Jesus Will Never Loose You!

Luke 2:41-52

Losing a child is one of the scariest things that can happen to a parent.  I haven’t lost my children for long periods of time, but that occasional time (usually in a store) when you turn around and their not there can make your heart drop to your feet and knock the wind out of you all at the same time.  I remember when my youngest brother went missing in the mall for a few hours.  I sat with my grandmother in the shoe department while my parents and many others desperately searched for him.  He was eventually found by a security guard, but I will never forget that feeling of desperation that filled every inch of my body.  I can’t even imagine how Mary and Joseph must have felt after searching for Jesus for three days.  You know that they probably blamed themselves over and over before they found him, after all, they had been entrusted with the rearing of God’s Son and now they don’t even know where he is at. 

There were so many things that I thought about while reading through these scriptures, but the one thought that kept coming back to my mind was about being lost spiritually.  We can never control everything that happens in this life, we can never be certain that our children will always be with us, but we can always be certain that our Savior will.  No matter what happens to us, to our children, or to our family, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus will never loose us and we will never become lost spiritually as long as we choose Him.  The scripture is so true that tells us that he will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  What an unbelievably, loving God we serve!  So no matter where you find yourself, no matter what you are going through, no matter how difficult your life may be, please know that God is right there with you!  And when you think you can’t feel his presence, just say the name of Jesus and he will be right there.  There is a lot that I still have to learn, a lot that I still have to experience, but this one thing I can tell you without any hesitation, without any doubt…Jesus will always be there for you---he will never loose you!

Made for a Purpose!

Luke 2:21-40

Mary and Joseph must have just been in complete awe throughout this whole experience.  Just think about it…an angel spoke to them both and told them that they would have a child, Jesus, who would also be God’s son, they gave birth to him in a barn, angels sang at his birth, shepherds came to visit, kings came to bring gifts, and now Simeon and Anna, two devout and righteous people, prophesied over this child that they had brought into the temple.  The scripture tells us that his father and mother marveled at what was said, and I am certain that their hearts were so full that they could hardly contain themselves.  These two seemingly ordinary, everyday people….Mary and Joseph, are now the caregivers for God’s son, Jesus.  God will never choose anyone else to be the parents of his son, but His Son will choose us to accomplish many things while here on this earth.  Just as Mary and Joseph were chosen by God to fulfill a purpose, we too are chosen to fulfill a purpose.  So if you don’t think you have a purpose or if you don’t know your purpose, seek Jesus and He will lead you to it.  We may never know our exact purpose here on earth, but when we live for Jesus every day than we are fulfilling that purpose with each moment we live.  And when we find ourselves in the midst of that purpose, in God’s will, than we will also find ourselves marveling at how Jesus has used us!

More Than Conquerors!

Luke 2:1-20

As I read through these scriptures about the birth of our Savior and all the praising that was taking place because of his birth I thought about one of the scriptures that was used in the lesson at church tonight.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:37-39

Think about it, in just few short years from the time of his birth Paul was writing these words about Jesus.  Because of his birth we are more than just conquerors!   The definition of a conqueror is a person who conquers or vanquishes; a victor---people, His Word says we are more than that, because of his birth we are more than a victor!  And nothing, absolutely nothing can ever separate us from the love that He has for us!  Now how great is that?  Actually, I can find no words to fully describe how great it is to be a child of God!  So all I know is to do as the shepherds did after they seen Jesus and leave glorifying and praising God for all the things I have had heard and seen.

To God be the Glory!

Stand Firm!

Luke 1:57-80

So how many times does God put something on our heart and we set out to do it, but then someone says why are you doing that, or you should do it this way, or that doesn’t make any sense, and then we get discouraged and don’t go ahead with the plan?  I know I have done it….I have let the words and
actions of others interfere with what God wants me to do.  I have even let my own self get in the way of God’s plan by not believing in myself and what God can do through me.  All of these are just tactics of Satan and are meant to steer us off the path that God has called each of us to walk.  After reading about Elizabeth and Zacharias, I thought even in the face of adversity they are standing firm on what God had told them.  It seems so simple, it was just the name of a baby….John, yet these people are questioning them.  Why would you name him John?   They even tried to cause division between Elizabeth and Zacharias, but they both stood firm and look at the result of their obedience.  A son that lead the way for the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ!  Even the best intentions of others can be used to make us doubt what God has called us to do.  That is why it is so important, essential even, that we stay in tune with God by staying in his Word, by praying constantly, by simply conversing with Jesus on a continuous basis.   When we commit our life to following Jesus, things will happen, things will change, and we will find ourselves rejoicing in all that God has done for us just like Zacharias singing his song of praise to God at the birth of his son!

