Morning Prayer

David:
"Jesus, I woke this morning thinking about you, your church, and your birthday.

You are the ruler of my life and all that is. You have the authority to right all my wrongs, bless me with all that I desire, and teach me all that I need to know.

Your church is the place that we gather, worship, and meet with you. It's the spot in my life where I connect with those who are like-minded and can celebrate your blessings.

And your birthday is the time of year that giving is the norm."

Jesus:
"David, when you woke this morning I asked you to think about me, my church, and my birthday. But you were unable to.

You view me as a dispenser of what you think you need and want and forget that I came to seek and save the lost and to serve them through you. You're not really thinking of me when you're focused on what I can do for you.

You still see my church as a building and Christian Club that I go to hang out in with my fans. My church is people who follow me into the dark places of the world and show the broken what I look like.

And "my birthday" is reduced by you when you just think about what people you love want and finding it at the lowest price possible."

David:
"Help me think of you, your church, and your birthday in a way that honors you."

Repeating that last line,
Dave

Birth Story

Jesus and I sat this morning talking about our births. He asked me to tell him about my birth story. I asked, "why? My story is no where near as cool as the one you have."

He said, "I love hearing birth stories."

I grinned and said, "All right, but it's all second hand information, I don't really remember much about it."

I told him about Hannibal, Missouri, and my dad stopping traffic in front of the hospital to announce to strangers, "It's a boy!" We laughed about the copy of the bill from the hospital given to my parents for $184.45 for my birth.

"But, Jesus," I said, "This season is about your birth. It's about shepherds and angels, magi and mangers, a virgin and a construction worker… your birth story is amazing!"

I was surprised we were talking about my story while sitting in my newly decorated living room with lights, a tree, color, manger scenes, and stockings. The room screams his story!

Before I could start with my questions he asked one first, "Is your life limited to a hospital bill and an excited father?"

"No," I answered. "I don't think so."

"David don't lose my life in the story of my birth. Don't worship my birthday, worship me.  Don't idolize history, invite me into yours right now. Always remember my birth story is directly related to your birth stories."

He sat forward and smiled as he leaned toward me. The excitement was obvious on his face, "Now, tell me about the other one."

His excitement was met by my confusion, "The other one what?"

"David, I had a birth story so that you could have two. Tell me about the other birth story."

We spent the rest of our time talking about my new life because of his life, my spiritual birth because of his physical one. It was a great morning.

As we sat back to catch our breath from storytelling I said, "Hey Jesus... happy birthday."

He grinned and said, "to you too David, you too."

Talking with Jesus,

Pastor Dave