What Christmas Means To Me

Christmas has always been a special time for me. In my family, giving gifts and opening presents on Christmas morning was our greatest tradition, along with getting the tree, hanging decorations, and setting up the Nativity Scene. Although we talked about Santa and his reindeer delivering packages on Christmas Eve, I always knew it was my parents who bought the gifts and that Jesus was the true reason for the season. Traditions, gifts, a family dinner: these were the things we did to celebrate. But the story of Jesus coming to earth as a baby, being born in a stable, and lying in a manger wasn't lost in the shuffle. We remembered, we sang carols, we participated in the church programs, and we gave gifts as a reminder of the Three Wisemen who brought gifts to the Baby Jesus.

I still do those things now that I'm older. I visit my family at Christmas, and we exchange gifts and have a Christmas Feast. I celebrate at home with my husband and children with the traditions we have kept over the years. It's still about giving gifts, decorating the house, putting up the tree, Santa and his reindeer, and the Baby Jesus born in Bethlehem. But that aspect has changed a bit for me. It's not just about Jesus being in the manger, but more about what He was doing there. Why He came and what that means for me today.

Jesus was God's gift of love to the world. He brought redemption, forgiveness, and peace. Jesus did a lot more than give us a reason to have a fun holiday. He gave us a reason to live. To love. To experience joy. To find meaning in times of sorrow. To have hope in a world filled with sin, lawlessness, heartbreak, and tragedy. I have a friend who is undergoing cancer treatment right now. She was diagnosed at the beginning of December, and at first I thought, 'What a horrible time of year to face such an illness.' But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it's actually the best time to face cancer if she has to. Christmas is all about hope. Hope for this life, and hope for the life to come. We are never alone. We are loved. God cares about our needs and desires and hopes for the future. Jesus is about all of that and more.

To me, Christmas is about life. My life today, tomorrow, and always. Similarly, it's about your life and where Jesus is leading you. What He is teaching you. What He can give you. The peace, the joy, the love He wants to fill your heart with, no matter the time of year or your circumstances. Just look to Jesus and remember, you are loved.

To us a child is born, to us a son is given…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)


Photo Credit: "Gerard van Honthorst 001" by Gerard van Honthorst - The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gerard_van_Honthorst_001.jpg#/media/File:Gerard_van_Honthorst_001.jpg

Are your prayers truthful?

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 

Psalm 145:18-19

Psalm 145 is a great psalm to read when discouragement, disappointment, anxiety, and other such feelings are overtaking my heart. Just reading the words can bring a lot of hope and comfort to my weary or anxious soul. I am in the habit of reading a psalm every day, and many of them are like that. But as I came to Psalm 145 this week, I decided to take more than a day before moving on to the next, and I'm not sure what day this is, but I know I've been hanging out for a while.

The above verses reflect the heart and soul of this psalm. It's all about crying out to God, and yet the majority of David's words cry out to God in praise, not despair. He calls God KING, GREAT, MIGHTY, GLORIOUS, MAJESTIC, WONDERFUL, POWERFUL, AWESOME, ABUNDANTLY GOOD, RIGHTEOUS, GRACIOUS, COMPASSIONATE, LOVING, and EVERLASTING. And then he goes on to say, He is NEAR to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.

I wondered about that word truth and how we call on God in truth. What does that mean? The word itself means "firmness, faithfulness, truth". It expresses the idea of something that is sure, stable, and ongoing. Something that doesn't change—like God, and the truths about Him that remain the same: His love, goodness, mercy, and might. These are the things we can count on as unwavering. Our circumstances change at the drop of a hat, and our emotions often go with them. But God is unchanging, and this is what David is focused on. This is where his praise stems from: God's faithfulness.

I know from personal experience that God feels much closer when I am trusting Him. I think David knew this also, and in times of confusion, despair, and fear, he knew the best thing to do was cry out to God. God would be faithful. He would save him. He would keep His promises. He would keep him from falling and lift him out of whatever had brought him down.

When we call on God in truth, we are trusting Him to provide what we need. And when we trust, God feels much closer to our hearts because we believe He's actually with us. And when we share our honest desires with God, we will never be disappointed. These desires should not be mere whims or thoughts of fancy but the deepest cry of our hearts.

