Wednesday Wake Up #40

Just Ask God

Just ask God for what you need and what you want in life. There is nothing wrong with asking God. The worst He will answer is no. He may say yes...or he may say wait. Either way, you can ask God for your needs and wants. God wants to hear from you. Just like a parent that says call all the time to their children it is a way to stay connected. It is also a way to prioritize what you want to ask God, not that He can't take all of your requests on (God is all powerful), but when you are requesting something from God it may spark some "would God want me to have this" thinking. Sometimes we want things just because we want them. Like "God please get me approved for this loan so I can get this sports car cuz I look so cool in it and I know that will attract women." Or "God please help me get this job so I can get discounts on their clothes." Whatever you take to God, needs or wants, asking Him will allow you to double check your intentions before you ask. This is what we learn in 1 John 5:14. The name of Jesus is strong as Jesus is the son of God, so whether we ask Jesus or the Holy Spirit or God himself for what it is we want or need, let it be in God's will. Check yourself. You may see that your intentions are not God honoring and it may allow you to reset your aims.

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Wednesday Wake Up #38

Grace Doesn't Expire

I have had far too many conversations with people who only have so much grace for people. They really don't understand or see how much grace they have been given for things they say and do, or even more the grace that God has for them and their missteps. We give grace to people until we don't feel like it anymore. Our graces runs out, but does God's? First, we know that if it was not for God's grace there would not have ever been a Jesus for us. It was not because of the work we did or the bad behavior we didn't do. We didn't earn God's grace (Ephesians 2:8). Also, remember 1 John 14:9 that we love because God loves us first. He gave us Jesus. Think about it. We have received Jesus and still mess up. God still loves us. So, if God still loves us when we mess up (which He does) then why can't we have grace for others?

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Friday Focus #28

Love Out Loud

For those of us who text and love to use acronyms during communication we have all seen LOL which stands for "laugh out loud." I was sitting here thinking of another topic and I thought, what if we take that acronym and change the meaning, or add a meaning to it. Let's change LOL to mean "Love Out Loud." I know, that seems corny, but think about how different this can be. How many times do we criticize out loud? How many times do we tell people what we do not like about them out loud. But, when it comes to loving them and sharing what we love about them, we don't tell them. Ever. Just for today, try something different. For the person that you criticize the most (spouse, child, friend, celebrity on twitter- haha) use that same energy to focus on being loving. Jesus didn't go around critiquing everyone all the time, but you do. Flip it. Use today to be loving as Christ loves you for your shortcomings, mistakes and bad decisions.
 

Sometimes we need some verses to help us remember to be loving. I like the one which is often known as the "Golden Rule" which is Luke 6:31. It tells us do to others as we would want them to do to us. I mean think about it, if we all treated people they way we would want to be treated I think we would all be in a better place. If you don't like being yelled at and cut down, then don't do it to others. If you don't like being criticized in public, then don't do it to others. Flip it. Be loving and encouraging in public. No backhanded compliments, but genuine love. Let it flow from you freely for the benefit of others.

Lastly, let us remember 1 John 4:11. This verse tells us to love one another as God loves us (as I stated in the first paragraph). Even someone who doesn't "deserve" it. No where does scripture tell you to be mean or cruel to someone because you don't like them. We follow Christ. He didn't go around putting people down and telling them that they don't deserve to be loved or forgiven or given grace. Remember Christ is our example. Study his life and follow the example.

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Friday Focus #19

What Does the Birth of Jesus Mean?

As we celebrate Christmas today, let us remember why we as Christ followers are celebrating. Do we even know what we are celebrating or have we changed the meaning behind our celebration? Is it about Santa Claus and presents? Is it about an evergreen covered in lights and decorations? Or is it truly about celebrating the birth of the one you call your Lord and Savior?

We know the details of Jesus being born found in Matthew 1:18-2:23, but what about his blood line? Look at his bloodline and the great men and women in it in Matthew 1:1-17. But there were also sins among those great men and women. There was adultery, lies and murder. But, while men will say your past defines you and hold you in contempt of bad decisions, the love of God through the redeeming blood of Christ does not. Our sins are washed away and we are seen clean and pure in God's eyes (1 John 1:7). We must walk with Christ seeking what his will is in our life. Jesus was doing God's will while being God in human form. He did not come to us in a large palace and desire a bunch of attention. It was a very humble setting in a barn that many of us wouldn't stay in if it was the last place on earth.

With the birth of Jesus there were prophecies that came true. In Isiah 7:14 promised a virgin birth. In Psalm 2:7 there is a reference to the Jesus being referred to as the son of God which was fulfilled when we read Matthew 3:16-17. There was a even a prophecy that the messiah would be a sacrifice for sin which we see through the death of Jesus (Romans 5:6-8).

If Jesus wasn't born he never could have died. Through his death we are redeemed through him to God for Heaven in the after life if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior (Ephesians 1:7-10). Our sin separates us from God, but by accepting Jesus we get to reconnect with God. So as you celebrate Christmas, think of and reflect on the reason why you celebrate. Is it the jolly man in the red suit or is the Son of God who suited to shed his red (blood) for us?

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Wednesday Wake Up #19

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season to be jolly. It's a nice lyric. I don't know anyone who wants to be around a Scrooge type of person during what many call the "most wonderful time of the year" where we are "walkin' in a winter wonderland." But there has to be more about this season than just being jolly. This is the season (in conjunction with Thanksgiving) where many people want to donate their time to the homeless and the less fortunate. Now is a great time to start. I am 100% in favor of that. My hope and aim is that we can do more than just be jolly and joyful and loving during this season. I mean think about it, what if God only answered our prayers during holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas? He loves us all the time (1 John 4:19). We need to be loving all the time to Him and then to others as well because that is how people know we are disciples (followers) of Christ (John 13:34-35).

Psalm 41:1 teaches us that we are blessed for being considerate to the poor. This does not just mean the poor in finances. But, it can also mean the poor in spirit, the poor in health, in relationships. Another word used to replace poor was weak. That does not only cover finances. It covers those who need a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear and a loving heart. It covers those who are sick in hospitals. It covers those going through a rough relationship time as well. It covers the emotionally and spiritually weak. The following verses tell us that there are promises of being sustained by the Lord in our sickbed (we get weak too). The Lord keeps us alive and restores us to full health. We don't do these loving acts because of what we get out of it from God, but we do loving things because we love.

And we can't forget about being joyous during these times. But what are we joyful about? Is it because we love the season and the cold and the fireplace being lit with hot cocoa in our hands? Those are nice things and are very comforting, but are we forgetting to give thanks to God for those nice times that we can have that are very relaxing? We can take for granted the lifestyles we have grown accustomed to, while completely overlooking the provider for us. It's like we only want to thank God when things are going well, but we are to thank God in all circumstances and always be joyous and pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We can't focus on the season without looking at the creator of the season. Can we?

Overall, God wants us to do these wonderful things at all times not just during certain days or months or holidays. He wants us to see Him first (Matthew 6:33). Let us remember to give to others and love others as God loved us first.

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