So a few weeks ago Iâm walkinâ to work basking in the joy of winter actually feeling like winter when out of the corner of my ear, I hear âJoy to the Worldâ playing from a nearby corner street music station. At first, Iâm like, âDecember is over. No more Christmas music!â But almost instantly I hear that still, small voice whispering…
…âBut Cam. Why not repeat the sounding joy?â
*Holy Spirit mic drop*
Of course, what can I say, but admit the truth…
…that notes and lyrics that seem out of place by cultural timelines should always be in place by daily surrender.
Of course, I could dive into a deeper analysis of the carol’s Scriptural inspirations (I may come back to this Christmas 2019). For now, understand thereâs a reason why certain Christmas songs like, âDeck the Hallsâ and âJoy to the Worldâ are the only ones that can cure my little Everlyâs sadness. Seriously, Caeden (who just turned three) will start singing his âFa, la, la, laâsââŠand even if itâs a few minutes, all is calm, all is bright in the world.
*Note: You donât need kids to extrapolate this example into your own life*
Bottom line: As you walk with God, receive the practical, prudent reminders of His goodness, peace, and joy even they momentarily disagree with the senses.
Footnotes
Speaking of the latter, it’s interesting to note how he incorporated the passage into his song. As history shows, after Watt’s father challenged Isaac to write contrarian to his contemporaries, Watts started to pursue lyrics that not only exalted Christ, but also reminded Christians of their hope in his saving work on the cross. Clearly, this desire is evident in the way he wrote âJoy to the World” with Psalm 98:4 driving the song’s legacy home:
âMake a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!â And this is exactly what Watts set out to do. Little did he know that this song would spark a joyful noise that would ring through the ages.”
So much to say, so much to doâŠhow can either happen when thereâs so much to think.
Yet, as we journey another January, the heart behind this series, as made known last year, is still the same:
If we want to think right, then we must get right, if we want to get right, then we must get real…and if we want to get real, we must value cleanse before change.
Not to suggest such internal inventory is easy. Certainly putting all things on the table for examination requires courage, humility, vulnerabilityâŠamong other things; however, since my goal with these posts is to help us embrace Godâs ânextâ, it only makes sense to pray into the substitutionsÂč God has for us.
That said, here are three things Iâm owning as we turn the page to 2019âŠ
1) Making sense of my surroundings
Itâs remarkable the ways we justify our surroundings. I know for me, whenever I find myself in what I canât explain, living in the moment can almost seem secondary to knowing why it has to exist. âIf only I can solve the mystery, perhaps then I can find the satisfaction and peace I crave,â I sometimes think.
But as we know, the journey of life is far from cut and dry. As much as we want to reconcile all our relationships and circumstances, weâll never be able to given sin and free willâs response to it among other things.
Granted, Godâs sovereignty isnât confined by manâs weakness. But itâs also not restricted by our ability to âsherlockâ the past. And itâs this temptation I believe trips many of us up. We long to feel affirmed when weâre down. We yearn to feel validated when we smell injustice. We burn to make sense of our surroundings when they donât make sense. Yet, in our quest to solve our voids, little do we realize the size of our ego and the numbing effect it has on our attitudes and heart postures.
Itâs not always fun to accept, but the way I see it: Often the reason we are where we are is because God wants to help us find our kneelâŠto show us where our independencies have become idolatriesâŠand to learn reliance within the unforced rhythms of grace. Perhaps youâve struggled to grasp this feeling in seasons of idleness or stressâŠin settings where you felt more like a fish in an aquatic Pandoraâs box.
If so, take a bite of my 2018 testimony. Our free will exists so we can choose Jesus to find freedom. No 12-step program full of striving. Just a simple decision to resist the fear of man and the impulse to make sense of our surroundings.
Accordingly, if you sense the temptation but not the exit, yield to surrender, voice the heartcry, and receive the serenity of stilled waters. God has not abandoned you, so donât you abandon ship.