I encourage you to call on God today in truth. To be truthful with Him about what you need and what you may need to confess, including any thoughts of doubt you may have about God's love for you and His ability to meet your need (and the needs of others you are praying for). Sharing your deepest desires with God, along with the belief He will be faithful to give you what you need—whether it be your desires or something He knows you need even more: This is crucial to being close to Him. These desires should not be superficial, watered-down, or limited to what you think you deserve, but the deepest cry of your heart. What do you need to cry out for today? What do you need to ask for, in truth?

Kindness Matters

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Colossians 3:12


A few days ago, I was not having the best day. In fact, I was miserable. I'm not a person who gets depressed easily—mostly because God has blessed me so abundantly, not because I am not prone to depression. I always try to look for the positive in difficult circumstances, trust God with the hard things, and be thankful for everything I have and the things that are going right. Whenever I do this, I'm always reminded my blessings far outweigh my trials. I find it pretty difficult to remain depressed for long. It's usually easier to smile and think good thoughts than remain chained by the lies of the enemy that all is lost and things are never going to get better. I know my God is faithful, He loves me, and He works all things together for good.

But on that miserable day, the positive thoughts were not there. I couldn't smile. My heart was breaking too much over the hurts of others. I felt so helpless. It all seemed hopeless. And I was tired of the battle. I just wanted God to fix everything, and that didn't seem to be happening. After feeling discouraged for most of the day, I needed to go grocery shopping. Not my favorite chore, although sometimes it can be relaxing, so off I went with my heavy heart. At least it would give me something else to think about and remind me that while others were hurting, I could give my family nutritious and yummy food; Reminder Number One that kindness matters.

While I was pushing my shopping cart up and down the aisles, something unique happened to also remind me of this. One of the store managers, a woman with pretty red hair and a sweet disposition, was also going up and down the aisles with a scanner. She would point it at various price stickers, it would beep, and she would move on to the next. Several times when I was going up the aisle, she would be coming down the other way, and this continued until I was about halfway through my shopping trip.

My thoughts were still heavy, and I was only mildly aware of her presence. She was busy doing her work and never looked at me that I noticed, until she was scanning an item right near where I needed to grab something from the shelf. I waited for her to step away, and she had to cross my path to do so. But as she did, she turned to me and smiled, seeming to also realize we kept passing each other. I'm not sure if she had seen the downcast look on my face, but I'm thinking she must have because she said, "How are you today? Can I help you with anything?"

I'm used to the employees of the store being polite and friendly. It's one of the reasons I shop there, but her tone held a unique quality, as if she knew I wasn't having the best day and wanted to help however she could. Her kindness touched me. Something deep inside that made me smile and believe everything was going to be okay. She had no idea what I was feeling and probably barely thought about me after that moment. But I will remember her kindness.

And that's when it hit me: kindness matters. Those I was grieving over had not been treated kindly, and yet kindness is such an easy thing to give if we just take time to be deliberate about it: a smile, a friendly word of encouragement, a compliment, a gentle answer, a simple act of mercy instead of pointing fingers and bringing shame. Grace instead of rudeness, patience instead of making others feel stupid or in the way, help instead of hurt.

You know what I'm talking about. You've been there. The moment when the kindness of someone else made all the difference. Perhaps your encounters are few and far between, and I'm sure the same is true for others. Just think of the difference your kindness can mean to someone: a family member, a friend, a classmate, a stranger. You may not always see the difference your kindness makes for someone, but they will feel it. Like the store manager who has no idea she completely changed my perspective, you can do the same. Kindness is powerful. Kindness matters. Love matters.

The fruit of the Spirit is…kindness. (Gal. 5:22)

Be Yourself

O LORD, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God. Do not let me be disgraced or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced—disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.  Psalm 25:1-3


What character qualities do you value in others? Do you want friends who are kind, loyal, and accept you for who you are? Do you want friends who are honest with you? Do you long for genuine friendship?

If your answer to the above is yes, doesn't it make sense that others are looking for these things too? Can they find them in you, or will they need to look elsewhere for acceptance, honesty, and kindness? Jesus said to treat others the way you want to be treated, and this can be applied in many ways, but it's a key element in friendship. Others need to know you value them and can be trusted, just as you need to know these things about those you hang out with and confide in.

