Well, the day has past and a new one begins. Our family has returned to their own homes and life returns to normal. We all got together to celebrate a birthday....the birth of Jesus Christ. Today I will remove my tree and decorations.
There is so much to remove and pack. Each ornament must be handled with care, wrapped in tissue and then placed gently in its storage place. The party's over. At least the DAY is....the celebration continues.
You see, while Christmas is about family and giving and togetherness, it's really about the greatest gift we could ever receive. That is the gift of Jesus Christ.
God saw a need in mankind. The need for hope. In seeing that need, He made the ultimate sacrifice. He sent his son-the King of Kings to be born not in a palace but in a lowly manger.
Every year I have a birthday. Because it falls on the shortest month of the year, we celebrate my birthday on my actual birthday (the 6th) and on every remaining day in that month as well.
This season we saw many flock to churches on Christmas Eve to acknowledge the birth of Christ. The question is "How will we acknowledge Him the rest of the year?"
Just like I love celebrating every day, Christ loves to see his people worship as a part of their daily practice not just once or twice a year.
So as this birthday and this year come to a close, why not celebrate the birth of Christ every day and make his gift from you a life committed to worship and serving....everyday.
Happy Birthday Jesus.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given... Isaiah 9:6
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Get out of my way
The other day I left my house to head to school and discovered that rain was falling pretty hard. I did not have my umbrella and I had to make a few trips to my car.
As I was driving down FM 1960, the rain let up but the streets were very wet. Many drivers drove with caution while others completely ignored the speed limit sign of 50. I was in the far lane and went with the flow of traffic but as luck would have it, there was a turtle in front of me. Ugh!
Don't know why it irritated me. I wasn't really in any hurry except that I like to arrive early and mentally prepare for the fifty kids I will be dealing with daily. I was two cars behind the turtle and followed his pace for a while before my irritation level got the best of me. Time to go!
I moved over to the middle lane where traffic was moving much faster despite the wet street. I moved over and my foot felt relief at pressing the accelerator until I caught up and went to pass him. It was then that discovered that he was turning right and leaving 1960 completely.
What? How dare you! After I followed you all this time at YOUR pace and when I move over to drive at my own speed, you , make the decision to turn and get out of everybody's way? If I had just held on for a few more minutes, I could have seen a solution to my problem.
Then it hit me. How often do we say we are waiting on God and waiting on God and waiting on God? When we think God isn't acting fast enough we say under our breath "I've got to make a move because nothing is happening here." We take matters into our own hands only to discover that God was just about to change things before we told him "Get out of my way."
When we tell God to get out of our way, we could be quitting just short of God revealing His plan for our life. Often, a plan that is much better than we could ever orchestrate.
So next time your behind a slow poke remember, before you tell him "get out of my way," think of the lesson God may have in store for you. Second, before you get ahead of God and His plan, think of the consequences or the blessings you'll deprive yourself of by taking matters into your own hands.
I am confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalms 27:13-14
As I was driving down FM 1960, the rain let up but the streets were very wet. Many drivers drove with caution while others completely ignored the speed limit sign of 50. I was in the far lane and went with the flow of traffic but as luck would have it, there was a turtle in front of me. Ugh!
Don't know why it irritated me. I wasn't really in any hurry except that I like to arrive early and mentally prepare for the fifty kids I will be dealing with daily. I was two cars behind the turtle and followed his pace for a while before my irritation level got the best of me. Time to go!
I moved over to the middle lane where traffic was moving much faster despite the wet street. I moved over and my foot felt relief at pressing the accelerator until I caught up and went to pass him. It was then that discovered that he was turning right and leaving 1960 completely.
What? How dare you! After I followed you all this time at YOUR pace and when I move over to drive at my own speed, you , make the decision to turn and get out of everybody's way? If I had just held on for a few more minutes, I could have seen a solution to my problem.
Then it hit me. How often do we say we are waiting on God and waiting on God and waiting on God? When we think God isn't acting fast enough we say under our breath "I've got to make a move because nothing is happening here." We take matters into our own hands only to discover that God was just about to change things before we told him "Get out of my way."
When we tell God to get out of our way, we could be quitting just short of God revealing His plan for our life. Often, a plan that is much better than we could ever orchestrate.
So next time your behind a slow poke remember, before you tell him "get out of my way," think of the lesson God may have in store for you. Second, before you get ahead of God and His plan, think of the consequences or the blessings you'll deprive yourself of by taking matters into your own hands.
I am confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalms 27:13-14
Monday, December 8, 2014
Cover-Up
I went to church yesterday and I was running late. I had a long, fast paced schedule. I had church in the morning, a get together in the early afternoon and then a church event again in the early evening.
Of course I was running late because of the all time, ever consuming obstacle of what to wear. I always spend between 15-30 minutes just trying to decide what to wear. I had an outfit in mind but I couldn't find my sweater. When I finally located it in the other closet, I discovered some of the collar had unraveled causing a split in the neck area.
The problem was that I really wanted to wear it....so I did! I merely wore my hair down to cover the back of my neck and wore a scarf.
I discovered that once I got to church, I was fidgeting to ensure the tear was not discovered. I had a pretty scarf on that was secured with a pretty pin but still I worried that it would slip and everyone in church would see my sweater. I wore it torn thinking that I would sew it when I got back from church but it's still waiting to be sewn together.
When I left church and went to change clothes, I once again saw my sweater. Feeling relieved I said to myself, "Yes! I did it! I hid the torn collar from the church members." Then I thought about it. How many times do we go into church with holes in our lives and try to hide them from God.
We walk in with "covers" on our sins thinking we're hiding from God. We can not hide! The amazing thing about us walking in trying to "cover our sin" is that we serve a God of grace. When we bring that sin to the throne of grace, God is eager and willing to forgive us of our sin.
So if you come in to church thinking your hiding, don't feel like you need to hide. Turn your sins over to God, confess your sins, and watch God do a new thing. Don't be like me...don't cover up your sin and think you're hiding from God!
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13
Of course I was running late because of the all time, ever consuming obstacle of what to wear. I always spend between 15-30 minutes just trying to decide what to wear. I had an outfit in mind but I couldn't find my sweater. When I finally located it in the other closet, I discovered some of the collar had unraveled causing a split in the neck area.
The problem was that I really wanted to wear it....so I did! I merely wore my hair down to cover the back of my neck and wore a scarf.
I discovered that once I got to church, I was fidgeting to ensure the tear was not discovered. I had a pretty scarf on that was secured with a pretty pin but still I worried that it would slip and everyone in church would see my sweater. I wore it torn thinking that I would sew it when I got back from church but it's still waiting to be sewn together.
When I left church and went to change clothes, I once again saw my sweater. Feeling relieved I said to myself, "Yes! I did it! I hid the torn collar from the church members." Then I thought about it. How many times do we go into church with holes in our lives and try to hide them from God.
We walk in with "covers" on our sins thinking we're hiding from God. We can not hide! The amazing thing about us walking in trying to "cover our sin" is that we serve a God of grace. When we bring that sin to the throne of grace, God is eager and willing to forgive us of our sin.
So if you come in to church thinking your hiding, don't feel like you need to hide. Turn your sins over to God, confess your sins, and watch God do a new thing. Don't be like me...don't cover up your sin and think you're hiding from God!
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13
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