I Will Follow

 

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.  Ephesians 2:10

The past few days, our family has worked on getting rid of stuff we no longer use nor want (or have the room for in our home)-stuff the boys no longer play with and several clothing items that we no longer wear any more.  Many of our items are still in good shape and will be donated to a local ministry.  As we quickly approach the end of 2023 and approach the beginning of a new year,  it’s time to let go of the past, remove the ‘junk’ out of our lives, and walk closer with God in the year to come.

You see, the closer we grow to God, the more we fully become our  “true selves.”  Just like old clothing or dated fashion, our old selves are in the past and we are deemed a new creation by our loving Father.  We are each created as individuals-one of a kind, and the path that we are needs to remain a straight line towards God.

Let us rejoice in our journey towards God in the days to come and enjoy the intimate communion with our Father that loves us more than we can possibly comprehend.

Worry

 

Stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life...who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure to his stature or span of his life?  Matthew 6:25, 27

Many people I know, myself included, tend to worry.  While most concerns are trivial such as worrying about what to eat and what to wear, while some are based on what someone will do when faced with a certain situation before that situation even occurs.

Most of us are blessed with nice homes, food, transportation, clothes, and endless other items that we don't necessarily need, so why do we have such a problem with worrying?  I believe it is because the enemy enjoys creating doubt in our minds, especially when we are facing difficulties.  God wants us to know that worrying doesn't add a single minute to our lives; in fact chronic worrying actually shortens our lives.

Our loving Father knows our needs before we even go to Him in prayer, so it's in our best interest to stop worrying and focus on the One who is able to meet our needs and is good to us at all times!

Pure

 

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth!  Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.  Psalm 86:11

We received quite a bit of citrus fruit for Christmas and in my humbled opinion, there is no better way to start the morning than with a fresh grapefruit or a seedless orange for breakfast.  We left an over-ripened banana on the counter near some of the oranges and grapefruit, and a few days later, some of the fruit had spoiled when we came back from all of our holiday travels.

Sin works in our lives much the same and just like bad fruit, it doesn't take much to spoil the whole bunch.  The good news is that Jesus’ death on the cross served as an atonement for our sins-past, present, and future.  When we accept His love offering, we are made clean and pure again in God’s eyes.  Keep in mind, that this is something we simply couldn't accomplish on our own.

When you humbly ask God to forgive you, he removes the contamination of your sin and purifies you once again!

Slow Down

 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me-and I in him-bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing."  -Jesus, John 15:5

Having some time off from work and away from the usual hustle and bustle of my normal routine has been wonderful and relaxing. It has also made me realize that no matter how busy I have been over the past year, I am still standing despite suffering the loss of my mom seven years ago.  The past twelve months were still very difficult, but my work became a distraction of sorts to the pain I was feeling inside.  I tried to stay busy to keep my mind off of things and unfortunately, my Spiritual life suffered a little because of it... 

God wants each of us to take the time to be still in his Presence so that he can strengthen us. Not just at Christmas time or during a vacation, but every single day.  When we allow God to enter our lives in such a profound way, we will actually do less but accomplish more.

As we prepare for the new year, let's plan to walk closer with God, depending on his strength and trusting him in every situation, every single day.

We can live in peace by walking in the light of his Presence!

The Power of Equality

 

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.  Romans 3:22

There are few things in life other than, say, oxygen, that are available to all people. The great thing about God is that salvation is available to all people.

It makes no difference to God what sins you have committed.  It does not matter who you are.  God loves all people equally and wants each one of us to be saved and live with him eternally in heaven.

When we decide that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and we ask for forgiveness of our sins, we are transformed into a new creation.  In God's eyes we become clean and pure again, just like everyone who believes.

We must share this with all people and love them into a relationship with Christ, to expand God's kingdom on this earth.

Love Me Tender

 

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  Psalm 103:13

I sometimes worry that I may be too harsh on our oldest son, after all he's only sixteen years old and a sophomore in high school.  After his little brother was born, I realize that as a father, I have an unspoken expectation of him to act more mature than he really is capable of.  All of this helps give me some insight into how God must feel about me in my walk of faith...some days, I am in-step with our Loving Father and other days, I am running away from Him in shame. 

God shows us all compassion by caring for us, providing for us, blessing us, and loving us.  When we trust him and obey him, he forgives us of our sins, which restores our relationship with him.