But how do you become this kind of friend? How do you let others see you enough to know you are someone worth their time? Let's face it, friendship is risky. Friends can become enemies. People you are nice to might not be nice back. "Friends" might blab your secrets or talk badly behind your back. Jesus said to treat others the way you want to be treated, but He didn't guarantee others will always treat you well. It can be difficult to open yourself up when rejection is a strong possibility.

In Psalm 25, David takes a unique approach to avoiding disgrace and finding rescue from those who treated him poorly. The word disgrace means "a loss in reputation or respect", and while you may not do anything to deserve this from others, they can make you feel stupid, ugly, out of fashion, boring, different, and not worth their time. They can call you names or spread rumors about you. David experienced this, and He cried out, "O LORD, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God…No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced."

People cannot always be trusted. Even a close friend can become a foe. But God? You can trust Him. If you give Him your life, He will be faithful to help and guide you and give you whatever you need. Just one word of caution: You need to be yourself. David had learned: disgrace comes to those who deceive others. If you're trying to be someone you're not, then you're not fully trusting God. You're trusting in yourself, or who you're pretending to be.

But it doesn't work. You can't say you trust God and then make your own arrangements. You must trust God and be yourself. No masks or disguises. No trying to please people with what you do or how you look. No acting like you're perfect when you have flaws like everyone else. No hiding your emotions or values or problems.

Be real with others, trust God with your heart, and ask Him for what you need. This is the pathway to being a great friend. Is it risky? Is it challenging? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely!


Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Definition for "disgrace" taken from www.google.com

Photo © 2015.

In Times of Trouble

Have you ever thought to yourself, 'Okay, I want to follow God, but right now is not the time. I have too much going on. I have all this stuff I have to deal with first. When life calms down a little, then I'll have time to read my Bible, pray, seek God, and listen for how He is leading me. But right now I just can't. Life is too crazy!'?

If you have ever thought this, or feel this way now, you are not alone. I've had these thoughts many times, and I am often tempted to feel this way when trials, relationship issues, discouragement, or scary situations come my way. But something I have learned is when life is most difficult, most crazy, or most unbearable: that's when I need God the most. Following God is all about finding our way from the darkness into the light, and helping others to find their way from despair to hope; but we can't help anyone else if we're not seeking and trusting God ourselves.

Jesus said, "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…So don't be troubled or afraid."

What is currently troubling you? What are you afraid of? What are you worried about? What is your biggest fear? Jesus says you don't have to be troubled or afraid. Do you believe Him?

Say these words to yourself, inserting your own name in the blank: I am leaving you with a gift, ____; I give you peace of mind and heart. So don't be troubled or afraid, ______.

I was facing something recently that troubled me a lot. I had a lot of worries and fears, but I gave them to God and trusted Him to carry me. Every day when I read my Bible, the words brought me comfort. When I prayed, I asked God to help me to trust Him. I listened for what He had to tell me. And I followed Him from a dark place of fear and anxiety to hope and trust.

I encourage you to do the same with whatever is troubling you. Read your Bible daily, pray, seek God, listen, and trust Him. He will give you what you need. Whether it's peace, joy, hope, or a solution to the problem.


In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry.  
Psalm 20:1 (NLT)

God is not like your English teacher

Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles. Psalm 119:49-50 NLT


Have you ever failed a test, an assignment, or just not done as well in school as you could have? Perhaps you didn't study enough or didn't understand the subject or didn't have enough time to do your best. Whatever your reason for failing or not getting the grade you were hoping for, did you get another chance? Did your teacher allow you a retake or a redo?

My daughter was recently required to write an essay on a short story. The instructions for the assignment were given, and she followed them. The essay was the right length, had three main points she supported well, and ended with a convincing conclusion. She had me proofread it for her, and I suggested a few changes, but overall I thought it was well written and she would get a good grade. (I'm not an English teacher, but I do know a thing or two about writing :)

When she received the assignment back, she was shocked to see her grade of a solid C (74%). She usually gets A's and B's, and she didn't understand how she could have gotten such a low grade for the amount of time and effort she had put into the essay, as well as doing it the way she thought she was supposed to. I was confused also, and in reading over the teacher's comments and corrections, it was clear she had misunderstood the instructions partially and had also neglected to include some elements they had learned about essay-writing previously but hadn't been specifically reminded of for this one.

