World's Worst Wrapper

Once again this Christmas I have realized that I am probably the world's worst gift wrapper.  It's not that I choose ugly paper or ribbons, it's that my hands don't work properly.  I can't seem to fit or fold or cut just right, thus the gifts I wrap don't look nearly as appealing as the others around the tree.  I'm not really ashamed of being the world's worst gift wrapper, because we all know spiritually speaking that the gift inside is always much more important than the wrapping.  The paper that wraps the gift is torn up and tossed out, while the gift is treasured.  In Jesus, God has given us the greatest gift of all time.  I wonder how much time was spent in wrapping this most precious gift?  Scripture actually indicates that Jesus' "looks" or His "packaging", were not very important at all.  The latter part of Isaiah 53:2 says: "He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him."  This is amazing to me, Jesus being God could have chosen to be the most incredibly handsome dude ever, with cut abs and great hair!  But God in flesh chose to wrap Himself so simply, that man would hardly take note of the package.  The application of this is evident and convicting.  How much time do we spend on our outward adornment, versus the inward gift of Jesus?  How much thought and worry over that which will perish while neglecting that which is eternal?  I am convinced of this, that our spiritual lives will be so much richer if we would give greater priority to the gift than the wrapping.

Joyful News

"Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."   Luke 2:10-11  

The heavenly messenger had come to the shepherds with a wonderful announcement, he called it good and joyful news for everyone.  God was now going to meet every man's greatest need, by sending a Savior.  Notice He didn't send an economist to fix our financial woes, nor an inventor so we could have more gadgets to make life easy.  The good news wasn't the coming of a doctor to cure every disease, nor an administrator to make every government run right.  No, this news of great joy is that God sent His only Son as Savior of all mankind.  What a wonderful marvelous God we have, who has not left us to drown in our sin but has sent one to rescue.  Good tidings of great joy, indeed!  May the love of our Father fill your heart as you ponder His great mercy.  Merry Christmas!

Around and Around

One ride I've never been a big fan of is the Merry-go-Round.  There are several reasons for my dislike of the ride. The fact that the animals on the ride all appear angry tops my list.  As a little kid my fear of these animals was right up there with my fear of clowns.  If they just had horses on the ride I think I'd been alright, but they throw in all kinds of other animals, like lions and tigers and bears, oh my.  I was at an outdoor mall that has a Merry-go-round with a rabbit all saddled and ready to ride.  Tell me that's not a nightmare waiting to happen.  The thought of being chased by an angry rabbit is frightening, good grief I might find it hard to sleep tonight.  Another reason I'm not a big fan of the ride, is the ride itself; there is nothing to do except sit there going around and around.  The first couple of laps may not be so bad, but it certainly doesn't take long for it to get pretty old.  The only thing that makes the around and around bearable is the really cool music they play!  So, why am I making such a big deal about a silly ride I don't like?  Well, I've had a young guy on my heart who is discouraged because he said he feels like his life is stuck on a Merry-go-Round.  If you know the ride you know how he feels.  Another disheartened individual described his life as a stationary bike, he was expending a great deal of energy but getting nowhere.  I have also had others describe life as a treadmill or a car spinning its wheels, I think you get the idea.  A classic Biblical example of this is in Deuteronomy 1:3 which states: "It is eleven days journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barrnea."  This is an astounding verse because it speaks of an eleven day journey that took Israel forty years.  Now that's a Merry-go-Round.  God had not intended for Israel to wander for forty years, yet that is what they brought upon themselves because of their own disobedience and rebellion.  They tested God and refused to go into His promised land and God pretty much said fine, you can just wander.  We best learn from Israel's mistake.  Remember God knows where you are, and He doesn't just have you wandering around until you die.  It may appear to you that He has got you going nowhere, but rest assured that isn't His way.  He is sovereign in your life and desires to bring meaning and purpose to every single day.  Don't ditch the ride just yet.  If you set your heart to learn and mature, to trust and obey and to walk in faithfulness to the Lord, He will be faithful in guiding you.  I pray you will soon look back and see that you were not on a Merry-go-Round after all, but moving in the Lord's will at His perfect pace, while being transformed into the glorious image of Jesus.

