OneChapel Women

When Aimee Parsley prompted us to seek a word for the year, I didn’t put the process into my schedule of “things to do”. You see, I already had a full plate – weeks, months, even years carefully planned out in advance. Therein lies the problem. I have become so structured that I live by my “to-do” lists. This is a new dilemma – before I became a Christian in 2005, planning was unheard of for me. “Future” was something inevitable (and probably filled with bad things to boot) so thinking about it wasn’t something I ever learned to do. And living in the present was painful and time-consuming enough.

When I gave my heart to Christ, things started to change. It was in early 2007 that I realized I had a PLAN. Not just a plan, but an honest-to-goodness, Plan for my Future. And God was such a part of it. In fact, He was so much at the center of it that I was convinced that I could march forward confidently in the direction that I heard Him sending me. I realized sometime in 2010 that the plans that I had so carefully made were going nowhere. Well, maybe not “nowhere”, but they were definitely NOT looking like I had planned for. I had moved in the direction that I knew God was sending me, but I found somehow to have gotten there on my own steam. Confused? So was I.

How could I go someplace that God wanted me to go and had propelled me towards, without Him? Looking back on those first few years, I was so dependent on Him. He lovingly trained me away from my habit of living on the edge – teaching me how it was to be a much-loved daughter of the King of Kings. Then teaching me that I could move forward, could plan, hope, and dream….and during that wonderful time of learning, I grew from baby, to child, to pre-teen and then into a “teenager” in the Lord.

We as Christians have a tendency to label our walk with Him – “Back in my newborn days” or “When I was a toddler in Christ” or “Now that I am an Elder in the Lord”. Well, I bypassed the terrible 2’s and awkward pre-teens and dove right into head-strong, strong-willed, teenager-hood! Now, this age-span didn’t involve rebellion, not in all the ways you think of . No, this teenager-ness brought with it Pride. And it was a funny, sort-of mixed up pride too! After all, I was the child of a King; look how well He has raised me! Look at where He has brought me from and where He has me now! I can move confidently forward (lists in hand, Plan laid out before me, tied in a nice neat little package). But where was God?

It took me a while to figure out….He was tied in a nice neat little place in my heart – I think maybe I had relegated Him to the old-folks home!

Now, as the mother of two teens, I WANT my children to confidently leave home and embark on their life plans and NOT have to call every 5 minutes to check and see if it’s okay if they do this or that. Although if they want to, my mother’s heart might like that – for a while. But God’s parenting doesn’t work like that. He doesn’t want to go sit in a rocking chair on the front porch of the old-folk’s home in my heart! He wants and desires to be so closely and intimately involved in every area of my life, at EVERY stage in my life, as to become One with me. To be my Husband and Life partner. Not just the giver of dreams and plans and lists and futures, but to be my Dream, my Future, and my List.

So my word for this year is “Undone”.

The lyrics to the song by New Life Worship pretty much sums it up:

Found in Your hands, fullness of joy
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence
All of my gains now fade away
Every crown no longer on display, here in Your presence
Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonders
the kings and their kingdom are standing amazed

Chorus:
Here in Your presence, we are undone
Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one
Here in Your presence, all things are new
Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

Bridge:
Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way 

Beautiful, right? The definition for the adjective “undone” is:

1. Not tied or fastened.
2. Not done or finished.

Without realizing it, I had my relationship with God tied up in a package, and God has prompted me to have it “undone”….not to keep thinking of Him, the great and grand Creator of EVERYTHING, as just my Father, parenting me through all my days. He is that, yes, but He is SO MUCH MORE! He wants to remind me of His awesome power, of His ability to be All for me. To take off any blinders that MY plans have put in place so that I can bask in His presence and worship Him with everything in me! Lord, let me come undone!

