Putting Christ Back Into Christmas

It is said in many different ways, but it is a very familiar phrase:

“We must put Christ back into Christmas.” (I searched this phrase on Google and got 1,460,000 results in 0.22 seconds.)

 Or, “We cannot let them take Christ out of Christmas.”

           

There once was a time when almost all Americans were willing to say, ‘Merry Christmas’ regardless of their religious beliefs or associations.    Christmas was a cultural event that even non-Christians recognized as a festive time for doing good.  While they might not believe in Jesus or his virgin birth, they were okay with all the associations that had been handed down for years.   However, recently political correctness has taken over.  The phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ for some businesses & organizations is now considered offensive.  Their employees are told to say ‘Seasons Greetings’ or ‘Happy Holidays’.  Ironically, before people were told not to say ‘Merry Christmas’, saying Happy Holidays was not considered anti-Christmas. 

I must admit since the war on the words, ‘Merry Christmas’, I am much more intentional about using the term in public. I am resolved to keep the name of Christmas alive!   In the past, at times I might have said ‘Happy Holidays’, but no more. 

Yet, I must ask myself and all who read this: 

Is fighting over a name all that is required to keep Christ in Christmas? 

If our government and businesses endorse the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’, is Christ really back in Christmas?

I’m all for symbolism and for taking advantage of our freedoms as Americans.  But, here’s a novel thought: Instead of being riled up and convinced our righteous indignation is enough, why don’t we put Christ back in Christmas by our manner of living? 

Why don’t we re-discover the ‘Heart of Christmas’ and share it in words and lifestyle with all we meet?  What is the heart of Christmas? The heart of Christmas is to celebrate a love so great that a gift was given that could never be deserved or repaid.  This gift of Jesus brought the opportunity of salvation and peace with God to all of mankind.    (Luke 2:10-11 & John 3:16-17) 

How can we put Christ back in Christmas?  By remembering the real meaning of Christmas.  Yes, the name is important, but its message is more important.  This Christmas let’s purposely love, give of ourselves, and share the gospel in word and action.  In so doing, we can help others put Christ back in Christmas.  

More Than A Message

Most, if not all of us, who discover the message of God’s love and grace initially fall in love with the message more than we fall in love with Him.  After all, when in bondage to sin and/or religion, the message gives intoxicating hope that we can be free.  We are filled with excitement and anticipation. 

We have to have more!

Falling in love with the message is not in itself a bad thing.  The gospel is “good news”.  Yet, if we don’t allow the message to lead us into intimacy with God, it can become ‘just another message’.  We are not simply called to know about God, we are invited and called to know God.  When the message of love is more valuable than relationship with God, we usually become overbearing with the message; shoving it down people’s throats, correcting all who don’t see it our way (in love of course).  Like parents trying to help their children, “This is good for you, now eat it”.

The problem is: Simply having the right message is not enough.

Somewhere, in the process (sometimes months later, sometimes years), we discover that we have a new message but the same old problems.  Leading us to ask:

What’s wrong with me? 

And/or: What’s wrong with the message?

And/or: What’s wrong with my pastor?

Finally:  What’s wrong with God?  How could He let me down?  Why is this message not working for me? 

When getting to this point, some walk away from the message, the church, and God all together.  Others find a new message and a new church.  Some seek out a new “extreme” that either creates another short term high or allows them to justify their lack of peace and character. 

It has always been fascinating to me how when Mary was setting at the feet of Jesus, Martha did not express her disappointment for Mary, but for Jesus.  She evidently thought Jesus should have corrected Mary without her input.  After all, didn’t Jesus notice her sacrifice and hard work?  "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand." (Luke 10:40 Message)

Martha may have been more shocked and offended when Jesus responded with:  "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42 NKJV  If Mary was only hearing a message, she might have been better off in the kitchen.  The Message Bible, however, says that Mary was hanging on to every word.  Mary wasn’t just getting a message.  She was experiencing the presence and message of Jesus.  

The message of God’s love and grace is incredibly important and enlightening. We need to hear it often.  It is the message we need to share with the world.  However, any time the message replaces relationship, we are on the trail to disappointment.    Instead of life and peace, we enter into confusion.  On the contrary, when we respond to the message of love by coming to Him and getting to know Him, we begin to experience the message.    The message becomes part of our experience instead of another theory. 

