The Watchman

"If the watchman sees the sword coming 

and does not blow the trumpet

to warn the people

and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them,

that man will be taken away because of his sin,

but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood."

Ezekiel 33:6

During Medieval times, a watchman kept post on the city wall or other high place, constantly on the lookout for any signs of danger.  If a threat was perceived, the watchman would sound an alarm to warn the people.

In the same way, Ezekiel was called to be a watchman for the house of Israel.  As a prophet, it was his job to relay messages from God to the people, warning them to turn from their wicked ways or face the consequences.

Today we have many messages from this watchman to help keep us on alert, but like the people of Ezekiel's time, we say, "'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.'" (Ezekiel 33:30b)  Then God revealed the truth when He told the prophet that, "My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice.  With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain." (verse 31)

How do we stay on-task during such evil times?  It is easy to get sucked into the way of thinking, living and speaking like the world around us.  Temptations are everywhere.  But I am not left without defense.  The Apostle Paul reminds me that, ". . . in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:5)

We are placed in community to help each other keep from danger and we are each accountable to one another for our actions.  

Confession

We sat on the porch, enjoying the coolness of the evening.  Well, maybe my friend was enjoying it, but my insides were twisted into a knot.  God had put it on my heart to confess a certain area of sin to my sister in Christ.  Now, as the time came near to " 'fess up", I considered backing out.  What will she think of me?  

My gracious friend received the news with love and mercy.  And as I relieved myself from the burden, I found something else to be true: After I confessed, it was as if a burden had been lifted. No longer was this a deep, dark secret. . . it was out in the open.  

Incredibly, that confession was the end of that sin.  Once I revealed the dark secret and let the Light shine upon it, that sin no longer had power over me and the temptation to succumb had vanished.  


James addressed this area of acknowledgement of sin to one another in his letter to the believers scattered among the nations.  In reminding us of the importance of prayer he said, ". . .confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)


I had experienced this healing that James spoke about.  Exposing my sin to the Light gave my sister the opportunity to pray for me, putting into motion the power of God in my life.  In turn, she was also able to fulfill the law of Christ by carrying my burden. (Galatians 6:2)


If I am to be accountable to my brother or sister in Christ, I will need to be honest about my areas of sin.  Confession leads to a relief of my burden and healing in this area of sin.

Live out Loud

I have heard it said that hurting people are more likely to unload their burdens at the local bar than in church.  One reason is because they won't find any condemnation in the saloon, but another explanation is that people are more authentic when they're out having a good time than they would be when they're sitting in church.  For some reason, we seem to think we need to be on our best behavior in church, putting up a front that everything is okay and I'm actually a pretty decent human being.

This runs counter to the message of the gospel!  "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:8)  We don't have to be clean and perfect in order to step foot in church.  Instead, God accepts us as we are, flaws and all.  He redeemed me from the clutches of death by no effort or sense of worth on my part.  It is not my worthiness that makes me able to come into the presence of God.  Rather, it is the blood of Jesus that makes me clean and able to come into His company.

Why, then, do I insist on pretending that I'm someone I'm not?  Why do I think I need to be perfect in order to be acceptable enough to worship God in a group setting?  The church is made up of a bunch of broken people!  Until I can be honest enough to live transparently, openly admitting to my sins, the church will never feel like a safe place to confess areas of struggle.

As the Apostle Paul told the group of believers at Colosse, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."  (Colossians 3:9-10)

I am a work in progress, and as such will have many rough spots left to be smoothed by my Master Potter.  I am no longer condemned, therefore I am free from the fear of punishment from my sin.  There is no need for me to hide my struggles, except to save face.  My pride encourages me to pretend I'm better than I am, but that kind of effort can be exhausting.  The sobering thought is that the One whose opinion of me should matter most, is the One who already know my heart.  I'm not fooling Him.. . and I'm probably not pulling the wool over anyone else's eyes, either.