Thank you dear Father for your continuous tender love and mercy!

Glory To God Forever

 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men! Luke 2:14

I can only imagine how many angels must have filled the sky that starry night that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  The lights must have shined in brilliant radiance and the shepherds in the field could only gaze at the light in wide-eyed amazement.  

The King of all kings was not born in a palace, but in a stable.  Not just an empty stable, but one filled with animals, dung, and flies. He was not born in the capital city, but a small town called Bethlehem.  The first to proclaim Jesus’ birth were not royalty, but a group of shepherds who were in a nearby field.

The Christmas story was very different than the sanitary version we are so familiar with. In fact, Jesus’ birth was messy; much like our lives are.

This was all part of God’s divine plan to show each of us that life’s greatest treasure, salvation though Jesus Christ, is available to anyone and everyone-no matter what their status is, and no matter how messy their lives have become. 

Glory to God in the highest and Merry Christmas to all!

Silent Night

 

There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

When the shepherds found the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, they found Jesus Christ, “a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”  God’s people had been longing for the Messiah for centuries, but God sent Jesus to earth in his perfect timing.

Jesus came to this earth as a sin offering for all of mankind.  He came as the Savior, the fulfillment of the Old testament prophecies as the Messiah.  He came to the earth and lived among us-the Lord of heaven and earth in human flesh.

Jesus Christ is the ruling, sovereign, reigning Lord over all, and you can rest assured knowing that God sent Him at just the right time when most people, past, present, and future, would be reached with the Good News of salvation!

Follow You, Follow Me

 

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant.  May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.  Luke 1:38

Mary stepped up and followed God’s direction for her life despite the fact that she was only a young and unwed teenager, that could have faced a serious punishment (death) for bearing a child outside of marriage.

Just like Mary, we too need to take the risk of doing things God’s way.  When God asks us to follow him, he doesn't always provide us all of the information up front.  We have to step out in faith and when we do, he will give us enough guidance to see where to take our next steps.

Mary risked her life, her marriage, her reputation, and future by becoming the mother of Jesus. Following God’s will can be risky, but God promises us that the rewards will always outweigh the risk!

Give A Little Bit

 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."  Matthew 2:1-2

Not much is known about the Magi that traveled such a great distance to come and worship Jesus.  We do know that they followed a star (not sure exactly how they knew the star represented Jesus), but we are not told how many Magi came and where their journey originated. 

The Bible tells us that when the Magi finally found Jesus after traveling thousands of miles, they responded with joy, worship, and gifts.  The stark difference between their reaction and ours today is that we often expect God to come looking for us, prove he is who he is, and give us gifts. 

We need to be like the Magi and seek Jesus and worship Him, not for what we can get in return, but for who He is!

Don't Go Breaking My Heart

 

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  Matthew 1:18-19

I cannot begin to imagine Joseph's reaction when he learned that his pledged wife to be, Mary, was pregnant with a child that was not his.  Not to mention, even if it was Joseph's baby, they weren't even married yet and adulterers were often stoned to death in accordance with Jewish civil law during those times.  What is so remarkable about this story was that Joseph was indeed a righteous man and didn't abandon Mary, even though he thought about quietly divorcing her. 

We have all heard the story of Jesus' birth so many times, that we are insulated from just how much of a struggle Mary and Joseph actually endured to be the earthly parents of God's beloved Son.  This particular story of Joseph is truly a story of hope.  Can you imagine having your heart broken by someone you were madly in love with and planned to marry, only to be told by an angel that your special someone was carrying the Savior of the world? 

Joseph surely didn't map out his life this way, but he was righteous and he answered God's calling on his life.  Would you do the same if you faced such a difficult decision?

Listen

 

"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you-if you will listen to me, O Israel!"

Psalm 81:8

Several years ago, I took a Dale Carnegie class in LaGrange, Georgia to improve my public speaking skills. One of the most valuable lessons I learned during the class was that "the best speaker is a good listener." It makes sense if you think about it for a moment...People are not as interested in what you have to say as they are in having someone listen to what they have to say.

This concept is so true in the way we communicate with God. Anyone can throw out their laundry list of prayer requests, tack on an Amen, and feel like they have communicated with God. I am guilty of this myself, and feel that I often do not take the time to read His Word and patiently wait for His response or guidance.

