November 30, 2011

We often get the concept of giving and receiving backwards as far as Christian love is concerned…we must learn how to receive before we can give with the proper frame of mind.  We must understand that the giver wants nothing in return but our attention, our best interest, our love…In other words we must learn that receiving comes before giving and then because of the love relationship through the gift…we give back…not out of necessity, we give nothing out of the feeling of having to return the favor…we give back out of the love we received from the gift.

Think about that…

Jim

November 29, 2011

From the Christian perspective:

There is a joy in giving that exceeds the desire to receive.

Giving makes us feel some sort of control while receiving can humble us.

When we give we often sacrifice for the joy of another.

Giving VS Receiving is not a modern-day equation.

Giving from the heart and receiving from the heart balance Christian thinking.

To give is joy, to receive is life.

All of these thoughts are running through my head as I prepare for Sunday.  The Biblical example is one of receiving and one of giving.  Where is the balance and how do we relate one to the other?

Peace

Jim

November 28, 2011

Oswald Chambers said:

“There is a certain pride in people that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing.”

It is interesting to think that the Christ, born in the normal human way, is capable of giving us something as important as new life.  We like to think of us as having control over our thoughts and actions to the point that we view the manger scene as something other than part of the story of God, through his grace, reaching out to us.

The manger is a reminder to those of us who want to give and give, as well as those of us who have a difficult time receiving, that giving is secondary to receiving.

Peace

Jim

November 27, 2011

Centering our thoughts and praise in Jesus causes the outer circle of our mind’s peripheral vision to increase.  But it increases under the control of God’s love.  And when anything falls under the control of God’s love, amazing things happen.

I wish I could explain this but it is another one of those things that has to be experienced to understand.

Peace

Jim

November 26, 2011

Each of us are capable of focusing attention on Christmas…each of us in some way anticipate the events of the next few weeks and especially Christmas day.  And if we look around we will catch glimpses of Jesus through people who are intently focused on the season.

 

Many of us anticipate the Christmas season because we yearn to catch a glimpse of Jesus through people using their gifts to help other people.

In about four weeks Christmas will be over.  And if we can make ourselves, in those days after Christmas, if we can make ourselves look toward each day or week with the anticipation of wanting to see Jesus… we will catch a glimpse of him.

We will see Jesus in people who help other people, we see him in acts of kindness, we see him through the hope for tomorrow, we see him in acts of passion and love, we see him in the joy of the moment…and we see him in the peace of friendships…

Peace

Jim

November 25, 2011

If there is one word that describes the Christmas season that one word is Anticipation.  How can we allow that same excitement to define the rest of the year?  What if each day, or at least each week, we anticipated experiencing Jesus?

Something to think about.

Peace

Jim

November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving !

Let the Advent anticipation begin!

Peace

Jim

November 21, 2011

The coming Advent season is marked with anticipation for many people.  As we get out the tinsle and decorations, as we plan for upcoming family and church get togethers keep the anticipation going until Christmas day when we celebrate the coming of the Christ.

Peace

Jim

November 19, 2011

The Roof Crashers Sunday School class had a great day at Tullahoma village yesterday spending some time with the kids and parents there.

November 18, 2011

God’s love is meant to be a never ending circle, a part of the big picture, an avenue through which love runs freely inside, and unless we allow something to block the flow we are being what God intended us to be.

The problem often comes when for whatever reason something gets in the way and blocks our view and our feeling of God’s love.  (I hate it when that happens) but it’s important to realize when that happens… and then do something about it.

We are not meant to feel apart from God’s love.  Through his grace, God goes to extremes to prevent that from happening but much of the feeling of God’s love is dependent on us.  We have to stay in connection, so to speak, we have to maintain the channels through which love flows.

Peace

Jim