As 2011 comes to a close, I am quickly realizing that I am a bit anxious about what the new year may have in store. It has been such an amazing year, full of healing, new adventures, goals being met, restoring relationships, forming new ones and learning to actually walk with the Lord instead of bumping into Him every now and again.
As I ponder the possibilities, as I know I shouldn't, I can't help but find myself playing the "what if" game. What if all that we've accomplished falls apart? What if my faith gets raddled again? Will I be able to stand firm? Is all this too good to be true? Where do we (me, my Abba, my husband, my family) go from here? So easily after all that God has proven to me, I fear falling backwards instead of moving forward. I'm sure it is an attack from my enemy and I know I must fight with strength and endurance and fight I will...I just do not want to screw up.
Into the unknown, I will set sail, with the knowledge that no matter what, my Abba loves me. I pray I am found faithful, loyal, and always running towards the heart of God.
So in closing, I pray a wonderful new year full of blessings be bestowed upon all of you! May the Lord's face shine upon you.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Forgive as I have been forgiven
taken from John 8: 1-11...translation my own
"Her arms grabbed at fabric to best conceal her naked body as the men brought her into the street. Shouting out to the towns people that they had an adultress caught in the act. A crowd gathered and began picking up the largest stones they could find. Forming a circle to commense the beating, they threw her at Jesus's feet. Lying in the dirt, head down, heart pounding, body shaking in fear, she knew what she deserved and did not put up a fight.
Ever so calmly, Jesus knelt down to her level and began to write in the sand. All those around just stood in silence, waiting to see what the man, who claimed to be the son of God, would do. Their law said they were completely justified in hurling bolders at her until one cracked her skull causing death, but then He spoke. "You who are without sin cast the first stone." Perplexed and bewildered, the crowd was taken a back. Their sins crept into their memory as the rocks in their hands grew heavy and eventually slipped out of their fingers. With guilt weighing heavily on their shoulders, they dispersed and left Jesus alone with the woman.
She had not realized she was holding her breath until it escaped her body in a loud huff. The loud ringing in her ears grew silent as she found the strength to look into the eyes of the man that just saved her life. "Does no one condemn you?" Tears rolling down her dirty checks, she replied, "No one, sir." "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declares. "Go now and leave your life of sin." Taking her hand, he pulled her to her feet and pointed her in the dirction she should go."
I have been where the crowd stood on many occasions; only the one thrown in front of Jesus had commited the sin against me. I was not just an on looker of a sinner, ready to judge. I was beaten and wounded by the one at His feet waiting on His judgement. Unfortunately, even with Jesus's strong words hanging in the air, my stone was hurled with a mighty and ugly force. And Christ would just look at me and repeat them again, "Joy! Are you without sin? Can you justly throw that stone?" My case, I would argue, my bruises I would show, and my fear I would spill out...and often I still do. But somehow my Abba allows me to see myself as the woman, guilty as charged and begins to soften my heart towards my offender, showing me I am no different than they, but am given mercy and grace everytime I fall short. Such love he has for me to continue to want to mold me, not leaving me as I am, so that I too can forgive as I have been forgiven.
"Her arms grabbed at fabric to best conceal her naked body as the men brought her into the street. Shouting out to the towns people that they had an adultress caught in the act. A crowd gathered and began picking up the largest stones they could find. Forming a circle to commense the beating, they threw her at Jesus's feet. Lying in the dirt, head down, heart pounding, body shaking in fear, she knew what she deserved and did not put up a fight.
Ever so calmly, Jesus knelt down to her level and began to write in the sand. All those around just stood in silence, waiting to see what the man, who claimed to be the son of God, would do. Their law said they were completely justified in hurling bolders at her until one cracked her skull causing death, but then He spoke. "You who are without sin cast the first stone." Perplexed and bewildered, the crowd was taken a back. Their sins crept into their memory as the rocks in their hands grew heavy and eventually slipped out of their fingers. With guilt weighing heavily on their shoulders, they dispersed and left Jesus alone with the woman.
She had not realized she was holding her breath until it escaped her body in a loud huff. The loud ringing in her ears grew silent as she found the strength to look into the eyes of the man that just saved her life. "Does no one condemn you?" Tears rolling down her dirty checks, she replied, "No one, sir." "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declares. "Go now and leave your life of sin." Taking her hand, he pulled her to her feet and pointed her in the dirction she should go."
I have been where the crowd stood on many occasions; only the one thrown in front of Jesus had commited the sin against me. I was not just an on looker of a sinner, ready to judge. I was beaten and wounded by the one at His feet waiting on His judgement. Unfortunately, even with Jesus's strong words hanging in the air, my stone was hurled with a mighty and ugly force. And Christ would just look at me and repeat them again, "Joy! Are you without sin? Can you justly throw that stone?" My case, I would argue, my bruises I would show, and my fear I would spill out...and often I still do. But somehow my Abba allows me to see myself as the woman, guilty as charged and begins to soften my heart towards my offender, showing me I am no different than they, but am given mercy and grace everytime I fall short. Such love he has for me to continue to want to mold me, not leaving me as I am, so that I too can forgive as I have been forgiven.
Monday, December 12, 2011
A Sacrifice in His Birth
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1: 26-38)
This Christmas season has me more drawn to the birth of Christ, I am sad to say, than any years before and more so, with this passage in particular. We often concentrate on Mary and commend her response to the Lord as she takes on this amazingly huge responsibility. The possiblities are endless as to what could happen to her as an unwed pregnant young girl who is engaged but nevertheless, she seems honored to be given this cup to drink. But I ask, if only for a moment, to look at the supernatural and the possibilities that could have taken place in the heavens at this very same moment. I see it happening something like this:
"Gabrial's words to Mary echoed through the heavens as the most crucial of conversations between man and angel occured. What would Mary say? How would this young woman react? The Holy Trinity already knew the outcome as the angels hung on every word. The Father, looking over at the Son, can already feel His heart being pulled as the seperation will soon occur. "Are you ready, Son?" With a smile and a nod, the Christ answered the Father. With his large, gentle hand, The Father reaches over and pulls the Son in for one last tangible hug before The Son leaves his right side for the very first time. The Son is about to enter into the world through the womb of a virgin. He is about to leave the throne of His Kingdom to be born to the very poor family of a carpanter. His head will rest upon hay in his first days and will be crowned in thorns during his last. His earthly mother will craddle him as he enters her world as well as when he leaves it. He will experience every emotion, every temptation, every fear and every feeling that comes with being sinned against, and yet He still agrees to come....He still agrees to come.
And then Mary speaks, "May your word to me be fullfilled." And like that... It's done. The Son has left. He is now Son and man. The angels rour with rejoicing and The Father leaps with glee. The world is being reconciled to Him. "
So during the season of Advent, as we prepare for the coming of the Lord, let us be gracious for his sacrifice, even at his birth. What an amazing God we serve!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
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