BEGINNING Is Such A Big Deal---Really!

Some of our best ideas are still waiting for the right moment. We call it preparation. It's really procrastination. Eventually the due diligence phase yields to the do-nothing phase. And another good idea gets covered in cobwebs. Keep in mind what William Feather said: "Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing."

There’s something to be said for beginning now and filling in the details as you go. Not that details aren't important or that preparation isn't necessary, but at some you’ve got to quit compiling data and start pursuing results.

Do you know what the problem is? There’s no failure to face in the preparation stage. There’s no disappointment to deal with in the dream-casting stage. It’s only after the plan has been put into practice that you confront results that maybe don’t meet expectations. It’s easy to get nervous. It’s easier to plan just a little longer.

When Abraham was older than just about everyone who will be reading these words, God told him, "Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) Abraham went, not having a plan in place, not knowing exactly hat lay ahead, only that he was following the voice of God.

There are times when it’s time to do just what Abraham did: take the first few steps, even if all the questions haven’t been answered and all the problems aren’t solved in advance. There's something to be said for beginning now. As George Allen, the coach of the Washington Redskins said many times to his team of the 70’s: “the future is the now!” Shed the paralysis of analysis and start implementing those plans, dreams, visions and cuddled aspirations. Make 2012 THE YEAR---be a NIKE sort of person and “JUST Do IT!!!”  

SPIRITUAL COPY CATS

		Paul often used a phrase that may surprise you. In fact, if it came from anyone other than Paul in any place other than the Bible, I would have thought it heresy. He said, “Imitate me.” And he said it often -- in First Corinthians, Philippians, and First Thessalonians. For example ... "Therefore I urge you, be imitators of me." (1 Corinthians 4:16) Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) It’s a bold thing to say, “Be like me. Do what I do. Say what I say. Follow my example.” I don’t always feel comfortable with these words, because I know my faults all too well. But here’s the truth: any leader worth his or her salt can say it, and should say it. You follow the example and yield to the influence of qualified leaders in every area of life. When you invest, or make business decisions, or look after your health, you often look to leaders for direction. That’s because if you take good advice and follow good examples, you’re pretty much guaranteed success in these areas. It’s the same with discipleship and leadership. The crucial question is: Whose example will you choose to follow? A key to your success is to identify imitation-worthy individuals, and learn to follow their example -- especially in these areas: Attitude Preparation Conversation Spiritual Discipline Work Ethic Response to Adversity. Do you know people who excel in these areas? In order to be the best, learn to be like the best.

WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Colossians 2 :16-17 NKJV

I have always believed in the promise of Christmas. There has always been something special to me about this time of the year, going back to my earliest days of childhood. I've been in a real meloncoly mood these past few weeks thinking about Christmas' past,  Fortunately for me, there are many wonderful memories hanging as pictures on the galary of mind---to look at---muse about----live again.

What is it that we love about Christmas, once we get past the initial trappings?

I think it is the sense of wonder, beauty, and anticipation. It is the music, the look of surprise on a child’s face, and the amazing food. It’s the companionship of family and good friends. It is also the absence of strife and meanness (that is, with the exception of the crowds on “Black Friday”).

But how often does Christmas really deliver on its promises? A little bit here and there, but by and large, it ends up being the endless drone of mind-numbing ads on TV. It is the friction and pressure that comes when we are obligated to purchase gifts for people we barely know. It is the expectation put on us by others and sometimes even ourselves.

Then there is that big post-Christmas letdown—the letdown of expectations that can never really be met. We were not able to give what we really wanted to give, or what they really wanted to receive. Or you yourself did not get what you had hoped for. Then there are those bills that come due . . .

So what is Christmas at its worst? It is a crass, commercial, empty, exhausting, and very expensive ritual that drags on endlessly for months at a time----even before Thanksgiving now!

What is Christmas at its best? It is a glimpse of things to come–the beauty, the worshipful music, the adoring angels, the love, the warmth, the promise, the hope…all things promised to us in a life to yet come.

You see, Christmas is a promise. It is a promise that has not yet been fully kept.

Christmas cannot be all that we want it to be. It’s only a holiday. Christmas cannot bring harmony to your home. Christmas cannot bring peace on earth. Christmas cannot bring happiness.

But Christ Himself can do all of this and more. That is really what we are longing for deep inside.

• Not Christmas, but Christ.
• Not merriment, but the Messiah.
• Not goodwill, but God.
• Not presents, but His presence.

Anything or anyone short of this will disappoint. But God never will.

That’s what I want for Christmas–Jesus Christ.

THINK ABOUT IT: What is Christmas at its best?

ALWAYS----IN EVERYWAY!!

In 1789, President George Washington designated the first national Thanksgiving Day when he issued a proclamation for "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God."

In our day, it can be very easy during our feasting to forget about the one we are celebrating on Thanksgiving. And sometimes we forget to give thanks altogether. You may say, "Well, I don't have a lot to give thanks for. I am just not feeling thankful this year." Maybe you are having financial troubles or health problems or there is conflict in your family.

But maybe we need to get things into perspective. The primary reason we were put on this earth as human beings was to glorify God and to give Him thanks. The Bible tells us this again and again. Psalm 107:1 says, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."

Yes, praise and worship can sometimes be a sacrifice because we don't want to do it. And that might be because we are depressed or down or things aren't going that well. It may be that hardship or tragedy has befallen us, and we don't feel like praising God. But the Bible does not say give thanks to the Lord because you feel good. Rather, it says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" We need to put things into perspective.

Yikes!! I forgot------“THANKS!”

