Jesus Saves

I haven't posted on this blog in a while.  I have been getting some things together and taking a break.  But, this post was something I thought warranted my coming out of hibernation.  What could be so important to drag me from my warm cocoon of family, home school, cooking, reading, etc?  That would be my son.  You see, this weekend, he turns 8.  On February 7, as a matter of fact! 

"Why is that so exciting," you ask. "After all, you have 3 other children who have turned 8 ahead of him.  Is he your favorite?"

Maybe but that isn't the point.  If you tell the other 3, I will deny it, point blank.
What has inspired me? Well, at choir practice tonight, I found out that we are singing "Jesus Saves" by Travis Cottrell this Sunday.  That is one of my favorite songs.  The other reason?  My little guy is being baptized on Sunday, his birthday, with the mother of all Christian songs echoing through the rafters.  That is the trifecta for this mom.

You see, Asa should not be alive and neither should I.  He was almost miscarried 5 times.  The warm, nest he was cradled in burst when he was still too little to live on this earth.  We were told that he would be born and that he would be too little and that he would die.  His chances were less than 2% for survival.  But, despite all the odds, Jesus Saves.  He survived despite astronomical odds against him.  But, God doesn't play odds.  God does what God wants.

Fast forward several years.  In our kitchen, Asa begins to ask me questions.  Dad comes in and we talk eternity over with our 5 year old.  He understands.  It really isn't that hard to figure out.  We all have a yearning in our soul for something that we don't understand.  There is a piece missing that only one thing, Person, can fill.  Kids sense it and figure it out so much more quickly.  On our kitchen floor, in my arms, our son ushered Jesus into his heart.  Jesus saves.

This child is a son of Adam(yes, I have been reading Narnia with the kids).  He was born to die.  Jesus came into the world born to die so that my son and I could live forever in Heaven.  Jesus saves.

Happy birthday, AJay!

Happy Baptism, AJay!

Jesus Saves
   

A Strange Way

If you are a believer, then you may not question God and His methods.  I am a believer and I do!  Yes, I confess: I question God sometimes! (gasp)  There is Biblical evidence of people questioning God.  He responds to them in various ways depending on the motive of the heart of the person who is doubting.  Abraham was made the father of nations.  Mary became the mother of Jesus. Zachariah was struck mute for 9 months.  The heart was what mattered.

I question God's method for saving the world.  He is God, after all!  He could have just spoken and people would be saved.  He could have forced us to love Him and to repent.  He didn't!  What kind of love would that be, forced love?  Not love at all, I say!  Instead, He went about salvation in the strangest possible way: a baby!  A baby?  Not very fearsome or forceful, huh?  God became vulnerable and tender.   He used a baby, a teenaged, unwed mother, and a carpenter from a tiny town.  Then, enter in a census, another little town, a stable, and a feeding trough and you quite possibly have the oddest setting for any story much less a story that will bring salvation to a hurting world!  Only God could pull off that scenario!  And He did!  No one before Jesus nor anyone after Jesus has had more impact on the world than that tiny baby.  Time literally centers on Him.
This is the premise for the song "A Strange Way to Save the World".  Another song that I love at this time of year!  "Now, I'm not 1 to 2nd guess what angels have to say."  Well, yes I am! 

Wood: A Common Christmas Theme!

I was hovering somewhere between sleep and waking this morning after a very late night at work and I was thinking or rather I think that God was speaking. He gave me a thought about Jesus and His life. There were several common themes but the one I had never thought about or put together was wood. Jesus was born in a manger that would have most likely been made of wood. It was probably not the finest wood nor would it have been sanded down like furniture would have been. The manger was a watering trough for stable animals.

 Yet, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords spent His first days there.

His earthly father, Joseph, was a carpenter by trade. Since, Jesus was the first-born, He would have apprenticed His father in the carpentry trade. He would have worked with wood to cut it, sand it, and form into beautiful pieces of furniture for use among the villagers of Nazareth. Then, after Jesus' 3 years of ministry from the age of 30-33, he was forced to carry the cross made from wood down the Via Dolorosa to the hill of Golgotha. He didn't make it all the way due to the cruel beating that He was forced to endure. When He got to the top, they laid His arms against the cross bar and drove nails through His wrists and the tops of His feet. Not just any nails but spikes. The crosses were made from wood that was common to that particular part of the Roman world. Most likely, the cross was roughly hewn from olive trees. Although, there is a legend that it was made from the dogwood tree and that God made the dogwood to not grow very big from that point on. No Biblical basis for that, of course, but interesting, nonetheless. The wood of the cross would have been rough and full of splinters piercing His skin. Jesus Christ, Wonderful, Counselor, God-incarnate, left this earth the way He came in: surrounded by unsanded, splintery wood. Yet, while He walked the earth, he took that same wood and sanded it and polished it. The same way He does that with wood, He does it with us. Jesus takes us in our rough form that is full of splinters then He sands and polishes us into a beautiful piece of art.

