Myron Speaks

A couple of weeks ago, I had the wonderful honor of going with my son to pick up his first car. He wanted a project car and it flooded wonderful memories for me, taking me back 42 years to my own project car. A 1972 Ford Pinto station wagon that I paid $250 hard-earned dollars to purchase and then worked on for an entire summer for the privilege and freedom of driving.

My son looks like me as a young man. He has the wit and sense of humor that God gave me, with his being more sharp and keen. He walks like I do and makes observations like I do. He makes his mother and sisters laugh like I did my mom and sisters. He has also inherited his father’s short attention span and eagerness to run into things he might not be properly prepared for. He is his father’s (and mother’s) son.

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalm 139:14 (NLT)

When Benton laid eyes on this 1988 Ford Bronco II, I witnessed him seeing something beyond my ability to see. He saw himself driving down the roads in his vehicle, with new paint (wrap), lift kit, wheel spacers, wide wheels and tires, light bar, new interior. A vehicle that brought freedom. joy, opportunity, growth. A born-again vehicle with a second life of purpose and prize. A young man’s dream.

“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (NLT)

As Benton and I picked up his new prized possession, I had some nervous anticipation and anxiety. Now I have loaded, pulled and hauled very heavy loads over the course of my lifetime, oftentimes loads consisting of very expensive things. This time was different. I was hauling something priceless. I was hauling the dreams of my son. The fulfillment of years of hard work on his behalf. As he drove the Bronco onto our beat-up utility trailer, I was cringing inside hoping, praying asking my Daddy in Heaven to please make it hold. As we strapped the vehicle down I decided to drive the back roads to our place to try and take it slow and steady with a safe arrival.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

As we were driving back to our farm, I was white-knuckling it as I drove, continually checking my mirrors to make sure the priceless load was safe. I felt the anxiety of my 16 year-old self from years ago as I drove. Then while driving, I noticed that my son was relaxed in the passenger seat, leg crossed, looking at parts for his Bronco on his phone, never checking our load nor paying attention to my driving. He was relaxed. He was immersed in the confidence he had in his father. He knew that I would take him and his newly purchased and immediately loved SUV home.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

So the Lord, in this marvelous moment with my son spoke me and said, “son, why can’t you ride in the passenger seat while I drive with the same rest, calm, confidence and trust that your son (that I gave you) rides with you?” Ouch! Truth. I continue to seek to be a righteous man, failing more than succeeding, confident in Whose I am and where I am going after these short years on Earth, yet still approaching this life with thoughts of control and self direction. I still struggle to surrender all, even though Daddy knows I am trying. He knows my heart. He sees my flawed effort. He loves me despite, not because.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.” Psalm 118:8

I am thankful for the new life that my son will create as he works on his project car, that looks to many like a vehicle ready for the trash heap, all the while he seeing the beauty and joy of what will emerge from his efforts.

Too many of us see ourselves or others as bodies ready to be discarded to the trash heap of life. But God does not! He sees His beautiful daughter or son, wonderfully and marvelously made, with potential for impact through the experiences that life has buried them under. God makes all things. He makes all things new. He loves you right where you are. He awaits your asking to sit in the passenger seat of this life and eternity and trust His driving to the safe destination that awaits all Believers.

“Blessed is the man (woman) who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

Commit to no longer worrying about what the World sees in you. Recognize and accept what the Father sees in you. You are His and He is yours. Trust Him and lay your seat back, knowing that the destination is assured and the beauty of the work He is doing in you will emerge in amazing ways.

“So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

Father, that you that you allow me to be a father. Thank you for my wonderful son and the life project that he represents. Daddy, I turn him fully over to you and trust that your plans for him are best and his greatest beauty and lasting impact will emerge through You. Jesus, take the wheel.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalms 127:3 (NLT)

When we choose to surrender our God-given assignments, the World will surely step in with ideas that pervert and prevent our achieving the God-assigned impact of our lives.

