Every month or so I get an email from my financial adviser. I look forward to reading his emails because he'll forward an article and write some of his own thoughts on the market and investment strategies. I like reading them because they keep me grounded. When the market was in free fall a few years ago the articles came more frequently and they always contained data that showed what happened to people who jumped ship and to those that stayed the course in investing. It's not like I have a ton of money in the market, but I enjoyed, and still enjoy, those articles because they remind me that I am a lifetime investor. The articles showed the folly of trying to time the market and get in and get out at the right time. I also enjoy talking to Ryan and going over our retirement plan every so often because it assures me that Tracy and I are taking the right steps now to ensure we can live comfortably in retirement. We won't be on a private island somewhere, or traveling to exotic locations all the time, but we should be able to keep a roof over our head and some food in the cupboards. It's good to be reminded once in awhile amongst all the doom and gloom that there is a rhyme and reason to all this and the future is something to look forward to and not dread.
As I was contemplating the last article Ryan sent I thought this would be good advice for life too. Sometimes we get so caught up in the immediate goings on of the present that we forget the lessons of the past and the promises of God for the future. Sometimes the rat race keeps us form seeing the forest because of all of the trees. Wait, did I just mix a metaphor there? Anyway, my point is we need to be reminded sometimes that there is a bigger picture. God is in control, and even though life may seem like an out of control freight train sometimes we can be assured that God will never abandon us or forsake us. We may certainly question sometimes what the world God's plan may be, but we should never doubt the fact that God is walking with us on our journey no matter how bad the present may be.
A good way to be grounded is to read some articles that God has given to us. And by articles I mean the Bible. Reading the Bible connects us to what God has done in the past for God's people, and also connects us to what God is doing for us in the present and will do for us in the future. No matter how many times you've read the Bible something new will stick out, a new message can be taken from it's passages, and God can speak to you again. Not only does reading the Bible remind us of God's actions and faithfulness in the past, it also gives us a concrete way to connect to God's plan for our lives going forward. I challenge you to read your Bible for 30 days straight. If you can commit to 30 days, for 15 minutes a day, I promise you that you will feel connected to God in a whole new way. Let the Spirit work in your life. The path may not be easy, but I promise the reminder and belief that no matter the trouble that God is with you will help ease the burden. Take the challenge and see if God's investment strategies for the future can give you a guide.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Following directions
I finished two projects on the to do list this past weekend. I assembled a kitchen cart that our microwave sits on, and I assembled a TV stand. We sorely needed both, and with my incredible construction knowledge and the eager willingness of two boys to "help" we got them put together. What I found interesting, besides the terror of a three year old with a hammer, was the difference in directions that came with both. One set was very detailed, and the other set was basically pictures, letters, and numbers and you were left to your own devices. So which one do you think was easier to follow? Actually, they both presented different challenges, and neither one was really easier.
I would have thought that the more detailed directions would make things easier, but sometimes they were too detailed and I found myself skipping over something or not being able to make heads or tails of what they were trying to say. The directions with pictures, letters, and numbers was a little hard at the start, but once I got the gist of the instructions things went a long smoothly. A quick aside: as I was assembling the kitchen cart I noticed that they sent me two pairs of right handed hinges and one pair of left handed hinges. Well, I needed one right and two left. After a minute, or 10, of using every curse word I could think of...carefully keeping them to myself because little ears were around...I decided to "modify" the hinges. Yup, I knew better then the directions, and obviously someone messed up the packaging, so I set off to fix it. Well, after some modifying I took a closer look at the directions and ended up unmodifying the hinges! I wasn't completely wrong, but I made more work for myself unnecessarily.
Don't we wish life came with a set of directions? I know I was looking around for the manual when we brought Isaac home for the first time! If you're like me maybe you think that life would be easier if we had step by step instructions on how to get form here to there. Well, maybe life could be easier, but do you think we'd follow the instructions carefully enough? Or would you be like me and find the detailed instructions too easy and find yourself skipping a step or two and ending up starting over again. Maybe you'd like some general guidelines, but then think you needed to modify somethings in your life because obviously the directions are wrong. You know what? We do have a manual for our lives and it is the Bible. I bet you didn't see that one coming! The Bible might not be able to spell out for us how we are to act in each and every situation we face. The Bible might not be able to spell out for us how we raise perfect children, attain the 5 bedroom house and the 3rd car we just drive around in the summer, but the Bible does tell us how we can live a happy and content life. There is a catch though...You need to read it, and better yet you need to follow the direction the Spirit gives you. I know, pretty deep thoughts, but if you're searching for direction in your life the Bible is always a good place to turn. Can you find time to read it?
