Posts with the label jesus
Showing posts with label jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jesus. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Faith in our Busyness
.jpg)
Can we have faith in our busyness?
At a Ladies Luncheon this past Saturday, we were asked to pick one word that describes our current season of life. Five ladies at our table shared four words, because two women picked the same word. Busy. The other words are Waiting, Change and Joyful.
I've pondered the words. Let's start with the word "busy". The definition of busy is occupied, full of distracting details or having a great deal to do. Wow! The definition that jumped out at me is "full of distracting details". How can we grow our faith by experiencing Jesus in the detail.....unless we are full of details about him that distract us from the world!
Each day we begin our busyness to accomplish something. Proverbs 23:4 advises us to "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom." The sermons, and my own reading and studying lately, have centered around "thine own wisdom". If we lean to our own understanding, how can we expect to make godly decisions or live for Him? Worldly distractions cloud my vision quite often. I have to wholly seek God to avoid the pitfalls of doing what Tammy wants to do. And, doing what Tammy wants to do is so much easier than what God commands. It's easier at first. When my world falls off it's axis and God says "Remember what I asked you to do", repentance follows and I'm left wondering why can't I be more obedient to God and deny the world? I John 2:17 reassures us that good labors for God are the most important, "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever".
So many little busy details distracts us from God. Our goal is to engage with God more than this world. The Bible teaches us how. Psalms 37:5 offers a solution. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. My all time favorite verse that helps me to keep Jesus in the details of my life is Colossians 3:2 Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.
Busy isn't bad. We must make sure our busy is occupying the right space. Do you want to get busy distracted by God's Word and Love? Challenge yourself to listen and respond to God more this week. If you accept the challenge, please comment and let me know how you plan to increase God in your details. 
Busy365,
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Faith in God's Mission for You
What’s your mission in life? Does your mission align with God's mission for you?
The word mission creates a mental picture for me, of a small desolate village thousands of miles away, filled with starving people. What comes to your mind when you hear the word mission? The word is used a lot in Christian circles although it is not in the Bible. Webster's describes mission as an important assignment, vocation or calling.
Our lives are important. We all have a calling. We all have a personal mission. Seems like we are born "on a mission". Our original mission is made up of the things we want to accomplish for ourselves. Honestly, we usually chose these things based upon society or life in general. The things in our head we are taught or know to be right. Things like education, marriage, kids, good job, nice home, nice cars, etc. Our lists are long!
I went about my personal mission striving to obtain my mental list of things a nice southern girl is supposed to do. I was never taught to ask my Creator what he wanted my life to look like. At 19, when I accepted Christ as my Savior, a lot of changes happened in my life, including my desire to please God. God radically changed my heart when he saved me. He also changed my personal mission. God gradually changed my mission to his mission, my will to his will.
My outside didn't change appearance. My inside changed longings. I began to pray for God's guidance in EVERYTHING. Instead of buying a new car, I was like "God, can I buy a new car?". Will buying a new car please you or me? Every decision I made now included God. He knows the future. He knows what is best for me and my family.
God's Guidance changed my mission. My 'ah ha" moment came when I realized we ultimately all have the same mission. Our mission is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ! There is no other more important assignment for our lives than to accept Jesus and declare him to the entire world. Here, there and everywhere! We may not always do the Father’s will, but we can always share his Goodness!
I encourage to examine your mission in life. Is it personal or pure, gainly or Godly? Is God guiding your mission or are you the captain of your boat? Charting a course matters. Knowing your direction keeps one from becoming lost. Are you "on" mission?
Seeking guidance365,
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Is the Church a Hospital for Sinners?
We say this…
But is it true?
Our Attire: Patients are clothed in the same gown in the hospital. We wear our “Sunday best” to church.
Our Appearance: Patients openly hurt in the hospital and cry out for help. We hide our pain in church, silent as church mice. We’re there so we’ve got to be good, right?
Our Actions: Patients seek medicine and help at the hospital. We seemingly don’t seek or welcome our remedy Jesus in church.
Our Attitude: Patients are glad to lie in a bed in the hospital for healing. We neglect laying our all on the altar in church.
Our Attendance: Do we receive as much healing at church once a week as we do during a hospital stay in one admittance?
Our Atmosphere: There’s a huge difference in a hospital and a church.
Let’s quit thinking this, saying this and do something about this!
