My Story Reflection as I Welcome the Christmas Season

My family loves to tell stories. I grew up hearing stories at family gatherings. I never intended to grow up being a storyteller. Honestly, I didn't even know it was a thing. I just did it because it was what my family did. It was fun! 

Did you know I am the first in my family to go to college and God put it on my heart at 5 that I would get a doctorate? I didn't know what it was but I liked the way people treated our neighbor when he got his. That one little moment set the course for my education. Yes, it was for the wrong reason. Lol. 

I forgot about that goal until I was counseling a friend to further her education. I then heard that still small voice say in my heart, "Get your doctorate!" I told Greg and he agreed. He has always supported my dreams and never put boundaries on my gifts. I am so blessed. So as young mother I went back to school.

I am proud of my education, but what really blesses me is that it took me right back to my roots and now I get to tell stories all the time. It wasn't about the degree, but about God getting me to where He knew I would need to serve Him best. INCREDIBLE!

This my favorite story to tell. Welcome Christmas season!

Here is my Christmas story playlist. God check it out! 

Christmas Story playlist

LORD, teach us to pray and LORD, increase our faith!

“LORD, teach us to pray!” and “LORD, increase our faith!” (Luke 11:1-13; Luke 17:5-10). 

These two requests the disciples asked of Jesus have always intrigued me. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray it followed watching Jesus go off and pray and shortly after they were sent out in two to make disciples in search of the people of peace, upon their return Jesus told them the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10). When the disciples asked for the LORD to increase their faith Jesus had just taught about the importance of guarding themselves against the temptation to sin and not providing forgiveness. Jesus’ answer was found in the model prayer, He provided when the disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. The prayer is also found in Matthew 6:9-13. It is a bit longer than Luke’s account. I will use both as the model prayer. 

Jesus said when you pray, pray like this…

Our Father… Notice that this is communal. God is the Father of all creation. 

Who are in heaven… He is eternal and so other.

Holy is Your Name… He is holy and His name is Holy. This means that there is no other like Him. He is set apart/sacred. Therefore, treat Him with respect and awe.

Give us this day our daily bread… Focus on today. Seek to take care of today and trust God to provide for what you need today. 

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us… Today I should make sure that I forgive others as I seek forgiveness. It is important to keep short accounts with others. Do not allow a debt of the mind, heart, soul, or spirit to get in the way of a relationship. I honor His Name as Holy by honoring others as sacred as one of His image bearers. When I keep unforgiveness in my heart I am not honoring on earth as it is in heaven. I must give forgiveness freely because God the Father gave it freely to me through His Son, Jesus. If I should have past debts against others, I should take them to the Father today and deal with it now. Do not let it grow. 

Lead us not into temptation… Dealing with being forgiven and giving forgiveness is one step closer to walking away from one sort of temptation, but there are a whole host of temptations set before us by the evil one. All temptation is common to man. There is none that each one of us put in the right circumstances would not walk into it. This is why we must pray for awareness and willingness to walk away. God promises He will give us the way of escape, but we must ask to be led away from it! 

Deliver us from the evil one… Our world is wrought with evil. The evil one reigns and loves to lead us astray. Our world loves to call darkness light and act like what it is doing is okay. We are reminded in the Bible that when we call darkness light then our darkness is very deep. We must hate evil as God hates evil. This means we must be willing to recognize darkness and walk away from it. It means we must stand up against it. It means that we might have to face it head on so we must beg for deliverance today! Today, LORD, deliver us from evil. Focus on the moment and the now. 

The Bible does not put an indentation for the forgiveness of sins, lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil the way I just did. I did this because it is a daily prayer need. We will face these daily. We must not think that we have it all together and are just fine. And we must not think these are things that are too far off so I don’t need to deal with them now. We also must not be so overwhelmed with what tomorrow will look like or the next year. We must focus on these today. Right now, we must pray “LORD, teach us to pray!” and “LORD, increase our faith!” This is how we deal with the world’s crazy! Pray!

What I have done in the last week as I felt overwhelmed by so many overwhelming needs brought before me through prayer requests, I simply started the model prayer and then after each section, I began to say the need or request. I wasn’t doing this as a form of legalism, but out of these thoughts, “I don’t even know how!” “Do I even have the faith?” By simply praying the model prayer and adding in the requests in my own simple way I sought to honor God and keep His name holy today. 

