Santa or Jesus - Who's your holiday hero?

  

Advent is underway. Like many, I’ve been thinking a little about Santa (and Mrs. Santa’s holiday to-do list), but I’ve been thinking a lot more about Jesus.

Here are some of my own merry musings: 

Santa eats cookies. Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Santa comes down to your hearth. Jesus wants to enter your heart.

Santa makes toys. Jesus makes us new.

Santa is Ho-Ho-Ho. Jesus is the Holy One.

Santa loves good girls and boys. Jesus loves us all.

Santa spends. Jesus saves.

Santa knows if you've been bad or good. Jesus knows we are all sinners, and He can restore us in His own righteousness.

Santa is jolly. Jesus is joy.

Santa lives at the North Pole. Jesus makes His home in us.

Santa comes around once a year. Jesus is with us always.

Santa makes us happy. Jesus makes us whole.

Santa brings gifts. Jesus is the Gift.

Santa is tradition. Jesus is the Truth.

Santa is fun. Jesus is forever.

 

I like Santa. But I love Jesus. Who's with me?

 

 This Christmas season, as we celebrate the birthday of the best Gift-Giver of all, let's have fun with Santa, but let's have faith in Jesus.

 "Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!" (2 Corinthians 9:15, NLT)

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When God states the obvious, it's probably not

 

 Repetitions and seemingly obvious statements in the Bible probably aren’t as simple as we tend to think they are. We may be tempted to skim or skip through passages that sound redundant or overly familiar to us.

But maybe that’s the point.

 If God took the time to repeat something, it’s not because He slipped in His speech, as we are wont to do. And He’s not nagging.

 You know how we might relate the same stories or jokes or other statements multiple times, perhaps because we forgot we’d already told them? Or we thought someone might not have listened to us the first seven or eight times? Or we didn’t like how a listener wasn’t really listening or answered us in an unexpected and unsatisfying way?

 

 I’m thinking that’s not what it means when God repeats things – especially in His Holy Word. Or when He restates something that seems already evident to us. When He does this, it’s clearly for emphasis. He wants to make sure we really grasp the point.

Here’s an example.

 In Joshua 13, the chapter opens this way:

 “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years’” (v. 1, ESV).

 It’s not like Joshua didn’t already know his age. He was old. He was advanced in years. (And aren’t those literally the same thing?) But God pointed it out to him.

God wasn't springing Joshua’s age on him as a surprise. I suspect God was recognizing and acknowledging Joshua’s situation. (The Lord went on to outline Joshua’s instructions, which were becoming more urgent as he grew older.)

 Looking at our own lives, how often does God point out our most obvious conditions, crises, or concerns? Consider these possibilities:

 Now Jake was battling post-traumatic stress disorder. The Lord said to him, “You are battling post-traumatic stress disorder.”

 Now Katy was struggling with chronic migraines. The Lord said to her, “You are struggling with chronic migraines.”

 Now Grandpappy was enduring his third round of chemotherapy. The Lord said to him, “You are enduring your third round of chemotherapy.”

 Now Lucy and Sy were sorrowing over another miscarriage. The Lord said to them, “You are sorrowing over another miscarriage.”

 Now Leslie was job-hunting after receiving another pink slip. The Lord said to her, “You are job-hunting after receiving another pink slip.”

 Our all-seeing and all-knowing God is not caught off-guard by any of these difficult scenarios. Not ever. He’s waiting for us to call on Him.

We get that – at least much of the time we do. But how do we feel when He tells us about our troubles, which we painfully and obviously already know about?

 It’s like God is affirming our challenges.

 

“I see you,” He says.

 He understands. He knows our anxieties. He sees our struggles. He feels our pain. And He steps into our lives to meet us exactly where we are.

 And then, once He has our attention, He leads us forward, be it through or over or past whatever we’re facing.

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)

 Related items:

• Dark and difficult emotions don’t negate our faith.
• Does God say no to earnest prayers?
• Maybe worry isn’t all bad.
• Ouch! Why do we grieve grievers with tacky questions?
• Peace in the storm can only be God’s.

