Christmas at God's House

On Friday, December 15, 2012, the whole nation stopped to grieved what had happened in Connecticut  at Sandy Hook Elementary.  The whole weekend I purposely did not watch the news, nor did I want to really hear or talk about.  However, it was hard not seeing it on facebook or hearing the whispers around the school or at the dinner table.  My mind continue to think, "Wow, Christmas is just around the corner though."  I thought of the parents of those children who passed away and how they would feel as they finished up their Christmas preparations.  Would they try to have Christmas go on as normal?  Would they stop everything?  What about those gifts they already bought for their son or daughters--How hard would it be seeing those toys?  Gosh, as most people in the nation I grieved for the families.  Then I thought of those children who passed away and I thought they wont have another Christmas.

Then something said inside me........ "Says who?"

I started to think, "OMG, they are going to have the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!"  They are in Heaven for Christmas!!! Think about your best Christmas gift as a kid.  Think about your memories, the smells, the gifts.  I am sure you have the biggest smile on your face thinking about that special Christmas.  What great parents you had.  I know I had some fun Christmases growing up.  

Now think about what Heaven's Christmas would be like.....

I went into work thinking about this and trying to get my head in a positive mindset as we have a staff meeting and go over the new safety procedures.  When a coworker of my came in to my classroom and handed me a sheet of paper.  I proceeded to read it and chills went up my spine.  Its been what I was thinking about the whole weekend.  I wanted to share it with you today.  Think about great it would be to celebrate CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN!!!

CHRISTMAS AT GOD'S HOUSE

'Twas 11 days before Christmas around 9:38

When 20 beautiful children stormed through the Heaven's gates.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air,

They could hardly believe all of the beauty they saw there. 

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say,

They remembered nothing of what happened earlier that day.  

"Where are we?" whispered a girl as quiet as a mouse,

"This is heaven," declared a small boy, "we're spending Christmas at God's House.

When what to their wondering eyes should appear,

But Jesus, their savior.  The children gathered near. 

He look at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.   

They he opened his arms, and he called them by name. 

And in that moment was joy that only heaven can bring.

Those children flew into the arms of their King.  

And as they lingered in the warmth of his embrace, 

One small girl turned and looked at Jesus's face. 

And as if he could read all the questions she had, 

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of Mom and Dad."

Then he looked down on early, the world far below. 

He saw all the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.  

Then he closed his eyes and he stretched out his hand, 

"Let my power and presence reenter this land!

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools!

I'm taking by back my nation.  I'm taking back my schools!"

Then he and the children stood up without a sound.

"Come now, my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space.  Some skipped and some ran,

All displaying enthusiasm only a small child can

And I heard him proclaim as he walked out of sight, 

"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

So, I encourage you this holiday season as you remember these families, finish preparing for Christmas.  Lets focus the on the LIGHT instead of the darkness.  

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Biblical Worldview??

In the last few weeks, I have been spiritually challenged in a way that I have never thought I would.  I have been more and more aware with each growing day that I have been falling ever so far from what I have learned and knew in Sunday School.  I have always considered myself a Christian.  It is all what I have ever known.  I know all the famous bible stories and a few famous versus, but does that mean I am a Christian??? Well, I had a good foundation and I believed that Jesus Christ is the one true God and is the only way! However, I have been blind sided by the lack of faith I have had growing up during these past few weeks.  There has been almost an ache of some sort that reminds me that I am so far from what God has called me to be and where I need to be.  I have been playing back my childhood and noticed that most of my dependance has come from 1) my parents - for obvious reasons and 2) my friends - I have looked to my friends to "define" me, to tell me who I am and what I should do to be happy.  I have noticed that I am like a chameleon.  I change my attitude, my beliefs, my behaviors to fit the company I was with.  I have gotten very good at this.  I simply observed people and listened to them talk and knew what I need to do to get their approval of me.  However, in the last year or so I have been confronted with things that would bother me.  I noticed that I would get truly upset in private about certain things when I thought about them.  However, in public it those certain things wouldn't bother me.  I started to think.... Did I get so used to adapting my behavior to fit whatever company around that I did it without even thinking about it?  I had to, because in private when I could truly be myself, those same issue would make my blood boil!  I would become furious at myself!  With all this thinking that was happening intermittently behind the scenes, I didn't really pay much attention with what was actually going on.

I normally wake up and spend about 30 minutes of my day reading a devotional, and a chapter or two in the bible.  Thinking about that I needed to really start being more dedicated in doing devotionals.  I noticed that I was so refreshed in the morning! I would have GREAT start of the day at work, with christian radio playing worship music all day.  However, about mid day I would start to feel my high slowly start to drain.  My attention became less and less on God and my behavior started to adapt once again to the present company and I noticed that I was being emotionally and spiritually pulled down.  I have been fighting the fact that all my praying, devotions and bible reading was making me feel less and less perfect.  I couldn't do everything perfectly.  The mere thought of doing all what I am called to do perfectly was making me exhausted.  I felt more and more like a failure in my christian walk then I have ever felt before.

