Temporary Challenges, Everlasting Peace

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. --Luke 2:4-5 (NIV)

Unwed and expecting a baby, Mary and Joseph's nerves were probably shot. They had already weathered the stress of their situation and were probably eager to begin life as a married couple and get on with life. But God had one more challenge for them before that could happen--one more detail that fulfilled the ancient prophecies about the conditions surrounding the birth of the Messiah.

By decree of the Roman governor, everyone in the region was required to return to the city of their family's origins in order to be counted in the census. The distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem is approximately 70 miles and may have taken nearly a week to complete. What incredible fortitude and faith Mary and Joseph must have had to pack up at such an inconvenient time in their lives and trek to a tiny, overcrowded city.

Life's biggest challenges rarely come at convenient moments. If they did, they wouldn't be nearly so challenging! In the midst of such events, there may be no clear reason why God is allowing them to take place. Most likely, God's plan to use those times will not even be evident for generations to come. If the angel Gabriel had not alerted Mary and Joseph that what was happening was directly from God, they might have been overwhelmed beyond belief by all of it. As it was, it was already a difficult thing to endure. Still, they placed their faith firmly in God and rested as peacefully as possibly knowing that God's hand was at work in their lives.

No matter what inconvenient trials we face, we also can have the peace that comes from putting our hope and faith in God. We do not have to understand or even like what events may befall us. Just as the angels proclaimed a message of peace and joy to the shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth, peace does exist on earth for all of mankind. The joy of the Christmas season lies not only in celebrating the coming of the Messiah, the Savior, but the arrival of a long awaited everlasting peace.

Worse than a Faux Pas

If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. --2nd Thessalonians 3:14-15 (NIV)

So watch yourselves.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. --Luke 17:3 (NIV)

The usual sounds of laughter and conversation had turned, almost immediately, to silence as he approached. We glanced around in nervous fashion, darting our eyes questioningly from one face to the next, begging one another silently to be the one to speak up. Before Jim* had a chance to squeeze in beside any of us at the lunch table, Mark* shifted his weight and moved to stand up.

"Hey bro, room for me?" Jim asked.

"Actually," Mark responded, "why don't you and I go sit inside the commons, I need your opinion on something." His usual easy-going tone was just the same as ever.

If anyone could address the problem with Jim, it was Mark. His way of speaking was sincere and diplomatic, even under pressure. As a group leader in our on-campus fellowship group, Mark could always be counted upon to dispense godly wisdom when you needed it the most. Jim was about to receive a particularly large portion of it; His recent behavior was inappropriate at best, outright offensive at worst.

I don't know what it was that Mark said to Jim that afternoon. Perhaps Jim was truly unaware of how he his behavior was being interpreted. Maybe no one had corrected him before because they were afraid of the reaction he might display--after all, he was something of an intimidating guy. I do know that Jim's attitude changed for the better from that point forward. Things were initially awkward when he rejoined us at the lunch table, but soon we were all back to laughing, talking and sharing a good time before our afternoon classes.

No one likes being told that he is wrong, particularly if he is taken to task in a public manner. Being receptive to constructive criticism or well-meaning admonition is difficult when we our defense mechanisms have kicked into high gear. That is why it was so effective for Mark to take Jim aside. Close friends can help give us a proper attitude adjustment when it's needed.

My truest friends have been there to "get in my face" when I've gotten off track with my personal relationship with God. They offer their sincere advice and opinions when they observe that my behavior is not aligned with that of someone who professes to be a Christian. I'm thankful for friends like Mark* who know how to point out sin in such a thoughtful, caring manner without downplaying the serious nature of it. Sin is far worse than a faux pas, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be handled with care--especially among Christian brothers.


*not their real names

Losing a Loved One*

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. --Luke 22:43-44

About five years ago I attended a college production of "Godspell". The on-stage interpretation of Jesus' ministry and his final days gave me new insight into Jesus' last hours with his disciples.
My heart and my emotions began to stir as I contemplated the scenes before me. Jesus' last supper was his final opportunity to enjoy the company of his friends, participating in an ancient ceremony that bound them together in fellowship and faith.

I strongly doubt that Jesus' actions and words that evening were spoken in a tone that conveyed his all-knowing, all-seeing divine nature. When Jesus broke bread and drank from the cup as he explained that this was his final time to do so, I imagine he spoke in a low tone, laced with pain. Inwardly he must have been torn, knowing that very soon he would be walking away from his dearest and most beloved friends, and none of them had the slightest clue about it.

Knowing that Jesus' heart was breaking and his spirit was anguished well before he was lifted onto the cross brings me to a point of deeper understanding about his humanity. Because of this, I know that he understands the pain each of us feels when we lose a loved one.

