Craig Cooper

Last week I started four weeks of Monday writings on the topic of Keys to A Blessed Life. Jesus taught us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33). Simply put, place God’s kingdom first, and the Lord will take care of us. When we put God’s kingdom first, then we will be blessed with heavenly treasure, divine rest, and fulfillment as we know Him and make Him known. Now there is a fundamental choice everyone makes when they first come to Christ, and that is placing Him as Lord of our life. Every day after that, a believer’s life either reinforces that decision or denies it. What we will discover is that this is not mostly an issue that is material or physical, but spiritual and God’s Word holds the keys to a genuinely blessed life.

The second key to a blessed life I will explore is that we must have undivided devotion to the Lord. The challenge for every believer is to live above the distractions in life, giving God our undivided heart that results in an abundance of provisions and divine rest. When we give the Lord our undivided devotion out time, talent, treasure, and testimony are used for His glory.

Jesus taught that there is no way to have two masters:

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Lk 16:13).

Notice that Jesus does not say “should not serve” but “cannot serve.” Christ-followers must make an either/or choice between serving God and anything else. Jesus even uses something that often masters us, money, as an example. “Money” is personified here in parallel with “God,” indicating how money can so easily take on an idolatrous place in one’s life. It doesn’t say that money is evil, but that it becomes hazardous to our spiritual welfare when it replaces God as master of our life. It would be acceptable to replace the word “money” with anything other than God in this verse. In other words, anything that rivals God in our life as master is harmful to us.

Even after committing to making God greater and ourselves less, we have to fight to live with an undivided devotion to the Lord. Every day the world, the flesh, and the devil tempt us into a divided devotion to God. The Lord has always asked us to reserve an only place for Him, living with undivided devotion to Him. When God institutes the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as a nation, He makes a covenant with them and through Moses shares ten commandments. At the top of the list, God sent a clear message:

“God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me’” (Ex 20:1-3).

God requires exclusive loyalty. As the one true God of heaven and earth, He cannot and will not allow for life to work when one’s heart has divided loyalty to Him. Nothing in a believer’s life is to be placed above or even in equal standing with God.

When Jesus was asked to choose one command out of all the commands in the Old Testament as the most important He without hesitation answered:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mk 12:30).

The most important commandment is to love the Lord your God completely. The same faithful, covenant-keeping God from the Old Testament today asks the objects of His love to love Him with undivided devotion.

God asks for our undivided devotion because He deserves it, but also for our benefit (see: Jer 32:39). When we love God with undivided devotion, we discover a path that blesses us with a fullness of life and blesses others with an example to follow that will also bless them. There is no doubt that we ought to have undivided devotion to the Lord simply because He is worthy of it. However, this does not deny the truth that it is also for our benefit to do so. God knows that for life to work and for us to succeed, we need to be fully focused on one thing, and that thing or person is God. This is why one key to a blessed life is having an undivided devotion to the Lord.

It is wonderful to be found in Christ with each of you. Let us encourage one another to keep the main thing the main thing and devote ourselves fully to God and no one or anything else. This is a key to a blessed life, a life blessed with heavenly treasure, divine rest, and fulfillment as we know Him and make Him known. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Jesus taught us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33). Simply put, place God’s kingdom first, and the Lord will take care of us. Putting God’s kingdom first must be the rule of our life when ordering priorities. However, it would not be right to think that this is just another priority to fit onto our list of priorities, putting it at the top. Instead, in everything we do and everything we have (our time, talent, treasure, and testimony), we seek first the kingdom of God. What this verse calls us to is a commitment to find and to do the will of God by following the Spirit’s leading in all things. This commitment comes first. When we put God’s kingdom first, then we will be blessed with heavenly treasure, divine rest, and fulfillment as we know Him and make Him known. Over the next four weeks, I will be writing on keys to a blessed life by exploring the most fundamental choice everyone makes when they first come to Christ, and that is placing Him as Lord of our life. Every day after that, a believer’s life either reinforces that decision or denies it. What we will discover is that this is not mostly an issue that is material or physical, but spiritual and God’s Word holds the keys to a genuinely blessed life.