I would have thought that the more detailed directions would make things easier, but sometimes they were too detailed and I found myself skipping over something or not being able to make heads or tails of what they were trying to say. The directions with pictures, letters, and numbers was a little hard at the start, but once I got the gist of the instructions things went a long smoothly. A quick aside: as I was assembling the kitchen cart I noticed that they sent me two pairs of right handed hinges and one pair of left handed hinges. Well, I needed one right and two left. After a minute, or 10, of using every curse word I could think of...carefully keeping them to myself because little ears were around...I decided to "modify" the hinges. Yup, I knew better then the directions, and obviously someone messed up the packaging, so I set off to fix it. Well, after some modifying I took a closer look at the directions and ended up unmodifying the hinges! I wasn't completely wrong, but I made more work for myself unnecessarily.
Don't we wish life came with a set of directions? I know I was looking around for the manual when we brought Isaac home for the first time! If you're like me maybe you think that life would be easier if we had step by step instructions on how to get form here to there. Well, maybe life could be easier, but do you think we'd follow the instructions carefully enough? Or would you be like me and find the detailed instructions too easy and find yourself skipping a step or two and ending up starting over again. Maybe you'd like some general guidelines, but then think you needed to modify somethings in your life because obviously the directions are wrong. You know what? We do have a manual for our lives and it is the Bible. I bet you didn't see that one coming! The Bible might not be able to spell out for us how we are to act in each and every situation we face. The Bible might not be able to spell out for us how we raise perfect children, attain the 5 bedroom house and the 3rd car we just drive around in the summer, but the Bible does tell us how we can live a happy and content life. There is a catch though...You need to read it, and better yet you need to follow the direction the Spirit gives you. I know, pretty deep thoughts, but if you're searching for direction in your life the Bible is always a good place to turn. Can you find time to read it?
Monday, January 14, 2013
Assuming the worst
I don't know if any of you are like me or not, but when it comes to an uncertain outcome I usually assume the worst. Does that sound familiar? Last Thursday I had my first big exam in my EMT class. The test consisted of 75 multiple guess questions. Of course you can eliminate 2 answers fairly easily, and then you have to choose between the 2 remaining answers. Well, a lot of the time both of the 2 remaining answers were "right", and you had to pick the best answer. I just love questions that start with: "Choose the best answer." Ugh! Needless to say I completed the test and I felt pretty dumb. Then the instructor says he isn't going to grade them until the next night. Awesome, now I get a whole day to wonder how I did.
Well, wonder I did. I didn't sleep good the night after the test because I kept thinking of questions and answers and if I got the answer right. Then I'd wonder what happens if I fail the test? Does that mean I'm not supposed to be in the class? Will everyone laugh at me because I couldn't pass the EMT class? Will Tracy divorce me because all she's ever wanted in life is to be married to an EMT? Okay, so that last question never entered my mind, but the other ones did along with a few more. I immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion. Why? I had no real reason to. I knew I got a couple questions wrong, but other then that I had done everything I could do to prepare for the test. I could honestly say I could do no more to prepare. So why did I assume the sky was falling?
I'm pretty good at assuming the worst when it comes to things I do sometimes. I'm very good at helping others look at the bright side and keep their head up, but when it comes to me and my stuff I still tend to assume the worst. I could us a radio personality's theory on life: he doesn't want to be an optimist because then when good things happen you aren't happy because you expected it, and when bad things happen you're crushed. He'd rather go through life as a pessimist because then when bad things happen you expect them and when good things happen you're pleasantly surprised. Not a real cheerful person do be around I imagine.
When I/we assume the worst outcome I think we're doubting God a little bit. Sure there are times in our lives when we don't do so good at something, but that doesn't mean the sky is falling does it? I could give you all kinds of quotes about failing, but I think we all know that the important part is getting back up again. So instead of assuming the worst outcome I/we need to have a little more faith in ourselves and in God. No matter the outcome of the class for me God is still going to be at work in my life and life will go on. And I know that if I put the work in I will do just fine. Plus, nothing ventured nothing gained right? So the next time I want to assume the worst I need to remember to look at the big picture and to remember that optimism is always more enjoyable than pessimism. God isn't finished with me yet...I'm certainly still a work in progress so ups and downs are an expected way of life.
