December 20, 2013 - "The Main Character" (last one for 2013)

Good morning fam and Merry Christmas (early), This will be our last blog for 2013. I have WAY TOO MANY events lined up in the next 2 weeks as well as family coming in town and a trip planned to NC. BUSY - so, I will be seeking God for new blogs and His heart and words for us as we begin 2014. Look for my next communication on 1/1/14. :) I pray these days together have blessed you. I have enjoyed our chat time, been encouraged by your thoughts and prayers, as well as challenged by your tenacity to walk in freedom in all areas of your life. I applaud you! These next 11 days can be really TOUGH on our health journey. Plan ahead and plan well. Let's commit to a Christmas filled with joy and family as opposed to tight jeans and guilt. Yes, we can do this! Don't forget that Sunday, January 5th, we will have Life Group at 6. We are adding a few new components, so grab a friend and come join the accountability team for 2014 that evening. :) This morning let's talk about the MAIN character of the Christmas story. I got up today with Isaiah 53 in my heart and I want us to examine a few verses from the Message Translation: Isaiah 53 (MSG) 53 Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this? 2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him. There are several things as I read this that jump up at me: 1. From vs. 1 - "who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?" A BABY - Jesus was full on from the morning he was born. He was the Savior of the world from that moment. Can we stop and celebrate a little deeper that God doesn't do things like most of us? 2. Jesus wasn't what Fortune 500 Company powerhouses look like and yet his journey and sacrifice was the greatest, single event in history. 3. Re-reading this stirred me again to remember - Jesus had ME, and YOU, on his Heart and in His mission from that moment He was born. It didn't look pretty, but we are made whole. We walk in health and freedom because of His submission to the plan of God the Father. 4. While I was wandering and doing things wrong, Jesus was doing something right. Praise God I am FREE because He is RIGHT. Now let's look at Titus 3: 3-7 (NLT) for a second: "3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. 4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” The MAIN character this morning IS the revealed kindness and love of God the Father, the Light of the World, our Hope and Salvation, and our admittance into eternal life. Jesus, the baby, taught us many things from the moment of His birth (my pastor said yesterday). I agree. As we celebrate Christmas, let's journey in our mind to the feeding trough where Jesus was laid and remember. This baby came to seek and save the lost. I was in that group. And this Christmas I intend to be more deliberate with my praise and thanksgiving. My connection with Jesus declared me righteous. What a gift! Actually, it's the best gift I've ever received. Much love to you all and Merry Christmas, PK Talk in 2014? I look forward to it!