Friday, December 10, 2010

Captive Thoughts

Reading: 2 Chronicles 23; Joel 2-3; 2 Corinthians 10

“ We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:2b NIV).

This week has been tough. As soon as I decided to find joy in this Christmas season, I was bombarded with stress. My little girl has been extremely fussy, and my list of to-dos just keeps getting longer and longer. It seems as if there are never enough hours in the day (or night for that matter). My mind has been filled with negative thoughts. Satan has known exactly where to attack me as of late. He makes me doubt my mothering skills, my writing skills and my wife skills. He makes me look around at my life and see everything that is broken and incomplete. He directs my eyes away from Christ, where they belong. The verse above is meant for me, today and everyday. It’s a great reminder to take each thought and deed captive. In fact, it’s a verse meant for everyone of us. There’s a destroyer out there that preys on our thoughts. Some days we have to go moment-by-moment, giving each thought back to our Lord and Savior. That’s life for you. Satan wants nothing more than to make us feel insecure and insignificant during this Christmas season. He wants us to get caught up in the craziness of gift buying, and forget to find joy in Jesus Christ.

But I’m not about to let him. I’m taking each thought, and giving it back to Christ. I’m living each moment of this Christmas season for Him. I know it sounds cliché but He truly is the reason for the season.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Use Me

Reading: 2 Chronicles 21-22; Obadiah; Joel 1; 2 Corinthians 8-9

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).

As the weather gets colder and I bundle my little baby up tightly for trips outside, I start to think about those who are less fortunate then me. I wonder if someone’s baby is cold today, less protected from the wind then my own.

My arms are already so full. I feel as if I’m constantly running from one thing to the next. My hours largely revolve around the little girl in my life. So what can I do? Where can I be used?
It’s probably a mistake to say that I can’t be used. God knows my limitations. He knows my gifts. And I’m sure He has things in mind, even now.

My prayer today is that He will show some of those things to me. That He’ll show me how to best love and serve this Christmas season, even if it is with a baby in tow.

How does God want to use you this Christmas?


“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8 NIV).