PS-I did ok on the test if you're wondering
Well, wonder I did. I didn't sleep good the night after the test because I kept thinking of questions and answers and if I got the answer right. Then I'd wonder what happens if I fail the test? Does that mean I'm not supposed to be in the class? Will everyone laugh at me because I couldn't pass the EMT class? Will Tracy divorce me because all she's ever wanted in life is to be married to an EMT? Okay, so that last question never entered my mind, but the other ones did along with a few more. I immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion. Why? I had no real reason to. I knew I got a couple questions wrong, but other then that I had done everything I could do to prepare for the test. I could honestly say I could do no more to prepare. So why did I assume the sky was falling?
I'm pretty good at assuming the worst when it comes to things I do sometimes. I'm very good at helping others look at the bright side and keep their head up, but when it comes to me and my stuff I still tend to assume the worst. I could us a radio personality's theory on life: he doesn't want to be an optimist because then when good things happen you aren't happy because you expected it, and when bad things happen you're crushed. He'd rather go through life as a pessimist because then when bad things happen you expect them and when good things happen you're pleasantly surprised. Not a real cheerful person do be around I imagine.
When I/we assume the worst outcome I think we're doubting God a little bit. Sure there are times in our lives when we don't do so good at something, but that doesn't mean the sky is falling does it? I could give you all kinds of quotes about failing, but I think we all know that the important part is getting back up again. So instead of assuming the worst outcome I/we need to have a little more faith in ourselves and in God. No matter the outcome of the class for me God is still going to be at work in my life and life will go on. And I know that if I put the work in I will do just fine. Plus, nothing ventured nothing gained right? So the next time I want to assume the worst I need to remember to look at the big picture and to remember that optimism is always more enjoyable than pessimism. God isn't finished with me yet...I'm certainly still a work in progress so ups and downs are an expected way of life.
PS-I did ok on the test if you're wondering
Monday, January 7, 2013
Ugh...now what?
Sometimes I wonder if the week after New Year's is the most depressing week of the entire year. The build up of the holiday season is done, Christmas and New Years has past, school starts again, and all we have to look forward to is 3 or 4 more months of snow. Plus, you have to deal with the stress of increased illnesses this time of year, and not getting the Christmas present you wanted! Ok, so maybe one of those last two are a little silly, but really the Monday after New Years has to be one of the most depressing days of the entire year.
Whoa...did you just read that? I depressed myself typing it, and I suppose if you look at the year like that you'll be depressed too. I heard a statistic that made me chuckle on TV. And, if it is on TV then you know it is true. 40% of adults make a New Year's resolution...8% keep that resolution. What's worse...that only 40% of adults make a resolution to do something better, which might mean 60% of adults have given up on doing anything better, or that only 8% follow through with the resolution? I'm one who doesn't make New Year's resolutions, and I haven't given up on trying to make myself better. I've just found that resolutions are only going to work when I decide to commit the will power into making them work.
Now that I've completely bummed you out to start the year I want to say there is something refreshing about throwing that old calendar away and starting a new one. You have an entire year in front of you in which you can start fresh if you want, and throwing that old calendar away helps you put the past behind you. See, New Years isn't all bad. I think we need a little New Years in our spiritual life too. We need to be able to let go of past failures and hurts and start anew. Just like tossing out that old calendar and looking at a new calendar just waiting to be filled.
The good news for us is that Jesus forgets our past mistakes when we ask for forgiveness. We are the ones who continually hold on to them and can't let go. Once we've confessed a sin it is forgotten, and we'd do good to remember that some more. We can have a fresh start. We can begin to reshape our lives and change our lives with the help of the Spirit. We just need to be willing to turn that page on our lives and look forward to the life we have ahead of us. A life that may not be perfect, but a life full of opportunities to live out the love, grace, and forgiveness that Jesus offers to all of us. So, maybe one New Year's resolution could be to let go of the past and let Jesus help you with the present and future. I think that one has a much better chance then 8% of succeeding!
Whoa...did you just read that? I depressed myself typing it, and I suppose if you look at the year like that you'll be depressed too. I heard a statistic that made me chuckle on TV. And, if it is on TV then you know it is true. 40% of adults make a New Year's resolution...8% keep that resolution. What's worse...that only 40% of adults make a resolution to do something better, which might mean 60% of adults have given up on doing anything better, or that only 8% follow through with the resolution? I'm one who doesn't make New Year's resolutions, and I haven't given up on trying to make myself better. I've just found that resolutions are only going to work when I decide to commit the will power into making them work.
