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?