Tag Archives: Faithful

The Christmas gift of faith

 

 

“In those days,” the Christmas story begins, Caesar Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken. So Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the town of His family to register.

 

Like Joseph we too are called to register and declare that we belong to the family of God. We are his.

 

It was undoubtedly a tough journey for Mary. If you get uncomfortable riding in the car to your Christmas celebrations, imagine being pregnant and riding on the back of a donkey! As you gather with friends and family, perhaps in a room too small for the number of guests, ponder spending the night in a barn, and giving birth to your child in the presence of barn animals.

 

Likewise, it was probably tough for Joseph. His betrothed was expecting a child, not his own, but brought about miraculously by God. Imagine the whirlwind of confusion that swept through his mind. And yet, in faith he believed what the angel said. In faith, he protected his bride and their child. In faith, he obeyed.

 

In faith, they both humbled themselves to accept a dirty manger for the birthplace of their child. Although there was no room in the inn for Jesus at the time of His birth, let’s be sure to make room for Him by unwrapping the gift of Christmas faith. We do this by making room for his Word to speak to and transform our lives. Jesus IS The Word. We can’t experience the real Christmas without making room for the Word, that is Jesus, in our lives.

 

Like Mary, in faith, let us take quiet time to ponder in our heart this wondrous gift from God, a gift we don’t deserve but desperately need. Like Joseph, let’s have our hearts follow in faith even when things around us don’t make sense. And let our hearts respond with praise to the one who is worthy of all our praise. And may those who follow us say, “In those days, they lived by faith.”
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. 1 John 5:4

 

 

 

 

Do these steroids make me look fat?

The new meds have completely reversed my lack of appetite and removed my Failure To Thrive diagnosis caused by the GVHD. And I’m glad to have gained back ten pounds already, with only another 10-15 needed to return to my ideal weight. Additionally, this past week I set a new post-transplant endurance record by hiking a mountain nature trail in La Crosse over two miles and up an elevation climb of 640 feet! (Followed by a nap!) And another mile hike up and down 190 steps at Iowa’s Pike’s Peak State Park. (Thanks God!)

But I’m not referencing the weight gain or endurance with the ‘fat’ comment. I’m talking about being responsive to God’s call on our life and about discovering his very best for us when we walk through difficult paths. In this case, “FAT” means being:
Faithful
Available
Teachable

In order to prosper from God’s protection and provision for us we need to be faithful to live within the agreement of his love covenant with us. We can’t maintain faith in two masters and expect to receive blessing from both.

In order to experience his plan for us, we need to be available. Imagine saying to someone you love, “I will always be there for you,” but never making yourself available to them. Your words convey one thing and your actions another. We are known by our actions.

In order to gain understanding and wisdom, and to grow in his plan, we need to be teachable. We cannot say, “Teach me your ways,” and then refuse to listen or obey the master’s counsel.

With regard to our physical body, let’s be good stewards and be lean. With regard to our spiritual being, let’s be FAT: faithful, available, and teachable. Being “FAT” is essential to loving God, growing in his truth and grace, and serving others. Eat fully of the Lord’s provision.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8