5 Tips for Christmas!

By: Jonathan Carl 

Merry Christmas!  Christmas Day can be such a joy to care-free children who are anticipating, opening, and enjoying their gifts!  Christmas can easily lose its luster for adults though when loss, fears, hurts, and worries overwhelm us.  No matter your current experience this Christmas, can you imagine what the first Christmas was like?

Jesus Is Here!  Jesus came to us! Think about the joy of Jesus’ mother Mary and adoptive-father Joseph had when the Christ-child arrived; the promises of the prophets and the angels fulfilled!  Imagine the sweetness the Shepherds savored when they saw the Savior of the world (Luke 2). What a wonder for the Wise Men to encounter their Wonderful Counselor (Matthew 2)!  What child-like joy they all must have experienced as they worshipped Jesus with child-like trust, love, comfort, security, delight, joy, and awe at what God was doing!

This Christmas, here are 5 tips for entering into and experiencing the “good news of great joy!” (Luke 2:10)

1. Receive the gift of love.  Gifts aren’t ultimately about the object itself, they are about the love of the giver.  Don’t let your Christmas become a ritual or routine.  Don’t reject a heart-felt relationship with your Creator.  God wants you to experience the relational love He has for you!  You are loved.

 2. Trust the rescue.  Have you ever been in a desperate situation where you have no choice but to ask or cry for help?  You and I are in such a situation now, in our sin.  We need a Savior to rescue us.  We can’t work our way out of our sin dilemma. Don’t resist His saving work but instead rejoice in His salvation from sin and death!

3. Listen to the King.  Slow down.  Open and read your Bible.  Make time to play an audio Bible.  Watch the “Visual Bible” on YouTube.  There are lots of ways to experience the truth and love of God’s voice through the Bible.  Be still, open your ears, and engage your mind while you marvel that your King wants to speak personally to you.

4. Enjoy the Relationship. God doesn’t issue rules and commands as a harsh dictator.  He wants us to hear His fatherly protection, warnings, and encouragements toward His children.  Be more child-like this Christmas, submitting your heart to His amazing comfort and care.  Even when others will abandon, burn, and betray you, God is faithful and will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

5. Spend Time in His Presence. Devotional time matters.  Church matters.  Small group matters.  Godly friendships matter. God has organized His family into opportunities to experience Him directly through His Spirit and together through others.  Prioritize Jesus in your Christmas Day and everyday and you will experience joy. 

I hope and pray that you and your family have an amazing Christmas as you delight in God’s amazing love!

Humble Beginnings

Humble Beginnings By: Machelle McDowell

 Incredible things begin in humble places!

Tiny Little Town

From the moment of Jesus’ birth he modeled humility. God chose the tiniest little town for Jesus to be born in, “ But you, oh Bethlehem Ephrathah, Who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from the old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2

Tiny Little Baby

Mary and Joseph did not check into a hospital where state of the art medical care was available if a problem was to arise.

Mary did not hear the beeps of a heart monitor attached snuggly to her stomach as she awaited the arrival of her little bundle of joy, but instead the sounds of bleating little lambs and the groaning of nearby cattle. 

Tiny Little Trough

Mary continued to clothe Jesus in humility by wrapping him in swaddling cloth. As she gently placed each piece around his arms and legs confining him in love and at the same time restraining his ability to move. Once in a nice little bundle she gently lowered him into a even greater state of humility by placing him into a feeding trough to rest. 

What is God trying to show us in this picture?

There are 73 verses in the Bible that address humility. Throughout the Bible, Jesus is presented as the definition of true humility. Beginning as an infant and throughout his life humility defined our Savior. 

I love James 4:10! “Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord and he will exalt you!” Wow! God will exalt those who humble themselves! Why is that so hard for us to do then? Simply put, we think more highly of ourselves than we should? Are we tiny in our own eyes? The truth of the matter is that our eyes reflect the opposite. It’s more about me than it is about, “He.”

Oh Lord, Help us to:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves. Let each of us look not only to ur own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Phil 2:3-4).

There is a very hard lesson to be learned in being truly humble. Being humble requires a very strong sense of God‘s presence. We cannot overcome our fleshly desires on our own.

“Count others more significant than yourself.” 

When Jesus was being tortured and finally crucified the words, “Forgive them for  they do not know what they are doing.”.... Little did we know that (approximately) 33 years prior when that tiny little baby, in that tiny little town, in that tiny little manger all wrapped up in swaddling cloth was being prepared at that very moment to demonstrate the greatest act of humility to mankind!

Forgive them? He looked at those who came against him and counted them more significant than himself. He was not blinded by pride or tempted to bring vengeance or prove a point. He acted out of pure love and humility.

