“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
-Colossians 1:16-17, NIV God isn’t Santa, He’s sovereign. But, we like to imagine Him as Santa. We desperately seek happiness and fulfillment. So, when something seems bad or a negative emotion arises, we try to run from it. Basically, the rule is this: If it’s bad it’s Satan. If it’s good it’s God/Santa. The reality is that bad things can happen and God can still be working them out for our good.
0 Comments
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.”
-Isaiah 11:1-5, NIV Our first Christmas season as a married couple, my husband and I lived in a snow globe. Out of our window in Aspen, CO, I would watch the dance of snowy, white dots before the evergreens while I listened to the rivers roar. While our view was picturesque, our studio apartment was not so dreamy. It was tiny. To give you some perspective, I cooked on a hot plate and washed our dishes in the bathroom sink because we had no kitchen. The only tree that would fit inside was basically a Charlie Brown tree. It was only about a foot tall and bent a little toward one side because I insisted it must have a little star on top, though it could barely hold the weight of it. As I started to place presents around our "tree," I found a clue to what God was up to when He created Christmas. 
“The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
-Luke 1:28, NIV Did you know that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a teenager? The Jewish tradition of that time was girls were married around 12 or 13 years old. It’s estimated by some scholars that Mary was probably between 13 and 14 when she gave birth to Jesus. Can you imagine God appearing to your teenage self? 
Do you know what Christmas color isn’t actually a happy color? Red.
There is a famous painting that is basically a giant red canvas which seems easy to take in or pass over. Yet, the artist's intent is that you stand up close to the canvas and be consumed by the red. We tend to look at our emotions this time of year like that giant red canvas; something we can take in at a distance but don’t actually have time to get up close and personal with. However, God, as the artist of emotion, intended for us to encounter the canvas of our Christmas and see what’s really below the surface. 
"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
-Luke 2:10-12, NIV When people see you, what do you think they see? All your accolades or accomplishments? A potential success or failure? A social status or label? When the angels first appeared, the shepherds freaked out. So, the angels validated God's words by saying, "And this will be a sign to you..." Sometimes, like the shepherds, we need proof that we actually play a great part in God's story and that His Word is true for us. Even though Jesus is no longer physically here lying in a manger, He is still present, living, and active on earth. So, how do we know God’s words are true for us? What is our sign?  There are more days I wake up already feeling behind the ball than on top of it. It’s as if, no matter how fast I move, time won’t slow down enough to allow me to catch up to it.
You get it. We’re busy women! We have families and kids and jobs and homes and to-do’s and chores and food and then…. we toss in Christmas. A season of light, laughter, families and memories that we’ll so easily rush through if….  This is an excerpt from "This Will Be a Sign to You" , December 15.
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:19, NIV I know. I know. I know. It seems impossible during the holidays. But, resist the rush. If I can do it, you can do it. As a recovering people pleaser, busy body, and control freak, “letting go and letting God” has been the absolute hardest thing for me. My tendency is to bust down doors instead of waiting for God to open them. It makes more sense to rush instead of rest. Really, this is a sin- gluttony. This is desiring it all more than longing for God. This is wanting Christmas to be on our terms rather than the way Jesus designed it. So, what is the true intent behind this season?  This is an excerpt from "This Will Be a Sign to You" , December 2.
“And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” -Luke 2:7, NIV There are several people mentioned in the Bible who completely missed out on the miracle of Jesus’ birth. Let’s start with the owner of the home Mary and Joseph stopped by while she was in labor. Jesus literally could have been born in his house and, because it was presumably already full, Mr. Homeowner sent them to the barn instead. Then there’s King Herod who, upon hearing a religious king was born, felt jealous instead of joyous and wiped out every boy baby in order to eliminate any perceived threat to his throne. This last one is the real shocker. The high priests and religious experts even missed God coming to earth. Despite knowing all the scriptures, prophecies, and exactly where Christ was to be born, they never even went to see if He had arrived. Who didn’t miss Jesus?  This is an excerpt from "This Will Be a Sign to You" , December 9.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6, NIV Jesus was born into the business of defying the odds. His job description has always been performing miracles in the meek and mild, glorifying the humble, and bending history in favor of those whom He loves. Present news headlines make us forget that we have a great God working in our ordinary lives. We dwell on seemingly impossible situations and lose our real hope. We see all the dark places in the world and become blind to the fact that we are the light. Maybe we forget for a second what the present world is trying to tell us and remember what Jesus has been telling the world for over two millennia... |
