Sunday, December 20, 2015

The Real Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is a very special time. It is a time of year when legions of Americans go shopping, see Santa Claus, spend time with family, eat too much food, etc... :-)  Unfortunately, commercialism has significantly overshadowed the true meaning of Christmas in America

When I think about the true meaning of Christmas, I think about the unfathomable sacrifice Jesus made to provide mankind the opportunity to be in relationship with Him.  What sacrifice am I referring to?

First, for Jesus to wrap himself in His own creation (a human being), is mind blowing.  How does the creator become His creation? How does the God of the universe deduce Himself down to flesh and blood? The answer is LOVE. Because of our broken and sinful state, Jesus became our sacrifice, our mediator that reunited our ability to be in relationship with our heavenly Father.  The prophet Isaiah details the extent of Jesus' love and sacrifice for us. 

But he was pierced for our transgression, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  - Isaiah 53:5

Second, for Jesus to humble himself and stay true to his mission of providing us salvation is astonishing.  Just think, by Jesus deducing himself to a human being, He could feel what we feel. Hurt, pain, loneliness, rejection and more.  In the midst of experiencing these wide range of emotions, Jesus could have called down legions of angels to minister to Him, but he didn't.  He could have struck dead those people who beat, mocked, and insulted him,  but he didn't.  All Because of His Love for us!

This is the heart of Christmas! Jesus' love for us.  In response to this love, we should praise Him. We should dedicate our lives to Him.  We should serve Him with everything we have.  David encapsulates an appropriate response to Christ's love for us in Psalm 92:1-5.

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.  For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.  How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts! - Psalm 92:1-5

Remember the real meaning of Christmas, and in response, offer praise to our heavenly Father for the significant sacrifice He made for us.

Merry Christmas!


Saturday, December 19, 2015

Who Is Writing Your "To Do List?"

Life can get so busy at times....this to do, and that to do. Have you ever experienced trying to complete all the tasks on your "to do list," only to discover that they are endless, and while completing them, can devour an infinite amount of your time? A whole day can literally pass while trying to accomplish  all your tasks, and you ask yourself, "where did the time go? I have so much more to do." "I feel like I haven't gotten anything done."

I have come to realize that the "to do list" will never get completed in its entirety. It is wise to simply delineate the tasks that should be completed today, and the ones that should be completed on the days that follow.  Eliminating the stress and pressure of trying to complete all the "to do list" tasks at once is freeing. More importantly, it provides room for the Lord be in the forefront of our thinking.... allowing Him to prioritize the things He wants us to do on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

Proverbs 16:3 says commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Many people live their lives doing what they want to do. Doing what they deem important. Even Christians do this.  On the other hand, a person that mentally prioritizes the will of Jesus in their life will find themselves traveling on "success" road as pointed out in Proverbs 16:3.  Allow Jesus to write your "to do list." Believe me! More will be accomplished in your life by executing His "to do list" verses you executing your own.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

He Wants It All

     Sunday morning is one of the most religious days of the week in the United States.  Every Sunday, thousands of people scurry to their places of worship.  There they pray, sing, fellowship with others, give money, time, talent and more.  Some people have done these things all their life because their parents regularly did so, resulting in them doing the same.  Others do so later in life because it is the "right thing to do" if one wants to "clean up their life."  

     Although church attendance, and all the things associated with it, are noble  and respectable activities, it is possible to do all these activities without truly giving your heart to Jesus. It is easy to fall into a religious trap where all the "activities" of a person who loves Jesus are done without truly giving Jesus what He desires most from us.....OUR HEARTS.

Deuteronomy 6:5 says love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

     Reflect, and ask yourself.... "does Jesus truly have my heart?"   Do you anticipate simply being in His presence without wanting anything in return?   Do you think about Him often? Do you desire His will for your life above your own?  Do you make time to listen to him; to receive direction from Him, or are you the captan of your own life? Are you busy doing things for Jesus and not communing with Him. Remember the story of Mary and Martha? Mary chose what was best...fellowshiping with Jesus instead of working for Jesus. 

     I encourage you to give Jesus your heart, not your religious activity. Freely give Him your time, your thoughts, your energy, your finance, etc. The truth of the matter is that Jesus can do more with your  life than you can do with it on your own.  Give Him your heart today, and watch the joyous life fulfilling transformation that will occur in you. You will be amazed!  Listen to the song below, and let the words speak to your spirit. Jesus wants your heart.
                                                  
        He Wants It All - "By Forever Jones"



There's a voice that cries out in the silence
Searching for a heart that will love Him
Longing for a child that will give Him their all
Give it all, He wants it all
And there's a God that walks over the earth
He's searching for a heart that is desperate
And longing for a child 
That will give Him their all
Give it all, He wants it all

And He says love me, love me with your whole heart
He wants it all today
Serve me, serve me with your life now
He wants it all today
Bow down, let go of your idols
He wants it all today [x3]
He wants it all

And there's a God that walks over the earth
He's searching for a heart that is desperate
Longing for a child that will give Him their all
Give it all, He wants it all

And he says love me, love me with your whole heart
He wants it all today
Serve me, serve me with your life now
He wants it all today
Bow down, let go of your idols
He wants it all today 
He wants it all

All of you, more of you
He wants it all today, oh oh oh oh
All of you, more of you
He wants it all today, oh oh oh oh 
All of you, more of you
He wants it all today, today, today
He wants it all today [x2]
So give it all

There's a voice that cries out in the silence
Searching for a heart that will love him
Longing for a child that will give him their all
Give it all
He wants it all 

Friday, December 4, 2015

How to Prosper in Life

Prosperity is a subject on the lips of many people. How prosperity is defined also differs from one person to the next. Some define prosperity through materialism.....a nice house, car, cloths, lots of money, stocks, bonds etc. Some by the quality of their friendships/relationships, and others by their health or physical appearance. 

While there is nothing wrong with enjoying the things mentioned above, the acquisition of these things don't make one prosperous. Knowing the Maker and Giver of all things is the true essence of prosperity.  

Psalm 1 says, blessed is the man who meditates on the law of the Lord day and night, he will be like a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in its season, whose leaf does not wither, and what ever they do will prosper.

Do you desire a prosperous life? Do you want fruitfulness to result from your efforts? Prosperity doesn't come from the acquisition of things, people etc. Knowing the prosperer, Jesus, by being intimately acquainted with His truth will yield MUCH fruit in your life. Fruit that will not only have value on this earth, but will have eternal value as well.