 

Feel free to follow on Twitter. Don’t miss the Heart of a Ready Writer page on Facebook. You are invited to visit my Amazon author page as well.

 

Image/s: Man with a Knapsack, Winslow Homer, 1873, public domain

Does giving up only work with Lenten sacrifices?

 I’m giving up, but not in the sense one might think. Lent starts this week, and I’ve decided to drop a few things from my life. This initiative may last through Lent (Ash Wednesday through Easter weekend), or it may become a longer term change. But for now, it’s a 40-day thing.

 

I’m not mentioning this for any accolades. What I need is accountability.

  Of course, giving up is almost never a good plan. But in this case, giving up something actually takes more determination and wherewithal than not doing so.

 Here’s the ticket:

 Never give up, Christian. Unless, of course, you’re giving up something for Lent.

 (That admonition would actually apply to any personal fast or sacrifice made in the same spirit.)

 The Bible contains plenty of exhortations for believers never to give up. Here are a few examples.

 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. (Luke 18:1, NLT)

 “I have told you this, so that you will not give up your faith.   (John 16:1, GNT) 

One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up.  (Acts 18:9, GNT)

 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:7, NLT)

 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. (2 Corinthians 4:1, NLT)

 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. (2 Corinthians 4:16, NLT)

 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9, NIV)

 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people. (Ephesians 6:18, GNT)

 Additional verses abound, urging believers to remain steadfast and strong and to never give up.

 

That’s great advice. And it’s not the kind of giving up we’re talking about, when we say we’re giving up something for Lent.

 Having said all that, what’s the Lenten sacrifice?

 Christian tradition (for many) includes some sort of self-deprivation during from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. It’s a form of fasting, inspired by Jesus’ 40 days and nights in the wilderness (See Matthew 4:1-11.). Some give up chocolate. Others forgo meat. Still others abstain from alcohol. Plenty of brave souls commit to go without any sweets.

 Additionally, people might opt out of social networking, television, or other entertainments as a form of fasting during Lent.

 Here’s a caveat: It’s not really a sacrifice to give up something we won’t even miss. For example, I’m not a smoker, so giving up cigarettes wouldn’t mean anything. I already don’t eat chocolate, so that won’t work either. And I don’t play video games, so promising to go without them would be pointless.

 

A genuine sacrifice means skipping something I’ll actually miss.

 The goal is to redirect my focus onto the Lord and His sacrifice on my behalf (and yours), which culminated at the cross and became victory over sin and death at His resurrection.

 So here it is.

 This year, I’m doing without candy. Honestly, this isn’t a huge deal. Only a few candies actually tempt me. But we’ve just come through the Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s to Valentine’s Day sweet-tooth indulgence series. It’s time. I’d like to build a candy-free habit into my life, and the Lenten season offers a prime opportunity to do that. During this time, I hope to direct my attention upwards, especially during those late-night moments when I might crave something sweet.

 I want to crave the sweet presence of the Savior instead. (I’m not trying to be playful about this. It’s just that I need the extra reminder, all the time.)

 

Are you giving up anything for Lent?

 If you are, I pray that God bless you in your sacrifice by making His Presence clear to you, helping you to keep your focus on Him, and meeting you in a special way this Lenten season.

 

Easter is coming. Hallelujah.

 

Related items:

·        I gave up chocolate, but not for Lent.

·        On Good Friday: Are my eyes and heart dry?

·        Thanks = sacrifice to the Lord – 30 days of thankful Scriptures

  

Feel free to follow on Twitter. Don’t miss the Heart of a Ready Writer page on Facebook. You are invited to visit my Amazon author page as well.

Image/s: Product photos, public domain

Does God say no to earnest prayers?

 

What a tough question. We pray. God answers. I’d stake my life on it. Maybe you agree. But does that mean God gives us carte blanche when we pray?

