Showing posts with label Humility. Show all posts

12 Days of Christmas 2017 - Day 11: The Christmas Lights

Last night my family visited a neighborhood that decks out their houses with Christmas lights, inflatables and painted wooden decor. From afar, the house just look luminous and pretty, the bulbs  or signs just floating here and there. But when you look closer up, you start to notice all the wires and poles that hold them up. It got me thinking, People are just like Christmas lights. From afar, they can look all put together and perfect, but when you take a look closer, you can see how much they rely on other people to help hold them up. This Christmas, even though everyone looks happy with their smiles at each register, we should see if they're really okay or if they need a comforting shoulder. I literally thought that, and I was, like, "Ooh, that'll be my next post." But seriously, this is so true. Employees are saying, "Merry Christmas!" and people smile back and echo the greeting, but deep down, their facial expressions are plastered on rather than natural reactions. Maybe it's because they lost a loved one and it's just another reminder that they're spending it without him or her. Maybe it's because they're depressed. Maybe they're worried about money. Whatever it is, I want to give you a challenge. When you're extra cheerful this season, remember why, and be sincere about it! Don't just think, "Oh, it's Christmas; I'll pretend I'm joyful." Think to yourself, "Jesus came to earth to renew brokenness, so we should follow His example and show love to the broken around us!" Yes, it's usually easy during this time of the year to be happy, but I want you to be intentional about it. No matter whether or not you feel like it, try really hard to remember why you're doing this. Is it to impress others or to give glory to God? 
 
Unlike these Christmas lights, which are seasonal, I want you to be unconditional about this attitude. No matter what day it is, or how you're feeling, try to remember that you don't always know someone's story. Be kind and flexible. Remember that some people are really good at hiding their feelings and that some people aren't as perfect as they might seem. Let's choose joy over judgment this season and ultimately, every season. Remember the Christmas lights!

Can you believe tomorrow brings Christmas Eve? I hope you've enjoyed the 12 Days of Christmas 2017 series so far and our five guest writers! There's one last post tomorrow...be sure to read it. :) God bless you, and may the Holy Spirit's wisdom and discernment guide you on how to best care for others around you and spread infectious joy to all. 
12 Days of Christmas 2017 Christmas Communication
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Happy Palm Sunday 2017!



HAPPY PALM SUNDAY!

Palm Sunday was the day of Jesus' triumphant entry to Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week. The following week would change the course of history and open up the choice of salvation to everyone in the world, not just Jews, as it had been traditionally. During His entry, Jesus did not make himself stand out, as a king normally would. No; even though Jesus was a king - THE King - He humbled Himself and rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. What?! Jesus, the Son of God, the One who totally deserves the attention and praise of everyone, did what? He humbled Himself. Why would a King do that? He did it not only because it would fulfill Scripture (Zechariah 9:9), but also because a donkey is a symbol of peace. See, many Jews believed that when the Messiah would come, He would rescue them from the oppressive Romans. But instead of coming with a huge heavenly army, the Messiah came alone; humble and looking as normal as everyone else (Isaiah 53:2). Though He was fully man and fully God, many would never guess that based off of His appearance and dress. Jesus was modest, though He deserved more glory. He was peacefully even when He had the reasons to be angry at God's adulterous people. In short, Jesus was not what everyone thought He would be like. Though we often have expectations set in our minds about what our ideals look like, Jesus didn't look ideal. He looked less than ideal. I think the irony of this goes to show that our ideals aren't the same as God's. Look at 1 Samuel 16:7. God tells Samuel not to focus on the outward appearance but the heart. This verse is still applicable today. We focus on the outward appearance when we could be delighting in something much better, which may not necessarily look great on the outside. Look at Jesus. "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty" (Isaiah 53:2). But inside, He was God, and still is. In other words, don't miss the gold by focusing on the pyrite.

This Holy Week, I pray that you would truly understand and believe in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we continue the Holy Week 2017 series, we'll go over the power of Jesus' life and how it can affect us even today, 2,000 years later. He came not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). God is waiting for you to accept this priceless gift. If you just believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven and to have a personal relationship with God, then it will be granted to you just like that. Your life will be transformed and enlightened in so many beautiful ways. He gives you purpose and meaning to life. I know it may seem too good to be true, or too easy, but that's kind of the beauty of it. God loves each and every one of us, so He is giving us the choice to choose this. Are you willing to make Him the King of your Heart, or will you continue to live the life of darkness?
Holy Week 2017 Humility Palm Sunday
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