New Beginnings and Opportunities

I hope you had a great Christmas!  Mine was a bit quiet but still beautiful.  As I reflected on the gift of Jesus whom God gave over 2000 years ago, I thought about the gifts I continue to get and early Christmas morning, I sat and thanked God for them.  I also thought about the time I’ve squandered in 2020.  Since the pandemic started, I’ve had to stop myself from complaining about the harsh reality of not being able to do the things I want and like doing.  I realized that while I’ve made some good decisions and used some of my time wisely, I haven’t done that consistently in all areas.  

I’ve been working more hours than I should.  I’ve been spending more on stuff than I should – although much has been for other people.  I should have cleaned out so many things in my house and didn’t.  While I’ve been spending more time with the Lord, it still hasn’t really been enough.  There are so many things I could have done better this year.  I’m not beating myself up, I’m just being real about my human frailties.  I have many, but I thank God for loving me anyway.  

I say all this because we’re only a few days from 2021 and we usually say it’s an opportunity to start again.  For those who make resolutions, it’s an opportunity to redefine some goals for the year.  I’m not making any resolutions, because they don’t work for me.  I am, however, setting some goals with milestones.  There are many things I want to accomplish over the next few years and I’m going to put them down on paper so I can reflect on how far I go in reaching them.  While I’m putting those items down, I’m also going to seek God’s guidance on them, so I can make sure they line up with His purpose as well.  

This fall during my small group, we studied the book of Joshua and Judges and throughout these books, it’s evident that the Israelites back then were just like us now.  God continues to take care of us and provide for us and we want to do what we want to do, until we get in trouble and then we call on Him to get us out of it.  Once He does, we start the cycle back over again, except sometimes we get so far into a mess that we get comfortable.  I’m striving in the future to not just do what I want to do, but to listen to God’s leading and pray that He will take away any desires that are not according to His Will and His Word.  I know that will require me to stay closer to Him, because the devil is real and he is always seeking to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).  The devil will use any means to distract us from serving God and doing His Will.  That’s the devil’s job and he’s good at it.  The only way to counter him is with the Power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, which means we need to have them and be armed to use them.   We fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers (Eph 6:12).  

2020 was a hard year, and we have no guarantees that 2021 will be better.  We hope and pray it will, but we have to be prepared that it might not.  We have to go into 2021 expecting God to show up and continue to bless and keep us.  While there have been some significant losses for many in 2020, God is still God and He is still Good!  He does not change, no matter how we think or act – He is still the same (Ps 102:27, Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8).  So let’s take a look at where we are and purpose in our hearts to be more like Christ in 2021.  Remember life is a journey….we are all growing and changing every day, but let’s make sure the growth and change will result in God being glorified as opposed to Him being angered.  Let’s purpose in our hearts to be more of a reflection of Him in a world that definitely needs more love and peace and joy.  In 2021, let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus seeking His guidance and wisdom and everything we need will be provided (Matt 6:33).  

I hope and pray that you have a prosperous (in all aspects of your life) and Happy New Year.  May you be blessed beyond measure in ways you cannot even begin to imagine.  

The Real Reason for the Season

Just five days until Christmas!  Can you believe it?  It feels like we were just here a minute ago.  This year has been so different that time has run together and I found myself behind the 8-ball.  I just got some Christmas cards in the mail and still have several to get out there – of course, I’ve been planning to get them out since Thanksgiving and it just didn’t work.  So, I get how this year feels different.  I’ve even heard some mention cancelling Christmas.  For that, I call a resounding, “NO.”

The real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20).  That’s it.  Yes, we give gifts and yes, families get together during this time and while some of those traditions may be different or changed this year, Jesus was still born as a gift from God to the entire world (Titus 3:4-7).  That doesn’t change no matter how our circumstances change.  Given that and everything going on in the world, this is an even more important time to remember God’s gift and to celebrate Jesus’ birth.  

I don’t know about you, but when I look at the world today and my own life, I see an even greater need to share and celebrate the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus on a wide scale.  The one great thing about Jesus coming is that now we can go to the Father for ourselves……we don’t need a priest to go before God for us.  We can reach out to God in prayer through Jesus for ourselves.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s wonderful to have people in relationship with God praying for us and with us, but we don’t have to wait for them.  

During this time, I challenge you to emphasize with those around you the real reason for the season and share the Good News of Jesus.  Jesus is the author of our peace and it’s clear with all the unrest in the world, He is what we all need (Isaiah 9:6).  

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and pray God’s blessings over you and your families.  May you be blessed beyond measure with love, laughter, peace and joy that will blow your mind and that of those around you!  And, may your life be a reflection of your relationship with Jesus – you may be the only reflection of Jesus some people see!

Remember, be wise this holiday season and protect those around you as much as possible.  Listen to the experts and take precautions to do your part – wash your hands, wear a face covering and maintain social distancing.  Quarantine if you believe you’ve been exposed.  Our loved ones are too important to risk them for our own pleasure.  Take care and stay safe.

It’s the Season of Giving

My birthday was last week and it was great.  I got away and it was a wonderful change of scenery.  I needed it, way more than I was ready to admit.  Just being away from my own home and in a different environment allowed me to breathe and to distance myself from all the stuff that has piled up over the last nine months.  I was able to take a much needed break.  A couple of friends (including my niece) spent socially distanced time with me and it was great to disconnect.  When I got home, a couple of friends threw me a socially distanced birthday party – it was just the three of us and we wore our face covering (except when eating) and maintained social distance.  

