Immanuel: All He ever wanted was to be God with us

Christmas isn’t about Santa, $5 gift exchanges at endless holiday parties, and elaborate trays of special cookies and candies.

I think we all know that.

Christmas isn’t about family either, though. It’s isn’t the blessing of being together with loved ones. It’s not a child’s eyes as she bursts into the living room on Christmas morning. It’s not dinner around the table with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

I’m not sure we all know that, though.

Perhaps that’s why the holidays disappoint for many year after year. We dread that one relative that will point out everything wrong in our family relationships. We stress over the one child who eagerly tears open the gift only to be upset he didn’t get what he wanted. We worry the table may not look like the pictures on Pinterest. We remember the family members who aren’t with us as bitterness and unforgiveness have pulled us apart.

We invest a lot of time, money, and energy trying to find fulfillment in areas that can’t fulfill. We place expectations on people and situations that can’t live up to them.

So What’s the Point?

Enjoy the blessings of Christmas – the joy of giving, the comfort of a special meal, the connection of beloved family members. You can enjoy these moments when you don’t enter the holiday expecting them to fulfill your dreams of a magical holiday.

We find the joy, the comfort, the connection, and the abundance of blessings when we focus first on Christmas as seen in one biblical word – Immanuel.

 

Immanuel

It’s a Hebrew word only used a few times in the whole Bible. God inspired Isaiah to call the awaited Messiah by the name Immanuel. Later, Matthew confirmed the fulfillment of the prophecy in his gospel when he wrote of Mary’s baby, Jesus. Matthew wrote, “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel” (Matthew 1:22-23).

Immanuel; it translates to English as “God with us.” Hebrew is a pictorial language so sometimes we can see another level of significance in the letter pictures the ancient Hebrews used to form the words. This one has given me reason to sit and reflect as I write this article. The Hebrew shows pictures of a God who experienced chaos, life, and nails. Wow.

You see, God was in heaven enjoying the glory of ultimate, sinless beauty and perfection. Yet, He chose to leave that place of divine triune intimacy and experience the chaos of a world thrown out of whack by sin. He chose to experience life. The experience of life meant He would also experience death because of the permeation of that same sin corruption. He chose to experience the nails pierced through His hands and feet because of the condemnation of sin. He chose to be God with us in the midst of all of our chaos, sin, pain, life, and death.

God with us

That had been the plan all along, though. In the beginning, the plan of God with us didn’t include the chaos, death, and nails brought in by sin. In the beginning, He was God with us in a perfect garden free from the destruction of sin. It was there that God walked with Adam and Eve as they experienced relationship together. However, what was a place of peaceful interaction became a place of fear and hiding as Adam and Eve chose the pleasure of a sinful moment (Genesis 3:8). From the beginning, God desired to be God with us. We blew it.

So God inspired Isaiah to write that the Son of the virgin would be Immanuel. That way He could be God with us once again. Even if being God with us meant joining us in our own chaotic mess of life to experience the nails.

He became God with us in our mess to restore the peaceful interaction of our former garden relationship; to create the opportunity for that relationship once again in the glory of eternity. He became God with us to experience our chaos so that one day we will experience “God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).

God experienced the chaos, life, and death of the nails so that we wouldn’t have too. He experienced them so that He might remove them from our lives and someday wipe away our tears, grief, and pain. He became God with us so He could be the fulfillment of all our hopes and expectations.

“The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Joy to the World: Finding Christ in the songs of Christmas

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can come out of the closet. I can admit the truth to people besides my daughters who were guilty accomplices right along with me.

Here it is – the Christmas music started early in our house this year. The first Christmas carol rang out from our iTunes Christmas playlist at least two weeks before we roasted the Thanksgiving turkey.

I worked around the house one day while “Silent Night” lulled out through the speakers. The second verse caught my attention – especially the last line of the verse.

How many times have we sung these words penned centuries ago? So many times, perhaps, that their power now falls on desensitized ears. The Christ – the Savior of our souls – is born! Four thousand years of prophesied waiting climaxed in the cry of a newborn baby!

