Category Archives: Encouragement

Christmas is like a magnifying glass

December 25, 2011 By in Encouragement, Observations Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

For most of us our Christmas memories as children are good ones. I’m not sure if that’s because Christmas was really better back then or if we were just oblivious to what was really going on around us because we were so excited for Santa to come.

But as we get older it seems like Christmas becomes a time of stress, sadness and disappointment for many of us. The reason holidays can be such a difficult time is because Christmas is like a huge magnifying glass that magnifies everything that is wrong in our lives, especially when it comes to relationships. Christmas seems to cause us to be so much more aware of the enormity of the fact that all the expectations we had of Christmas as a child are now mostly unmet in our adult life.

It’s the time of year when it’s never more obvious to the divorced parent that they had a failed marriage when they have to put their child on a plane and send them off to the other parent for the holidays. It’s more evident to those whose families are estranged when every commercial on TV seems to show happy families all gathering together and everyone is enjoying each other’s company. It’s never more lonely on Christmas day for the soldier who is deployed away from family as they sit alone a million miles from home. Or for the single person who has no one special to share the holiday with, Christmas is the longest day of the year.

For those who have lost loved ones the loss is magnified when the realization hits that they will never again celebrate the holiday with the one they miss so much. For the families whose marriage is in crisis, Christmas magnifies the brokenness in the home and ushers in a new level of hopelessness when everyone else seems to have it all together – or so it seems when you’re the one who’s marriage is falling apart. For the child who is on the Angel Tree because his single mom cannot afford to buy gifts, his situation is magnified as all the other kids in class talk about what they’re getting for Christmas this year. He just hopes he gets picked so he’ll get something and won’t be embarassed when everyone asks what he got when they return to school.

Christmas is not easy for everyone. If you are one of the fortunate ones whose family has strong, healthly relationships and the get togethers are special moments where memories are made, please take time to give thanks that you are richly blessed. If you are like so many others whose situation is magnified this time of year and you are accutely aware of the failures, hurts, losses and disappointments in your life please take time to give thanks. No matter what your situation is and no matter how hopeless the holidays make you feel, you can still find hope in the one who’s birth is magnified in the songs you hear over and over every where you go. In the words of “O Holy Night” – long lay the world in sin and error pining, til he appeared and the soul felt it’s worth. The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees. O hear the angel voices, O night divine, O night when Christ was born.

You see, this is the time of year that we long for in our souls. We have long been in sin and error but Jesus was born and finally our souls felt worthy. We should feel the thrill of hope, we should be rejoicing and falling on our knees because our Savior was born. We no longer have to live feeling hopeless and in despair because, through His birth, everything is new and glorious. We don’t have to live consumed by our circumstances and the enormity of our failures, shortcomings and mistakes. We can seek the One who came to save us and in Him find the peace that we so long for. Don’t spend another Christmas feeling overwhelmed at the magnitude of this life and all it’s shortcomings. The things of this world will never bring us the joy our soul seeks. It’s only in the Savior, the Christ who was born on that holy night so long ago that we will truly find the peace and joy we so deeply long for. Let this Christmas be the one that you fall on your knees and receive His forgiveness and salvation. You can awaken tomorrow to a new and glorious morning where the only thing magnified in your life is His love for you.

Wisdom from a boy and the dog who loves him

December 20, 2011 By in Encouragement Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

As I was going to bed my oldest son texted me from downstairs. We had just said goodnight and he had headed down to his room with his faithful companion, Winston. In the text he said that he was looking at Winston and thought of how much his dog knows him.

Winston loves him and spends a lot of time with him. He knows my son’s voice, he knows the sound of his car when he drives in the driveway. And he knows what my son is saying to him and obeys his commands.

But what Ryan realized is that even though Winston knows him very well, he really has no clue what’s going on in Ryan’s life. Winston’s brain cannot begin to comprehend everything we as humans can and he’ll never know the vastness of Ryan’s life and all that is going on in it.

And his conclusion was that much in the same way, our minds cannot begin to understand the vastness of God and His love for us that He would send His only son to this earth so that He may die for us.

Through tears I read the final words of the text that said “God is like me and I’m like Winston. I know Him, I love Him, but until I join Him in heaven I will never fully understand the extent of who He is and how very much He loves me.”

As we celebrate this season and the joy that it is to give to others and to receive let us not forget that the long awaited Savior was born on that divine night so long ago. Born so that you may know Him, love Him, spend time with Him, recognize His voice and obey His commands. And in return He will love you more than you can ever fully wrap your mind around.

“Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, til He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices. Oh, night divine. Oh, night when Christ was born.”

High Performance Christians

December 14, 2011 By in Encouragement, Observations Tags: , , Leave a comment

If you’ve ever been to a church you’ve probably seen them – the High Performance Christians. They’re running around looking very busy in hopes that someone may notice, especially the Pastor. They are quick to tell you what committee they are on and what area of ministry they oversee.