He is my Husband. Lord, let me come undone. (2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 21:3)
He is my All. Lord, let me come undone. (John 1:1-3)
He is my Future. Lord, let me come undone. (Isaiah 58:11, Joshua 1:8-9, Psalms 48:14)
He has plans for me. Lord, let me (and all MY plans) come undone. (Jeremiah 29:11-14, Joshua 22:5, Proverbs 19:21)
He is Wonderful, Beautiful, Glorious, Matchless in every way.

Lord, I am undone.

It’s not a happy word. I kind of wanted a happy word; something encouraging and exciting. You know, like “Faith” or “Adventure” or “Warrior”. Well, those would be fun for me! Anyway, I don’t get those. I get SURRENDER. That’s a little uncomfortable. Oh boy. This should be interesting!

A little info about me:

I’m 24, single, and working in ministry. I have a lot going for me! I am in the unique position of working in the field I went to school for and LOVE it! I LOVE the people I get to do life with. I LOVE my family. I LOVE Jesus!!!!

Even with all that, there is a lot that has yet to come. My life is not cut and dry and all laid out for me. My job keeps morphing and changing. My dreams are still right outside my line of vision. My romantic relationships…well, let’s just say God is keeping that a secret from me at the moment! My future has a lot of question marks just like for anyone my age. God is asking me to surrender things that most people in my generation get to look forward to and to be okay with a more uncomfortable lifestyle. Why? To advance the Kingdom of God!

A little inspiration:

A lot of this thought is spurred from having my brother getting ready to go onto the mission field. It is much harder to watch than I expected! There is a lot that he has to do that isn’t in his “strengths”. Plus, I’m seeing the enemy’s attack in such a blatant way that it makes me mad! It’s not a comfortable process. My brother is working through a lot but he’s pressing forward and being faithful to what God’s called him to and he’s going.

I may not be going to the mission field but am I not just as sold out to the gospel? My job is a part of advancing the kingdom just as much as his. Should my life really be that much easier? The dynamics are different in the States, no doubt, but the heart and sacrifice should be in the same spirit of surrender!

A little picture:

As God was speaking to me about this, I remembered something I had heard about a while back: traveling harvesters. There are farmers with hundreds of acres who will hire these harvesters to come in with their own equipment and harvest the crops for them. This crew goes from city to city, staying in trailers on the road, and working the fields non-stop for a 4-5 months straight. Whew! Sounds like a hot, dirty job I don’t want!

Surprisingly, it sounds a lot like a few verses in Matthew. “Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” (Mat 9:37-38) With as big of a harvest as is out there, there are sacrifices that need made. Things like being on the road and long hours are just part of that. It’s an uncomfortable lifestyle but if that’s what it takes to bring in the harvest, so be it! Luke 14:33 says it another way: “Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”

A little perspective:

I’m giving up a nice little house with a swing on the porch and a white picket fence. It might look more like a mud hut in another country. I’m giving up having 2.5 of my own kids. It might look more like adopting a couple girls who have been rescued out of human trafficking and loving them through a healing process. I’m giving up having a husband home at 5pm every night. It might look more like late nights of us pouring into other people; phone calls at 3am to go to the hospital; maybe even him becoming a martyr. Lord, help me!

But it’s about the Kingdom. It’s about advancing the gospel. It’s about saving souls! There are people out there who need to be saved and discipled. My life is not my own. I live to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I have given my life in exchange for Christ’s. I am picking up my cross and serving Him with my whole heart! It will all be worth it!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

That’s why my word is SURRENDER.

A young boy sits on the porch step, crying. His daddy has told him that his beloved dog, Blacky, won’t be coming home because, “Son, there was a hunting accident.” The boy’s little sister, barely three, stands by his side, her tiny hand patting his back. She feels so sad for her brother. “Don’t cry, Billy. It be alright. It be alright.” Such is my earliest memory. So you see, I’ve always tried to comfort others. Lately, the Lord has been showing me that in spite of my good intentions and my compassionate heart, I’m really not very good at it. All too often my abundance of ‘kind’ and ‘helpful’ words fit this age-old pattern: I want to make people feel better. I try explanation, encouragement, inspiration, or just plain distraction. But true comfort, I am learning, is something quite different.

