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Make Room – a short word while preparing for Christmas

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“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:7

When the time came for Jesus to be born, Mary and Joseph entered Bethlehem seeking a place to settle down. They were called back to that land because there was a census being taken. With so many families returning to the area, you can only imagine how populated the town was.

As Mary’s last pregnancy term was ending, she and Joseph knew the birth would be happening soon. They knew they needed a place to stay that would be suitable for the arrival of their son, the Messiah.

However, as they got dismissed by the numerous innkeepers whose rooms were filled to the max, they came across one who was different. He saw Mary and Joseph and although he had no room in his inn, he made room for them in another area (most likely the shelter where the animals were kept).

This man saw some sort of significance in this family…in this baby boy…and made room even though it seemed he had none to spare.

I love this story so much. As we are here on Christmas Eve’s Eve, I can’t help but envision this was around the time that Mary and Joseph endured this struggle of finding a stable place for Jesus.

To the world, it was just the birth of a baby. But to them, and to this innkeeper, whether he knew it before or after…it was the arrival of the highest King.

As we prepare for the arrival of Christ this Christmas, will you make room for Him in your life?

The holiday season is one of, if not, the busiest time of the year. Yes, it is valuable to gather with family and friends, and to spread love and joy, but will you remember who we celebrate Christmas for? Will you take time to thank God for the greatest gift of all?

Prepare your heart, for the King is coming. Don’t let the chaos of this season cloud your vision…make room.

December 23rd, 2021

The Flaw in Perfection

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How the misinterpretation of the true meaning has left so many in pursuit of an unattainable goal.

 "Be therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect"
- Matthew 5:48

“I am a perfectionist…”, “If I could just have some more time to perfect this…”, “Once I get perfect at this, God will use me in a multitude of ways…”

Perfect: make (something) completely free from faults or defects, or as close to such a condition as possible.

Simply Perfection. If we could all just strive until we reach that level of skill, everything will fall into place…right?

Society nowadays has built up such an unhealthy idea of perfection. Whether it is relating to ones talents, skills, body, personality, career, family, status, etc. There is seemingly this unspoken hunt for perfection that nobody wants to talk about.

We see it in students as they tear themselves apart over anything less than an A on a test. We see it in Pastors as they preach with a sense of discouragement when they notice that half of the pews are empty. We see it in Parents as they argue with each other at the smallest mention of their wayward child. We see it in the kid who skips meal after meal as they push to get their ideal body type.

I could go on and on listing the effects that perfectionism plays in the lives of billions across the globe.

This idea of “flawless” has taken a toll on nearly everyone. The moment a person gains a passion for something, perfectionism is what makes themselves their biggest enemy.

But how does this affect our relationship with God?

As many know, the Bible is not shy when it comes to telling us who we are as humans. It is written in countless verses that we are sinners, far from perfect, lost without Christ, and incapable of saving ourselves. So if God is clear that we will never reach this level of perfection, why would Jesus call us to be perfect in the verse above (Matthew 5:48)?

To understand the true meaning of this verse and the reason behind why Jesus gives us such a serious call, we must first break down the true definition behind the original words used when this verse was written.

The Hebrew Word: “Tam” or “Tamim”

The Greek Word: “Teleios”

= complete; mature; finished; fully developed.

As you can see, “flawless” or “without mistake” is not one of the definitions. This is not to say that God is not flawless, but rather, this word used in the original text was meant to describe one who completes, with maturity, the main command of God. That being, to love God and love your neighbor as you are being sanctified (Matthew 22:37-39).

We were never called to be flawless. It is made clear that God knows is impossible for any human to reach such a goal. If that was not true, there would be no need for Christ and salvation, we would be able to attain it ourselves.

In a culture where the majority is being swayed to believe that a certain style, body type, personality, education, etc. is “perfect” and all else must either step aside or aim to reach the same standards, we easily lose our focus from what really matters. We let ourselves, or our dreams, become our idols.

Every time we try to measure up to some standard society or even our own minds encourage us to pursue, we lose sight of who God called us to be. So all in all…strive for perfection, but in the way God intended, not the world.

Scars

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“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

– Isaiah 41:10

Something I’ve come to realize is how valuable our battles are…

It’s inevitable to face downs in life, it’s the effects of living in a sinful world. However, it is still seemingly one of the hardest things to accept. People all over the word endure a variety of sufferings, but how we see them is the important thing I want to share with y’all.

So many people look back with regret from various decisions or events in their lives that leave their name scarred. Whether it be the things we did, said, or experienced, we all have those “dark times or moments” that we wish could just be erased from our story.

But allow me to show you the value in your scars…

I love this verse stated above because yes, it’s a pleasant reassurance to have God’s help in our desperate times, but what I find even more captivating is the fact that when we are in the valleys, we have the opportunity to witness God move in miraculous ways.

Without those downs, we would have never experienced the humility in our humanity.

I think the most beautiful thing we can witness is the compassion God shows while moving in our hearts and lives.

However, without those wounds, we would never have the opportunity to show others the scars; not so much highlighting the struggle of the battle, but the power of our God in the midst of it.

Our scars are our individually unique reminders that yes, we are imperfect humans, but also that we have a perfect God. A God so powerful that no matter how intense the battle was, it’s simply a scar and a story now.

Whether you’re ashamed of your past or you just don’t see a value in it, think again.

Our sins should not be something we boast about, but rather, use that time in your life as a glory story about how good the Lord is.

He is so loving and forgiving that EVEN WITH all of our brokenness, He gladly fights on our side, claiming victory over our battles day by day.

May we never hide our scars, for they are our testimony of God’s merciful work in our lives.

One of the greatest examples where we can witness the significance of scars is in Luke 24:39.

“See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

This verse was when the resurrected Jesus came back to eat with the disciples and they were scared because they didn’t believe it was truly Him.

