Is Your Jesus Still in a Manager?

I was listening to a preacher online recently and something he said made me think about this question. He did not frame his thought quite this way, but something made me sit on this question during the Christmas season. 

Everyone is making plans for Christmas. I've been asked about my plans and wished Merry Christmas from strangers at the store checkout. I've heard news reports about all the people planning to travel over the holiday and possible travel delays. Meanwhile, we get caught up in the busyness of the season, the preparation, the anticipation, and the excitement.

Christmas is when we celebrate the time when Jesus was born. We retell the Bible story from Luke, we watch the Christmas movies, and enjoy songs such as O Holy Night and Away in a Manger. I love those songs so much! 

While I was thinking about all of this, I also considered the year of 2024. At the end of December we often take time to think about our year in review. This year is not one I would care to relive as it has been quite difficult. I won't go into personal details here, but suffice it to say it has been a very challenging year.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, 

because his compassions fail not. 

Lamentations 3:22

So back to that question Is Your Jesus Still in a Manger? I was thinking about this in context of the difficulties we have been through this year. If I had left baby Jesus in that manger and the Christmas season, how would that have affected my life this year? Many years ago, I came to understand how the babe in the manger grew up to live a sinless life and he eventually gave his own life on the cross for me. The Christmas season points us to the Cross. I think one of the best pieces of music is Handel's The Messiah which does this so beautifully. Handel understood this and wrote about anticipating the coming Messiah and his eventual sacrifice.

Who is this King of Glory?

For Unto Us A Child is Born

And with his stripes we are healed

Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth

How then would my life have been different this year if I did not have the whole, grown-up Jesus in my life? While I don't have a crystal ball that will tell me that, I can tell you many times this year I thought hardships would consume me. But. . . His compassions did not fail me. Sometimes those compassions were sent through the a Bible verse and other times it came through a timely phone call from a friend, an encouraging text message, or visit from family.

                They (his mercies) are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

                The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Lamentations 3:23-24

I love these verses from Lamentations because I've seen over and over how true faithful Jesus Christ is in my life. My hope is in him. Hallelujah! The Lord God is Omnipotent and he reigns now and forevermore!

Salt

For as long as I can remember, I have heard that Christ followers should be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). However, I'm not sure that I've ever thought much about what it really means. 

Recently I heard someone being interviewed who talked about how we are called to be salt and light in this world. The host chimed in to point out how most people think salt is just for flavor, but when the Bible was written salt was also used as a preservative. He did not elaborate on this point, but it certainly was an interesting thought to ponder. Hmmm. Besides flavor, we are to preserve.

While I thought about this idea, I decided to see what salt actually does for food. Since I'm not a scientist, I relied on a quick internet search which showed me that Preservation was the very first item listed. Salt prevents microbial growth. Those pesky microbes will eat away at the nutrients of food until it becomes spoiled. 

Second on the list is how salt is used for flavor. This is what I always think of first. Grab the salt shaker and make those French Fries extra good! By definition, salt enhances the flavors that are already there and even improves the aroma.

Third, salt improves the texture of food. It tenderizes meat, it helps the gluten in the bread work better, and a pinch of salt can even soften and brighten vegetables when cooked.

Armed with this information, I start to think about how I can apply this to my own life and be salt in this world. 

Since salt improves flavor, texture, and tenderizes food, then I should be enhancing my world. For me that could look like encouraging others—being a cheerleader instead of competing. 

If I am to be a preservative in this world, that would mean I need to uphold God's Word. That means living my life in such a way that biblical truths can be seen in my life, especially when the world is going the opposite direction. Sometimes that means speaking up, not to uplift myself, but to uphold God's truth. But being "Salt" should be done with respect and love. My mind goes to watching a grandmother baking bread for her family, as she puts all the ingredients together including a pinch of salt. When the bread is done, she serves it to an eager family along with many other goodies with salt. Salt is not the main ingredient. So if I'm only serving salt to my friends, they will spit it out and quit listening. The last thing I want to do is push people away from me or Jesus.

I've seen a lot of salty conversations this year in social media. When some people are passionate about something, they tend to make it their main topic of conversation. After a while, too much salt makes me feel a little bloated. I need more water and it makes my blood pressure go up. That's when I tend to tune out of the conversation. I know when I've had enough salt.

