CHRISTmas Time

So, as you all know, Christmas time has caught up with us whether you're ready or not. Today, being Christmas Eve, has me thinking a lot about Christmas: the origins, certain traditions, the true meaning, the birth of Jesus, etc. As a response, I've been doing some reading...

Christmas started out as a pagan celebration, saturnalia, of the pagan god saturn (yes, I recognize that both of these nouns should technically be capitalized; however, I refuse to do so). On December 21st, the first day of winter, the sun is furthest, so they celebrated December 25th as the return of the sun.

So, as Christians, why do we celebrate the "birth" of Jesus on the day that was originally a pagan holiday (I say, "'birth'", because the actual date of Jesus' birth is not specifically stated in the Bible)?

The Roman Catholics, who use to dominate religious beliefs, decided to celebrate Christ's birth at this time to take away from the pagan holiday and it continued into the Christian faith. My thought: How great it is that we can replace something pagan with the celebration of the life of our savior, Jesus Christ?! That just shows His power and might!

It should be noted that I'm not blind to the fact that not everyone who celebrates Christmas is Christian and that they celebrate the holiday for worldly reasons. I'm saddened to see how people, Christian or not, place so much importance in gift-giving and other traditions. Honestly, I would be completely fine with receiving no presents on Christmas. Some Christians may argue that the reason we exchange gifts is because the Magi brought baby Jesus gifts. However, Jesus is King of Kings, deserving of this and so much more than we can physically give Him. We are humans who deserve nothing but death, yet He gave us the ultimate gift by dying in our place so that we may live. 

So why do we get upset when we don't receive the gifts we think we deserve? What if in lieu of gifts we sacrificed ourselves for others (modeling ourselves after Christ), offering help to those who need it, our time that we value so much, an ear to listen and not condemn? What if we became less "me" centered and more Christ centered, showing the love and compassion for others that Christ has for us? What a marvelous way to spread Christ's love not only during Christmas time but also any other regular day! I encourage you, as you enjoy the feasts and treats with the company and family in the warmth of your home that God has been so gracious to bless you with, to keep Christ the center of this special holiday and in every aspect of your life.

Merry Christmas!

God's Plan

Some things are beyond planning. And life doesn't always turn out as planned. You don't plan for a broken heart. You don't plan for a failed business venture. You don't plan for an adulterous husband or a wife who wants you out of her life. You don't plan for an autistic child. You don't plan for spinsterhood. You don't plan for a lump in your breast.

You plan to be young forever. You plan to climb the corporate ladder. You plan to be rich and powerful. You plan to be acclaimed and successful. You plan to conquer the universe. You plan to fall in love and be loved forever.

You don't plan to be sad. You don't plan to be hurt. You don't plan to be broke. You don't plan to be betrayed. You don't plan to be alone in this world. You plan to be happy. You don't plan to be shattered.

Sometimes, if you work hard enough, you can get what you want. But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things. We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens. Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours. Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul. Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole. Sometimes, God allows pain so we can be stronger. Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble. Sometimes, God allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves. Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us. Make plans, but understand that we live by God's grace.

--Unknown

Thanksgiving Day

May the spirit of thanksgiving continue with us after today, giving thanks to God always.

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
-Psalm 95:1-6

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."
-1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Thanksgiving Week: Day 4

So thankful that God has blessed me with such a loving, supporting family who loves the Lord. We've been through so much, and I don't think we could have made it without each other and, most importantly, without God.

Being raised in a Christian family, I feel like my faith has come easier to me than most-- thank you Jesus. My heart and prayers go out to those who do not have such an opportunity. 

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." -Colossians 3:15-17

Thanksgiving Week: Day 3

So thankful to serve a God who chose me in my imperfection and who never gives up on me. Thank You, Lord, for Your unconditional love.

May we learn to show that same love to those around us.

"O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever." -Psalm 107:1 (and many other places in the Bible)

Thanksgiving Week: Day 2

Thank God for your many blessings, but also thank him for your hard ships-- knowing that EVERYTHING works out for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Thank You, Lord, that I do not have to worry because I know that my life is in safe hands.

"Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you; which you have worked for them that trust in you before the sons of men!" -Psalm 31:19

Thanksgiving Week: Day 1

While it's nice to spend time with our family and loved ones and to celebrate with feasting (which Jesus often did), let's not forget to give Him thanks. Yes, we should thank Him and praise Him daily. But, on this day particularly, let's not get too wrapped up in tradition. Remember to praise Him for all that He has done-- He paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is my prayer that all (including myself, especially) will ultimately show Him thanks by lying down our lives as complete sacrifices to Him. What better way to show thanks than a lifetime of service?

