“I woke myself up snoring last night” Yep! You read that correctly. I woke myself up. (lol) …there I said it! Just keeping it real. Also, while I am keeping it real, my kitchen sink is currently full of dishes, my bathrooms are overdue for a cleaning and my office looks like a tornado hit. Oh, Calgon take me away (or not since the bathtub is dirty). And since I am keeping it real I want to testify to my firm belief and conviction in the existence of angels. Why? Because I am certain my 3 adult children would not be alive today if it had not been for their protective involvement while they were growing up. Example: Once when my oldest son was crawling (at 8 mos not now) I found a fork shoved into an outlet. Baby with a fork and no outlet cover - not a good combination. Don’t ask, but thank God for angels! Also, I confess, at times I have prided myself on forgiving well but I have discovered this is mostly because I forget well. This is great for forgiving but not so great when it comes to things like birthdays and anniversaries. Nothing like springing to the store for a last minute gift, frustrated because you can’t find anything decent, and then wondering why that person decided to be born on that day anyways. What is the point of this? You may be asking. Answer: “Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” Matthew 16:6-7 They thought Jesus was chiding them for their failure to remember to bring bread. They thought He was rebuking them for their forgetfulness, their humanness. Yet, this was the furthest thing from His mind, the least of his concerns. It is easier than you think to fall prey to the “leaven of the Pharisees”. Painting a picture of perfection, only revealing what looks good, clean, together and tidy is a form of leaven. This kind of leaven puts a strangle hold on us and communicates a false reality to others. An impossible standard. Truth is, none of us are perfect and to paint a picture of perfection becomes more about me than about Him and His super abundant grace. I couldn’t be perfect if my life depended on it and thankfully because of His grace it doesn’t! For our sake and the sake of others let’s “keep it real”. This gives people freedom to fail, make mistakes, forget and at times even “flake out”. Freedom for people to be who they are without fear of rejection for who they are not. Freedom for them to enjoy His great grace through us! I am not advocating being irresponsible or lazy but rather seeking to release the unnecessary tension of trying to maintain a perfect appearance. Our goal is not human perfection but love from a pure heart connected to God’s. He loves us in our imperfection and desires for us to rest in His perfect grace! So let’s “keep it real” and be known as people generous in grace! “By the grace of God I am what I am…” 1 Corinthians 15:10
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“For with God nothing will be impossible” Luke 1:37 The first time these words were spoken in the gospels were through an angel speaking directly to Mary. Thirty years later Jesus would speak the same message using similar words to His own disciples. But my thoughts today are drawn to Mary. I wonder how many times she spoke and by faith anchored herself to these courage infusing words? No doubt this truth was deeply etched upon her heart and soul through the storms of life. Each time she faced a seemingly impossible challenge her declaration became… “with God nothing will be impossible!!” When she told her family and Joseph she was pregnant and the fear of being stoned or ostracized from her community loomed over her… “With God nothing will be impossible!” When late in pregnancy she had to travel a great distance and face giving birth far away from the support of her family… “With God nothing will be impossible!” When the only place available to give birth was in a dark dank cave she faced it bravely knowing… “With God nothing will be impossible!” When she held baby Jesus in her arms for the first time and wondered how she could ever be the kind of mother the Messiah needed she remembered… “With God nothing will be impossible!” When fleeing to Egypt with a new born baby, not knowing where they would stay or how they would live she trusted… “With God nothing will be impossible!” When as a family they faced times of leanness in harsh conditions not knowing if there would be enough food she believed… “With God nothing will be impossible!” *When she lost her husband and had to go forward as a single mom … “With God nothing will be impossible!” When she watched the brutal world crucify her first born Son, the Promised One she held tightly to… “With God nothing will be impossible!” When she heard and saw “He has risen” she rejoiced… “WITH GOD NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE!!” What are you facing this season? Let this be your tag line! “With God nothing will be impossible!” Anchor yourself to it by declaring it with confidence over the circumstance you face. *Most commentators believe Joseph passed away some time before Jesus began His ministry since he is not mentioned. |
Lisa Cook
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