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Sixty Two
Sixty Two. 62! I have completed sixty-two years on this earth. The noise of those numbers keeps resonating in my mind.
I approach my 63rd year with continued optimism. With expectation. With hope. Pursuing yet another significant career move to offer what a life of experience of some successes, of numerous failures (professional and personal) that have resulted in decades of experiential learning brings. Sixty two years that have reveled the joy is in the journey. The reward is in the learning. The peace is in the gratitude. The deepest love is in forgiveness and being forgiven. The purpose is in the relationships. The blessing is in yet another year and the knowledge, truth and hope that this is just a short stopover to the eternity that Jesus willingly sacrificed his life for me (and you).
My 62 birthday is celebrated by my first hearing aide awaiting me at Costco this coming Monday. 62 is the 20th years of marriage to my best friend. 62 is my 20th year of Type 2 Diabetes and a reward of a recent A1C of 6.5, which is very good for those who live with this disease. 62 is the beginning of the gift of my 63rd year.
“Getting old isn’t for wimps” is a true statement that I often heard and share. 62 is a responsibility. It is a time to reflect emotional maturity and stability, of which I don’t do well and remain committed to becoming better. 62 is a time to share that there are very few catastrophes in life. There are numerous hiccups, speed bumps, off ramps and wrong directions in a one way life, all allowed for the value of experience only wasted if not shared. 62 represents God’s unfailing love for me in the rewards that have come from knowledge that comes for His allowing me to walk so many curvy and hard roads that have straightened and eased as I have surrendered to Him.
62 is a body that reflects scars from the gift of life. Shoulder surgeries, small intestine resection, knee issues, broken fingers, dozens of stitches from a life lived with risks, rewards, naive confidence and confident ability honed from years of love, guidance and teaching from those who came before me and have walked beside me. What a priceless gift these 62 years have been.
62 is the incredible gift of a soon to be 19 year old son, 18 year old daughter and 15 year old daughter. A beautiful wife whose very breath energizes my life and clarifies love. A family that solidifies the essence of life and the requirement that I remain healthy, hopeful and current while providing experience and wisdom that 62 assigns.
63 looks wonderful. 63 brings a burden of assigned leading through willfully serving. I have a message to share. I have experience to convey. I have a hope to reflect. I have gratitude to deliver. I am grateful for you, Megan, Benton, Malia, Kensley and the incredibly extensive group of friends and mentors who have helped deliver me to this day.
Thank you, Father, for giving me life when death was deserved. Let’s go. 63 is not waiting!
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Lap Dogs
I recently wrote a curriculum that I entitled ‘Lap Dogs.’ The title based upon the story of Gideon in the Bible.
Gideon was considered the weakest in his clan, yet God used him mightily. If you don’t know this incredible story of unrestrained faith used by God for ridiculous victory, it is a great read. Fundamentally, God had Gideon reduce his army from 32,000 to 300 to defeat an army of 135,000. Seems reasonable! Right? Now do you really want the mind blower? Gideon’s army defeated the Midianite army by making noise that threw them into turmoil and wait for it, the Midianite’s killed each other. Around 120K dead to be more specific.
A VERY little known tidbit about me is that I love to watch YouTube videos of Britain’s Got Talent tryouts. BTW, in case you did not know, the best singers in the World are from Wale’s. I know these are heavily edited for impact by telling the backstory of the individual trying out in order to evoke emotional response. Congratulations BGT. You got me.
It is incredible to me to watch a contestant(s) on BGT who is incredibly shy step up and sing with a talent so great that they are unstoppable. Unless, they never got started. A young woman who cooked chickens at a supermarket. A group (choir) of men who practice in a cow shed (barn). A father so unsure of himself that his mother and young daughters walked the stage to give him courage. A group of 5 young men who sing a Les Miserables song so beautifully, while working mundane jobs that masks their incredible talent. The stories of these underdogs are amazing and as their God-given talent is revealed, you can see shoulders move from sagging to upright and their face shining in the moment of accolades that are truly life changing. Marvelous.
