Writing

Last night, my son and I were playing on his Magnadoodle.

"Draw a cement truck, momma!" As quickly as my pen finished the final detail, swoosh, my preschooler had erased what I'd created.

"Now draw a tow tuck!" Draw, swoosh, erase. "Now make all the stars." Draw, swoosh, erase. "And a heart for how much you love me." Draw, swoosh, erase. "And now letters..." Draw, swoosh, erase.

As I grew mildly frustrated by how quickly he swooshed away my creations, this hit me: Life is constantly hitting us with words, constantly bombarding us with messages about ourselves and about the world around us. Sometimes those words are written on a Magnadoodle; they present themselves for a fleeting moment and then, swoosh, are wiped away without a second thought. Sometimes those words have a bit longer presence, perhaps like pencil on paper; they aren't wiped away with a simple slide of the hand, but with the handy work of a rubber eraser, they too can be rubbed out. Yet other words feel more permanent, like words chiseled into stone. Try as you might, no amount of rubbing or swiping or pounding or paint will cover up what's carved so deeply.

Sometimes, have messages engraved that deeply is a gift. When those messages speak of how dearly loved we are, how valuable we are, and how much purpose we posses, those chiseled words act as a breastplate protecting from the attacks of shallow lies that threaten our identity. However, when those messages are reversed, the protective breastplate turns into a drowning millstones. When, because of abuse or other traumas, we identify etch into our identity stones lies of insufficiency, disdain, and hatred, we struggle to believe any other words spoken, even those written in the Bible.

I challenge you to take a few moments and see what's etched in the stone of your heart. Are these words uplifting truths, the names that God calls you? Or are they debilitating taunts that pull you down no matter how good life gets? If it's the later, find someone you trust: a friend, church leader, or professional counselor, and share the ugly marks that have been written on your heart. Find someone who will commit to helping you sand and chip and pound away what's sat so long. While I promise that it'll be a lot of work, I also promise that those words, as deeply embedded as they are, don't have to be permanent. God's greater, and through His truth and the loving community that He's placed in your life (even if that community is hard to find), is possible to write a new story, even when it's been etched in stone.

Anticipate the mess

Lately, one of my three year old's favorite things to do is make cookies together. He's getting pretty good at measuring and leveling ingredients; this week I even let him crack an egg! Despite his best efforts, a good third of the ingredients fall out on the counter between scooping them out of their container and into the bowl. No worries! I've learned to anticipate the mess. You see, while making cookies with him makes the process so much slower and SO much messier, the quality time and sense of accomplishment that he has afterward more than makes up for the inconvenience. I treasure our time together and jump at the opportunity to build into our relationship, even if it means scrubbing counters and floors (and occasionally the dog when he gets under foot).

I wonder if that's how God feels about us sometimes. "Those silly humans! They're so slow to catch on to My directing, and boy they're great at making a mess of things! But I simply love them enough to patiently guide them through the mess. My heart longs for relationship with them that I'll invest My very self into their lives; I'll muddle through the mess to draw them closer to Myself."

I'm so grateful for that level of love!

Snowy Progress

Yesterday, we woke up to a dumping of snow. The brilliant while coated everything! Knowing I had plans with a friend in a few hours, I dutifully went out to shovel the driveway. From inside, it looked like we'd only gotten a few inches, so surely I could tackle this task in an hour, easy. When I got outside and realized the snow was actually up to my ankles. No worries, I got this!

I started rhythmically shoveling: scoop, dump, scoop, dump, scoop, dump. Whew! As my arms started to tire, I stopped to look at my progress; I'd been working hard, yet I'd hardly made a dent in clearing the snow! Okay, back at it: scoop, dump, scoop, dump.

Aw man, the snowplow just filled the end of the drive with slush and ice. I'll get to that in a minute; stay focused on the area I've started. Scoop, dump, scoop, dump.

