Beholding...and Holding

One of my favorite things about Christmas is getting ready for it.  Getting out the boxes of decorations, placing each significant and memorable ornament on the tree, lighting up the house and inviting as many family and friends over as I can possibly pack into one season.

This year, as I was “getting ready,” I pulled out the nativity sets.  I probably have too many…for such a small house, nevertheless, I got them out….and one by one set them in place on as many shelves as I could find.  I have the one that I used to place under the tree when my children were little, a hand-made one that Jeremy brought back from Uganda, the Precious Moments that my Mom’s dear friend Brenda gave her, and the crystal one given to my Mom only by Aunt Jewel.   I had already declared this Christmas to be sacred and holy.  I had vowed not to be so caught up in the hustle-bustle that I would miss out on the awesome worship and focus on the Savior of the world.

As I placed the manger scenes all over the house, I began to picture myself as a character in the set.  I could see myself kneeling before the manger, adoring the baby Jesus.  Sometimes as I pray, I picture myself kneeling before the throne of Heaven, or at the foot of the cross, or simply at the feet of Jesus.  I like to picture myself right before Him.   But this year, it just didn’t seem to be enough to kneel at the manger.  I had the strange urge in my spirit to just reach out and pick up the baby Jesus and hold Him in my arms.  Pick Him up?!?  Isn’t that just a little too personal?  Maybe a little inappropriate….I mean, He is GOD.  Really?   Just even the thought of it….well… honestly, it just seems a little too intimate.

Exactly.  So this season, I dared to reach out for the untouchable.  I embraced the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.  The Christ.  I have sat by the manger, holding the baby.  Holding God.  I have looked into the innocent face of this infant child, the Christ, the Messiah, the hope of the world.  I have tried to wrap my mind around a God, with all power, wisdom and glory, who would allow Himself to be captured in a tiny body of flesh...A God who would become completely dependent on a human race who had already rejected, forgotten and turned from Him...A God who would leave a kingly throne to come to a lowly stable in a corrupt world and live out a plan including death on a cross so that we could be restored to our originally created purpose.   While my mind cannot conceive, my heart believes.  This baby I am holding is amazingly my Savior, my God. Not only will I touch the hem of His garment, I will gather the swaddling clothes near my heart.  I will hold Him, cling to Him, and rest my hope and my future in this tiny baby.  This amazing story, this little baby, has captured my heart this season.  “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we (I, personally,) beheld His glory…”  John 1:14a

Merry Christmas, 2011

In the beginning, God made a perfect world. Have you noticed how every detail of nature is carefully created and intricately formed to work together in a miraculous way? I am in awe of His creation, continuously amazed by the beauty and the flawless nature of His work. When I look at the sun, moon and stars, or the glorious beauty of a wintry sky; when I feel the velvety dew of falling snow, or get a tiny glimpse of the rolling mountains or the vastness of a splashing sea, I remember His sovereignty and greatness.
But even more astounding is this. When humanity marred God’s beautiful world by choosing sin over obedience, death over life, darkness over light…He still made a way. Only God could have come up with a plan to become one of us, so that he could save us. Sometimes I think it would be good if we would just pinch ourselves and realize what God has done for us. He became a vulnerable little baby, laying down his rights as God, to die for us.
God has redeemed the world. God has put into place “Plan B.” Only God can make the redemption of the original plan even more beautiful than the first. More than just creating good, God made something wonderful because of something bad. That is who God is….continuously redeeming His creation. He enters into our story wherever we open the door, and starts His amazing work of redemption. He has “Plan B, C, D, E”…..and on and on….until His work in us is complete.
“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” Isaiah 40:26
My prayer this Christmas is that we will lift our eyes above this world to heaven. May we allow the God who created the stars and called them each by name…to “redeem” our lives. May He call our name and enter or continue, wherever we are, replacing our story with His story, offering a second chance, a beautiful redemptive plan. God bless you and your family and your home this Christmas!

Passageway to New Life

Isaiah 43:19
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

My word for 2010 has been to "listen." Early in the year I felt God saying to me that He wanted me to take this year to seek Him, to approach Him with an ear rather than a voice, to simply listen for His voice and direction. During this time I have been reading through the Bible and wanting with all my heart to really recognize His voice when He speaks to me.

As I read through the New Testament, I paid particular attention to the very first things and the very last things Jesus did in His own ministry. As He entered in to His public ministry, the very first thing He did was be baptised by John in the Jordan River. Since I had not been baptised with water, I wanted to be baptised like Jesus was. Jonathan and Jeremy were both baptised during their Discipleship Training School in Australia, so I was drawn to the idea of being baptised while I was in Australia by Jonathan.

