LOVED

2009 is quickly disappearing. The world is celebrating in its usual manner. I wonder how much of the celebration is merely noise and activity to help ignore the emptiness? As I finish this year I am grateful for God's amazing love for me. A love I am still trying to grasp. A love that is totally independent of my achievments or lack thereof. A love that embraces me and celebrates over me. Just me! A love that will not let me go as one song writer penned. A love that the Father wants to overwhelm me with each day during this coming year. A love that should liberate me to enjoy the journey, embrace obedience, and show that love to others. As this year closes and I move into another part of the journey, I desire to truly know God's love for me, and then to show that same love to others. I know the opportunities for both will be multiple. I know I can easily be distracted by the stuff of this world. I know my own insecurities and doubts will at times hinder me from knowing that love and showing that love. May the Holy Spirit guide me into all truth regarding God's boundless love for me and how I can express that to others.

Christmas

We've been traveling with Luke during the last few months at Amarillo First Naz. It's been a good journey. We have just scratched the surface of this window into the life of Jesus and the ways of God. A powerful promise begins this Gospel, "nothing is impossible with God (1:37)." Spoken to Mary upon the announcement of the Incarnation, it declared the nature of God-He is Almighty. The same promise is again spoken by Jesus in Luke 18 & the rich young ruler. The same promise, the same Almighty God, but one person got it and one missed it. Mary was willing to be the Lord's servant, the young ruler refused the offer. Mary seemed to have a vision of something beyond herself, the young ruler couldn't get past himself. One would be labeled powerless by our culture, the other one blessed and successful. The Almighty God didn't need the power and wealth of the young ruler. Almighty God was looking for a willing heart. Someone through whom He could display His redemptive power. The impossible is discovered when we make ourselves available to God, for His purposes and glory. Christmas reminds us of Almighty God and the Divine invasion into this broken world. Nothing is impossible with God. Believe & rejoice!