Season upon us

‘Tis the season as they say when people gather for the holidays to give thanks and then launch into the festivities leading to Christmas.

Every day is the season for sharing Jesus with someone you care about whether it is family, a coworker or a stranger. All need the love and salvation of Jesus Christ who is the reason to live through any season in this life.

This holiday season almost throws people into a direct connection with one another through family events, company parties and the inevitable happenstance encounter with a stranger at a holiday event or even shopping.

And what has the Lord called us all to do?

2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV) – “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

Be ready to share the love of Jesus with those people in your life who desperately need Him in this world of strife and despair.

Be like a tree, as the Psalmist says, and bring forth fruit this season and let Jesus prosper through you. Psalm 1:3 (NKJV)

This is your time, disciple. Be loving, be kind, be bold with every encounter afforded to you this holiday season. Your effort will make a difference.

Colossians 4:5-6 (NKJV) – 5 ”Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

Now, disciple, let the joy and peace of Jesus shine through for others around you during this season.

3 Questions for now

During the rush of this season, make sure your are attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit for all those around you.

Be sensitive, yet bold.

Here are three questions to help you start a conversation:

· What do you think is the most important thing in life?

· What are you passionate about?

· How do you stay motivated when things are tough?

Read these several times and remember them as best you can.

Then, at your next “now” opportunity, ask one and follow the Lord’s lead.

Be kind. Love them. Be bold.

Shawn’s noodling rant:

(“Noodling” is a term I swiped from my mentor. The meaning is to “ponder” or “think deeply about” a topic that God is challenging us with through scripture or the Holy Spirit, or both.)

You are sufficient to know and share God’s abundance

I try every day to step outside in the morning to view and experience the awesome creation that God provided for us through the sun and another day on this beautiful earth. Nature gives me a stronger connection to God the more I experience what the natural world offers us daily – air, sun, plants, animals.

This leads me to give thanks to God for all he has provided us, given to us by His grace. He truly loves us, and we should be thankful and in awe of God.

Hebrews 12:28 (NKJV) “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

Let us be thankful this holiday season for all God has given us, not only in what we have in our lives, but also for the opportunities that lie ahead to share His Son, Jesus, and salvation that only comes from Him.

2 Corinthians 9:8-9 (NKJV) – 8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”

Now, disciple …

May God deliver abundance to you and yours this thanksgiving season, and may you share the gift of Jesus to all you meet.