With Great Anticipation

December started off busy and exciting in our home, my children woke up the day after Thanksgiving looking forward to the Christmas season. We started the month by planning all the festivities, parties and celebrations that would occur this month- all leading up to the great event of the year, Christmas day! As the month flew by, our days were filled with making decorations, eating yummy treats and thinking and talking about the great Savior that came to set us free from sin. We talked about how the angels sang praises in the fields, about the star that shown so brightly leading shepherds and wise men to come and see and worship the baby Savior and King. We read from the Old Testament of how Emmanuel would come to the earth, about the virgin birth and His lowly entrance into this fallen world that He came to save. All of creation up to this point had waited and watched for this moment in history to come to pass.

About a week prior to Christmas, my daughter came to me and sat in my lap. "Mommy, I don't want Christmas to come....." She whispered to me. "But why not?" I asked in surprise. "Because, then it will all be over...." Such anticipation for one day of excitement. I began to think about that sentiment. I wonder if Mary and Joseph had a moment of let down after the shepherds headed back out to pasture and they were left alone with a baby and no real plan. The Jewish nation waited for so long to see the coming of the Messiah, and although many missed it, those who caught glimpse of the promised one, what did they long for after they saw the Savior??

My life has been marked by waiting for the next big thing, that somehow attaining something new, would make all that had been,worth the time and energy it took to live through it. Perhaps you can relate. Life will be better when.....fill in the blank. I get that other job, we move out of this house, we have a baby, our kids are older, our car is better, my family is closer or farther away..... Why is it that we live out our life never being content with where we are, but always longing for some future event? Could it be, perhaps, that we are created this way, but that our longings are misplaced?

Since the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden, man has longed for a better future.

January 1st comes with great expectations, all around me I see people thinking and planning new years resolutions, promises that are made to be broken it seems, as January 3rd brings to reality the ineffectiveness of our will power. What are you longing for? Perhaps next year brings with it the anticipation of new and glorious adventures! Or perhaps the new year marks the passing of yet another year of struggles, pain and loneliness. Perhaps you have resolutions to get out of debt, or lose that extra weight, or buy that new thing, or stop that bad habit. Making goals is a great thing, but what is it that motivates your goal making. Do you think life will really be happier in a size 6, in a new house, or with a new man? Or maybe underneath all that stuff you really have a longing for something greater, a longing to be a part of something that matters, or to be witness to something spectacular.

Paul and the apostles were anticipating the return of Jesus Christ, and the kingdom of Heaven. They lived their life with one resolution: to welcome their Savior, and to invite as many as they could to the great feast that awaits them. This year, I have no resolutions apart from one:  to walk where God leads me, regardless of where He leads me. I have a great longing to be a part of something great,  I want to be apart of God's redemptive story.

Can I encourage you today? Can I challenge the reasons behind what you long for? If you, like me, find yourself striving towards the future and dreaming of better days ahead, maybe it's a warning sign to stop and think about what your heart truly longs for. Maybe you long for comfort, less bills to pay, or a better lifestyle. Could is be that you really long for the great Comforter? God has promised to give us His supernatural comfort in the midst of worldly discomfort. Maybe you long for better friendships or better marriages, could it be that you long truly for the intimacy of having a friend who knows you better then anyone else? God longs to woo you into a relationship that is so fulfilling that it surpasses anything this worlds friendships have to offer! Perhaps you long to be better, do better, break that bad habit or stop messing up that one thing. Could it be, perhaps, that you truly long for forgiveness and that you desperately desire to shed the guilt and shame you hold on to and that controls the way you live your life. I have hope for you by friend, and his name is Jesus.

I write these things to you because I know them so well. I understand the pain of regret and guilt, I know the pressure of striving to be good enough and the devastation that happens when once again you can't uphold your own promises. That's  the beauty of Jesus, he doesn't desire perfection, or will power, good financial standing or great personal relationship skills. He is the savior, he came to save us....from ourselves.

As you look forward to 2014 with great anticipation, I pray that you find your longings satisfied, and that the great God who sent his son to earth on that glorious day 2000 years ago to save us, would be your greatest desire for the new year.

Blessings my Friends.
Erin

Grace For Christmas

Peppermint candies, fudge, sparkling trinkets and gleaming lights. To say that I love the Christmas season, may be an understatement! December is my favorite month, although we've had more years of want, then years of plenty, we've always managed to make memories and Christmas is always a special time for our family. This year, we gave our still young kids money to spend on gifts for each other, they took their mission as 'mini Santas' very seriously. Through malls, and stores, outlets and markets my children searched and searched for the perfect gifts for their sisters, brother, and daddy. Watching them shop and plan this year has given me such joy and new perspective on Christmas. In the years prior, I had done all the shopping myself, it was faster and easier.