I have said for years that the subtle erosion of men within America’s society and the subliminal and not so subliminal messaging through advertising that today’s men are not needed, ineffective and just plain dumb, will have effect for generations.

We have lessened the role of the man/father/leader in society. Men have willingly surrendered their role as husband, father, leader, mentor. More and more men approach life with the emotions of a boy and the narcissistic attitude of me first or me only. Yet we wonder why men are broken. Families destroyed. Boys growing in a man’s body never emerging mentally, spiritually or willingly into the role they were created to assume.

“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 (ESV)

The plague of absentee parents and the vital role of time cannot be cured by larger houses, newer cares, yet another “vacation of a lifetime.” Quality time is a myth. Quantity of time is the hope for change. Men inserting themselves mentally, physically, emotionally and with quantitative time are the only hope for reversing the troubling trends we are seeing in boys to wannabe men.

A boy trained properly understands that their role as a man is to walk alongside their wife. The acknowledge her as his greatest jewel and partner in life. Boys never properly shown by their father need mentor-men to walk into their life and show them that they are only toxic if and when they do not properly acknowledge, support, encourage and love the woman and women in their life.

Just as girls and woman are wonderfully made by the Creator of all things, so too are men. Let’s stop kidding ourselves that we know better and acknowledge that the more we try to undo what God has created, assigned and ordained for both men and women in society, in marriage, in professions and in life, are interdependent and equal in the purpose of raising the next generation of World leaders and Kingdom builders.

“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28

Your time is the greatest gift your children will ever receive from you. Surrender it willingly, without condition. Your son’s or daughter’s psyche and approach to life depends on it.

https://www.foxnews.com/media/portrayal-masculinity-strained-relationships-women-forcing-men-out-workforce-mikhaila-peterson

foxnews.com

‘Toxic masculinity’ fear, media portrayal as ‘fools’ contributing to men leaving workforce: Mikhaila Peterson

Podcast host Mikhaila Peterson joined “Fox & Friends Weekend” to discuss the decline in men participating in the workforce, and the factors contributing to the decline.

“Whatever the fears, encourage yourself to face them—and then turn them over to God. God loves you, and when we know Christ and have put our faith and trust in Him, we know He’ll never abandon us.” Rev. Billy Graham

Several years ago a fantastic movie was released that chronicled the brilliance and egocentricities of PT Barnum, creator of the Barnum American Museum show that eventually, through success, failure, total loss by fire (twice) and a re-imagined show resulted in the Barnum & Bailey show that when combined with Ringling Bros. entertained millions for over 140 years.

An intriguing story within the movie was Barnum’s idea to bring the Swedish singer, Jenny Lind to the United States for a nationwide tour. Arguably, one of the most beautiful songs ever sung in a movie was Never Enough, with Jenny Lind (brilliantly played by actress Rebecca Ferguson). singing the song while Barnum looked on with eyes mesmerized by her voice and delivery. And it was all acting and deception. Rebecca Ferguson was not the actual singer of the song and skillfully lip synced her way through the song to the delight of audiences worldwide.

Fast forward to 2022 and a little known singer named Loren Allred walked on to the stage of Britain’s Got Talent and disclosed that she was the amazing voice behind the song that had delighted tens of millions of people as they watched the movie and the aforementioned scene. Incredible! The judges were mesmerized and when asked why the big break did not come her way after singing this song, Allred answered that “I was more comfortable singing behind the scenes, but I now feel the song was made for me and I am ready to put a face to the song.” Wow!

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT)

It’s hard to fathom that someone who has the voice that Loren has would have any hesitancy of her ability, her worth, her appeal, her contribution. Can I tell you that this is exactly how our Father in Heaven looks at each of us. I believe he says to his son, Jesus, “how can (your name here) not recognize how beautifully and marvelously they are made?” Stay with me because God does not question but he mourns our questioning. He desires so deeply that we walk into who he has created us to be and who we are and Whose we are. You are the daughter or son of the most high God. The Omnipotent Creator of all things. You matter and your contribution will have the same impact as Loren Allred had and has had since having the confidence to walk into the God-given talents that she possesses and share them with us.