The first key to a blessed life I will explore is that God must increase, and I must decrease. This is an issue of surrender. We discover that when believers keep in step with the Holy Spirit, we experience a deeper dimension in our walk with God releasing the resources of heaven in our lives. Paul writes to the church in Rome:

“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin” (Rom 6:6-7).

The power of sin has been broken in those who have placed their faith in Christ. It is important to remember that it is not the strength of our faith, but the object of our faith that actually saves us. The Bible teaches us that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works. God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. We all were born into this world as sinners, ruled by sin. Sin’s rule was broken when Christians died with Christ, and are therefore no longer enslaved to sin. This does not mean that a believer never sins but that the tyranny, domination, and rule of sin have been defeated in them. This means that the normal trajectory of life for a Christ-follower ought to be becoming more and more like Christ. Therefore, I become less as Christ becomes greater in my life. Paul explains further:

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:11).

“Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness” (Rom 6:13).

Christians must realize that the power of sin has been broken in their lives. The tension surfaces between what God has already accomplished and the responsibility of His people to obey. A Christian is still tempted by desires to sin and must not let those desires gain control. Therefore, each and every day, a believer is to give themselves to God. More God causes less of our old selves to be in play. Paul shares with the church in Galatia an essential step in practically seeing God become more and us less in our lives. He writes:

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:16).

The only way to conquer the flesh (sinful desires of our old self before coming to Christ) is to yield to the Spirit. To “walk by the Spirit” implies both direction and empowerment. This occurs when we make decisions and choices according to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, following God’s Word, and acting with spiritual power that the Spirit supplies.

When we come to Christ, we are filled with the very Spirit of God whose mission is to make us holy (more like Christ). The Spirit resides in us completely. Our walk with Christ is never an issue of the Spirit being in us, but how much we surrender ourselves to the Spirit. This is why Billy Graham often said, “It is not how much of the Spirit we have, but how much the Spirit has of us.” To be full of the Spirit speaks of the Spirit’s full control and influence in our lives.

It is impossible for Christ to become greater in my life and not at the same time for me to become less. As I surrender myself more and more to God, feeding those things in my life that enable me to grow in Christ while starving those things that would only encourage me to walk contrary to the things of the Lord, I can live a genuinely blessed life. The resources of heaven are released in and through me for God’s glory, my blessing, and the benefit of others.

It is a blessing to be on mission with Christ with each of you. Let us be reminded of the newness of life we have in Christ. We are so privileged to be filled and led by the Spirit of God. Let us be found with God increasing in us as we decrease. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

The journey God calls us to take with Him is unique to every believer but has four common movements. Crosswinds have a strategy to help people through these movements. We, as Crosswinds, will faithfully REACH people with the love and message of Jesus Christ as they take the step to BELIEVE. We will RAISE them to follow Christ as they discover what it means to BELONG to Him and His church, as well as BECOME who they were created to be. We will RELEASE them to partner with God to BLESS others by advancing His kingdom.

As we look at the final movement of being released to bless others, what we are really speaking of is living sent lives. This concept of living sent, and blessing others is firmly established in Scripture. Listen to some of the last words Christ spoke to the disciples before ascending to heaven: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (Jn 20:21). The encounter between Jesus and the disciples took place on the same day the tomb was found empty. He finds the disciples together, and it was good that the disciples stayed together. Jesus told them that when He departed, they must love one another, which assumes that they would stay together (see: Jn 15:17). He also prayed for their unity after their departure (see: Jn 17:11). This command was fulfilled, and prayer was answered, at least in the days immediately after His crucifixion.

Jesus might have gone anywhere and done anything after His resurrection, but He wanted to be with His people. He sought out His people. Not only does Jesus go to be with His disciples, but what He says is particularly noteworthy. First, Jesus says, “Peace be with you.” After their desertion of Jesus on the day of His crucifixion, the disciples probably expected words of rebuke or blame. Instead, Jesus brought a word of “peace,” reconciling “peace.” Jesus’ words, “Peace be with you,” is an assurance that there is no cause to fear, and that all is well: for they (see: Lk 24:36) were alarmed by His appearance.” Think about it. Jesus came to His fearful, faithless disciples, and stood among them, speaking a greeting of peace. What is the implication for each of us? At times we may not feel worthy, and we aren’t, but Christ still comes to each of us and desires us to have peace, peace with Him, and true God-given peace in our life. The resurrected Jesus brings peace.

