Jesus: the reason for the season

We have now entered the Christmas week. A few months ago, I listened to a song that deeply moved me; it was Jesus, by Kem. I have listened to it again quite a few times, recently. 

I don’t want to copy-paste the entire song here; I just want to highlight some of the words, which, I believe, are specially adapted to the season.

It was the night, the night of His birth. Heaven was satisfied that there would be Peace on earth. All creation every power every life would call on His name. Children love has arrived and you know the world will never truly be the same.

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. He’s my refuge, my tower, my friend, my power, my strength, my provider. He came to my rescue. And I don't understand it, but I know the love He’s giving me will never end. He is my redeemer in the face of all I fear. He is love without compromise and I know that He’s the reason that I’m standing here. He’s the source of my joy and my hope when I fall. Jesus is the love of my life.

A friend of my daughter told her that in Dubai, where she used to live, Christians are not allowed to celebrate Christmas ostensibly. They cannot hang any decoration, which can be seen from the outside. While chatting with my niece, who lives in Morocco, I’ve learned that Christmas is not celebrated over there too. As if this was not enough the 25th is even going to be a normal school day for her! 

Well, someone will say that these are Muslim countries. Indeed! However, if you happen to live in a country where time is suspended for about ten days, for the most “enchanting” time of the year, this is an additional reason to give thanks to GOD.

Christmas commemorates the coming of Christ Jesus on earth. Regardless of whether He was actually born on December 25th or not; and regardless of the fact that this season used to coincide with heathen festivities, the point is: Jesus was born and lived on earth and Christendom has chosen this specific date to remind the world of this cosmic event.

He was born and Heaven was satisfied, because they had just given the most perfect and the most precious offering. Allow Him to be born afresh in your heart (again) and know peace, provision, joy, hope, comfort and help. Allow Him to be born afresh in your heart (again) and be mesmerised by His beauty once more. Jesus is indeed the love of my life. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

PS: Listen to Kem’s song, “Jesus”, here.

All is well!

Last week, I suggested that we use the beginning of this month of December to take stock of our lives and resources in order to ensure the success of 2015. I said that it was good and wise to reflect upon the reasons for the success and/or the failures of (some of) our 2014 goals and resolutions. This week, I would like to encourage you to give thanks.

1. For all the successes in 2014 because, ultimately, if some of your goals and resolutions came to pass, even if this happened because you took the necessary decisions or implemented some key changes, all the glory belongs to GOD. Indeed, the Bible exhorts us never to think in our hearts that it is our strength, intelligence or ‘natural talent’ that has made us succeed and prosper; but to remember that it is the LORD who gaves the power to acquire wealth. We possess nothing that we have not received: NOTHING. The One who is gracious to whom He is gracious has given us ALL (Deut 8:18, 1Cor 4:7, Ex 33:19).

2. For your future successes in 2015. The same GOD that has been with you in your past successes will also be with you in 2015. You will succeed.

3. For all your "failures" in 2014. Indeed, no failure is destined to be permanent. After rejecting his offering, GOD said to Cain: “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it (Gen 4:6-7). In other words, it’s pointless being angry or depressed because this or that has not worked or come through this year. 2015 is a brand new GOD-given opportunity to change the end of the story. A new opportunity to finally rule over that bad habit that you’ve not been able to overcome in years. If you do well – by implementing the adjustments mentioned last week – you will succeed in those areas and lift your head up. Be thankful to GOD for this opportunity and all the victories that you can already envision in your spirit by faith. Also, as my pastor often says, “If you have lost something, it’s because of GOD that you have not lost everything.” I paraphrase: even if some of your 2014 goals and resolutions did not happen as expected, it’s because of GOD that the others did.

4. For your "failures" in 2015. Despite all your efforts and good will, maybe some of your wishes will still not come to pass in 2015. it is not because GOD doesn’t want you to be happy - He only has happiness plans for you and works to give you the best possible future (Jer 29:11). He is Love (1Jn 4:8) and is therefore incapable of wishing you any evil. If He says: "No" or "Not now; not in 2015", He knows what He is doing and it's the best decision that can be taken concerning you at that point. Trust Him and give thanks for His love, kindness and wisdom. 

Have a great week thanking GOD: He is GOOD!

Happy new month!

2014 has gone at lightning speed –or so it seems. I can’t believe that we are already at the end of the year. Very soon, after the Christmas and New Year fever –presents and feasting– we’ll embark in the ‘routine’ of the resolutions for 2015. I say routine because to many, making NY’s resolutions is like going to church on Sunday –or at Christmas–: it’s cool and mechanical. It’s just the normal thing to do, but the spirit is not really there.

This is why I propose, before we are caught up with the frenzy of the festivities, that we assess our last resolutions. Let’s take out the list of our 2014 resolutions and goals –for those who can still find it– and do two things.

1Thess 5:21, “Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

1. The good things. Let us examine the goals and resolutions that we have successfully achieved and try to understand the reasons for our success. Maybe it had to do with an area of passion? Maybe we implemented some changes in our character or relationships? Or developed a habit or two that proved to be very productive? Why has this worked and that has not? Our discoveries will (mostly) be our strengths in 2015 –what we will need to lean on in order to build things in 2015.

2. The bad things. Let’s examine what has not worked. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent (Rev 2:5). It’s not enough to acknowledge the failure and put the resolution back on the new list. Some people take the same goals year after year, without ever achieving them. Sometimes, they are even smiling as they write it down, knowing in advance how it’s going to end –as I said earlier, it’s just a routine. It feels good to promise oneself not to procrastinate anymore or to go to the Gym every week or read one’s Bible every day or… or… 

Common wisdom demands that you change the way you do things, if after many efforts, you still do not get the expected or desired outcome! Let’s not just routinely put back certain resolutions on the paper. Let’s analyse things; let’s understand the reasons of our failure and let’s make the necessary adjustments in prayer, right now. 

Lk 14.28-31, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish. ’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?”

2015 is like a tower to build or an army to conquer. Before rushing to assail it, let's count our stock and evaluate our resources. Let's consolidate our strengths and correct our weaknesses. This is the attitude of someone who truly wants to succeed (in 2015) and we have about two weeks to do just that. 

One must take a run-up in order to go beyond a certain height (high jump and pole) or length. athlétisme. C'est à partir d'une certaine distance de la barre que l'athlète gagne l’impulsion qui lui permettra de franchir l’obstacle et d’aller le plus loin possible. It is from a certain distance that the athlete gathers the impetus which will help him or her overcome the obstacle and go as far as possible. It is not on January 1st or during that first month that we will begin to think of our goals and resolutions. The momentum, which will enable us to jump over the 2015-bar or 2015-distance with style, should be taken now.  

Happy month of December and to your success!