No Bows or Bells: Make Christmas REAL Again

Raise your hand if you spent over $50 on Christmas this year.

Yep, mine's in the air.

Now raise your hand if you felt like it was necessary to spend at least X amount on each person for their gift.

...mine's raised again.

Do you feel like you should have spent more? Do you feel guilty because you didn't buy somebody a gift? Yep. Hand raised on all counts.

How crazy is that!?

Christmas in modern times seems to have become less of a spiritual day of celebration and more of a holiday devoted to long treks to department stores, hours spent wrapping gifts and getting tangled in tape, and stressing over the one thing we never have enough of before Christmas... $ Money $

I'm about to say something crazy. Ready?

YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON CHRISTMAS!!!

What? But what about the gifts? The tree? The HAM for the Lord's sake?

What about them? Don't you remember what Christmas is?

I think maybe that's the problem. Modern Christmas is to wrapped up in the paper and the price tags. We forget that a "holiday" has nothing to do with money, or even a day off from work. Sure, gifts are nice and so is sleeping in. But Christmas wasn't a holiday founded on giving gifts or eating huge meals surrounded by family we see once a year.

What's Christmas All About?

Christmas is a holiday. If you look closely at the word "holiday" you'll see that it is comprised of two words squished together-- "holy" and "day." We all know Christmas is holy. Churches have celebrated it for hundreds of years. And every year, the greatest story is told again and again.

 Yeah yeah, we now the story. We know it by heart. Caesar Augustus had this thing about counting his subjects and roll call came around. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem on a donkey only to find out there was no room at the inn. The innkeeper let them sleep in the stable, where baby Jesus was born.

We ALL know this story. It's one of the most told Christmas stories of history. You don't have to be Christian to know Jesus was born in a barn. You don't need to be a Christian to have heard that Mary and Joseph swaddled the son of God and let him sleep in a manger. That's right, the son of god slept in a feeding trough.

But we seem to forget that this story, this AMAZING story, is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Note the name Christmas-- Christ and Mass squished together. It has nothing to do with bows and bells, wrapping paper and gifts, or even ham and potatoes. Christmas is a day of celebrating Christ's birth.

It's Not About the Money

When I was little I was always confused about why God had his son born in a barn. I mean, this was Jesus... King of the Jews, Son of God, Holy and Perfect. Why did his father let him enter the world surrounded by stinky animals and hay?

God could have had his son born in a palace. He could have had Jesus raised with a silver spoon and scepter. Instead, Jesus was born to a carpenter...in a barn...with nothing to his name on Earth.

God didn't care about the wealth of the world. He didn't care to send his son wealth and power of rule. Jesus didn't need it. He came to Earth greater than any of us. He was the son of God and he was richer than we could ever understand.

But What About the Gifts?

We give gifts on Christmas because we have to, right? Or at least, that's one train of rationale as to why we spend hundreds of dollars on presents each year. But wait, you say, Jesus got gifts on Christmas too!

Oh right! The magi did bring Jesus gifts. What was it... Frankincense, myrrh, and gold? Yes, they came and bowed before Jesus, paying homage to the messiah. But did the Bible ever say that Mary and Joseph asked for gifts? Did Jesus, ever once in his life, demand the gold and power he deserved as King? No. These gifts were given out of free will, not out of duty. They were given out of respect to God and to Jesus.

God didn't tell the wise men to bring gifts. He didn't say, "It's my kid's birthday! Make it super special!" It already was a special day, because the Son of God had come to Earth.

God gave US a gift on Christmas. He gave us the promise of eternal life, without the lifetime of sacrifices that the people before Jesus had to make. No more trips to the temple to sacrifice for sins made over the year. Jesus had come to make the ultimate sacrifice. His gift to us was greater than any toy, electronic, or dollar amount could ever be.

It's Not About Gifts... It's About Giving

When Jesus came to Earth, he did so knowing his life would be one of sacrifice. He would spend it among the sick and the sinful, the criminal and the prostitute, the fallen and the forsaken. He knew his life would be one of giving.

I think we forget that Christmas isn't about showing love through monetary value. Sure, I love presents and Santa Claus, and I really like eating a few million cookies around a fire. But I was sitting here today watching Glee of all things, and was reminded that there are people out there who would give anything to just have someone over for Christmas. People are out there who would give anything to be warm this Christmas, to have food this Christmas, to feel happy this Christmas.

And here I was, worrying about if I spent enough on gifts this year...

Christmas is more than just boxes under a tree. It's a celebration of Christ's birth, and a recognition of Christ's mission here on Earth. Christmas is about giving; giving time, giving happiness, giving love and strength... Who here has ever donated to charity for Christmas? Or spent Christmas eve handing out gloves to the homeless? Or maybe even gone to an old folks home to visit those without family?

...not me. I admit it, I've been pulled into Money's mockery of Christmas. And I am ashamed of myself. Ever since childhood I've been told that Jesus gave everything for us. I've been told for twenty years that Christmas is a day to celebrate new beginnings, to celebrate the coming of Christ, and to celebrate a new year with the knowledge that I am saved... all because Jesus came to Earth for me and you.

