From Darkness to Light

Where do you need Jesus' light to shine in your life? 

Jesus entered our world under the darkness of night. 

Luke Ch 2: 7-8 "And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night"

This season has a way of illuminating dark places we'd rather keep hidden. Maybe it's because we want so much to have the storybook homes, the perfect Advent celebrations, and drama-free, loving families? Maybe the brokenness of our world in contrast to celebrating the holidays seems too ironic for our hearts to handle? In many of us, expectations and ideals don't meet reality for one reason or another and darkness creeps out of its neatly controlled box and rears its ugly head into the forefront of our lives; shame, fear, guilt, condemnation, anxiety, worry, control, depression, anger...name your darkness of choice.  Jesus didn't come to our world in the light of a glorious, sun-soaked day.  He came in the darkness of night because He is the light. With His first breath on Earth, Immanuel, brought with him the "light of life" and there is no place too dark for His light to reach. 

The "light of the world" coming to a sinfully dark world to bring "the light of life". 

John 8:12 "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

1 John 1:5 "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

This pre-Christmas week, let's invite Jesus into our darkest places and trust Him to lovingly shine forth His light. He is the Word that is the "lamp to our feet and light to our path" (Psalm 119:105). He came to life on our earth to bring us life out of darkness and death.  Let's celebrate that promise by living out the words of Ephesians 5:8 and "walk as children of light" starting now. 

John 1:4 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men."

Jena M.

Don't Give Me Pinterest Jesus

Please, oh please, don't give me Pinterest Jesus for Christmas. He wouldn't understand why Tuesday morning, 9 a.m., I sit in front of my daughter's bedroom door and apologize for harsh words I said the night before when I saw the library strewn with legos. The lashing-out words that made her cry. The horrible come-outta-nowhere arm waving and disappointed glare I threw at my son. He had lept under his covers like a tiger was chasing him. I had become a living volcano. Pompeii had nothing on this mama.

This gray morning after it all went down, the tears stream down my face and my daughter's eyes are wide-eyed again. This is not my first apology nor will it be my last. Pinterest Jesus wouldn't understand.

He's the picture that pops up if you type "Jesus" in the search filter on Pinterest. He is the serene face of silver glitz and diamond bling on a pendant. You can buy him for a $399 bargain. I wonder what Pinterest Jesus would say if He saw me crying on the stairs. Probably something very advising, glossy, and perfect. Then He would stare blankly and stoic from under his crown of thorns, and I would get on with my life.

Tuesday afternoon, post-tears and apologies, my friend Holly calls. We talk about serious stuff like writing and rejection and how honest we should be with people---both strangers and our family. Then we talk about how to carry on, in forgiveness for ourselves and for others. She reminds me Jesus was born into animal manure. Thirty-three years later Jesus sweat blood in the garden as He flat-out begged God to take this cup of human suffering away. Holly observes, "That is no Pinterest Jesus."

Holly knows suffering and forgiveness and honesty better than anyone I know. She is caring for her dying mother. With that come moments of facing her own humanity and frailty and reliving memories of childhood abuse. She gave up retirement in Oregon with her faithful husband and postponed her dream to start her art business. She came home to care for her mother. Yes, ma'am.

This is no Pinterest Jesus we serve. The chaotic life He calls us to speak into, to lean into, to downright live well.

Hours before my lego tantrum, another friend sat at my kitchen table and called me "her people." Who am I to be called anyone's people? I wondered. I was in awe. I was grateful. All I did was listen to the stuff breaking her heart.

Pinterest Jesus would say, "Please don't say such things. You are just fine. Instagram it and tie a red bow on it." Well, I'm not buying that.

Back to the apology and the tears, the moment I show my kids I'm all jacked up. We sit in our PJs and talk about mommy's need for a real Jesus: the one who came for stinky shepherds, clueless teenage parents, and road-weary noblemen.

He takes me---unholy mess of a momma, friend, woman, scared and insecure most days. I tell them He takes their messes too. He says, "I love people, especially the falling-apart ones."

This is the same Jesus of the Bible who overturned tables in the temple (volcanos and legos, anyone?) and calms wicked storms with a Word. He is God incarnate and fully human; He orchestrates the turnings of the universe and He wraps me in His arms in the hallway on a Tuesday.

Please, oh, please don't get me or anyone else Pinterest Jesus for Christmas. Just the real messy Jesus please (and a monstrous IKEA gift card can't hurt.)

Christina H.

Christmas Crafting

Holiday greetings to all!  I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends this past week and are now looking forward to Christmas, which really is just around the corner!  I think the older I get, the faster time goes…not necessarily a good thing!  