2) The Nazareth complex
I suppose this could be a subset of point #1, but the nature of this conviction alone is worth emphasizing.
As alluded to in my 2018 Year in Review post, when last year started, going back to The Gate was far from an option. Having phased out of LEGACYouth weeks prior, my hope had clung to a sunset narrative where my last days of youth ministry would coincide with where it took place. While there were many reasons I emotionally did not want to return, the core of my withdrawalÂČ centered on what I call the Nazareth complex.
The Nazareth complex is based out of Luke 4:14-30 when Jesus is driven out of his hometown (i.e. Nazareth) after revealing his true identity at the synagogue. While obviously I’m no Jesus, the personal correlation was this: Among whom whose eyes I had been under for years, there was no way for me to be known as God knew me. As such, what Nazareth was to Jesus, The Gate/local church was to me. To move on with my life, I had to leave the church to find anyone who not only would listen, but see me sans past and last name.
Of course, itâs safe to say Jesus never employed such a self-absorbed attitude. Still, itâs not hard to see why my deception took months to dissipate with resentment rooted in deception and victimization fixed in misapplied Scripture. To justify my isolated ego, I had to constantly cite the past, church gossip, unsurrendered soul/spirit hurtsâŠeven assumed vain assumptions (sounds confusing, but thatâs unholy fear for you).
Yet, as the story goes, I eventually woke up, realizing if I truly wanted to move on and take hold of the new, I couldnât keep holding on the way I had been. Six months later, the exchange is still ongoing…however, the door to freedom is much wider, in large part, to having repented of this complex.
3) Financial fitness
For many couples, one spouse is the buyer, the other is the saver. In my relationship with Lyssah, the contrast is evident. While Iâm a buyer who lives well within his means, Lys is much better at budgeting and sticking to it.
Ironically, you would never know by where our financial anxieties lie. As co-bread winners, to make ends meet, we both must work…whatever the cost with whatever time we can give. Unfortunately, the drive for excellence doesnât always extinguish the entitlements and justifiers we use to buy (or even save for) momentary contentment/peace.
I know for me, I can only afford to invest so much as I near the end of paying off student loans. The white lie, then, is if I canât currently invest as much as I want for my family, I should be frugal in my giving and employ generosity through alternative means. Yet, as Iâve been convicted, often my lack of giving ties to a lack of trust manifest as leverage against God for not opening certain doors. And I think for some of us, we forget withdrawing doesnât just apply to our presence and/or banking transactions. Itâs applies to trusting God with our financesâŠour energyâŠour timeâŠnot just what to sow, but where to sow and how much.
All that said, if you feel financial weak starting 2019, youâre not alone. Yeah, Iâm an ex-Ramsey spouse. I have content, lessons, and principles I can pass down to future generations. But I also knowâŠ
If Iâm not maturing my stewardship, those values can only go so far.
Ifâ Iâm not maturing my stewardship, my intentionality in inviting God into my budget will be compromised.
As for 2019, no longer will I reduce God to an on-call financial counselor and over-rely on my wifeâs strengths to make up the difference. Rather, Iâm going to pursue financial fitness, embrace frugality under the context of stewardship, and flex into shape accordingly.
Think of it this way: Even though money isnât the end-all, be-all of extending Godâs providence, in no way should we want Godâs faithfulness to be restricted by what weâre not trusting Him in.
Besides if youâre reading this, chances are you have enough and know God as more than enough. Not do you have what it takesâŠbut you can do this. Why not do it together?
Selah.
Footnotes
Where Iâm letting go of a stronghold, sin, negative thought pattern, etc. to replace it with something better
Granted, not intentionallyÂč, but enough we risk growing desensitized, even numb, to its mention.
Perhaps you’re like me wondering how to take not only your goal-setting, but your intentionality to the next level in 2019. If so, consider the following question:
‘How do we become more intentional in our intentionality?’
For while most understand intentionality implies an upgrade in dedication…as being more mindful more often…not nearly as many see the term as anything more than the sum of its google definitions…
…which leads me to my first point.
