Love, the strongest thing...

Christmas... what a mixture of emotional thoughts... It comes each year but we all see and experience it differently. Yet, there is something about the birth of Jesus that moves us. It reaches the very depth of our soul. I think it is because it doesn't stop there. We watch Jesus, grow from a little baby lying in a manger to a young boy hanging out in the Jewish Synagogues. We watch Him work beside His earthly father as a carpenter and we see Him walk along the shores of Galilee calling His disciples to follow Him. We watch Him love and care for the sick and bring the dead back to life again. We look on as He gathers the little children on his lap and blesses each one. And we can only stand and gaze in agony as He takes my sin and yours, and the sins of the world upon Him as He carries His own cross to Golgatha.

It is hard to look at this tiny little baby and see Him nailed to a cross for us. But had he not given his life, there would be no celebration each year. It would just be an ordinary birth on an ordinary day. The sacrifice He made lives in our hearts today and is the reason we hold Christmas so dear to our hearts. It is the reason we give to the poor, we gather together, we are moved to acts of kindness not even thought about throughout the rest of the year. I believe it is the time of year that a lot of people experience the love of God.

But Satan is also aware of the impact it has on our lives. His trick is to have us so busy with all that has to be done, it puts us under great stress. We can be so busy with the preparations of Christmas that we miss what our heart wishes to celebrate. Hurt feelings, anxiety, anger, impatience, even self- centeredness and loneliness can blind us to seeing the glory of Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

We need to slow down, even skid to a stop if we need to and reflect and think on what is important to us. Really, the best gift we can give to anyone is the gift of Christ in our hearts, His love, His compassion, His mercy and His joy.

"Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world... stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death... and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas." Henry Van Dyke 1896

In His Arms

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

I have been pondering the word "faith" lately. It's seriously a huge word.

I've read of it more times than I can count or recall. I've claimed it, spoken of it and prayed for it. Sometimes I've felt overflowing with it....and other times....I've felt like I didn't have any.

And truthfully, I'm having a hard time writing about it. But the more I read God's Word, the more exciting it becomes, the more I want to know, the hungrier I feel inside my soul for Truth, and the more I realize how little I know about a lot of things, and in particular, about faith.

When I think back through all the heroes and heroines in the bible that I admire....each one had pretty much, one thing in common....Faith.

They let go of themselves...and took the hand of God.

Ephesians 6:16 says

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

1 Thessalonians 5:8 talks about....having put on the breastplate of faith

I couldn't help but think here about what the breastplate protects.

When life gets crazy...when we have conflicts and trials and stress...when relationships are struggling and there's not enough money to make ends meet...when sickness and death threaten us or those we love...when all seems hopeless....

We need to hold on to what we know is true...even though we may not be able to see it at the moment...We need to hold on to our faith. We must let go of ourselves or anyone else we're hanging on to and grab hold tight to the hand of God.

The evil one knows that faith is what protects are heart (I'm not talking about our eternal soul, saved by grace through Jesus Christ...I'm talking about what we believe) If we stop believing that God is who He says He is and that He can do and will do what He promises in his Word...we begin to lose heart...we begin to believe satan's lies to us...and we begin to lose faith in what we know is true. He attacks our faith...we doubt and lose hope.

The Bible is completely full of verses about faith...more than I can write. Story after story fills its pages of people that put their faith in God. When I allow my circumstances to flood my mind with all of the worries they tend to bring...I can lose sight of hope and goodness and joy.

In a picture the Lord gave me...it's like I am in a sinking boat filled to the brim with all of my fears, and worries and stresses. The wind is blowing and the waves are crashing all around me and water is pouring into the boat. But I am struggling, tossed to and fro, I can't keep my balance as I try to hold on to everything in the storm. Jesus is calling to me to jump out of the boat...his arms are open wide...I want to...but the waves look so rough and scary. I have no control over anything and some of my things in the boat have already washed over the side and fallen into the water.

Jesus keeps waiting for me...He is already saving some of the things that have fallen overboard...the water looks freezing and his boat looks so far away.

I look around me and let it go. The minute I jump into the swirling waves...He is there. His strong warm hands pull me up into the safety of his arms.

