Dear God… Matthew 1

Dear God, as I read Matthew 1, your plan is so clear!!

He intended to send his son Jesus to save me from my sin and death, to give me eternal life, to put me in a right relationship with him. He is a good father. I can’t imagine God in heaven, knowing the plan, and watching the fulfillment take place. Like watching an experiment, you know something is about to happen. You sit on edge waiting. With each individual failure, family squabble, selfish motive, sinful action, God watched as slowly his plan was unveiled and generation after generation made way for the savior of the world, his son Jesus.

Not only was God gracious enough to send his son to save the world but he told us his plan. He let the prophets know, my son is coming. Your hope is on the way. I wonder, God, if you just couldn’t keep the secret. Did you want us to know that you hadn’t abandoned us and through it all, you were making a way? You gave us glimpses of your love and grace coming on that one special night. Born in a manger, humbly entering the world with the greatest gift of all – your grace, your love, salvation to the world!

God, as I look at this lineage my heart is so amazed by you! Your plan and attention to each detail, each family, each heart, each leader, each person. Your plan was carried out in spite of their ways. God you are faithful. God you are good! God you are the giver of GRACE!!

Thank you God!! Thank you for sending your son Jesus!! Thank you, Jesus for dying on the cross to save me!!

Jesus, YOU are the reason we celebrate Christmas!!

Statement #3 - Dropping Bombs

Have you ever felt like a bomb was dropped in your life? Unexpected circumstance.  Exposed addiction or habit.  Unfaithfulness.  Truth unveiled. It hit your heart, your family, your normal simple life out of nowhere and shattered your world.

What do you do? Reflect on this statement made by my friend.

Sometimes God drops bombs in our lives to clear the path so we can see better.

God knows the plans he has for us. When the world, Satan, or our flesh obscure God’s purposes, bombs can get our attention & turn our heart back to him. Sometimes the painful missile can remind us of his love or grace. After the blast subsides, we can see once again God’s wisdom and purpose in our life. The path becomes clear.

It’s easy to hate the bombs or blame God for destruction. Instead, turn to him, embrace the explosion, and find his way.

“Sometimes it takes a painful experience for us to change our ways.”

Proverbs 20:21

Statement #2 - How To Have Peace

As my friend continued to lay out her  heartbreaking updates on life highlighted with the goodness of God, she said, remember Proverbs 3:5-6? She quoted it.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Then she explained, “I know why God doesn’t want me to lean on my own understanding. There is peace in not knowing.”  As I listened my heart was jumping up and down inside. Yes!! Yes!! It’s true!! It’s true!!

I don’t have to understand everything. I don’t have to know why. I don’t have to have all the details because sometimes when I don’t understand or know, it’s better. God might be protecting me or in the process of changing me. God could be working something better for my good or preparing me. And if I don’t know – and I lay back and trust God – there is peace.

Often when I do understand or are blessed with all the details, I go into control mode. I try to play God. I start to change and fix everything the way I think it should be.. I worry or doubt. Fear creeps in. It’s chaotic when we know.

So if you don’t understand, take a deep breath. If you don’t know all the answers,  relax. Count your unknowing, non- understandable blessings. Acknowledge that God is faithful in every part of your life. Know He will make your path straight.

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He cannot deny himself.”

2 Timothy 2:13 NKJV

Sucker Punch Discovery

Studying 2 Kings 22-23 and received a sucker punch.

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath.  He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed completely the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.”

2 Kings 22: 1-2. 

Facts we know…

• Josiah was 8 when he became king.

• He reigned 31 years.

• His mom had an interesting name and so did her parent.

• Josiah did was right in the eyes of the Lord

AND here comes the punch…

In the verse above, read the 7 words following “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and…”

He followed completely the ways of his father. YIKES!!! Not just a little bit. Not his neighbor or the guy on TV. NO! Josiah

Now we know that David was his great, great, great, great something father, not his immediate birth father. So here comes the sucker punch.

1. If my kids completely follow my ways, how will they live? What am I role modeling? What are my ways?

2. What if my great, great, great, great something kids, not only my immediate birth kids, completely follow my ways? How will they live? Will it make a difference in their lives? In their eternity?

God, please forgive me for my selfish foolish ways.

Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.   Psalm 86:11

and that my children and all those who come after me may rely on your faithfulness with an undivided heart as they fear your name and receive your grace and love.

Statement #1 - See The Goodness

Have you ever gone into a conversation thinking, “I have no idea what I will say to this person?” My friend has been through so much. Family. Health. Finances. Her world was totally turned upside down and by all outside observers, devastated.

As she shared how God brought her through the whirlwind, she made 3 statements that spoke directly to my heart.

There is part of me that will probably always be sad, but I can’t help but see the goodness of God. 

What she said is so true! Sometimes life does not turn out like we expect or we make a poor choice. Because of those experiences, life is painful. It’s sad and whether we want to or not, we will probably always be a little sad. We may cry at random times or sit in silence with a few regrets. That’s normal BUT…

If we look around us, through the tears or regret,

we can’t help but see the goodness of God.

I remember when we sold our house. We were down to our last few dollars. We moved into our little rent house and I sat on our small back porch behind Denny’s and cried. I cried for almost two few hours thinking, “What just happened?” Our whole world flipped upside down.

I walked back into the house. A thought hit me out of nowhere.  “We have no debt.” We are completely out of debt. Our whole married lives that was one of our dreams.  In the midst of the bottom falling out of the life we created for 16 years at our old house – we became debt free!

With crusty dried up tears on my cheeks, I began to dance! I saw it -the goodness – it was there! Why? Because He is there. God is always with us and God is good. There may be part of you that feels sad. Look up, God’s goodness is there for you.

The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you.”

Psalm 145:9-10 NLT

Ducks On A Jog

On a jog this morning, I approached two beautiful little ducks at what must have seemed like a rapid pace to my new feathered friends. (a slow trot or fast walk to most) The little ducks eye balled me carefully. Watched as I stopped and  approached delicately. Listened to my gentle encouragements. It seemed as though they were going to trust me. I wished for some bread. Then as quickly as I approached them, they waddled away as fast as their little webbed feet would go. In fear, doubt, unknowing who I was or my expectations, my cute little feather friends headed straight for a disgusting, muddy pond. 

The little waddling ducks reminded me of people who don’t know Jesus. Us, crazy Christ followers, come at them at what seems like a wild pace. We want to get to know them, care about them, talk, and give them bread. They aren’t sure, a little afraid. They don’t know what we are talking about or who we really are. They look and watch. Cautious. Wanting to come closer but what they know is safe. It’s comfortable. Drawing them away, back to what is known, to what seems like fun and satisfaction. People forfeit the bread for the muddy water. Sacrifice love and forgiveness for what’s comfortable. Give up purpose and life for pain and party.

If your drawn to the past, to the easy, to what’s comfortable, turn your eyes. There is someone approaching. He loves you. He is the bread of life. Let him rescue you from the mud and give you new life. It might seem scary. Maybe you don’t want to trust. He is faithful. He is love. Jesus is life.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Hebrews 11:28-30