I decided it’s ok to listen to Christmas songs early. Geez, listen all year if you want. These are some of the greatest praise and worship songs ever written! Why limit them to a couple weeks of the year?

“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel…” along with those of us who are adopted in as children of Abraham.

“Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free…” for we long to live set free from sin – to live free in relationship with You.

“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head…” Creator of the universe – humbled in a manger. The Word made Flesh – limited to the cries of a newborn.

“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant…” for we have fallen so far away from the life of joy and triumph promised to the faithful.

“Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King: Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled...’” because right now as always, we need to know your peace. We need to see sinners reconciled with holy God as only Jesus can do so they too may know peace.

And my personal favorite,

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come: Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room” for we need to receive Him more than any other gift this holiday season. He came – He gave all so that we might finally find the joy that nothing else in cursed creation can offer us.

Keep Going: Not giving up when we mess up

Children stood in a curved line on a festively decorated stage. Boys looked dashing in their dress pants and button up shirts; girls sparkled in satin, glitter, and lace. Many hours of practice had brought them to this point…lyrics and melodies had been learned, lines of dialogue had been memorized. Now the performance of their Christmas musical was here.

As the concert progressed, the time came for one adorable little girl to step up to the microphone and deliver her line. She held back, bashful and shy to step forward. The director coaxed her forward; she hesitantly took two tiny baby steps. The director whispered her first few words to help her start. Looking ever so coy, she hesitantly let the words come from her mouth.

“Glory to God in the highest…”

Her face started to crumple as fear revealed itself in her eyes.

“…and on…earth…peace…”

Her precious face scrunched up into a full-fledged cry as fear overwhelmed her. She never finished, “…to men on whom His favor rests.”

Our pastor, watching from the front pew, was the closest adult. He hurried on to the stage, rescued the terrified girl, and took her to sit with him in the pew. Within moments, her mama had made her way to the front of the sanctuary to finish the rescue of the poor girl.

Meanwhile, the director offered words of comfort from afar and helped the rest of the young children continue with the next song. For a moment, the whole choir appeared as if they might burst out in tears. Under calm leadership, however, they kept it together and started singing Angels We Have Heard on High.  

She wasn’t the only one who faced adversity during that performance. As I watched – entranced by the simple beauty of their performance, amazed by their strength to continue on – I thought about all the things we as adults could learn from these children.

Sometimes we get scared

This story of the little girl reminds us that we all get scared sometimes. Situations, opportunities, and problems loom in front of us with every bit as much intimidation as an audience awaiting a memorized line. We get scared. We need the comfort of a familiar friend and the confident leadership of a director to keep our show going.

Sometimes we don't know what to do

While some of the older kids knew to sing their songs and recite their lines, some of the younger kids only stood there throughout the performance. They did a fabulous job at being cute. But when a situation, opportunity, or problem is new to us, we stand there like the kids. We don’t know what to do. We need the example of someone who’s been there a few times to keep our show going.

Sometimes we mess up

Even as an older child, one little boy messed up on his solo in one song. Can’t really blame him, though – even the director messed up on the lyrics she lip-synced along to help him keep on track. It doesn’t matter if our experience in the show is a few years or a few decades, we all mess up situations, opportunities, or problems sometimes. We need the grace to say, “Sorry, I messed up. Let’s try that again from the beginning” so we can keep our show going.

And that’s the point

We keep going. Our life isn't a show; it's real. Part of the reality of it is we don’t give up. All of us as God’s children work together providing comfort, leadership, a positive example, and grace until He returns and says we're done.

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5). 
 

Because of Love, He did It

One of my favorite Christmas stories has nothing to do with Christmas.

July was hot and humid in Tennessee the summer I was sixteen years old. I had traveled there with my youth group for my first short term mission trip. I knew the coordinating organization would assign each of us to a separate group to do light construction and repairs on low-income housing.

The first night I met my group; the next morning we headed out to our assignment. Life was changed.

