Christmas, The Season of Exhaustion?

Between the parties, shopping, cooking, decorating, travelling, and Christmas programs/services at church, this has to be one of the most exhausting times of the year.

I am not complaining.  All of those activities are what makes Christmas special.  But sometimes it feels like you run out of energy before Christmas even arrives.

Today I was listening to some Christmas music and all of a sudden it hit me.  The Christmas story is filled with stories of exhaustion.

Think about it...

The Wise Men...traveled
The Shepherds...traveled
Mary & Joseph...traveled

They all must have been exhausted.  I complain because I have to sit in a car for a couple of hours.  I can't imagine what it must of been like to travel a long distance over 2000 years ago.  Not to mention the lack of rest stops along the way and we know there was no luxury hotel.

But the best part of the story is that it was all worth it.  We celebrate the birth of our saviour.

So the next time you feel like this season isn't worth it.  Think about a star, a manger, and a baby that would change the world.

Patience

Has anyone advised you to not pray for patience?   Because the only way to have patience is to have your patience tested.  My patience was tested today.

I had to renew my health card, vehicle registration, and driver's license.  Thankfully I can do it at the same place now.  I am very thankful for that.  So what's the problem?  Go, stand in line for a few minutes, show them you know the date and how to write your name, and you're done.  Yes, that is the case most of the time.

Today, on a busy day full of activity, I rushed on my lunch break to get everything done.  I walked in the door and to my surprise, and complete jubilation realized that there was no line...on a Friday! 

With a giddy smile on my face, I'm sure, I took a few steps and realized that I had forgotten one of the forms.  I wanted to scream but knew that I would scare the poor old lady behind me, and perhaps get escorted off the premises.  Instead, I grumbled back to my car to drive back to the radio station to get the form.  Forty-five minutes later the process was complete and everything was in order.

It got me thinking about the grace of God.  I must make him crazy....on a daily basis...because He has to be so patient with me.  He sees my talents, abilities, and potential but has to watch me spin my tires all time until I learn my lesson.

Aren't you glad He doesn't give up on us?  In fact, instead of giving up He surrounds us with people who can challenge and encourage us, and even left behind a manual to help us realize that our situation is not unique. Someone before us has been hurt, confused, frustrated, and impatient.

If you haven't lately, crack open the Bible and be amazed at how it will speak directly to you when you need it the most.

Favourite Songs

Every once in awhile it's fun to compare favourite songs.  Here is what I am enjoying lately...

I learned this week that The Afters wrote a song with Richard Marx (yep...that Richard Marx) on their latest album.  He called them and flew to Nashville to meet with the guys and co-wrote this song.

Here is the result:

Kerrie Roberts - My Heart's Lifted

I just enjoy "feel good" songs.

Young Chozen - Without You...guilty Slammin Christian Hits pleasure.

Hillsong - Christ Is Enough - love this stripped down version

Switchfoot - Let It Out...quality isn't great, but it's just a reminder of how good a live Switchfoot show is.  Not a bad song either.

Your Life On The Big Screen

It can be tough to imagine what it would be like to make the story of your life into a movie.  Once that decision is made, then the real fun begins.  Who would be cast to play you?  Would it be a dramatic story line with lots of surprises or an all out action movie loaded with special effects?  You already have the concept in mind...fun!

Now, imagine the movie was only made to highlight the mistakes, problems, embarrassing moments, and sinful parts of your life.  Are you still as excited?  Me neither.

Most of our co-workers, friends, and even family members don't even know the worst of us.  But God does.  He could have made an example of us all.  He could expose all of our mistakes and sins on a regular basis to keep us in a constant state of humiliation.  But he didn't, he doesn't .  Instead, he gives us the free gift that is so easy to receive...grace.  God send his son Jesus to wipe the dark side of our life away if only we believe in Him.

There are many songs that talk about God's grace. Hopefully this one is a gentle reminder of what He has done for us.

Quality isn't great...but the story is amazing.

Inspiration

I want you to imagine that you are in a room full of people.  Maybe it's at church, in a mall, or at a doctor's office.  And it's not that you're trying to eavesdrop on conversations, but sometimes they just speak loud enough so you can understand what they're saying.  Most of the time it is about day to day life (errands, jobs, kids, sports, etc).  But more often than not, I hear discouragement.  How everything is going wrong and there is no way out.  Seriously, I can't believe how much I hear about situations that cannot be overcome.

