Lord Jesus ... Forgive Us Our Trespasses!

As mankind recovers from the overindulgence of the Christmas season, I wonder how many who profess faith in the true meaning of Christ's birth are honestly assessing if we are honoring Him and why He came to live among us. Maybe it's my advancing years that has me carefully looking at my life [and the world], but I find myself sensing the magnitude of how much we've failed Him.

I am not given to gloom and doom, or a sense of defeat. In fact, I am exceedingly mindful that He loves us and all that He's created; that He forgives us when we ask in repentance, expecting us to forgive others who've hurt us. And I praise His Name and work in my life. But, still, I often feel a heaviness that blankets my soul. And my spirit cries out, Forgive me, Jesus, for putting my needs and feelings before those of others! I haven't followed Your example of being a humble, sacrificing servant. I truly mean it when I ask You to cleanse me of everything that is not of You; I want to be worthy to invite you to sit on the throne of my heart!

The joy of the hope of Christmas is true and encouraging. So, the world has no excuse for the state it's in. God made His presence known to Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, telling them what He expected from mankind and bidding them to share His precepts, statutes, and guidelines for pleasing Him. Actually, ancient civilizations [such as the Sumerians] that predate the father of our faith, had creation and flood stories that mimic what we've been given in our Bible. Modern man is the recipient of a collection of texts considered to be the authoritative and inspired Word of God, determined in the 3rd-4th centuries by various councils [including Councils of Nicaea, Rome, and Carthage]. It wasn't until the Fifteenth Century [1455, to be exact,] that the masses had access to the printed Word, available in the Gutenberg Bible.

But my point is this: Since the creation of the world, God and Jesus have made themselves known. We've had thousands of years to get it right. Paul explicitly tells us in Romans 1:20, Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. So, here I sit, the day after Christmas, a day we ostensibly profess that we are celebrating the birth of our God and declaring our faithfulness as His followers -- yet the world doesn't reflect what we proclaim. 

It is obvious we need a Savior. And, yes, He came as an innocent, helpless baby. But if that's the only Jesus that people relate to, then I guess I can understand [a little], why so many people aren't convicted of their sins or His divine authority. I can understand why they don't have the "fear of God' [the reverence and recognition of His full identity]. And that's where I often find my active faith wanting. The world is a reflection of how we reflect Him in our lives! We are pretty good at sharing His attributes of Love, Grace, and Mercy. But the full picture of our Savior includes His character as a warrior king, a righteous judge, and the commander of Heaven's armies -- waging war against the dark kingdom of Satan's forces; forces who have found a world too eager to give in to its temptations of power, wealth, and fame. That's a powerful motivation to skip studying God's revelation about Himself, and seek what pleases ourselves. 

So, most of the world is left with images of Jesus as a newborn baby, or a physical man whose message is defeated as he dies, nailed to a wooden cross. Sadly, even Christians don't take the time to seek the fullness of who He is from the inspired Scriptures. It's there, if you have the desire to know "the whole story".  Within that holy Book, you will see Him with eyes blazing; hair as white as snow; feet like fine brass [as if refined in a furnace]; with a sharp, two-edged sword coming forth from His mouth; His countenance like the sun shining in its strength; a Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes [the seven Spirits of God]; who will rule all nations with a rod of iron; clothed in a robe dipped in blood; riding a white horse, judging and waging war in righteousness... and all because of our sin.

It's easy to get caught up in the sentimentality and emotionalism of Christmas. And it does remind us that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. The love of God is most assuredly part of the Christmas spirit. But as we come out of the romanticism and nostalgia of the Christmas season, we are met with the truth of what the world really looks like. And that finds me repenting, asking my Lord for the forgiveness of my part in its failing Him. 

