Jesus is the Star

   The day is finally here. It is the day where hope entered the world. It is the day where the person who created true peace came into the world. It is the day where a baby's cry sounded so joyful to those there on that special night. It is the day where God showed his love to us by sending his Son to earth. God had many different signs happen that day. He had many different people involved in the day that his Son was born on earth.
   One group that he had involved was wise men. Now, contrary to typical manger scenes the wise men were not actually there the night Jesus was born. In Matthew 2 we find the wise men visiting King Herod asking if he knew where the King of the Jews was. Long story short they found the child, presented him with gifts, and left.
   Out of all the people involved in the Christmas story I find the Magi some of the most interesting. We don't know how many of them there were. We don't know where they came from. We don't know what religion they followed. We refer to them as kings, but they were just astrologers. Granted, they were astrologers who were rich enough to buy expensive gifts but astrologers, nonetheless. These men saw a different star in the east, knew that it was a sign of the King of the Jews, got gifts for him, dropped everything they were doing, traveled for who knows how long to find the King, went to Herod who was not the nicest man, finally found who they were looking for, gave him gifts, and left.
   It seems a bit anti-climactic doesn't it? They spent all that time and money just to spend a bit of time with Jesus. Do you think they thought it was worth it? It may be difficult for you to answer that question from their perspective so let me ask you a different question: would you have dropped everything to follow the star?
Before I continue pause and actually answer that question honestly please. Think about the fact that it is going to cost you time and money to follow a star. Think about the fact that you don't know when that star is going to go away so if you are going to follow it you had better do it soon. Think about the fact that there is no guarantee that you will actually find the King of the Jews.... Would you still follow the star?
   New question: what if that star was Jesus? Would you follow the star if it was Jesus? You still will lose time and money, but you will be giving it up for Jesus. You will get to see Jesus. I believe that's why the wise men decided to drop everything and follow that star. They wanted the chance to see Jesus, even if it was just for a day.
   Many of us have wondered what it would be like to meet Jesus face to face. Well, we may not see Jesus face to face on this earth; but, if we have accepted Jesus as our savior, we will see him in eternity. But once we accept Christ, our job isn't done. We must continually choose to follow Christ each day. Matthew 16:24 says: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"
   I must wonder if the Wise Men understood this verse even before Jesus said it. They dropped everything to follow the star. They denied themselves comfort, money, time, etc. Just to follow a star in order to see Jesus.
   Nowadays we say that Christmas is about Jesus' birth. However, I feel we tend to forget that with all the decorating, present buying, crafting, parking space issues, caroling, and general hustle and bustle of Christmas. We forget with all that going on that Jesus is the star of Christmas. He is the reason why we celebrate. He is the reason we have hope, peace, joy, and love in our lives. He is the reason why we are saved through God's grace. Why shouldn't we want to deny ourselves to follow Him?
   This Christmas day I encourage you to take some time to ponder if you are truly following Christ. Are you choosing each day to deny yourself to follow Him and show others His love? If you are not, what are you going to do to remember to follow Him each day?
   Matthew 2, Matthew 16:24

   Here is a little video to remind you about how Jesus is the Star of Christmas: https://youtu.be/WjIGPSIFEBA

A Strong Foundation

   One day while I was at school with my students, one of them built a tower. The student was very proud of the tower. The student kept calling me over to look at it. I saw it growing higher and higher. It got to the point that I knew the inevitable would happen: the tower would fall.

   I kept quiet and watched. Sure enough the tower came down with a crash. Then the student looked at me. I just shrugged and said "bummer, maybe you should try to build it again." The student began to build again. And, again the tower fell.

   The next week we did a lesson about the book "Yertle the Turtle" by Dr. Seuss (spoilers ahead). We talked about how Yertle's tower of turtles would have been stronger if he would have had a better foundation. Then we built Yertle a tower together.

   This got me thinking about how we try to build our own towers. We think "I can build the biggest tower all by myself. I don't need any help." Yet, some of us don't build on a good foundation. The sand of the world isn't a strong foundation. The rock of God is a strong foundation. If we spend time with God, pray to him, and read his word we will have a strong foundation. That's how we grow in knowledge and make a bigger impact for him.

   So, what is your foundation built on? Do you have a strong foundation built by knowing God? How can you make your foundation stronger today?

   2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Matthew 7:24-27

   Image from here.

You Can't Touch This

   One of the things I do with my students is what teachers call brain breaks. Students have a tendency to have issues focusing for long periods of time. Or, they just may need to get some energy out. Thus, we will do some simple dancing for them to get their wiggles out so they can focus again. One of the songs they dance to is "You Can't Touch This." It's a clean version of the song.
   This song brought out a game the kids like to play. It's kind of like tag but the game is always going on. When someone comes up and tries to take their toy or do something mean they say "you can't touch this." It makes me laugh and think about what would happen if we would do this in real life.
   If we have a problem and it makes us stressed, sad, or frustrated we could say to those emotions "you can't touch this." Why could we say this? We can say this for a few reasons. We can say this because we have control of our emotions. We may not be able to control what happens to us but we can control how we react to the problems. We can also say that because no matter what happens to us on earth Jesus has already won.
   John 16:33 says: "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." We will have trouble on this earth. But, this earth isn't the end. No matter what happens to us Jesus is with us. Jesus died so that we could have a relationship with him. He also died so that we could be with him forever. That's amazing to think about. And, that's why, when we have problems on this earth, we can say "you can't touch this. Jesus has got my back."
   So, will you trust in God when problems arise? 

Image from here.