On the flip side of this, the lack of salt can make really bland food and also cause those pesky microbes to start eating away at the good stuff. So being salt by standing up for biblical principles is good. I heard someone say that when something is taken away, there is always something waiting to fill that void. For example when prayer was taken out of public school, Satan was waiting to fill that void. When I was in school, religious groups were still tolerated as extra curricular activities on campuses, but that all started to change when I became an adult. I volunteered with Campus Life and saw it change. It seems like schools have gone downhill since then and many schools have become an unsafe place for kids. Perhaps a little more salt is needed in many areas of society. 

Finally, as I have conversations in person or on social media, I pray that I don't give a steady diet of salt to others. But instead, I hope that I'm more like the loving grandmother who serves a tasty recipe with the right balance of ingredients and made with love. The end result is to point others toward Christ.

Crisis Fatigue

Good morning, friends. I haven't updated my blog in quite a while, but recently I've felt the Lord has been leading me to write. I have had a few opportunities along the way to write in other venues, but by and large I have pushed writing aside because, well. . . life got in the way. But that's what this blog is about—writing about life. 

What should I write about? Ideas have been swirling around in my mind, but this morning I heard a pastor mention the phrase Crisis Fatigue. Wow. That's exactly where I am. I won't get into details, but my personal life over the past few years has been a series of crisis events in varying shapes and sizes. About the time I get over one crisis, another one sets in. I can even pinpoint the moment it started. 

Now that the personal crisis events are mostly in the rear view mirror, the world seems to be taking on this mantle of crisis. It feels like every single day! I believe much of this began on October 7, 2023, when the nation of Israel was attacked, unleashing incredible evil in this world. At times I've scratched my head at the things I've seen and heard. It seems as if the spiritual landscape of this world has changed. Prophetic events mentioned in the Bible appear to be unfolding in rapid succession before our eyes. I don't know about you, but I've been closely following the events unfolding in Israel and the surrounding area. That means I've been watching a lot more news than I did before. Crisis fatigue.

Let's toss into the mix natural disasters which seem to be coming at us from all sides. Wild fires. Earth quakes. Tornadoes. Floods. Hurricanes. These stories are all over the news as well, though it's hard to get much information from mainstream media outlets because they're so focused on yet another crisis: Politics. Crisis fatigue.

Yes, politics has also drawn me in. I mean, you can't get away from it. Right? I don't keep watching because I enjoy it, but because this feels like a very serious turning point in our country. Have you ever had that deep down feeling that something is so serious you can't look away? And then to see families fighting over their political beliefs, not to mention Christians fighting with each other. I won't get into the deep waters of politics here, but I will say that if you take the stance that your vote won't matter in this election, especially because God is in control, then you are mistaken. God gives us liberty as well as the ability to cast a vote. Even though He is in control, who am I be God and decide that my vote won't matter anyway. God uses His people. God also wants us to make choices in our lives that will honor biblical teachings. Okay, I know what you're thinking. There's no good choice in this election. If you aren't familiar with the Old Testament, there are several pagan leaders who God used to accomplish His purpose. God can use anyone—me and you. Yes, God can use anyone or anything for good, what others meant for evil. That is my paraphrase of Genesis 50:20.

Back to crisis fatigue. What we are experiencing is what Paul mentioned in Ephesians 6:12.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

In the verse before this, Paul reminds us to put on the whole armor of God. Why? Think about soldiers in battle. Their guard is up constantly because the enemy might be just around the corner. If they get to rest, it probably doesn't come easily because they're always on guard for what's around the corner. It's mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. Crisis fatigue. Hmmm. 

And after we put on our helmet, we carry our shield, and arm ourselves so that we can withstand the crisis fatigue and withstand the evil day, in the midst of it all we can experience the peace that can only come from God. I encourage you to read the entire chapter of Ephesians 6.

Meanwhile, let's continue to spread peace, spread the Good News of Jesus and His salvation while we still can. In the midst of all this crisis fatigue, I've been hearing of massive revivals breaking out all over the world. God is still at work! And if you don't know, Jesus loves you so much that He died for you. Yes, you. His salvation is free by asking Him to come into your life. You can do it right now.

While we have this armor on, and while we let peace rule in our hearts and minds, let's also continue to do good to others. 

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10