Saving Christmas

Don't tell anybody this but I'm sort of a sucker for those made for television Christmas movies.  I know the storyline is corny, the script is weak, and the acting is less than stellar, but there is something that draws me to watch them.  I'm sure its that weird instinct in all of us where you can't help but look at a car accident sort of thing.  There is a common theme that runs through these movies its the idea of saving Christmas or recapturing something that is missing from Christmas.  Of course the hero of the story saves Christmas or gets everyone to rediscover the missing joy of the season.  There are many a hero starting with Rudolph with his nose so bright all the way to Slater from Saved by the Bell (but I forget how he saved Christmas).  I suppose this common theme of saving Christmas is because most people have a longing for Christmas to be more than what it has become, I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit has a hand in planting that craving, for that craving is for a true Savior.  If indeed hearts are ripe and looking, then let us have ready lips to speak forth the name of the only true hero of Christmas our precious Jesus born that blessed day.

Drive Circumspectly

The first big storm of the season has hit and it looks like there are more to come.  We need the rain and I love the rain but I hate what it does to Southern California drivers.  I have a weakness in my impatience with poor drivers and the rain seems to draw more of them onto the highways.  The two worst are those who drive as if the streets are dry and slip and slide around as if the road is their own, and those who drive like an Amish behind the wheel for the first time figuring going 15 is plenty fast.  Bad weather has been predicted so please pay attention and be on guard as you are driving out there, seriously I will be praying for your safety.  Which reminds me, Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:15 "See then that you walk circumspectly....because the days are evil."  To walk circumspectly would mean to walk cautiously or exactly, in other words with eyes wide open and on guard.  Several years back I was with the family in snowy Mammoth, we were in a shopping center and I had to go back to the car or something and decided to jog, I hit a patch of ice and went flying.  Whenever my kids have a downer day they just call to mind the picture of dear old dad hands in his pockets legs high in the air and landing on his wallet, no matter how tough a day it is I know they smile!  Needless to say I was not walking circumspectly.  Why should we be careful, and cautious, and exact, because the days are evil and rainy.  I'll be praying for your driving and especially for your walks, bad weather has been predicted for the days ahead.

Salsa shopping

I was in a grocery store getting the makings for taco salad when I found the store didn't carry my favorite salsa.  This left me dazed in front of rows of salsa jars.  I never knew how many brands and styles of salsa there were.  Fortunately for me one of the brands really aided in my purchase.  You see right there on the jar it said "voted #1 worlds best tasting", well that settled it how could I chose anything less than #1.  I was actually pretty excited about getting home to taste this new salsa (I know I need to get out more!).  Well I tasted it and I was sorely disappointed, how could this have been voted #1 worlds best tasting?  Of course they don't tell us who voted, most likely the guy who came up with the recipe and his mom or people who like caviar and oysters.  The promise on the outside of the jar didn't match what was inside the jar.  I guess I'm just upset because I know better then to fall for empty promises.  Alas I've learned again, in fact just this morning I didn't fall for it when I heard on my car radio that I would never have a bad nights sleep again if I bought a certain mattress, which I'm sure was voted best in the world.  I also didn't fall for the next ad which promised weight loss without diet or exercise.  I am so glad that when God makes a promise we can be sure He will follow through, He's not trying to sell us anything or tickle our ears.  I give a hearty amen to what I heard a pastor say of God some years ago: "He says what He means and means what He says".  In 1Kings 8:56 Solomon proclaims "....There has not failed one word of all His promise, which He promised through His servant Moses."  There are no empty promises in God!  May you find peace and joy in the faithfulness of our loving Lord.