Here’s my encouragement to you. Allow what God has placed within you to emerge. Be ridiculous in your faith. Live an unrestrained life that God defines as a mustard seed. A seed so small that it is almost invisible but grows into a giant life of impact. Be willing to allow God and only God yo define you. To use you. To be his beloved vessel that he created for talents and impact that only you can deliver.
The recurring theme on BGT is of lives restricted either by influence that said “you can’t,” overcome by an internal desire that took the step of faith required for the World to receive the blessing of the individual’s talent. You are that individual. You are the need in someone’s life. Only you can truly suppress you. So what’s it going to be, lapping up life like the warrior God created you to be, or surrendering to a life limiting fear where the Enemy wants you to reside? You see, our doing nothing because of fear is Satan’s greatest victory.
“The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight. But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many! Bring them down to the spring, and I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.” When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream. Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” Judges 7:2-7 (NLT)
If God can defeat 135,000 using 300 with trumpets, jars and torches, imagine what He can and will do through you. Gideon asked God for a sign…twice, and God answered. Then Gideon acted. Are you in the crippled with fear stage; the asking stage; or the step into the abyss through unrestrained faith stage. Take a step. God is already there waiting on you.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)
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Irrefutable Identity
I have recently been in a Season that I would have never expected to find myself for the remainder of my life. A Season that I believe Satan intended for utter destruction and God allowed to reinforce within me who and whose I am. A Season of attack that continues to backfire on Satan as reflection and challenge brings into clarity the beauty of this life that is so easily overlooked. A Season where my identity in Christ withstands the tests of the moment.
You see, my identity is eternal. These tests are but moments against the walls of an eternity already secured. Over the past 21 years of my surrendered faith journey, the cornerstone of whose I am and the resulting knowledge of who I am has been dug deep and laid on the solid foundation that is Jesus Christ. The seeking, the reading, the prayer, the fellowship, the sharpening of iron against iron, the knowledge that has and continues to come through scripture and intimate fellowship with my Savior repels the lies of the Enemy.
I would not wish upon anyone the attacks that have come. Equally, I would pray that everyone who experiences similar challenges would have the knowledge and warmth that comes from the arms of our Father God. The lie of control tells us that we can prevent attacks that come against us. Lies! The truth that is Jesus Christ teaches us that these too shall pass and that he will sustain us through every season of drought and bounty.
So today I wanted to share again some thoughts of who God tells us that we are through his Word. I want to encourage you to be expectant in whatever storms of life you are weathering. If you are a child of God, remind yourself that he controls the weather and storms. Remind yourself that like Job, he alone permits the attacks that he knows you are capable of withstanding for a purpose likely too great to comprehend at this point in your life. Faith says you trust the purpose of the storm. Live expectantly in this storm. He is preparing you for something far greater than you can imagine. Trust that the plans he has for you, justify this season of hardening you into his immovable force for impact and hope.
Know that this is who God says you are:
Free
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
Child of God
John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Galatians 3:26-28 “… for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:5 “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”
Chosen
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
Old Self is Dead
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Colossians 3:3 “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
New Creation
John 3:3-6 “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
No Longer Condemned
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Warriors
1 John 5:4 “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
A Victor
Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
You’ve got this!
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“Dad said the ‘S’ word!”
Do as I say, not as I do. Hmm, or not. (This may be the off ramp for some of my social media ‘friends’)
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
When our kids were little, we would identify words that were not okay and ‘ugly’ to say. One of those words was ‘stupid’ and I can remember when that word would be uttered by myself or Megan, we would stop our kids in their tracks. They would look with shock and say to one another, “dad said the ‘S’ word.” To which apologies for saying this wrong word would be uttered, sadly laughter would occur off to the side and a half-hearted commitment to ‘watch my mouth’ acknowledged.
“You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Matthew 12:34-37
As a kid in the 70’s, yes the 1900’s 70’s, there were bad words that we decided made us ‘cool’ and then cuss words too awful to say that were rarely if ever spoken. Chief among these was the F-bomb. Too terrible to vocalize. Too disgusting to verbalize. THE word that would no kid that I knew would audibly allow from their mouth. The word that now freely flows from the mouths of our “leaders” in government, education, entertainment and presents itself quite often in social discourse. The word whose shock and awfulness now blends into conversation as seamlessly as apple pie and the Pledge of Allegiance did when I was a kid. (For those of you who might be younger than 40, look up apple pie and patriotism. This used to be a “thing.”)