I don’t know who needs to hear this but this is your time. 2023 is the year that you take the step of courage to release yourself into the world. Oh I beg you, take the first step. We need you. The World desperately needs your contribution to the beautiful tapestry of a broken humanity desperate for the gifts that only your can deliver. If your gift is encouragement, encourage. If it is cleaning, clean. If it’s driving children to school in a bus, drive them well and with love like my beautiful mother did for 23 years before she was promoted to Heaven. You matter. Your voice is needed. Your gifts are priceless. Your love, oh your contribution of love, the love that only you can deliver will make a difference beyond your understanding. Take a step.

You Are Enough and there is never enough of you for those awaiting in your path.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

I love the story of Joseph in the Bible. If there ever was a person who had the right to sulk and have a victim’s mentality, Joseph is the person. Beloved by his father and mother and hated by his brothers. Sold into slavery. Unjustly thrown into prison. Forgotten by the very man whose life he saved. Left to rot but instead chose to lead.

“So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” Genesis 41:38-40 (NIV)

There are so many takeaways from the story of Joseph and the incredible purpose for his life that God had planned before time began. Let’s focus on one: How would you have liked to have been Potipher’s wife on the day that Joseph was brought from prison, bathed, perfumed, dressed and brought in front of Pharaoh and entrusted with all management of Egypt, in a single day?

Potipher was no slouch. In modern day America, he would be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military. He was a boss. Potipher and his wife lived lives of luxury and privilege. Anything they wanted was at their behest. Almost anything. Potipher’s wife desired Joseph as a momentary indulgence of sexual gratification. Joseph approached life as a series of decisions born out of faith in God and a character of honoring those who entrusted him with responsibility. Potipher’s wife was bored, Joseph was laser focused led by an unshakable, faith-emboldened integrity.

So Joseph was unjustly accused and placed in prison for having done the right thing. Sound familiar. I think almost everyone can point to some event in our lives where we paid a punitive price for doing what was right. God sees you. God hears you. Joseph was unjustly enslaved and imprisoned for 13 years. He most certainly hated or at least was disappointed with his life trajectory, but even in his unjust circumstances, he stayed the course of faith in God and the resulting hope and purpose in a life that is born out of true faith.

“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Genesis 41:41-43

So how would you have liked to have been Potipher’s wife when news came that the Hebrew boy she had tried to seduce and subsequently had imprisoned because of his rejection, was now in charge of all of Egypt? We don’t know how she felt. We don’t know what happened to her. There have been numerous accounts of what happened, how she approached Joseph afterward, how Joseph forgave her. None of these stories are in the text of the Bible because the reality is that the resulting rescue of humanity far outweighed the moments of injustice that Joseph endured. My guess is that Joseph, a man of laser-focused purpose, had more important things to do than the pettiness of vindication.

In some form, we have all be wronged. We are created for a purpose greater than vengeance. Perhaps your circumstances right now are part of a much greater plan of significance than you can possibly imagine. Jesus knew every day of his earthly life that there would be no justice in his death. He chose to love, to deliver hope, to assign purpose because the wrongs of the moment simply did not matter in the equation of eternal life.

So, if you are in a position of power or authority, lead wisely. The person under your leadership may very well have an anointing on their life far greater than the moments serving you.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)

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As new years roar into our lives, I wish you the beauty and silence of life that only comes from the Father in Heaven. I pray that you will laugh in the face of the World’s evil and anger, confident in the love of the Father in Heaven. I wish that you will throw away the worry and anxiety that robs time and productivity from your life, knowing that these things are not from the Father in Heaven. I wish you freedom from 24/7 news that persuades our minds that all is lost and evil, when we are told that our Father in Heaven holds the ultimate victory. I implore you to take the step of socialization with one another through the tactile impact of touch, of time, of breath, of eye contact, of priority, of encouragement, of truth that comes from commitment to one another. I wish you a year devoid of doubt, rooted in the knowledge of hope that only comes from the Father in Heaven. I wish you life in its fullest. Life that comes from true and total relationship with the Father.