If my reputation is more important to me than living in the way God intended, then I will be robbed of the blessing and peace found in living transparently with my family.

Submission  

There is nothing more humiliating and embarrassing to a parent than their children fighting and bickering in public.  I remember one family who I met when we were decorating the tree in the Army chapel we had just started attending.  I actually hadn't even met them, but had already formed an opinion about the lack of cohesiveness and respect within their family by observing the way the teenage sisters interacted with each other.  

"You're so stupid.  Why are you even here?"

"Shut up!  Just leave me alone, you moron!"

Their bickering lowered a blanket of negativity over the otherwise festive gathering.

As dramatic as the above scenario seemed, it pales in comparison to the kind of fights that take place today within the body of Christ.  Arguments range from disputes over the color of carpeting to be installed in the foyer to the kind of study that should be used on Wednesday evening services.  The world outside shakes it's head in disgust, not surprised that those who act "holier than thou" are really just as bad as the rest of us.

James reveals the reasons for our bickering.  He said, "What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?  You want something but don't get it."  (James 1:1-2)  

The Apostle Paul reveals the antidote to fighting.  "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21)  If I let Brother Tom have his way with the choice of carpet color, I am showing respect for Jesus, who is the head of the Church.  If I insist on doing things the way I want and dig my heals in, I am saying through my actions that getting my way is more important that Christ. 

When I get along with the Body of Christ, God is lifted high to those who are watching. Therefore, I am instructed to, "become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which your shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." (Philippians 2:15-16)

I should not give unbelievers something to talk about in the way I interact with my family.  If I insist on getting my way, I will cause a disagreement or argument, making Jesus look bad.

Submitting to my brothers and sisters in Christ is an influential testimony to the power of God found in the gospel.

I am accountable for my actions to the family of God.  Consequently, I can learn to openly confess my sins when appropriate, live my life transparently for all to see the grace of God, and to submit to others out of reverence for Christ.

I can either live for my own best interest, or I can live as God intended.   Only one way will glorify Him. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will live as God intended.

How do I put up a front of perfection instead of letting others see my faults?

When do I tend to take a stand for something that will not glorify God, but will simply serve to get me what I want?

Pass it On

"We love each other

because he loved us first."

1 John 4:19 NLT 

"Remember, the Lord forgave you,

so you must forgive others."

Colossians 3:13 NLT

Worship songs are meant to draw us into praise, adoration and reverence for God and His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Many times, the lyrics will hit me in a deep and meaningful way, drawing tears to my eyes as I am faced with the Truth.  One such time happened yesterday as we sang these lyrics by Jordan Kauflin.

I once was lost in darkest night, Yet thought I knew the way,

The sin that promised joy and life, Had led me to the grave,

I had no hope that You would own, A rebel to Your will,

And if You had not love me first, I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race, Indifferent to the cost,

You looked upon my helpless state, And led me to the cross,

And I beheld God's love displayed, You suffered in my place,

You bore the wrath reserved for me, Now all I know is grace.

Hallelujah!  All I have is Christ.   Hallelujah!  Jesus is my life.

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone, And live so all might see

The strength to follow Your commands, Could never come from me

Oh Father, Us my ransomed life, In any way You choose

And let my song forever be, My only boast is You!

Hallelujah!  All I have is Christ.  Hallelujah!  Jesus is my life.*

I truly have no hope apart from Jesus Christ.  No hope for a future.  No hope to love.  No hope to live.  All I have is in Jesus. . . apart from Him, I can do nothing!

Love

One of the basic tenets of Evolution is that life came from muck.  Order was created from chaos.  Something came from nothing.

Science, however, has shown us that there is a tendency for any system to move toward randomness or disorder.  It is impossible for anything to become more organized as time goes on.  Everything has to come from something ordered and then become more chaotic. . .it can't be generated from nothing and travel toward organization.  There must be source.

