As we enter another Easter season, I’m reminded of amazing themes that this time of year brings to us over two millennia.  Life over death, good over evil, humility over pride, and sacrifice over selfishness… these are just a few that come to mind.  A few days ago I was tossing a small football with my three year old grandson, Keller, and noticed that when I tossed the ball to him he instinctively turned his head every time.  The ball would not have harmed him if it hit him, and my tosses were appropriately soft for a child his age.  Still, every time his head would turn, no matter how much I encouraged him to “watch the ball”.  He was fearful.  Here was another Easter theme played out in the front yard of my daughter’s home: confidence over fear.  My grandson, try as he might, didn’t have confidence that I could throw the ball to him and not cause him harm.  His instinct of fear took over.

This is my Easter theme this year: I can overcome my fears with the confidence that God has my best interests in mind and that I can trust in His pure and unconditional love for me.  His Son laid down his life as a sacrifice for us so we can “…draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:16)

Use this Easter season to bring God into your fears and allow Him to teach you about his grace and mercy.  And as we see Him at work in our lives, then, with confidence, we’ll be able to keep our eye on the ball without fear.

Jim

Twas' two days after Christmas and all through the house, all people were moving including the mouse.  Exchanges were made and thank you's were said in hopes of avoiding a mess.
Hurt feelings were spared and graciousness shared all for the sake of the cause.
The cause is of peace and peace is of God so let the season of peace rest in your heart.

Merry Christmas!

Melissa

Christmas is less than a week away and I’m already looking beyond the holiday to the year ahead.  Clients of mine have been through very rough sledding this last year, due in part to the perilous economic times we live in.  Jobs are in short supply, and good jobs seem to be almost non-existent.  However, Christmas provides a good environment for perspective.  The man Jesus came to this earth in dire economic times, to a family extremely poor with no hope of any dramatic improvement in their circumstances.  He was born in a stable… with neither position nor influence that would allow them to enjoy anything close to being in an adequate environment for the birth of a child.  And his life after he was born was immediately in danger from a madman who governed the land in which he was born.  Perilous times indeed!

But the Good News of Christ’s birth still speaks to our hearts even two millennia after the actual event.  Out of desperation comes hope; out of discouragement comes wonder; and out of confusion comes wisdom.  Regardless of your circumstances this Christmas season, Jesus still provides us with perspective.  He still calls us to a life of faith, hope, and love, and His birth is the most poignant reminder of God’s overwhelming love for us.  And, all believers still exclaim along with the Apostle Peter, “Where else can we go?  You have the words of eternal life!”  So here’s to a Christmas where our thoughts are turned from ourselves and our own personal problems and predicaments, to the recounting of God’s blessings and a view ahead to the hope He alone can give us.  May you enjoy a Christmas with a view to eternity, and be reminded not only of the wisdom of Jesus, but also of the loving sacrifice He was for us all.  Merry Christmas!

Jim

Christmas time is always fraught with peril.  Not the physical peril of a military man or woman, but it’s loaded with emotional battles and relational pitfalls.  I think that it’s because everyone secretly wants an ideal Christmas, even those Scrooges who say they don’t like the holiday season.  They’re all just jaded liars, secretly hoping that somehow the “magic” of the season tidal waves them into a sense of love and well-being.

It’s probably important to note that the first Christmas wasn't a very pleasant experience for the principles involved:  the drama of a first pregnancy and an imminent delivery, the sadness of being away from home and the anxiety of not being able to find a place of privacy so this baby could be born.  Talk about a stressful holiday!  But in the midst of the turmoil, angels sang, poor shepherds came and worshiped, and a young couple put the pieces together of an altogether extraordinary experience.  God showed up!  We at Charis pray that your Christmas season, while full of stress, anxiety, and sometimes sadness, will also be filled with God’s presence and a very clear reminder that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Merry Christmas!

Jim

Recently, I sat down with a family member who asked me how my day had been going. I started to share about an afternoon of putting up the Christmas tree and drinking some delicious hot cider when she interrupted with, "Do you like how I moved that picture?". Ouch! Now I wasn't sharing any deep or life shattering thoughts, but it still stung a little to realize that she didn't appear to be all that interested in what I was saying. I left feeling a little deflated and also wondering if I had ever done that to someone (which I'm sure I have).  At Summit Church last night Pastor Isaac suggested that there were two kinds of people in the world, "Here I Am!" kinds of people or "There You Are!" kinds. That definitely felt to me like a "here I am" moment.  

What kind of person are you? When you walk into a room are you seeking to make those around you feel loved and cared for or are you more looking to have your own anxieties and needs met? Does it change depending on the situation? What I realized is I am far more lax with the people I feel the closest to. It seems they get the worst part of me, when in fact they should be getting the best.  So how do we become more focused on others?

• First and foremost allow God to define who you are; don't look to others to tell you.
• Be purposeful with your actions and thoughts, try not to allow yourself to go on "autopilot" or let your mind wander.  
• Listen actively! Ask follow up questions and listen for the response. Engage.

Of course this doesn't mean you can never lean on a friend, or look to others for help, but as we enter into this Christmas Season lets remember to be focused outward and strive to show love, Christ's love, to those around us. 

Julia