by Kim Avery
Independence Day – it is a wonderful thing, and I want to extend a huge thank you to each and every one of you who has sacrificed so much to let freedom ring across our glorious land.
This past 4th of July, the Avery’s joyfully celebrated in typical American ways.
Biking
Running
Napping
Eating
More Eating
Fireworks
I hope you enjoyed your holiday as well.
by Kim Avery
A favorite author of mine, Brennan Manning, has the incredible gift of describing Jesus in raw, unexpected, and totally heart captivating ways. As we begin this holy week, between Palm Sunday and the celebration of Easter, I would like to share with you, in Brennan’s own words, his experience of the incomparable Christ.
“In the winter of 1968, I lived in a cave in the mountains of the Zaragosta Desert in Spain. For seven months I saw no one, never heard the sound of a human voice…”
“On the night of December 13th, during what began as a long and lonely hour of prayer, I heard in faith Jesus Christ say, “For love of you I left my Father’s side. I came to you who ran from me, fled me, who did not want to hear my name. For love of you I was covered with spit, punched, beaten, and affixed to the wood of the cross.”
“These words are burned on my life. Whether I am in a state of grace or disgrace, elation or depression, that night of fire quietly burns on. I looked at the crucifix for a long time, figuratively saw the blood streaming from every pore of his body, and heard the cry of his wounds: ‘This isn’t a joke. It is not a laughing matter to me that I have loved you.’ The longer I looked, the more I realized that no man has ever loved me and no one ever could love me as he did. I went out of the cave, stood on the precipice, and shouted into the darkness, ‘Jesus, are you crazy? Are you out of your mind to have loved me so much?’”
“This is the only God who counts. Christ on the cross is not a mere theological precondition for salvation. He is God’s enduring Word to the world saying, ‘See how much I love you.’”
My heart bows in thanks to the God whose sacred stain soaked deep enough to save this soul.
How could He love me so much?
What truths is God laying on your heart this Easter? I hope you’ll share in the comment box below.
While there are probably an endless number of goals that people set, most goals fall in this top 10 list. As you glance over it, pray and ask the Holy Spirit if this may be just what He has in mind for you.
10 – Organization – Whether it is your home, your office, or your schedule, organization can be a very desirable goal. It allows you to find what you need, entertain on a whim, or prioritize the truly important. Our God is an orderly God and lining up your life with His character has innumerable benefits.
9 – Helping Others – This is a goal that puts feet on your faith. You can mentor a child, help build a home, teach English as a second language, and much more. Our God loves and protects the weak and helpless and it is always a blessing to join Him in that endeavor.
8- Reading Your Bible More – Okay, I admit that this is not the way that non-Christians stated this goal, for them it was ‘Learn Something New.’ But as believers in God, we know that nothing is more valuable than getting to know Him better and that is best done through His Word.
7- Get Out of Debt – Money is one of the biggest stressors in all our lives. This may be the year to get a handle of your finances and also sleep a little better at night.
6- Enjoy Life More - The question here is, ‘Are you living to work or working to live?’ While our jobs are necessary and valuable this may be the time to look more closely at your work/life balance and adjust the scales.
5 – Quit Smoking – We know the facts, smoking is deadly. Even if you have tried before to quit, don’t give up. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. This could be your year.
4- Lose Weight – Explaining this popular goal is the sobering fact that over 66 percent of adult Americans are now overweight or obese. Reasonable goal setting and perseverance will be your two most important factors in shedding those extra pounds.
3- Improved Fitness – The list of benefits for a fit life keeps growing. Exercise has now been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers, increase longevity, maintain weight loss, improve your mood, lower your blood pressure and more. Regular exercise is an incredibly leveraged activity and should be a part of everyone’s lifestyle.
2- More Time with Those You Love – Every year more than 50% of us determine to spend more time with those we love. They are God’s greatest blessing to us, enjoy them.
So, what is the number one goal set every year? I have to admit to playing with the numbers here. I weighed the results of all our polling on one side and what God says on the other and decided to let Him determine our number one goal.
1 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38
What are some of your goals for the New Year? I would LOVE to hear them.
Decorations good enough to eat
My very own Snuggie
An inviting table setting
Our annual Christmas puzzle
Oops, we weren't quite ready for the family picture
I pray that you had a blessed Christmas celebration as well.
May Christ Be All,
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1-2
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary
had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together
she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son,
and they shall call His name Immanuel,”
which translated means, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:23
“… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ”
Matthew 28:20
I can think of no greater gift to give you this year than the word “with.” It’s a common word. We use it unsparingly, every day, with hardly a thought to its rich spiritual implication. Read the verses above again, pausing to consider each “with.”
For those of us who have been pregnant, the term “with child” holds special meaning. We understand a completely different depth of “with” than those who have not shared that experience. We know the awareness of a separate life inside of us, growing, moving. We are filled with an incredible wonder at the creation of life, and of being chosen to share in it. We become very sensitive to every little change, every indication that there really is another life deep within us. And we become very intimately attached to it and identified with it – “with child” is different than “with” anything or anybody else.
Before time began, from the farthest recesses of eternity past, before anything or anyone had been created, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit shared the wonder and completeness of fellowship, being at once One and with and within each other. While we can never fully comprehend what that means, we do know it was (and is) by far the most intimate, most complete, most satisfying relationship possible.
In God’s astounding plan of redemption, He has chosen to include us in this “with” relationship. First, He chose to be with Mary, indwelling her in a very physical way, and through her to become “Immanuel, God with us.” He understood and identified with His creation in the most intimate way possible – God became man.
Because He chose to be “with us” in the flesh, we can be “with Him” in the Spirit. While we certainly do not become deity, in some mysterious fashion we are included now in the circle of fellowship He shares within Himself. We are in Him and He is in us.
This Christmas, whether you are with friends and family or not, know this: Immanuel, God with us, is the greatest gift of all. His present to you is His presence – with you for all time and eternity. May being with Him be your richest blessing. Merry Christmas!
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