Our assignment was a single man in his 40’s or 50’s. He lived in a garage haphazardly converted into three rooms. The front room was trashed – no sheetrock, concrete floors, junk everywhere. The junk included a toilet which the man used, despite the lack of plumbing attached underneath. The back half was divided into two rooms. The first one, despite the filth, wasn’t too bad with a couch and console TV in it. The second one, the man’s bedroom, was a pornography pit. I’m not going to describe what was on those walls. I wish the images weren’t in my head and I’m not going to try to create them in your head.

We decided to begin our work in the bedroom. We quickly removed the pictures from the walls, each of us wishing we could destroy them but knowing we couldn’t destroy the man’s property. The room only needed minor repairs so we finished it that first day. Most of our week would be spent sheet rocking the front room (remember – the one with the toilet?). Even though we knew we couldn’t destroy the filth on the walls, we knew we didn’t have to hang it back up again either. So we didn’t.

Each person on our team had a specific job duty; mine was leading the devotional time each day. The coordinating organization had provided resources for me to use. They told us to invite the people at our work site to join us for the devotional time. Our man, however, left every morning as soon as we arrived and didn’t return until after we were done. He didn’t have a job so I’m not sure where he went; I think he just didn’t want to be with us.

Sometime during the middle of the week our devotional message focused on the birth of Jesus Christ. It included a little cardstock nativity scene for us to assemble and give to the people in whose home we were working. I admit it; I was a little embarrassed. This was nothing nice – it reminded me of something I would have made in Sunday school as a young child. Insert tab A into slot A; insert tab B into slot B. This day I was a little relieved our man wasn’t there. I could leave the nativity in his bedroom and not have the embarrassment of giving him our “gift.”

I entered the bedroom cautiously. We hadn’t worked in there for a couple of days so I didn’t know if he had rehung his pictures. Peeked in…all was good. I entered and left the nativity on a shelf by his bed.

A couple more days passed and we wrapped up our last workday. The toilet had been removed, sheet rock had been hung, and walls had been painted. The front room wasn’t too bad of a place now. I gathered my tools and realized I couldn’t find my hammer. Everyone looked through their tools – no hammer to be found. Looked in the van – no hammer. I knew my dad was going to want me to return home with his hammer.

I knew where the hammer was. I knew I had left it in one of the back rooms. I knew I had to go back in to find it. I looked in the first room – no hammer. Two more days had passed – would the pictures be back on the walls? I looked in the second room. Three things now lay on the shelf where I had left the nativity scene. The first was the missing hammer but that’s not what changed my life. The second was a Bible lying right beside the third item – our nativity scene gift. The nativity had been reinforced with tape; someone had obviously taken care to make sure tab A stayed in slot A and tab B didn’t tear out of slot B. More than that, rather than rehang the filth of before, our man had found a Bible to read about that cardstock Baby in that cardstock manger.

Lots of things came together in my mind in that moment as I looked at the reinforced nativity aside the Holy Word of God.

I should never be embarrassed by the simplicity of God’s gift.

I should never assume anyone is too far down for God to pull them out of a pit.

God has the power to use anything to change a heart.

Even at 16 I realized - Serving God may take me into some filthy, disgusting places. It’s worth it.

Now this next part I don’t think I realized then, but I do now. God may call us into some filthy, disgusting places but it’s only because He first descended into a filthy, disgusting place. Think of the glories He beheld in heaven’s eternity past – do you think the manure and stench of the stable compared? Consider the light and sinless perfection in the presence of the Father – do you think the darkness of sin in the presence of mankind was anywhere near as brilliant?

And yet, because of love, He did it.

Read more at:

• From Deity to Death
• So What?
• Cleaning off the Dirt

From Deity to Death: Jesus 8 Steps Down

So What? has been a popular article on this blog. It compares Jesus’ act of washing His disciples’ feet with Philippians 2:5-11. So, when my pastor preached an incredible sermon a few weeks ago on this same passage, I knew I had to get his permission to pass his message along to you! (If you haven’t read So What? – you might want to; you can do so by clicking here. Don’t worry, we’ll wait.)

