Simple Thoughts

The shepherds come to visit her baby. Angels are singing and praising God. Mary is quiet, thoughtful, reflective. Much has happened over the course of the last nine months. Now, He is here. The Promised One. The anticipated Messiah. Jesus, born in a humble manger on a quiet night. The shepherds are walking around Bethlehem, telling everyone they meet that Jesus is here. The Savior of the World.

Mary is taking all of this in. Perhaps the gravity of raising the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has finally hit her. She gets to raise her Savior, your Savior, my Savior. God’s Son, who came to save us all.

As quiet reflective Christmas Eve gatherings are taking place across this blessed land, let us be like Mary and ponder these things. Let us take in the gravity of the birth of Jesus. Let us be like the shepherds and tell all we meet of the birth of Jesus. Let us be like the angels and praise God for sending us His Son. On this most holy night, let us glorify and praise God for loving us so much He offered the world His Son, to save us from our sins, to be the Savior of the World.

Riding the Jimmy Fallon ride at Universal, it simulates driving through New York City and suddenly you have an aerial view of the city, then you are out in space, landing on the moon. As your view changes, your attitude also changes.

This busy Christmas season is upon us. Looking for that perfect gift, remember tis better to give than receive. Wanting the house, the meal, the people to be the best, remember God already gave us the perfect gift of all, His Son, Jesus.

I pray your view of this Christmas season is on God and His Son. Enjoy the merry-making. Enjoy the noise of the holidays. Keeping God in view.

Riding along highway 27, I pulled out my phone, started searching the web, then realized I am on an unfamiliar road. Put down the phone. Enjoy the sites. Converse with my husband.

In today’s “easy to reach technology” mindset, it is easy to lose focus. To drift away from conversations. Get engrossed with self and device.

God wants us to be present in worship, as well. Worship in the great outdoors as you take in His creation. Worship in the car, laying aside your worries. Worship and forget your troubles. Be intentional wherever you are as you worship God. Hear His words. Let them rest upon your heart.

The day after Thanksgiving. My heart is full. My house is full. My refrigerator is full. What will I eat today? Turkey- yes. But then there is corn, beans, squash, potatoes, stuffing and don’t get me started on all the leftover desserts.

Every day we have choices to make. Some are survival choices: eating. Others are hobby choices: reading. And others are activity choices: Black Friday Shopping.

When it comes to being a Christian, we also have choices. First and most, the decision to follow Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Then, choices to serve, to be kind, to love, to pray.

I’ve heard much about a little bit of Jesus plus good works plus good living is all I need to choose in this life and then I’m good with God and heaven will be my home. I’m not sure where this theology came from but if you are good enough now, then why did Jesus come to die in the first place? Nowhere in the Bible does it say have a little bit of faith and a little bit of good works. No, the shed blood of Jesus is all that will put us in a right relationship with God. Belief that I am a sinner, nothing righteous within me, surrender my life to Jesus and accept the free gift of salvation He offers to all mankind.

I made that choice over 30 years ago and I continue to pursue Jesus as my first love. My desire, my choice, is to know Him more and for my life to reflect Him.

Have you made that choice today?

Romans 4:4-5: “When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.  But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”

As I age, I am aware of my body- what it can and cannot do. Because I want to remain active, have the energy to work, to serve, to love, to encourage, to study, to grow… I have made some adjustments to my morning routine.

I had been getting up early to workout, eating a healthy breakfast, packing healthy snacks and lunches, but as I went throughout my day, I was losing my joy. I was complaining. I was not who I wanted to be. I realized I was mentally and spiritually weary.

So… I made some adjustments to my morning routine. I added devotion and prayer time. I added thankful writings to my morning. I centered my mornings with God. The peace, the love, the calm is the adjustment I needed so as I go throughout the rest of my day, His voice is in my ear, in my heart, in my mind, on my lips. He gives me the strength for the day and beyond.

We collaborate at work to develop plans, presentations, to distribute the work load, becoming part of a team.

We collaborate at home to develop an atmosphere of love where everyone helps out with the running of a household.

Do we collaborate with God? We read His word, we memorize verses, but then are we out there doing it alone, receiving the individual accolades?