There are times when loss bring with it so much grief that I can hardly believe I'm capable of feeling a single emotion so strongly. I don't think that the pain of losing a loved one hurts any less whether we are prepared for it or if it happens suddenly. After all, Jesus knew full well when it was his last conversation with his friends, still he grieved the loss. Certainly he felt an overwhelming pain as he looked into each of their faces for one last time before enduring even greater pain completely alone.

I find peace and comfort in knowing that God does not leave me alone with my emotions. He comes alongside me, even cries with me as I struggle through loss. Although God doesn't necessarily take away pain the moment I ask him to, he does provide me with a source of strength. The Holy Spirit gently whispers a reminder of God's promise that a day is coming when I will be free from the heartbreak of losing a loved one.

*Today's meditation is dedicated to the Kooiman family

Entering God's Kingdom

Jesus answered "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying 'you must be born again,'"--John 3:6-7

*

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." --Luke 23:42-43



I chose to reflect on two scripture passages today because today has two-fold meaning for me as a Christian. The first and perhaps most obvious is that today is Good Friday. Many of my fellow Christians and I are commemorating Christ's crucifixion--the greatest sacrifice of love ever made by one human being for another. For that reason, Good Friday is one of the most vital aspects of the Christian faith.

Along those same lines is the secondary, but not unrelated, personal significance of this date. It was 10 years ago today that I publicly accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. One decade ago I made it known that I knew I could not save myself or get into heaven of my own merit. I stated that I believe that the Bible is God's word, that Jesus is God's Son who was both human and divine. I believe that Christ took on the punishment that I deserve for my sinfulness when He was put to death by crucifixion. I believe that Jesus has conquered death and rose from the grave three days after his death. Because of that belief, I have been born-again--born of the Spirit.

I believe all those things even more strongly than I did when I was a teenager. The reality of God's love for me has become all the more apparent through the years. Like the thief who hung on the cross beside Jesus, I will be welcomed into God's kingdom when I die. That is what makes Good Friday so good, and what makes me look forward to celebrating even more on Easter Sunday.

Save One

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? --Luke 15:4



As I look forward to the beginning of Holy Week, and the celebration of Christ's resurrection, I find myself reflecting on the magnitude of God's love for me. I am ashamed to admit that in the past I preferred to dismiss the gruesome reality of Jesus' crucifixion as the middle step in between Palm Sunday and Easter. By distancing myself in this way, I downplayed the power that Christ exhibited over death. I was also depriving myself of the joy of fully acknowledging that Christ died for me personally. Me!

If I had been the only human on the face of God's earth, He still would have sent Jesus to die for my sins. Jesus was fully capable of coming down off that cross, thereby avoiding an excrutiatingly painful and humiliating death, but He didn't. As he hung there, abandoned by His own heavenly Father, He saw me in His mind's eye. He didn't just hang on the cross, He clung to it in order to give me the gift of eternal life.

In taking on the world's sins, He took on my sins. He willingly stepped away from a place that knew no pain, to come to find me in the middle of mine. This may sound strange, but knowing that He died for the sins of the world doesn't impact me nearly as much as knowing that He died for mine. I am rocked to my core to realize that I am loved so intensely by the Creator. He chose me. He saved me--one solitary human--from the eternal punishment of my sins. He conquered death...for me.

The Christmas Spirit

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." --Luke 2:10, 11, 14


Calvin Coolidge once said that "Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." This year my husband and I have talked about how there is something that just doesn't "feel" like Christmas this year. Perhaps it is because the weather has been in the mid to high 80s, and the air is hot and dry. Add to that the fact that many stores have replaced the phrase "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays" and it is little wonder why we feel as though there is something missing. Even in the quote from Calvin Coolidge about Christmas being a state of mind, I get the feeling that his focus is not quite on target.

As long as we live in a fallen world, there will always be one attempt or another to remove Christ from Christmas. So what is the solution? Do we go along with the politically correct state of affairs? Do we give in to the commercialized celebration of "the holidays"?

Although Christmas day has now come and gone on our calendars, the celebration of Christ's coming will continue well into the New Year...and the year after. For me, Christmas is not a one day celebration. It is not a series of parties and family gatherings, a flurry of gifts, or an opportunity to take some time off work. Christmas is about recognizing that God's own Son was sent into the world at just the right time. Jesus was God in flesh, walking and living among His creation, all for the purpose of living a blameless and perfect life that none of us could.

