Christmas is fast approaching--only 10 days left. Where does time go? Yesterday in church, our pastor challenged us to not miss Jesus this Christmas, to not let Christmas go by as just extra time off from work or school or another holiday celebration. In my video blog today (Monday) I talk about Jesus as the baby in the manger. Who doesn't love a baby? Lots of people are willing to talk about and embrace the idea of Jesus as that baby. But then, they don't carry that through to Jesus being our Savior and Lord--the real reason for Christmas. I'm reading through the Psalms right now and over the weekend as I read I saw over and over again the clear message that it's all about Jesus and without Him, I am nothing. Armed with this fresh reminder, I had some good prayer time, telling the Lord how much He means to me and how much I need Him in every aspect of my life.
So as we approach Christmas, would you join me in seeking Jesus fully? The steps for that to happen will likely be different for each of us because we're all in different circumstances and life situations. But here's the thing--no matter what's going on in your life right now, He's there waiting and willing to embrace you fully in return. Who wouldn't want that? So have a great week and when you get a minute, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Jesus this Christmas season. Not sure where to start? Here's one--what's He done for you, and what are you doing because of it? Tami W.
Hi Tami,
Two years ago my testimony was tied to all the blessings my family has received. I have always been humbled and embarrassed by all the blessings we have received, because we certainly DO NOT deserve them. Two years ago I'd have been talking about how we had been blessed with freedom from debt and financial independence, and pointing to our life as proof of how the blessings flow to us even when we don't merit them. It was easy for me to say, "put it in the hands of the Lord, and it will be OK."
This year, things have changed a little. Our investments have lost so much value that our future is now unsure. My wife has had on going health problems for years, and is uninsurable, but we were blessed to be financially able to get her the care she needs without insurance. In October, when our investments started their decline in value, I started working on starting a business to make sure that we could make it through the economic down turn, but then my own health took a dramatic turn for the worse. Now, if I get the care I need, it will take away more of what we have left to care for my wife, so I am doing without, so that she can have her needs met for a while longer. People the world over are going through the same kind of thing, and we're all seeing that the economic system that we counted on for things like our retirement, are totally unreliable. The Lord has seen fit to highlight our misplaced trust in mans financial system, and that may well be one of the most important and hardest lesson any of us has ever had to accept. We have decided to see this as the blessing that it is, and to put our faith in the Rock that we can count on. Maybe we won't have a roof over our head or food on the table next year, but if Paul could find joy in the Lord while sitting in a Roman prison, then I know we will be able to find joy in the Lord, no matter what happens going forward.
So what has Jesus done for us lately? Today was our daughters birthday. She just turned 20. It has been a wonderful day, in every way. The things of the world may all fall down, but as long as we can lean on the Lord our spirits will not falter. In ten days we will be celebrating the greatest blessing the world has ever received, and our Lord is going to free our minds of the worries of the world, so that we can enjoy the day on which we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Could anyone ask for anything more?
Tami, the Lord and the Word will see us through and are all that we need, but know that you and P4 are one of the ways the Lord is helping us keep a healthy Christian perspective. Praise be to our Lord.
We can't thank you enough.
Charles
Hi, Tami--Our pastor reminded us yesterday that not only was Jesus born for us, he lived, died and was resurrected for us in order for us to have eternal life. We must get past the cradle to see the cross and the tomb, which is empty. Jesus has done so much for me. One year ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer (this was my second cancer diagnosis, as I had Hodgkin's Disease 28 years ago) and had surgery. Though the surgery removed the cancer and I did not have to have treatments, it took an emotional toll on me. Had it not been for Jesus, I do not know how I would have coped--it was His strength that has brought me through it. Because of what He has done, I want to share with others in any way I can.
Jesus is very important to me this season. One of the pastors at my church encouraged us to take "breath prayers" during this hectic season. For example, take a deep breath and whisper "prince of peace give me/us peace" or "almighty father give us/me strength." I am finding that very helpful. Christmas will be a little difficult this season as we lost my step-father in January 08. It will be the first holiday season without him. It's hard on my mom. I know we're not the only family that struggling. I have been praying these little breath prayers, and they really help.
Carol
Sharon C. - Thank you for sharing. Your words, and 1 Samuel 12:23, are pushing me to do something that I should have done long ago.
1 Samuel 12:23 (New International Version)
23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
While I do pray for others, I have rarely asked others to pray for me or my family, because for some reason I always feel that I should not burden others with my problems. This morning, thanks in no small part to your post, I see that my thinking in this has been misguided. At the very least, I should be constantly asking others to pray for my mother, but I have not done so. Thank you for helping to make my weakness so clear to me.
Please pray for my mother. She was first diagnosed with cancer over 12 years ago, and is now nearing the end of her third battle. At this point, the doctors have no treatments to help her, so they are simply trying to keep her comfortable until her time on this earth has past. My great concern for her comes not from the fact that she is going to leave us soon, but rather in the fact that she has never read any part of the Bible, and believes that we are all going to be judged based on the way we have lived our lives. She believes that Jesus died for our sins, but insists that we are to sin no more, and that our sin does condemn us, in spite of the sacrifice of our Lord. She attended Church regularly while she was physically able, and her pastor, friends, and family, have all tried to get her to turn to the Bible, but for some reason she steadfastly refuses, and remains convinced that she knows God well enough not to have to read His Word. Then she battles with herself, because she knows she has sinned, and sees her salvation in the balance. I fear that she is going to pass away without ever truly knowing our Lord or understanding Grace, and I accept that there is nothing that any of us can do to help her in this, other than to pray for her.
Please pray for my mother, Polly, that she might come to know Jesus and be drawn into the Word of God before her time runs out. Please pray for my family, because we are facing hard times in the days ahead, and we are going to need all the help we can muster.
Sharon, I thank you so much, for helping me see that it is just as important for me to ask for the prayers of others as it is to pray myself.
May the LORD bless and keep you all. Amen.
Charles,
Thank you for writing and sharing some of your circumstances. Just wanted to let you know that we will pray for your mom and for your family here at BttB. Cancer is such a difficult thing all around. I lost my dad to cancer ten years ago last month, and I was the primary caregiver when my husband and my mom both got cancer at the same time six years ago. The only thing that got me through was God, His Word and prayer. I know my husband and mom would tell you the same thing. So with that said, please know we'll be praying for you and with you in this difficult time. Tami W.