IT IS 2015; SO WHAT????

If you can stay awake late enough, you will be a witness to an incredible event.  It happens at MIDNIGHT every year as December 31 morphs into January 1.  The countdown begins as the “Ball” drops; we kiss our loved ones (if they are still awake) and hang up a new calendar.   A new year begins; a new chapter in our life; the old is passed, the new has begun and we celebrate.

If you are connected on Face book, you have read post after post declaring how happy some are to say “goodbye” to 2014 and “hello” to 2015.  Many are excited to begin a new page in their life saga others are just anxious to put all of their 2014 bad experiences behind them.  I could take the time to look at their 12/31/2013 updates and I would venture to say that I would find some of the exact posts; the year being the only difference.  So was 2014 better?  Did 2013 stay contained between January and December?  Apparently NOT!!!!  There was no magic, nothing changed and now we are counting down the hours of 2014, once again expecting the magic that didn’t happen in 2014 has just been waiting for 2015.  Sorry to “burst your bubble,” “rain on your parade,” or “drop the ball,” but when you wake up, January 1, 2015, life will be exactly as you left it when you fell asleep on December 31, 2014. 

In regards to the foreign policy of the United States, John Bolton, former UN Ambassador stated, “It was a bad year and it is not going to get any better.”  Although pessimistic, the statement is ABSOLUTELY TRUE.  Unless policies are instituted to affect change, conditions will not improve solely because we passed the 365 day mark.  Your circumstances do not magically change because you put up a new calendar or write a different year on your checks.  You will not wake up with an unquenchable desire to be healthy but if you say NO to certain foods and YES to moving more, change WILL begin.  There will still be “awesome” sales in 2015 inviting you to just “slide” that charge card or debit card but your bank account will be larger if you decide that you have enough stuff.  Your relationship with God will be even weaker unless you set the time aside to get in touch with God through prayer and the Word.   365 more days will pass in your life, the calendar will count down to December 31, 2015 and you will be looking forward to a better year in 2016 UNLESS you institute “life policies” to affect change.

Your problems may be centered around family, a job, substance abuse, money, health and there may be some circumstance that are beyond your control; it may take a little honest soul searching and a long session in front of a mirror but in every situation YOU CAN CHANGE YOU!  Begin by being THANKFUL.  If you cannot find anything in your life for which to be thankful or to praise God, start by thanking that you are still breathing and woke to a New Year. Next, find someone else that you can HELP along life’s road.  Getting your mind off of yourself will give you a new perspective and you may find that your circumstance are not quite so bad.  Finally, find one thing you can CHANGE in YOU!  Perhaps it is saying no to that piece of chocolate, cutting up a charge card, getting up an hour earlier and spending that time in prayer and meditation or maybe it could be as simple as a phone call and saying, “I love you.”  Only God knows what things you will encounter this year on your journey but one thing you can be sure of; December 31, 2015 will come faster than you can imagine and some will be happy to see January 1, 2016 while others will say “It was the best year ever.” 

IT IS 2015, SO WHAT?

THE HOPE OF CHRISTMAS

We tend to romanticize the Christmas Holidays, painting pictures of softly falling snow, families gathered around a brightly burning fire, stockings hung in expectation and children dressed in cozy pajamas, sitting quietly as Dad reads a Christmas story.  The house smells of cinnamon and ginger, peppermint and balsam.  There are heaping plates of cookies and steaming cups of hot chocolate topped with mounds of whipped cream.  If that is your Christmas card, I want to peek into your living room AFTER the photographer is finished.  We pretend that “All is calm; all is bright,” when at times it feels more as if, “Grandma got run over by a reindeer.”

Sometimes our lives are not so “picture-perfect,” even though or perhaps because of a holiday.  The high expectations and demands may magnify the sense of failure.  Pictures of happy families gathered together remind you of great loss and the loneliness is intensified.  There are no visions of beribboned presents, beautifully decorated trees and heaping platters of good food as you view your little tree that no one else wanted, decorated with paper chains, presiding over the meager offerings lying under its crooked branches.  “Holly Jolly Christmas” certainly isn’t your song of choice.

Yes, life is no “Respecter of Holidays.”  In the last two days, three of my friends have lost loved ones; grief cannot be postponed because it is Christmas.  Some of my friends are facing “firsts” after saying goodbye to those closest to them; loneliness does not take a hiatus and return at a more convenient time.  Others have lost jobs and the mountains of gifts have been exchanged for a hot meal and another month’s rent.  Two New York families have changed their “dancing into mourning” because of a deliberate, senseless execution of their policemen husbands.  Life isn’t perfect, the world is in turmoil, yet the “Hope of Christmas” is still alive, beckoning us to come and “Sleep in Heavenly Peace.”

Over two thousand years ago, life was not so “picture perfect,” either.  The world was in turmoil, a heathen government ruled, many people were in want and need; it was in this imperfect setting that God chose to send the “Hope of Christmas.” Galatians 4:4, But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son….