Thank the Father in Heaven, who orchestrated this beautiful plan so that we might get to see Him there one day. From the manger to the cross, what a journey! What a life! What a wonderful legacy to those of us who believe! The journey didn't end there. Jesus Christ rose again on the 3rd day and that is what makes Him different. No other "god" has ever risen and been seen by more that 500 people after his death. May the God of peace richly bless you and your during this CHRISTmas season!

Vulnerable

Vulnerability: the capability of being wounded or hurt.

Many of us would not want to be called vulnerable.  That would be an insult to our pride!  We want to be strong and capable and protected from harm from either physical or emotional assault.  Why would anyone want to be vulnerable?  Who wants to be harmed?  We must allow ourselves to become vulnerable sometimes to let people get close to us.  There are no true connections if we are prideful.  We must trust that they will not hurt us!  That is not always the case and thus the saying, "You only hurt the ones you love."

Jesus knew from the get-go that He had to make Himself vulnerable.  Is there any other creature out there who is more vulnerable than a baby?  No!  A baby cannot feed itself or change its own diaper.  It cannot walk or talk.  Vulnerable!  Yet, Jesus humbled Himself to take off His crown and come as a baby.  Vulnerable!  How could He have protected Himself from His enemies?  He had to be protected!  God used Joseph to protect Him by telling him to take Mary and the baby to Egypt.  Mary protected Him as only a mother can.

When Jesus came to his final days, He made Himself vulnerable!  He allowed Himself to be beaten to within an inch of His life.  He allowed Himself to be mocked and scorned!  He allowed Himself to be stretched out and nailed to a cross.  Why?  So, that we could come close to Him!  Our sin separated us from God and Heaven.  We could not make ourselves vulnerable enough to be deemed worthy of Heaven or a relationship with God.  He had to make that way!  He had to allow His Son to become vulnerable so that we could draw close to Him despite our pride.

There are some who are still prideful and feel that they don't need saved.  There is nothing wrong with them.  They don't sin!  They are basically good people who try to do good to humanity.  How do you know that you have done enough or been good enough?  Is there some cosmic ticker that keeps track, adding and subtracting according to your deeds?  Why would it matter?  If there is no Heaven or Hell, why, then, would we be good?  We could just do whatever we want and treat each other like dirt and steal, lie, murder etc!  Sure, we might go to jail but in the long run?  There is just a hole in the ground where we reside until we return to dust.  Where is the hope in that?  How depressing to live that way!

We all feel the longing to be accepted, to be loved, to feel needed, to feel wanted!  That may be, to some people, simply the human condition.  But, I think that those longings are the deeply ingrained desires to have God in our lives.  In Christian speak, we have a God shaped hole that can never be filled, no matter how many ways we try.  We don't feel loved?  Then, we look for love in other humans.  We always end up heart broken!  We don't feel needed?  We fill up our schedule until we collapse from exhaustion!  We don't feel wanted?  We may turn to drugs, alcohol or other things to mask that pain!

This Christmas season, will you make yourself vulnerable?  Would allow Jesus to fill that hole that is in your heart?  Isaiah made it known that:
⁴ Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

If you have already allowed Him into your life, are you too busy?  Are you flitting to this party and that?  Are you trying to find that perfect gift?  Give the gift of yourself to your family and give the gift of rest to yourself!  Allow the Holy Spirit to renew you and make the Christmas season that best that you have ever experienced!

Mary, Did You Know?

I remember holding my daughter for the first time.  She was so tiny and smushy and boy, did she have a set of pipes on her!  That girl could wail and she did for what seemed like a year but was really only a few months.  But, in the few quiet moments, when she slept, I would smell her hair and neck.  I would caress her cheeks, toes, fingers, and belly.  When her 1st Christmas came around, I remember watching her in awe and wondering if Mary ever felt that way.

When Jesus was born, did He cry and keep Mary and Joseph up all night?  Did He smile in His sleep?  Did He spit up?  What was it like to change the smelly diapers of the Savior of the world? Did He roll off the bed?  Diaper rash, sickness, and tummy aches?  Did He have these things?  I had never questioned them until I had my child at Christmas and I heard the song, "Mary, Did You Know?".