Make Christmas Real Again

I challenge you today to make Christmas real again. I know, I know, it is real. It's on the calendar for Pete's sake! But I don't mean real in the sense that it is a recognized holiday. I mean real as in a reality, a true Christmas, devoid of greed and selfishness. I challenge you to give something more than money this year at Christmas.

Give love and faith, give hope and strength. Do more than worry about the money and the ham. Maybe you have a strained bond with your mother and she's visiting for dinner. Speak kindly to her, and open up your heart.

Maybe you're driving by the old folks home later today. Stop in with candy canes and laughter.

Maybe you have some last minute shopping and you see someone in a Scrooge-y mood. Smile at them.

Maybe this post has really struck home and you realized that your family hasn't heard the Great Story in a long time. Read a Bible passage to your family and remind them that Christmas is more than gifts and Santa.

Put holy substance back into Christmas. We've made it too easy to diminish this amazing day into nothing more than a gift-giving holiday where we're forced to see family and socialize. But this is the GREATEST DAY ever! Jesus came to Earth this day. On this day we were saved! We should celebrate! We should give ourselves over to the tide of joy and love that overwhelmed shepherds and magi! And we should give, because what better way is there to celebrate Jesus's birth than to live in his image?!

Give more than gifts this year. Give your heart and spirit, share your love and your time. Let's make Christmas real again...and remember that it isn't about money or shiny new toys. Christmas is a day for celebrating Jesus's birth and his legacy of giving.

Merry Christmas everyone!

(Images and artwork credit to the creators. No way can I draw that well hehe!)

The Waiting Game: Pray for Peace and Patience

I'm what you would call a very impatient person. I want answers immediately. It's a hard lesson to learn over and over that you have to wait for something, sometimes hours, sometimes days or weeks. Patience is said to be a virtue, and it is one I find myself lacking.

I'll be honest with you, I've struggle with my prayer life these last weeks. There's been so many struggles. Recurrent infections, bills, pain... I've felt like I was drowning.

As humans I think we too often believe we can control every aspect of our lives. We have amazing technology, advanced medicine, ships that can fly into space... Sometimes it does seem like we can control the universe, as though we can move our own mountains.

But have you ever noticed that no one's been able to move the Tetons? Sure, we've dynamited some passes through the great mountain ranges of the world, be we can't move them. And those passes are treacherous and many have died passing through them? We can't move mountains.

What do mountains have to do with patience?

Well, quite a bit, actually.

Facing Mountains

We face mountains every day. They can be bills, work, illness, you name it. How often do we try to control and tear down those mountains on our own? It's one of my fatal flaws. I'm always rushing and impatient, making quick decisions, trying so hard to control my situation.

And yet I can't. I'm still sick, still panicking, still wishing things would be fixed in an instant of magic or grace. But I'm still stuck here, worrying about life and trying to control it.

Last night I was reminded that sometimes, we have to wait. Yes, we might worry while we wait, but we should remember that while we cannot move mountains, God can. God is greater than we can comprehend. He is the only one who can move mountains. After all, He created them.

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Navigating the Seas

Sometimes when we're surrounded by a sea of thrashing waves, we can see only the giant wave before us. We're rushing to paddle our little rowboat away from the monstrosity, trying so hard to control our little boat's path. But another wave hits and we're thrown off course again.

We see only gray and dark skies and stormy seas. We're waiting for sunshine and smooth sailing. Our view is blinded by the telescope we have clutched in our hands, and we're trying so hard to see the horizon.

What we forget is that God sees the entire ocean. He holds the entire world in His hand, like a beautiful blown glass sphere. We may not see the horizon, but God can. He can see when the storm will end. He can see the entire route you will take, and protect you always. Remember that God can help you the entire way. Don't forget that with Jesus at his side, Peter could walk on water. It was only Peter's fear that made him falter and fall into the waves.

When he did falter, Peter was not left to drown. The Lord reached out and saved him. Matthew 24:14 "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

God protects us, when we falter, when we are afraid. He will guide us always. Psalms 48:14 says "For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end."

Peace & Patience

How does one navigate these seas of endless trials and endless waiting? How do we bring down mountains of bills and illness? It is with patience and prayer. More importantly, it is with the Lord's peace.

We must turn our gaze to the Lord when we are impatient or afraid. My impatience usually stems from fear. That's why I'm always rushing to fix it as soon as possible. And I forget to pray for God to intercede or guide me. Instead, I turn to Him after I've already blundered or set up a doctor's appointment, and I'm praying that there will be answers. I can't ever seem to wait for His guidance, or I can't seem to look hard enough and find it waiting for me.

Let me tell you, all this worrying is driving me crazy. It took my mother-in-law to remind me that sometimes we need to pray for peace and patience. The Lord has everything in hand.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27

God's peace will give us patience. With His hands working in our lives, we can find peace in knowing that God does not make mistakes. Whatever trials you face, know He gives us only what we can handle. Whatever fears you have, know that God is greater than them all.

When we have the Lord's peace, we can find patience in its most absolute form. With God's assurance what do we have to wait anxiously for? The Lord will take care of things in His time. No, it is not our time, but our perception of time is flawed. We cannot see everything. He can. He knows exactly when landmarks in our lives need to occur. He helps us face them, overcome them, and grow.