It wasn’t about beautifully decorated homes and light displays, mountains of presents and heaping platters of steaming food, it wasn’t even about families gathered around the fireplace, singing carols of cheer; it was all about YOU and YOUR need.  John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  It was for you that God sent the “HOPE OF CHRISTMAS”!!!

Whatever situation you are facing during this holiday season, whatever lack you may be experiencing, I pray you will find comfort in the “Hope of Christmas.”

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

THE GIFT OF YOU

If you are connected to my face book page, you have read my posts encouraging everyone to give this Christmas season to the many needs and worthwhile causes and allow God to bless someone else through you.  After my latest post, I received an email from one of my dear friends, stating that she wanted to be a blessing but was living on very limited finances and did I have any ideas of ways she could still bless others.  I accepted the challenge and began to think of ways to give to others with zero dollars.

Here are a few ideas and I’m sure my readers have many they could add to the list.  First think of things that come natural to you, things you have mastered and things you enjoy doing; these are your talents and are meant to be shared instead of buried.  Then, allow your mind to come up with creative ways to use all of those talents to bless a friend.  Maybe you have a love for children, offer to babysit for a couple of hours while a young mother finishes her Christmas shopping or a deserving couple enjoys a date night.  Perhaps a friend is recovering from an illness; provide a more comfortable setting for recovery by offering to clean their house or wash their laundry.  Do you know a shut-in that would just love to have a visit?  Your gift is your attention as you sit and listen to them talk for a few hours.  Offer to help someone organize old photographs, take a couple of brightly wrapped shoe boxes and note cards as dividers and you will be amazed at the blessing you both received by a day of reminiscing and storytelling.

Are you a great cook?  Offer your services as “Chef for a Day.”  Your friend supplies the ingredients and you cook their gourmet dinner.  Offer to bake Christmas cookies for a working mom, she can supply the necessary items and you supply the know how and energy; what a blessing to her whole family, that Mom can swing by your house on her way home from work and surprise everyone with fresh homemade Christmas goodies.  Have a group of friends over for coffee and recipe sharing; each person makes their favorite recipe and brings it to share along with printed copies of the recipe.

Does everyone rave about your beautifully wrapped packages, your professionally decorated tree or nostalgic fireplace mantle arrangement?  It may come easy to you but some of us are challenged in this area.  Suggest to someone that you will come over and teach them the “Art of Gift Wrapping” or help them decorate their tree or mantle.  Even better, look at all of the ornaments and decorations you have collected over the years and no longer use, take them to a friend who may not be having such a merry Christmas and help her decorate and brighten up her life.

You may say, I no longer have patience with children, my cooking skills begin with a can opener and end with a microwave, I have no imagination and could use a decorator for my own house; what about PRAYER?  Be somebody’s Prayer Partner.  There is no greater blessing than knowing you have a friend who is praying for you.  Send a card or an email with an encouraging message.  Receiving a surprise message of encouragement will brighten someone’s day and may help change a situation.  Yesterday, a sweet friend posted on my wall that she “loved me dearly.”  I went through the rest of my day humming a tune and on top of the world.  It doesn’t take too much of your time but it could make a difference to someone who is struggling with life.

The best gift you can give anyone is the GIFT OF YOU, your time, your attention, your smile.  Many times we opt to give money because it is easier, we can quickly check that one off our list, and the effort is minimal when compared to a gift of time.  I challenge every one of my readers, join me this Christmas season to spread a little cheer in more creative ways.  I look forward to hearing all the reports of people you have blessed and the money you have saved by just giving YOU!

VICTIM OR VICTOR? YOU CHOOSE!!!

In today’s world it seems everyone is a victim.  Victimization is embraced, worn as a badge of honor, published and celebrated.  It seems that if you find yourself without your own personal story of victimization, you can make up one.  Just accuse someone of harming you, fill in a few details, and find a magazine to pick it up or publish it yourself.  You don’t even need to consider that you have falsely accused a person whose life and reputation may be ruined...you have joined the ranks of the injured; YOU ARE A VICTIM!!!  If it is discovered that the victimization was a figment of your imagination, embrace it, show your outrage, and shed a few tears because now you have been DOUBLY VICTIMIZED.

Now before you all throw stones at me and I become a victim, let me add that most of us have been victims at some time in our lives in various ways.  Perhaps someone has taken advantage of your generosity, physically or mentally harmed you, stabbed you in the back, started a malicious rumor or lied about you.  I am not trying to trivialize anything that you have experienced or the pain the experience has caused.  What I am saying is that you do NOT have to allow the circumstances of victimization to define you or set the future path you will travel.  You do NOT have to choose the label VICTIM!!!