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." -Psalm 100

Amazed

Reminded of God's sovereign plan. Every minute detail that we most often overlook plays an intricate part in His big picture. Wow.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

The Issues Behind Halloween - The Navigators

The Issues Behind Halloween - The Navigators

Complete Surrenderence Means Complete Reliance on God

I lay myself at Your feet,
Asking You won't You meet
Won't You meet me?
I cannot do it on my own.
I cannot do it all alone.
Here I am, oh, tonight
With my arms open wide.
Won't You come inside?
Won't You come inside, God?
Come and fill this heart of mine.
I'm in need of You,
Of Your touch, of Your life, of Your love.
I need You.
I need You.

-Here I Am, Shawn McDonald

Complete Surrenderence

"Take me far away from here. Save me from this world of fear. Break me from the things I hold so near-- they're so far from You.
Reveal to me what You want me to do. Place me where Your will draws me to. Lord, be pleased with the worship I bring to You, I sing to You, I shout to You! Here I am, send me out, let me shine for Your glory. I will read, I'll live out, and proclaim Your word. Take me now. Show me how I need to live not for me but for Your glory."
-Here I Am, Michael Bleecker


It's my prayer to surrender my all to the Lord. To give Him my entire heart. To sacrifice the desires of my heart to Him so that He can consume it. I need to trust more. Lord, build my faith.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to offer your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living sacrifice-- holy and pleasing to Him. This is your spiritual act of worship." -Romans 12:1

Breathe

God is breath. He is life. He breathed life into us. Be still and breathe. Find comfort in his presence. Yaweh.

"I am yours and you are mine. You know far better than I, and if destruction's what I need, then I'll receive it, Lord, from thee." -Hurricane, Jimmy Needham

Offering my love, my whole heart, and all of its desires to the Lord. Trusting Him and His sovereign plan. Thank you, Lord, for your strength and comfort.

Lesson Learned:

Forgiveness and Trust are separate... More on this later.

Surrender

The past few months I've really been dealing with dying to myself and living through Christ. I've come to the realization that He is the center on the universe, and without Him, everything falls apart. He holds everything together. I've been longing for quite some time now to die to my flesh in order to live completely for Christ. I was recently re-baptized a few Sundays ago to symbolize my fleshly death and resurrection through Jesus. All the old is put behind, and I am so excited for the new that is to come. This was definitely a huge step of obedience in my walk with my Father, and it is my prayer that I will look to Him and not to this world. Jesus sacrificed His life for us, and I want to sacrifice mine for Him-- for His glory. I surrender.

Beautifully Broken

I may be imperfect, but it's through my imperfections that the greatness of God's love and grace is magnified.

Imperfection

This week has been a hard, full-of-mess-ups week. I'm frustrated. I'm discouraged. I want to SCREAM! I don't want to mess up; I don't want to sin, but it just keeps happening.

Yeah, I know. I'm not perfect, and never will be. Therefore, I shouldn't let it bother me. Yeah... yeah... yeah... But it does bother me; it kills me, and I don't know what to do. I've prayed for God's help: to help my heart, to make me strong, for understanding, for guidance, but still- nothing. I just need to keep pressing. It's SO hard though.

Most of it all comes down to this though: me not listening. Me being a stubborn, do-it-my-way person. Each time I regret doing something, it's because I didn't listen to that little voice inside of me trying to scream out, "No!" Instead, I muffled that voice, choosing to be selfish and do as I wish. UGHHHH.

I guess all I can say now is that I'm so thankful to serve a gracious God who will always love me. And the blood that was shed to save me when I first became a Christian is the same blood that still saves me now from my sin. Yes, I know this, but my body, my soul, my mind doesn't know this. Please, Lord, help me grasp this concept.

Summer 2010

It's hard to believe this year is already half way over, and already so much has happened. So much time has elapsed, yet it feels like none at all. I'm amazed at how much can happen in such, what seems like, a short amount of time. Looking back from 2009 to now, I have changed and matured so much.

I started seeking after God and restoring my relationship with Him. I have not felt so good in a very long time. In the Lord, there is a peace and joy-- a fulfillment that I longed for whenever my relationship with Him was lacking. I searched and searched to fill that void in all sorts of ways, and nothing seemed to work. I grew weary and frustrated, and finally I realize that God is the only one who can fill this void in my life that I've longingly and unsuccessfully tried to fill any way possible. I put my trust and hope in worldly things and people, and was only disappointed. God is the only one who will never disappoint-- I've learned that I must look to Him, and not to the things of this Earth. His plan may not match up with what you had in mind, but it will always lead to more happiness and blessings than you can imagine. He gives us sufferings and hard ships, but He will never give us more than we can handle and will never leave us on our own. This year already is a testament to this; He has revealed so much to me. It's too powerful to put into words. Daily, I am reminded of His beauty and awesomeness simply by taking a few extra minutes to slow down and actually look at His creations-- from the sun set to the trees to people (yes, even those you don't like). Everything is definitely made by Him and reveals His glory. He is the center of the universe. Without Him, this world would fall apart-- at least my world would.

He is my strength, my endurance, my reason. This summer, without the pressure of school and everything that accompanies that, I am excited to draw even closer to God, Jesus Christ, my redeemer. To live my life, purposefully, for Him.