I would like to thank all of you that have been praying for my Aunt Barbara, she is doing much better!  She is off the heart pump and handling it well. Please continue with me in prayer and praises to our Father, Jesus Christ!  To God be all the Glory!

I Love You Aunt Barbara!

Be anxious for nothing,  but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:6-7

Well to be honest I have read Luke 1:57-80 about 4 times and I just can’t get my mind wrapped around what I am reading.  You know when something else is so strongly on your mind that no matter how many times you read something it just doesn’t register.  So I will just open up and write about what is on my mind.

You see my Aunt Barbara that I mentioned last night is not doing well at all.  We actually thought we lost her today.  She suffered a heart attack and is now on a heart pump.   She is the oldest of nine children; all of them still living, and my dad’s oldest sister.  While I don’t see her that often, I still have such love for her.  Probably because she has never shown me anything less than unconditional love.  I can never remember a time when she did not greet me with a big, strong hug and a kiss on the forehead or cheek.  The same kind of hug and kiss my Grandma, her mother, would give me.  The hug and kiss that would make me not only feel a special kind of love from her, but also, somehow, from my grandma too, who I miss so much.   I have prayed constantly all day for her and for a minute I thought about what she told my mother last night and wondered about the miracle that she spoke of, but then I immediately stopped that thought process.  Of course I want her to live and of course that is what I have prayed for, but I have also added ‘if that is God’s will’ to my prayer.  I can never question God’s purpose and plan in my life, or anyone else’s life, even my Aunt Barbara’s.   I know in my mind that God knows so much more about what we need, but my heart is learning this more and more each day.  So while I want her to stay here with us, I know without a doubt, that God’s will, will be done and that no matter what happens I will never, ever doubt his love for me and my family, and I will never stop praising Him.  So again tonight I say, to God be the Glory!  I love you Aunt Barbara!

Glorify Him!

Luke 1:39-56

 I can feel Mary’s and Elizabeth’s excitement through the words of these few verses and it makes me excited to know that it is my Savior, it is my Father, it is my Jesus that they are talking about.  As I read these verses and felt the excitement I began to think, wait a minute, I should be just excited as they are.  He is the one who takes care of me just as he took care of them so long ago.  I love the words that Mary begins her song with…. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.”  So I ask myself, has Jesus done any less for me?  No he hasn’t, he is mindful of me and the state in which I find myself.  I have no doubt that he is and always will be concerned with me and my life, and so like Mary, my soul does glorify him and my spirit rejoices that he is my God, my Savior, and my Jesus.

 I can never, ever give Jesus enough praise, enough glory, enough thanks for all he has done and continues to do for me and my family.  I was going to end my post tonight with a prayer request for my Aunt Barbara, who suffered a heart attack, but my mom just called to let me know that she had talked to her and she was doing much better.  In fact, she said that she had gotten ‘her miracle’!  So I will end this post instead with praise to God for a miracle and ask you to join me in praising God for such a miracle.  After all, His word tells us that God inhabits the praises of his people.  So to God be the Glory!

Boldly Proclaim!

Those of us who knew who Tim Tebow was before the word ‘Tebowing’ became a new vocabulary word, know that stopping in the midst of a football game to say a prayer is nothing new for him.  So why all this media coverage, why is everyone so consumed with what Tim Tebow is doing?  I have watched many stories about him, read many articles about him, and I am fascinated at what many people have to say.  For the last few months I have been completely amazed by the comments of people concerning Tim Tebow, from Christians to atheists, the comments have continued to stir my heart and question myself about my relationship with Jesus Christ.  I heard one atheist say that Mr. Tebow is brainwashing himself by believing God has anything to do with his career.  To him I say really? Do you not get it?  It is not just about his career, it is about his faith in His Savior, Jesus Christ that causes him to take a knee and pray.  I have a feeling that Tim would be saying a prayer no matter what he did for a living.  On the other end of the spectrum, I heard a Christian say, what are we going to do when he makes a mistake?  She went on to say, that he is not perfect and he will eventually fall.  Are we that shallow to think that he is perfect just because he prays and proclaims his faith regularly?  In fact, doesn’t the simple fact that he is humbling himself before God to seek guidance from him let us know how imperfect he is?  And I don’t know about others, but as a Christian, I fall short everyday of being anywhere close to perfect, but praise God Tim and I serve Jesus Christ, who not only guides our every step, but forgives us daily. 

