Happy Jesus Day

You don’t have to spend a lot of time with him, to know he has a kind heart.  Our grandson… is an old soul, with a heart that mirrors our Savior.  As we talked, his comment was “being nice to people is important”.  We were talking, as we encountered people, being ugly to each other.  Why do we have to tear others down, in order to feel good about ourselves?  We look at those that are different than us, with disrespect. We judge, based on factors we find to be important, and we tear them down.  We talk about their lifestyle…  the way they dress… or the appearance of their hair.  So many times we judge simply because they are different. I have come to believe that sin is not so much that of disobeying laws, but that which takes you out of the place of love, our Lord wants for us.  Sin is missing the way of your being.  Sin is not about rules.  Sin is about missing the love that was placed in your heart, by the Holy Spirit,  through the DNA of God.  When we tear down, and abuse others, we are really tearing down God.  Anything… outside of love for others is moving you into a place of sin, and away from the presence of Christ.  When we find ourselves missing the way of our being… STOP!  Pray.  Then remember, your true self is one of love for others.  

1 John 4:7-21

I Love You!

Perry

Do you truly appreciate the fascination of it all?  Every minute, of everyday, provides a moment for wonderment at Gods’ world. At Gods’ power.  As I sit in Radio City Music Hall, waiting for the show to begin, I am filled with awe to the point of tears.  The history… the grandeur…the ability to see it… all came together, to fill me with wonderment and awe. So it should be, in the presence of our Savior.  We spend countless days… countless hours… trying to understand his word. We spend a lifetime looking for a way to understand the Father… Son… and Spirit. We try so hard, to justify the beliefs we have, so that we can feed our egos, by believing we are earning his love, and a place at his side. We lose sight of the wonderment, and the fascination, of God and his Son. We can never truly understand his ways, his words, his heart.  Why do we try so hard?  Why do we feel as if we have to understand… we have to justify… in order to please him?  There are days we need to stop trying, and simply stand with awe and amazement, at his grandeur.  We need to come to the realization, that we will never fully understand. We will never fully comprehend.  Instead we need to appreciate the fascination, that is God.  Then.  We need to simply love, and bow at his glory. 1 Corinthians 2

I Love You!

Perry   

The light of Christ that shone from her, illuminated the room. We had a rather trying day.  Airport mishaps and hotel mistakes.  As we checked into yet another hotel, she greeted us with open arms. Her smile was contagious, and her first words to us were “I’ve been waiting for you”.  She offered us love… kindness… and special treatment.  She threw open her arms and embraced us as if to say: I know we have the same creator and that makes us family.  She said “I am from Ethiopia and as we may be from two different worlds we have love for each other”.  As I stood in the middle of such warmth, such goodwill God spoke to me.  We are to treat our fellow man, no matter who, no matter where, with love such as this.  A love that says: Don’t care where you came from.  Don’t care what color your skin is.  Don’t care if you are clean or dirty.  Don’t care what your lifestyle preferences are.  Don’t care.  I am going to love you with all that is in me.  I am going to show you respect and I am going to shine the light of Christ upon you.  Being Christ followers, means we spend each day, trying to imitate our Savior.  Being kind and loving, as he was.  Being meek and lowly, as he was.  Looking for those to help, as he did.  As you do, you will start to see the holy spirit in everyone.  And they will see Christ in you. Philippians 1:9

I Love You!

Perry  

Mary was so young. So scared… but so trusting.  Jesus… a baby like any other.  Carried for nine months and born of blood… of pain.  As she held him close, she could feel his beating heart.  As she gazed upon his face, she could tell he was hungry.  Like all babies he needed food… he needed her.  As she brought him to her breast, the reality fully set in.  I am feeding, and giving life to, the son of God.  I am giving food and nourishment, to the Savior of all mankind.  My Savior.  I am sharing my blood, my life, my heart with the King of Kings. The Lord of Lords.  He is God’s son… he is my son… he is a part of who I am.  He came as an infant.  He came helpless… naked… and needy.  Just like us, he was totally dependent on his mother for life, for food, for comfort.  Jesus could have come as an already grown man.  He could have come to simply teach, and simply save.  He could have spent three years, and returned to his fathers side.  He wanted us to have more.  He wanted us to know more than just salvation.  Christ showed up as a defenseless… helpless… baby, to prove that he needs us, as much as we need him. He needs our love.  He needs our compassion.  He needs our relationship.  Let’s not forget that, this Christmas… this year… as we humble ourselves in his presence.

Philippians 1:9

Merry Christmas!

I Love You!

Perry 

As I sit in this large restaurant, there are so many people. Waiters and waitresses.  Buss boys and cooks.  Everyone rushing around.  People are busy eating and visiting.  It gives me pause.  I think on the hustle and bustle, of Bethlehem this night.  The streets were crowded.  The taverns where filled to overflowing.  The hotels had no vacancies, and the shop owners were selling merchandise, left and right. No one had any idea what was about to happen.  Everyone was going about their busy lives, just as they are tonight.  No one had a clue, that on the edge of town, the world was changing. Life was transforming, for all of eternity.  The Savior of the world was being born. God was appearing in the flesh.  And yet everyone was busy with their agenda.  Busy with their list.  Busy with what they considered important.  I see that today.  We go about our busy lives, with not a thought as to what is right before us.  We rush here and there, with no thought of our Savior.  The one that brings meaning and glory to our souls, is a part of everything around us.  He is in the people we see, and the air we breath.  He is right before us, every minute of everyday, and most of us never even notice.  Take time to pause. Take time to see him… feel him… and cherish him.  Because of tonight… life will never be the same.  Ephesians 1:11

Merry Christmas!