           

When we experience who He is everything changes! Our prayer life, scripture reading, worship, and meditation begins to change.   We no longer do these actions to please Him or to show others how spiritual we are.  We now pray and worship because we have discovered God is Good.  We find ourselves meditating on His goodness. We read the word to discover and reinforce to our heart and mind, the love and goodness of God.  1 Peter 2:2-3 tells us that growth comes when “indeed you have tasted (experienced) that the Lord is gracious.”  Leading us to realize, we now don't just have a message, but so much more!   It is now a message we are experiencing and sharing with others because of our friendship and deep intimacy with God.  

Why or Who?

This afternoon, I will be preaching the funeral of C.J. Pedigo, a 16 year old boy who tragically died with 2 other teenage friends as a result of a car accident last Friday.   A tragic event like this rocks a community and leaves many asking questions such as:

“Why did this happen?”

“Whose fault was this?’

“What if …..?

“Why did God allow this to happen?” 

“What did I do wrong?”   

In our grieving, we seek for answers. This is natural.  Yet, the truth is:

If we ask the wrong questions, we will inevitably get the wrong answer. 

I once heard a well known public speaker who had suffered from paralysis describe the intense depression she faced for months after her debilitating accident.   She described how she would constantly ask God why?  She was angry at God, herself and the world.  Then one day while she was praying (and complaining), the Spirit of the Lord spoke to her and said: “You are asking the wrong question.  The question is not why, but who?”

“Who can help you?” 

‘Why’ was driving her away from the very being who is compassionate, loving, and powerful enough to help her deal with where she was and give her the strength to go on with life.   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.    2 Cor 1:3-4 

Sometimes identifying why is important and advantageous. It may keep us from repeating destructive patterns in our life. Other times ‘why’ is unapparent, undistinguishable, or of no value.  In these cases, dwelling on ‘why’ only drives us away from the grace to deal with life.  Either way, the first and most important thing to identify and grasp in any situation is:

“Who can help?”    

Forgive Me When I Whine

Have you had a tough day, month or year?  Sometimes for me, it’s my perspective that needs to change.  I love the following poem written by an unknown person because it helps me get my perspective back on track.  I hope it will do the same for you!

Today, upon a bus,
I saw a lovely girl with golden hair,
I envied her...
She seemed so happy...
I wished I were as fair.

When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle;
She had one leg and wore a crutch;
But as she passed...a smile!

Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two legs.  The world is mine!

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him.
He seemed so glad.
If I were late 'twould do no harm.
And as I left he said to me,
"I thank you, You have been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two eyes. The world is mine!

Later, while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play.
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment, then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word,
and then I know he could not hear.

Oh, God forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears. The world is mine!

With feet to take me where I'd go,
with eyes to see the sunset's glow,
with ears to hear what I would know...

Oh, God forgive me when I whine.
I'm blessed indeed.  The world is mine!

When Faith Became Law That Stood Between Me and God

By Pastor Byron Mills 

            For years I felt that my faith never measured up.  I was always doing the steps to make my faith stronger and to work better.  I was always trying to improve my faith so that I could prosper more, walk in more health and walk in greater blessings.   I focused more on my faith in Jesus than I did on Jesus.

You can tell when you have fallen into self-righteousness and legalism when you don't know when enough is enough.  Some people say, "You need to develop your faith".  But how do you know when you've developed it enough.  The only way you would know is by looking at your physical circumstances to see if they improved.  But that would be walking by sight. I never knew when my faith was good enough.

I often found myself comparing my faith "results" with others and ended up either puffed up or depressed. Legalism and self-righteousness kept me ever approaching but never arriving.  My faith was always an effort and a list of things I was always doing to get stuff.   Then one day I read Galatians 2:20 in the KJV.

 

"I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in   me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD who loved me and have Himself for me."  

It is not about MY faith IN the Son of God.  It is about the faith OF the Son of God.  The faith in me doesn't come from my effort. Faith doesn't come from my confession.  Faith comes from Jesus.  Jesus is my faith.

Gal 3:24-25 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.NKJV  

When did faith come?  When Jesus came!  Jesus is my faith.  There is only one person who knows how to believe God....Jesus.   He is in me with all of His faith.  I am living by HIS faith.  I have a solid fail proof faith called the faith OF the Son of God.

I finally quit looking at my faith and started looking at Jesus the object of my faith.  Instead of trying to get Jesus to look at my faith, He was trying to get me to look at Him and all that He has done for me.

