Keep Christmas All The Year

If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. -Gal 5:25

And that's where it gets TOUGH. But we have the power of the God who created the universe inside of us in His Spirit. The power of Jesus who was born in a stable to die on a cross. The power of He who beat death to save us all. God could've told us to do this on our own, but He didn't. Instead, He came to us. He's been with us.

Let's help each other. Let's let Him guide us and keep Christmas all the year. When He is greater and I am less, others are loved and cared for well. It doesn't make us perfect. It makes us more like Jesus, though. It makes Him compelling to others.

My favorite movie is A Christmas Carol; The British Alastair Sim version (or Muppets. Whatever.) I love how Ebenezer saw the difference kindness makes and he changed. It changed the future, as well. I love how it took the power of three spirits to soften his heart to the world around him. It shows clearly that the life we live is who we are. What an opportunity!

Merry Christmas! God Bless us, everyone.

Just thinking...

Just my stream of consciousness at the moment... I might have a different view later.

I've been reading on Facebook and Twitter. I've read the comments sections even, mainly because I'm a glutton for punishment and curious as to the minds of others. The ones that get my attention most are those that identify themselves in the comment as a Christian. I always read those and they always...ALWAYS...leave me confused and sad.

It just makes me wonder if some believe that the Constitution is an infallible, inspired by God document. It isn't. It's a great work, no doubt, but it's not of God himself. It's not God influenced. It's the work of men that may have prayed about it. Christians on the Internet this weekend have more strongly defended the bill of rights than they do the words of Jesus Himself.

Sometimes I wonder, even as a life long gun owner myself, if clutching the second amendment harder than showing compassion for others will cost us in the end with God. He's not American. I don't necessarily think disarming is a good idea (so don't go there), but our mindset is dangerous eternally. I'm trying to view our daily national discussions through the filter of a much bigger Jesus. It's tough. Maybe I'm missing something.

Many missionaries (which all Christians are one) have gone to dangerous areas to show love and talk about Jesus. They cannot effectively do that with a gun on their hip. It is seen as immediately confrontational. They are often scared, but this life is temporary and Jesus is eternal. Many have been killed as well. Many were not. They'd never make those inroads armed, though. I don't feel like we make inroads armed here. Even on social media. I don't often discuss that I grew up around guns, enjoy shooting targets only, and I'm probably better than you (ha!) because it could make people uncomfortable. Jesus reminds us to be careful to not offend others, yet Christians seem to always be offended. We've been told to NOT be offended by others. It's not about us.

I feel like if our pro gun theology doesn't work for reaching out to people in compassion in, say, Myanmar, then it doesn't work. Period.

We Belong Together

Ah, February! The month of love. Valentine sappiness abounds. I'm not really one to buy into all of that. I shrug off the usual fare of the holiday in favor of the normal. I'm not much of a crowd follower and I don't like being the giver or recipient of forced romance. Love is a choice. Is it really romantic when the expectation of it is so high? Is love really love when it's required? 

I guess what I really like is the unexpected. The more spontaneous. The love that makes no sense whatsoever. The vulnerability of love with a risk and cost beyond the wallet. That kind of love is compelling! It gets my attention. It stands out from the crowd of pink and red confectioner conversations. (I say all of this with a smirk because I'm brushing glittery pink sprinkles off my shirt from my heart-shaped sugar cookie.)

The Bible talks a lot about love. God's love, and the love Christianity should reflect, is compelling. We're likely all familiar with the way 1 Corinthians 13 defines it: love is patient, Love is kind. We've likely heard that God defines himself as love. We are commanded to love others the way he loves us. 

Whoa. Commanded? That's not me. What is love if it's commanded? Exactly what is He commanding from me? How does he love me? The imagery of the Bible is masterful. 1 Peter 2:9 says I'm chosen. I'm His chosen possession. That's powerful. I'm His Bride! I'm pure, clean, beautiful, and treasured in His eyes. He has loved me since before anything existed. He knows my faults and sees past them. He sees everyone this way. He sees the Church this way. I have to see others this way because of the overflow. Because he lives in me. Because His kingdom is far beyond me, you, us, your church, my church...it's HIS CHURCH! WE are His chosen possession. WE are his Bride.

At the risk of cray levels of corniness, I'll borrow from Pat Benetar here, because, well...PAT BENETAR. Just go with it. It works.

Love doesn't have to be a battlefield. I understand why it is though. We are strong, no one can tell us we're wrong. Searchin' our hearts for so long. Both of us knowing. Love is a battlefield.

I really feel like we'd be better off if we realized that We Belong to Him. 

Many times I tried to tell you

Many times I cried alone
Always I'm surprised how well you cut my feelings to the bone
Don't want to leave you really
I've invested too much time to give you up that easy
To the doubts that complicate your mind

We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder
We belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen under
Whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better
We belong, we belong, we belong together

That's ridiculous love. Unexpected. Compelling! I want that.