And good tidings of comfort and joy...

'Tis the season, y'all!!! Can you feel it?! I can! I hope your Thanksgiving was super amazing- mine was!  I spent the entire break with those nearest and dearest to me and it was wonderful.  Whether it's the family you were born with or the family that you've made, there's nothing more important than spending time with the ones you love.  Everything else comes second- there are no exceptions.

Speaking of family, I hope you consider Jesus as a part of your family. At the least, you should know that He considers you part of His. Let me explain...

I met a man yesterday. He works with my father. He came over to our table during our after-service meal.  He was there with his family.  My dad introduced him as Dr. So-and-so.  He was tall, lanky, and looked extremely sedated.  He had this weird look on his face that never disappeared during the entire seven minutes he stood over us talking, as if he had not a care in the world.  When he finally left, we all looked around each other...my dad nervously laughed. And then I realized what struck me about the guy. That weird look on his- a SMILE! His sedation? It was really just a quiet, lingering happiness. That man had joy.  I was amazed and deeply saddened at the same time at the realization that what I just saw in this man was something of a unicorn in my own life.  Where was my joy? Where is my family's joy? How can a family of Believers not experience this constantly and consistently. Better yet, how can we make people think the same thing when we leave their presence?

I had already acknowledged the self-fabricated lack in my life.I have been on a decline for some time now. No matter how God blessed me, no matter how well my life was going, it was never enough.  I was filled with fear and loathing, regret and anxiety...worry. I had completely let go of God's hand and had begin traveling through my life alone. because the transition was so gradual- I mean this happened over the course of years- I didn't realize it until it was almost too late. I looked around one day and saw myself in the middle of a dense forest. Alone. No sunlight breaking through the trees.No wind blowing. Just me and darkness. Me and the devil.  Because he had me where he wanted me, there was no need to attack. He knew as long as I was wandering around aimlessly that I was no help to God and no threat to him. Well, I am now in a full on sprint back to my God's arms. I see Him, and I see He never took His eyes off of me.  It was only me that had taken my eyes off of Him. He was right where I left Him, watching...and continuously providing an unseen protection. He had placed an invisible hedge around me. I am His, and He wanted me to survive. He wanted me to be okay. He wanted me to on my own remember His love for me. He waited patiently for me to return to Him, and to love Him back.

He is waiting patiently for us all to return to Him.  He loves us. It breaks His heart when we forget Him, when we claim to not know Him- REALLY know Him.  It angers Him how we persecute each other in His name.  God is love. He loves the black, the white. The gay, the straight. The believer, and the unbeliever. He hates our sin because it destroys that which He loves the most- US!

Remembering these things reignited a small fire in me that grows with each passing moment. The more it grows, the greater my glow. The closer I get to God, to Jesus, the closer my joy gets to me.

I don't know what you believe in but I have to tell you, God believes in you. If you don't love Him, just know He loves you.

My alma mater and current employer has had this running theme/saying all football season- "We Believe."  Our team has pretty much sucked the past several years, but this year, the team seemed to have a new fight in them and the fans rallied around them posting "We Believe" signs all over the country.  We Believed all the way through our defeat at the hands of the no. 1 ranked team. We Believed as we lost the next two games straight.  We continued to believe as we lost for the first time in three years to our most hated rival, ending our regular season on a sour note.  We continue to believe in an upcoming bowl victory- something we have not been able to look forward to in years. If hundreds of thousands of people can have that sort of belief in a team of young men, with a less than stellar record, and a fluke of winning season that we'll gladly take, How can I not wholeheartedly believe in the God that I have truly seen and felt in every sunrise, every breeze, every breath, every heartbeat! But this is my testimony. You have your own. We all have to find our own way in this life and work out our own soul's salvation.  We all have to find our purpose.  We all have to help.  We all have to serve. Whatever good is in our ability to do, we must do it!  I'm inspired by so many people- those who claim Jesus, and those who don't. I've learned so much from those who simply believe in the power of yoga, chanting to Buddha, or just sending out "good vibes".  Whatever it is, I want YOU to know that I believe that every good and perfect thing comes from above, from the father of lights. I want YOU to know that I see God in you.

Be blessed this season, this year, this lifetime! And bless others along your way. Show love, show grace. Offer compassion and understanding. And know that in doing these things, in being kind to His people, in making someone feel better, you ARE a friend of God.