Likewise, I can't love someone else in my own power. I need a source for that love.  I don't have it in me, especially if that other person is flawed in anyway, making themselves unlovable to me.  Anyone who has lived in a family knows this to be true.  Our loved ones are not always easy to love.  As a matter of fact, I am not always easy to love!

Jesus said to those who did not accept Him that, "I do not accept praise from men, but I know you.  I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts."  (John 5:41-42) Without His love, I have no hope of recognizing Jesus as my Savior, and without Jesus as my Savior, I have no hope of loving anyone else.  

The Apostle John taught that, "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God." (1 John 4:15) With the God of love residing within me, I now have the source of love readily available to pass on to others.   With the God of love residing within me, I am able to follow His command to love my neighbor as myself. (Mark 12:31)  Love comes from God, it cannot be generated from within myself where no love naturally exists. Something cannot come from nothing.    

If I want to love those around me with the love that God has lavished upon me, I must intentionally pass it on to them, sharing the wealth of love He has generously given to me.

Forgiveness

Remember the Hatfields and the McCoys?  They were two families who lived in the West Virginia-Kentucky area during the 1800s and milked a feud for over 30 years.  The dispute began with bad feelings over sides chosen during the Civil War resulting in a murder, and continued throughout the years by generations to come.  Neither family could find it within themselves to forgive the other.

My dad tells stories of similar grudges held against his own family members that lasted for years.  The funny thing was that after several years had passed, the anger and bitterness remained, but the cause of the dispute had long been forgotten!

I, too, am naturally merciless.  It is human nature to hold onto hurts, pain and offenses committed against me.  It is natural for me to want to seek revenge instead of letting it go.  I find it quite easy to hold a grudge.   As English poet Alexander Pope said, "To err is human; to forgive, divine."

My only hope of forgiving others, of letting go of the pain and resulting bitterness, is through Jesus.  He forgave me, so I must pass that forgiveness on to others.

It's like the parable Jesus told of the unforgiving servant who had been forgiven a huge debt by his master, then turned around and refused to forget about a small sum of money someone else owed to him.  The master called him wicked and threw him in jail to be tortured until he could pay back all he owed.  Jesus then went on to say, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."  (Matthew 18:35)

I am now able to forgive because of the forgiveness God has shown me.  In fact, I am commanded to live in forgiveness with others, freely forgiving as God forgives me.  

As Jordan Kauflin wrote to God in All I have is Christ, "The strength to follow Your commands could never come from me."  I am unable to do as God has called me to do under my own steam.  Instead, I can only love because He loved me first, and I am able to forgive because He forgives me.

And because my heart overflows with His love and forgiveness, I want to pass it on. . . 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can love as God has loved me. . .freely and lavishly!

How am I stingy when it comes to forgiveness?

Where am I holding a grudge against someone?  How is this similar to not forgiving a debt?

* 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Lure or Repellent?

"Our actions will show that we belong to the truth,

so we will be confident when we stand before God."

1 John 3:19 NLT

Eric Liddell was an athlete and missionary to China whose Olympic track experiences were made into a 1981 movie called, "Chariots of Fire."  He knew the importance of walking the Christian walk, not just preaching about it.  When it came time to compete in his best event, the 100-yard race during the 1924 Olympics, he declined because the finals were scheduled to be held on a Sunday.  Out of reverence for God and his commandments, he switched to the 400-yard race in order to honor God by keeping the Sabbath holy.  

This decision made Eric the focus of much animosity in his home country of Scotland.  Some publicly called him a traitor for dropping out of a race he was destined to win.  In their eyes, he had let their country down.  But Eric's love for God and his passion to glorify Him was more important than any medal he could win for his country. 

Eric knew what it meant to, "do (everything) as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (Colossians 3:17 NLT)  He claimed that, "We are all missionaries.  Wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ." 

Do my actions serve as a lure or a repellent?

Listen Well

Most of the time when I am listening to someone else talk, I am directing at least half of my attention toward what I will say next instead of in trying to understand what the speaker is saying.  This can cause a problem.

