JESUS is the REASON!

I pray you and your family will be blessed this Christmas and throughout the coming year. I will be taking next week off to spend with my family. I'll meet you back here in the new year on January 4th. Now may your eyes and heart take in the story of the birth of Jesus as if you were reading it for the first time. Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:1-20 [KJV]
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 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, 1Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 1And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Dream BIG!

How big are your dreams? Are they within your reach? Do you see them as possibilities? I would like to challenge you today and tell you if your dreams appear to be possible to you, then you’re dreaming too small. It’s time to dream big. It’s time to dream God sized dreams. God sized dreams are those you know you can't pull off on your own, but you know deep inside you God is calling you to go for it. They are the dreams that reach out and touch the lives of others. Dreams, if accomplished, that will have impact beyond what you can comprehend. These types of dreams are also dreams that are more for others than they are for you. When you dream like this and truly step into it, then look our world, because you’ve just taken a seat on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
Last night I went to a book signing of a young lady who was willing to dream such a dream. She loves teens and she loves to write. God called her to put those two together and reach for something that was beyond her, but not impossible with God [Luke 1:37]. Annie Downs’ book, From Head to Foot, released on December 7th and I believe it will impact a generation. Young girls across the globe will begin to see themselves as God sees them as a result of her willingness to dream big with God.
Joseph dreamed big and the world laughed at him, at least his world [Genesis 37:5]. Joseph believed God, even when the circumstances in his life didn’t line up with the dream. In fact, the circumstances in his life seemed to contradict the dream. Fortunately, Joseph didn’t give up and as a result he was placed second in command of all of Egypt by Pharaoh [Genesis 41:44].
In Matthew 1:20 another Jewish boy named Joseph had a dream. In it an angel told him he would be the earthly father to the Son of God. This made no sense to him nor would the story pan out with anyone else he shared it with except Mary. Joseph dared to believe the dream and he was blessed with the honor and privilege of being the earthly father to Jesus.
What are you dreaming these days? Does it seem like it will happen any minute? Maybe it is time to sit quietly with the Lord and dream a while with Him. He has great things planned for you [Jeremiah 29:11]. God dreams up the impossible for us because all things are possible with God. He is looking for bold people willing to step into dreams He is dreaming up for them. Are you willing to partner with Him? Friends, it is time to embrace and walk out Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’" Reach for the impossible and watch God move.

Is there room in your house?

What are you doing for Christmas this year? Are you attending parties and celebrations with friends and family? Have you attended work parties and luncheons sharing small talk with people you only gather with once a year? Have you baked cookies, bought and wrapped presents, and decorated the house?
There are a lot of preparations made for Christmas in many households, but how many of them truly prepare you for an encounter with Jesus? Is there time in your schedule for Jesus? Does your family take time to share the Christmas story together or pray in the days leading up to Christmas? Are you taking time each day to spend with Him, to worship Him, and talk with Him? Is there any room on your calendar for Jesus?
In Luke 2:6-7 we read there was no room for Jesus and his family in a home…”While they were there, the time came for the Baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Jesus came that night in the town of Bethlehem and stayed a few days there but most of Bethlehem missed Him completely. They were so busy with their schedules, their agendas, and preparations, they completely missed out on a divine encounter. He was in their backyards and they missed it.
Don't miss Him. He is here today. Please don't miss Him. Take time today for Jesus. Clear your entire calendar if necessary, but don’t miss Him. He desires to have a divine encounter with you. All He is waiting for is you.

He's about to speak..........

Do you know someone who is a Justin Bieber fan? My daughter is crazy about him. She has posters of him in her room and she loves his music. She was dying to see the new music video for his song “Pray” when it hit the internet. She dragged me in to watch it because the video gave a strong implication he might be a Christian, which would just seal the deal on him being the greatest ever in her mind. I sat there halfway paying attention to his video, but was struck by something he had on the screen at the end of the song. It read “God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.” I don’t know if Justin is the one credited with saying it or if he simply put it in his video, but there is great truth in those two sentences.
Our American culture is extremely chaotic on any given day. Our “to do” lists seem to be longer than our arms. There are places to go, people to see and things to do. As a culture, we rarely have dinner sitting around a table with our families. In fact, more meals are consumed in our cars and out of bags than around our tables on plates. With this being our culture’s standard, it is easy to understand why so many people say “I don’t ever hear God speak to me.” Now add the cultural practices of Christmas on top of everything else and it is easy to see how Jesus gets lost and Christmas no longer seems to be about Christ.
If you are celebrating the Christ child at Christmas, it is because you are intentional about it. It is because you are making time to sit still before the Lord and focus on Him [Psalm 46:10]. If we want to hear God speak to our souls, then we must find a quiet place and wait upon the Lord [Isaiah 40:31]. When we do, He will reveal things to us we would never experience otherwise [Jeremiah 33:3].
God isn’t in a hurry. He has all the time in the world to accomplish His purposes. He will not adjust Himself to our timetable. If we truly want to hear from Him, we must adjust ourselves to His timetable.
If you will choose to find a quiet place today and settle yourself before the Lord, He will meet you there. Christmas will never be the same. Shhhhhh! He’s about to speak.