Point 1: To embrace intentionality we must first see its core as covenantal commitment. For all you resolution setters out there, this is imperative to keep in mind. To achieve any goal with purpose, you must not only count the cost, but weigh it against an appointed strategy (more on this in a moment).
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” ~ Luke 14:28 (ESV)
Furthermore, it’s worth noting whenever we appropriate a particular cost, we’re also considering the promises and blessings of God (see how God institutes his covenants with the patriachs in Genesis). As such, to be intentional is to examine the faithfulness of God in all three time dimensions (i.e. past, present, future).
Point 2: To embrace intentionality, we must view it as a relational/communal experience as opposed to individual effort. Like point 1, this concept is necessary both for pursuing the dreams/visions God plants as well as the sustaining of them.
Note how the Psalmist discerns God as one who delegates and journeys with us through the obedience…
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], On those who hope [confidently] in His compassion and lovingkindness.” ~ Psalm 33:18 (AMP)
“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence? Why are you in despair, O my soul? Why have you become restless and disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”” ~ Psalm 42:5,11 (AMP)
Put another way, whether God delegates an assignment or gives direction, He always offers the hope of experiencing Him in greater measure. Props to Webster, but unfortunately this something he missed in his dictionary.
Point 3: To embrace intentionality, we must understand our response to what God appoints and appropriates. For when God appoints, He is often granting fresh instruction and direction; however, when God appropriates, He is setting aside something for our possession that we already have.
Having said that, if you’re ever unsure what God is saying, always yield in surrender knowing God has anointed you to what He’s appointed you.
Ephesians 5:15-17 captures this beautifully in three simple words:Â know His will.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” ~ Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)
A couple key nuggets from this passage…
1) Note how the context leading up to this passage centers on living on children of light and knowing what’s worth participating in. This is important to grasp as knowing our true identity (i.e. children of light) enables us to perceive our function/calling as an overflow/extension of that identity.
2) In verse 16, the Greek wording for ‘making the best’ means âbuy up at the marketplaceâ, to see the opportunity as a commodity used by believers. This may sound strange at first; however, in the context of God’s evangelical economy, recognizing opportunity is crucial to valuing/seizing the time He’s given us.
With that in mind, we can better comprehend Paul’s charge at Ephesus, particularly the transactional effects of Matthew 6:33 (which I submit is an underrated definition of intentionality)…
“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being rightâthe attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
Final Thoughts
While many of us like operating under the cover of ‘intentional’…in feeling secure in what we’re going after as opposed to being confident we’ll actually get there…true intentionality is never content on defining goals until it has established tactical strategies.
Intentionality is often received as a reactionary buzz word. If this truth resonates, we must re-evaluate our understanding of the term.
Often there’s a disconnect between what is good for us and what we want to be good for us. Accordingly, it should be no surprise if shallow convictions are met with shallow efforts. If we’re skeptical/indifferent concerning the sacrifice intentionality requires, we’ll be derailed by the facets of life that don’t cooperate amidst our pursuits.
Referencing the Lord with our intentions helps us know if God is in them. When we seek the Lord, not only must we seek with expectancy knowing He will answer, but also inquire how to integrate that answer into the priorities and commitments He’s already established/will continue to establish (see 2 Samuel 5 when David repeatedly references God in his tactical analysis). Remember in the realm of grace, there’s a natural rhythm embedded in the natural order of these priorities and commitments. Thus, by keeping God first, foremost, and center, we can know a higher level of intentionality with what He’s given us.
I mean…itâs not like things went according to planâŠas if all my resolutions came to fruition; granted a lack of bucket list checks is nothing new in the history of late Decembers.
Still, as I look back on 2018, I canât help but bask in awe. For while each year is its own journey, there are some more seismic, more catalytic in nature. To capture their magnitude? Nearly impossible. But to consecrate them into altars of gratitude? Now we’re talkin’.