Our Allelujah,
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Faith and Soap
I love soap! The fresh natural kind with a soft fragrance and rich lather. The abundance of suds make me feel extra clean. I’ve been told I’m all about some feels.
We use soap every day! Bathing. Washing our hands. Doing the dishes. Laundry. Cleaning the house. I use a tea tree bar soap as astringent for my face to prevent breakouts. Spearmint for my body to awaken my senses. Lavender to soothe aches and pains. I can find a natural soap for just about everything that ails me. Sloane gifted me these local soaps from Union Springs Soap for Christmas.
Showering this morning, Jesus began to show me himself in the details of soap. He’s a balm that soothes every need (Jeremiah 46:11). He cleanses us daily if we ask him (1 John 1:9). His fragrance is sweet (2 Corinthians 2:15).
Jesus is the S.O.A.P (Savior Of All People)!
Sudsy365,
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Five Basic Elements of Unconditional Love
Life has thrown some pretty big challenges at Steve and I. I'm sure you have plenty of your own. We are thankful the carousel stopped before the dizziness got to our stomach. The constant ups and downs of the ride churned our beings. We hung on for dear life. When Steve and I married, 36 years ago, he planned to take care of me. I was the one born with a congenital birth defect. He nor I, never, for one minute, considered my health would ever be better than his. My perpetual limp, coupled with my basic need for prostethics for both feet, was quickly overshadowed by Steve's need for a double lung transplant in 2020. Life, in general, for everyone, necessitates the five basic elements of unconditional love. Love is what makes our worlds go round.
Before his transplant, I watched Steve struggle to fit in with his new requirement for oxygen, unable to walk 10-20 feet without stopping for air. People stared at him and his tank. I've almost overcome the stares from curious people, although, some days I'm off my game. I wish Steve never endured the breathlessness of a chronic lung disease or felt inadequate. God grew both of us through his illness and transplant recovery. Praise the Lord Steve is back now! We've come full circle. I'm the one trying to keep up with him again.
Everyone wants unconditional love. These are the five basic elements of unconditional love we embrace and practice:
Everyone wants unconditional love. These are the five basic elements of unconditional love we embrace and practice:
- Different is good. Diversity was cool in our home before it became a popular buzzword.
- Compassion not pity. Compassion and pity are synonyms but aren't the same. Both convey sympathetic feelings for others, but pity creates cause for regret or disappointment. Pity comes across as sadness or misfortune. Advseristy encourages strength, adaptation and courage. Those valuable charcter traits desire compassion not pity.
- Wear a smile. A smile is so much more comforting than that furrowed brow frown; no sad faces allowed. Caring is revealed with a happy face. Show your love for ohters by greeting them with a warm smile.
- Do not stare, gawk or crane. When I share my story with groups, I laugh at myself. I've become so used to people staring at me, I get offended when they don't. I wonder what's wrong with these people? LOOK at me! (That is a joke, of course.) I really don't enjoy being stared at for the wrong reasons.
- Take time for all. Individuals are put into our lives for various reasons. We will learn and grow from every person we meet if we invest wisely. Understanding people is a full-time job. Friends are a blessing to cherish.
Faith is unconditional love. Our faith sees inner beauty. Our value lives on the inside. Grace and mercy are always unconditional.. Paul, a popular disciple, struggled with his problems until he found Jesus. His attitude changed completely. He accepted his physical plight. Paul wrote the following scripture. I think he began to practice the five basic elements of unconditional love.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10. "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Lovingly,
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Faith like Andrew
Five loaves of bread and two fishes is a well-known miracle of the Bible. Jesus fed a multitude with five loaves and two fishes. This miracle is relatable. If you've ever fed a crowd, you know how much food is required. Honestly, couldn't two people eat five small loaves of bread and two fishes? So, we get the picture of just how huge a miracle it was to feed more than 5000 people with a meager amount. You know I'm all about faith. I want to look at faith like Andrew in this story.
Most of Jesus' disciples spoke out negatively about the plan to feed 5000. They were sure they didn't have the money to do it. They didn't see any available food. But there was Andrew, the believing disciple. The faithful disciple. Andrew told Jesus he saw a young boy in the crowd carrying five loaves and two fishes. Jesus said "Bring him to me."