His sermon, From Deity to Death, went through eight steps Jesus took in descending from His glory in heaven to His death on the cross. Although this sounds like it might make a good Easter sermon, our study of the book of Philippians brought us to this passage in mid-December – a time when the birth of Christ was forefront in my mind. This different holiday perspective led me to text our pastor later, “The step from deity to humanity was a greater descent than that from humanity to crucifixion.”

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God…” (Phil. 2:5-6)

Jesus let go of His equality with God

“…did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,” (Phil. 2:6)

Jesus is the second person of the Godhead but He didn’t hold on tightly to what was His. All the glories of heaven were rightfully His and yet, He released them.

Jesus was our example to let go of our rights.

Jesus emptied Himself of who He was

“but made himself nothing” (Phil 2:7)

Jesus emptied Himself of any personal advantages or privileges entitled to the Son of God. He nullified His position and His power. Yes, He cleansed, healed, and performed miracles – but always in reference to the will of the Father.

He emptied Himself of His glory, the benefits of His attributes, and His position; He was now despised rather than glorified. He emptied Himself of honor, adoration, and eternal intimacy with the Father.

Jesus was our example to empty ourselves of what we think is due us.

Jesus took on the form of a servant

“taking the very nature of a servant,” (Phil 2:7)

Jesus became a slave, a bond servant in every sense of the word. He owned nothing – no land, no house, no animals. Even at His death, everything was borrowed. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45.

Jesus was our example of humility; He Himself said, “no servant is greater than His master” (John 13:16). Let me add something here – Jesus said those words as He washed the disciples’ feet. So What? See how once again these two passages are fitting together?

Jesus was made in the likeness of a man

“being made in human likeness.” (Phil. 2:7)

The Creator and King of kings took His place among common man. He wasn’t given, nor did He allow Himself to receive any special treatment. In the beginning, Creator God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26). However, sin entered the world. In order to provide redemption, God instead was now made in the likeness of a man.

Jesus was our example to sacrifice for others.

Jesus appeared as a man

“And being found in appearance as a man,” (Phil 2:8)

Jesus became 100% man. So thorough was His humanity that, apart from the declaration of angels, the Father, and Jesus Himself, those around Him wouldn’t have known that He was God in the flesh. Jesus appeared as a normal, regular person.

The King of kings – the Lord of lords – God in the flesh suffered. He wasn’t rugged and handsome; nor was He royal and kingly looking. He was unknown and rejected. Few realized that He was different.

Jesus’ success wasn’t about beauty, fame, power, fashion, or money. His number of followers didn’t even determine His success. His accomplishment of the task for which the Father had sent Him determined His success.

Jesus was our example that obedience to God is our definition of success. Our success is not about our appearance and how others perceive us. We don’t have to have special insight, a large following, glory, or money. We base our success on how God perceives us.

Jesus humbled Himself

“he humbled himself” (Phil. 2:8)

God became flesh, common man, unrecognized by almost all – but that wasn’t enough. Jesus humbled Himself; literally, He laid low.

In our early steps, Jesus lowered Himself in relation to God as He let go of His equality with God and emptied Himself of who He was. Now we see that He lowered Himself in relation to mankind – people whom He had created!

The peak of Jesus laying Himself low was during the latter days of His ministry – His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Those He had created mocked Him, falsely accused Him, spit upon Him, beat Him, and scourged Him. They left Him naked and bloody.

Yet, He never defended Himself, never expressed bitterness, and never accused. He actually prayed for them. He didn’t demand His rights as God; He didn’t even demand His rights as a man.

Jesus was our example to lay ourselves low when others rise up against us.

Jesus obeyed unto death

“and became obedient to death” Phil. 2:8

Romans 5:19 says, “through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” Jesus is the only one who will die solely because of His attitude of obedience. You and I will die whether we’re obedient or not, but not Jesus. The only reason He died was because of obedience.