At any rate, with a new baby and winter-like temperatures the past several weeks, we’ve been spending a lot (read that as TOO MUCH) time indoors lately…SO…I decided we needed to spice things up with some Christmas crafting.  Yes, that does mean I started Christmas crafts before Thanksgiving.  Shame.on.me. Even though our current living situation is one in which we don’t have space for many decorations, a Christmas tree was a must.  I found a nice, little, pre-lit one on sale at Michael’s a few weeks ago, which is now sitting proudly atop our ottoman in the corner of our living room.  I thought going “DIY” this year for decorating our tree would be fun too so I set about the task of planning and organizing Christmas tree crafts for our 3.5 and almost 2 year old.  Here are a few I have in mind (I’m including a very brief ‘how to’ description but if you are a visual learner like me, you’ll need to google them anyway):

*beaded candy cane ornament (alternate red and white pony beads on a pipe cleaner)

*toilet roll reindeer (cut a toilet roll in half, stick on some wiggly eyes, a pom pom nose, and pipe cleaner antlers.  If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, paint the toilet roll first or cover it with felt, fabric, etc)

*popsicle stick Christmas tree (glue green sticks into a triangle then decorate with sequins, pom poms and buttons)

*Styrofoam snowman ornament (these are too cute not to mention again so check out my December post from last year’s blog to see instructions)

*Cinnamon dough ornaments (great for giving as gifts too)

*pipe cleaner icicles (thread various sizes and colors of beads onto a sparkly pipe cleaner then wind around a pencil to create a curly effect)

*pine cone reindeer (turn so small end points down, glue on wiggly eyes, pom pom nose, felt ears, and sticks for the antlers)

Whatever this season brings for you, make sure to take some time to remember what the celebration is truly for.  Happy Christmas to you and yours!

Julie C.

More, Please

I brushed past the tall mirror in my bedroom like I have a million times before. This mirror across from my closet, the one that receives the last-second-does-my-outfit-match question every morning before I walk out the door. As I walked past this time, my eye caught a glimpse of the card posted there and I hesitated. Eleven months this card inscribed with scripture has been hanging in the corner of my mirror, placed there to remind me to pray and reflect and claim the promises of God each day. “Immeasurably more.” Now I remember. Immeasurably more.

Just before flipping the calendar to 2014, Ephesians 3:16-21 kept crossing my path. I claimed it as my “life verse” for the year. 2014 was dubbed my “year of immeasurably more.” It seems to me now like a spiritualized version of a New Year’s resolution - all full of hope for a few weeks, even months. Then, the next thing I know, it’s December! Where did the time go?

“Where is the ‘immeasurably more,’ God?” I asked. My life looks about like it did a year ago. No major changes, nothing noteworthy in my opinion. I’m not sure exactly what I expected when I penned those verses on Italian stationary and scotch-taped it to my mirror. I knew it wasn’t a magic spell. I knew the things I’ve been hoping and dreaming for probably wouldn’t appear out of nowhere. But I guess I thought I’d see something different.

I remember years ago (and I’m sure it happened more than once), ripping open presents on Christmas Eve (our family’s tradition when I was growing up). I was giddy with excitement---paper flying, ribbons and bows piling up to be saved and used again next year. Then somewhere I reached a point when I realized the number of presents left with my name on them did not equal the rest of the things on my Christmas list. The tempo of my present opening slowed. I forced a smile and a thank you.  

As I think back on those moments, I just want to shake myself. “Girl! Seriously?! You got all these amazing gifts and this beautiful family who loves you! You’re sad because you didn’t get one or two silly things on a Christmas list?”

“Immeasurably more.” I sensed Jesus whispering to my deflated spirit,

I am your immeasurably more.

Jesus.

He is the “more.”

No matter what I think I deserve or earned for my 2014, when I stop and soak in the full-weight truth that Jesus gave Himself for me and walks with me every moment and has a plan and purpose for my life --- talk about immeasurably more!  I began reading Ann Voskamp’s beautiful Advent devotional the other day (The Greatest Gift), and God used even the very first entry to send this message home to my heart. “The mattering part is never what isn’t,” she says. “In Christ there is always more.” What a beautiful and much-needed truth for our weary hearts.

I don’t know about you, but during the busy holiday season, I tend to rush through my days just trying to keep my head on straight and often miss the beauty that is Jesus. So I have resolved to make space for Him in my December, to remember Who He is and how He loves. I don’t want to miss the real “immeasurably more” like my childhood self throwing a pity party over an absent Christmas list item. I am looking forward to savoring the beauty of Advent - the waiting month. The season of Hope. Hoping for blessing from God is a beautiful thing. He wants us to hope and dream and ask. But let’s not miss the real “immeasurably more.” Let’s fix our eyes square on His this Christmas season and worship Him wholeheartedly.

~Meredith M.

Your Story Riddled With Grace

If God sent a prophet to you, what would the message be?  A plea for repentance? A reminder that you are loved beyond comprehension? A message of forgiveness and mercy? A command to surrender your life to God? If you have an inkling as to what that message may contain, I challenge you to write it down. What do you notice about it? Why do you think God would desire this change or realization in you (what specifically does God's Word say about it)? Then, take prayer-covered steps to walk out in faith with God lovingly guiding each step.

This week we're learning about Elijah, a prophet in the Old Testament. His life story reads like a science fiction novel and he's the prophet we see most mentioned in the New Testament (29 times). Over and over again we see Elijah stepping out in God's authority and power to mercifully turn the Israelites away from their sins and toward God. The big picture theme of Elijah's life through miracles, suffering, pain, love, and redemption, however, is grace; God's unmerited favor. Guess what? It's the big picture theme in our life stories as well. So, back to the question at hand: if God sent a prophet to you, what would the message be? You can count on one thing...it begins and ends with grace.

Jena M.