Pray for Peace and Patience

We must pray for peace and patience. Sometimes it is hard to face the mountains and waves alone, but we must remember that when we turn to God we do not face them alone. Prayer is a powerful thing. It brings us closer to God. Our times of trouble bring us closer to God. When we reach out to Him, we solidify the amazing, powerful, loving relationship the Lord has and wants with us. He loves us. When we ask for His help, His hand reaches down. We just can't forget that sometimes we don't understand how He is working in our lives. Sometimes struggles are for our betterment. Sometimes the unexpected is what is best for us.

So pray for understanding and pray for healing, for help, for whatever it is you need help with. But most importantly, pray for peace of mind, body, and soul. Pray for patience. The Lord's patience is divine, He forgives us time and again when we forsake Him. Pray for a shred of His patience and know that with it you can withstand the storm.

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. "

(Images rights to artists. Music performed by Hillsong.)

En Garde! Sword Fights and Spirit! (P. 1)

Today's Black Friday...that's right, it's basically the Hunger Games in the confined spaces of shopping malls and retail stores. What day could be more proper to speak about holy sword fights than today, when everyone is more concerned with fighting over toys and kitchen appliances?

There are greater things at stake than Christmas toys. The fights in the retail stores, though sometimes hellacious and crazy, are nothing in comparison to the spiritual battle ongoing in this world.

Think about it, yesterday was Thanksgiving. It was literally the day to give thanks and praise for family ties and all that we have in this world. How many of us caved and turned our thoughts to worldly items by the time dinner was on the table?

I think that right now, spiritual warfare is at an all time high, for all of us. What with the commercialization of the Christmas season, and the lack of emphasis of the holiness of the season in media and society, it is easy to forget that this nearing season is one of drawing closer to the Lord. Satan knows this, and uses the commercialization of Christmas to draw us towards avarice and greed. Disagree? Well, for what other reasons would you stand in line for hours, simply for a toy or machine that may cost only twenty dollars more on any other day? Is it for a good deal? Is it worth it?

Yes, today is a day of craziness, when we think it is appropriate to fight over toys. We've heard horror stories of people being pepper sprayed or run over because of the "steals" stores are offering today. And Satan is gleeful over our fall into greed.

So what do we do?

We don the full armor of God, and strike out with the Sword of the Spirit.

The Sword of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God's powerful tool. It can strengthen His followers and destroy His enemies. Far greater, it can help us, His believers, turn aside fear and sin. It is the weapon through which we fight our battles.

The battles we Christians face are constant, ongoing. The Sword of the Spirit is our weapon to be carried at all times, for battles may arise at any moment. It is Spirit that prepares us for these battles and protects us.

But what is Spirit?

Spirit is a truly amazing thing. It is a tool of God. He has used it to touch disciples and give them strength. He has filled armies with it. He has brought nations to His knees through the power of the Spirit. But more importantly, God is Spirit. "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." John 4:24

This is clear, The Holy Trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. When God gives us Spirit, He is giving us part of Himself...

Wow. How amazing is that? The Lord has given us part of Himself to fight the battles of this world.

Why Do We Need The Sword of the Spirit?

The battles of this world are not one great war, done in a few chapters. They are continuous and ongoing. They are daily. Satan is not without his wiles and he is patient. His one goal is to destroy our chances of being with the Lord. We cannot stand against him.

But with the Holy Spirit we can face all things. Remember that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert in Matthew 4. There, Jesus stood against the temptation of Satan. Satan tested Jesus, using scripture against him. But Jesus stood fast, refusing to test the Lord, His Father, and standing strong against Lucifer. He offered Jesus the world, and Jesus denied it, knowing that the Kingdom of Heaven awaited.

Jesus was strengthened by His Father and by the Holy Spirit. You might ask why the Holy Spirit would lead Jesus to battle. Would it not make more sense for God to protect Jesus instead? To keep him safe from harm?

God does not give us any battle we cannot handle without Him. Satan is unyielding, and will come at us at all times. Know that the Lord fights beside us in these battles, and through these battles we become stronger, more powerful in our faith through Christ and God. The battles we fight may seem lonely, one that surrounds us, but we need not fight it alone. God gives us His spirit to fight the battles.

How Do We Use the Sword of the Spirit?

The Spirit is a Sword like none other. It is not merely a piece of steel. It is a living weapon. We are vessels of God's Spirit, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" 1 Corinthians 6:19. 

We have a living weapon and tool in our very body. And we ought use it always. The world is full of greed and lust, sins which prevent us from being with God. I am no stranger to them. I have sinned, I have lusted, I have felt greed. And I pray for forgiveness and now seek to walk in Spirit, not in the world.

Think on Galatians 5:16-17 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."

We cannot fight Satan if we fall into his traps. If we walk in the Spirit, we do not fall into his devices and ploys. We instead stand firm against them. The Sword of the Spirit is not a physical object, it comes from God's Spirit. How do we use it on this Earth?

The same way we use the rest of the armor of God. We pray, we quote scripture, we open ourselves to the Lord, and we move through this world as God's children, filled with His spirit. Just as the Sword can protect us, we must also use it against Satan. When we walk with Spirit, we are to be disciples to those who do not know the Lord. We are to use the Sword of the Spirit, the word of our God, to bring our brothers and sisters on this Earth to the feet of the Lord.

