A Minute In It - What Are You Doing With The Good News?

A minute in God's word will change your life. Take a minute to read the passage below. Then, ask yourself the questions at the bottom of the post. 

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told! Luke 2:1-20 (MSG)

Shepherds were considered to be the lowest of the social hierarchy of society. Why did God appear to them?
Why were they afraid of the angel?
If you were a shepherd, what thoughts would be running through your head as the angels sang?
After they saw the Baby Jesus, what did they do before they returned to their flocks?
If God revealed something miraculous to you, would you share it like the Shepherds did?
Wait! He did! He's told us about Jesus and the Cross! Who are you sharing that with?

People God Loves

The pain that you've been feeling, can't compare to the joy that's coming. Romans 8:18

There is a common misconception that if God loves us, everything would go our way. Our plans would work out. Nothing bad would happen to us. Life would be rosy. Truly, that is what we think and it is a misconception.

Let's look at two people in the Bible, Job and Mary. Job did everything right. The Bible says he was a man of complete integrity. God used him as an example to Satan when he said "Have you noticed my servant Job?" (Job 1) But Job's life was not rosy. Everything started going wrong. He faced death of his loved ones, loss of his wealth and some serious health problems. God loved Job and was proud of him. So....what's up with that?

Fast forward to Mary. An Angel appears to her and says "Greetings, favored woman. You have found favor with God." And oh by the way you are going to become pregnant out of wedlock which means she will be ostracized and possibly stoned to death. She was favored and her life was about to collapse around her.  As an average human just trying to get by, it makes me want to tell God that I am OK not being favored.

As you walk through their journeys, yes, there was a lot of turmoil, pain, and heartache. And yes, there are some downright gut wrenching moments. Can you imagine standing at the foot of the cross your son was hanging on? But you can't leave the story there.  What did they end up with?

They ended up with God. At the end of the chaos, Job says "I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes." (Job 42) He knew God. He had more of God. And Mary....she spent her life interacting with God in person. I can imagine she knew him rather well. But they wouldn't have known this when the journey started. They would have only glimpsed it (and probably not fully) in the end.

What you see is not always what you get. Remember that as you are digging into your faith bucket. Keep focusing on God - trust that he is in it. And like Job and Mary in the end you'll be able to say "It was sooooo worth it."

You Are Flawless

So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue. Galatians 1:3-4 (MSG)

This thing we call the Cross......we are so comfortable with it we almost treat it like a piece of furniture. We talk about it, we celebrate it on holidays, we wear it as jewelry....it's part of our vanacular. But, do we really understand it? Do we fully grasp what it is supposed to mean to us?

There is a song that says "The Cross has made you flawless." (performed by MercyMe). What does that mean to you? What would it looked like if we lived our lives as if the Cross had made us flawless? What would it mean to us to treat others as if the Cross had made them flawless?

What would happen to our heads and our hearts if we let go of the burdens we carry about self-worth and lived unblemished, unmarked by our doubts? What would it mean if we lived our lives as if we were enough.

We are enough. God said so when Jesus said "It is finished." Done. They are all loved; they are all accepted. They are enough because I was enough.

Walking The Walk

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

We were in the middle of a family crisis.  We'd had two unrelated family deaths in one week. As I stood in the kitchen processing I saw a mug that had the word "Journey" on it with today's text written underneath. I realized this is oh so true.

Often we think that if we are Christians life will be OK.  But God isn't interested in making us OK. He's interested in saving us. He's interested in making us more like Jesus. Often to do that, he uses the hardships of life to grow our relationship with him.

We think our walk with God is going to be like that Facebook post that says "I wish someone would say It's going to be OK. Here's some chocolate and six million dollars." But God's goal isn't to get us to lounge around and eat bonbons.  His goal is to get us anchored to Him. His goal is to grow us in such a way that no matter what happens, he is our path. He wants us to see him as the only path to take.

So, strap on your hiking shoes. Grab your walking stick and turn your face into the wind. Because God doesn't usually use feather pillows and bonbons to get our attention.

The Seekers Journey

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 (NLT)

I suppose the journey of the wise men wasn't anything like today. If we were going to travel to see something and we didn't know where it was, we would look it up on the internet and figure out the fastest way to get there. The wise men couldn't do that.

They started out following a star...and they kept following it until they got to the town of Bethlehem. I imagine each day they needed to reassess their location, they needed to check their movements and make sure they were headed in the right direction. And even as they arrived at Bethlehem, they still weren't sure where in Bethlehem he was so they had to ask around, getting directions, searching for the information they needed.

What caused them to take on this journey? They were convinced that they needed to find this baby. This was their number one job. They put their all into this effort.

Funny, things haven't changed much in this regard. This is what we are supposed to do to.  We are supposed to be seekers of God. Just like the wise men, that is our role. Jeremiah 29:13 says "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (NIV) With all of your heart.

Are you willing to put your all into finding this God, this Jesus that will change your world? If the wise men did it haphazardly, they would never have found him. Same is true for us today.  We can't just half-way look for him. If we do, we won't truly find him. We'll only find a reflection of what we are comfortable with....which is so much less than he is.

Where are your journeys taking you? Are you on a mission to find Jesus? Are you willing to give it your all?

With You All The Way

The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)

God with us. He came right smack dab in the middle of our messy world. That's where Jesus decided to show up.

Jesus wasn't just a God that was for us. Being for something isn't the same thing as being with it. I can be for our troops but until I show up with our troops, fighting on the front line, well, I'm just an observer. Jesus was not just an observer. He was an active participant.

He still is. Jesus is still here, in the thick of it. He is still right smack dab in the middle of our messy lives. He is still active. He is still participating. And this Christmas season, I praise Him for that!

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 (NLT)

We Don't Have a Clue

And that every tongue should confess ...... Philippians 2:11 (KJV)

I keep thinking about this text. What is it every tongue should confess? Should every tongue confess that God is Love? Should every tongue confess that Jesus came, died and was resurrected so we would live forever? Should we confess that this applies to all of us, not just folks who look and act like us?

Should our tongues confess that no matter what Jesus loves you; that he died for you? No Matter What. And when should our tongues confess this?  Will it be only when he comes again? Shouldn't our tongues be confessing this NOW?

So often we see this text as something that will happen in the future but if it isn't happening now, it won't happen in the future. We are not likely to suddenly change our behavior and become more Christ-like just before Jesus comes. We have to know him now. We have to be able to confess who he is today. Today.

Can you? Do you know who he truly is? I don't. For the most part we don't have a clue who Jesus really is because he is too much for us to handle. There is no way I will ever fully understand Jesus but, it is my life's journey to find out.  How about you?

A Minute In It - Your Confessions

A minute in God's word will change your life. Take a minute to read the passage below. Then, ask yourself the questions at the bottom of the post. 

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Philippians 2:10-11 (NKJV)

If someone were to ask you what you thought of Jesus, what would you say?
As you imagine seeing him, is your first inclination to bow?
Would you confess that he is Lord of your life? Is he in charge of everything?
What else would you confess about him? What do you know about him?
Are you in love with him?