This Year, I Resolve to Lose my Life.

Every New Years admirable goals get set, big dreams get dreamt. Lofty ideas are entertained in the hopes of a better year. No doubt, today, from many pulpits flowed positive messages of how we to change our lives this year. I'm sure sound advice on how to keep promises to ourselves were learned today. It's to be expected, after all, the Bible teaches us to set goals.  Many verses teach us to be proactive in our lives. Like this one.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.~ Proverbs 21:5

We should set goals. Hard work is  the path of success, is a truth. I'd never suggest otherwise. I'd never deny most of us have untapped potential. Certainly, loosing weight, breaking addictions, and getting control of your finances, are worthy goals. I hope and pray this year brings the betterment of us all. I certainly make plans and have goals.

Realistically, the majority of today's words and strategies will soon be forgotten. Many of 2017's resolutions will quickly fall by the wayside. So much emphasis will be placed on our plans for our lives. Oh, the things we will attempt to make our lives better . Yet, I'm reminded Jesus said in Luke 9: 24 -25

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.  What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very lives

What if this year, we resolved to give up the futile attempt at being in charge of our own destinies? What if instead of focusing on our own successes , the goals we set were for bettering the lives of others? In other words, loving our neighbor as much as ourselves. How much better would our lives become if we strived to give our dedication to God as liberally as God has given us His grace? If what we desire is an abundant life, we must diligently plan to live in as much obedience, as a fallen creature can, to word of God. What if, rather than creating the best version of ourselves, we lost our lives, finding ourselves in Christ? I plan on following Jesus every day for the rest of my life. You coming?

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

May the goals we set for today, lead us into a soul satisfying, productive, participation of God's plan, of loosing our lives, proclaiming the way, the truth, and the life, in Him.

Happy New Year.

Christmases Don't Just Happen

There are certain things you just come to expect at Christmas. Stockings hung on real and imagined fireplaces. Presents neatly wrapped and heaped underneath an adorned tree. The lights, the decorations, the music, but I think it is the smell of Christmas that seduces me into my love affair with the season. The combination of fresh cut pines and pumpkin spice candles produce a heavenly aroma. Still, nothing smells quite like Christmas as grandma`s kitchen. If southerners had their own version of The Twelve days of Christmas, there would be eight maids a baking...five pecan pies. Everyone wants Christmas to look just right, sound just right, smell just right, and feel just right. As any seasoned celebrator can tell you, Christmases don't just happen. Presents don't wrap themselves and homemade red velvet cake doesn't apply it's own cream cheese icing. A tremendous amount of preparation and planning goes in marrying our old family traditions to our new ones. It's truly a magical thing to tie our past to a vision of the future.  It`s a tiny symbol of the same sort of plan our Heavenly Father had that first Christmas so long ago. 

This year, like so many of the past, many will break open their bibles to read Luke chapter two or Matthew Chapter one and tell the story of the first Christmas. It is a story I hold dear to my heart and one I love to share. I only wish, for once at Christmas, we would tell the story from where it began.

The essence and mission of Christmas does not begin in Matthew chapter one. The beginning won`t be found in Luke chapter two. If you want the Christmas story, as told from it's beginning, read John chapter 1: 1-17.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.   There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.   The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.   (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Verse nine ties this passage to the Christmas story, telling how the true light, Jesus, was coming into the world. You see, Christ took one foot off the throne in heaven and stepped onto a mission field. A mission, to save us.  It is a mission He has commanded us to be a part of.
In Matthew Chapter 28: 19-20 Jesus said this Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
These words convince me of 4 THINGS.
1. HE IS COMMANDING THE CHURCH, BECAUSE THE TASK WAS TOO LARGE FOR THE DISCIPLES AND HE KNEW THEY COULD NOT FINISH IT.

2. THE CHURCH`S MISSION IS TO BE OBEDIENT  and to TEACH OBEDIENCE to Christ.  The great commission, is a great commandment, not a great suggestion.

3. WE CAN`T BE OBEDIENT, UNLESS WE TAKE THE GOSPEL GLOBAL. THE GOSPEL IS A UNIVERSAL MESSAGE FOR ALL PEOPLE. HE TELLS US TO Go To all nations. Two thirds of God's name is Go!