He came to do His Father’s will – the theme of His life. Jesus chose obedience unto death because it was the will of the Father. Before His arrest, Jesus said, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” (John 10:17-18).

Jesus was our example of obedience – even in extreme situations.

Jesus died on a cross

“—even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8)

John the Baptist was beheaded, Steven was stoned, and Jesus could have died one of many different ways. But His way was the death of the cross. The death reserved for slaves, the lowest of criminals, and enemies of Rome.

Jesus became a curse because of the type of death He endured; “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13)

Crucifixion was a physical torment unlike any other. Jesus’ crucifixion was a mental torment as His people rejected Him. His was a spiritual torment as the Father forsook him. Jesus final step of humility was to be mistreated unmercifully.

Jesus was our example – not to allow ourselves to be mistreated by others for no apparent reason – but rather, that “it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:19-21).

_______________________________________ 
Eight Steps used by permission of Jerry Tharp (adapted from John MacArthur Commentary Series)

He will be Called

Wonderful Counselor

Jesus established a plan – a course of action. He will carry it through to completion. That plan is marvelous and wonderful; however, it is also hard, difficult to understand, and beyond our power.

“…establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever” Isaiah 9:9.

 

Mighty God

Jesus is the divine warrior. Even born as a baby, the end had been determined. As God among many gods, Jesus will be the One standing strong, valiant, and victorious in the end.

“He will reign…over his kingdom” Isaiah 9:8b.

 

Eternal Father

Jesus is our Father forever. The father provides for and protects his children. Jesus provides our every need but He also provided our ultimate need – eternal salvation. He protects our every moment but He will also protect our final moment – as judgment determines that we may enter eternity with Him.

“He will reign on David’s throne” Isaiah 9:8a.

 

Prince of Peace

Jesus brings peace. A prince mediates, reconciles, and communicates between those beneath him and the one above him. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, mediated a new covenant; He reconciled sinful man before Holy God.

“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end” Isaiah 9:7.

From all of us at Grow Barefoot, our wish for your holiday season is that you may know the Baby whose holy birth we celebrate.

May the

• Surety of His established plan
• Absoluteness of His final victory
• Guarantee of His protection and provision
• Promise of His peace before Holy God

bring you comfort both now and throughout the coming new year.

Born to Die; Died to Live

“Mom, do you like Christmas or Easter better?” My daughter asked me this question out of the blue the other day.

I told her I couldn’t pick one or the other.

“Why not?”

“Without Easter, Christmas is just another baby born in a small, crowded town 2,000 years ago. Without Christmas, Easter is just another Roman crucifixion.”

 

Every prophecy, every miracle, every word of the Word made flesh. It all comes together in one Life – in one Man. It’s one story - the whole story.

And besides, maybe the question should be, “Do you like Hanukkah or Passover better?” 

But that’s another story…

God's Word - Feast or Famine?

Thanksgiving… Christmas… This time of year abounds in many ways. Food overflows on the tables, lights abound on most homes and buildings, shoppers crowd into the stores, gifts pile high beneath and around the tree. Hopefully, friends and family abound in their wishes of “Happy Thanksgiving” and “Merry Christmas.”

No doubt these are an abundance of blessings for which to be thankful.

That’s not how we live our real lives though. In the remaining eleven months of the year we live fairly steady, consistent lives. In my life, no meal all year compares to the feast at Thanksgiving. Not even my birthday celebration compares to the abundance of presents on Christmas morning.

I think many of us have fallen into the habit of studying God’s Word like we celebrate the holidays. We do so in abundance for a short time; we feast on His Word and savor each bite. Then, we stop. Bible study becomes about as frequent as a non-Thanksgiving feast or a Christmas-less pile of presents.

Many studies focus intently for a short time – maybe 12-, 10-, or only 5- weeks. God never intended for us to study abundantly for a few weeks and then be done for several months. The authors of today’s studies probably don’t intend them to be used that way either.

