#shinenoel

Noel means “To be born” or “birth. It is an exclamation of Joy at the birth of Christ. We sing of this joy in the well-known Christmas song, Noel. The light of the world, given for us. In Luke 2:11 we read; “Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.“

Let us take a moment to think about Christmas in a child’s eyes. The child like faith that breads new hope, love in the purest form, untainted by sin. In the song, “Messiah” by Francesca Battistelli some of the lyrics sing; “All we longed for, all we needed, shining in a child’s eyes. Hope forever, death defeated because of this one holy night. Messiah, Messiah, a baby born to save us all”.

This past year my word has been, “gifts” as in 2 Cor 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift”. Although 2020 has been difficult, there have been little gifts of hope shining through the darkest nights. As I sit here and write to you on December 24, 2020, I am tearful. Two years ago, on this very day, Dad was diagnosed with Cancer. Last year at this time my Dad was miraculously gifted with one more Christmas. This year Dad is celebrating with the savior himself.

As we celebrate Jesus’s birth, let us birth new hope in 2021. Take some time to find joy by rising, shining, and giving God the glory in Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”  

I encourage you to worship the coming Messiah https://youtu.be/D14wX0K9XJQ

#love #waterwalkinggirls

All week we have explored love: Christ as love in human form, acting in love, showing others you are a Christian by your love, allowing love to bind us with other Christians, and loving ourselves. Now comes the hard part…love your enemies.

Do you think you have enemies? Often we think of enemies on a grander scale such as countries that are at war or groups who battle one another.  An enemy is a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something. Hostile means unfriendly. Now think again…do you have enemies?  I want you to choose one of your enemies and specifically have him/her on your mind as you continue to read. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Matthew 5:43-44 

Jesus spoke these words as part of His “Sermon on the Mount” which occurs in the Bible just after He returned from His 40 days and nights in the wilderness and time of temptation.  Now think about your interactions with your “enemy”. When do they occur? Where do they occur? Often times we receive our greatest opposition from others when we are doing something for good with the purest of intentions.  Now think about what may be causing that person’s hostility towards you? Is there something you have done that you need to rectify? Or is thepushback initiated solely by your enemy?  In a Beth Moore Bible study I once participated in, she called someone who is actively opposed to you a sandpaper person.  A sandpaper person is someone who may be abrasive and rubs you the wrong way. By definition sandpaper has a thick, abrasive surface and is used to smooth and polish. Aha! That’s how we should treat our sandpaper person, aka our enemy. We should allow our interactions with our enemy to help smooth and polish us into being more like Christ. How can we do that?1) “Kill ‘em with kindness,” as my Uncle Archie used to say.  Whenever we are around our enemy/sandpaper person we should be extra nice. Let’s not match the hostility with more hostility but go above and beyond to be nice to the person.  However we must be aware that just because we are being nice does not mean that person will return our kindness.  In fact, our kindness may cause more opposition initially. Think now about your enemy and when you may encounter him/her again. How can you kill ‘em with kindess? What can you say or do that is kind instead of looking for something in that person/interaction to upset you? Do you need to change your attitude towards him/her?2) Don’t worry about opinions. In her book Girl Wash Your Face Rachel Hollis says, “Someone else’s opinion of you is none of your business.” People form opinions based on their own experiences, beliefs and fears.  In other words, don’t allow the opinions of others to cloud your focus or cause you to fear moving forward with your actions for good. Just be sure your actions reflect love.  Think about your enemy.  What could have caused him/her to oppose you in the beginning? Could he/she be insecure in an area you are confident and strong? What could be the true basis of your enemy’s opinion or the way your enemy feels? Be empathetic as you examine the perspective of your enemy. 3) Pray for your enemy. Be intentional about praying for your enemy. Every day circle your enemy’s name as you pray.  Pray for insight and wisdom.  Pray for your sandpaper person to feel God’s love through you. Most importantly and perhaps the hardest part, pray that God will work on your attitude and perspective towards your enemy.   As you pray, examine yourself.  What causes you to oppose your sandpaper person? How can your words and actions change to make your interactions with him/her be more Christ-like?

As you go about your day and weekend, be intentional about examining your relationship with your enemy. Plan how you will “kill ‘em with kindness.” Set aside time to pray specifically for your sandpaper person. Allow your rubbing interactions to push, stretch and smooth you as a Christian so that you may become more like Christ by being and instrument of love. Love your enemies!