“Comfort is the experience that someone really understands my pain and really cares. It’s not a pep talk!” So says Jim Walters, an Austin Christian counselor. Now, ladies, the Lord apparently is very serious about my learning to better comfort others, because He has linked me up with Jim, who is teaching me. I’ve had to practice on Larry while being coached by Jim, seated behind me. I have been amazed at how awkward I feel, how difficult it is for me to obey Jim and stay in the moment and grieve with Larry and refrain from my habit pattern.

Maybe you can relate. Isn’t this what we learned from our parents and (Lord, help us), unwittingly, pass on to our own children? “Don’t cry.” Adult translation: stuff your feelings, bury your pain and look strong. “It’ll be alright.” Adult translation: get a grip, move forward and look on the bright side, because you’re kind of making everyone else feel uneasy. No, this is not comfort.

So, what does comfort look like, feel like to you? To my neighbor, Doris, whose husband recently died, “Comfort means just sitting with me, being quiet, showing they care and understand. Too many words agitate me. I just want them to be quiet.” My dear friend, Nell, said that when she thinks of comfort, it brings to mind “relief of stress and a sense of inner peace.” And sweet Sarah told me that after her miscarriage, she was comforted by women praying with her and by long-distance friends sharing their gentle prayers via e-mail. I call to mind images of comfort, like Job’s friends sitting wordlessly, just mourning with him (before they opened their mouths and got into big trouble). Comfort is rocking a feverish baby for hours, praying and singing quietly over him. Comfort is holding someone in a long embrace, with tears rolling down my cheeks, empathizing with her anguish.

Now, empathy is another important concept that is closely linked with comfort. Annette’s great post about empathy has helped me think through this whole idea of comfort. I like Jim’s definition, but out of all my ruminations, I have developed my own. I think empathy is the heart-to-heart identification with another’s distress, but that it is empty until tangibly expressed, and comfort is found on the receiving end of empathy’s expression.

The word itself is derived from com (with) and fort (strength). My Strong’s Concordance tells me the Hebrew word (nacham) stresses a visible action taken…with strength. So if I truly comfort someone, I am lending my strength in an active way. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:12 which says “a three-fold cord is not easily broken.” If a woman has God and a friend that ministers His comfort, then she has the strength she needs. True comfort is an infusion of God’s healing balm.

We have always heard that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world, but as comforters, we are the arms that embrace and the eyes, moist with tears, that connect deeply and say so much. And yes, sometimes, the Spirit also gives words that heal. In this, I am learning that less is more, and that I need to allow the Spirit to re-train me to truly bring comfort in the midst of pain, instead of trying to fix it or distract from it.

Isaiah 61:1-3 gives a beautiful picture of Christ’s ministry: He was sent to “comfort the broken-hearted and set the captives free.” Our Savior is the Provider of healing comfort because He was “in every respect like us….Since He Himself has gone through suffering and temptation, He is able to help us…”(Heb. 2:17-18) Now, I am learning that ministering His comfort to someone in distress must begin with seeking God’s wisdom to best convey this sentiment: I understand. I am with you in this moment, grieving with you, hurting with you.

The giving and receiving of comfort is part of the natural – no, supernatural – rhythm of life in Christ. II Corin.1:4 says, “When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” I find it helpful to consider how the Lord has comforted me in the past through His personal ministry and the Scriptures and also through another person. In no case has the Lord ever been wordy! (Both Larry and Kate would dance for joy if I learn that lesson well.) I’m in desperate need of God’s grace to be a better comforter, but herein is my hope: He has shown me my lack. Now I cry out, and He is faithfully teaching me.

