Finding Jesus

    In the midst of all the craziness of moving and Christmas I found this beautiful poem by Rachel Holley in "Pursuing the Christ: Prayers for Christmastime" by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. It has reminded me of the need to pursue time with Jesus, even in, especially in, this time of year. It has inspired me to dig in, to set my mind steadfastly, on the Word that became flesh and made His home with us as I go about my busy days.

"I found You in the spaces in between
I found You in the dark and not the light
I looked for You in drama
In the earthquake and the fire
And found You in the quiet.
You were waiting for me there.
I looked for You in miracles
In the loud, in voices raised
I looked for You in gatherings
In signs, in prayer and praise
But I found You in the gentle breeze
The still small voice, the darkened cave.
I found You in the spaces
between sleeping and awake
I found You in the waiting
The worry, in the fear
I found You in the sleepless night
I found You in despair
I found You in the questions
No loud answers anywhere.
I found You in the silence
Silence full, not silence void
I found You in the spaces
You were looking for me there.

Multi-tasking

   Women are champions of multi-tasking. This month, I'm surely heading for a gold medal. Not only do I have to buy presents for a large family but I have to get packed up to move to our new house on December 21, just in time for our daughters and their families to arrive for Christmas. On top of that I have to mail out photo cards, wrap presents, decorate, and bake cookies.
   My husband isn't such a mutli-tasker. He, instead, zeroes in on one thing and exerts all the considerable force of his energy towards accomplishing that goal. As soon as we decided to buy our new house I would ask him daily, "When are we going to move?". And he would say, "Not until after the first of the year". But I kept asking him because I knew what he would eventually say, "I think we can be moved in by Christmas". So here we are.
   I think Jesus must look down with sadness on His children here on earth. We have managed to turn the majesticaly simple time of His birth into a hectic, stressful conglomeration of materialistic consumerism. If I take a little time each day to sit quietly and listen to His voice, I can hear Him say, as He did to Martha, "there is only one thing worth being concerned about". "But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her", Luke 10: 41-42. NLT
   I WISH TO ALL OF YOU A MAJESTICALY SIMPLE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

Meltdowns

   I have an adorable, redhaired, 7 year old granddaughter named Isabella. I love her to the moon and back. Her family comes from Oklahoma to share Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with us. It wouldn't be a holiday without a "Bella Meltdown". We don't know what is going to set her off but we know that something will. Anticipating this, we try to make things right for her but it's never enough.
   This Thanksgiving, her two 16 year old cousins were sitting at the adult table instead of playing with her. One Easter, when she was 4, we hid her eggs in a seperate place so they would be easier for her to find. We didn't do that again. Last Christmas, we were taking pictures, and the teenagers had on jeans but she had on knit pants.
   As I was thinking about the "Bella Meltdowns" this week, I thought that is probably how God looks at me. He has given me everything and more but I want that one thing I don't have. And when things don't turn out the way I think they should, I shed a few tears, or shake my fists at God and rail that it isn't fair.
   God yearns for me to be thankful always and praise Him continually; yet He is not surprised when I have a meltdown. And still, He loves me to eternity and back. "And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God", Ephesians 3:18-19. NLT

No More Lonely

 

 

   I am an only child. I was lonely much of the time growing up. My parents both worked and I spent a lot of time alone. After the abuse I tried to make myself invisible and never felt like I belonged to whatever group I was in.
   One of the great blessings of my life was marrying into my husband's family. Now I have two brother-in-laws and their wives and families, two stepsons and their families, and our two daughters and their families. We all get together for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
   Being with family during the holidays is my favorite time. I can't wait until they start arriving today, even with the invariable drama, tears, and bickering. Even so, family is a good and precious gift, and I thank the Lord for mine.
   "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God the Father, who created all the lights in the heavens", James 1:17. NLT

Faith In Adversity

   I've written before that I think Charles Hadden Spurgeon. British pastor in the 1800s, is my soulmate. His writings ("Morning and Evening" devotionals) resonate so deeply in me. I've read that he also suffered from depression, and painful gout, in his life. Maybe that's why I relate to him so. This is what he wrote on Monday:
   "No flower wears so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes as sweet as that which springs in the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity."
   Aren't those beautiful snapshots of faith in adversity? I believe that these past two years have been the hardest of my adult life. I lost both my parents a month apart. I've battled depression and back pain. I just haven't felt good. I've wanted to give up.
   But Jesus has given me the strength to persevere. In truth, He's been the only thing that I could hold on to. His love for me has never faltered. Indeed, I've found that His light shines forth more brightly in the darkness..
    "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. So we don't look at the troubles we can see now, rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever", 2 Corinthians 4: 16, 18. NLT

Only Jesus

   Christians were divided in our USA presidential elections this week. People I love were on both sides. All I can say is we all need to heed the words of Psalms 118:8-9: "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in princes."
   It doesn't matter who is head of our country, Jesus is the One on the throne. As Christians, let's quit focusing on political issues and instead focus on showing love to the unloveable.
   As Christians, let's focus instead on being Jesus to that person who doesn't know Him yet but desperately needs Him. As Christians, let's give a shout out to the Gospel so loudly that all can hear.
   As Christians, let's start a revival in our country and let's begin by allowing Jesus to start a revival in our hearts. Jesus is our only Hope. Always has been. Always will be.

Settling In

   The couple took our first offer on the house and four acres that God has so Graciously provided for us. We're excited to move. Our closing date is January 9th, so we don't have to move during the holidays. Praise God for how He is working all this out for us.
    Thanksgiving is fast approaching. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because all the family gets together, without the stress and drama of Chriatmas with the family. Does anybody know what I'm talking about?
     After Thanksgiving, we will have to start packing up in earnest. Not to mention all the Christmas stuff I have to do. It makes my head spin just thinking about it. But until then, I'm going to settle in under the shadow of the Almighty, wrapped in the warm blanket of His Love, soaking up His strength, song, salvation, shelter, and sanctuary.
"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of The Almighty", Psalm 91:1.