Not many people speak just to hear the sound of their own voices.  Rather, they say things in order to get their point across, to be understood and to be heard.  If I am not listening with the goal of understanding but am instead focusing on what I have to say, people will lose their trust in me as a listener.  No one, including my family members, will come to me for comfort during a time of trouble and I will have lost the opportunity to point them to God for encouragement, wisdom and peace.

James 1:17 instructs me to be, "quick to listen, slow to speak. . ."  It's so easy to give advice, counseling others on how they should handle their problems.  But my greatest need is to be understood.  Sometimes, the help I am so quick to offer is not really desired.  

It's like what Philip Stanhope, the Earl of Chesterfield said during the 1700's.  "Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request."

My desire to hear and understand others will serve to draw people nearer to Christ.

Slow to Anger

Laurence J. Peter, 20th Century educator and author of the Peter Principle, said, "Speak when you're angry--and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret."

I have regretted many a speech in my lifetime.  James not only advised in James 1 to focus more on listening to others, but he also said to be, "slow to get angry.  Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires." (v19-20)

Anger can rise up when my rights have been violated, when my expectations haven't been met or when I've been hurt.  Once anger rises, self-control and rational thought go out the window.  No good can come out of anger of this kind.

If my life is going to serve as a beacon of light in a dark world, I must let go of my selfish desire to be treated with respect by all people, for my expectations to always be met and for my feelings to never be hurt.  Focusing on me and my desires makes for an easily angered person.  Focusing on God and His master plan puts things into perspective and gives me a better outlook.  

My desire to see situations in the light of God's plan will dissipate anger and serve to draw people to Christ.

Control the Tongue

When I was a child, my neighbor let my sister and I ride their horse, "Pawny."  She was a bit ornery, but we had fun just the same.  It always amazed me how we could control this giant beast by placing a tiny bit in her mouth.  She may not want to go where we led her, but she gladly complied once the pressure was placed on her sensitive mouth through the bit .

In the same way my tongue is, "a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." (James 3:5)  Words are important; they can either be used to build up or to tear down.  

As powerful as the tongue is, it can be controlled. James claimed that, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26)  All the work I do, all the knowledge and wisdom I attain, all the sermons I preach with my life can be undone by a loose and destructive tongue.

Many times I think controlling my tongue is out of the question, but I must consider the words of the angel Gabriel, "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

God will give me the power to control my tongue so that other's will be drawn nearer to Christ.

My actions speak louder than words.  As I live my life in front of others as a testimony of God's love, may I learn to be a good listener, be slow to anger, and trust God for the strength to control my tongue.  In these ways, my life will serve as a lure, drawing others to Christ.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will trust in you to protect me instead of thinking I need to defend myself, consequently using my tongue in destructive ways.

How do focus on getting my thoughts across more than trying to understand another's ideas?

How does my tongue set a fire, damaging those I love the most?

Going the Distance

"And whatever you do, 

whether in word or deed, 

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:17

"Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

 Who, being in very nature God, 

   did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

 but made himself nothing, 

   taking the very nature of a servant. . ."

Philippians 2:5-7a

I have heard it said that, "No good deed goes unpunished."  While it may sometimes seem this way, this sentiment is more of a cry of frustration when I do things for the wrong reasons than an adage by which to live.

As a follower of Christ, I can choose to do things out of "Christian duty," or obligation or to fulfill an expectation others have for me.  It's almost as if I'm carrying out the work in accordance with a job description for Christians that could go something like this.  "Love others at all times, serve tirelessly, think of others more highly than self, preach the gospel at every opportunity and do it all with a gracious and gentle spirit."

That is a tall order!  While all of those criteria came straight from scripture, I cannot expect to fulfill them in my own strength or out of sheer will.  Jesus reminds me in John 15:5 that I can't do it on my own.  He said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Trying to do things out of my own strength with lead to discouragement, frustration and disappointment.  But there is a better way.