A Proper Connection

Are you a mechanical person? I am not. I used to have a t-shirt that read “I am mechanically inclined to screw up everything.” I just don’t have the time or the patience to put things together. Thankfully, my husband and son are both wired that way and when we get something that has “some assembly required” they are both eager and willing to do it.
Our television has been on the blink for a while. This weekend, we knew we had to do something when the picture would go to a flat line and you had to get up and smack the side of the television to correct the picture. My husband and son took off to Best Buy to see what they could find while my daughter and I went to a Christmas ballet. When we returned, they had cables everywhere trying to hook the new television up to the DVD player, the cable, and the surround sound. There were several plugs and several places each plug could have gone. They had to keep referring to the manual to see how to connect everything. It took a few times before they got it everything working properly but once they did, it was fabulous. The picture was crystal clear and the sound was amazing.
Do you ever feel like your wires are crossed and things in your life aren’t working properly? Do you feel like you need a smack in the head to get it right? Fortunately, we have a manual for life the Lord has given us; it is the Bible [Psalm 119:105]. When we get our wires crossed, we can refer to the Word to reconnect our wires or stay connected the way we were designed so things flow as they were intended [2 Timothy 3:16]. Unlike the television, we tend to get our wires crossed on a regular basis. We can avoid this problem by referring to the Word daily and doing what it says.
Is there a problem in your wiring? Do you feel like you aren’t seeing a clear picture in life? Maybe there is a cable in the wrong place. The only way to find out is to refer to the Manual. The Manufacturer is also ready and available to assist you with your troubles. He never has a busy signal and He won’t put you on hold. What are you waiting for?

Love doesn't take a day off.

Have you ever noticed how people try to do some type of humanitarian effort during the Christmas season? People flock to the soup kitchens to help serve a meal, participate in food drives, adopt a family from an angel tree or drop a few coins in the red bucket when prompted by the ringing of the bells as they walk out of the store. People, both Christian and non-Christian alike, tend to be more generous around the Christmas season. I’ve heard it referred to as the spirit of Christmas.
I can’t help but think if this outward act of caring for others is the spirit of Christmas, then isn’t it the spirit of Christ? And if it is the spirit of Christ, shouldn’t we be doing it every day, not just at Christmastime?
Jesus isn’t just a holiday figure like Santa Claus or Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. He is the God who was, and is, and is to come [Revelation 1:4]. The season of Christmas came about to celebrate Christ, not the other way around. If we are true followers of Christ, we should be looking for opportunities to be His hands and feet 365 days a year. After all, people need a hot meal on March 11th, just as much as they do on December 25th.
1 John 4:16 tells us “God is love.” Love never takes a day off. Jesus called us to be His disciples, demonstrate His love and care for His people [John 13:34; Mark 10:8]. He told us people would know we were His disciples by our love [John 13:35].
It is wonderful to see all of the acts of kindness that take place in the month of December, but what are you planning to do in the month of January? How are you going to demonstrate the love of Christ to your neighbors after the cookie tins have been washed and packed away until next year? What are you going to do with the excess clothing in your house you don’t really need? How are you going to budget your finances for the coming year? Will there be an envelope to pull from to help those in need?
In John 21 we read of Peter and Jesus taking a walk on the beach together. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. Three times Peter answers yes. Three times Jesus tells Peter to take care of His sheep, His lambs. My question for you today is do you love Him?

Are you pondering?

