Archive | December 2013

The Reach of God

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

I was a teenage mom, not by accident, but by choice. From the time I was a little girl, dragging around a baby doll, my greatest desire in life was to grow up, get married, and have babies. I was just 18 when I married my High School sweetheart. A week later, we headed across the country to Florida where he was serving in the Air Force and would be for another seven months. Did we want a baby? Absolutely! Did we have any sense? None! Did we stop to consider he would soon be unemployed and we would be uninsured? No, we didn’t think of that.

I had an easy pregnancy, happy to be carrying my new husband’s child. As we got close to my due date, the doctor commented that the baby was not turned in the head-down position, but expressed confidence he could turn it before birth.

Unfortunately, she arrived more quickly than anticipated, coming feet first with her umbilical cord collapsed against the birth canal. I was in imminent danger of losing our baby at that moment. I was rushed to the delivery room where they cut me and literally pushed and pulled my baby out of the womb.

As they pulled her out, she was ghastly white and I thought that my baby was dead. There were no congratulations, no happy cheers, and most ominous, there was no cry from the baby. She was immediately whisked out of the very somber delivery room. In panic I kept asking, “Is my baby OK? Is my baby OK?” I could not bring myself to say what I feared most—was my baby dead?

They could only respond, “We’ll know in a few minutes.” That few minutes seemed such a long time for this panic-stricken young mom. Finally, I heard a weak little cry and someone said, “That’s your baby.” Words cannot describe the incredible amount of relief I felt with hearing that tiny cry.

A few minutes later they brought her to me, and I was certain she was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. She had totally captured my heart.

As I think of Mary, another teen-age mom, I wonder how it felt to know she was carrying God’s child. As she gave birth to her first born, I cannot imagine what it must have like giving birth in a stable instead of a cleaner setting. She gave birth not to the son of her new husband, but to the only begotten Son of God.

Knowing mankind’s desperate situation, God reached out and became a helpless baby to bring salvation to all who would receive. At Christmas we celebrate God’s incredible gift to mankind. Stepping out of heaven’s glory, Jesus became human. His mission was to become sin for us that we might receive the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

If you have not yet received the precious gift of salvation, I urge you to invite Jesus to be your Savior and Lord. God in His grace is reaching out to you today. Celebrate Christmas by rejoicing in the most precious gift ever given—God’s beloved Son. Let Him capture your heart.

Daddy’s Pet and Yet?

Dec22

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather through the law, we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:20

I was a born pleaser, blessed as a child with two loving parents. I tried so hard to do everything they asked. Not understanding the deep love of good parents toward their child, I came to the twisted conclusion that they loved me because I was such an obedient child. I knew my parents loved my siblings, but being the first-born daughter had given me a special daughter-to-daddy connection

When my baby sister was born and Mom’s lap became occupied, I climbed into Daddy’s very open lap and almost took over sole possession. My place at the dinner table was right next to him and no one else had better try to sit there! I would watch for his car coming up the dusty country road to our house as it neared time for him to come home from work. When it came around the corner, I ran as fast as I could to the gate at the end of our long drive way to meet him. He would open the car door and I would climb in to greet him and ride to the house by his side. I was teased about being “Daddy’s Pet”, but I relished that position.

Although I tried so desperately to be the perfect child, there were times when I messed up. Any harsh word from my father crushed me. Could I lose my special place as Daddy’s Pet? A nagging thought crept in–would he still love me as much?

As I grew up, I tended to view God the same way. I tried to be his perfectly obedient child, but I was hopelessly unsuccessful. As an adult, I wanted to be the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect Christian, and I dreadfully failed at all three. Ugly attitudes plagued me even when my actions hid what I felt.

Overwhelmed by feelings of failure and doubt, I wondered if God could still love me. Through a miraculous demonstration of God’s grace, I came to the realization that he loved me not because of my goodness, but because of His. What a tremendous relief and a life-changing revelation! Feeling secure in His love only increased my love for Him and my desire to serve Him more fully.

God revealed His holy standard by giving the Law, understanding that we would never be able to keep it completely. No matter how hard we try, we cannot be good enough to make ourselves right with God. We are desperately lost apart from the grace of God.

The Law was intended to demonstrate our hopeless condition and to draw us to the One who loves and forgives. Only Jesus was able to perfectly obey the Law. Through Him, and only through Him, we can come into God’s presence assured of His love and acceptance.

Take a few minutes to thank God that He did not leave us in our helpless and hopeless state, but chose to send His beloved Son to bring us into right relationship with Himself.

Mary’s Servant Heart

Dec17

I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said. Luke 1:38

How easily we identify ourselves as being the “Lord’s servant”, but do we stop to consider what that really means?

Mary had been given a startling revelation, along with a difficult assignment. She would be privileged to give birth to the Messiah, but most would doubt her story. Being pregnant before marriage would certainly cause people to question her morality and the law said that an immoral woman could be put to death. She had no idea how this pregnancy would impact her engagement to Joseph.