The woman with the issue of blood heard about Jesus and came in the press behind and touched the hem of His garment and was healed.  Jesus turned around and said, "Woman, great is your faith."   When the woman saw a great Jesus, He saw a great faith.  The woman was not aware of her faith; Jesus was.  She was only conscious of Jesus.  I am no longer looking at my faith and I am no longer trying to get Jesus to look at my faith.  I am looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of my faith. . (Hebrews 12:2).    Faith no longer stands between me and Jesus.  It is a wonderful intimate relationship with nothing between us!

The Heart of a Father

Today, as I was reflecting on the New Year, I remembered this is a milestone year for me.  On August 5, 1961 I was born.  You don’t have to be a mathematician to realize August 5, 2011 marks my 50^th birthday. Even though it’s not a milestone some people look forward too, there are many reasons to celebrate life and aging.  Of course, if I permit myself, I could list some things I don’t like about turning fifty.  But “this is the day the Lord has made.”  Wishing to turn back time doesn’t do anything but waste our today!  Three reasons I will celebrate another birthday are:

#1 - Every moment in time is a gift of God

#2 - I love life and birthdays’ beat the alternative

#3 - The older I get, the more I appreciate the father heart of God

In my teenage years, the quality of my life was my primary objective.  I was a Christian who had compassion for others, but my feelings were most powerfully influenced by how things affected me.   These feelings were driven by both immaturity and lack of life experience, but they were real feelings.   

I fell in love with my wife Donna and my primary objectives changed.  Suddenly, while I still had feelings, my life became influenced by what was happening in someone else’s life.  Her joy gives me joy, her victories are my victories, and her tragedies are my tragedies. 

Life was good!  It could not get any better, could it? But it did!   On April 5, 1982 came the arrival of our first child, Rebecca.    She immediately, apart from any action, captured my heart!   She could not walk or talk. She mainly slept, ate, & filled diapers.  But that did not matter to dad.  She was my little girl!  I shall never forget the powerful contradictory feelings of ecstasy and terror she brought.  She was beautiful.  She was precious.  She was glorious! (By the way she still is today)    I did not see any flaws, only potential.    Yet, when we took her home, it occurred to me just how little I knew about being a dad.   I still remember the emotions I felt the first time she had a fever and the first time a young boy called to talk to her.  

This joyous occasion was followed on January 28, 1987 and April 22, 1990 with the arrival of two more children.   Both were boys: Matthew and Jesse.    More than ever before my life was influenced by the quality of someone else’s life.   The older I get, the broader the circle of influence grows.  I now have three grandchildren with one more on the way.  

When I think about how I feel about my wife, children and grandchildren and how powerfully their well being influences my well being, I remember that God made us after His own image.

Our ability to love our children did not originate with man.  It originated with God. 

Matt 7:11  …You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?  Message

I never really comprehended how much my parents loved me, until I had my own children.  This incredible love that now allows me to rejoice in my children’s victories even more than my own is a picture of how much God loves me.  We are God’s children.  He loves us more than we love Him. 

God is the perfect father.   

With each addition in my life, you would have thought my love was maxed out.  Yet, I find the more we have to love, the more love we have to give.  God’s love is the same, only greater.  He loves all of His children beyond our capacity to understand that love.   His day’s and nights are filled with thoughts of us and with the desire for our good.    Jer 29:11-13  I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.   12 "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.   13 "When you come looking for me, you'll find me.  Message

The truth is we cannot turn back the clock of time.  Like it or not, we will get older until we die.  However, regardless of our marital status, or whether we have children or don’t have children, we can connect our heart with our loving Heavenly father.  We can experience His perfect love, and share that love with those around us.  In so doing our capacity to love and feel loved will increase. And our time on earth will grow more precious with each new day and new person coming into our life.      

Christmas Gifts

Christmas is not about the gifts, or is it?  Every year, as December 25th approaches, I hear some form of the statement “Christmas is not about the gifts”.  There are several articles addressing the subject.  Here are some of the titles I found:

Six Reasons not to give Gifts this Christmas.

Nine Fool Proof Excuses for not Buying Christmas Gifts

Christmas is about Christ, not Gifts

Christmas with no Presents

Let’s not Mall each other this Christmas    

Often, when people make ‘the statement”, they are protesting the commercialization of Christmas.   Some feel pressure to spend money they simply don’t have. Some enjoy the gift giving, but the drive to find ‘the perfect gift’ is overwhelming.  Some stress because their gift list is full of extended family members they hardly even know. Others resent buying gifts because they are only giving to keep from feeling guilty.  (If you give me or my family members a gift, and I don’t give one too, then I feel bad.)

In light of the inward or outward pressure many feel about gifts, it is understandable so many would say “Christmas is not about the gifts.”   Yet, I must strongly challenge this view because:

Christmas in many ways is precisely about the gifts!

