Good morning and Happy Friday! Can you believe that next Friday is Christmas? Wow! We are coming to the end of 2009! Let’s thank God for being a faithful God in 2009 because many of us thought we were not going to make it!

Like I shared with you before, I believe that in everything that occurs in my life, God attaches a lesson. Sometimes that lesson is for me and many times it’s for you! Many of you know that in June of this year I purchased a new vehicle (I like to call her Favor) all on my own (To God Be the Glory). In purchasing my new car, I had no choice but to trade in my old vehicle (FREE…yep that was her name) that my grandparents purchased for me for my college graduation. Six months ago I had no choice… Everything was wrong with FREE and she wasn’t living up to her name. (Stay with me I believe God is taking me somewhere with this) So when I bought Favor… I picked her off the showroom floor of the dealer, fully loaded leather seats… Microsoft Sync… Low profile rims… the works! See, I bought Favor thinking that by purchasing her I wouldn’t have to worry about car problems.

Well that isn’t quite the case because every time I turn around my low tire pressure light is coming on. And the dealer acted as if nothing was wrong. They checked the tires and told me that the tires are fine. So I kept riding and notice that my front passenger tire was nearly flat. Long story short, I had to run to the dealer because they kept telling me nothing was wrong… And it’s expected when you “place rubber bands on concrete” (yep the same dealer that told me how these were some of the best tires ever when I bought them now called them rubber bands). They took the tire and rim off and performed a water test and found out that the rim was dented. So finally they called themselves repairing the rim because, apparently, I hit a pot hole and damaged the rim but they said it could be repaired. So they fixed it and told me that I shouldn’t have any more problems. And thinking that it was fixed… I was overjoyed. But a couple days ago the light came back on; last Sunday my tire was flat again. Now they are saying I need to purchase a new rim.

I said all of that to say, on this second to last Friday in 2009… Someone just like my car, low tire pressure light is on. And six months ago everything in your life was going well, you were on the show room floor…you had no problems… Looked good on the inside and out…You thought that everything in your life was great. But now these last couple of months you have hit a few pot holes… And because you have been living a low profile life (popping in and out of God’s will when it’s convenient) you keep going flat. Just like the dealership, you are sitting around trying to act like nothing is wrong. Now even though you look good on the outside despite a few scratches on the inside you are a spiritual mess! And the reality is that when you take a full examination, just like the dealer did with my tire, you will find out that your rim (spirit) is dented. And you thought that popping in and out of church would be a quick fix. Many of you thought that it would work… And was overjoyed when you left church… Only to find out days later your light is back on again. Is this you? Well let me be the one to tell you just like my rim a quick fix won’t help your situation.. You need a NEW spirit!

So this Friday… Take some time and ask God to renew your spirit!

Psalms 51:10-12
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Today… Before we get caught up with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season… Do yourself a favor… Ask God to renew your spirit… Not just any kind of spirit but a steadfast spirit. With a steadfast spirit it doesn’t matter how many pot holes you hit… And even if your light comes on… The spirit that God can restore in you will not allow your tires to get flat.

Not only does the scripture ask God for a renewing of our spirits but it says…restore the joy of YOUR salvation! How many of you know that JOY will take you a long way! Because with joy, it doesn’t matter what your situation is… No matter if your pressure is low… No matter if you don’t get what you want for Christmas… No matter if you can’t afford to buy your family members something… It doesn’t matter what the situation is… You can keep on riding along.

And before you get moving remember that when God’s Spirit is in you, you can sustain all things! Even yourself…

Let’s Pray!

God we thank you for renewing our spirit this morning! Give us a willingness to follow your will and plan for our lives. Touch each one of us… Forgive us God for our sins! Renew our minds… Our hearts… And allow us to be in fellowship with you! Grant us the peace that passes all understanding! God we love because you loved us! You were sent to this world… Just for Me! As we celebrate your birth on this coming week, allow us to remember that you are the only reason for the season. It’s in your precious name we pray! Amen!

Remember I love each one of you! May God Bless you! Merry CHRISTmas!

ReNEWed,

MEJ!