When you were little, did your mom put your school papers on the refrigerator to celebrate your accomplishments? My mom did and I did the same for my children. My refrigerator was always filled with crayon colorings, paintings and stories when Sam and Laura were in elementary school. I still have a few pieces of artwork on the side of my refrigerator because I can’t bear to take them down.
Sam came home this week with a 100 on a calculus test. He studied for hours and wasn’t sure how he was going to do. I put it up on the refrigerator and we celebrated. We could have just said, “Great job” and sent him upstairs to study for finals, but instead we paused and celebrated all of his hard work paying off. He laughed, but I know it blessed him. I will never forget the look on my 16 year old’s face as we celebrated him and I feel certain he will remember it also.
In Luke 2:19 we read “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Mary had a lot to take in over a few days. There was no way to process it all or even respond to it. She took time to soak it all in and ponder it.
So many of us, me included, rush through life and don’t take time to ponder. It is only when we take time that we discover treasures the Lord has for us. If we go rushing through life working through our agenda without looking up we miss a lot. We all need to learn to take time to ponder and discover the treasures along the way.
I’m not talking about materialist treasures here. Our world is too caught up in that pursuit. I’ve seen bumper stickers that read “He who dies with the most toys wins!” Well, he who dies with the most toys still dies and depending on how he lived his life on earth, he’ll discover if he really won or lost. Mark 8:36 says “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Yet we are all out there trying to conquer the world.
God promised the Israelites He would deliver them from Egypt to the Promised Land. They made many mistakes along the way¸ which led to God telling them to go into the Promised Land without Him. Moses responded in Exodus 33:15. “Then Moses said to Him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.’” Beth Moore put it this way, “The Promised Land is no land of promise without God.” The real treasures in life cannot be bought or sold, but they take time and must be experienced and pondered. The real treasure in life comes from above. It isn't something you earn. It is a gift received.
It’s time to slow down, step out of the rat race and soak in what is going on around you. Look for treasure, because the Lord has placed it everywhere. It simply takes time to locate it and you never find it when you live life in the fast lane.

Trust and Obey!

Have you been enjoying the Christmas story each morning in a different Bible translation? While I have one translation I am partial to when it comes to reading the Christmas story, I have found it to be very insightful to read the different translations because various things seem to stand out more in one translation than another.
In the New Living Translation Luke 2:5 reads “He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.” We all know Mary had to be far along in her pregnancy, because she gave birth in Bethlehem, but have you ever really paused and thought of the stigma of being engaged to be married and obviously pregnant. Unfortunately, in this day and time it isn’t unusual. In fact, in Hollywood it seems to be the rage. It just shows how far our world has gone from the ways of God.
Joseph, however, was quite possibly viewed as a fool for marrying a woman who appeared to have little regard for the sacred union of marriage. If not that, they thought he simply couldn’t wait until the end of the betrothal period. Either way, Joseph was not highly respected due to the situation. Yet, Joseph did not hang his head in shame. He quietly did what the Lord called him to do in spite of his circumstances, because he trusted God to work all things together for good [Romans 8:28].
Dropping down to verses 13-14 in the NLT we read “Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'” I don’t know why it has never hit me like this, but the magnitude of angels described in this translation blows my mind. The picture I get is more angels than Turner Field could hold, surrounding them on all sides singing of the glory of God. No wonder the shepherds were terrified. The sheer volume alone had to be overwhelming. Then you factor in what they are seeing with their own eyes. I think it would have taken a while for anyone to move, let alone speak. Yet, the shepherds seemed to immediately respond and go and search for the Christ child.
Everyone who seems to have a part in the birth of Christ holds two things in common. They all seem to have complete trust in God alone and they all seem to respond immediately. Because of their faith and their obedience, they were chosen to participate in one of the greatest events in the history of the world. Their story is told all over the world and has been told in every generation since it took place.
Is God asking you to trust in Him in a situation you’re facing? Are you willing? Are you quick to obey Him when He tells you to do something? If not, you may be missing out on an opportunity to be a part of a major event in history.

Do whatever He says!