Yes, I think she did know that the sleeping child she was holding was the great I am.  She knew very well what she had to do.  When she smelled his head and cuddled him at her breast, was she overwhelmed at the thought that she is giving life to the Man who gave her life?  I remember with all my kids how I felt about nursing.  How cool is it that I can nourish them and help provide their immune systems with immunity and their little bodies with vitamins and nutrients?  I considered my ability to nurse as a great privilege that is uniquely female.  That very thought must have overwhelmed Mary.  Scripture tells us in a couple of places that Mary pondered these things in her heart.  What a relationship that she must have had praying to her Savior as He lay in her arms!  She did know!

Most mothers know that responsibility and don't take it for granted.  Mary knew.  The angel, Gabriel, had told her.  As Jesus skinned his knees and played with his friends and learned a trade, Mary watched on as a mother does, knowing that God had a mighty plan.  Luke 1 records Mary's very words to Elizabeth about God and His plan.

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     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 merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

God has a great plan for you.  God never moves away from you.  We move away from God!  We move away from God's plan.  We swerve off the path that He sets before us.  If we let Him, He will guide us back and His heavenly GPS never fails.  I recently met a young girl whose life hasn't worked out the way she had planned.  But, she is looking to God for a 2nd chance and for guidance back to her path.  This Christmas season, are you where God wants you?  Are you off the path and turned away from God?  Then, call out to Him.  He is never lost or turned around.  Maybe you are and always have followed God's plan but things seem to be trudging along at a pace that seems awfully slow.  Know that God has you exactly where you need to be!  Open your eyes and look around for opportunities to serve where you are.  There are those who are in need of encouragement all around us at all times.

1 Thessalonians 5:14&15 says, ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

That is what we are to do!  Merry Christmas!

Father, help  us these days to encourage one another.  Help us to see You in the sigh of a baby or the brush of clouds across the sky.  When we veer off path, steer us back in the right direction.  Thank You for being the God of dozens of 2nd chances.  Humble us as we look at the lights and sing Christmas carols and wrap presents and cook supper.  Show us where we might serve You best where we are right now!  AMEN and AMEN!

I Did Not Marry the Man of My Dreams

Do you have a type?  I did! 
I will start out by saying that I had a very confused childhood. There were many different father figures in my life and I was determined to marry someone very different from all of them.  I pictured in my head the "dream" guy!  He had to be at least 6 feet tall with blond hair and blue eyes.  He had to be a successful business man and moderately athletic.  He had to be someone who would whisk me all over the world and take me to musicals and plays and not ignore me for sports.  He had to have a fancy car and be willing to rub my feet after a long day!
Sounds dreamy, doesn't it?  When I began to date, I looked for guys who fit this mold.  Height was of utmost importance.  I wouldn't date a short guy!  I am 5'8" tall and that was a must!  While pursuing this fantasy list, I dated every manner of loser.  There were a few nice guys in there but mostly losers.  I am just being honest!  Maybe my loser was someone else's winner.  I hope that is the case.
When my friend asked me to be in her wedding, I asked her if there were any cute guys as groomsmen.  She told me that she didn't think there was anyone to whom I would be attracted.  The night of the rehearsal came and I looked across the aisle at the fellas.  I saw this young man and thought, "That is the man I am going to marry."  WHOA!!!!   STOP right there!!!!  This guy was short(well average) but short by my standards.  He was just an inch taller than I.  He had dark brown hair and brown eyes.  Other than his appearance, I didn't know anything about him.  Later that evening, we began to talk and guess what?  He was kind of a geek.  I mean, he played video games and board games and could talk computers and such.  EEWWW!  But, he made me laugh!  The next day the pull that I felt for him grew stronger.  At the reception, I caught the bouquet and he caught the garter.  After the reception, we went out and played trivia.  Oh my word!  He was smart and could compete with me(I have a nasty competitive streak).  And, he made me laugh!  We sat out on the dock under the Savannah night sky and told each other every thing!  He even told me that he was in love with me!  I couldn't believe it!  I was feeling the same way!  (To hear him tell it, I said it 1st but that is just not true!) Did I mention that he made me laugh?  We left the wedding knowing we would see each other again as we only lived 20 minutes away from one another.
That began our whirlwind romance!  As I got to know him, I realized that he fit very few criteria on my list! He wasn't a high powered businessman.  He doesn't like musicals or plays.  He loves sports but instead of ignoring me, he took the time to teach me about football.  I am a UNC Tarheel fan so basketball, yes.  Football, no! He is a computer geek and loves to play board games and I found out that I do, too!
The important thing is that he has qualities that weren't on my list.  He is sweet, compassionate, loving, kind, honest, a great cook, an even better listener, and the yen to my yang.  He is patient and generous and he comes from an amazing family.  And after 15 years of marriage, he still makes me laugh!
I am thankful that God didn't give me the man of my dreams.  If He had, I would have missed out on what God dreamed up for me! 