Obviously, Christmas is not about the gifts we can accumulate.  It’s not about the perfect tie or the new television or any other material things we may desire or receive. It’s not about the excess much of our culture has come to expect.   Christmas is Christmas because of the greatest gift ever given to the world! God unselfishly sent His perfect son into an imperfect world with one mission in mind:  To redeem mankind!  

       

God did not send Jesus into the world out of obligation.  Neither did He send Jesus into the world because we deserved his help.  Mankind did not deserve or appreciate ‘the Gift’. 

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He even gave up His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.  (John 3:16 AMP)  We have Christmas today, because of God’s love. 

There is no better way to honor the most important arrival the world has ever known than to pay it forward.  This year let’s make Christmas about the gift of love.  Here’s my Christmas prayer:

           

God help every gift I give to be motivated by love.  May every present I share be wrapped in love.  Help me to be wise enough not to allow presents to become more important than giving time and attention to those I love. And may I gracefully receive gifts from others instead of making it all about me.  Help me to appreciate the love others give me and not to compete or complicate the simplicity of the meaning of Christmas.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.  

Merry Christmas!  

How do you Measure your Church?

            Probably all of us, particularly ministers sometimes measure our church by factors such as attendance, finances or the amount of programs we offer. Truthfully, these factors should not be ignored.  However, we must be careful not to judge the fruit of our church solely based on these factors.  As a pastor in a small community, I must admit, more than once I’ve been discouraged over programs we cannot offer, and money we cannot give. 

            Recently, through a letter from a new church member I was reminded that while growth, finances and programs are important, there is a much more important factor in our church.  If we have this factor we will be effective regardless of size or programs.  If we don’t have this factor, we will be limited no matter how large or how many programs we offer.  I  call it the ‘grace factor’.  Do you and your church show grace, or do you just talk about it?    

Despite the fact that I have taught and directed children's ministry, led middle school Bible classes, and taught adult Sunday School lessons, I have never experienced something more intimidating and exhausting than stepping foot into a new church.  Even as an experienced church-goer and teacher, I still feel so much anxiety going to church now that I have three young children of my own.  As I look around, I read the expressions of others:  "Are my children an inconvenience?  Are we a model-enough family to be accepted?  Do they think I'm an awful mother who has no control of my children, or do they think I'm a control freak?  Do these people even WANT us here?"

After moving to the area we had a few very tough experiences at finding a church home.  We were told our children would need to be better to participate in certain programs.  Some people incorrectly assumed that I was a single mother.  Others have judged that since my husband is with me only some of the time, that he's not a faithful man of God (even though he ministers to others at his job site on the other side of the world).  I totally understand this line of thought because, at one time, I also found it easy to judge others based upon what I saw.  I believe God gave me children, along with these recent experiences, to realize how profound grace can be. 

When we first started searching for a church, I wanted to have children's ministry programs, Sunday School classes, Wednesday night services - everything that was on my checklist for church.  But something significant was missing.  I just didn't feel at home anywhere that had all the programs I wanted. It was so difficult to look for a church with my husband gone half the time.  And I wept from the heart-breaking experiences I'd had within some of the churches we'd attended. I was lonely and didn't have the local church family I needed to feel like I belonged in this community.  To be honest, I was completely ready to give up. If I had not been part of the more experienced "churched" crowd, or if I had not been a mature enough Christian to realize the blessing I would miss out on if I did not find a church home, I probably would have given up.  

But then we entered the doors of a church where smiles were on the faces of the members of the congregation.  A place where people held conversations with me - people who did not talk down to me when I was there alone with three children, people who showed me that they took pleasure in having us there, REGARDLESS of how my children acted (or how I acted, for that matter!).  And ultimately, just ordinary people in this body of believers would kneel down to look into the face of my children and show them love. I was overcome with emotions just watching it.  And I finally realized... children's ministry is not just what "programs" a church offers. A church can minister to children if they just show them love and patience and kindness and grace.  And when you minister to children, you minister to their parents.