One more thing: James 5:16 says that we should pray for each other, that we may be healed. So, my dear sisters, will you pray for me? And I will pray for you that by the power of His Spirit working in us, we will all become more and more like Christ, Who is the essence of true empathy and comfort.

Are you with me on this quest to be a better comforter? If so, then I leave you with my best, non-wordy (distilled by much mulling) definition: COMFORT is the healing effect of empathy, fittingly expressed. What do you think?!

What do you think about when you think about the word “home”?

I searched the Internet to see what definitions I could find on home. This is what I found:

• Home is a place were you belong, where you go to, and come from in an ever-going circle
• The place you return to from where you have been
• Home is not a place but being with a person no matter where you are
• A place where there is love overflowing
• Home is where the heart is
• A place and sense of belonging
• Home is where my heart feels happiest

I found it interesting that these definitions didn’t come from the dictionary, but from people that were giving their thoughts on what “home” meant to them. Home is not a house but a place of belonging. Even though Webster’s basically calls it our place of residence, in my mind this definition should be house.

Many years ago, as a young wife and mother, I worked very hard to make my house a place to call home. I sewed curtains, slip-covered old chairs, painted with the cheeriest colors, brought in accessories for warmth, hung intriguing pictures, and made sure I had lamps all around for ambiance. However, I seemed to never achieve that sense of home that I longed for. Some time later Jesus spoke to my heart and said “this world is not your home, what you desire is the place that I have prepared for you, however, there is much to be done, so live for me.” I knew He was right. I remembered that He had already told me in John 14:3 that He was preparing a place for me, that He would come again to get me and take me to this place called home.

The reality of this came some time later at the passing of my younger sister. She ran this race well! She made it home. Her life did not consist of gold, silver or things of this world; they consisted of relationships. She let her light shine and many were impacted by her life.

Life is short. We don’t know the hour or the day when Jesus will take us to be with Him, but one thing we do know is that He is our home! My perspective in life has changed. I do love to make my earthly home comfortable and a place to relax, but now I do not strive to make it something it can never be. That belongs to the One who is truly my home. I have experienced the sense of home only when I abide with Jesus—He is my dwelling place.

The Message Bible says it well, “Live in me. Make your home in me as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you join with me.” (John 15: 4)

Every year after Christmas the word resolution becomes the buzz. We hear it on morning TV, radio, and read it in magazine articles. Even my first grade son came home with a paper from school to write his resolution on! Resolution is a great word that inspires us to have a vision, inspires us to have determination. It’s good to make a firm resolution to do something.

Like everyone else, I began to think of what changes I wanted to see in this New Year. However, at the same time I was feeling lackadaisical to make any real resolutions. ‘How about just ease into the New Year and see what stirs in the first few days’ was the motto I decided on. With this settled, I bypassed resolution talk until I read Aimee’s post, ‘What’s Your One Word?’ I felt challenged in not only having a one-word resolution but a word that would determine my year. I began to pray for my word and received it almost immediately. Empathy.

The day I received my word, I began to consider how it related to my life.

This past May, my husband and I began a road of transition and change for our family. I began the summer unemployed. This brought about circumstances that required me to face some humbling moments. My heart softened and I became more sensitive to others as I went through this. I became more sympathetic towards random people who I would encounter throughout my day. My reactions to them were more reserved, and I understood that maybe they were having a bad day. Maybe they were going through afflictions. I was becoming aware that I really wanted to walk more in kindness, more in the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) I wanted to be kind to those around me, to not be quick to pass judgment but accept them, to show generosity…to be empathetic because that was what I was personally experiencing from God.

Honestly, empathy was something that was already being worked in my heart without me knowing it by definition.

Just recently I was speaking with my husband telling him how I was noticing a change in my heart towards people and their lives. Sure I loved people and had a heart for people but I realized it was mainly stemming from a sympathetic perspective. Empathy is different though. It’s more of a caring or taking on the pain of those close to us. Empathy is more personal. It’s more like placing yourself in a person’s shoes.