God's at Work

   Many of you know I am a preschool teacher. Thus, I work with many different children who come from many different places. One child came to my classroom who was a 5 year old who had never been in childcare before. My co-teacher and I quickly realized that she was used to getting what she wanted.
   For example: one time the children were on their beds after lunch. During this time the children are being called to use the bathroom and working on independent work on their beds. Well, during lunch this child was playing with her food (we could also tell that she was sleepy). My co-teacher and I decided that she would not be allowed to have independent work until she could sit quietly on her bed. When it finally registered with her that she was not allowed to have the toy she wanted she began to cry, scream, and kick her bed.
   Now, for those of you who have not worked with children this age, this is not typical reoccurring behavior for a 5 year old. Yes, children would have temper tantrums every once in a while but this one was the third one that day. My co-teacher went over to the child and told her that she seemed tired and that maybe she should go to sleep. If you guessed that didn't get her to calm down you are right.
   Why was this child crying so hard? She was crying and having a temper tantrum because she wanted what she wanted when she wanted it. In her mind, she should get the toy to play with because she wanted it. She wasn't thinking about the fact that she wasn't using good manners at lunch. She wasn't thinking about the fact that she was tired. She wasn't thinking about the fact that her teachers were trying to prepare her for life; because in life you don't usually get what you want if you throw a temper tantrum.
   Okay, so at this point you may be wondering why I am telling you this. Again, I have a point; and that point isn't how you should care for your kids. My point is that sometimes we act like this child. We may not cry, scream, and kick but we do pout and complain. When something bad happens in your life what do you usually do? Normally, if you are a Christian, you ask God to take the problem away. When you really want something to happen what do you usually do? If you are a Christian, you usually ask God to give it to you.
   When we ask God for something we may get a few different answers: no, yes, or wait. And, there is one outlier that we sometimes get: yes, but not in the way you expect. God is a good Father. He loves us and gives us what we need and not always what we want. However, sometimes we forget this fact and act like this child. We complain about how hard our lives are. We pout when things don't happen the way we expected.
   What happens in these hard times or when we want something is that we forget something very important. We forget that God is a good Father. We forget that God loves us and cares for us. We forget that we are called to be joyful in all circumstances. We forget that God is at work even if it doesn't seem like it. God works all things together for our good. At times, we may wonder what he is doing but we need to have confidence in him and trust in him. We need to remember that in good times and bad times God is at work.
   So, what do you do when things are not going the way you expected? Will you trust that God has a plan for your life? I encourage you to thank God each day for the blessings he has given you and for him loving you.

   Image from here.

Jesus Loves You No Matter What

   As many of you know, at least those of you who know me or have read my blog, I am a teacher. Currently I am a preschool teacher. At the school I work at we try many different theories of education but one of the main ones is love and logic. In love and logic it talks about having natural consequences for children and adults keeping their cool by having a phrase they answer the children with. Sometimes love and logic works. Other times it does not.

   One time, during nap, I was trying to get a child to sleep. I rubbed his back calmly for about 15 minutes. Then my co-teacher left for her break. This child who I was trying to get to sleep decided he didn't want to sleep. He began trying to get up. Now, during nap, we require students to stay on their beds and stay quiet for the friends who are trying to sleep.

   Long story short, this child decided to cuss at me, kick me, pinch me, hit me, and bite me because he did not want to sleep. He wanted to run around the room and wake up his friends. All the while he was doing these things to me I was trying to follow love and logic. I kept saying "I love you and I know you'll make the right choice." Obviously it was not working. My director finally came in to relieve me after 45 minutes. But, the whole time I was trying to protect this child and the other children I was thinking how crazy I was. What kind of person would tell someone they love them when all that person was doing was hurting them?

   After I got past the trauma of the whole situation I began to think. I wondered if anyone else had ever gone through something like that before. I wondered how someone could keep saying "I love you and I know you'll make the right choice" to someone who kept hurting them. Then I stopped. I realized that I have done what this child did to me to someone else. I had done that to Jesus.

   Every time we sin we are hurting God. He cannot be with sin because he is holy. But, Jesus is a good teacher. God is a good father who cares about us. God sent his son to die for our sins to show his love for us. Now, if we accept Christ, our sins are washed white as snow. When we make the right choice, Jesus says "I love you." When we are faced with temptation Jesus says "I love you and I know you'll make the right choice." And, when we do sin, Jesus says "I still love you, come back to me and I'll wash your sins white as snow."

   Jesus is the ultimate example of love. You may never face the same situation I faced. But, you probably will face a time where it is difficult for you to love someone. We are to be Jesus' example on earth. That means we are to love others even if they hurt us. We are to love others even if they are mean to us. We are to love others even if they never ask for forgiveness or say "sorry." Is it easy? No, is it what we are called to do as Christians? Yes, we are called to love others.

   So, will you love others even when it's hard? Will you ask for forgiveness for your sins when you mess up? What can you do to show someone you love them today?

   1 Corinthians 13:4-8, John 3:16, John 13:34-35

   Image from here.

Be Thankful in ALL Things

   It is Thanksgiving! It is when we celebrate everything that we have and that we have been blessed with. However, this year, Thanksgiving is a bit different. Some of us may not be meeting with family. Some of us may not be traveling or having some of the same traditions occur.
   This year it seems like much has been taken away. Some of us may have lost our jobs, lost a family member or friend, lost the ability to do something you love, etc. This is not what we would call a "normal year." It may not be a "normal year" but we all have a choice of what to do with this not so "normal year." We can choose to let it make us bitter or let it make us better.
   There is incredible power in perspective. We may not be able to control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it. We can choose to react in anger or react with God and his plan in mind.
   We also have control over our thankfulness. I do not know about you but this year more than ever I have been thankful for the little things. Many times, around thanksgiving we focus on what we are thankful for. Many times, we say we are thankful for a home, job, health, family, etc.
   I am thankful for those things but this year I am more thankful for the little things. I am thankful for the way my dog is always excited to greet me when I come home, I am thankful for the little bit of time I got to spend coaching my High School goalies and my College players (shout out to Donegal and LBC players). I am thankful for how my mom is willing to listen to how my day went even if she is tired. I am thankful for my siblings who still enjoy playing games with me (I like playing board games). I am thankful for my co-workers who uplift me in hard times. I am thankful for my dad who can fix many of the things around the house when they break. I am thankful for Jesus who died on the cross for my sins so he could be with me. And believe it or not, in certain ways I am thankful for COVID.
   You probably heard screeching tires there. I mean it, in certain ways I am thankful for COVID. In the past, I have written a blog about blessings where I say that blessings are not always what we would call "good things." Sometimes blessings are what we would call "bad things." Have "bad things" happened because of COVID? Yes, but have "good things" happened too? Yes! Again, it all depends on how we look at it.
   Romans 8:28 says: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Did you catch that? The Bible says, "in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him." So many times we forget this verse. Many times, we forget that God is working things for our good. He has a plan in the good and the bad. That is why we can be thankful in the good and the bad. That is why we can praise him in the good and the bad. That is why we can trust in him through COVID, through loss, through fear, through death, and through it ALL!
   So, what is your perspective on this year? Does your perspective need to change? Are you thankful and trusting God in all things? How can you trust God more each day?

