The Deano Graham Show

I think deep down inside, we all long for home.

Jesus went from a heavenly home to a barn filled with animals. All so we could have a home in Heaven. We romanticize the story of His birth in Bethlehem, yet it really was a very cold, damp, unsanitary place for a baby to be born. But that is exactly where the Lord came to us: in a humble manger.

He was born so that we could be born again. Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23 NKJV).

He left His home in Heaven to make a home in our hearts.

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This is a stressful season, and it’s understandable that you’ll feel like acting this way at certain times.

But if you want to plant seeds of peace in your relationships, then you won’t emphasize other people’s mistakes. You’ll let go of your pride and choose to put someone else’s needs above your own. That’s not easy, even when you’re not under stress! But it is a mark of spiritual maturity when you can let something go for the sake of healthy relationships.

“Real wisdom, God’s wisdom . . . is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced” (James 3:17 The Message).

“Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit” (Proverbs 15:4 GNT).

The words you say make a difference. Learn to let go of things in the past that are causing friction in your current relationships. Speak life to the people you love.

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We may find that when we end up "doing less,” God is then able to “do more,” much more, with our time and energy than we ever could. He's never limited by the restrictions we face every day. He is powerful and able, to work on our behalf, even behind the scenes where we can't see. He can line out our path, ordain our steps, protect us from what we can't see up ahead, and bring blessing and help where we might otherwise face defeat.

That's where real peace is found, and strength for the days ahead. Not in getting it all done. But simply “choosing what it better.”

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:33

This Christmas season, I encourage you to simply seek Him first.

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“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”  John 10:28  NIV

There have been times in my life when I have said, “God, it’s not convenient to be a follower of Jesus right now. I’d like to let go for a little bit.” God says, “Well, you might want to let go of me, but I’m not letting go of you. You are in my hand, and no one can snatch you out.”

You don’t know what your future holds or how many years you’ve got left. You might lose everything, but you are never losing the love of God. The world could go mad, but you have a loving Father who is working things out for good.

You can have all the confidence in the world with the assurance that the One who holds you in his hand is never letting you go.

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Tony Griffin, a renowned Irish athlete studying at Dalhousie University in Halifax, had lost his father to cancer only months prior and was cycling to raise funds for others suffering from this illness. Todd McDonald says of meeting Tony for the first time, “What struck me the most was that he was countering his extreme sadness over the loss of his father by immediately doing something to help others. I remember him telling me the best way he knew how to deal with grief was to find others suffering from something worse and help them out. That resonated with me then, and still does today.”

“God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people. And he will remember that you are still helping them” .  Hebrews 6:10 NCV

One of the most significant things you can do with your life is to give it away—to be generous with what you’ve been given, including your money, resources, time, and talent. 

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"Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones; whoever is dishonest in small matters will be dishonest in large ones” .  Luke 16:10 GNT

It’s common today to hear people say, “What you do in your private life is nobody’s business.” Well, that isn’t really true. What you do in your private life—behind closed doors or out of view of other people—builds and reveals your true character. And God sees it just as clearly as the things you do in public.In fact, the small, unseen things you do are the seeds to God’s public blessing on your life.

Jesus said, “If you have not been faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give you what belongs to you?” .  Luke 16:12 GNT

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The Apostle Paul says kindness is a choice.  It is something we can choose to "put on" every day.  Kindness is "love in action" -- a practical expression of love.  It is visible and active, not just emotional.

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

The poet Robert Burns said "The kind heart most resembles God."

Proverbs 21:21 says, Be kind and honest and you will live a long life; others will respect you and treat you fairly.

Now, that's a promise to hold on to!  Go and kill 'em with kindness.

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One of the most important lessons you can learn is that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Share with others. Take care of each other. Be generous. Practice empathy.

Of course, it’s a lot easier to be kind when you’re not stressed. It seems like it is easier to practice kindness when you’re wealthy, healthy, and your cup is full. But Jesus didn’t admonish us to be kind when we feel like it.

Nope. Jesus actually admonishes us to practice kindness all the time.

1 John 3:18
My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.

Hebrews 13:1-2
Let brotherly love continue. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.

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“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

If you want to be a righteous woman or man of God, then you have to learn how to be resilient.  That means when you stumble—and it’s guaranteed that you will—you get back up.  A lot of factors beyond your control can cause you to fail.  But if you get back up, who knows what positive things might happen. 

Keep going, and don’t let your failure be final.  You never know what God can do through you!

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Partnership: is an arrangement where parties, known as partners, agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests. The Bible has many examples of partnership.

None of us was intended to be "lone ranger" Christians. Having a church family is a first step to finding the other part of our missing spiritual walk. If something is missing in your following of Jesus, try partnership.

2 Corinthians 6:1
 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

Matthew 9:37-38
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.   Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus really is the perfect partner!

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