Motivation

Steven Curtis Chapman sings a song which speaks to my desire to do things that matter.  The monotonous, everyday things seem meaningless and doing them day in and day out can lead to feelings of frustration, discontentment and bitterness.  I think, What's the point.  No one cares, no one ever thanks me and I don't think I'm making much of a difference.  

Take a moment to listen to, "Do Everything."

Why do I do the things I do?  If I do them to please others, I will grow increasingly discouraged and may become irritable around those I am serving.  

If, instead, I do it out of a love for God, seeking to please Him in all that I do, there will be peace and contentment in my heart.  I want to be able to say, as the Apostle Paul did in Galatians 1:10, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

If my motivation for doing all the things that must be done in life is to please God, I will not grow discouraged.

Expectations

As a wife and mother, I have a lot of expectations.  Some of them are reasonable, some are excessive.  All, however, are completely mine.

During my husband's Army career, our family moved to Germany.  As part of the preparation for this transfer, we received a packet of information about the country in which we'd be living.  Knowing what to expect was very helpful and made for an easier transition.

Expectations influence my attitude.  Paul explained in Philippians 2:5-7 (see above) how I can improve my attitude and keep from becoming frustrated when my expectations regarding how I should be treated are not met.  Knowing what to expect from others is beneficial.

Jesus is God the Son, creator of heaven and earth and worthy of all praise.  In the end, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.  (Philippians 2:9-11)  If He came to earth as a human and expected to be treated as a lowly servant, to be spat upon and treated like dirt, how can I as a sinful human who is the enemy of God without the blood of Jesus expect better treatment?  

If my expectation is for others to treat me as Jesus was treated instead of demanding respect and regard, then I will not be disappointed

Attitude

William Bennett, conservative politician and writer said, "There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes."  The way I see myself and my lot in life influences my outlook.  Knowing that God has located me in the position I now hold, placed specific people around me according to His plan and gave me the responsibilities that sometimes feel overwhelming can change my attitude.  

Everything happens for a reason and there is no such thing as a fluke.  If I believe this, my attitude will be one of thankful acceptance.

There is a lot of work to be done, as Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." (Luke 10:2)  But how long I last out in the field depends upon my motivation for doing the work, and my expectation in how I will be treated.   Both result in an attitude that can either make me or break me.  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can do everything to please God, not to make myself look good or to meet others expectations for me.

How does my attitude quickly take a nose dive as I am met with unforeseen difficulties?  

How does my expectation that others will treat me with respect show a desire to glorify myself instead of God?

For the Love of God

"For Christ’s love compels us,

because we are convinced that one died for all,

and therefore all died.

And he died for all,

that those who live should no longer live for themselves

but for him who died for them and was raised again."

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Do I really know God?  Or do I simply know of Him?  Do I enjoy a relationship with my Father in heaven, or do I only acknowledge what He has done for me?

God is jealous for me.  He created me to be in relationship with Him.  Not to simply read about Him as I learn about a character in a book or to talk about Him as some kind of cosmic force who is incapable of connecting with those He created in His own image.  He understands me more than I understand myself and He has promised that when I seek Him. . . strive to know Him with all my heart. . . I will find Him.

The One True God is a relational God.  Do I really know God?

Live for Him

The daughter of a reigning king does not live for herself.  If she loves her father and his kingdom, then every decision she makes is influenced by that love.  Her highest priority is in bringing honor and glory to her father and doing what is best for his kingdom.

As a daughter of the King, I can either live for myself, or live for my Father.  Whatever my decision, if it is not propelled by love for God, I will grow resentful.  I will become angry that I cannot do things the way I want to do things but am bound to His way.

The truth is that I always have a choice.  My Father is not a bully who forces me to live for Him.  He is a loving Father who waits for me to choose to live for Him. . . .out of love for Him.  When I surrender out of love, all trace of bitterness is gone and I become like the apostle Paul in today's passage, being compelled by the love of Christ.

Loving God means living for God.