We do not use the Sword of the Spirit merely for ourselves. We cannot be a cliché, or a strict sect of religious people who do not open our doors to sinners. We cannot be fearful or cruel to those different than us. The truth of the Sword of the Spirit is to know that through Spirit we must face the great darkness of Satan and his armies not just for our own entrance to Heaven. It is far greater a weapon than that. It is to be used for others, to protect and bring others into God's arms.

We are armed with the most powerful weapon on Earth. We are armed with God's Spirit. This responsibility means protecting others, and bringing them to Christ as disciples. It means standing against Satan in all things... even the mad rush of Black Friday.

These Boots Are Made for Walking... For Peace

Have you ever noticed the power of walking? It's so simple, one foot in front of the other and repeat. And yet, it can be so powerful. Martin Luther King marched towards Civil Rights. Ghandi walked for peace. But what do you do when your feet get sore?

We wear shoes, right? Combat boots, sandals, tennis shoes, you name it. Shoes protect us from the hazards of the road. Did you know God has something to protect us on  road too?

When I was in Sunday school learning about the Armor of God, there was one piece I always felt was kind of funny. My teacher called them the Sandals of Peace. I couldn't fathom how sandals or peace could be protective or any part of armor. It took me a bit too realize that the Sandals  weren't like God's Air Jordan's. They were a metaphor... (yeah, at eight years old I didn't know what a metaphor was...)

So what does peace have to do with armor? I mean isn't peace the opposite of war?

Peace is Preparedness

Ephesians 6:15 speaks of facing the world with, "your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."

The Gospel of Peace is God's word found in the Bible. From His gospel we gain the instruction and advice to prepare us for the world. Think about it. The bible had answers for everything, for fear, for death, for marriage, for money... it's the greatest guide for life. If we are fitted with it, we are prepared to face the world and it's dangers. 

Additionally, the Bible  actually gives us peace! What greater peace is there than to know eternity is waiting? What greater peace is there than to know God walks with us in this life? That we are in His hands? There is none. 

But I think God gives us this readiness from the Gospel of Peace for more than just our own peace of mind. I think He gives it to us to pursue peace for others, for everyone, not just fellow Christians. After all, Jesus came to bring peace on earth... the whole earth. That means peace for people of all races, citizenships, ethnicities and orientation, peace for men, women, children...for EVERYONE.

 Peace is Not a Commodity!!!

We've seen people who claim to be Christians commit atrocities. The Crusades killed thousands of people, different sects of Christianity have prosecuted people of different religions and orientations, and the truth of Christianity has been damaged and forgotten by these acts. Yes, the Bible says that non-believers are sinners without grace, but we seem to think that their sins are greater than ours. Somehow there seems to be an idea going around that since we are Christians we ought persecute sinners and cleanse the world of them. But that's wrong. 

Remember that Jesus was prosecuted and attacked, but he NEVER did the same. He loved and forgave everyone.

We aren't God's judge and jury. We aren't  His task force. He doesn't need us for that. HE is the judge, jury, and task force all at once. No, we are His disciples. We are told to love our neighbors, to forgive the sinner. We are to be His ambassadors of love, and more importantly, of Peace.

How do you expect non-believers to see God as forgiving and kind if we are not? How are we to preach to the masses if we support racism, cruelty, and perpetuate hate? 

How can Christians truly show God's holiness if we choose the sin of hubris, believing we are better than our brothers and sisters because we know the Lord? We are supposed to desire to show them God's love, which knows no limits and is for all people.

How can we know God's peace when we seek to set limits on its capacity and power? God is greater than human hate and fear, and He desires us to be the champions of His peace.

It is so easy to hate and fear those who are different. It is so easy to think that because we are saved by God, we are better than others. We are not better than our fellow humans. We are still humans. But we are saved by grace.

Remember that we are made in God's image, but sin mars us. We know God's holiness. As Christians, we ought seek to emulate and seek to act with holiness. Being holy doesn't mean wearing white robes and speaking in Latin. It means acting as the Lord desires--loving our neighbors, turning away hate, and acting with peace in our hearts.

Remember Hebrews 12:14,

"Pursue peace with all men, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord."

Today pray for peace. Pray for your own peace, for the world's peace. If you live in America, pray for peace among our people. We are divided right now, and as believers, we should ask God for peace, not for war or for vengeance against those we disagree with.

"Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen."

-St. Francis of Assisi

The Heavenly Cellphone (Prayer & The Full Armor of God)

For those of us born in the last twenty-five years, cellphones are probably deemed as necessary, normal parts of our culture. It's a little bizarre to think about a time where phones actually were attached by those curly wires or worse...a time where we had to write letters to chat with friends across the states. Eesh...talk about the stone age right?

It's also pretty common to hate the darn cellphones. I mean, who's mom calls them a million times a day...even if they're twenty-one and clearly responsible enough to handle life. (I'm only twenty...I talk to my mom two million times a day sometimes...sigh.)

Yeah. It's pretty obnoxious knowing that you're parents want you to stay in contact with them, am I right? Who here has ever ignored a call from your parents because you just couldn't deal with them?
Sometimes we don't even think about calling our parents until something goes wrong! But the great thing about cellphones is that the second you need your parents, you can dial them up right away.