She was pretty upset about it because she was hoping to raise her current semester grade from a high B to an A. She asked her teacher if she could redo it, based on the fact she hadn't understood the instructions fully, but his response was, "You could rewrite it, but the highest grade I can give you for a redo is 80% (low B), even if you write a perfect essay."

Perhaps you can relate to that kind of frustration and disappointment. Whether it's in school or some other area of life, we often need a do-over. A second chance. Redemption. A chance to make up for a mistake or do things better. Whether our excuses are good or rather lame, we just want a chance to improve, or to at least be forgiven. The weight of failure, sin, and hopelessness can be very great, and even if we don't make any big mistakes in life, a lot of little ones or minor missteps can build up over time and make us feel defeated, not good enough, and of little value to anyone, even God, or especially God. Especially if we see Him like an unforgiving, hard-nosed English teacher.

But here's the good news. God is not like that. I found it ironic that her teacher had this policy on a short-story essay rewrite when one of the stories they had to choose from was "The Prodigal Son", a parable Jesus told that is all about forgiveness, redemption, and second-chances. Even the story she chose about Ruth and Boaz is about Ruth and Naomi receiving something they weren't technically entitled to have. But God provided for their needs anyway because He is merciful and His love is always greater than cultural systems, missteps in life, and even blatant disobedience. Even if my daughter hadn't done the assignment in the first place and gotten an F, if Jesus was her English teacher and she went to Him and asked if she could turn it in late and still get 100% if she wrote a perfect essay, no matter how good or bad her excuse was, He would give her that chance. He would give her a do-over.

Do you need to believe in God's mercy today? Do you need another chance to make things right, to receive His forgiveness, or to follow His instructions more faithfully? In Psalm 119:4-5 and 8, the psalmist says, You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees...Please don't give up on me!  He goes on to say in verse 24, Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. (NLT)

I think it's important to realize that while God gives specific commands, He doesn't expect them to be followed perfectly every time. He gives us guidelines and instructions to give us the best chance of success and happiness in life, but when we fall short, He isn't there with a grade-book to give us a low score and say, 'You did it wrong,' and 'Sorry, no second chances.' He's there with an outstretched hand, saying, "Come to Me, and I will give you rest. I'll teach you how to follow Me more closely. And as you do so, you'll understand my instructions better and find comfort in My love and goodness. Don't give up. Ask for My help. I'm here to lead you every step of the way." (Matthew 11:28-30, paraphrase mine)

A Reason For Joy

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good

and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

Do you ever feel down, depressed, or discouraged? What makes you feel this way? Pain, conflict, disappointment, failure? Negative thoughts and emotions are generally the result of bad circumstances and life not going the way we want. People do things to upset, hurt, or pressure us. Things happen beyond our control that make us unhappy, or we let ourselves down with wrong choices that leave us feeling bad or alone. Worry, fear, and stress can also take a toll on our emotions. Sometimes nothing is terribly wrong, but anxiety and the everyday stress of life clouds the joy we long for.

Most of the time there is little or nothing we can do about the behavior of others or unfortunate circumstances. It is what it is, and other than getting upset, angry, or frustrated, it's easy to just turn inward and allow the sadness, despair, or hurt to overtake our day, our week, or our year. And as for failure (real or perceived) we blame ourselves and might vow to try harder, reach our goals, or be a better person, but eventually the renewed strength, determination, and hope will wear off and we find ourselves right back where we started with the same challenges to face and shortcomings to overcome.

The good news? Psalm 100 describes a much different way of thinking and living. It's all about joy and praising God. I first heard this psalm when I was a young girl. It was a part of my Bible education at church, and I memorized it at one time to earn points for going to camp. I always liked it, but I primarily thought of it as something to do when I went to church: To worship Him with songs of praise, as it says; but in reading the words this week, I saw them in a much broader sense. Not only as the elements of worship (joy, gladness, singing, praise, and thankfulness), but also as a means of attaining joy each day. Joy that overcomes any feelings of unhappiness, discouragement, or despair I am experiencing.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

The psalm begins with telling us to express our joy to God and worship Him with gladness, but it's pretty hard to do this if joy and gladness aren't already a part of my heart. God doesn't want me to fake it. He doesn't want me to pretend to be joyful while I'm singing songs of praise and then go home to my real life clouded with depression and failure. He doesn't want me to be joyful for His sake, just to hear me sing a nice song. He wants me to be filled with joy because I know who He is and who I am in His eyes:

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

You are not on this earth by accident. You were created for a purpose. Your life matters to others. You belong to God, and you matter to Him. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."  Others often make us feel insignificant. They can make us feel stupid, weak, and worthless. We can do a pretty good job of seeing ourselves this way also. Failure (or perceived failure) can be crippling. Difficult circumstances can make us feel alone. We get worried, scared, and don't know what to do. But when I remember my God is near and He cares about me, I don't feel alone anymore. I listen for His voice, and He tells me I am loved. He reminds me I am precious to Him. He points out the road for me to follow and gives me the means to walk it; or He tells me to wait for Him to work things out for my good.

