Most of us have read the book of Jonah. I was listening to a teaching this week regarding the fact that when Jonah wanted to go in the opposite direction of where God was calling him, there was a boat right there in the port waiting to take him where he wanted to go. The same is true for us. There will always be a boat ready to take me in the opposite direction that God is calling me to go.

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” Philippians 4:11-12

Standing in line at Kohls for an hour and a half on “Black Friday”, I had a lot of time to reflect on the commercialism surrounding Christmas. But commercialism isn’t just for Christmas anymore. From cupids to turkeys, leprechauns to Easter bunnies, each and every day the world cries out buy, buy, buy! Buy stuff for you! Buy stuff for your friends, family, pets, neighbors, coworkers! Buy stuff for the people you don’t even like!

What does the world tell us?
• Buying equals love. The more expensive the gift, the more love shown. (think car and diamond commercials!)
• It’s on sale, so you might as well buy two.

Jesus said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." – Mark 5:19

Large crowds followed Jesus wherever He went, literally thousands of people each day from all over Israel. His miracles, his teaching, and his compassion for the people drew them in. When he delivered the man of the tombs from the legion of demons that haunted him, the man wanted to follow as well. But instead of allowing him to also follow him, Jesus sends the man home to tell his story to those who knew him.

I am not particularly young, but there is an "older than myself" generation that has grown up with the idea of keeping their faith and religious issues private. I have had them tell me that such matters are private and that I should not be speaking of such things in public conversations.

“I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.” (Eph. 1:19-23)

Do you ever notice how God has designed infants to develop? First, they learn to sit, then they learn to crawl, then they learn to pull themselves up on a piece of furniture and stand. It is the same, I think, with our spiritual life in Christ.