A Year in Review, a Lifetime in the Making

As I publish this, there are a few more hours of 2024 remaining, but I feel relatively safe in saying, it can't get any more exciting than it's been. It had its share of cliffhangers and drama. There were times when I wished for "the good old days" and times when I wished for a brighter future. Some days had me on my knees, begging for God to do something; other days had me praising Him for all He has done and not done. But last week, as we made our way home from a city just a bit west of where I once lived, the message of God's providence couldn't have been clearer.

On those same city streets and meandering country roads, while in my twenties, I lived an incredibly selfish life. Working as vigorously as I played. It was all about me. Fast forward to my hand gripping my husband's, tense and anxious, retracing steps, but this time in obedience. Traffic I would have, in the past, easily and illegally overtaken, drivers I would have recklessly cut off, we followed slo-o-o-o-wly, as I prayed, Lord, You have a plan for this delay. Let it be as You work. Fast forward to those standing with us and those who remained at home, whose prayers have become such a normal but certainly not undervalued or unappreciated part of our life. Fast forward to a courtroom emptied, tears shed and minds exhausted, when we drove home in the darkness led by the Light. I saw the "ghosts" of those old days and marveled at the journey, an adoption journey which I would have said began with my husband and I more than three years before. But as I looked out into the night, I was reminded it had begun long before that. It began with my adoption.

Imagine adopting a sweet little infant into your home. So cuddly and innocent. Sure they cry, sure they go through diapers, but they don't have a lifetime of addiction or a rap sheet. God peoples! Not that babies aren't people --of course I don't mean that --but adopting a self-absorbed twenty-something, or a broken and bitter forty-something seems a bit different to me. There's a lot of stuff to be unlearned in addition to what must be learned. And the adoptee has to be compliant! Ephesians 1:3-14 tells us we are chosen by God Himself not because of our previous qualifications, but according to the good pleasure of His will. Simply because He wants us! And He hands to us the keys to the kingdom, so to speak. We have the Father's authority and riches as earthly heirs --adopted or natural --have from their father. No resume' or previous work experience necessary. Through this process, and our compliance with that which God wills, we are changed to look more like our Savior, the only begotten of God: we take on a family resemblance!

Scott and I contacted an agency long before ever laying eyes on the young man who is now our son, expressing our desire to do life with the child God would send. Our Father predestines and pursues us, choosing His children by name long before they are even aware. He draws us to Himself before we draw our first breath; He uses our past without Him to bring Himself glory and shape our life with Him (similar to, but much better than, the way we work to overwrite our young man's difficult past remembrances and setbacks with re-dos). The Father sometimes leads us to retrace our steps, taking us just a bit farther than the last time we passed through, in order to bring us closer to how we will look in a future portion of eternity.

As you spend the remaining hours of this year, set aside moments to quietly take stock of the past twelve months. Pay special attention to the long ago past. How did you get to where you are today? Have you been someplace like this before? How is the plan of God evident in what has come to be? And spend some time thinking what may come to be. What is God longing to do in your life? What has He encouraged you to do that maybe you have been slow in obeying? What things have you not surrendered to Him? What patterns do you find being repeated, potential lessons preparing you for the future? Commit this next year to His use; God has prepared a lifetime for you and desires to prepare you for it.

That Is Adoption

The Holy Spirit will give me no rest until we meet together. Check your schedule for January to see if you and I can meet for lunch, my treat.

Last week, I received this text from a friend. Now, I have to take a moment to tell you about this friend, because this is how God works. We met just simply going about our day. She's "from around the way," as we say, and she walks each day as I (try to) do. She shops at some of the same places. She drives some of the same streets. We bump into each other on occasion. We look nothing alike. I know very little of her upbringing or where she worked before we met. We shared our phone numbers because we encourage and pray for one another. She has no idea where I went to school or what sort of books I like to read. We don't know one another's children's names or how many grandchildren the other has. Does she have grandchildren??? But because we share the same Father, however, we are sisters. Because we share the same Father, we are like-minded in the things we pursue. Because we share the same Father, we are of the same character. Because we share the same Father, we love one another. Our Father did that. 

Also last week, a young man we have known for just over a year, became a Murphy. After many, many questions, inspections, and signatures, he is now our son through the process of adoption. The process occurred; it is the permanent and binding legal means by which we take responsibility for him, and he gains our protection and resources. And not to say that is where the legal portion of it ends, but for the most part, the rest is relationship. Our Father at work, again.

The similarities in the adoption process are not lost on me. "Coming to Jesus" or "accepting Jesus into your heart" or any of those euphemisms we use to describe this thing called "eternal life," is all about having a relationship with the Living God. A relationship He designed, initiated, and enables. We are adopted into His family. We are now His heirs. We are called by His name to represent Him wherever we go. Jesus' name is written in His blood right there on the dotted line, so to speak. It is a permanent and binding contract in addition to the love and devotion we experience. And though our signatures are not required (only our hearts), among our Christian brothers and sisters, we feel family in those relationships.  

Over the past year, I have grown to love our young man. He has lived with us as our child. He has called us "Mom and Dad." He has expected from us things like gifts and family vacations and celebrations just as a son would. When we introduce him to friends, he is "our son." But last week, when we stood in that courtroom and the declaration was made, something within me jumped with joy. It was official. Bound together in our hearts and on paper. That is adoption. 

I responded to my sister's text. We will share a meal in January. Together, we will celebrate our Father. We will celebrate the kinship of Christ. We will experience the joy of relationship knowing it was signed and sealed by the only sufficient Savior. Bound together in our hearts and by the seal of the Holy Spirit of the One True God, signed in the blood of His Son. That is adoption.

Midweek: Merry Christmas

I pray today brings you a bit closer to the King in the manger. May this poem by Ina G. Roberts bless you and turn your thoughts to His love.

"The True Christmas Spirit"

 A long time ago, down Bethlehem way,

A star shown in the night sky as bright as the day.

The shepherds were watching their flocks with care

When a host of angels appeared in the air,

Proclaiming the son of God had been born

To deliver our souls on that cold Christmas morn.

You will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes,

Lying in a manger while the cattle lows.

A few short decades later, he died on a cross.

Without his sacrifice, we would all be lost.

