"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." – Matthew 11:28
Someone once said that home is where you go and they have to take you in. I've also heard the saying, "Home is where you go when you're lonely, feeling sick, or are hurting."
To "come home," you have to have been away. For some it means coming home from war. For others it may mean coming home from work. Some are coming home from wandering—they've been away from God like the Prodigal Son.
Home is the only place to go when nobody else understands. It's where you go to cry your heart out, knowing you won't feel embarrassed or ashamed. Home is where you can go and not be lonely. God invites you this Christmas to come home to him.
Wherever you are today, I invite you to come home. The Father is waiting with arms wide-
stretched to welcome you.
* * *
Have years of "rugged" life experience driven you far from the loving arms of your Heavenly Father? Return to him today. No matter how far away you've been, he's waiting for you to "come home."
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Why He Came
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
— John 10:10
This has been a busy time of year for almost everyone. For us as Christians, it's been a joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus. We marvel at the fact that God humbled Himself and was born in a cave. But why did He come?
First, Jesus Christ came to proclaim good news to the spiritually hurting, to preach the good news to us.
He came to heal the broken-hearted. Medical science has found ways to reduce and even remove pain. But there is no cure for a broken heart.
Jesus came to set people free who are bound by sin. Jesus came to open our spiritual eyes to our spiritual need.
He came to lift up those who are crushed by life. He came to give us abundant life. Jesus came to lift us from the physical realm of the senses to the spiritual realm to show us that there is more to life.
He came to give His life for us. Jesus said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). He came to die. Jesus Christ came to this earth to seek and save those of us who are lost, just as a shepherd seeks a lost sheep.
So in all of this hustle and bustle, wrapping paper, mistletoe, and brightly colored lights, let's get down to the bottom line. Christmas is about God sending His Son to die on a cross. He was born to die, to give us abundant life, to give us a life that is worth living.
P.S. I thank God for all of you during this season. Please pray for continued anointing and blessings in this ministry. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
— John 10:10
This has been a busy time of year for almost everyone. For us as Christians, it's been a joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus. We marvel at the fact that God humbled Himself and was born in a cave. But why did He come?
First, Jesus Christ came to proclaim good news to the spiritually hurting, to preach the good news to us.
He came to heal the broken-hearted. Medical science has found ways to reduce and even remove pain. But there is no cure for a broken heart.
Jesus came to set people free who are bound by sin. Jesus came to open our spiritual eyes to our spiritual need.
He came to lift up those who are crushed by life. He came to give us abundant life. Jesus came to lift us from the physical realm of the senses to the spiritual realm to show us that there is more to life.
He came to give His life for us. Jesus said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). He came to die. Jesus Christ came to this earth to seek and save those of us who are lost, just as a shepherd seeks a lost sheep.
So in all of this hustle and bustle, wrapping paper, mistletoe, and brightly colored lights, let's get down to the bottom line. Christmas is about God sending His Son to die on a cross. He was born to die, to give us abundant life, to give us a life that is worth living.
P.S. I thank God for all of you during this season. Please pray for continued anointing and blessings in this ministry. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Perfect Portrait
"God has chosen to make known…the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. – Colossians 1:27
For years, mankind searched for God. Often they lost him. Frequently they misunderstood him—they thought he was to be feared, ignored, and rejected. They created impressions of what they thought God was which led them so far astray, God made the ultimate sacrifice—he came to earth as a baby. He was born to a common woman on a cold night in a dirty cave that was used as an animal stall.
This tiny baby was God in human form. His name was Jesus. As he grew, he began to fulfill his mission…to show the world what God is really like. In Jesus, we see a God who is loving, tender, caring, and forgiving. We see a God who embraced the people society rejected. He restored their dignity. Jesus painted a glorious portrait of God so we could do the same.
* * *
What portrait of God you have come to embrace? Share your "picture" of God this week with a friend who is currently godless…and then watch what happens.
For years, mankind searched for God. Often they lost him. Frequently they misunderstood him—they thought he was to be feared, ignored, and rejected. They created impressions of what they thought God was which led them so far astray, God made the ultimate sacrifice—he came to earth as a baby. He was born to a common woman on a cold night in a dirty cave that was used as an animal stall.
