Emmanuel in the Midst of Grief

Emmanuel in the Midst of Grief

“I am worn out from sobbing. All night I flood my bed with weeping, drenching it with my tears.” Psalm 6;6

We had a failed adoption last month.

We drove a sweet baby boy home in our minivan, my hands pressed over my mouth to temper my excitement. The next day, I found myself balled up in the same minivan, hands pressed over my mouth trying to hold back my ugly sobs.

The social worker wrestled to unlatch the car seat in order to take back custody. I couldn’t watch. I couldn’t help. My own spirit was wrestling to unlatch him from my heart. He was screaming, I was shaking, and the social worker was timidly whispering apologies before she drove away with our ‘Maybe Baby’.

No words could reach the uncharted space now exposed in my heart. This was a new kind of sorrow—a raw wound inflicted. I felt no one could understand if they hadn’t experienced this exact situation. I was so certain that no one on the planet—the universe—the cosmos—could ever ‘get it’. I lay face down on the surrender spot next to my bed, and sobbed out loud…

Lord, I know you’re trying to comfort me, but you can’t understand. You’ve never had a failed adoption…

Sweet Jesus, I can be so ignorant. My Father God hasn’t had a single failed adoption—he’s had thousands. Our God, in his self-sacrificing love, literally died on a cross to make us his sons and daughters. It’s his heart’s desire that all people accept this truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Sadly, not everyone does. And here I was, accusing him of not being able to understand my grief. I had grief over the loss of one. He’s had grief over a multitude.

God didn’t bring this truth to my spirit so I’d feel foolish, but to reveal there’s no anguish he doesn’t understand. This was a new kind of ache for me, but not for Him. He carries all the sorrow of the world on his shoulders. I’ll never be able to wrap my brain around the mysterious way God manifests absolute joy as he simultaneously pours out tears of lament, but he does. And because I am adopted by him, he carries my sorrow, too. And because he sent his Son to earth, he empathizes with it.

He broke through history and time to dwell among us—to demonstrate that he understands what it means to be human. Isn’t that what the Christmas season illuminates?

Christmas celebrates the awesome jaw-dropping truth of Emmanuel, “God with us”. Whatever pain or trial you may be experiencing, don’t let the enemy tell you that you’re alone. God ‘gets it’. He’s been there on a much deeper level than you could even imagine.

We planned on keeping this baby forever.

Even when our plans fail, God’s promises prevail.

He is still “God with us”. He will never leave us nor forsake us through the uncertainty. This season, I’m focusing on the ‘baby’ sent to reign in my heart forever.

We’ve had people ask if we’d ever accept another placement. Honestly, my heart is begging not to be laid bare in this way again. However, I’m reminded that Emmanuel understands the human experience—the laughter, the agony, the elation, the toil.

Every effort is used to summon us to the heart of God—to help us understand his great love for the world and spur us to action. He inspires us to love fiercely and to fearlessly embrace vulnerability…for it was the vulnerability of the cradle that led to the victory on the cross.

“Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!” Psalm 98:1

by Jenna Masters



Trust

Trust

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

Learn through obedience – I was in that between sleep and awake time when I heard these words impressed on my heart, but as if they were the end of a sentence. I lay there with my eyes closed willing myself to remember the whole sentence. “Learn through obedience” was all and I thought to myself if I just lay still maybe the Lord would repeat Himself, but the absurdity of that thought got me out of bed. As I stumbled to get my coffee, the events of the day before played through my mind. It was not a good day! Not by a long shot! Misunderstandings and hurt feelings had me sobbing before I could gather myself enough to even think of what it was all about. It felt like when a bomb explodes and the smoke clears all the bystanders have that look like, ‘What just happened?’

Immediately after the ‘explosion’ I felt sad and tired. I thought to myself when will the consequences of my past sins stop coming up – ‘Dear Lord will I live with this guilt for the rest of my life?’ I didn’t get an answer and so I prayed and went home and cooked – I made Turkey Noodle Soup for my community group – the shredding and dicing and bubbling helped soothed my heart. By the end of the night after an awesome discussion about John 4:1 – 26 the day was forgotten and peace ruled in my heart.

Learn through obedience, I’ve never been good when disciplined but I rather the Lords disciple than mans and God is faithful! I look to Him to make His purpose known, He always does

“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11 & 12

A Remarkable Moment

A Remarkable Moment

“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14

It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment. As moments go, that one appeared no different than any other. If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words. It came and it went. It was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable. But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.

The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierce-able. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl. God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created. God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother. God had come near.

He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty. No silk. No ivory. No hype. No party. No hoopla. Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of star-gazers, there would have been no gifts. Angels watched as Mary changed God’s diaper. The universe watched with wonder as The Almighty learned to walk. Children played in the street with him. And had the synagogue leader in Nazareth known who was listening to his sermons….

Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.

Listen to him. “Love your neighbor” was spoken by a man whose neighbors tried to kill him. The challenge to leave family for the gospel was issued by one who kissed his mother good-bye in the doorways. “Pray for those who persecute you” came from the lips that would soon be begging God to forgive his murderers.“I am with you always” are the words of a God who in one instant did the impossible to make it all possible for you and me.

It all happened in a moment. In one moment…a most remarkable moment. The Word became flesh.

There will be another. The world will see another instantaneous transformation. You see, in becoming man, God made it possible for man to see God.

When Jesus went home he left the back door open. As a result, “we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”

The first moment of transformation went unnoticed by the world. The next time you use the phrase “just a moment…” remember that’s all the time it will take to change this world.

~~ Max Lucado

shared by Anne Martin

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