So as you're running around, buying gifts and treats

To have a big party when your family meets,

Stop and remember why we celebrate this day,

It's not about gifts and food and games to play.

I think of that; we all have enough.

When you think about it, it's all just stuff.

The gift of love is what Jesus gave,

And salvation the day he arose from the grave.

To love each other is all that he asks.

I know that at times that can be a big task.

Just humble yourself and look all around.

I think what you find will be profound.

There are many who can only afford the gift of love.

No presents, no tree with a star up above.

Look into your life, and you will find you are blessed

By many who love you; that gift is the best.

So when it comes time to bless your meal,

Ask for your family to be blessed as well.

Not with gifts or money or material stuff,

but that love and tolerance will be enough.

Remember the loved ones who cannot be there,

But rejoice they're in heaven and not suffering here.

And when you see someone who is down and out,

Don't put them down or have any doubt.

Just do what you think Jesus would do.

Give what you can to help them get through.

If they misuse it, that's between them and God.

In Jesus' eyes you have done your job.

God bless you and enjoy your family Christmas day,

May peace, love, and happiness come your way.

~ Ina G. Roberts 

The True Christmas Spirit 

The Consequences

Have you ever given much thought to the scandalous nature of Christ's Incarnation? I mean, really, put yourself in young Mary's place for a moment. Never mind the unusual physical circumstances for her, what would her parents think? What would Joseph think? What would her friends and neighbors think? This virtuous, faithful young woman cast into the spotlight for the most wonderful reason, but at what must have been tremendous cost. And then, poor Joseph. He's looking to settle down, start a family of his own, serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the typical way. But God had plans of the most glorious and gracious nature. Plans that would bring to Joseph's devout life much more conflict than he could ever imagine.   

Deuteronomy 22:23-24 dictates, according to Mosaic Law, if a man were to "lie with" a virgin who is engaged, both were to be stoned; the woman because she did not cry out, and the man because he violated another man's wife. In Numbers 5:11-31, God speaks to Moses the consequences of a married woman's infidelity under His Law. It's not pretty. If a man suspects his wife of infidelity (valid or invalid), he is to bring his wife before the priest. The priest will mix up a concoction of "bitter water" and tell the woman if she has been faithful to her husband, she can drink the liquid and will be spared from physical harm; but if she has indeed been unfaithful...? Well, physical repercussions possibly resulting in infertility, abortion, or even death. May this water that causes the curse go into your stomach, and make your belly swell and your thigh rot. Obviously, no guilty woman would agree to such terms, but it would take an innocent woman plenty of faith to agree as well. Either law applied, would have been tragic for Mary. 

Instead, when Joseph learned of Mary's pregnancy, Matthew tells us, he considered "putting her away privately," quietly divorcing her, an option reserved for a wife who "displeased" her husband. Though he had every right to haul his betrothed before the neighborhood, either by public divorce and its ensuing shame, or by bodily harm, Joseph chose to gracefully, compassionately let her go. Joseph got it! He knew what God's Law was all about: loving God and loving others --even before the Fulfillment of the Law let out His first cry. Grace was already applied before our Savior spoke His first word. The New Adam's work had already been on display, our Savior's stepfather caring for and protecting his wife rather than blaming her. In Joseph was demonstrated for us the Savior's merciful love for His Bride, the Church, before her Redeemer ever placed Himself on a cross to die for her. 

The actors in this real-life tableau were vessels of God's grace even before His Son entered the world. Mary, in giving her body, trusting her Lord, no matter the consequences. Joseph in the tenderness he demonstrated toward this young woman and the commitment to raise God's Son as his own, no matter the consequences. We benefit from their faith. Jesus' birth was a gift because His death is a gift, an opportunity for each of us to give our lives in service to the One True King, no matter the consequences. Who will benefit from your faith?   

Life Done with Us

"And I don't keep cards."

"Whew! Me either! What is that all about, anyway? I mean, I rarely even spend money on cards."

"Right! Tell me what you feel all year long. Don't use someone else's words to say it just because it's my birthday." 

That was twenty years ago. A conversation --or something very similar --my then boyfriend (now husband) and I had. There were no secret sentimentalities stashed away in a drawer somewhere. We were both equally as hard. For sure, God was working on us both, and I had surrendered some territory, but we had have a long way to go.

Today, I spend money on cards --beautiful cards handmade by a friend. I try to send them out as often as I can to encourage others and brighten other's day. I also maintain a small cache of some I've received. I keep them where I keep my devotionals. There's nothing like receiving blessing and peace from our Heavenly Father in His Word, and then taking a moment occasionally, to read it in the words of those who surround you this side of eternity. We were made to be community! The cards remind me I am loved and appreciated by some pretty wonderful people, and that God has blessed me with a solid and marvelous support system. One card includes a beautifully embellished acrostic, artwork crafted around my name. A creative and selfless person took the time to do that for another broken, sometimes abrasive human being. Another was addressed to "Dear sweet Judi" How? On so many levels it seems like such a mistake. The Judi I know has always been far from sweet, and the person who wrote those words is the incarnation of Sweet Polly Purebred! Having her call me "sweet" was like having Jesus tell me I am holy. But she condescended to do that for me. Another card contains a "thank you," and the honesty of a person who appreciates our relationship; but the greatest impact lies in the tears that she shed as she handed me the card.

Now, I'm in no way saying if you don't buy, make, keep, or send greeting cards you are a bad Christian and an even worse human being. But what I once considered to be vain sentimentality, that which I once disdained is a part of relationship --whether it's a part of how I do relationship or not. And the Holy Spirit has clearly shown me the joy of it! Think of this, we are in a season where we celebrate Jesus condescending to put on a pair of legs and fend off sweat pimples just to be with us. To be in relationship with us! Could you imagine Him saying, "Well, that's fine for them to do life that way, but frankly, I think it's kind of stupid. Let Me just come down there and tell them how overrated toes really are"? Or perhaps He could have arrived and chastised us all for our tears or candles on our cakes or emojis. "Do something practical!" He could have argued. Instead, He wept and attended weddings and sat in the shade of trees and grilled fish. He did life with other human beings as human beings tend to do life.

