Archive Blog (before 2019)

2 Ways Christmas Mobilizes Missional Living ALL YEAR LONG

What’s one of your favorite Christmas memories?  Please comment below.  Every year as a child we were at Grandma and Grandpa’s house full of cousins, aunts and uncles and fun times.  There were no white Christmases, only blue, just because Grandma always played the Elvis Christmas vinyl record on the stereo that was larger than the largest clothes chest you’ve ever seen.  Every year Grandma inevitably  runs out of film for the Polaroid camera (I’m ancient or my Grandma was a hipster).   She stands next to Grandpa and yells “Will you go to the store and get some film?” Grandpa, hard of hearing, always responds with “What did you say?”  Grandma repeats louder.  Grandpa leaves and inevitably, would ALWAYS miss the excitement of bells thumping against the porch followed by a “HO HO HO” and Santa Claus, HIMSELF came to OUR Christmas Eve!  I noticed always wore shoes JUST like my Grandpa!  The excitement faded out and I always would find myself looking at the manger scene to the side of the excitement. This scene imparts two breakthroughs in my life and my daily missional living:

  1. God mobilized His missional living be becoming among us. In fact, on earth, as Jesus, He received a name that describes his missional living to you: “Look! A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, And they will call him, Emmanuel.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:23‬ ‭CEB‬‬). Emmanuel means “God with us.”  What love! God went through extreme measure to be with you.  He expresses His love for people He calls out by proclaiming “I am with you”.  God expressed  this to Abraham and Isaiah when He called them into their personal ministry.  Jesus expressed this to you as His disciples the day He commissioned you in your missional living: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB). This is why we are passionate in Mobilize Ministries to intentionally meet or “be with” people we know in in everyday life replicating the life of Jesus: “The twelve were with Him,” (Luke 8:1)
  2. God mobilized His missional living becoming a baby, the utmost form of vulnerability and weakness.  He was enthroned in Heaven with all praise directed toward Him and incomprehensible power that made heaven, earth and YOU at His fingertips.  Existence does not get any more comfortable than this.  Yet, God mobilized His missional living by subjecting Himself to be what humans view as the weakest, a baby. Wrapped in the weakness of my Cerebral Palsy and old orthopedic metal legged braces, this scene gave me comfort.  God became weak to start His journey to the cross, where yet He’d become weak and vulnerable again: “For He was indeed crucified in weakness”. (2 Corinthians 13:4).
    [tweetable author=”@toddlollar”] God mobilized His missional living to you by becoming weak and vulnerable.  Your weakness and vulnerability through your missional living touches people in your life with the love of Jesus. [/tweetable]
Experience newness is what God has already given you.  You have your life.  Deep, huh?  You have people in your life. [tweetable author=”@toddlollar”]CHRISTmas your missional living every day of the year by being among family and friends intentionally even if it means becoming vulnerable and weak replicating God’s ministry toward you and me.[/tweetable] Please continue the conversation below about specific ways you can Christmas your missional living everyday of the year.

Donate Now

(tax deductible)

YOU’re NEW monthly pledge or year end gift can help Mobilize Ministries expand to Hollywood and start a short-term missions fund!

3 Implications of ‘Do Not Fear’ in a Missional Life

In a world full of volatility, division, and uncertainty, the command “do not fear” can feel both challenging and deeply comforting. It’s one of the most repeated commands in the entire Bible, often spoken by God to people who are being called to do something intimidating. A life on mission is not for the faint of heart; it requires stepping out of our comfort zone and into a world that is often hostile to the gospel. Fear—of rejection, failure, or the unknown—can be the biggest roadblock to living a missional life. But what if God’s command to not be afraid isn’t just a nice suggestion but a key to unlocking our full potential for His kingdom? When we embrace this truth, it has three profound implications for how we live out our mission every single day.

1. Fearless Obedience Overcomes Paralysis

Fear has a way of paralyzing us, keeping us from taking the very steps God is calling us to take. It whispers that we aren’t equipped enough, that the task is too big, or that we’ll fail. This paralysis is the opposite of a missional life, which is defined by movement and action. When God calls us, He almost always pairs the command with a promise. He doesn’t just say, “Go do this,” but rather, “Go, and do not fear, for I am with you.” The command to not be afraid is an act of trust and obedience in itself. It’s not about waiting until we feel brave; it’s about choosing to act in spite of the fear. The prophet Isaiah received a powerful message from God: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). A missional life isn’t about being superhuman; it’s about being obedient to a divine commission, knowing that our courage comes from the One who walks with us. This fearless obedience is what breaks the chains of inaction and mobilizes us to share Jesus with those around us.

2. Fearless Vulnerability Builds Bridges

One of the greatest fears in a life on mission is the fear of being seen as a fraud or a hypocrite. We’re afraid to admit our weaknesses and our struggles because we want to present a perfect, polished version of Christianity. But true connection and authentic ministry are built on vulnerability, not perfection. Our weaknesses are not liabilities; they are assets. When we are brave enough to share our own story of brokenness and how God has redeemed it, we create a space for others to do the same. This is the heart of the Weak Is The New Strong message—that our power comes not from our strength, but from Christ’s power resting on us. The Apostle Paul understood this deeply. He said, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Fearless vulnerability dismantles the walls of cynicism and suspicion, replacing them with bridges of trust and shared humanity. It’s a bold choice to say, “I’m not perfect, but I serve a perfect God who is working in my life.”

Highlight this quote: “A missional life isn’t about being superhuman; it’s about being obedient to a divine commission, knowing that our courage comes from the One who walks with us.”

3. Fearless Trust in God’s Provision

A life of mission often looks like stepping out with little to no plan, but with full trust in God’s provision. We fear that if we step into a new role, start a new ministry, or simply give more of ourselves away, we won’t have the resources we need—whether that’s time, money, or energy. But the command to not fear is often a direct challenge to this anxiety. It’s an invitation to release our worries and rely on a God who owns everything. Jesus himself addressed this fear head-on, saying, “Don’t worry about your life, whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear… your heavenly Father already knows all your needs” (Matthew 6:25, 32). He then promises that if we simply seek His Kingdom above all else, He will provide for our every need (Matthew 6:33). Fearless trust in God’s provision allows us to serve generously, knowing that our security is not in our own hands but in His. It frees us from the anxiety of “what if” and allows us to focus on the person right in front of us, ready to be loved and served.

The command “do not fear” is at the heart of what it means to live a missional life. It’s a call to move beyond paralysis and into courageous obedience. It’s an invitation to replace our fear of rejection with a willingness to be vulnerable. It’s a charge to exchange our anxiety over provision for a deep trust in God’s faithfulness. You are called to be a missionary to the world around you, and you can do so not because you are fearless, but because you serve a God who tells you not to be.

Take one step today to face a fear that is holding you back from your mission. The conversation starts with you. Share in the comments below: What fear has God helped you overcome in your missional life?

If you’re inspired to join us in our mission to equip and empower believers to live out their faith, consider becoming a monthly partner. Your gift of any amount—$5, $50, or $100 a month—or an annual gift, will help us continue to create resources and mobilize others for ministry. As a thank-you, all monthly partners will receive a complimentary copy of my book, Weak Is The New Strong, and an autographed copy of my second book, Mobilize Your Missional Life, upon its release.

(All giving is tax deductible)

1008 Linn Lane

Yukon, OK 73099