Can you believe it is 2016! Where did last year go? I’m not ready for a new year, I’m not sure that I finished 2015 the way I wanted to finish it. Time does not stand still, it is always marching on with or without us. Whether we are ready or not, the new year is here, what’s next?
Have you made your resolutions? Have you made plans, will there be changes in your life? Are you hoping for changes and or looking for something new? Sometimes it is so difficult to wait for those changes. The new year is here so we want things to fall into place or happen right now. We don’t want to wait for another year to pass us by and miss out on all of the opportunities or new beginnings. We become impatient with our jobs, our spouses, and with life in general. We begin to question ourselves and wonder what did I miss last year and what I am missing right now?
My heart and mind remind me to wait on Him. Wait on Him to reveal and manifest His purpose in my life. I don’t like to wait, its a new year and I want to keep things fresh and new and moving forward, but He says wait on me. In Rocky II, Rocky’s trainer Mickey, screams out in excitement, “what are we waiting for?” What are we waiting for?
The new year is here and we must wait, wait on Him. His Word says;
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
2016 is here and I am going wait on Him, trusting Him to renew my strength to be able to serve Him with all of my life. Celebrate the new year with me by waiting on Him.
I love the TV show “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” I have watched it every year for many years–maybe it is just the right level for me, or maybe because Charles Shultz had a deeper meaning for all of us to understand. The show starts out with Charlie Brown telling Linus this: “Christmas has come but I’m not happy.” He sounds like so many people we come across each day. They have tried everything to add or bring happiness to their lives. In fact, this time of the year does not bring happiness but sorrow, sadness, and despair for so many people in our country. Did Christ coming to this earth intend to bring happiness, joy, and peace?
So Charlie Brown decided to seek help. Why wasn’t he happy? After all it was Christmas with all the lights and gifts and celebration.
Psychiatric help 5¢
Charlie Brown speaks to Lucy, his shrink, “Instead of feeling happy I feel let down.” Has life let you down? Has your work, your ministry, your talents, your family, or your spouse let you down? No matter how hard we try, or what we bring into our lives for fullness and contentment, it never seems to bring happiness. What is missing? What will bring you joy and fullness? Charlie Brown finally reaches a place where he yells out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about!”
Have you reached that place…where you have searched for meaning in the Christmas season? Maybe you are searching for meaning in life? Sometimes when Christmas is over, we feel a great let down, we have not been fulfilled by the season, or the gifts, or the family. It has to mean more…and it does.
Linus calmly steps up and recites the story of the birth of Christ in the gospel of Luke.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Then Linus says, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”
My youngest daughter has been interning at Disney World. What a great place to intern! Walt Disney’s vision was to create a place where children and parents could have fun together. He dreamed of a “magical park” with great detail and attractions, a place that catches your eye and your imagination. It is very easy to be captured by the excitement, the fun, and the especially the lights once you are there. It really is a “magical” place that draws you.
I am thrilled for my daughter to have this experience, but I am also thrilled that Disney World has had the experience of having my daughter who is a child of the Light. Her smile, her countenance, and her spirit attract you, they attract you to the Light that is living inside of her. In fact the lights around her are dim compared to her Light.
Matthew 5:16 New International Version (NIV) “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
In spite of all the lights around her, there are many who are walking around in darkness. They are stumbling and lost in sin, separated from their loving Father. My prayer is that her light will shine even brighter than those lights at Disney World. I also pray that you will be a light in this dark world we live in, bring your light into the darkness.
John 12:46 New International Version (NIV) “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
It was great to be home this past weekend, I mean home where I grew up…Tucumcari, New Mexico. It was the annual Rattler Reunion, and almost every year I travel back to New Mexico just like so many other classmates to catch up and see how age is taking affect. The Rattler Reunion is a great event as the 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 year classes are recognized and gather to celebrate and reminisce with many more Rattlers from other years also joining in on the Reunion. It is always a wonderful turnout and so good to catch up with old friends from high school days.
I love seeing those friends and remembering our moments and special times together in high school. The Reunion gives us a chance to find out where we have landed, see how life has treated us, and also who has left us. I have such great memories of high school and those friends. I also cherish growing up in Tucumcari, it was a wonderful place to live, go to school, and develop some early foundations for my life.
The greatest foundation by far was how my family was in the church. It wasn’t alway that way, mom actually had to drag and persuade and bribe me to go before my dad had a wonderful life change. It was then that I changed and the church became that foundation, that hope, that constant memory of new life. So for me, those memories are even sweeter as I am thankful for the life and friends that God has given me.
As I drove away from Tucumcari last weekend, it was sad to leave, but I left there many years ago with sweet memories that will last my lifetime. I also left there with a firm foundation for life, and for a bigger Reunion one day.
1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly.
I have worn glasses or contacts since I was nine years old. My vision has always been bad or blurry. The optometrist said I was near-sighted. When I take my glasses off, I struggle to see things in the distance; my vision is myopic, short-sighted. Everything is blurred and dim and out of focus. I don’t see the full intent or beauty or picture.
As I have grown in my faith, and the closer I get to Christ, my sight is getting better—not my eyesight…my sight of Jesus is getting better. It is not full and I still see a dim reflection; but thank God as I look intently into His Word and follow Him, I will one day see clearly.
As I reflect on what God is doing in my life and at BUA, it is sometimes dim and blurry, my sight does not go too far, i don’t see the whole picture. Sometimes it is difficult to understand His will for our lives, the promise says, we only know in part, but we shall know fully.
Keep focusing and trusting. We shall see clearly.