Now that I've completely bummed you out to start the year I want to say there is something refreshing about throwing that old calendar away and starting a new one. You have an entire year in front of you in which you can start fresh if you want, and throwing that old calendar away helps you put the past behind you. See, New Years isn't all bad. I think we need a little New Years in our spiritual life too. We need to be able to let go of past failures and hurts and start anew. Just like tossing out that old calendar and looking at a new calendar just waiting to be filled.
The good news for us is that Jesus forgets our past mistakes when we ask for forgiveness. We are the ones who continually hold on to them and can't let go. Once we've confessed a sin it is forgotten, and we'd do good to remember that some more. We can have a fresh start. We can begin to reshape our lives and change our lives with the help of the Spirit. We just need to be willing to turn that page on our lives and look forward to the life we have ahead of us. A life that may not be perfect, but a life full of opportunities to live out the love, grace, and forgiveness that Jesus offers to all of us. So, maybe one New Year's resolution could be to let go of the past and let Jesus help you with the present and future. I think that one has a much better chance then 8% of succeeding!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Truly Incomprehensible
I suppose that most of you, like me, are tired of seeing all the coverage of the tragedy in Newtown. I can't comprehend what anyone that is connected to that community and that school is going through. I don't want this blog to pile on concerning that incident, but I do want to respond to some things I've heard.
First continued thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the events on last Friday. I'm not interested in getting into a debate about gun control and our gun culture. That's something to be had at a later time. I will acknowledge that our nation does need to be a lot better about how we handle mental illness, but that topic isn't for this blog. What I want to talk a little bit about is how I see God working through all of this.
I've read a number of posts on Facebook and heard some commentators talk about how this is what we, and by we I mean the United States, get by taking God out of the schools and taking God out of our culture. Frankly that idea offends me. To think that God allowed this to happen, or even caused this to happen to show us as nation we've erred is horrifying to me. To think that God abandoned these kids and this community because we as a culture have abandoned God in some ways doesn't hold water with me. We can have a discussion about the consequences of pushing God further and further from our lives, and there are consequences to that, but I do not believe this incident is God trying to get our attention.
I firmly believe God was at Sandy Hook elementary that day. God is everywhere, and God has promised to never leave us or abandon us. News flash...the world is broken...breaking news...the world has always been broken. Since the beginning of time God has chosen to work with us through this mess we call life. God has allowed us free will, and has chosen to work within that free will to try and make this world as good as it can be. I do not know, or understand, why God allows free choice. I do not know why God allows such atrocities to happen since I believe God has the power to stop them. Sometimes bad things happen because we, and by we I mean us personally and us as a society, make bad choices. And sometimes bad things happen for no reason. I think it is a mistake to try and make sense out of the senseless. Sure there might be reasons for why this happened, and we should investigate what can be done to stop this from happening again. But, God did not abandon those kids and teachers at that school. I cannot and will not believe that. I believe that God has a plan for this world and for each of us. I believe it is our job, if you will, to try and follow that plan as best we are able. When horrible events happen I lean on my faith. That faith reminds me that God is always there, that God is in control (even if I don't understand why or see how), and that God will walk with us through it all.
First continued thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the events on last Friday. I'm not interested in getting into a debate about gun control and our gun culture. That's something to be had at a later time. I will acknowledge that our nation does need to be a lot better about how we handle mental illness, but that topic isn't for this blog. What I want to talk a little bit about is how I see God working through all of this.
I've read a number of posts on Facebook and heard some commentators talk about how this is what we, and by we I mean the United States, get by taking God out of the schools and taking God out of our culture. Frankly that idea offends me. To think that God allowed this to happen, or even caused this to happen to show us as nation we've erred is horrifying to me. To think that God abandoned these kids and this community because we as a culture have abandoned God in some ways doesn't hold water with me. We can have a discussion about the consequences of pushing God further and further from our lives, and there are consequences to that, but I do not believe this incident is God trying to get our attention.