Even though my birthday wasn’t how I originally imagined it early in the year, it was great because both sets of friends went out of their way to show me how much I meant to them.  One of them, who never cooks, cooked for me….and it was good.  The other wrote me my own birthday song – too cute – by the way, she should be recording….but I digress.  My point is this experience brought home an important point.  It is so important to let others know how much they mean to you and to give to others.  And I’m not talking about always giving money or things to other people – but time and attention and caring and support. 

The Bible teaches us to Love God first and to love our neighbor (brother) as ourselves.  I don’t know about you, but this time of isolation has made me long for the presence of other people.  I been around very few people since this whole thing started and I’ve realized that just because I can’t physically be around a lot of my family and friends, it doesn’t prevent me from being there for them.  With so many people in need this year (for comfort, for companionship, for a friend, etc.), it really is an opportunity to show Christ’s love.  Who do you know who could use a card or a call?  What’s your hold up?  Yes, some of them need monetary or practical items, and if you’re in a position to help them, you should.  I’m not saying let people take advantage of you or manipulate you, but you should seek guidance and wisdom from God to show you to whom you should give.  God loves a cheerful giver.  

For me, giving is a way of life. That doesn’t mean I give to any and every one; or for any and everything.  I usually seek God’s guidance before I give.  As always, when I don’t, I normally make a mistake. I love to see people’s faces light up when I’ve picked the exact right gift for them.  For some, it the pleasure of knowing that someone is thinking about them.  For some, it’s meeting a need.  For others, it’s just the fact that I cared enough to be thoughtful in the gift giving.  I believe it's as fulfilling for me to see someone get something that moves them as it is for the person receiving the gift.  I don't always get the gift right, but it always comes from a place of loving my neighbor as myself.  

Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as selfish as the next person with certain things, particularly with my time, but I’m getting better.  My biggest obstacle is giving God enough of me.  Sometimes, I get so caught up in the doing, that I don’t sit and rest with Him.  I don’t know about you, but I get distracted by all the things going on and I can easily get off track.  I’m quick to pray, but I don’t always meditate on the Word, so I can hear back from Him.  I’m working on that.  

The Word says it’s better to give than to receive (Luke 6:38; Hebrews 13:16).  The bottom line is the principle if you give you will receive.  God keeps His promises and it's a principle He created.  I don’t give with the motive to receive, but I give without hesitation when I know I’m hearing from God because nothing I have belongs to me anyway.  I’m just a steward of the resources God provides.  He owns it all.  So, when I get over the fact that none of the money or stuff or time or even myself belongs to me, it’s much easier to give to others and to give back to God.  He promised that if I accepted Him and obey Him, He will never leave me, so I don’t have any worries for my day to day sustenance.  

God has provided for me for 50 years and I’m hoping He’ll give me another 50 where He can use me to do exceedingly more than was done the first 50.  Trust God and give as he directs you.  Be a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).  I challenge you to look at your life and consider whether you are stingy or a reluctant giver.  If so, then look at what you receive.  The Bible indicates that with the same measure you give, it will be given to you.  If you aren’t receiving, you may want to consider what you’re giving.  

Our Plans are Not God’s Plans

So, tomorrow is my birthday and while I’m so grateful to see another one, this is not how I planned my 50th year to go.  Some very generous friends offered me their vacation home so I could get away and celebrate, and I’m so thankful, but I was planning to be thousands of miles away instead of a two hour drive from my house. 

Ten years ago, I went to Hawaii and I loved it so much, I made a pact with myself to go every five years.  So this would be the ten-year anniversary of my first trip to one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Needless to say, COVID19 really put a damper on my plans.  And yet, I know God is in control. I know He is always working things out for my good.  So, while this is not what I wanted, it is all part of His plan for me.  Maybe a lesson I’m to learn.  Maybe a reminder that I’m not in control and have to depend on Him for everything.  Maybe this is so I appreciate my experiences more.  I definitely will in the future. 

I know this example may not be your reality.  So many people have lost jobs.  Many haven’t seen family in months.  Many people are really hurting.  Do you have something in your life that isn’t going as planned?  You did all the pre-work and all the planning and it just didn’t happen.  Don’t let that get you down.  Learn to pivot and count it all joy, even when it doesn’t look like what you expected.  

The answer is to do those things you can control…..save where you can, utilize all the resources available, think outside the box and do the research, take the time to learn new skills, get started on that business idea, use your technology in new ways, etc…..and through it all lean and depend on God.  He has all the answers to all the questions we could ever ask.  You never know what God is planning for your future or what He has in store.  Remember, He has plans to prosper you and give you a hope and a future, even when you’ve in a moment of crisis or you’re been through a challenging time. 

Life is about the journey.  If our life is eternal (no matter where we end up), we’ll continue growing and learning about who God is and His purpose for us.  We’ll never know all that He knows.  But, know that He has plans for us, but He requires us to do the work.  We have to live by Faith – that He is God; that He loves us; that we can trust Him; that His word is true; that He will never leave or forsake us; that we are His; that no weapon formed against us will prosper; etc.  Knowing these things at our core allows us to more forward even when things work out differently than we planned.  God will do exactly what He said.  His ways are not our ways.  He is faithful to complete what He started.  

By the way, Happy Birthday to my Dad!  I’m so thankful God blessed me with Him.