My One Word has begun to settle in my heart, knowing that I am being challenged to go to the next level in being kind to those around me. I have been challenged to be purposeful and present, showing empathy with my family, friends, and community. God has been speaking to me about the relationships in my life and to proceed with a new outlook of kindness. I’m reminded of Pastor Ross’ message, The Secret of Being Content where he said “it is a beautiful thing to share, to give out of willingness to others what God has given you”.

Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
Philippians 4:14 (NLT)

Now applying it to my day-to-day is what I must learn. Let me say that empathy may seem simple but let’s take bedtime with 3 small kids for an example. I “need” some quiet time after a long day at home with kids. Is it fair that they ask for water 5 times before falling asleep? This is where empathy reminds me of how I cherished giving my parents a kiss before bed assuring me of the security I needed to sleep soundly. As I relate in empathy I can understand my children also need that extra song allowing them to know all is well. How many times do we rush through our relationships wanting that extra “me” time when the person in front of us needs us to be present, full of empathy.

Just as I am encouraged in growing in empathy this year, I hope you are encouraged not only by my One Word but in the One Word you have received. God is speaking to us and isn’t it wonderful that together we can share and see the beauty of God through relationships?

At the beginning of the year, Aimee posed a question: If you asked the Lord to give you one word that He wanted you to work on this year, what would it be? Well, my word is… “FREEDOM”!

Freedom: (n.) the state of being free; exemption from the power and control of another; liberty; independence.

When we go through seasons of hardship or discouragement, it’s easy to allow the enemy to convince us that our circumstances will never change. If we don’t take such thoughts captive, it can lead to fear, hopelessness and self-pity, just to name a few. (Or so I’ve heard … he-he!)

I often think of a story I once heard about elephants. When a baby elephant is trained, it is shackled so that it can’t run away or even walk freely. It’s bound so that it must stay in the same place. As it grows over time, the shackle is removed but the elephant doesn’t move. It could roam around to explore, exert its power, run with the wind flapping its ears, but it either doesn’t realize it has been set free, or it chooses to stay because, after all, it can be scary to step out…there!

In Numbers 14 Caleb and some men went out to explore the land. Caleb was overshadowed by the others who brought a bad report: “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes…”

This caused the Israelites to rebel and say, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us out to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

The perception of their circumstances, not their reality, caused fear to consume them and suddenly Egypt looked peachy – better to be captive and a slave than to move forward by faith. This cost them dearly:

“The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them… nevertheless… not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers.” Num. 14:20-23.

I love what He says about Caleb though:

“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” Numbers 14:24

I want more than ever for it to be said of me that I have a “different spirit”. No more looking back, only pressing onward. Are you with me?

This means putting your “big girl” pants on, circumcising the flesh, and kicking some giant bootie by the authority that’s been given to us so that we and “our descendants” will inherit all that God has for us.

For those of us who are moms and those who will be, isn’t that the kind of inheritance you want for your children? Whoop! Whoop!!!

Returning to Egypt is not an option. Freedom has been paid for through our Lord Jesus. We must simply walk in the freedom He died for.

Are you ready to defeat giants like fear, unbelief, doubt, insecurity, unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, envy, self-pity… ____________ fill in your blank.

I’m so thankful for the faithfulness of our Lord who declares:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve…
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Is.61:1-3

Our lives do not have to be perfect in order for us to fulfill the wonder of these amazing scriptures. I challenge you to envision that brilliant crown being placed upon your head, oil of gladness being poured over you, and being clothed with a garment of praise.

We are daughters of THE King! We must simply embrace the Word, apply it to our own lives, and then do what He said we can do:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I’m going to my Father.” John 14:12

Sorry elephant, but “MY CHAINS ARE GONE, I’VE BEEN SET FREE, MY GOD MY SAVIOR, HAS RANSOMED ME”….

