Month: December 2016

I grew up as a child in and out of foster care for about twelve years and often felt that know one should or even would love me. Might I say that I was not the easiest child to get close to or to actually love? As I grew up, I did things that would make you really think about weather or not you really wanted to love me. As I got into adulthood I never wanted anyone to know about me, because then how could they love me? I am sure that everyone reading this has felt that way a some point in his or her lives or relationships. Do you ever feel like I do that God shouldn’t love you? I know that sounds like a weird question to ask yourself. The fact is we all know what we are and what we have done. We all feel that if God really knew everything about us that He wouldn’t want to love us. I want you to know today that God does know everything that you have done and what you will do. Yet He sent His son to die for you. You see Christmas is really all about love. Not just the birth of a child, but the greatest show of love that mankind has every seen. You see should God really love people who want nothing to do with Him? Well the answer to that question is no, but God choses to love us in spite of us. This Christmas why don’t you find that person that your not suppose to love and love them anyways.

Have you ever been in a mess? If we are all honest most of our lives have been messes. We think that we know better than the other people who have lived through the same things. So we often follow the same paths that lead to the mess. We find story after story in the Bible how Jesus would take peoples messes and turn them into messages of forgiveness or grace. This Christmas as we gather with family and friends let us take our mess and allow Jesus to make a message out of us. You see He has already begun the process of restoration in your life that is if you have trusted Him as your Lord and Savior. Why don’t we quit pretending to be something that we aren’t and allow people to see what we really are. I know that isn’t popular because they might think less of us. Truth is told they are hoping that you are as messed up as they are, so they will fit in. Let us be honest with people about our Clark Griswold style of life, and then show them how Jesus is working with our lives to make a message. So just go ahead and give up on being perfect and trust the work of our perfect Savior.

Christmas Miracles are things that we dream of if we are honest. We all want the surprise of our gifts under the tree. We teach our children that a man named Santa brings them in while we sleep and eats the cookies we make. The miracles we expect range from toys to repaired relationships. The funny thing is that we expect this mystery man named Santa to provide the miracle. Have we really forgotten what Christmas is all about? What the true miracle really was? We teach our children to believe in a man that doesn’t exist anymore, and then we wonder why they struggle to believe in Jesus? Now before you get twisted I have allowed my children to believe in Santa to a degree. I think that it is ok for the kids to use their imaginations; we just need to make sure that Santa doesn’t get top billing over Jesus. After all it is Jesus’ birthday. Let us start this year praying for Christmas Miracles for our friends and family. All the while knowing that the true miracle was the birth of Jesus and it is He that because of his birth, death and resurrection has the desire to grant miracles to us. Let us also remember that Jesus will use us to provide Christmas miracles to people if we will just be obedient. Let us remember Jesus is the reason for the season.