I firmly believe God was at Sandy Hook elementary that day. God is everywhere, and God has promised to never leave us or abandon us. News flash...the world is broken...breaking news...the world has always been broken. Since the beginning of time God has chosen to work with us through this mess we call life. God has allowed us free will, and has chosen to work within that free will to try and make this world as good as it can be. I do not know, or understand, why God allows free choice. I do not know why God allows such atrocities to happen since I believe God has the power to stop them. Sometimes bad things happen because we, and by we I mean us personally and us as a society, make bad choices. And sometimes bad things happen for no reason. I think it is a mistake to try and make sense out of the senseless. Sure there might be reasons for why this happened, and we should investigate what can be done to stop this from happening again. But, God did not abandon those kids and teachers at that school. I cannot and will not believe that. I believe that God has a plan for this world and for each of us. I believe it is our job, if you will, to try and follow that plan as best we are able. When horrible events happen I lean on my faith. That faith reminds me that God is always there, that God is in control (even if I don't understand why or see how), and that God will walk with us through it all.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Don't tell Tracy...
I love this time of year. You can feel the anticipation and the Christmas joy in the air. Each morning the boys get up and go on a desperate search to find Jasmine. Jasmine is our elf on a shelf. If you're not familiar with the elf on a shelf it is a personal elf that visits your house during the holiday season and reports to Santa each night if you were naughty or nice. Personally I think it's a brilliant discipline tool for at least one month out of the year. Those boys fear that elf, and what she might tell Santa more then their mom and dad. If I could come up with an elf on the shelf concept that lasted a whole year I'd be rich and maybe have better behaved kids!
I also love this time of year because it gets colder out and it is supposed to snow. I've always said if it has to be cold it might was well snow! Family traditions also make this time of year great too! From watching the Christmas stories on TV to waiting until Christmas to open your presents I really enjoy all of the family traditions surrounding this year and passing them onto my boys.
I also love the idea of Tracy starting a new tradition each year. Each year in November and early December Tracy tells me, "Let's not get each other anything for Christmas." I say, "ok sounds good"...knowing full well the boys had better get her something and that Santa had better come through too! An aside, Tracy's birthday is on the 23rd of December so we still get her birthday presents. I can expect this statement as I said in late November to early December. This year she tried a new twist to the tradition by saying we should take what we would have spent on each other and given it to some charity. I think what a great idea. We've also cut the presents the boys get from us back some for 2 reasons: 1) they have enough stuff already, and 2) we're going to take a few more small trips throughout the year where we can make memories as a family instead of spending money on stuff they'll use for a week and then forget they have.
Well Tracy's "new" tradition of not getting each other something lasted until last night. As we're unwinding after the boys are in bed she says, "I'd like a pair of those slippers that go up to my knees." I think to myself, I'd call those boots, but that's a different story for a different blog! I remind her that we weren't getting each other anything, and she replies, "well that's something Santa can bring me." HA, December 9th and the "new' tradition is dead!
As I said I love this time of year. No deep theological thoughts this week...just a reminder to start some family traditions of your own, and to spend some extra time with loved ones this Christmas season! And, if you're married and male, she wants something for Christmas even though she says she doesn't!
I also love this time of year because it gets colder out and it is supposed to snow. I've always said if it has to be cold it might was well snow! Family traditions also make this time of year great too! From watching the Christmas stories on TV to waiting until Christmas to open your presents I really enjoy all of the family traditions surrounding this year and passing them onto my boys.
I also love the idea of Tracy starting a new tradition each year. Each year in November and early December Tracy tells me, "Let's not get each other anything for Christmas." I say, "ok sounds good"...knowing full well the boys had better get her something and that Santa had better come through too! An aside, Tracy's birthday is on the 23rd of December so we still get her birthday presents. I can expect this statement as I said in late November to early December. This year she tried a new twist to the tradition by saying we should take what we would have spent on each other and given it to some charity. I think what a great idea. We've also cut the presents the boys get from us back some for 2 reasons: 1) they have enough stuff already, and 2) we're going to take a few more small trips throughout the year where we can make memories as a family instead of spending money on stuff they'll use for a week and then forget they have.
Well Tracy's "new" tradition of not getting each other something lasted until last night. As we're unwinding after the boys are in bed she says, "I'd like a pair of those slippers that go up to my knees." I think to myself, I'd call those boots, but that's a different story for a different blog! I remind her that we weren't getting each other anything, and she replies, "well that's something Santa can bring me." HA, December 9th and the "new' tradition is dead!
As I said I love this time of year. No deep theological thoughts this week...just a reminder to start some family traditions of your own, and to spend some extra time with loved ones this Christmas season! And, if you're married and male, she wants something for Christmas even though she says she doesn't!