Have you ever randomly opened the Bible and found a verse that was applicable to what you were going through at that very moment? It was not by chance, I assure you. God often speaks His truths directly into our lives through the pages of the Living Word.

This new year, take the time to read Scripture more and diligently seek His voice. There are too many blessings that we miss out on because of our failure to listen.

Give

 

When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory. Colossians 3:4

Well, our annual Life Group ‘White Elephant Gift Exchange’ was another success despite another minor dispute between our sons about whose gift belongs to who… Elliott, our oldest, opened one of the last gifts of the night and struck gold when he selected the gift bag containing a battery-operated chicken that danced to the classic and yet annoying 'Chicken Dance.'  Of course, Elijah really wanted the chicken and for one of the first times that I can recall, the boys peacefully traded their gifts with one another. This was a pretty big deal to witness as they are always bickering about which toy belongs to who and so on...

For most of us as grown adults, sharing is still a hard concept to grasp. I believe it is due to our fallen and sinful nature to get rather than give and our thirst to accumulate rather than relinquish. As followers of Christ, we are called to share our love, time, faith, resources, talents, and money with others. People who do share and give are promised the benefits of being generous, which are far greater than the fleeting moments of receiving.

When you realize how much God has shared and given to you, it's hard not to want to go and give and share with others in return.

This Christmas season, think of what you have that you can generously share or give to others...

Even It Up

 

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Matthew 5:38-39

Trying to be a good role model for our two sons, Jesus' words on retaliation is certainly relevant on almost a daily basis in our home. We have two young men and as they grow bigger, stronger, and sometimes temperamental, it is important that we instill the value of not seeking revenge on each other while they live under our roof.  As you can imagine they are both competitive and make everything a contest of sorts...

When we are wronged, it is human nature to want to get even. Instead of seeking vengeance, Jesus' radical words are to do good to those who have wronged us! I still struggle with this today and luckily have not acted out too many times when I have been wronged in the past.

Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive-just as our loving Father has done freely for us. This is certainly not natural; it's supernatural.

Only God can give us the strength to love as only he does! The next time you plan to seek revenge, pray for the person who has wronged you instead.

Slippin' Into Darkness

 

Who among you fears the Lord? ...Whoever walks in deep darkness, without light, should trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.  Isaiah 50:10

The first part of my day yesterday started out incredibly awesome.  The weather was cold outside, but still bearable for my morning jog.  All the Christmas lights shined brightly outside the homes in my neighborhood.  For the first time, I was beginning to get excited about Christmas this year. 

I talked to some long-time friends and wished them all a Merry Christmas.  I enjoyed lunch with one of my clients at one of my favorite restaurants in Knoxville, Dead End BBQ.  Life was good and I was on top of the world!  Another hour later, my wonderful day quickly turned into the day from HELL.  

Don’t want to get too personal about work, but let's just say that an unfavorable business decision was made by one of my clients and I was on the losing side of it all.

Nothing happens in this life by chance.  There are reasons for everything happening, because God is in total and complete control.  As is normal for me, I kept wondering what I could have done differently to salvage the business that I lost.  It didn't occur to me until later on that God was still in control, despite my bad situation.  I may never know, why, but I have to trust that it was all part of God's master plan for my life.

One thing is for sure, as we head into Christmas; even in dark and challenging times, we must learn to rely on God and trust Him, at all costs. 

All I Do Is Win

 

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Like any athlete that excels in their sport, if they are not constantly encouraged, their performance will eventually decline.

As Christians, this is a valuable lesson for us to learn as well.  When we listen to the feelings of doubt that God is distant, we fall trap into the lies and deceit of the enemy who wants us to live our lives feeling defeated.  When we do this, we certainly don't live like citizens of the Kingdom of God.

We must learn to live without fear-not being afraid to take risks or be bold in our faith.  Hardships will come our way and battles will be difficult, but the love and power of Jesus will always remain undefeated. 

God wants us to overcome and not be overwhelmed!

Simple

 

“Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.  With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.”  Matthew 6:8, The Message

I must say that I am very proud of both our boys, in particularly, our youngest son, Elijah, who at age 13, has given us a very short and precise wish list this Christmas.  This, of course, is in stark contrast to when I was younger, as I would typically began combing both the Sears and Toys 'R' Us catalogs that were mailed to our home, devising my master wish list for Christmas, usually by the end of each summer. I would typically condense my multi-paged wish list by the end of November so that it was a little more realistic for anyone who was doing their Christmas shopping for me, but I am pretty sure that I asked for every single toy that I laid my eyes on for many years, when I was younger.