Amidst this current political theater of yet another partial governments shutdown, the Minority Leader of the House said, “the Republicans done e’ffed up in Texas.” A celebrated musician said “F___ Ice,” as she received her Grammy for song of the year. Crowds protesting against this, against that, against the protest, protesting protest, protesting the spelling of the word ‘protest,’ protests quickly losing common sense and the disavowed ‘common courtesy,’ all unified by one single, purpose defining, life identifying, values erasing, humankind eroding word, the F-bomb!”
I am blessed to sit in several Christian men’s groups and events. These groups are an oasis from a broken World. These groups made up of a broken and sinful men diligently pursuing righteousness because of a loving Savior who paid the price of our sins. I have been experiencing a slow fade of guarded words used becoming a trickle of the d-word, the s-word (no, not “stupid,” stupid!), and on and on and I wonder, where does this end? Unchecked, it does not end well.
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV)
I remember my sweet mother would only allow us to use words like ‘stinker’ or ‘passed gas,’ when describing a bodily function. C’mon, as my wife told me during a very early dating event, “everybody does it.” If my sisters or I slipped up and said the ‘f-word,’ (f a r t – still too terrible to audibly say or properly write), the response and corresponding punishment would be fierce and absolute. That fly-swatter hurt…for a while.
I guess one of the greatest compliments that I ever received was during a lunch with some men, one of them cursed and quickly looked at me and apologized. Wasn’t necessary, but really appreciated. You know, as he and I have grown so much closer, the comfort to curse in front of me has also grown and the feeling of a need to apologize, gone. I wonder, is this reflective of my own sin becoming more evident? I believe so. He is an amazing, encouraging and loving brother. But that mouth.
I guess I am rambling this morning. As God’s Church, we are instructed to stand out in word and deed. It seems we’re getting better at the deeds at the sacrifice of the words. My family had a saying posted on our refrigerator the entire time that I lived in my parents home that said, “If you won’t write it, don’t say it.” Good guidance 100 years ago, and still good policy today.
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17 (NLT)
Let’s get out there and be the L-bomb. “And they’ll know we are Christians by our Love…” and by our mouths.
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Slow Learners
There are all kinds of ways to quickly cook barbecue but any ‘barbecue master’ will tell you that the final result is in the preparation. I am somewhat of a pork tenderloin and babyback ribs master. My secrets? Haha, wouldn’t you like to know!
How do you think the Israelites would have looked upon God had the ten plagues not occurred in Egypt prior to their release? Similarly, how do you protect and treasure that which has come quickly and easily, versus that which came after time, hard work, trial and error?
Every good parent loves and treasures their children. Do parents who ‘got pregnant’ quickly and easily look upon their children with the same appreciation as those who tried, prayed, begged, went through medical procedures for years before getting pregnant? The gift is the same. The preciousness the same. The value the same. But the appreciation, might just be different.
I gain a deep appreciation for Abraham’s faith that after waiting close to 100 years to be blessed with a son, he chose faithfulness to God over his most precious physical gift in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Zachariah and Elizabeth similarly waited until well past child bearing years to miraculously receive their son, John. While neither probably knew all the incredible things that would result from their waiting, their waiting placed incredible value on the gift of their child.
I would like to think that after witnessing the 10 plagues in Egypt, leaving with all of Egypts wealth, the Red Sea being parted and swallowing the Egyptian army, water coming from a rock struck by a stick, food being provided each morning, clothes and shoes never wearing out for decades that my faith and trust in God would be unimpeachable. Yet! Yet! Yet, here I sit, worried about those things that I cannot control after a life of witnessing God’s miraculous mercies and miracles upon my life. Still sinning. Still doubting. Still striking out on my own. Still trusting in my own abilities. Still resisting the rest and peace that I know only comes through my Dad in Heaven.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
The Israelites leaving Egypt were generational in their captive mindset. At least 4 generations occurred between Joseph entering Egypt and Moses leading them away. Some scholars think this may have been as many as 12 generations, shrunk for reference sake. The bottom line is the Israelites had been robbed of expectation and entrapped by doubt of a benevolent God, still committed to freeing them as their ancestors had been assured.
