As Christmas draws closer and closer...the stress of gifts and money...rushing around shopping, baking, and pushing through the crowds, I think we should try even harder to remember Christ as the center of this holiday.
It has become so easy for me to get stressed out about everything I still have to do before Christmas that I lose sight of the reason I celebrate this holiday in the first place! It's about Christ, and the ultimate gift He gave me...us. It's not about the Christmas tree, ornaments, lights, candy and food; it's not about the reactions people will get for giving big expensive gifts or even about the gifts period. It's about Christ.
As these last few days come to an end before our special Christmas day...we need to keep in mind why we say "merry Christmas" and not "happy holidays." Keep "Christ" in "Christmas"....literally. He should always be our focus...not ourselves and what we want.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
To live a life for Christ
A lot of people, myself included, think bringing people to Christ is their job...as a matter of fact, I've probably written about it. lol It's one of those "hard" things we have to do but rarely do we give it any heart. I think it's because I put so much emphasis on "me."
You see, it's not Jessica who is bringing these people to Christ; it's not Jessica who is the one to look to or the one to follow after. It's all supposed to be about Christ. NOT us. You don't go plan a speech for an unsaved person. God hasn't made witnessing THAT hard. We're supposed to show CHRIST; HIS love, and HIS character. We are simply the messenger giving the message to the people. God will give us the words we need at the perfect time. We constantly want things to come together in our own time because, you see, we have plans and schedules to work around. I think if we would simply leave our lives open enough where God can take us on a different path, then things would be considerably less stressful for us.
You see, when we try to do everything in our own power, we fail at it all miserably. Only with the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, can we do anything at all. We couldn't even breathe if it weren't for Him! We should live our lives as though we're just a body for Christ to work in and through...because, that's really what we are. We're God's creation, and we are to live for Him.
You see, it's not Jessica who is bringing these people to Christ; it's not Jessica who is the one to look to or the one to follow after. It's all supposed to be about Christ. NOT us. You don't go plan a speech for an unsaved person. God hasn't made witnessing THAT hard. We're supposed to show CHRIST; HIS love, and HIS character. We are simply the messenger giving the message to the people. God will give us the words we need at the perfect time. We constantly want things to come together in our own time because, you see, we have plans and schedules to work around. I think if we would simply leave our lives open enough where God can take us on a different path, then things would be considerably less stressful for us.
You see, when we try to do everything in our own power, we fail at it all miserably. Only with the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, can we do anything at all. We couldn't even breathe if it weren't for Him! We should live our lives as though we're just a body for Christ to work in and through...because, that's really what we are. We're God's creation, and we are to live for Him.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Reading God's word and thinking on Christmas
Lately when I've been "bored" flipping through the concordance in the back of my bible has been my choice of thing to do.
One verse that I read tonight was 2 Corinthians 9:7 which reads,
"So let each one give as he purposes in his hear, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
With the Christmas season upon us, I think we all forget the most important meanings of Christmas. First off, it is when we, as Christians, celebrate the birth of Christ. The ultimate gift. That day was the first day the world had hope since the fall of mankind. Hope...also fulfilled the day Jesus sent His son to die for our sinful ways. That was the promise God has given us many years before.
People get so caught up in "getting" and not just getting things for themselves, but buying things for other people. The entire "holiday" has been switched around. Instead of us being thankful for God's gift of death, and our gift of life...but now we have made it all about us. What can *I* get out of this holiday. How many sales can *I* hit to get good deals...on things we don't EVEN "need" nonetheless!
I know all of us Christians tell people "don't forget the reason for the season" but do we really believe that in our hearts, or do we say it to put on a good show?
Is God REALLY first in our lives...even through the Christmas season? Do we become stressed with all of the work we "have to do" and the gifts we "have to buy," or do we thank God for what we have, and give to those less fortunate?
Think about our birthdays...we get cards, phone calls, emails, wall posts on facebook, gifts...then we look at the time we celebrate Christ's birth..and what does He get? He gets to watch us fight over sales in stores, give gifts to each other... that we don't need. Even the simplicity of a "thought" put into a gift to someone else is too much to ask.
I so wish we would simplify this season. I wish we would remember why we're celebrating at all! And lastly...I wish we'd give something back to Christ. A gift to the less fortunate, a thank you prayer to God for ALL He has blessed us with, telling those around us how much of an encouragement they've been in our lives...
My prayer for this month is so pray more, stress less. To thank God for the abundance of things I have, instead of making a list of things I "want." To give to others more than I give to myself.
I am SO blessed. I have so much "stuff," I have the most amazing Godly family, I have incredible friends, I have the most fantastic guy who is growing along life with me, I have God's promises....what else do I really need? Not a thing.
Our God is great....He is loving, merciful, faithful, and so very worthy of all of our praise and thanks.