It is faith.

I just wouldn't want to be anywhere else but right there...in his arms.

Another little bit about paths...

(Interestingly, I had thought about writing this blog before I read Amity's blog from Friday. How often our paths cross!)

After a particularly trying day at work last week, God led me to Psalm 139 where he encouraged me with his love by reminding me that he not only knows everything about me, where I go, what I do, what I say, but that he knows it all beforehand, and that my days, every one of them - good and bad - were formed for me before they happened. His hand leads me and his right hand holds me. And like David, I say, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it." Which means for me - it is too wonderful for me to fully grasp. And I also say with him, "Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." My soul knows it very well. I have received abundantly the benefits of his wonderful works.

The last 2 verses are a prayer, I believe, for God to continue his work, to keep doing what he does as proclaimed in the preceding 22 verses. "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"

"The way everlasting" can also be translated, "the ancient way". David prays, "lead me in the ancient way!"

Jeremiah 6:16 let's us know what that is:

Thus says the LORD:"Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

David is asking to be lead in the way that is good, the paths of righteousness that he is familiar with as revealed in Psalm 23. The places of rest. He talks to himself about it also in Psalm 116:7, Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

It is God's desire for us that our souls will find rest, peace. Jesus said it, too: Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

The paths for our feet should lead us into rest for our souls. As Amity encouraged us to do, let's ponder our paths, be fully aware of them, and walk in the light. Knowing that the paths God leads us down will lead us to rest, contentment, and joy. That we may say, "Wonderful are your works, O God. My soul knows it very well."

Sometimes the wounds are as fresh as when it just happened. Other days it seems like a long time ago. I've been hurt by a woman who I called my friend. She said such nasty things to me in a moment where I needed her the most, a time where I leaned on her strength. I confided in her and trusted it was kept in confidence. The thing I came to know later is that all other people's information was being shared with me and never did it cross my mind that my "junk" was being shared and spread around church. In a time where my husband and I needed our caregroup to surround us and pray for our marriage and the postpardum depression I was going through, is when everyone pulled back and people at church would find ways to avoid us. We were judged based on rumors and it was a very painful time for our family to have our lives exposed and confidence broken.

Jesus knows what it means to be hurt, spat at, criticized, judged, and alone. If you look at his geneology you'll see that he didn't come from a perfect line of heritage but that God used people with broken lives filled with horrible sins to bring the Saviour into this world. We all have a history and our families have a history. Jesus understands all of it.

Jesus knows my pain. He knows my fears of becoming friends in a new community and getting plugged into a new church. For the past couple years we've attended a bigger church and it wasn't as important to get plugged in as we could sit comfortably in church, be fed, participate in worship. We grew so much in that time soaking in on God's truths. It was a safe place for our family to go... where we didn't need to meet people but could slip in and out each week without the major socialization. We had a handful of people that we would talk to every Sunday.

Now I'm in a different season in life. I'm in a small town. Small church. Close-knit community where everyone has their friends and family and here we come. I have to step out of my comfort zone when people come to talk to me at church. It's scary. What comforts me is that Jesus knows and feels all my pain and fears with me. He is the best friend I will ever have!

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.~ Proverbs 18:24

Many of you are walking a road where you feel alone too. You might have been hurt like I was and are in a similar place that I am. You might have been the person who walked away from someone when they needed you the most. I want to encourage you in this Christmas season and every day to trust Jesus with your heart. 1 Peter 5:7 says to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Jesus does care and understand. Let Him stand in the gap for you and be your shoulder when you need someone. He will never leave you or abandon you in your times of need. He is with you ALWAYS!

God bless you today.

Ponder the Path

With the beginning of the month of December, I'm reading the Proverb that correlates with each day. Since it's the 4th, I read Proverbs 4.

There's an interesting contrast that caught my attention in this chapter.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble. vs. 19
For the wicked it's dark, and they don't know what tripped them up. They don't have a clue, and maybe they don't even bother to figure it out.

