'Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.."

Is Jesus really anymore awaited? Or by whom was He really ever? At least it often doesn't seem so.

I read today in Matthew where the prophet Isaiah was quoted speaking of when Jesus came, in the land of Galilee, the "people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned."

If you know the book of John, you know that it begins speaking of the beginning in which was "the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God....and this Word was the Light of men," meaning Christ Jesus.This Word "light" is known by all as something we like, we need, we want. Whether used figuratively or literally, we all are drawn to the "light." Something to shed joy amid the darkness surrounding.

It was interesting while speaking of "evil"with my language teacher the other day, the word I made up while searching for the right one, we corrected as simply,"dunkelheit,"or darkness, as all people are able to relate evil with darkness. It only makes sense. Even so, all men are aware that our world is full of this evil, this darkness. And we search for a way out, an escape from it all. A "light." I know this because my teacher herself has been scarcely if at all informed about the Bible and the light that it sheds, however very aware of the darkness surrounding. And as many agree, Europe spiritually speaking, is very dark. This, we feel.

This picture of a valley, a region sitting in darkness, strikes a note with me as I find myself feeling as though this is where we live. When I think about the experiences I have had in the past considering churches and Christian groups while in America, it is 180 degrees different from the world we are now experiencing. This once spoken of "long awaited Jesus" is, again, seemingly no longer long awaited. We have been taken out of our Christian subculture (in the US) where the presence of the body of Christ is simply strong enough where some Christians even miss the fact that they don't actually have a relationship with Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And now we are missing this "body life" altogether, and must strive in our own personal walks to maintain what we personally know is true yet plead with the Lord to increase in His Church and body, among the darkness here.

We pray the words of the song as it continues, that Jesus will be our light and continue to set us free from the sin in this world and the radiating impact that it has. As we know, Jesus is the Light that radiates in this dark world and we pray that He will, as He was,

"....born to set (this) thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth, thou art. 

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king.

Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. 

By thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone. 

By thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne. "

J.R.

Baby Love, my Baby Love..

So now that we know we're having a son,...(still so foreign to me say that, just as husband was when we were first married), this whole process is just getting better and better. Amazing to see the body of this creation within me and know that it is all an amazing gift from God, beyond anything we could ever imagine- such a bonding privilge of marriage. Overwhelming feelings of awe, fear, praise, love, anticipation all compete in my heart, mind, body and soul. Moments of guilt wave over me as I wonder if I've done everything I can for this little life who's had no chance at all to fend for himself regardless, yet comfort always follows right behind, assuring that God is greater than any little mishaps I'm responsible for, and completely in charge and in control of this life. I also cling to the hope that He wants to answer my prayers of faith to keep this little one perfectly healthy and whole with a simple breath.

My love for Rich has even grown in this process as together we walk blindly into this. Although we trust God as His hand is the one knitting our child together at this very moment. What an experience as I squeezed his hand, as we heard for the very first time what our very first child would be; while looking at his first pictures and rejoicing of the good news of his current status. For the first time we could say "our son.":) As I move into this stage of my life, I've watched in wonder at every little life that I encounter, something not to be taken for granted.

Songs and verses such as "How deep the Father's love for us" become more dear to me as I reflect on the love of my earthly father and his unconditional love, the love of our heavenly Father which is obviously greater than all, and then the love that I have for this little being that I can't wait to meet, hold and love.
God puts an innate mothering instict into us to love others- whether they be our own or others.' This love is only a glimpse of what we can only imagine God's great love to be like in our finite minds.

As I drove to work this morning the sunrise was shining so bright, and as I was thinking about the wonder of this child in me, I thought of how great it will be when we are in the presence and embrace of our heavenly Father, once and for all- eternally His. I can only imagine, but thank you God for this current picture of how great the love that you've given us really is.

How can we cleanse our way? What gives us life?!

It isn’t wrong to only read the Psalms if that is what you need. However if we never read the rest of Scripture we’d never learn much about the reason those Psalms were written. I find myself, when low of energy or time, reading tidbits like the Psalms and proverbs, or old favorites like Paul’s concise letters of recommendation to the saints, which always empower my mind and spirit. But I long to know more about what God’s written, since every book within the Bible front to back is inspired by Him; but it takes devotion! We must discipline ourselves regularly to do it so that when His Words are written on our hearts, they will come forth on our tongue to others which is what gives us strength from day to day, helps sustain us spiritually and teaches others about God’s truth. There is no way we can live with God’s Word- it is our lifeline and even if He does not judge us according to how much we know, we know Him so much more intimately when we take the time and delve into what gives us our only lasting hope in life. So I encourage you along with my renewed personal challenge, to spend more time in the Word and to memorize it so that my life will not be less than what God would have for us.

Ironically, after I wrote this, our pastor on Sunday also spoke also on the importance of the Word of God. He declared several times that “this is not an idle Word!” I loved one thing he said about how Jesus quoted Scripture, because He knew He needed it! It’s not a sin to be weak in the flesh because that is our disposition, we just must acknowledge it and take God’s Word up to stand guard against it and we WILL win!

What is on our minds when we are weak, doubting, and alone? What will be bleed when we are cut? If the Words of God are what accompany our minds in the darkest of times, then we will be enriched. It is then we are made stronger through it! Praise God we have an out. We must read the Word and pray every day, and we will grow, otherwise we really have no hope.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word!..”

I love that verse and after reading/praying it this week I saw it at a friend’s house and was encouraged as I saw that all of us while reading God’s Word see the truth of God, the truth about us, and when we put them together, that gives us hope and the ability for life and godliness! We must admit our susceptibility(s) and take heed according to God’s commands, for He desires to keep us!