Perhaps youâre wondering how you survived the year, hoping to find hidden truths between the lines months, or stressing about what next year will bring. If so, consider this simple year-in-reviewâŠa year that started in obscurity yet finished with a renewed embrace of it.
While ushering in our new bundle of joy was certainly a lifetime highlight, it didnât negate the fact going into 2018 was the meteorological equivalent of a clear, sunny day turned cold, freezing fog. So much of what we were used to was now lost in what we couldnât see.
No more Wednesday morning devotions at work, no more co-workers and paycheck security (at least for Lys) no more sermon prepping, no more ministry on the go.
I remember a stretch in January Iâd drive to work feeling all I had was daily bread and the worldâs best family. I know, I knowâŠthis is [way] more than enough for the majority of the worldâs population. I get that. Iâm one blessed man; let the record stand.
However, as an exposed man realizing how much identity he had put in what he put out (i.e. how much personal worth he had assigned to ministry), no longer could I reconcile the sum of what I had versus what I didnât have.
Lost in ego, it became quite clear the sabbatical God called Lys and I to when 2018 started was going to go much deeper than the average church break. I needed to find myself seek Jesus, embrace the words Iâd been preaching for years, and let the tables turn.
And so it began, this foreign survey into various liturgies and doxologies, each Sunday a chance to learn something new about my local church. One step back, two steps forward. One step back, two steps forward. Never before has being a complete stranger, especially in church community, been so exciting yet awkward at the same time. Timely words pitted against uncertainty, a functioning compass that felt broken more often than notâŠthis was my reality heading into late June.
But to Godâs credit, with assists from Jamie George and several Messenger colleagues, the heart, though bruised, kept rhythm. Yes, I missed LEGACYouth. Yes, I missed having a ministerial outlet where I could justify my day job by what I did outside it. But somehow, I was able to catch the bigger picture. God was not only after my heart, but my independence.
By time July arrived, the stage was set. All I had to do was keep my ears open.
Of course, you may know what happens next. If not, Iâll let this post do the talking:
In hindsight, itâs interesting to see the progression between late June and early September. As my harshest critic, accept my word when I say what God did during this time was nothing less than a minor miracle.
And yeah, I get a return to your home church isnât exactly a $1,000 check in the mail or an ailment being instantly healed. At the same time, I think anytime a certain amount of pain, regardless its form, is supernaturally conquered, it must find anchor in testimony.
In my case, I went back to places of untended hurt, having previously hoped the end of LEGACYouth would be the end of them. After surrendering the âsail into sunsetâ narrative for a âlook what I will do in Act 2â declaration, I finally did what I should have done years ago: I traded the vain imaginations, the depressive thoughts, the hopeless medications in for a buy-in into Godâs plan of restoration. Whatever happened in âAct 1â had to be released. Thanks to divine grace and that ever pestering still small voice, I was able to let go like never before.
And wouldnât you know itâŠas all this was happeningâŠten years of on and off stomach ulcer-like symptoms vanished. Itâs almost like God was giving me a head start into the fall (i.e. âYou commit to this, Iâll heal you of your depression!â And boom! It happened. Unexplainable, indescribable…yet unsurprising. A recipe for knowing where God is.
At any rate, while much happened this year behind closed doors, at times underground, no question there were many seeds planted that have taken root and will sprout in years to come.
As for what happened elsewhere, Iâll let the video and Q&A segment below take it from here.
When you think back on 2018, what immediately comes to mind?
CF: “Begin Again. The official battle-cry proclamation of 2018. Victory, repaved foundations, fresh trust in the Lord…quite a bit actually.
LF: “Change and transition. I felt the whole year was shifting sands. New baby, new career, new challenges. Concerning the latter, while we overcame and succeeded most of them, perhaps none was bigger than replacing my income as a stay-at-home virtual assistant with Everly in the fold. Despite all we’ve been tackling, we’ve been tackling them as a team. We’re ending the year on a totally different level.”
What were some of the highlights/defining moments?
