Christmas: When you don't get what you want

When you approach Christmas on an emotional level it is often a bittersweet time. If you go back to past Christmas Memories, your emotions can pull uninvited thoughts of past heartache. If you dwell on your current situation, you must bring your emotions and thinking captive in obedience to the Christ of Christmas, or you will yearn for things you cannot have and do not have control over. When you dwell on the Christ of Christmas, He can fill the void where hurts have left a vacuum. It is easy to say “Jesus is the reason for the Season”, but our emotions alone just can’t pull that truth to the forefront of our thinking and experience. It takes an act of our will and a supernatural touch from God to face Christmas the way we should.

I wake up every Christmas morning remembering our little girl, Alexandra, who was born on Christmas Day 24 years ago. She lived one day. In subsequent years I have had to choose to celebrate the Christ of Christmas, even when the celebration of the season at times escaped me. My heart took time to heal, but I took charge of my emotions and have had a renewed focus on Jesus for several years now saying “Thank You” to Him for coming as the baby in the manger.

Maybe you do not have enough of something this Christmas…enough family, enough peace in your family, enough money, enough time…

I encourage you to look Jesus in the eyes this Christmas and say “Thank You” for what you do have…Him!

The Ministry of "Drops"

The Ministry of Drops

Sometimes we place ministry in very complicated boxes. So much so, that many people feel they are not qualified, or that they have nothing of importance to offer.

I have found ministry to be as meaningful if not more when we look at the simple, less complicated ways we can minister or "serve" which is the original meaning of the word minister.

Since that is the case, all believers are first ministers and then a housewife, teacher,doctor ...you fill in the blank.

Many people of Trinidad and Tobago "travel" to get around. To travel means they take taxis, maxi taxis, the bus or walk. Sometimes they don't own cars or maybe there is only one car to the household...so they "travel". To pick up a taxi or maxi, most have to walk a ways to get to the main road to get a ride. When we see someone walking on our road to get to the junction for a ride, we often stop to pick them up to get them to the main road. This is called giving "a drop".  

Sooooooooo, we have the ministry of drops! 

What's your ministry? Think about a time when you really needed something or someone. Somewhere in that need, you probably needed someone to "serve" you, or minister to you.

When we have a "servants" heart, the Holy Spirit has a good vessel to speak to and work through.

Maybe when you first moved in to your house, you needed help to...or needed someone to...

What about:

A pizza for moving day

Childcare for a busy mom

A single rose or carnation just to say you care

Listening to the news and helping a family in need

How about doing one of these for a total stranger?

Obviously the ideas are limitless. 

My prayer for myself as well as you is that we would "see" the many opportunities daily that allow us to minister or serve in Jesus Name!

God help us to see and then help us to obey with servant hearts!