Joy in the Midst

For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. 

The government will rest on His shoulders. 

And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 NLT

Today in the town of David 

a Savior has been born to you; 

He is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11 NIV

Christmas comes. Year after year. It rolls around relentlessly, finding us where it may. It is a time marked with festivities, gift giving and receiving, glittering decor, special music, all the trimmings and trappings that somehow try to help us remember something special happened long ago. The ultimate Gift.

In a perfect world we enter in and celebrate, hearts full.  We live the winter wonderland postcard perfect holiday celebration surrounded by loved ones in perfect harmony. Okay, so we don't live in a perfect world. Christmas usually finds us with struggles and strains, fun and fulfillment, the mixed bag of daily life.

Most of us have many wonderful memories of Christmas. But then there are the Christmases we occasionally find ourselves in, marked by the D words. Despair, depression, disease, divorce, dismay, disarray, derailment, discouragement, displacement, disillusionment. You get the drift. It is in these times, which we all go through at some time or another, finding "the Christmas spirit" can be a challenge. All of the merrymaking can seem like a mockery to the reality we face, a garish insult to injury.

But this, it seems to me, is precisely the point of Christmas. It was in the midst of the mundane messiness of life Jesus came. He came to live among us at a seemingly random moment in time. 

His coming was not announced by a dazzling parade. Though there is the scene where a glimpse of heaven came and danced across the night sky in a blaze of glory, only to be seen by a handful of shepherds surely in stunned amazement. To these, the lowly ones of the day, the message was given.

Glory to God in the highest, 

and on earth peace to men

on whom His favor rests.

Luke 2:14 NIV

Jesus Christ was born into a world filled with all of the difficult things common to mankind. It was then as it is now. We could start with His mother. He was born to this young girl, barely a woman, who certainly was confused about what was going in her life. She had been told she was favored by God, blessed above all other women. Yet there she was an unwed mother (scandalous), riding a donkey in the last days of her pregnancy (excruciating) to a town where she knew no one (scared and lonely) only to be turned away (rejected) from a warm and welcoming bed to rest her weary body. Off she went to give birth among the animals. 

That was where the first Christmas found Mary. Blessed? Favored? Really? Yes! Life is often a mixed bag isn't it? The juxtaposition of the divine and the difficult. Both true. Mary made a decision to surrender her life to the plan God revealed to her, trusting He was going to use it for good. 

God allows things to unfold in our lives which seem inexplicable to us. Yet there is always purpose, always promise and always good in His plans, even when we don't understand. 

Jesus came from the glory and majesty of God's Presence (see John 17:5 ) in such an inconspicuous, unassertive way. From the glory and splendor of heaven to a barn, probably drafty and a bit smelly. The long awaited, much anticipated Christ Child, the Messiah, slipped in among us, noticed by only a handful of people as we see when we set up our nativities each year. 

Jesus said blessed are those who mourn, who are poor in spirit, who are persecuted, who are meek, and hungry of heart and soul (see Matthew 5). He came to answer those deep needs in all of us. As we look to Jesus, study His character, His ways, we experience something profound, something that touches us deeply within. The love of the Christ Child grips our hearts. His light illuminates our darkness and lights our way. 

The ways of the kingdom of God always upend our low-level (self focused) thinking. Mary didn't know the full story but she knew enough. She paid attention to the wonder of what God was up to, in spite of her circumstances and as a result got to be a part of the miracle of God becoming man. 

But Mary treasured all these things, 

giving careful thought to them 

and pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:19 AMP 

This begs the question, what do I focus on? What thoughts do I treasure and ponder? Are they healthy and good, rooted in the reality of Jesus in our midst? The Christmas story is not about glitz and glitter. Instead it is where we find meaning and purpose, hope and joy. Countless souls through the centuries have received the gift of the Holy Child given to us by God. They know Him, personally, as the best gift imaginable. 

Like Mary, we too can ponder the miraculous love of God. God, Who humbly became a Man, Who came to live among us and is with us still. We too can choose to see and experience the miracles of life and love that are all around in spite of what we don't understand. And we can share, without being loud or pushy, but rather with humility and grace the precious hope the world desperately needs. Hope has a Name and His Name is Jesus.

Prayer:
Thank you Lord for coming to us. Help me, to see Your unexpected, unheralded blessings day by day. In the beauty of nature. In the eyes of those around me. Help me pay attention, to be present to Your Presence. Thank You for being Immanuel, God with us, forever. Thank you for the miracle of Your love, peace, and joy that don't always line up with our circumstances. Thank you there is so much that is bigger, better and beyond in the life you offer each and every one of us.