I love you!

Perry

I’m not sure what I am to do.  My future wife is pregnant, and it is not mine.  How can I stay with her?  She is disgraced among our people.  How can I be expected to raise this baby, as if it were mine?  There was this angel.  I think it was an angel… it could have simply been a dream.  I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.  How am I suppose to be a dad, to God’s only son?  How do I discipline him?  How do I teach him? How do I simply talk to him, knowing who he is?  I’m just a simple man.  Why was I chosen to bear this burden, and be blessed at the same time?  There could be no greater honor, but I simply fell in love with a girl.  Am I expected to help her deliver this child?  Will there be help from above?  An angel maybe?  What am I to do when he arrives? Will I fall to my knees, or simply shout out, when I feel his beating heart?   Just like Joseph, so many times we feel intimated by his presence.  Maybe we feel overwhelmed, or we feel as if we are not worthy.   Then our Lord takes us in his arms and reassures us… he simply loves.  He simply cares. He simply forgives. There is no greater honor than to be one of his children. 

John 14:16-17

Merry Christmas!

Perry

So many days, my thoughts turn to the love of our Savior.  I think about all the things he did, because he loves us.  He made food taste amazing.  He made the world look spectacular.  He put love in our soul, so we would find joy in each other.  He gave us eyes to see, and ears to hear.  He gave talents, to so many, in order that we may enjoy each of our senses. However, the greatest show of love he gave, was making himself human.  Leaving his throne of glory and becoming just like us.  If he had not become human.  If he had not rose again in human form. We would not have been saved. We would not have been able to look upon his face… feel his warm touch… or look into his loving eyes. He could have simply came here, corrected our sinful ways, or said “I’m done” and allowed us to die.  Instead he came, he allowed himself to see and feel what we do. To suffer as we do. To laugh as we do.  He came, in order to produce more sons of his father God.  To turn us into himself… so we may call ourselves God’s children.  God doesn’t just want better people, he wants children who call him father.  The only way that would happen, is for us to see his child in human flesh. That is the greatest love of all.  Romans 8:31

I Love You!

Perry

Do you find it hard to think of Christ in human terms?  To think of him as a person, just like you… like me?  Not until we grasp that concept, will we fully understand the importance of his birth… his death… his resurrection.  He was fully human.  He had odor after a long hard day.  His poop stunk, just like ours.  He got gas from what he ate.  He got boogers in his nose, from time to time.  He liked some foods, more than others.   His breath didn’t smell the best, right after he woke up.  He had to clip his finger nails.  He enjoyed laughing.  He was tempted, by all the things we are.  Sexual desire, stretching the truth, anger, selfishness, malice, conceit, and so many more.  The whips that hit his back, caused great pain.  The thorns on his head, were like so many needles.  The driven nails were excruciating.  Then just like us… he died.  His heart stopped beating.  His lungs gave their last breath. His brain waves were no longer.  However, he lives again.  His heart beats, his lungs breath and his brain waves respond.  So when we think of his birth… it was miraculous… but it was still human. I gain great peace in knowing that he understands my struggles.  I take greater peace in knowing my heart will stop at some point, but just like his, it will beat again. 

Hebrews 2:5

I Love You!

Perry

Some days I see him on the corner, near our house.  His legs are so bent, he would fall over, if it weren’t for his cane.  He can’t speak. One of his hands is deformed and of not much use. To take a blessing, he has to balance on his cane, in order to use his good hand. His hair is grey… his eyes are full of love.  As I gave him some money, I prayed.  I wonder about his journey… his life.  I touch my heart and point at his, so he is aware that I love him.  He does the same, but points to the heavens.  As I drive away my heart is filled with compassion, but also with shame.  It is easy for me to love God. Wearing nice clothes, healthy limbs and an expensive truck.  Here is a man that loves God, in a life that seems to be nothing but hardship.  I wonder, if I were in his shoes, would my love for our Savior still be strong?  Would I have love for others, that could be seen in my eyes.  All my life I have lived in comfort… in blessing… in never ending joy.  We need to stop, and notice those less fortunate than we.  God puts them in our path to teach.  To teach gratitude, and to teach unending love.  I am still praying for him.  I am also praying, I don’t take one blessing in this life for granted.  After all, each blessing, is but a gift from God! 

Matthew 6:34

I Love You!

Perry

Seven thirty.  As I walked outside, the temperature was perfect.  The sun was shining thru the trees, as to create beams of light.  A few clouds billowed in the sky.  Pure joy came over me.  My hands flew into the air.  Laughter came from deep inside.  I shouted “Father thank you for such a magnificent day!  You are an amazing God!”.  So easy to have a heart of gratitude, on such a day. However, doesn’t he want us to live our lives with such a heart?  To lay our burdens on him, and spend our days in prayers of thanksgiving.  Tragedy will always happen.  He whispers… I have this, so rest in my presence… and be thankful for all I have given you.  It’s hard at times.  Loved ones die. Satan punches at you daily, thru temptation… thru financial hardship… thru hateful people… thru medical issues.  As hard as life is sometimes, Jesus came to destroy that hardship, and give us a peace that passes understanding. We simply have to lay all those burdens, at his feet. Be thankful first for his presence. Then spend each day looking for the joy in life, that he creates. The darkness will only last for a short while.  New joy comes in the morning.  I pray we find a way to have lives of daily thanksgiving.  For me, just knowing that he is my God, brings joy to my soul.  Philippians 4:6 

I Love You

Perry