I am not trying to make light of difficult circumstances, because they are difficult.  We need to persevere.  God has a bigger plan.  We just can't see it yet.  In fact, have you noticed that God hasn't given up...on us.  Look at how many people let God down in the Bible - Adam & Eve, Moses, David, and Peter just to name drop a few.  Then look at today...Steve Jones...maybe you...ok...maybe not you.

The bottom line is even though all of us have failed, He always gives us another opportunity. But, he did not say it would be easy.  He did not say it would not be tough.  Life will throw punches at us at such a rapid pace that sometimes we can't handle it and we get knocked down.  It is in that place where we choose to stay where we are, give up altogether, or get back up and keep trying.

We need to get back up and keep trying.  I know it sounds very cliche, but that's what we need to do. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Heb. 12:1

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

I know, some people get upset when you just throw Bible verses at them.  So, I remembered a clip from a movie that ties in perfectly with these verses.  Hopefully the verses and this clip will give you that extra bit of encouragement you need to get back up and keep moving.    

  

What I Learned From Shoveling

Most of Central Ontario was greeted to a blast of winter this week.  Winter tires were rolling off the shelf and sales of snow brushes, scrapers, and shovels were at a record high.

It's crazy how God can use anything to teach me a lesson, including shoveling.  If you own a snow blower, no fair.  But more importantly, this is a lesson that might escape you as you easily win the battle against snow and do your best to blow it right back where it came from.

Here is what I have learned from shoveling:

• As hard as I try, as long as I live in Central Ontario, the snow will come.  I just have to keep plowing with my shovel until it is off the driveway.  I guess the same could be said for trials in our life.  We have a choice.  Either we get buried by them, or we stay focused on God or we persevere.  James 1: 2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.)

• Just when you think the shoveling is done, the snowplow comes along and dumps a fresh mix of icy, heavy, snow that will take you longer to shovel than it took to clean the entire driveway! Sometimes life throws us more than we can handle.  Yes, I said more.  The Bible does not promise us that our problems will eventually go away.  In fact, sometimes they get worse. However, He does promise us that He will never leave us and promises peace. 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

I have also learned that sometimes God has to get me out of the house, drop a pile of snow in my driveway just to get some time alone with me.   It is a humbling thought, but I am thankful for the lessons learned.

Left Behind

I'm not quite sure how, but I came across a couple of clips from the Left Behind movies online.  As hard as I try, I still have a tough time seeing Kirk Cameron in other roles.  Every time I see his face I think of this:

I also know that many have been critical of the Left Behind movie series.  Words like cheesy and lame always seem to be attached to Christian movies.  But as I watched a few of the clips, I think they served their purpose.  I started to reflect on how I live my life.  Do I really live with urgency knowing that our time is limited?  Anyone with kids will understand how time flies.  One day you're update that your child dropped the remote control on the floor and broke it.  Somehow they grew enough to reach it when you didn't think they could.  Next thing you know, they are asking you to change the channel.

It also made me think of 1 Peter 3:13, "...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"

I know it sounds like it should be a given, but I wonder how many of us can really explain what we believe.  I think it takes more than reading a few verses/day.  Imagine if medical school students only read their textbook for a few minutes/day, would you trust their diagnosis?

True understanding takes committed reading, study, and prayer.  Only God will truly help us comprehend what we read.  It is then that we will have the ability and confidence to share.

When I was a teenager a special speaker challenged the girls in the room with something different.  Look for a guy with a Bible that is worn with lots of notes.  That is likely a sign of a Godly man. I still remember that moment.  He also said, watch for guys in the parking lot after the service trying to run over their Bible with their car to make it look worn :)

So, you can imagine my surprise when I noticed Kirk Franklin's character (in Left Behind) showing the President his Bible (with lots of notes).

I'm guessing the special speaker was onto something.  This blog is not intended to discourage you if you have been reading a few minutes/verses each day or nothing at all.  Instead, I hope to challenge you as I am challenging myself.  Know your Bible inside out and see what He does in your life.