For awhile I've been praying to God that this would be the best Christmas ever. I've had a lot of reasons to think it might not: we weren't going home, my older kids wouldn't be with us, we'd be missing our families, we had no money until quite recently to buy anything at all as far as presents, we're living in a foreign country where everything is so very different from home. . . and more. In addition our country, and the one we're living in are experiencing unprecedented problems: rising crime, rising unemployment rates, financial problems and more. So you can see my prayer for a wonderful Christmas is really a pretty practical one.
Something happened though that I find real interesting: God answered. But not in the way I thought He should answer--He didn't send my boys to visit me, He didn't send us home unexpectedly, or create world peace, or even peace in my neighborhood, and while He did send a bit of money so we could have a Christmas He didn't send boatloads. But, what He did do is all the more significant. He reminded me of where I am. And, He did that by reminding me where I was.
You see for many years I didn't know the Lord. I wasn't a terrible person, like some might think, but instead I just lived my life as I wanted to, thinking that I knew best how to make myself happy. And, for all of those years I had pretty good Christmases. For the most part I had sufficient money, I have a wonderful family, and Christmas for us was a time of "peace on earth," even if not in the wider world around us.
But all those years too there was something lacking--a sense that there was more to this than a wonderful family, nice presents, and the fun of watching my kids open their gifts.
And, finally about 10 years ago I found what I was lacking--Jesus Christ. And, that made all the difference in the world. And, not just the Jesus Christ that is found in Luke 2--the babe in the manger that even those in our country that have never stepped into a church could tell you about. But, Jesus who IS GOD WITH US. Jesus who cared enough about me and my sin problem, to come to earth and sacrifice Himself as the only sacrifice that was sufficient for my sins. And in doing that offered me peace with God, adoption into God's family, all the rights and privileges that come from being God's daughter, and not only that but has given me the right to crawl up in God's lap (figuratively speaking) and call Him daddy!
And, for me at least, that changed my life radically! I know that every single day I can walk with Him and come to know Him and His will more and more. And, for me Christmas is so different than it's ever been before. Oh I still enjoy the presents, a wonderful family, time spent with both family and friends, but too I enjoy the daily presence of knowing God and walking in His presence.
So, this Christmas, the present God gave me is so much bigger than anything I could have imagined. And He didn't do it through having a wonderful Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, a tree complete with all the gifts we'd want, and a family that's perfectly dressed in their matching Christmas outfits and perfectly behaved. Rather He did it by giving me Himself.
I say it again, what an amazing God we have!!!! And Merry Christmas all!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Rejoicing in God Today
Today I'm rejoicing in a God who saw fit to humble Himself to come in the form of a baby, in a most humble birth--rejected by potential family members who could have offered Mary and Joseph hospitality, rejected by the secular leaders who were saving their best spaces for the "important" people, rejected by humble people because they had no time, energy, or money, and relegated to being born in a barn among the stinky animals. I also rejoice we have a God who was first announced to the most humble of people--shepherds rather than to kings, wise men, or even the middle class inn keepers. I rejoice that those same shepherds, humble though they may be felt like they could come to praise Him.
I"m grateful that we have a God who consented to live like I live--simply, suffering the normal things that men suffer, being tempted with sin, and in short doing all I as a human do (except sin) . And, yet, never once lost or forgot who He was.
I'm grateful that that same God is the God of the universe--He who spoke and the world came into existence. He who has all power, and upholds the world by the Word of His mouth. That same God created a wide variety of things for me to enjoy (and a few I don't enjoy too). He created a million varieties of flowers, from ones so small I can't hardly see them, to the sunflower as big as a plate (and maybe there's bigger ones but I haven't seen those yet). He created them in every color of the rainbow. He created foods that awe my tastebuds. From spicy hot, to sweet sweet, and every other flavor in between. He created animals, and insects that awe me in their complexity. He created rocks and mountains, waterfalls, and seashores. He created sunsets that flame in red, orange, blue and purple, sunrises that the whole world stands quiet to watch.
This same God knew me before I was born--He planned me and gave me certain abilities, and certain disabilities so I'd learn to trust Him more. He planned every part of me from the hair on my head, to the way my feet wrinkle. He knew how I'd turn out, because He planned me, and He planned for me to be special and unique among His creation, just as He planned each of you to be special and unique.
This is the God I've come to know, a God who has control of EVERYTHING that goes on--from the bad stuff, to the good stuff. From earthquakes, to the birth of a baby--none of it goes on without Him allowing it. And, this very God is He who consented to come and live among us, to be one of us--born in the most humble manner possible, living a remarkable normal life, and dying a death among thieves.
What an amazing God!
And, what's even more amazing, is that this same God chose me--I don't have any idea why, I certainly didn't and don't deserve it. But, this God chose me and adopted me, and gives me every right and priviledge that He gives His own son. He chooses to forgive my sin. He chooses to grant me the right to be in His presence. He chooses to send His ever present Spirit to live in me, to lead and guide me, to indeed be my life. And, all I can say is praise be to God! He alone is worthy! And, this same God has planted me among the body of believers to learn from each of them, and to love them, and to learn certain lessons--how I thank God for each of you my brothers and sisters.
And, all of this God did because He loved me. Is that amazing or what?
I"m grateful that we have a God who consented to live like I live--simply, suffering the normal things that men suffer, being tempted with sin, and in short doing all I as a human do (except sin) . And, yet, never once lost or forgot who He was.
I'm grateful that that same God is the God of the universe--He who spoke and the world came into existence. He who has all power, and upholds the world by the Word of His mouth. That same God created a wide variety of things for me to enjoy (and a few I don't enjoy too). He created a million varieties of flowers, from ones so small I can't hardly see them, to the sunflower as big as a plate (and maybe there's bigger ones but I haven't seen those yet). He created them in every color of the rainbow. He created foods that awe my tastebuds. From spicy hot, to sweet sweet, and every other flavor in between. He created animals, and insects that awe me in their complexity. He created rocks and mountains, waterfalls, and seashores. He created sunsets that flame in red, orange, blue and purple, sunrises that the whole world stands quiet to watch.
This same God knew me before I was born--He planned me and gave me certain abilities, and certain disabilities so I'd learn to trust Him more. He planned every part of me from the hair on my head, to the way my feet wrinkle. He knew how I'd turn out, because He planned me, and He planned for me to be special and unique among His creation, just as He planned each of you to be special and unique.
This is the God I've come to know, a God who has control of EVERYTHING that goes on--from the bad stuff, to the good stuff. From earthquakes, to the birth of a baby--none of it goes on without Him allowing it. And, this very God is He who consented to come and live among us, to be one of us--born in the most humble manner possible, living a remarkable normal life, and dying a death among thieves.
What an amazing God!
And, what's even more amazing, is that this same God chose me--I don't have any idea why, I certainly didn't and don't deserve it. But, this God chose me and adopted me, and gives me every right and priviledge that He gives His own son. He chooses to forgive my sin. He chooses to grant me the right to be in His presence. He chooses to send His ever present Spirit to live in me, to lead and guide me, to indeed be my life. And, all I can say is praise be to God! He alone is worthy! And, this same God has planted me among the body of believers to learn from each of them, and to love them, and to learn certain lessons--how I thank God for each of you my brothers and sisters.
And, all of this God did because He loved me. Is that amazing or what?
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