So now, today as you pray and wait, guard your expectation. Expectation leads to movement, which leads to a healthy heart, which leads to a receptive brain, which prepares the body for the perfect answers and rescue that only God can deliver. He hears you. He sees you. He is there. He is here. He is preparing you. His plans release you into a marvelous purpose that makes all things clear.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)
Pork tenderloin quickly removed from the package and thrown in a grill is delicious. Pork tenderloin, removed from its entrapment (package), placed in brine (saltwater) overnight, then grilled at slow temperature and turned every 3-5 minutes is just incredible. My mouth watering as I write.
Babyback ribs taken out of their package and grilled are so tasty and better depending on the dry rub or sauce used for added flavor. Babyback ribs placed in brine overnight, then slow cooked in a crock pot, then placed upon the grill for final coatings are, well, fall of the bone amazing. Literally.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
Every grill master and barbecue aficionado has their “secrets” for the same foods. God’s plans for each of us are unique, incredibly special and specific to us. Consider removing the defensive package that has constrained your life and trust the preparation of the Master in Heaven who knows how to prepare you best.
Be safe this weekend. Be expectant. Be receptive. You are loved.
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Praise in the Storm
A few months ago I publicly wrote and announced that I was no longer hiding or avoiding Satan and his minions. I arrogantly wrote that I was declaring war on him and his evil. I naively shared that I was ready. I wasn’t and I am not.
“If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm 139:11–12 (ESV)
The Bible teaches us about three types of peace. Peace with God, peace of God and peace with others.
I find that I try to have an inverse relationship with God. “Boldly” loving him when I am at peace with others. Allowing his peace to wash over me when my life is devoid of conflict, anger, anxiety, doubt, stress, all the things that define me as his broken yet supernaturally forgiven son.
I find that I conditionally allow and welcome the peace of God when my stars align. ‘When peace like a river attended my way, it is well with my soul.’ I am finding that I am still yet a vulnerable soul, ripe for the picking of sin because of a faith too arrogantly professed and too shallowly planted. Too meekly lived.
I find that my relationship with God is peaceful when the waters are calm. When the storms have passed. When God has met my expectations of quality of life. My expectations! If you ask me how my life has gone when I pursue my expectations, the truthful answer is a train wreck of emotional sewage spewed out in vile ways. Ways where I defile my body and soul where I have invited my Savior and Holy Spirit to reside. My expectations manifest themselves in anger, fear, frustration, an inwardly focused heart designed to be the outpouring presence of the grace and mercy that has been afforded me at a horrid cost. The death of the only hope for all, Who thankfully arose as the light of eternity that I have been invited and have accepted to live and walk with and allow in.
My Dad in Heaven, encourages me to keep trying. To take another step. To learn the art and life protecting step of forgiveness. To be a better man than before storms of life mercilessly kick and have kicked my rear end. My Dad reminds me to reject Satan’s desire that I focus on the few ugly moments of a beautiful life. My Dad reminds me that it is okay to fail and not accept the definition that I am a failure.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV)
So I choose to cherish the peace that the good God offers me. I choose to take steps to be at peace with God by recognizing that he truly is the only source in my life that wants only peace for me. I choose to be at peace with others, regardless of their choice as it relates to me. I choose to just show up. I choose to be God’s son. I choose to stop overstepping my boundaries and abilities by surrendering the issues of life that are only overcome by surrendering them to my Father in Heaven.
Job, thank you for allowing your life to be a life guide to me.
“I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:1-5 (ESV)
I will praise you in the storm.
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Stay with me here.
Consider that the resentment, bitterness or just outright jealousy that may be aimed at you may have a purpose beyond what you can see.
Most of us know the story of Moses. A Hebrew boy, saved by Pharaoh’s daughter, raised in privilege as an Egyptian (because he was adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter). Confused by his lineage. Seemingly wracked with guilt because of his position to the point of murdering an Egyptian who was beating a fellow Hebrew. Then, seeking to be acknowledged as a hero and peacemaker, met with resentment and bitterness as he tried to step in between two fellow Israelites in conflict.
