You're The Reason For Christmas

I forgot to take a picture so I made a sign and these boys saw me and asked what I was doing. So I invited them to take a picture with me! 21 days!

To The One Who Stand Christmas,

While it is super hard for me to understand why you don't like Christmas (because it's amazing), I realize that you are out there and your reasons are valid and sometimes really sad. This time of year reminds you of the family you don't have, the spouse that has passed away, the feeling of deep depression that rolls in with the jiggle bells on a one horse open slay that you just can't put your finger on. The loved one who is serving your country, and won't be home to kiss you under the mistletoe. Or perhaps you just think that Christmas has just become too commercialized for you and so you don't celebrate anymore. 

Whatever reason you have for disliking or even hating Christmas, I do have good news for you. No it's not that this Christmas is going to pass by without even saying "hello". No I have better news than that. You that are hurting, lost, depressed, angry; this whole Christmas season is actually for you.

You might be scoffing at me and are thinking "Janell, go knock yourself out with some hot chocolate." Hear me out, and then I most likely will.

When God came to earth he came to make some things possible. He made hope, peace, love, acceptance and family accessible to every person with breath in their lungs. Ever since the fall of mankind the world and all humanity has been deficient concerning these things. Jesus opened the door for this to fill the earth again. And this season celebrates when these wonderfully needed things entered into the hemisphere in the form of a baby. The impossible story of a child being born of a virgin. If you try and make any other person or thing the reason for the season then hope, peace, love, acceptance and family will not happen.

Look I know you’re hurting, you have your reasons for being blue this time of year. But why not let this Christmas season change you for the better? You might think that it isn't possible to feel again. Or you just can't let go of the past. Why not let that dark place in your heart be flooded with light and love? 

Jesus said "...A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of..." - John 10:10 MSG

That life is for you to enjoy right now if you choose it. Let Jesus in and I promise it will be the best Christmas you have ever experienced.

Love,

Janell

Do you have a hard time during Christmas?  I really mean it when I say you can be happy. You can experience hope, peace, love, acceptance and family. I would love to pray for you. Just comment below and say what your request is or just say unspoken. I love you!

Or do you know someone who struggles this time of year? Share this with them or go talk to them and tell them that Christmas is actually for them! And I would love to hear your stories of you do!

See you tomorrow! #janellschristmascountdown

Is God Good or Not?

Last night a car slipped off the jack and hit my dad on the head (very bad stuff). I was at work when it happened. Once I read the text I drove to the ER, my mind racing in different directions…I didn't know how bad it was. But as I drove, up out of my spirit came the words "God is good".  So I started saying out it loud.  And the peace of God just washed over me. Now a day later, my dad is doing great (16 stitches) and is without  a headache. That my friends is amazing!

Here is the moral of the story folks:

When things go bad….the seconds right after that are most important! Why? Because your beliefs become clear and you either choose to  believe that God is Good or that he isn't. And that will shape how you handle your trail. 

In our lives trials are going to come. There's no doubt about it, but we can walk in victory all the way through if we choose to. If I had let fear and worry take over my heart my emotional state would have been WAY different.

God is good all the time. "But how could he let this happen?" You know, I have come to the conclusion (and so should you) that God is way bigger, way smarter and so much more capable than me. That Is where trust can comes into play.

When we choose to believe He is good and that He loves us then we can remain under that umbrella of love and peace (that totally bypasses our understanding). When we choose worry and fear we step out from under it….and we get wet with the worries of life.

Stay underneath His umbrella of peace. Even when it looks bad God is still good.

Whatsoever Think

Are you going through something right now and having a hard time seeing that God is good even what's happening around you isn't? It's not too late to change. Just start saying that He is good in the face of what your situation is. The love of God never fails…Never!

If you would like prayer please comment below. I would love to pray for you.

Take a Knee

I recently saw the movie "After Earth" and I really loved the story and the message. One of my most favorite parts of the movie is when the son, Kitai, has just left his father in order to save both of their lives. The thing is, Kitai has never been out on His own before, and his surroundings are freaking him out big time. His father tells him over the radio "Kitai, take a knee...assess" and he would do what his father said. After he would do this he would stand back up at peace and ready to face whatever would come next. Throughout the movie the father would tell him to take a knee, and in the end of the movie when the son could no longer hear his father voice, the son took a knee all by himself. Then saved the day. The Holy Spirit showed me that I could apply this "take a knee" to my own life.  

I was at work and my employer was having a bad day, and well she took it out on me for a few minutes. I was right at the edge of being ticked of. Then I heard Holy Spirit say "Janell, take a knee". I smiled and knew he was right. I couldn't take a knee for real because I was right in the middle of work, but I took a knee in my spirit. So I did what Kitai did, I centered myself in God, remembered who I was in Christ, that my peace comes from God. Nothing can take my peace away unless I give it. And well I wasn't going to let my stressed out employer dim my joy. 

When trails come a lot of times we will do what young Kitai did...we freak out! We tell everyone of our troubles and make the problem bigger than it was. Instead we should go to God and take a knee and do a assessment on what God thinks and who we are in Him. We should always get on our knees before God in all things, no matter if it's big or small. 

"Kitai...Take a knee..."

So after I took a knee in my spirit I felt so much better..actually my joy increased! I had beaten the plan of the enemy! 

Try this in your own life, take everything to God.....My Friend, take a knee... 


Whatsoever Think...