“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:9-11

I Wish You Love

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

I Wish You Peace.

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” Romans 16:20

I Wish You Joy

“When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” Luke 15:6-7

I Wish You Contentment

“She offers you long life in her right hand,
    and riches and honor in her left.
She will guide you down delightful paths;
    all her ways are satisfying.
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    happy are those who hold her tightly.” Proverbs 3:16-18

I Wish You Boldness

“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,
    but the godly are as bold as lions.” Proverbs 28:1

I Wish You Priority

“Seek the Kingdom of God^[e] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.“”Seek the Kingdom of God^[e] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

I Wish You a Mustard Seed

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

I Wish You an Eagle

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

I Wish You a New Song

“He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:3

You’ve got this!

“Do you hear what hear? A child, a child, crying in the night.”

There it is again. Do you hear that? I’m telling you there is something different about that cry in the darkness that I am hearing. There. Again. Listen. A baby is crying. A cry like I have never heard before. Why is this cry making me so anxious? Excited? Hopeful? Why am I hearing this? Do you guys hear this over the sheep?

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2:8-15 (NLT)

Christmas. The day, time, Season when God could no longer bear the anguish of His children being left in silence. 400 years of quiet from Malachi’s warnings and promises to John the Baptist preparing the way in the wilderness. Jesus, the Christ, Immanuel (God With Us), born in a manger because, well he was God’s son and God always delivers His promises in ways that none of us expect.

“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Malachi 3:1 (NLT)

Now 800 years after Isaiah foretold Jesus’ coming and the events surrounding his birth with complete clarity and accuracy, including 400 years of silence with evil permeating every area, the culture and dare I say it, “religion” of the World, including God’s chosen children (the Israelite’s), a baby arrives The baby has come.

The truth of Christmas:

• Hope to the hopeless.
• Joy for the joyless.
• Love to the loveless.
• He who makes the least first and delivers a new Covenant for all people.
• The promise of eternity with the Maker of all things if we simply, trust and believe the reason for this Season.
• Jesus.

I have to believe that the shepherds who had an angel appear before them with the news of Jesus birth, followed by a Heavenly host of angels worshiping as had never been seen before, then the incredible realization of all that was said to them, all that had been foretold, all the hope of the World, lay in front of them, were never the same. I imagine them running to everyone they knew. Quietly, secretly, impatiently saying “He is here.” Hope is here. The King. The King of all Kings. God’s Son. The baby. He has been born. Here. In Bethlehem. And then, the cynicism of the culture of the day said, “yeah right, there’s no way that God will come through a human. (He did, her name was Mary.) There’s no way He will first be revealed to a bunch of unclean shepherds. (He did, on that quiet hillside to the least who followed the great career track of so many in the Bible, including David.) I believe they were told, “God is too magnificent for what you are describing and we will define how His return will happen. This isn’t it!”

Twenty eight generations after God chose a shepherd boy to slay a giant, literally and metaphorically. Twenty eight generations after God used a flawed man whose heart was closest to God. Twenty eight generations after victory, loss, gain, retreat, sinfulness that compounded in unimaginable ways, Jesus, the Savior of the World, has come. 1000 years between King David and King Jesus. 1000 years and the World was in disarray and desperation. All was lost. All was gained.

In this Season of reminded hope and corrupted focus, rest assured that Jesus birth was and is the single greatest event in human history, second only to his resurrection from the grave 33 years later. In a time that markets “Season’s Greetings” over Christ(mas) and Worldly efforts to drown out the unquenchable flow of Living Water that comes from the birth, human life, death and eternal life of Jesus, know without question that the significance of the Christ, has never been more relevant than it is today.

“Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

John 4:10 (NLT)

The beautiful message of Christmas is this. Our God never changes. His love is never ending. His son ever giving. Hope always present. Christmas is the affirmation that we are created in the image of God and worthy of His son’s sacrifice to bring us back into relationship with the Father. Christmas confirms that you matter to the God of all things.

Know, know without question that

“For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,^[a] Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

Merry Christmas

“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,”

Luke 1:76-78 (NLT)

There is purpose for each of us in Christmas. Zachariah had served a lifetime as a faithful priest with Elizabeth his wife. They had surrendered their dreams of children and considered that their purpose and impact was complete. God knew differently because God’s plan was in place before time began. Just like yours.

Can you imagine, you’re an older couple moving into retirement, living out your last years and then Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord shows up and confirms that your lifetime dream of a child is happening. I love how Zachariah, a man of God for a lifetime, doubted to the point of laughing out loud, essentially mocking God’s plan then wham!, his voice is gone. His job was to speak, counsel, console, teach, lead…all through his voice now gone.

 “Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Luke 1:18-20

Choose the joy of expectation this Christmas. Accept the anointing of God’s plans for your life. This broken World and the evil one who prowls wants to destroy the God-given dreams that lay within each of us. To crush hope. To marginalize your impact in this life. Say ‘no’ to the lies that really are on the margins of our life unless we allow them into life’s main, narrow road of impact. Elizabeth had certainly surrendered hope of a child and her husband laughed in the face of God’s emissary.

Then Elizabeth chose joy, expectation, acceptance at what Gabriel told her. Elizabeth chose the joy and hope that the Christ coming represented after 400 years of quiet. She chose to accept what could not be understood or explained. She chose to live expectantly. Humbly. Gratefully. She chose to accept that she was God’s vessel, created for this incredible, seminal moment in human history that explained the years and decades of desperation and sadness of being childless, all erased in a single moment. The single moment that the Legion’s in Heaven were anticipating and waiting to be released. Hope. Life. Connection. A new covenant. A direct pathway to God Almighty. Her son, would tell this news to the World. Accepting his role in the Christmas story. And he would be martyred for his blessed appointing.

“A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Luke 1:39-45

In this Christmas Season of significance, it is easy to feel insignificant. Can we agree that Elizabeth was tired of attending baby showers and Bat Mitzvah’s, celebrating her friends and likely her friends grandchildren’s events of significance? Elizabeth likely mourned that her counsel was not sought for mothering tips and she and Zachariah’s home bitterly quiet as families all around them celebrated holidays, with the sounds of children’s voices filling the air. There is little doubt that Elizabeth questioned her purpose for existence, but God didn’t! The plan was in place and God knew the heart of His faithful, and sad, daughter. And He rewarded her faithfulness.

If you’re struggling this Christmas Season, know that God sees your struggle. He knows your heart. He hears your prayers. He is awaiting the time when you are ready to walk into the calling on your life. “And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:12 NLT) Listen carefully and expectantly for the gentle whisper of God’s anointing of significance on your life. Allow Him to define your significance. And you are significant to the only One who matters.

So this Christmas as things are loud and too many of us shout accolades about all we have done, all the impossible achievements that our kids and families have apparently accomplished as conveyed through the ‘updates’ about life, choose joy. Choose expectation. Choose the only affirmation that matters…our Father’s from Heaven who affirms our significance every Christmas by the gift of His son. He gave the most significant gift because of your immeasurable value to Him and His limitless love for you.

Choose Christmas

I wrote this off the cuff this weekend to encourage an incredible friend of mine. A true brother in Christ. A warrior in life. For someone reason, I feel someone else needs to hear this. To know this. To recognize and accept this. To acknowledge that you are remarkable in the eyes of the Creator of all things and the truth is this: He is all that matters. Shalom.