Hold up, where did my toddler just run off to? Oh he's playing in the front yard? I guess I'll start on the section down there. Scoop, dump.

Alright, we've been out here a good hour; we have to be almost done, right? Nope, definitely only halfway done. Maybe only a third. Scoop, dump.

And the sky is dumping a fresh layer of snow where I've already shoveled. No matter; keep at it. Scoop, dump.
Ope! The mail lady is coming; quick make a path for her! Scoop, dump, scoop, dump.

Okay, kiddo's getting cold; time to take a break and get him situated inside with his dad. Okay, break's over, back at it. Scoop, dump.

Hmm, there's only this little portion left and the icy mess from the snowplow to finish; I'll make a game out of it and see if I can finish the rest in 20 shovelfuls, easy peasy! Except now I've been at this for two hours, and my shoulders and back and arms are starting to ache. I can't take quite as big of a load, and I lose half of it trying to propel it over the fence. 11, 12, 13 scoops. Okay, maybe I can't clear the rest in 20 loads, but I definitely can clear this last few feet here. Scoop, dump. 18, 19, 20. Yeah, with the wind and drifts, this section is definitely deeper than I thought! Okay, how many more scoops? 28, 29, 30! 38, 39, 40!

Whew! It's mostly clear! I just have to do that little bit from the snowplow and I'm done. That's an easy 5, 10 scoops top! I got this! Scoop, crunch! Except this isn't the fluffy snow of the rest, this is ice! This plastic shovel can't crack it; time to switch to the metal one. Except this one's way heavier, and so is the ice! And I've grown tired, so I can only move small loads. Chisel, chisel, scoop, dump. Chisel, chisel, scoop, dump. 5, 6, 7 scoops. 8, 9, 10 more. And it's only half cleared. Seriously? Am I ever going to finish this? Maybe I can leave this last little bit and plow through. No no, it's not worth getting stuck, finish the job. Chisel, chisel, dump. 18, 19, 20 scoops! Finally, I'm done!

Sometimes I feel like reaching my goals is like shoveling snow: the achiever in me looks at the task at hand and thinks, "I got this! It'll be a quick accomplishment!" And then I start working on the goal, and realizing it's way deeper than I anticipated. Or someone comes and, trying to help, actually makes the situation worse and sets me back 10 steps. Or I have to pause my progress to tend to the needs of my family or a friend. Or something completely out of my control hits, erasing my progress. Or I have to take a break to allow myself to rest, even when it feels like doing so is a setback. Suddenly, what I thought would be a quick and easy goal turns into something that seems impossible to complete! Sometimes I've worked so hard and feel like I have so little to show for it.

Maybe you're feeling that way too. Maybe you're on the verge of giving up on something that's becoming so disheartening. I encourage you to stop for a moment, look up and survey the progress that you've made. Yes, you're not where you started, but you are progressing. There's a clear spot that wasn't there before. Maybe there's a clear path where there was once dysfunctional coping skills or hurtful relationships. Stop and observe the new paths you've created; reflected on the muscles (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) that have strengthened in the journey. You may not be where you hoped you'd be, your hope may not yet be achieved, but dear one, you're getting there! Take care of yourself, rest and tend to your needs, reflect on how far you've come, and when you're ready, get back out there. Scoop, dump.

Adoption

 If you ever want to realize how little control you have adopt, and further, adopt internationally! After being in the process for 2 years, we FINALLY have a referral! We FINALLY know our kiddo's name, have seen her face, know her history, personality, likes and dislikes. Already we love and adore her, our beautiful daughter! And yet...

And yet she doesn't even know what we exist. She doesn't know there's a family who's worked so hard and moved what feels like Heaven and Earth to bring her home, a family who anxiously and joyfully awaits for when we finally get to bring her home! While we feel so well acquainted with this precious child, she knows nothing of us.