Looking back over my life, each 20 years was a season for me. The first 20 years, my springtime, was filled with health, hope and happiness. My parents and grandparents, my church, Bible School, friends and family poured a joyful flood of memories over my life which created a foundation, based and rooted in the Kingdom of God that has resulted in an unshakable faith. For me, following Christ as His disciple was as natural as breathing. "For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required" from Luke 12:48. I have been given so much and do not take lightly the responsibility that comes with such a priceless gift. Right before I turned 20 years old, Tom and I were married.

The next 20 years was summertime. Life was filled with pride, prosperity and promise for the future. I finished nursing school, Tom was called to preach, finished college and seminary, our ministry together was successful and fruitful, Jonathan, Christi Anna and Jeremy were born. Friendships were rich, home was heaven, life was good.

During autumn, the beginning of the third 20 years, things began to shatter. I entered into a season of falling, floundering, and failure. My marriage fell apart and my children had to endure the pain of a broken home, which resulted in distraction, disillusionment and disintegration. Through pain and brokenness, waivering children, illness of aging parents, I found myself regrouping, rebuilding and the redemption of a God who proved to be all He claimed He was--my rock and fortress, strong deliverer--His faithfulness brought the beauty of restoration back to my life. By the end of autumn, His healing had sustained me, brought my prodicals back home, and added the bonus and sheer delight of Michael, Keldy, Nolan, Josiah, and Zachary. God doesn't do anything halfway--He trumped the bonus by calling all of my children into ministry, anointing them with passion and mission to build His kingdom just before the benchmark of the season to come.

So now it's winter. Maybe this won't be my last 20 years, but the clock is ticking.
As I enter this final season, regardless how long or short, I enter with newness of life. May this season be one of fulfillment, fun and fruitfulness. May my life be anointed for service. May I be bold in my witness, a rock in faith and and encourager and mentor for those who follow. May I walk into new heights, fearlessly, obediently and with anticipation. May I enter in to His rest, the joy of my Lord, the light of my salvation. May I know no limits to His love, His favor, and may my borders be stretched to the ends of the earth for the sake of His Kingdom.

And it is with this heart that I receive my baptism...in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Worship with the Missionaries!

When you enter a room full of missionaries who have set aside time to worship God, you might want to bring a kleenex! Today was awesome. We began worship with an incredible worship band from the YWAM staff, one of which was my son, Jonathan! (Mom was proud!) Wow! They led us in an incredible time! Maybe because I have been in a basically traditional worship experience, or because I am from America, namely, the Bible-belt, or maybe just because I have had limited access to a whole congregation who has determined to give up their total existence for the cause of Christ, but what a freedom flowed through the entire worship experience!

As we sang, prayed and worshipped, the spirit of the Holy Presence met with us, pouring out His sweet fragrance over this offering of worship. As we listened, He spoke words of strength, encouragement and confidence with an unmistakable directive through mouths of obedient worshippers. Near the end of our time together, God called the men among us forth with leadership and the courageous force of a battle-cry. I was so encouraged and blessed to have this eye witnessed memory stamped in my mind and spirit forever!

In conclusion, we prayed for the approximately 50 new Discipleship Training students and interns who will be arriving within the next two weeks. How precious this time was. Thank you, God, for allowing me this awesome privilege today! Wish all of you back home to be here too! Here, it is so evident that the Kingdom of God is being built on earth as it is in Heaven!

My life is an INFLUENCE....is it a WITNESS or a WARNING?

Someone said that our lives are influence...that our lives will either be a witness or a waning.

My mother spent her life pouring herself into other people, thus becoming a witness to the incredible God she served.  Her witness especially kicked in when her grandchildren started to be distracted from our faith in God and started wondering away, she called in the troops!

She initiated Family Devotions on Wednesdays nights, calling us together in her home.  (That is after she & Daddy had already spent their effort into the midweek church service and the people there.) She then made special food, considering each of our particular "diets," spoke to us about what God was leading her to say, and then, to top it off, every week she wrote a poem, reiterating her points! That resulted in 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren sold out to God and to His ministry on earth! Let that be a lesson to all of us Moms! Never give up on praying for our families and follow God's leadings, even when it is uncomfortable. Be bold and courageous and passionate about passing the faith to our children...no matter what the cost!

My Mom is receiving her reward in Heaven now for the treasures she laid up there! In perspective, can you imagine that she is glad she spent her time and energy that way?

I want to be a Mother and Grandmother, just like that!