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I have a feeling I am not alone when I say that there are times in my life it feels like God is just a million miles away. I look at circumstances in my life and think that if God were here then certainly this wouldn’t have happened. There are times I pray and I can’t hear his voice. I don’t mind being transparent in this thinking because I’m pretty sure that, whether you are a believer or not, you have felt this way at some point in time.

I was recently reading the story of John the Baptist, a man who had been thrown in prison for preaching the truth. At one point in his ministry he had the extreme privilege of introducing Jesus as the Messiah to the world, and baptizing Him. He even told his own followers, don’t follow me anymore, He is the One. Unfortunately, the pain of prison and the threat (which later became reality) of death had caused his faith to shrink. I only imagine that John had hoped that Jesus would do for him, what Jesus had done for some many “strangers”, help him. As far as we know from Scripture, Jesus never even visited him while in prison. The greatest prophet “born of woman” and yet John must have felt Jesus was so far away.

In my my heart I question why, but ultimately, I trust Jesus. I trust in the One who made heaven and earth. I trust the Sovereign One. I will trust the One who gave Himself, including His very life, for me. As a song goes, when I can’t trace His hand, I will trust His heart. I believe the words to that song must have come from Luke 7:23, “Blessed is he who is not offended because of me.” Essentially, blessed is the one who doesn’t stumble or fall away because what I do, or even, what I may not do. In humility I will bow to the One who loves me, even when I may not “feel” it.

In our very recent history we have had many horrific events of men and women who, under the disguise of religion, have sought the extinction of others who disagree with them through mass killings and terror. Paris, San Bernardino, the presence of ISIS in the Middle East, and most recently the tragic event in Orlando where innocent people were slaughtered, all serve as reminders as to how dark the face of evil can be.

On the other hand, it has also been refreshing to see groups of people rise up, and in solidarity, identify with those victims and their families. Reminding them of hope, praying with them, crying with them and sharing with them that they are not alone. I read an article recently where a man built 49 crosses to honor the victims (49 Cross to Honor the Victims in Orlando). What amazing picture of love for those who are hurting.

May believers around the world continue to be the face of hope where darkness seems to grow. May the light of God’s love be reflected in all we say and do. May we take advantage of every opportunity, love sacrificially, and love those who you may deem “unlovable”. Remembering at one point (maybe many) we were unlovable, but God stepped in our lives.

I was recently given a book entitled, “A Grace Disguised” (thank you Larry). This book is an account of how the author dealt with the tragedy of losing his mother, wife, and daughter in an instant when a drunk driver collided headlong into their van. I dare not imagine the pain he must have endured. In one section of the book he writes of a dream he had. In the dream he found himself running toward the light of the setting sun. Desperately trying to take in as much of the light as he could (even if it only eased his pain for a brief moment), he was never fast enough to keep up. The sun would always set leaving him in the darkness and pain of the loss of his family. One day his sister came to him and suggested that instead of running west toward the setting sun, to run east into the darkness. Since running west always ended in futility, running east could at least bring the hope of a rising sun. However, running east would also mean he must embrace the darkness.

Don’t we often run toward the setting sun? We do so in futility through all kinds of different methods. We do anything we can to dull the pain and run from anything that reminds us of the past, but the sun always sets out of our reach and we are left hurting once again. There is another option, embrace the hurt. I’m not saying that you make your decisions based on the hurt, but to deal with the pain. Allow yourself to be affected and not distance yourself from your hurt. In doing so, there is hope that the sun will rise again and bring you the healing you desperately seek.

Isn’t it amazing how sometimes you can’t remember where you were last week, but you can remember with crystal clarity where you were years ago? I couldn’t tell you where I was last month, but I will never forget where I was 28 years on Thursday, January 28. My (step) mother was very sick. She had been fighting cancer for over 7 months. My Dad knew her time was about to come so he sent me and my sisters to family. That Thursday morning the phone rang and my life, and my family’s life, was about to change, drastically.

The morning she died my Dad told me that he and the pastor were with her. As she laid in the bed that she had been unable to get out of for the past month, the pastor asked how she was feeling. How she answered amazes me even today, “It has been a battle, but a glorious day is coming, and I’m ready.” I was 12 years old then, and I’m almost 40 now, but I will never forget those words. The words of someone who found peace with God even as they were going through the “valley of the shadow of death.”

Even though Wanda may have occupied a small chapter in my life, her testimony has made a huge impact. Life is a battle, it is a struggle, but every believer has the hope of a glorious day that is coming. A day where there is no more sorrow, pain, separation, and no more sin. Jesus is coming as He said, “Are you ready?”

Many years ago I was asked to speak at a Men’s conference. This particular day 3 preachers were scheduled to speak. The first speaker was a 16 year old boy, I represented the college age, and finally some old guy (a pastor of several years) would complete the service. There was a lot of “buzz” surrounding the 16 year old. We were told he had actually been preaching for a couple of years, so all ears were open as he took the stage. He had us turn to Ephesians 5 and (surprisingly) he spoke on having a healthy marriage. Though he didn’t say anything wrong, a 16 year old (who I’m not even sure had a girlfriend) telling a group of men how to have a healthy marriage was interesting to say the least.