You know, after all, you're parents called a million and one times because they care about you. They want to keep a relationship with you. And you know they'll pick up right away.

Well here's the thing... God feels the same way. Yeah, I know He doesn't actually have a cellphone to dial us up on. He gave us another tool, one that doesn't need charged, replaced every year, or a special case to keep it safe. It's called Prayer, and we all have struggled with it at some point in our lives.

What's Prayer?

Prayer is communicating with God. It sounds easier than it is, of course. It's the baring of our spiritual and physical needs, desires, all of our flaws, our sins, everything to God.

How Do I Pray?

Most people probably think prayer requires some long, mumbo jumbo college-y words or Latin phrases. It doesn't, it just may sound better that way coming from the Pastor's mouth. God doesn't care if you sound like you've taken College English or Latin 101. He wants to know our struggles and our fears, not our massive vocabulary.

Prayer is a devotion to your relationship with God. So how should you pray? That's unique and different for each person. But you must pray in earnestness, believing with a whole and humble heart.

The Bible gives some direction on how and when to pray:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Remember also, that prayer means admitting your sins to God. Yes, He already knows what they are, and yes He has already forgiven them. But admitting your faults proves your devotion and shows that you acknowledge your human weakness. It shows you acknowledge your need for God and your need of His blessing and forgiveness. Doesn't every parent want to know when they are needed?

Choose to pray when you are compelled. Pray often. It can be on a bus stop, it can be in the line at the grocery store, it can be right before bed or a big test. Lift up your words to God, He is always listening...and He's great enough not to care if you use incense, Latin, or a special room to pray.

Why Do We Pray?

You know when you call your mom to tell her everything going wrong in the world, hoping she can fix it? That's often why we pray, too. But that is only the superficial, personal level of prayer. Prayer is a power weapon. It can be used for peace, for strength, for guidance... I've even prayed to pass that one math test in college (and I did...that definitely took divine intervention.)

You can pray for anything, really. But prayer is not just a tool to fix our lives. Prayer is also the way we ask for our souls to be cleaned and strengthened. It is a shield from Sin, just as Faith is, and a sword against Satan. When we pray we should not pray only for ourselves.

God has given us directive when it comes to prayer.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. " (Ephesians 6:18)

So yes, we are supposed to pray for all kinds of reasons. But we are also supposed to pray for our fellow man. Many do not know the Lord's light, or want to. Many are struggling with accepting Him into their lives right now. It is our task to be there for them, to be forgiving and understanding, to be the guides to the Lord, and to be the warriors against Satan on this Earth. We do this through prayer.

I try to pray for the leaders of nations as often as I can. I pray for my spouse, my family, for those fighting over seas...you can pray for anyone. We should pray for everyone. God has given us this tool, and it should be used. It is our responsibility and our blessing. Remember, with Great Power comes Great Responsibility--thanks Spidey!

Do Prayers Get Answered?

That's a hard question. The answer is yes...and no.

How many of us have prayed for something sinful or selfish? Have you ever asked that your high school dream boat would ask you out? Or prayed that your work nemesis would sit on a tack? God doesn't answer all prayers. We aren't spoiled children, to be pleased with His power. We are His loved children, and every good parent wants their child taken care of, but not spoiled rotten.

So what prayers get answered?

From what the Bible says, God is pretty specific when it comes to answering prayer.

The righteous prayers are answered. "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." (Psalm 34:17) That's why we have to confess our sins to the Lord. The unrighteous will not have their prayers answered. Their prayers will have no strength and no power from the Lord. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."(James 5:16)

The humble prayers are answered. The Lord does not answer the prayers of those believing to be His equal. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10)

Above all others, prayers that follow the Lord's path are answered.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)

Remember that our struggles help us grow in Faith. Our struggles bring us closer to God because we reach out to Him. Just like parents letting their kids leave the nest and explore the world, God knows that we will return when we need Him. But like parents, God also knows there are times we need to tough out the spiritual warfare to become stronger. If we are coddled and always protected, we would be unable to stand against Satan's whims against us on this Earth. Sometimes our prayers aren't answered because they can't be, not yet. There is a time for everything under the sun, and that includes a time for prayer being answered.

A Prayer For You

I don't know all of you reading this, but I'm thankful you do. I know that for each of us, life can be hard and we all have our battles to face. But tonight, I want you to know I'll pray for you. I don't know your names, but if you have a prayer request, please let me know via my contact page email.

Tonight, I challenge you to turn your prayers to the Lord. I'm not very good at prayer, but if you need direction, maybe try something like this:

"Lord I pray that you would touch my life in marvelous ways. I pray that you would grant me patience and guidance through all things. I pray that you would extend your hand to those around me, and that you would show me how to help them, and how to help myself. I pray for your strength tonight, Lord. I pray for your forgiveness and understanding. Finally, I pray you would open my heart to you, let me get to know you, and learn to turn to you for all things. Amen."

Instant Miracles (The Shield of Faith)

Do you believe in magic?

How often did you hear that as a child? I'm a huge fan of magical everything Harry Potter, Houdini, and bibbity bobbity. I love the thought of magic. Today, I started thinking about how so many people think about God like a magician. It's an interesting image, no doubt; a great magician in the sky, orchestrating the world with a white tipped wand and a dramatic flare. The Bible speaks so much of miracles performed by God and Jesus that awed thousands--walking on water, parting the red sea, the healing of the blind and leprous... Miracles of great power that testified to the Lord's strength.

