The Gift

My Savior was born. That’s all that needs to be said. The actual time of year is of no consequence to me.

I grew up thinking that part of celebrating Christmas was giving gifts to one another because the three wise men gave gifts. But it’s not about the gifts brought to Joseph, Mary, and our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s about the gift Christ brought from the Father – to us.

His birth was planned so that He could die for a specific purpose – to save mankind. This was the true gift of his birth…what we call Christmas.

It is a gift that surpasses everything imaginable on this earth.

It is a gift that waits as long as your lifetime to be received by you.

It is a gift of life everlasting that would soon be unwrapped on the cross… where His blood would redeem those who would accept His gift.

So, if I truly want to celebrate Jesus’ birth, then I guess I also need to celebrate His death – as this is the true gift given us.

As I shop through the various department stores I hone in on the small children screaming and crying from visual overloads that spark the greed that has never been tempered with the story of Jesus. I realize the children in America are actually very poor.

I dread buying anything red or green, or that resembles a commercial I zipped past while trying to land on some significant broadcast that isn’t laced with Santa and all the other jingle bells. But, I still buy this stuff out of being a good mother with good cheer and sincere love. I like giving to people…but I want to focus on the true celebration.

If we could give a gift to one another in the same spirit as He gave us, then know that that gift would be called love. That is the perfect gift this Christmas, in case anyone asks.

Don’t forget to accept the Father’s gift, and have a Merry Christmas.

When It's Dark

Recently our group has been in deep prayer for some very sick people that are close to our hearts. Some have been deemed terminal, some are in agony, and most are very young.

In all this sickness we search for God and try to find answers through our prayers, in our fellowship with one another and in the scriptures.

While I was reading "Angels - God's Secret Agents" by Billy Graham, I came across an incident he wrote about on page 106 of the book. I connected what Mr. Graham said right away with those praying for their sick and maybe wondering where God was. It comforted me as a Christian and I wanted to share it with you. Here is what Mr. Graham wrote:

Once when I was going through a dark period I prayed and prayed, but the heavens seemed to be brass. I felt as though God had disappeared and that I was all alone with my trial and burden. It was a dark night for my soul. I wrote my mother about the experience, and will never forget her reply: "Son, there are many times when God withdraws to test your faith. He wants you to trust Him in the darkness. Now, Son, reach up by faith in the fog and you will find that His hand will be there." In tears I knelt by my bed and experienced an overwhelming sense of God's presence. Whether or not we sense and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit or one of the holy angels, by faith we are certain God will never leave us nor forsake us.

Chapter 9 - The Spirit Transforms

Read Galations 5:13-26

(I chose the picture to the right because it represented to me a transformation from the death of unforgiven sin to the fruits of the Holy Spirit as seen in live branches through Christ.)

According to the verses in Galations mentioned above, what are some of the limitations on the freedom we have been set free with?

I guess we can't use this freedom to gratify the desires of our sinful nature. We can't indulge. Have you ever experienced someone thinking "Oh, they think they are saved so they can go do whatever they want."? Do you believe that Catholics just go to their priest and it's as simple as that for them too? We know these statements are not true for Christians.

Doesn't the sinful nature desire what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is contrary to the sinful nature? Do you sense this struggle inside of you?

Indulging our sinful nature plays out in today's society in the form of what is described in verse 19. Obvious is sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. We see hatred, drugs, thieves, rapist, murderer's, greed, sexual acts...and on and on. And this was described over 2000 years ago. Seems like someone knew what they were talking about.

So what is Paul saying when he says in verse 21 that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God? What about those of us who are truly Christians who slip and fall into this behavior? What about those who indulge in this sinful nature without Christ as their savior? What is the difference between the two groups? Hard question.

We resolved that as Christians we will sometimes fall into the desires of this world but will generally not gravitate to that behavior without a sense of dread or guilt and be acutely aware of the sinful indulgence. Most often we turn in regret and ask forgiveness. Or in some cases it may take a very long time once we cross a threshold of no longer controlling ourselves. But with others that have never accepted Christ their sin has not been washed with the blood of Christ yet. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit hasn't happened to them. They are not indulging their desires with regret or even care they are doing wrong. It's all about them and their pleasure without consideration of Christ.

The distinction of the acts of the sinful nature is to help us recognize each other by the fruits of the Spirit. These fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

We should test our own actions, carry each other's burdens, restore one another gently. We reap what we sow. If we sow to please our sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction, but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Look over the list of qualities that demonstrate the Spirit's presence in your life.

Find the qualities that are least in you and make them a priority for development. Mine is self-control in many forms. It has to stay in front of me at all times and it's hard putting it there. I struggle with love when it comes to strangers or nasty people. I have to remind myself that God loves that person as much as He loves me. Christ completes us. We are better people because of the indwelling of His spirit - I can't imagine what I was like before.