Are you feeling a little overwhelmed with the holidays? Lately I’ve encountered people who appear to be more caught up in their things to do for Christmas than Christmas itself. They are attending parties out of obligation, not desire, instead politely declining or looking for the God appointment in the parties. They are in the stores buying gifts to get it checked off of their list instead focusing on the individual they’re buying it for and choosing something with meaning. They are baking because they feel it is expected of them, rather than for the joy of baking and giving others something that says “I put time into this for you.”
Now all of these certainly don’t apply to you and I pray none of them do; however, when we feel overwhelmed by our load we’re carrying, we need to pause and ask ourselves who gave us the load we’re carrying. Did others heap it on our backs? Did we put it there? Did God give it to us to do? He promises us in Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” By that verse alone, we have to know if we’re overwhelmed it isn’t the Lord’s doing. Either we have heaped the load on our own backs or someone else has.
So what do we do now? Two things come to mind. First, 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast our worries on Christ because He cares for us. We can place our burdens at His feet. Secondly, we must determine if we are going to respond to requests from our own yes and no or from the yes and no of God. When you’re asked to do something are you going to do it out of obligation or are you going to talk with Jesus about it and do what He says? The first miracle of Christ happened because men obeyed Jesus. In John 2:5 Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave the servants some wise advice we should all follow. “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’” If we would make this our practice in life, we would find ourselves stressed less and enjoying life more.
This holiday season do not allow culture or other people dictate how you spend your time, energy or money. Those things all belong to Jesus, so ask Him how He would have you spend them and then “Do whatever He tells you.”

Second Hand Christianity

Do you like shopping at second hand stores? You can find some real treasures in them if you’re willing to search. I love the names of some of them: Reruns, Sweet Repeats, Second Time Around, and our own church sale, Born Again Blessings. They are opportunities for you to take something someone else has used and get some benefit out of it for a fraction of the investment. There is a new store opening on December 15th in West Cobb County called Wellspring Treasures. The proceeds from this store will help fund a ministry which cares for young girls who have been trafficked in Atlanta.
While clothing, shoes, and cookware are fine to gain second hand, you will not benefit from second hand faith. In Galatians 1:10-17, the Apostle Paul is being challenged about his faith. He clearly states his faith did not come from hearing about Jesus from others. He did not journey to Jerusalem and sit down with the 11 apostles to study about Jesus. His faith came from a personal encounter with the living God, Jesus Christ, Himself. They met on the road to Damascus [Acts 9:3-8].
It is important to share your faith with others. Preachers, writers, and Bible teachers would be out of a job if there was no benefit in sharing the Gospel with others; however, it is only a personal encounter with Jesus that will alter your life and usher you into heaven. Others are simply living arrows who point you to the Christ.
Have you had a personal encounter or are you living on the coattails of someone else’s faith? Second hand faith will only get you so far, but when you experience a personal encounter with Jesus, it will carry you all the way home. If you haven’t encountered Him personally, you can. Ask Him to make Himself known to you and teach you about Himself?
Romans 10:9 says " That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." This is just the beginning. He wants a relationship with you. It’s what He died for and it’s what He lives for today.

What's in your hand?

Have you ever noticed how the credit card commercials come out in droves right around the holidays? It amazes me how our culture pushes debt so much. Maybe our national deficit wouldn’t be what it is if we focused more on getting debt free than getting in debt. I love the one with all of the warriors running through the streets and then they call out “What’s in your wallet?”
Today, I want to ask you “What’s in your hand?” What do you have to bring to the table? Look with me in 2Kings 13:14-17. King Jehoash is under attack from Aram. He is panicking. He comes rushing into Elisha’s room having what we like to call in the south a “hissy fit.” I can just see him pacing back and forth throwing his arms up in the air. Elisha is on his death bed, but King Jesoash doesn't have time for Elisha to die. He's in a crisis for crying out loud. What's he to do? So much for resting in peace. Elisha’s faced with a king who needs to breathe in a brown bag just to be able to speak.
Elisha very calmly tells King Jehoash what to do. He had the king take what he had, a bow and arrow, and direct it towards the enemy. Elisha then placed his hand on top of the kings’ hand to shoot with him. Victory came. It didn’t make sense that he could defeat an army with one arrow, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 says “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’"
Think back through some of your favorite Bible stories and reflect on the miracles of God. None of them make sense to us, but they happened anyway. Sarah gave birth to a child in her 90s. Joshua’s army saw the walls of Jericho come tumbling down by marching around them and shouting. David killed a man nine feet tall with a rock and a slingshot. Peter walked on water. Jesus defeated Satan by dying on a cross. The list goes on and on. “Nothing is impossible with God” [Luke 1:37].
What are you facing today? Are you trying to do something you’ve never done before? Are you battling a situation that appears to have no solution? Whatever is before you isn’t an obstacle for the Lord. Pick up what you have and take it to the Lord. With Him by your side, placing His hand over yours, you are sure to experience victory, even when it doesn’t look like it. God specializes in the impossible. It’s where He does His best work!

