Uphill idealist

Image from 123RF. During this season of Advent, our thoughts may turn to the wise men searching through the challenges of distance, obstacles, and the great unknown as they searched to find Jesus. Who was this Jesus they were seeking? How would meeting him change their lives? How did they feel as they finally came to the place where Jesus laid waiting for their arrival? There are many things we can desire this Advent season. Out of all the things we could place on our wish list, what if what we desired most was Jesus? How would Jesus change, mold and impact our lives if he were at the top of our "wish" list? May this season of preparation for Christmas day bring you joy, peace and most of all -Jesus. This Advent, may we seek Jesus just like the wise men did on that silent, holy night when they found him lying in a manger. Jesus waits for us to seek him. Follow the star. More than/less than Prayer What do you need more of in order to draw close to Jesus this Advent season? How...

John Testifies About Jesus John 1: 29-34 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said,“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[d] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Joy has a way of evading us when we are looking for it. Those following John were so excited and enthused about his ministry that they joyously began to exclaim that he mu...

Image found at How stuff works. As I sit on the living room floor, the Christmas music plays on the radio as I look to the already collected gifts sitting all around me. I begin the process of wrapping up each one carefully. I'd gather the gifts for each person, wrap them in shiny paper and then stack them one atop the other and finally tie them with curling ribbon that I'd take my scissors to and make piles of shimmering ribbon curls at the peak of the gift pyramid. With all that wrapping around the gifts, it usually was impossible to guess what was inside. It was only when the wrapping would be torn open, that the true identity of the gift would be made known. The process of shopping, organizing, and wrapping the gifts was always fun. Waiting for Christmas morning to give and have the gifts get opened was always difficult. I always want to give my gifts as soon as I wrap them, but somehow I manage to contain my excitement and wait until Christmas morning. In 1 Corinthians 12,...