More Than Bread

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In Luke 7, John the Baptist asks a really important Christmas-Prep question. "Jesus are  you the one, or should we keep looking?" Here is what I believe. I believe that every heart-longing you have, or think you have, every ache that arises when you see something or someone that you desire; when you dream of more success, or  wake up hoping you are somehow more attractive, when you drive by a bigger house and say I wish; when you say what you say or do what you do and then look
around hoping someone noticed...and perhaps will even applaud; what your soul truly longs for is Jesus.

We cannot prepare for Christmas, truly prepare if don't fix our eyes and our hearts on Jesus. Nothing compares to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, Paul wrote.  He is the resurrection and the life, light of the world, Our Savior and King. The greatness of Christianity is Christ. The reward of following Jesus is Jesus. 

And so if we are going to truly prep for Christmas, we should ask and settle the question, "Jesus are you the one?"

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Right in the middle of Luke 6 is this kind of odd question that sticks out enough for me to pause and ponder. The question is, "What happens when the blind lead the blind?" So that leads me to my Christmas prep question for this episode. Do we really see people? Do we see them like God sees them? So much of Luke 6 challenges me to truly see people as God sees them, whether they are enemies, people living in the margins, people who have hurt me, offended me, or people whom it is easy for me to judge. Do we really see them? Do we see the glory of God in the lives of others?  Do we really see people or are we living life blind?

It's causing me to pray, "God give me eyes to see." 

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There is so much good stuff in Luke 5, but in this episode we are going to focus on a fishing story with this challenge, "Don't miss the boat." In church our Advent series is "More to Come" and last week, my challenge was "Don't miss Jesus, this Christmas." Same challenge in this episode but with different words.

In this episode we are going to see the life-giving, difference-making process that takes us from listening to the Words of God, learning from His truth, and then leaning in. Leaning in, requires an "if you say so, Jesus" attitude of trust.

This Christmas as you prepare to celebrate the birthday of Jesus, where do you need to say, "If you say so, Jesus?"

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In Luke 4, Jesus goes from baptism to battle. He goes from the affirming voice of God to the wilderness. What we will find is that God drove Jesus into the wilderness, because He loved and had a mission for him. God had a world-changing life-giving mission for Jesus and those kinds of missions are not given to those who have never suffered. You will not change the world, your community or your family, if you are not willing to go into the wilderness, because in the wildnerness God prepares you, for something greater.

Because God loves us, here comes the wilderness!

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Life is made up of moments, opportunities. Have you ever had an opportunity that you missed because you didn't prepare? Here's what I know; moments are not seized in a moment.  Life's greatest moments come to those who have prepared. John the Baptized was a man in the story of God, who prepared the way for Jesus.  His life-purpose came from the Prophet Isaiah, "A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way of the Lord.'  

What if that's part of God's promise to you. I know the world is dark, the culture is filled with chaos, conflict and uncertainty; it’s like a desert wilderness, but listen to me, a way is being prepared.

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As we listen to and ponder Luke 2. I think the main message is simpley, "Jesus is  the treasure of Christmas." When it comes to the continuing story of  Christmas, Jesus is written all over the pages of the book. It's so easy to focus on all the other elements. Shepherds and Wisemen and angels, oh my. Mangers and Santa and Elves, oh my. But nothing matters more than Jesus. Do we treasure him? Do we hold him in our hearts? When we are preparing for Christmas, do we find that we simply cannot stop thinking about Jesus?

Perhaps the best way to prepare for Christmas is by praying daily, "Father, just give me Jesus!"

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The full title of this advent Christmas series is “Christmas Preparations – 24 Days with Luke.” But I’m calling it "Christmas Prep" for short. Three plus years ago, we started this podcast with a jet-tour through the New Testament; the whole new testament in 40 episodes. We covered Luke back then, but it was 5-6 chapters an episode! For our Advent series we are going to read through Luke one chapter a day. With 24 chapters, we will read a chapter a day from December 1st to Christmas Eve. And as we do, we’ll see Jesus go from the baby in a manger to grown-up Jesus, King of the World. Christmas is not just the celebration of a baby’s birth, it’s the birthday of the King. 

And in this episode we are going to look at what needs to happen to be part of His Kingdom, the Big K!

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For our last episode on gratitude, I’m going to read a very familiar Psalm, Psalm 23. It might not even mention gratitude or thanksgiving but if you believe the Psalm is true, it will give you all kinds of things which could explode in gratitude! Psalm 23 is a description of a life that has been blessed beyond belief. That's not a bad phrase to carry around in our hearts as we make our way from Thanksgiving to Christmas. As we shop and sing and bake and eat...and eat...and eat; it's good to be reminded that in so many ways that don't require a credit card or a receipt...

We have been blessed beyond belief. 

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Our gratitude moment today comes from a story in the life of Jesus when he offered us such an overflow of life, that it would be like a river pouring out of our hearts. How many of us are looking for a little more life?  How many of us have found that we are drinking at wells and eating at tables that just don't satisfy...and no matter how long we drink we come up slightly empty. Where are you going to get full? Where are you going to satisfy your soul thirst? 

My prayer is that at the end of this episode, we can all say to God, thank you for giving me overflowing life!

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This episode on gratitude is going to take us back to the book of Colossians, to ponder the possibility that thanksgiving is not just a day, it's a way of life. It's not just the words we say, it’s the way we live…thanks-giving-living. In Colossians 3, we'll hear Paul say, "Whatever you do, no matter what it is, or when you do it, or who sees you do it, whether it’s something you say or a deed, do everything, whatever you do or say, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Thanksgiving is not so much a holiday, as it’s meant to be a way of life. So today, how about if we all practice gratitude!