Monday Morning Memo: He's Got This!

Well, we have survived the Christmas of 2020.  No, it didn’t look like other Christmases from years past…but nothing could change the main focus…the beautiful babe in Bethlehem.

 

With Christmas now over, many of us are more than ready to see this year become a thing of the past, but then we have to wonder what 2021 will bring.  None of us could have foreseen what this year would hold and of course, we can’t know for sure what this coming year will look like either.  For some, looking ahead brings great tension, stress and fear and it can easily send them wanting to hibernate because they feel they just can’t face the unknown.

 

That word “can’t” can easily become a word that infiltrates our vocabulary these days.  I can’tface the unknown…I can’t keep isolating from my friends and family…I can’t keep wearing a mask…I can’t keep working from home…I can’t keep handling my kids virtual learning…I can’t stay in my marriage…I can’t do what Christ is asking me to do…I. just. can’t.

 

I think it is important for us to remember that whenever we think we can’t do something…we need to ask God if HE can.  You see, if it is something that He wants us to do…He CAN give us whatever it takes to get through.  I believe He wants us to stop dwelling on what we can’t do and start focusing on what He can do through us.  We need to allow Him to use the difficulties that we face for His glory and not use them as our excuse.  We must be willing to live “beyond the limits” of our comfort zone so that God can accomplish great things through us for His glory.

There is a huge problem though…Satan doesn’t like this at all.  He doesn’t want us to accomplish anything for God, especially if it draws others to want Him as their Lord and Savior.  He wants us to remain stagnant…living inside our protective bubble…settling for the status quo.  Unfortunately, it’s really easy for us to want to remain there too.

I have written before that I have a lot of respect for Corrie Ten Boom and the amazing testimony she had throughout her life…even when she was in the worst of circumstances.  When she spoke, her words were so powerful and they are still having a huge impact long after she received her eternal reward.  Corrie was a child of God who wasn’t afraid of pushing herself way beyond her human capabilities, knowing that wherever God led her, He would give her exactly what she needed every step of the way.

I read a quote of hers this past week that was exactly what I needed.  Her timely words were, “When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus.”  In other words, when Satan is whispering over and over in my ear that I can’t do something. that I am too weak to accomplish a task, I can smile right back at him and yell, “You are right Satan…I can’t…but HE CAN!”

What a difference it makes when we realize Whose abilities and power we can tap into!  There isn’t anything that we will face that is beyond God’s capabilities.  There isn’t any detour on our journey in which He doesn’t know where we will end up.  Nothing surprises Him…nothing makes Him fret…nothing overwhelms Him.  We can be assured that no matter what, His answer to us is, “Don’t worry…I’ve got this!”

Are you living in fear of what you might face tomorrow?  Are you afraid that if you commit to live completely sold out to God in 2021, He will ask you to do things that are way beyond your abilities?  You are right…He probably will…but He already knows when He asks that you can’t do it by yourself, but He knows that He can!  All He needs is your willingness to let Him lead and He will take care of the rest.

Here we go… into another year and I’m guessing there will be times when you and I feel powerless.  Let’s not forget that we have the privilege of “stepping inside the ability of Jesus”.  Just the thought of that gives me chills.  Let’s do this!

 

By the way…as I’ve done in the past…I will be taking the month of January off from sharing on my blog.  This year I have a couple projects I’m working on, so I will be concentrating on those ministry endeavors for a few weeks.  I plan to resume writing in February…hopefully refreshed and renewed!  Happy New Year!

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”  Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13

Monday Morning Memo: No Greater Gift

Christmas. This word conjures up many different emotions in those we meet. Some approach the day feeling almost giddy...anxious to see what wonderful treasures they will be given. Others enter this week feeling the same way, but their excitement is from what they will be giving...not what they will be receiving. Still others are so sick of seeing signs of Christmas in the stores and through the media since August, they just want this week to be over. 

Then there are those whose pain keeps them from barely noticing the lights, tinsel and presents. I’m afraid there is more of that than normal this year.  Pain from physical illness…pain from losing loved ones to Covid and other illnesses…pain from having to stay home and not be with family and friends and pain from strained or fractured relationships with those whom we love because of mask mandates or election results.   

Unfortunately, those who are hurting this year may never be the same again. They will never embark on this time of year without remembering these difficult days. I am confident that their joy will return because their focus will be on their Savior, but there will always be a part of them that will forever be changed. There is no way they can forget times such as this which have had such a dramatic impact on their life. 

