What's Up With That?

I hear the phrase "What's up with that?" quite frequently when I visit my sons in California. When they say it, it means that they either can't believe it or find it totally ridiculous! As I was rereading the nativity story, that phrase seemed to pop up again and again!

There are lots of things in the Christmas story that might cause you to think "What was up with that?"
What's up with a redemptive plan would cause Jesus to leave Heaven to come to earth to be abused and then sacrificed? What's up with shepherds, rather than religious leaders, being the first to be told of the new king's birth & by angels, no less? What's up with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords being born in an obscure town, where there was not even a vacant room anywhere, & using a manger as His cradle?  What's up with a mom and dad having to grab their child and escape to another country because the predominant ruler is so threatened over the possibility that he might be dethroned that he massacred hundreds of children to try to kill one? I could go on & on!! There are so many things about the nativity story that to our human way of thinking don't seem to be the best way to accomplish the plan, and yet God orchestrated every detail exactly as He desired in order to do it all exactly the way He chose to do it. 

So the Christmas story truly does bring tidings of comfort & joy...God offers us:

Security - The God that planned the perfect redemptive story, down to the most minute detail, has also planned your life down to the moment! Nothing surprises Him so there's never a chance that He will have to revert to plan B. He ordained every minute of every day before you were born & He is faithful to complete what He started in you, if you let Him.

Peace-  The love that God has for you is so amazing that not only has He made possible eternity with Him, but He also has provided everything we need in this life as well. We don't have to ever feel overwhelmed or under supplied because our resources come from an inexhaustible source - our Father God.

Freedom to be creative - God gave you gifts, talents, & traits that made you special to do the job that He has for you to do in just the way that He has designed you to do it! You don't have to look for others' affirmation or approval.  You are also freed from others' judgments, criticism, & negativity. If you are doing what He has called you to do, and are being faithful to follow His lead, then you can live up to your potential with excellence & without fear!

Hope - Nothing can stop you if you're in His will. No lack, no insecurities, no trials, no problems,... nothing is going to be too difficult, for He makes the way and nothing or no one can undo what He ordains. He will never leave or forsake you and He will always guide you in your walk with Him. No matter what happens, you are safe and secure in His loving care!

So I guess the only question to really ask yourself is whether you're freely accepting all that He has given for you and all that He's offering.  If you're not,  "What's up with that?"

Blessings.

The Cure For “Gimmie” Disease

                Walking through the stores these days is to see firsthand the results of the unbridled commercialism of our country.  As a consumer-driven nation, we have raised generations of children who are without constraint as to their “needs”.  Children’s programming is laced with all the “must haves” of the season. Advertisers have honed their craft to perfection, with appealing and energetic commercials that emphasize the absolute importance of owning the latest – clothing styles, video games, electronics, toys,… the list is endless. And so is the whining, pouting, screaming, & temper tantrums that can be loudly heard throughout malls and stores everywhere! It’s a parent’s nightmare! 

                The stores themselves add to the problem in that they are only too happy to oblige their young consumers’ greed. Every aisle is jam-packed at a child’s eye level with those very items that have been touted again and again on television. The “must have” item is there, so readily available…  “So why can’t I have it?” And it’s not a new problem! Clear back in the Golden Age of the 1950s, the latest toys flashed across the screen in a relentless march! We wanted Barbie, Patty Play pal, & Chatty Cathy, or Matchbox cars, Lincoln logs, & erector sets.  Children then, and now, have serious cases of the “gimmies”.  We want it, have to have it, will “die” if we don’t get it. After all, EVERYONE else has it (implying that 1- I will be a loser if I don’t get it or 2- You are a bad parent if I don’t get it!) And we all know that even when we do get it, the next new thing has already come along, devaluing the “must have” that we just got. It’s a never ending cycle of wanting!