One of my favorite stories in the Gospel of John is where Jesus shared humility and grace to the Samaritan woman. She yearned to be wanted, and cared for when no one, not even herself, could see anything of value in her life...Jesus did. She was living in open sin and Jesus reached out to her in humility and made her feel important and loved. 

This story teaches us much about the value of people. He demonstrated love to everyone and commands that we do the same. Humble ourselves to the point of putting others above ourselves.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” 

Humble beginnings allow God to be made much of. Let’s wrap ourselves in humility. In doing so, it will allow us to love greater, forgive easier, and become selfless instead of selfish.

“ Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord!”.....He will exalt you!

A Prayer for Our Nation

By: Jonathan Carl

Our nation continues forward into another election cycle, we are becoming increasingly divided between Republicans and Democrats.  The rhetoric and anger is overwhelming.  Can you imagine what the average political in Washington D.C. faces in the social media age we live in?  

As Christians, we are called by God to pray for all of our leaders.  Have you ever thought about how you would pray over our nation’s leaders if you had the opportunity?  How you would lead them into the presence of our Creator and pray on their behalf?  Here is an idea of how we can pray together for our leaders today.

Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit.  You are amazing.  You are wonderful.  You are powerful.  There is no-one like you God.  Thank you for who you are and for the privilege of another day of life.  Thank you for the ability to even have access to you right now through prayer.

You have told us that…  ‘if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’ (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

So here I am now before you.  Humbled in heart.  On my knees.  

Please forgive us.  So much wickedness has passed through our minds, hearts, lips, and our lives.  I am guilty.  We are guilty.  As individuals.  As leaders.  As a nation. Forgive us.

We need you.  We love you.  We want you.  We trust you.  Jesus, lead us into your presence.  Give us your wisdom for the daily decisions that we encounter today and everyday as your servants and representatives.

God, heal us as only You can.  Our nation is hurting.  Our people are divided.  Our world is in chaos.  Thank you for sending your Son to save us from Satan, sin, and Hell. Help us to “be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.”  Help us to “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15 ESV).

Jesus, I lift up these leaders to you. Thank you for giving them to our nation.  Protect their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.  If any have not received and submitted to you as Lord and Savior, I pray for you to save their souls.  Guard their minds from Satanic and worldly deception and focus their minds on your truth.  Keep their hearts from the Evil One and guide their affections to your throne-room.  Encourage and strengthen their marriages and families with the love you have for us.  Use these men and women greatly for the welfare of their hometown communities and states.  Unite them together under your commands for the sake of our nation.

In the name of the Jesus I pray, amen.

1 Timothy 2:1–5 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (ESV)

Thank God, Even On the Toughest of Days

By: Jonathan Carl

What does Ephesians 5:20 mean when it says to give “thanks always and for everything”?  In this verse and several others, God seems to be telling us to be thankful to Him even on the darkest of days and the roughest seasons of life.  Have you ever wondered why gratitude is so important?  Here is how to be grateful to God, even when you are in a season of suffering.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (ESV)

Gratitude acknowledges God.  In our fallen state we easily become self-focused.  When times are good we can become self-reliant and fail to give thanks to God.  In times of difficulty we can often be so overwhelmed by our suffering that we fail to appreciate the many blessings we have been given.  Contentment is key (Philippians 4:11–13).

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Ingratitude is dangerous.  Discontentment is a spiritually deadly disease.  When God speaks to unbelief, one of the defining characteristics is not being thankful or honoring God.

Romans 1:21 “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him"

Trust God. We don’t always see how He is working at the time, but he assures us in Romans 8:28 that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Often in suffering we want to know “why” and our immediate prayer is for it to stop.  In seasons of difficulty we should ask God in prayer what purposes He is seeking to accomplish in us and through us while simultaneously sharing our heartfelt desire for the suffering to end.

Trials are gifts.  That statement does not seem to make sense.  Most of us would not willingly choose to go back through evil and suffering we have endured in our past.  Human-purposed evil can be used by God for good purposes.  The story of Joseph being sold into slavery is a good example, where his brothers intended evil, but “God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:19-21)!  God uses suffering to draw us closer to Himself in order to give us a comfort so that we can overflow His comfort and love to others in a way we wouldn’t be able serve without the prior difficulty (2 Corinthians 1:3–5).

God grows us. God uses the testing of our faith to produce in us things that aren’t often discovered in the easier seasons of life (Hebrews 12:10–11).  Romans 5:3–5 explains that we should “rejoice in our sufferings” because “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”  How we endure in suffering gives us greater evidence and assurance of our faith.  

Look Ahead. Suffering gives us the reminder that there is something much better ahead and that this fallen world is not our place of final rest and relief.  We need the reminder that our earthly sufferings “are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

We may not feel like being thankful for all things we encounter in life, but we can choose to be thankful knowing that God is still in control, loves us, and has a purpose for us even in the hardships of life.