And so often is our relationship with God. Long before we knew of God's very existence, He knew everything about us, down to the hairs on our head. And more than simply knowing us, He loves and adores us! And He moved literal Heaven and Earth to bring us into His family by sending Jesus to redeem us and bring us into His family. How amazing is it to be adopted by the eternal, glorious God?!?
For He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. He did this by predestining us to adoption as His legal heirs through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:4-5

But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Beacuase you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls our, "Abba, Father". Galatians 4:4-6

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

Fear

Like most preschoolers, my son has an evening routine that brings him comfort and security as he drifts into sleep: a book, prayers, and hug from momma or daddy, his nightlight on, a special teddy bear snuggled tight, and his blankets wrapped snug as a bug in a rug. With daddy out of town a few days ago, we decided to throw routine to the wind and engage in a special sleepover in momma's room. As my son's breathing slowed, indicating that he'd given into sleep, I realized something: he didn't have any of his usual comforts. He was suddenly okay with the dark room, he no longer needed the security of tightly wrapped covers or a snuggly friend. Why? Because he was comforted by something greater. He slept soundly knowing his momma was right there beside him.

I think God calls us to the same rest in His presence. We fool ourselves into thinking we can find peace and comfort through temporary things: if only I secure this relationship, I'll be at rest. Surely another drink or a higher dose or another snack will give me the peace that eludes. If only I can achieve all of the things and prove myself, I'll find true security. We turn to idols while God gently calls, "Come to me, all who are weary, and I'll give you rest. Surrender to Me, and let me be your peace. Fear not, for I am with you; I hold you in my righteous right hand."

So do not fear, for I am with you; don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Come to me, all who are weary and heavy burdened, am I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn  from Me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Tools

On the latest addition of learning from my preschooler: tools.

For whatever reason, my preschooler LOVES to play with our handheld vacuum cleaner. He loves toting around the house sweeping up stray crumbs and dirt and dog hair (which the dog doesn’t appreciate when the hair is still attached to him!). One morning, the sweeper turned toy suddenly stopped working. As much as my son slammed the button, it just won’t suck. No worries! My son knew just what to do! He ran to the basement and returned with his toy hammer. “I’ll fix it, momma!”, he declared and started pounding the pour machine!

It took a good amount of self-control not to laugh at his efforts. My adult brain could easily assess what the problem was; I knew a hammer wasn’t going to fix a dead battery. Yet in his childhood innocence, he was confident that this was the right tool for the job. He’d just learned how to use it to pound plastic nails into his tool bench and had seen daddy use a hammer to fix the panel in the bathroom, so of course it would fix this too!

I wonder how often we approach life’s problems with the tools of a child. Maybe we learned in childhood that the way to get our needs met was to be loud and demanding, so we struggle when our verbal pounding doesn’t get us what we hoped. Or maybe we learned to survive by not having needs at all; maybe the tool we were given is people please; always put others first and they’ll never be mad at us. Except maybe now we’re feeling unfulfilled or unmet because our needs have been ignored for so long. Or maybe we hold the tool of addiction: if we can just get that next fix or have one more drink or go on one more shopping spree, that whole in our heart will be filled. Or maybe it’s the tool of self-protection; if we can just flee from relationship, hurt or cut of them before they hurt us, we’ll be okay.

Today, I challenge you to take inventory of your emotional and spiritual toolbox. What tools in there no longer serve the purpose they once did? What’s no longer beneficial? What once useful hammer is now trying to fill the role of an electric cord? And what are the tools are missing? What are the things that you still need to be successful, happy, and satisfied with yourself, your relationships, your life?

Once you’ve assessed your resources, I encourage you to reach out to your community and share both the tools that you have and those that you’re lacking. Reach out to a trusted friend or family, a pastor, someone in your small group or club, or even to a counselor (I know of a few great ones! =)) and ask for the help that you need. Stop trying to fix a dead battery with a hammer; find someone who can teach you the tools that you need.