Jesus adds to “Peace be with you,” these words: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Jesus gives His followers, then and now, a mission to continue His work on this earth. This was the commission to do what Jesus had already prayed for in John 17:18 (remember Jesus’ high priestly prayer): “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” This means that both then and now, disciples are sent after the pattern of the Father’s sending of the Son. This means that Christ-followers are sent ones – missionaries, after the Latin verb “to send.” Every believer is called to live SENT LIVES. Jesus sends every believer into the world on mission. Jesus was sent to seek and save the lost (Lk 19:10). We are sent to do the same, sharing the love and message of Christ so that they, too, will be saved.

Practically speaking, I believe every believer ought to have a person pouring into his or her life. Every believer ought to have someone they are pouring into. And, every believer ought to have someone they are sharing the love and message of Christ with the hope they will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is how those sent live.

It is my privilege to serve with each of you. Let me pose a few questions. What is your next step on your discipleship journey? Who is your one (who is pouring into you…who are you pouring into…who are you reaching out to with the love and message of Christ)? Are you willing to live a SENT life? Let’s encourage one another to take our next step in our discipleship journey as sent ones. Soli Deo Glory (Glory to God Alone)!

When we come to Christ, when we believe, we discover that we have a new position in Him. We belong to God and His church. The Christian’s believing and belonging ought to lead a Christ-follower to become like Christ. Christ-followers are called to commit themselves to help one another in this wonderful pursuit.

In Jesus’ high priestly prayer, recorded in John 17, we discover, in verses 13-19, that He makes two requests on His follower’s behalf. The first request that Jesus makes is that we become like Him, filled with joy (see: Jn 17:13-16).

Jesus had a life filled with joy. This is not to say that He did not also know sorrow and grief. But, there was a joy and a satisfaction in life that surpassed the joy of any other who ever lived. Think about it. Christ’s joy was rooted in unbroken fellowship with God His Father. Christ’s joy was the fruit of true faith and confidence in His Father. Christ’s joy came from seeing the great things God had done. Christ’s joy was never diminished by His own sin, for He had none. Christ’s joy was never lessened by allowing even the smallest foothold of the devil. Jesus was so concerned that we have joy that He prayed that we would be filled with it.

God’s purpose is to multiply joy in our lives, not subtract it. The world, the flesh, and the devil would tell us that God wants to rob us of joy, but God wants joy fulfilled in our lives. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of believing that something forbidden by God would ever bring fulfillment and joy in our life. The Holy Spirit uses the truth of the Bible, God’s Word, to transform us and bring us to a place where we are filled with joy,

The second request that Jesus makes is that we become like Him, sanctified (see: Jn 17:17-19). Sanctify means to be set apart for God and implies the work of the Holy Spirit, making a believer more and more like Christ in character. Jesus did not leave His disciples to “sanctify” themselves. He prayed for our sanctification.  Sanctification is a work of God in us and through us. More completely stated, Jesus prays: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” – The dynamic behind sanctification is “truth.” This truth spoken of is the word of God read, heard, understood, and applied. The primary way the Holy Spirit sanctifies us if through the very word of God, the Bible. The 19^th-century British preacher Charles Spurgeon explained:

“The more truth you believe, the more sanctified you will be. The operation of truth upon the mind is to separate a man from the world unto the service of God.”

Jesus consecrated Himself, offered Himself, as a sacrifice for our sin that His followers would share in His righteousness. We are made right with God in Christ. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make us holy. We grow from one degree of Christlikeness to a greater degree as we walk with Him in obedience (see: 2 Cor 3:16-18). The sanctification Jesus had in mind here was not only personal holiness (though that is included), but also being set apart for God’s service and mission. We are called to share the love and message of Christ with others in the hope that they will come to faith in Him. We are no one’s savior, but we are called to point people to the Savior.