“God has placed so clearly on my heart the need for only him. The need to deny the “what ifs” and replace them with the “he decrees” truths.

We so desperately seek the acceptance of the equally broken, to the extent we will alter the personality and unique person that God has created us to be. We buy in to the lies of materialism and want because that’s what is acceptable and expected.

We are the vessels of the God whose Son came and denied all of the accepted conventions of the day. Why should today be different? We are chosen to stand out from the mob with lives that deny convention rather than align with convention. We are his and He is ours. That is all that matters.

A heartbreaking truth is that oftentimes our most loved ones cannot walk with us. They are not where we are…yet. It is a very difficult reality that we are often not walking-in step with those closest to us. Our journeys are individual, yet our choice of destination the same. Heaven or Hell. We each choose ultimately.

I am believing with all certainty that every doubt, every regret, every desire to ‘do over’ are the variables of Satan’s destructive equation designed to create life’s of desperation and discontent. How egotistical to think that simple things happening in our simple lives happen without God’s knowing and allowing. We allow our children to try things that are destined to fail and oftentimes cause temporal pain. Why? Because in this is where the learning, the developing, the character building, to ‘next’ occurs. Why would we assume differently of the Maker of all things?

I encourage you to stay the course. Surrender the mourning. Accept the joy of truth of direction delivered through a life of experience…including success and failure.

You’re having your greatest impact now. Your actions are being seen and acknowledged; possibly being acknowledged with anger, contempt and resentment, but being acknowledged. We all must pave our path. How we choose to do this determines the joy and impact that lies in future. Isn’t it interesting that the word ‘lies’ can denote brokenness and desperation or anticipation and expectation. Our choice.”

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJ

Job Prologue: “There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.

Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.” Job 1:1-5

For each of us the question becomes will our epilogue reflect and epic log of events or an epic slog of impact? We live in a time of 280 character communication, 21 second visual stimulation and assignment as an ‘influencer’ based upon the size of our social media audience. As I am increasingly blessed to meet and teach men, one of the recurring question’s for discussion is, are we living a life of impact? Do we awake each morning, look in the mirror and accept the truth that we are who God says we are? Is there impact in our purpose and lasting influence through our actions?

“The ultimate measure of a man (or woman) is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Strength to Love, 1963 (Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

It is easy to read the greatest history, living and character development book ever written, aka The Bible, and get lost in the magnificence of the events that occurred and that are promised. This greatest of all books, provides hope, promise, life, love, expectation, and purpose. The Bible promises salvation and eternity to those who trust in the Lord. (Romans 6:23) It is a consistent, never changing, never “influenced,” always true resource for life and living. (Psalm 119:105) It is quite simply the testament to life example, love assurance, hope creating, joy defining and eternity offering bridge to the Source, the one and only God. The one and only Truth. The one and only lasting Love. The One and Only. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

As I fall deeper and deeper in love with God’s word and the teachings and assurances that it provides, I am convinced beyond convinced that the great examples of faith written about throughout this book of 66 books, would tell us that many of the moments of their lives seemed at the time, of little meaning and lesser impact. Frankly at times, their situation sucked from their perspective. I am convinced that Paul felt that he was being wasted as he unjustly sat in a prison, shackled, limited and only able to write to the Church. I am certain that he did not recognize in those moments, hours, days, months, years that his writings of encouragement, of correction, of guidance would someday make up two-thirds of the New Testament, be included in the greatest book of all times and introduce millions upon millions to Jesus Christ and relationship with the Father. I am convinced however, that as Paul sat in those conditions, he counted it all joy because of what he knew to be truth. Paul was a Pharisee and highly educated, holding the equivalent of two graduate degrees. He knew scripture better than most, understood and had a zeal for the laws of God and yielded to God on that road to Damascus that caused his life of significant purpose, to be come a life of significance in ways that God had planned and were rejected by the leading religious men of the day. The Way became Saul to Paul’s way to Christianity as we know it today.