   Image from here.

   If you would like to hear more about blessings check out this sermon (search "Beatitude Blessings" in the sermon search link on this website http://maytowncog.org/services.htm)

Are You Actively Involved?

   I've recently been told I am a "sporty girl." I don't entirely agree with that. I enjoy wearing athletic clothing and playing sports. However, I do not enjoy watching sports. Can I watch a game if it is on? Yes, but I'd rather play sports than watch them. And, if I'm being honest, I don't really enjoy working out or running. Do I work out? Yes, but it's a struggle if I'm not playing a game or a sport while working out.
   Now, you may be wondering, again, what this has to do with God or the Christian faith. I'm glad you asked again. Sometimes Christians have a tendency to just watch. They look at the world and see the sin, they see the hurting, they see what other Christians are doing for the kingdom, or they see things they could be doing themselves and they choose not to join in. You may have heard the quote "life's not a spectator sport." Well, the Christian life isn't a spectator life either.
   James 2:14 says: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" James is saying that if we have faith we should show it through our actions. He isn't saying that our works get us saved (which is how some interpret this verse). He is saying that if we believe in Christ we will emulate Christ in our everyday lives. When we see someone who is hurting and feel called to help him we will listen to the call. When we feel led to pray for someone we will do it.
   If we don't show our faith in our actions it does us, others, and the kingdom no good. Being Christian should change our thinking. Being Christian should make us want to help a hurting world. Being Christian should make us want to be more like Christ in our actions, words, and thoughts.
   So, are you actively involved in the Christian faith? How are you working each day to show Christ? 

   Image from here.

I'm a Fixer

   I am a fixer. I enjoy fixing things and problems. When there is a problem that needs solved at school, my co-teachers come to me. If we need a shelf, but don't have one, I am the one who makes them out of cardboard. When someone is going through a hard time, I try to give them advice or brighten their day in some way. However, there is an issue I run into sometimes: I cannot fix all the problems.
   Many times people have had a problem I could not fix no matter how much I wanted to. Maybe someone in their family is having a health problem. Maybe there are too many people involved that the problem cannot be handled. No matter what the issue is, there are just some problems we cannot fix. What do we do when we cannot fix the problem? Many times, as Christians, when we don't know what to say or do we say: "I'll pray about that for you." But, there are times when that just seems like saying that's not enough. Why is that?
   One of the reasons why saying "I'll pray for you" doesn't seem like enough is because sometimes people don't actually pray when they say they will. That reason aside, when we say "I'll pray for you" we tend to be giving up hope. But is that really what we should be thinking?
   Romans 8:26 says: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words." Many times we tend to go to God as a last resort when it should be our first. We have a tendency to want to fix things ourselves. But, if you try to lean on yourself you'll end up falling. Instead, we should lean on God and trust in his plan. We should pray about our problems and trust the Spirit to lead. We should trust the ultimate fixers plan.
   So, are you leaning on yourself or God? How can you trust in God's plan for you each day? 

   Image from here.

Are You Anxious?

How many of you have ever had a pet? I'm sure many of you have. You care for your pet and love them. You give them everything they need. Sometimes they are even spoiled. I can tell you that my dog Jak Jak is loved and probably spoiled. However, there is something that Jak Jak has that concerns me.

See, we got Jak Jak when he was 3 months old. He was the first ever puppy, not dog, in my family's household. Thus, Jak needed more attention and care. He was like a baby. He couldn't do certain things like jump on chairs that were high up. He wasn't potty trained. And he obviously couldn't get food for himself (I enjoy pretending to talk like him and I say "I don't have opposable thumbs)." So, my family and I did all these things for him. Unfortunately, Jak Jak developed such an attachment to us that when he wasn't with someone he would whine. This whining and not having someone around developed into anxiety.

Here's the thing I couldn't understand. We love Jak Jak. We give him everything he needs, plus some things he doesn't. Why did my little boy have anxiety? I didn't know and I still don't. But this situation got me thinking: why are we anxious?

We are God's children. God is a loving God. He cares for us. He gives us everything we need and some things we don't need. Yet, we still are anxious about different things. Now, you may be saying "it's different. We have many more problems than pets do. We have to provide for our families. We have to deal with annoying people at work. We have to care for the children and our parents." Yes, we do have to do all that (though I would like us to get to the point where we say we "get to" do all those things but that's a blog for another time). But, we are not required to worry about all of that. In fact, we are told not to worry about those things.

Philippians 4:6-7 says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Okay, the Bible says we are not to be anxious. Why? We are not to be anxious because we are to bring our concerns to God. What happens when we do that? If we let God handle our concerns, then we get peace. We don't get the peace where we have a spa day, a vacation day, or quiet. We get peace in our hearts to know that even in all the crazy of life, everything will be okay. Everything will be okay, why? It will be okay because God's got this. He has a plan. He cares for you. He loves us enough to be a part of our lives. He has a relationship with us, if we choose to have one with him. We just need to trust in him, instead of worrying.

So, are you worrying too much? What can you do when worries and anxieties come up? How can you do a better job of trusting God today?

Image from here.

Why?

