I am a C...

I don't know who wrote this poem, but a friend shared it on Facebook and I fell in love with it. I have seen similar ones before, but this one seems to really, truly capture how I personally feel about being a Christian.

I am a Christian

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."

I'm whispering, "I was lost;

Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

 I'm confessing that I stumble 

And need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I am not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

 I'm not bragging of success.

I am admitting I have failed

And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect.

My flaws are far too visible

But God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

 I'm not holier than thou.

I am just a simple sinner

Who received God's grace somehow!

This poem also made me think about how I present my Christianity to others. Am I actively showing the people I meet that these things are what a Christian is? Can they see in my life that though I still have hurts I run to Christ? That I don't think I am self-righteous but humbly seek to serve the One that made me righteous? That I am strong only when I rely on His strength? 

I think far too often Christians present the "outside world" with a smug, self-righteous, strong-in-my-own-strength warped version of Christianity that leaves them as disgusted as God Himself must be with such a hypocritical mindset. Could such a picture ever be appealing? Could it ever draw men in need to Him? Remember, Christians proclaim to be like Him. What others see in us will be what they naturally assume He is too.

Since Christianity is about all being like Christ such pride and arrogance as such a mindset displays have no place in His character and should have no place in ours either. Jesus was sincere, caring, humble, and down-to-Earth. He loathed the bindings of religious tradition because He recognized that they placed unnecessary burdens on people and served as roadblocks to God. 

The last thing that I EVER want to be is a roadblock keeping someone else from God.

What's the Reason Again?

Anyone who has been here in OKC during the month of December probably knows that it brings a few distinct changes. For one, the weather starts to get colder and wetter, not typically snowy, just rainy and occasionally icy. The wind is the one weather constant year round since it's the one thing that never EVER stops here. During winter it merely picks up speed and makes people who thought they knew what cold was rethink the very definition of "chilled to the bone." There's something about winter here that makes 32 degrees feel so much colder than other places.

In addition to the weather changes you feel, other changes occur for you to hear. Magic 104.1 starts to play Christmas music beginning Thanksgiving (or maybe the day after) and continuing non-stop to New Years Day. And you know it's not truly the Christmas season here until you start to hear the B.C. Clark's jingle. (You know the one that gets stuck in your head and somehow becomes part of the very fabric of the Christmas season in Oklahoma... "Jewelry is the gift to give, 'cause it's the gift that lives and lives. So give the gift you know can't fail, from B.C. Clark's anniversary sale. Most sales are after Christmas, but Clark's is just before. Most everything is marked way down with savings you can't ignore at Oklahoma's oldest jeweler, since 1892. So give the gift you know can't fail, from B.C. Clark's anniversary sale.")

The change in music plays a role in the changing moods of the people around you. Some become stressed and irritable. Others seem to be just bursting with the Christmas spirit and scamper around sharing their glee like little elves who run to and fro tossing the glitter of Christmas cheer on everyone they meet. And, if you work anywhere like I do, work suddenly involves random food snacks showing up in the break room, decorating contests, vacation days, white elephant gift exchanges, Christmas cards, and possibly even little envelopes containing Christmas bonuses.

But is this what Christmas is all about? If you listen to the messages in song on the radio you might glean that Christmas is about Santa; getting presents, a boyfriend, hippos, or front teeth; family and love; Santa; hearts given away last Christmas, loneliness, being homesick, and being blue; snow or how cold it is outside; sleigh rides; silver bells; Santa; reindeer running over Grandma; what 12 things your true love gave you; Christmas trees, holly, and mistletoe; how a little boy guilt-tripped a stranger into giving him money to get his mom a pair of red shoes; Rudolph; and of course how you'd better be good 'cause (who else?) Santa Claus is coming to town.

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE the traditional Christmas music, the bright, cheerful decorations, and the old school Christmas movies (like It's a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas). But none of those things are why I celebrate Christmas. The most beautiful and meaningful songs just don't hardly show up on the radio, but rather appear in the old hymn books. They tell the true story of Christmas and of the best gift EVER given - Jesus Christ. Let's not let Santa steal the show! After all, we give gifts to each other in celebration (and imitation) of how God gave us Jesus

It's about how Mary gave her body, her reputation, and even risked trading her upcoming marriage for being stoned, all to have a baby that was impossible for her to have. It's how Joseph gave his reputation, the chance to have his own son be his firstborn and heir, and the chance to start out married life with just him and his new wife. It's how they both endured shame and humiliation that they didn't earn. It's how the very Creator God of the universe humbled Himself to become one of His creation, being born as a helpless, defenseless, average little baby, born in a barn with animals as an unmarried woman's son with a hardworking but poor step-father, to spend 30 years on this Earth without truly being recognized, to endure all the trials of every day ordinary life, to be betrayed by a beloved friend, to be hated by those who should have recognized and worshiped him, to sacrifice Himself in a cruel and painful death, to be raised back to life but be held initially in disbelief by some of His closest followers. All this He endured to save us from our sins that should have condemned us to Hell and an eternity without Him.

When it comes to Christmas you often hear that He is the "reason for the season." But I say He is so much more even than that. He is the reason. Period. Jesus is the very reason for anything, for our very existence. Let's remember that. Hold onto that. I pray that we all remember "the reason" both this Christmas and all year round.

Songs on a Sunday - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Today's song is very appropriate for me today because I have been thinking a lot lately about what makes a good friend, how to be a good friend, why we need friends, and why friends come and go in our lives. Little thoughts about friendship have even been mentioned in passing in many of the messages I have heard lately. The whole subject of friendship is something I would like to tackle one day, but for today this song expresses what is on my heart. I know that these old hymns may be "old hat" to many of us, but really read the words. It's easy to skim over them because they are so familiar, but truly they contain such precious truths!

"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" was written by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855 although it was published anonymously for nearly 30 years. The original version apparently contained a fourth verse that I had never heard before but have included here.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

 

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.