Celebrating Christ in Christmas

Monday, 01 December 2008 00:00 |

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Dear Reader,

This Christmas I wanted to celebrate Christ. It is not about spending money and giving or getting gifts. Christ just wants us to be like Him on the earth. Let someone experience Christ through you this season.

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Since I am writing on this topic this month, of course I had to experience it. The day before Thanksgiving Lewis told me something that had me quite upset. However, I didn't open my mouth but went straight into prayer. The Lord told me to forgive him with no expectations (not even an apology). I woke up with forgiveness in my heart and was ready to extend forgiveness even if he didn't apologize. But he did.

Even with an apology extended, I struggled in my mind for a couple of days since an apology doesn't 'undo' anything. I wanted to be mad, but I couldn't because I know that I needed to forgive. I can now understand the scripture that says, 'What can separate me from the love of God?' Nothing!

I cannot be separated from God's love by a disagreement with my spouse, a tense situation at work, or anything else. Nothing can stop me from doing what God would have me to do, which is to forgive and to love.

Jewel
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Christianity Doesn't Make Sense

Lately, God has been really talking to me and teaching me about this Christian walk. What I've realize is that Christianity doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense because He always has us doing the opposite of what is normal or right in our minds. But remember, The Lord says in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways', declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." I now understand why His disciples and the Pharisees couldn't understand what He was teaching. It doesn't make sense. For example:

1. Tithing 10%, doesn't make sense because I need it to pay bills (Mal 3:10)

2. Forgiving 70 times 7, even if it is the same person doesn't make sense. Why? If they are going to keep doing the same things over again why continue to forgive? (Matt 7:21-22)

3. Submitting to my husband. Why should I when he is not even acting right? (Eph 5:22)

4. Loving my wife as Christ loves the church. Are you serious? She has a bad attitude (Eph 5:25)

5. Loving and blessing those who hate me and do me wrong. Are you kidding? (Matt 5:44 & Rom 12:14)

6. If someone slaps me, I can't hit them back. I am to offer the other cheek (Matt 5:39) [Help me Lord!]

So why are we required to do these things and more? We do it because everything we do, we do as unto the Lord and not to man. It is our way of honoring God and allowing His word to transform us. What doesn't make sense to us naturally-through our five senses: sight, hearing, taste, feel, and smell; makes sense to our 6th sense (the Holy Spirit, God in us).

It is when we do what our 6th sense (God) is telling us to do that we become mature in Christ and we are blessed in our obedience. Christianity is not a religion; it is a way of life. That is why we walk it and talk it by faith, which is God's way. This is how we please God.

Again, it may not make sense to you but, DO IT! For example, Naaman was told to dip 7 times in the dirty Jordan River to be healed (2nd Kings 5:1-14); Joshua and the Israelites where told to march around the wall seven times, blow a trumpet and shout (Joshua 6:1-17); and Simon Peter was fishing all night and Jesus told him to drop his net in the water (Luke 5:1-11). Read the full story of each, and you will realize that it did not make sense to them but in their obedience, they were blessed. "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." (James 1:22-25 NLT) Therefore, this Christmas season let's be like Simon Peter who said in Luke 5:5, "Nevertheless at thy word I will..."

May God do exceedingly and abundantly above all you can ask or think in 2009.

Jewell R. Powell
� 2008 by Jewell R. Powell is a marriage coach, entrepreneur, inspirational teacher, and author with a heart and passion for helping couples have great marriages and helping women live purposeful lives. For more information on marriage enrichment and/or premarital classes, call 301-743-5654 or email Jewell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Free Christmas Gifts

If Jesus were here this Christmas in 2009, what would He give? Trust me, He would not be shopping at Macy's for Christmas gifts. I believe He would give the following:

1. Love to all the sinners and saints
2. Forgiveness
3. Peace on Earth
4. Hope to all

These are the same free gifts that you can extend to your family, friends, and yes, even those who may not like you. We are going into a new year; therefore, a new beginning. Let's do what Paul did "but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13-14). To extend those gifts may be hard, but ask the Lord to help. It is the highest calling.

Therefore give the gift of:

1) Unconditional Love. If someone has done something that hurt you, extend
love to them with no strings and no expectations attached. If someone says, "I love God," but hates a brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? (1st John 4:20 NLT). Therefore, send an ecard and say "I Love You"

2) Forgiveness. If someone has hurt you or you have unforgiveness in your
heart, forgive them and call them letting them know everything is cool between the two of you. "But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:15 NLT)

3) Peace. If you and another person have been fighting or haven't spoken in
years, extend peace. Maybe you can visit that person or send an email. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

4) Hope. I believe we give others hope when we share our experiences and lessons,
when we witness to others the good news of Jesus Christ and what He has done in our lives. This season extend hope to others. Ask Jesus to direct your path this season to use you for His glory. He may have you volunteer, witness to a stranger, give a testimony of His goodness to those you work with it. Just be open to do something for Him. "For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die." (Philippians 1:20 NLT)

Since Jesus is the reason for this holiday season, let's be like Him and do what He would do on the earth. These are gifts He freely gives us (continually); therefore, as He freely gave, you freely give.

Merry Christmas
� 2008 by Jewell R. Powell, www.marriage101.us ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We may not feel like doing those things listed above but the fact is that we are required to do them. You cannot look at the Bible as a menu that you pick and choose what YOU want to do. You can't select the blessing without first choosing to be obedient. I pray that God will strengthen you. Love Ya

In His Service
Jewell R. Powell
Author & Marriage Coach