The Highest Degree of Love

Now before the Passover Feast began, 

Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come 

for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. 

And as He has loved those who were His own in the world, 

He loved them to the last 

and to the highest degree.

John 13:1 AMP

Love of the highest degree, those words really resonated with me this morning. Jesus was fully aware, His time to die a brutal death was at hand. The death of Jesus Christ was (and is) the highest degree of love ever to be displayed on this earth. Jesus showed us, in life and in death, exactly what Love looks like.

As I spent time in this verse, I began to make a list of what the Jesus kind of love looks like. Sacrificial. Empty of self (of personal agenda or self-gratification). Costly. Obedient. Painful. Timely. Other centered. Humble. Tangible. Intentional. Pure.

Paul shows us what Jesus' life of love looked like in Philippians 2:5-8 NIV, 

In your relationships with one another, 

have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who [Jesus], being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God 

something to be used to His own advantage;

rather, He made Himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself

by being obedient to death -

even death on a cross.

Sometimes it is hard to find this kind of love. Let's face it, our idea of love is wrapped up in what we want, what we think we deserve, what we think will fulfill us. It's about tit for tat. It is about feelings. It is about trying to get our needs met. It is whimsical and fickle. We all complicate things, consciously and unconsciously. The tangled web is sticky.

I find it difficult to unravel the complexity of what I desire and what is in the best interest of others.  Things are seldom simple but rather messy and confusing. Do I need to overlook an offense? Or is the loving thing to go to someone with what offends in order to work it out in a mutually beneficial way. Do I need to do something outside my comfort zone? Am I willing to be inconvenienced? Do I need to spend more time in prayer? The list of ways we can love is endless really, and it is always unique to the people and situations at hand.

The thing is, love takes awareness, discernment, and intentionality. Sometimes I'm not clear on how to love well. But what I have learned, is spending time with the Lord, One on one, is how I can mature in my ability to love. It is how I can listen for what He might want of me. And yes, sometimes it is damn hard. 

The beauty of spending time with God is, we are reminded of His unconditional, enduring, and pure love. As we make the time to seek Him, He shows us His love, personally, over and over again in so many ways. 

As I experience God's matchless love, I am able to extend it to others. I can offer God's love, in faith and with grace.  It isn't always easy and by no means am I any expert at it but I am working at it. It is this kind of love the world desperately needs, has always needed. It is what we all crave.

Philippians 2:5 tells us Jesus, the innocent One Who died for us all, is our example for living. He came to show us, His followers, how to love the world. Pretty big sandals to fill and of course only Jesus did it perfectly. We do fail, but we must  keep trying, trusting He is in the process.

This journey of learning to love is what we are called to, as we walk the dusty roads of life. It is what maturity in Christ looks like. God help us all as we seek Him in the gritty work of loving.

Here are some questions to prayerfully ponder 

as you look for ways to love the Jesus way:

1. Who do you find it difficult to love? What is it in you that finds this person or situation hard? Have you been hurt or disappointed? What is your part in the situation (keep it real here)? What feelings, actions or words do you need to take responsibility for? How might you be complicating things (even for yourself)? What are you  trying to control that you need to surrender to the Lord?

2. Are you going to the Lord (as opposed to venting to others) when you find it hard to love? This does not mean good counsel isn't appropriate at times. Are you asking God to show you what your part in the relationship is? How might your mindset might need to change in order to live out what He is showing you? What is He telling you to do...or not do? Are you willing to give it time, understanding there are seasons in life when there are no quick or easy fixes? Are you trusting God is at work IN YOU, even when the way forward seems murky and difficult? 

Thank the Lord for being with you in the midst whatever is  going on in your life and for His unending love for you. 

May the Lord direct your hearts 

into God’s love 

and Christ’s perseverance.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV

In the Time of Not Yet

As His body was taken away, 

the women from Galilee followed 

and saw the tomb where they placed His body. 

They they went home and prepared 

spices and ointments to embalm Him. 

But by the time they were finished it was the Sabbath, 

so they rested all that day 

as required by the law. 

Luke 23:55 nlt

These women. These godly women who walked with Jesus and cared for His needs are such a great example for us. They watched as He died on the cross and followed Him still. They followed and served Him when  all seemed lost. 

Jesus came and He brought His Kingdom life with Him but it was not what anyone expected. They didn't know it but they were in the time of not yet, the time before the resurrection. We too live in a time of in-between. Jesus came but we are waiting for Him to come yet again. This too is a time of watching and waiting. So what shall we do? How can we live well in this time of not knowing what is around the next bend? We can do as these grief stricken, traumatized, confused women did. We can keep our eyes on Jesus and do the next step, whatever that may be. 