He Knows My Name

I recently gifted my preschooler with a Scout dog. For those unfamiliar with the toy, it’s a stuffed animal that you can program with your child’s name and a few of their favorite things. After setting it up, I presented it to my son and watched his eyes and grin widen as he heard the pup speak his name.

“Momma!”, he shouted excitedly. “Momma, the doggy knows my name! He knows it’s me!”

He was amazed that this toy KNEW him! Sure, he has other toys that can say generic phrases, but this one spoke his very NAME!

As I watched my son’s awe and wonder at being called by name, I was struck by the reality that Someone much more important knows his name, and my and your names too! Sweet friend, God sees you and calls you by name. On your loneliest days, you are not hidden from His sight. When you’re struggling with your worth, He calls you beloved, valued, seen. He saw you in your mother’s womb, sees you in your proudest moments, and sees you at your lowest of lows. And He doesn’t simply see you; you aren’t just another member lost in the crowd. He sees you and calls you by name. He sees your pain and heartache and calls you to His loving arms. He sees your confusion and disappointment and calls you to seek His wisdom and hope. He sees the lies that you’re believing and calls you walk in the truth of who He says you are. You are not hidden, not overlooked. God sees you. God calls you by name.

But now, this is what the Lords says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summed you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay our hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:1-16

Gratitude

“Papa God, thank You for construction vehicles, how they dig and move dirt and build big roads! Thank You for boo boos, that You can heal them! Thank You for my sister and that she’ll be here soon to play with!”

This is a typical prayer of my son: thank you, thank you, thank you! In his young brain, he doesn’t feel the annoyance of road construction but only the wonder and power of big trucks and the joy that he gets to see their progress first hand. He doesn’t feel the fear that his latest injury will cause long term damage or pain; rather, he fully anticipates God’s care and healing of his hurt. And he doesn’t stress the endless hours of adoption paperwork and delay after delay of the process not progressing like it’s “supposed to”; instead, He fully trusts that God will bring his precious and already beloved sister home to him, and he is already dreaming of all the ways that they’ll play together.

Ah, the faith of a child, the peace of full assurance of God’s provision and promise, the joy of gratitude in the waiting. How would my life change if I viewed it through the eyes of my son? How much joy and peace and excitement would I find in letting go of what’s out of my control and simply basking in gratitude for how greatly God has blessed me. Studies have shown that by simply listing 3 things a day that you’re grateful for, you can greatly increase your happiness and decrease your stress. And with God’s abundant blessing on my life, surely I can come up with more than just 3 a day! With freshly paved roads that assure safety as I drive and scars (physical and emotional) that show how I’ve been healed and the opportunity to grow my family, surely I can think of more than 3 things to thank Him for! Rather than complaining about the laundry piling up or the house that constantly needs cleaning or stressing finding time to cook dinner, I can praise Him for close to wear and a warm house to live in with an abundance of toys for our family to enjoy and for always having a full belly. Rather than complain about early mornings with a sleepless toddler, discovering a pile of dog poop in the kitchen, or the forever falling snow, I can choose to praise Him for a few extra hours to snuggle with my little buddy, for a four legged companion who offers both loyalty and protection, and for the beauty of His creation in all seasons. What can you thank God for today? How will you choose gratitude over complaining?

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Mixed Play-doh

I don’t know about you, but I distinctly remember in my childhood being warned not to mix the colors of my Play-doh. “Keep the blue and red separate. Once they’re mixed, you won’t be able to undo them and the Play-doh will be ruined.”!

I wonder if, in life, we sometimes feel like mixed Play-doh. We feel like, because of certain circumstances or choices that we’ve made, our color isn’t as pure or bright or beautiful: “Because I was abused, I’m now damaged goods.” “Because I went too far with my girlfriend, I’m not as pure as I was.” Because my parents got divorced, or because I got divorced, people will view me as a failure.” “Because I’m not a size 2, no one will see me as valuable.” Because… well, you can fill in the blank. There are so many things out there than can cause us to feel less than, so many things that challenge our value or cause us to question our worth in the world or make us feel like an accident or passed over. So many circumstances and choices that make us feel like mixed Play-doh.