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day. vs 18
Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. vs 26
Ponder the path of your feet; take heed to the path of your feet; watch the path of your feet; make level the path of your feet. These are all different translations of verse 26. Pondering the path of our feet is a conscious awareness and can lead to deliberate action. This is our responsibility. Since the path of the righteous - those who have received the righteousness of Christ - is full of light, we can be aware of our path.

We have the written word of God to bring light to our path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105

We have the Holy Spirit living in us, teaching us and leading us into all truth.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." John 14:16-17,26

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

Ponder the path and make level paths for your feet, my dear sisters. May His Word and His Spirit lead and guide you today in all you think, say and do.

A Christmas Blessing...

It was the week before Christmas... 1961. I sat on the steps in the hallway staring at the Christmas tree in the living room. Mama was not one to be particular about her tree. We children always helped decorate it though the ornaments were few. Using the same wrinkled tinsel year after year, excitedly throwing it all over the tree. But when Christmas was over and the tree came down, we took each strand and carefully packed it away.

Though my Daddy had a drinking problem, he always tried to make sure each child had a present under the tree. Somehow, though, I knew this Christmas was going to be different than any other we had known. Daddy was slowly recovering from a heart attack. Mama had taken us to the S & H Green Stamp store that day. Carefully counting her stamps to see what she could buy, she chose a bicycle, perfect for my younger brother. "He's little," she said. "He won't understand if he doesn't get anything for Christmas." And she found a small doll for my baby sister. We hardly had money to buy food. I knew she could not afford gifts for the rest of us. So, I sat on the steps thinking about what a bleak Christmas it was going to be. I was fourteen and trying hard to understand.

A knock on the door arrested my thoughts. We lived in a turn of the century home built in 1910. Little had been done to change its original appearance. When I opened the door, I was greeted by familiar faces, more to me, than to Mama. For two years, since we had moved there, I had walked to a little church about a half mile away. Standing in front of me were people who had told me about Jesus, about how much He loves us and how He cares about every part of our lives. They had boxes of food and gift certificates for each child. We could pick out whatever we wanted at J.C. Penny. I wanted to cry... God really did care. Mama took us shopping the next day. Mama even got money to buy things she needed. I bought new clothes to wear to our Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, I would not care if there was nothing else under the tree for me, I knew God loved me!

Mama never did attend that church, except on special occasions. But those people continued to demonstrate their love to her. When Daddy died eleven years ago, they continued to bring food boxes at Christmas and money for her house taxes. Over the years, her heart softened and at the age of seventy-nine, she gave her life to Jesus. Three years later, I was sitting by her bed when her hand slipped away from mine, as Jesus held the other and walked with her through the gates of heaven. I have watched God soften hearts as He softened Mama's. Not in our time, but His. Our God is faithful! May He bless you this Christmas season beyond your imagination! Each day, as you step outside your door and breathe in the cool winter air, may you know that His love for you is boundless... and His reward certain.

Where is Your Faith?

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!"

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?" Luke 8:22-25

I've often wondered about this story and Jesus' question to his disciples. What did he mean when he asked them, "Where is your faith?" Did he expect them to call out to God before they woke him up? "Why didn't you pray?" Maybe.

Did he expect them to believe that nothing bad would ever happen to them and that they would make it through the storm? Doubtful. It said they were in danger. It was real.

Was he mad at them for waking him up? Did he expect them to have faith to calm the storm? Don't think that's the case either. It was the wind and the raging waves he rebuked, not his disciples.

Was he frustrated that he had to rescue them...again? Get them out of a jam? I don't think his question was a reprimand or a scolding, and I don't think he was disappointed in them. God isn't like that. Like I said before, it was the wind and waves that received the rebuke.

I believe he was getting them to think. Times of crisis are good teaching opportunities. Where is your faith? What do you believe about me? Are you getting who I am? Apparently, up to that point, they weren't getting it, because they were afraid and marveled at the obedience of the winds and water. Maybe when they saw his authority over the natural realm, they started to get it then.

Anyway, I believe he asks us the same question now and then. In the midst of life, when good stuff happens and when the storm comes (particularly when the storms come), he asks us, Where is your faith? What do you believe about me? Do you know who I am? Are you getting it that I love you and will take care of you? That nothing is impossible for me?

Where is your faith today?