Jesus’ prayer was not wishful thinking. He confidently prayed knowing that the believer who partners with the Holy Spirit (the Holy Spirit being the senior partner in the relationship) will become more and more like Christ. Jesus desires for every believer to filled with Joy and be sanctified, becoming more like Him in character and partnering with Him in mission. Through His finished work on the cross and the Holy Spirit’s continual work in our lives, this is an actual reality.

Let’s encourage each other as followers of Christ to become more like the Lord. Further, may we assist one another to this end. I pray that each of us will be found with ever-increasing joy as well as being transformed more and more in Christ’s character and partnering with Him in mission. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Once a person takes the step to believe, they enter into a saving relationship through Jesus Christ that brings them into a position of belonging to God and His church. One of the many things that are common to every person throughout the world, no matter what culture a person finds herself in, is the need to belong. Our need for belonging is hard-wired in our DNA.

I realize that for most of us, our journey to belonging has entered us into some painful experiences. It has encouraged us to do some pretty crazy and shameful things. For this reason, some will find it challenging to open themselves up to belonging. Some have gone as far as to suppress the need to belong and try to convince themselves that they need no one. This is a protective mechanism meant to keep you from pain but will keep you from the profound blessing of walking with God and His people. The good news is that when we come to Christ, He empowers us to walk with Him. He leads us on our journey with Him down the path of embracing our belonging to Him as well as His people, the church.

Here is the simple truth: Believers belong to God and His church and are to be raised in understanding what this means. When we come to Christ, we are: redeemed, made a new creation, adopted as children of God, and heirs to God’s Kingdom and Kingdom Resources. Our new position in Christ is something that ought to draw us to Christ and cause us to embrace our belonging to Him and His church.

We gain a better understanding of this belonging to Christ and His church by exploring a prayer of Jesus recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John’s Gospel. In context, we are given a snapshot of the things that occurred in the Upper Room during the last hours He spent with His beloved friends, the Disciples, before being betrayed, unjustly tried, tortured, and crucified. In John 13, Jesus washes His Disciple’s feet and instituted the New Covenant in His blood. In John 14-16, He gives His disciples last-minute instructions and encouragement. In John 17, He prays His “high priestly prayer” over His disciples as well as overall of His disciples at all times. Then, Jesus went out to face the betrayal, rejection, and death for which He had come into the world.

Christ’s high priestly prayer is the only long, continuous prayer of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. It is so moving to realize that in these final hours before His passion, where He would die for the sins of us all, we, His followers, were on His heart. Jesus prays: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word” (Jn 17:20). Jesus not only prayed for His Disciples there in the Upper Room, but he also had the heart and vision to pray beyond them. Jesus prayed for those who would come to faith by the testimony of these disciples. He prayed for us! Notice, Jesus made no distinction between those who had heard Him personally and those who had heard through others.

Then Jesus prays that “we may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:21). Jesus prays for unity among all believers, even as among the original Disciples. Jesus prayed that all believers might rise above their different backgrounds and understand their unity in Him.

Here is a good question: What makes unity so hard? Sin is the great dividing element. The perfectly holy (Christlike) would be perfectly united. The more like Christ believers are, the more they love their Lord and one another, the closer union they have with each other. Notice that the unity Christ prays over us is like that between God, the Son, and God the Father. If the Father is in Christ and Christ is in us, then the Father is in us. We are drawn into the very life of God, and the very life of God is love.

Amazingly, Christ prays, that Unity among God’s people helps the world to believe that the Father sent the Son. Think about it. Even as Christ prays for His Disciples in the Upper Room and includes us, all His followers, of all times, He looks beyond us to those who have yet to believe, which stands in need of the witness generated by the unity of His church. The Lord desires His church to be a place of belonging. When we believe in Christ for our salvation, not only do we belong to God but also we belong to His Church. God’s church is a place where those far from Christ can find salvation and loving acceptance – a place they were created to belong.