At this point, you may be thinking that I am trying to squelch any Christmas enthusiasm you may have, but I can assure you that is not my intent. I just want you and me to remember that everyone we will meet this week has a different “story”. Each person will be viewing this Christmas through their own personal lens and even though it may not be obvious what they are going through, they may be crying out for someone to care. They may need you and me to be understanding, patient and loving, not trying to make them see Christmas through our eyes but see this special day through God’s eyes. 

God didn’t send His Son to this earth as a baby just so we can have a perfect life. Believe it or not, He didn’t send Him so we can give and receive gifts. He sent His Son so that we can have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. The familiar verse in John 3:16 tells us, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  If we truly believe this, it should totally change the way we approach Christmas. No longer will our focus be on giving or receiving, but on making sure that everyone, no matter what their “story” is, has the opportunity to believe in Him. Our responsibility is to share...but remember that we will never be heard if we don’t first care. 

It never ceases to amaze me that many, including me, know the reason for the season, but neglect to tell anyone else. We are so caught up in our own agenda that caring about another person’s “story” is just out of the question. Unfortunately, we leave that up to our Pastor because he gets paid to make sure others know the reason why the babe was born in the stable. 

If we knew the cure for cancer, would we tell others? If we knew that a tragedy was going to happen to someone we love, would we warn him or her? Of course we would. Why? Because we would want to make sure they were safe. We would want to make sure they knew of the impending events so they would be ready and could avoid pain and suffering. 

None of us know whom God will put in our path in the coming week; but we do know the reason for the season. Will you join me in making sure our lives impact those on our journey in a powerful, positive way? Let’s care about others enough to learn their story, walk alongside them, and share the reason with them. Our words and actions just may give them the hope they’ve been searching for and will make this Christmas one which will have an eternal impact on their life.  Trust me…it will give them a year they will never forget… not because of pain…but because of great joy in becoming a follower of Christ. Believe me, there is NO greater gift you can give than this! 

Monday Morning Memo: Living Water

Diet Mountain Dew. If you were to come to me and ask what my drink of choice is…that is the answer I would give you.  In fact, I have probably been known to make the statement that I “love” this drink.  Now, before I get a deluge of emails telling me that Diet Mountain Dew is not a healthy choice, you can save your comments.  I already know that bit of information and I don’t drink it every day.  I always have it on Sunday night with my popcorn (yes, that is a tradition at my house) and then on average I have one once or twice during the week.

 

OK…now that you have been given that exhilarating bit of information about me…you are probably wondering why in the world I decided to divulge that confession with you.  Honestly, I’m not sure.  All I know is that God has been speaking to me this past week as a result of my desire for this drink and the fact that I really look forward to consuming it.  Yep, I know that may sound crazy…but I enjoy the taste so much that when Sunday afternoon comes around…I can hardly wait until the popcorn is popped and the drink is in my hand.  Yes, I lead a wild and crazy life.

 

Dan and I had the privilege last week to work at the Operation Christmas Child (OCC) processing center in Boone, North Carolina.   OCC is such a worthy cause and getting the opportunity to work for this ministry is honestly one of the highlights of my year. It is hard to comprehend that each box we touch is going to end up in the hands of a child who, more than likely, has never received a gift before in his or her life.  We in America can’t fathom that kind of living situation.  These boxes are being sent all over the world…giving children the basics of life…and also telling them about our Jesus.  These boxes can and do impact eternity…what a blessing!

 

While we were there, we heard from a young man by the name of Alex Nsengimana.  Alex is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide that took place back in 1994, when almost a million of his countrymen lost their lives. He vividly remembers his uncle and grandmother being brutally killed right in front of his eyes by his own neighbors when he was about six.  As a result, since his mother had already died from HIV/AIDS before the killings, Alex was displaced, running for his life with his brother and sister.  Eventually he landed in an orphanage where he said no one could ever sleep because of the screams from the children as they faced nightmare after nightmare.

 

Then, OCC boxes arrived and each child in the orphanage received a precious shoebox.  This was the first present Alex had ever received and he said you just can’t imagine the joy he felt as he carefully removed each precious item from his box.  He shared how excited he was with everything he was given…but do you know what his most favorite prized possession was from his box?  A comb.  That’s right…something that we take for granted on a daily basis was what meant the most to him.  He said he carried that comb with him every single day for three years until he lost it and was so upset when it was gone.

