Christmas on a Bed of Pain

Christmas on a Bed of Pain

“It is nearly Christmastime. We don’t usually think of suffering during this glad season if we can help it. “It’s Jesus’ birthday!” we tell tiny tots, and we set about making cookies and gifts and trimming the house and the tree.

The very joyfulness of Christmas makes it especially hard for those who suffer. Jesus’ birthday, the Feast of the Incarnation, the Word made flesh—the happy morning when the myths about gods coming to earth in the form of men actually came true. This was “glorious news of great joy,” not only for poor shepherds but also for all people. Can it be joy for someone two thousand years later who is nailed to a bed by pain, or who has lost something most precious, or who has been humiliated to the very dust?

Perhaps it can if we think of what that glorious news entailed for the baby Himself. Richard Crashaw (1613-1649) described it far more beautifully than I can:

That the Great Angel-blinding Light should shrink
His blaze to shine in a poor Shepherd’s eye;
That the unmeasured God so low should sinke,
As Pris’ner in a few poor rags to lye;
That from his Mother’s Breast he milk should drinke,
Who feeds with Nectar Heaven’s faire family,
That a vile Manger his low Bed should prove
Who in a Throne of stars thunders above;
That He whom the Sun serves, should faintly peepe
Through clouds of Infant Flesh! That He, the old
Eternall Word should be a Child, and weepe;
That He who made the fire, should fear the cold,
That Heaven’s high Majesty His Court should keepe
In a clay cottage, by each blast control’d;
That Glories’ self should serve our Griefs and feares,
And free Eternity submit to years,
Let our overwhelming wonder be.

Crashaw shows us a little of the relinquishment, the limitation, the humiliation that it meant for God to become a baby.

“In Jesus we see one who for a short while was made lower than the angels, crowned now with glory and honor because he suffered death” (Hebrews 2:9).

“We are God’s heirs and Christ’s fellow-heirs, if we share his sufferings now in order to share his splendor hereafter” (Romans 8:17).

Let us measure our sufferings by the sufferings of the Son of Man. Let us think, then, of the glory and honor He received because He wailed as a newborn in the straw of a stable and was fixed with nails to a cross. Let us think of His glory and honor and remember the incredible promise that that glory will be ours too.

Ours? Yes, ours—we are fellow-heirs, if we share his sufferings. His splendor hereafter is what the sufferings are for. Let us think on these things, and have a very merry Christmas in the midst of whatever sufferings fall to us.”

© 2002 by Elisabeth Elliot Gren

offered by Anne Martin





Come and See (Luke 2:8-20)

Come and See (Luke 2:8-20)

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’ When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:8-15

Our family loves Christmas. One of our favorite things this time of year is Christmas music. While we love all the traditional and fun carols, we also love to find Christmas music that is Christ centered.

Living in Ireland there are very few Christian resources, so often times we learn of an album or song later than most. “Noel”, penned by Chris Tomlin, is one such song. A couple of weeks ago, searching for Christmas worship on the internet, we came across this beautiful song.

A phrase in “Noel” captured my attention and heart, “Come and see what God has done.” Chris Tomlin had the desire for those who listen to his “Adore” Christmas worship album to take away that very phrase. “Come and see what God has done” has echoed in my mind and I have pondered this in my heart. After all, shouldn’t that be the message at Christmas to everyone?

I began to reflect on the shepherds in Luke’s account in the Gospels. In Luke 2:8-20, we have an account of the most wonderful revelation to a group of shepherds. At that time, shepherds were generally seen as having low or little value by other people. The shepherds were quietly getting on with their own business when suddenly an angel appeared to them. Interrupting this quiet, dark night was the shining presence of an angel and the glory of the Lord.

This first angel brought good tidings (literally, it means he preached the gospel) to these shepherds, who were regarded as social outcasts (reference: David Guzik) The angel in a sense was telling the shepherds, “Come and see what God has done.”

The shepherds were lowly, unknown, and obscure. Yet, the angel of the Lord appears to them, announces the birth of the Savior, and they—responding in simple faith—come and see what God has done, the child Jesus! The shepherds then went on their way, telling others “Come and see what God has done.”

They shared the good news of a Savior—a Savior who brought change to them in a personal way. The people they told could have been those they saw on the way back to their flocks, friends and relatives in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, the 'middle class' people they sold sheep to… anyone. The shepherd’s good news amazed all who heard it. Even if they didn’t really understand it, they recognised that something significant had happened. Their message was simple: “Come and see what God has done.”

