What is unfailing? Can you think of a single product which you can describe as unfailing? What about people? Is there anyone in your life whom you can describe as unfailing?

No matter how hard we try… Or how good we think we are… We will fail at something or fail someone. But there is On e who is unfailing. And His love for you and me is also unfailing. Isn’t that awesome?

He never fails us.
He will never fail you.
Place your eyes on Him…place your hope and trust on Him!

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me. (Psalm 13:5, 6 NIV)

I am on a flight from New Orleans going back home after our annual Field Kick-Off Meeting… Reading an old essay on Galatians 3:13 by Martin Luther.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Galatians 3:13 NIV)

The passage in Galatians above references the passage below which is beyond awesome what Christ did for us. Taking the curse upon himself. My curse and yours…

If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22, 23 NIV)

We are all about stability and consistency. Even if you think you are not … You are. There is something admirable about those people who are ‘unshakeable.’. More than admirable… Enviable!

But you know what? Even those that appear unshakeable are still very much shakeable. The recipe for stability, strength of character under any situation, integrity, dependability … (you choose the word) is right below. Psalm 15

Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person
but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest;
who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken. (Psalm 15:1-5 NIV)

We were at a study on Book of Acts last night. Reviewed chapter 7. Wow. Those are harsh words spoken by Stephen. The audience back then was cut right to the heart… These words are also for me and for you. May the Lord soften our hearts and may we not miss what He is telling us.

One way or another we are slaves to something. No matter what you say… How sophisticated, smart or mature you may think you are… We are always slaves. Now, I ask you (as I am asking myself right now) … Who is your master?

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16 NIV)

True comfort… From the Only One who can truly and permanently comfort…

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 NIV)

Thank you Lord. You are our hope and our comfort! Even when we don’t need it … Perhaps we think we don’t need it (because You are already comforting us)!

You don’t have to fear tomorrow… Which is good news! He is our tomorrow and our future! But another piece of good news is that you don’t have to fear your past either. You can be free from it. You learn from it… You are better person because of what you take out of it… But you are not a slave to it. You are not controlled to it.

You live because He lives.
You are free because He has made you free.
He paid the price.

We were going to a concert a local church was holding with Don Moen but both Daniel and I are under the weather so … We stayed home. A nice, comfy and quaint time just the three of us.

After midnight we went out and burnt 8 large sparklers. Lots of fun.

So much has changed … To think that a year ago we were celebrating with people we used to see several times a week and which we hardly see anymore. People we shared so much with but who are no longer part of our lives. It is just so strange… But that is where the Lord has taken us.

The Problem with the Gospel is NOT the Gospel. How can good news be a problem? Good news is a problem when we are unprepared or unwilling to accept the news as ‘good.’ It is ironic but the more I wander and read what folks are writing the more this idea is proven and confirmed in my heart. Many are still trying to mould the good news of Jesus Christ into our own human and limited image. Viewing the Story and the Author of that story through our own dirty lense.  We apply our opinions, our hurt, our biases and everything else to God.  We bring Him down to our level and of course the magic, the beauty the wonder of it all simply fades.   The glory and awesomeness of the story is lost in our own abridged and twisted versions.

One of the messages from my pastor over December spoke a little about this. Somewhat indirectly but it did talk about recapturing the glory and awesomeness of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Think back to when you were a child in December. There was a sense of wonder, awe, amazement and mystery in our minds as we thought about Christmas and the legend of Santa Claus. Our culture works hard to cultivate that sense of wonder and they call it the “Magic of Christmas”. As we grow older we lose this sense of anticipation and excitement when we realize that the story of Santa isn’t true. The tragedy is that for many people the same thing happens when we think of the real Christmas Story and the birth of Jesus. It is a story filled with miracles, signs and wonders and yet for many the sense that this miracle working God could perform any of those miracles today seems to fade in our lives. The sense of wonder, awe and anticipation and miraculous possibilities of the Christmas story have given way to the focus, cares and concerns for this life. How can we recapture the sense of wonder and awe of the Christmas story?

Go here to listen to the message: The Magi of Christmas

This message was part of my own journey as God prepares for 2o12.  In the weeks leading to this message there was a strong sense from God about gratitude and beauty.   To be grateful in all things… and to understand that beauty is found only in Him.  I can appreciate and enjoy all things under all circumstances only in Him and through Him.  His Story becomes my story.  His Good News is my good news.  His meaning and purpose become mine as I gain meaning and purpose in my life.

As we change our perspective and rid ourselves of those things that hold us back from Him … then we no longer see problems with the Gospel … because we recognize that all along we were the ones with the problem.

(I realize I am all over the place here… but I am trying to catch up and in some strange way it does make sense to me)

As usual, I am not exactly sure what is going on… . But I definitely feel the hand of God doing something in my heart and life. Like a preparation for the year ahead. It is as is if I am to deal with some ‘housecleaning’ items so the path will become clearer. There are little things that are not so little and that need to be taken care of. If I tried to explain what some of those seemingly insignificant things are you would probabably be surprised and think that I am mot likely mistaken. That I am taking action on things that are so small that are not important for the Lord.

Believe me I would have thought so too… But even the smallest things can be a source of pride. Even the smallest things can be a distraction from what God wants me to focus on. The smallest things can become idols … And they have.