What’s on Your Christmas List?

I remember being so excited when the JCPenny and Sears Christmas catalogs would arrive at our house as a kid. I would look through them and pick out all sorts of things that would be on my list. As I’ve grown up, my list has gotten smaller and I’ve come to realize that I don’t “need” nearly as many things on my list as I thought I did.

If anyone has come to realize this, it would have to be people who God has asked to lead the Israelites over history. If you ask most folks in the military for what they need to obtain victory, they will talk to you about numbers of troops, technology and ammunition, and strategic locations. God used the physical example of Moses raising his staff to defeat the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). God told Gideon that 22,000 troops were too many and slashed the troop allotment to a mere 300 men to defeat the Midianites (Judges 7). God told Joshua to march around the walls of Jericho, which were 25 feet tall by 20 feet thick, once a day for six days. On the seventh day they were told to march around the city seven times blowing their trumpets and the mighty walls collapsed.

So, we can talk about what God needs to give us in order for us to be joyful...or we can realize that we are made to serve the almighty God of the universe. Jesus told us “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33). Have you looked at your wish list lately? Are you happy with what’s on it?

Encouragement in the Face of Doubt

Have you ever been to a lecture or press conference where the speaker just got hammered with questions? These situations result from the audience strongly disagreeing or questioning the opinion of the speaker. Whether directly said or not, the audience is thinking “Are you serious?”, “That will never work!”, or “How can you be so sure you are right?”.

God is bigger than our fears and doubts. Moses thought he was inadequate to present God’s case to Pharaoh due to his speaking troubles and the unbelief of the Israelites. Instead of giving up on Moses, God provided Aaron to speak for him (Exodus 6:28-7:2). Gideon asked God for several signs before he believed that God was going to use him to save Israel from attack (Judges 6:37-39). Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead when the other disciples told him. Jesus showed mercy on Thomas and allowed Thomas to see, feel, and believe in His resurrection soon thereafter (John 20:19-29).

We all have doubts at times in our lives. God welcomes people bringing honest doubts and questions to him. He has shown us a track record of using people who have doubted to glorify His kingdom. So, what is it that you want to ask God today?

Lessons From Failure

You may have heard about Josh Hamilton having a relapse from his battle with alcoholism. The actual incident occurred in January, but the photos were released this past Saturday (story on MLB.com). Unfortunately, this is all too vivid a reminder that “nothing concealed will not be known or brought out in the open” (Luke 8:17). So, what are we to take away from Mr. Hamilton’s night “off the wagon”?

1. We are all vulnerable - The great apostle Paul said “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). Paul had a remarkable change from being Saul of Tarsus responsible for killing Christians to being a major influence in spreading the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles. If a man as great as Paul still struggled with sin after such a dramatic change, why should we expect to be any different.
2. The story doesn’t have to end in failure - Samson was given great strength by God that enabled him to kill a 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:13-15) . Yet over time he gave into his desires for Delilah, telling her that the secret of his strength was his hair (Judges 16:17). Once the Philistines learned his weak point, they shaved his head, seized him, and gouged out his eyes (Judges 16:19-22). Samson prayed to the Lord to return his strength and was able to kill more Philistines in his death than during his life (Judges 16:28-30). There are many other examples as well including: 1) Peter denying Christ 3 times (Luke 22:34, 54-60) and still being allowed to preach a sermon where 3,000 were saved and 2) David committing adultery with Bathsheba and then orchestrating the murder of her husband, yet being called a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). This is because “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Certainly Mr. Hamilton has people that believe his recovery isn’t real because of this relapse. Fortunately, Mr. Hamilton’s wife is firmly in his corner and her faith in God is quite evident in her responses to critics (Katie Hamilton article). Paul did not want to take Mark on a second mission trip after Mark had deserted them on a prior trip (Acts 15:37-40). After a sharp disagreement, Barnabas decided to part ways with Paul and take Mark with him. Later, Paul said “Get Mark and bring him with you, he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2nd Timothy 4:11). This doesn’t mean that any one person will have such a dramatic turnaround...although we can certainly hope, pray, and encourage them.