Persevere, Encourage, and Connect

Have you ever heard the legend of Pheiddippides?  According to legend, Pheidippides was sent from Marathon, where a battle had raged, to Athens letting the people there know of the outcome of the battle. After allegedly running 150 miles without stopping he burst into the assembly and announced the victory over the Persians and then collapsed and died.  Some legends say that he ran there and back and lived.  Who knows?  All I know is that we derive the term marathon from this legend.

  Now, I am a runner.  I like to run(not 150 miles).  It does something to my brain. When I go periods without spiking my serotonin levels, people around me pay for it.  I, however, am not a long distance runner.  30-45 minutes is enough for me.  I thought at 1 time that I wanted to run a marathon but after looking at the training schedule decided that I didn’t have 4-6 hours per day to devote to running 4-5 days per week.  As educators, we are in it for the long haul!  Some of you reading this have run to Athens and back and have finished the race.  Some are nearer to the end and some are closer to the beginning but we are all running.  Ask any veteran educator and he/she will tell you that perseverance was the key.  We want to finish well. 

 1 Cor 9:24-27 says:

²⁴ In a race all the runners run. But only one gets the prize. You know that, don’t you? So run in a way that will get you the prize. ²⁵ All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
²⁶ So I do not run like someone who doesn’t run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air. ²⁷ No, I train my body and bring it under control. Then after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the rules and fail to win the prize.

Notice, he didn’t say that you were going to win but to run as if you were.  We should never fail to see the prize before us.  What prize do you envision?  A scholarship for college?  Independent learner? Life long learner?  What prize do your children see for themselves at the end?  As they get older, ask them.  Let them have a say(within reason) in what they want for their lives.  Then, begin to run toward that goal with them.

Are you training your whole body and those  of your children?  A great runner doesn’t just work on his legs but works his core and arms and trains his mind for the long run.  How are we training the minds of our children?  Are they getting a well rounded education?  Are we teaching them self-control?  I think that is a fruit of the Spirit that is sorely lacking in the world and I realize that it is sorely lacking in me.  Do we have our kids training for the long haul?  Do we have around us a great cloud of witnesses to bolster us when we fall?  Do our kids have friends that are racing for the same prize?  Moses had people hold his arms up when he could no longer do it himself.  Jesus had the disciples accompany him to pray for Him.  We know from scripture that they fell asleep. TWICE!  When He needed them the most, they were sleeping.  They couldn’t endure!  Imagine how they felt when they knew what He had to endure.  He was headed to torture and death and they were sleeping.  Sometimes, I feel like I am sleeping.  I feel Jesus tell me, “You couldn’t even stay awake for 1 hour.  Look at what I have entrusted to you.  Be vigilant!”  Persevere!

Many of you know my story of AJay and I won’t bore you with the details but suffice it to say that at 10 weeks pregnant, we were told that there was a 50/50 chance that the baby and I could die.  At 19 weeks I went on bed rest.  At 23 weeks, my waters broke and I entered the hospital.  The Lord brought to mind Romans 5.  We will all suffer trials!  But suffering brings perseverance, perseverance character, character brings hope and hope never disappoints! For 11 weeks, I lay in the bed at Mission while someone else mothered my other children while I carried this one child.  I let God develop my character from my perseverance during this very trying time.  What choice did I have?  2 really: 1 to be grateful for the lesson that I was being taught and to do so with grace and joy or 2 to kick, scream, cry and whine about where God had placed me.  With God’s grace, I was able to endure it with strength.  God’s strength not mine!  I was weak and He was made strong in my weakness.

Now is our time to endure, to keep running steadfast, stay up praying.  Our calling to be parents and educators can be exhausting.  It can bring trials and suffering.  We don’t get the break when our children leave us for 8 hours a day for 180 days out of the year.  What do we get instead?  We get to watch the light go on in our child’s eyes when he masters a concept.  We get to mold and shape our children into godly young people who look for something more in life than what can it benefit me.  We get the blessing of watching our children!  Yes, we only have them for a short time( about a ¼ of their lives) to make them into god-fearing, responsible, life-long learners.   How we endure during this time in their lives will be modeled by our children with theirs.  Are we persevering with grace and mercy or are we kicking, screaming, and whining?