Wow New Year

I honestly cannot believe that it is now a new year. It was just weeks ago that we had a Thanksgiving meal. The Christmas season was filled with activity and that blizzard really threw a wrench into the plans. Nonetheless - it was a nice time of family and friends and focus. Focusing on what is really important and the true meaning behind the celebration of Christmas.

I am very motivated, passionate to say: Let's Celebrate Christ everyday. We don't need decorations or deserts to celebrate CHRISTmas. We honor Christ by how we live. Bring God glory by exhibiting the love and mercy of Christ.

This is not only a new year but a new decade. We pause and take a reflection on the joy it had. We learn from the mistakes we made. We chart a new course. I urge you to make it a course that Christ has designed. I have a feeling that this year is going to move even faster. so let's take a deep breath, check our priorities, work wisely, and go for it.

I love that I can live with the truth that God is my Fortress, My shield, my protector. I am so ready for 2010 and all that I can do, all that the church can do, all that God's family can do for Him. As we freshly say God we need you, then let us with anticipation trust that He will use us to further His cause and Kingdom. Be blessed let focus, focus, focus and the work to be done.

Jay

Sleep Issues -

Reasons I do not sleep well at night

1. I stay up to late watching sports - especially football. Late nights and early mornings don't mix.
2. I eat poorly after 6pm (fried or saucy foods) and that often does not set well on the stomach.
3. I have neighbors that play poker outside at midnight. Seriously...!
4. I live close to a school that has a small sled hill and last night we had midnight sledding
5. If I play any Xbox games it is usually late at night and I admit getting into them occasionally.
6. If Christa does not sleep well for three of the above reasons she goes down stairs. I need the body heat, so I get cold and can't sleep.
7. Stress of life
8. Rehearsing sermons and general brainstorming

Not all of these are bad things - some are enjoyable, fun and even productive. Yet I sure do crave a good nights sleep. It would really be awesome to string a couple of night together without an interruption.

Now I will say that on nights that I am not sleeping and normally not always pray. So I have covered some ground this year. Maybe I need to pray for sleep. I don't know how many people have faced these same sleep stealer's - but if you have I am open to your wisdom.

Maybe tonight will be a good night.

Jay

J

Snow Issues

What a paradox. I love to look at snow fall, but hate to shovel it. I love to look at icicles hanging on the tree but hate to drive over it. No doubt my skepticism of what snow could be in Virginia got shattered this weekend. I moved here from Colorado and nothing has come close to a snow storm in the last four years until this last weekend.

When we get stuck, we learn to redeem time. We caught up some as family, played a few games and attempting to watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We also had some nice time to reflect on the joy of Christmas. Seriously disappointed to miss the Sunday service and postpone the Christmastime musical. I know that there is a plan and that God can use our shuffling of events and timing to make good things happen.

As I sat and watched my two oldest in their choir concert this past Thursday I had a real moment of reflection as the both looked so nice in a tux and dress. Once again time is moving at a speed that I cannot stop. Except for that choir concert - 22 songs. My daughter in the 1st group and my son in the final one so I got all 22.

Enjoy Christmas everyone - redeem time, reflect, and remember the important things in life.

Peace

Jay

Growing is good

I love that my kids are growing and maturing. A part of me also hates it. I hate that I am aging and finding out about weight, ear hair, baldness and you get the idea. But one thing that I love is that I can still find a freshness in my walk with Christ.

I have to celebrate some of what God has done lately. Not in any real material ways, but in some spiritual awakening. I have always struggled to slow down. Right now I am in a season of go - go-go. I struggle with the idea of solitude. Yet - that is what I am finding in the midst of all the noise. I am recognizing that God is a big God and I will let him be that. That the clutter of our days can never match the wonder of who God is. If you really try you can find it.

So my encouragement to all of you today is find little moments to celebrate who God is. It might just change your life.

Be blessed today

J

The Big Picture of God's plan

I know that I am a human, emotional, small, being on this large planet. I get caught up in the day to day, the mundane, the pace, the tasks, the issues, the toil, and the needs that everyday life can bring. Yet all that said, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I therefore have a job to do that is the most important one on the earth. It is my job a Christian, not pastor, that should motivate my daily living.

Each day means a new opportunity to share the grace, love and mercy of Christ to another. What an incredible thing to know that God uses people to show the love, mercy, and grace of God. Read I Pet 4:10 and you will see that God uses people and many times in places we would least expect it.

So there you go - God's living breathing plan is not the institution of church but the organism of Christians. It is the basis of how most of us came to faith in Christ - another person shared, displayed, gave. My urging to you today is not to allow the distractions of life cloud your mind. YOU have a divine purpose....Show the Love of Christ and dispense, steward, manage, administer God's grace. Very cool....So seize the day and it's God opportunities.

J

God is moving

Wow - there is no doubt that God is still doing miracles. The miracle of salvation, the miracle of life change, the miracle of relationships. I have to admit that in the midst of a busy life you can grow dependent on self. You can see your abilities and begin to lost your dependence on God. To lost dependence is to lose trust. It is to lose faith.

We would never admit a faith crisis, but ask this question. Am I relying on God in my daily living. In other word have we relegated our spirituality to an off and on switch. Or how about an emotional switch. I needed a freshness that I got from our past few weeks. At Horizons we saw many people come and receive a compass as we talked about a one degree of change and that new path. To many to count. Then this past Sunday we had the spontaneous Baptism with 18 new Baptisms and 7 planned ones for a total of 25. It was so cool to hear the authenticity of testimonies from those being Baptized.

It reminded me that I need to be aware of God's presence and that He always does more and goes bigger than I believed. (I was praying for 6 people to Baptize). My encouragement to you dear reader is "Walk by faith, not by sight" and know that God is real, and ever present we just have to slow down to see it.

Little Things

Over the past few weeks we have been talking about the Degree of Difference. Just one degree of effort could radically change your world. How true is that? I think it is becoming more and more evident with each passing day. As I get a bit older, a bit wiser, a bit grayer, I can look around me and see the extra degree people.

The extra degree effect is big, but it can take some time. For instance if you start saving just a little today and tomorrow it may not be huge a month from now, but what about five years at that pace.

Take that thought and invest it into a relationship, a spiritual discipline, or a health move. You get the idea, that little things mean a lot, a whole lot over time! So with this knowledge what should we do? Make the decision and take the action of one more degree. Today, make the change of course, thesubtle but oh so powerful decision to act. Do it now, seriously, do it right now. You will thank me in the future.

blessings

Jay