They sign up for every class, event and opportunity to volunteer. They have their bible highlighted with lots of handwritten notes along the side of the scriptures. And they sit right up front and are the first to speak to the Pastor after the service ends.

They even update their Facebook status so everyone knows that the Pastor sat at their table at the restaurant after service.

Even those who serve the church behind the scenes and are not seeking attention are still tempted to “perform” for God. They think that if they read their bible enough, pray enough and do enough bible studies that God will love them more. But the truth is that God loves us no matter how we “perform” for Him.

If we don’t pray a certain number of hours each week or we don’t read  our bible every day, He still loves us. His love for us is not based on how good a Christian we are. He simply loves us. There is nothing we can do to make him love us more and nothing we can do to make Him love us less. He just loves us.

Let that thought sink in……He simply loves you. You do not have to live in fear of losing His love if you do something wrong. And you do not have to live under the pressure to “perform” to make Him love you more.

In the same sense we are to love others no matter how well they “perform” for us. (Mark 12:30-31).

People will let us down – they’ll disappoint us. But we are to love them no matter what just as God loves us no matter what.

As Christmas approaches, think of someone you need to love even though they have not performed to your expectations and ask God to give you the strength to love them just as He loves you.

Behind the Scenes of An Extreme Makeover

December 8, 2011 By in Encouragement, Observations Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

For my son’s birthday we decided it was time to redo his bedroom to give it an updated and age appropriate look. So we set out to perform a much needed extreme makeover. We started by removing three layers of wallpaper then painting the room a warm shade of blue. We bought a new bed, new bedding and a new rug. We brought in a floor plant and changed the ceiling fan to a more modern one. And a new lamp and some new wall hangings finished out the job. His room now looks completely different than before. But the thing is, nothing has really changed. If you remove all of the new items from the room, what’s left underneath the surface is still the same. Many people live their lives much the same way. They try to cover up the pain they feel on the inside by changing things on the surface. They change their appearance. They change relationships, jobs, homes, surroundings, and spouses. They do so in hopes that if they make “surface” changes then they will feel a change on the inside that will overcome the wounds and hurts that nobody can see on the surface. But when you strip all of that away, nothing has really changed on the inside. The only option for real transformation on the inside is when we are born again and become a new creation through Jesus Christ. We keep doing the same things over and over and expect different results. But the truth is nothing will change until we surrender our lives to the only One who can bring about real change. Jesus came in human form so that He could die on the cross the death that we deserve. He gave His life so we don’t have to give ours as payment for our sins. So as you give and receive gifts this Christmas, receive the gift of salvation, eternal life and a new life transformation so that you may be healed of the hurts and pains that have held you captive for so long. It’s time for a real change, a below-the-surface life transformation that is found only in Jesus Christ. Ask Him into your heart and to forgive your sins and you’ll have the joy this season of receiving a real Extreme Makeover.

The thing about Christmas

December 6, 2011 By in Encouragement Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Over the years I’ve come to realize that the excitement and anticipation most of us feel about Christmas is not because we are going to get presents, although they are always fun to receive. It’s not about eating a big meal and then napping while watching football. It’s not about being with family and friends, the lights and decorations or the time off from work or school. I believe the reason there is an excitement in our hearts is because our hearts belong to the One who’s birth we celebrate during this season. The anticipation we feel inside is by design. We look forward to this holiday more so than any other because we all have an internal longing to be with the One who created us. And because we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas the longing is more evident because the holiday is all about Jesus and the fact that He came in human form so that He may die for us because of God’s overwhelming love for us, His children. That longing we feel is purposeful so that we may seek God to fill the empty places in our hearts. But many people search to fill those places with a variety of things like relationships, food, alcohol, material things, power or position. And it is never more evident than at Christmas of how empty we are without Christ. What should be a happy time is a time of great sorrow for so many because the excitement and anticipation build and once Christmas comes and goes those without a Savior are left to realize that once again their expectations are unmet and the emptiness remains. If that is you, let this Christmas be the one where you have great expectancy not for the holiday to bring about the happiness you long for but expect God to fill the empty places in your heart and allow Him to give you the gift of eternal life through His son Jesus Christ who’s birth we celebrate. Simply ask and He will freely give you the peace and true joy you seek.