I want faith like Andrew. The other disciples were overtaken by unbelief. Andrew was hopeful. He stepped up to exercise his faith in Jesus. The other disciples thought the task was too monumental for Jesus to perform. It is no mistake Andrew was the disciple who saw the young boy with the food in the crowd. God knew Andrew was the one who would assist Jesus with this miracle. God needed someone who would use the resources at hand to get the job done. If it weren't for faith like Andrew's, everyone would be hungry and noone would have witnessed a miracle!
I also want to be like the young boy who freely gave Jesus his five loaves and two fishes. He gave all he had to Jesus. Imagine how the scene might have played out differently if Andrew had spotted an adult with five loaves and two fishes. I'm suspecting talking an adult out of dinner may have proved very difficult. The Bible tells us we must come as a child to Jesus. This story is the perfect example of how children (the boy) respond to Jesus versus how adults (his disciples) respond to Jesus. The lesson we also see is the boy gave a little and received a lot.
How can we apply this to every day life?
- Believe God can do what his Word says
- Exercise our Faith by stepping up and out
- Give when prompted by Jesus
Have you ever hosted a dinner where more guests came than expected? I have gotten very nervous I wouldn't have enough food for everyone. My faith reminded me of this miracle. I used the framework of this miracle to ask God to help me feed my guests. He increased food and decreased appetites. Jesus wants to be in the details of our every day lives. He does the work. Our job is to have faith like Andrew to believe he can.
Lovingly,
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
My Kitchen Cabinets Reminded Me
|
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
3:16 Day 2022
 |
| Donor Letter |
Steve and I accomplished a huge thing yesterday. His donor family letter has started the journey to the mailbox of someone we may never receive a reply from or know. It’s okay. We took the chance of contact aware of the emotional roller coaster involved. The letter seems so small and insignificant in return for the gift of life Steve received!
His appointment yesterday was the best ever! Thank you again for your prayers. 
His bloodwork is good. His kidneys are stable. No medicine changes. After going over everything, the doctor looked at Steve and said “You’re on auto-pilot now!”. He then directed his eyes at both of us to say “Congratulations on a job well done!”. I didn’t look at Steve but I’m sure he was holding back tears like me. All the tears, sweat, restless nights, rehab, pill schedule, prayers, trips back and forth to Atlanta, blood draws, infusions, bronchoscopies, vitals three times per day, hospital stays, I could go on…ALL were worth those six powerful words!!!
His bloodwork is good. His kidneys are stable. No medicine changes. After going over everything, the doctor looked at Steve and said “You’re on auto-pilot now!”. He then directed his eyes at both of us to say “Congratulations on a job well done!”. I didn’t look at Steve but I’m sure he was holding back tears like me. All the tears, sweat, restless nights, rehab, pill schedule, prayers, trips back and forth to Atlanta, blood draws, infusions, bronchoscopies, vitals three times per day, hospital stays, I could go on…ALL were worth those six powerful words!!!Today seems so perfect; 3:16 day. I contemplate if a doctor saying those words moved me so, what will it feel like when I hear from my Lord, “well done my good and faithful servant”! I get chills thinking of it now! Transplant is the greatest challenge Steve and I have shared together. I can never emphasize enough how the renewing of his and our lives is nothing short of a miracle.
Good news! A renewed life doesn’t require a physical transplanted organ but a spiritual one. There’s no evaluation to see if you qualify and no wait list because you already have a donor; Jesus!
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh…
Oh, it’ll be emotional reaching out to your donor but he’ll respond immediately! You’ll know him and he’ll know you. Please allow God to love on you like he wants to. Don’t put Jesus on your wait list…
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Much love,
Sunday, February 13, 2022
Compassion for an Egg
My smile lasted knowing God sees me as I saw this egg. He knows my flaws, my irregularities, my temper, my quick thoughts, my unbridled tongue, my impatience, ughhh, he knows more than I want him to know about me. When God cracks through our shell, the goodness of his righteousness pours out. I wish I was more like the egg, one crack and done. I keep needing cracked again and again. My King puts Humpty Dumpty back together again every time for me to do it again. I take my eyes off Jesus, walk my own path, disobey and there I am, sitting on that dangerously high wall again. Why can’t I remember my last fall? Why do I need so much discipline? He wrote me a Book for guidance and sent two pieces of himself for me; for us, one even lives inside of me. God needs a vacation from gluing my broken pieces, doesn’t he?