A Picture Of God's Church

Is your heart shaped like outstretched hands or clinched fists?

By: Machelle McDowell

What should God’s church look like? I think I have a picture to show you! Envision with me, if you will, as I paint a mental picture on the canvas of your mind.

I was blessed to spend some time in Ghana back in the summer of this year. On one particular Sunday our team split into groups and was assigned different churches to attend and speak at. 

The little church that we attended had the sweetest fellowship! It left an everlasting imprint on my mind and heart. 

The service was very special for me that day for many reasons.  For one, my son, Josh spoke to the church with words of encouragement and challenge.  Following his message an offering was received. 

A medium sized plastic container was set on a chair and placed in the front of the church. We all began to sing with lifted hands in praise to the Lord as we danced in a line similar to “follow the Leader” up to the chair to lay down our offerings to God. 

As I placed my offering into the basin my heart was instantly touched!  The bottom of the container was covered with pesos and a few cedis, (at the beginning of the service a report was given of the tithes for the week before which was 15 Cedis equivalent to about $3.00 USD).

I couldn’t help but think of the widow's offering found  in Mark 12:44.

“For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.“ 

As the service came to an end the sweetest expression of God‘s love was demonstrated! The entire church walked out of the building and into the village directly behind it.

 It was such a feeling of what it might have been like to walk with Jesus and his disciples as they ministered to people along their way. We walked through the village to a home where a lady lost her mother to an illness. We prayed over the family and the church gave her a gift of a few (cedis) to purchase food. 

We continued to walk across the village to another home where a man had lost his brother.  We prayed for a man who was grieving the loss of his brother and the church comforted him. 

These acts of love we’re such an outpouring of Jesus! 

Have you ever given God everything you have? These people did not give out of abundance but out of poverty with joy!

I’m not just speaking of monetary things, but the things that consume our (whole) being. Things that cost us God’s blessing:  self absorption, pride, wrong motives, and negative attitudes. These things prevent us from giving our all to Jesus! 

The people of this church never once complained that they were going to be late for Sunday dinner or that their stomachs were grumbling from hunger. 

They were focused on completing this mission of loving like Jesus. It wasn’t done in a hurried fashion and they did it in unity. Every person in that fellowship that day spent an extra hour loving on people in their community. I am sure they all had other things they needed to do or could have done. But they gave Jesus their all that day. Witnessing this kind of love made me feel very superficial. 

Is our hearts shaped like an outstretched hand or a clinched fist? 

Jesus paid a ransom for us. He invested his life in us. He expects us to invest in others. 

This little church in Ghana hung a portrait of what the Family of God looks like on my heart that day. I pray we model that kind of love in our churches here. Let’s give Him our all! 

"Breathe On Me"

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing- C.S.Lewis

By: Machelle McDowell

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.’ As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. - John 20:19-22

Are you hiding behind locked doors? Is fear & anxiousness holding you captive? Are you looking for a peace in your heart about things that are burdening you? May I help you find it today?

There was a time not long ago that I was anxious about many things. So many that it began to spill over into my emotions and in turn created a battle field conducive for the enemy to open fire. He emptied a full arsenal of “doubt” into my heart and mind! This attack left me in a desolate place. 

My Jesus didn’t leave me in this place I put myself in for long! He came to my rescue. He has a way of breaking through locked doors of our hearts and mind! He wants to show us how to find peace in Him.

He virtually led me Into the room with the disciples described in this passage, John 20:20-22!

Let me set the scene: This was a time right after Jesus‘s resurrection and the disciples were locked in a room out of fear for their lives. Jesus came and stood among them and said not once but twice, “Peace be with you.”.... and then, he breathes on them and says “receive the Holy Spirit”.

This passage is such a beautiful picture of Jesus’ tender love for us! He touches us the same way he reached out to the disciples in this text.

Each verse reached out and stimulated my senses!  I Found myself literally experiencing this passsge in a physical way.

I could envision Jesus entering the room and a instant calmness flooding the hearts of His disciples. I could sense the joy that came over the disciples when he spoke the words, “Peace be with you.” I could not get past verse 22. I read it over and over again meditating on the visual of Jesus “breathing” on the disciples! What a comforting thought!

I could almost feel Jesus’ breath upon my skin as I reread those verses. I felt so peaceful and thankful for his presence only for Him to show me more!

As I walked out of my house towards the mailbox that morning, I rounded the corner of our garage. Instantly, a gentle breeze hit my face wisping my hair back off of my shoulders.

 Immediately, my heart and mind was reminded of John 20:22. It gave me a sense of assurance that His spirit was with me and would help me through any situation I was struggling with.

