Carrying Christmas

And on we go from the special Holy-days…celebrated to remind us to hold Christmas close and walk in its miracle.

Continue to be a Mary who receives, a Joseph who believes, one who, though our life inn-box is full, makes room to welcome Him and be filled with the wonder of His arrival.  Let us see that He is the ever-green one who continues to work and bless, the twinkling light of hope in our darkest nights, and the great guiding star, hanging there brightly, waiting for us to look up.  He will be faithful to guide us forward, then finally home.  

He is the wisest man who has journeyed to us from Heaven, hoping to walk with us into each of our days.  He is the tending shepherd and the sacrifice lamb who has already done the greatest work for us and now invites us into new days and new years to continue to feel the effects of His strength and care.  Oh, let’s not pack up all of Christmas.  What He offers wasn’t meant to be seasonal.  

Faith Journey

Faith is a journey we are all invited into.  The first shining moment of it is a gift of the revelation we were given when we first got a glimpse of Him and turned His direction.  Faith is the opportunity we have from that moment on, and begins as baby steps, never being developed into a stronger walk and run unless we get the legs of it beneath us, putting our weight on its promises, and actually begin to travel its road.  A great faith doesn’t get built unless we step into the unknown of trust for real messes in our real lives with all the risks and dangers they hold, believing that He will come through as a good and mighty God, actually doing the part of BEING God.  He didn’t walk up the hill of Calvary, through the now-broken gates of hell, and out of a tomb for less than continuing on as Living God for those who desire a relationship with Him. 

We cannot hold back at the fringes of our circumstance and see Him often come through for us if we prefer to meet all of our own needs and figure out the answers by ourselves.  The blessings of the miraculous are more often the reward of those who jump off the edge of the dock of self-preservation, recognizing both their need and His promise to be the provision, and allow themselves to experience His saving work in the sea of faith.  But it isn’t easy.  I’ve realized that there may only be one lesson in life… “Will you trust Me?” and it comes to us day by day in thousands of variations.

He offers us everything He is and has, all the resources of the storehouses that hold all He has won for us.  We get salvation handed to us as an undeserved gift.  Faith is another matter that is built as we walk together with Him and engage with Him as companion and Lord, counselor, shepherd, strong tower, and King.  

We have just celebrated His arrival on the planet.  A real event in real time and space.  He did what the Father asked of Him through thirty-three years of obedience, with perfect timing and a heart that wouldn’t quit.  But faith He cannot do for us.  He cleared the way for us to have a miraculous life.  Only our choices can give us that adventure.

Unwrapped

We were delighted with the gifts of yesterday, all wrapped in their sparkly papers and crisp ribbons.  We knew that presents purchased for us by ones we love would likely be something nice.  There was probably anticipation as a package rested on our lap and we began to unwrap it to get to the box, then through the tissue to the gift itself.  Ribbon and paper and tape and tissue are not too intimidating, but getting to the Greatest Gift often is. 

To find the Christ, we have to be willing to be unwrapped ourselves, not of ribbon, but of resistance, not of paper, but of pride, not of tape, but of treachery, and not of tissue, but to finally be willing to deal with our trust, deciding if we will offer it to Him or not.  We have to be open to inviting Him into the dung and straw reality of our lives, things we’d honestly prefer not to even look at ourselves.  But that we must as we acknowledge our need of a Savior.  He will come their gently but firmly, then call us from those things.

His wrapping is also an obstacle.  Bloody and ripped He trudged, then hung with robes already torn away and cast aside.  The circlet of blossoms that rightly should have adorned Him had already had the stems handled angrily enough to leave no delicate petals, but only piercing thorns.  He hung there not looking at all like an ornament on a tree, though He was Heaven's finest.  His most victorious moment was utterly unrecognizable because He was so enfolded in our sin.  We thought it was His humanity that made Him look so ghastly, when really it was ours.

We have to be willing both to be unwrapped and to draw close to the powerful heart of who He really is.  And even as we continue through our lives to keep unwrapping this endless Gift (as He unwraps us to increasing freedom), we will find that there is something magnificent and dazzling to continually behold there.  We won’t see it fully until we finish our race, but there are many signs, deep assurances, and golden threads that will miraculously be woven through our lives as we discover His goodness and His strength.  How He does it, I don't understand, but I have seen it over and over again.

For those who stay with the journey of faith, we will find the deep peace and great joy of knowing Him and being known—the gift of Emanuel, God with us, the breach of Eden firmly resolved to allow mankind to walk with God again. 

Back to the Porch

It has been a long time since my writing has surfaced here, but I have been feeling nudges to come back for a while and this seems like the right time.  For those of you who have been reading my posts on facebook and have been encouraged by anything there or asked me to keep at it, this is the next step, so thank you to those who helped oil the gears.

My writing has been a simple way to share with others what God has woven into the lessons of my day.  I write and post them believing that if it is something I need to learn, perhaps someone else is needing the same words. The ride of my life is bumpy sometimes and I trip often; the lens isn't perfect, because I can only see in part.  It always will be that way as I maneuver earth's dips and inclines with feet that are still trying to be well-sandled with grace and love and truth, and eyes that are trying to focus well.  But He also speaks into the real lives and thoughts of human men and women and children, and gives us words and encouragement for the building up of one another.  It is good to share what He is doing in our lives, what we see, and what we are learning.

I will tell you that I am compelled to believe that He truly is God--I've seen enough glimpses of the miraculous to be convinced of that.  I try my best to lean high and far to stay vulnerable and willing for Him to enter my life in any way He wants.  I try to dig deep and hard into facing my own junk and to let Him have permission to clean me out and reshape me to something He can readily use.

