Urban Reformation

We have had an intensely busy yet wonderful year in 2007, with several difficult paths here and there to make it interesting. My wife began teaching P.E. part time at FCA, she continues to do wonderful things in her Salon when she has time for the ladies of the church and past clientèle. My Children are all three in school this year with Ian trailing up the backside as he completes the first semester of his kindergarten year. I went from a second shift position at my place of employment to first taking a rather nice cut in pay, only to have it close to returned to me by the end of this year. God is merciful. I finished volunteering for the year at a place called H3, which I enjoyed attempting at preaching, and some teaching, also teaching at the Anchor House for a brief time. All of these things in a moment became overwhelming this year and seeing that my family was taking a toll and my heart being pulled in so many directions I’ve taken a much needed time out the past couple of months.

I say all of this to reflect on one thing tonight, in all of that activity, in spite of it all each and every day it is simply Christ to whom I must cling. I feel my biggest breakdown with the Lord this year was with me….. of course. I again failed to love Him to a minuscule slice of His infinite worth, I failed this year to spend sufficient time with Him as I say with my lips I should, I have failed to meditate, failed to love my wife, failed my children…. I cannot read His word without seeing all of these failings of self. I thank God it is not by my merit or works, which grant me access to His throne room, or to Him. All of these things I fail in, and yet without living in condemnation I thank God for His faithfulness in spite of me. I will be thirty-three next months and as I am beginning to grow older I notice one thing I am more needy for Christ every day. I need Him for most everything, and as I am aging I am coming “to know” it more if that makes any sense.

Now to the more depressing part this evening after going out to one of the malls to pick up some pictures for a gift for Christmas, I looked around. It was another American commercialized Christmas season, and I saw how wicked and lost so many are and have slapped a label on Jesus things at Christmas now to make them cool. Political hip Jesus seems to be in, becoming the new thing as we march Jesus around like a banner as we campaign to the country that should lead us in 2008. Oh the heart of men, Jeremiah 17:9 So the glitter of the gospel at Christmas looks at times like a plastic pop tart people who say the name of Jesus once a year, unless they are using it in vain. I must say there is a bit of mourning when I go out in seasons like these. So many are pulled away or have misconceptions of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

So all the busy of life above, the failings of this year, and the absolute despair I see in the materialism & prosperity that our nation is knowing, I could think of only one thing that gave me hope.

It was simply the simplicity of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:20
As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Colossians 1:27
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Psalm 116:6
The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

His Birth, His Life, His death, and His Resurrection, he bore my sins and granted me Faith and this simple thing, this incarnation gives me great hope against materialism, against sin, against the devil, the flesh, and the pride of life, but to name a few…..

Thank you Father….

May You all have a Blessed Christmas!

In His Mercy,

Jason

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