While Christmas is meant to be celebrated in great joy and giving, some suffer from terrible anxiety, loss, and heartache. As Jesus made His way into the world, there was no fear, anxiety, or even thought of loss in His infant thinking because babies trust that their needs will be met by their provider. As Jesus grew into a man and became acutely aware of the Father’s will for His life, still He grew in faith that God would provide and make Him ready for the work, despite that His heart felt enormous pain.

When Jesus stood in the Garden of Gethsemane, anxiety began to creep up, the stress of the work manifested as His sweat became great drops of blood. As the weight of the work before Him began to take its toll on His mind and body, Jesus cried out “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ^{Mat 26:35} In His humanity Jesus was susceptible to anxiety that is at times fear and disquieting of the mind. This is why He can empathize with our struggles. Jesus said the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. As divine Jesus was able to take every thought captive and subject it to the Father’s will. It is this strength and ability Jesus left to us through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

In his craftiness the devil tries to rob us of peace and that is exactly what he was attempting to do to the Son of God. In stealing our peace, the devil knows our faith will begin to falter. If he can get our eyes off the empowerment God has endowed upon us, it’s his hope we fall prey to his victimizing ways. Regardless of how much Jesus wanted the cup of suffering to pass from Him, He had full confidence in God the Father to prepare, empower, and see Him through the completion of the work.

I don’t know what is going on in your life this week but it is my hope that whatever you are facing you are full of confidence in God’s ability to see you through. It is my prayer that you are filled with God’s peace. From the manger to the cross, Jesus was not only filled with peace but became God’s calming presence for all who dared to seek and trust Him.

Despite what surrounds you, I hope you walk in the courage God has placed within you. If the task before you seems of gigantic proportion, overwhelming your every step, drowning your very core, take it one footstep at a time, moment by moment, and breathe in faith… when your faith needs upheld, cry out to Jesus to uphold your unbelief and carry on in surety God has a plan of victory… victory is accomplished through perseverance. Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!

Good Morning Ladies…

“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.” Aristotle

God does not give us a spirit of anxiety but that of power, self-control, and love. The power to have self-discipline, that is taking every thought captive that would attempt to tear us down in the destruction of self-defeat AND the power to love the unlovable which especially includes OURSELF… I hope this Christmas Seasons brings you some cheer that quiets the inner storm…if nothing else… (quiet the disquieting in your mind through faith in God’s ability to overcome on your behalf)

I don’t know about you but I love the holidays, I love the sparkle, the colors, it just feels like “magic” is in the air and I think everyone needs a little everyday extraordinary “magic” once in a while. I was not always so perky about the holidays but as I’ve gotten older, I began to appreciate this time of year more and more.

While everyone is busily getting their shopping done (I haven’t even started), preparing for holiday meals, and decorating (that I’ve accomplished) at the moment I am sitting in a house with no heat (fun times, new repair man tomorrow, we hope he is the bearer of good news). But while everyone is preparing in their own way, I like to reflect back on the nativity scene. I love to teach over the nativity scene, taking an in depth look at all the people involved.

For the last six years I have got to teach over the Nativity Scene and it is always a blessing and joy to do so. Out of those six years my favorite moments are when I have got to share that story with kids in rehabs recovering from addiction, in desperate need of love, hope, and liberation.  The Nativity scene is such a picture of hope regardless of one’s denomination or past life, it reaches beyond those things, pulling at our heart strings.

Mary’s remarkable faith displayed for all to see; it’s the ability to maintain faith during the journey that makes one extraordinary. Mary’s calling was both sweet and burdensome as she navigated through spiritual valleys, conquered emotional mountains brought on through misunderstanding and stigma, and marveled herself at the work God was doing through her at the pinnacle of her life work (the birth of the Messiah).

One of my favorite things about the nativity scene is that God uses ordinary people to accomplish His will. He is not looking for perfection but a willing faithfulness. What a difficult time in such a blessed season in young Mary’s life. She was blessed to be the chosen one to bare the Messiah but oh, the stigma she had to endure, it was not for the faint of heart. God knew He could trust Mary and Joseph with His plan even though it would not be easy. Rarely is God’s calling effortless, all things worth value require much work.

I want to take a moment to encourage you to stop and reflect on the Nativity scene this Christmas season and as you do, know that God sent His only begotten Son for YOU, to give you hope, to give you purpose, to bring you spiritual liberation…

Luke 2: ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

John 3: ¹⁶ “For God so loved the world,^[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

While God is always the ultimate champion in every story, He appoints and anoints specific people to become heroes in everyday life; we see this with Mary and Joseph. When we look closely at the Nativity scene what we see is the mysterious ways God works. The Messiah was conceived and then born in an unconventional way because there is nothing really conventional about the supernatural it defies the natural. When we look at the Nativity scene it should remind us that often times God’s plan doesn’t look like our plan; learn to trust Him anyway and take a leap of faith like young Mary.

As you run around trying to catch up on your shopping or maybe you are in place where there is no shopping this year, regardless of your affairs, it is my prayer you are filled with the hope only God can give, knowing that His love for you cannot be bound, nor can it be measured, or fully comprehended and yet it flows from Him like a mighty wave drenching us from head to toe, soaking us from spirit to heart to mind, enriching our lives for the better because His love is like no other. God’s love is so great for us that He refuses to live without us, so He reaches down and raises us up to be part of His kingdom through His Son, Jesus Christ… soak in that redeeming, all encompassing love. No sin is to great for God’s love to cover.

Good Afternoon Ladies… happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.