Here’s an interesting conversation between God and Moses recorded in the Bible (Exodus 3,4). I’ve read these chapters before, but never saw it this way until last night while listening to Steven Furtick.
Moses: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” … God: “I will be with you”.
Moses: “What if they do not believe me or listen to me…” God: (shows him how to make miracles)… “This is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of your fathers… has appeared to you”
Moses: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow in speach and tongue”. God: “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say”
Moses: “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else”.
I feel Moses’ hesitation because of his perceived limitations. But, at this point, I think God became irritated of the excuses because in 4:14, it says “Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses…“
You want to see God burn in anger? You think he’s angry only when you sin?
Tell him you can’t do it. That you’re not capable. That you have limitations. You just cant. Then you’ll see fire go down from heaven and roast you alive.
You are made by God the way he wants you created. He gave you strengths and limitations. Nonetheless, he has great works, a purpose, a task specially fitted for you. When you sense God calling you to do something in the church, in your workplaces, in your family, in your career and feels that you can’t do it … remember Moses.
You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He wanted you alive and created you for a purpose. Focusing on yourself will never reveal your purpose. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Only in God do we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny.
- Dr. Rick Warren, Author of The Purpose Driven Life
Ok, now wasn’t that an eye opener? I mean, we know this, but we’re just sucked up inside this holiday tradition.
- we spend way too much in seasons of Christmas
- we buy people stuff that WE like but THEY don’t need.
- we feel guilty for not buying people presents
- we even feel annoyed for receiving gifts with lesser value than the gifts you gave!
Commercialism on Christmas season simply sucks. I mean, really sucks. We lost it. This is not supposed to be. Giving generously is fine. But obliged, guilt-driven, price-tag focused giving is not. Sadly, this is Christmas now a days.
So, friends, it’s ok if you’re not giving us gifts this Christmas, you don’t have to feel guilty about it. We, however, sincerely thank those who gave and sure appreciates whatever you gave. We’re giving away simple gifts this Christmas to some friends — but will not to others. That doesn’t mean we don’t love you, we simply want to save and wouldn’t want to spend a lot this Christmas.
The best way to celebrate this season is to be with the family, worshiping Jesus for who he is — a God who decided to be a man on Christmas morning in his love for us all.
If you’re about to loose everything, will you still trust and praise God?
When I met Jesus — for who he really is — 10 years ago, one of my battle cry was “Jesus is enough”. He is enough to give comfort, joy, eternal security. He is enough when we feel inadequate. He is enough when life seems to fall apart. He is enough even if you’ll loose everything.
Matt Chandler is a very popular pastor in the US. He leads a successful church, The Village Church, that ministers to thousands of people. He is a well-known speaker in conferences. And, with his words, it seems that at 35 years old, God has given him victory after victory in this life.
Not until the morning of Thanksgiving day. He had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. They found a tumor in his frontal lobe and has undergone surgery last Friday. He recorded this video before this operation.
If you’re about to loose everything, is Jesus enough? Watch this video and be encouraged — or even be led into repentance for trusting on what you have even knowing that Jesus should be enough in our lives.
Christmas has always been traditionally the fondest, most anticipated and busiest time of the year. And this is also the most misinterpreted holiday of the year.
So how should we spend the Christmas season. Let’s go back to basics. A note from LifeChurch.tv’s Facebook account:
Christmas has become, for many of us, a season of eating, shopping, hosting and spending. We run ourselves ragged in an effort to please the people around us and make everyone get along long enough for all of the holiday pictures to be taken. It’s exhausting and it’s all a bunch of focus on the things that Christmas was never meant to be. We’re not gonna take it anymore. We’re going to make this year different.
This year, (let’s go) back to the basics. This year Christmas (should) be about worship, giving, and love. Those are the things that the first Christmas was all about. When Jesus was born he was a gift from the creator. He was the symbol of God’s love for us. These two realizations caused the shepherds who first visited him to worship in awe of the wonderful miracle of the Messiah.
So as we head into the holiday, let’s conspire to change Christmas. Let’s leave behind the stress and spending and trade them in for worship, giving and love.
Arnold Gamboa. Jesus' follower. Joyce' lover. Johann's and Arwen's playmate. Team Sparrow leader. LifeChurch Makati's servant. Know more about this blog here.