Maybe, you might want to try it. 

Our Father… Praise HIM!

Who are in heaven… Recognize that HE is eternal!

Holy is Your Name… Recognize that HE is sacred/holy! List out other characteristics of God that you know!

Give us this day our daily bread… Ask Him for what you need today. Go ahead and list them and release them to Him.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us… List out any sins you should repent of that you have not already released and walked away from. List out what you need to forgive of others that you have not already done so.

Lead us not into temptation… List out any temptations that have come before you that you need to walk away from and ask Him to help you walk away through the way of escape that He has provided.

Deliver us from the evil one… Ask Him to deliver you from whatever evil you are confronted with that you need help. The Holy Spirit will come alongside and assist you. Remember, He promises that He will not leave you or forsake you.

Shalom y’all!

Do you love me?

Have you ever asked someone, "Do you love me?" Have you ever been asked by someone, "Do you love me?" This question is always asked to reveal what is in the heart. In today's shepherd story, we will discover that Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" (John 21:15-22). We will see that Jesus wanted Peter to know what was in His heart. We will also discover that Jesus met Peter where he was at not where Jesus knew he would be someday or where he had been in the past.

I noticed something today I had not seen before. In John 21:5, Jesus called the disciples "children" when He invited them to come eat. This would not be seen as derogatory, but more as a term of endearment, familial, like a father calling his sons. Children are vulnerable, open, and still learning. Jesus helps them catch fish and then says, "Come, let's eat together." Again, Jesus modeled the spirit of welcome that we feel in our family as we sit and eat together. When we eat together the familial fellowship of familiarity allows us to be real and if holy, heal.

On the first time Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Jesus used agape love which is God's unconditional love. Peter responded by saying, "Yes, LORD, You know I friendship love you." Peter used phileo love which is man's friendship love. We don't know why Peter responded with a different type of love, but he did. Maybe it was because he knew he failed already three times and was not able to love Jesus no matter what.

Notice that Jesus did not point out the difference. 

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." I cant help, but see the connection to the call of "children" from verse five. A lamb is even more vulnerable than a sheep and sheep are considered the most vulnerable of all herd animals. 

Remember, a good shepherd will seek out the small, vulnerable young ones to care, protect, bless (feed), and build his flock. Why? Because the young ones (vulnerable) require more attention, time, affection, tenderness, and help. A good shepherd pursues the most vulnerable.

In this moment, Peter is the vulnerable one. This scene follows after Peter's denial, Jesus' death, burial, and Resurrection. It is the third time the gospels reveal Jesus interacting with the disciples after His Resurrection. Is it possible that Peter was dealing with an internal struggle that needed to be dealt with because of his denials of Jesus?

Jesus sought him out. Most believe to restore Peter. I noticed that Jesus' restoration of Peter held some important processes. It was in front of the ones that knew Peter denied Jesus. Peter needed to be affirmed in front of the ones he lost face and soon will lead to reach thousands.

Jesus used Peter's full name. "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" I know that when my mom uses my full name two things are happening. I need to stop and listen and I am being reminded of who I am. There is a gift in this. It helps me to know the levity of the moment because usually I am in trouble or not paying attention to something very important. It also helps me know I am not alone. It is my story, my history, my lineage all wrapped up in my name. Jesus was reminding Peter of who is and where he comes from. 

Listen, listen! Jesus needed Peter to be ready to respond.

Jesus then told Peter what it will be like for him as he grows older. John points out that Jesus told Peter that his death would be on a cross. This futuristic affirmation points out that Peter will no longer deny, but die like Jesus. 

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." "Tend my sheep." "Feed my sheep." There is alot of feeding and tending when you care for sheep. But it is different in what you will feed a lamb versus an adult sheep. It is almost as if Jesus is saying take notice of the differences and do so accordingly. 

"Follow me!" Jesus affirmed.

As I meditated on this passage, I realized that Jesus was asking Peter about his commitment level. This is not about Jesus being affirmed, but Peter being confirmed. Peter needed to settle in his heart. He seemed to understand the universal lesson of following and sacrificing. But then he falls prey to comparisonitis. Peter points out John, the beloved one, and asks, "What about him?" I wish I could hear his tone as he asked this question.

