Chris Maxwell's Newsletter

Another Year Along the Way
Sunday, December 31, 2006

Another day,
1979. She left earth and entered her eternal home in 1979. Cancer had damaged too much of Mama's beautiful body for too long.

Now - after living in Orlando for 27 years without Mama near me - my family and I moved back to Mama's former world. She isn't here; I've looked for her and thought about her but she isn't here.

I can hear her laughter and see her smiles. As another Christmas passed through and another year lands, I realize that all of us have only a season to live on earth. And that season seems shorter and shorter.

Since our move to Georgia, I've attended five funerals. I feel for the families; I pray for the families. I also learn again that this life is short.

I often use this phrase from Annie Dillard: "How we spend our days is how we spend our lives." Read it and review yourself. Evaluate and determine how you are doing in this short life. What has happened since 1979? What has happened this year? What do you pray happens in 2007? What can we do to give God opportunities to accomplish His goals through us for this year? Will we really make a difference? Will people remember us when our time ends?

As clocks tick and calendars turn, we age. As hopes diminish and dreams fade, we ask questions. As prayers appear to remain unanswered, we shake our heads and wonder why.

Today we can choose to care, to live, to enjoy, to pursue - all while knowing that true success is only what our Creator does through us. We do not have to perform to impress Him or persuade Him. We just honor Him with love and give Him ourselves completely so His work can flow through our lives. This day, this year, this time.

What I learned from my mother is still so fully alive. What others are learning from us is bringing something into their lives also. I pray it brings a Mama type of hope.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
(Romans 14:17-19, NIV)


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Another Note in December
Saturday, December 16, 2006

Another day,
How many cards have landed in your mail? How many holiday notes, sales clips, marketing requests, and pleas for donations? We've all received them. We've also sent a few ourselves. Christmas greetings, a year-in-review note, and possibly a picture or two.

Today I'll allow the words of a friend enter our eyes, minds, hearts. Paul wrote his note not as a seasonal hello but as a deep request. He had high hopes his audience could live out the truth the Christmas music broadcasts. He believed the Savior worked to change lives. Read his letter; join in that belief. And write your own thoughts about Paul's note on our blog.

(Philippians 2:1-18, NIV)
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death-
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: ...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.