The Season of Life

Howdy ya'll! What is your current Season of Life? Mine----full time Mom to a handsome 2 1/2 year old toddler named Paul. Went to MOPS today and we heard an incredible speaker. Her name is Dawsie Meek. She spoke to our group 2 years ago and she was fabulous again. Recall the story of when Jesus was born....there was no room at the inn. How many of us fail to make room for Christ in our lives?! Dawsie talked this morning about 3 areas where we tend to forget/fail to make room for Christ.

#1 - our words!!! Griping and Complaining crowds out Christ. Think about it now friends..this is sooooooo true!!!! When we gripe and complain--we are going against God. Psalm 142:2 says, "with full voice I cry to the LORD; with full voice I beseech the LORD." Try this discipline -- tell God all your fears, gripes and frustrations. He can handle our honesty. Share your heart with God. In other words--make room in your life for confession and praise. Psalm 55:2 says, "Listen, God, to my prayer; do not hide from my pleading."

#2 - Our Actions!!! Know that who we are please God. Dawsie discussed how much our society is on information and choice overload. She challenged us to the discipline of solitude. Now, this is difficult for me....since I love to be around people and talk..and talk..and talk! We a ll need to pull away sometimes and spend that alone time with God. During this quiet time is often when God reveals things to us. Hebrews 12:3 says, "while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God."

#3 - Attitude! Selfishness crowds out Christ. Dawsie is a control freak..as am I. We must surrender to God's plan/will...not want to follow our own plan. Trust me--I do know this is not an easy thing for many of us..most of us probably! And so we also need to surrender our control! An image to help is...stretch out your arm and grasp your hand...control!!! How does God want our hand....yup...opened up! Philippians 2:3 says, "Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves."

We're putting up our Christmas tree tonight. No ornaments until the weekend, but we want Master Paul to get used to the tree being up and in "his" way. :-) I now have some things I would like to accomplish while the lad is asleep.

And as we are now in the Season of Advent -- turn to Jesus Christ to help you recharge your batteries. Lift your hearts and prayers to Him. He renews our strength. Something profound I thought of yesterday-- the challenges of today will soon fade away, but God's love endures forever! AMEN