We walk through life as Christians so often praying for miracles. We've been trained since Sunday School to expect miracles. I think there are times when we think acts of God are something we can stick into the microwave and "Pop!Pop!Ding!" there's a plate full of Instant Miracle.

Believe me, I've been praying for a packet of the Instant stuff for months. I'm a walking medical mystery right now, of course I'm praying for a bolt of white light to hit me and suddenly I'd be walking through life in perfect health.

So far the white light hasn't hit me.

It's been a real struggle, trying to understand why I am facing this ongoing battle. It would be easy to give up on God and let myself believe that it's me against the world. It is so easy to sit there and say, "What proof do you have that God exists...that He cares?"

This is the premise of faith. Faith is the cornerstone of Christianity. It is the seed through which our relationship with God grows, the vine from which His blessing reaches us.

I think that being taught to expect EPIC miracles can make faith fragile. After all, think of the every day miracles God grants us that we take for granted...food, water, family... Instead we want to see the mountains move in an instant. We have to see the miracles before our very eyes. Of course we want to see God feed thousands and heal the blind, but only believing something you can see is the exact opposite of faith.

What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 reads that "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."

That's right. Faith has nothing to do with seeing an act of God. Faith is having confidence in the Lord, in trusting that He is real and has our lives in His hands.

Let me tell ya, this wasn't the easiest concept for me to grasp. I like hard, strong facts. I want proof in front of me, and Faith just doesn't work like that. It feels like the world is always against me and that there is no grand plan for me. It feels like miracles don't exist and that I'm drowning in trouble and exhaustion.

What answers does the Bible have for that? What does Faith have to do with misery?

Quite a lot, actually.

The Struggle is Real

Remember that it is Satan's goal to kick us out of God's hands and into Hell on Earth. He does this through making war in our lives. Pain, suffering, that's all Satan's doing. And why does God let us go through that? Shouldn't He just miracle our life to happiness?

Well, He could. But God never promised life would be easy. He promised to take care of us. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 He assures us that, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

Notice it says endure. We grow through struggle, in strength and in faith. He does not coddle us. God walks beside us, but like every parent He wants us to grow.

It also says God has given us a way out, a way to endure. What could that possibly be? I still don't have those super powers to face off with Satan, and I don't see an emergency escape hatch.

Guess what? That way to endure is through Faith.

The Shield of Faith

I'm skipping around the order of the armor pieces, but Faith is part of it. Ephesians 6:16 says, "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

It makes since if you think about it. Faith is our connection to God. Satan wants to sever that connection. Naturally, that connection can also be used to protect us from Satan. There's a reason he wants it severed, after all. In this age, it's easy for him to do that. The world is Satan's playground. He will use anything in it to sever our connection to God.

We live in the modern age, where science tries to explain everything. For a long time, science has tried to disprove God's existence. It has tried to explain everything through Laws and tried to make the universe something humanity can understand and change. And yet, science cannot explain everything. It cannot explain what created this universe, or what created the laws science abides by. It cannot explain emotion or why humans have conscious thoughts.

The Power of Faith

These facts should strengthen our Shield of Faith. We cannot walk through life and expect no adversity, not when the greatest of enemies is at our doorstep. But we can walk with God, shielded through faith.

I'm not saying that the BIG miracles don't happen. They do. We hear the stories all the time about people waking from comas, people saved in the most astounding ways from accidents, we hear about the mysterious healings and unexplainable events. But they don't happen all the time. We don't always need the BIG miracles. Sometimes we need only the power of Faith, and the strength it gives us.

The power of Faith is awesome. It can shield us from Satan while also bringing us closer to God. And God rewards the faithful. The book of Matthew has several accounts of Jesus healing those faithful to him. He promised his disciples that their faith in him could force a mountain to jump into the sea (Matthew 21:21) and that through belief their prayers would be answered. (Matthew 21:22)

An Instant Miracle would be nice, but Instant Miracles are probably like most microwave meals. The Instant stuff may fill you up for a time, but they aren't the most nutritious so to speak. You don't grow stronger or healthier eating the Instant, and when it comes to Faith, you don't develop a tested and true relationship with God, and you don't gain strength against the Enemy's onslaught. And you're usually hungry for more an hour later, am I right?

So have Faith and know that your struggles are not empty or trivial.Faith moves mountains. Faith protects us from the arrows of Satan. Faith is what gets us through the struggles and the pain. Through Faith God makes us stronger. Iron is forged through fire, and so are we.

“To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.” ~ George Mueller

Has the World Lied to You?: Fighting Lies With The Belt of Truth

Who here has ever wished they had super powers?

I always wanted to be able to fly or read minds...maybe travel through time. It's a fantastic thought, having powers that make you greater than human, that make you super strong, super smart...that make you invincible.

This is the real world though. Not many of us are blessed with super powers, and those who are...we haven't seen you on the news yet. When facing the Spiritual Battles of Satan, having super powers might be kind of nice. But we don't walk against Satan alone.

I spoke earlier of the full armor of God. This mighty armor is what protects us in our battles against Satan. It is a collection of different pieces, each imbued with certain traits that make our stand against Satan all the more powerful.

