I've just returned from a trip to Cambodia to visit our sponsor children. We visited the centre for a week and did lessons with the kids, listened to them read, played frisbee and helped them practice their English. It was hot, we sat on tiny plastic chairs or the tiled floor, we had no electricity for several days but it was such a great time. These kids live in the slums, some of them only eat once a day, they don't have mobile phones, computers and televisions, they don't have access to good health care... They don't have much, but they are grateful for what they have. Even though they are poor, they are rich. Many of these kids love and follow Jesus. Even though they don't have much now, they will inherit eternal life with God and that's worth more than all the money in the world. James 2:5 says, God chose the poor people in the world to be rich in faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him.
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I have just returned from a mission trip to Cambodia. I nearly didn't make it onto the plane because I had surgery just before Christmas, then I had post op complications and needed more surgery. I was uncomfortable, in pain and worried about travelling to a third world country while I was recovering. I prayed for wisdom and had the overwhelming sense that God was telling me to do it afraid. It's easy to step out in faith when everything is going ok. It's harder to do when you are not well, in a bad headspace, or when everything around you is going wrong. God doesn't want us to wait until everything is perfect before we do his work - that will never happen. He wants us to be obedient when we're stressed, depressed, afraid... I love 2 Corinthians 12:9 But the Lord said to me, “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, then my power is made perfect in you.” So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me. I was definitely feeling weak but God helped me. I was able to participate in the trip. By the time I got home was almost fully recovered. I was really blessed by being part of the team and my faith has grown from the experience. Don't let fear stop you from doing what you think God is telling you to do - do it afraid.
There is some debate over when the wise men actually visited Jesus. But we do know that they visited Jesus in a house, not the stable. We're also not sure exactly what the wise men were, except that they were educated and wise. We don't know where they came from, except that it was somewhere in the east. And we don't know how many there were - there are three of them in most nativity scenes because we know they brought three gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. The most important thing we know about the wise men is that they worshipped Jesus.
CHALLENGE: This Christmas make sure it's Jesus you're worshipping, not food, things, friends, good times etc. You would expect the arrival of God's Son on earth to be a huge deal but when Jesus arrived the first people to be told were some shepherds who were looking after their sheep. In Bible times shepherds were considered to be outcasts, dishonest and unclean - yet God chose them to be the first to get the good news! All through Jesus' ministry he hung out with broken, messy people like tax collectors and prostitutes. The world says that some people are more important than others because they're rich, or beautiful, or famous, or successful, but that's not how it works in God's economy. God makes it clear that he loves everybody and we should too.
CHALLENGE: Find a way to love someone who is an outcast. Invite them to church, take them a food hamper from your church, say hello, smile at them... Visiting, royalty, heads of state and celebrities stay in 5 star hotels or palaces when they are on tour. But when the son of the creator of the universe came to earth he slept in a stable in an animal food trough. Now I have visited a couple of farms and I can tell you that a food trough is not a particularly clean or hygienic place to put a baby. It just shows how much God loves humble, ordinary people. He comes into our sin-scarred lives and loves us in the middle of the mess. He doesn't expect you to tidy up your life and be a better person before you become a Christian, he asks to come in first and help you do life with him.
Cain was Adam and Eve's first born child. He was the first person to be born in the Bible and the first murderer.
Cain was a farmer and grew crops. When Cain and Abel presented offerings to God, he was jealous because God preferred Abel's offering so he killed him - pretty extreme, right? He was banished for his sin. He moved to the land of Nod, married, had a son, Enoch and built a city named after his son. It was Cain's attitude that was the problem. God can see past our actions to the attitudes that motivate them.When Cain and Abel brought their offerings to God Cain just brought some of the produce from his farm but Abel brought the best of his flock. When we give God our time, effort and money do we give to him first, or do we give what's left? Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron. We are first introduced to her in Exodus 2:4 when Moses' mother hid him in a basket because Pharaoh was trying to kill all the Israelite baby boys. Miriam watched the basket to see what would happen.
Our second encounter with Miriam is in Exodus 15:20-21 when the Israelites were celebrating escaping from the Egyptians. Verse 21 refers to Miriam as a prophetess. She is the first woman in the Bible to be given this title. Unfortunately, Miriam and her brother, Aaron, became proud and were jealous of Moses. When they complained about him God heard them and struck Miriam down with a skin disease. She had to stay outside the camp for 7 days until she was clean again. What can we learn from Miriam? Be humble. John 11:5 says, "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." He was clearly friends with them. Lazarus was ill so Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus. However, he didn't come straight away and Lazarus died. Verse 35 is the shortest verse in the Bible but it is so full of meaning. It says, "Jesus wept." I love this demonstration of Jesus' humanity and compassion. When he commanded them to open the tomb Martha said, "But, Lord, it has been four days since Lazarus died. There will be a bad smell." They did open the tomb and Jesus told Lazarus to come out, which he did. The life lesson is that it is never too late for a miracle.
It's easy to sing praise to God when you're feeling happy and life is going great. But there's something powerful in singing worship songs when you feel down and life is not going great. David wrote this Psalm (song) above when Saul was trying to kill him. When I'm struggling, one of the first things I do is put on some worship music, turn it up and sing out loud. Try it next time you're having a bad day.
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