Luke 2:1-7
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with Child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
A trusting woman
A faithful man
A sovereign God
A virgin birth
God fully human, came to Earth with purpose.
John 3:16-17
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be SAVED."
Christmas is an interesting intersection of emotions. In our world, in our lives, we tend to make it a very, very stressful time. We are worried about presents, traveling, relatives and anything else we can occupy our minds with. It can also be a very emotional time, as we find ourselves missing those who aren't with us, or being reminded of what we do and do not have. Maybe we should just slow down, be still, be quiet, and listen for God.
Psalm 62:5-8
"My soul wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation, and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."
Many times we push back the one thing this holiday is supposed to be about. Celebration of the birth of our Savior. What will we do to keep Christ front and center this Christmas? How will we honor our Savior on his Birthday? Spending some time in a quiet, still place with Him will be a good start.
Merry Christmas to you all.
December 24, 2008
December 15, 2008
My spot on the path - Graduate School
Three years ago, I would have told you that I was going to work at the Cashion Company for the rest of my life. I would have told you that Louise and I would always live in Little Rock. I had a plan on a steady, safe path and it included family, money, and security. But it lacked one thing. I had never sought out God's purpose for me, or looked at how and why he designed me like he did.
God took me out of The Cashion Company so He could show me where He wanted me to go, where He had built me to go. God knew that He had to take me from there and the distractions that were consuming me. Let me be clear, this was a me problem. I wasn't seeking God, I was allowing myself to be focused on the wrong things. Mostly, it was a money thing. I could not stop thinking about the money I knew I would be leaving on the table if I left The Cashion Company. God finally granted me the strength to make a leap of faith that I knew I had to take. I knew I would never be fulfilled at The Cashion Company b/c that is not what God designed me to do. So I ended up through a crazy coarse of events at The Harvest Group. God opened this door and closed others. It was only here that I was able to "shift focus and feed on truth". My focus shifted to God and I fed on His Truth. I realized that what really motivated me, what really gave me passion was relationships and growth. The Harvest Group provided a place where I could grow personally in my walk and professionally. My time here has been a major blessing to me.
So there I was, sitting on these two thoughts: relationships and growth. The Holy Spirit kept bringing me to one thought; counseling. I am a passionate, emotional, truth seeking person. I have always cared more about people than anything else: work, sports, knowledge, etc. People are my passion! So that is where I am on the path. Today I am 28 days away from my first day of class in graduate school. I couldn't be more excited and ready to get going.
God continues to reveal over and over to me again that this is the spot on the path He wants me to be at. I have been less than impressed with myself b/c God has to continue to motivate me daily towards this career change. The following isn't an easy thought: I am 25 and have a wife and mortgage, and I am about to be full time student/part time employee and be in school (expensive tuition!) for three years! But I know God will provide. He always has and He always will, as long as we seek Him.
Three years ago, I was focused on what I thought I wanted/needed. Today, I realize that my life is for God's use and His purposes. And only if I seek and discover His use and purposes for me will I ever find true joy and peace in life.
God took me out of The Cashion Company so He could show me where He wanted me to go, where He had built me to go. God knew that He had to take me from there and the distractions that were consuming me. Let me be clear, this was a me problem. I wasn't seeking God, I was allowing myself to be focused on the wrong things. Mostly, it was a money thing. I could not stop thinking about the money I knew I would be leaving on the table if I left The Cashion Company. God finally granted me the strength to make a leap of faith that I knew I had to take. I knew I would never be fulfilled at The Cashion Company b/c that is not what God designed me to do. So I ended up through a crazy coarse of events at The Harvest Group. God opened this door and closed others. It was only here that I was able to "shift focus and feed on truth". My focus shifted to God and I fed on His Truth. I realized that what really motivated me, what really gave me passion was relationships and growth. The Harvest Group provided a place where I could grow personally in my walk and professionally. My time here has been a major blessing to me.
So there I was, sitting on these two thoughts: relationships and growth. The Holy Spirit kept bringing me to one thought; counseling. I am a passionate, emotional, truth seeking person. I have always cared more about people than anything else: work, sports, knowledge, etc. People are my passion! So that is where I am on the path. Today I am 28 days away from my first day of class in graduate school. I couldn't be more excited and ready to get going.
God continues to reveal over and over to me again that this is the spot on the path He wants me to be at. I have been less than impressed with myself b/c God has to continue to motivate me daily towards this career change. The following isn't an easy thought: I am 25 and have a wife and mortgage, and I am about to be full time student/part time employee and be in school (expensive tuition!) for three years! But I know God will provide. He always has and He always will, as long as we seek Him.
Galatians 2:20,"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me"
Three years ago, I was focused on what I thought I wanted/needed. Today, I realize that my life is for God's use and His purposes. And only if I seek and discover His use and purposes for me will I ever find true joy and peace in life.
