Not Your Typical Christmas Message

Christmas is a joyful & magical time of year but it can, unfortunately, also get twisted into a dark & lonely time if we aren’t careful.

This week I was studying Exodus 17 where Moses commanded Joshua to assemble the Israelites to fight the Amalek army. While fighting, when Moses held up the “staff of God” the Israelites were in advantage but if he dropped his hand the Amalekites took gain. Moses was getting physically tired holding up the staff so Aaron and Hur found Moses a seat and HELD HIS HANDS UP FOR HIM until the army of Amalek was defeated!

I’m not here to rain on your Christmas parade with battle talk, but I want to remind you that we’re in a constant battle with the enemy. Tonight I stand alongside anyone that feels joy mixed with pain and needs a seat and an elbow prop reminder that asking for help is ok. Maybe this is a nudge to contact a confidant, delete the app, take your brain meds without shame, or go to a professional for the help you need in your hard season.

Just turn on the tv, talk to a friend, or think about your thoughts and you’ll see the pain within us as a community and people. Satan is lurking amongst us whispering lies to try and make us believe we’re alone, not worth it, too far gone, or not wanted.

I know this because the deceiver took a lot of hard swings at me this year. I know he was trying really hard to prevent what God had in store with my book release but we know Who won there.

The lies you hear about yourself are NOT from Jesus. We have to RECOGNIZE the lie, REMEMBER the Truth, keep our eyes IN the Word, and ASK the Holy Spirit to lead & plead for us directly into God’s ears.

As a child of God, you hold the lifeline. We have the Prince of Peace, a purpose to fulfill, and we aren’t finished until God says so. If you don’t have the strength to physically make the next right move reach out to Jesus and let Him hold up your arms instead. It’s no coincidence that our arms go up in praise.

Pressing on through the punches not only stirs up God’s glory but also shows others how it can be done with God’s help. Jesus paid it all. And our life, our breath, our gifts, our time?

ALL to Him we owe.