JRMITCH85 Decisions, Faith, Hope

2013 will bring trials of all sorts, but…

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This New Year will not be perfectly harmonious, I know that may not be the most clairvoyant statement, but it is one that we should take to heart as we look into the new year. For many of us it has already presented its first trial or two. Some of these trials are unavoidable, some we create ourselves; some will be big, some will be small; some will make us feel like giving up, some will make us want to dig in our heels and fight. For each trial we have options and directions that we can go, but whatever we face, there is always hope.

The bible is full of passages about trials of all sorts. David faced many trials. Some of them he caused himself, some he couldn’t avoid, but in the face of every trial he turned to the face of God. I admire that about David.

David, by no fault of his own, but powered by jealousy, was pursued by Saul. Each of these times David asked for God to deliver him. He did not betray the blessing of God as he would not take matters into his own hands by killing Saul, as he had opportunity to do so, but rather he leaned upon God to take care of him. He wrote about it, he sang songs about God’s blessing.

Even in his darkest hour, as he transgressed God’s commandments and committed adultery, and then covered up his adultery by committing murder (2 Sam 11), when the prophet confronts him he repents. This repentance didn’t help avoid the death of his child, it didn’t help avoid the loss of power to his son, but it got him back in right relation with God. To David, his relationship with God was paramount, not all of his earthly possessions.

2013 is here, and we will face challenges of all sorts, but if we try to emulate King David in his earnest pursuit of the heart and mind of the Almighty God, then these trials may make us into better followers of God, and more equipped to face trials of all sorts. That is my prayer, “May I learn to be more like David leaning upon You more and my own understanding less, may I sing to You God in good times and in times of need. Help me, fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I may be completely yours, and help me to remain yours no matter what trials I may face.” Amen.

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Merry Christmas

As we have arrived near the peak of the holiday season at Christmas, packages that have been prepared and wrapped carefully are about to be torn apart to reveal the prizes that await their benefactors. I know I am excited to watch my kids check out all of the toys, games, and goodies that my wife and I have prepared and carefully placed under the tree. As much as we try and avoid the commercial aspects of Christmas, somehow it always sucks us in, and we look forward to the stuff waiting under the tree. 

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However, the “New” Hope that we don’t have to wait to open is the love of God that readily awaits us to accept and then pass along to all those with whom we come in contact. God has given this love to us fully. We don’t deserve this gift, our lives would probably place us on the “Naughty List”, but God sent Christ as an infant, taught us, and sent us a huge gift by dying on the cross for our transgressions. Through the life and death of Christ, we have hope, peace is upon us, joy is available, and by all of these God wraps us up in love.

On this Christmas, I wish you all hope and peace, joy and God’s love abounding in all of your lives.

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Self Reflection

Reflections on Self, Christmas As My Mirror

Holidays are often a time when I do some self reflection, however the season, and the emotions around the season often distort my perspective, and thus don’t provide me with the clearest picture of myself. This year, as I reflect on the blessings that have come, as well as the challenges, I must reflect on the man that I am, as well as ponder the man into which I want to grow.

“Lord, I ask your blessings in my reflection, help me grow into being a better husband, a better father, a better friend, and through the power of your Spirit may I be a better follower of you.” Amen

JRMITCH85 Faith, Hope

God Came, Therefore I Know Christ Is Coming

Eagerly we anticipate this season. Thanksgiving has past, and now the decorations go up, houses get lit up, parties get planned, cookies are baked, and we begin to get ready for the Christmas holiday. Commercially, this is the season of spending, this is the season where we see how well our economy is doing. We purchase gifts for loved ones, and others to whom we feel obligated. Debt is accumulated. Weight is gained. Consumerism is filing the air. This is the backdrop of contrast that we find Advent.

Spiritually, this is the season where we celebrate and commemorate the coming of Christ as an infant, and prepare our hearts for the second-coming of Christ. So much of the skepticism regarding the second coming focus on the empty manger.

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However, God’s promise about the coming salvation came in the form of an infant. Unexpected in form, but a promise fulfilled. This serves as a warning for us about our preconceived notions about the form of God’s fulfilled promises. What we need to focus upon is the fact that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, therefore I know God is coming back, because the character of God is the same as it was 2000 years ago when Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem.

When we look at this in reference to the commercial hope surrounding the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is plenty of contrasts. Commercial hope depends on what we do, how much we spend, how much we decorate, and how much we do. This is empty hope, because it is uncertain, and hope that is uncertain is not hope at all.

In this season of Advent, I will focus upon the consistency of God. My hope is assured in the fact that the Advent of the Almighty God is happening because it happened. Stay on your toes, and don’t lose hope. May God be celebrated and worshipped, for God’s hope (elpis) is eager anticipation of what is certain.

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Stuck

This week I returned from a long break, and I have spent the last two days playing catch up. Yesterday, I beat down a pile of paperwork that had been accumulating, and today was spent dealing with my computer that had to be “refreshed”. Ironically, this is what a vacation is supposed to do for us, but my computer had to wait for me to get back for the same refreshment. All that being said, I still find myself in the same predicament that I was in when I walked through the door this morning, a lot of catching up to do, because today I was stuck giving the device that is supposed to boost my productivity its much needed “refresh”. I felt like I was stuck, like the people in the ride shown in the picture above. This is what the endless cycle of technology does to us sometimes, it makes us dependent upon it and then makes us work twice as hard trying to fix the problems it causes.

Funny thing that happened though in the midst of the maddening frustration with my computer was that I actually was allowed to move away from the screen, and I was able to put pen to paper and work on solving problems with all that education with which I have been blessed. Computers can be amazing, and I am thankful when they save me and abundant amount of time, but sometimes I need to remember that I should not rely upon them as much as I do. That is what made me feel as if I was stuck. Whether or not our computers, or iPads, or smart phones are working, things still need to get done. I am thankful for the perspective that today has given me regarding my technology reliance.

I am also reminded that I should rely upon God more. God did create the people that designed and built the computers, but God cares about me more than the computer, and God has given me a mind to problem solve. Today, I am loved by God, and with God I am not STUCK. Don’t get stuck in front of your screen, look up and notice that God has created a beautiful world around you, and that the Almighty would have still created it even if it was only you to enjoy it all.