December 14, 2008
Branson!
Louise and I made a one night trip to Branson this weekend. It was a blast. We stayed at a great little hotel just off the strip called Grand Oaks Hotel. We spent Saturday afternoon at the Tanger Outlet mall (I owed Louise some Christmas shopping time) and then spent the evening at the Branson Landing (which is awesome). We ate great food and saw some cool stuff.
It was so wonderful to be away with just Louise for the night. Branson makes for a perfect one night get away for those of us in NWArkansas.
December 12, 2008
My spot on the path - Marriage
I am a very lucky man. My wife Louise and I have been married for over three years and I must say I love her more now than ever. The last year has been an incredible time of learning for me about being a husband and serving my wife. I will say this, it is because of no one, no one at all, other than Jesus Christ that I am a better husband today than 12 months ago. Not me, not Louise, not anyone else. Christ.
Life seems to be a process of surrenduring yourself for the better of others. From Childhood to highschool to college to post college, there are circumstances in life that require more and more selflessness. Marriage though, is probably the first large jump in required selflessness (kids later, but I can't speak to that now). If you aren't prepared to give up your own interests for the benefit of another, don't get married. Love requires sacrifice. There is no way around it. You must be willing to care more about someone else than you do yourself. This is easy to say, but harder to live. It is really a learned behavior that takes intentional effort.
Louise is a beautiful woman with a wonderful heart and contageous kindness. We are more in tune to each other's needs now than ever. God has grown in both of us a greater heart to serve one another. She is truly my best friend.
Love requires sacrifice and intentional effort. You can't teach what Louise and I have learned about loving each other. You just learn it through living it. If you live it with a heart for the Lord and seek His will, peace, and goodness, you will indeed learn it.
Ephesians 5: 25-33 A beautifully written, God ordained passage on marriage. May I as a husband continue to feed on the truth of the Bible alone.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Amen!
December 11, 2008
Authentic Worship!
I really love this video. Everyone's worship is different, but hopefully a few things are in common. May we worship the one true and holy God and may our worship of Him be authentic.
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My spot on the path - Walk with the Lord
The natural place to begin seems to me to be describing where I am in life. I suppose at some point I will dive into where I have come from and more about where I am going as well. But for now, here is where I am.
There are three areas in my life that seem to dominated my thoughts, time, and attention. First, my walk with the Lord. Second, my relationship with my wife. Third, my journey towards starting grad school in January. This post will be about the first.
The Lord has taught me so much about who He is and who I am in the last year. Below is a life mission statement that I developed over the past summer. This really captures where I am and where I am going as it relates specifically to my relationship with Jesus. I hope it makes sense!
"Being saved by grace and faith alone, I will seek an intimate walk with Christ, rooted in Him and His Word, to best present myself as a vehicle for God's purposes and plans.
This includes striving to be the following:
A man who clings to Christ and resists the desires of this world
A man committed to his wife and family
A man intentional with evangelism and discipleship
A man actively involved in world missions
A man who is a healthy steward of what God gives "
The verse I am focusing on right now is so relevant to my place in life.
2nd Timothy 2:15 says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth."
Another translation I like says to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God." Diligence is what I need right now as I learn more about being a better follower of Christ, a better husband, and as I begin to learn about being a counselor. Diligence in following God. Diligence in putting other's needs before mine, especially my wife. Diligence in being the man I was intended to be, not what others want me to be or thought I would be.
Lord, may I be diligent in my efforts to be a workman for you, one who protects and spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There are three areas in my life that seem to dominated my thoughts, time, and attention. First, my walk with the Lord. Second, my relationship with my wife. Third, my journey towards starting grad school in January. This post will be about the first.
The Lord has taught me so much about who He is and who I am in the last year. Below is a life mission statement that I developed over the past summer. This really captures where I am and where I am going as it relates specifically to my relationship with Jesus. I hope it makes sense!
"Being saved by grace and faith alone, I will seek an intimate walk with Christ, rooted in Him and His Word, to best present myself as a vehicle for God's purposes and plans.
This includes striving to be the following:
A man who clings to Christ and resists the desires of this world
A man committed to his wife and family
A man intentional with evangelism and discipleship
A man actively involved in world missions
A man who is a healthy steward of what God gives "
The verse I am focusing on right now is so relevant to my place in life.
2nd Timothy 2:15 says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth."
Another translation I like says to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God." Diligence is what I need right now as I learn more about being a better follower of Christ, a better husband, and as I begin to learn about being a counselor. Diligence in following God. Diligence in putting other's needs before mine, especially my wife. Diligence in being the man I was intended to be, not what others want me to be or thought I would be.
Lord, may I be diligent in my efforts to be a workman for you, one who protects and spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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