Celebrating Christmas

I’m sitting here today and still find myself amazed that Christmas is upon us. What an exciting time of year with the business of preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. I have fond memories through the years of ways we’ve celebrated Christmas—children’s musicals, plays, communion, candlelight services, caroling, and many other ways. Every one of those ways may have been different, but they all had the same purpose: to rejoice, because the Son of God was born on Christmas morning to become our redeemer and Savior.

I would encourage each of us to find our own special way to celebrate the birth of Christ in the midst of all the things happening. Sit down and read the Christmas story from Luke 2. If you have children, take a few moments and talk with them about the true meaning of Christmas and how it impacts our lives on a daily basis. Don’t be politically correct and tell people “Happy Holidays,” but instead remind them that it is a celebration of our faith in Christ and wish them a “Merry Christmas.”

I Know My Ham....

Last week was a wonderful time as we had the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family and friends.  I was assigned a couple of tasks in preparation of the big day and I set out on Wednesday to accomplish those tasks.  One of them was to go to the store and get a ham—I mean, Thanksgiving without a ham is like watching a Rangers baseball game and not eating a hot dog.  So, I went to the store and found the section where the hams were located.  When I got to the hams I noticed that there were only two types available.  I know you are wondering if there’s a point to this, but here it is: they had types of ham available but they looked totally different.  The first was your typical spiral ham that was big, round, and had a bone in it.  Although this is a great ham, it takes a lot of room in the oven, and with a large turkey and all the other great sides it makes cooking everything difficult.  The other ham was deboned, so it was flat; the shape looked odd but it clearly said ‘ham’ on it and it would take up less space in an oven.  I bought it after much debate in my mind because if it says it’s a ham then I believe it’s a ham.

Here’s where the problem comes into play.  I took the ham home, and when the family saw it they were not happy with the choice of hams I’d made.  I heard about how my ham looked like bacon, it was ugly, and everything else from those who seemed to lose the spirit of Thanksgiving.  LOL!  I assured them that everything was going to be fine and I took over the preparation and cutting of the ham.

I’m so thankful that when Christ came to this earth He didn’t look at me and say that I just don’t look right.  He gave His very life that I might have life.  And this applies to everyone reading this blog.  Christ gave His very life because He saw the value in you and wants to have an eternal relationship with you.  If we’re not careful we can fall into the mindset that we don’t measure up, so how could God ever love us? But that’s the very reason Christ came: to seek and to save the lost, including those who don’t feel like they are worthy of being loved. 

The good news is that the ham not only turned out to be perfect but many of the family commented that it was the best ham they’d ever had.  In fact, it was so good that we even had another meal with the leftovers a few days later.  My plan was a success.  Likewise, once Christ became my Savior I learned that God has a plan for my life.  And that plan is a good plan where I can impact others in a positive way by showing them the love that God has for them.

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Tomorrow, as a nation we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  This is my favorite national holiday because it is a time for us to stop and reflect on the goodness and blessings of God.  How sad to realize that our society has tried so hard to push God out of our lives and our history because it hasn’t always been like that.  There was a time when this nation understood the need to worship the Almighty God and seek His guidance and forgiveness.  That was evident from the first Thanksgiving proclamation given by our first president, George Washington, on October 3, 1789. 

To remind us of our heritage and remind us of those things we should be passing on to our children, I am posting that proclamation as my article this week. 

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Different Perspectives

Most mornings when I wake up my first task is to let the dogs go outside. When I opened the door to our back yard this morning I was hit by the cold air that had moved into the area overnight, and it served as a quick reminder of why I left the north. I don’t like the cold and can’t imagine the day when I’ll ever like it again. So, to me, this is a crummy weather day in Texas and I hear that tomorrow is going to be even colder. Yet, in the midst of my complaining about a cold day and wishing I could just wrap up inside a blanket, eat chili, warm cinnamon rolls, and watch some movies, I’m reminded of a family in our church that is so excited about today.

You see, today, around noon, they are going to the hospital to welcome their new baby into the world. Jason and Melinda are a wonderful young couple who love the Lord and have already been blessed with a wonderful son, Bubba (as they call him…LOL, gotta love the south), and now their family is going to grow by one more child. They aren’t thinking about the cold or the cloudy day, wishing they had a warm blanket and comfort food, instead they are rejoicing at the joy of God’s blessing and looking forward to many years of celebrating the love of a family with the new baby.

Isn’t it funny how life can be at times? What seems to one person to be a day of misery is for another family a day of celebrating the blessings and joys that God brings into our lives. You see, the only difference in the two scenarios is the outlook on that day. I feel like today is going to be a day of misery because I’m cold. Even sitting here typing I find myself wishing I had gloves on because my hands are cold, but those that know me know that my hands are always cold. And less than a mile away sits a family who could care less about the weather or anything else that is happening today because their lives are filled with anticipation of the bundle of love that will be in their arms in just a few hours.

God has never promised us that every day of our lives with Him would be filled with joy, laughter, and easy going. Instead, He has promised that He would always be there with us, during the good and the bad, during the joy and the tears, during the days when we are so cold we wish we could jump on a plane and head to Cancun as well as the days when we celebrate the life He has given us. I want you to know that I’m here when you’re having those bad days and just need someone to pray with you or offer a word of encouragement. At the same time, I’m here to celebrate the blessings of God that come your way. We are a family and families are meant to rejoice together and help each other in the tough times. What are you facing today? Remember that Tami and I pray for your family every week, and even though we are powerless to change things, we serve a God that does not know the word impossible. He can do whatever needs to be done for you today! 

