Blessed

Photo Credit Casie Steele

It may not seem like it. There are all kinds of issues to deal with and even more to be concerned about. The news is going from bad to worse to the point where you just shut out that noise and pray. Every day presents another challenge, hiccup, problem or setback. Still, no matter the picture or details of what you are dealing with, you are blessed. 

To start with, if you are reading or having this read to you, you are alive. God loves you and created you to be the one and only you there will ever be in all eternity! You are one of a kind, unique, special and His very own child. 

You may not have everything in life that you want or dreamed, but no matter the situation you have your Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. You have the promise of eternity and in this place the promise of His mercy and grace. Through Him you can do all things. You are blessed.

If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world's wealth. If you woke up with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive the week. 

Yes, YOU are BLESSED.

Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

Christmas Present

The hunt is on! It happens every year. With deliberate, calculated precision, and a heartful of love and anticipation, the hunt for the perfect Christmas present is under way. No, it is not a search for the just right, hard to find gift. Rather, it is an entirely orchestrated production to prepare, package and deliver the perfect Christmas to everyone in your life. Now that is really setting yourself up for the impossible. Still, the mission is set and off you go. So, you make it down the list of need to gets, have to do's, and must not forgets and spend time manufacturing the perfect Christmas present.

This year why not take a different approach? This year give up the notion of Christmas by design and instead aim to celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ. Jesus really is the greatest Christmas present. Share Him with someone in need of his grace, light, peace, and strength. Introduce someone to His majesty with a easy-to-read copy of the Word. Witness the restoration of a soul when a song of God's mercy pierces through despair and darkness. Open your heart, wallet, and table to infuse a bit of Christ's light where it otherwise would never shine. Yes, this is Christmas present. What will you do to make it a Christmas that glorifies the One it is all about? Jesus Christ is the reason for Christmas and the heart of the season.  

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Galatians 4:4-5

Your Brand

 

Photo by Casie Steele

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to attend Harvard Business School’s Leadership Certification Program. I learned so much about leadership and business. Much time was spent learning about brands and branding. Organizations spend millions of dollars building and sharing their brand. A brand sets the expectation for a product, service, or experience. For example, Walmart’s brand is low prices and no frills. Nordstrom’s brand is excellent service and  quality merchandise. 

You too have a brand. You have a way of behaving, relating to others, and living life. As a follower of Jesus, you are walking with Him each day and striving to live as He would expect you to. After all, you are His Ambassador sharing His “brand” with the world! 

So are you demonstrating to others Jesus’s brand of:

• Loving others 
• Treating everyone without favoritism
• Grace especially in the most trying situations 
• Humbleness 
• Compassion
• Forgiveness 
• Being a servant to others 
• Prayerfulness 
• Peace 

That’s quite a list. As you move into the change of seasons, why not use this time of change to reflect on the way you model Jesus in your life. Ask God to make you aware of the areas He thinks you need to adjust. Then, move forward being the best Christ follower you can be. 

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭

Following

 

Social media is all about followers. You may be following lots of people, all trying to influence you. No matter what, the One to follow, and best life influencer, is Jesus Christ. You can find Him right where you are, anytime, and for always. 

It’s a great time of year with a change of season to reflect on your life and changes you need to make. The most important change may be to consider those you are following and giving time to. Are you spending time on worthless social media or in God’s Word? See, you have time to be with God and pray. You just may be spending time in the world instead. The season is changing and so can you! Follow Jesus. 

Jesus Is Enough

Have you notice how complex and twisted life has become? There are more choices, details, and processes than ever before. Life was much simpler in the past. Consider the simple act of watching television. Years ago there were three or four channels to choose from. Sure, the selection was limited but the shows were great and today are considered classics. Now, there are literally hundreds of channels and frequently nothing worth watching. There are more choices and options, in just about all aspects of life now than ever before, but also more unhappiness and unrest. More does not always mean better. Sooner or later, you learn that less is more, and you finally say "Enough!." As you grow older and wiser you realize you don't really need much in life. Fancy cars, homes, and things are not important. Health, family, friends, and safety matter the most. 

Perhaps you have reached the point where you know that Jesus Christ is enough for your life. If you have, you understand that in Christ you already have all you could ever need. If you haven't, you may be caught up in the allure of worldly things, or things of the flesh. Then enemy of God is skilled at creating a facade of glitz and glamour to attract you and keep you from the One that means more than anything. Set your eyes and heart firmly on the Lord. Ask Him to show you what really matters most. When you do you will know that Jesus Christ is enough for you.

"Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything." Colossians 2:9-10  The Message