Christmas is Messy

 I’m not sure when it began, but for several generations now we have been duped. We have been led to believe that alongside the celebration of Jesus’ birth there needs to be more. There needs to be decorations on trees, lights on houses, gingerbread cookies warm from the oven, gifts to buy, parties to attend, and the list goes on. And with all of these “necessary” things comes the misguided idea that it all has to be picture perfect and Pinterest worthy.

  But what happens when it’s not? What happens when you strive to make everything perfect but you burn the cookies, forget to buy Uncle David’s gift, and your beautifully decorated tree is dead two weeks before Christmas Day? Is Christmas ruined?

Christmas can never be ruined because Christmas isn’t about things, it’s about the Person of Jesus. It’s God leaving His dwelling of unimaginable splendor, glory and perfection and stepping into a messy, filthy world.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

  Jesus brought His goodness into our brokenness, He shed His light into our darkness. And guess what? Jesus still does this today. He is Emmanuel; God With Us.So if you are finding yourself striving for the perfect Christmas, don’t. It already came. The perfect Christmas was given to us 2,000 years ago. Let the wonder of Jesus be your Christmas.

Then the angel said to them, 
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 
For there in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

Dina Pugh

The Power Behind the Thunderstorm

My absolute favorite season is here; Fall. I love all things Fall…the changing of leaves, pumpkin spiced lattes, the cool, crisp air and the excuse to wear boots and scarves.

Along with this year’s fall came our first fairly substantial rain for the season. Although rain is not my favorite (yes, I know how desperately we need it here in CA) I do, however, love thunderstorms.

As I drove our son to school this morning, a thunderstorm was almost on top of us. The flashes of lightning were brilliant, but it is the thunder that I most enjoy. Maybe I enjoy the thunder more than the lightning because I know the thunder won’t hurt me. The thunder rolls loud and booms with power, but it causes no harm. The lightning’s power is different. It cracks and flashes through the sky in mere moments and can cause harm to anything it touches.

Thunder and lightning are powerful, but the One who created the thunder and lightning is All-Powerful. He alone holds the universe in His hands. How often do we stop and take a moment from our frazzled lives to think about the wonder of God? Are we so constantly wrapped up in ourselves and in our needs, wants, and expectations that we forget the hands that made us?

The Bible tells us in the first chapter and verse of the gospel of John that Jesus is the Word and that the Word is God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Bible goes on to say in Hebrews 4:12-13: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

That’s power.

Like lightning’s power to slice through the air and reach its target, God’s power can slice through our very soul and spirit, exposing the true intents of our heart. Something to think about. I’ll leave you with the words found in Joel:

So rend your heart and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. Joel 2:13

Dina Pugh

What’s Up Ahead?

  I was taking my husband to the airport the other day when all of a sudden, the freeway came to a dead stop. Traffic on a California freeway? Shock of shocks. For the next several miles, it was stop and go. Good thing we ended up leaving earlier than we had originally planned. We finally arrived at the heart of the problem: Construction. Good ol’ construction.

  As we passed the construction site the freeway opened up and our speed returned to normal. My husband commented, “It sure would be nice if there was something that would tell you instantly what was happening a few miles ahead. Then you could prepare.” I thought about what he said and thought to myself, “Yeah it would be nice, too, if life was like that. To know what’s coming so we could be ready.”

  But God doesn’t let us know in advance what’s around the corner. He doesn’t give us a heads up on the unexpected detour in our life or the unexpected joyful surprise that’s waiting for us. On the surface, that may seem unfair. But as you dig deeper, you begin to understand that God keeps us in the dark, so to speak, for our benefit. Think about it. If you knew in advance the blessings God was about to bring you, where would your focus be? Would it be on the here and now? No, most likely your mind and heart would be distracted on the upcoming blessing. If you knew in advance the difficult valley you were about to walk through, where would your focus be? Would it be on the here and now? No, most likely your mind and heart would be filled with distress on the impending struggle. Does God want our focus on what lies ahead? No. God wants our focus on Him and on what we have in the present, trusting Him for whatever the day brings us. 

Proverbs 27:1 Tells us: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

  If we are rooted in God, we have all we need for what awaits us whether good or bad. It’s called Grace. God’s grace is an incredible gift. It is the source of our blessings and it is strength for our difficulties. 2 Corinthians12:9 says: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  I like the Amplified Bible’s version of this passage, it opens up the richness of this promise: He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, my loving kindness and my mercy are more than enough – always available – regardless of the situation: for my power is being perfected and is completed and shows itself most effectively in your weakness.”

  So although we may think it would be nice to know what’s ahead, in reality, we would be robbing ourselves of experiencing yet another facet of God’s amazing grace.