Today I will speak about one important piece: the belt of truth.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist," (Ephesians 6:14)

Truth Against Hell?

The Belt of Truth brings to mind fantastic images of Wonder Woman and her blinding lasso that forces you to speak the truth. It is used against villains to save the world. Well, like the lassso, the belt is used against villains, in fact it is used against The Villain.

Satan is a being of evil. He dwells in the realm of darkness and knows no light. Lies are his tools and machinations, used to destroy and delude the people of God. The Belt of Truth is our protection against these lies and is our weapon to cut them down as they stir.

John 8:44 says, "...He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

It is easy to hear the words of the world of Sin and believe that what it speaks is true. Think of the idea of the American Dream and wealth. It is true that hard work should be rewarded for its effort, and we Americans believe this results in wealth and grandeur. But we have allowed ourselves to believe that wealth is what is important in this world and so greed has taken root in our culture. The sin of Greed leads to lies and deceit, it leads to the destruction of compassion, all to reach the goal of wealth and prosperity.

Think also on the culture of lust generated in modern times. Adults can look at porn, and so long as children aren't involved, it can be considered normal...acceptable even. But we now see a rise in culture where both women and men are objectified as sexual entities, where personal image and vanity is more important than spiritual self.

We live in a world where people spew hate and fear about other nations, other people as a whole because of the actions of the few. We live in a world where bigotry is a common trait in politicians and their words often incite fear among the people.

This world has heard the lies of Satan; vanity, greed, lust, hate, and it has grown to accept them as normal. The world has taught us that we can reach wealth and prosperity through lies and vanity, but this world is not the one we should seek eternal happiness in.

The Belt of Truth fights back against this.

The Whole Truth

Remember that this world is impermanent. It will fade away, consumed by Satan. It is towards Heaven we must reach, where our hard work and devotion to God is paid off in sum, no taxes, deductibles, or surprise fees included.

This world will seek to deter you from reaching Heaven. It will seek to wrap you in the gauze of greed and lust and pull you into sin.

But with the Belt of Truth, you can remain steadfast. Know that though the world's words may sound sweet, they do not lead you down a true and holy path. Only through the truth of the Lord can we know happiness and pure, true wealth of the spirit. We have the Belt of Truth about our waist, we need only follow it's guiding light.

Psalm 43:3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!"

Even powerful men who have left this world have recognized the value of truth. Thomas Jefferson, a founding father, noted that "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom."

Start a book of wisdom today.

Remember that the Lord provides the tools we need to face this dangerous world. We need to remember to buckle down and suit up. Start today. Walk in truth. Speak not lies, no matter how terrifying the thought is to speak truth. The Lord walks with you and he will guide you when it is necessary.

Satan Uses the Internet Too! (Spiritual Warfare: Part Two)

Who here has ever Web MD'd themselves? You know, that handy tool where you go to google and checking up your medical symptoms? Sure, you were just verifying that you have a cold. But by the time you're done, you've discovered that you actually have a stage four disease plus the bubonic plague on the side, oh, and you should probably get that checked ASAP!

Yeah. I've Web MD'd myself. I admit it, I caved. And it's made my life pretty miserable. For the last three months, I've been worried, I've been scared, and I've been sick. Silly me, I thought googling my symptoms would calm me and provide answers... Instead I've faced three months of medical inquiries with the constant worry that the Docs might be missing "Disease A-Z" and that I have some crazy obscure diseases.

It has been utterly exhausting.

Yesterday I was in the E.R. because of all my issues and they ran a CT Scan. What's a CT Scan? You may have heard of it as a CAT Scan. Basically, you  lay down on a bed that moves through what looks like a portal to another dimension. It makes a weird whirring sound and a calm, robotic voice says "Hold your breath.......breathe." Hundreds of X-Rays are taken all at once, shooting you up with radiation (yep, I'm waiting for super powers!)

I was scared of the CT scan. No, not because I'm not ready for super powers. Not because of radiation. I was scared, utterly terrified, that they would either find something horribly wrong, or that they would find nothing.

I wasn't sure what would have been worse...

Turns out whatever is wrong with me can't be seen on a CT Scan. As far as my internal organs go, I seem to be functioning 100% A-Okay. Blood tests are good, kidneys are awesome...I should be in perfect health. I'm not. But I should be grateful for the fact that my organs are in good shape, but all I feel is exhaustion and fear, because what if...what if it is Disease Q?!?

I am afraid.

What does any of this have to do with Satan using the internet? Well...

Satan Uses the Internet

The book of John tells us that Satan is "the prince of this world." Wait, what?

Remember that this world is no longer perfect, it hasn't been since the first temptation of Adam and Eve. Sin is rampant in this world, and the king of sin is Satan. It is his goal to deprive us the Kingdom of Heaven, and to deprive us eternal life through our Lord. We often forget that he is an orchestrator of Spiritual Warfare. We fight a constant battle against Satan as God's people.

Satan does everything he can to make us inadequate soldiers in this battle. Right now I stand, feeling defenseless, as my health remains a struggle. I have not written a blog post in nearly two weeks, constantly putting it off, and I realize now that he won those rounds. This blog is part of my relationship to God. Sure, I was getting married and busy, but God is supposed to be integral to a functioning marriage. I was derelict, a soldier who had lost a fight.

