Tag Archives: Isaiah

No Coincidences

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About 2 weeks ago I got news about my position in the office being eliminated. Well, after 2 weeks I now have a new job starting January 2 at United Way. What leaves me awe struck isn’t how fast I found a replacement job, but the circumstances around it.

We all know offices don’t just make hasty decisions like this. At least not this one. Everything gets prayed over for weeks before anything is decided. So, as my current employers were deciding to take out my position, my future employers were deciding to create a new position in their office. As my door was closing, another was opening.

Throughout those 2 weeks I kept saying that God just has a plan for me and I didn’t know it yet. God is taking me somewhere and using me for something. What that is, I have no clue, but I am going to follow where he leads. (Cue the Gilmore Girls theme song) Going through life without God is like hiking through unknown mountain ranges without a guide and compass. You are going to get lost.

5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” –Isaiah 30:21

The Reason for the Season

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This time of year seems to be the busiest. Travel plans, gift buying, keeping track of which family is where. We have crammed so much into such a short amount of time that we can’t truly enjoy it. It has also caused us to forget the true meaning of this holiday. Once Halloween is over people instantly get into Christmas mode. Making lists for themselves and lists for buying to give to other people. We can’t wait for those Christmas bonuses and Christmas club checks to hit the bank. We just keep going, going, going, and more going. Going to see family. Going to buy presents. Going to buy decorations. Going to buy wrapping paper. Going out to eat. Going to parties.

For those of us where money is really tight, Christmas is stressful. All of a sudden you have to buy as many cool toys as possible for your kids. The newest outfit for your parents or sibling. Our focus has been taken off of the the reason for the season. The real reason for the season. I too am guilt of forgetting the important part of this season.

Christmas wasn’t just created by marketing companies to bring in buckets of revenue. They just piggy backed for the profits. Christmas is for celebrating the birth of Jesus; the true ultimate gift. God gifted us with the birth of Jesus so that he could die for our sins to be wiped away. For our sins to be forgiven. The reason we gift things to each other is to symbolize the gifts given by the wisemen. Over the years the gift giving has become something completely different.

Don’t let this time of year become too much of a stresser. Just relax and enjoy the time spent with family and friends. Don’t worry about getting the “perfect” gift. Anything given in love is enough for those that love you too.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” –James 1:17

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” –Isaiah 9:6