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  Jesus was telling His disciples, be prepared because you will have people come against you, lie about you, physically harm you and attempt to take your life.  You can choose to be a VICTIM or you can choose to be a VICTOR!!  If anyone had the right to wear the victim label, Jesus had that right.  In the womb, his conception was questioned.  Around the age of 2, he had to flee to Egypt because a king had put a hit out on him.  He was laughed at, spit upon, betrayed by a friend, beaten up and ultimately put to death.  Even in His darkest hour, hanging on the cross, you find His mother and just a handful of friends lingering near.  But as Jesus told His disciples, “I have overcome the world!”  Jesus wears the VICTOR’S CROWN because He refused to be defined by the label, VICTIM.

Lest anyone think that in my perfect life I have never suffered victimization, I will open a window, just a crack, into an event that I experienced over 50 years ago.  There are only 3 or 4 people over my lifetime that I have felt brave enough to share with and now you.  I was an innocent 5 year old and there are many details that will never be revealed but will remain locked inside my brain forever.  In case you think I had a revelation of “repressed memories” or my experience is a result of watching too many movies or reading too many novels, let me assure you that the precise details have never left my mind, been diluted or changed.  In an instant, I can take you back to the exact place, identify the people and give you quotes from the people involved.  Did it affect certain areas of my life or my thinking on specific issues?  Absolutely, but at a very young age, I found peace in a Savior that had overcome the world.  I REFUSED to allow one event to define the rest of my life.  I REFUSED the label VICTIM; I am a VICTOR!!!

I will not pretend to put myself into your circumstance or understand what pain you are suffering.  We all have different responses to unpleasant events in our lives.  Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Because of His great love, God has given us the power not just to overcome but to CONQUER the enemy.  The writer of Romans goes on to assure us in verses 38 & 39, that NOTHING can stop you from being a VICTOR because NOTHING can separate you from the love of God.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is one TRUTH that remains the same for every person, no matter the circumstance; WE CAN BE VICTORIOUS BECAUSE JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD!  Your Victorious Life can begin the moment you REFUSE to be labeled a VICTIM.  You are a VICTOR.

IT IS NOT A SIN PROBLEM, IT IS A WILL PROBLEM

I have felt a heavy burden of intercession lately, as I pray for so many dear ones that are walking a dark road.  Every choice they make places a little more distance between them and their, once strong, relationship with God.  The sin they once found abhorrent has become an everyday lifestyle and I wonder what will awaken their spirit and hunger for the things of God.  As I continued to weep and intercede this morning, I felt a “God-pause” in which He spoke this to my spirit, “Susan, this is not a SIN problem, it is a WILL problem.  I settled the SIN problem on Calvary; my blood was payment enough to take care of sin for the whole world.  When I created humans, I gave them free will; they can choose SELF or they can choose GOD.  When someone walks down the path away from My presence, they will manifest sin because they are choosing SELF.”

It Started In A Garden!!!  Adam created in the image of God, received the breath of God and became a living soul.  God took a part of Adam and created him a mate, which he called Eve.  To this first man and woman, God provided everything they would ever need including FREE WILL, the freedom to choose.  Of course for free will to be valid, a choice must be present, so God provided a choice; to eat or not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  We know that Adam and Eve both made the choice to eat.  This action, we call SIN and as God said, the consequence is DEATH.  We teach our children this story of how sin came into being because Adam and Eve ate the “forbidden fruit,” but was that the real story.  I would submit that sin was conferred upon all of mankind because the first man and woman chose SELF instead of GOD!

Do not fool yourself into thinking that God loves you so much that you can serve Him and still serve self.  Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness.  Serving SELF is the antithesis of serving GOD and will lead you far away from everything that is pure and holy.  SELF is a greedy master with a voracious appetite that can never be sated.  SELF’s hunger will push you on a never ending search; on a new, more exciting quest to experience, to feel, to obtain anything that will temporarily satisfy the emptiness that cannot be filled.  As Romans states, you will become a SLAVE to SELF!!!

We know that as soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God set a Redemption Plan in motion.  God had told them, “In the day that you eat of the tree, you will surely die.”  A Holy God demanded DEATH FOR SIN but a Merciful God had a PLAN CALLED GRACE!  The Plan involved a BIRTH, a DEATH, and a RESURRECTION.  So the great Creator of fallen man, robed Himself in flesh, stepped from the Heavenly realm and was born.  He would become the PERFECT substitution for IMPERFECT man and satisfy the death sentence for sin.  When Jesus died on the cross, the SIN PROBLEM was settled once and for all.  Hebrews 9:12 “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”  That’s it!!!  It is finished!!!  The Sin Problem is settled!!!  But there still remains the WILL PROBLEM!!!

Jesus paid the price that sin demanded but you still have FREE WILL.  You still have to choose and the choice is the same for you as it was for Adam and Eve.  Will you choose SELF or will you choose GOD?  The actions are still the same; OBEDIENCE TO GOD or FOLLOW YOUR OWN LUST.   Finally, the consequence to your choice is still the same; SUBMISSION to GOD leading to ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD or SURRENDER to SELF leading to DEATH AND ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD.  Is there really any question?  CHOOSE TO SUBMIT!!!