I was gifted a Max Lucado devotional titled Grace For The Moment which I faithfully read every day because I am always in need of more grace. Today his topic is the topic of this blog which reminded me of how every day really is Christmas.

It was intended to be only the day our savior was born but has since been turned into a holiday that often is dominated by Santa Claus, Christmas trees and gift exchanges. These are all inherently good things but it takes away from the true meaning of that day. In a remote location, in a very poor setting, and with not much fanfare except a star pointing the way for the wise men, God came down to earth.

In so doing he demonstrated the radical love he has for us and the examples of how to live by following the life of Jesus. Plus he changed so called religion into a spiritual awakening, including that redemption can be freely received by acceptance of him and making him our Lord.

Thus, if we do, we are living Christmas every day because we have received the gifts of forgiveness, grace, mercy, hope and a knowing that our future is secure. They were all wrapped up in that baby in the manger and unwrapped through the cross and resurrection. Every day we walk and talk as men and women who should become living gifts to others by our walk and testimony because of him.

That way, as he planned it, we spread the cheer, spread the news that Santa has already visited us and he keeps coming back with his mighty "reign dear" as the Lord and redeemer of our lives.

That's all the gifts we really need that bring Christmas to our house every day!

In most of our recovery meetings we read statements about anonymity to protect the rights of those who come. We never repeat specifics about an individual but sometimes we give general details, especially when they are so absolutely compelling.

In one of our meetings this week a woman showed up who was having a problem with grief and a relapse. She was also facing possible jail time for a probation violation. In our group there were mostly men from a sober living facility. After tears of sharing without hesitation several men volunteered to put money on her books when and if she does go to jail, and to help with anything else needed.

That was a spontaneous wonderful thing considering that these men had very little to give, and it reminded me of the story of the widows offering in Luke 21:1-4. It also reminded me that when you give back what you have been freely given, you receive so much more in return. Not necessarily money but blessings that come from doing what God would want us to do.

It's not rocket science, when God changes your heart you respond to needful moments. Look at all the volunteers in NC some of whom have been there for a month. Matthew 25:42-43 says it way better than I could: For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick in prison and you did not look after me.

This holiday season think about just helping one individual who needs that kind of help, be on the lookout to the opportunity to make an incredible difference!

I looked out at the crowd of nearly 200 folks at Xcelerate last night and several things came to mind. Foremost is that for many, we become a temporary family, a community of like minded people in the middle of an anticipated life change that support each other.

Some have been banished from their own family's contact, others cannot count on an unstable home and some are without anything, straight out of jail or the woods. We collectively with their sober living facility become the support they need if they want it.

What I saw in their eyes was the need for someone to really care enough to get down and dirty with them, not just how are you doing but how can we help you get to where you need to go? As a community we may not always see eye to eye but we are accountable enough to tell you what you need not what you want to hear, and that may help them grow the most.

And, as a community love flows in every direction, to the felon, to the hopeless addict, to the worn out alcoholic, and to those that are in their lives as friends, spouses and family that are still connected. Love wins as Jesus taught, the right kind of love that encourages, bears others burdens, forgives and brings out the best in each other.

At ATB that is and always will be our Community, a place to grow, thrive and serve your fellow man and woman. Pretty sure that's the way God would want it to be. In fact once the new church was established after Pentecost and did even more than we are doing now scripture said: 

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved!

Not rocket science - we show up and do what God asks us to do - people show up in more quantities and find a relationship with Him - then he adds to the numbers not because of us, but because we established a community that evolves around Him.

​Community, with a whole lot of room to grow! 

I taped it up this morning as it once again looked ready to split. That was my Well Worn Bible that I have turned to over the last 20 years for inspiration, guidance and hope. The exterior beauty has worn off, but the wisdom on the pages within has become clearer.

To me its like the owners manual to a car, or in this case an owners manual for life. As I turn each page a note or highlight pops up, or I'll go several pages that were untouched and realize I failed to read that part. I can see what I learned, how God spoke to my heart, and how he brought me through that crisis and that other one too.

I can review the lessons I taught others and see those passages that I did not understand without more study, and I can pick it up, hold it close and realize how much God loves me, how much I have treasured this amazing journey, and see how much I have grown in my faith.

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth become Bring It Before the Lord Every day! It's a relationship connector between the two of us, it's a spiritual gift to my soul, and the way, the truth and the light unto my path to heaven.

Can't imagine where I'd be without it, no matter how much tape it needs!

All over the world people are praying, and there is a really good chance we are all praying for similar things: peace, joy, vision, good health, provision and most likely a deeper relationship with God.

Wish I could play the song "We Pray" I used at Good Landing on Tuesday by Coldplay and friends but I could not figure out a way to put it in this blog. Check it out on YouTube. Chris Martin the band leader said he wrote this song in the middle of the night and felt he needed to include people of other nations as singers, some in their own languages. It's a big hit and played before millions of people. It is a conversation starter!

Prayer is a conversation with God that can be had at any time or place. Billy Graham spoke of how his daughter prayed on her knees every day for hours to the point of getting arthritis. But he added that was just her way, and that he prayed even while delivering a sermon for people's hearts to open to the message. Most importantly it is a connector between us and God, and if he is everywhere, then prayer can be had anywhere.

Some use the Lord's Prayer as a model, but I used 3 significant examples for their uniqueness. First the Prayer Of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9-11. He was named as a pain, he was referred to only once in the Bible, but he prayed for five separate things: a blessing, an enlarged territory, guidance, protection from harm and freedom from pain. Imagine that, a man named pain (from his painful childbirth), asking for relief from that pain.

Jabez asked for a lot, but David asked for even more in Psalm 56. And he aired out how he felt to God which is so important for us, we hurt, we are afraid and we cry, sometimes with folks telling us we should have enough faith to not feel that way. Tell that to David as his enemies lurked all around him, ready to destroy him. Or better yet tell Peter who was about to be put on trial and executed.

Acts 12 tells the story of him being locked up for his beliefs, chained between two soldiers, and guarded by 16 men. While he was there, the church was ​earnestly praying for him. So God sent an angel to deliver Peter from the hands of Herod answering the church's prayer, as he answered Jabez prayer by granting his request, and by also delivering David from his enemies.

With such a great track record of success, why wouldn't we pray? Nothing is too much, too unusual, and nothing is too hard for him to handle. Even if he doesn't grant our request it is still an answer. and as that songs says sometimes we have to "thank God for unanswered prayer". We got more than we asked for!

In that song ​We Pray hope springs eternal with these words: I know that heaven is waiting, I know somewhere there is something amazing, I know somewhere we'll feel no pain. Why not pray until we get there? It would be good to connect to the God we will meet face to face with one day.

Ultimately that will be the answer to our prayer!