   One day a professor was holding class. He decided to give his students an essay to write. Now, you may be thinking that's not that special. Professors give essays all the time, why is this important? You just asked a very good question because it's close to what the professor gave for his question for the students to write about. The professor said the students had to write an essay answering the question "why?"
   What would you write to answer that question? Many students wrote large essays with lots of citations. They said many different things in those essays. I'm sure many of them were filled with "because" :D
   The professor got the essays back and looked them over. He gave ever student a failing grade except for one student. The student who passed answered the essay with just 2 words: "Why not?"
   The question "why?" can be answered in many ways, believe me I know because I'm a teacher and kids love to ask this question. But, only one student understood what others did not. Matthew 19:26 says: "But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" We ask God "why is this happening?" God says "why not?" God had the idea to create a platypus which looks like a funky combination of many animals. He created the basis of life called laminin, which looks like a cross.
   He is the God of "why not?" We ask him "why does my mom have cancer? Why did I lose my job? Why are there so many natural disasters?" He says, "why not?" He is in control. He loves us and has a plan for us. We may hurt when bad things happen but many times we either don't look for good in the situation or play the "woe is me" card. It is our choice to look at the positive and to move on from hard situations.
   Maybe instead of asking all these negative questions we should ask ourselves some why questions. Why can't I focus on the good in life? Why can't I help out others more? Why can't I have joy in all circumstances? Why can't I trust God? Why not?
   Image from here.

Rotten

   As a preschool teacher I tend to do a few activities that I never really thought I would do. One of those things is gardening. I do not have a green thumb. If someone gives me a plant it tends to die very quickly. Sure, I've tried to keep them alive but plants just must not like me.
   Anyhow, one day my co-teacher and I decided it was time to use some old seeds we had in our room. We planted cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers in front of our center. Time passed and only the tomato plants survived. We went out with the kids to look at the plants. Then we let the kids choose one tomato to pick each.
   One child saw a nice, big, juicy looking tomato toward the back of the garden. I went back and helped the child try to pick it. For some reason this tomato did not want to come off. So I pulled and twisted till finally it came off; and another tomato came with it. I discovered why that tomato did not want to come off. It was attached to a rotten tomato. The kids looked disgusted, but then we got to talk about why the tomato became rotten. It was a good science lesson.
   I thought about that tomato after school that day. The tomato the child chose looked so good. But underneath the leaves it was attached to a rotten tomato. Sometimes we meet people who are like that good looking tomato. This person claims to be a Christian but he may do things that don't look like things a Christian would do. Or, in the case of this tomato, this Christian may have friends who begin to make him rotten.
   We must be careful who we allow to influence us. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.'" If we are not strong in our foundation of faith we will run the risk of allowing others to influence us to sin. We must know God's word. We must be strong in him so we know when to say no. We must not fall into temptation. We must focus on producing good fruit, the fruit of the spirit.
   Now, this isn't to say we are not to try to reach the lost for God. That's what we are to do according to the great commission. But, we are not to fall into temptation and sin as we try to reach the lost. That's why we must spend time in God's word and pray with him.
   So, are you allowing others to influence you in a bad way? How can you focus on spending time with God so you produce good fruit? 

   Image from here.

Do the Next Right Thing: Frozen 2

   The final song in Frozen 2 is actually what I call the sad song. It's a good song and it is actually very profound. However, it is very melancholy. Anna sings it when she has lost basically everything and everyone she loves. She isn't sure what she should do next.
   The end of the song says this:
   "So I'll walk through this night, Stumbling blindly toward the light, And do the next right thing, And with the dawn, what comes then? When it's clear that everything will never be the same again, Then I'll make the choice, To hear that voice, And do the next right thing"
   Anna is walking through the darkness of loss. But she knows she must go on. She must go toward the light. She must do the next right thing no matter how hard it is.
   Romans 8:18 is a good reminder for those feeling like Anna in this song: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." We are going to suffer while we are on earth. Things are going to be hard and we will lose things and people. That happens because sin is in the world. We will hurt and have problems because of that. It is what we do with those problems that matters.
   When bad things happen we can choose to wallow in grief. We can choose to fall away from God. Or, we can choose to walk with God. We can choose to do the next right thing. If someone hurts you by causing you to lose your job will you try to get revenge; or will you forgive and trust in God's plan. If your significant other leaves you will you get angry at them and maybe give up on life; or will you forgive and trust in God's plan? Forgiveness, trust, and doing the right thing isn't always easy; but it's always the right thing to do.
   So, when hard times come what will you do? Will you wallow in pain and try to get revenge; or will you follow God?

Image from here.

Show Yourself: Frozen 2

   Show yourself is a song that happens when Elsa is on her own. She has been led to a place by a voice that was calling her. Now that she has reached the place she is so close to finding out who called her and why she was called there.
   We too are called. We may not be called to an ice river like Elsa but we are called. If you do not know Christ as your personal savior he may call you to him. He loves us all so much that he died for our sins so that none may perish but all may have everlasting life (John.3.16). He calls us to him. We may not all be called in the same way, many will be called. It is up to you if you answer the call.
   If you do know Christ as your personal savior then you have a new call. When we get saved we are called to follow the greatest commandment and the great commission. We are to love God and love others. Love can be shown in different ways, but we are called to love all. We are also to share the good news of the gospel. We are to tell others that Christ died for them to save them. We do that in different ways. We all have different talents, life experiences, and know different people. It is our job to use our talents to spread the Gospel.
   God gave you your talents for a reason. Maybe you are wondering how you can use your talent for the gospel. How could cooking be used for the gospel? You could cook a meal for a neighbor to get to know them, show God's love, and eventually share the gospel. How could you use your knowledge of fixing things for the gospel? You could offer to fix things for people for free, or for a discount, to show love to those people. Then you could share the gospel with them. You see, there are many ways you can share the gospel using your talents. The question is: will you answer the call when the opportunity comes up to use your talent for the gospel?
   What talents do you have that God has given you? How can you use that talent to spread the Gospel?

Image from here.

