line! I know it may seem impossible, but I submit that it is not only possible, it is necessary.
Often we think we "have to" do things beyond our true ability to do so, when really we do not in reality. It might be amazing to realize how a very small thing can mean far more than something extravagant. It is sad to see folks bankrupt the budget because they feel compelled to buy, buy, buy! A simple gift, a special card, call, or email might be all that is needed to bless someone. In fact, I received such a blessing and was far more touched by it than I would have been by anything else from that person.
Sometimes too we become overwhelmed with the activities of this season, to the point of exhaustion & frustration. There are parties, baking, wrapping, cooking, travelling, shopping, decorating, special activities, etc. How do we best handle this? One way is to plan ahead and do ahead as much as possible. Buy when there is a sale or you have down time to shop - bake/cook and freeze when possible - pack ahead - wrap ahead. Then when the time comes to do the rest, you can actually enjoy doing it. One more way to "endure" is to pray it through! Have you ever prayed for people as you wrapped their gifts? Have you ever prayed as you decorated, being thankful that Christ was born? Do you ever pray when you travel for those less fortunate, for those unsaved, or for those who have lost all touch with the true meaning of Christmas? How about playing Christmas songs as you work on the holiday projects? It will lift your mood.
We often have seasonal over-tiredness and frustration because we bring it upon ourselves, thinking we MUST do something or leaving things all until the last moment. We should stop to consider, Mary & Joseph did not "race" to Bethlehem. The Wise men did not "race" to see the child either. Jesus did not have the "gift" of a 5 star room for his entrance into the world, but he had the "gift" of a humble stable. The gift the shepherds brought was themselves and their love. The gifts brought to the Christ were not to impress or out of obligation, but were instead to honor him
One of the BEST gifts I ever rec'd. was a used book from a loved one from their own collection because they could not afford gifts that year! If they read this, they will recall - that was an awesome Christlike blessing, and blesses me every year as I remember it. Other best gifts have been things that were made for me by loved ones, and just time spent with me especially when it meant they went out of their way to do so!
see Mt.2:13-15 I suggest if you suffer from holiday tension - escape to your Egypt lest the King of your stress kill the real meaning of the season. Have a blessed holiday with those you love, no matter where they are - in person, or in spirit.
Often we think we "have to" do things beyond our true ability to do so, when really we do not in reality. It might be amazing to realize how a very small thing can mean far more than something extravagant. It is sad to see folks bankrupt the budget because they feel compelled to buy, buy, buy! A simple gift, a special card, call, or email might be all that is needed to bless someone. In fact, I received such a blessing and was far more touched by it than I would have been by anything else from that person.
Sometimes too we become overwhelmed with the activities of this season, to the point of exhaustion & frustration. There are parties, baking, wrapping, cooking, travelling, shopping, decorating, special activities, etc. How do we best handle this? One way is to plan ahead and do ahead as much as possible. Buy when there is a sale or you have down time to shop - bake/cook and freeze when possible - pack ahead - wrap ahead. Then when the time comes to do the rest, you can actually enjoy doing it. One more way to "endure" is to pray it through! Have you ever prayed for people as you wrapped their gifts? Have you ever prayed as you decorated, being thankful that Christ was born? Do you ever pray when you travel for those less fortunate, for those unsaved, or for those who have lost all touch with the true meaning of Christmas? How about playing Christmas songs as you work on the holiday projects? It will lift your mood.
We often have seasonal over-tiredness and frustration because we bring it upon ourselves, thinking we MUST do something or leaving things all until the last moment. We should stop to consider, Mary & Joseph did not "race" to Bethlehem. The Wise men did not "race" to see the child either. Jesus did not have the "gift" of a 5 star room for his entrance into the world, but he had the "gift" of a humble stable. The gift the shepherds brought was themselves and their love. The gifts brought to the Christ were not to impress or out of obligation, but were instead to honor him
One of the BEST gifts I ever rec'd. was a used book from a loved one from their own collection because they could not afford gifts that year! If they read this, they will recall - that was an awesome Christlike blessing, and blesses me every year as I remember it. Other best gifts have been things that were made for me by loved ones, and just time spent with me especially when it meant they went out of their way to do so!
see Mt.2:13-15 I suggest if you suffer from holiday tension - escape to your Egypt lest the King of your stress kill the real meaning of the season. Have a blessed holiday with those you love, no matter where they are - in person, or in spirit.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Radically loving Christ=Thanksgiving!
As a servant journeys through this life heaven-bound, listening for the voice of the Father is all important. Many wonder how to hear it, or why they do not hear it. Many times we do not because we are not truly listening. Our mind is too full of what we want or need or expect, rather than being openly submissive to Christ the King. We forget basic principles of being the child of an extravagant God whose love is ever-present & never dependent upon our behavior...however...our behavior very well may, and most likely does, determine our answer to prayer. Our devoted creator knows what is best for us, and his answers are not always yes. A no, a maybe, a wait a bit answer IS nevertheless an answer. What about all those "bad" things that happen? Why does he allow it? We live in a fallen world, where sin begets sin, BUT the Lord will use everything for good that we will turn over to him. This may be particularly hard in some instances, but once we learn that character is built in such times we can take those times and turn them into ministry to others in pain.