One verse that I read tonight was 2 Corinthians 9:7 which reads,
"So let each one give as he purposes in his hear, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
With the Christmas season upon us, I think we all forget the most important meanings of Christmas. First off, it is when we, as Christians, celebrate the birth of Christ. The ultimate gift. That day was the first day the world had hope since the fall of mankind. Hope...also fulfilled the day Jesus sent His son to die for our sinful ways. That was the promise God has given us many years before.
People get so caught up in "getting" and not just getting things for themselves, but buying things for other people. The entire "holiday" has been switched around. Instead of us being thankful for God's gift of death, and our gift of life...but now we have made it all about us. What can *I* get out of this holiday. How many sales can *I* hit to get good deals...on things we don't EVEN "need" nonetheless!
I know all of us Christians tell people "don't forget the reason for the season" but do we really believe that in our hearts, or do we say it to put on a good show?
Is God REALLY first in our lives...even through the Christmas season? Do we become stressed with all of the work we "have to do" and the gifts we "have to buy," or do we thank God for what we have, and give to those less fortunate?
Think about our birthdays...we get cards, phone calls, emails, wall posts on facebook, gifts...then we look at the time we celebrate Christ's birth..and what does He get? He gets to watch us fight over sales in stores, give gifts to each other... that we don't need. Even the simplicity of a "thought" put into a gift to someone else is too much to ask.
I so wish we would simplify this season. I wish we would remember why we're celebrating at all! And lastly...I wish we'd give something back to Christ. A gift to the less fortunate, a thank you prayer to God for ALL He has blessed us with, telling those around us how much of an encouragement they've been in our lives...
My prayer for this month is so pray more, stress less. To thank God for the abundance of things I have, instead of making a list of things I "want." To give to others more than I give to myself.
I am SO blessed. I have so much "stuff," I have the most amazing Godly family, I have incredible friends, I have the most fantastic guy who is growing along life with me, I have God's promises....what else do I really need? Not a thing.
Our God is great....He is loving, merciful, faithful, and so very worthy of all of our praise and thanks.
A blessing from God.
Our family has had the amazing blessing of becoming friends with an awesome young woman. It always seems like God sends someone into your life just as you need them...and to think, people say He doesn't care.
Her joy is so very contagious. Her smile glows. Her laughter brings happiness to your soul. Her love for the Lord just radiates out of her. What a blessing to be friends with such a person!
She has touched my life in so many ways. Her faith and joy of the Lord, however, are two of the biggest things. For someone to glow THAT much with the love of Christ is always a wonder to see. So many people today lose their joy too easily.
I'm going to miss my friend, Loni, this coming year while she is away. I pray God continues to bless her and use her to bless all of those around her.
Her joy is so very contagious. Her smile glows. Her laughter brings happiness to your soul. Her love for the Lord just radiates out of her. What a blessing to be friends with such a person!
She has touched my life in so many ways. Her faith and joy of the Lord, however, are two of the biggest things. For someone to glow THAT much with the love of Christ is always a wonder to see. So many people today lose their joy too easily.
I'm going to miss my friend, Loni, this coming year while she is away. I pray God continues to bless her and use her to bless all of those around her.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Life.
Sometimes the daily tasks of life can really wear a person down. It seems life is flying by and you haven't gotten a thing accomplished from your "to-do list."
I think things seem to go so wrong and we don't get anything done when we take our eyes off of God. When we make OUR priorities higher on the list than God's. We are to spread God's word, and show everyone the love of Christ. That's really about it. No perfecting people, no solving the worlds problems, not arguing with each other about things that don't matter whatsoever in the light of eternity...we spend so much of our time judging and accusing...and the only thing that accomplishes is making Christ sad.
There's a song that helps me whenever I have a big "life" issue; whether it's time, work, family, or relationships with friends or such...
It's by a group called "Fee" and it's called: "Everything Falls"
"When I see, darkness all around me. When I see, that tragedy has found me.
I still believe Your faithful arms will never let me go, and still I know...
When everything falls apart, Your arms hold me together.
When everything falls apart, You're the only hope for this heart.
When everything falls apart, and my strength is gone I find You mighty and strong.
You keep holding on. You keep holding on."
I think things seem to go so wrong and we don't get anything done when we take our eyes off of God. When we make OUR priorities higher on the list than God's. We are to spread God's word, and show everyone the love of Christ. That's really about it. No perfecting people, no solving the worlds problems, not arguing with each other about things that don't matter whatsoever in the light of eternity...we spend so much of our time judging and accusing...and the only thing that accomplishes is making Christ sad.
There's a song that helps me whenever I have a big "life" issue; whether it's time, work, family, or relationships with friends or such...
It's by a group called "Fee" and it's called: "Everything Falls"
"When I see, darkness all around me. When I see, that tragedy has found me.
I still believe Your faithful arms will never let me go, and still I know...
When everything falls apart, Your arms hold me together.
When everything falls apart, You're the only hope for this heart.
When everything falls apart, and my strength is gone I find You mighty and strong.
You keep holding on. You keep holding on."
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