“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NASB)

We live in a time and a culture that says ‘be significant, while doing nothing of significance.’ We are told to expect to be warm and comfortable without cutting wood for the fire. Conditioned to have impact without responsibility. To live life without living the life we were created to live. Quite frankly, Satan has created a culture that says “your significant,” while underlyingly eroding our belief in self, in others and most importantly, our belief and faith in the Creator of all things. God the Father never stops believing in you.

So the question for each of us is how will our epilogue read? At the beginning of this post I pasted the Prologue to Job and what an amazing statement it is. A blameless man, who stayed away from evil, believed in and feared God, attained wealth and status and petitioned God on the behalf of his children, concerned foremost about their relationship with the Father Creator of all things. Job’s priorities were in order.

Job’s epilogue reads better than his prologue. He passed the test. He was faithful to God in prosperity and adversity. And the greatest lesson in Job;s Epilogue and example for our lives, God proved faithful to Job.

I encourage you my brother or sister to seek and accept the plans that God has for you and the purposes that you are created to contribute to this broken World. Our significance is not defined by social media followers or career title but by the words that frame the epilogue and prologue of our lives. Lives surrendered to and living for our Savior.

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

John 3:30 (NLT)

I readily admit that I am a crier and an emotional man of Irish decent. When our family joins in the very seldom event of watching a movie in either a theater or family room setting, my kids will place me on watch to see when I will certainly cry during an emotional theme or scene. I was blessed with a mother and father who taught me that it was okay to cry and that men did in fact, cry. One of the limitless and beautiful gifts given to us by our Father in Heaven. He sees and hears our tears in every form. Joy, I hear you. Sadness, I hear you. Desperation, I hear you. Loneliness, I hear you. Need, thanksgiving, drought, plenty, health, sickness, whatever our situation, He hears us and loves us.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NIV

I am sure the YouTube video that I have attached to this post has likely been seen by most everyone reading these thoughts. That’s okay. We all need to be reminded of the blessings that are uniquely ours. When I met Christopher through this video and heard the song he was compelled to so sweetly and purely sing, I sat in awe of him, with overwhelming envy that as a blind, autistic child he could sing to our Father in Heaven in a more pure and clearly seeing way than I ever could or can. You see, my vision has robbed my sight of the miraculous glory of my Father in Heaven because I have exposed my eyes to the ugly things that are not of him. To envy. To greed. To desire. To comparison. To the temporal things of this World that simply do not matter in the Kingdom called Heaven and to the Creator of all things wonderful, I Am That I Am.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

So, my encouragement to you today is that God clearly sees you through His vision of immeasurable love and forgiveness. I encourage you to seek the Father’s face as He sees yours, devoid of the ugliness of human weakness and Worldly brokenness. Seek and see Him simply, sweetly, meekly, vulnerably with a desire to know Him and Him to know you as only He can and will allow you. Today, don’t take for granted the beauty of the Fall colors and the spectacular death that is occurring throughout nature to bring God’s glory through color into the lens of our eyes. Ponder on the irony that in nature’s seasonal death, beauty abounds and new life is taking root. Apply this concept to your own life and lay the death and decay of eyes that have seen too much ugliness, ears that have heard too much sadness, hearts that have been robbed from too much anger and betrayal and lay them all at His feet and plead for eyes, ears and heart that see, smell and beat in the pure form that Christopher’s do.

“For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.” Matthew 13:15 NIV

Take a bold step today by saying, Father, I choose You and all the beauty, life, joy, purpose and impact that You created me for. Father, forgive me for looking down on your beautifully gifted son, Christopher and those blessed like him, and cause me to watch, learn and seek the simply beautiful life that they have with You. You are marvelously created by the Creator of all things for purposes to great to understand in human terms, but supernaturally given because He loves you that much. Peace, love and joy.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 NIV