I wonder if we look like that boy in our life when we talk about prayer. Do we just talk about what we have read or heard from others, or do we speak from the experience of what a life of prayer truly brings. Is it all head knowledge? (I speak from conviction even now as I examine my own life.) Have you ever told a story and ended with, “You would have had to have been there.”? Most everything within the Christian life is more than just knowing, it is about experiencing. It’s about “being there.” It is about relationship. It is something to know God loves you, but it is truly totally different to experience His love. Don’t settle for head knowledge, experience the life God has for you.

When I was 16 years old, my Dad and I were riding home from church when I asked him “The Question”, “How do you know if you are called to preach?” I’ll never forget the laugh my Dad gave, but it wasn’t a demeaning laugh, more of the nervous, happy laugh.

I always enjoyed the energy my Dad gave when he preached. You may not always agree with what he said, but you knew he believed it with his heart. I used to say that when my Dad spoke he combined 2 great loves; that of preaching and aerobics, because he could never stand still.

One of the great pieces of advice He gave me (advice I would still give to young preachers today) was “you can never really preach a sermon, until you live the sermon.” If you preach on love, make sure throughout the week you love others. If you preach on giving, make a practice of giving through the week. This should not just apply to preachers, but to all of us who seek to reflect God in our life because we all have a sermon. A lot of people can talk about love, but you can’t preach about it, until God has lived it through you.

My Dad would tell me that I was always his favorite preacher. Though he was probably bias, it always meant so much to me to make him proud. When I was 20 years old my Dad and Preacher Graham (He led my Dad and family to the Lord) listened to me preach. They both came to me afterward and told me that God was going to use me great one day. Praying I let neither one of them down.

When I was around 12 or 13 years old I made an important resolution; I decided I would stop sinning. That’s right, stop sinning. I figured that I could go about a week, at least a few days, but I wanted to stop sinning. So I watched the ball drop in Times Square, and then went to my bedroom to read the Bible and I fell asleep praying. At around 10 I got up and I went to my brother and told him that I had not sinned all year long! That seemed kind of prideful to me so my “no sinning” streak lasted about 10 hours and 8 of them I was asleep.

Most of the resolutions we make are almost as silly. We make these “vows” thinking that if we complete them we will be happy and become a better version of ourselves. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, as long as we keep something very important in mind. You see even the very best version of you isn’t good enough for heaven. We are broken, and nothing we can do merits heaven. If you are trying to earn God’s favor by becoming a better version of you, know this, there is nothing you can do to gain His favor and love. You have all of the love you could possibly have from Him. He died for you and is willing to do whatever it takes to transform you from the best version of you, and instead, make you look just like His Son.

Paul wrote, “I beg you by the mercy of God that you will present your body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12) Don’t settle for the best version of yourself, allow Him to transform you into someone who can change the world!

One could read the Christmas story and think that the events were put together at the last minute. I mean a 9 month pregnant young woman riding a donkey around 70 miles? No room in the Inn? The King of kings born in a stable? Does this sound like someone who planned the event or does it seem more like a last minute decision?

You might not like to think this, but it is exactly how God planned it. Genesis 49 tells us that the Messiah would be born from the tribe of Judah. Scripture is even more specific to note that the He would come from the line of King David.  Isaiah 7:14 reveals a virgin would conceive and bring forth a son. Micah 5:2 reveals even the place of his birth, Bethlehem of Judah. The timing of His birth is revealed in Daniel 9 (for more, Dr. David Jeremiah has a very good teaching on this). Had you opened your Old Testament you could have literally been sitting in front of the stable waiting on Mary and Joseph to arrive if you wanted to witness His birth.

You know who did know all of this, Satan. Interestingly enough, Satan knew the entire plan of God and you know what he did….. nothing. There were no guards to protect the Savior, just shepherds. No warhorses, just cattle. Satan, most certainly present at His birth, but did nothing. What an opportunity he had, destroy the Son of God at His most vulnerable point … a newborn baby. God even placed a star with a bright shining light over the place of His birth, as though He was taunting Satan, Come and get Me, still nothing.

Do you know what this means? The story of Christmas tells us all that the plans of God will be fulfilled. No one can stop them. Satan even knew the plan, and did nothing. God has plans for you as well, and not even Satan himself can stop you from realizing everything God has for you. Merry Christmas, its more than a story, it means through Christ you are a conqueror.

No that isn’t a misprint. All of the bumper stickers that you see that read “Jesus is the reason for the season” are not exactly correct. Don’t believe me? Keep reading.

The story of Christmas starts many years before the actual birth of Jesus. The day sin entered into the world through the sin of Adam, God told him and the world, that a Redeemer would come. The sin that entered into the world separated us from God. This sin caused death, sickness, and even negatively affected nature itself. When sin entered the world it was, and still is, the most devastating and destructive issue mankind has faced. As if the news couldn’t be worse it does get worse, mankind can do nothing on their own to rid themselves of this cancer. Many have tried to rid themselves of this curse by performing good deeds, but to no avail.

Thankfully, God is fully aware of the problem and the solution. His plan was to send His only Son as the Savior. 2,000 years ago Matthew writes, “She (Mary) will bring forth a Son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Mat. 1:21) The reason Jesus came to the world was to  eliminate the sin that destroyed us. He came to restore the lost relationship between us and the Father. You see Jesus isn’t ultimately the reason for the season, YOU are. Jesus came because of His love for you and the only way for Him to restore you was for Him to come, to die, and to raise from the dead to destroy the works of sin.

I guess this means we need to get new bumper stickers that read, “YOU are the Reason for the Season.” Then again, maybe not.