4. GOD IS WITH US. It's the essence of Christmas.  We remember every Christmas season, ISAIAH CALLED Jesus IMMANUEL which means  ``God with us" 

When God is with us,

it's sort of like showing up at the Christmas party and all the work has already been done. All you have to remember is the time. Consider these words from the prophet Isaiah. 46.9-11.ESV remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,   declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’   calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it

 These verses illustrate, the plan of God involves not only the calling of man, but also the minute details of nature.  Since, even the birds have a role to play in God`s plan. The only part that God has asked us to do is to remember who He is. If we can do that, He has promised to do the rest.

There is another misconception about Christmas. Christmas began when Christ entered our world that is a celebration that doesn`t just come and go with a season. It is an owngoing celebration to those of us that belong to Him. From our point of view the story isn`t finished, yet. So, what part will you play in the Christmas story. Will you bow before the Christ? Will obey Him, and help spread the story to all nations? Come let us adore Him, and let us remember, Christmases don`t just happen.

What God Cannot Do: Tumor Update

I don't believe in luck. I believe in a plan. No coincidences, no accidents. I believe in something more than fate and destiny. I believe in a designer.

I see God as an architect. The design is perfect but because He uses less than perfect beings in His plan, He has to cover up their mistakes. In the end, all the corners we cut will be unseen. Perfection will be all that remains after covered by His blood.

I've often compared Jesus to a pilot. Some might say we've been circling the "valley of the shadow of death" a little too close for comfort. I've walked in this valley with family and friends. I found out  comfort's overrated. I prefer an awesome view. Awesome views require efforts. Photos are nice but there's nothing like being there. So, let's get a little closer. Most people sacrifice too much life just to be comfortable. 

 The operation was a success. Most of the tumor was removed. We'll know more the next MRI. The initial diagnosis of a benign tumor was wrong. It's a chordoma not an epidermoid. Meaning it's cancer. Specialized radiation will follow in Boston.  As far as cancer goes, about as good as it gets. Battle lines have been drawn.

A few Sundays from now we'll start a new series called Fight. God's timing wows me. For some time now, it's been very clear to me the enemy has stated "this means war." With God's help, I intend to give him one. Before finding out about this tumor, I was spreading the gospel. Just a week before my first episode with my tumor, I applied to Liberty University with a major of evangelism. The tumor is probably the answer to getting the impossible done.. Holy sabotage, when will Satan learn?  If anything I intend to be more urgent, since I have the enemy's attention. I encourage you to be an adversary of hell to the point Satan wages war. You need supplies, not comfort, to be formidable. If you're comfortable with merely surviving, Jesus is going to give you a wake up call. Trust me, there are things an almighty God can not do.

He cannot lie. Meaning He won't break His promises. I will have them in this life or the next. I will be rescued. This is working together for my good. This is the best thing that could have happened. Ask Bob Granata, if a tree landing on his house in August 2012, was the best thing? You'll get a different answer than the night I picked him up. We prayed through tear filled eyes but we claimed Romans 8:28. 

He cannot be wrong. Make no mistake about it, God doesn't make mistakes. "His plan included you and me and this day. Forever He knew it would be this way." I didn't plan on tumors or cancer but God did. He's ready for this even if I'm not. He's used to carrying me. Dragging me might be more like it. I'm ready to praise Him for it. All of it. Don't you dare not rejoice in this.

He cannot fail.  And he won't. He's in control. His plan is perfect, not easy. I asked for a larger testimony. He gives us what we ask for. "Don't pray that unless you mean it". Now where have I heard that before ? Oh yeah, from Kevin at the Rock, countless times over sevin years. 

You get God can do anything, but He's too holy to to some things,right?

I'm inviting you on this journey to show you how sweet it can be. Let's experience this life preparing for the next. The plane is always circling the shadow of the valley of death. Sure, you can pull the blind down or close your eyes to ignore it. Stick your head in the sand.  If you do, you'll likely miss a glimpse of something wonderful and beautiful over the horizon. Like heaven.