This tiny baby was God in human form. His name was Jesus. As he grew, he began to fulfill his mission…to show the world what God is really like. In Jesus, we see a God who is loving, tender, caring, and forgiving. We see a God who embraced the people society rejected. He restored their dignity. Jesus painted a glorious portrait of God so we could do the same.
* * *
What portrait of God you have come to embrace? Share your "picture" of God this week with a friend who is currently godless…and then watch what happens.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Former Post
Someone once said to me that "God will never allow us to speak anything with authority until He first proves it in our experience." How true that is in my life today...
Only a few days ago my mom was taken to the hospital with severe dehydration and a very high fever. Within a few hours the general diagnosis was that she had bacterial meningitis. Within hours of death, my siblings and I jumped to get her transferred to get the best help possible. With much prayer and incredible physicians, even though she is not out of the woods, the prognosis is very encouraging and not life-threatening anymore. PRAISE GOD!
I have reflected on what my life was like just one week ago. Running like crazy, trying to make it all happen, then BOOM! My mom, Janie, who has never even taken medicine, is attacked in her body. The last time she was in the hospital was when she had her third child, me. It has been said that God shouts in our pain and whispers in our triumphs. I guess so He can be heard over all of my questions.
Spent some time today applying my own medicine. I just read back through some of the older posts on this little blog. The last one right before this one caught my attention. I wrote it for you, but it now speaks in a different manner to me! Its the same with Scripture. Read one verse on a sunny day, it speaks one thing. Read it when your mom is gasping for air in the ER, and God shouts the message homeward. No wonder it is the Living Word. I thank God for it.
So, I'm gonna go back and read the post below this one, again. It was a bit prophetic, so I receive it in Jesus Name....again.
Only a few days ago my mom was taken to the hospital with severe dehydration and a very high fever. Within a few hours the general diagnosis was that she had bacterial meningitis. Within hours of death, my siblings and I jumped to get her transferred to get the best help possible. With much prayer and incredible physicians, even though she is not out of the woods, the prognosis is very encouraging and not life-threatening anymore. PRAISE GOD!
I have reflected on what my life was like just one week ago. Running like crazy, trying to make it all happen, then BOOM! My mom, Janie, who has never even taken medicine, is attacked in her body. The last time she was in the hospital was when she had her third child, me. It has been said that God shouts in our pain and whispers in our triumphs. I guess so He can be heard over all of my questions.
Spent some time today applying my own medicine. I just read back through some of the older posts on this little blog. The last one right before this one caught my attention. I wrote it for you, but it now speaks in a different manner to me! Its the same with Scripture. Read one verse on a sunny day, it speaks one thing. Read it when your mom is gasping for air in the ER, and God shouts the message homeward. No wonder it is the Living Word. I thank God for it.
So, I'm gonna go back and read the post below this one, again. It was a bit prophetic, so I receive it in Jesus Name....again.
Monday, December 07, 2009
God Still Steps In
"They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness…and broke away their chains." – Psalm 107:13-14
There is nothing more difficult for strong people to admit and accept than the helplessness they feel when sudden dark times strike. Mature, responsible, intelligent people feel compelled to take personal responsibility and "manage things." It is very difficult for them to admit they can no longer handle things by themselves.
All of us feel out of control at one time or another. And feeling out of control is devastating because it's something we've rarely encountered! The last thing we want to do is admit our helplessness.
What drives this denial? The human ego has an infinite ability to rationalize. We don't want to admit we need help. But hurting hearts only find health and healing when they finally admit, with authentic humility, "I need help. I can't make it alone."
That's when God steps in.
* * *
What unmanageable thing are you facing right now? Admit your helplessness. Then step aside and let God step in.
There is nothing more difficult for strong people to admit and accept than the helplessness they feel when sudden dark times strike. Mature, responsible, intelligent people feel compelled to take personal responsibility and "manage things." It is very difficult for them to admit they can no longer handle things by themselves.
All of us feel out of control at one time or another. And feeling out of control is devastating because it's something we've rarely encountered! The last thing we want to do is admit our helplessness.
What drives this denial? The human ego has an infinite ability to rationalize. We don't want to admit we need help. But hurting hearts only find health and healing when they finally admit, with authentic humility, "I need help. I can't make it alone."
That's when God steps in.
* * *
What unmanageable thing are you facing right now? Admit your helplessness. Then step aside and let God step in.
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