 Believers love to say, “Prayer is powerful” and “Prayer works.” I beg to differ. This may sound like semantics, but I’d rather proclaim this:

 “God is powerful” and “God works.”

 The Bible clearly states, again and again, that God answers prayer. Here are a few favorite examples:

 “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.” (Psalm 40:1, NIV)

 “The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18. NLT)

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8, ESV)

 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22, NKJV)

 “And whatever you ask in My Name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13, NASB)

 “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7, KJV)

“This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in My Name, according to My will, and He’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be like a river overflowing its banks!” (John 16:23-24, MSG)

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT)

 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14, NIV)

 These are wonderful promises from our faithful God, and we take great comfort in them. We find assurance for our faith, and we persist in praying. Even so, can’t we all point to instances in our own lives (and those of our loved ones), when God’s answer was entirely different that what we thought we’d asked Him for?

 Consider these biblical examples of God’s seemingly surprising answers to faithful prayers.

 

The Apostle Paul prayed several times for relief, but God let his suffering last.

 What was the thorn in the flesh that pestered Paul (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.)? Bible scholars differ on this. Some have suggested it was a physical ailment, such as vision loss (See Galatians 4:14) or even optic neuritis (perhaps from multiple sclerosis). Additional experts have alleged he might have had epilepsy.

 Others have proposed Paul suffered in another manner. Whatever the cause of the Apostle’s woes, God let his struggle persist for reasons of His own.

 

Lazarus’ sisters begged for his healing, but he actually died.

 When Jesus received a message that his special friend had fallen gravely ill (See John 11.), the Lord did not rush to heal him. Lazarus died. Sisters Mary and Martha questioned Jesus’ devotion for their brother. Then He worked a wondrous miracle, calling Lazarus out of his grave.

 

God did not grant Mary’s heart-wrenching prayers at the foot of her son’s cross.

 Mary stood at Golgotha with Mary Magdalene and John (See John 19:24-26.), watching her son endure a torturous death. Surely she begged the Father to rescue Jesus from this agonizing fate. But God allowed the Savior to complete the work He had taken on flesh to do.

 Had He not, none of us would be here to ponder the complexities of answered prayer at all.

 

The previous evening, God did not sway over His holy Son’s blood-sweating prayer in Gethsemane.

 Jesus wrestled so hard in prayer on the night He was to be arrested and sentenced to die that His sweat fell as drops of blood in the famous garden near Jerusalem (See Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22:40-46.). “Not My will, but Yours,” he called to His Father, submitting to the original plan, which led through His suffering to our ultimate redemption.

 

Sometimes a “No” answer from God actually leads to a bigger “Yes.”

 Why do we try to fence God in, prescribing how He ought to respond to our pleas? And why do we try to explain away His answers, when they don’t come in the flavor we’d like? We even try to blame those who struggle and suffer, as if God might treat their prayers differently if they weren’t somehow at fault. It’s heartless and unscriptural to critique others’ faith, based on how God answers their prayers.

 

“Name it and claim it” doesn’t exactly hold water, if God is truly sovereign. And He is.

 Maybe … just maybe … when we place our prayers before the throne of the Lord of Lords, we’d do well to leave them there.

 

Bear with me: I’m preaching to the mirror here, as I often must do.

 Do I earnestly believe He is willing and able to answer in the best way of all?

 Am I trusting Him for all that is to come?

 When I say, “Thy will be done,” do we really mean, “My will be done”?

 Amen means “So be it.” May I learn to let it be so.

 

Related items:

• Feeling a little scarred, spilled, and scratched this week
  
• God’s best always flies past counterfeits that are merely good
• Maybe worry isn’t all bad
  
• Ouch! Why do we grieve grievers with tacky questions?

 Image/s: From Devotions, Ernst Nowak (1851-1919), public domain photo

Feel free to follow on Twitter. Don’t miss the Heart of a Ready Writer page on Facebook. You are invited to visit my Amazon author page as well.