God's Mystery Unvieled

                                         The star which frightens brings Good News!

The shepherds hail God’s name!

The Heavens sing, the sheep bow down, 

all earth now greets Shalom!

Peace we prayed for now has come

The galaxy proclaims,

“He who loves you has been born

Come greet Him, Christ the Lord!”

Born for grief, this little One

His mother’s heart pierced through

Peace and Justice will prevail

God’s Mystery unveiled.

May you have a very blessed, Christ-focused Christmas!

Joseph's Journey

 

Many miles and dusty valleys

Tired donkey, tired wife

Many people but no refuge

Desperate husband, soon...new life!

Big dark city, small dank stable

Sounds of livestock, bright starlight

Bedding down in hay for horses

Frightened mother, strange still night

Pain is coursing, man is pacing

Time is birthing God’s own Son!

Red and wrinkled, baby Savior

Are you the Long Expected One?

Great rejoicing with the angels!

Great rejoicing in the field!

All at once, time races forward 

Grace now present, Word fulfilled 

Awestruck wonder, man is speechless

Grateful heart and weary soul

Gently kneeling low to greet him

Welcome baby, welcome Lord!

Red Bird Devotions #29

Uneven Exchange

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

Do you understand what this is saying?  Do you hear the irony?

On the cross, at his very death, Perfect Jesus BECAME all of our petty, foolish, selfish, idolatrous, broken, wayward, ugly SIN so that we—unaware, unappreciative, unacceptable—could be reconciled to God.

…so that we—rejecting, regressing, reprehensible—someday might turn our hearts toward Him and call Him Father.

God had planned this intersection in human history before the creation of the world because He knew; he knew the hearts of His children.  He knew they would go their own way—a way of destruction, death, and disappointment. He knew His fellowship with them would suffer…and they would die…away from Him…UNLESS He intervened.

So intervene He did.  As only He could. 

A Holy God required a Holy Sacrifice—a Perfect Sacrifice—to pay the penalty for our rotten sins.  And so, that Holy God allowed Himself to become rotten, to become SIN, to descend to fiery Hell, so that the wrath of that same Holy God would be satisfied. 

We couldn’t do this—this perfect offering.  He knew this. He showed us this.  He became our Substitute…so we could become His Heart.

….and while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

On that very day we mocked Him, Christ died for us.  We owe Him our very lives.  The uneven exchange is all in our favor.

In accepting Him, we receive life everlasting. 

In giving Himself, God receives us.

I think we got the better deal.

He was despised and rejected by men,
   a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
   he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities
   and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
   smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
   and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:3-5

Oblivion

“Satan tries to lull us with the sweet smell and steady thrum of worldliness.” 

-from Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild by Mary Kassian

Like the constant dripping of a leaky faucet, we are steadily inundated with the images, the suggestions, the lies of this world. 

drip.drip.drip.drip.

Over and over, we expose ourselves to selfish thinking, greed, pride and immorality. 

drip.drip.drip.drip.

Again and again, images that offend our Father come before our eyes. Because we have not intentionally chosen the way of the Holy, the way of the world becomes our default.

drip.drip.drip.drip.

Because we are undisciplined, lazy, and satisfied with just existing, we neglect the Glory of God by our forgetfulness.

drip.drip.drip.drip.

With our unfocused eyes and desire for ease, we think it too hard to pursue our Creator.

drip.drip.drip.drip.

We use the health, the money, the power He gives to esteem ourselves.

drip.drip.drip.drip.

The charms of this world dangle in front of our eyes, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, numbing, convincing.

drip.drip.drip.drip.

Deceiving.

drip.drip.drip.drip.

Congratulating ourselves on our independence and self-reliance, we neglect the only thing that can truly make us whole. 

drip.drip.drip.drip.

Forgiveness and redemption through the Blood of the Lamb.

drip.drip.drip.drip.