For the LORD is good

and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

God is good. He loves me. He is faithful. Focusing on these simple truths restores my joy. Life will throw all kinds of trials at me. Others will hurt me. People will let me down, and I will often let myself down or just not have the ability to be everything I wish I could be. But God is so much bigger than my everyday worries, problems, and shortcomings. He is bigger than even the bleakest of circumstances. He brings beauty from ashes, hope from despair, and love to my desperate, lonely, or weary soul.

How could believing God is good, He loves you, and trusting in His faithfulness help you cope with whatever is clouding your joy? How could these truths help you have a better outlook on your circumstances? How could His love make you feel better about yourself? Take a moment to write down your thoughts before reading the next paragraph where we will look at another source of joy and gladness.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

Another key to finding joy is thankfulness. When we're facing difficulty or are bothered by difficult people, it's easy to focus on our troubles. But we need to keep our eyes on the good things and the blessings we have. What are you thankful for? What good things happened today or this week? Who has God placed in your life to meet your needs and care for you? What opportunities do you have to get an education, pursue your interests, seek God, and enjoy good relationships? How can the difficult things you are facing be an opportunity for you to trust God more and experience His love and faithfulness? How can God help you to make better choices or reach your goals?

Trying to handle things on your own will often lead to frustration, failure, and more problems. But asking God for His help brings hope and thankfulness when you see Him meeting your needs and filling your heart with peace and joy you thought was out of your reach.

Make a list of everything you're thankful for and see how that makes you feel. How do your blessings remind you of the truth?

Write down everything you need God's help with and ask Him to provide whatever is necessary.

When you are finished writing out your requests, express your thankfulness to God also and remember He is always near. You belong to Him, and you have a reason for joy.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his...

For the LORD is good

and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Opportunity for Joy?

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 NLT

Have you ever had a bad day? A bad week? A bad year? Have you ever faced tough challenges? Perhaps you are going through a difficult time now.

Life can be painful. Others hurt us, disappoint us, and create problems. We often don't know how to respond and get mad, creating more conflict; feel sad or lonely and get depressed; or feel confused, powerless, and generally unhappy. We think, 'Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? Will these troubles ever end?'

As humans we are naturally weak, insecure, afraid, and prone to despair and hopelessness. But trials are one of the ways God makes us stronger. We can't learn to be courageous, confident, and filled with hope if we have never been scared, put-down, or in despair. And everyone faces trials, so it all comes down to how you view them and what you do about it. If you only see them as troubles you wish you didn't have and respond negatively, then they make you weaker; but if you view them as an opportunity to grow and become more than you ever thought you could be, they will make you stronger.

God wants us to overcome our weakness, insecurity, and fear. He is on our side! He can give us the faith, courage, joy, and peace we need to face anything, and all we have to do is ask. Sometimes He gives us these things even when we don't ask, but it's much more valuable to know He is the one helping us because we don't feel so alone and unprotected. We know He is with us. We know He will help. We know He loves us and will always work things out for good.

It's normal to feel scared, alone, and weak when difficult things come your way; don't try to pretend you're fine and put up a tough-front. Instead, admit your need and ask God for help. Believe you are not alone. He knows. He cares. He is with you. And when you believe these things, you will have the courage and confidence to face the difficult times.

This is why James says we should consider these times an opportunity for joy. We can't always feel happy. Sometimes our circumstances just don't allow it, even if you're generally a positive person. But we can always choose joy. Joy is not dependent on our circumstances, but on our attitude toward them. 

So instead of saying, 'Why is this happening to me?' and letting the question remain unanswered, I can know it's happening for a reason and has a purpose, and I can ask God to show me what it is. Instead of saying, 'What did I do to deserve this?', I can know it's not my fault and trust Jesus to use it for my benefit when I turn it all over to Him. And instead of thinking my troubles will never end and just giving up, I can take them one at a time, one day at a time, and ask God to simply give me what I need today.