There are human expressions of love that are important to us. Hugs increase hormone levels and can boost cardiovascular health. Eye contact strengthens the bond between parents and their babies. And cards can be saved for those moments when a bit of encouragement is needed, or we have to be reminded of all the gracious people God has placed in our life. We were placed here to enjoy the goodness of God, and to do it with others beside us. Jesus, who cast out demons and fed multitudes with a small boy's rations didn't need the help of the Twelve to do any of those things. Yet, He called them to do ministry with Him. He came and dwelt among us, pulling us into His world as He lived in ours. God With Us.  

 

Midweek: The Nativity

Some time around 1405, Andrei Rublev painted his work The Nativity in the Flesh of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a lengthy title often shortened to The Nativity. Mary Elizabeth Podles has collected some of her essays in a book entitled A Thousand Words, including her essay on Rublev's work. In this meditation, Podles pulls out elements of the painting and guides her readers in uncovering their symbolism. If you loved pouring over hidden picture puzzles as a child, you will enjoy this taste of discovering details and meaning with Podles' direction in The Nativity today:

[The Savior] is placed at the center of the image, within a womb-like grotto like the one in Bethlehem traditionally associated with his birth. Sharp, angular rocks rise above it to symbolize the harshness of the world into which he is born. He is wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a tomb-like manger as if to foreshadow his grave clothes and future tomb. His very littleness seems to speak of the human frailty he was born to embrace. The lowly workaday animals, the ox and the ass, which symbolize the Jewish and the pagan peoples, regard this newcomer with appropriate surprise...

Mary is the dominant figure of the icon. Stretched at the diagonal on a mandorla-shaped cushion, she who has just borne God leans her hand on her cheek... Her gaze rests on a little gnarled tree at the right: this is the Tree of Jesse, and only she recognizes her little son's royal heritage. Or, it may at the same time be the Tree of Life, which the liturgical apolytikion proclaims "has blossomed from the Virgin in the cave."...

In the corners below her are two additional scenes with a melancholy tinge. ...Yet there is the hope of faith... [A] midwife, identified as Salome, the mother of James, pours out her faith in a kind of Magnificat even as she here pours out water for the baby's bath... The bath, incidentally, both points up the very humanity of Christ's birth, and looks forward to his Baptism in the Jordan and its revelation of his divinity; another tree, perhaps another reference to the Tree of Life, seems to spring from the upper edge of the fount.

...In the upper half of the icon are further signs of hope. ...[S]hepherds approach the Virgin. Their sheep...foreshadowings of the Christian flock, nibble at the Tree of Life. The shepherds have heard the glad news announced by the angels at the upper right. There are four angels: ...they are the Trinity, manifesting their workings in the Incarnation to the humble shepherds. The fourth angel is mostly hidden, representing the hidden face of God, the unknowable who is beyond our comprehension.

Finally, the Trinity...puts in another appearance at the opening of the cave. In fact the babe is not alone: through the merciful working of the trinity, the Godhead has broken through into our inhospitable world in the miracle of the Incarnation, and the world is made new.

~ Mary Elizabeth Podles

"The Nativity"

A Thousand Words

Upon Them a Light Has Shined

There's a special irony in what I'm about to write in that it's about seeing and being made to see, and I am squinting and blinking through tears that have accumulated over the past several minutes. Isaiah 9:2 declares:

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined. 

God promised hope for His people during a dark time --a dark time, I might add, of their own doing. The people of Israel had a history (as do the people of history in general) of crying out to God when they found themselves in a jam and abandoning Him once things began to run smoothly. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Nevertheless, God promised a greater deliverance through a greater Deliverer. Their lives in this valley of the shadow of death would be ransomed by a Messiah so they might live in a new way, an eternal way, and their hearts would be turned toward Him by His Holy Spirit. This is where Advent comes in: celebrating the arrival of the promised Savior. 

In reading about ways to commemorate this season meaningfully, the central theme seems to be "Imitate Christ." Imagine that! Something we are supposed to be doing all year long, all life long, we do at Christmas to mark His Incarnation. This is where the tears come in: How well do I do that?

The crux of the Gospel of Jesus is, in Jesus' words: 'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ ... ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Mark 12:30-31) Loving God is bound to loving others. The two cannot be separated. How deeply, actively, compassionately, selflessly do I love? How deeply, do I love people whose stories seem to have no bearing on mine at all? How actively do I love people who disagree with me? How compassionately do I love people I see as freeloaders or scammers? How selflessly do I love those who in all likelihood will not or cannot love me in return? Do I weep and pray for those who have been victimized --or believe they have been victimized (There's a tough one!) --by the government or their employer or a landlord or the church? Do I seek justice by laboriously, publicly, legally advocating for those treated unfairly? Do I come alongside the poor, the desperate, the ill, the lost and encourage them, help them find resources? Do I try to understand the stories and opinions of those who think differently than I? The alternative is to stand on the truth of God's Law and tell others they can climb on with me or they can struggle, but "I'll just be over here living my best life regardless." That's not how Scripture says Jesus loved others and I know that's not how He loves me. Man! The times He's taken me around the block! That is His grace. He has loved me in such a way as to do exactly what He promised His people: cleanse me, change my heart, give me His Spirit so that I might keep His Law (Ezekiel 36:25-27). That is the Gospel the world needs to hear and see!

Isaiah 60:1-7 says God's glory will be seen in His people, that the world will be drawn to Him through the way His people live, the glory with which He makes them glorious! But in the valley of the shadow of death, the world cannot see unless the light our Light has sent dwells there. This Advent, He has sent us to dwell in this valley and shine. Deeply, actively, compassionately, and selflessly (Matthew 25:31-46).

  

Jesus Is the Why

I settled in my seat. I was dressed appropriately, had my Bible, was on time. I was clearly where I needed to be, quiet, respectful. Appearing ready for church. But the secret that gnawed at me was that I was not prepared to worship. It had been a hectic morning. I'd not had my quiet time. I'd not had the opportunity to pray as I sat in my seat. I was thinking of a dozen other things. My heart was not prepared to worship my King.