This experience by itself was enough to give me the encouragement I needed to keep trying.  But, in addition to the fact that my children and I were finally accepted and loved unconditionally, when people found out about our family dynamics, they started giving selflessly of themselves.  Church members stepped up to take my youngest to the nursery so that I could worship fully without distraction.  Others offered to help with the children when I needed it while my husband was gone. The pastors cared for my children (more than once!) so that I could have some fellowship time with other women.  After my husband had left for the Philippines, a couple even met my children and I at a restaurant to spend time getting to know us better.  That same couple offered to take care of the children one evening so that my husband could go on a date when he returned! AND THEN they said they wanted to make it a tradition! These are my face-of-grace moments.  (And there are so many more… )

Churched?  Or unchurched?  What does that mean, anyway?  Are we expressing love and joy to those who come into our midst, or are we shutting the door on them simply by the look on our face?  I can tell you, nothing has been as graceful to me as the love that was on the faces of the people attending Carthage Full Gospel Church.  I am deeply moved by the love I've experienced but am also humbled by it.  It makes me want to be a more gracious person just being around you.  The old adage "We lead by example" is so true.  Thank you for teaching me how to be the face of grace to others.

Psalm 115:15,

Brandy

Penny for Your Contentment?

I recently read about a child that wanted a Happy Meal because of the toy it contained.  Her parents said no, that the toy was cheap and only made the meal higher. 

The little girl really wanted the toy, so she began to beg.  When saying please ten times did not work, she resorted to more desperate measures:  She began to bargain.  “Please mom and dad.   I want this Happy Meal and toy more than I ever wanted anything before.  If you will let me have it, I won’t ask for anything for a long time, maybe never again.  I’ll quit complaining when you ask me to clean my room. Also, I’ll be happy and content for the rest of my life.”  

Only a child would believe a Happy Meal toy would make them happy.  Right?   “Only a child could be foolish enough to believe that a change in circumstance could bring lasting contentment.  Or maybe not.  Maybe when you get older, you don’t necessarily get any smarter; your Happy Meals just get more expensive.”  (John Ortberg)

In America, it seems most people live in a constant state of discontentment.  Do any of these sound familiar to you?

“If I had a better house, I’d be happy.” 

“If I had a girlfriend, I’d be happy.”

“If I had a boyfriend, I’d be happy.”

“If I had the right spouse, I’d be happy.”

“If I had no spouse, I’d be happy.”

“If I had a larger bank account, I’d be happy.”

“If I had kids, I’d be happy.

“If my kids were grown, I’d be happy.”

“If my kids were small again, I’d be happy.”

“If I had a certain car, I’d be happy.”

The list goes on and on, but the happiness seems to never come, at least not for very long.   Could it be that things cannot bring contentment? 

The apostle Paul said, “I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am… I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.”  (Phil. 4:11-13 Amp) 

When discontentment leads us to seek the Lord, it is not a bad thing.   Finding our sufficiency in Christ will lead us to a life of contentment, joy and peace.

However, when we seek to have our discontentment overcome through things or other people, we like Eve, will partake of forbidden fruit.  When she saw the fruit was delightful to look at, and to be desired to make one wise, she ate it.

How can we find contentment in a world of discontentment?

Contentment is found in peace.  One of the over seventy words used to describe the Hebrew word for peace (Shalom) is contentment.  Contentment is the result of a heart at peace!  

Peace is a gift, but it must be received.  We receive the gift of God’s peace through relationship with Jesus, through knowledge of who Jesus is, and through trusting in Jesus as the one who has already given us all need to live a fulfilled life.     “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.” 

Ultimately, we choose to receive the gift of peace, or we choose to pursue satisfaction from some other source besides God.  Peace brings contentment, but all other sources will ultimately leave us unfulfilled and dissatisfied.   Will you choose to live in the tent of contentment or the tent of discontentment?  The choice is yours.  

The Million Dollar Word

Rudyard Kipling lived from 1865 to 1936. He was English, born in Bombay, India. He wrote poetry and is the author of books like Captain Courageous, How the Leopard Got His Spots, and the Jungle Book.  Kipling’s writings not only made him famous but also brought him a fortune.  

A newspaper reporter came up to him once and said, "Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over one hundred dollars a word." The reporter reached into his pocket and pulled out a one hundred-dollar bill and gave it to Kipling and said, "Here's a one hundred dollar note, Mr. Kipling. Now you give me one of your hundred dollar words."  

Upon receipt of the money, Rudyard Kipling looked at the money, put it in his pocket and said, "Thanks!"  

The word "thanks" is certainly a word worth one hundred dollars. In fact, its value makes it more like a million-dollar word.   According to Matt. 12:36-37: … Words are powerful ; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation." (Message)  Very few words have more potential than thanks! Thankfulness makes at least three major contributions into our life.

