Where is Your Focus?

Just pondering tonight how people's perspectives affect their beliefs. There are those who see everything as good and there are those who can find bad in almost everything. We are told in the Bible to think on the good things. Oh, we know there is evil all around us. It is all in what we choose to magnify. On the surface you may see a drop of water, but with a microscope you see a whole little world within the drop of water. It is teeming with life.

Over the last couple of years, I have allowed myself to be influenced by so many who only see the "bad" in things. Holidays that we celebrate have been dismantled in the name of "being right with our Creator." They go back to the pagan ways of every one of them. But yet, we are not celebrating the holidays like those they speak of  are we? Absolutely not. I do believe in balance in this life. After all, Jesus said we are in the world not of the world. If we find out that the things we are celebrating have their roots in pagan traditions, surely we should not engage in such things. But may we celebrate the birth of our Savior? Of course we can and we should.

God sent his son into this world to save us sinners, and for that we should be eternally grateful. So this year, whether you celebrate or not, keep your focus on the fact that without the birth of Jesus, there would be nothing for us to celebrate. It is not about Santa Claus, Christmas trees, etc. It is about God sending his son to earth as a baby, allowing him to walk among us, and carry our sins to a wooden cross, because he loves us so much.

We must choose not to magnify all that is bad, but all that is very good. Blessings friends.

My Tribute to Pastor Chuck Smith

Today one of my favorite pastor/teachers went home to be with the Lord. Pastor Chuck Smith left us so much on this earth. He was a constant in the body of Christ. His teaching of the Word of God was what drew so many to Jesus (Yeshua). His calm, gentle spirit brought peace to all who heard him.

In my younger days, when I had two babies (and was totally exhausted), I would tune in every day at 10:30 to listen to "The Word For Today." It was the most relaxing time of the day for me and on many occasions, the peace of the Lord would surround me. Also, when I had a hard time sleeping due to illness, just listening to Pastor Chuck brought a calm so I could sleep.

I will always be grateful for the ministry of Pastor Chuck. The Holy Spirit used Chuck to start one of the greatest works in the body of Messiah that I believe we have ever seen. His systematic teaching of the Word of God provided a firm foundation for those who were new to their faith. He will be greatly missed by so many. I pray that his family will be comforted through this very difficult time.