I don’t wish for a job,
I don’t wish for a car.
I don’t wish for a home,
I have all that so far.

I don’t wish for a friend,
I don’t wish for a wife,
I don’t wish for a church,
I am content with my life.

I don’t wish for more clothes,
I don’t wish for more to eat,
I don’t wish for more money,
with the Jones’ I don’t compete.

There is nothing that I really need,
but there is something I want done.
Receive more of God’s grace and love.
May it “change” the world, one by one.

Watch this video:
https://youtu.be/9DXL9vIUbWg

Photo by Cathy Wang

There is a Christmas song I really like titled, “Mary Did You Know?” written by Mark Lowry.  The song ask Mary did you know your baby would… and it goes on to list a lot of the great things that Jesus did while here on earth.

Mary birthed “Hope”.  But did she truly realize the magnitude of the one she was giving birth to?  Does any parent ever know who their child will grow up to be?  My question for Mary would be, “When did you know?  At what point?  After which miracle, did you believe your son was the One the angel of the Lord first told you he would be?  Mary, when did you believe that your son was indeed God’s Son?”  Everyone will be asked the same question.  “When did you believe?”  I hope it’s not when you are standing before Him being judged for that will be too late.

Another thought: Not to minimize the importance of Mary, but she too was a sinner who needed the gift of salvation that the son she bore came to give.

Birth “Hope”.  Give people the greatest gift that was ever given to you.  Deliver the hope we have in Jesus Christ with everyone you can this season and every day, so like Mary, they will know.

Merry Christmas to all of you.  May you know God, a little better every day.

There are many stages to life.  I once heard a great sermon by pastor Mike Breaux titled, “From Walker to Walker”.  He showed how we go from a baby walker to a walker used by the elderly, and all the stages in between.

My ex-wife and I were at a company party at a skating rink.  I wanted my son to enjoy the evening as well.  They wouldn’t let me carry him around while I skated, but they let me push him around in his walker.  One problem: the plastic wheels got hot from the speed and melted.  It’s hard to use a walker with one side of each wheel flat.  Although by using it after that evening we always knew where he was in the house; right where we had left him.

Two train buddies, Judy and Jan, are retiring this month.  I’m happy for them, but a little envious, for now they get to do what they want to do, and not what they have to do to survive.  This should be a good stage in life.

Then there are the stages of cancer.  I have another friend going through that right now.  She smiles, and says she is doing okay, but I wonder when she looks at herself in the mirror is she really okay?  I struggle with finding the right words to say to her.  I can tell her I am praying for her, but how do I show her I really care?

As we walk through the stages of life, which is like a vapor that passes before our eyes (James 4:14) it is important to make the most of each one.  The only way to do that is to trust God as you are in that particular stage and to be content in it.  No matter how you are walking through life know this; if you are a child of God you are not alone.  You may be single, married, have lots of friends, or just one, but there is indeed one who is always walking with you.  His name is Jesus.  Whatever stage you are in He may walk beside you, in front of you leading the way, or He may be carrying you, but He is indeed there with you.

Have you ever wondered what life would have been like if you had never been born?  Okay Mark, “Did you watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” again this year?”  Yes, I did.  I do every year.  It’s a … well a tradition, but back to my question.  Have you?

I think it would be a travesty for anyone who is a disciple of Jesus Christ to have not been born.  You see when we do our best to be like Jesus we too are light that shines in a very dark world.  Perhaps the majority of us don’t save lives, or give our entire savings to those in need, but the little things we do would go undone, because you would not be here to do them.

The staying a little longer to help out, the written note showing your gratitude, the holding of a door while sharing a warm smile.  If you weren’t here who would do those things, and all of the other things that you do?

I know whether spoken or not the things you do for others in the love of Christ are noticed and appreciated.  And for some, the things you do make a difference.  You, yes you may be the brightest part of one’s day.  Without you in their life there possibly would only be darkness.  Please never underestimate the impact you have on people.  The same people that matter to God.  Who knows?  He may have orchestrated your life intersecting theirs so they feel Him and His love for them that day.

When you are in the family of God you have the unbelievable privilege of being a part of the greatest thing God does on earth…touching lives and building God’s kingdom for eternity.  So you see, when you are a child of God you really do have a wonderful life.