#1 Thankfulness fulfills the will of God.  Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thess 5:18   How many times have we prayed, “Lord show me your will?”   There is nothing wrong with this prayer.  However, before we worry about what to do next, we need to begin with giving thanks!  When Jesus taught us to pray, he showed us to honor God before we ask: Our Father in heaven may your name be honored.  Matt 6:9  Thanksgiving honors God. NLT  As crazy as it may sound, our first need in every situation is to align ourselves in God’s will by giving thanks to Him.   Anything that fulfills the will of God is certainly worth a million dollars.   

#2  Thankfulness makes us whole.  In Luke 17, we find the story of ten lepers who were healed by Jesus.  In verse 15 one of the Lepers was healed and turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.  He was the only one who said thanks.  The million dollar word not only brought him physical healing, but Jesus proclaimed that his faith expressed through his thanksgiving made him whole.  The word ‘whole’ meant among other things to keep safe and sound; to rescue from danger.  Healing was truly wonderful, but the implication is that his heart of thanks contributed something far greater.  This man walked away with healing of the heart and body. 

#3 Thankfulness improves our quality of life.  Henry Ward Beecher once said: “The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!"   In life, we find what we are looking for.  If we look for what is beautiful, we find beauty.   Incredibly, the more we look for beauty, the more beauty we find. Yet, if we look for what is unattractive, we find unattractiveness. The more unattractiveness we look for, the more unattractiveness we find.  

This brings new meaning to the famous Helen Keller quote: “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”  

We live in a world that is full of things and people that daily showcases the incredible beauty, kindness and generosity of our God.  Yet, though we have eyes to see them, we don’t have the vision to comprehend them.   In this blindness, we find ourselves living in what has been described as a “culture of complaint.”  Our problem has never been and never will be what we don’t have.  Our problem is that we don’t recognize what God has already given to us.

Rom 1:20 explains that God’s eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). 

  

I challenge you during this season we call Thanksgiving, not to get so caught up in what you have to do that you are blinded to what you have!  Take at least a few minutes to see the hand of God so clearly around you.  (Your family, friends, nature, the gift of salvation by grace, just to name a few.)  Then from your heart, say the word so rich it will bless you more than a million dollars – Thanks!  

Storm Defeater

How would you answer if you were facing a life threatening disease, and you heard the voice of Jesus say, “Why are you afraid?”    Or if you had a payment due today, no money, and you heard, “Why are you afraid?”  Or you’ve recently lost your life long partner, and you find yourself alone and afraid.  Suddenly you hear, “Why are you afraid?”  Our first impulse to all of these questions might be to passionately and angrily explain to Jesus what we are afraid of.

Let me take you back. It had been a calm evening, but suddenly a storm emerged out of nowhere.  Not a small storm, but a terrible storm of mega wind blowing, rain-thrashing proportions.   It was so big the waves filled the boat.   The disciples panicked.   At first, they may have thought they were okay because Jesus was onboard.  However, the storm continued to rage, and Jesus was not helping.  As a matter of fact, Jesus nestled carelessly in the stern of the boat, asleep.   They were facing a life threatening situation and Jesus was asleep!  How could someone sleep through such a storm?  How could the miracle worker allow such a storm to come upon them?  Many questions must have gone through their desperate minds.  

When the disciples woke Jesus, he asked them a question that must have made them wonder about his sanity!  Jesus in the middle of a mega storm asked, “Why are you afraid?”  I can imagine the disciples’ frustration with such a question.  They must have thought Jesus was still asleep if he had to ask them why they were afraid.  Wasn’t it obvious?!  They were afraid because without divine intervention, they were in a huge storm and about to DIE.     

However, Jesus was not being insensitive.  He was asking the question we most need to be able to answer if we are going to face life’s battles in faith.  Jesus knew, understood and cared about what they were facing.  He was not asking for an explanation of what they were afraid of, rather by asking “Why are you afraid?”   Jesus was challenging them to stop allowing the circumstances of their lives to provoke fear and remove peace.  If they could correctly answer this question, they would have the ammunition to obey the most repeated command of Jesus:  ‘fear not’. 

There are only two reasons we are afraid.  Number one, we are afraid when we don’t believe Jesus is able.  If we are facing life threatening situations, and doubt the power of Jesus, there is no alternative to fear.  However, it is evident the disciples did not question the ability of Jesus.   When they woke him up they did not ask, Jesus do you think you can do anything about this storm? Few people who have been around Jesus doubt his ability.   I’ve never been associated with a Christian that did not believe in the ability of Jesus to do the miraculous.  However, all of us including the disciples struggle with the other reason we are afraid:  We are not fully assured or convinced of the love Jesus has for us.  