So with all this I went to God’s Word to find some answers.  I found the following scriptures to show that Tim Tebow is doing what we should all be doing, and as Christians we should be lifting him up in prayer.  Regardless, if you are a fan of Tim Tebow, the football player, or not if you are a Christian you should be praying for our fellow brother in Christ.  I have no doubt that God has placed him in this position and that he will continue to use him to lead others to Him, but we all know that the bolder we are in service to Jesus, the more Satan comes after us.  This is why it is so important for us to lift each other up in prayer!

·        I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone---for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one god and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men---the testimony given in its proper time.  And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle---I am telling the truth, I am not lying---and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.  I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.   I Timothy 2:1-8

• Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.   Hebrews 4:16

·      Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.                   Proverbs 16:3

• Pray without ceasing.   I Thessalonians 5:7

So here is one more thought before I go....Interestingly enough the United States was founded on the belief that everyone should have the freedom of religion, yet Tim Tebow’s relationship with Jesus Christ is being questioned and ridiculed daily in this country that was founded on freedom.  So as I follow the story of Tim Tebow I am reminded that true freedom can only be found in serving Jesus and I am even more inspired to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! 

A Faith Like No Other!

Luke 1:26-38

After reading these scriptures I am convinced beyond a doubt that Mary had to be the most faithful person that ever lived.  Think about it, an angel comes to you and tells you that you will become pregnant with God’s son.  On top of that, you are a young, unmarried virgin.  What would you have done?  Would you have had the same response as Mary?  She didn’t jump up and down like someone who just won the lottery, she didn’t think oh, look at me and what I have been selected to do, she simply said “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said” (vs.38).  How much faith did that take?

So what can I learn from Mary?  Trust God with everything.  Have faith, real faith, in the plan that he has for me.  No matter what God asks me to do, I should do it humbly with my whole heart.  Acknowledge that I am but the Lord’s servant, and that basically means that I am to serve the Lord in all that I do. 

It is so easy to question everything that happens in our lives.  It is so easy to wonder what if?  It is so easy to sit back and let someone else serve.  But this is not how it should be, we should be like Mary, and be honored to serve the Lord in all that he asks us to do.  And we have to accept what he has for us to do.  Sometimes what God asks us to do is not all frills and fluff, sometimes it can seem less than thrilling, but no matter what it looks like on the outside, if God asks us to do it, it will turn out great and for his glory.  Oftentimes, when I am doing those not so fun and thrilling tasks, I think of a couple of good friends who once told me “sometimes you just have to be a donkey in the kingdom”.  It’s funny, but remember, it was a donkey that carried Mary into Bethlehem and a donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem.

What Are You Waiting For?

So first of all my “simple life resolution” has been going really well.  I spent the first day of the year in church and with my family…it doesn’t get any better than that!  And tonight my parents and grandparents game over to eat dinner with us.  We enjoyed a good meal and just spending time talking with one another.  So nothing spectacular in the eyes of the ‘world’, but spiritually speaking I feel such a sense of assurance and peace through the simple things that have become the big things in my life.  Oh, and I haven’t told them yet, but I am planning on interviewing my grandparents on a regularly basis in order to record their life growing up and together---I am looking forward to what I am going to learn through this experience.

 Luke 1:1-25

So here we go, a brand new book to start off a new year.  Interestingly enough we read the Christmas story from Luke this year ( I talked about it in an earlier blog) and my son wanted to know exactly why  Zacharias was unable to speak up until John was circumcised and I could not remember exactly how that happened.  I told him that I would see if I could find it, but like many things I forgot.  You see, when we read the Christmas story we started with verse 26 of Luke 1.  The answer to my son’s question was right there in front of us and we missed it, or should I say I missed it (I was the one doing the reading).  Then as I was reading it tonight, I couldn’t help but smile and thank God for not only reminding me of my son’s question, but leading me directly to the answer even when I didn’t know I was looking.  Isn’t that just God though?  Doesn’t he lead us where we need to go even when we don’t realize we are on the wrong path?   And many times the answers to our questions are sometimes right there in front of us, but we are just too busy to see it.  As I was reading about Zacharias and Elizabeth the verse from Matthew Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (19:26) kept coming to my mind.  Just like Zacharias, many times I doubt what God can do through me.  We know that Zacharias was extremely faithful to God and I am sure that he believed God could do anything except when it came to him.  I don’t know about you, but I do this all the time.  I hear other people’s stories, I believe for other people that God is going to do a mighty work in their life and then it gets to me and I wonder if I am useable.  I have to stop doing that!  And if you do the same, than you have to stop doing that too!  If we have given our heart and life to God then we are useable and he will use us!  Zacharias doubted and was unable to speak for almost a year, but I bet he never doubted God again after that.  So what will it take for us to believe that God truly has great plans for us?  Do you believe?  Are you ready to be used by God?  What are you waiting for?