Sunday Blessings

Today is a special day for so many reasons. First and foremost, Christians around the world are celebrating the birth of our Lord.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6

He is known by many monikers, and as you continue along your journey, you may get to know him by all names. He has been my Wonderful Counselor for years — advising me to do what’s right when it has been much easier to do wrong. I didn’t always follow his trusted advice, and I learned a lesson from those choices each time. As my friend Charlene says, Nothing is ever wasted with our Lord.

He has also been my Great Physician and Healer. Living with a chronic illness can sometimes be debilitating, and it has been for me at times, but I see this cross as a gift. Because of it, I have learned to be more sensitive to those with illnesses we cannot see — like anxiety. I’ve lived with Crohn’s Disease for 30 of my 47 years, and these past two or three have been the best years of my life. I still have my old mindset though — casing the places I go in search of the nearest restroom in case I have to make a mad dash. That will change in time. Knowing that I have been healed enough to live rather than exist has been liberating. I’ve been healed enough to realize my dream of encouraging others, teaching, and writing weekly messages that have traveled the globe. I have been healed enough to know that what God decides to give me is sufficient.

If you take nothing else from this message, know that God is enough. He is sufficient, and he provides all that we need in order to serve him. Even if it seems as though you don’t have enough, you have enough. We run to him and fall on our knees often times seeking more. He knows what we need. He has already equipped us to be who we were meant to be. Perhaps we should ask the Wonderful Counselor for his advice on how we can be better stewards of what he has given us rather than asking for more. Maybe we could ask him to reveal other gifts that we have not yet tapped into. Perhaps this, too, is a mindset that we can all shore up by remembering The Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Merry Christmas, and may blessings abound! <3