When we think about our weekly worship service, what comes to mind? Great music or an inspirational message? Reuniting with our Christian family after a long week of "doing life?" In our weekly Bible studies, do we look forward to learning something new? Maybe "sampling" some more of Miss Dierdre's apple crisp she always makes this time of year? Perhaps we can't wait to share with the group the progress missionaries are making in the Republic of Ecuador? What about our daily "quiet time" keeps us coming back morning after morning? Jesus, or the quiet and peace of our specially prepared space? Are we eager to please our Lord, or get that word --you know the one, the one that will get us through what could be the worst day ever?

Sure, there are benefits, byproducts of our relationship with the Lord and fellowship with the body. There are comfortable and uplifting ways in which we walk out this eternal life of ours. But if those things are not being practiced and lived out, first and foremost, for the glory of our King, if they are not being conducted with our Lord and Savior at the center, we are missing the point; we are not ready to engage or worship in the manner God intended. Fellowship is not the primary reason we go to church. Learning new fun facts about Jesus and His disciples is not the primary reason we study. Sharing the things God is doing in South America or South Jersey, even, is not the primary reason we attend prayer meeting. Silence, serenity, and the smell of a clean cotton candle is not the why of our time alone with Jesus. Jesus is the why; not only the Reason for the season, but the point of our life. 

Imagine this: it's your birthday. Your best friend wants to throw you a big party. She asks for a list of people to invite --names, numbers. She discusses with you the menu, color scheme, and venue. She even tells you how much she longs to please you, to make this your best birthday ever. Then, she calls on Sunday evening and tells you what a great time everyone had at your party that day. WHAT?! HOW? Well, she'd thought of everything. Except you. She neglected the most important preparation: inviting you. Everything else was there; everything else was in order, but obviously, it was never really about you?

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me, right? Not the god of good intentions, or the god of squeezing in those last few moments of sleep, or the god of freshly brewed coffee, or even the god of socializing with our church family. As churchgoers and do-gooders and street corner preachers, we can have all the right accoutrements; but if we aren't prepped, if we've not made room in our perfect plans for the Guest of honor, all of our "worship" and our "good deeds" fall woefully flat. If we're feeding the hungry and clothing the poor, but haven't made room in our lives for Jesus, for whom are we performing? We can be in the right place at the right time, we can look the part, we can quote chapter and verse, but if Jesus isn't front and center, we've completely missed the point.

So, this Sunday morning, set the alarm a few minutes early, skip the coffee shop drive-thru, spend some time in God's Word, prepare your heart to worship Him, and arrive ready to worship a King, the King of kings! Be sure you've invited him to His party.

Midweek: Keeping Time or Ruling It

Welcome to Wednesday! Today, I'd like to share with you this thought from U.A. Fanthorpe, BC-AD. A single event, the birth of the prophesied King, the Savior of the world altered time as no other event could. 

BC – AD

This was the moment when Before
Turned into After, and the future’s
Uninvented timekeepers presented arms.

This was the moment when nothing
Happened. Only dull peace
Sprawled boringly over the earth.

This was the moment when even energetic Romans
Could find nothing better to do
Than counting heads in remote provinces.

And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect

Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.

U A Fanthorpe, from Christmas Poems (Enitharmon, 2002)

Have You Got Any Good News?

Do you want the good news first? or the bad news? In our sixteen+ years of marriage, we've asked each other that question countless times. We both respond the same: bad news, then the good news. I have never been disappointed. Meaning, the bad news has never outweighed or overshadowed the good news. Probably because I am usually grateful there's some good news to be had. 

In his book, Dangerous Jesus, Kevin "KB" Burgess talks about the good news of the Gospel:

Good news is only good news if it compensates for the bad news.

Read that again. So often during this season, we focus on the Babe, the miracle, the manger. We dream of --whether we actually take the time to create them or not is different --we dream of quiet nights by the fire, stillness and peace. We --at least for the first few days --sing along joyously to Christmas carols. We spend the weeks between Thanksgiving and the new year frolicking with friends and family, planning and "present-ing", decking and dining. Aaah, Christmas. Mid-January finds us longing for vacation and scratching our brows over the stack of bills come due. Did those few weeks of lights and laughter compensate for the reality of life on Earth?

Well, the good news is that the Good News we celebrate on Christmas, the birth of a King, the Incarnation of God, the Advent of our Savior is for all eternity! More than a few weeks at the end of the calendar. The Good News is eternal life has been made available to all who were destined for eternal separation, to all who would choose to worship and serve the Giver of eternal life! And the Good News is eternal life is more than just heaven! John 17:3 says, [T]his is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Eternal life is knowing God through His Son, Jesus Christ whose coming to Earth we mark during the Christmas holiday. Immanuel, God with us, among us, in human form, fully man and fully God. Yes, heaven is included, but that's not a thorough definition. There's more! And that's some seriously good news! 

Does it compensate for the bad news, though? You betcha! He accepted as His own the punishment due us (1 John 2:2; 4:10), took our sin on Himself, and gave us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, by His grace, we are forgiven and redeemed from our old master, sin and death (Ephesians 1:7), given the power and privilege of living unto righteousness (1 Peter 2:21-24). Salvation (Ephesians 2:8) and a blessed relationship with Him (Romans 5:1-5; Ephesians 1; James 4:6-10) is His gift to us --eternally!

So, do you want the good news first? or the bad news? If you are in Christ, you can take it however it comes; the bad news will never outweigh or overshadow the Good News of the Gospel, God with us eternally.

Christmas Is More Than a Single Silent Night

The message of Christmas is an eternal one. It's not just the Creator becoming the created, the King walking among His people, allowing them to raise Him from a child and teach Him in the synagogue about --who? Himself? It's not just God, condescending to live the life of a carpenter, then becoming an itinerant preacher, though that is a pretty incredible thing to ponder. But what would be the point? To model for us real humility? To show us how to live in a supernatural way? To show us that temptation can be resisted, and God's Kingdom can come to earth, and we can selflessly, radically love our enemies? That's all great. It's something we could spend years, maybe, trying to wrap our heads around, the benefits of such an un-godlike act. But then what? We learn, and maybe we even follow --faithfully. We believe the message that we can change, and this world can be better through us. And then we die. What would happen when we die? Where would we go? And what would happen to the message of Christmas? It would, maybe, get passed down from generation to generation. But like the Israelites in the days after Joshua, it wouldn't take long before the message becomes watered down and its impact wanes. I think we see that now. So many add-ons and distractions. Black Friday, elf on a shelf, ballets and light shows, school pageants and Secret Santa shops, tinsel, trees, and reindeer. What is the message? What is it all for? A glance toward an heirloom creche? A service by candlelight? A single silent night? If we miss the message of Christmas --the entire, eternal message --we get what we see in many places today.

