The Lid

One Day Old

 

Some of the gifts we received yesterday have already become boring. I have a 5 year old nephew who isn't even entertained by his new Golden Retriever puppy anymore. A vast majority of us are headed to the chaos today to return gifts that were either too small, too big, or not of our liking. The rest of us will pretend to like our gifts so we won't offend the giver. Then a select few of us are satisifed with our gifts, atleast for a while, but even then our satisfaction with that gift will eventually wear off.

What an amazing gift! Jesus was a day old. Not too small, not too big, and the newnesss would never wear off for Joseph and Mary. "Behold, I make all things new!" (Rev. 21:5) He was a gift that would never leave anyone who truly received Him dissatisfied. He brought peace amongst the chaos. He cares about things both big and small, and most amazingly he never grows tired of us. What a gift! One day old! I assure you that Mary was not rushing to Wal-Mart the next morning to return this gift. She would remain enthralled with this gift for the rest of her life.

 May we be reminded today that as we examine our gifts from yesterday to reflect on the gratitude and appreciation of the Gift we have all received, a Gift which none of us deserve! (Ps 103:10)

Merry Christmas - Amazing Grace!!!

On this incredible day, where we celebrate the birth of our King! Don't let the numerous distractions take you away from the realization of the true Amazing Grace that we are shown on a daily basis! 
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

2nd & Commerce

 Merry Christmas Eve everyone. I hope all of you are enjoying the Holiday season. I know I have been. Currently I'm in Memphis with my in-laws, whom I love a ton! But before I made it it to Memphis I chilled in Nashville for a day with one of my favorite peeps of all time. Also one of the most talented and gifted dudes I've ever met. Check out TK's skillz below.

2nd & Commerce - street freestyle from TK McKamy on Vimeo.

What's Your Plan?

    

                                

 Wang and I just finished up cycling through the Gospels 4 times each this past year. It was so beneficial to just saturate in the words of Christ this past year! But as the new year approaches and the unfulfilled resolutions that usually follow I would ask this question. What is your plan? And who will journey with you and hold you accountable to that plan? I would love to hear some suggested Bible plans below. Not sure where I want to journey next year yet!

The Monday Mindset

 

    Only the serenity found outside the noise of my world have I been able to re-gain focus. I've been without my laptop and cell phone for a week and the world is still spinning. As a matter of fact it seems to be spinning more clearly now than it was a week ago. It is the escape from noise that makes His voice louder. There are so many distractions and to do lists awaiting my return I fear I'll fall right back into listening to the noise of this world.
    Not that laptops and cell phones are necessarily bad, but when they drown out His voice in my life and steal my time from Him it can't possibly be good. I need to be on my computer less, not because it's bad, but because I need more of Him. I need to spend less time on my cell phone, not because others don't matter, but because no one is more important than Him.

Invictus

The wife and I went on a double date last night with some good friends of ours and we watched the new movie with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, "Invictus". This movie is titled after a poem Nelson Mandela recited while in imprisonment written by William Ernest Henley. I definitely enjoyed the movie that had an ample amount of underlying tones. The most powerful message I think the movie communicated, and was also the same powerful message Christ communicated was forgiveness and reconciliation. As we move closer to the celebration of our Savior's birth may movies, songs, and blogs :) remind us what His life represented. A life for of service, compassion, and forgiveness. A life lived for us so that we would be forgiven, so that racism would be forgiven, so that hate would be forgiven, so that Tiger would be forgiven, so that liars would be forgiven, so that child molesters would be forgiven, so that the prideful hearts would be forgiven, and so that the self-righteous would be forgiven. No one needing it less. Cling to that forgiveness this holiday season, as you give it and seek the Father to receive it!

Flip Fun Fridays

I shot this in July. I love Seth, so even though this video is hilarious I felt bad for him.

The Most Incredible Depiction of the Nativity......EVER

WrItInG oUt OuR tHoUgHtS

"Alright, so I think I'm a Christian, but I'm not sure. And too be honest I can't stop thinking about it. I've prayed the prayer, but ever since my life is the same if not sometimes worse. Do I pray the "prayer" again. I meant it this first time. People I've talked to about this say I don't need to pray again, but other people say my life should have been changed if I really meant the prayer. I hate asking about this because everyone seems to have such differing opinions. This whole assurance of salvation thing is driving me nuts. I don't want to think about it anymore, but it seems I can't help but think about it. What should I do? I can't stop doing what I'm doing, and I pray for strength but it doesn't seem to come. Help!

                                                            -Wrestling with Salvation, Male-Age 17

A question you may ask yourself: "My Dad....will he ever be saved?"

I recently got a letter from a friend, that shared some of the happiest news of her entire life. For the longest time her prayer had been for her father to be saved. That he would join the rest of his family as a follower of Jesus Christ! I know at times it can be hard to stay consistent in prayer after not receiving a wanted answer....but I wanted to share this with you in hopes of giving you encouragement...Knowing so many of you out there consistently prayer for your parents to join you in the love of Christ.

"OK..Now the real reason I'm writing you. The best thing in my life happened about a month ago!

  My dad became a CHRISTIAN! I went home from summer school one weekend and my dad and I went out on our jet-skis. He stopped his jet-ski and told me he had great news. He said that as he was riding his bike (he's a big bike rider) that morning, he started thinking about his life and....well long story short, he said, just like a child, "I asked Jesus to be in my heart." Tears just came streaming from my face as I saw my 53 year old, 6'3, 250 lb father filled with God's love. Brian, it was so cool!

  Since last year @ kamp, it became more and more real to me that my dad was not a christian. He has been my #1 prayer that I consistently asked God to somehow work in his life. The past year, my dad and I would go on the occasional "Father-daughter dad" and I would try to somehow bring up conversations about God. Although my dad listened and asked questions, it never seemed to click. I kept praying.

  My mom and dad started going to a bible study with another couple and my dad had a work friend that talked to him as well. He told me, "Sarah (name changed), you, and other people have been praying for me, I knew this whole God thing has to have some importance."

   On the lake, that day my dad said he wanted me to be the first to know. He said through my life and my constant faith in God, that he truly knew there was something more.

    At times, I felt that my prayers weren't working, that I was getting no where. But I was so wrong. My dad listened and watched me more than I ever thought. I never knew I had that much impact...Especially to my dad. So, there on the lake my dad and I prayed together. Praising the Lord, for my dad is truly a christian. My dad, 100 % is going to heaven. He said, at 53 years old, he thought his life couldn't get any better, great family, wife, job, house - and he said he feels like his life is starting all over again.

   He was reborn. Although, I can't really write to you how great it was, my prayers were answered too.

   "The prayers of a righteous man is powerful and effective." That became more evident than ever to me!

    My dad, now a believer and I learned to be patient and consistent with my prayers. The Lord does answer prayers....."

After receiving that letter, I was encouraged by two things. The first, that James 5:16b "The prayers of a righteous man has great power as it is working." The second, you can never truly know that day to day impact you have on someone's life. Realize that you have the opportunity to change lives through your daily interactions.

Remember, DON'T GIVE UP on those you hold dear. You may never know the true role that the Lord has you playing in their lives! (BW)