Do we look at the birth of Christ as simply some tradition that is played out every December? Or, do we sincerely accept the amazing message and true purpose for Christ's coming to earth? Do we reflect the message “Come and see what God has done?”

The shepherds’ lives were changed forever on that night. And unless the Christmas story changes our lives, too, we have missed its real meaning and purpose. By God sending His Son for me, my life has been forever changed.

My message to others this Christmas needs to be, “Come and see what God has done.” The message of Christ born as a baby is personal, practical, present and for all mankind. Jesus’ birth brings Glory to God. Jesus’ birth brings change within the hearts of those who receive Him.

In early December (the seventh and eighth) we will host a Christmas Outreach, “Heaven Sent,” here in Sligo. This will be one of our many steps, but a big one, in our venture of a new Calvary Church-plant. Calvary Sligo. Salt to Souls. Light for Life! Our hope is to reach the hearts of those who are “unchurched” and the bystanders. To share with them “Come and see what God has done” for you!

Be part of what God is doing. We have needs inexpressible. The Lord knows them all.

Please pray and…please let us know you're praying!

by Deanna Tebbe, Missionary to Sligo, Ireland

Gracefully Broken

Gracefully Broken

“The LORD is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.” Psalm 34:18-19

I was in Dollar Tree last night and there was a lady and two kids behind me in the l-o-n-g line. One was a big kid, one was a toddler.

The bigger one had a pack of glow sticks and the baby was screaming for them. The mom opened the pack and gave him one, which stopped his tears. He walked around with it smiling. Then the bigger boy took it again and the baby started screaming.

Just as the mom was about to fuss at the older child, he bent the glow stick and handed it back to the baby. We walked outside at the same time, and I watched the baby notice the stick was now glowing. His brother said "I had to break it so you could get the full effect from it."

I almost ran because l could hear God saying to me, "I had to break you to show you why I created you. You had to go through it so you could fulfill your purpose."

That little baby had been happy just swinging the "unbroken" glow stick around in the air. He didn't understand what it was created to do, which was "glow".

There are some people who will be content just "being,” but some of us that God has chosen, we have to be "Broken." We have to get sick. We have to lose a job. We go through a divorce. We have to go through so-called friends talking behind our backs—people who try to break our character all the while smiling face-to-face.

But GOD…

When we have to bury a spouse, parents, best friend, or our child…in those moments of desperation, God is breaking us. But when the breaking is done, we will be able to see the reason for which we were created.

When you see us glowing…just know that we have been broken—but healed by his Grace and Mercy!

by Paula Acosta

Resolution or Restoration?

Resolution or Restoration?

“And be ye kind to one another…” Ephesians 4:32a

It was between Christmas and the New Year. I was praying for the Lord to speak to my heart a word from Him—a specific word and scripture of something he wanted to refine in me in the upcoming year. It’s a tradition the Lord put in my heart to carry over the years, versus having a “resolution”.

Nothing came right away. As I was scrolling through Facebook, a friend had posted her results from a Dayspring quiz she had taken. It was something along the lines of “Find Your word from the Lord that he wants you to know.” I laughed to myself. Right. This social media quiz is going to speak for the Lord. Well….

I took it. I didn’t like the “word” it gave me.

I took it again. Same result.

My “word” was completely different from my friend’s “word,” or the “words” of those who commented their results. I was too embarrassed to publish mine. I even argued with God—and myself—about it.

Then I prayed. Lord, is this what you want to speak to my heart for this New Year? The next day it was confirmed by my husband, who noticed my unkind response to something. He said to me, “You know, I think you need to work on being more kind in your response and delivery.”

I hadn’t said a word to him about that quiz or my petition of the Lord. I looked up at him surprised and shared the details. He said, “You are a friendly, giving person, but being kind is not always a strength that shows when you are annoyed.”

Well, I don’t want that—and neither does God. It was a painful truth, and I had to confess it and get help from the Holy Spirit in order to get it eliminated. I needed him to make me aware of it—to be cautious of my facial expressions and give me self-control over my immediate/knee-jerk responses. Believe me it’s a whole new re-training of self.

Years ago, I used to tell my husband, “This is the way God made me and people have to accept me or not.” Wrong! God made me in his image and, as his child, he wants to restore me to that perfect image.

But I was born into the world where sin—uncorrected bad habits, habits developed in my childhood, learned behavior from influential adult role-models, responses to hurts—in addition to the worldview projected through television, movies, books, etc.—distorted my view of what God has to say.

My being anything but kind and loving, is self-centered not Christ-centered, and it’s sin. It is hurtful, though my heart may or may not intend hurt towards anyone. God is in the business of transforming me from the inside out—into his image—so I can be a sweet aroma of Jesus to those I come into contact with. Its all about him, not me.