Many books are written, many songs are penned, and many poems are put to paper because of the Savior bringing someone through a tough circumstance. Likewise, much is said of many due to the revelation of the extravagant love of Christ. Being quiet before the Lord, pouring out our deepest thoughts, desires, dreams, and fears we find a God who cradles us in his bountiful love and speaks gentle words of favor to our waiting hearts. We can live without fear or guilt in this life, and seek eternity with great joy and expectation. All that is required of us is to return his extravagant love.
What does extravagant love mean really? It is love abandoning all else, it is love that moves you to desire only goodness in your behavior, abiding worship of the Lord of all, and loving those in this world with Christlike genuineness. True "religion" is caring for others as Christ cares for us, usually in many practical ways-feeding the hungry, helping the poor, and serving the orphans & widows in this world. "Church" is where we hear the word, worship the Lord God of hosts, and connect with other believers. The world outside the church doors is where we practice our "religion". We have come to think dutiful good works, the observance of man-made rituals and the legalistic following of God's commands is religion. It is not. TRUE "religion" is the boundless desire to do good, the radical love of a matchless God, and the freedom to follow God's commands out of deep desire to please him. The Bible says where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. It is a "get to" mentality, not a "have to" one.
Our salvation is an option...we can choose eternity in hell (the total absence of a loving Dad forever), we can choose to give back to God in whatever % we want of what he has given to us (tithing once was a legalistic command, but has become a love-filled option in the presence of a saving Christ, wherein we sow seeds that are reaped accordingly),we can choose to worship as we wish, pray as we will, enter the waters of baptism as an act of obedience or not, and the list goes on. Radically loving Christ is an option-a wonderful, glorious, mind-blowing option in life that is surpassed by nothing else in this world. God is a God of grace, mercy, and everlasting patience with creation. He is an all-loving God, a just God, and a God of graciousness. The Holy Spirit never forces us to do a thing, but will overwhelm us with radical, extravagant love when we simply acknowledge our total lack of real control in life without the help of God almighty. Nothing in this life is worth anything without the love of the creator guiding us through it.
There is a place for the deep reverence of God and a place for the unbound excitement in loving God. Thus we have the extremes of denominational boundaries and non-denominational freedoms. I have seen in recent days that these extremes are learning to not just be tolerant of one another, but to be involved with one another, and to learn and adopt from one another. We are learning that reading the scriptures and tracing the meaning of the words written there brings us to a place of understanding and radically loving a God we never fully knew. Above all, seek not the gifts of God, but God himself. Never seek to please man before God. As we immerse ourselves in the Word he reveals himself to us and we find that place of radically loving an extravagant God. As he says "shhhh...be still and know that I am God" and we abide in his presence we come out the other end ready to shout to the world that we serve an all powerful God that we love so radically that nothing can hold us back from serving him and worshipping him with all that is in us.
It is nearly Thanksgiving time in America, where we give thanks for a God of great blessing. My Thanksgiving prayer is that all would come to know the heart of God, the overwhelming joy and peace in radically loving him, and would celebrate this love of God by being a willing servant in a fallen world. Thank you Jesus, for loving us so much you allowed yourself to be broken and spilled out in radical, extravagant love for us!
Many books are written, many songs are penned, and many poems are put to paper because of the Savior bringing someone through a tough circumstance. Likewise, much is said of many due to the revelation of the extravagant love of Christ. Being quiet before the Lord, pouring out our deepest thoughts, desires, dreams, and fears we find a God who cradles us in his bountiful love and speaks gentle words of favor to our waiting hearts. We can live without fear or guilt in this life, and seek eternity with great joy and expectation. All that is required of us is to return his extravagant love.
What does extravagant love mean really? It is love abandoning all else, it is love that moves you to desire only goodness in your behavior, abiding worship of the Lord of all, and loving those in this world with Christlike genuineness. True "religion" is caring for others as Christ cares for us, usually in many practical ways-feeding the hungry, helping the poor, and serving the orphans & widows in this world. "Church" is where we hear the word, worship the Lord God of hosts, and connect with other believers. The world outside the church doors is where we practice our "religion". We have come to think dutiful good works, the observance of man-made rituals and the legalistic following of God's commands is religion. It is not. TRUE "religion" is the boundless desire to do good, the radical love of a matchless God, and the freedom to follow God's commands out of deep desire to please him. The Bible says where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. It is a "get to" mentality, not a "have to" one.
Our salvation is an option...we can choose eternity in hell (the total absence of a loving Dad forever), we can choose to give back to God in whatever % we want of what he has given to us (tithing once was a legalistic command, but has become a love-filled option in the presence of a saving Christ, wherein we sow seeds that are reaped accordingly),we can choose to worship as we wish, pray as we will, enter the waters of baptism as an act of obedience or not, and the list goes on. Radically loving Christ is an option-a wonderful, glorious, mind-blowing option in life that is surpassed by nothing else in this world. God is a God of grace, mercy, and everlasting patience with creation. He is an all-loving God, a just God, and a God of graciousness. The Holy Spirit never forces us to do a thing, but will overwhelm us with radical, extravagant love when we simply acknowledge our total lack of real control in life without the help of God almighty. Nothing in this life is worth anything without the love of the creator guiding us through it.
