...."Tis The Season"......
...."It's the most wonderful time of the year!"
...."Joy To The World!"
Why is it the most wonderful time of the year?
Because it is the day that God has made....
Today is a day that has been fashioned by the hand of God....
Fashioned and set in place with events and circumstances and situations waiting to happen.
Now smack dab in the middle of this day, he has placed you and me.
He has equipped us to affect and infect those we come in contact with, with the incredible, wonderful message that you don't have to live under the burden or bondage of sin. You know, if something is indeed wonderful and incredible, you want ot share it with everyone you know....Such is this day, this life, this time that God has given to us. It's Christmas!!! A celebration of God stepping into our time and space to become a Savior to all mankind. Man! If that don't crank your tractor then you battery is dead. Don't religious-ize this event and turn it into a something it never was intended to become. If you've truly been saved from your sin (and especially yourself) then you got a burning going on inisde that need never be quenched. The desire to share what God has done to you..........through you..........in you....and now flowing out of you.
You no longer have to be defined as a 'slave' to sin, driven by the wants and desires of a nature that will do nothing more than take you down the road to destruction. You can be free! This is why I chose Psalm 100:2 for today's verse....."Serve the Lord with gladness!" It is the time of the year to serve.....serve God and others...in fact in Matthew 25, in the parable of the sheep and goats, Jesus stated that when we serve those who are in need, we are actually serving him.
..."For I was hungry and you gave Me food. I was thirsty and you gave Me drink. I was a stranger and you took Me in. I was naked and you clothed Me. I was sick and you visited Me. I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord...when did we see You hungry and feed You. Or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in. Or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" And the King (Jesus) will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to ME!"
Every morning that we arise to face this day that God has created, we should do so as coming into His presence. We serve! We were created to serve! We were created to be generous with anything and everything God has placed at our disposal. We should be goofy, silly, crazy people who spend themselves on others. We are to serve the Lord with gladness.
It's time we stop being takers......
It is time we start being givers......
So, with this in mind.....ask God to show you where you are to give.
Maybe you will be lead to start serving and giving at a Celebrate Recovery meeting...(What an incredible place to learn and practice this loving on others).
Maybe you could visit a nursing home and simply share some hugs and smiles....with those who don't have anyone to visit them.
It could even be as simple as getting out of the Scrooge-mood and as you walk through the mall (or in my case...Wal Mart) start praying for everyone you see....pray that God would lead them to the true meaning of what this Christmas season is truly all about. Smile at them and wish them Jesus!
Serve The Lord With Gladness!!!
It's time we become a STEP #12 Army!
Practicing the principals....
Taking the message to others....
Give away freely what has been given to each of us...
Merry Christmas From the Bynum's...
Michael and Vicki
God on you....
mb
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