Hero or Herod? 🎄 🦸‍♂️ 🦹‍♂️ ✝️ 🙏🏼

In the movie Spider Man 2 Aunt May told Peter Parker “I believe there’s a hero in all of us.” That’s an encouraging sentiment! Not encouraging at all is the reality that there’s a little bit of HEROD in all of us.

Do you remember Herod from the Christmas story? He was the brilliant, but also evil, narcissistic, murdering king who tried to trick the Wise Men and wanted to kill Jesus (Matthew 2). You and I wont do anything to that level, but probably more like Herod than we’d like to admit. We’re acting in keeping with Herod’s character when we trust our plan over God’s, when we hurt others to make things go our way, when we live paranoid fear, when we care to much about what people think, when we worry, when don’t use our gifts for the glory of God. These are all signs and symptoms of a Herod-like spirit in all of us.

Aunt May was explaining to Peter Parker about our need for heroes. She said:

“Lord knows kids…need a hero. Courageous, self-sacrificing…Setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they’ll tell…of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer. I believe there’s a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride…”

I’m not convinced that there’s a hero in all of us. But I am fully convinced that there can be. Jesus Christ is the real and ultimate hero. He’s courageous, self-sacrificing, and brings salvation. People still gather to praise his name. He’s taught us how to hold on a second longer. He can make us strive for honesty, give us strength, make us noble, and allow us to one day die with confidence and honor, knowing we are going to Heaven. Jesus is the real hero. And if we’ll put our faith in Him His spirit will live in us—a HERO in all of us that we can pattern our life after. But if we choose to go our own way, we’ll live more like Herod than a Hero.

You know, the name Herod means “hero’s song” but he was no hero at all. He was coward of the highest order. Who are you and I becoming more like? Our self-sacrificing, loving hero Jesus? Or the selfish coward Herod?

The Christmas season is supposed to be a season of joy, but that’s not always the case. It can be hard enough without us doing things that rob us of our joy. The following can be applied anytime, but they seem especially appropriate as we shop, reconnect with others, celebrate, and get hit with about a million distractions. 

5 Practical ways to maximize your joy this Christmas season (with supporting verses):

1. Don’t spend too much money — It’s good to be generous, but not if it puts you in longterm debt. And if you’ve got people in your life that give you gigantic unreasonable lists of things they want? Don’t make provision for that. Love them enough to tap the brakes on their materialism. (Proverbs 22:7, Matthew 6:19-20)

2. Don’t try and make it perfect — Hallmark movies aren’t real. Idealistic expectations set you up for disappointment and you’ll probably be cranky with your loved ones. Embrace the crazy. Be ready to laugh at yourself and whatever comes your way. (Proverbs 14:4)

3. Don’t drink too much — Holidays are stressful and sometimes downright sad. What starts as a celebratory toast or responsible drinks with friends can quickly turn into you trying to deal with problems through alcohol. Not good. And if you struggle in this area and have been on a sober streak? Don’t get lax now. I highly recommend Dr Pepper as an alternative. (Proverbs 20:1, Ephesians 5:18)

4. Don’t judge others — 2020 has been nuts and made a lot of us critical of each other. Some people are promask, some aren’t. Some like Trump, some don’t. Let’s remember that under every MAGA cap and behind every mask, is a person, created in the image of God, worthy of dignity and respect. And let’s look for and assume the best in others, especially when we disagree. (Matthew 7:1, Genesis 1:27, Romans 12:18)

5. Don’t miss the true meaning of Christmas — Jesus Christ took on flesh to save us. He lived the perfect life we couldn’t, took the penalty we deserved and overcame sin and death and rose victoriously. Our life is hidden in His and we have eternal life with God by grace through faith. That’s enough good news to give us joy year’ round. C’mon somebody! (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Galatians 4:4-7)

🎄✝️🙏🏼 ☀️

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! – Psalm 119:36

Left to itself my wicked heart would only live for me. But what a small, shallow, sad life that would be! Oh how desperately I need God!!! There’s so much life to be had in God—His will, His work, and His way. There’s so much to be discovered on the adventure that is life in Christ, following Him. So much freedom can be found in reckless abandon of self and in joyful obedience to the only One who loves us purely. So much love is found in Faith.

Heavenly Father, deliver us from self. Give us a heart that wants You and Your will above all else. Help us to, by your grace, soar above the trivial, up high, where Your Truth prevails. Set us apart to the life you have for us, Lord—the one and only Good Life.