CF: “Conquering anxiety. The physical effects of my depression being healed. Our story in going back to The Gate. That late summer stretch was memorable on multiple fronts. Interesting to note in past Q&A’s, the answers to this question often featured events and travels, but this was a year that required a sabbatical and less mobility as part of its narrative. As such, while our yieldedness felt more grounded at times, I think it ultimately helped establish the undercurrents that would go on to define the year. On a more secondary note, building the bridge between His Girl Fryday and Fry Freelance has been an exciting, though at times humbling, experience.”
LF: “Landing my clients. Seeing God come through in this way was truly amazing. Knocking out the postpartum much quicker this go-around. Embracing the overall momentum that came with accepting the children’s pastoral role at The Gate. Learning a new rhythm without feeling I’m just surviving was defining in itself.”
How would you compare this year of marriage to the past years?
CF: “We have a more well-rounded idea of what intimacy is. In recent years, we’ve seen our communication tighten, but this year, I feel our desire to be on the same page is greater than ever. We’re not just picking and choosing how we want to be close. I suppose the type of troubleshooting and hurdle-clearing we’ve had to do this year is a major reason why.”
LF: “This year has been more real. To end it on a high note, after so much transition…that says a lot. We’ve had some of our most intense discussions this year, but they brought us closer while pushing us towards growth and deeper connection. We’re getting better at being intentional. This was a ‘make or break’ year and while it wasn’t always pretty, we’re coming out stronger.”Â
What lesson from 2018 are you eager to apply in 2019?
CF: “The relationship between dependence and satisfaction in the Lord. While we know we have every reason to trust God, He never stops pursuing our reliance and purifying our sense of worth. Furthermore, I better understand the connection between abiding in peace and not needing to make sense of my surroundings. I’m considerably more content in obeying without the entitlement of knowing why. In a way, I feel I have built-in relief for 2019 based on what God has taught me this year. One more lesson…sometimes, the dreams we think are dead are just dormant instead.”
LF: “I’ve learned so much about grace, the kind that propels you to keep going. This year we’ve oscillated being being intentional and reactionary. Going into 2019, my heart and focus is on being more intentional as a function of overflow. That’s the word buzzing in my heart right now. I yearn to overflow as I surrender security and self-preservation and engage worship in all aspects of life. Given my belief in 2019 being more addition by multiplication, how we overflow is going to go a long way in how we mature as givers.”
What do you hope youâll be saying at this time next year?
CF: “We’ve broadened our voice. We‘re working from home. We’re better stewards of what we’ve been given. We took the next steps of intentionality across the board…and are closer to God and each other because of it.”
LF: “#Livingourbestlife. We invested in what matters. We traveled more and were able to expose the kids to more outside of themselves. I reached my goal weight having hit the halfway point the year before.”
As mentioned last December, when it comes to memorable Christmas movies, itâs hard to leave âHome Aloneâ off the list. The charm, the music, the shenanigans, stir in some holiday vibes and family flavor, and itâs no surprise the film has stood the test of time.
Yet, while the success of Home Alone would ultimately inspire a carbon-copied cash cow sequel, having recently revisited Home Alone 2, itâs worth noting the life lessons embedded in its baggage (pun intended).
Thus, in the spirit of extending tradition and diving into yet another Chris Columbus movie, here are three underrated life lessons inspired by âHome Alone 2ââŠ
Keep your heart [pure]âŠ
In this exchange, Kevin and the pigeon lady are in a loft above Carnegie Hall where she explains her mid-life crisis following her loverâs departure.
After admitting relational apprehensions, Kevin suggests she starts trusting people again. Having confided in her, Kevin then shares of past misbehaviors before accepting the pigeon ladyâs advice to create good tidings in their place.
For a movie needing to convey a universal message yet remain politically correct, Iâm not opposed to this moment of improbable dialogue. That said, if Iâm in Kevinâs shoes, Iâm not saying, âkeep you heart openâ; rather, Iâm likely substituting something less vague like âcleanâ, âpureâ, âvigilantâ, etc.
