When Small Talk becomes a Big Thing

    Before we continue,  recall a time or a place when you had a "small-world" experience.  Recollect that time when you were minding your own business and a complete stranger in line kicked off the wait time with small talk.  It was an innate reflex that you never have.  You sigh, wish for your Beats, but in the grand conclusion, you realize divine intervention had momentarily prevailed.  Your t-shirt screamed your university, which is where they attended and you both had the same major and same professors, and they know your little sister and you walk away with a business card that results in the career change for which you had prayed and prayed.
    You still tell that story to this day, recalling that you had wished for your Beats and that you had never had the propensity for small talk.  Now, you are better at it because small talk had become a big thing---in your life.

Small talk does not happen with only strangers or acquaintances but with friends and family members as well.   Consider it a warmup activity,  ..."an important social lubricant, helping to build empathy and a sense of community." (Wallace, J.B. (2016).  The benefits of a little small talk. Wall Street Journal)
Not sure if small talk is your gift? Read "Six Reasons Small Talk Is Very Important---And How To Get Better At It."

Face-to-face small talk with an "actual and existing" person is fairly easy.  We talk, they listen; hopefully, this pattern reverses.  But can small talk occur with the invisible and unseeable?
If we have ever lost a loved one, we might find ourselves verbally uttering thoughts and cares to them.   Why then do so many avoid small talk, the warmup conversation with the One who created us?  Is it because there is no visible ear to hear or mouth to respond?  Small talk here begins with  Faith.  "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)  
Faith and hope are not wishful thinking; rather, they are the assurance that "The Lord hears when I call to Him."  (Psalm 4:3)   Heads up:  we all started with the small talk to God.  Perhaps we found ourselves waiting in the long, silent line of life or flat on our backs looking up or in the deepest pit of torment.  God is not interested in lofty language.  He does not our mind stuttering and pauses. He came to earth to build that sense of community with us. However, it is imperative that we have the small talk with God first and here it is, the prayer of salvation:
"I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.  I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead.  I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior.  Guide my life and help me to do your will."

This is the small talk that becomes a big thing.  This is the story that you will share forever: the day you had the small talk with God, and He transformed your path for which you had prayed and prayed.

Never underestimate the power of small talk with God.  He is listening.  Interpret that to mean - He will hear you and lead you.

Happy 2017!  May God begin or continue to pour out His blessings on you.

Keep Looking Up...and thank you for reading our blog!

J:m and L:nda

The Relocation of Jesus

The announcement came from the prophet, Isaiah, in the eighth century BC when the nation of Judah was under Assyrian control.  The aforementioned announcement reads, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."   About 700 years later, this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Christ was born.  So, where was Jesus between the Old Testament prophecy and His birth?  Good question.  He was "outside of time" as we define time.  Yes, He was here/there/everywhere all the time.  John explains Jesus' eternal existence when he writes, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning." (John 1:1-2) Jesus was the Word.  "In the beginning" speaks of eternity: past and present and future, and that phrase is different from "from the beginning," which describes humans and our experiences with the past.  For example, we might say, " This is a great story, so I will start from the beginning," indicating that there was a starting point.  Clearly, there was not a starting point with Jesus.
     Judging from the title of this blog, we could assume that Jesus was somewhere but moved to some place new.  And your assumption would be precise, and John 1:14 explains the relocation process: Jesus came from the Father above, was made flesh (born as baby Jesus), and made His dwelling place among us.
     Followers of Jesus believe in the virgin birth, which is Biblical doctrine.  Jesus was born, walked among us, trained His disciples, and shared His gospel.  His gospel is still transforming lives today.
     So, why do we celebrate this prophecy that has come to fruition?  We believe when Jesus became God Incarnate (became flesh and walked among us), He also became the Light to the World and promises those who follow Him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).
     We love the Christmas season for so many reasons.  We celebrate the relocation of Jesus for when He left heaven and came to planet earth (the place He created in the beginning), He brought with Him Light.  No wonder we see a symbolic abundance of light displays at Christmas.  Christmas just would not be Christmas without lights; in fact, Christmas would not exist without the Light of the World.
    Wishing you a joyous, light-filled Christmas.  And, don't worry about time.  Jesus controls that!
    Keep Looking Up and thank you for reading our blog!
    J:m and L:nda