#LookUp

All things work together for good…(Rom 8:28)

give thanks in all circumstances…(1Thess 5:18)

Corrie and Betsie ten Boom’s family hid Jews from the Nazi’s during the Holocaust in WWII. In 1944 they were arrested and put into a concentration camp. Their barracks were filthy and infested by swarms of biting fleas. Surprisingly though, they continued to thank God for everything, even the fleas.

Even amid their horrible conditions, Corrie and Betsie shared the message of Christ and held nightly Bible studies with the other women in their barracks. The Nazi police heavily monitored areas all around them but their Bible studies where never interrupted. It wasn’t until months later that they discovered why. The Nazi’s feared entering their barracks because of the infestation of fleas. Hundreds of women were able to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, people were comforted by Christian fellowship, and spiritually nourished by God’s Word, in large part because of fleas.

Corrie and Betsie ten Boom didn’t like fleas anymore than you and I do. But they had a deep trust in God that whatever he brought their way, he had a loving purpose for doing so. They believed all things work together for good, so they could give thanks in all circumstances.

“No pit is so deep that He is not deeper still; with Jesus even in our darkest moments, the best remains and the very best is yet to be.” -Corrie ten Boom.

Parents of rebellious teens—

Your teenage daughter who rolled her eyes and stormed out of the room multiple times this week? Is likely more upset that she disappointed you than anything else.

Your teenage son who keeps playing tough and silent, coming off like a know it all? Really admires you and wants to be like the best version of you, so much more than he can put into words.

You know what would do a lot of these “rebellious teens” some good? If we’d try and see that they’re not near as rude or obnoxious as they put on. They’re still just kids, in a lot of ways. They’re trying to do the best they can with what they’ve learned in their short life. They need you and love you, so much.

Parents, next time you get a chance, sooner rather than later, take him or her by the hand or put an arm around them and tell them the truth—And the truth is you love them and are proud of them and always will be, no matter what. Don’t expect or demand a warm response, but know that you just made their week and made an investment in a relationship that’ll last a lifetime.

children are a heritage from the LORD – Psalm 127:3

#parenting #rebelliousteens

Lots of people looking for a news source they can trust. Look no further. #goodnews

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! – Psalm 123:1

Psalm 123 is one of the ‘Psalms (or songs) of Ascents.’ There’s 15 of them (Psalm 120-134). They get their name because back in the day, God’s people would sing them as they ascended UP to the sacred city of Jerusalem. They made the trek 3 times a year to celebrate and honor God through the feasts of Passover, Tabernacles, and Pentecost. Jerusalem is UP, about 2,700 feet in elevation. Hence the name, Psalms of Ascent.

Now, can you see the travelers in your mind’s eye? God’s people, remembering God’s faithfulness, journeying up through the rough mountainous terrain, on their way to celebrate and worship?

When I read “To you I lift my eyes” I imagine someone literally LOOKING UP, moving ahead, worshiping, anticipating a time of experiencing God’s presence. And in a sense that’s what we need to be doing right now. Looking up to Him, worshipping, on our way to His presence. On our way Home.

Tonight and every night — I lift up my eyes, to the one enthroned in the heavens!

#LookUp 🙏🏼

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” -Jesus, Matthew 5:43-44

This command seems completely unreasonable until we begin to realize the depth of our sin against God and how He loves us, so much that God the Father sent God the Son to die for our sins and give us eternal life in a relationship with Him.

He loved us when we were enemies. We didn’t and don’t deserve His love.
For many of us, that love that we didn’t deserve has affected us in a profound way and changed us, turning us toward Him.

When Jesus says love your enemies, He’s calling us to be like the God we serve, and to extend to others what’s been extended to us.

🙏🏼 ✝️ #love #grace

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. -Proverbs 24:10

God is our refuge and strength -Psalm 46:1

Our God is not small, so neither is our strength. We won’t faint in adversity. Press on, church.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13

💪🏼 #LookUp

If we’re feeling worried and anxious today, one of the best things we can do is pray and think about someone who’s hurting or going through a rough time RIGHT NOW and reach out to them and engage them, encourage them and seek to help in any way we can. We can get so consumed in thinking about what the future looks for ourself and how everything impacts us personally—ME, ME, ME — and being consumed with self is wrong, toxic, and totally exhausting. Loving God and loving others is more than just right, it’s so helpful! Look up and LOOK OUT—to the people around us who need our love, encouragement and practical help.

Let’s serve our way through, and out of a fearful anxious funk, friends!