“My son, pay attention to what I say;
   listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
   keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
   and health to a man’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
   for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth;
   keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
   fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet
   and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left;
   keep your foot from evil.”

Proverbs 4:20-27

China Farewell

I wrote this post on the eve of my son's departure to China, where he plans to live, with his wife, Jessica, for a very long time.  I hesitated to publish it in my immediate sentimental state because sometimes, when I write out my sadness, it is all sobbing and tears.  

Now, nearly two weeks removed, I feel I have distanced myself enough from the emotions so I can share my initial feelings of desperation without making you all feel nauseous.  

And just like that, they're gone.  I am trying to have an upbeat attitude about the whole thing and not be overly emotional.  But I can’t really talk about it either, because I am pretty fragile and the torrent of feeling may come rushing out at any moment.  So I have been keeping my mouth shut for fear of my heart flowing out and drenching everyone in my sappy mother-thought. 

But, I decided that it wouldn’t hurt to write it all down. That way, you can move out of the deluge if it is too much.  Or you can take it in bite-size pieces if you’d rather not drown in sentimentality. Anyway, I am feeling a loss that I can’t quite express and it reminds me somewhat of dropping my kids off at college, but in a more intense and final way.  I’m trying to pretend that he is still living his charmed life in Iowa City with his sweet bride Jessica, but in reality I know this isn’t true and I know that right now he is on a plane headed to a new land that is completely foreign to me.  I am trying my hardest to be excited about the opportunities that await them there—the adventure and exoticness of their new home—but I find myself thinking of myself and of my world and the changes that are happening and I am wondering if that is okay.  Parenting involves a lot of losing.  I am bad at losing. So here’s my attempt at poetically processing my sadness…

Heart Afloat

No one told me when I had my perfect baby that I would have to give him up

so

many

times;

I thought he was mine to keep.

But I was wrong.

This boy I raised is not really mine;

I don’t get to keep him forever.

Forever

is only

for Heaven.

Things on this earth are only on loan.

I didn’t know it would be like this;

how my heart would resist releasing my boy;  

how much I would have to trust my Father to do His best

for my

very

precious one.

I was surprised at my utter helplessness

when I couldn’t stop the clock;

when time would not stand still.

I have never truly had control. 

I

just thought

I did.

It’s the illusion that creates the heartache,

but memories sustain the soul

that hungers for wholeness.

And hope for a sweet reunion

keeps it

afloat

in the storm.

Because surrendering your children so many times

is like taking little pieces of your heart and

setting them

to sail

on the sea.

The Lake--by Shay

I love it when my kids create special gifts for me at Christmas.  This year, Shay made me a little book about her memories of our times at the lake.  What a blessing it was to me!  I hope you enjoy this memoir as much as I did.

Think of it as my 2014 New Year’s Gift to you!

Click on the first picture to enlarge, and you should be able to view it like a slide show.

My Dog is Fat

I took my dog to the vet today

complaining he didn’t want to run or play

The dog seemed lethargic and lazy, I said

not chasing squirrels…but sleeping instead

The vet did examine, observe, and explain

saying the dog’s neither sick nor in pain

He took me aside, his voice very flat

and said, “Nothing’s wrong, miss, your dog is just fat.”

 

TRUE STORY.  Poor, poor Neo.

Forever Valentine

For Brent…

One time when we were young and in love

you snuck in my room to hide them.

One dozen boxes of sweet little hearts

it took me forever to find them.

But then when I read the sweet little words:

“AMORE”, “TRUE LOVE”, and “BE MINE”,

I knew that you wanted me to be yours;

A forever valentine.

 

The Birds

So, I fooled y’all and set some things to post when I was actually cruising around the sunny Caribbean getting tan.  And it was fun.  And the food was amazing.  And I got to ride bareback on a horse swimming in the ocean…but that’s a story for another day.  Anyway, I did lots of people watching and I have a few stories, but since I have been home, real life has been happening and I haven’t gotten to sit down and write them out.  And I don’t get ice cream here everyday whenever I want it, which is a bummer.

