Merry Christmas 2011: “It’s About the Cross”

My dear brother-in-Christ, Ike from Pennsylvania, shared a YouTube link in a previous comment.

I wanted to share it here because it’s a great reminder of what the season is really about: Jesus.

10 And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” –Luke 2:10-11 KJV.

“A Saviour.” Jesus was born to die to save us from our sins. That is why we have such joy at Christmastime–indeed, when you’re a Christian, every day–because Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world, and paid a debt we are unable to pay.

May He Increase!

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Mary or Martha?

HT: Click

You see this guy? This is me. Okay, not literally, but this image captures how I’ve been feeling for months.

I’ve been working so hard at my tent-making trade that I feel like I’ve had little time for anything else. I’ve woken up with my job on my mind first thing and often-times, I’ve gone to bed worrying about tasks and projects that I’m behind on.

Don’t misunderstand me. I enjoy my job, my bosses, and the fact that I work from home. I just have a lot of work to do (but I guess in these days, that’s a good thing) and I’m not feeling like I’m on top of it all.

Changes

Then, last month, literally over-night, I was handed the leadership role of the Knott Avenue Christian Church Media team. Lest I sound like I’m complaining about that, I’m not. It’s a tremendous blessing and I’m amazed and what God has led me to and through in the past two years that I’ve been a part of that team. Still, the day I found out that I was probably going to be leading it, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders, right at a time when I couldn’t take any additional burdens. I had to learn things that I hadn’t done before (like all the post-production work and video editing of the church’s Sunday morning webcast) with no training. But to God be the glory: things have gone much smoother than I ever would have thought.

Reminders

Still, since that time, I’ve had daily bouts of anxiety and stress and worry. Sometimes to the point of tears. But thanks be to God for the gift of my wife who is always ready to encourage me and remind me that I’m not alone in any of it.

I notice a huge difference, though, when I wrestle against my flesh and, instead of getting up early and sitting down at my laptop, I instead pull out the Word of God. Today was no exception and I was reminded of the story of Mary and Martha.

When Jesus was on His was to Jerusalem to go to the cross, He stopped at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.

39 [Martha] had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” –Luke 10:39-42.

Oh how long to be Mary, but feeling so much like Martha! No, there is nothing wrong with being conscious of doing Martha-type of work, but it cannot take the place of sitting at the feet of the King.

We cannot be so busy about doing work for the King that we forget about the King and neglect Him!

What about you? Have you ever found yourself in a season of being so busy and worried about things that you realized you became disconnected from your fellowship with God?

May He Increase!

Posted in Christian Living, Luke | 3 Comments

Biscochitos

Well,

My bro, Jack Scalfani, and I were at it again in the kitchen on his YouTube show “Cooking  With Jack.”

Since Christmas is right around the corner, I wanted to share the video here in case you needed a nice holiday cookie recipe. It’s a recipe that originally came from my wife’s grandmother and it’s a huge hit in our family.

Here you go: Biscochitos.

Merry Christmas everyone!

May He Increase!

Posted in Announcements | 2 Comments

Thanksgiving 2011

“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” –1 Chronicles 16:34.

Hello everyone. First, please forgive my absence. As I had mentioned previously, I have completely fallen off the blogging bandwagon. But I do believe that God still has a plan for this blog one way or the other.

This week is Thanksgiving 2011. I scarcely can believe that almost another year has gone by. So much has happened this year and there is so much to be grateful for.

I’m thankful for (in no particular order, although it is my work situation that was the prime motivator for this post):

  • The job that God has blessed me with.
  • The team that I work with at this job.
  • The managers I work under.
  • The fact that I work from home again.
  • The video ministry that God lead me to serve Him at Knott Avenue Christian Church.
  • The faithfulness of God.
  • The grace of God.
  • The forgiveness and patience of God.
  • The provision of God.
  • The correction of God.
  • The love of God.
  • The blessings of my sons.
  • The blessing of my wife. That even after ten years of marriage, I still feel like a newlywed and still feel like we are growing together.

Could a single blog post contain my gratitude towards my Lord, my Savior, my God? It’s so inadequate. But it’s at least a feeble attempt to express how grateful I am that He lead me out of a life of sin and hopelessness into The Light of His love and grace.

May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving. With God’s leading, my 2012 see a new life breathed into May He Increase. If not, may He lead each of us in the way we should go, according to His will.

May He Increase!

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Is Silence Golden?

Hello everyone!

For those that have still managed to stick around here since June, I’m still here.

It’s been one of those really busy and difficult summers for my family and I. I’m sure there are bloggers out there that can also attest to how easy it is to stop blogging all together if you get out of rhythm and focus.

My tent-making trade has been keeping me very busy the past few months. It’s been a “perfect storm” between that, being back working from home-full time, and my young son enjoying having his daddy so available for the first time in a year.

To summarize, I’ve found myself too busy and exhausted to write, to read, to study, and to think. Poor excuses, I know, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

On top of all that, this year has found us in jeopardy of losing our home. It’s a story I had planned to share–and I may still do that–but we’re not quite out of the woods yet. God has watched over us and it would appear that He is bringing us to a safe harbor but there are still a few dangerous reefs He needs to help us navigate through.

In happier news, I managed to save up enough money to upgrade my aging Mac PowerBook G4 laptop to the latest 21″ iMac in July. For the first time, I realize that I have all the tools I need now to do more creative things. My good friend Jack has been encouraging me to start video blogging or just getting into YouTube. One look at his YouTube pages and you’ll see why.

So I may change up May He Increase to a video platform. I just don’t know yet.

How was your summer? Anything new and exciting happening? What have I been missing out on?

May He Increase!

Posted in Announcements | 4 Comments