Facing the facts and moving upstream

I am a Ebenezer Scrooge! Almost anyway. I believe this callousness towards the Christmas season has been subtle, yet a kill joy, and is hopefully turning to a thankful and grateful spirit now that my "scroogeness" has been realized and is being confronted. Don't get me wrong, there are  aspects that keep me from becoming a complete scrooge, like celebrating God becoming flesh in Jesus Christ and Third days "Christmas offering" album who sing songs about King Jesus being born into this world. I get excited about those truths, however, I have let everything else our culture associates with Christmas weigh more heavy on my mind than the former, like Santa Clause, store blowout sales, and Christmas songs that have nothing to do with the Christ in CHRISTmas. I can probably pin point other reasons that have polluted my feelings towards this special holiday but I would have to analyze 20 years of my life and frankly I'm not doing that. Please understand, my intentions for this blog are not to rain on anybody's Christmas parade but to simply  challenge readers to gain or regain perspective on what Christmas is about...

The King born a babe
Not silk feathered bed but a manger He laid
He grew up building things of wood
He grew to do the one thing only He could do
He gulped God's wrath down to the dregs
He fulfilled what the prophets have said
He dangled bruised and bloody on that splintered tree
The King died to set His people FREE
Free from sin, shame, and guilt
Free only because The King's blood was spilt
The King is alive today
This King is the only way
Make haste, the curtain is torn
Follow King Jesus and be reborn

-this poor man-

Merry Christmas everyone may it be filled with worship and celebration for and to King Jesus

Not forgotten

I have not forgot about the blog I said I would attempt to keep up, but have been preoccupied  with a cross country move, unpacking a house and dealing with everything else that is envolved with moving to another state. It has been very taxing but reassuring when I look back and see all awesome ways God has provided. I have some blog ideas in my head and one of them being about my cross country trip, which my good friend suggested. Perhaps by the beginning of next month I will continue?

It's all fun and games...even when someone gets hurt?

My heart is sadden as I hear and read about all the lives taken from the southeast by the worst out break of storms in the last four decades. The death toll is around 300, and my guess is it's going to climb.The reality of it all hit me harder when I saw pictures and read the testimonies of the people who endured God's providence from under neath a front porch or a small closet of vulnerable and seemingly disposable homes. I have a lot of friends and family in the south and I am relieved to say everyone is fine. However there are thousands of people who are directly or indirectly effected by what unfolded in the aftermath. So I beg this question, what causes a human being to act contrary to how the majority of his or her fellow inhabitants are acting? I'm not just talking apathy, but an ill will towards people who go through very taxing situations. Is it humor, hate,  or not being convinced  it's as severe as others are saying it is? I ask the question because I came across negative responses when reading an article in regards to the disaster that struck the south. So I then asked my self the question "why would someone say that?" So here are my thoughts: If it's humor, I'm guessing the person has not encountered much pressure in life to relate to any brokenness, so they don't understand. If it's hate the person might believe, that those harmed were out to get them and they turn glad when blood sheds from there "opponents". Last, if it's a person not persuaded by the accounts they most likely think they know better. In conclusion to all this I think there is a more pressing question: how is a Christian supposed to respond to these types of reactions? Praise God we have his Word and His only begotten, Jesus to look to! Christ was laughed at even mocked (Matthew 9:24; 27:29) He was hated (John 15:24-25) and treated with unbelief (John 12: 36-38) on His way to Golgotha and what did  He go and do for US!
He did 1st Peter 2:24!
Lord I desperately need you to  help me have compassion for those who seem to have none In the name of King Jesus, Amen

First timer

This is my first blog ever! I read few blogs often but have never posted one. I was inspired by a friend who blogs teaching tips because, well, he is a teacher. More than that he is offering what he believes could help fellow teachers teach better. I am not sure what my niche is going to be in the blogging world, perhaps I will find out as I attempt to blog. However there is one message I wish to convey, and that is my constant need for the grace of God. This is where the name comes in. I am blessed abundantly. The Lord Christ has resurrected and defeated death adopting me into life everlasting, I have a beautiful wife and daughter, an obedient dog, and have never been in want because God has provided.  Like I said I am blessed, but at the same time I am poor, always needing God's grace to sustain me, always needing His word to break me and heal me, always needing the light of Christ to guide me, because I am prone to think my ways are better, which in the end becomes all about me instead of others. So here's to all you bloggers out there!