Dina Pugh

A Heavenly Country

Heaven. We are closer today than we were yesterday and tomorrow will bring us closer than we are today.

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16

That’s me. Quite often, I too, find myself desiring a better, heavenly country. One free of pain and sorrow, one free of sickness, violence, and death. To physically be where the Lord is, well that would just be the bee’s knees wouldn’t it?

But although we are not yet physically where God is, He is most certainly where we are. Thank the Lord for that! He is with us! In every trial, in every breaking headline, in every situation and circumstance, God is here with us. Immanuel.

God brings us His peace and His comforts. He wraps us in His love in magnificent ways. The laughter of a child, the understanding of a friend. The gold and silver of daybreak, the burst of color just before sunset. All of these are tangible gifts of God’s presence.

Everyday He gives us a taste of our heavenly country and whispers softly to our hearts, “The best is yet to come!”

Dina Pugh

Free Indeed

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

John 8:36

This verse came to mind as I sat in my car the other day. I was in the parking lot at Citrus Plaza waiting on my son when I took notice of the American flags flying in the breeze throughout the area. There was one particular flag that caught my attention. Unlike the other flags, whose stars and stripes flowed easily in the wind, the corner of this flag had become caught on something and sadly it just hung there, motionless. I realized in that moment how much I have in common with that sad, motionless flag.

Flags are designed to display that for which they stand for. Flags are made to be anchored to something, but this anchoring is in no way a hindrance to the flag. The anchor is the flag’s solid support. While safely anchored, the flag is free to open itself wide and do what it was made to do; fly freely in the wind showing those around it its beauty. So when a flag is not doing what it was made to do, like the one I noticed that was caught, it’s not displaying its full potential.

I, too, am designed to display that for which I stand for;Jesus. Just like a flag needs to be anchored, I need to be anchored not to something but to Someone who is my solid support. With the Lord as my anchor, I am free to open myself wide and do what I was made to do; live my life in the full freedom of Christ. However, like I said, I’m afraid I’m more like the flag that was stuck than the ones that were free.  How so? 

Whenever I let fear, worry or doubt creep in then a part of me gets stuck. Whenever I hold back forgiveness or not extend my hand in love, a part of me gets stuck. Whenever I let sin go un-confessed, a part of me gets stuck. Whenever I put anything above or before God, I get stuck.

There are so many things in this life that can cause us all to become stuck. I don’t want to be stuck like that flag. I want to be free. Therefore, I will continue to trust my Anchor and with His help, open myself up big and wide and live free in Him.

Dina Pugh

Are You a Sunday Christian?

At a recent women’s Bible study I attend, the question was asked, “In your own words, describe what you think it means to be a follower of Christ?” Hmm. Good question. Really, what does it mean to follow Jesus? Does simply asking Jesus into your heart make you a follower? Does going to church on Sunday and attending Bible studies make you a follower? Does putting NOTW bumper stickers on your car and Christian tattoos on your body make you a follower? Do we ever really stop and ask ourselves, “Why do I believe what I believe and am I fully devoted and living out what I believe?”

The Bible is full of examples of people who have gone before us and lived their lives in faith and devotion. Abraham was devoted to God and laid down his own personal plans for his life for the plans that God had for him. (Genesis 12:1-9) Caleb and Joshua spoke up in faith when everyone else around them was afraid to trust the Lord. (Numbers 13-14:1-10) David is known for many great things, but I believe the most important one is that he was a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) When Jesus came to earth, His disciples left their families and life as they knew it and followed Him. (Matthew 4:18-22, 10:1-42, 19:27-30)

So what about us? Where do we line up? While every individual’s walk with the Lord is unique to them, a few basic principles can be applied to every believer’s life. First of all, start off by trading the life you have in mind for yourself for the life Jesus has for you. Secondly, let go of control and trust Him in all things. Next, make it a habit to seek Him daily. And finally, determine in your heart to put Jesus first and foremost before any other thing or person in your life. If you apply these principles, your relationship with Jesus will only grow stronger. There is nothing greater than knowing and following Jesus. It must be said, however, that it is a road often marked with difficulties and heartache. But that being said, it is also the most incredible love relationship you will ever experience.

Let’s all take a personal inventory of our heart and ask our self, “Am I living for self or living for Jesus?”

Then Jesus called the crowd and His followers to Him. He said, “Any of you who want to be My follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following Me. Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for Me and for the Good News will save it. It is worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are lost. You could never pay enough to buy back your life. People today are so sinful. They have not been faithful to God. As you live among them, don’t be ashamed of Me and My teaching. If that happens, I will be ashamed of you when I come with the glory of My Father and the holy angels.”  Mark 8:34-38 ERV

Dina Pugh