Monday, December 3, 2012
Advent and hope
Sometimes I have to laugh at us ministers. We can get stuck on something and be ornery about stuff with the best of them. I'm part of a clergy group on Facebook and one discussion was about how some ministers dislike the Christmas decorations in the church during the season of Advent. Their contention is Christmas doesn't arrive until midnight on December 24th, and then we have 12 days to celebrate it. The discussion went on some with a few agreeing and a few disagreeing.
Technically I suppose Advent is not Christmas. Advent is the time of the year when we prepare for Christmas so to have the decorations up skips past any preparation. But, I love Christmas decorations...don't tell the misses because then I may have to do more in the decorating department...and I think we will miss a good chance to celebrate Christmas if we don't decorate or sing Christmas carols until Christmas and the 12 days after. Plus, we have been so ingrained to celebrate Christmas right after Thanksgiving and take all the decorations down right after Christmas I don't think we can change.
This discussion online got me thinking about how we treat Advent. The advent season is truly a great time of the year. The advent wreath and the traditions around it can truly keep is grounded and reminded of what Christmas is really about. This week we lit the candle of hope. Hope is something we all need. During my sermon on Sunday I talked about the hope we have in the return of Jesus. I mentioned that the promise of Jesus' return lets us know that things aren't always going to be like they are. Jesus has promised to come back one day and set up a new heaven and a new earth where everything is perfect. We waste our time predicting when that will happen. What these promises give us is hope in a better future, and also not knowing the time helps us to remember to live as though Jesus was coming back at any moment.
Does that sound like Advent and your life to you? Do you live following the commandments of Jesus to love others and be selfless and loving and forgiving as though He was coming back tomorrow to see how you did? I know I certainly don't. I can get so wrapped up in day to day activities that I lose sight of the big picture and hope is the farthest thing from my mind. Sometimes we get so busy with the minutia of life that we lose sight of what we're living for. We forget Jesus calls us to be his hands and feet in this world and that He gave us an example of how we should live our lives. Especially during this holiday season it is easy to get all caught up and forget to take a step back and truly look at how we live our lives and to be grateful for all we have. Will you try to find time this year to enjoy the advent season and truly anticipate the celebration of Jesus' birth? Will you share with family and friends the message of hope and remember that no matter life's circumstances there is a savior who loves you? Do that and you'll truly experience the joy and happiness of Jesus birth.
Technically I suppose Advent is not Christmas. Advent is the time of the year when we prepare for Christmas so to have the decorations up skips past any preparation. But, I love Christmas decorations...don't tell the misses because then I may have to do more in the decorating department...and I think we will miss a good chance to celebrate Christmas if we don't decorate or sing Christmas carols until Christmas and the 12 days after. Plus, we have been so ingrained to celebrate Christmas right after Thanksgiving and take all the decorations down right after Christmas I don't think we can change.
This discussion online got me thinking about how we treat Advent. The advent season is truly a great time of the year. The advent wreath and the traditions around it can truly keep is grounded and reminded of what Christmas is really about. This week we lit the candle of hope. Hope is something we all need. During my sermon on Sunday I talked about the hope we have in the return of Jesus. I mentioned that the promise of Jesus' return lets us know that things aren't always going to be like they are. Jesus has promised to come back one day and set up a new heaven and a new earth where everything is perfect. We waste our time predicting when that will happen. What these promises give us is hope in a better future, and also not knowing the time helps us to remember to live as though Jesus was coming back at any moment.
Does that sound like Advent and your life to you? Do you live following the commandments of Jesus to love others and be selfless and loving and forgiving as though He was coming back tomorrow to see how you did? I know I certainly don't. I can get so wrapped up in day to day activities that I lose sight of the big picture and hope is the farthest thing from my mind. Sometimes we get so busy with the minutia of life that we lose sight of what we're living for. We forget Jesus calls us to be his hands and feet in this world and that He gave us an example of how we should live our lives. Especially during this holiday season it is easy to get all caught up and forget to take a step back and truly look at how we live our lives and to be grateful for all we have. Will you try to find time this year to enjoy the advent season and truly anticipate the celebration of Jesus' birth? Will you share with family and friends the message of hope and remember that no matter life's circumstances there is a savior who loves you? Do that and you'll truly experience the joy and happiness of Jesus birth.
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