Another Beginning

Ahhh, Christmas is in December.  This has me reflecting a bit on the change Christ brings us.  Think about it, a year is ending, and a new year is beginning.  Christ changed everything.  In just a few years of teaching and ministry the world continues to expand the message he spoke.  There are more believers today than there were 100 years ago, or 1000 years ago.  The message is so large that the whole world stands up and recognizes Christmas, whether they want to or not.  And His life, death, and then life brought us new life.  A new day, a new season for all of mankind.  A new year is upon us, and it relates to what Christ brings.  He brings hope for tomorrow.  He has made us a brand new creation, old things have passed away.  Paul teaches us to forget the past and press on to the future.  I’m not sure what your year has been filled with, some victories, some crash and burns. Maybe some tragedy, and some moments of great happiness.  Lets face forward together, lets join hands and march into the unknown future strong, with expectations of glory, with God at the helm we know that nothing is impossible.  It’s a great big world, and we’ve got a lot to do.

Get This Place Cleaned Up

Alright wrapping paper all over the floor, stuff strewn, food left out, pajamas un-shaven un-ready half asleep, lights, tree, it’s time to get this place cleaned up…  the house has gotten messy.  You know, you and I get a little like that house sometimes.  II Timothy 2:20 says “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. ²¹ Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”  Yeah your house has some messy stuff in it.  Oh ok, mine too.  This doesn’t make your house bad.  Just need to take out the trash is all.  And the more trash we get cleansed of, the more work we get to do.  Well that doesn’t sound like fun, but if it comes from God, you can bet it will be fun.  He’s not in the business of making your miserable for serving Him.  And if you ask, Jesus, the word of God will help you clean up.  In fact there is no better cleaner than the word of God.  It’s like nuclear powered pinesol.  Boom, clean.  And it’s free.

Happy Holidays

Have you noticed the trend to take the word Christ out of Christmas.  I see the Happy Holidays all over the place.  But here’s some good news about that.  Holiday is taken from the phrase Holy Day.  And Holy means to be set apart for God’s plans and purposes.  So now all over the world we are announcing a joyful set of days dedicated to God.  So hey, Jesus still wins.  Yeah.  But even so, if we want to guard the Christ in Christmas for the world, the best way to do this is just to get more Jesus into the hearts of the people.  God shows us a tremendous wisdom by sending Jesus into our lives.  He shows us that the world cannot be changed by bringing a bunch of rules down from the mountain, the world is only changed by getting the seed of God into the hearts of man.  You see, God is changing us from the inside out.  And if we want to change the world it also happens from the inside out.  We shouldn’t be surprised when the world does things we don’t agree with, they don’t know any better.  And telling them the rules may not help.  But giving them the seed of Jesus Christ, ah yes, this is the key to change. 

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Did you know that Jesus put you in the Jelly of the month club?  The gift that keeps on giving the whole year through.  Check this out, John 14:15 Jesus has come to the earth, ministered, healed, raised the dead, now he’s telling his disciples that He’s gotta go.  And here is what He says will happen after He goes… “And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth”  he goes on to explain about the Holy Spirit.  This is the same Spirit that is poured out in Acts 2.  the Holy Spirit is full of gifts of the Spirit.  You see, the gift that keeps on giving.  Now I’m not saying the Holy Spirit is Jelly, The Holy Spirit is our counselor, our comforter, and can lead us into truth.  Jelly is just something you put on toast.  The Holy Spirit quickens our mortal bodies, and cries out to God “Abba Father”.  And Jesus said in Luke 11:13 “How much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask.”  Well I don’t know what you asked for Christmas, but if you haven’t already, you may just want to ask for the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round.

A Running Theme

As we celebrate Christmas, and remember Jesus coming to the world as a man, well, we should remember His message.  Just after starting His ministry Jesus sets up the platform He stood for, the famous sermon on the mount.  Here he says things like, forgive your brother, be meek, pray for your enemies and, If someone asks you for some orange juice (I’m paraphrasing here), give him the whole bottle. Now we can’t cover the whole message in a minute, but we can summarize it with a passage in John 15:12 “My command is this, love one another as I have loved you.”  And How did Christ love us?  Well, he was willing to give up everything for us.  Let’s try that this week, I mean really try.  Husbands lay down your life for your wife, for your children.  Wives, you too.  Let’s all slow down a bit this week and remember the gift we can give Jesus, to really show our love to Him, is to love each other.  As He taught us in that same teaching.  If you love me, you will obey my command… and what was His command?  Ah yes, love each other.  I’m not saying it’s easy, but I can promise you what Jesus promised, it will lead to life.

Why Sing?

So Mary has been told by the angel that she’s going to give birth to the Christ, and that Elizabeth her relative is going to have a baby too, she goes to visit her, and when they see each other Mary spontaneously goes into a song.  It’s like a scene from a musical or something.  I dunno about you, but I have never been chatting to my brother and then began to sing a song.  But Mary does.  Then, later Zechariah, Elizabeth’s husband starts singing too.  And when the baby Jesus is born the angels are singing.  I’m seeing a trend here.  Praising God is important to do in a song.  Why?  Well, I can’t explain it in a minute, so let’s learn together through experience.  So your listening to the radio, k, for the next song, roll down the window and sing along.  And look for others doing it.  Sing it loud.  Sing praises to God.  Now look at all the crazy Christians like you singing a long.  Listen, Just like Mary, you have the seed of God in you.  You are highly favored, blessed of God, a child of the king.  And maybe you’re not feeling it today cause you ain't tried singing it.  Get to church on time on Sunday so you can sing it out with the family.  Sing more.