RE-STor-a-tion

I love to do word studies to learn where words originate.
In the definition of the word restoration, we find that something once beautiful, though it lost it's glory, is now being put back together.
I wonder about the breakdown of the syllables which isolates the four letter word REST. I don't know if this is any root of the word but I find it's solo meaning ironically fitting. While we must work to restore something completely, we must also realize that good work is not to be done without some measure of rest. The LORD Himself rested after creating the world and commanded in the OT that peoplet take a day of rest. In the NT we are assured that we can come to Jesus, weary as we often are, as He will give us rest (which we know brings much restoration).

My co worker was explaining to me just yesterday, with a twinkle in her eye, all the highs and lows of restoring the house her and her special friend are working on. My distracted mind went on to think of the endless reality shows presenting multimillion dollar projects that many Americans sit on their back breaking couches to watch, while those on the screen endeavor to polish up the "junk in their lives." It is fun to watch the joy in their faces throughout the process of restoring all kinds of old things; houses, antiques, and so on...


 Many people do this for a hobby; some, to save from having to buy a new house, but I'm sure in some way, they all come away with the same satisfying feeling. I thought "what a perfect portrayal of what Christ is doing in all of our lives?" He takes us; dirty, broken and empty, and renovates us from the inside out. He builds us up again upon the love He offers and the new life Him that promises hope and brings joy that is wrought from within, which is then ever beckoning to burst out and appear on our faces and shine in circumstancial disaster.

What once was lost, now is found; what was blind, now sees.
"Though our sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow."
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin left a crimson stain, HE washed it white as snow."

According to your faith...

Many times in Jesus' ministry we saw Him heal, and it was usually (if not always) connected to their ability to believe. In Matthew 9 He says to the blind men "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"

Upon their unanimous "yes," He went on to say "According to your faith let it be to you."

Praise God we have this simple yet magnanimous power invested in us by the grace of God by the power of His Spirit to ever even begin to believe! While the world we walk in is often hopeless, His light shines SO bright wherever He chooses upon when able to see it, we can have but only one response to our Master in Heaven; "Yes God!" ...but we must first believe.

The eyes of our hearts once darkened must be begged open. As He offers us life and deliverance from the powers of darkness to convey us into the kingdom of the rich life He offers us in Christ (Colossians), we can step forward in faith that He will accomplish all that He wants and wills when we ask it in and FOR His name and according to the faith that is in us.

Our church prayer night last night was so uplifting. Praying Scripture with fellow believers is hands down one of the best things we can do with our lives. It offers hope to all; both those praying and those prayed for. If done right, we will not stop at small things but lift of those of our world who are hurting and in need; therefore no one will go unnamed, and the Spirit will intercede for us where and when He knows what we desire, yet have not the words, time or capacity to accomplish.

And so let the theme of our lives be ever praise to Him and let the words of our mouths always be "praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below!..." We can and must believe as He is a God of infinite might which we can only behold once we take the leap of faith in belief and prayer so often written of in His Word. For then and only then, can we cross over from darkness into light.

Learning How to Die

"He takes our bodies slow..."

The song by Jon Foreman, telling the truth of our very temporal lives as we ought to consider and realize. Our bodies begin to break down once finally fully grown. I realize this now as I'm about at the point where youth begins to while yes "change" is one way to look at it, I believe "fade" is more accurate.

To witness the purity and innocense of three year olds daily with their blemish free and soft seemingly perfect skin, is a falsehood to believe that they should last forever. At the peak of our prime, from 18 to 30, unfortunately often the toils of life begin to snare...and we must know that this shell is not to last.

Oh how I look forward to the perks of eternity, selfishly speaking, to gain resilience and energy everlasting. Yet eternity is only as great as it will be because God is there; we must remember.

He is our sole joy and purpose in life, and as our bodies reflect their perfect creator' THIS is what we must rejoice in; His perfection and ability to create a handiwork that much resembles the kind of God He is.

Thank you God for this life, but may we hold high above anything this world has to offer, the esteem for eternal riches in You and Your glory. May we endure the suffering for a night as true joy comes in the morning!

He set the captives free!

As Christ must assuredly came to deliver us from evil and bring glory to His Name, we should find ourselves more "prostrate in the dust" before Him in humble gratitude than we many times are. He tells us that He came that we "may have life and have it to the full" in John 10. In Isaiah, the foreshadowing of His coming presented for us the hope of "good tidings to the poor, healing for the brokenhearted, and liberty for the captives!"

Yesterday I went to the maximum security prison in Raleigh for a training to enable me access on future occasions. Our church is beginning a ministry to share in the lives of women and men in prison whom are so desperately broken. We know our place in this world and as sinners as awful as they, though we've perhaps not gone to the extent that they have in regard to choices, we are equally inadequate before our God as they, and carry the same hope for salvation!

As our hearts go out to them to see the forgiveness that we have been shown, we know we must remember when we are in a prison and they are there for a reason! But we know we've been given second, third and many more chances to repent of our sin and want them to know the same. Their physical surroundings they may not be able to change, but as we know that is not where true joy lays. There lays yet a potential of real and true freedom from what has imprisoned them in the first place, carrying with it the hope of redemption!

THIS is what I hope to help relay and as many other women of all ages, races and religions poured in the room for our elongated textbook training, there was a sense of sweet fellowship that filled the room. The intentions of empathetic hearts attempted to go where they had not gone before, to show a love we are so grateful to know, to a world that has yet to grab hold of what they are so longing for.

We ourselves were sinners, slaves to sin, but set free by the power of the Holy Spirit and His love, His Word, and His work in our lives.

LORD Jesus, thank you for setting us free from the bondage of sin and give us wisdom to to enable others to take hold of this wonderful truth by the power and for the glory of your Name!