“After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight. The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Exodus 2:12-14 (NLT)
So here was Moses, ‘hero’ in his own mind for stepping in and killing the abusive Egyptian, riding in on the white horse as peacemaker between Hebrew brothers and met with the response, ‘who made you judge, jury and executioner?’ I am guessing this was not the response to his “act of heroism” that he expected. God knew and God drew and God used.
I recently saw a t-shirt that I am committed to purchase that simply says, “I can do all things through scripture taken out of context.” A play on the verse in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV). Philippians, a book written by a man (Apostle Paul) through whom the Holy Spirit breathed those words as he sat in a prison, legs shackled, likely sitting in his own excrement and suffering the flooding of sewage that would occur in that prison beneath the streets. Paul, deliverer of the Spirit-breathed scripture that is the book of Philippians, and widely considered the most joyful book of the New Testament.
So where am I going with my ramblings? The circumstances we are in or the position we are placed, very likely has a much greater purpose than we are seeing in the moment. The responses we are receiving may not be what we are expecting, but they are what God knew they would be. God values our faith over our bravado. He allows us to be in difficult situations because he desires relationship with us more than peace around us. He delivers peace within us that occurs when obedience resulting from circumstance invades us.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary makes this statement of observation as it relates to Exodus 2:23-25. “Sometimes the Lord suffers the rod of the wicked to lie very long and very heavy on the lot of the righteous. At last they began to think of God under their troubles. It is a sign that the Lord is coming towards us with deliverance, when he inclines and enables us to cry to him for it.”
I often wondered why God allowed the Israelites to be in captivity in Egypt for 400 years. Equally, I have wondered why God allowed me to be imprisoned in the addiction of pornography for 35 years. It would seem that we chose to walk our own path, devoid of faith in God. God heard the cries of the Israelites that arose after hundreds of years, releasing the plan of freedom that would involve Moses fleeing Egypt for 40 years, the ‘freed’ Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Only allowing those too young to have doubted the abilities of the God who had freed them to enter the promised land. For me, he allowed a 35 year imprisonment to the insidious, damaging and corrupting addiction to pornography to ravage my very soul, in order to use me for the purposes he has appointed in my life.
So why are you in the circumstances that you are in? I don’t know, but God does. He hears you. He’s waiting on your heart’s surrender. He’s preparing you for the marvelous purposes that are unique to your life. Today, walk joyfully and expectantly. Today, be a duck and let the water of those people or situations desiring to limit you simply run off your back. Those drops of resentment will join the chorus of a a broken ocean desiring to limit you, who God says is limitless. Swim above those waters desiring to drown.
Let’s get started. The day is not waiting.
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It’s likley not if you are ready. Rather, will you accept?
“Who is a God like You, who forgives wickedness And passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He [constantly] delights in mercy and lovingkindness.” Micah 7:18 (AMP)
In 2026, commit to approach the newness of the year with the refreshing that comes from a heart accepting that everything that brought you here, now, was preparation for the marvelous things that lie ahead.
Imagine this, Joseph was in a prison forgotten by the men whose dreams he had interpreted. Forgotten. Dirty. Thrown away. Seemingly useless. Then, only hours later, he was second only to Pharoah, ruling over all of Egypt, destine to save his family and the people of his ancestry. Now that’s an outhouse to penthouse story!
Why not you?
Joseph toiled in slavery and unmerited imprisonment for 15 years for that seminal moment when called to interpret Pharoah’s dreams. Jesus lived amongst the people he came to save for 30 years before launching his 3 year ministry that he came to earth to deliver. God knows. He sees you. He’s waiting. Accept and trust that the immeasurable joy of your life’s purpose awaits your life’s acceptance of God’s plans fo your life.
Take a step each day this year with the knowledge that you are prepped. Prepped for whatever God has planned for you. Commit to approach any challenge as a marvelous opportunity. Recognize that you are the beloved creation of the Creator of all things who desires relationship with you and to see you soar in 2026 in the freedom that his love, grace and mercy provide.
