Look AHEAD, Not BACK!

Regrets will eat you up. They take up your time, they sap your energy, and they leave you feeling like a castaway on a deserted island.Now that 2011 has wound down, it’s time to look ahead to 2012.

In the Bible, Lot and his family made an escape. They were specifically told not to look back. What did Lot’s wife do? She looked back, and things did not work out well for her. In fact, she was turned into a pillar of salt!

Luke 17:31-32 (KJV) says, “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife.” This contains a reminder to remember what happened to Lot’s wife, and also to let us know that we need to focus on God and the future. That is what is important.

What does all of that have to do with us? First, it’s a lesson in obedience. God doesn’t want us to sit around and “stew” over the past. What is done is done. It is over. We can, and should, learn from past mistakes. However, when we give it all to Jesus Christ, we need to leave it with Him. Don’t keep taking things back from Him. He is big enough and strong enough to handle anything we need to leave with Him.

Secondly, regrets take our mind and focus off God. We get so caught up in what we could have done or should have done, we don’t take the time to look at God’s plan for our lives. We don’t think about the lessons we should be learning from our experiences. God never wastes a hurt, and He works it all for our good. (Romans 8:28)

If we continuously play the “Could Have, Should Have, Would Have” game, it hurts our testimony, too. It makes us look like we think God is not in control. It makes us look like we think everything is just some crazy, random “stuff” that just happens. We know better than that. However, our attitudes and actions are being noticed by people who don’t know Jesus, but they sure know us!

In Matthew 12:34b we read, “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” What is in our heart will show on our face. It will be in our speech and it will show what we are all about. If we are constantly focusing on the past, we will be full of regrets and we can’t look forward to what God has in store for us now and in the future.

So, I challenge you to look AHEAD to 2012 with great expectation and joy. Know that nothing comes as a surprise to God. He loves you dearly and He will be with you through the calm, the storm, the joy, and the pain. He will not leave you. Be encouraged and be blessed. Happy New Year!

Look AROUND The CHRISTmas Tree, Not UNDER It!

Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday, Jesus! After all, Jesus Christ is Who it is all about anyway. You can slice it up any which way you like, but in the end, it is the birthday of Jesus Christ we are supposed to be celebrating. He is the One who stepped down from Heaven and came to live a humble life here on Earth, to die on the cross to save us from our sins.

John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

So why do we celebrate Christmas with the giving and receiving of gifts, anyway? The whole “gift thing” has lost a lot of the original meaning. We give gifts to remind ourseleves and others of the greatest gift of all- Jesus Christ. All we have to do is believe on Him, admit we need Him, and receive the free gift of eternal salvation! Anytime and everytime we give or receive a gift, we should be reminded of Jesus.

Somewhere along the way, Jesus got shoved to the side. Jesus is a gentleman of the truest and highest order. He will never force His way into where He is not invited. With free will to choose whether or not to follow Him, many people have forgotten about Jesus.

For lots of people all over the world, Christmas is all about stuff. The more stuff the better it is. The bigger the stuff, the bigger the smile, at least for a while.

Does that mean Christians can’t enjoy gifts? Of course not. In fact, we should enjoy giving and getting gifts. It’s fun and meant to be enjoyed. We just shouldn’t lose sight of Who it is all about. We should remember, every time we open a gift, what Jesus did for each of us.

This Christmas, look around your Christmas tree. Enjoy the loved ones who are celebrating with you. Thank God for putting them in your life. You never know when it will be your last Christmas on this Earth with them. Life is short and it is precious. It is a blessing. Enjoy every moment of it.

Life isn’t about stuff. It’s about God and the people He brings into your life. They are there for a reason. Some of them will be with you for a long time. Others will only be part of your life for a season. For however long you are together, live it out in a way that will make God proud.

We have two lovely rescue dogs, Merci Me and Job FoxyBeast. Little Job is getting old and I fear that he won’t be around for too many more years. It makes our time together even sweeter. I want to savor every second of my time with my family, both the humans and our furry family members.

This year, I encourage you to spend more time looking around the tree than under it. Sure, enjoy the gifts, but spend time praising God for Jesus and the loved ones in your life. Those gifts are the ones that will last forever.

Jesus Christ — The Most Precious Gift Of ALL!

Have you ever received a gift that was truly awful? Did you ever unwrap a hideous sweater that was so busy it could confuse small planes trying to land? What about a gadget or gizmo that you had no use for? Most of us can relate to the “Oh!-I-wish-I-hadn’t-unwrapped-that!” moment. What really counts is the thought behind the gift, of course. However, it creates a really awkward moment when the gift giver looks at you with breathless anticipation, waiting for your truly happy reaction. Well, the one gift that “fits all” is Jesus Christ!

As we roll into high gear during the Christmas season, we are thinking about doing kind and loving things for others. What a blessing that is! We know it’s not all about the “stuff.” We give and receive gifts to remind others and ourselves of the best gift of all — Jesus Christ. The fact that He stepped down from Heaven and came to Earth in human form, knowing He would suffer and die for our sins, is a blessing for all.