 

A comb.  And I complain if I run out of Diet Mountain Dew.  That may seem like a silly comparison…but it is something I have had running through my mind ever since Alex shared with us.  How many things take precedence in my thoughts throughout the week that really have no importance?  How often do I dwell on what I want…instead of what I can do to fulfill someone else’s necessities of life?  How petty and superficial is my life on a daily basis…when there are those around me who have great needs?

 

Of course, there is another question I have been asking myself.  How much do I look forward to spending time with my Jesus?  If I can hardly wait to have a can of soda on Sunday nights…how much more should I look forward each day to consume the living water that Jesus has for me?   Do I thirst for Him more than I thirst for my drink?  Again, you may think that’s a strange comparison…but it is a reminder to me that it’s so easy for things of this world…really insignificant things…to creep in and become a priority as I neglect those who will someday face eternity…with or without my Jesus.

 

Not only did Alex receive a treasured comb that day…he also heard that there was a Savior who loved him more than he could imagine.  As a result, Alex accepted Jesus into his heart, which was a gift he didn’t have to worry about losing. 

 

Friends, we don’t have to go to Rwanda to find those in need…they are all around us.  Many have physical needs that we can meet, and many have a spiritual longing of which we have the answer.  I have come home from this trip with a renewed desire to do what I can to make a difference in eternity by meeting the needs of those whom Christ puts in my path.  If I can tell others that I “love” a carbonated drink…shouldn’t I be willing to share with them the true and steadfast love of Jesus?  That is my desire.  Will you join me?

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

John 13:34-35 (The Message)

Monday Morning Memo: "ME-DAY?"

“It’s not about you.”  If that statement sounds familiar, it probably means you have read Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life.  It is the very first sentence in chapter 1.  He goes on to say, “The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.  It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions.  If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God.  You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.”

I shared last week the importance of going through each day in December in expectation of Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.   Unfortunately, of all the holidays that we celebrate, Christmas is probably one of the hardest for many to realize that it’s not about us.  All we have to do is turn on the television, the radio, open up one of the zillions of ads that we are bombarded with and we are told over and over again what WE need.  We need to buy this…we have to have that…we need to make sure and include this on our Christmas list.  We won’t be happy and our life won’t be complete unless the gifts under the tree are exactly what we want.  As a result…there is rarely a mention about celebrating His birth.

I can’t believe that this is what God had in mind when He sent his Son into the world on that night so long ago.  I can’t imagine that His plan was to have his Son born, so that once a year I can be selfish and hope I am showered with gifts.  If that is what His desire was, He wouldn’t have needed to have a baby be born…He could have just started a tradition of a day that we celebrate called “ME-DAY”.

I was thinking the other day about what it would be like if, several weeks before my birthday, my family would come to me and give me lists of what they want me to buy for them to celebrate the day I was born.   What if when my day arrives, they all run in and say, “What did you get me?  Where are my gifts?  What are we going to do to celebrate me?”  I’m guessing I just might be a little hurt.  I’m guessing I might feel somewhat neglected…somewhat disappointed in those who I thought loved me.

I wonder then how Jesus feels when we hand Him our lists of what we want.  When we hound him over and over again, telling Him what He needs to do for us and how He needs to bless us, I wonder if He feels a little hurt.  I wonder if He feels a little neglected…maybe disappointed in us for saying that He means the world to us, but showing something different with our actions.

I think it is time for me to take a step back and realize that Christmas is not about me.  Unfortunately, it’s not about you either.  It is all about Him.  The precious, tiny baby Jesus entered this world because of His great love for us.  He entered this world so that He would grow up to become a very important part of history.  His story is one of truth, hope and love for you and for me.  His life entered this world so that one day He could pay the price for the things we have done wrong.  His life brought us salvation and He was willing to sacrifice everything He had for you and for me.

Doesn’t it make sense then that Christmas, His birthday, should be all about Him?  I happen to think it does.

As we go through the next two and a half weeks leading up to Jesus’ birthday, let’s make a point to ask Him what He wants from us.  Let’s inquire of Jesus of what we can do for Him to celebrate His day.  Let’s do everything we can to show Him, not just with our words but also with our actions, just how much we love Him.  He should be the guest of honor at our celebration so let’s make sure He knows that it IS all about Him!

O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!

For He alone is worthy
For He alone is worthy
For He alone is worthy
Christ the Lord!