Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Doers Anonymous

God is All Powerful


She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:39-40

With the Holidays approaching our “To Do” list is jam packed. But even throughout the year, we are always at work, often doing more than what is realistic. And when things don’t go as expected, our reaction is generally focused on what we are going to do next to rectify the situation. Let’s face it, we are a bunch of doers.

The Christmas message should bring hope to all of us who are tired and seek rest from the busyness, the chaos and the disappointment in our lives. Christmas is the celebration of the hope we have because Jesus, God’s Son was born in Bethlehem. It is a time to rejoice because we are on the receiving end of an extraordinary gift. It is not anything that we do, but rather the birth of our Savior Jesus that gives us peace and joy. For in Him we find the hope of all glory. Merry Christmas!

But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:41-42(NASB)

Because God is all powerful, through the birth of Jesus Christ, we have peace, hope and joy.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Be Thankful


God is Faithful

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,  Hebrews 12:28

Once a year we gather around a table and give thanks for all that we have.  It seems odd that we don’t do that each day….  Most days we look around and only see the things we don’t have and want.  This in itself doesn’t necessarily make us ungrateful, but it can create a void or longing for more.

The Bible tells us to be thankful in all things – the good and the bad.  The Bible also warns us that not being thankful for what we have can lead us astray.  Remember how Eve ended up taking a bite of the forbidden fruit?  The serpent focused her attention on what she did not have.  Eve could eat from the trees in the garden but she was not to eat from the one tree in the middle of the garden.  The Garden of Eden was an extraordinary place and yet she was tempted to destroy all she had for the one thing she did not.  She had plenty to be thankful for, but her attention was redirected at what was not hers.  Our lives may not be perfect, but each day we all have something to be thankful for. Today, will you focus on what God has provided you and be thankful for your circumstances?

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Because God is faithful, we are thankful for Jesus Christ, who is the source of hope in our lives.