The LORD is near to all who call on him...He hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:18,19

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him... Romans 15:13

Remember

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6

Easter is a time to remember. We remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. We remember and celebrate His awesome resurrection from the dead. We remember we are forgiven and set free. We remember the promise of eternal life.

On the evening Jesus was arrested for claiming to be the Son of God, He had dinner with His disciples. It was the holiday known as Passover, and they shared a special meal together. At one point Jesus took bread and broke it into pieces. He gave them some and said, "Eat this and remember me."

We remember the sacrifice Jesus made and how He didn't stay dead. We know the next part of the story. But when Jesus spoke these words about "remembering" to His disciples, all of that hadn't happened yet. So I wonder, what did Jesus want them to remember?

Think back over the last year or two of your life. What do you remember? What stands out in your mind of times you've spent with your family and friends? What special events have happened? What do you remember about school, church, and activities you've enjoyed? What difficult things have you faced, and what do you remember about those moments? How has Jesus made Himself known to you, taught you, guided you, rescued you...?

The disciples of Jesus had spent three years with Him, and I'm sure they had a lot of memories. Jesus wanted them to think about the past because it would help them with what they were about to face. Their leader was going to be arrested, tried unfairly, beaten, crucified, and buried. But He doesn't focus on that and tell them to run and hide, or even to protect Him; He says, "Remember."

Remember the miracles. Remember My power over death. Remember what I have taught you. Remember to love. Remember...

As you celebrate Easter, what do you need to remember about Jesus? Or maybe I should ask, how much do you actually know about Jesus? More than anything He wants you to know Him. He wants you to know how much He loves you. He wants you to know you are forgiven. He wants you to remember you are never alone because He has promised to never leave you.

Faith is all about remembering. It starts with knowing who you are putting your faith in. It grows with remembering all the things that made you believe. And it carries you through the good times and the hard times.

Perhaps today you need to remember how much you are blessed, how much Jesus has done for you, and His promises to always care for you. Perhaps you need to remember He is near and you can call to Him if you are in need of help, forgiveness, or hope.

Trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.

What Are You Worth?

They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. 2 Kings 17:15 (NLT)

Imagine for a moment that you are invited to a special party or dance, and you go to the mall to get something new to wear. What would you be looking for? A pretty dress, sparkly shoes, and bright nail polish? Or would you be more inclined to look for new jeans, a nice belt, and flashy earrings? We each have our own tastes and needs, but whatever we get when we go shopping for back-to-school clothes or a special occasion, it will likely be what meets our wish-list--or as close as we can get with the money we have to spend.

Let's say you get exactly what you're looking for. It's nice.  It's something you want to show off. It was worth going to ten different stores to find. It's valuable to you. It's worth the money you paid for it, and you wear it proudly to the party or to school or church.

We can all agree on the value of having what we need and getting what we want. In many ways our lives revolve around what we have, how valuable those things are to us, and what we're willing to do to gain them. We walk the neighbor's dog and do extra chores around the house to get money to buy the things we want. We go to school to get an education that can lead us to the life we want as an adult. We search for love and happiness. We're not content with life being meaningless and without purpose.

But why? Why are we so driven? What makes life so valuable? What is worth fighting for? What does it matter if I have a new dress or wear an old one? Why do we want the best clothes and shiny jewelry?

When we were created by God, He gave us the inherent value of worth. He made us in His image, and in the very act of making us, the God of the Universe says, 'Here is My very best work. More valuable to Me than anything else in all Creation.' He calls us to worship and value Him, but only because He did it for us first.

In Old Testament Israel, God's chosen people had the Law to guide them, and the first items on the list told them to have no other gods and to worship Him alone. But why? He wanted them to know where their value and worth came from and to know they didn't need anyone else because He would never fail them. He valued them. He loved them. They belonged to Him as His prized possession. But they didn't get that. They worshiped other gods and made idols for themselves because they didn't think He would care for them. They sinned and feared His wrath and ran further away. He still loved them as much as ever and promised them mercy and forgiveness, but they didn't believe it because they did not see their value. So, they worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

But not in God's eyes. He still valued them and no one could take that inborn value out of their hearts, so they tried to fill it with other things: gold and silver idols replaced wooden figures, small idols were replaced with grander ones; their hearts became filled with greed, and anger burned for what was taken from them; small victories of gaining the land and possessions they were entitled to led to mass murder for more...and on and on it goes.