If we don’t believe we belong to God, we will profess we believe, but will then go about doing life as we always have without receiving the fullness of being His. If we don’t believe we belong to God’s church, we will profess we believe, but will then go about doing life on our own terms without benefit of community with others in unity with Christ. If we Don’t believe we belong to God and His church, it is not just each of us who misses out, but the world around us is without a witness Jesus prayed and offered them in His name. It is impossible to become all Christ has for us if we don’t learn and accept what it means to belong to Him and His church.

Have you received Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do you believe? If you have not taken this step of faith, your journey begins there. If you have received Christ as your Lord and Savior, the next step is to learn and accept what it means to belong to Christ and His church. If you haven’t already won’t, you take that step? Let’s help one another learn what it means to belong to God and His church. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

I like the term journey. God calls us on a journey to grow to maturity in Christ. Unfortunately, some believers chose to receive Christ as Savior, then only halfheartedly follow Him as Lord. Then, they wonder why the power and peace that God has promised is not manifest in their life. Perhaps it’s the unknowns of this spiritual journey that keep them from taking the next right step.

In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, we read these words from Gandalf as he coaxes Frodo to go on a journey by borrowing these words from his Uncle Bilbo:

“It’s a dangerous business going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept up too.”

The truth is that life is a journey. We can either walk with Christ or on our own. We either follow in the Lord’s steps swept by His love and grace or take another path swept to places offering empty promises.

There’s no doubt that there is a uniqueness to each of our faith journeys. However, everyone’s walk with God ought to include at least four crucial steps. The first step is to BELIEVE. To begin a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we must receive Him as our Lord and Savior. The second step is to learn what it means to BELONG. As we enter into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, we now belong to God and His Church. The third step is to BECOME. To grow in our relationship with Christ, we need to discover what it means to mature in Him, becoming the person we have been created to be in Christ. The final step is BLESS. God calls us to partner with Him allowing His Spirit to use our blessings to bless others. In the journey, God calls us on with Him, we not only have this pathway, but believers are called to help others come to Christ and grow in Him as they REACH, RAISE, and RELEASE others to fulfill their God-given destiny.

Let’s look at the first step on the journey. What does it mean to receive Christ as Lord and Savior (to believe)? Also, what is the believer’s part in this sacred work (to reach)? To answer these questions, let’s look at an encounter Jesus had with a man named Zacchaeus (see: Luke 19:1-10). Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, despised by his fellow Jews for working for their Roman occupiers and making extra money by raising their taxes even higher than the Romans demanded and taking the extra for himself. He was a very wealthy man.

We discover that Zacchaeus deeply desires to see Jesus. So, he does two things very uncharacteristic for men of his day: he ran, and he climbed a tree. These were actions reserved mostly for children. I am reminded of Christ’s word that unless one becomes like a child, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (see: Lk 18:17).

Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus’ house. This excites Zacchaeus but causes the crowd to be outraged. How could Jesus go and fellowship with such a sinner? Somewhere in this interaction, Zacchaeus believes and accepts Christ as Lord and Savior. Aware of the crowd’s displeasure, Zacchaeus makes a commitment to give to the poor and give four times as much as he had stolen to the people in restitution. He is not saved by these actions but acts because he is saved. D.L. Moody is quoted as teaching that “restitution is good proof of a changed heart.” In the end, Jesus affirms that salvation has come to Zacchaeus. He also shares that His mission as Christ is to “seek and save the lost” (Lk 19:10).

What can we learn from this account about salvation (believing) and reaching others with the love and message of Christ? For starters, just like Zacchaeus, we are also sinful and need salvation in Christ (see: Rom 3:23 & 6:23). We are on equal footing before the cross. We also learn that God still rewards those who seek Him (see: Jer 29:13). Remember, we need to look no further than Christ for salvation. As we explore the account, we learn that Jesus desires to have a relationship with each of us, leading to salvation (see: 2 Peter 3:9). It is a staggering reality that the God of the universe desires to be in relationship with us. The account teaches us that in Christ, we can be made pure (see: 2 Cor 5:21). When we come to Christ for salvation, a great exchange takes place. Our sin is dealt with by Him, and His righteousness becomes ours. Lastly, we learn that when we come to Christ, His mission becomes ours (see: Jn 20:21). Christians, as partners with Christ, share His mission in seeing people reached by sharing His love and message in the hope that others too will believe.