Don't Ignore Warning Lights

A few weeks ago I got into my car to head to the office and noticed that one of my warning lights had come on. It’s the light that tells you to check the tire pressure in your tires because one of them is low. As I found myself driving to work I didn’t notice anything unusual because the car seemed to handle the way it always does. My mind was telling me that the light is no big deal so just ignore it and when you get some free time you can deal with the low tire.

Those thoughts got me thinking about the day I had purchased the tires. With the car I drive the front tires are a different size from the rear tires so you can't rotate them to extend the life. The dealer told me that the most important thing I can do to extend the life of the tires is to make sure to keep the correct pressure in them. I knew that I didn’t want to delay checking the pressure because I want to get the full use of the tires before having to replace them. After going to the tire shop, I soon discovered that one of the tires was running low on air, and in a few minutes it was back to a normal pressure and I was on my way.

If I had ignored the problem I could have driven for months without ever noticing any difference in the way my car drove or looked. It still would have looked as nice as it does every day, but there would have been a problem that would occur because of my procrastinating what I knew needed to be done. In life, whether it be my family life, work life, or even my personal spiritual life, if a warning light is on and I keep ignoring it then a time will come when I have a major problem. Life does not fall apart in a day, but problems ignored can soon lead to bigger problems that will surface. God has created us in such a way that we know when a warning light comes on inside of us. I know when my family is just not right, my work life, my church life, and, yes, even my spiritual life. When those warning lights come on we need to do the hard thing and deal with the issue and get back on the right path. If we choose to ignore those warning lights we may not see the blow-out or the ruined tire for a while but the day will come when we will see it happen, and at that point it may be too far gone to repair. I believe that all things are possible with God, but I also know that God will not force me to do something I don’t want to do. I may want my tire to be back to normal after it’s ruined, but I can’t force it to go back. When the heart of a person turns away from what God desires and continues on that path long enough, it can get to the point of refusing to change and get back to where God wants us to be in Him. Don’t allow that to happen in your life. Instead, deal with those warning lights as soon as they come on and watch how you will prosper spiritually and in all areas of life! 

New Experiences

New experiences—that’s one of the fun things about life. I remember the first time I traveled to Colorado to see the Rocky Mountains and the first time I went to see the ocean. There are some very special firsts in my life, and then, as with all of us, there are those firsts that I didn’t enjoy so much. The first time I went on a simulation ride I got so nauseous that I broke into a cold sweat praying I would make it to the end. Or there was the time I was pulled over to receive my first speeding ticket. I was in another state and a young college kid. They wouldn’t let me leave until I paid my bill, and I had very little cash…what a mess.

Now Tami and I get to share the joy of experiencing firsts with our granddaughter Brynley. Last weekend we went with Brynley to a pumpkin patch in our area. They had it all: petting zoo, barrel-pulled tractor ride, hay maze, and many other activities. To see the joy in her eyes was such an amazing experience. Those firsts—feeding the cows and goats, walking through pumpkins, her first ride in a barrel—made every moment precious and will always bring a smile to my face.

In the same light I get to see God do some amazing things in people’s lives, such as first-time experiences that bring a smile to their faces and joy into their lives. The first time someone experiences the true joy of knowing that their sins are forgiven. Understanding how awesome the love of God is and that it’s there for them. Experiencing the joy of worshiping the only one worthy of our worship. Discovering new spiritual truths that help them grow stronger in their faith. Each and every one of these events is special, and I’m so blessed that I can see them happen in many lives. I know that we all have people in our lives who question the reality of the God we serve and may even try to discourage us from following Him, but once you personally experience His presence in your life there is no way you can deny it.

I'm Still Learning

Have you ever had one of those days where God teaches you a lesson when you’re not even looking? Well, I had one of those moments recently, and those moments are so special because they are a reminder of how blessed I am. I woke up that morning expecting it to be another normal day—you know, the kind where you get up, get ready, go to work, go to the gym, come home and eat dinner, and then relax until bedtime. In the midst of my normal day God brought across my path a situation that opened my eyes to the realities of those who surround me every day.

It’s funny how God brings along this type of day when you are in the midst of worrying about things you have no control over. These are the days when you try everything possible to gain control, which only leads to stress. Worse, it causes you to forget how great the God we serve is and to lose sight of why we are here. We are here to bless others with the love of Christ that lives inside of us. I’m not going to share the details of what happened because to me that is not important, but instead I’m going to share what God taught me that day.

First, don’t judge others based on what you think they should be. There are times in my life—not very often, but it happens—when I am quick to judge somebody else because I feel like they should be doing or progressing more than they are in their walk with God. This is unfair because God did not appoint me to be the judge of anybody but myself. Second, I don’t know why God made all of us so different, but he did. What is simple and takes no effort on my part may be very difficult for someone else to accomplish. Don’t judge others based off of your skills and abilities but instead try to understand where they are coming from. Tami will often call me when she is driving someplace and needs my help to get there. I know she’s been there before, so I want to ask: why is it so hard? That is the wrong attitude and leads to frustration and stress. Instead, I need to understand that God created Tami the way she is (directionally challenged), and I need to accept this and help bring peace to her life, not make it worse. Last of all, God will take each of us with our weaknesses and help us grow through them if we step out in faith. There are a lot of things in life that I’m not very good at, but that is not the issue. The issue is: what am I going to do to get better in those areas? Now, for many of them I have no desire to get better because they don’t really serve a purpose in the life God is calling me to live. But there are also those areas where God is wanting me to grow, and I need to face the challenges and become stronger in those areas of my life.

God has an amazing plan for your life and for your family. That plan will only be achieved when you understand that you have to face your limitations and insecurities and trust that by faith God will help you become strong in your weaknesses. Paul spoke about this in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where it says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”