Are you trying to negotiate?

Have you purchased a car recently? This past spring our family decided to purchase a truck for our son. I walked onto the car lot and told the salesman from the very beginning what I was willing and able to spend and I held my ground. He tried to get me to negotiate and give and take only to learn I had been honest and stated what I would spend in the very beginning. Eventually, I was able to get the truck, but it took a while.
Moses had a similar encounter with Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. In Exodus 5:1 Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and tell him "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let My people go, so that they may hold a festival to Me in the desert.’” Pharaoh immediately says “No.” Then the plagues begin. Moses keeps coming back to Pharaoh, asking the same thing. Each time, Pharaoh tries to negotiate. He tells Moses to go sacrifice in the desert, but don’t go far [Ephesians 8:28]. Next he tells them they can go but to leave their flocks and herds [Exodus 10:24-26]. Moses will not settle or compromise, because God will not.
God called the Israelites and Pharaoh to do exactly what He commanded, not their own version of it. He calls us to do the same. He is not willing to compromise. There is no negotiating with God. It is His way or it is His way. Just as the Egyptians and Pharaoh learned, there are consequences for doing things in a way other than God’s way.
Are you all in with God? Whatever He says? Would you be willing to sacrifice the comforts of home and time with family over the holidays to go to Vietnam and minister to the lost if He called you to do it? Would you be willing to streamline some of your weekly commitments so you can devote more time to Him and His Word? Would you be willing to spend less on your family at Christmas this year so you have more to spend on those in great need?
2 Chronicles 16:9a says “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” He doesn’t settle for halfway. He is looking for the real deal. Are you?

THe Gift

Have your family members given you their Christmas lists yet? Our children know they have to have their lists to us no later than Thanksgiving Day. Sometimes they get them to us sooner, and it makes life a little easier. Now that they are older, we don’t stress quite as much about finding the gift on the list. You know the one. The gift is the one thing they have to have or they wouldn’t feel like it is Christmas. It’s the one thing they talk about when people ask them what they want for Christmas. The only problem with the gift is it is typically the gift for everyone that season. Inevitably one of us was out before God turned the lights on the day after Thanksgiving searching frantically until we find it. We were willing to put the effort and energy into it because they wanted it.
When our daughter, Laura, was in elementary school, she wanted a Hello Kitty winter coat. Not just any Hello Kitty winter coat, but a blue one. My husband, Mark, woke up extra early the day after Thanksgiving to get his daughter her heart’s desire. He wasn’t sure about sizes so he bought all three sizes he thought were possible, but he had to go to three different Targets to do so. He was a man on a mission. He would not be stopped until he had what he was searching for that morning.
The Gift of Christmas is Jesus. This year I have been determined to keep my focus on Him instead of the hustle and bustle of Christmas. I’ve been reading Luke 2 once a day in a different version every day. It has really impacted my day and my focus. This morning I read from the Amplified Bible and loved what I discovered in Luke 2:12. It says “And this will be a sign for you (by which you will recognize Him); you will find (after searching) a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Did you see it? Did it hit you? You will find Jesus after you search for Him. Luke 2:16 goes on to say “So they went with haste and (by searching) found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger.”
By searching…it wasn’t by accident. They didn’t just bump into Him along their journey with their sheep. They had to be intentional. They made a careful search for the Baby. They pursued Him and they were not disappointed. Oh, sweet friends, how long has it been since you’ve genuinely pursued Jesus? I’m not talking about getting up and reading your daily devotionals or listening to the sermon attentively at church on Sunday morning. I’m talking about pursuing Him with the tenacity Mark went after the Hello Kitty coat, as if your very life depended on it. Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” The Amplified says “Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me (as a vital necessity) and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Is He a vital necessity in your life? Are you truly searching for Him?
My prayer for each of us is for us to have a powerful encounter with the living God this Christmas that overwhelms us so much we refuse to settle for less from that point on and pursue Him daily as if our very lives depends upon it. What are you searching for today?

World Peace?