I also believe we are to remember what He has done.  This place will be one of several in my life where I keep record of the manna that He brings for my day.  The most significant ones are my regular journals, my charm necklace--a collection of symbols of the major life lessons He has taught me, my "Peace by Piece" journal--a written record of how He brings together the elements of a specific promise He made me, and the collection of my daily writings.  As I've kept these things at hand, they have sometimes been put to use back into my life as crumbs of that precious daily bread that can help me find my way back home when I am lost in darkness or fog or weariness or doubt. Sometimes the crumbs have also enlarged, it would seem, into a massive stone that prods me not to deny His presence, His power, and His provision.  "Remember, I did this amazing thing back then because I love you.  Please trust Me. I have not changed."

So here I will be, a place a little better accessible for those beyond my facebook circle to share the bread that I've found nourishing that day.  If you find something helpful here, please feel free to share the link or invite your friends to visit the porch.  

For You

About these things that have been troubling you...

I understand your pain. It is not fun to be neglected, despised, not understood. I have felt the depths of that emotion and the hurt that is yours. Not just generally, but I felt your very pain in this on the cross. I chose to hang there with that burden piercing My own heart. And now that you've come to Me, joined with Me in that pain, comingled your broken heart with My spilt blood for this very thing, now we can do this differently. Now My power can be released to heal and restore. Now there can be release from chains, from captivity. Now there can be freedom and wings and joy.

Just as it wasn't general suffering, it isn't general freedom. It is yours--bought and paid for for you. I died for you, for your every pain, every sin, every gap of any kind. It's all covered in streams of blood so love would win.

Did you hear Me? Love is goin to rise and reign over hate. Love is going to be a heyday when it is released on earth. A planet is dry and shriveling under the weight of sin and anger. Agitation is everywhere. The enemy stirring the pot continually so people find no peace.

That is why I've called for this week to be quiet. People need to remember what Love sounds like. It is peaceful. I want to recaptivate many many hearts to Me, to come home, to rest, to eat, to laugh, to dance.

Now go rest. Enough for tonight. We'll talk more tommow. I'll be here.

Photographs from Grace Fellowship Church's Easter Vigil 2006. The Easter Vigil is currently running from 3/16/08 1pm around the clock until Easter morning at 6am. Email me for details. This year's theme is "Be still and know that I AM God."

All I Have

It feels like the rug is being pulled out from under my feet. Nothing in this world is permanent or perfectly reliable. It is sobering. I feel my stomach tighten, my tension mount. All I have is Christ.


And then I think about what that means.

All I have is Christ.



He who has promised never to leave me or forsake me.
Blessed promise. Blessed peace.




Photograph by Anita, cross constructed by Mark and Pat Burleigh

"Will I Trust God?"

It seems that my life boils down to one primary issue. It is this: "Will I trust God?"

I cannot think of anything that comes even close to this question in terms of both the frequency at which it comes to the table and the difference it makes regarding the tone of my life. Sure, there are other questions that come into play..."How do I respond best in this situation?" or "What do I do next?" But they are all directly hinging on the main issue.

What I know from my own experience and from what the scriptures say is that God IS trustworthy; He will never leave me or forsake me; He is mindful of all of my needs; He will give wisdom to those who ask. On and on the points are made and evidence seen in the accounts. And yet, for me like for all of us, the next unseen answer for the situation at hand makes trusting Him the question again.

Several years ago I began creating a charm necklace. On it I've placed tiny silver symbols that represent ways that God has shown His willingness and power to come through in the very real challenges I've faced. Periodically, another charm gets purchased and added to the chain when I've experienced another surprising event--God coming through in a way that I did not design, orchestrate, or expect. When I put the necklace on nearly every morning, I am conscious again of what He has done, for me, tangibly intersecting my life. I wear this evidence to remind myself to trust today. And it makes a difference.

Proverbs has suggested that I do this. Chapter 3, verses 1-6 are quite clear:

"...do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Represented on the necklace are some solid answers to prayers and some surprises that I didn't have the courage or creativity to imagine. God has come through. Somehow, in some way, He has always been enough. It isn't the way I would have written the script. Problems haven't always evaporated, though in a few cases they have! Needs haven't always been quickly dissolved with a lavish provision, but His has gotten me from day to day through the obstacles that have been in the path and there are distinct ways He has shown His presence. Think of the numerous examples in the Bible of Jesus healing blindness.

Today when I put the necklace on I will remember again that it is, indeed, a piece of my armor. It is evidence of Him being with me and helping me. As I remember the difficult situations that I've faced, it is a call to me to trust Him for the current ones. He is able. Of course it still feels somewhat precarious to me as I have to step onto the invisible stone of faith that He is here and enough for the next thing. But He has a track record and I will be wise if I stay mindful of that as I count on His care for the needs at hand.

We face the "Will I trust Him?" question in a plethora of layers. I may very well believe Him for my provision, but struggle with His availabilty for my health. Every need is another lesson to wrestle toward belief, to wrestle my fears, to remind myself of what He has said is true, to step forward in confidence in Him. He gives me many opportunities to practice, for trusting Him is the primary thing He desires me to know. He peels back the layers to expose another untrusting part of my heart and calls for me to offer this to Him also. He loves me. He wants every part of my heart free. It is grace that keeps giving me ways to step onto the path of faith and to see once again how He will "make my paths straight."

The issues of life are never at a place where all is suddenly solved at once. But trust is the green pasture where I can lie down and rest, really rest, because I am mindful of the attention of a God who loves me.

Photographs: Tangle, by loumurphy; bamboo forest, by angela7dreams; Meadow, by Jenna