Jesus gave Peter a mandate. "Follow me!" This mandate is for all believers, but in this moment Peter needed to understand that when Jesus is speaking to him, it is not about another person's journey. It is about HIS journey. "Follow me." This almost feels like a second layer of "Will you love me more than these?" Maybe this is why Jesus had to say it twice, "Follow me!"

It is all about follow through. 

Follow Jesus.

Feed His lambs.

Tend His sheep.

Feed His sheep. 

It is all about trust. Trust in the one you follow.

As I meditate on the Good Shepherd today, I am challenged to ask myself. 

Am I willing to love with agape (God's unconditional love) more than in phileo (friendship love)?

Am I willing to feed the little ones (most vulnerable), tend the flock, and feed the flock?  

Am I willing to focus on Jesus and not what others are doing?

Do I trust Jesus to meet me where I am and lead me? 

Shalom y'all!

Types of Shepherds

When I take the time to slow down and really meditate on a passage, I start to ask more questions and see things I easily overlooked. Like, Why does Jesus say, "thief and robber" to describe those that are not the good shepherd? (John 10:2)

In my simple thinking, I thought of them as the same thing, but Adam Clark Commentary had a thought that caught me.

A thief is cunning and does it secretly.

A robber is aggressive and not afraid to do so publicly even if it turns to violence.

Now imagine a leader that does not care about the people. It is harder to discern the thief because they do their work in secret. It is hidden so you don't know who or how they are hurting the flock. They are more manipulative in order to get their gain.

A thief can turn robber when pressed, but usually the thief prefers the thrill of secret manipulations than outward aggressions. Maybe they like the appearance of being good.

While the robber just wants what they want and will do whatever it takes. They love the thrill of adrenaline and getting away with it. They don't care what you think.

No wonder sheep run. 

No wonder it is important we know the Good Shepherd. He gives life and He gives it abundantly. He sacrifices for His sheep. He provides good pasture and gives freedom to move about. He knows you by name and calls you by name. You know He is trustworthy in meeting your needs and giving you more than you would ask for. There are no secrets and no violence. He cares.

What kind of shepherd are you following?  Remember, shepherds represent leaders. Consider all areas of your life. 

Here is the deal. We cannot know the Good Shepherd if we do not spend time with Him to know His voice and know His character. Once you know, you know. You do not want to follow those that want to steal, kill, or destroy.

How do you spend time with the Good Shepherd? Well, reading the book of John is a great place to start. Personally, as a woman I love the book of Luke because it has women stories. This is why theologians refer to it as the Women's Gospel. You might consider reading the Psalms and Proverbs.  When I am hurting or in grief I read the Psalms so I can know how to talk to God. When I am struggling with people I read Proverbs so I can better understand how to interact with humans. The point is that the Bible helps you to know the character of God. When you know and understand His character you will recognize His voice and when it is a thief or a robber.

We must always ask ourselves questions, too. What kind of shepherd am I? Do I draw people to the Good Shepherd or am I doing it for me? 

Kind of convicting!

Shalom y'all!

Jesus Sent the Disciples to Tell His Story (Witness)

While on a trip in Brazil a long time ago, my interpreter said, "Here, Tara, here!" When I asked him later why he chose those three women for me to share the story of Jesus he said to me, "They were people of peace."

This was the first time in my life I heard about seeking the people of peace. I had read the passage numerous times, but in this moment I caught the truth found in Matthew 10:13.

It's been a couple of days since I had time to do an evangelism Story so, today, I wanted us to turn to Jesus and see what He expected of the disciples. Remember, we want to examine the action words that we are able to do today. 

As I read Matthew 10:5-13, I circled the action words that Jesus commaned the disciples to do when they went to go share the good knows about Jesus.

Please keep in mind in verse 1 it says that Jesus gave them all authority to go and do the miraculous.

1. Go in Jesus' authority not your own.

2. Go.

3. Proclaim the kingdom of heaven. 

What is the kingdom of heaven? 

It is God 's dwelling place. 

You are invited to join Him through Jesus. 

Believe in Jesus and you are a part of the kingdom of heaven.

 

This means you will repent of yours sins and move from darkness to light.

