Celebrating Like The 3 Wise Men

Advent started on November 28th and I'm pretty sure that if we were to ask Christians what Advent is, or how they acknowledge the Advent season we would be met with blank stares, and silence.  Indeed, Christmas has lost it's meaning to many of us.

Lately, I've been thinking about the birth of Christ and the magnitude of that day.  The beginning of our redemption.   I'd forgotten how important the birth of Christ was, and still is.  It honor of that special day  Christmas should be a time of celebration and worship for unto us a Savior was born.  

 "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

The wise men had it right. At the very sight of the star, which was a sign of Christ they rejoiced.  Later on in Matthew 2  it goes on to say that when they saw the child they fell down and worshiped Him.  Opening their treasures and giving him their best gifts.  

In light of the Season of Advent I've been reflecting on how I go about worshiping the Lord on Christmas. I still haven't come up with an answer.  Christmas to me is the only other day besides Easter that should epitomize the heart of worship.  Days like these should symbolize worship in every way.  Christmas is about giving our best gifts to God and not to one another.  I'm not saying that we shouldn't appreciate one another by giving gifts, but when we fail to acknowledge God in the process of buying or giving the gift; it ceases to be an act of worship in my opinion. At that moment it then becomes an act of consumerism that only spurs on another act of consumerism in the future. 

Through Him let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.  Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:15-16

 As Christians we have allowed the culture that surrounds us to define what Christmas should look like.  It's no longer marked by the birth of Christ, which was the beginning of our salvation.  Now, it is marked by Black Friday, Santa, and presents.  It's time for us to start celebrating Christmas in a way that glorifies Christ, becoming the antithesis of the world's version of the holiday.

 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

How do we start to reverse the damage that's already been done...worship.  lets refocus, recommit, and re-prioritize.  Christ first and everything else second.

Test of Faith

In this you rejoice , though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuinenss of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6 & 7

I have been here in Tallahassee for 3 months and 7 days. My time here has proven to be a test of my faith. The kind that I beleive Peter is talking about here in these two verses. The tested genuineness of my faith. Before moving here faith seemed like such an easy thing. And it was, until it was time to put my faith into practice and jump. Jump without checking the parachute, or figuring out all the details, but to step out on faith and watch God work out the details as I forged ahead into the unknown, trusting in Him, beleiving that what He says about Himself is the truest thing that I will ever know. And until I shake off the chains of fear and step out in faith how will I know Him to be true. How will I learn how to trust Him more? How will my faith grow?

I moved to Tallahassee never having been here before to join a ministry that I'd never partaken in before, to be apart of a leadership team that has not yet fully been discovered, to start something new on a campus I'd never set foot on. God was calling me to entrust to Him the vision that I'd seen for myself, so that He could re-vise the vision and make it His own. "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I am doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18 & 19

A big part of this faith journey for me has been waiting. Waiting on God to reveal what He already knows, waiting on Him to provide the way in the wilderdness, to reveal the next steps I am to take, and nourish me in the midst of the desert. Never before have I experienced God's provision the way I have here in Tallahassee. Within the first month of me being here God lavished upon me unconditional love, grace, and favor. He provided me with a great affordable place to live; I was given a car and in the midst of a time where people are being layed off, I was given a good job, and it was all His doing. He has done and is doing more than I could ever ask or think. I'm excited to see what the future holds as I continue to wait on the Lord and step out in faith. Although there are times when the wait makes me weary, I will rejoice because I know that God is working all things out for my good. He's given me every reason to put all of my faith in Him and Him alone.