Just like a parent strives to provide their children with the most wanted gifts on their Christmas wish list, God also promises to supply our needs, not necessarily our wants.   The above paraphrased passage from the book of Matthew was Jesus’ advice for us on how to pray to God.  Jesus was telling us that God already knows what we need, so we should not have to babble or ramble on when we pray to Him.

When we pray and keep it simple, focusing on what God values, the more we will be able to distinguish our wants from our needs.  Furthermore, we can rest assured that God doesn't need some elaborate string of words to determine what it is that we need because He already knows!

Send Me An Angel

 

He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.  They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.  Psalm 91:11-12

The Bible doesn't specifically say whether there is one specific guardian angel assigned to each believer, but I do believe that God uses his almighty supernatural power and angels to protect us.  In the wake of losing my mother this year, I believe that she is always with me in spirit and watching over me from her Heavenly home...  

God’s Word does tell us that he uses angels to guide us, protect us, minister to us, rescue us and fight for us.  Regardless, if it is one specific angel or a host of angels, you can rest assured that we are blessed by the role they play in our lives.  In fact, I am convinced that angels play a greater role in our lives than we can possibly fathom or begin to understand.

Let us thank God today for his provisions, blessings and the supernatural ways in which he takes care of the people he loves.

Until The Whole World Hears

 

When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory. Colossians 3:4

Watching our two boys grow up is such a blessing. Even with both of our boys in their teenage years (ages 16 and 13) who should be able to share and get along; still have a tendency to fight, which reminds me of how I treated my little sister when we were children.  Ever since I can remember, our parents taught us to share.

For most of us as grown adults, sharing is still a hard concept to grasp. I believe it is due to our fallen and sinful nature to get rather than give and our thirst to accumulate rather than relinquish. As followers of Christ, we are called to share our love, time, faith, resources, talents, and money with others. People who do share and give are promised the benefits of being generous, which are far greater than the fleeting moments of receiving.

When you realize how much God has shared and given to you, it's hard not to want to go and give and share with others in return.

This Christmas season, think of what you have that you can generously share with others...

On Our Side

 

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

The more I ponder Paul's question above, the more I believe it is a rhetorical question designed to make us realize the foolishness of our thinking.  Often times, the severity of our present circumstances cloud our view of God, and in the process, we are left questioning whether or not He is indeed on our side.

Think about it this way-if God freely gave us his beloved Son, Jesus, while we were still sinners, why would he abandon us now?  The answer is pretty clear-he would never abandon us.

Sometimes, we feel like he has forgotten us, especially when we are overwhelmed by our present circumstances, but God will always remain by our side.

We must treat our doubts about God much like sin.  God's Word repeatedly reminds us that God loves us and his extravagant goodness are always with those who believe.  

Get Closer

 

Come close to God, and God will come close to you.  James 4:8

As challenging and cumbersome as my career has become in particularly in the always crazy/busy 4Q or open enrollment season, one of the perks to working as an insurance broker is being offered the occasional ticket to see a concert or attend a sporting event.  I must say, that I have always enjoyed music, specifically 'live' music, so it’s rare that I would ever hesitate to go to an event.

As believers in the body of Christ, each one of us has also been given a ‘free pass’ through our faith, to enjoy and be in God’s presence. It’s when we put our faith and trust in Jesus that we can enter God’s presence with utmost confidence.

The closer we come to God, the closer he draws to us!  Thanks be to God!!

Peace on Earth

 

You will keep in perfect peace with all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!  Isaiah 26:3

It's hard not to feel uneasy these days...just turn on the news for a few minutes and with all that's going on around the world, one can easily determine that we could all use more peace.

People will often go to great lengths to find peace, but genuine peace can only be found in a trusting relationship with God.

Peace is not just the absence of conflict, but more so the presence of God.  Peace of mind comes as the Holy Spirit guides you into God’s purposes for your life and he gives you an eternal perspective.  Peace of heart comes as the Holy Spirit guides you into a productive life and comforts you in times of trouble.

This Christmas season, let the peace of Jesus enter your heart.