4. Heal the sick. This is God's work. Our role is pray for it in faith. 

5. Raise people up from spiritual death.

6. Cleanse those that are ostracized and bring them back into community. 

7. Give freely the truths you have been given.

8. Find worthy people. These are tge people of peace that are willing to let you share about Jesus.

9. Stay with the worthy people and disciple them.

10. Greet with a spirit of welcome.

11. Give your peace to those that are ready to receive.

12. Hold your peace and move on if a person is not open to receiving the truth about Jesus.

In all of this know that you will have those that want to stop you as you go.

Why are oil & vinegar significant to Easter?

As I was grocery shopping, I saw a beautiful jar filled with oil and vinegar and I thought, maybe I should buy this for the kids for Easter this year instead of a chocolate bunny. So, I picked up a couple of jars. I thought the jar was beautiful because it had two jars nested within one another making it look like they are one. I couldn’t wait to give them the gift. 

On Easter morning, while I was reading my Bible and praying a thought came to me. I had the visual in my mind of the jar I just bought, and I heard the question, “Why is vinegar and oil significant for Easter?” I had a few ideas that I already knew but decided to research it just the same. 

Once again, God caught me and showed me the beauty of who He is! 

When we toured in Israel, we were able to see how much the people cared for their olive trees. We even saw an olive tree that was believed to be well over 2,000 years old. We were told that the olive tree represents life, longevity, stability, prosperity, and joy. It has the capacity to go through a fire and being chopped off and still grow. It has the resilience to endure the seasons both the drought and the rain. 

The olives that are grown on an olive tree are used to press into oil. The olive oil is thought to symbolize divine presence. 

While in Israel we toured a mock village of Nazareth and one of the things we were able to see was an olive press. The olive is placed on a massive stone press that has a huge round boulder that is pushed with a large log. As the log is rolled in a circle around the press, the huge boulder would squish the olives to produce oil. We were told that the first press is believed to be the holiest of oils. This oil is used for anointing oil and to bring light to the temple. It is then pressed again a second time. 

The second press of oil is used for healing. It will become medicine. 

While the third press of the oil is used for cleansing. It will be made into soap. It is also used for common lights like what will be found in the home. So the pressed olive oil becomes anointed light, healing medicine, and cleansing soap. 

As I reflected on what Jesus did for us at Easter, I was reminded of Jesus going to the Mount of Olives to pray. His prayers set Him apart as holy anointed as at the Light of the world. 

As Jesus prayed, He felt the first crush of the weight of what He would bear in our behalf. Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but your will be done” as sweat filled with drops of blood fell from His brow (Luke 22:42). Imagine Jesus enduring His first press in becoming the anointing oil that brings life as the Light of the world. 

I then was reminded that Jesus was beaten, scourged, spit on, and crucified. This was His second press. In this press Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). He chose to press in and become our eternal healer. Our medicine from heaven. He was willing to provide forgiveness as healing for our souls when His own body needed relief from the humiliation He suffered. He chose us over Himself. 

The final and last press came when Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. It is finished” (Luke 23:46). In His last breath, Jesus became the one who cleanses us of all our sins. He was crushed for our iniquities. He became our cleanser. 

Light, Healer, and Cleanser! Jesus our anointed One! The symbolism of the oil washed over me. 

I then heard, “What is the significance of the vinegar?” Oh, I knew they put it on a sponge and offered it to Jesus. 

Even though the Romans would hang people on a cross, they would offer to the person on the cross a cheap vinegar wine that was laced with a drug to help the person endure the suffering. The person dying on a cross would become very thirsty because the wounds would leak, and dehydration would take over their body as they would sweat. So, the Romans would dip the vinegar wine in a hyssop and lift it up to the person so that they could endure their suffering. When Jesus cried out, He was thirsty they offered to Him on hyssop the vinegar wine, but Jesus refused to drink it (Matthew 27:34). 

Why would Jesus refuse? Did He refuse because He didn’t want to dull His senses? Did He refuse because He wanted us to know He bore the full weight of the crush from our sins? Did He refuse because the pain was so unbearable? We don’t know. But He refused. 

The second time Jesus was offered the vinegar it says that when Jesus received the drink on the hyssop, He gave up His spirit (John 19:29). 