Most of our value-seeking is more civilized: pretty clothes, making the honor-roll, well-decorated bedrooms, stained-glass church windows; but the principle is the same. We're looking for value. We want things that say we have worth. We want our best qualities to shine and to sweep the rest under the rug. But in the end, these "valuable" things are only emptiness. Like an elusive treasure we know should be ours, and we're right! But we look in the wrong places.

We must realize that we ourselves are the treasure. God's greatest masterpiece. His workmanship. We don't need to look any further than who He has made us to be, and attaining this greatness takes little more than worshiping Him for who He is. Our value lies in who He says we are, and when we embrace this value He has given us as His dearly loved children, we don't look for value in nice things, our achievements, or what fulfills us, but rather we simply enjoy them because of His goodness to us. We're thankful and content with what we have because He Himself has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Jesus told a parable to illustrate the kingdom of God. He said, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. (Luke 13:45-46)  I believe we can take this two ways, and they are both necessary to living victoriously in His kingdom. We must believe God is our greatest treasure and seek Him all of our days. We may have to leave things behind to do that, but He doesn't hide from us and will be found. Our pursuit of Him will have great rewards.

But to do this, we must also believe we are like that fine pearl of great value to Him. You are His treasure, and He wants you to see yourself through His eyes: loved, priceless, beautiful, the very best on His wish-list; and He's never letting go.

Blessed For Believing

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my soul rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name."

As I write these words, they bring me much peace. You could say the author of them knew how to look at the glass as half-full, rather than half-empty, because the times and circumstances in which they were spoken were difficult and filled with uncertainty. Any idea who said them? I'll give you a hint, they come from Luke 1. That rules out Moses, David, and the prophets of the Old Testament, along with Jesus since He isn't born until chapter 2.

They are spoken by Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was most likely still a teenager at the time. She had just received the news that she was going to be the mother of the Messiah. Great news, right? Well, except for the fact she wasn't married and only had a disappearing angel to vouch for her claim to virginity. I can hear her parents now. "You saw an angel, and he said what?"

She had a reason to be freaked-out and takes off to visit her cousin. Who wouldn't? I'm sure Elizabeth was someone she loved and trusted or she wouldn't have gone to her, but she probably wasn't expecting to be greeted with such excitement.

"Blessed are you among women, Mary, and blessed is the child you will bear!"

"What? How did you know?"

"Oh, the baby told me," Elizabeth laughed, patting her own rounded belly with her wrinkled hand. "Blessed are you who has believed that what the Lord said to you is going to happen!"

Mary wouldn't have believed Lizzy except her cousin's story was just as crazy, and she needed to hear those words: "Blessed are you because you believe."

It can be difficult to believe. And it can be difficult to believe we are blessed for believing.

Faith is all about believing the unbelievable. Mary may not have known what was going to happen next, but faith isn't about knowing what is going to happen, it's about knowing that whatever happens will be good when God is involved. It's not about what I know, but Who I know.

Mary and I have never met. Mary lived in a different time-period, a different country, and a different culture than I am living in today. But we know the same God. Yahweh. Jehovah. The Mighty One who has done great things for me. Holy is His Name.

Others can say that God doesn't...or God won't...or God can't...But God will always show who He is and what He can do. God is always who He is whether we believe it or not. He is mighty, holy, amazing, awesome, powerful, loving, merciful, good, right, and just.

He wants us to recognize and believe Him for our benefit, so we can have confidence, peace, hope, joy, and patience. Like Mary did. She believed because of what she heard God say, not because of what she could see.

I'm sure she had her moments of doubt too. Perhaps when she did, she sang these words penned by her ancestor David. We would be blessed to do the same:

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings." Psalm 62:1-4

What Love Is This?

I was listening to this song today and moved by the profound truth of it. I won't say a lot as an introduction, but I encourage you to listen and believe Jesus is enough. For whatever you are facing, whatever you struggle with, whatever hopes and dreams you have...His love is all you need because it is everything. You are everything to Him, and He can be everything to you.

What Love Is This? ~ Kari Jobe