Their next step was to follow and see where His body was taken and then to go home and prepare spices to anoint His body. And then as the day drew to an end, they took time to do something really important. They observed the Sabbath and rested their weary bodies. They rested in spite of their pain. They rested in their confusion. They rested in their not knowing what was going to happen next. This is not always easy to do. It was a disciplined act of faith to rest from their work. The very next dawn would bring resurrection victory. Resurrection joy. Resurrection certainty but in the meantime they had no clue about what was about to happen. Yet they stilled and quieted themselves. 

It is no coincidence the in-between day between Jesus death and resurrection is the Sabbath. It is a great reminder that we can rest in Him no matter what is going on in our lives. Even in devastation and loss God's people can find rest, trusting He has all things well in hand. We can't control outcomes but we can settle our souls knowing God is good.

These women, not often mentioned in the gospels, set a stellar example for us. We too can serve Jesus in the midst of our trials, our uncertainty. We too can find rest as we follow Him, knowing this in-between time is temporary and God is good. There is more to this life than here and now, yet it is in the here and now we live. These women kept their eyes on Jesus and defaulted to living lives of service to Him as best as they could in spite of the seeming disastrous ending to His life.

There is much for me to learn on this Saturday of not yet, the in-between of Jesus' brutal death on Friday and His Resurrection on Sunday as I consider these women. Lord help me to be faithful to You, doing what You have given me to do in this time and place of my life. Help me to have the wherewithal to find rest in the midst of troubles that come my way. Help me as I trust You, Creator of heaven and earth. Let Your victory prevail in the lives of your children all over this desperate world. Let the message of Your love, of Your victory over death ring loud and clear, the message of hope that is for all peoples of every race and creed, every walk of life.

Lord, my heart is not proud;

    my eyes are not haughty.

I don’t concern myself with matters too great

    or too awesome for me to grasp.

 

Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,

    like a weaned child 
who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.

    Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—

    now and always.

Psalm 131 nlt

Nature's Silent Song

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

 The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

    night after night they make him known.

 They speak without a sound or word;

    their voice is never heard.

 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

    and their words to all the world. 

 Psalm 19:1-4 nlt

I have read this passage many times. Paul uses this concept to explain all of mankind can quite plainly see God IS. Creation reveals His existence.  I have always thought of this passages in this way. Yet I am coming to understand it in deeper ways. He speaks through creation in personal and intimate ways as well as conceptual ways. He has long spoken to me through creation; I am just coming to a fuller awareness of how powerfully He speaks to me through the beauty and even barrenness of nature. I guess this is why being in nature is commonly understood as a spiritual discipline, a way to open one's heart to God.

I have always had an awe for the beauty of creation as I have been privileged to have experienced stunning natural beauty in my lifetime. But in the last few years, I have had it speak to my heart in deep and meaningful ways that transcend mere wonder. I am realizing that God talks to me loud and clear through creation in specific ways. Tender ways.

Times when my heart has ached, when I have been troubled, I have glanced up and seen the beauty of clouds painted in pastel colored wisps flung across the blues of the canvas sky. I have looked out over the ocean crashing in endless rhythm as the setting sun casts gems of sparkling color on sea and sky. Both a welcome invitation for me to stop and enjoy majesty, to forget for the moment, the fleeting issues that concern me. A flower pushing up through gravel or cement, demands me to see that life and beauty prevail. The babble of water flowing down rivers or streams speaking of the persistence of His love which flows as liquid grace from His glorious throne. Mountain peaks towering with majesty remind me I am small in the scope of life, yet not insignificant. The sound of the wind dancing through the trees, like a symphony, tells me the Holy Spirit, Jesus described as like the wind, is in me. He speaks to me of His profound, unending love for me.

These are all reminders He is with me. His Voice in my heart, a gift of assurance. He has things well in Hand when it feels like life is careening out of control. These reminders refresh and replenish me. They give me hope. Provide a bit of light (what I need in that moment) when I feel I am groping in  darkness.

I thank you Lord for Your beauty which is all around. Beauty which speaks to my heart, if only I lift my eyes to see. Thank you for Your glory displayed, moment by moment, which is the expression of Yourself, for all to see. Your ever expanding glory, never-ending creation, such a gift. Thank You we can perceive these things. Thank You for the awe they inspire which provide hope for heart and soul. You are our never ceasing hope of glory.