It is an honor serving Christ with each of you. Let’s encourage one another to seek people with whom we can share the love and message of Christ. Let’s leave our turf and go to theirs in the hope that they too will come to know God and make Him known. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

Prayer is one of those topics when mentioned in Christian circles is acknowledged as important, but often misunderstood. The most basic definition of prayer is “talking with God.” Prayer is not meant to be a monotonous monologue but a dynamic dialogue. Some mistake prayer for meditation, but prayer directly addresses God. In the Bible, we discover that prayer allows us to draw near to God (Psa 73:28), seek His favor (Ex 32:11), and pour out our souls to the Lord (1 Sam 1:15). Prayer is kneeling before the Father (Eph 3:14). Paul wrote that we are to worry about nothing and pray about everything (Phil 4:6-7).

In prayer, we praise God and thank Him and declare our love for Him. In prayer, we enjoy the presence of God. In prayer, we make requests of God and seek His guidance and wisdom. God finds joy in fellowshipping with us in prayer. I believe too often we can overcomplicate prayer and forget how simple prayer is meant to be.

Throughout the Bible, there are numerous examples of prayer and encouragement to pray (see: Lk 18:1; Rom 12:12; and Eph 6:18). In Jude, we are told that God’s people are to be people of prayer: “You, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 20-21). In Matthew 6:9-13, we find a passage where Jesus taught us how to pray.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

James teaches us that “the prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with” (James 5:16). What kind of prayer is being encouraged in this verse? This verse is followed by an example of the sort of prayer encouraged.

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit” (James 5:17-18).

James is referring to 1 Kings 17:1, where Elijah told Ahab that there would be long-term drought. Elijah prayed, and there was a drought. This drought was divine punishment for Israel’s worship of the false god Baal. After three and a half years of drought, Elijah confronts the false prophets of Baal in a showdown on Mt. Carmel. Elijah told King Ahab that it was going to rain, Elijah prayed, and it rained (see: 1 Kings 18:16-45). In context, James draws us to the account from the Old Testament to emphasize the efficacy of prayer and the importance of the one praying desiring to live rightly with God. It’s not the forcefulness with which one prays that determines effectiveness. Instead, the prayer of one desiring to honor God is powerful and effective.

I believe that where there is no prayer, there is no power. Where there is little prayer, there is little power. Where there is some prayer, there is some power. But, where there is much prayer, there is much power. This drives me to honor God with my life and pray.

It is a joy to be in Christ with each of you. I do not know what you are trusting God for in prayer, but let me encourage you to continue to pray and trust God. His answers may not always come in our timing or in our way. However, they are always on time and exactly what we need. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

The New Year is a time where many people ask, “What is your resolution?” To be honest, I am not a big resolution person. It’s not that I’m against the idea. They have worked in many people’s lives. I guess when I look at the definition of a resolution, “a firm decision to do or not do something,” I make them often. For me, I struggle with the idea of a big New Year’s resolution out of mere tradition’s sake. I think such decisions ought to be prayerfully God directed and not flippantly made.

I do have a practice at the end of each year to do some self-reflection and evaluation. Sure, there are times I make the decision, and I guess, resolve to do certain things and not do others. But, several years ago, I began focusing on my being along with my doing. I believe what I do wells up from who I am, my being. So, I decide where the Lord is leading me in my becoming more like Christ and prayerfully decide how I ought to invest in my being and my doing.

Whether I am working on my doing or being, I have learned that it’s great to dream big, but it’s the small steps that often lead to big change and accomplishments. I can get so caught up in a dream that I forget it’s the little efforts that add up to make a dream a reality. Too often, dreams are not pursued due to the fear of taking the first step.

In Zechariah 4:10, we are told, “Do not despise the small beginnings.” The context of this verse is the growth of the reconstruction of the Temple that had begun under Zerubbabel. It would have been a challenge to those who had worked on it and saw it and believed it was a small thing. It wasn’t like it was back in the day. The steps taken seemed small and insignificant. However, truth be told, God’s work often starts out small and in an unobtrusive way, yet reaches a great and glorious conclusion.