Christmas with kids is a usually busy and exciting time, but sadly it can quickly become all about "what  I can get" and less about the love and joy and remembrance of Christ's coming. Can you celebrate Christmas with trees and gifts and still glorify God in all you give and do? How do the gifts we give reflect Christ? How, as a parent, can we enjoy the mystery and wonder of Christmas while still instilling the true meaning of the season to our kids? These are the things I ponder this year as I watch my kids make lists and talk with Santa, decorate cookies and drink hot cocoa from frosty the snowman mugs.

"Mommy?" a sweet voice breaks through the noise in my head, "I love Christmas!" What joy fills my heart when I see my kids thoroughly enjoying something I love, and I can't help but think how God feels when he sees his kids enjoying what He loves.

As I walked one of my daughters through a crowded mall, weaving in and out of packed isles filled with new toys, I watched her search for that perfect gift for her sister. She would pickup, shake, turn and contemplate each item, and place it back on the shelf. "Nope, this ones to.....shiny." and move 2 feet further down the isle.

 Matthew 7:11

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him."

God gave us a Savior for Christmas. He spent all creation, and time before it, planing and picking just the right way to bless his children. In that moment in the store, I could almost see he him planning it, before creation was even formed, the clay on Adam wasn't even dry yet. But he looked over his creations that he would make and already loved it so! Knowing full well that we wouldn't measure up. Just as I know full well that today will bring children who will not be perfect, they will yell, fight, be stubborn and needy, and yet I love them so, and I eagerly wait for them to open the perfect gifts that were so laboriously picked for them. I, who am so utterly imperfect, sure know how to make the holidays a fun and memorable time for my kids to enjoy. How much more so does my father in heaven, who is perfect and good, give us great gifts.

We tell our children that Christmas is the time when we celebrate Jesus's birthday, it's a party that we throw for him every year. This year my oldest, she's 7, asked me a valid question: "Mom. If Christmas is Jesus's birthday. Then why do WE get gifts?" Her innocent question took me by surprise, should I tell her it's because I like gifts? Or because we are an egocentric, selfish society that is consumed by commercialism.....? Somehow, that didn't fit either. "Well......" I began, praying that I would give a good answer... "You know how, when you go to a birthday party, you sometimes will get a little goodie bag for coming to the party? The gifts we open on Christmas are the party favors for Jesus's birthday." She was satisfied with my answer and bounded away to play. I was not, and I began to think. What gifts do we give God during this time of year that all too often feels so busy? We picked out the perfect things for little Billy and Aunt Betty and the grandparents are getting sweet pictures of the children posed in front of a giant glittering tree..... but what did we bring Jesus? As I pondered, and thought, feeling like my answer wasn't enough, I was reminded of the old song "We bring a sacrifice of praise."

We bring the sacrifice of praise

 Into the house of the Lord 

We bring the sacrifice of praise

 Into the house of the Lord and 

We offer up to you

 The sacrifices of thanksgiving 

 We offer up to you 

The sacrifices of joy

Suddenly I realized that all I do on Christmas, be it the magic of Santa, silly surprises, hot cocoa and cookies, crafts, trees, gifts and carols mean everything or nothing, depending on this: Am I bringing God praises this season? Is my life and gifts, and activity this season marked with the sacrifices of praise to God? Singing Christmas songs isn't enough, they are not a gift that is worthy enough of the king who was born! I want to be like the wise men who traveled years just to bring Jesus three meaningful gifts and to worship at the cradle of the newborn king. Or like Simeon, who waiting his whole life to worship the Messiah and as he held a wiggly tiny Jesus in his old and weathered hands, he worshiped the young king of the Jews.

So this Christmas season, I challenge you to give gifts not out of obligation or festivity,  but out of the grace that God has given YOU the best gift of all. The gift of salvation. And I challenge you to bring your gifts to God this year by being consumed not by parties and festivities and planning and shopping, but let your heart be filled with praises of thanksgiving and joy that you and me, although we will mess up and struggle and learn in this life, God our father loves us greater then we love our own children and is not put off by our childish ways, but finds joy in our process of learning. That, in itself, makes me fill with gratitude and joy that as I imperfectly love my own kids, God's love for me is perfect.

BLESSINGS and JOY and PEACE to you in want or in plenty this year, you have the gift that cannot be bought.

