What is Dead That Needs Resurrection in Your Life?

Saw this article yesterday. “Israel’s Blessed Rains Cause Dead Sea to be Surrounded by Miraculous Wildflowers.” BOOM! I had an epiphany! An acronym for BOOM is often “Breaking Out of Old Mindsets”. It can apply to being dead long before we’re actually dead. That “old” mindset is a part of those who give up on life even though there’s life in them that just needs to be rejuvenated. This article reminded me of that.

“Visitors are flocking to Israel’s southern region to see the desert bloom.” Israel’s extraordinary winter rains have not only replenished the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) but also made the desert bloom. Visitors are flocking to see the budding desert landscape. Ira Kholmyansky noted that for nearly two decades water levels in the Dead Sea, which is the lowest place on earth, was depleted. But, hallelujah! The rains replenished the desert and it is blooming!

I remember my Israel trip back in 2017 and being in that dry desert. This article caused me pause because we have entered into the Lenten season where we journey towards the cruelty, the crucifixion, the cross and the crescendo of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. I’m keenly aware that death is not death at all for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. So why on earth would we let ourselves die ahead of death?

Our Lord LIVES, and so do we. Everyday can be a new, bright resurrection morning, because of Christ's death, burial and rising to live forevermore. Only God can bring life out of a season of death. God just can't leave death well enough alone, can He?

Perhaps, today, you are alive only because you have a heartbeat, but I’m trying to speak into you today and say: BOOM – Break out of that Mindset! Don’t live in the ashes of defeat, brokenness, depression and anything else that makes you feel life is over. You are still alive. Go ahead and put your hand over your heart. If it's beating, God has a destiny and mission for you to fulfill. You could have been born sometime in history, but you weren't. You're here now, so the resurrection power of Jesus Christ lives big in you. He is the Spring and Summer rain that can replenish you and you can blossom again just like those flowers in the desert. Let Him pour His rain into you today!

"The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you!" Romans 8:11

Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving?

It's been beginning to look a lot like Christmas for MONTHS now. And, I saw some FB posts where folks were grumbling about Christmas decorations being sold and Christmas music playing since back in August. I get that retail stores, needing their sales, amp it up to get us into the "buying" spirit waaay before the Christmas season

And, I get that most of us want to embrace each season and make it as memorable as we can. We want to savor Fall with the leaves changing colors, candy corn, pumpkin spice coffee, autumn décor, and we want to remember the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving and make this Fall season special..

But, I started thinking -- what's the big deal? And why should it matter when people begin to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. Different strokes for different folks. Bottom line is that we open our hearts, and our homes, to being thankful at Thanksgiving and to the joys, delights, thrills and celebrations of CHRISTMAS – Christ and His coming to this earth. Actually, Thanksgiving AND Christmas are seasons that could be celebrated all year long.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas for several months now. I won’t be decorating to the extreme this year, like I traditionally do, as I’ll be heading to Texas to celebrate and then onto Seattle to celebrate there. I’ve started my Christmas baking. I bought some gifts for my family back in September. And, I’m already very tuned into the miraculous story of Christmas – the real reason for the season. Part of that is because I’ll be speaking at two churches for their “Advent by Candlelight” events, so Advent and Christmas were already on my mind waaay before Thanksgiving and Christmas. And as my heart and mind go there, I’m already allowing myself to get enraptured by the miraculous Christmas story -- the UNLIKELY turn of events that altered the course of our present and future. And, as I’m embracing Christmas early, pondering and thinking about all that Christmas means…..when my family come into Tulsa next week for Thanksgiving, we'll all be in such a mode of thanksgiving, it will make an easy transition for all the joys and beauty of Christmas.

I haven't complained about the Christmas decorations and music in the stores. It has just caused me to hone into the beautiful journey that will lead to the most HOLY AND MIRACULOUS DAY – and, it would have been alright if I started way back in July! After all, it’s more than a season or a day, it’s about a REASON for unspeakable joy, indescribable love, and amazing sacrifice – that the ONE who placed the stars in the sky and Who knows them ALL by name -- chose to come to this earth as a little baby to be with me, understand me, live in this world like me -- HE totally gets me and my frailties, but better yet, He is my all powerful, incomparable, awesome and GREAT, amazing God. I'd say that's plenty reason to be celebrating ALL YEAR ROUND! So the next time you're tempted to complain about "too early".....turn that around to being thankful for the reminder to thank God for THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.