There is a place for the deep reverence of God and a place for the unbound excitement in loving God. Thus we have the extremes of denominational boundaries and non-denominational freedoms. I have seen in recent days that these extremes are learning to not just be tolerant of one another, but to be involved with one another, and to learn and adopt from one another. We are learning that reading the scriptures and tracing the meaning of the words written there brings us to a place of understanding and radically loving a God we never fully knew. Above all, seek not the gifts of God, but God himself. Never seek to please man before God. As we immerse ourselves in the Word he reveals himself to us and we find that place of radically loving an extravagant God. As he says "shhhh...be still and know that I am God" and we abide in his presence we come out the other end ready to shout to the world that we serve an all powerful God that we love so radically that nothing can hold us back from serving him and worshipping him with all that is in us.
It is nearly Thanksgiving time in America, where we give thanks for a God of great blessing. My Thanksgiving prayer is that all would come to know the heart of God, the overwhelming joy and peace in radically loving him, and would celebrate this love of God by being a willing servant in a fallen world. Thank you Jesus, for loving us so much you allowed yourself to be broken and spilled out in radical, extravagant love for us!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Going through...
If you are "going through" some things...remember that means you are "on your way out" of them. Please feel free to direct anyone to this blog at wwwjourneytoheaven.blogspot.com (NO dot after w)and to www.divineappointments.vpweb.com for online counseling or a devotional on basic Christian accountability. Several devotionals have found their way into prisons, overseas, and to women in need, and the needy. Please pray that they will bring people to a closer walk with God, and if they have never accepted Christ, to do so...for "we know not the hour"....did you know the 21st century ushered in the 3rd day of the Lord? Do you know the scripture that tells us that? There is a little mind teaser for you.
I want to just share a little personal story...I have had some enjoyable weeks of late at that place we call church...where the body of Christ meets to worship the Lord and receive instruction. (I have just applied for membership at an empowered & spirit-filled church.) One of my most enjoyable evenings was catching glimpses of a young African American man about maybe 10, worshipping God with all his heart. I had to introduce myself to him & tell him that he was very special. I watched as he raised his hands in worship to God, and as he stretched out his hand toward the sick, as we prayed for a lady to be healed of Cancer. What was it Jesus said about the little children? I have always believed this is exactly what he was talking about. Think about what that means. It meant more than let them come here so I can talk to them...it meant to never hinder their growth in God!
Be blessed, and be empowered. Remember, Jesus said greater things would we do...he said that because we have the Holy Spirit, the counselor, the comforter...what did Jesus do? He will do them through you too! He left us the Holy Spirit so we could do that which he did. When he left, he told us that the Holy Spirit would come, and He did! He is the one who convicts and convinces, but we are the vessels he uses. It is us that share the gospel of the good news of salvation. It is us that pray healing prayers for the sick. It is us that can ask miracles of Abba Father, our Daddy, & believe they will happen. We all have spiritual gifts to use in the world we live in for the kingdom of God. Every member of the body is an essential part of the body. Just like that little boy-you are special!
Finally, for this time I would like to direct you to some powerful teaching of the word. If you have never heard the teaching of Joseph Prince, see if you can find him on your TV. This man knows his Bible and he can apply the word to your heart in such a wonderful way. I find him to be very intelligent and down-to-earth. If you want some fresh teaching, give him a try.
I want to just share a little personal story...I have had some enjoyable weeks of late at that place we call church...where the body of Christ meets to worship the Lord and receive instruction. (I have just applied for membership at an empowered & spirit-filled church.) One of my most enjoyable evenings was catching glimpses of a young African American man about maybe 10, worshipping God with all his heart. I had to introduce myself to him & tell him that he was very special. I watched as he raised his hands in worship to God, and as he stretched out his hand toward the sick, as we prayed for a lady to be healed of Cancer. What was it Jesus said about the little children? I have always believed this is exactly what he was talking about. Think about what that means. It meant more than let them come here so I can talk to them...it meant to never hinder their growth in God!
Be blessed, and be empowered. Remember, Jesus said greater things would we do...he said that because we have the Holy Spirit, the counselor, the comforter...what did Jesus do? He will do them through you too! He left us the Holy Spirit so we could do that which he did. When he left, he told us that the Holy Spirit would come, and He did! He is the one who convicts and convinces, but we are the vessels he uses. It is us that share the gospel of the good news of salvation. It is us that pray healing prayers for the sick. It is us that can ask miracles of Abba Father, our Daddy, & believe they will happen. We all have spiritual gifts to use in the world we live in for the kingdom of God. Every member of the body is an essential part of the body. Just like that little boy-you are special!
Finally, for this time I would like to direct you to some powerful teaching of the word. If you have never heard the teaching of Joseph Prince, see if you can find him on your TV. This man knows his Bible and he can apply the word to your heart in such a wonderful way. I find him to be very intelligent and down-to-earth. If you want some fresh teaching, give him a try.
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