It’s a new year and that always brings excitement for me. A time of evaluating my life and what I would like to see happen in the coming year. It also means the new semester of connect groups are just around the corner! Many of you are preparing to lead a group or join a group this semester. I want to encourage you with your OUTREACH efforts for your connect group. On our OUTREACH page of our women’s ministry website, we have three organizations highlighted. Please feel free to choose any of these as your focus. If your group does not have any outreach ideas, these ministries will be a perfect place to step out in faith and bless others. There are many ways you can get involved. They always need donations and, of course, volunteering your time is always appreciated. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

I also want to encourage you to step out in faith into whichever ministry that God may have for your group. I’m reading a book called Radical Together by David Platt, and he writes about the importance of letting the people of God in the church step out in ministry right where God has them. It’s not about how many organized projects and programs we have at the church. To quote him exactly he says, “Why are we trying to organize how and where and when our people minister? God has already given them opportunities for ministry where they live and work and play.” With that said, imagine the opportunities your connect group will have and trust God to lead you right where He wants you!

I’m excited about the OUTREACHES we have chosen in our women’s ministry, and we will continue to minister as a body of women together with these organizations. I loved seeing how the girls and women were blessed at our spa day. I also saw something more. I saw the women of ONE Chapel greatly blessed by these women. That is a gift from God, and it builds our family community closer to one another. It ties us together for God’s greater purpose. This can happen in your connect groups as well as you step out this semester in what God is calling your group to.

Whether you choose to minister to one of the outreaches we have chosen to support as women here at ONE Chapel or another place God has put on your heart, know that you and your connect group will be blessed in the process!

Remember this scripture as you step out in your OUTREACH efforts: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19. In the Radical Together book by David Platt, he breaks it down like this: God is calling us to intentionally take the gospel to people where they live and work and play. We are to go to them. We must build relationships. It is not an event or program that brings them to Christ. We are to bring them into our larger community of faith! That gives me perspective on how I want to engage my OUTREACH efforts.

Please share your stories with me as you minister to others. I’m excited to hear all that God is doing.

A few weeks ago as I was driving my car listening to the Christian radio station, I was reminded of something I heard on the radio last year around the New Year.  Two of the DJ’s were asking the listeners to seek God for one word that would define their New Year or, in other words, a one-word New Year’s resolution.  It could be something like surrender, or joy, or forgiving.  This one word would affect every area of their life.  I thought that was a really great idea, but never actually did it.  However, this year, as I was remembering the radio conversation, a word immediately came to my mind.  I didn’t even have to ask God for one! The Holy Spirit just dropped it right in my head.  And that word is intentional.

Those of you who know me are not really surprised that this would be the word the Holy Spirit would gently drop in my heart.  I am not really an organized person (shocker, I know).  I am definitely not a driven person, and my personality is such that I am a great optimist knowing that things will be just fine and eventually turn out for the best.  This is a great trait to have, I know!!  But sometimes you can’t just close your eyes, cross yourfingers, and hope for the best!  You have to have a plan and diligently work at that plan to get the best results.

In Proverbs 21:5, it says, “Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind”.

This past year I have had a lot of hurrying and scurrying.  Some of it couldn’t be helped, but I have realized that some of it could.  My goal this year is to be more intentional with everything from my schedule, to my time with God, to raising my kids.  I’m not just talking about having good intentions.  I have those all the time. And as Ross reminded us on Sunday, “the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” No, I’m talking about putting those good intentions to action, which is living intentionally.

Ephesians 5:16 and 17 says, “ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”  This is my verse for my new decision to live intentionally.  I want to make the most of every opportunity and to know exactly what God wants me to do. I want to live more purposefully so that I can do great things for God and my family, not just good or ok things.  The key to achieving this starts with being more intentional about the time I spend with my Heavenly Father.  Oh I spend time with Him, and I love it! But now, in this New Year, I feel God calling me to more.  And I want to answer that call!  Not out of a sense of obligation, but because of my great love for Him!