Erin

Grace for the Broken

Grace for the Broken

I've been thinking about sin, more specifically, how we as Christ Followers are supposed to react to the sinful nature of our fellow Christians? How do we, as a Church, treat our fellow sinners? What does God ask of us? And how do we add up? I'm sure you've seen a well-meaning Christian, call out a fellow believer in their sin. Perhaps, like me, you been the one dolling out the judgment and condemnation in the name of sanctification. Perhaps, like me, you've justified your actions with saying that you’re just “looking out for them.” Or even that it’s your job as a Christian to point out the sins of your brothers and sisters in Christ? Or perhaps, you've been on the receiving end of a thorough condemnation.

As I've begin to study what the Bible teaches about rebuke, I am struck by how we, as Christ followers, are often leaving out some very important steps in Biblical rebuke. In those moments where I have rebuked unfairly, or in the devastating times where I have received or witnessed a harsh condemning rebuke; something has always been missing. In fact, I can count on a single hand the rebukes that I have received that lead to fruits of repentance, most have led to shame, embarrassment and seclusion. Most of the time we tend to give a lot of advice and condemnation, and rarely address the heart condition that lead to the sin, nor do we use the word of God to lead and teach a way out of the sin. 

 Sin is a symptom, and God is the great healer of the core disease.

Proverb 29:6 Describes sin as a snare, or a trap. Think about this for a second, you have a friend and this friend has been dealing with a really struggling time, after a few years of this you start to notice that this friend has developed a shackle on their leg. “Friend!” you say, “What is this shackle on your leg? How did it get there!? You need to take that off…..” you continue. “Friend, I love you, but I cannot continue to see you if you continue to carry this chain.” Then you leave, you offer no key to unlock it, nor do you stay and help your friend figure out how the shackle got there in the first place. You simply state the obvious, shame them for it and go on your merry way. I’m sure you see the ridiculousness of this kind of response. But how many times have you seen it echoed in a rebuke from Christian to Christian?

Look as this scenario: You have a friend, this friend has shared a bit with you over the years of her broken marriage, or wayward children, perhaps her sister or father passed away and she’s not “gotten over it.” You've noticed that she’s been a bit more sullen then normal and you start to feel concerned for her. So you pray for her and you start to feel that you should talk to her so you invite her for coffee. As you sit and chat, she mentions that she’s needs to refill her pain meds, and you notice that she smells of cigarette smoke. That’s funny, she never used to smell of smoke. Perhaps she laughs about the parties she’s been going to where she’s been drinking and chatting up some male colleges of hers, even though she is still married to her husband. Suddenly, you see it…. This woman is sinning, she walking the thin and treacherous road of the grey zone. You gather the courage to face her and tell her that you are concerned about her, you don’t like what she’s told you about the parties and she can’t quite point down why she needs those pills. So you tell her something like this. “Friend! You’re drinking and smoking and spending time with other men rather than your husband! That’s not ok, you shouldn't do that! You need to stop doing that!.” You watch as her face flushes and her guard raises, “I love you, but I can’t be around you until you stop. I’ll pray for you.” And with that you give her and awkward hug and walk away. Behind you is a lost opportunity. Like the person in the first story, you have failed to give your struggling friend the key, and left her just as trapped as she started.

But what if, instead of shaming her for her sin, you instead spoke the truth of the gospel over her. What if you spoke of how God has restored and redeemed your relationships, how he has been faithful to rescue you of your sins, of which you saw no way out. Perhaps, you could have taken the time to speak the truth of who she is in the eyes of Christ. That she has been made new! That God has given her a spirit of power and strength to overcome!  How God has not left her alone to fight her own battles but that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has come with power and has given her the Holy Spirit to change her and that God desires to heal her brokenness if only she’d allow him! You see the Bible teaches us what the key to unlocking the chains of sin is, it is the Truth of the Gospel.

2 Tim 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Gal 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted”

2 Tim: 2 “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching”

It is quite clear in scripture that we who are spiritually sound should rebuke our brothers and sisters, but it is equally clear as to how that should be done, in the spirit of gentleness, by the word of God, and with complete patience and in teaching.

My challenge to you and me today is to remember the grace that God has given us. When God called us he didn't shame us and point to our sins, we most likely were well aware of our sins. No, when God called me, he did so by offering me a way out. Total dependence on Jesus Christ. He called me by offering me freedom, the freedom that comes from allowing God to call the shots in my life. If I am to look at my fellow Christian and point them away from sin, then I must point them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I will do so with the same grace and compassion that God extends to me.