Jesus spoke these words:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches” (Matt 13:31-32).

Jesus is painting a picture of the small beginnings of the Christian movement in Palestine that would eventually bring about the global church comprised of people from every nation on earth. God’s work often appears insignificant at first but has far-reaching results.

As we head into a new year, whether you call it a resolution or a commitment, whether it’s something to do or not do, or about your being – who you are in Christ, remember it’s all about the next step. Dare to prayerfully dream. I believe God wants to do more in and through us than any of us truly can imagine. But don’t shy away from asking God to clarify for you the next step He is calling you to take. It might seem small and even insignificant, but it could be the beginning of something quite remarkable.

It’s a joy to enter into a new year with each of you in our Lord’s service. It is my prayer that each of us finds ourselves closer to Christ and more committed than ever to journey with Him to make Him known. Remember, each step matters, no matter how big or small it may appear. After all, Jesus said His church began like the smallest of seeds, but oh how it’s grown. What is true of His Kingdom is also true of our lives as well. Pray, obey, and take the next step. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

In the Christmas movie classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, we discover the story of a man named George Bailey. Now George had great plans for his life, but they are sidelined by some events out of his control. He decides, out of love, to remain in his hometown of Bedford Falls. Due to an uncle’s mistake, George finds himself in a difficult situation. In fact, he sees the situation as hopeless and comes to believe that his life has been a waste. George even considers that all would be better had he never been born. It is here in the story where an angel, hoping to earn his wings, is sent from above to show George what a wonderful life he actually has and how he has made other’s lives better through his loving sacrifices. The climax of the story comes when George realizes what a wonderful life He has, is willing to face whatever he must due to a mistake that was not his own. It is here that the love of others, many of the people whom he had helped, lovingly sacrifice to come to his aid. Love leads us to do some wild things to be with those we love.

When my son, Jake, was around 10, we went as a family to one of the largest Malls in the world, Mall of America. Right in the center of the mall is an actual amusement park. I am not a huge mall person, but it is quite a place. We had decided to spend a little time in the park. Jake wanted to go on one of the roller coasters. I am not a big fan of heights and, therefore, not a big fan of rollercoasters, especially with aggressive drops. This rollercoaster he wanted to go on was all about an aggressive drop. My wife, Krista, graciously volunteered to take him on the ride. I was very appreciative. Then, Jake said, “Dad, there is enough space for three people to sit together on the ride, will you go with me!” I think he realized my hesitation, so he added, “please!” Let me make this clear, I had no desire to go on the rollercoaster. But, I did desire to be with my son. So, truly out of love, I did something I feel was a little crazy and went on the rollercoaster. Did I enjoy the rollercoaster? Absolutely not! Did I enjoy being with Jake? Absolutely! Love leads us to do some wild things to be with those we love.

Matthew writes, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way… (Matt 1:18).” Matthew and Luke give us the most complete description of the account. Let me summarize the account for us. About 2000 years ago, God sent an angel to Israel, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. The angel told Mary that by the power of the Holy Spirit, she would conceive and give birth to the Messiah, the very Son of God. When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, an angel instructed him to marry her. Joseph took her to Bethlehem to register for a census. While there, Mary gave birth to Jesus. She laid him in a manger because there was no room at the inn. Shepherds visited Jesus in Bethlehem. Later, wise men brought gifts to Jesus.

Matthew informs us: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’” (which means, God with us).  This is the first of many references in Matthew to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, of which there are hundreds about Jesus Christ that He fulfilled perfectly. We are told that the child Mary, conceived and birthed, is “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” The same God who had revealed Himself in the history of Israel was at work in Jesus. This particular prophecy that was fulfilled is found in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter 7, verse 14. It was written several hundred years before the birth of Christ. Among other things, the prophecy foreshadowed the saving work and presence of God in the person of Jesus, and His presence is still with us (see: Matt 28:20). Here is the simple truth: Christmas, the celebration of Christ, is a celebration of our God loving us so much that He did something wild to be with us.