Tiger hit a tree

Tiger Woods hitting a tree has sadly become the top story this week. As the news unfolded the words describing Mr. Woods injuries kept changing from critical to serious and then to minor. And seriously isn't this whole thing like his injuries, pretty minor? Yet I heard one reporter up in arms demanding that the public deserves to know the whole truth. Yes our lives must be put on hold until we get to the bottom of this. How did....? Was he....? Did she....? A girl in New York....? Cuts on the face...? What's with the golf club....? And when the whole truth does come out we will all sleep better and our trees will be safer. Meanwhile back on planet earth there are a couple of things that deserve our attention and prayers. Our president is going to address the nation concerning our military strategy in Afghanistan, the commanders on the ground say these are crucial days. And Iran continues to defiantly pursue nuclear weapons, in fact word is that they are much further along then previously believed. Israel has already promised that they will not allow a nuclear Iran and history tells us that Israel is pretty adept at keeping promises. If Israel strikes how will the nations that hate her and surround her respond? What will Russia and China do? Are we living in the days that will witness the prophesies of Ezekiel 38 and 39 fulfilled? Oh, and by the way Tiger hit a tree. "And for this reason God will send them a strong delusion...." (2 Thessalonians 2:11). We can't let ourselves be among those who get so easily distracted, let us remain wide awake and prayerful.

Adam Lambert at the AMA

I don't know if you caught Adam Lambert's act at the American Music Awards on Monday night. I didn't see it live but caught it on the news. From what I saw it was very risque' and improper..... if you haven't seen it click below.......just kidding!!! I wouldn't want you to view it. My first reaction was, I can't believe they are showing this, my second was embarrassment and sadness for Mr. Lambert, my third was I'm sure glad he didn't win American Idol. I'm certain he and his publicist are happy because his act seemed to be the most talked about moment for the show. Our eyes are constantly being bombarded by such images making it tough to be holy in an unholy world. Because we are surrounded by so many unholy things it is easy for us to lose our distaste for the sinful. Our discernment can easily become numb because of overexposure to the world. My prayer for us all is that we be wise in those things we allow into our lives, and that we will be diligent in cleansing our hearts and minds with the pure Word of God. "....but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil." Romans 16:19

Pray Without Ceasing

In 1Thessalonians 5:17 a seemingly impossible command is given us when we are told to "pray without ceasing". There are many who suffer with what might be called spiritual attention deficit disorder, prayer begins and you might get in five or so minutes of solid prayer and then start to drift in thoughts or imagination. You catch yourself and get back to the solid prayer only to drift again a few minutes down the line. I cringe at the number of times my prayers have followed this pattern. Think of how dysfunctional our relationships would be if we communicated with our friends and loved ones the same way we communicate with the Lord. Now I don't believe the command to pray without ceasing is given to us to frustrate or bring guilt, but to set forth a standard and challenge. What the Lord desires from us is a consistent readiness for prayer and praise. There is a wonderful picture in the Old Testament that might help in this area. In Leviticus 6:13 the priests who were to minister in the tabernacle were told that the fire on the altar of sacrifice was never to go out "a fire shall always be burning on the altar". The altar was to always be at the ready, a fire ready for use in sacrifice or worship unto the Lord. What a great picture for us when it comes to our prayer lives, our minds can't be in prayer every moment, but our hearts can be in a place of readiness the fire burning prepared without having to warm up instant in praise or petition. The great news for us is that we don't have to create the fire on the altar, the Holy Spirit is the fire upon the altar of our hearts. Our job is to be expecting throughout every day the quickening of the Holy Spirit to pray and then submitting to it and praying. The result is an exciting and powerful habit of praying without ceasing. Through the years I have learned to love and be eager for the Spirit to prick my heart to pray for my sheep at any time of the day. May we all daily ask the Holy Spirit to stoke the fire and help us to be attentive to His moving us to pray.