Seasons change – and that’s a good thing

November 30, 2011 By in Encouragement Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

The leaves have all fallen and the cool air reminds me that winter is settling in. The changing seasons are inevitable and they show us that old things come to an end and new things begin. Sometimes when there is a new season in our lives there is great anticipation and excitement as God moves us into something new. Other times there is apprehension and doubt. We may hesitate to move from what is comfortable out of fear of the unknown. If you choose to hang on to a season God is calling you from, you may begin to experience frustation, difficulties and challenges. God’s timing is perfect and “He knows the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).  And if you hestitate because you’re afraid of surrendering to His will you may just miss out on something incredible that is waiting just a step of faith away. But when you put your trust in God when He reveals to you that it’s time for a change of season, you can enter in with the confidence that no matter what the change may look like going in or how difficult it may seem, God desires only His best for you. We can entrust the details to Him and be assured that He will never take us anywhere that He will not be right beside us. When your heart’s desire is to be in the center of God’s will, your worries and doubts will turn to joy and peace as the new season unfolds into God’s destiny for your life. If you are in a place where you know God is telling you that it’s time to move on, be obedient and take a step of faith as you follow His lead into the new season. Following the end of a season in your life marks the blossoming of new things and a new season God wants to usher you into. Embrace it and get moving!

All Hope is Gone

September 23, 2011 By in Encouragement Tags: , , 2 Comments

Do you ever feel like all hope is gone? Like there is nothing that can happen to change your situation? I had a co-worker many years ago who shared with me that she had lost all hope of ever having a baby. It broke my heart because this came from a woman who said she believed in God. The problem with that is you can’t believe in God and have no hope at the same time. We are told in Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” If our hope is in God and we know that He is faithful, then it is impossible for us to be in a hopeless situation. My co-worker was putting her hope in a god but not in THE God. I’m not sure which god her hope was in – maybe it was her own abilities, or her spouse, maybe a doctor or procedure but it wasn’t in the God she said she professed to believe in. As one of my favorite songs says “My hope is in you, God. I am steadfast, I will not be moved. I’m anchored, never shaken. All my hope is in You.” He is the hope for the hopeless. Isaiah 40:41 says “but those who put their hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”. Who or what are you putting your hope in?

“I Need a Break!”

September 3, 2011 By in Encouragement Tags: , , Leave a comment

Have you ever said this? Is this something you may be shouting right now? If you are waiting for breakthrough in an area of your life (your marriage, finances, health, children, a broken relationship) and your faith and trust is in God and His abilities and not in your own or someone else’s, then your breakthrough will come. I can’t tell you when it will come or what it will look like, but I can promise you that breakthrough is on it’s way when you completely release your problems to God and let Him bring about the resolution instead of trying to fix it yourself. Letting go of our marriage, our children, health or finances and having the faith to believe God will take care of it is sometimes the hardest thing to do. But when you do and you get out of the way of God’s ability to move in your situation, then the change you so desperately desire can begin to take place. And when it does, it may not be as quickly as you would have liked and it may not be exactly in the way you had wanted, but it will happen. And God’s ways are always so much better than ours. So let go, and let God.

Obedience

August 22, 2011 By in Encouragement Leave a comment

I remember the first time I heard “delayed obedience is disobedience”. My first response was “ouch!”. Many times I knew the Holy Spirit was prompting me to do something but my first response was to make excuses or to put it off until later. These promptings by God can come in many differnt forms. Sometimes God places a thought or idea in our minds, He puts a person on our hearts, we see or hear about a situation (perhaps a cause or a crisis) and get a “gut feeling” we are supposed to get involved and sometimes He speaks very clearly to us through scripture, other people or through a quiet whisper. But we wait. We don’t feel like it, we’re too busy, it would be something uncomfortable for us to do or we surmise that we must have not heard right because it just doesn’t fit into our plans. When we don’t respond immediately to clear direction from God then we are walking in disobedience. Now before you go feeling all guilty like I did when I first heard that concept, keep reading. When you hear from God to take action, it doesn’t always mean that whatever God is telling you will happen immediately. He may tell us we are to move to another city, quit a job that we really enjoy, go on a mission trip, adopt a child, or even begin writing a blog. So you don’t have to run out and put a For Sale sign in your front yard or turn in your 2-week notice. You don’t always have to take immediate action, but you are to respond immediately. That may mean that you simply acknowledge God’s direction by beginning to pray about what your next step in the process will be. Many times God tells us to take action that He does expect us to act upon immediately (give of your time/resources to a cause like helping tornado victims, sign up to volunteer for an event or organization, send someone an email to let them know you’re thinking about them) but there are times when God calls us to action for something that will take time and there will be steps toward reaching the final destination. In those instances, simply respond right away. Let Him know that you will do what He’s calling you to do and you will trust in Him to guide your steps along the way. It’s that first step of obedience of saying “yes Lord” that will cause, in time, the next step to be revealed. Right now you may know that God has revealed to you something He wants you to do but you are feeling overwhelmed because you don’t know where to even begin. Obedience doesn’t always require immediate action but it does require an immediate response. And all He’s asking for right now is your willingness to take that first step of faith by responding. Simply say “yes, Lord” and you’ll be amazed at how He begins to orchestrate the plans He has for you!