Here’s the thing about mixed Play-doh, though. As my own child swirls the colors together, I can’t help notice the beauty of his new creation. Sure, there’s no way that I’m separating those colors, no way that I can make it look like it once way. Yet there’s something mesmerizing about swirl of the colors coming together; there’s something attractive and eye catching about his new combined creation that the pure, fresh out of the container dough doesn’t possess.

I think that’s how God views our mixed Play-doh lives. Rather than condemn us for where we’ve fallen short, He calls us to come to Him: “Come here, My child. Bring Me your mistakes and shortcomings and blatant disobedience to me. Repent, and let Me redeem your brokenness.” When we’ve been cut down by the pains of a fallen world, He doesn’t see us as broken, useless vessels. Rather, He calls us to come to Him: “Come here, My child. Bring Me your hurts and heartaches, bring the injustices you’ve experienced. I too have been scarred by this fallen world. Come to me and trade your sorrows for My joy, your hurt for My love, your fear for My peace.”

Praise God that He does not leave us in our broken state! He promises to redeem and restore us. He doesn’t call us broken but beloved. Praise God that He’s powerful enough to transform the pains of our lives into a beautiful testimony of His character. Praise God that He’s big enough to transform the disappointments of our lives into a grandness greater than we could ever dream of! Praise God that He can take Play-doh discarded by the world’s standards and redeem it to intricate beauty.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:10

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellences of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22

Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. Psalm 107:2

You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life. Lamentations 3:57-58

And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14

Coffee

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side,but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4

This morning we talked about this passage, sharing how, when life squeezes us, we're called to have "Jesus juice", aka the characteristics of Christ, flow out of us. When we find that our humanity rather than Christ gushes out, to recognize and surrender our sinfulness to God, asking Him to fill us with Himself. Given time to reflect on what we'd heard, I had the following image.

Maybe it's just because I'm a sleep deprived mom with a thermos in hand, but my thoughts went to coffee. As a kid, coffee was a gross, bitter thing that grown up tortured themselves with; as an adult, coffee is a sweet treat that I crave. Has some magically transformation taken place in the flavor of my java juice? No! Rather, my tastes have changed and matured. Similarly, as I reflect on the bitter moments in my life, they leave a different taste in my mouth. Did these experiences change? No! Rather, God has changed and matured me, allowing me to see His goodness and purpose in my hardships.

Crap

My son has reached that age at which he doesn't have time for diaper changes. He's got far too much to do to lay still while I clean him. The other day, he had a particularly poopy diaper. It lay still for a solid 5 seconds, and then the squirming began followed by full body flailing and screaming as he voiced his protest. "Buddy, this would all be over if you just stayed still. By fighting me, you're making it much worse than it needs to be."

As he walked away clothed in a fresh diaper, I was convicted. How often do I do the exact same thing? How often has God called me to be still and wait on Him to clean up my crap, but instead I flail and fight to do it on my own. "My child, be still. By fighting Me, you're making it much worse than it needs to be."

Familiar

Ever find yourself bored by the Bible? You've heard the same stories so many times that you've grown numb? Reading through the book of Daniel, I found myself there.

I read the same story that I've heard for decades: King Darius' officials convince the king to make a degree forbidding praying to anyone but himself. Daniel defies this degree and prays to God. His consequence? Being thrown into the lions' den, which of course he survives. Yawn. We all know how the story goes.
Hold up! Blame it on my new found love of Marvel movies. Blame it on God graciously giving me fresh eyes. This is not a "yawn" story. This is miraculous!