My smiled lasted longer as God used the uneven shell of an egg to bless my soul. He loves me, imperfections and all. He loves you too! I’m still an “egg-in-process”. He’s still cracking, I’m still breaking and he’s still fixing me.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Eggstra365,
Sunday, November 28, 2021
The Days Were Accomplished
I woke this morning with the phrase "the days were accomplished" scrolling through my brain like an LED threatre marquee, over and over, I repeated it to myself as it crossed my mind. I began to drift back over the last 12 days, then 12 months, then 12 years. I googled the bible verse to refresh my memory of specifically how it is written. Luke 2:6 reads "And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."
THAT SHE SHOULD BE DELIVERED. The first thing that struck me about the verse was "she should be delivered". Not Jesus, but Mary. The verse could have easily read; the days were accomplished that Jesus should be delivered. The verse points out the delivery of Mary not Jesus. The verse pinpoints the servant of God that willfully accepted the challenge he gave her.
THE DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED. This phrase is the reason I searched this verse today. I thought about the past year(s) leading up to Steve's diagnosis and subsequent double lung transplant. So many things could have hindered our days from being accomplished but God. Who else can accomplish our days but God?
WHILE THEY WERE THERE. Mary and Joseph had to be in the place where God would accomplish their days. They were there, in this place of uncertainty, for at least 9 months and surely more. While they were there, they struggled, anticipated, believed, waited to be delivered. The couple had to stay "there" where God had placed them. "There" where God had planned them.
AND SO IT WAS. Because God has the plan. He not only has the plan, it is a written plan. We make many plans as individuals but rarely do we put our plans in writing, to pen and paper, black and white. If we do take the time to make a proper written plan, we would most likely follow through. God had the plan for Mary and Joseph. God has the plan for Jesus. God has the plan for us and so it will be. He will faithfully follow his written plan. And so it was with Mary, so it shall be with us.
I've always correlated this verse to the Christmas Story of Jesus until this morning when God blessed me with a snippet of just how full, rich and encompassing his Word is. The message he gave me this morning is He is 'accomplishing our days' for his purpose and ours if we live in his will, our "while they were there", the place he has us in. We have no idea how many days it will take to accomplish his purpose nor how long we will be in this place. We simply must be there until he accomplishes our days, the fulfillment of his plan. However, we can put our faith in God's "And so it was" because his plan is unfallable and his word is true, we will be delivered!
Put yourself into this verse. Mine and Steve's goes like this...
And so it was, (God had a plan),
while they (Steve and Tammy) were there (going through illness and transplant),
the days were accomplished (3,650 days. 10 years. Steve was diagnosed 2011, his lungiversary was 2021)
that she (Steve and Tammy) should be delivered.
AND WE WERE!
Praise God for his plans. Praise God for his Word. Praise God for his Son. As God moves us into another Holy season of Christmas, may we always see and feel the magnitude of who he is. From the precious babe in the manager to the Almighty King of Kings,
He is...
and was...
and is to come!
Praising365,
Friday, March 13, 2020
Corona Virus is not my First Scare of 2020
| ||||
|
Friday, April 19, 2019
Do You Generate or Extinguish Power in your Life?
The sun is setting on this wonderful Good Friday. The day....
Jesus gave his life, freely.
Beaten, mocked, crucified and killed for mankind, for everyone.
For you and for me.
But, there's more....
I see a lot of images and shirts proclaiming "A lot can happen in three days". I'm here to proclaim not only can it happen, IT DID HAPPEN! Jesus proclaimed on the cross of Calvary "It is finished.". God's plan of salvation is, was and forever will be, complete. Jesus rose on the third day just like he said.
Jesus came back to Galilee and told them "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Do you believe him? Do you believe Jesus has the power to do all things? Read this and let it sink in ---- HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD! Uh, that's pretty powerful!
Why are you waiting? Do you generate or extinguish power in your life? You can accept an all powerful, alive, Risen Savior who will generate his love and perfect will in your life, RIGHT NOW! You don't have to wait until you get to heaven to experience the ultimate Jesus. I wish I could let you see through my heart and my eyes. Jesus gave his life for you to have life more abundantly. The abundant life he's referring to is not in heaven. It's here on earth. Christians hurt my heart harnessing the power of Jesus. Christians hurt my heart not realizing the fullness of what Christ did for us. Through him, we live a guiltless, shameless, forgiven LIFE!
