Happy New Year!

What are you hoping for this year? What are you planning for? What are you dreaming for? These are great questions to ask each other as we enter into a new year. While God is outside of time, I believe he loves it whenever we seek vision, encouragement and guidance for the times ahead.

When responding to these questions, I like to think back on the many wonderful things God has promised us. Sometimes, we can be tempted to build our expectations upon memories, experience, or what other people say. We may even attempt to limit our expectations for the year ahead, perhaps out of fear or uncertainty. Having gotten to know God as a good Father, I am absolutely certain that the most reliable expectations I can choose to focus on for the year ahead can be found in His presence, and in His word.

Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4, NASB)

This year, let's delve even deeper into the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence! In discovering the Father's wonderful heart for us, we will be filled with fresh hope and certainty in His precious and magnificent promises!

Emmanuel, God With Us

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who have lived in a land of deep shadows - light! Sunbursts of light! You repopulated the nation, you expanded it's joy. Oh, they're so glad in your presence! Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.

The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants - all their whips and cudgels and curses - is gone, done away with, a deliverance surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian. The boots of all those invading troops, along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood, will be piled in a heap and burned, a fire that will burn for days!

For a child has been born - for us! The gift of a son - for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names willl be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.

- From Isaiah 9, The Message Translation

Heavenly Papa, what an honor to be alive at a time like this. A time when your Son is present with us; when His ruling authority is increasing; a time where there is no limit to the wholeness experienced by us and by those who encounter your presence.

Thank you for the extravagant, loving, brave choice you made to become a man, empowered by the Holy Spirit and living among mankind, tempted in every way but never sinning, in order to be our perfect sacrifice. Thank you that you continue to be present among us, more so now than ever before.

As we enjoy your presence, let our spirits be strengthened with faith. Let our hearts be filled to overflowing with your love. Let our lives express the fullness of who you are. Thank you for being Emmanuel, God With Us.

You're Invited!

How many Christmas parties are you going to this year? I have stopped counting! I am grateful for any occasion where friends and families gather together to celebrate Christmas, often sharing memories, jokes and encouragement as well as gifts and food.

This year, God is inviting us into His own celebration. He is drawing each of us deeper into His throne-room, the place where He dwells continually. When we encounter Him, life is abundant. As Psalm 16 says: 'In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever!'

Has anything been discouraging you from enjoying His presence recently? Have you been troubled by the many gifts to buy, or the many arrangements that need to be made? Fear and shame can cause us to hide from God's presence. He is inviting us to give Him anything that hinders us from approaching His throne of grace with boldness. As we offer Him our anxiety and uncertainty, He fills our hearts with peace, rest and joy.

In Isaiah 61 God's children receive a promise: 'Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion...'. God has many gifts and blessings to release to us! Today, let's boldly accept His invitation to enjoy His presence. As we join hands with Him, nothing can hold us back.

A Season of Preparation

Dear friends, in the aftermath of Thanksgiving I am aware of something very important: Christmas is nearly here! In the next two weeks many of our homes will undergo a festive transformation as we prepare to celebrate what is personally my favorite holiday of the year. It is a fun and exciting process where every aspect of life begins to take on a mood of celebration. We are anticipating the joy of Christmas: pleasures such as time spent with family and friends, eating great food and giving gifts. 

In my house, Christmas happens from the inside out. My practical preparations are a sign of preparation within: I am also preparing my heart to receive a fresh revelation of Jesus. I am furnishing a place where He can reside, and inviting Him to reveal Himself in new and wonderful ways.

I love to reflect on the excitement leading up to Jesus' birth: the journey of Mary and Joseph, the wise men gathering gifts, the stars themselves moving into alignment. This year I am anticipating the joy of our Heavenly Father revealing Himself on earth like never before. I believe each of us will experience renewal in our lives as we prepare our hearts with gratitude and allow this season to move us deeper into His presence.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's to a Selah moment between mouthfuls and touchdowns :-)

"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse." Henry Van Dyke

"He that enjoys naught without thanksgiving is as though he robbed God." St. Chrysostom

"None is more impoverished than one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy." Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

"God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart." Izaak Walton

Risk

A great reward requires a risk of equal proportion. The reason a neurosurgeon banks a huge check is because drilling open a patient’s head involves enormous risk. The manager of Burger King meets the important need for food of his customers. He may feel pressure during the lunch rush but nothing compared to the stress of the operating room during neonatal brain surgery. His paycheck will not buy him a Porsche like the doctor’s

Jesus taught the disciples many lessons about the fear of risk, the robber of rewards. The man who was given one talent in the parable of the talents lost not only the praise of the master, but also his one talent, which had the potential to bring him increase. The reason for his loss was fear. Who else lost out because he didn’t take a risk but buried the talent? Did his family or his town?

It is hard to believe that Jesus had to step past fear, but the Bible says He was tempted in every way we are. The difference is He never let fear stop Him. Miracles happened each time He put faith in His Father’s word and not in the enemy’s lies. Lazarus would still be stinking in the grave if Jesus had let fear stop Him from yelling “Lazarus, come forth!”

The power to overcome the panic of the moment is released when we focus on the reward and not the risk. The writer of Hebrews wrote that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. He looked past the present danger to the reward. Paul testified to the Philippians that he was always pushing toward the prize.

There are different levels of prizes. A student in a local high school track meet who finishes first wins an award. The athlete in the Olympic Track and Field competition wins a bigger award and a place in history. To win the big one requires victory in a lot of little ones.

The world desperately needs bold believers who blast through the door of fear to the miraculous rewards on the other side.

Expanding Perspectives

I love to ask people how God speaks to them. Over my years of knowing Him, He has surprised me many times by speaking to me in ways I did not expect.

When God first spoke to Moses, it was just an ordinary day tending sheep in the wilderness. It was not uncommon for brush plants to combust in the dry heat of the desert. It was only when Moses looked a little closer that he realized something very unusual was going on: the bush was burning, but it was not being consumed. Now that was extraordinary! God used this miraculous sign to get Moses' attention, but He also used it to teach him a life-long lesson: nothing is impossible for Him.

God does not want to be confined by our perspective of Him - He wants to speak to us in ways that expand our perspective of Him! He loves to challenge both our imagination and our intellect as He shares with us what He is capable of doing.

However God chooses to speak to us, His voice is life-giving. When He speaks, abundant life breaks out. Everywhere He speaks, He releases beauty, energy and vision. If you are currently experiencing a situation that seems impossible, why not ask God to speak to you afresh about it? Once He has spoken, nothing is impossible.