Lost in the Woods: Frozen 2

   Okay, so I am going to be honest this one's a bit of a stretch; but I am going to pick out 1 lyric from this song and connect it to God. In the song Lost in the Woods Kristoff was going to propose to Anna but she left to help her sister. Kristoff is sad because he feels lost without her.
   Kristoff is like us in a way. He is searching for Anna and feels lost without her. Unlike Kristoff, we are not always searching for God. However, until we find God, we are lost in the woods. The woods represents the world. The woods represents sin. The woods, eventually, represents hell. Without God we are lost. We don't have a direction to go. We don't have a purpose. We don't have hope. Thus, we are "lost in the woods."
   The good news is we don't need to stay lost. God actively searches for us. In Luke 19:1-10 we find the story of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector who cheated people out of their money. He was not a well liked man. He was a sinner like all of us. Jesus chose to go to his house. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus. Because Jesus sought out Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus turned away from his sin. He may not have done that if Jesus wasn't actively seeking him out.
   In verse 10 Jesus said: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Did you catch that? The Son of Man (Jesus) seeks and saves the lost. We are lost. We are sinners. We have no hope without Christ. And, he loves us so much that he seeks us out. He loves us so much that he wants to have a relationship with us. He loves us so much that he died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice as atonement for our sins. He did that for you. He did that for your friends. He did that for the people you don't like. He did it for us all. All we need to do is accept into our hearts, believe that he is the savior, and confess we are sinners and that he is Lord.
   So, are you still lost in the woods? Are you currently walking with Christ through the woods? How can you do a better job of walking with Christ today?

Image from here.

When You're Older: Frozen 2

   In Frozen 2 there is a song where Olaf, the snowman, sings about when he is older everything will make sense. Many adults laughed at that song because they know it isn't true. In fact, many of us have discovered that as we gain more knowledge we just end up with more questions. However, children actually tend to believe that when they are older everything will make sense.
   I work with children who are 2-5 years old. After Frozen 2 came out I asked the kids if they thought that when they are older everything will make sense. The answer was a resounding yes. It's true that as we grow we gain more knowledge and more things make sense, but not everything. There's a reason that not everything makes sense. If everything made sense then we would be God. God knows everything and it all makes sense to him because he has understanding of everything. Meanwhile, we don't understand as much because of sin. We ask why bad things happen. We don't understand all of the things God let's happen.
   In Luke 13 we find the event of feet washing. Jesus does what the lowest servant was to do. Jesus washed his disciples' feet. Peter questions Jesus wondering why he would do such a thing. In verse 7 Jesus replies: "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Though Jesus was talking about feet washing it makes me think about other things we don't understand. We may not understand why evil seems to be winning in the world. We don't understand why good people and young people are taken too soon. Sometimes we may even wonder if God has a plan or if he cares. Jesus showed that he cares in many ways but washing his disciples' feet was one of them. He took on the role of servant to show his love to others. That's what we are called to do as well.
   So, what are we to do when things don't make sense? We are to trust God. He has not left us or forsaken us. He's still here. He cares and has plans for us. 

Image from here.

Into the Unknown: Frozen 2

   "Everyone I've ever loved is here within these walls, I'm sorry, secret siren, but I'm blocking out your calls, I've had my adventure, I don't need something new, I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you, Into the unknown"
   As stated in "Some Things Never Change" almost everything changes in life. We are constantly moving forward and growing. We may try to stop because we like where we are at; but, like Jonah, if we are meant to do something God has a way of influencing us to get our jobs done.
   In Frozen 2 Elsa is hearing a voice. That voice is calling her to another adventure. Elsa is conflicted. She likes where she is at now. She has her family, she is queen, and her powers are under control. However, she still wants to know what the voice is. She wants to know why it is calling her and where it wants her to go.
   Like Elsa, we may feel conflicted with the future. We may like where we are at; but, we also wonder what things may be like if we choose a certain path. The unknown is scary. Things could go really bad, or they could go really well. That's why the unknown is so scary.
   The thing is, we will face the unknown in our lives. But, we have someone who walks with us. We have someone who knows us and the future. Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." God asks us to trust him when we face the unknown. If we submit to his will we will be able to face the unknown. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it. God loves us and he wants what is good for us. That's why he asks us to trust him.
   So, how do you feel about the unknown? Will you trust God when you face the unknown?

Image from here.

Some Things Never Change: Frozen 2

   "That's why I rely on certain certainties, Yes, some things never change, Like the feel of your hand in mine, Some things stay the same" (Some Things Never Change, Frozen 2)
   There are very few things that don't change in life. People grow up, families grow bigger, people gain new perspectives, jobs change, homes change, places change, and you get the idea. Really, there's not much that doesn't change.
   In the Bible Solomon, the king who asked God for wisdom, writes in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

   These verses state many things that do change. It is difficult to deal with change. We tend to be creatures of habit. We like routine. We like it when things stay the same. However, that doesn't happen. Without change, there can be no growth. Without change there are no seasons, holidays, relationships, etc. Change is vital to life, even if it is difficult.

   Now, with all that being said, there is one thing, one person, that doesn't change. Hebrews 13:8 says: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." God's love for us doesn't change. God loved us enough to send his son to die for us so that we could have a relationship with him. He walks with us and helps us grow in seasons of change. That's why, when things do change, we can be confident that we have someone who walks with us.
   So, why can you be confident in seasons of change? Will you choose to walk with God no matter what?

Image from here.

