Christmas….the single most important calendar day of the year for those who follow Christ!

It’s history includes the celebration of the winter solstice and worship of mythical gods, long before the birth of Christ. Rome adopted Christianity in the 4thcentury and both the pagan and religious celebrations were merged, with Christ birth becoming the true meaning of Christmas.

The Christmas story is much more than a story, it is REALTIY. We celebrate the new life that Christ brought through the sacrifice of His life in exchange for ours. Apart from Him, life is all about us and what we can achieve or surround ourselves with – accomplishment, worth, value, pleasure, and comfort, to name a few.

No one would deny, these bring only temporary pleasure. Many published end of life stories include regret -- one of the most common reflections involve spending less time at work and more time discovering “true satisfaction.”

The ONLY hope for lasting SATISFACTION, PEACE, and CONTENTEDNESS is found in Jesus Christ. Not only during this life, but in death, life spent eternally with Him!  This PROMISE of eternal life with God is found in accepting Jesus’ purpose and plan for all mankind -- to walk in relationship with Him, to be restored to the relationship originally intended for God’s creation, from the beginning. To turn from our ways, acknowledge Him as our Lord, and walk in newness of life! (John 1:12 paraphased)

In John 14:6, Jesus refers to himself – “I am the Way, Truth, and Life, stating no one comes to the father but through Him.”

For the Christ follower, Christmas celebrates Christ birth, but also the Hope of life found in Him.

In Ephesians 6:13, Paul encourages Christ followers this way – “having done everything to stand, stand.”  In John 16:33 Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world”.

Whether Christ follower or not, we can all agree that life is challenging and not always rewarding. We all recognize financial prosperity and the accumulation of things, offer little in comfort in times of need. More is never enough and enough is never really satisfying.

Even within the context of human relationship, these too can and do fail us. Friends part company, marriages fail, family becomes estranged from one another, we can become isolated and alone. In and of ourselves, we have few lasting solutions and little to offer. In John 15:5, Jesus is recorded to have said “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

It is within this context that we are able to stand. Paul experienced persecution like few before or since, and yet found his strength in Christ, stating “I can do all things through Christ whom gives me strength.”

In Daniel 3:8-25, a story is recounted regarding three men forced to choose between the worship of man or that of God… a decision to remain steadfast in their faith in God… found in three simple words – “but if not” (KJV)… words expressed out of a deep and abiding faith…

Fear is a very real and natural emotion.  It manifests itself in forms as minor as being startled to as intense as depression or even suicide.  Generally, fear is associated with feelings of uncertainty, whether the threat is to our physical well being or one creating mental or emotional anguish.

One form of fear is healthy. Fear related to respect is normal and represents healthy humility. This kind of fear is spoken to in the Bible – Prov 9:10 states it this way, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The presumed writer, Solomon, the son of King David recognized, respected, and acknowledged God as the supreme creator of all that is or ever will be.  This type of fear is healthy and produces life, freedom, and confidence to those who seek and know God. Proverbs 3:18 states that this kind of fear creates wisdom which produces “a tree of life to those who take hold of it.”

Unhealthy fear places us in a world of worry, concern, and can lead to hopelessness….

As Jesus performed healing miracles, he did so without the use of one single perscription or formula, but rather in all forms to bring Glory to God.  How often are we unknowingly delivered from accidents, sickness, sorrow, or any form of clamity?  Sometimes it comes in the form of a true miracle, other times in the form assistance or even the favor of others which can be clearly seen as from the Lord.  In Psalm 62:1-2, David shared these words regarding his own confidence in God --  "Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."  

The key to all of this and our seeking answered prayer is to "find rest in God."  To not find ourselves in unreconcilable concern, worry, fear, or anxiety, but rather in trust in God, the author and finisher of our faith, trust, and the kind of hope only he can provide.

Listen as Andrew shares of both his and his wife's initial fear followed by "rest" in God. 

In his letter to the Church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul exhorted believers to "make the most of every opportunity" (Ephesians 5:16) in both living righteously as well as intentionally.  In Peters first letter, he encouraged Christ followers to "be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15).  We are also reminded, that it is "out of the abundance of the heart" (Matthew 12:34) that the mouth speaks.  This episode delves into the daily lives and routines to the host and cohost of the podcast.  Time spent in the word and prayer is the key to viewing the world from a biblical perspective, and a desire to all "come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4)

During his closing remarks, one local pastor encourages his congregation to consider that many are simply “one ask away” from coming to know God. He encourages his congregants to invite a friend to church, that is not currently going. Jim was just that guy! Jim had a friend tell him about the church, so he decided to attend. When the pastor finished his presentation, Jim responded to the Pastor’s invitation to come to know Christ. Jim had been raised in a church, was familiar with God, but did not know Him in a heart felt and personal way.

Doubt is a difficult thing.  We see many struggle with the unanswered questions life presents.  Why we experience things as we do, suffer loss, experience pain, struggle with purpose and direction.  We find answers to life's questions fleeting and at times left unanswered.  Faith calls us to a higher place of understanding that we will not always be able to see clearly, but provides us with a "conviction of things not seen."  The Bible states "we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then I (we) shall see face to face.  Now we see in part; then I (we) shall know fully, even as we are fully known."  Amen

For many, change is difficult.  It requires discipline and determination.  A vision of life beyond our circumstance.  A willingness to consider an alternative perspective.  Sometimes the familiar can render us frozen, unable to consider another way -- we can find ourselves "stuck."  Without a sense of deep purpose and perhaps going through the motions.  The Bible provides for an answer like none other.  In Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul reminds us to "... not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."  Change begins with the renewal of our minds, our thinking, and our perspective.  Change begins with God. 

Talking through and reflecting upon our past is valuable to the extent that we learn from our mistakes.  The greatest mistake is to allow ourselves to continue down paths that lead us no where.  A scripture that lends itself well with this concept is Proverbs 14:12.  This scripture says that "there is a way that seem right unto men but in the end it leads to destruction."  Our only hope to discovering all that God has for us is to find ourselves spending time in His word and believing his word over our life experience and resulting self reflection.  

A frequently quoted verse, familiar to many, is John 8:32, in which Jesus spoke these words -- "... you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  We do not as frequently hear what Jesus spoke in advance of these words.  The complete phase includes John 8:31, Jesus said -- "If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples, then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."  Yes it is a free gift, but our freedom is attached to our willingness to consider the full council of God's word, the Bible.  Opening the eyes of our understanding and allowing his word to be a "lamp unto my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) is key to experiencing all that He has purposed for us.