The message begins in heaven where a creative triune God, designed and produced a perfect offshoot of His relationship, a world brimming with life. God could have left things as they were; He was not incomplete or unhappy in any way. He was not ignorant of outcomes. Yet He chose as He did. Man, His creation, chose as well. Humanity's representative, Adam, did what any one of us would have done --have done: he chose his own way, and sin entered the world. Without some reconciliation between mankind and our Creator, we were destined to pay eternally the penalty for our sin. Jesus, the Christ Child, the God-Man is the Way. He brought more than a message, for a message --even when obeyed --is just a message. No reconciliation occurs without the penalty being paid. Christmas nudges our thoughts a few miles further than Bethlehem to Golgotha where reconciliation took place, and nudges us days (?) centuries (?) millennia (?) further in time to the second coming of our King who will reign eternally with those who have been reconciled.

Christmas illuminates our need to be reconciled --whether we acknowledge it or not --and our inability to fill that need. It celebrates the glory of a God willing to humble Himself and make Himself known to His creation so that we might love Him and accept His means of reconciliation. It recollects a cross and an empty tomb, tangible proof of victory over sin and death, as tangible as a host of angels and a great star heralded His nativity. It points to a day which we may imagine to be far off, but in light of eternity is soon, a day in which this Savior will return as The Reigning King, a station to which He is more than entitled. And Christmas reminds us to live according to Christ's message, His example, and His work, in anticipation of that day, today and every day into eternity. 

Midweek: Christmas Time

For the three Wednesdays preceding Christmas, I'd like to share with you the thoughts of others with regard to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Today's selection is So Hallowed, from Frederick Buechner: 

"Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,
The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious is the time."

SO HALLOWED AND so gracious is the time --these lines from the first scene of Hamlet in a sense say it all. We tend to think of time as progression, as moment following moment, day following day, in relentless flow, the kind of time a clock or calendar can measure. But we experience time also as depth, as having quality as well as quantity --a good time, a dangerous time, an auspicious time, a time we mark not by its duration but by its content.

On the dark battlements of Elsinore, Marcellus speaks to his companions of the time of Jesus' birth. It is a hallowed time he says, a holy time, a time in which life grows still like the surface of a river so that we can look down into it and see glimmering there in its depths something timeless, precious, other. And a gracious time, Marcellus says --a time that we cannot bring about as we can bring about a happy time or a sad time but a time that comes upon us as grace, as a free and unbidden gift. Marcellus explains that Christmas is a time of such holiness that the cock crows the whole night through as though it is perpetually dawn, and thus for once, even the powers of darkness are powerless.

Horatio's answer is equally instructive. "So have I heard and do in part believe," he says to Marcellus, thus speaking, one feels, not just for himself but for Shakespeare and for us. In part believe it. At Christmas time it is hard even for the unbeliever not to believe in something if not in everything. Peace on earth, good will to men; a dream of innocence that is good to hold on to even if it is only a dream; the mystery of being a child; the possibility of hope --not even the canned carols piped out over the shopping center parking plaza from Thanksgiving on can drown it out entirely.

For a moment or two, the darkness of disenchantment, cynicism, doubt, draw back at least a little, and all the usual worldly witcheries lose something of their power to charm. Maybe we cannot manage to believe with all our hearts. But as long as the moments last, we can believe that this is of all things the thing most worth believing. And that may not be as far as it sounds from what belief is. For as long as the moment lasts, that hallowed, gracious time.

~ Frederick Buechner

from The Faces of Jesus

Timing Is Everything

What makes a comedian successful? an acrobat death-defying? a ballet beautiful? It's timing, synchronicity. Sure, a comedian's material can be funny, but chances are, it's been written by someone else. His (or her) talent is delivery, presenting the joke in a manner that actually makes the comedic elements land just where and when they need to land. Timing is vital. And the acrobat. Without measuring the rhythm of the catcher or the swing, the acrobat would miss the catch or grab, falling to the net or something much more unpleasant. Synchronicity is critical. The ballet is breathtaking because the choreography, the execution, the pageantry, and the music all work together in perfect harmony to bring the story to life. All things working together for the good of the audience and the consummation of the plan.

The Hebrew Scriptures close with God's promise to His people:

“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,
Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” ~ Malachi 4:4-6

I keep a small piece of paper in my Bible, between these words and Matthew 1:1. The paper simply reads "400." Four hundred years lie between God's promise of a coming redemption and the arrival of the Redeemer. Four hundred years of silence from Heaven. Four hundred years of His people either hanging in there, trusting what God had sworn, or letting go, giving up on anything ever coming to pass.

Advent has begun. The season in which we turn our thoughts to the Gift of Jesus and the salvation He purchased for us according to the plan and purpose of our loving Father God. Maybe silence has fallen in your world this season. Maybe foreclosure proceedings have begun, or you have said a tearful goodbye to any hope of having a child. Maybe your wife has announced her decision to abandon your covenant. Maybe the prognosis is accompanied by a recommendation to hospice. Maybe your knees are buckling under the weight of a thousand little things. And through all of this, you have cried and cried out until you are cried out. Silence. But just as a good laugh requires skill unseen by those watching, just as acrobatics requires the executioner to control many moving parts, just as a ballet's beauty is woven gently and methodically by designer and performer alike, redemption is coming. God is working all things out for the good of those who love Him, those He has chosen (Romans 8:28).

The Redeemer has come! When the fullness of time had come (Galatians 4:4-5). He was not slow in coming. You've not yet missed your chance. As long as Advent is celebrated on this earth, those who would come to the King may come. It's the perfect time!

Thanksgiving Riches

"Practice the pause and celebrate your blessings this Thanksgiving."

"What an awesome Thanksgiving holiday!! THESE are the things in life that REALLY MATTER!!"

"That's wonderful! He's home for Thanksgiving. That's something to be thankful for!"

"Blessings upon blessings this Thanksgiving!"

