Take Up Your Cross

This is certainly one of the harder things Jesus asks of his followers, but what does this mean to you?  Many think that Jesus meant that we were to take up the burdens we bear, and willingly follow Jesus wherever he leads. He says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). Jesus was talking about dying to self, meaning absolute surrender to God.  This is certainly a difficult thing for those of us who live in a material world, where people believe the more you’ve got, the better you are. 

It’s all about priorities.  Jesus says that our first priority should be to follow God’s leading in all that we do.  Denying yourself means turning all of your problems over to God, trusting that God will get you through whatever you face.  Denying yourself means putting the needs of others ahead of your own. Denying yourself means entrusting in God’s grace for your life.  You are a beloved child of God, and nothing that you can do can separate you from God’s love.  God wants you. The beautiful hymn I Surrender All could be a mantra for you as you go about your day:

All to Jesus, I surrender; all to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Hiim, in His presence daily live.

-- Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896

Show Me the Way to Go Home

Last summer when I was in the Canadian wilderness of Lake of the Woods, I was amazed that when I punched the map app on my iPhone, the map showed me where we were on the lake, actually plotting our progress in real time through those spectacularly beautiful islands.

Isn’t it too bad our phones can’t keep track of where we are on our spiritual journey?  If you are a believer you want to walk in God’s path, but it seems that we are led astray by the countless temptations that line the walkway. We pray, like the Psalmist, “Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths.   [Psalm 25 verse 4]       

"O God,” we pray, “help me to know your will for my life; what is it you want from me?”  How are we to know if what we are doing is what God wants us to do? The answer can be found only through spending time in devotion, praying, listening, reading and reflecting. God will let you know through a quiet assurance that all is well. If not, there will be a nudge of conscience telling you, “this is not right.”

We are fortunate that we were all born with a God app that we can turn to when we are lost. Believe that it’s there and tap into that God awareness you were born with. Jesus is ready to lead you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Psalm 23: 3:b. In fact, read all of Psalm 23 for the assurance of God’s presence and leading in your life. And believe.

Gracious God,  help me to feel your presence and your leading in my life. Help me to listen and to believe. Amen.

Christmas Brings Out the Best in Us

It is the time of great hospitality; a time for giving and sharing of presence and presents; our homes are cleaned and decorated to look their best; there are new Christmas clothes to wear and beautiful music fills the air. The sights, the sounds and the smells of Christmas bring back treasured memories of childhood. Yes, all the things that surround the celebration of the birth of Jesus bring out our best.

We gather at church at Christmas to celebrate this most wonderful day. We take the bread and the wine, the body and blood of Jesus, and we pray for wholeness, radiating the image of Jesus, Son of God, love’s pure light. Jesus, who came to us to show us who God is and how to live a life that is rich in meaning and pleasing to God, is the cause of this goodness we display at this time of year. Jesus, who came that we might have life, is God’s greatest gift to us. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.  O Little Town of Bethlehem vs. 4

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, and for the many blessings with which you shower us. Help us to be grateful for the Gift, and help us to live our lives for your Glory.  Amen.

Hey, I'm Getting New Stuff for Christmas

We set aside December 25^th to celebrate the birth of Jesus, God in human form. It is Jesus who shows us who God is, and what God is like. It is Jesus who prepares the way to radically change lives. It is Jesus who teaches us how to live. It is Jesus who promises us life…New Life.

Behold:  I Make All Things New [Rev 21:5]  Jesus says,   I_make_all -things _new! 

Hey Jesus, make me new! I want to be new. I’m tired of dragging all the old baggage around. I want  a new start, I want  a fresh beginning. I want to start out with a clean slate and start drawing with new crayons  and I want it all to be colorful and beautiful and meaningful to me and to those lives I touch.  Come on Jesus, that’s what I want for Christmas…a new me!!  

“No problem,” says Jesus, “All you have to do is to surrender your old you, and voila, presto chango… a new you!”

“That doesn’t sound too easy,” I said.

And Jesus answered, “It’s not, but I’ll be there to help you through it, if you’ll let me. You know,  you’ve  pretty much had the wheel so far in your life,  how’s that working out for you?...not so good? Let me be the driver behind the wheel of your life and let’s see where we can go and what we can do together.” 

“Well, that sounds pretty good to me,” I said, “I definitely want a new and improved me!”

“Oh the places you’ll go…” Jesus said, sounding a little like Dr. Seuss.

Gracious God,  here I am. Take my life and use it to your glory.  Help me to be an active participant in your kingdom, not simply a spectator.  Thank you for Jesus and for new life. Amen

The Shepherd

On the third Sunday of Advent we light The Shepherds’ Candle to remember that it was to humble shepherds that God sent his message of great news to all people. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Jesus, who is sometimes called “The Great Shepherd,” was God incarnate; born that we might know the grace and true nature of God, and that we, through God’s grace, can have eternal life.

The twenty-third Psalm best describes the nature of our relationship with God: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack for nothing.

This Psalm is a love song to God, and Jesus is our guide to living a life enfolded in God’s love. Read it and indulge yourself in the beautiful language and the wonderfully comforting images and metaphors it contains.  God watches over us, giving us what we need; directing our path and steering us back to the path when we go wandering.

 
As we approach the day celebrating the birth of Jesus, let us surrender ourselves to the leading of the Good Shepherd.  Let us pray for God’s guidance and protective care. Let us give thanks for the blessings that God bestows on us.  We know that without God’s shepherding, we are a lost people.  We search for happiness and fulfillment in places where it cannot be found. “Gentle Shepherd come and lead us, for we need your tender care.”

Taking Stock

Advent is a good time for taking inventory of your life, both spiritually and physically, and then take steps to improve things. Is your lifestyle life-affirming, or self- destructive? Is your spiritual life superficial or are you in a deeply committed relationship with God?  

Isaiah 40:3-4 says to prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, the uneven ground shall become level and the rough places, a plain.  As you look at your life, what can you do to smooth out the rough places and make everything more meaningful and therefore more rewarding for yourself?  Build upon your strengths and gifts and work on your shortcomings. Want a closer relationship with God?  Spend more time in the Word and in meditation. Become more active in your church and volunteer to do something for the kingdom. Are you giving to God’s work?  Could you do more?  If not, why not?  Our church is amazing. Think how much more we could do for the Kingdom of God if we had everyone’s support! And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.  [Isaiah 40:5]

Gracious God, move within me to enable me to become all that you have envisioned for me.  Help me to grow closer to you, and help me to become a true witness to your glory.

Amen

ADVENT

This Sunday and Monday mark the first weekend in Advent — the four weeks before Christmas. Advent starts the church calendar with a season of preparation and anticipation. Advent is a time we prepare for the coming of the Messiah.   


We reflect on where we are in our spiritual journey and define those areas of our lives that could use some clean-up. An apt analogy is the way we go about preparing our homes for Christmas. Romans 13:11 tells us to wake up, for the time is drawing near; it is here and now. Spend some time this Advent doing a little soul-searching, and take an inventory of your spiritual life. What is keeping you from having a closer relationship with God?  Let every heart prepare Him room and heaven and nature sing!

O Lord, search me and know me; show me the ways I can draw closer to you. Help me to increase my faith, love, and devotion to you. Amen