“Have yourself a merry little Christmas…let your heart be light …”
It’s one of my favorite holiday tunes; words so full of promise they seem to taunt the wanting that accompanies the season. Certainly its cache of goodwill can help
us maximize the merry this Christmas? Here’s what I gleaned from its recommendations: Continue reading
I love to smile. After all, smiling actually requires less muscle than frowning (call me lazy). 🙂
But have you ever smiled at someone just to have them look away? I have lived in a couple different areas of the United States and I have to admit, this happens everywhere.
There are many reasons someone may “diss” a smile. Whatever their reason, it can have the affect of making us regret the effort.
I agree, not every situation is appropriate to expect a smile. But what about the cases when a smile is not out of line, not awkward, and even arguably appropriate?
What’s keeping you from living the abundant life Jesus promises? Most often, it’s failure to trust the One offering such a profound gift. We love God, but like the elephant in the room, we don’t want to admit that we cling to something else for our security.
Trust is the action that evidences our belief. First sign we trust God is letting go of what we are currently holding on to that is preventing us from receiving His promises.
And you might not realize what you’re holding onto. Here’s some examples: money, power, prestige, popularity, tradition, possessions, worldly reputation, bitterness, regret, martyrdom, shame, condemnation, and guilt.
The Bible says the things of this world are like a vapor; vanity. Like a mirage, they will disappear as soon as we try to grasp them. In that way, worldly pursuits provide us no lasting support or comfort (Ecclesiastes 1:2). And Jesus acknowledges that the weight of this world is heavy, but He wants to take that weight and exchange it for a lighter load (Matthew 11:28-29). Let Him.
Only when we let go of what we cling to in lieu of God will we have our hands free to receive all that God has planned for us. Take that step of faith today.
We made the decision to unplug the television. It’s not something my husband and I had considered before. But it’s done. And it feels so good. Continue reading
