It’s easy this time of year to see how the message of Christmas has been blurred or almost obliterated in many places. Schools schedule a “winter break” instead of a “Christmas vacation.” Candy canes and Christmas trees are out, to say nothing of nativity scenes and wise men. Even Santa and reindeer are out in some places as guilty by association.
We can’t control what others do but we need to ask ourselves, what are you and I doing to personally shine the light of Christ into the world in which we live? Are we so focused on long lines and long to-do lists that we fail to share the most important thing about Christmas … the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Yet, maybe the idea of sharing the gospel at any time of year is intimidating to you. Check out today’s post to learn about a simple resource and some other suggestions that can help you share your faith this Christmas season.
We’ve all been there. Maybe you’re there right now. You’re going through a trial yet God seems nowhere to be found. And you find yourself wondering why.
You believe His promise to never leave you or forsake you. You believe God answers prayers. But … silence.
We’ve all been there. Maybe you’re there right now. You’re going through a trial yet God seems nowhere to be found. And you find yourself wondering why.
You believe His promise to never leave you or forsake you. You believe God answers prayers. But … silence.
Communication or the lack thereof is a problem in many relationships. How about yours? Do you ever feel like you talk to friends and family, even your spouse, but just aren’t sure you’re being heard? Do you feel you’re frequently misunderstood and when you keep trying it only leads to an argument? You’re not alone. But the answer isn’t getting angry, talking louder, or clamming up. What can we do instead?
Controversial issues abound these days. It’s not just that they abound but the divisions seem to be deeper and more contentious. Controversial issues come up on social media, from political platforms, in the public square, on the news, on talk shows, and all across the internet. But they will also come up across Thanksgiving tables in a few days.
How do we decide when to engage in those conversations and how can the love of God and His wisdom help us navigate those controversial issues?
Suffering … we don’t like to think about the possibility that we might suffer. Yet, tests, trials, tragedies, suffering, and persecutions come to us all. We will probably never be completely prepared for tragedies and intense suffering. Those things often knock the wind out of us at least for a while. But is it possible to have the kind of spiritual foundation that will keep us from being completely knocked down by suffering? If so, what can we do to prepare?
Do our associations really matter? If we know who we are in Christ, is it acceptable and wise to have close friendships with unbelievers? After all, didn’t Jesus hang around with prostitutes and tax collectors? What do we need to consider as we develop friendships, form partnerships, even choose a mate?
Self-Esteem: The accepted wisdom says we all need it. It’s the thing we believe our children need more of if they are going to be happy and successful in life. It’s the magical quality underachievers are lacking and what we need to somehow infuse into others and gain more of ourselves.
But is self-esteem the thing that is lacking when we struggle? Is it something to be sought after in our own lives and conferred on others? Or could it be that our quest for self-esteem has taken us in the wrong direction?
“Obey all the way, right away with a happy heart.” What does all that have to do with living in the fear of the Lord?
The fear of the Lord is about how we live our lives every minute of every day. It’s obeying His commands and precepts in all areas of our lives, how we treat others, our attitude toward authority, our motives for all that we do and much more. It’s a prevailing heart attitude that we should all cultivate.
“Obey all the way, right away with a happy heart” encompasses all of that and is good advice for all of us, but what does it mean?
Today I’d like to share the first in a series of 5-minute devotionals. These will be just brief thoughts on a verse, subject or concept, something to think about or chew on. If you have a question that might make a good 5-minute devo, feel free to ask it in the comments section and I’ll feature some of them in future posts.
So, to kick off this series, today’s devo is Why We Can’t Think Straight.