If your heart is prepped, God will prepare you.
I love where the statement at the end of this image says, “the god of unmerited favor.” He is! You’re right. You and I do not deserve God’s unmerited favor. But oh how he loves to lavish us with unreasonable blessings and inexplicable joy.
Let’s go. 2026 is not waiting.
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Failing Forward
Consider retraining your mind in this new year to accept the life lessons of the past (formerly defined as failures by many) as life preparation for this new year. Failure only wins if we don’t use it as knowledge and preparation for what lies ahead. The beauty of experience is the awareness that momentary defeats are in fact life empowering knowledge that cannot be gotten in any other way. Our attitude truly does determine our altitude. Congratulations, all failings have allowed you to arrive at this year of impact. Don’t waste it.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
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CHRIST-MAS
You came and fulfilled the promises foretold 800 years before. You came through the lineage of David, 28 generations later. You came because your Father never fails. You came because you loved me more than you loved the glory, safety and honor of the throne upon which you rightfully sat and sit. You came because your Dad created me in his image. You came to right the wrongs of sin and rid the emptiness of hearts crying out. You simply came because you are all faithful and love wins.
Christ, you came. Mas, meaning more, so much more. Christmas, language created to establish your eternal place of honor and our eternal assurance of eternal placement with you. If only we ask.
Jesus, we know so little about you until those days when you were found by your earthly parents in the temple at age 12. We know the Magi had been traveling for months or years when they found you. Still a baby or toddler, they understood that you were and are deserving of our complete acknowledgment and worship.
“”Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.” Luke 2:49-50 (NIV)
Christ, we need mas. So much mas, more. More Christ-Mas. More Christmas. Jesus, we need mas worship. You are worthy of mas. You are the Christ and you came.
Jesus, what were you like as a toddler? As a boy? The Bible tells us that your mother, Mary, treasured these things up in her heart. Were you easily potty trained? How old were you when you took your first steps? When you worked alongside your earthly father, Joseph, did he constantly ask you questions, marveling at your answers? Was your mother tempted to shirk her daily routine and just sit at your feet, or listen to your conversations with the other kids in the neighborhood? What were you like during your teen years? Clearly you were honorable. Clearly you were remarkable. Clearly, you were the Christ.
Did the shepherd ever quit talking about the things they had witnessed on the night of your birth? Were they quieted by the rulers of the temple? Were the wise men forever and profoundly changed after being in your presence? Did they fear for their safety after returning to their home and ignoring the directive of Herod?
Was your earthly dad, Joseph, as courageous as he seems? Taking your mother and honoring her by marrying her even as those around pointed, judged, alienated the girl pregnant out of wedlock. How scared was Joseph as he uprooted his life and took you and your mother to Egypt where he was received as less than he was in his hometown? He wasn’t! Obedience trumps fear. We know so little about your earthly dad. But, we know your Heavenly Father deemed your earthly father worthy to raise, grow and teach you. Clearly, Joseph was a good man.
Jesus, I long to know you more. More than anything, I long to reflect you. I long to share you. I long to introduce the hope that is you. I desire to know the 6, 10, 18, the 21 year old. I do. You were love in human form. You were the fulfillment of all that had been anticipated during those 400 years of silence. 400 years. Jesus, Savior, Christ, what is 400 years in existential existence? Too short to even register on the measurement of time that your Father gifted our limited minds. Time, Jesus, you are timeless. The same today as yesterday. The same today as 2025 years ago. The one of three in one. The Trinity. Faith, hope & love. You are.
So much more minutia that I would like to know. Yet as I desire to know more, I must confess how little I truly know and understand. Thank you for unconditional love and timeless patience. Thank you for teaching me in ways that I can handle and for hiding from me things too complex to comprehend. Christmas. Christ, you came down. Mas, you died and rose again to reconcile me to your Father. Christmas, the fulfillment of all that was and is promised.
Jesus, I long to know so much more about you. I know that you are my Savior and that you are the savior of the World for those who ask and surely find. That is enough.
Christmas. Too marvelous to understand. Too wonderful to ignore. The event where God said, “I love you, too”. Love came down and hope arose.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
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Myron Speaks 