I just returned from a brief time at Christ in the Desert Monastery, a Benedictine Monastery in northern New Mexico. I have traveled to this Monastery six times, during which I was seeking peace, quiet, and time with God. Each and every time I have visited, it has turned out to be a time of renewal and rejuvenation for my soul as I read His Word, prayed, and remained silent.
One of the Rules of Benedict is silence. The goal is not non-talking. The goal of monastic silence is a respect for others, a sense of place, and a spirit of peace. I have always enjoyed this time with the monks — to respect their call of God for their lives and to respect those who God has placed in my life. In the silence you get a tremendous sense of place — of where God has you, what He wants for you, and how to learn to be content in that place, content in His presence. Finally, I always look forward to the spirit of peace I find in those mountains far from home, being still and being quiet…but not this time.
I could not rest, it was difficult to be still, and I could not find peace. My heart and spirit were agitated. I am not sure why, maybe God is preparing me for a new step, or a deeper devotion, or maybe it’s just me not trusting Him. It was too quiet this time, and fear was battling with me. Fear about my work, my family, the future; sometimes all we see is the giant. The scripture says, “be still and know that I am God.” In spite of our fears, He is God and He goes before us. “If God is for us then who can be against us.” Even in the quiet, even in the stillness, even when our hearts are unsettled.
I am grateful that I traveled out there again. It was different for me, but God was still looking for me, just like He looks for you. It doesn’t matter if life is smooth or the waters are raging, God will reveal Himself to us.
Be still…
Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This past weekend we celebrated our youngest daughter graduating from college! I can’t believe it has been four years, she made it, and she excelled. What a celebration for her and for us as parents, we are very proud of her.
Yesterday we celebrated Mothers Day! We spent time with one and called the other, we celebrate that they have loved and cared for us for many years, and they are a still a blessing. We celebrate and rejoice that God gave us great mothers.
We have many things in our lives to celebrate and rejoice but many times we don’t, or we take those moments for granted. Another scripture says “rejoice in the Lord always”. Not just when we feel like it, this day…tomorrow…and the next. This is the day He has made, let’s rejoice, let’s celebrate, let’s party, let’s be glad that He has given us another day and another moment to rejoice, to celebrate His goodness.
This is Monday, be glad in it!
Many today are participating and observing the National Day of Prayer throughout our country. I also had an opportunity to attend a prayer breakfast this morning, a wonderful event. This is a day to recognize the need for our country to not only observe a time of prayer, but to pray. The scripture says, “if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray.” You see, it is more than just observing or saying a prayer. The speakers this morning were asked these questions, ‘Why do we pray?, How do we pray?” They all expressed sincere and personal thoughts of an intimate conversation. Not just a meal time event, or when we need something, or when the problems of life are in our face, it is a personal, intimate, talk with God, a time to let Him know you, and for you to know Him. The time is always, and constant. He desires to have a relationship with us and it is almost impossible to have a relationship without communication. We talk to Him, He listens…He talks to us, we listen. That scripture that I shared closes by saying, “then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
He waits for us to approach Him, to talk to Him, to trust Him, and He listens, ready to forgive us and establish us as His own, and ready to heal and provide for us. I pray for our country to call upon God, but I also pray that you will take the time daily to humble yourself and pray to Him. Let me ask you, Why do you pray? How do you pray?
I am praying for you.
Prayer isn’t about outlining our agenda to God; it’s about getting into God’s presence and getting God’s agenda for us.- (Mark Batterson)
I always love it when I my oldest daughter comes home. She brings back so many wonderful memories of being a new parent, of raising children, of God leading us to different places and ministries, and my own childhood. Being a firstborn child isn’t easy for them, or for the parents. There are challenges, but there are also wonderful traits. Firstborns tend to be reliable, conscientious, structured, cautious, controlling, and achievers. They also bask in their parents’ presence, which explains why they act like mini-adults. My firstborn mirrors these traits and I am so grateful for her uniqueness and her personality. Psalm 139 says, “you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.” God knew what He was doing when he created my firstborn.
The other side of being a firstborn is being the experiment, the new parenting ideas, and the trial and error. I thank God that He has been there the whole time as we raised our girls, trying to teach them about God’s incredible love and forgiveness. Hopefully helping them understand that we are all firstborns, striving for perfection and to please our parents, or our Heavenly Father. I am not always perfect, I fail often, but I daily strive to please my God and Father. I know that parents are suppose to teach and lead, but my firstborn has taught me so much about faith and leaning on God. It is not easy being a firstborn, but God has a purpose and plan for you, and for me, and for all firstborns.
I believe that God’s intention is for all of us to be firstborns. The Bible says, ‘you must be born again”. Born again means being reborn into His purpose, being willing to step out in faith, living a new life for Him, and being diligent in following Him. Another thought mentioned about firstborns is that they excel at winning the hearts of their parents. She has won my heart, just like I strive to win my Heavenly Fathers heart.
Thank God for your firstborns, they will teach you a lot about faith.
I love you Brianna.
John 14:21 English Standard Version (ESV)
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
I love this verse! It reminds me that 1 John says, “His commands are not burdensome.” I have never felt like they were a load or too difficult to follow. I guess I have always had a desire to please God. That doesn’t mean I have always pleased Him, in fact, there have been many times that I have disobeyed and not kept his commandments.
I do love His commands and strive to keep them, hold them, and follow them. I cannot count the number of times that they have brought me comfort, peace, knowledge, and direction. Most of all they have drawn me closer to God, and into a relationship with Christ. And as I have fallen in love with the Savior, I have a deeper relationship with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Then the relationship grows, because our Savior loves us and wants to manifest Himself to us. He wants to show Himself, He wants to reveal Himself in a way that is generally not known.
He will bring change and difference in our lives, simply by keeping His commands.
God is our help 