So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"—Luke 17:17-18

Luke 17 tells the story of some men who had a lot to give thanks for. Prior to being miraculously touched by Jesus, they were complete outcasts—the very scourge of society. These ten men had the worst disease of the time, leprosy, for which there was no cure. They couldn't get any lower in that particular time in history with this incurable disease.

Those found to have leprosy could have no contact with others. They had to leave their house and their friends and live apart from them. These men were living an isolated, miserable life. Their clothing would have been ripped from perpetual mourning. Their skeletal heads would have been uncovered. They had to cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" wherever they went, in keeping with the Law of Moses. But they had heard about Jesus. And seeing Him in the distance, they cried out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:12-13).

I find it interesting how the Lord responded. There were no special effects, there was no swelling music—not even a dramatic touch. There was only a command. Jesus simply said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests" (verse 14). According to Levitical law, the priest would take them through an eight-day ceremony, examine them, and make sure they were truly healed of their leprosy.

They weren't healed yet, but still they went—and God healed them completely. However, only one of the ten decided to go back and give thanks, and he was a Samaritan. The Jews looked down on the Samaritans, yet it was a Samaritan who came back to give thanks.

         How like us it is to forget to give thanks.  And how incessant we are with our children----“ did you remember to say thanks?” We are so quick to ask for God's help. But we also need to remember to give Him praise when He comes through for us.  The Apostle Paul said in his first letter to those first century Christians at Thessalonica (I Thess. 5: 18) “Thank God for and in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus”. A godly person is a grateful person---it’s part of his nature.  So even if you forgot, when you remember “your oops” ---get after it with a heart felt THANK YOU! That my friend is God’s way and will for His children.

ABIDING IN CHRIST

ABIDING in CHRIST

The most important factor in our walk with Jesus Christ is to abide in him. The more we abide in Christ, the more we will have peace, victory over sin, and be walking in His steps.. What does it mean to abide in Christ? Let's first look at the definition for the word abide. John 15:4 says---Jesus speaking---“Abide in me, just as I am abiding in you” So what does “abide” mean:

ABIDE:
to wait for
to endure without yielding
to bear patiently
to accept without objection
to remain stable or fixed in a state
to continue in a place
Synonyms: Stay, continue, bear

ABIDING: enduring, continuing---- abide has to do with the concept of 'being' instead of 'doing'. Doing in relation to the Christian walk is: reading your Bible, going to church, praying, witnessing, doing good works, fleeing sin, etc. These are all good things to do as a Christian. These are things we should be doing. If we are not doing these things our walk with God and others will suffer. However,  if we are doing these things just because we are suppose to, or we are doing them in our own strength, we will not have victory or peace and miss out in having an intimate relationship with Christ. If we are not careful, we can become works oriented instead of Christ oriented.

To Abide in Christ is to be in the 'being' mode. We still are doing the things that God has called us to, but we are doing it in His strength. Abiding in Christ is about having an intimate relationship with Him. The relationship is more important than the things we do or don't do. The more we are abiding in Him, the more we will be faithful. We will hear His voice clearer, not be works oriented, and have more peace in our life. To abide is to experience His presence.
Let's drill down on the definition of abide:

To wait for-We as Christians need to spend much more time waiting on God. By this we mean spending time with God, seeking His will, not jumping ahead of Him

.
To endure without yielding-To be determined to experience God's presence.

To bear patiently-To abide in Christ when we don't feel like it. To be patient---waiting for God to reveal His will and Himself.

 
To continue in a place-We need to spend more time, staying in His presence

If we are abiding in Christ, we can be assured that we will walk IN HIS STEPS.
Abiding in Christ is a process. We don't get there over night. So don't get discouraged if it seems hard to just 'rest in Him'. Begin to look for God’s presence in all aspects of your world. Enjoy the forests, the lakes, the blue skies (even the thunder and lightning), the green pastures and a starry night . As you enjoy God's creation, you will begin to sense His presence. Abiding will come. Stop and 'smell the roses'---practice the presence of Jesus

There is a song by Watermark that is excellent about experiencing God's presence. It is called "Take Me There"

(Chorus) Take me there to the place where you are Take me there, take me there, I just wanna be where You are Hide me in Your shelter Hide me here, hide me here I just wanna be where you are (Repeat Chorus) (Verse) You have buried my sin in the depths, my Lord And You've covered me from the furious storm And You've kept me in the cleft of Your rock And You've loved me there right from the start (Chorus) (Verse) You are here and I can feel You I just love to be where You are Hide me in this shelter I just love to be where You are (Chorus)

REAL OR COUNTERFIT CONTENTMENT

Read | Philippians 4:10-13

Think about the times when you have felt truly satisfied. What caused you to feel that way? For most people, a sense of well-being comes when their environment is just the way they want it, but that wasn’t the case with Paul. He learned to be content in every circumstance, good or bad.

We’d do well to learn a few lessons from him. After all, we can’t avoid all difficult situations, so we might as well discover how to face them with a tranquil, settled spirit rather than with frustration and anxiety.

Contentment isn’t governed by external circumstances. Changing the situation may bring temporary relief, but satisfaction based on circumstances will always be sporadic and fleeting. It’s a matter of how you think, not what you have.

Contentment flows from an inward attitude. The apostle’s inner calm came from a mind set on Christ. Choosing to trust the Savior no matter what, Paul allowed the Holy Spirit within him to rule his emotions and shape his responses.

Contentment is learned experientially. You cannot acquire it from a book or a sermon because it’s a process that must be lived out. Paul learned contentment on the road—in persecution, suffering, and prison. The Lord used every difficulty to transform him.

Situations that cause frustration, anxiety, and dissatisfaction are also the ones God uses to produce contentment in us. When you are fed up with your own grumbling, disappointment, and dissatisfaction, then you are ready to let the Lord teach you His new way of living—in joyous trust!