It's the day after Christmas. The excitement is slowly dying down. The presents have been unwrapped, the child's curiosity eased. We've reached the climax of the holiday season and now we settle in for the ride back down.
Leading up to Christmas, we hustle and bustle, trying to get everything ready for family and friends. I found myself running, stressing, cleaning, and even crying trying to have all my presents done in time.
In the midst of the rushing, God spoke quietly to my heart. I almost missed it because I was so consumed with the material. He words hung sweetly in the air until I reached to grasp them with my heart. "I came." The two words resounded in my soul. He came. I stopped what I was doing to think about what I just realized. THE Godman, infinite and magnificent, wrapped himself in the skin of his created being and CAME to earth. I feel as though the magnitude of this concept is often overlooked due to the familiarity of the story. We set out the nativity scene, sing songs about the Holy Night, but our hearts completely miss the enormity of this simple act.
Driven by the desperation to bring humanity back to himself, the Everlasting God of the ages became a baby, born in a barn. The most powerful being, uncreated and eternal, made himself helpless... Because he wanted me. He wanted YOU to be reconciled to himself. The life of Jesus is remarkable. The lengths He was willing to go to for a relationship with feeble, unfaithful sinners. I will never fully understand the depths of His love and desire.
He came. Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thank[FULL]ness - A response to Ann VosKamp's "One Thousand Gifts"
There is something beautifully intentional about God's ordination of my reading this book in the middle of the Thanksgiving holiday. Not only was my mindset beginning to transform from the thought of continual thanksgiving, but everything around me became a constant reminder of how worthy the Father is of our constant praise.
The author, Ann VosKamp, takes the reader on her journey from questioning fear to trusting thankfulness. She likens remembrance to that of a bridge. Thankfulness is the looking back at the raging river, only to see the safe, sturdy bridge on which you crossed. It did not fall. Remembering the crossing builds up the trust that next time a river approaches, torrents bursting, white with foam, he will once again build a bridge that will allow safe crossing. Isaiah 43 says, "When you pass through the river, it will not overtake you"
But thankfulness is so much more than a trust builder, its an opportunity to see God. In the everyday, the mundane, the minuscule, we stop and we see his goodness. We see Him. Moses asked to see God and His goodness passed before him. As we were sitting around the Thanksgiving table, we shared what we were thankful for... family, friends, food... All eyes on me, I couldn't help but think about this idea churning in my head. I am thankful that God allows us to see him, to encounter him in the everyday, in the moments, in the good and the bad. He is there, waiting to be found by our thankful hearts and searching eyes.
A sunset painted sky
The overgrown tree clinging through the sidewalk
Children's laughter
He is there. Our infinite, unfathomable God, humbles himself and wraps himself in gifts, which he delights to watch us unwrap. "It's the glory of God to hide a matter, and it's the glory of kings to search it out." Thankfulness begins the searching. It opens eyes to begin to find God in the moments, the gifts. He is a good Father who gives good gifts, himself
The author, Ann VosKamp, takes the reader on her journey from questioning fear to trusting thankfulness. She likens remembrance to that of a bridge. Thankfulness is the looking back at the raging river, only to see the safe, sturdy bridge on which you crossed. It did not fall. Remembering the crossing builds up the trust that next time a river approaches, torrents bursting, white with foam, he will once again build a bridge that will allow safe crossing. Isaiah 43 says, "When you pass through the river, it will not overtake you"
But thankfulness is so much more than a trust builder, its an opportunity to see God. In the everyday, the mundane, the minuscule, we stop and we see his goodness. We see Him. Moses asked to see God and His goodness passed before him. As we were sitting around the Thanksgiving table, we shared what we were thankful for... family, friends, food... All eyes on me, I couldn't help but think about this idea churning in my head. I am thankful that God allows us to see him, to encounter him in the everyday, in the moments, in the good and the bad. He is there, waiting to be found by our thankful hearts and searching eyes.
A sunset painted sky
The overgrown tree clinging through the sidewalk
Children's laughter
He is there. Our infinite, unfathomable God, humbles himself and wraps himself in gifts, which he delights to watch us unwrap. "It's the glory of God to hide a matter, and it's the glory of kings to search it out." Thankfulness begins the searching. It opens eyes to begin to find God in the moments, the gifts. He is a good Father who gives good gifts, himself
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