Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Be Beautiful Just Being You

There is a daily email that I get from Ras Robinson that is called "The Word for Today." I don't think he would mind if I passed it along to you. It really spoke to me today and I think it will speak to you as well. Enjoy!

What the Lord is Saying Today
Ras Robinson

December 28, 2005. Outside the coffee shop where I am spending time with God this morning there is a very tall and healthy cedar tree growing in the middle of a huge shopping center parking lot.. This tree stands totally alone, surrounded by pavement. The Lord spoke this: Be beautiful just being you. There will be times when you must stand alone. And as you do this, I will strengthen you, enliven you and cause you to draw attention to Me and My Kingdom. I want you to grow where you are planted. Some are intended for forest living and that is fine for them. But when I wanted someone rugged, strong, vibrant and who would stand tall and bold in a difficult situation, I chose you. You are my choice. Be beautiful just being you.


Joshua 1:7 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.”

"Be beautiful just being you." What a powerful line! I was so encouraged when I read this. If you are anything like me you suffer from chronic "I don't measure up-itis!" I tend to compare myself with others and always fall short. I compare myself professionally and personally. I have to work very hard to appropriate God's Word concerning my identity in Christ.

It must be very difficult to not have God's Word in you to encourage, exhort and edify. Today, I'm so thankful for his word of truth and grace in my life. How about you?

Have an Amazing Day!
Jimmy

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Dysfunctional Family Fun!

We all have them, we all love them and sometimes we all dread seeing them at Christmas. What am I talking about? Our lovable but dysfunctional family members! I truly mean it. We love them and if they were gone we would miss the strange and enigmatic things they do.

For me, it's the weird uncles or the martyr grandmother who insists on cooking and standing throughout the holiday meals. You have them too... and you love them as much as I love mine. One of my uncles has had a lot of problems throughout his life; alcoholism, joblessness and moving from one place to another. He's older now and has settled to a great degree. But I always loved his fun-loving and jovial spirit. He's the type that would always do anything for anyone.

I'll miss him this year as we will not be making the drive to my old home town... or perhaps we will. We haven't decided yet. What about you? Do those family members make you crazy or happy? I choose to laugh and enjoy those days of weirdness. It's what makes family... well... family.

As you travel for the Christmas holiday or as family comes to see you, I would simply ask that you would be thankful... even for the weirdness. To be truthful, you're probably pretty strange to them! Celebrate, laugh and enjoy the time!

Blessings,
Jimmy

Monday, December 05, 2005

Handling the Holiday Blues

Do you ever find yourself struggling with the "Holiday Blues?" It's interesting to me how the holiday season is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year," yet for many the Christmas season is a reminder of past abuse, loneliness, rejection, abandonment, disappointment and depression.

According to River Hills Health Care, Inc., here are some common holiday "blues" triggers: Loss of loved ones who are no longer around to share the holidays; Grown children who are unable or unwilling to visit or call due to their own holiday responsibilities; The extra stress of shopping, parties, cooking, visiting, house guests, and other holiday obligations; Tragedy or sadness from previous experiences during the holidays such as arguments, death, health problems, abuse or divorce; Change in social or family status such as the loss of a job.

So, how do we handle the holiday blues and stay focused on the real reason for the season? Here are seven tips for handling the challenges the holidays bring:

  1. Surround yourself with positive life-giving people - Joy is contagious, get around some "infected" people and catch the virus of joy. We become like the people we spend time with. The Bible notes that Barnabas' name means "The son of encouragement."
  2. Don't live in the past - Stop longing for "the good ole' days," they weren't as good as you think. We tend to have selective memory when it comes to the past. We forget about how conflicted we were at 17. We forget about hormones, acne, Stridex Pads and Clearasil! We hated 17 and yet we look back on those days and only remember the good things!
  3. Try something new - Make some new memories. Create new history and traditions. Do something you've never done before! Decorate your office, dorm room, apartment or house. Put up some lights!
  4. Keep you expectations realistic - Don't set the bar so high for your family, yourself and others. If you have a "perfect" Christmas experience in mind, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Your weird uncle who was at your house last year will still be weird this year! Face it, 99% of the families on the planet are dysfunctional. Learn to laugh and lighten up. It's a reality, so go with the flow and love them anyway and determine to laugh through the weirdness.
  5. Do something for someone else - Give cookies or goodies to someone who would never expect it. Surprise your coworkers with treats or small inexpensive gifts. Shock value is good!
  6. Don't go into debt - Communicate with your family and friends. Be honest with them. We made the decision to buy for the kids only. When you contact them about it they will probably be as relieved as you are. The holidays are more about family than presents.
  7. Feast on God's word not just holiday sweets - Enjoy your first cup of coffee with God and his word. There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. Read one proverb a day through the month of December. The Proverbs are short and practical sayings that are as relevant today as the day they were penned.
I hope this helps and encourages you this holiday season. It's my heart to give you hope for the holidays. The last thing we need are more Scrooges and Grinches this Christmas! Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Have an Amazing Day!
Jimmy