From family to friends to the lady at the pharmacy window to the hospital concierge I have been covered in blessings and messages of hope. Not just in my Father's Word, not just in the comfort His Spirit speaks to mine, but in texts, and in flesh and blood hugs, and smiles, and kindnesses --abundant and lavish kindnesses shown to me and my family! And prayers! Oh, the pleas and petitions that you can actually feel from miles away, spoken and lifted before our Lord and Master! 

People are wonderful, and I don't mean to take away from the inner or outer beauty of God's creation, but this is God at work! Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17) These people and their words of encouragement, these encounters are made possible by life's Sponsor, Creator, and Designer! And He has shown His love to every one of us through the birth, substitutionary death, and resurrection of His Son. But His lovingkindness doesn't stop there! If you can imagine that! We see it in His creation, playful squirrels circling trees and the colors reflected off the ocean at sunrise. We hear it in the sound of rain pattering on leaves high up in the tallest trees and pets snoring comfortably at our feet. We smell it in freshly baked bread and our child's hair damp with sweat after romping gleefully in the sun for hours. We feel His lovingkindness in the warmth of a cup of coffee and the crisp cool of fresh cotton sheets. And we taste it in the drop of sweetness that comes from pulling the stigma from a honeysuckle or that special zest of catching a snowflake on your tongue. Best of all, I think, is His lovingkindness seen in the faces of those who will gather around our table today or laugh with us by video call; or the voices and special wishes of those we hold dear, reaching us over the miles. Knowing that they are to us particular blessings, and somehow, we are the same to them. Joined together by a gracious and beneficent Provider who has given us to one another for His glory and our enrichment.

We are as rich as any family can be! Happy Thanksgiving!   

Midweek: Sunroofs Are Better in the Rain

I recently left my old vehicle in dust. (Literally. They're doing construction in our neighborhood, and everything is covered!) She was not really mine --or never felt that way; she was somewhat unreliable, v-e-e-e-r-y quirky, but exactly what was needed for a season. Despite her advanced age, she had all the bells and whistles for her day; one of which --my fave --was heated seats. As our young man and I headed home from one of our last trips in the old girl, we ruminated on the one thing we would be forfeiting, the sunroof. It's actually my husband's favorite feature, a must-have for cruising the interstate on a sunny afternoon. And though I found it fun having the wind blow through my hair a bit, the fiery orb surrounded by whirling planets, the nemesis of black paint and pasty European skin, always seemed to place me in its crosshairs as it blasted its way into the interior of our vehicle. For me it earned its title as a sunroof and not so much a funroof. 

However, there were those trips through the car wash. Water pelting the glass as we remained safe and dry inside. Globules of soap spurting above us like a scene from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Whirling, scrubbing brushes thudding as we watched. We dared them to reach us. And in the rain? Droplets of rain bouncing off the glass, collecting and running in rivulets until we picked up speed, when all was whisked away. Even in light showers, we could pop the roof open just a bit, encouraging stuffiness to escape and the smell of rain to flood the car. 

I think Jesus teaches us to be somewhat unconventional in the way we live our lives. He came into this world in a very unconventional way, born to a couple no one would suspect would host and rear the Messiah. He chose His closest associates not from the synagogues of the religious elite, but from shores pungent with the smell of the fishing industry and from backgrounds fairly counter to spirituality and transient proselytizing. He spent hours in prayer despite unlimited miles of travel and multitudes of people wanting His blessing; Scripture makes no mention of a lengthy To-Do list tucked in His tunic pocket. He didn't hurry through meals or conversations; relationships were of the utmost importance. He spoke to those others sidestepped, and sidestepped those others worked to impress. He cradled children and wept with His friends. He caught naps at the most unlikely times. But because He is God, because He "so loves" the world, because He created every square inch of dirt on which He walked, I think it's pretty safe to say He enjoyed life with us. I imagine Him taking time to enjoy the ordinary and entertain the unique, drawing others in to appreciate those things. Hey, did you see that bee over there? Did you know he's got five eyes? Or maybe, Let's head to the widow's house. We'll guide her up the hill to watch the sunset the way her husband did.

I'm trying to be more like Jesus. So, I'm trying to be more intentional in the way I live. I'm trying to slow my pace and take notice of things --smell the roses, as they say. Actually, it's STOP and smell the roses, isn't it? Stopping is important. I'm trying to listen more and speak less. I'm trying to keep in touch with people and pray for them. I'm trying to jump in a few puddles along the way and listen for the clinking-clanging of a passing freight train nearby. I'm trying to allow others to do things for me and with me. I'm noticing the sun on my face and the sound of rain on the roof. And since I'm confessing, our new vehicle has a rear window I tend to pop open every chance I get just to savor the air outside. I'm trying to be mindful of these things so that I can enjoy all that God has given me, yes. But I want to praise Him, I want to give Him the glory --recognize reasons in every moment to give Him glory! Suss them out, call them by name, make mental notes, and do life with others so they can praise Him, too. 

A Passionate Commitment

It's Wednesday morning as I write. I promised someone a phone call today, and those calls are usually pretty lengthy. I have some other things to do --you know, the usual sorts of things one does when they wear clothes or assumes responsibility for meals and things like that. And another friend just texted: she wants to talk. All good things, right? Laundry means we have clothes to wear. Meals mean there is someone to share them with you. And friends and family? Well, we all know what a blessing they are. But here's my conundrum, I have a blog article to write. I have a blog article because, while I normally write weeks in advance of when the article actually posts, I've not been doing that as of late. Days I typically spend holed up in my office with our sweet Luci Blue snoring contentedly beside me, I have been spending with my husband making memories. I am dying. So is my husband. If not, we'd be among the very few exceptions. But recently we've had one of those scares that makes you aware, palpably aware of your mortality. We're not quite out of the woods yet, our hearts are still racing from the alarm so, our senses have been awakened. As is the case with many of these types of jolts, these "Come to Jesus" moments, this has prompted us to make some commitments.

More frequent date nights.

A better diet. More activity.

Greater appreciation for all we have.

And the list goes on. But time is the great revealer of sincerity. In six months, a year, two years, how much of our list will be forgotten? What items on the list will bring us shame to think how we have allowed this revival to grow cold? A doctor who spoke with us suggested a second "birthday" celebration each year as an opportunity to remember the pardon we have been given and to reevaluate the path we are on. A date on the calendar: an appointment with passion and an inescapable reckoning.