So join me in reviewing what Jesus has commanded us to do -- live both a compassionate, loving life and a moral, righteous one. Let us take a good look at ourselves and commit to repent; believe in Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls; and put others before ourselves, serving selflessly, just as He did. When we pursue an intimate relationship with Him; praise and worship Him; care for others less fortunate or in need; and turn from our sins of greed, materialism, and selfishness, He will respond and lead us on paths of His righteousness. And that will lead to us reflecting His moral justice system, such as defending the unborn; and fighting human trafficking, religious persecution and oppression.

So, today, I commend my spirit to renew my commitment to furthering the Kingdom of God. I ask Jesus to help me fulfill the Great Commission to which He has called me ... to share the Hope I have in Him and His promises, and to make Him known among all peoples. I have repented because I know His expectations are high, but I also know that the Holy Spirit resides in me and will empower me to reflect the Glory of my Savior as I take a stand for His Kingdom. This broken world will be conquered by the love of Christ, and I want to be a part of seeing that promise come to fruition. Bless you all as we move forward into 2026, the year of our Lord!

Philippians 1:27    Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose] with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.    

  

    

 

 

Jesus Created You to Have an Effect on the World! Now is the Time!

This is a timely and somewhat personal post. I have been invited to speak to a group of girls and young women at a fun event combining food, games, creative projects, and worship; a time dedicated to lifting up the Lord in our lives. As always, I seek Jesus and Holy Spirit as to what They desire me to share. I know it is important to be encouraging in these uncertain -- and let's face it -- dark days. I want these young girls and young adults, along with their mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers, to leave the event with their identity in Christ at the forefront, and with a firm grasp of why Jesus created them. I want their spirits to be awakened to joy, action, and purpose.

Now, for the personal side of this post. I am able to draw on my own experiences and relationship with Jesus to encourage the women who will be coming to this event. When you are able to discover (and then act on) your unique and individual passion [in righteousness, of course], then it gives meaning to your life, and you please the desire of the Lord's heart for you. In my case, I loved to read and loved how I was able to use my imagination to begin writing historical fiction, even at the young age of 12. I continued to engage with my love of writing through high school (writing articles for my small local newspaper), getting a Journalism degree in college, and following that up with free-lance articles from interviews of the up-and-coming music scene in Austin, TX. And then I stopped writing. 

The world came calling, and being single, I had bills to pay. Then I got married and when my husband announced that he wanted to pursue his God-given talent and become a professional artist, I knew he was ready to chase his dreams and I didn't want him to be 70 years old and say, "I wish I had gone for it". I continued to work my job and pay the bills, while he paid his dues in the art business. The next 12 years saw success come his way and I became his business manager, web designer, scheduler, accountant, and all-things administrative. It was an exciting lifestyle, but I began to want to pursue my own creative passion. The problem was that I kept that to myself. My husband had no idea that I had ever had a love of writing. The time for that was long gone by the day I met him.

But then God intervened. In 2007, I had a chance meeting (or so I thought) with a man God sent as His messenger. We were in Montana at a wedding in which my husband was a groomsman, and another of the groomsmen had a gift of prophecy. On the last day before we were to return home, it was arranged for me to meet and talk to him because he had "something I needed to hear". And what he told me literally changed my life. He said that God had come to him in a dream with a message for me. That message changed my direction and focus. This modern day prophet wrote something on a piece of paper and shoved it across the table to me. "Does this have any meaning to you?", he asked. Written in a bold scrawl was Be the Pen -- not the blank piece of paper.

I stared at it for a full minute. I knew what it meant ... don't squander my passion and gift for writing. I had abandoned it for too long, leaving blank pages unwritten upon. I was to pick up my pen and start writing again. I finally looked at this man who had hit the target that was placed on my heart, and asked, "How did you know? No one -- not even my husband -- has known my love of writing". I'll never forget his response ... "God made you to write, and He desires to see you do what He made you to do. It pleases Him. Don't write to be a #1 best selling author; don't write for the money. Simply write because it pleases Him." I can't tell you what that did for my soul and spirit.