Please Him

When I look into the eyes of my dog, I see a genuine desire to please me as his master.  I can only describe that look as a combination of affection and worship.  He simply adores me and would do anything for me.  Ah, the loyalty and devotion of a dog!

It is my desire to hold that same intensity of adoration and devotion for my Father, to long to please Him and Him alone.  I can take the advice of the Apostle Paul when he said, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24)

When I am devoted to my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, I want Him to hold the highest position in my list of priorities and in my heart.  For it is said that, "the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." (Psalm 147:11)

Loving God means striving to please God.

Share Him

When I make a delicious batch of ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies, it is my natural inclination to keep them for myself and my family.  I want to enjoy them as long as I can and, being naturally selfish, it's not surprising that I would think this way.

As a follower of Christ, He calls me to share all the good things I experience, including my precious baked goods!  But the most important thing to share is the amazing love He has for me.  I can't keep that to myself.  As one who has experienced an intimate relationship with my Creator, I must let everyone I meet in on the possibility of sharing in that connection.  They too can enter into a life-changing relationship with their Creator through faith in Jesus Christ.

Loving God means sharing God through Jesus my Savior.

As you listen to "What do I know of Holy?" by Addison Road, meditate on the powerful message written by Allison Rogers and Jennifer Ann Simmons. 

To move beyond simply knowing of God or knowing about Him, I must enter into a relationship with Him and experience His love for me, which fosters a love for Him in my heart.  As I love Him, I will live for Him, desire to please Him and share Him with others.  And my love will grow!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will grow in my love for God, not just in the disciplines or in my character.

Has my love for God grown cold, propelling me into a cycle of living only for myself and my family?

How can I share the love that God has for us to all those around me instead of hording it for myself?

Swimming Upstream

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,

set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:1-3

I awoke with the memory of a strange, disjointed dream plaguing my mind.  As I lay in bed, allowing myself to become fully awake, my thoughts turned to things I needed to do, then to people I needed to see and what I should say when I see them.  Trivial things.  A still small Voice beckoned me but my thoughts distracted from His call.

As a child of God, I belong with Him in my heavenly home, but I temporarily live down here in the world.   The good news is that I am still able to enjoy a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  The bad news is that I am encircled by all sorts of things that distract my heart and mind from Him. 

Herein lies the struggle of every follower of Christ; how to live in the world yet keep focused on my Savior.

My Heart

Jesus teaches that, “Where (my) treasure is, there (my) heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)  There are many things I treasure on this earth: my marriage, my family, my friendships, my hobbies, my pets, my writing to name a few.  If I ask myself if I treasure my relationship with Jesus, I hesitate.  Yes, He is important to me.  Yes, I value His redemptive work on the cross.  Yes, my life depends on Him.  But do I treasure Him and my bond to Him?

Sometimes I’m afraid my attitude is more of a casual friend who comes and goes instead of a devoted disciple whose very existence depends on His grace.  Maybe I’m too cavalier in my position as His follower.  If I truly treasured Him, wouldn’t my heart be inclined toward Him at all times?  Wouldn’t I wake up desiring nothing more than to converse with My Savior?

If Christ is my greatest treasure, then the world and all it’s distractions and influences will fade away and my heart will dwell with Him.

My Mind

The greatest battlefield in my walk with Christ resides in my mind.  My thoughts consistently fall to insignificant yet urgent tasks to be done, problems to be worked out or past events to be analyzed.  I am highly distracted from the heavenly by the earthly!

Isaiah recorded a praise in chapter 26 verses 3 and 4 that shows the importance of keeping my mind on the Lord.  He sang praises to God, saying, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” 

A steadfast mind is one which does not waver or falter, but is persistently trained on God.  And a mind concentrated on the Lord is showing faith in Him.  It follows, then, that when I am distracted from keeping my mind on things above, I am not trusting God with my life.  Instead, I am trusting myself and have become my own savior.

If I make the effort to direct my attention toward God in my thoughts, the battle in my mind will be won.  I must remember, however, that this is an ongoing battle.  I cannot let my guard down, but must constantly train like an athlete in controlling my thought life. 