How great is it that by, of all things, the SCARS from a treacherous experience is how we can most easily identify our Lord.

It’s quite ironic that the marks in which many see as imperfections on themselves, are marks signifying a glorious act of redemption on Jesus.

He is seen to have kept these scars, even in His resurrected body, as a sign. A sign showing the power in which God had over death and how He turned something intended for bad, into the greatest act of love ever expressed in history.

Jesus endured great affliction, but just as He let the Father use it for our good and His glory, we should surrender our pains for Him to do the same.

If there is anything I can encourage you to do, it is stop. Stop listening to the enemy when he whispers in your ear saying that you are no good anymore…that your trials are signs of God not caring about you…that you have no value or purpose…or that you are too far gone, too scarred up, and too broken to be a part of God’s storyline.

As we face battle after battle, gaining countless scrapes and bruises, begin seek God’s understanding of how He can move in your life. We can take action by simply praying each day for wisdom, clarity, peace, strength, and hope, because our God is a God who listens. He cares so so so much about you and gladly stands by your side.

This does not mean your trials will disappear or that your situation will always result in the way you want it to, but it does mean that He will hold your hand, and as you lay your burdens on Him, He will guide you to the finish line where one day, on earth or in heaven, the reason for your scars will be revealed as a significant symbol of His power and love for us.

Blessed are we, that our God uses the misfits to carry out His mission. May we have hope in His sovereignty and rest in His faithfulness.

Season To Come

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“…I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope…” 

– Psalm 130:5

As you grow in your walk in Christ, you will notice the term “waiting” becomes very familiar. Whether it may be in regards to a relationship, healing, wisdom, discernment, a job, a family, etc. Waiting on the Lord’s timing is something people all throughout the church will encourage you to do in an attempt to help you build hope and trust in God and His sovereignty. But something that many people often hold back on mentioning, is how to find joy and patience in that waiting season.

In psalm 130, the psalmist writes with a sense of passion towards waiting and a sense of complete surrenderance towards God’s promise to redeem.

However, this does not mean we will all be able to just drop all of our anxieties and doubts and trust God with our circumstance. Life is hard. We all go through various battles and some longer and more excruciating than others. But lose not your hope because of the size or complexity of your fight. Because I can promise you one thing is true, our God is bigger and stronger.

However, this feeling of peace and genuine hope grows only by one way. Seeking, understanding, and obeying the Lord. We can not logically put our trust in someone we do not know. You may know the name of Jesus and you may know the stories of what God did throughout the Bible, but until you pursue God’s CHARACTER by studying His history, truly trusting Him with your life and all the battles that come with it will never happen.

Many people give up because they are told they do not have enough faith. Or they are not favored by God. Or that they are praying wrong. But I am here to tell you that none of that is true. 

Our lives are bound to have struggles. Because of the symptoms of sin in this world, we will never live in a perfect paradise until we are with the only one who is perfect, God. So I am not promising your prayers will be answered in the way you wish them to be. But I am promising that this season of waiting does not have to be discouraging. And one day, whether it be here on earth or in Heaven with God, your dry winter season will end and may you have hope in that. 

I love the song “seasons” by Hillsong Worship because of how true it is. God knows the pain and the suffering you are enduring. He is not the one putting you through it though. That blame goes to Satan and the symptoms of sin in this world. 

If you look at the life of Jesus, He was born a baby. He did not just appear on earth ready to sacrifice Himself. He waited. For roughly 30 years, Jesus did not even start His time of public ministry. Why? Because He was trusting and obeying God the Father and His perfect timing. 

If Jesus would have been crucified as a child, many would have lost the chance to be directly impacted by His hand. The Father let His Son walk this earth for about 33 years so we can wholeheartedly believe He knows our struggles. He endured the same pains, He knows what it’s like to be tempted, He knows what it’s like to lose the ones close to Him, and He knows what it’s like to sacrifice and give up everything for those who He loves.

So understanding who God is, is the answer to the search for hope and trust during this waiting season. For me personally, I set my hope in, yes, seasons to come later on in my life. But because I am not promised tomorrow, my greatest hope is not of what will happen here on earth, but what will happen when I stand face to face with my God, my savior, my redeemer. With a hope set there in Christ, the enemy loses His hold on me. 

I encourage you to grow your heavenly mindset. When you do, this world cannot stand a chance in stealing your hope, your joy, or your heart.

“Though the winter is long, even richer

The harvest it brings

Though my waiting prolongs, even greater

Your promise for me, like a seed,

I believe that my season will come”

-Hillsong Worship

August 5th, 2021

Freedom ((4th of July))

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“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written;

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the
captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’

And He rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And he began to say to them;

‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’”
– Luke 4:16-21

This world is very broken…I’m sure there Is no dispute on that. We need liberation, freedom, from TONS of things. But may we rest with joyful hearts that we have freedom from the things most consuming…all unholy chains. This does not mean our lives here on earth will not contain things like fear, illness, loneliness, etc., it simply means we can have hope in our perfect future in heaven (which won’t contain any unholy things) AND we don’t have to let these things keep us captive in life. Our potential is no longer dependent on the length of the chain these things hold us by. Through the grace and mercy of the LORD, our Liberator, we have the ability to pursue greater things. We have the ability to pursue the holiness in which God calls us to, because of His great forgiveness and gift of freedom.

And so today, I want to give encouragement that this freedom from the things keeping us away from God is not the only freedom we get the privilege of celebrating.

Today we celebrate the freedom and birth of a new country, just as God freed us, allowing us to be made new, so has the United States of America been blessed and freed to start a new life in 1776.

Our country is nowhere near perfect, and neither are we, but may we rejoice in the good things it contains. God bless America as He has since it’s beginning.

July 4th, 2021