I don't read in the Bible where he says "You're forgiven, now die and enjoy my kingdom." He says Go and sin no more. He says Go and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost. He says He is at the right hand of our Father making intercession for us. He says He's prepared us a place where we'll go be with him....someday.
But, now, right now, unleash his power in your life. All power was given to him in heaven and in earth. If you are his child, you have access to HIS power. We should be shouting, believing, receiving in the power of his name "A lot more things can happen in three days!" And then three days later let the world hear us say "A lot of things DID just happen in three days!"
I challenge you, on this Good Friday 4/19/2019, ask him for just one thing, believing you will receive it and see if it happened just three days later. The thing may happen just one day later! Don't extinguish the power in your life. You want to see things happen, pray they will, believing they will, in the powerful name of Jesus.
Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
I didn't say that. This man Jesus, who has been given all power in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18), said that! If you can believe him for salvation, believe him for his resurrection too! Allow him to resurrect his power in you this Easter season and beyond. Resurrect your belief in his power over all things, resurrect your belief in the power of prayer, resurrect us, to serve and worship a risen savior! For...
He is Worthy!
Resurrecting 365,
Tammy
This is one of my favorite songs.
Jesus gave his life, freely.
Beaten, mocked, crucified and killed for mankind, for everyone.
For you and for me.
But, there's more....
Jesus came back to Galilee and told them "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Do you believe him? Do you believe Jesus has the power to do all things? Read this and let it sink in ---- HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD! Uh, that's pretty powerful!
Why are you waiting? Do you generate or extinguish power in your life? You can accept an all powerful, alive, Risen Savior who will generate his love and perfect will in your life, RIGHT NOW! You don't have to wait until you get to heaven to experience the ultimate Jesus. I wish I could let you see through my heart and my eyes. Jesus gave his life for you to have life more abundantly. The abundant life he's referring to is not in heaven. It's here on earth. Christians hurt my heart harnessing the power of Jesus. Christians hurt my heart not realizing the fullness of what Christ did for us. Through him, we live a guiltless, shameless, forgiven LIFE!
I don't read in the Bible where he says "You're forgiven, now die and enjoy my kingdom." He says Go and sin no more. He says Go and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost. He says He is at the right hand of our Father making intercession for us. He says He's prepared us a place where we'll go be with him....someday.
But, now, right now, unleash his power in your life. All power was given to him in heaven and in earth. If you are his child, you have access to HIS power. We should be shouting, believing, receiving in the power of his name "A lot more things can happen in three days!" And then three days later let the world hear us say "A lot of things DID just happen in three days!"
I challenge you, on this Good Friday 4/19/2019, ask him for just one thing, believing you will receive it and see if it happened just three days later. The thing may happen just one day later! Don't extinguish the power in your life. You want to see things happen, pray they will, believing they will, in the powerful name of Jesus.
Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
I didn't say that. This man Jesus, who has been given all power in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18), said that! If you can believe him for salvation, believe him for his resurrection too! Allow him to resurrect his power in you this Easter season and beyond. Resurrect your belief in his power over all things, resurrect your belief in the power of prayer, resurrect us, to serve and worship a risen savior! For...
He is Worthy!
Resurrecting 365,
Tammy
This is one of my favorite songs.
Friday, February 1, 2019
Top 5 Reasons Christians Fall Off the Wagon
We most often associate the familiar term "Fall Off the Wagon" with a recovering alcoholic who has turned back to the bottle. I want to use the analogy of "The Wagon" as it applies to Christians demonstrating a safe place or haven where all our needs are met, namely Jesus. I've been trying to improve my diet since August 2018. Well, I've been trying to improve my food choices for years. Recently, I'm seeking to allow the Holy Spirit to guide my daily food selections toward good for me food and avoid bad for me food.
Yesterday, I didn't feel well. My stomach was a tad nauseous with an overall feeling of yuck. I'm strange. When I feel like this, I want a plain McDonald's burger with fries and one of their unparalleled, deliciously-filtered fountain Cokes. I went. I bought. I ate. Sometime during the afternoon, pondering why I ate it,(because I had been doing so well), God spoke these truths into my ear concerning the Top 5 Reasons Christians Fall Off the Wagon.
- REASON No. 1: This Christian has never gotten in the wagon. It's hard to fall off if you've never gotten in, right? But you are in. You've accepted Jesus as your Savior but you won't accept him as Lord of your life giving him full control. You've either walked behind or alongside the wagon feeling the pain in your feet and the burden on your knees with every step. You know him. You just can't seem to trust him with your whole heart. Get in the wagon.