I sincerely believe that God worked all of these events together so He could speak peace into my life like He did with the disciples that day in that locked room so they could complete the task he had called them to do. And like He can do for you!

We are not to react in situations in fear or anxiousness but with confidence!  I love this verse! It says it all!

Isaiah 41:13 “For I, the Lord your God hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “ Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Believe it! 

You can find temporary peace through reaching out to a spouse or a good friend, but a true peace can only be found in Jesus. He will never leave nor forsake you. He is actively pursuing a relationship with you. If you reach out to Him…..He will take your hand and lead you. The peace that transcends all understanding will guard your heart!

Let Him breathe on you! Let Him give you the breath of life!

The Invitation

A Invitation of Love

By: Machelle McDowell

Isaiah 43:1- But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 

Have you ever received an invitation in the mail that you weren’t quite excited about accepting? 

That happened to me! I reluctantly accepted an invitation that changed the trajectory of my life! It didn’t come by mail, but by a male!

I received an invitation from Jesus through a human vessel, named Charles Miller 36 years ago! Say What?? Yes, this is my story!

God reached out to me and I took my redeemer’s hand through an invitation to go to church! 

When I came to know God I was not looking for Him, he was looking for me. He physically used another human being, Charles Miller to pursue me by showing his love in an unexpected way.

Charles and a few other Godly men would go out each week and visit people that the church had been praying for. In my situation, it was for salvation.

Charles Miller is one of the most dedicated, humble, Christian men I have ever known. He and his wife, Brenda have been role models for my family and continue to be to this day.

Charles offered an invitation to come to church and hear the gospel. An Invitation that I did not (really) want to accept, but I did, I went.

Even though it was the wrong motive, I went to church! But, only thinking by my going would stop the Saturday morning visits, LOL! It did, but not for the reasons I originally intended.

To my surprise, I would later praise and worship not only with Charles and Brenda but with my other new-found Church family as well! The Saturday visits turned into a lifetime of discipleship with a group of people I adore!

Accepting that invitation changed my life forever! I not only accepted the invite to church, but I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life.

I heard the truth about who Jesus is! He is much more than a “Get-out-of hell“ pass. I learned that He loves me and that He died for me. He shed His blood as a ransom for my sins. My sins are forgiven and remembered no more. He not only died for me, but He lives!

He conquered death and is in heaven preparing a place for all saints to be with Him forevermore! No worries, no pain, no sickness, and no death! What a valuable invitation!

Jesus has an invitation for you today! He is saying, “Come and be a part of the family you were created to be in.”

Accept this invitation to a life changing event! Salvation!

A Grateful Heart Mimics Jesus

A Grateful Heart Mimics Jesus

By Machelle McDowell

Jeremiah 32:19

“Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve”. 

My friend Denise has taught me the true meaning of counting my blessings and being grateful. She gets up every morning and counts her blessings one by one. How do I know this, because It is evident in her lifestyle! 

You see, Many days she is basically confined to her home as she cares for her “special needs” son. He physically depends on her for all of his basic needs. It is difficult for her to transport him outside of their home which means she gives a new definition to a stay home mom. 

It is a treat for her to be able to go out and have her hair done or do a little shopping. To spend time with a friend over a cup of coffee is rare and far between for this sweet lady. She never complains. She always has a smile on her face and joy in her heart.

Our purpose in life is the very meaning of our existence and without knowing this we often painfully miss out on our own significance. 

We sometimes are guilty of getting caught up in the lie that our lives don't matter and we have no connection or impact on the world around us. 

The message that this precious lady heralds from within the walls of her home on a daily basis speak louder than any message we might hear from a podium or a podcast. 

Her conduct is selfless, sacrificial, and saintly. She embraces her plot in life as the greatest gift God could have given her. God assigned her to be, “special.” She is gifted to fulfill special needs of her son. God designed in her all of the right attributes to be given such an honor. Sound familiar?

We all know someone like this…. His name is Jesus!

Denise exemplifies Jesus and is fueled by a heart of gratitude and thankfulness. When we look for things to be grateful and thankful for each day, we will find them!  Overtime this type of behavior will change our mindset and how we look at the world. 

We will become a more positive person and be far less self-centered. She lives life the way Jesus instructs us to live! 

I Thess 5:18- Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

She counts this season of her life as blessed. Do we? Or do we spend the majority of our time focusing on our woes?  She finds joy in each day and brings new meaning to the song, “Count your blessings.” Name them one by one. Count your many blessings!

I want to challenge you today! Look around for the blessings that God has placed in your path today. You will not have to look far. You will find them, I promise!

Exhibit a grateful and thankful heart and it will change your outlook and the outlook of those around you. It changed mine!