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
âCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.â ~ Psalm 51:10
âAnd I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone* from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.â ~ Ezekiel 36:26
“Keep you heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23
—————————————————————————————————————————————–
To be fair, the way Kevin uses âopenâ here is worth some benefit of the doubt. Generally, when we use the word in similar fashions, weâre encouraging someone not only to take inventory of fear, but to count the cost of courage. Still, while Kevinâs advice is admirable for a ten-year-old, I submit had he been more specific and defined certain truths she should be open to, he would have better helped the pigeon lady move on from her pastâŠ
âŠwhich brings me to my first pointâŠ
âŠif weâre going to employ goodness, why superficially deliver it fearing we may be wrong or intrusive? Not to suggest we disregard decency and modesty, which organically come as weâre led by the Spirit; however, if weâre content in preserving shallow forms of goodwill, are we not reflecting a subtle version  of what we long to see people free from?
As one can relate to the pigeon lady (i.e. the paralyzing effects of crushed dreams and unpruned fears), all I know is whatever love I give or receiveâŠI want it to pierce somethingâŠbe it pain, confusion, anxiety, whatever. After all, God will take care of my options, but as for you, I just want to see you be brave and, at least, consider telling me something I may not know and/or need to straight-up hear.
Bottom line: If youâre going to encourage someone to keep their heart open, donât end the sentence with âopenâ. In this way, youâll charge your encouragement as a springboard rather than a sugarcoated fortune cookie.
*Bonus points to Kevin for this line: âIf youâre not going to use your heart, then whatâs the difference if it gets broken?â A heart of stone, whether intact or shattered, is still stone.
Know why you battle
Itâs hard to ignore your favorite scene in a post like this. Even if it wasnât, you got to admit the first 36 seconds of this clip, as ex machina they may be, pump the adrenaline.
Yet, before the movieâs climax can commence, consider how the scene startsâŠ
Interesting, how the clip starts with the Star of David. Granted, this makes sense given the songâs lyricsâŠ
Distant stars, at home up in the heavens. Wonder what they see, are they watching me? Christmas Star, you spin your strands of silver. What a sight to see, are you there to guide me?
Star light, shine bright. See me through the dark night. Light my pathway; Guide me home for Christmas Day.
Still, itâs refreshing to see how a symbol of Christâs birth helped ignite this sequence.
First, you have a Star of David helping harness Kevinâs attention onto an ill peer. From there, Kevin is reminded while heâs still lost in the most populated city on earth, there are others less fortunate worth fighting as confirmed by his battle-cryâŠ
âYou can mess with a lot of things, but you can’t mess with kids on Christmas!â
To sum up this scene, if we stop and consider the broken around us, itâs not long until weâre reminded why we battle against evil schemes (Ephesians 6:11)âŠwhy what we protect is worth protecting. Kudos to Columbus for somehow capturing it all in only half a minute!
Bottom line: Perspective matures our vulnerability into mobility. If we want to fight the good fight and overcome evil with good, donât just ponder the good, bask in it.
Dove the one you love
For this one, Iâm not so caught up in the actual clip as much as Iâm reminded how much deeper turtle-dove significance is in the Bible. A quick systematic overview reveals turtle-doves are more than sentimental emblems. Rather they demonstrate the beauty of sacrificed innocence (Old Testament), passionate devotion (Song of Solomon), imminent healing/thanksgiving (Hezekiah), and prophetic divinity (Gospels).
If you ask me, turtledoves are underrated when we reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. True, we sing of them frequently every time we come to the second day of the âTwelves Day of Christmasâ carol; however, if we zoom out and consider why turtledoves have any Christmas connection at all, we find reason in their physical and symbolic splendor represented in Creation to NoahâŠall the way to the Cross. In essence, they are a genuine reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season and in Him, a) God is pleased and b) we can know true peace and goodwill.
Bottom line: Doves capture the sweet aroma of incarnational love.
3) Financial fitness
hisgirlfryday.com 