- REASON No. 2: This Christian likes the easy life. It's easier off the wagon than inside of it. How can it be easier to walk alone than be carried? Jesus carries the people who believe, trust, obey, sacrifice, are patient, longsuffering and kind. I can name more Christ-like attributes but do you really want me to? Those ACTION verbs are hard. Walking singularly without anyone expecting anything from you. especially Jesus, is so much easier.
- REASON No. 3: This Christian relies on other people for their life example instead of Christ. We've all heard it before, "If they're a Christian, the woods are full of them." Just stop it. Stop trying to justify your wrongdoings by comparing yourself to the next best born-again sinner you know. Christians are supposed to be better people because we have the Holy Spirit inside of us, but unfortunately, all Christians don't exercise those action verbs above and unfortunately, we still sin. Be like Him, not every Tom, Dick or Harry!
- REASON No. 4: This Christian wants his cake and eat it too. Eating causes crumbs in the wagon. What happens when we see morsels of bad food lying around? We eat it. Then, we want more! There's never been a Christian that dabbled with sin without wanting more. When you're on the wagon for Christ, you're off of entertaining temptation for Tammy (insert your name here). Perfect example of this for me is if I eat one Entenmann's Chocolate Doughnut, I'll not stop until I eat the entire pack. Little Bites, big bites, they're all sin to me because I can't practice moderation. This Reason No. 4 applies to any temptation you are apt to succumb to, certainly not limited to food.
- REASON No. 5: This Christian falls off the wagon because she doesn't get the results she's expecting or they are happening way too slow. Notice I said they ARE happening! We are a fast car, fast food, microwave, direct deposit, instant gratification society that wants Jesus under our thumb or fingertips instead of giving honor to his place of King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We want to use him like a medicine: as needed. We get bored when we're not entertained. We lose interest if the thrill we seek requires too much effort on our part.
The wagon isn't full. Want to get in with others who are selfless, God-seeking, life-surrendered, saved by grace, mercy-showing followers of Christ? I do! It's gonna take an action verb...
Saturday, January 19, 2019
It's Not the Brownies Fault
|
|
|
Sunday, December 16, 2018
The One Question You Need to Ask Yourself
The mantel is decorated. The fire is lit. The Christmas tree lights glow in hurried anticipation of soon-to-open gifts, upcoming festivities, good friends and oh yeah, family. The air is crisper than usual. People seem happier than normal. Christmastime, after all, is the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is the most beloved holiday in American culture.
The season makes one giddy with memories of Christmases' past. Remembrances of that one great gift you can never forget. The one question you probably ask yourself most is "What can I get (you insert name here) for Christmas?". Gift-giving is a fun experience but gift-buying is a totally different aspect of Christmas, usually a dreaded one. Although that's probably the most asked question, it is not the one question you need to ask yourself.
There are so many legitimate questions to ask at Christmas:
- Should I buy that beautiful expensive wrapping paper?
- Wonder if I'll get a Christmas bonus at work?
- What date should I mail Christmas cards?
- How much should I spend on Christmas gifts?
- Will I cook for the pot luck or pick up something at the store?
- Where do I find a knock-out outfit for the office party?
- How will I take care of everything on time?
So many questions! But, these are still not the one question you need to ask yourself. So what is it?
When Jesus came into the coast of Phillipi, he asked his disciples, Who do men say that I am? The disciples told him some people say he is John the Baptist or Elias or Jeremias or another prophet. Then Jesus said, "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?" The one question you need to ask yourself is who do you say Jesus is?
Simon Peter answered Jesus saying "Thou art the Christ! The Son of the Living God!" Is Jesus your Christ? Do you call him your Savior? Is he the Prince of Peace in your life? Is he your Counselor? Is he ordinary to you or extraordinary? If you don't get all your holiday season questions answered or maybe even skip one, please don't miss the one most important question that effects you forever. The one question you need to ask yourself effects your eternity, not just one month out of the year. This Christmas, please take a moment and concentrate on the one question you need to ask yourself...
What can you get me for Christmas this year? Answer the one question you need to ask yourself! Tell me in a comment who you say Jesus is!
Jesus is Lord 365,
Tammy
Jesus is Lord 365,
Tammy
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Slow Lane, please
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)