“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
(Isa 9:6 AV)On the way home from the annual family party, which was a blast, a series of things took place in the small journey from our friends house to my own. Let's just say I'm a bit of a klutz and if it's within twenty feet, day or night, I'll step in it. And of course I got it on the floorboard of my brother's clean car. Once home, having used the hose to clean off my shoe, I did something simple and innocuous that resulted the minor scratching of skin off a knuckle and the drawing of blood. After cleaning out the back of my brother's car I went to turn on the AC in the house because it's Florida where, in spite of most of the country being in a deep freeze, we hit the 80's today. Only the AC worked for about five minutes and then said no more.
So why am I telling you all this? Is it because I have an Eeyore complex? Most of my friends probably have their hands up on that one. They're right. And I know it.
But that's not why I'm telling you.
It's because I was reminded by the Lord that blessings abound for me because of His Son sent so many years ago. Further more, there are people in the world, fellow Christians, celebrating the birth of our Savior with little more then a grass hut over their heads. They are faced with malnutrition while I happily munched upon cookies, chocolates, and wonderful pulled pork this evening. I have to much nutrition. Many have sores and wounds from trying to carry water for miles or because of persecution. Just look at the previous post and you'll see what I mean. In my own country there are people faced with horrible weather conditions which have them locked into their own homes while I can go out in my shorts and T-shirt to enjoy throwing a couple of discs into a basket out back. And I even wear a daily reminder, a bracelet, to pray for a beautiful young woman who is faced with a life threatening illness.
It's so easy for us to slip into self. So easy to think the world owes us something. So easy to think that when we don't get things our way or when bad things happen that it's somehow an universal conspiracy to make us unhappy. The trouble is that the condition of self as the center of our universe ultimately leads to unhappiness, discontent, and disillusionment. Because self can never control the universe. This self couldn't even keep himself from stepping in dog doo in the dark.
But there is One who controls the universe. Who set it into motion. Who knows the heart of man. And who desires to be the center of man's universe so much that He would come as the weakest of things, a baby. To live and to die upon a cross at the hands of people He breathed into being. To die for me and my self-centered heart.
It's to Jesus I go seeking forgiveness, unmerited though it is. He, with grace and mercy, desires to give me forgiveness and love, without condition.
I am so thankful for His love and grace, for Jesus shed blood and obedience to God the Father.
Take time with me and thank God for Jesus. And remember those He has brought into your life who He has asked you to put above your own wants in service like Christ.
Merry Christmas. May you know the joy and peace that is Christ, the Son of the Living God.
So why am I telling you all this? Is it because I have an Eeyore complex? Most of my friends probably have their hands up on that one. They're right. And I know it.
But that's not why I'm telling you.
It's because I was reminded by the Lord that blessings abound for me because of His Son sent so many years ago. Further more, there are people in the world, fellow Christians, celebrating the birth of our Savior with little more then a grass hut over their heads. They are faced with malnutrition while I happily munched upon cookies, chocolates, and wonderful pulled pork this evening. I have to much nutrition. Many have sores and wounds from trying to carry water for miles or because of persecution. Just look at the previous post and you'll see what I mean. In my own country there are people faced with horrible weather conditions which have them locked into their own homes while I can go out in my shorts and T-shirt to enjoy throwing a couple of discs into a basket out back. And I even wear a daily reminder, a bracelet, to pray for a beautiful young woman who is faced with a life threatening illness.
It's so easy for us to slip into self. So easy to think the world owes us something. So easy to think that when we don't get things our way or when bad things happen that it's somehow an universal conspiracy to make us unhappy. The trouble is that the condition of self as the center of our universe ultimately leads to unhappiness, discontent, and disillusionment. Because self can never control the universe. This self couldn't even keep himself from stepping in dog doo in the dark.
But there is One who controls the universe. Who set it into motion. Who knows the heart of man. And who desires to be the center of man's universe so much that He would come as the weakest of things, a baby. To live and to die upon a cross at the hands of people He breathed into being. To die for me and my self-centered heart.
It's to Jesus I go seeking forgiveness, unmerited though it is. He, with grace and mercy, desires to give me forgiveness and love, without condition.
I am so thankful for His love and grace, for Jesus shed blood and obedience to God the Father.
Take time with me and thank God for Jesus. And remember those He has brought into your life who He has asked you to put above your own wants in service like Christ.
Merry Christmas. May you know the joy and peace that is Christ, the Son of the Living God.