Have you ever watched the movie Miss Congeniality? It is one of my daughter’s favorite movies. When her best friend, Bekah, comes over they watch it and quote every line. They laugh when all of the girls state their great desire is for world peace as if they were all clones of one another.
During the holiday season, there is a lot of talk of peace on earth. It is in our songs, it is written on Christmas cards and even on some of the decorations. I recently heard Kay Arthur say “Christ did not come to bring peace to the earth.” What a bizarre sounding statement; however, if you look closely at the scriptures, you’ll see she is right.
Matthew 10:34 says “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” We live in a sinful world where people desire to act first and apologize later. We like to view Jesus as a God of mercy, but we never take into account He is also a God of justice and we will all have to give an account on judgment day [Romans 14:10]. Only those who are believers will not need to worry when that day arrives [Hebrews 9:28].
Jesus did; however, come to bring peace to His disciples. Philippians 4:7 says “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The final three words of the verse are key…in Christ Jesus. This peace only comes to those who are in Christ Jesus. This only happens when you declare Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior [Romans 10:].
This Christmas season, when you hear the words “Peace on Earth” you can know this peace is yours. It is intended for all who believe, yet all will not choose Him. Some will never chose Him and others who initially chose Him will turn from Him [2 Peter 2:20-21]. Because of this, we all need to take the Great Commission to heart [Matthew 28:18-20]. We need to share Christ at every opportunity. What better time to talk about Jesus than Christmas?

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Do you get a little stressed during the Christmas season? There always seems to be so much to do…decorations to put up, cookies to bake, presents to purchase, parties to attend, wrapping to do, a tree to put up, Christmas cards to address and mail…the list goes on and on. Who ever said these things had to get done? Which book of the Bible tells us we are to do these things to usher in the King of kings and Lord of lords [Revelation 19:16]? We seem to have embraced all the world tells us we are to do to celebrate Christmas and little of what the Word tells us about Christmas.
Have you read the Christmas story yet this season? You can find it in Luke 2. It is a beautiful story, but it is a simplistic one also. Talk about life simplification, you can’t get more simple than the first Christmas. It was quiet, except for the cry of a newborn King. It wasn’t the party to attend that year. In fact, there were only animals there for a while, then shepherds came calling, but they didn’t stay long because they went out to name drop to their friends that they were the first to meet the Baby. I’m pretty certain there weren’t decorations around the stable, unless you call animal hair and waste decorations. Jesus came in the humblest fashion imaginable and it was beautiful.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Christmas cookie, I take great pleasure in purchasing gifts for those I love and I want to decorate the moment the turkey is swallowed, but I do it because it brings me pleasure not because I HAVE to do it.
Can we agree to make this Christmas different? Would you be willing to take time each day between now and December 25th to meditate on that first Christmas? I want to encourage you to read the Christmas story at least once a day, but read it in every version of the Bible you can get your hands on to see it with fresh eyes. Don’t have more than one version at home? You can always borrow one from a friend and explain why. Stop in a bookstore and pick up another version and read it. There are copies of the Bible in the library or your pastor would gladly allow you to borrow one of His, I'm sure.
When you make it a point to focus on the Christ child every day leading up to Christmas, you’ll have a very different Christmas. He will be the center of it all, which was the original plan anyway.

Would you sing?

What a beautiful proclamation of God, in public, for all to hear. Now I know it was probably done by a large church choir from one of the largest churches in the area, but it was still a bold step and it blessed so many and told the world, at least in that mall, the real purpose of Christmas.
Why do so many of us avoid sharing our faith? A Christmas time, the Lord makes it so easy for us. He has given us our opener no matter where you are. If you're in the office, with your extended family, in a shopping mall or among friends, all you have to do is ask the question "What are you doing for Christmas?"
When I was a public school teacher, I knew it was illegal for me to share the Gospel with my students, but I also knew I was well within my legal rights to answer a direct question from a student, even if that question allowed me to share my faith. I would always teach on traditions in the month of December. We would research traditions, write about traditions and then share about traditions. I would gather my students together and ask them to share what their family traditions were during the month of December. Even if it wasn't politically correct I would ask "What does your family do for Christmas?" Inevitably, one of the students would turn and ask "Mrs. Norris, what does your family do for Christmas?" Because I had been asked a direct question, I was then allowed to share my faith with my class. It might have been sneaky, but it was well within the letter of the law and I was able to share Jesus.
Mark 8:38 says "If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." The last thing I want is for the Lord Jesus to be ashamed of me. I want to be willing to share my faith with anyone at anytime and anywhere. It is always awkward and uncomfortable the first time you do it, but then you gain confidence and you begin to realize it isn't up to you to save the world. Your job is simply to plant the seeds [1 Corinthians 3:6].
Take time this holiday season to ask people, those you know and those you don't, "What are you doing for Christmas?" and see where it takes you. You may just find yourself in the middle of a divine appointment or you may find yourself singing in the mall. Whatever you do, do it unto the Lord and He will bless it and receive it [Colossians 3:17].