            We may be convinced Jesus is able, but for any one of a multitude of reasons, we do not believe Jesus is willing to bring us through the storms of life.  This was the disciples’ reason for being afraid as shown in their question for Jesus:   “… don't you even care that we are going to drown?"  Mark 4:38 (NLT) The disciples were afraid because they were not convinced they were ‘safe’ in the loving arms of Jesus Christ.   Their fear was not an indication they had no faith, but an indication they were aware of and believed in the power of the storm more than they were aware of and believed in the willingness of Jesus to see them through the storm. 

We may think the reason we are afraid has nothing to do with Jesus, but with our own shortcomings.  We may believe our misdoings block His help.  However, when we discover the gospel revealed through the cross of Jesus Christ, our confidence is not in our flesh, but in His love.  His love is greater than our failures.   We must change the way we view God’s love by persuading our hearts of His love.  One of the ways we accomplish this is by examining and meditating on scriptures about his awesome love such as:

       

Rom 8:31 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?  Message

Romans 8:35 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, … not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:    Message

Romans 8:38-39   I'm absolutely convinced that nothing …absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.   Message

Jer 31:3  God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will.  Expect love, love, and more love!  Message

Today, if you are facing a mega storm of any type.  Even if you have failed, done wrong, or feel weak in faith, realize when Jesus is in the boat with us the size of the storm we are facing does not matter. He is the Storm Defeater and He lives in us, making us capable of the things we can’t accomplish on our own.

So fear not! The love of Jesus is strong enough to see us through the eye of any storm we face.    

Feels Good to be ...

Forgiveness – What a glorious word!  Sadly, it is not always something I want to give but it is always something I want to receive.   When I think about it, I like to be forgiven, even when my apology is not completely sincere.  I may feel justified in what I did or did not do, but still I want to be forgiven.  Sometimes my wife and I have disagreements, and I know I am right!  There’s only one problem: she knows she is right, too! When two people are right, but have different versions of what ‘right’ is, the atmosphere is conducive for fireworks.  Most of the time one party eventually discovers they were wrong (usually me), opening the door for an apology from the person who was wrong.  However, there are some occasions where there is no proof of right and wrong, only strong opinions.  On these occasions I may apologize but not entirely (if you know what I mean).  I may be sorry for how I reacted, but not sorry I disagreed.  The need for forgiveness may not correspond with any change of opinion. Yet, in the words of a song by Eddie DGarmo, Feels Good to Be Forgiven.     

One of the looks or expressions of grace is found in forgiveness.  Eph. 1:6-8 says that forgiveness not only comes through grace but also is a sign of abundant grace.   Forgiveness is a free gift available to the whole world, but just like all gifts it must be received. Not earned. Not paid for. Not deserved.  Simply received.  Rom 5:17  For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.     

God’s forgiveness is two-fold.   #1 We are completely released from sin and guilt.  #2  We are completely restored to favor and righteousness.  Our sins are not just forgiven, we are ‘the sons and daughters’ of God through his gift of grace.   We don’t act to be.  We are so we act.

Righteousness comes from within through the free gift.   

When we don’t forgive, we dispense ungrace to our world.  No wonder so much of the world rejects the church.  The church talks about God’s forgiveness, but often struggles to show or experience His forgiveness.   Not only does this make it difficult for our world to come to know Christ, but it also has a negative impact on the life of the unforgiver. Hebrews 12:15 (Amp) declares that when we fail to walk in the grace of forgiveness a  … root of resentment (bitterness) shoots forth and causes trouble... and the many… are defiled by it.   Resentment literally means to feel again.  

Unforgiveness ties me to that thing which I want to forget.  Unforgiveness contaminates my world.   Unforgiveness is like buried pain.   Here’s what Stephen Arterburn says about buried pain.  …Pain is never buried dead.  It is buried alive and must be fed every day… Many realized that if emotions are not resolved, their lives begin to revolve around those feelings, and they live in a constant state of pain, hurt, mistrust, anxiety, fear, and anger. Because they are not dead, the emotions demand to be fed, and feeding the feelings comes to dominate every area of life. Life revolves around their hurt, and they do everything in relation to their pain.

Under the New Covenant, we don’t forgive to be forgiven, we forgive because we are forgiven.  …forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph 4:32  KJV   The grace of God forgives us and empowers us to express forgiveness three ways:  (1)  We proclaim the forgiveness of God to the world, (2)  We forgive the people of the world  (3) We forgive other Christians. 

