But don’t you just hate “XMas”?

I think the name “XMas” says alot about where we’ve gone a off the rails as a society.

We’ve literally taken “Christ” out of Christmas and replaced it with that big old anonymous “X”.

Christmas has stopped being about the jumpin-up-and-down celebration of the birth of Jesus and has become about where you’re going for the holidays, how drunk you got at your office’s “XMas” party and the cool presents that’ll be coming your way on the 25th.

Now don’t get me wrong…

I’m ALL for a great holiday, a good glass of red vino and getting lavished with presents (HINT,HINT!)

But that’s ALL that Christmas is about for most people.

And I think that’s really, really, reaaally sad.

Before you start feeling guilty about having a good time this Christmas know this: God loves it when we have a great party and celebrate (In fact Nehemiah 8:10 says “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks”)

BUT the key is what are we celebrating when we’re partying?

I know what I’ll be celebrating.

I’ll be celebrating the little baby boy born about 2000 years ago that was no ordinary little boy.

He was a little boy who became the greatest man anybody has ever known (and even non-christians admit this!)

And…

(here’s the kicker)

…He was the ultimate present for you and me from our loving Father God.

And without Him I’d just be a nasty-assed sinner who has no hope in this life.

So thank you God for Jesus and for CHRISTmas!

No matter what we see in the news, no matter the problems we may face in our lives I for one am going to be celebrating this Christmas big time!

So “go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks” this Christmas but REMEMBER why we’re celebrating.

Make God proud!

Merry Christmas and a spectacular 2009 to you!

God bless

John

Let’s call it:

Sword Training for the God Warrior

You a God Warrior?

Wanna sign up?

All you need to do is be able to wield a sword around your head and let loose a blood-curdling scream every now and then.

Before you start looking nervously around wondering what kind of damage you’re about to inflict let me reassure you that the only thing that’s going to get damaged is the devil and his annoying minions.

Yesterday we saw how Jesus took care of the devil and his three temptations.
 
You remember what He did?

Of course you do!

He wielded the mighty sword that is the Word of God and laid the devil flat on his back.

Three times he said “It is written” and quoted Scripture.
 
So here’s the first training session…

Are you ready?

Your first task is to choose a verse from theBible that’s applicable to you and your circumstances right now.
 
With me so far?

(If you need some verses to choose from then you can click here to go and see a list of some of my all-time, devil-beating, favourite verses and choose one now)

And the next step is simple: Spend the next week saying your chosen verse to yourself over and over while you brush your teeth.

That’s it!

Promise yourself (and God) that you will mumble it to yourself everytime you brush your teeth for one whole week.

And if you don’t ever brush your teeth because you thought the smell would keep the devil away, may I kindly suggest you start a-brushing now!
 
I think you’ll be amazed at the times in the next week that verse-weapon will come in super handy!
 
God bless you abundantly!

John

P.S. I’m begging you to do this right now. Just
       choose a verse and get going. If you don’t go
       and do it now other things will spring up and
       distract you even if you really want to do it.

       So go on! Do it now!

Remember racking your brain, desperately trying to think of the perfect gift that would make them glow with delight?

Well our verse today shows that’s just how God feels about you!

Taken from the Amplified Version, here’s Isaiah 30:18

“And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!”

Wow!

Read the verse again quickly.

Isn’t that outrageously, ridiculously exciting?

God is actually right next to you, longing (yes desperately longing!) to be gracious to you and to bless you and to love you.

So what do you need to do?

Well you need to long for Him as well. You need to wait and actually expect that God’s there wanting to love you! 

You, quite simply, need to accept His gift

Have a wonderful, God-filled day!

John
You can compare today’s verse in other translations here >>

Has that truly sunken in?

Here’s a wonderful, re-assuring & beautiful verse.
 
It’s the kind of verse you can tuck away in your brain and wait for the day to snarl and bare its teeth.

Then you can untuck it, think about God’s promise and smile in the face of dragons! 
 
“I’ve been carrying you on my back from the day you were born, And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old. I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray. I’ve done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.”
Isaiah 46:4 - The Message

You’ve got God carrying you and He’s going to keep carrying you forever!

Enough said

God bless you abundantly!

John

You can compare today’s verse in other translations here >>

And just when you thought that our last verse was a toughie I think today’s verse may be even more challenging!

You up for it?

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29 (New Living Translation - NLT)

Now maybe that doesn’t seem that tough.

But why don’t you try this today:

Tie something around your wrist. Or you can use any bracelet, bangle or watch you’re wearing.

Then be aware of every little thing you say today.

And now the action step:
 
Everytime you moan, complain and grumble or say something negative about yourself, your situation or someone you know, do the following:

Take that bracelet or watch off your one wrist and move it to the other wrist.

I’m guessing if you’re anything like me you won’t need to go to gym for a workout today because of all the wrist swapping you’ll be doing!

(Oops got to go on and change the bracelet to my other hand now!)

God wants our words to be an encouragement to those around us.

He wants us to shine our light by being positive, life filled examples of what life could be!

He wants the people around you to think:
 
Wow! What a great, life giving person she is to be around!

And remember if you don’t get it right God still loves you! Just try and get it right next time (and change that bracelet to your other wrist!)

Thank you Lord!

John

Click here to compare other translations of this bible verse >>

Today’s verse is taken from Philippians:

…but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

Sometimes, while I’m driving I try this (I definitely,definitely don’t advise it and I do it only for only asecond!):

I look in my rear view mirror and see if I can keep the car going straight by focusing on the lines on the road behind me.

And I’m sure that’s the reason some insurers don’t insure male drivers!

Seriously though:

How long do you think I can keep the car going straight doing this?

How long before my car bumper is introduced to something ahead of me I didn’t see coming?

How often do we walk through our lives focusing on what has happened to us?

How effectively can we “drive” our lives if we’re focusing on our rear view mirror?

Let’s focus on the glorious future God’s promised us through His Son!

God Bless you!

John

Click here to compare other translations of this bible verse >>