I’m reminded of my mom who accepted Christ as her Savior as a young adult. She joined a weekly Bible study that met every Tuesday morning. Each week an older woman taught the truths of God’s word to this group of women. Regular Bible study became a part of my mom’s life; by the time she passed away, she herself had helped many other women grow in their faith. A steady, consistent diet of God’s Word transformed her life.

We can learn and grow from a once-a-year binge on God's Word. His Word has the power to make that happen. It's not the best way, however. I encourage you as a new year looms around the corner - find a way to make steady, consistent Bible study part of your daily diet

Thank You Too Much

"One of them when he saw he was healed came back, praising God in a loud voice. ,

He threw himself at Jesus feet and thanked him."

(Luke 17:15-16)

The power of a grateful heart has pressed into me several times today.

I spent the morning helping at the milk clinic here at the orphanage. The milk clinic is a ministry to those in the area that are unable to provide milk or formula for children in their care. Perhaps the child's mother passed away or they are simply unable to feed the baby due to sickness or poverty; despite the reason, parents and caregivers can come to the clinic for help. Offered every other week, the clinic weighs the child, offers a brief medical assessment, provides clean clothing as needed, milk or formula for the child, and sometimes food for the family. Late morning, we wrapped up our time in the clinic and started to head back to the main house. A young woman with a small boy stopped us. The clinic had cared for the boy as a baby, probably saving him from becoming another statistic of infant death in a third world country. As they explained their story, we realized they weren't there for food or free clothing. They had come back to simply say thank you.

After a yummy lunch for which I was thankful, we hosted the Christmas party for the children. True thankfulness and generosity glowed in the eyes of many of the children as they opened their shoeboxes. After the presents were stowed away under their bunks, the party ended with a special treat of popcorn and chocolate cake. As three of the girls sat eating, they kept telling Poppy, their affectionate name for the husband half of the couple who runs the orphanage, "Thank you too much!"

A third story of the day, a third story of thankfulness. Between the clinic and the party, Jennifer, or Mommy, had the blessing of cutting a little girl's hair. This may seem like more of a chore than a blessing but this particular haircut removed a certain type of dreadlocks which symbolized her family's involvement in voodoo. Her parents accepted Christ several months ago and, after months of spiritual growth and teaching, were ready to have the dreads removed. The message of God's salvation and the possibility of transformation is the greatest reason for our thankfulness.

We easily develop an attitude of expectation rather than gratitude in a life of ease and abundance. When we experience need at the life-or-death level, gratitude flows much more easily. Especially when the life or death is spiritual.

A Simple Silent Night: Letting go of what holds you back

Two days before Christmas our pastor called to ask if our daughter would play the piano for church on Christmas morning. Somewhat surprised, but knowing she had a few Christmas carols in her musical repertoire, my husband agreed. She's only six years old and is not an accomplished pianist. In fact, she has only taken lessons for a few months. Despite her inexperience, she nonchalantly agreed to play. On Christmas morning, she seated her small frame in front of the grand piano and simply yet beautifully played “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night.”

 

Around a month ago, she received a book of Level One Christmas carols. Born with a passion for music, she diligently began to learn every song in the book. She never expected to play for anyone besides us and her piano teacher but that didn’t matter. She loves to play; therefore, she practiced her carols every day. It reminds me of what God wants with us. He wants us to get to know Him and His Word everyday simply because we love Him – not so we can look good when we spiritually perform for others. When we grow in Him just because we love Him, we become someone He can use at unexpected, impromptu opportunities. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