I had a book sitting on my kitchen table for quite a while now, maybe about a month.  I wanted to read it (thats why it was out) but I was in the middle of two other books.  However, I finished those books earlier this week.  So today I thought, "Sweet, I cant wait to read this book."  This book is called, "World View: Learning to think and live biblically" by Greg Laurie.  I have been listening to Greg in the mornings as I get ready for work.  He was advertised this book before and I have always thought, "Huh?! I think I have a biblical worldview."  Anyways, I started to read it today.  Well, guess what chapter one: Absolute truth had already challenged me.  It started off stating that absolute truth exists in this world whether you like it or not and that as a True Christian or as a Follower of Christ you need to have absolute truths in your life and you need to believe that the word of God is the absolute truth.  So, far I was agreeing with it.  Nothing was challenging me as of yet!  HAHAHA.  Well, it continues to talk about the 10 commandants.  It states that these commandants are God rules of how to follow him!

The first chapter covers the first commandant in much detail: "You should have no other Gods before me."  As I was reading a lot of the information in the chapter I have heard before.  Nothing new, after all I have been in church all my life.  However, there was a little voice that kept bugging me.  It was saying, "Sure Rachel you don't worship any other gods, like other religions, but am I the one person who you live for?!" WOW!!! OUCH!!! I heard myself say, "No, not really, I am constantly changing or adapting my behaviors and my mindset for the friends or people in my life."  :-/  Wow that wasn't what I was hoping I would say back.  So, chapter one challenged me for today, for this week and really for life.   I am blogging this so I can 1) be public about it and 2) people can hold me accountable.  I know myself, If I don't make it public and have people to hold me accountable I will adapt once again slowly and not be truly mindful about this challenge.

CHALLENGE: NOT TO LET FRIENDS, FAMILY, OR ANY ONE ELSE TO DISTRACT ME FROM WHAT I KNOW I NEED TO DO.  NOT TO LET THEM DEFINE ME OR TO CHANGE MY BEHAVIOR SO THEY CAN BE HAPPY AND ACCEPT ME!  I am tired of waiting for people to define me cause each time they do I lose a little bit more of me! Right now, I need to find me more than I need to find anyone else or anything else.  I can only find me in the one who person who made me, ME!  So, as I take a step back and refocus my eyes on the Lord and how me sees me.  My hope is that I will find a stronger and more vocal Rachel inside me.  I need to not let others dictate what they see in me.

I leave you with this verse: "He who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."  (Matthew 10:37-39)

So Lord, help me to put you first above everyone else.  Define me and make me the person who you created me to be! Give me the words to find my voice and stand up for you and what is right.  I know that I cant be good enough for you by myself.  I need you to let you COMPLETELY change me inside and out so that I have the desire to obey your commands and your words.  I don't want an "iGod" where I can personalize you in a way that fits my needs.  I want a GOD who can personalize and change me in the way that I was created to be.  I thank you for everything you've done for me.
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Are you a lion chaser?

A few months ago, Pastor Gary did a series called Fuel The series consisted of four weeks teaching us how to Fuel up on God.  The second week of this series was Fuel: the practice of reflecting.  This is particular week Pastor Gary mentioned a book, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" the sermon was about how we need to reflect on how big our God is, and that there is no pray that is "too small, too big, too easy or too difficult." This sermon caught my attention so I decided to buy the book.  

Here is a synopsis of the book: "Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn't chase.  You will look back longingly on risks not taken, opportunities not seized, and dream not pursued.  Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path.  This book is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recored in Scripture, a blessed and audacious act that left no regrets: 'Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit.  Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it.' (2 Samuel 23: 20-21) Unleash the lion chaser within!  Our best days often start our as our worst days.  And our greatest opportunities are often disguised as our biggest problems.  You can land in a pit with a lion on a snowy day, and it will seem like the end of the road.  But God is in the recycling business.  He recycles past experiences and uses them to prepare us for future opportunities.  That is the story of our lives.  Look in the rearview mirror long enough and you'll see that God has purposely positioned you everywhere you've been--even when it seemed you'd taken a wrong turn."  

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At the end of each chapter there is a questions that sums up the chapter and also help the reader to grab hold of their lion and start chasing your God-ordained opportunies.  I encourage you to answer the question yourself.  

Chapter one: 

"What skills do you think might be the most difficult for you to master?

• Defying odds?
• Facing fears?
• Reframing Problems
• Embracing uncertainty?
• Taking risks?
• Seizing opportunities?
• Looking foolish?"

Chapter two:

"How big is your God? Is he big enough to do anything or are there limits (in your mind) to what God can do?  What could you do today to begin to life with a bigger view of God?"

Chapter three:

Mark says that "One if the greatest things that can happen to you is for your fear to become a reality."  Do you believe that's true?  What fear seems the most overwhelming to you today?  What do you think you might gain if that fear became a reality?

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