We drove home to Texas and I spent the next two years writing a fiction novel. Every day, my husband made me stop whatever I was doing for his art business and take the next two or three hours writing that novel; developing and fleshing out characters, and letting the Holy Spirit pour the storyline into me. I swear, when I would go back over my progress the next day, I would not remember writing the words on the page. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I've had in my life -- creativity just poured out of me! At the completion of that two-year exercise, it was like God said, "OK, I can trust that you will listen and seek My will, so I have another assignment. I want you to begin a blog, speaking to both men and women about the journey I'm going to take you and your husband on; about your seeking more knowledge of Me, and how it relates to what's happening in the world." And what a journey it's been! It's tested my faith; it's challenged my theology; and it's opened the Bible up to me in ways that continue to astound me. 

And I'm amazed that it's been 18 years since that encounter with God in Montana and I'm still learning how to write all that He's revealed in our time together. And one of the most interesting concepts is one that I've learned from a series of historical fiction by another author, Ginny Dye. Her books, The Bregdan Chronicles, have introduced a principle that I plan on sharing this weekend with the young women and their family members at the event I'm attending. It fits so nicely with some of God's principles, and I want to share it with each of you. 

The word Bregdan comes from the Gaelic language and is a term for weaving: Braiding. As the author explained, "Every life that has been lived until today is a part of the woven braid of life. It takes every person's story to create history. My life [and your life] will help determine the course of history. You may think you don't have much of an impact. You do. Every action you take will reflect in someone else's life ... someone else's decisions ... someone else's future. Both good and bad. That is the Bregdan Principle".

Think about it. God has created each of us to have an effect on the world! And, of course, He desires that we affect others and the world according to His will. It's easy to have an effect when we act according to our will, and oftentimes our decisions are made solely for our benefit instead of others or God. But it is important that we come to realize -- and acknowledge -- God's power within us to actually change the world! And when you recognize the passion that comes from God, and that He desires you use it to reflect Him to the world, then that passion becomes a powerful and joyful tool to effect someone's life, and to change the world. I have seen strangers look upon a piece of my husband's art and begin to cry; their soul touched by the reflection of God he shares in his painting. And just when I think maybe I've done all I am meant to do in affecting someone's life through my writing in this blog, I will receive a comment that says, "I was about to give up and then I stumbled upon your blog. This is exactly what I needed to hear today". 

Just like when God first told me that His gift of writing is not about me making a million bucks off an award-winning book, He has often whispered, "If you reach just one person today for Me [with your words], then I have more for you to do with your gift".  I want these women to know that each of them was created by Jesus with a purpose; to use whatever gift He has given them to affect the world for God's Kingdom here on earth. I want them to be on the spiritual lookout for signs that He's trying to communicate with them; to pay attention to those thoughts that come unbidden, or those "coincidences" that speak to their heart.

As I've contemplated what I will be speaking about this weekend, I kept hearing "Colossians" in my mind. So, this morning I sat down with my Bible and opened it up to the Book of Colossians. There, highlighted in yellow, with my hand-written notes in the margin, I saw the summary of what I want each of these precious girls and women to receive ... And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God: being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:9-14).  

There it is! This is what it means to be pleasing to the Lord: Bear fruit (discover what you're passionate about and do it unto the Lord!; increase in the knowledge of God; walk in His power and authority; be patient and endure with joy! Thank our Father for moving us into the Kingdom, and thank Jesus for redeeming us and forgiving us! 

And that's the way you have an effect on others and the world! You won't escape pain in this life, but you can outlast it by choosing joy in the midst of it, and giving thanks and credit to the Lord who has been there every step of the way. The world appears pretty dark these days, but we can be fully pleasing to the Lord, when we seek Him and are willing to pursue His path for which we were created, and then walking in our authority to fulfill that purpose. The world needs the light of God that we will reflect. Take a chance, trust Him, pursue Him, and see just how much effect you can have!

Ephesians 3:20-21.     Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work in us, to Him be glory in the Ekklesia and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.