I am Dead

Without Christ as my Savior, my life belongs to me.  But since I have professed Him as my Lord, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)   As a follower of Christ, all claims I have to myself are to be surrendered to Him.

The thing is, there are many things to which I cling.  I desire to be in control, dictating my own plans.  I prefer to work out my own problems instead of turning to God first in all things.  I want to take credit for all the good things that happen, choosing to mark it up to my own hard work instead of the grace of the One who created me and keeps all things flowing.

If I surrender each desire as it hits me, Christ will be the one who is seen by those around me and God will be glorified.

Following Christ is hard work.  I cannot float along, letting the current take me wherever it goes.  Instead, I must sturdily paddle upstream toward Jesus, treasuring Him, waging war in the battlefield of my mind, and constantly turning over my natural inclinations so that He can reign in my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that this day, I will treasure Jesus.

How do I put other things or people above Jesus?

What area of my thought life demands the most attention?

Am I Ready for Christmas?

"You know the generous grace

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Though he was rich,

yet for your sakes he became poor,

so that by his poverty he could make you rich."

2 Corinthians 8:9

"Are you ready for Christmas?"

"No I have a few more gifts to get.  How about you?"

"I haven't even started yet!  I wait until the day before and catch all the sales!"

This is a typical exchange at this time of year.  When most people are asked if they're ready for the big day, they immediately think about whether or not they are done with their shopping.  Gift giving is a big part of Christmas, in fact I would estimate it might make up about 60-80% of the typical American Christmas with the rest of our time, effort and thoughts going to food, decorations and church, because who doesn't love a good candlelight service? 

This year I am challenged with the thought that, if Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, where is the focus of my heart?   And how does that focal point bring honor to Jesus' sacrifice of lowering Himself to a mere baby in order that I may have the richness of a relationship with my Father and the hope of heaven? 

Grace  Grace can be defined as getting what I don't deserve.  My life, family, friends, home, health, possessions, even my next breath, is not guaranteed or earned.  Instead, it is all a gift from the Creator to me, the created.  He doesn't owe me anything!  But God is rich in grace and gives even though I don't deserve it.  Jesus taught that, " He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:45)  God is generous to all, even when we don't think about Him at all throughout the day. Would you give good things to someone who doesn't even give you a moment out of his day?  I wouldn't!  But God does.  And He calls us to extend that same grace to others, even if they don't deserve it.  This Christmas, I can give the gift of grace!

Rich When I think of what it means that Jesus is rich, I automatically think of all the resources, power and legions of angels that are at his disposal, ready to be put into action at a moment's notice.  But He also dwelled with His Father in heaven when He gave that up in order to live the life of a human for 33 years.  He gave up the glory of heaven for me!  Even though He has been returned to His rightful position, it is an unthinkable sacrifice to surrender the richness of His proper place for any period of time.  I have a hard time even yielding my favorite chair in the family room!  If I can adopt Jesus' attitude of surrender, think how it would benefit those around me.  This Christmas, I can give the gift of sacrifice.

Poor  Jesus put Himself in the position to be ridiculed, disrespected and cast aside.  "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;  he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being."(Philippians 2:6-7 NLT)  Jesus became poor so I can be rich in the blessing of heaven.   I run from anything that would put me in a position of humiliation, embarrassment or disgrace.  Why is it acceptable for Jesus, but not for me?   This Christmas, I can give the gift of humility.

Let me ask myself the question again.  Am I ready for Christmas?  I need to be ready to extend grace to those who don't deserve it, give up positions I feel entitled to hold, and become humble for the sake of God's great name.  No, I am not ready.  There's a lot of work to be done on my heart in order to be truly prepared for Christmas.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will not just focus on the physical preparations for Christmas, but that I will allow God to prepare my heart.

How am I demeaning the sacrifice Jesus made in coming down into His creation in the way I celebrate Christmas?