My dear husband, Rob, has a clueless relative whom I will call “Darla” in order to protect her identity. Darla is obsessed with gifts. She has a lot of money and enjoys spending it. Unfortunately, she doesn’t think of the recipients when she purchases the gifts. For example, our kids have very sensitive skin and can’t wear certain fabrics. One of my children has such a severe fabric allergy that he has trouble breathing if the offending fabric touches his skin. Rob and I told Darla about this many, many times, but she kept sending both of our children clothing made of this fabric. She had a temper tantrum when we didn’t let them wear the dangerous clothing.

For Darla, gift giving is all about her. It is a selfish thing and this doesn’t do anyone any favors. In this case, gift giving is not a labor of love. Most people have a Darla in their life. In our case, Darla is not a Christian and this is reflected in all parts of her life. She is constantly searching for the “next big thing,” but can’t ever seem to find it. People like Darla are completely focused on the material things.

We are told in Matthew 6:20 (NIV), “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” This means we need to focus our hearts, our time, our talents, and everything on the eternal. If we have the right focus, what we do and what we care about will never be wasted. The reward we seek will be granted to us in Heaven.

This week, as you contemplate Christmas, get alone with God and thank Him for Jesus. If you haven’t received the precious gift of salvation, please don’t put it off. If you are already in a relationship with Jesus, tell Him again how much He means to you. And, don’t keep Jesus a secret. Share Him with others! Be encouraged and be blessed!

Don’t Forget Your Carry-On!

Do you like to see new places? Do you enjoy meeting new people? Do you thirst for adventure? Do you hunger to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with people all over the world? With all of today’s technological and traveling advances, spreading the Good News is getting easier and easier. Travel is not as difficult as it used to be. But one thing is remains a headache—luggage! Most people struggle with how much “stuff” they can or should bring when they travel. And thinking about traveling and luggage makes me think about Jesus!

Over the years, my husband, Rob, and I have been blessed to do a lot of traveling. Before we had our kids we often did a lot of last-minute traveling. Since our precious children arrived, traveling has taken on a whole new meaning and requires highly-skilled, advanced planning. Sometimes it feels like a military operation. I will never forget how we made the fifteen-hour drive to visit Rob’s family when our daughter was four months old. I was completely amazed by how much “gear” she required!

When we travel by plane, I spend a good deal of time thinking about our “carry-on” situation. I always what do we absolutely have to have while we are away. Then I think about all of the “nice” goodies that we would like to bring along, but don’t necessarily need to take with us. Of course, the “essentials” all go in the carry-ons, just in case the other luggage gets lost.

I want to live my life with Jesus Christ as my “carry-on” everywhere I go. I don’t ever want to take Him with me and just “leave” Him somewhere. He is the essential for my life. Over the years I have learned that if things are in line with Jesus, everything else will work itself out, too.

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During all of our travels, Rob and I have had to deal with lost luggage. What a pain that can be! Once it is lost, there is not guarantee that it will be found. And, if it is found, there is no guarantee that it will be unharmed. That is why we have learned that the “less important” stuff gets relegated to the checked luggage department.

In life, there are certain obligations and commitments we all have to deal with. Those tend to be the checked bags. If they get lost or changed our heart doesn’t break. Life will go on.

So, this week, I challenge you to plan for a mental “trip.” Make a list of what is most important in your life. Think about what you just have to have with you at all times. Place that in your mental carry-on. Then, pray and ask God to show you how to focus your priorities to reflect what is most important in your life. May the love of Jesus Christ be carried in your heart and in your life every day. Be encouraged and be blessed!

Playing Hide And Seek With God

Do you ever yearn for yesteryear? Do you ever ponder the past? Have you ever thought back to the carefree days of your childhood, when everything seemed simple and uncomplicated? It sure would be nice to bring the innocence of youth into adulthood, wouldn’t it? I had a moment this week when the goodness of childhood met adulthood in a most unexpected way, and it made me think about God.

I was in the car with my kids, Bella and Noah. There were happily chatting in the backseat, and I just enjoyed listening to them for a while. I didn’t want to interrupt their sweet talking, so I kept quiet. Then, the conversation somehow turned to a game they love to play, Hide and Seek. How they got on that particular topic, I don’t know, but their insight blew me away.

We had been talking about God at home and then we went to do some errands. As they were chatting and talking about Hide and Seek, Noah brought God into the conversation. By this time, my ears had perked up. He then said, “Well, if God played Hide and Seek, He’d be the Seeker because He wants everybody to find Him!”

I felt tears stinging my eyes at his statement. It was so full of meaning on many different levels. Too many adults don’t “get that” simple, yet eternity-changing fact. God doesn’t hide from us, but we sure try to hide from Him.

Too many people do things thinking they are alone and that “no one will ever know.” God sees and hears and knows everything. He even knows what is going on in our minds and in our hearts. Psalm 139:1-3 (NKJV) tells us, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.”

The simple fact is God loves each and every person in the world. We each matter to Him so much that God sent His beloved Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross so we could have forgiveness if we only believe and ask for it. God wants us to love Him but He won’t force it. He wants us to come to Him through our own free will.

Revelation 3:20-21 (NKJV) says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

This week, I encourage you to look for God every day. Open your heart and your mind and your life to Him. He wants to be found. He wants you to join His family and find the peace and freedom that can only come from Him. Be encouraged and be blessed!