Christmas, to some degree is a state of mind. It it being ever mindful of the reality of Jesus' birth and its reasons. It is about remembering that one day, when the time is right again, this world will cease to exist, and Christ will return to establish His Kingdom on the new earth. Is Christmas a season? Yes, but it is not one that is marked on the calendar. It is marked on the pages of history, as well as on the pages of God's plan for mankind. Peace, mercy and goodwill at the hand of our Creator God, are the things that Christians have to celebrate when we commemorate Jesus' birth.

Christmas is more than meets the eye. It is about what and Who has met our hearts. May the God of Christmas, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, keep us ever forever focused on the reality of the incarnation, and the freedom we have been given through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Adjusting Perspectives

He said to them, "When you pray say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."--Luke 11:2

Because I am still a relatively new employee where I work, I sometimes struggle to understand exactly what it is my supervisor wants me to be doing for a particular project. Initially I was afraid to ask a lot of questions because I didn't want to appear incompetent or insubordinate. My supervisor and I each have a different vantage point when it comes to completing certain tasks--he has far more experience than I do, but I often have creative ideas about how to do things. Over the last year I have learned how important it is to communicate with my supervisor not only to understand where he's coming from, but to get a better handle on how the whole project fits together.

My work attitude sometimes carries over into my spiritual attitude. There are times when I don't even dare ask God "why" certain things happen, lest He think I am weak. I was of the mindset that God is God and what he says goes. God is omnipotent and sovereign, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want us to talk to him and ask about the things we don't understand. Although we cannot do anything to influence God, the act of communicating with him through prayer does much to teach us about his will.

God doesn't always give answers that make sense to us, and that's because we are merely human. When we echo Jesus' words of "your will be done", what we're really telling God is that we know our place. We know that he has a plan, and we have faith that leads us to believe that God's will is being carried out exactly as it should be in our lives, but we are also acknowledging that we are not the ones in charge. Although God certainly doesn't need our permission to carry out his plan for his people, I'm sure he smiles on those who approach his throne with an attitude of humility and submissiveness.

Even when I haven't understood the steps involved in God's plan, I have seen Him do wonderful and amazing things in my own life and the lives of others. I won't ever fully comprehend how the pieces of his plan fit together, but I know he is in complete control. It is because of the evidence of his will in my life that I say truly that his name is hallowed. The more I keep in close communication with God through prayer and the reading of my Bible, the more I understand the character of God and the better I become at seeing things from his perspective.

Humble Beginnings

She wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. --Luke 2:7

This weekend Brad and I spent time with our families, commemorating the birth of Jesus. Before we all dove into the food at my grandparents' house, four of my cousins read part of Luke 2 aloud to the rest of the family, and then my grandpa offered a prayer. Luke 2 is quite a familiar passage to us--we've long since memorized it, but this time it sparked some discussion on the drive back home to San Diego.

Brad commented that since he had grown up in a Christian home, his first thought when he hears the word manger is that it is simply where the baby Jesus was placed. Aside from church Christmas programs and table-top nativity scenes, he never really gave much thought to the significans of using a manger as a bed.

I on the other hand, as a farmer's daughter, reflect differently on the setting of the events of that first Christmas. I have been around mangers and hay, barns and stables, and all the not so lovely smells associated with them. To me, Mary and Joseph having to stay in a stable because there was no room at the inn, represents far more than an inconvenience. Part of the amazing part of the Christmas story is that Christ came from a place that was holy and pristine, to a world of sin that was decidedly not pristine.

Our Savior, the Prince of Peace, God of the Universe, spent his first night sleeping on itchy hay, being drooled on by animals. The song "Away in a Manger" paints a quaint little picture of a sleeping baby with the animals respectfully keeping their distance, passively mooing a lullaby. Somehow I doubt this was the case.

I imagine Joseph was probably kneeling in a cow pie as he helped Mary deliver the baby. He was probably swatting away a persistent fly while trying not to panic about the situation. Mary was perhaps sneezing from the hay in between contractions, and the animals probably made all sorts of interesting noises in response to the strangers that had invaded their space. I have a feeling that the cloth they wrapped the baby Jesus in was the same one they had thrown over the back of the donkey for the trip.

I am amazed that Jesus, who was God in flesh, started life in such a humble manner. Jesus began his life naked and uncomfortable, being drooled on by animals. Jesus' life ended in a similar way. As he hung on the cross he was naked, far beyond uncomfortable, and spat upon by men. He began his life in a position of humility, and it ended with him being humiliated. I am in awe of the work done on the cross for the sake of mankind, but sometims I am even more in awe of his humble beginnings and the fact that he chose to start that way so he could reach us on our level in order to offer us future glory.