This is definitely easier said than done. People often aren’t kind. They are rude, they are invasive, self-focused.

“I am not meant to be a doormat,” was another response I found myself repeating. However, I can show kindness simply by being quiet and let God work out a matter. After all, he is much better at it than I am.

He does not expect me to be trampled upon as a door mat. There are times when I must speak up for the truth itself, or on behalf of those who are oppressed, but it requires not being mean-spirited. It requires going to him with my thoughts, emotions and motives—and applying his truth-filter on all given matters (1 Corinthians 10:5).

After confessing and handing over this area to the Lord, I asked him to show me practical ways to accomplish this kindness thing. He whispered another word to my heart. “Pause”. If I would just “pause” before responding— tap into him and hear the Holy Spirit speak to my heart—then I could avoid being misread or misunderstood and I would not respond in an ungracious manner with sharp words.

It’s true, the world is filled with lots of sinners like us—so unpleasant at times. We aren’t being the “sweet aroma of Jesus” when we are the “correction police” and do not extend kindness, graciousness, long suffering, mercy, and patience (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Some people are just difficult to be around. That’s when we can “pause”—however long that pause needs to be—to get us into a right place about the situation. A pause gives us time to ask God to speak his truth to our hearts. We can take the time to find three things about that difficult person for which we can thank God, and have his heart towards that individual.

So, as I was asking God if he brought that quiz to my attention, he immediately gave me some scripture to back it up. (Always ask Him for confirmation. That way you are 100% sure its not you talking—its him.)

“ Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

God is still perfecting this area in my life. He is constantly teaching and revealing to me those things he wants to sanctify in me. It’s a matter of surrendering our hearts wholly over to his Lordship, so he can do that restoration in our lives.

In closing, he revealed to me how blessed I am to have so many beautifully kind sisters in Jesus to learn and glean from. Their influences in my life have made a big impact. Be sure to surround yourself with other women who are stronger in those areas in which you see yourself as weak.

by Coleen Jejeran, Missionary to Romania

Free From Busy-ness

Free From Busy-ness

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." Colossians 3:15

Thanksgiving has passed, and Christmas is fast approaching. It is a time that should be used for quiet contemplation and thanksgiving for all we have and who we are in Christ. It is a time to examine in awe and wonder what Jesus was willing to do for the world. Unfortunately, it seems to be a time of frenzied shopping and doing--Christmas trees, decorating, going to Christmas teas and parties. We don’t necessarily want it to be that way, but somehow, a bit of this will sneak into our hearts and then into our lives.

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Remember when you first came to the Lord--how passionate you were about Him--and about His Word (the Bible)? You’d wake up with worship songs in your head, You wanted to tell everyone about Jesus and how to get saved. But at this time of the year, you find yourself waking up worried about work, school, finances, and dinner. Are you like me in feeling that if one more person says ‘Happy Holidays,’ you’re going to barf? Are you more worried about what to give for Christmas than what was given for you?

CHRIST HAS COME

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7

Christmas is coming, and our Saviour Jesus is still just as close to us as when we became His. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can take us out of His hands or heart. Nothing can change the fact that
     He came as an infant
          vulnerable to sickness, weariness, cold and heat...
          to be tempted as we are and yet without sin.

     He came as a man
          to heal the sick,
          give hope to the downcast,
          sight to the blind and
          life to the dead.

     He came and was betrayed
          by someone He called friend,
          to hang on the cross
          to be crushed by the weight of our sin
          to be separated from His Father.
          His hands, feet and His brow, still scarred for you, for me, for the world.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” Isaiah 9:2

Join me in finding the wonder of when we discovered the love of our Saviour. Before you worry about the gifts or the parties, or the dinners, the lack of money or time, the busyness of the ‘season’, remember how wonderful it feels knowing you are free. Free from eternal damnation, free of condemnation, free from guilt and from worry. We are free from the trappings of a world that makes Thanksgiving Day into Turkey Day and CHRISTmas into X-mas!

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” Psalms 100:4

Let us praise Him.

Please join me and praise Him. Look to the star--the bright Morningstar, the KING of Kings and of angels and of you and of me. He already knows where you’ve been and what has happened. He's opening His arms wide to draw you close…again.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

Christmas is soon upon us and a New Year will closely follow. Remember that every day is one more day to thank God in Heaven above for the Gift that just keeps on giving. Thank Him, because what He takes away, we don’t really need or want anyway!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

by Eve Montano