That is the very definition of our following of Christ. Emotion drawing us ever nearer; grief, fear, joy, love, wonder, anger, pity, gratitude. And structure, discipline, commitment, circumspection, routine. Passion with practical implementation. Without one or the other, our relationship is cold, dead. Revelation 2 and 3 are God's warnings to the churches. Some had forsaken church discipline and structure; evil had gained a foothold. Some were without passion, doing all the right things but having no real love. We are not one-dimensional beings. The quality of our relationships --with our Savior and with others --depends on our impassioned keeping of commitments. Speaking of which, I have some phone calls to make. Blessings! 

A Heaping Helping of Rescue

Lightning flashed at my window awakening me to the sound of rain beating the roof. Years ago, I read Scott the riot act. We had a television in our room and, though he kept the volume down, the flickering disrupted my sleep. The TV had to go. There's not much to be done about lightning at 11pm, however. As I began to pull the covers up over my head *BING!* I remembered the back window of my truck. Had I closed it? I must have. No, I didn't! And I sprung out of bed, out the door, and into the pouring rain to close it. Hours later, I headed to the office to begin my quiet time, throwing in a load of laundry on my way. As I sat down at my desk, I realized my pen was missing. Check the surrounding area, retrace my memories. My jacket pocket! The jacket that was now in the washing machine rapidly filling with water! I dashed to the laundry room, hit the STOP button, and retrieved my pen before everything was destroyed.

Blessed be the Master, day after day.

God heaps upon us our rescue. 

~Psalm 68:20 (Alter)

I realize flashes of lightning and the sound of water as it swirls into the washing machine may not be what the psalmist had in mind. And it certainly isn't the Master's best work (see John 3:16). But rescues big and small are part of the way God cares for His people and the way He continues to bring glory to His name. Abundant, undeserved, tender, lavish acts of hesed, God's never-ending loving kindness toward His people. His sacrificial, attentive care for us testifies to His character. Like a parent who ensures their child's needs are met in full, morning, noon, and night. Like a husband, thoughtfully and intently, cherishing his bride. What kind of God must this be? Like no other, we declare! 

Things done for the good of His people bring Him glory, and things done for His glory benefit His people. In Exodus 14:4, God tells Moses, "Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” The Lord God punished Egypt and made Pharaoh even more resistant than he was so that God would be honored, so that the people of Egypt would know He is the one true God and He stands alone, so that everyone would see the might and sovereignty of God, a God who rescues His people!

Whether the rescue is great or small, by many or by few, our God heaps upon us our rescue, for our good and His glory!

Midweek: When Christ Takes Office

Welcome to Wednesday! As we head farther away from summer days and a blistering election season, into holidays and hopes for a better new year, please enjoy this selection, "Bettered Angels" from The Fellowship of St. James (November 8, 2024). What a poignant reminder of all that truly matters!

Is there anyone of stature today who can speak anything like Abraham Lincoln did in his First Inaugural Address—to good effect?

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

Political vitriol and the language of conflict remain after the election and will for some time. It is one thing to fight for a just cause, but another to hate your opponent, which according to dominical teaching is akin to murder. We are taught to love our enemies, including domestic and political ones. Which does not mean agreeing with them or allowing them to do wrong. But embracing hatred is to serve a severe taskmaster and not one of the “better angels of our nature.”

On this feast day in the East of the Archangels and Heavenly Hosts, I am reminded of the overarching reality in which we live that is permeated by the love of God, “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” This God and Father made us “a little while lower than the angels,” who are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.”

On the other side, there are fallen angels who hate us and seek the destruction of souls. God, in his love and mercy, does not desire the death of the wicked; thus “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” The angels will rejoice at each conversion.

And the angels “of these little ones” continually “see the face of my Father in heaven.” The bottom line is God’s personal interest in the salvation of each soul, which is reflected in the words and work of Christ and in the ministering of his angels on his behalf for repentance. God is watching and working. We wrestle not against flesh and blood.

The task of the Church is to be seeking the lost sheep, for each one found is a battle won in the greater war in which God will be victorious. The impressions that men have about political victories—as important as those can be (ask Lincoln)—must be tempered by the realization that we do not know the mind of the Lord and that earthly gains and empires will turn to dust and ashes. The small victories we can strive to win where we live by living the Beatitudes so that all may see our good deeds and glorify God, will produce eternal fruit—and cause the angels to rejoice.

What does a nation “whose God is the Lord” look like? It begins with each person, truly loving God and his neighbor. “As far as possible live at peace with all men.” Conflict is inescapable, but it must be endured in faith and not provoked in anger. There are many unsung examples of such patient endurance and witness, like the longsuffering Jack Phillips, Masterpiece Cakeshop baker, who doesn’t give in, and fights, as a humble Christian.

Phillips should not have been targeted and the authorities and laws should not have allowed this. As a matter of justice, the politics must change so that the laws are just and justly applied. More citizens’ minds and hearts must be informed to see the true spirit of justice and to vote accordingly. Christians have their work cut out for them in convincing more citizens to protect the unborn little ones.

The world is political and thus man is as well, but politics will cease in the end and man will stand naked before his God to give account. But God’s judgment is delayed. The coming of the Son of Man is not yet. But we are warned to be awake, watching, and ready.

But when this ongoing delay ends, the days of delay will fade like a dream, and those angels will appear with the Son of Man. There will be no more polls, debates, ads, ballots, voting booths, or tabulations. Christ will take Office with All Authority in Heaven and Earth. I may not still be here. But I pray to witness the joy of the angels and countless numbers of elect.

Yours for Christ, Creed & Culture,

Jim Kushiner, Executive Director Emeritus

~"Better Angels"

The Fellowship of St. James

Praise God, We're Being Run Over!

I lead prayer each Sunday in our fellowship. Yesterday, as I prepared to stand before our congregation, my heart was full, rejoicing --not because we've inherited millions, or all of our children will make it home for the holidays, or someone just offered me the book deal of my dreams --but because we are being run over. Major health issues, job loss or upheaval, an adoption that seems to be going nowhere, discouragement and uncertainty, grief, a lack of housing and a move across the sea, tenuous relationships. But Hallelujah! my King is still on the throne. And as I stood before my brothers and sisters who are going through their trials and miseries, I opened my Bible to Psalm 91, reading slowly and silently praying God's comfort in their hearts before we entered His throne room together.