Doing Your Best in the Little Things: Labor Day

   Many times when Labor Day rolls around we all say: "Yes! A three day weekend. I get to relax an extra day and not think about work." I'm not going to lie, it is nice to have an extra day off. But, I usually end up working in one way or another on Labor Day. I may do some things for school, I may do chores around the house, I may make food for myself or others, etc. That's all work. Even on Labor Day we are working.
   We don't just work when we go to work. We do little things every day that are work. And, even if we are working on the little things, we are to give our best. I was once told a story that embodies this idea.
One time a woman, let's call her Tessa, was a counselor at a camp. One of the jobs she was given was to put the kids bed sheets on the beds before the kids came. Time was short before the kids showed up so she tried to work fast. She had put on at least 70 sheets and was beginning to tire of doing the same task. She put a sheet on and realized the sheet was inside out. She looked at the time and thought, "I need to finish all these other beds. It will not be that bad if the sheet is inside out." She left the sheet as is and kept working on the other beds.
   She got about 10 more beds done then thought back to that 1 bed. She knew she had done a good job on 79 beds out of 80. But she did not do her best on that 1. She felt guilty for not giving her best on that 1. Even though she knew it would take extra time and effort she went back to the room and fixed the bed. Did anyone notice that she fixed the bed? No. Would anyone have noticed that the bed was inside out if she wouldn't have fixed it? Maybe not. But if she would not have gone back to fix the bed she wouldn't have been giving her best for God.
   See, Tessa was following Colossians 3:23-24 which says: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." That 1 bed may not have mattered to the child who slept on it, the parents who let that child come to camp, the counselor who was in that room, or the camp director. But, that 1 bed matters to God. Why does a bed matter to God? It matters because we are to give out best to God in ALL we do.
   That means that when you are at work and getting tired of doing the same tasks you still do your best, even if it's hard. That means that if you are mowing the lawn and you realize you miss a spot you go back to get it. Not because you think you will get in trouble, but because you are mowing the lawn for God. That means that if you are cleaning the bathroom and you miss a huge smudge you go back and clean it. Not because you are worried that someone will notice it, but because you are cleaning that bathroom for God.
   Will your best look the same every day? Probably not, but you can still give your best not for man, not to get glory yourself, but to reflect God's glory.
   So, are you giving your best effort for God? How can you reflect God's glory by giving your best for God today?
 Image from here.

All is Found: Frozen 2

   "But can you brave what you most fear?" (All is Found, Frozen 2).
   "When all is lost, then all is found" (All is Found, Frozen 2).
   Have you ever felt like nothing is going right? Maybe something bad happened at work or school. Maybe something bad happened to a family member or friend. Maybe you lost something important to you. Sometimes all those things can happen at once. That's when we ask "why are so many bad things happening to me?"
   Sometimes we feel like we have lost a lot in life. Sometimes we fear more loss. How can we fight the fear of loss? Joshua 1:9 is a good reminder for us in those hard times of fear and loss. Joshua 1:9 says: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." We are to be strong and courageous, not because of our abilities, but because of God. God commands us not be have fear, or be frightened, because God is with us wherever we go.
   Whatever we may go through, whatever we may lose, God is with us. That's why we can "brave what you (we) most fear" because we have God with us. We don't need to fear with him on our side because he has a plan. And, when it seems like we have lost everything, we need to remember that "all is found" in Christ. The things of this world are temporary. The only thing that will matter in heaven are our souls. Even if we lose everything, we will still have Christ because he loved us enough to die for us.
   So, what do you fear? How can you trust God more? Do you believe that even if you lose everything on earth you will still have all you need in Christ?

Image from here.

Murphy's Law

   This year in 2020 has been an interesting one. Many people thought 2020 would be a great year. They had goals for 2020. They may have wanted to have a certain amount of churches open by that time. Maybe they wanted to be in a certain job or position. No matter what you were hoping for in 2020, with everything that has gone on, I'm sure it hasn't gone the way you were expecting or planning.

   I know 2020 hasn't gone the way I was expecting. I've semi acquainted this year with the year of Murphy's law for myself (anything that can go wrong will go wrong). I have gotten the flu, gotten strep, lost the ability to coach a Jr. High team and a collegiate team team in the spring, had to learn how to do zoom meetings with students, had to learn how to do looms to present things, been quarantined for 3 months, and had to roll with many changes to my workplace to name a few things. I'm sure you have faced some of the same challenges and probably many others. It seems like 2020 has taken a lot from us. It's taken our health, freedom, loved ones, security, jobs, and much more. Many people probably wonder: where is God in all of this? Why would God allow this to happen?
   It's easy to focus on all the negative things that have happened this year. But, what about the good things that have happened? Look back at this year thus far. I challenge you to really think about positive things that have happened this year. For myself I got closer with my co-workers, got to spend time with my family, was able to create many different activities for students, got to relax, spent more time with God, was able to paint and write, was able to support my family in a time of need, and much more. It's funny how quarantine and the different things that have happened this year have actually helped me slow down and build better relationships with those around me. It's also reminded me that even though "normal" life may be hard at times we should be thankful for what we have. We should be thankful because we never know when those things may be taken away. We should be thankful because when those things happen we have someone to lean on. God promises us that he will never leave us or forsake us.
   So, even though 2020 may seem like Murphy's law thus far, will you choose to look for the positive? Will you trust in God and his plan?
Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:8

Image from here.

Accused

   Have you ever been accused of wrongs you did not commit? I know I have, and I think many people have. How should we act when we are accused of things we haven't done?
   Once again God give us an answer through his example. In Mark 15 Jesus is brought before Pilate. The Sanhedrin had just told Pilate about Jesus. Pilate asked Jesus "Are you the king of the Jews?" (Mark.15.2). Jesus answers by saying "You have said so" (Mark.15.2). Jesus doesn't say "yes." He could have but he didn't. Why?
   Jesus knows that this must happen. He knows what will happen next because he is God. He does not want to go through the pain of being separated from God, but he still does it. Jesus has the whole picture. When we go through these times we wonder "why is this happening?" When God is saying "just wait till you see what I have in store for you."
   But, the accusations don't end there. In Mark 15:3-4 the chief priests accuse him of other things. Pilate asks Jesus if he wants to say anything. Jesus doesn't answer and Pilate is amazed. Jesus keeps his mouth shut even though he didn't do anything that these men were accusing him of.
   When we get in an argument or are accused of things what's one of the first things we want to do? We want to defend ourselves. Then after we defend ourselves what happens? We get into an argument and things become worse. People then become offended and relationships are ruined.
   It does us no good to try to reason with people whose minds are so clouded that they only care for their own needs. Our actions speak louder than our words. We could yell, scream, and accuse back but in the end that will make people think that those accusations are correct.
   People can taint what we own, our reputations, and even our relationship with others. But, one thing people can never taint is our relationship with God. God knows who we are. He knows our character. It may be hard to keep our mouths shut when we are being accused of wrongs but in the end we will be rewarded in heaven.
   So, how do you act when you are accused of wrongs? Are you following Christ's example? Does your good character show when no one is looking?