The Dailyness of Grace

I was praying through the Lord's Prayer today, using it as a line by line launch to help me pray for the day. And then incredible Word of God! I do this most days yet verse 11 in Matthew 6 leaped out at me. It spoke to my soul with a fresh and needed revelation. It says,

Give us today our daily bread.

Two times in 6 words, the dailyness of our requests is mentioned. Jesus was intentional with His Words. Here He tells us to focus on what we need for the day. 

Today. The one and only, here and now is what we have, what we live in. The Present. Who knows about tomorrow? Yesterday is gone.

Not that we don't need to prayerfully plan ahead. And the past does contribute to the needs of today. But it is His day by day encouragement, wisdom, grace, guidance and so much more we need, to help us navigate through life. It is what we need to be reminded of as we seek to learn to do life His way. Left to ourselves, our default is not so great.

I also read this morning (do you think God is trying to tell me something here?) a little Henri Nouwen. He said, 

"Mostly we have just enough light to see the next step: what we have to do in the coming hour or following day. The art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark.  When we are able to take the next step with the trust that we will have enough light for the next step that follows, we can walk through life with joy and be surprised at how far we go." 

Life is a step by step process. One day at a time. Twelve step recovery programs have discovered the great secret of living this way. In fact the very name of the program reflects the importance of this. Those who learn to do this well, find themselves on a healing path. The truth is we are all in need of recovery and this particular "art of living" is something we all can practice and grow from. 

This is nothing new. The children of Israel were only given enough manna (their food) for the day. If they tried to hoard more for later, it rotted. Yet day by day there was enough. There was no need for them to take more than they needed for each day. Check out Exodus 16. What a stark way for them to learn this lesson. 

From the Nouwen quote I was convicted that worry is a form of complaint. Jesus, in Luke 12, used a bit of irony with His followers and said, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" 

God knows what we need and when we need it. He wants us trust Him and realize worry is a needless, futile exercise. Truth be known, we can't deal with what is around the corner yet because there are things that will be in play we aren't even aware of now. We need to leave our tomorrows in His capable hands.

God help me focus on seeking You for the Light I need for the present day. Each day. Help me strive to live a life of faith and gratitude. Thank you for the enough you give me. Help me remember daily,

The faithful love of the LORD never ends!

His mercies never cease.

Great is His faithfulness;

His mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Irrational Love

I was reading in Luke 6 today, the Beatitudes. Pondering the wisdom to be found there. Jesus is surrounded by people who needed healing, people who wanted answers. People like us. They came in throngs. Jesus  spoke, addressing His disciples, yet within earshot of the crowd, and carefully explained the realities of life in God's Kingdom. This kingdom life is the new reality He came to bring us. In it, He replaces our sadness and heartache, our bankrupt souls (our physical, spiritual and emotional poverty), our hunger and our thirst, our questing and questioning, with the life we all yearn for. 

Some call it the great exchange. This exchange isn't an even one. He gives us everything. We only bring ourselves. Tattered, worn and broken as we are, we are invited to come. He declares the Kingdom of God is ours! Satisfaction. Laugher and joy. He says our reward in heaven is great. Yet it begins here and now; we only need to receive it and live it out. The Message version of Luke 12:29-32 puts it beautifully when Jesus says,

“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re My dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

Steeping ourselves in Him is the thing, because back to Luke 6, Jesus goes on and tells His disciples, to love and pray for our enemies. Of course this goes for His modern day followers too. Whoa. That's not easy. It seems a stark transition from the feel good beatitudes to loving our enemies.

But I think the transition is intentional. Operating out of His provision is the only way loving and praying for our enemies is possible. Joyful, satisfied, kingdom life is where we find it within ourselves to do this. Too often we try to do these things on our own. And on our own, even with the best of intentions, we soon loose steam and fail. 

Living His kingdom way, we understand more and more how deeply we are cherished, noticed, heard, seen, and loved by God. It slowly sinks in; we are beloved children of God. Knowing this, we have more capacity to extend this kind of irrational love even to our enemies. We give as we are given. Jesus set the example when He came, lived, and died for us when we didn't deserve it one bit. This is the kind of love the world sits up and takes notice of. This is the kind of love God's kingdom is characterized by.

I am reminded of John 15 where Jesus tells us He is the Vine we are to cling to, abide in. In order to accomplish anything, we must stay connected to Him, day by day. For me that begins with reading and praying through bits of the Bible, daily, so my heart and mind are reshaped, to help me grasp the greatness of God's love. This is the secret of kingdom living. God help me continue to cling to You, the Vine, my Savior in order to receive and then extend Your grace and love to those around me.