I caught a glimpse of a stylish Santa. The Santa image looked so very knowledgeable about me, about being good or bad, naughty or nice, but I’m sure he couldn’t read my thoughts, or see my actions, or know how whimsy could overtake the most minor thing, turning it into a real faux pas… the oops that ache, the misjudgement moments, the apologetic and yet simple lapses of judgment. No. Santa looked solid and sturdy, and yet surely even Santa can’t lift enough coal for all of those faux pas we do… me too…

And besides this, in my sights this ain’t the real Santa, not even a photo with a “hushing finger to mouth” – this Santa is a plastic photo platter made to hold more cookies than the weight of sins. Santa may give gifts, and so do we, but Santa ain’t no savior. 

The Savior of us, is our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus knows us and so His Love flows out our forgiveness. And with His Spirit energizing our awareness, we remember that we need Him, I surely do.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Our faith to accept Him and believe in Him, stems from our realization that WE NEED JESUS.  We need His forgiveness AND His guidance. We need to remember to depend on Him and keep moving in Grace. His guidance reminds that the world is crucified to us, and us to the world. There has to be a spiritually healthy separation of our vision away from the world, to not get caught up in worldly stuff nor steps. 

Lord knows that He knows our oops-es, scrambles, and slip ups, even bull in a china shop lives, and yet these actions are still salvageable by His desire to keep us close to God.  His desire is for us to know Him. We can’t waste time knowing we are saved then act flippant like we forgot that or that He couldn’t save us. Our actions, no matter how grave or light, can still be grace-applied into a save.

We need forgiveness and to remember that we need it.

We also need to pray us and others away from the worldliness that gets between us. 

A poem:

Jesus, FORGIVENESS BY THEE,

Merciful Forgiveness for FREE.

Grave Grace for us all, and for me.

May we all make a plea,

Forgiveness, Lord, please shower mercy on me.

And then, help me believe, help me see.

May we separate from worldliness forgivingly. 

May we only boast of Thee. 

Set our loving hopes free.

FORGIVENESS TO FREE

FORGIVENESS BY THEE

FORGIVENESS of others ALSO FROM ME

This is my plea.

Help me to see.

And be saved and still and simply be.

Oh how I live to love Thee. 

Amen 

—

Galatians 6 NIV, A letter from Paul, 

DOING GOOD TO ALL 

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person GENTLY. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Not Circumcision but the NEW CREATION 

See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.