Journal of Faith: Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling Philippians 2:12

Any time I do anything that is official that requires credentials I think about how important my name is to me.  I have one of those families that is well known in my community so when I tell people my name I can see them processing all that they know about my family's history.  My name alone can get me welcomed into places where others are turned away.  I sometimes get the benefit of the doubt instead of the accusing stares when uncomfortable situations arise.  The Bible says that a good name is more desirable than riches, and I thank God that my family has had a good reputation.  So what's in a name...quite a bit.  I wonder if God predestined me to be my name.  I wonder if my life would be different if I had a different name.  Either way my name serves me well.  Several times in the Bible God changed people's names to identify them with the purpose or promise that he had for them. He essentially changed their identities, and this changed t...

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.  - This is the word of the Lord concerning us

I recently lost a friend because I didn't take enough time out for them and it hurt so bad I cried  until I couldn't breathe.  I thought how could I have let this happen; how could I have made her feel so bad.  Then I thought about all of the people that I call friend, all the people who call me friend.  Have I been treating everyone like this?  Right then and there I stopped and thanked God that he would always call me friend, but in the same breathe I asked God do I treat you that way?  Do you feel the way that she feels?  The truth is that all relationships take work including our friendships, and sometimes the friendship that goes least maintained is our friendship with God.  I know now that the Lord has been showing me in different ways that I need to be a better friend to him.  I am good at answering people's calls and emails, but God is calling me to initiate the conversations now, to send out the message and wait for the response....

Christmas season is one of my favorite times of year.  I love almost everything about it, the colors, the lights, the merriment, and even the snow when I am not leaving home.  The best thing about Christmas season is the reminder of how much God loves us all.  God gave us a one of a kind gift when he sent his son Jesus into this world.  I have been struck with a spirit of gratefulness the past few months and instead of thinking about what I want for Christmas I can't stop thinking about what I am going to give for Christmas.  When the sheepherds and wisemen came to Jesus they presented HIM with gifts.  I wonder what can I give Jesus this year for Christmas?  Happy almost birthday Jesus!