Now, that's not what I wanted to do. Just before going forward, I'd glanced at my husband. And heard Someone say, "It's not about you," and while giving God the glory despite what we're going through does make it all about God, some people may not be "there" yet. Some people may still be deep in grief or wide-eyed with uncertainty, and may need to know first, God hears them when they cry to Him, God protects and provides refuge to those who seek Him in their distress. But here is the wonderful thing, moments later, our pastor related the story of a woman who once shared with him all of the terrible things she was going through. She gave God praise for her circumstances! Isn't God good?! Hearts were invited into God's presence with the hope of Psalm 91, and once there, were challenged to give our Master glory in and for our troubles, assuring them there are rewards in accepting the challenge. God had it all planned out. And I could stop right there with this --His goodness and His sovereignty, but I want to have my say today! I want to share my testimony, the testimony I would have shared yesterday if it had been the right time. Here goes:

For the past week or so, I have been in Psalm 66 for my quiet time. (Please, please click on the link and read it! You will be amazed and encouraged. The link will take you to two translations, New King James and The Complete Jewish Bible, side by side.) In the beginning verses, the psalmist calls to humanity to sing the praises of a wonder-working God. "He preserves our lives; He keeps our feet from stumbling." WhooHoo! right? But the next three verses (I'm paraphrasing verses 10-12) "You tested us, held our feet to the fire, ensnared us, disabled us, allowed us to be run over, endangered and sinking." Run over? Bound? How is that a good thing?! At the end of verse 12, the psalmist affirms, "You brought us out to rich fulfillment." And this is why I selected these two translations side-by-side. Some translations render these words, "brought us out to a place of plenty." Because of the corruptions in our western world, our minds (whether we want them to or not) usually go to thoughts of financial or culturally normative types of plenty. But fulfillment hits differently, Fulfillment is personal, emotional, spiritual, intellectual --full fullness, utter satisfaction. And that comes from being run over. The lessons that we learn in that time. The prayers that we pray. The vows that we make (Read on to verses 13-15). All of it is designed, allowed by our Heavenly Father to change us in some way. We draw closer to Him, listening as the Holy Spirit reveals those places in our hearts that are not fully surrendered. We bear our souls, and as they are laid out before Him and before us, as our words bounce off the walls of our prayer closets (or our automobiles), we hear them in all their brokenness or selfishness or bitterness; and we pray God will change us. That we might be more like His Son who prayed "Not My will, but Yours be done." He hears our prayer and brings us to the place of fulfillment. So, in the words of the psalmist:

Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for me.
I cried out to him with my mouth,
his praise was on my tongue.

But in fact, God did listen;
he paid attention to my prayer.

Blessed be God,

Who has not turned away my prayer,

Nor His mercy from me!

 

Taking a Stand Against Gnats, Backaches, and Collisions

I've been rubbing Icy Hot on my husband's back for what seems like six weeks. Every day, just as he's preparing to leave for work, the jar comes out, signaling it's time for me to locate that knot of muscle once again. As he has compensated for one knot over those weeks, however, a new one always appears. I find myself just covering the entire area, shoulder to shoulder, stem to stern with the pungent grease. He's suffering from a nagging, relentless backache. It torments him almost imperceptibly until BAM! he's turned just a bit too far and the pain streaks across his back. One day it will abandon its purpose and Scott will move easily and thoughtlessly; but until then, he treads lightly, gingerly bending and walking, and I slather his aching muscles as he prepares to go out the door. 

Life can have its throbbing, troublesome moments as well, just one of the varieties of problems we encounter on this perfectly positioned orb. I usually put life's difficulties into three categories: gnats, backaches, and collisions. 

Gnats. Those annoyances that, though minor in nature, seem to gang up on us, making us want to curl up in a ball and abandon whatever it is we are up to. The room renovation that began in a blaze of excitement but has been plagued by backorders and reschedules and contractors who won't return your calls. The auto body shop that just can't seem to get the paint to match or the doors to line up or the moonroof to stop leaking despite their numerous efforts and your countless trips to pick up your "completed" vehicle. Gnats. They're tiny but find their strength in numbers.

Backaches. You know the ones; you wake up feeling great, thinking a good night's sleep has finally relieved the tension in your muscles. By the time you've had your coffee and gone back upstairs to get the laundry, you begin to notice a twinge creeping across your lower back. The day is starting off the same way as the last ten or twelve or eighteen. Day after day you struggle with the same old problems. Familiar temptations, chronic failures, even your ruts are in a rut. You've asked the neighbor to stop blocking your driveway. What can you do? You have to live next to this person! You've checked and rechecked your account for the payment that was supposed to be there last week. Meanwhile, your bills pile up and late fees accrue. It's a chain reaction. Your life is cumbersome, your full hands are tied. Until the day, BAM! Lowe's is out of 20-amp breakers. The rage shoots through you like lightning. Backaches. They always there, always nagging; they shape the way we approach every activity and awaken things in us we thought were extinguished.

Collisions. These are the life events that change things in an instant. The death of a spouse, the loss of a job, the news your condition has worsened to the point there is nothing more they can do, the disappearance of a child, the implosion of a relationship, a literal collision. It is the only thing you think about day and night. You wonder, What if I had... or What if I hadn't... You try to make sense of it all. Everything you called "life" has fallen to pieces in an ethereal game of JENGA. Collisions. Harsh, devastating, life-altering encounters that make us question whether we will ever recover. 

And we know --we know! ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Infuriating gnats, chronic backaches, and staggering collisions work together for our good if we are born by the Spirit into the family of God, if we have chosen to follow Jesus, if we choose to do the will of our Father. If you cannot stand on His promise with assurance today, I encourage you to stand on it without assurance. If you belong to Jesus Christ that promise is for you. Say it, even when you're not sure you believe it. Stand on it when you're besieged by gnats and gripped by those nagging pains and flat on your back with tragedy staring down at you. All things! Say it, know it, and stand on it.