                There was a song written a few years back by Benny Hester called “The Never-Ending Shopping List” that recognized the propensity that Christians have to also get the “gimmie” disease. So often we use our prayer lives as opportunities to tell God all the things we must have, need to have, should have,…in order to live happily and serve the Lord with gladness. I am pretty sure that God must shake His head at our childish selfishness when He has so willingly & completely provided for us. His Word says He gives us everything we need to do what He asks us to do & supplies all our needs liberally out of His endless resources.  If we ask, He gives - not always what we ask for but exactly what He knows we truly need. After all, He sees the big picture, not the limited vision that we have, and prepares us for the long term rather than our immediate satisfaction! He delights in fulfilling our desires and can do way more than we ask or think, but still we grumble & complain either about His timing or His methods. We would prefer He behave like the genie in a magic lamp or a vending machine – request in, demand met…whether it is good for us or not!  But in His perfect Fatherhood, He gives only what He deems beneficial!  He isn’t swayed by our many words, our moaning, or even our temper tantrums! His gifts are always good and perfect! As givers, we should strive to do as well!

So the next time you’re subjected to the outcries of some whining, complaining kid with the “gimmie” disease, ­­use the occasion to thank God for all your blessings & do an attitude check of your prayer life. It should be a time to worship God, present your requests with boldness, & then rest in trusting Him to supply - rather than spending your prayer time enumerating an endless list of “needs”. He already knows them anyway!

Blessings…

Will you enjoy or endure?

The Christmas season has a nostalgic enjoyment for many reasons. There are the "family recipes" that remind us of happy gatherings around the table in years past. There are the traditions associated with Christmas celebrations at home, at different family members' homes, & at church. There are the songs of the season, & certain songs that touch our hearts with sweetness as they remind us of those we have loved and lost, or those who are far away. There are also the ornaments and other decorations, some of which have been passed down from one generation to the next. This is part of the wonder of Christmas...enjoying the memories & continuing the traditions!

There can also be sights, sounds, and scents that cause sadness or regret. We may have lost those who are dear to us and the season brings sorrow and loneliness. We may be dealing with relatives who are ill and wish we could return to a happier time before illness or age took their toll. We may have bitter memories of family gatherings where there was anger, disappointment, and even violence. For some, the holidays are a time to "put on a happy face" & endure, or hide away in purposed isolation.

The story of Jesus birth was a wonder and a miracle in so many ways, and yet as the years passed, I am quite sure Mary had both joys and sorrows to ponder in her heart. She must have cherished the adoration of shepherd and wise men, while anguishing over the ridicule she faced as a pregnant girl whose fiancé threatened to "put her away". The beauty of the star was accompanied by the smells of the stable. The fulfillment of the Bethlehem prophecy bore the cost of a wearisome trip. The midnight escape with her child was a miracle, but the slaughter of so many young children must have stung her heart. The prophetic words of others rang in her heart - the joy-filled ones lifting her spirit while she felt the fear of the Messianic sacrificial ones.

All of life has its ups & down, its highs & lows. We love the celebrations but endure the cleanup. We enjoy the gifts but dread the shopping. We decorate with joy and just a short time later have to pack it all away again. We are energized by visiting & fellowship, but stress and exhaustion mount as the season continues. While some of it is just the price we pay for what we're doing, the expectations of others can overwhelm us to the point of resentment & ingratitude often dampens our "giving" spirit.
"Well," you say, "it's just part of what we put up with to get through the season". But it doesn't have to be that way!

This Christmas season is sure to have its busyness and stress but your outlook & spiritual frame of mind can go a long way towards helping you enjoy rather than endure. Be sure you concentrate your efforts on making memories, incorporating traditions or making new ones, enjoying the spiritual  celebrations, & spending quality time with the people you love & who love you in return. Determine to be a blessing to others, whether or not you have money to spend. Get enough rest, even if everything doesn't get done. (Don't stress the small stuff because no one will probably notice anyway!) Remember, the bottom line to the season is Love - Jesus came in love, so that we can receive His love, return His love, & spread His love to others whether they know Him or not! If that is your focus, the whole season will be a success, no matter what else may happen! And your memories will end up being sweet, rather than leaving a bitter feeling in your heart!

Blessings!