Imagine Stan Lee making a "Daniel and the Lions' Den" movie. We see Daniel in a crowd listineing to the king's new decree. His God is suddenly illegal. The camera zooms in on Daniel's face which is both forlorn and confident. He will not abandon his God. Somehow, his God will save him, and even if He doesn't, Daniel confidently trust Him (sounds like a few other characters from a few chapters back *couth Shadrach, Meshach, an Abedigo cough*). The scene switches to Daniel kneeling in his room in prayer when guards bust through the door and apprehend him. With smug faces, they drag Daniel to a pit filled with roaring, leaping lions. As Daniel falls in slow motion into the pit, out of no where an angel zooms in Tony Stark style, gently placing Daniel in the corner of the pit and then shuts the mouths of each and every lion in an epic fight scene (because it won't be a Marvel movie with an epic fight scene).

The scene returns to Darius pacing the night away in his castle. "Daniel's God, if You're real, protect Your servant." As the light barely peaks over the horizon, Darius runs full sprint to the den. "Daniel? Daniel!"

"I'm here, king. My God has protected me."

The film appears to be over, but there's a hidden scene within the credits. Not only has God miraculously saved Daniel's earthly life, but He's also transformed Darius' heart, and as a result, changed his kingdom. We see a final scene that hints at a coming story, of God's plan for salvation for all.

In this advent season, as we hear stories that are often so familiar, I pray that God gives us fresh eyes to see. May we marvel at the miracles of God using a humble virgin to bring His beloved Son to earth to save us all. Lord, remove the veil of familiarity. Trade in our flannel graph understanding for a marvelous epic. Give us eyes to see Your miraculous plan. May we know You more.

A Baby Changes Everything

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.Mary Visits Elizabeth39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”Mary’s Song46 And Mary said:“My soul glorifies the Lord47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has been mindful    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—    holy is his name.50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,    from generation to generation.51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones    but has lifted up the humble.53 He has filled the hungry with good things    but has sent the rich away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel,    remembering to be merciful55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,    just as he promised our ancestors.”56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Luke 1
Mary has always stuck out to me as I reflect on the Christmas story, and this year more than ever as we're expecting our own baby boy. As I read Mary's response to the news that she will bear the son of God, I'm amazed. As her whole world, her entire plan for her life, is turned upside down, she doesn't respond with anger or fear. Rather, she responds with total surrender and praise.
Lord, teach me to be like Mary. When things don't go my way, teach me to respond with gratitude and praise. When the unexpected comes, teach me to be ever trusting of Your plan. You are in control, and I'm not. And I won't have it any other way.

Omniscient

"'Yet there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him. He went on to say, 'This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled them.'
From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.
'You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God'
Then Jesus replied, 'Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil! (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.)"
John 6:64-71

After miraculously feeding over 5,000 people with a young boy's lunch, Jesus declared that He alone is the Bread of Life, that it is only through Him that people can be sustained eternally. He offered gruesome imagery of eating His flesh and drinking His blood in order to live eternally. In response, many turned from Him; this man didn't fit their cultural norms or ideas of the Messiah. Even one in His innermost circle would betray Him.

Astonishingly, Jesus knew all of this. He wasn't surprised when Judas betrayed Him. He wasn't surprised when followers who yelled "Hosanna!" on  Sunday would yell, "Crucify Him!" on Friday. He knew who would reject Him, beat Him, kill Him. Yet despite this knowledge, Jesus still draws them in. He continues to share the truth of the Father with them, continues to heal and provide the miraculous, continues to share His very self with them, continues to love with abandon.

And so He does today. My God knows my heart. He knows the ugliness and beauty. He knows when I will turn from Him to do my own will. He knows how I will fail Him. He knows my sins that put Him on the cross. And yet! And yet, He still loves me. He still draws near to me, speaking the Father's love, truth, and justice into my life. Despite knowing my failures, selfishness, and hardheartedness, my Jesus draws close. He loves me still, loves me enough to die a brutal death.

What love is this?

The Law of Tradition

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’[b]

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e] 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

In what ways have we replaced God's laws with man's traditions today?

Grace

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend.Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Matthew 20