On this Christmas Eve in 2015th the year of our Lord, I want to remind all of us (myself included) not to take our relationship with the Supreme Being, Deity, and Creator for granted.
So many people throughout time and with many religious attempts have sacrificed animals, crops, health, hunger, and even their own children attempting to make the deity/deities (whoever they are) approve and not punish them. But this in itself is not relationship anymore than a child has a relationship with Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy, or I have with my office fax/copy machine. If we limit our relating to Jesus Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit to this kind of "relationship" then there is very little personal intimacy. Perhaps your tradition has taught you that this is all you can hope to expect from a relationship with Jesus, but Jesus didn't become a man and die an excruciating death to be just like every other deity man could dream up.
Jesus is the Son of the Almighty Creator of the Universe, yet has limited Himself to being fully human because of His great love for us. He wants a true relationship with you: talking, guiding, making you all that you were Created to be. Jesus coming to earth was an invasion of the enemy's territory, where He exposed the lies holding people captive for thousands of years. He came that you may have life, and have it abundantly! He didn't come to list out all what you should and shouldn't do. He wants your heart to be free from sin's strangleholds, true, but His main message was to receive Grace (acceptance) into unhindered relationship with the Almighty Creator, and empower you through the Holy Spirit and the Truth of Jesus to distribute freely that Grace (acceptance) to the lost and hopeless in the world.
Our relationship with Jesus is what people seeking oneness with the supernatural throughout the ages hoped for. Its cost is that we give up trying to fix things ourselves and trust wholly in Jesus. May you experience the eternal Hope of Jesus Christ this Christmas and abundant life for all eternity!
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Friday, December 18, 2015
A reflection on one year of marriage
I'm so thankful to my wife of now one year! She understands me like no one else does, inspires and encourages me that fuels my persistence like no one else can, and most of all, loves me for who I am. That's hard to find (outside of our parents and our loving heavenly Father). She laughs at my puns (sometimes... when they are good), keeps me accountable for blabbing my mouth, and needs me for hugs on hard days.
But to say that marriage is easy is a lie. It challenges you every day with how selfish you are, and constantly reminds you that you need more and more of the grace of Jesus to continue in marriage. But it is the very best tangible way to recognize how much grace is essential to growth as a person, a spouse, and in the fruit of the Spirit towards Christ-likeness. As a single, it is generally easy to say whatever is on your mind and do whatever you feel like doing. After a hangout with my wife, I have got in the habit of doing a check-up: "Did I say anything in there to embarrass you?" or "Are you upset or just tired?" I ask these things because earlier in our marriage I would say or do something that embarrassed her, and it took a while for it to come out (and when I would finally figure it out, I would get defensive, which never improves things). There's the age-old adage that "When mama isn't happy, nobody is happy." This is hopefully true (even before she is a mama). It is true because you both (hopefully) care about the other.
Tips I've learned (not necessarily ranked by importance)
1. Pray over her with a tactful but heartfelt prayer
2. Keep open communication always (esp. of plans and feelings)
3. Intentionally show you care as much as possible
4. Remember the other has your best at heart (even when it doesn't seem so)
5. Identify miscommunication impartially and move on
6. Don't use blame language nor get defensive when blamed
7. Do stuff that the other person likes and you don't
8. Forgive pre-emptively before they offend or annoy you
9. Hug them tenderly when you both feel least like hugging
10. Trust each other with money, but lovingly stay accountable (esp. asking before big purchases)
But to say that marriage is easy is a lie. It challenges you every day with how selfish you are, and constantly reminds you that you need more and more of the grace of Jesus to continue in marriage. But it is the very best tangible way to recognize how much grace is essential to growth as a person, a spouse, and in the fruit of the Spirit towards Christ-likeness. As a single, it is generally easy to say whatever is on your mind and do whatever you feel like doing. After a hangout with my wife, I have got in the habit of doing a check-up: "Did I say anything in there to embarrass you?" or "Are you upset or just tired?" I ask these things because earlier in our marriage I would say or do something that embarrassed her, and it took a while for it to come out (and when I would finally figure it out, I would get defensive, which never improves things). There's the age-old adage that "When mama isn't happy, nobody is happy." This is hopefully true (even before she is a mama). It is true because you both (hopefully) care about the other.
Tips I've learned (not necessarily ranked by importance)
1. Pray over her with a tactful but heartfelt prayer
2. Keep open communication always (esp. of plans and feelings)
3. Intentionally show you care as much as possible
4. Remember the other has your best at heart (even when it doesn't seem so)
5. Identify miscommunication impartially and move on
6. Don't use blame language nor get defensive when blamed
7. Do stuff that the other person likes and you don't
8. Forgive pre-emptively before they offend or annoy you
9. Hug them tenderly when you both feel least like hugging
10. Trust each other with money, but lovingly stay accountable (esp. asking before big purchases)
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