The reason for three categories instead of two is because it has been my experience that Christians forgive sinners much more readily than other Christians.  Ministers who have failed are often forever ostracized by the Church.  Yes, many of them have betrayed trust and should be required to bring forth the fruit of repentance before they minister again.  However, how can they regain trust, if they are not forgiven and given another chance?  Too often we forget, if not for grace of God so would we be. One of the greatest ways we can dispense and display grace to our world is by forgiving other Christians.  The proof of discipleship is found in Christians loving one another (John 13:35).   Every time we forgive other Christians, grace is released in our world. 

You may be thinking, I’ve tried, but I can’t forgive…. What they did was just too painful.  To which I reply, “You don’t have to be able to forgive”.  Grace provides a divine influence on the heart that strengthens and makes the heart able.  The only thing you need to do is be willing to forgive.  We supply the willingness, God supplies the ability.

 

Perhaps the best way to be willing to forgive is to remember: Jesus forgave me and paid a debt I could never pay.  In comparison to all that Jesus forgave, I don’t really have so much to forgive.  I once read, “He who has trouble forgiving has trouble seeing himself.”  

It feels good to forgive and to be forgiven!

Mishap or Ministry

Excitement is in the air this week at Carthage Full Gospel Church.  We are only a few days away from our most anticipated event of the year.  This Sunday evening will be our 6^th Fall Harvest Carnival and puppet show, complete with a full stage black light show.   Preparation for this event began in late August and since then there have been over thirty puppets made. By the time Sunday night is over, between 50 and 60 of our regular church attendees will have volunteered to help make this event happen (significant because our attendance averages about 120).   Visitors are often bewildered by how a church our size can pull off such an incredible event. 

If it sounds like I’m bragging, I guess you’re right.  I’m very proud of how involved our church is in this ministry.  However, I’m not writing this article for the purpose of bragging, I’m writing it to encourage you to search for your niche. This event kind of happened by accident.  Let me explain:

In summer 2005, one of our Sunday evening teachers suddenly quit, creating an empty spot and great need.  It seemed we often found ourselves in this position.  Our Sunday evening attendance was already struggling because of a large void in children’s ministry.  Finding another teacher for this age group (5^th to 8^th grade) would be no easy task since most of our ‘qualified’ leaders were stretched and responsible for one or more areas already. 

           

In desperation, we considered anyone to temporarily fill the spot, gifted or not.  Finally, after a few weeks of not finding anyone, my wife said she would start a puppet ministry as a Sunday evening class to fill the void.  At the time, she did not feel particularly called or gifted, and was certainly already busy with other church roles.  However, something needed to be done, and she was willing to do it. 

In early fall of 2005, she started Big Image Puppet Productions, and the rest, as they say, is history.   This class performed their first show in October 2005 and became a permanent part of our Fall Harvest Carnival.  The puppet ministry has surpassed anything we ever imagined in effectiveness.  Not only was the immediate need for a class met, but our youth went from simply being taught to teaching others; from simply consuming services into serving others. 

Many have simply refused to graduate out of the class.  We now have high school and college age students along with the original target group.  The results of this ministry with such humble beginnings have been immeasurable and astounding:  Sunday evening attendance has increased; New families have been impacted; Outreach opportunities have been developed;   A large percentage of the church participates and invites others to the show;  Last but not least: The largest crowds to attend any of our church events have been for puppet shows (a pastor’s dream).  I’m sometimes reminded that more people come to see what my wife leads than come to hear me preach. 

The thing I want you to realize is that this ministry did not start from a thus saith the Lord.  Through the years I’ve noticed that many effective ministries have seemingly started by accident, or by someone willing to fill a need. John Maxwell wisely once said, “Activity breeds opportunity”. Obviously everything we try will not turn into an overwhelming success.  Some will actually fail.  Yet, success rarely, if ever happens for someone unwilling to fail.   Anyone who knows my wife and observes her talent and passion for this ministry immediately recognize this is well within her God given giftings for life.  When she began, however, no one knew, including her.  

What needs done in your church today and what are you brave enough to attempt?   You could temporarily minister to someone and fill a short term spot.  Or who knows?  You could discover a gift of grace for a lifetime that impacts your church and community seemingly ‘by accident’.   

P.S. - If you live in our area, (or even if you don't)come enjoy our Fall Harvest Carnival and Blacklight show "Notes of Love" October 31st @ 6:00 p.m. or our our encore show November 7th @ 6:00 p.m.   Come early to ensure seating.  It will be full!