Take Joy Where? (Thanksgiving)

Well, it's that time of the year. Thanksgiving is next week. The holidays are officially here. It will be Taylor and I's first holiday season as a married couple. I love my wife, I am thankful for her, and I excited about being with our family as a family.

Thanksgiving is a neat holiday to me. We set this time of the year apart from the rest of the year to be thankful which is kind of weird. I hope that we really exhibit an attitude of thankfulness year-round.

Thankfulness is easy at times and not so easy at others. This week I was to tempted to have one of those others. My truck has been acting up. Tuesday morning was a breaking point for me. I had to be at a local school pretty early. I went out to get in my truck to leave and it started having some issues. It caused me to run late. I loathe running late. I wanted to kick, spit, and cuss. I was on my way and began to pitch a little hissy fit to God. And, then, like a hammer on my heart, God hit me with Philippians 4:4...

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Phil 4:4 (NLT)

So often we want to place our joy in things other than the Lord. That morning I wanted to place it in my truck running well. That sounds silly. But, I allowed my joy to depend on my truck. Maybe its not your vehicle. Maybe its your relationship with your parents, children, spouse, or some boy/girl. Maybe your joy depends on your bank account or how things go at work/school.

I would like to remind you that Paul wrote Philippians 4 while being in jail for worshipping Jesus. He had all the reason in the world to be in the dumps. But, he chose to be joyful. Not in his freedom. Not in his status. Not in his living arrangements. But, Apostle Paul's joy depended on Jesus. So should ours.

Our family situations change. People let us down. Things, like trucks and cars, break. Finances can hit a wall. We live in a changing and inconsistent world. But, as Christians, we belong to an unchanging and consistent Jesus. He doesn't walk out. He doesn't leave. He doesn't break. He can handle anything and everything we throw at Him.

This Thanksgiving, and every other day of the year, I challenge you to place your joy in Jesus. Let your thankfulness depend on Him, not your circumstances. He can handle it. Take joy in belonging to Jesus.

ALL ABOUT JESUS!!!

 

You Choose: Example or Excuse

It is easy to make excuses. I am a major mess-up, so I know all about them. They're easy to make when we sin. Others are easy to blame when things go sour. Its easy to expect much of people, but take no responsibility for/on ourselves.

 

I'm young and dumb. I come from a broken home. I grew up in a house where drug abuse and addiction played a big part. I have struggled to read. I go on stuttering rampages. I am not the coolest. I am a little ragtag. My pockets aren't usually full. I'm just all-around very good at making messes.

 

Those are some of the daily excuses that I battle, and my heart would usually love to use them. But, God says...

 

 

"NO!"

 

I'm chosen, blessed, adopted, forgiven, redeemed, and accepted by the one, true, living God of all creation. That gives a thumbs down to all excuses. That erases any ugly past, and any skeletons in your closet. His presence in us makes up for our stutters and stumbles. His grace empowers us to be more that young, dumb, and inexperienced. So, RISE UP. Rise up over your excuses. Rise up over your past. Rise up over your imperfections. Rise up over your surroundings. RISE UP! Christ did! And, haven't we been united with in His death and His resurrection? Rise up!

 

I believe that the Timothy of the bible had excuses. I believe Timothy had those who would look down upon him for his age and lack of experience. Why else would his mentor, Apostle Paul, say to him...

 

"Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity."

1 Tim 4:12 (NLT)

 

What will you be? Just another pile of excuses that point back to a broken and wasted life, or an example that leads others into the footprints of Christ? Will you continue to allow your downfalls to keep you down? Or, will you rise up in your new identity found in Christ Jesus? You are no longer to be an excuse. I believe those died on the cross too. Be an example today. The world needs Jesus. He has chosen you to show them His great love.



Good, Pleasing, and Perfect.

We spend our whole lives searching. We search for something solid. We look for something steady. We look for something that stands up when others sit down. We live our journey focused on something that will make us happy. We pour energy into finding something that works. We have sleepless nights and stressful days while striving to find that perfect path...or one that at least works half of the time.

Search no longer.

If someone has ever told you that the Word of God isn't true that person is a liar. If someone has told you that the Word of God is not applicable don't listen to another word they have to say on the subject.

Romans 12:1-2 has been on my heart big time the last 2 weeks.

Romans 12:1-2
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

In a world full of uncertainty, this passage tells us that we can be certain. As the world rushes around searching without a clue, the Word says that we can have much more than a clue. God has HUGE plans for your life. He has a plan for your life that leads to good things. A plan that is pleasing to you, and Himself. This plan is perfect, unlike any other plan. But, none of that matters unless we respond correctly to God's grace.

The way to respond to God's grace is to offer ourselves back to Him. The bible says that by God's grace we were bought at a high price. Therefore, we no longer belong to ourselves. As believers, we have been made a new creature by belonging to Jesus. He deserves us. He is worthy of our lives. He is calling us to give up our life so that we may live a life that glorifies Him, but one that also satisfies us.

How awesome is that? God has our best interests in mind. Though He wants our life, He wants to give us one that is worth living. God loves you so much that He wants to give you something that will be good, and that will last forever. This is the calling that you have been searching for!

Turn it over. Don't debate if it's worth it or not. Jesus is better. I can tell you from being in the will of God and not being in the will of God, that following Jesus is much better than not. That doing what God has called me to do has been much more pleasing than living a life full of lust and sin. Knowing God's plan for my life by giving it to Him has been far more peaceful than living on the edge and not knowing what will come next.

You may be looking at what you will lose, but you will get so much more in return. Something that is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Jesus is better.