Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!  

My Parents & Family

 This year my parents have been spending the Christmas season with us.  We are so touched and blessed to have them a part of our lives and holiday.  We have been spending special moments together and treasure them.

Make Straight Paths for Him

Here is a blog I wrote for XP Missions I thought I would share with you in this beautiful season:
http://www.xpmissions.com/make-straight-paths/

Every Christmas God gives me a word, a scripture or a specific focus for the season.  This year, I feel He has put my thoughts on John the Baptist and given me the following scripture in Luke 3:4 as my focus, “A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.  Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.  The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.  And all mankind will see God’s salvation.” 

I’m sure there are many ways to unpack this scripture but the part of this verse that is really striking me is, “Make straight paths for Him.”  What a new and interesting thought for me.  I often pray Psalm 18:36, that God will make a broad/straight path for me to walk on, but here in Luke 3 the tables are turned and John the Baptist is quoting Isaiah in declaring a preparation for Jesus and straight paths to be made for HIM.  High places brought down, valleys filled and crooked places made straight and THEN mankind will see God’s salvation.  When I think of my own life and making a straight path for Jesus to walk on, I think of “alignment”.   The Passion Translations states, “Every twisted thing in your lives must be made straight.  Every dark way must be brought to the light. Wrongs righted. Injustices removed. Every heart of pride will be humbled low before him. Every deception will be exposed and replaced by the truth so that everyone everywhere will be ready to see the Life of God!” 

Seems like, John the Baptist, is defining what “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” means (Matthew 3:2).   Repent, align, consecrate, and straighten the path for Jesus to walk in, for Jesus to shine His Light, for Jesus to be lifted up and glorified.  Make a straight path for Jesus, God’s salvation (His saving, healing, deliverance, wealth, truth, etc.) to be released on all mankind. 

This Christmas, I invite all of us to open ourselves up to Holy Spirit and ask Him if there is any place in our lives that we need to align/re-align or make straight so that Jesus, the Savior of the World, can walk into our lives, communities, missions, and world and release His salvation through us and around us.