   Mark 15:2, Isaiah 54:17, Romans 12:19

   Image from here.

Bear Hunts in Life

   Since I am an elementary school teacher, I get to hear many, many children songs. One of the newest songs that all the children are obsessed with is Baby Shark. However, they also enjoy classics like We're Going on a Bear Hunt.
   In the Bear Hunt song it talks about finding different obstacles, like a river. They can't go under it. They can't go around it. They'll just have to go through it. Then they get to the next obstacle and the same thing happens. Each time you have to go through the obstacle.
   It occurred to me the other day as I was singing this song that it is a lot like life. Many times when we have problems that show our weaknesses we don't want to walk through them. We may try to get around them or sneak under them. We may even ask God to take the burden of the problem from us.
   Problems are hard for everyone. Even Paul had problems as we find out in 2 Corinthians 7-8 "I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." He asked God to take away this problem. We don't know what the problem was but it was bad enough that Paul wanted to be rid of it. He wanted to go around it, under it, or have it taken away.
   Instead of taking away the problem, God told Paul: "My grace is sufficient enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor.12.9). God told Paul that he was having this problem for a reason. If Christians never had any problems a few things would happen. 1 We would seem holier than thou. We would not be able to relate to others. 2 We would not grow in God. When we have problems we lean on God because we realize we cannot do it on our own. 3 We would not be fulfilling our purpose on earth, which is to spread the Gospel. If we were not to spread the Gospel then God would have taken us away as soon as we accepted him. We are here because he wants us to be a part of his story.
   Now, Paul could've whined and complained. "God I thought you do all things for my good. This isn't good, this is a big problem. I don't want this problem take it away from me." But, instead, Paul says "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor.12.9-10). This seems counterintuitive but it's not in our faith. Our job is to spread the Gospel. Many times I have been able to help encourage others with stories of my problems. I would never have been able to do that if I didn't have problems.
   One other thing we must remember is God walks with us in these problems of life. He walks with us when we go through the problem of the river. He is also patient with us if we choose to try to go around the river instead (think of Jonah). That's what I call a great Father. Always there for us,  always working things together for our good, always patient, always loving, and always there to pick us up if we fall down. We just have to choose to see him there beside us as we go on our Bear Hunt in life.
   So, what problems are you going through right now? Can you see that God is with you while you are going through these problems? How can you encourage someone who is going through a problem today?

   Image from here. 

Fault Lines

   I live in the country that is called the United States of America. It is known as the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is a great country but nowadays it seems to be falling apart at the seams. We no longer seem United because of many different ideals. One of the reasons why the United States is so great is because we have many freedoms and rights. One of those rights is freedoms of speech. This is good because we can express our opinions but lately those opinions have begun to tear us apart. We have people who think we should be wearing masks and people who refuse to wear masks. We have people who believe they have been wronged and lost some of their rights and freedom and people who think that these people need to calm down. Thus, with all this division we are creating fault lines.
   It's interesting that the very ideals that our country was built on has created division. Divisions and different opinions actually can be good things though. Can you picture what it must have been like in that first Continental Congress room? Way back when our country was being founded, do you think those men agreed on everything they decided on? More than likely they did not because they all have different experiences and opinions. Some of them may not have agreed with the decisions that were made, they may not have even liked each other, but they supported the movement nonetheless. They did what they believed was best for the country at the time. They stayed United even when they disagreed at times.
   Today we are facing much division in our country for many reasons. We have many fault lines in our opinions and actions. And, if we continue down this path we are headed, I fear these fault lines will break our country. We know one of the reasons why our country is great is because we have the freedom to choose. We choose what job we will take, our opinions, where we live, our religion, and we choose how we treat people.
   As Christians in this world we have a responsibility to choose to show God's love at all times, even when  it is hard. Colossians 3:13-14 is a good reminder for Christians today: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." If you don't agree with someone's opinions what are you to do? You are to love them. You tell them in a loving way that you don't agree with them but you still love them. If you don't agree with someone's actions what are you to do? You can tell them you don't agree with their actions but you still love them. Colossians reminds us of this. We are to "put on love which binds... (us) together in perfect unity." If we don't show love, even when it's difficult, these fault lines will break not only relationships, but also our country.
   It's time for us to make a choice. Will we continue down this path of disunity and division? Or, will we choose to listen to one another and respond in love? Remember we don't have to agree with others actions and opinions but we do still have to respond to them in love. That's the only thing that may stop the fault lines from breaking our country.
   So, how will you choose to act when you don't agree with a person's actions or opinions?

Image from here.

