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The Best Exchange

HEAR THAT?  Is that an Amazon delivery?? Can I actually get my gift here on time? Holy cow-we need to decorate!  The stress level is mounting for you and me! My prayer for our family is (I’m guessing) the same as yours. We will focus on knowing each other better and less on spending more. What is it about relationships that color this season?

Perhaps because there are only 2 things that that stand the test of time….the Word of God and the souls of people. Both live forever. To a large degree, the state of our relationships can reflect the state of our relationship with GOD. Am I living in love toward others or anger? Am I living in a state of generosity or selfishness? (Note to self: Check calendar for answer.)

We were made for so much more. We were made to love because we were made by the Inventor of Love. We were made to Give because we know the Giver of Life. But…we have to bend low to look in the manger FIRST. I cannot offer to others if I do not possess. God gave us to each other to help point us to the  One True Gift…Jesus.

If I know Christ, I am “Redeemed”. (Literally, “bought back”). This means that when God looks at my spiritual mortgage , He sees “paid in full” across my debt. It just so happens the ink is RED… blood red, as a matter of fact. AMAZING. Because my debt is paid, I am free to spend myself loving and giving to others! Does this change my holiday wish-list? Definitely.

God loved me so much that He didn’t leave me alone…HE  CAME LOOKING FOR ME FIRST. He came in the form of Jesus Christ who loved well, lived perfectly, and died completely. All I have to do is BELIEVE .

He promises to never leave me. He promises me Heaven. He gives me Himself. In my spiritual economy, this is my Identity.

When I sit down to prepare my holiday shopping lists, I will look for sales and deals.

God will remind me that His presence didn’t just START a holiday tradition, it started my freedom. He and I operate in the divine “return” aisle…I exchange my broken stuff for His Brand New Stuff. (See Heb. 13:5, Jn. 3:16, Rom. 8, and Eze. 36:26).

Is this your “faith tradition” as well? Are your holiday celebrations a reflection that you know you are loved and forgiven?

God says you are redeemable and your relationships are, as well. All came be made new! May we live in the fact– not just feeling– that we have been bought by the blood of Christ and that His love can overflow into the lives of others.

 

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You must come to Jesus alone

All of us have to learn to follow Christ ALONE. I was 19 when He posed the question to my heart:”Will you FOLLOW Me?” I was a young sanguine whose life revolved around public opinion . In that moment, I knew exactly what He meant. Would I choose Him over people, loneliness over coolness, and the awful state of being misunderstood over being approved & celebrated? I still remember that moment-my heart sank at the cost & my fearful mind cowered at the prospect of walking away from my constructed life into the total unknown. Yet, in that moment, I remembered His companionship & His identity as One Who Knows Best. That day, in February 1988 & ALONE at the edge of a Brady Bunch green couch, I prayed (no Christian jargon had been learned yet!) “God, I want to give you a shot at running my life!” He flooded my puny heart with peace & wonder at what He might do with my handed-over life!

He’s given overwhelmingly to me & He wants to give do this for you ! First things first, you must sit ALONE with Him. Realize there’s cost. Others may not go with you. You’ll feel ALONE at many points of your trail. But let this sink deeply into you…the cost is minimal in light of the astounding plan He’s saving for you! His joy-yours. His power-yours. His constant friendship-yours. Ready? It’s your turn now, friend. Tell the King-Who-Stays-With-You that you want to follow Him! 😊 

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Ye Olde Christmas Exhaustion

It’s really true -our attitude toward stress shapes us more than the actual stress! Take ye olde “Christmas Exhaustion” for example. EVERY person I’ve talked to this month has been appropriately overwhelmed! This may seem weird but what would happen if we say, “Of course we are tired, so what? “ to our inner Grinch. What if we reframe our fatigue this way: “Yes, we’re freaked by what still needs to be done for Christmas. BUT since we love our families, we want to express it well.” Or “We’re grateful for our friends so we’ll go the distance to remind them of their importance to us.” Or “We are not turning away from the Salvation Army collectors this year. We will return their smile & give something. This helps people and it helps us!” Can we even imagine how that would change our holiday this year? It’s ok to be tired from Christmas prep-just ask God to remind you WHY you are tired. It’s for people & people matter to Him more than anything! #havesomecoffee #christmas#jesus #shopping #holiday #gifts #christmastime #gratitude #thankful#salvationarmy #lovewell #grinch