Living intentionally will not be an easy task for an unorganized mom of 5. But, thankfully, I do not have to do it on my own!  The Holy Spirit will be walking with me every step of the way.  For with God nothing is impossible!

How about you?  If you asked the Lord to give you one word that He wanted you to work on this year, what would it be? Do you need to be full of more joy, peace, hope, patience, humility?  Or, maybe, you are like me and need to work on being a little more intentional in how you live your life? Whatever the case may be, go ahead, ask Him.  I know He will answer.  And let’s walk this journey of becoming more like Christ together in this New Year.

Love to you all,
Aimee

Don’t you just love the feeling that a brand-spanking new year brings?

2011 is gone and 2012 offers us the feelings of hopefulness and anticipation. As followers of Jesus we can know this hopeful anticipation all year because the Lord continues to teach us to trust in Him. His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness!

The beginning of the new year is also such a perfect time to make changes and improvements. So with this motivation in mind, what do say we make a couple of helpful changes around here? Oh, I just knew you’d be up for it!

Our posting on the BECOME blog will become more regular in this new year as we add additional writers. We also want to encourage your involvement by allowing comments on each of our posts. Please feel free to ask questions, add your insights or just let us know that you’ve visited.

It is our desire that this blog be a source of information, encouragement and a great place to get to know Jesus and each other better.

You won’t want to miss a post so be sure to subscribe whether by feed reader or by email!

Did you subscribe yet? I suggest you do it now because Aimee Parsley will kick off the year with an upcoming post in the next few days and you won’t want to miss it.

May 2012 be a year of His overwhelming presence and passion in all of our lives.

Happy new year!

Sharon Parsley's Nativity Set courtesy of her Facebook page

Perhaps you have wondered, “Why do we celebrate Christmas on December the 25^th?” Others may ask, “Why celebrate Christmas at a time originally set for ancient pagan celebrations?” Many recite the old adage, Jesus is the Reason for the Season. But is Jesus not the reason for every season?

It’s true, we don’t know when Jesus was born, however, His birth is worthy to celebrate at some time of the year.

Luke 1:27 tells us that when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she was a virgin betrothed to Joseph. Imagine that you are Mary, perhaps 13 or 14 years old, and without warning a messenger from God announces that you will bear the Son of God. I imagine that in reality the days that followed were ones of stress, accusations, and disappointment. Circumstances surrounding the birth were less than desirable! Her baby was born in a smelly horse trough! Oh ladies, can you just imagine. And yet, we know that Mary pondered these words in her heart:

Do not be afraid Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and His kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1: 30-33)

Mary worshiped the LORD God in amazement and humility. She received the most revolutionary news since the Fall of mankind: The Savior of the world was growing in her womb. Emmanuel, God with Us, was about to make His entrance and alter time for eternity.

What a joy Jesus must have been to His parents–though I am not so sure that His siblings appreciated his sinless nature! Amazing to think that Jesus, God from eternity passed, humbled Himself to come as a man by starting in the womb to give His life—to die a horrible death–just to make restitution for our sinful lives. The crime is ever before all of us and someone had to pay. Jesus lived as a man to die as a man so that we might be restored to the God of the universe. What an amazing gift He has given us. Only through Jesus will we fully realize what it means to be made in God’s image. HE didn’t have to do it!!!

Jesus Christ is the King of Kings. He didn’t evolved as the Greek gods did from man to be elevated to god-ship. No, He is the Creator, all sufficient in and of Himself. He didn’t necessarily need us, but He chose to create us to have fellowship for eternity. Sin has separated us from Him, but He made a way. He is waiting for us to choose Him. His invitation is clear, Come! We exchange our hopelessness, foolishness, selfishness, and shame for a God who will be our “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). For this we can rejoice as Mary did, “My soul exalts the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1: 46, 47).

Jesus is the reason for all seasons!!