Thursday, December 13, 2007

December seems to lead to something special on our calendars…Something called Christmas.
But if there was a time of the year when your life may feel a little wobbly or not quite where it could be, it is now.

I thought we could take some time to reflect not on the season, but on our place in the Christmas season.

Our lives are like a bicycle wheel.
There are many spokes that make up the whole wheel and give it structure and stability. But if one of the spokes in our lives comes lose of fails, our lives tend to go the same way.
If you ignore a loose spoke it doesn’t get better. It always gets worse.

And eventually more spokes join in the activity until your wheel collapses.

Many of us wait until we are really sick before we get help.The reality is that if we ignore the small stuff, it sometimes grows into big stuff!
We ignore a small tooth ache until it becomes a root canal.
We ignore a something wrong on our skin until it becomes a growth.\


Here are 3 spokes for you to consider this Christmas time…

ONE. people spoke
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without there being people around.The people you relate too make or break your Christmas!

Romans 12:17-18
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

If you want to feel good over Christmas, make every effort to get along with others.

TWO. finance spoke
Putting yourself into large amounts of debt for any celebration, no matter how religious it is, is not a good idea.
My children can not remember what I got them each Christmas.What they do remember is what I was like on the day…how I behaved.

Matthew 6:20
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

I know that when this spoke is loose in my life I don’t feel very good.It robs me of any peace and enjoyment.

THREE. God spoke
This is the most important of all!Without a relationship with God your life, your wheel, can take any shape.

Jeremiah 29:13-14a
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD

God is not hiding from us. He is there if we want to spend time with him.We just have to purpose in our own hearts to have that time with him.
Set realistic goals. Don’t set yourself up to fail.

William Booth said “I do promise God that I will rise early every morning to have a few minutes – not less than five – in private prayer…I hereby vow to read no less than four chapters in God’s Word every day.”
Have a plan to spend what meaningful time you can with God.
Don’t just hope you will, otherwise others things will bury it.

I believe God’s plan for you over this Christmas is for your spokes to stay strong and true.
God’s heart is for you to have a great holiday season!
Don’t wait for the crash to happen in your life!
Take the time to resolve it now.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Have you looked at any bumper stickers lately?

It is not something I do all the time, but when I was stuck in traffic today I had a chance to look at the world around me...and one particular sticker jumped out at me.
It went like this…

Heaven doesn’t want me and Hell is afraid I will take over

I wasn’t upset by it.
I didn’t chase the vehicle down the motorway, throwing bible tracts at them.
And I didn’t get the guys number (it was a work van) and phone him for a chat.

Now I am probably guessing, but I guess the owner of the van has a problem with eternity.
They are hoping that there isn’t one.
Sometimes when you are uncomfortable with a subject you make fun of it.
It is a defense mechanism to make you feel better.

The reality is that ‘Heaven’ or more specifically God, 100% does want the driver of that van.
That ‘Hell’ is in no way worried about him and whatever management skills he thinks he possesses.

The Bible says that people in this world have been blinded to the truth.
And that somehow we need to help them find the truth.
Now I don’t think it is all about Heaven and Hell either. Yes they exist and are important.
But what is more important to God is relationship with him.

Today I want you to know that God actually wants you!Jesus said that he is preparing a place for you. A place in heaven where you can have uninterrupted relationship with him.
Hell is not for you or anyone you know.
Hell was designed for Satan and his band of little demons.

Many of us will be doing events with family and friends over Christmas, most of whom will probably not be interested in eternity.
Can I encourage you to pray for them?
Pray that eternity will become all important to them.
The Bible says that God desires that all people be saved, so when you pray for them you will know you are praying according to his will.

Something for you to think about...

Locky