Emotional

   Have you ever had trouble letting go of a negative emotion? Maybe you just can't seem to stop crying over the loss of something important to you. Maybe you are angry because nothing seems to be going right. You hold onto those emotions because they are something you can control. However, in a way, when you hold onto those emotions for too long they begin to control you.
   There is a series called Miraculous that touches on negative emotions very well. There is a villain in the series who stays in his lair and when he feels a negative emotion come onto someone he sends out an akuma. This akuma is a butterfly that, when it touches something special to the person with a negative emotion, gives the person super powers. The villain promises to let the person get revenge on whoever wronged him/her. Many people give in.
There is a bit more to it than that, but that's the basic premise of how things work. If this was actually possible in real life I think I'd be kind of scared to see what the world would be like. Many of us have a hard time letting go of emotions. Maybe you've been wronged by the same person over and over. Maybe people just won't listen to you. Maybe something or someone was taken from you. We are going to go through hard times on this earth. That happens because of sin. Bad things will happen, people will wrong us, and we will have to choose how we react to those events.
   As Christians we are called to be set apart. Romans 12:2 says: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." We are not to give into the things of the world. That means we are not to sin, but it also applies to emotions. When bad things happen is it okay for us to be sad or angry. But,  we need to decide what we do with those emotions. Will we complain to others? Will we try to get revenge? Will we hold onto the hurt and anger for a long time?
   As Christians we are to let go of those emotions. Is that easy? No, but again, it depends on what we do with out emotions. Will we act on them or will we go to God with them? Will we hold onto them or will we ask God for help in letting them go? Will we take out our emotions on others or will we ask God to help us keep our emotions in check? Did you catch that? In every instance there I said "or will we ask God..." See, it's very difficult to let go or not act on our emotions on our own. Luckily we are not on our own. God is with us. He is for us. He wants to help us with our problems. He will help us because he loves us. How he helps us may be different each time we ask but he will help us. All we need to do is ask him to help us.
   So, do you have problems letting go of your emotions? Do you react too quickly based off of your emotions? Will you ask God for help when you are having problems with your emotions?

Image from here.

Walk by Faith Through the Minefield

   A while back I was a coach for a soccer team. It was the beginning of the season and many of the girls hadn't played together. The team needed to work on working together. I decided to do a team bonding day.
   I set up a grid and put cones in the middle. The girls got a partner and a ball. They had to start on one side of the grid and dribble through a gate on the other side of the field. The catch was they had a blindfold on. Their partner had to guide the girl with the ball through the grid without touching a cone, which was a mine.
   Many of the girls did well at following directions from their partner. No one touched any of the mines; but, some of the pairs took longer than others. For certain girls it was difficult to give directions or to listen to directions.
   This activity teaches good communication. I have told my girls that talking and communication are different. At one point in the season we were in a huddle and everyone was talking at the same time but no one was listening. Communication involves talking and listening.
   In our lives, we also feel like we are walking through a minefield at times. We have so many problems and stress and we don't know how to get past them. That's when we need to stop and communicate with God. That means we talk to God and then listen to what he is calling us to do. We may not actually hear him talk but we know he works through coincidences. If we listen God tells us which way we need to go to get around our problems (mines). We just need to walk by faith instead of by sight.
   So, do you feel like you are in a minefield of problems? Have you tried communicating with God to ask him for help? Are you walking by faith?

   2 Corinthians 5:7, Psalm 119:115, Proverbs 3:5-6

   Image from here.

I'm Busy

  Once there was a man who was very successful at his job. He got to come into work when he wanted to, he chose when he left, he was paid a salary many people could only dream about, and he went home to a large mansion where he lived with his family.
   One day this man was walking through the office. He was about to take his phone out to catch up on emails when he looked at one of his employees. She was usually a hard worker but she was at her desk crying. The man went back and forth for 30 seconds. Should he ask her what's going on? No, she would get over it and he had to get home. He had more work to do.
   On the way home he stopped at a red light and saw a man on the side of the road with a sign. It said "Homeless, please help, God bless." The man wondered why the man was homeless and thought about helping. Then he thought, "he will probably just use the money to buy beer."
   The man finally got home. His wife welcomed him at the door and he gave her a kiss. Then his son came bounding up to him. The man hugged his son and he was about to ask his son about his day when his phone rang. The man put his son down and saw that his boss was calling. He said, "I need to take care of this." Then he answered the phone. By the time he got off the phone and had dealt with the problem his son was already in bed and his wife was about to go to bed.
   Why am I telling you this story? What was wrong with this man's life? Some of you may say, "nothing." Others may say this man is too busy. If every day continued in that same pattern for that man then he is too busy. Yes, you can work hard for your family but work can become an idol, or can take you away from what really matters.
   Billy Graham once said: "We hurt people by being too busy. Too busy to notice their needs. Too busy to drop that note of comfort or encouragement or assurance of love. Too busy to listen when someone needs to talk. Too busy to care." This man had the chance to show his employee, the homeless man, and his family that he cares. Instead, if he continues down this path, he could lose everything that really matters. Yes, it is nice to have financial security, a big home, a good car, a cushy job, etc. However, when this man is older who will he have to share his life with? The greatest commandment comes down to loving God and loving others. If we love God then we will love others.
   What could this man do to show he cares? He could take 5 minutes or more out of his day to ask his employees how they are doing. He could give the homeless man some food. He could spend time with his family. It may mean that he takes a pay cut, loses a promotion, or has to say no to big projects but none of those things matter in eternity.
   So, are you too busy to show God's love to others? What can you do to show love to others today?

   Romans 12:9-13, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Matthew 6:25-34

   Image from here.

Jesus Doesn't Give Up on You

   I loved my dog Yoyo. When he was alive, we used to play a game every Sunday. We would come home from church and I would let him outside. I would then hide in the house in different places. Someone would let Yoyo in. Now, if you knew Yoyo, you knew that he doesn't have a very good sense of smell. He would run around searching for me anywhere from 1 minute-10 minutes. I would laugh and call him if he had a hard time finding me; but there's one thing you could say about Yoyo, he never gives up.
   Yoyo would search for me and he wouldn't stop till he found me. He did that because he loves me. There's someone who does this for you and his name is Jesus. Sometimes we run away from Jesus, like Adam and Eve ran and hid after they sinned. God knew where Adam and Eve were but he still searched for them until they were ready to say: "here we are (I'm paraphrasing here)."
   We run away from God in our sin as well. We decide we know better or we don't want to follow God's will (like Jonah) and we run and hide. God, in his everlasting love and patience, searches for us. He calls us back to him. Sometimes we don't want to come back. We like our sin and want to stay in it. God still waits and calls. Sometimes we feel unworthy to come back to God because of everything we've done. God still accepts us back. He is the Good Shepherd who brings us back to his flock because he loves us unconditionally.
   So, have you run from God? Do you realize that God loves you and calls you back to him because he loves you? Will you follow God no matter the cost?

   Hebrews 13:5 and John 10:27-30

   Image from here.