As long as Jacob had one more ace up his sleeve, one more rabbit to pull out of the hat, one more alternative to rely upon, he gritted his teeth and pulled up his boot straps. But at length he realized that the well had run dry. At last, Jacob, the trickster, ran out of tricks. When Jacob had nowhere to go but God then he finally started getting somewhere.
Two thousand years ago God added a new letter to our alphabet in the Virgin
Conception. God had to add a new letter because no existing letter could spell
Immanuel, which means God with us. Therefore, if you want to find Christmas you’ll
have to journey beyond zebra.
All these things are against me, Jacob cried out. Can you believe that such an assertion
could come from the lips of a person who supposedly trusted God? Yet, how often we
feel exactly as Jacob! He had become convinced that everything had worked counter
to his longings, when in fact, everything had happened directly in his favor. The same
is true for you. This ancient story rushes headlong into our lives and changes
everything. Don’t doubt it.
Do you want to get the most ever out of Christmas? Then forget – at least for a while – what’s out there to buy for others, or what’s out there for others to buy for us, and spend time focusing on the people who normally cross our paths during the Christmas holidays. Paul shows us exactly how to make that happen. Prepare yourself for something extraordinary.
I have a distaste for the word religion. In fact, I object to the use of the term, especially when it comes to Christianity. Yet, James used the words religion and/or religious three times in two consecutive verses. Yikes! What do you think he meant? Is Christianity nothing more than a religion? Are you religious, and is being religious enough? I wonder. Do you?
Did you know that the habit of offering thanksgiving to God can produce mental and
emotional healing? Someone has said that truly grateful people bubble and overflow,
bringing refreshment not only to others but to themselves. Perhaps it’s time to let
loose with a celebration of thanksgiving. Someone just might discover that life is
worth living well – and that someone just might be you.