Matthew TwoSix:ThreeNine

New beginnings are just around the corner.  Something magical happens as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. Something about the calendar flipping to a new year that motivates us to start something new. We like to call them resolutions. Some of these new beginnings will be successfully completed. Others get chalked up as failures. Then of course there will be some that fail the day after we start them.  They never had a chance! I decided I will focus on what I am feeding myself.  Physically, I am going to try to eat a minimum of five fruits and/or vegetables a day.  Thank goodness for the great prices at our local farm market.  I have a bit of a sweet tooth.  Seems like I could be an elf.  I just can't get enough of the cookies, candies, and of course pies.  So for January, I am going to quit all sweets.  Of the two, this one will be the toughest one, I think.   I am working on what I am feeding myself spiritua...

There is a company out there that can give you all of the information about a used car before you buy it. You can see if it has been in an accident and how often it was serviced. They will even identify the locations where the car was purchased. It seems you can see just about everything from this report. Some car dealerships proudly boast that they only sell cars that are accident free. I'm not sure what they do with the used cars that have been in an accident. It's hard to believe that a car that was broken on the outside then repaired would not be acceptable. They clearly take cars that were and may still be broken on the inside.  This Christmas I find myself thankful that it doesn't work the same with God as it does with cars. Whether we are broken on the inside, outside, or both God accepts us. I'll take it a step further, He pursues us and goes to great lengths to be near to us. He sent his only son to live as we live, face temptations as we do...

This week we celebrate Christmas. Homes are decorated with sparkling lights, Christmas trees adorned with ornaments, various images of Santa Claus can be found scattered around, and my favorite, the nativity is displayed. If you weren't familiar with our traditions, you could certainly tell something special is being prepared for.  Something special will be celebrated.  As we know our King is being born.  On Christmas night we remember the night an infant entered the world to change it forever. God has come to live among His people and make things right in His kingdom.   To us today, it only makes sense to do the things we do at Christmas time. This is one of the most significant nights in human history. Knowing what we know, it seems only right to spend a month preparing and decorating. What better way to honor the gift God gave to us than by giving our friends and family gifts as symbols of our admiration for them. It's only right that this season ...

Santa Claus traverses the globe to give good children everywhere toys and gifts on Christmas Eve.  The rest of the year he and his merry elves plan and prepare. They have much to do to spread so much joy in one evening.   Santa and his elves' sole focus is giving. They are driven by generosity. In exchange, they expect nothing but maybe get some cookies, a glass of milk, and a carrot for the reindeer at the homes they stop.  It's simple- be a good kid and get the present.   It seems simple. Do something and get something. It's a classic reward cycle.  But wait there's a catch. As the saying goes, *You must believe to receive." Only those who believe in Santa will get the gifts the elves worked so hard to build.  It seems simply being a good kid isn't enough.   They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”- Acts 16:31 NIV Belief is the starting point for both Santa and Jesus.  Ho...

I struggle with praying for myself.  I have no problem setting aside time to read the Bible.  No problem setting aside quiet time to pray for the needs of others.  I pray for our prayer list at church, for my family, friends, family of friends, those I have the opportunity to serve, and those who simply ask for me to pray for rhem. Let me share a little secret, for many years I have had a career working in athletics.  This means I hear the national anthem more often than the normal person. I don't sing the national anthem.  Not because I am not patriotic, but because it gives me a chance for a brief moment of quiet in the storm.  I spend that time with my Father in heaven.  I pray for the health and safety of the participants.  I pray for the coaches that they may lead in a way that Jesus would be proud. I pray for the officials and their discernment. I pray often and for many others.  When it comes to me, I just seem to glance ov...

You may have heard Christians say, "They will know us by our love." They are referring to John 13:35.  It says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."   This is a verse that has been on my mind lately. As the holiday season gets rolling the pace of life seems to pick up.  The "to do" list includes decorations, baking, and shopping for gifts. There are Christmas parties to attend and movies to watch. It's easy to get caught up in the litany of things to do and pass over the opportunity presented by the season.   As the shopping centers get crowded and tempers rise, we have a chance to be different.  By sharing kindness and grace we can make a small impact in our circles. The things of this world take over in our modern Christmas season. By anchoring ourselves in Jesus we can be different when someone runs into us with a shopping cart or cuts us off in the parking lot.  They say supply chain will...