That first Christmas was all about the culmination of God’s wild plan to be with us. God loves us so much that He came and died for us. He died for our sins on a cross and was resurrected for our salvation.  Christmas, Christ’s coming to Earth, born in a stable, is all about God’s love for us. Do I think Jesus enjoyed being born in a stable? No! Do I think He enjoyed the cross? Absolutely not! Do I believe He enjoys being with us? Absolutely!

Not only is Christmas about God’s love that led Him to do a wild thing to be with us, but it also is an example of how we are to “love one another.” If you want to know how to love one another, look at the love that sent Jesus to Earth to live a life of love, and pay the price for all our sins.  It’s all about love. Love that says I will do wild things to be with you. The gift of a wonderful life God gives us draws us to Him, and as we grow in Him, we can do nothing less than make Him and His love known! We have been offered such a wonderful life in Christ due to God’s wonderful love for us. This is certainly something worth celebrating, it is worth keeping Christmas.

It is a privilege to serve Christ with each of you. As we keep Christmas, let’s celebrate the gift of our wonderful life found in Christ due to His wonderful love for each of us. Let’s also follow His example and share His love with others in wild ways. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!

There are a couple of clips from the Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life that reminds me of the importance of choosing joy. In the first, we find a man named George overwhelmed and in desperation. He’s contemplating ending it all until an angel comes to save him from making a terrible choice. In the movie, George’s guardian angel shows him what life would be like if he had never been born. In the second clip, we find George in the same circumstances but joyfully celebrating. What has made the difference? In the latter clip, George chooses joy! Joy is not determined by our circumstances. Wonderful joy comes when empowered by God, we choose it.

We discover a terrific example of this in the Christmas account. In Luke’s Gospel, chapter one, Mary is told that she will give birth to the messiah. How many of us would be filled with questions upon hearing such news? She was too. She is told that the God of the impossible will do this great work in her. Mary is faced with a choice. How will she choose to respond to this news? How will she choose to react to this circumstance in which she finds herself? Mary declares: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). This is quite a response. This is tremendous faith in such a circumstance. Mary’s humble willingness to choose to trust God is a model of trust for all of us. Mary’s trust in God fills her with joy. Further, in the account, we discover that Mary is filled with joy, along with her relative Elizabeth, as they acknowledge the amazing workings of the Lord. Mary chose joy.

How do we choose joy? We choose joy by trusting when we are tempted to doubt. Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death. We find this exhortation in the book of Isaiah: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isa 26:4). This verse declares that God is a rock.  The image of a rock is a common metaphor for God in biblical poetry. Here, the picture is of God’s trustworthiness. Trusting is what a believer does because of their faith in God. What does such trust look like? It looks like Mary declaring she was the Lord’s servant, believing God is true to His Word, and yielding to Him. We choose joy by asking God to give us the strength to trust Him in all circumstances. After all, this is the victorious life we are offered in Christ…trusting God no matter our circumstances.

There is another choice we make in choosing joy. We choose joy by celebrating when we are tempted to fear. Over and over again in the Bible, we are told not to fear. Fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of a future where God is not present and working for our good.  In other words, fear believes evil will prevail. Paul teaches us in Romans: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). God causes “all things” to work for the spiritual “good” and ultimate salvation of those who respond to Him in love. Nothing can hurt God’s people so deeply that He cannot turn it around for their good. God does not want to scare us into faith. He draws near to us and calls us to “Cast our cares upon Him as He cares for us” (see: Psa 55:22). We can celebrate when we are tempted to fear by realizing that God’s power and love are greater than whatever we are tempted to fear.

We can choose joy! We choose joy by trusting when we are tempted to doubt and celebrating when we are tempted to fear. After all, Jesus says to us: “In this world you will experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world” (Jn 16:33b). God wants us to know that He’s going to take care of us no matter what happens. No matter what you go through, you can whisper this simple truth: “Jesus is with me.” Think about it. Christ is with you in your greatest victories and in your most humiliating defeats. Jesus is with you at all times and in all things. May these words, recorded in 1 Peter, rings true in your heart: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8). We find wonderful joy in Christ!

It is my privilege to bask in Christ’s joy with each of you. Let’s encourage one another to choose joy. Let’s decide to trust and celebrate rather than give in to doubts and fear. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!