The hyssop was very symbolic to the Jews. It was on the hyssop at Passover that they soaked in blood to paint around their door posts so that the Angel of Death would pass over their home (Exodus 12:22). Jesus died on the cross so that the Angel of Death will pass over our lives because Jesus paid the debt so that our sins and shame are forgiven. In that moment, His blood became the Passover lamb for you and me. 

With a clear mind and intentional heart, Jesus refused to take the vinegar as He was becoming our anointing oil that brings life, light, healing, and cleansing. Jesus willingly allowed Himself to go through the press of the cross to become our eternal life and light that give us stability, prosperity, and joy as well. 

Hmmm… I had no idea when I picked up the jar of oil, how much it would mean to me. It will now sit in our home as a symbol of the gift Jesus gave us at Easter some 2,000 years ago.

Finding Value

"Our women stand taller because they know the Bible stories for themselves. It makes them confident. They feel seen and heard." This was shared with me in a culture where it is positional and culturally unacceptable for women to be valued.

As I read about the ruler who came to Jesus because his daughter just died and the woman who dealt with a blood flow for 12 years, I keep thinking about my friend's words because I see that Jesus cares (Matthew 9:18-26).

Jesus cared about a Roman ruler's dead daughter and was willing to go touch her so she could rise up. And even though no one knew of the bleeding woman's boldness to just touch the fringe of Jesus' cloak for healing, Jesus knew and cared.

In both of these situations, Jesus saw the person, heard their pain, and healed them. 

What if it isn't about perfect healing but about being seen, heard, valued, touched, and known? 

What if it is about courage, hope, and peace? 

What if it is about being bold and willing to go to Jesus and seeking Him? 

What if it is about surrender and trust?

Daily, I have the privilege of watching the gift of going to Jesus and how it gives all of these and so much more. 

What are you seeking Jesus for in your life? Are you going in boldness to Jesus? 

Or do you have something that you are too afraid to go to Jesus?

Did you know that the Roman Ruler asking for help from Jesus was positionally and culturally unacceptable? But he did it.

Did you know that the bleeding woman had already spent a fortune to find healing and as a woman it was positionally and culturally unacceptable for her to touch or talk to Jesus? But she did! 

Both were granted healing. 

Do you think they knew their value in Jesus eyes? 

Do you think those around them noticed their faith and confidence? 

We are told the report went through all the district about what happened.

Beloved, Jesus sees you. Jesus sees your family. Jesus sees your people. Jesus sees your nation. Jesus even sees the ruler's daughters and the woman on the street no one notices. Go to Him. Share your need and let Him speak life into you.

Be bold! Go to Jesus even when it is positionally and culturally unacceptable! 

Shalom y'all!

There are many responses to God's Gift of a Son

Gifts are meant to be received not taken. 

In my reflections, God made me realize that when He sent His Son to earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes He was giving us a gift. But not everyone treated this precious gift the same.

Mary received the gift and agreed to be the LORD'S servant.

Joseph wanted to quietly walk away, but God gave him a message in a dream to not be afraid. He welcomed the gift of a son he did not plan for and a pregnant wife he would have to care for. He not only received the gift, but quietly honored and obeyed.

The shepherds listened to the heavenly chorus and then ran to go see for themselves. Once they saw God's gift of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger they ran and told everyone about what they had seen and heard. They chose to give the gift away.

Wise men from the east traveled a long journey to bless the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes that was introduced by a star. Their response was to bless and give good gifts in return.

When Herod heard, he wanted to take the gift and destroy it. He feared losing power power and fame. So he plotted in vain and when it didn't work out Herod punished everyone by killing their first born sons. 

Essentially, when a gift is offered we can receive it, welcome it, celebrate it, share it, bless in return, or we can take it, destroy it and hurt others in the process. 

This causes me to ask, How do I respond to God's good gift of a Son? 

Which one am I most like? 

Do I respond to His blessing as a servant? 

Do I seek to honor quietly in obedience? 

Do run to Him to check things out? 

Then do I run to tell others about all I have seen and heard? 

Do I seek to bless the giver? 

Or do I seek to destroy the gift and cause pain to others in the process? 

Practically, I find myself asking, am I a giver or a taker? 

Will those around me say I welcomed, received, and gave Jesus away as freely as I received Him? 

Will those around me say I was a taker and hurt others along the way?