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!

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!

It’s going to sound so trite, but I really don’t know what I would do without her. God surely knew what He was doing when He sent her my way.

Setting the Stage

It was a difficult weekend for us. We had our annual neighborhood yard sale Saturday morning. I hate yard sales. I really do. Most of the junk we pull out to sell usually goes right back in the garage.

Then there are the prices of the items. My wife and I are opposites. She’s a Proverbs 31 woman if there ever was one. She’s very savvy about what she sells items for. Me? I’m the opposite. I hate haggling. If the offer is decent (in my mind) I’ll take it just to avoid having to put the items back in the garage.

This dynamic causes friction. Every year. It never fails. My wife goes back in the house for some reason and it’s usually right at that moment that someone comes up and offers a price for something we’re selling. After I quote it, that’s when the battle starts.

Suffice to say, this whole scene cast a pall over our whole Saturday and into Sunday. I went into my own world of irritation. Basically, I let Satan get the best of me and allowed him to whisper lies into my ear.

The Remedy

In my gloom, I realized I became disconnected. Yes, certainly, from my wife but more importantly, I had become disconnected from the source of my joy: God. One of the things I realized–and I don’t know why this obvious thing never occurred to me before–is that for the better part of my life, I’ve been seeking meaning, fulfillment, and identity in other things. What things? A job. Work. Being a husband. Being a father. Being a role model. Being a blogger. Being a musician. Whatever else.

I’m here to tell you, you will never find meaning, fulfillment nor identify in anything but Jesus!

Back to my wife being a blessing . . .

We were both reading our Bibles yesterday and in hers she came to a side-bar on healing. The mini-study was on John 5.

Jesus and the Paralytic

I’ll set the scene for you. There was a man–probably a paralytic–who had come to the Pool of Bethesda for healing. He had been stricken with his illness for thirty-eight years. The pool is where an angel of the Lord would come on certain seasons and stir up the water. Whomever would go into the pool first would be healed.

We’ll pick up the story in verse 6:

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” –John 5:6.

I’ve read this passage many times but yesterday I was struck by what Jesus asked him: “do you wish to get well?”

Amazing! Jesus gave this guy a choice: do you want to be well or do you just want to stay in your condition.

Look at what he says in response to Jesus:

The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” –John 5:7.

How many times has God revealed something to us through someone or some event and we immediately make excuses?

Wouldn’t it have been easier for the guy to just tell Jesus: “Yes, I want to get well.” Instead, he makes excuses! I was profoundly struck by what is packed into these two verses, things I have never realized before.

Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” –John 5:8.

I love Jesus. He dismisses this guy’s excuses, doesn’t allow him to wallow in self-pity, and tells him to get up and walk. The Greek term for “get up” is “ἐγείρω.” It has several meanings some of which are: “to arouse from sleep, to awake,” “to cause to rise from a seat or bed,” even “to arouse from the sleep of death.”

The Sting of Truth

After reading these passages I started thinking about the “pallets” in my life that I’ve been laying on and making excuses for. Phrases like “Yeah, but . . .” “I know how to that, but . . .” “I enjoying doing ‘X,’ but . . .”

I have to tell you, I’m sick of the word “but” in my life. It’s such a defeater. I’m not saying it’s easy to get over. I have a long way to go. But I also believe that once you identify these pallets in your life and ask God to be healed from them, then in His time and in His will, you will be healed from them.

God-willing I can share some of these with you all soon.

Are there pallets in your life you are laying on? Have you been healed from pallets in your life? Share in the comments.

May He Increase!

A brief excerpt:

It’s sad, just flat out sad that our culture tells little girls (I’m speaking of girls ages 6-14 primarily; girls 15 and above should know better by that stage of their life): “Dress like a whore; it’s what everyone likes. All your friends are disgusting little tramps, so you should be too. And just think how popular you’ll be with the boys!”

It’s really frightening and sad to see these young women around our local high schools dressing like that. I don’t have a daughter–but have two sons–and there is no way they would ever leave the house dressed like that.

But since I have sons, my wife and I are raising them and pounding into their heads to treat women with respect. After all, every woman at one point in her life was some body’s little girl.

Dads: it really does begin with us. We need to teach our kids when they are young–and keep teaching them as they grow older–what modesty means and that they are truly children of God.

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. –Psalm 127:3

Parents: Have you struggled with getting your kids to embrace modesty?

May He Increase!

Today she posted “When the Work Becomes Weary.” A short excerpt:

Sometimes, those of us who have immersed ourselves in ministry or volunteer work, we can become tired.

Tired of hearing about individuals hurting themselves or others.

Of them making poor choices.

Of pain and heartache.

Prayers that appear to be unanswered or slow to come to fruition.

Sometimes you become so tired from all of it.  You wonder if you can really go on.

It’s a post I needed today because it’s how I’ve been feeling of late.

Lest I seem to my audience that I’ve always upbeat and positive, this is more of an open-heart post. I’ve had periods of “the dark night of the soul” for at least the past two years. There have been times when I thought I was coming out of it and then things grow dark again. I’ve struggled with trying to figure out if I’m confusing life’s typical trials with something that is more longer term like “the dark night of the soul.”

My family is going through some rough times financially, as I think a lot of Americans are. Some of it is a direct result of poor choices we have made and others are simply adjustments that we need to make. I’ve wondered how long God will allow us to navigate these troubled waters and then I try with all my might to trust Him with it all.

But if I’m being truly honest with myself, I will admit that there are times when I feel like chucking it all. There are times when I feel like I should just live like the rest of the world instead of holding myself to a higher standard.

Times such as these, I cling to Jesus’ question and Peter’s answer as found in the book of John:

So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.” –John 6:67-68.

Jesus’ question follows right after He told His disciples “But there are some of you who do not believe” (John 6:64). As a result of Jesus saying this:

Many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. –John 6:66.

Is this how I want to live my life? Do I understand that if I make that choice to turn away, I’m saying to Jesus “I do not believe.”

No way. There is  absolutely no way.

After everything that God has shown me and lead me through, “to whom shall I go?”

Back out into the world?

Are you kidding me?

Do I want to be like a dog returning to it’s vomit? (2 Peter 2:22)

The Christian life is far from easy. Anyone who says to you otherwise is a liar. But this fleeting life with all it’s ups and downs is nothing compared to the joy that awaits us in heaven.

And this is the hope I cling to: that God loves me and nothing is hidden from His sight. He knows exactly what I’m going through and no matter how dark it looks, He’s there with me.

May He Increase!