When we put our faith and trust in our Savior and Lord, we are putting our whole self in His care. Our every need, He is there. Our every prayer, He hears. When we are doing His work in ministry, in serving, He is there. As we sit and study His word, He is there in these quiet moments directing our thoughts, our plans.

When we collaborate with God, we submit to His will, His plans, His direction.

I Peter 5:1-4:To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Today is the last Sunday of October, which is Pastor Appreciation Month. The job of a pastor is many. What most people see is the preaching/teaching of the Word on Sunday mornings. That is the visible side. What about the less visible side? The counseling side where the pastor meets one-on-one, the labor side where the pastor fixes roofs, floors, dishwashers, etc… The community side where the pastor meets with other pastors to plan community events. The wedding/funeral side where the pastor meets with the families. The study side where time is spent reading, listening, studying God’s Word. The prayer side where time is spent in prayer with God.

The hats a pastor wears is many. I pray you lift your pastor up in prayer every day. This pastor has a calling on his life to teach God’s Word, to shepherd the flock. He prays for you every day. Carries burdens only he knows about, knowing he not only will one day stand before God for himself but also for you. This pastor loves God, loves you, and is in it for no other reason than to serve God.

Titus 1:6-9: An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.  Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.  He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

A friend recently sat on the porch of her in-laws and enjoyed being a “rain” spectator. Her new home state is very dry so on her return home, the rain brought back wonderful memories.

It is a rainy day today. Outdoor plans cancelled, postponed, rescheduled. Listening to the rain fall. Watching the puddles grow. Enjoying the cleansing, refreshing, cooling rain.

When rain allows us to slow down, to take in the restoring rain, I am drawn to think about how God has cleansed, renewed, and restored us into a right relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. His finished work at the cross cleanses us, our sins are washed away. Our new “born again” self looks to Jesus daily, hourly, and we are renewed in His Word as we continue to grow ever closer to Him.

Jeremiah 14:22 “Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you,  for you are the one who does all this.”

If you work, you are a laborer. Working with your hands, working outside, working with children, working with the sick, the lonely, the down and outs. You are a laborer.

My husband is a Pastor so his work is leading the flock. Studying God’s word, sharing God’s truths, counseling the flock. His secondary job is our homestead. He built our house and is finishing up the garage. He enjoys working with his hands from the planning stage to the finished product. The physical weariness of a builder compares to the spiritual and mental weariness of a Pastor.

We all have a “day” job but our primary job is to be a laborer for the Lord. Sharing His truths, studying God’s word, being a witness for Him. How do we labor for the Lord? Taking part in community events that bring the community to the church. Spending time with the youth- teaching them, playing games with them, talking to them. Taking a meal to the sick or widowed, helping them get to the store or to doctor appointments. Speaking with your neighbor and co-workers about church, about lifestyle choices. Being a friend, showing kindness, holding your tongue, showing patience and restraint, honoring your parents.

God is at work in this world today. Join His work today and be a fellow laborer for God. Be willing. Be able. Be available for God.

Colossians 3:23-24: Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.  Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

Casual Gathering. Impromptu get-togethers. Last minute plans. Not much work involved to get ready. Comfortable and relaxed.

Going to a training with other professionals, the dress code runs the gambit: skirt, pants, jeans, leggings. The twenty-somethings being the most “casual” in their dress. Have an appointment or a scheduled time to meet, the attitude of “on time is late” to the “always running late” casual attitude of “I’m here now.”

There are times when having an attitude of casual-ness will serve us well… less stress, go with the flow, let it run off your back, in one ear and out the other. But can it be appropriate all the time? Are there times when our attitude needs to change? To be present, focused, on your game?

In our relationship with God, is it a casual attitude of “God is good with me just as I am?” “God loves me, I don’t need to go to church?” Or is there a reverence when approaching God in prayer? Is there a humbleness in service, a gentleness in our speech? The desire to know God more as we read our bibles, to worship Him with a lowly view of self and a high and lifted view of God?

Let us check our attitudes at the door as we approach God in prayer, worship, service, speech. He is the God of the universe. He created all things. The last time I checked, I do not have a universe that I created.

Isaiah 66:2 “My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine.  I, the Lord, have spoken!“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.