But here is one observation I made on our last morning on the boat.  As we were eating our breakfast outside on the deck of our ship (which was actually now at port), we noticed that the sea gulls were very brave—flying down close to people’s tables trying to steal a little breakfast for themselves. At sea, these gulls were not a problem—probably because we were moving—but on this morning, these flying thieves were bringing to my mind a certain Hitchcock movie.  While thinking about this event afterwards on the flight home, I wrote this little poem:

We tried to shoo them away, the birds

They were eating her breakfast while she stepped away for coffee

One bold sea gull even took her strip of bacon and flew off triumphant

Another left footprints in her eggs

When she returned to her table in the outdoor café

We told her the birds were eating her meal

Disgusted and mute, she left

her entire plate of food sitting, unprotected, irresistible to her flying enemies

And though we continued to chase them off again with hands and voices

they decided the risk was worth taking—some even landing on the table to dine.

So bold. So brazen. So like us.

The reason I write this is because sometimes I think that the world, with all of it’s delicacies, is very enticing to us.  We know some things are sin for us—the Bible tells us, our friends warn us, our spirits cry out to stay away, but still, our hearts and minds lust for that which is not God.  We decide that the risk of severing our intimacy with our Father is worth it—if we can just get a little taste of what we desire.  Like these birds, our appetites hunger for things which we should not have, and we become bold and brazen pursuing our sin. And like the woman, if we continue to chase that which is not God, ignoring warnings and acting triumphant, God will leave us to our own devices and our hearts will become calloused against his Glory.

Think about it.

 

“Hear, O my people, and I will warn you—
   if you would but listen to me, O Israel!
You shall have no foreign god among you;
   you shall not bow down to an alien god.
I am the LORD your God,
   who brought you up out of Egypt.
   Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

“But my people would not listen to me;
   Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
   to follow their own devices.

“If my people would but listen to me,
   if Israel would follow my ways,
how quickly would I subdue their enemies
   and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him,
   and their punishment would last forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
   with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Psalm 81:8-16

Be at Peace

I found this little poem which I love, love, love.  I think I need to read it everyday—or at least until I believe it.

Be at Peace

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;

rather look to them with full hope as they arise.

God, whose very own you are,

will deliver you from out of them.

He has kept you hitherto,

and He will lead you safely through all things;

and when you cannot stand it,

God will bury you in his arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

the same everlasting Father who cares for you today

will take care of you then and everyday.

He will either shield you from suffering,

or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace,

and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

 

St. Francis de Sales 1567-1622

Time Rules All

(This also is from the 90’s archives.  Apparently I was feeling a little rushed then.  I had a child in ‘91,93,’96 and ‘98.  That entire decade is a blur to me.)

 

Razzled, frazzled, crazy, flustered, turning, breathless.  Rapid breathing, rapid beating. Time is going. Time is fleeing.  Never to return.

Quick now, run now, speed is of importance. 
Don’t just stand there!  Be productive.  Be effective.  Be successful. Come now, don’t be slow.

Hurry! Hurry! Must not tarry!  Rush, fast, hasten. Time is wasting.  Can we catch it?

Time as enemy.  Time as friend.  Time elusive.  Day must end.

Fall in bed.  Spinning head.  Burning ulcer. Palpitations.  Sleep cannot be found.

Lay there. Turning, tossing, cursing.  When will life slow down?

Up now.  Reading, walking, eating.  Midnight comes and goes.

3 a.m.. Sleep arrives…close those eyes…and peaceful, floating, time suspended, flying, feeling free.  Rest has finally come and has nestled deep inside your being.

Blaring noise!  Constant beeping!  6 a.m. alarm.  Here it comes.  Time is ticking, clicking, counting down the hours.

Get up NOW you sleepyhead!  Be productive!  Be effective!  Be successful!  Don’t be slow!

Razzled, frazzled, crazy, flustered, turning, breathless…