The terrifying reality of Satan is that he will use everything he can to weaken us. He will use our health, he will use the news, our jobs, even the internet, to distract us from God and the ongoing battle. All I have done this week is worry about what is wrong with me, instead of turning to my God to find peace and healing.

How Do We Fight?

Fighting Satan is no easy task. He is a fallen angel, and we are mere humans. But we have what Satan does not--a God who stands firm and aids us in all things. Remember that God has given us armor. Ephesians 6:11-18 speaks of this armor:

"11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

References for Ephesians 6:11

• Cross References

• 15 6:11 - ver 13; Ro 13:12 ; 1Th 5:8

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

References for Ephesians 6:12

• Cross References

• 16 6:12 - 1Co 15:50 ; Heb 2:14
• 17 6:12 - Eph 1:21 ; 3:10
• 18 6:12 - Ro 8:38
• 19 6:12 - S Eph 1:3

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

References for Ephesians 6:13

• Cross References

• 20 6:13 - ver 11; S 2Co 6:7

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

References for Ephesians 6:14

• Cross References

• 21 6:14 - Isa 11:5
• 22 6:14 - Ps 132:9 ; Isa 59:17 ; 1Th 5:8

15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

References for Ephesians 6:15

• Cross References

• 23 6:15 - Isa 52:7 ; Ro 10:15

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

References for Ephesians 6:16

• Cross References

• 24 6:16 - 1Jn 5:4
• 25 6:16 - S Mt 5:37

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

References for Ephesians 6:17

• Cross References

• 26 6:17 - Isa 59:17
• 27 6:17 - Isa 49:2
• 28 6:17 - S Heb 4:12

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. "

We do not walk into a battle with Satan alone, we walk with God and are armored by Him.

When is the Fight Over?

Do you ever get tired of fighting? I do. I am right now, as I sit here writing. But the sad truth is that the fight will never be over, not until you reach Heaven. Satan wants us forever cut off from God. He does not want us to be happy or at peace. And so the battle will be forever fought until you reach Heaven.

But there is relief. The Lord does not leave us alone to suffer without Him. He promises peace and restoration, strength and confirmation of His love.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."1 Peter 5:8-11

Facing the World

Satan will try to make your life miserable. It doesn't have to be. It is human to worry and stress about illness. But Web MD won't heal you. God will.

My mission is to train myself not to Web MD and instead turn to God in my times of fear. It is His hands that will heal me, and so I must turn to Him and stop placing so much emphasis on other aspects of my life.

I hope you will consider the following verse.

"⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Open yourself up for healing and guidance. Let the Lord make your paths. Don't let Satan pull you into battle without the appropriate armor. Be strong.

Forgiveness is Not a Club

i remember when I was little being told in Sunday school to pray for forgiveness of my sins. I didn't know what "sins" were, much less why I needed to ask for forgiveness of them. I only knew that I was supposed to pray because that was what Christians do and that if I prayed I would be forgiven... whatever that meant.

There seems to be an ill gotten notion that by simply saying words we can be forgiven. Christians are forgiven of their sins, but not in the way we are told in Sunday school. It is more than squeezing your eyes shut and mumbling some words. Forgiveness takes more than a pretty phrase or the right tone of voice.

I'm going to do a couple posts on forgiveness because it seems to be something easily misunderstood or mispresented. Of course I'm no expert, I only know what it is I read and have been told, and what the Lord puts in my hands. Today let us focus on what forgiveness is.

What is Forgiveness?

It is the washing away of sin, the purifying of our souls. Gods forgiveness of our transgressions is what allows us to enter heaven with Him.

Where Does Forgiveness Come From?

Forgiveness comes from the Lord. It used to be that animal sacrifice was necessary for forgiveness. We do not need to sacrifice anything for forgiveness anymore because His son sacrificed himself for us. The Lord forgives because we have already been washed clean by Jesus's sacrifice. 

Who Can Be Forgiven?

Forgiveness is not just for those of us who went to Sunday school and learned how to squish our eyes shut juuuust right while praying. Forgiveness is for anyone, from the pastor to the day old believer. We are all sinners and none of us are perfect. We all need forgiveness.

God is big enough to forgive everyone on this earth. Forgiveness is not finite, it is massive, a flood, waiting for us to fall into it. 

"As far as the east is from the west" says Psalms 103:12,  " so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Forgiveness is an awesome force, just as God is all that is awesome and mighty. You don't have to be an elite Christian to have forgiveness.

How Do We Become Forgiven?

That is a complicated question with a lot of answers. But for this post, let us simply say that you must ask. But you must ask with true intention and true faith. You must repent and seek to change your ways. A halfhearted desire to change leads to halfhearted prayer. The Lord offers us a great gift in forgiveness, it is only right that we off true thanks and true desire for that gift.

A Prayer for Forgiveness

Tonight prayer for forgiveness of whatever sins you know of with an open and well meaning heart. Let yourself be washed clean by the Lord. I hope you find peace in this prayer and open yourself to God tonight. This prayer is from the book of Psalms by King David, who did many wrongs, but found solace in the Lord.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.15 Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

(Music rights to the artist.)