The pews full of watching eyes, the imposing grandeur of the piano, and the expectant silence of the room could have all scared my daughter into not playing her songs, not doing what we asked her to do. I have felt this way so many times. The voice inside my head says, “You can’t teach. What business do you have trying to explain the Word of God?” Or, “You can’t speak. People will be bored with what you have to say.” Or, “You can’t write. Everyone will be critical of the words you type.” At those times I have to recognize the true enemy, face the giants of fear and rejection, and do what God has called me to do, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Like I said, my daughter isn’t an accomplished pianist. Her song was simple. So often, we feel we can’t serve because we aren’t the most perfect, the most accomplished. I call this the “Martha Stewart syndrome.” We can’t have people over for coffee because our house isn’t adequate. We can’t teach a class because we’ve never done it before. We can’t serve on a mission trip because we don’t have all the training as would a real missionary. God calls us to those things, and countless others, not because we are so perfect at them but because through our weakness He is glorified. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me…For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

This holiday season and throughout the upcoming year, may you find…

…the joy of getting to know God just because you love Him.

…the courage to complete your call even in the midst of fearful attacks.

…the grace to serve as you are so God may be glorified.

 

Wake Up: Time is passing fast

My husband’s alarm barely awakened me at 5:55am. He headed into the bathroom to get dressed, brush the teeth, and comb the hair while I stayed in a semi-conscious state. It seemed I laid there for hours before I was aware of him coming out of the bathroom to head to the kitchen and make his lunch. Wondering why it took him so long, I looked at the clock. It was only 6:05. Only ten minutes? We have such a warped sense of time in that state between sound asleep and fully awake.

Some mornings I am still in that semi-conscious state when he tells me good-bye before leaving for work. In the past he has asked me to do something that day or told me something about his day that I have no recollection of later. I may even verbally respond to what he says, but my brain never processes the information as I nod off back to sleep.

 

In that semi-conscious state between sleep and alert we have a distorted view of reality. I may say or hear things I don’t remember later. Hours may seem minutes and minutes may seem hours. It’s a hazy place to be.

Sadly, some Christians are in a semi-conscious state spiritually – not quite asleep and not quite awake. We may experience a distorted view of reality. We read books and hear messages but our brains never process the truth presented. We don’t allow the message to change our behaviors. We approach the church and Christianity in that same foggy state.

 

Throw back the covers and get out of bed! We need to wake up! I don’t know how much longer we have to minister to others and share the Word of God but I’m afraid that in our semi-conscious state we may think we have hours when in reality we only have a few minutes.
 

“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12).

As I was writing this, I remembered an old Casting Crowns Christmas song, "While You Were Sleeping."
 

Do You See the Miracle?

The birth of a child is a miraculous, life-changing event. At the same time, births happen every day, all over the world. They have since the beginning of time.

One birth, however, was miraculous on a scale that the world had never seen before and hasn’t seen since. Although many miracles surrounded the birth of Jesus, this verse from Isaiah points to an aspect of His birth that is unique to Him alone.

A child is born. 

In Hebrew, child is yeled which means “child, son, boy, offspring, youth.” Yeled is derived from the word yalad which also happens to be the verb translated “is born” in this verse. Yalad means “to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.” This word can be used not only to bear or bring forth a child but also to bring forth distress, wickedness, or iniquity. Jesus was not born in iniquity, but for every other human born since Cain and Abel, when a child is born, although they look so sweet and innocent, they are sinful from birth.

Although sinless, Jesus was born fully human. He was born as a child. The child was born to us.

A Son is given.

A great miracle occurs in the next sentence of the verse. Do you see it? A Son is given. It doesn’t say a son is born. It says a Son is given. Whose son? The Son of God. As the Son of God, He is fully God and fully one with God the Father.

“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

“I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:11).

“He who hates me hates my Father as well” (John 15:23).

“All that belongs to the Father is mine” (John 16:15).

God the Father gave His Son to us. He did so to redeem us and enable us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

Jesus Christ - completely human and completely God. One of the greatest Christmas miracles.

What's Missing: Remembering to Love at Christmas

It seems to be the week to focus on love. Therefore, I had to share this poem I came across on the blog of a friend. Like the Chayil Woman in my new book Seven Roles, One Woman: You Expect Me to do All That?, it doesn't matter what we do or how well we do it if God is missing from our life.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,
but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity,
but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir’s cantata,
but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

– Author Unknown