Christmas

Christmas is soon upon as it is Christmas Eve and many little children will be anxiously awaiting that special morning tomorrow when they wake up to find presents under the tree.

But what about the story behind Christmas?

I mean we all know the story of the birth of Jesus of the baby in the manger. The celebration of the birth of the Savior by gathering our families and singing carols of joy,  but there is a story we don’t think about or may not even know.

Let’s think of what happened that day from a different perspective. Imagine, when the Holy Spirit appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus, Joseph’s world was turned upside down. He thought of leaving and could have, many men do when they found out their wife is expecting and they are not the father. And who could have anticipated all that of the horrible events that occurred as a result of his birth. When Jesus was born King Herod and the religious leaders of the day were troubled. They felt threatened. King Herod’s response was to have all the baby boys 2 yrs old and younger killed. He sent Roman soldiers to rip the young children from their mother’s arms and kill them.  How many innocent children were slaughtered as King Herod sought to kill baby Jesus? Mary in order to save her child had to flee to a foreign land and live there for years to protect her child. These were huge sacrifices made by Mary and others so we could be brought the Good News.  Jesus was the Light of the World, the Savior, but if you want to be the light for others you will have to reckon with the forces of evil.

The forces of Good and Evil will always be at battle.

Consider this that at the Birth – evil tried to destroy the child Jesus to prevent good from being done.

On the Cross – evil tried once again to end the hope.

Realize what it cost to save us.

What is the message of Christ that caused so much divisiveness?

LOVE – HOPE – PEACE

That message was met with anything but love, hope and peace.

Even today 2000 years later there is still doubt, disbelief, and divisiveness

In your life as you wake this Christmas Day what do you believe?

With whom do you trust your eternity?

One who brings a message of Love, Hope and Peace?

For those who believe – no explanation is necessary.

For those who don’t – no explanation is adequate

And as you face this New Year what do you want to do with the life you have left? What is your purpose? Do we aspire to do a great thing….perhaps impact the world for good, to be a service to others? Is it that we want to change the world without having our world turned upside down?

Joseph’s life in playing his role being the husband to Mary had his life turned upside down.

The Disciples’ that followed the Savior born on Christmas day had their lives turned upside down in order to change the world.

Don’t expect every day of your life to be like Christmas morning where you sip hot chocolate and open presents with everyone cheering, or enjoying seeing the children’s joy of opening presents. Recognize that for every prize there is a price. Are you willing to pay the price, not of death, but maybe of discomfort?  To turn others lives upside down you just might have to turn your upside down as well.

As you awaken tomorrow morning Christmas morning be thankful that comfort is yours because of His discomfort. And follow his example if you want to lead others to a better more comfortable life.

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The Cure – Book Review

I picked this book up at first because of the notation on the front cover;

“What if God isn’t who you think He is and neither are you”

Then I turned it over and read some of the recommendations;

“No other resource has had such a profound impact on my life other than the Bible”

“The most important expression of the Gospel I have ever read”

“These days I recommend The Cure more than any single book in my library”

“From a psychological and theological perspective, The Cure is the single most important book that I have read”

“Sometimes a book can change your life. This one changed mine, and I am still learning from it. This is the best and most practical book on living by grace that I have ever read”

These were some powerful recommendations…. So I bought the book.

As I started to read the first part of the book it was confusing.

In the middle of the book I got lost.

At the end of the book I was captivated.

But what made it all come together was reading the Notes they put at the end of the book. Those notes that follow those little annotations we tend to ignore when we read. As I started to read a couple of the notes it caused me to go back and read more of the first chapter to put the notes into context. Then I do what I only do on occasion, and that was to read the Bible verse referenced in the first chapter. As I searched for each notation I re-read more  and more of the first chapter and then started re-reading the book,  now taking each annotation and following it and then back to the book and before you knew it the book came to life.

If you want answers as to why you try to do the right thing and never can seem to do so consistently, or you  tend to do not what you know is right but what is wrong. If your relationships seem unsettled and you can’t seem to repair them, or if you wonder what your life’ purpose is, your destiny and your role in this crazy unsettled world then this book is for you.

We are a week out from Christmas which centers around the birth of Christ and you have may have questions.

Questions that keep causing you to search.

If you question who God really is and what place, if any he should have in your life?

If you question who God is and who you really are and what your relationship to him should look like?

Then this book is for you!

As the book challenges; “But God’s cures rarely come in the form we expect.”

“What if indeed, God is not who we think he is and neither are we”

Forbes Thought Of The Day

“ Take the tools in hand and carve your own best life. ”

— Douglas Lurton

Whatever your profession this thought alone could change your life.

Are you using the tools of your trade?

Are you using the resources at your fingertips?

What do you have access to that could be used as a tool to carve your own best life?

A friend, a mentor, a spouse, a teacher, a seminar, a book,  CD, or DVD, a blog?

Tools are everywhere, seek them out, and Seize the Day (Carpe Diem)!!