#worthyofhislove

John 11:35 “Jesus wept” is the shortest verse in the bible yet it tells us that we are worthy of His tears. In John chapter 11 we learn about Lazarus’s death. Mary and Martha, the sisters to Lazarus had been pleading with Jesus to come and heal their sick brother. In their eyes Jesus was too late, or was he? According to Jesus’s calendar He was right on time. We learn in John 11: 38-44 that Jesus ordered the stone to be rolled away and instructed Lazarus to come out.

Let us pause here, He ordered the stone to be rolled away. God is in the opening and closing doors business. When we see a closed door, we think we are too early or too late, or it is a “no” but who’s calendar are we living by? We must not give up on praying and taking steps forward because we never know when God will open a closed door.

My favorite part in the story is verse 44; “The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” How many of us are still walking around with grave clothes on? We have been made alive in Christ Jesus, we have been redeemed, yet we are still walking around with baggage.

I encourage you all to listed to this song, “Rise up” by: Cain. Some of the lyrics sing, “In the dark and all alone, growing comfortable, are you too scared to move and walk out of this tomb? Buried underneath the lies that you believed, safe and sound, stuck in the ground, too lost to be found.” I now encourage you to find a verse that encourages you to step out of whatever grave you are in and call yourself worthy of God’s love. Tuck that verse in your heart. Write it on your bathroom mirror. Put it on the steering wheel of your car and let God lead you to rise up.

My verse is from Proverbs 31:25, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” This is my finding joy in the journey but laughing at the days to come.

I found this graphic that shows us how to sign “worthy” and I wanted to share. Another way to look in the mirror and call yourself worthy.

#stillsmallvoice #waterwalkinggirls

If you have been a reader of our blogs for a while you may already know that I have a favorite character in the Old Testament. For various reasons I feel drawn to Elijah. Let me set the stage for today’s scripture. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah basically sets up a show down between God and the prophets of Baal. Guess who came out on top? Afterwards, Elijah predicts that there will be a heavy rain, which was a blessing on the land since there had been a 3 year drought. Then in Chapter 19 a turn of events causes Elijah to fear for his life and run.

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, it is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” 1 Kings 19:4 KJV

I encourage you to read all of Chapter 19 for the full story, but as Elijah felt distraught and then slept under the tree he was then awakened twice by an angel of the Lord who encouraged him to eat and drink. After eating he traveled forty days and nights to a cave on Mount Horeb. There, God asked Elijah why he had gotten to this place upon which Elijah basically tells God how distraught he is feeling. God directs Elijah to go stand out on the mountain and wait for the Lord to come by.  

Ok, let’s pause here a moment.  If God told you to go outside and wait for Him to pass by, what would you be expecting? For what would you be looking or listening? I imagine I would be looking for big, powerful and loud.  After all, God had previously spoken through a burning bush and through thunder. Now back to the story.

As Elijah waited for the Lord to pass by, there was a strong wind and an earthquake God was not in either of those. “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12 KJV

Wow!  God spoke to Elijah in “a still small voice.”  Sometimes God does speak to us in a loud and profound way. However, often He speaks in a small voice and in order for us to hear His whisper, we must be still.  The definition of still when used as an adjective is not moving or making sound. When used as a noun, still means deep silence and calm.  

Yesterday I encouraged you to be still and make a list of blessings or good things that have come from bad. I specifically encouraged you to look for the good that has happened as a result of the pandemic. I listed in the comments that one positive for me has been that I have been forced to slow down. I must admit that early on I spent much time whining and complaining about having to be still. However, over this time I am learning to embrace the stillness even though I don’t always do it well. It is December and the year 2020 is drawing to an end. If you have read our blog for a while then you also know that over the last few years at the end of a year, Julie and I choose a “word of the year” that we want to shape and guide our steps in the New Year. So in the next few weeks I will be spending time being still and prayerfully considering the word God will place on my heart for 2021. While you may be cheering for 2020 to end, I encourage you to also embrace the stillness and listen for God to whisper to you. God will speak. Step away from the busy day to day hustle and bustle, be still, and listen. Julie and I will share more about our words for 2021 and look forward to hearing what word God lays upon your heart.