There were risks for Mary, but she didn’t seem to contemplate the cost. Her response, “may it be to me as you have said” demonstrates an unreserved commitment of her body to the Lord for His purpose. Disregarding any cost, she responded in total and absolute submission to the will and plan of the Master—that is the essence of true servanthood.

How was Mary so quickly able to come to a place of total surrender? She had a deep and abiding trust in a loving God—One who would not ask her to do anything that He would not empower and equip her to do. If her Master gave the assignment, He would also protect her. He was and is totally trustworthy.

When God places you on a difficult path, He can be trusted to give you the needed strength to complete the journey. He wants us to trust Him enough to accept the challenging assignments, with a true servant’s heart. Your assignment may involve risk, the possibility of being hurt, or doing mundane tasks. Can you say with Mary, “I am the Lord’s servant; may it be to me as you have said”?

God’s Power Plan

Dec9

His incomparably great power for us who believe . . . is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead. Ephesians 1:19-20 NIV

You may think I’m crazy, but I actually enjoy mowing the lawn and when you can’t walk, you can’t push a lawnmower. Following foot surgery in 2012, I faced a longer than anticipated recovery. The bones didn’t heal in the three months the doctor had predicted, and I was restricted from full-weight bearing for six months. During that time, I was unable to do many of the activities that I enjoy the most. I couldn’t hike or take walks with friends and family. I couldn’t plant flowers or dig in the dirt which I’m convinced in good for the soul. I longed to be outdoors during the long June days and focused too much on what I couldn’t do. Whining “I can’t” easily led to poorly attended pity-parties.

During that extended period of forced inactivity, I asked God what He wanted me to learn. One lesson became very evident—when I focus on what I can’t do, I am blind to see what I can do. When I changed my focus from I can’t, to what was achievable with my limited mobility, God opened my eyes to see the possibilities. I found I could pull weeds sitting on my backside, although I once scooted right through a dog pile. I learned to build a website. I had time to write and teach a new Bible study book. I was definitely able to do what God wanted me to accomplish during that time.

How often do you use the words, I can’t when faced with a challenging task? Do you recognize the “incomparably great power” that is available to those who believe? I find it mind-boggling that the power that raised Christ from the dead is available to me—to all who believe.

Paul recognized that potential when he indicated, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Phil.4:13). Although Paul wrote roughly half of the New Testament, I cannot find a single instance where he said, “I can’t,” to something that God asked him to do. He recognized the tremendous resurrection power of God that was active in His life.

When Jesus faced the unimaginable task of taking our sins upon Himself and dying in our place, He did not say, “I can’t”. Motivated by love and strengthened by God, He chose the difficult path of obedience.

God’s plan is for His power to flow in and through believers to accomplish His ultimate purpose for us. Whenever He asks you to do something, He will empower and equip you to do it. He will never ask you to do what He won’t give you the strength to accomplish.

As Christmas approaches, is God asking you to do something difficult or challenging? Are there relationships you need to take the first step toward mending? Is there someone you need to forgive? Never forget, the power that raised Christ from the dead resides in believers. Take hold of it and choose the path of obedience.

Loved and Adopted

Dec3

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the kind intention of his will.. Ephesians 1:4

My Aunt Jo and her husband were favorites of my generation of cousins and siblings. They loved kids and were fun to be with, but this loving couple carried a deep sorrow. Aunt Jo’s two pregnancies had ended in disaster at about six months and the last one almost took her life. They had so much love to give and wanted children desperately.

What would it take to adopt? They knew it would take time, money, and effort. The application process was expensive and tedious. A mountain of paperwork had to be completed and submitted. Aunt Jo’s house which usually had a well-lived-in look was cleaned and shined for visits from the case workers. It could have passed inspection from a tough Marine sergeant. The case workers would determine if this couple should have a baby. Then came the agonizingly long waits, not knowing if they would be approved or not. However, no effort was too great and no sacrifice too large to be able to adopt the children they longed to have.

What great joy for the entire family when finally that first baby arrived. My aunt and uncle deeply loved their baby boy. We older cousins adored him and his baby sister who joined the family three years later. In case you’re wondering, these two precious little ones were authentic family members from Day One. They shared all the legal rights of our family. They were the heirs to everything that had belonged to their parents. Because one special couple had a great love to give, these children were adopted and became cherished members of our family.

Ephesians tells us that God had a plan to adopt us, according to the kind intention of His will. He had much love to give and He wanted children with whom He could share that love. No cost or effort was too great: He sent His own son to provide the way. It is through Jesus that we have been adopted. We have become cherished members of His family, with all its privileges.

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:16-17) God’s plan from before the creation of the earth was to give us an eternal inheritance in heaven.

Do you understand that as children of a loving God we can boldly enter the presence of “Abba Father”? Take some time to consider His graciousness toward you. He chose us. He adopted us. We are wanted, loved, and highly valued. As God’s adopted children, we are family.