Passing on what you know....

Is it cold enough for you? This morning we woke up to 29 degrees. I can’t complain because I’ve always said I think it should be cold between Thanksgiving and Christmas and then be warm and sunny for the rest of the year. My son, however, was not happy when he walked outside in a hurry to get to a meeting at school and found his windshield covered with a thin layer of ice. He started the car and proceeded to complain about how he was going to be late. Now you and I know he should have warmed his car up before he needed to leave so he wouldn’t face this problem, but we live in Georgia and ice on the windshield is not a common occurrence. He is fortunate I grew up with snow and ice every winter. I walked inside and came out with three cups of lukewarm water and poured them over his windshield making it instantly clear. “That’s awesome!” was my thanks and away he went in time to make his meeting.
It pays to have someone around who has had experience with whatever you’re facing. God knew this and He challenged us to be there for one another [Titus 2:1-10]. He gave us several examples in Scripture. Naomi and Ruth had a precious relationship. Throughout the book of Ruth we read about how Naomi taught Ruth the ways and customs of her people and in exchange Ruth cared for Naomi. Throughout the Epistles we read how Paul poured into younger men and shared all he knew, especially with Timothy. Elijah mentored Elisha so he would continue the great works of the Lord among the Israelite people. No one is intended to walk this journey of life alone. God created us for relationships and He taught us how to love one another and teach one another in love.
God has blessed me with many godly women in my life who have poured deeply into me, teaching me in all they do. There are also several godly women the Lord has brought into my life I pour into when we are together. It is my opinion the Lord created us to be straws. We are a conduit of the love, grace and mercy of God and we are to share all He has taught us and given us with others. In doing so, we are blessed and we become a blessing.
There are Naomis in all of our lives, those who pour into us. There are also Ruths in our lives, those we are to pour into and love. It is irrelevant how old you are or what stage of life you are in, there is always someone you can learn from and someone you can teach. Take a moment today to ask the Lord to reveal the Naomis and Ruths in your life. Then take a moment to thank Him for sending them into your life and allowing you to partner with Him and them in your journey.

Jesus is missing!

Do you have a nativity scene you set up for Christmas? I have several of them in my house. I brought one back from my first trip to Ghana; I have one the children have played with for years; and I have a porcelain one I bought when I got married. They are all unique and hold special meaning to me.
When I was a young girl, I played with the little girl across the street from time to time. She was a couple of years younger than me, but we both liked playing with Barbies. One Saturday close to Christmas we were playing at her house and I noticed her family’s nativity scene. I was shocked to see Jesus was missing from their nativity. Being the helpful child that I was, I began looking desperately for Jesus. I found him tucked up high on a shelf. I managed to climb up and pull Jesus down and announce with great satisfaction to everyone “I found Jesus.” I just knew Mrs. Pelzar was going to be thrilled with me because I found her missing Jesus; however, she wasn’t happy with me at all. Apparently, it was their family tradition to keep Jesus hidden until Christmas day and then He would appear in the manger, so instead of helping them, I ruined their family tradition that year.
Unfortunately, there are many people who go through the Christmas season with Jesus missing. Our culture has pushed the commercial side of Christmas so much people get wrapped up in the “to do” lists, the parties, the decorating, the gifts they feel obligated to purchase, the wrapping, the baking, and the bills to pay. There seems to be no room for Jesus…sound familiar.
In Luke 2 we find the Christmas story. Verse 7 tells us there was no room in the inn for Jesus so He had to be born in a stable and sleep in a manager. The King of kings and the Lord of lords loved you and I enough to step down from heaven, where He was waited on hand and foot and lacked for nothing, to come in a suit of skin and be placed in a manger where He lacked almost everything [Revelation 19:16]. Jesus made room for us in the Kingdom by coming to earth, even when no room was made for Him in the inn.
My question for you today is, have you made room for Jesus in your life this Christmas or is He missing? He is waiting and very willing to be the center of your Christmas this year. Are you willing to place Him there or do you have Him sitting up on a shelf only to bring Him out for a few minutes Christmas morning? Today you have the opportunity to decide what part Jesus will play in your Christmas.