“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’.”  Matthew 10:7

I have been reading through the book of Matthew these past few weeks during my morning Bible time.  Just for clarification, by “morning Bible time” I mean the 7 minutes or so I sit on the boys’ step stool in the middle of the kitchen floor reading my Bible and waiting for the coffee to brew on weekday mornings.  It’s not in-depth.  But, regardless of quantity, God is always there to provide the quality.

And so, last week I turned my eye to Matthew 10.  In this chapter, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples to teach and heal the “lost sheep of Israel”.  The disciples have been with Jesus for some time now.  They have witnessed the feeding of the 5,000, seen Jesus calm the raging sea, listened as Jesus has preached about the great love of God.  They’ve been given an in-depth, hands-on education and now are ready to “graduate” into the real world.  Look at the instructions Jesus gives:

“Don’t go among the Gentiles or into a Samaritan city.  Go instead to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.  As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore, give without demanding payment.  Workers deserve to be fed, so don’t gather gold or silver or copper coins for your money belts to take on your trips.  Don’t take a backpack for the road or two shirts or sandals or a walking stick. Whatever city or village you go into, find somebody in it who is worthy and stay there until you go on your way. “

I have read this passage many times, but on this particular day, the phrase that kept repeating itself over and over in my mind was, “…make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.'”  The kingdom of heaven has come near…  Think about that for just a minute.  On one level, Jesus is talking about himself as the Son of God.  He is the co-creator of Heaven and all of the powers of Heaven dwell within him.  All of his teaching, all of his healing, comes from above.  Therefore, his entire ministry is literally bringing the kingdom of Heaven nearer to humanity.

But then, Jesus gives those powers over to the disciples.  He tells them to go out throughout all of Israel (Jesus was very singular in his purpose on Earth–bring the Israelite people back to God) and he gives them HIS authority to teach and heal.  HIS authority–which is the authority of Heaven!  The kingdom of Heaven has come near.  And this time, it is the disciples who are bringing it nearer to humanity.

The thought occurred to me, as I was mulling over this passage, that perhaps, we too have the ability to bring the kingdom of Heaven nearer.  Because, as children of God, we have a share in the kingdom too.  I believe that Jesus calls us into the world, just as he did the disciples, to bring the kingdom of Heaven nearer to humanity.  I believe that we are called to go into this dark, broken and hurting world and to bring with us the cleansing, healing, redeeming and restoring power of LOVE Jesus so freely gave to all those who had need.

I’ve adopted a new prayer for my morning drive to work.  It is simply this: “Dear God, today, let me see with your eyes and act with your heart.”  I’m not perfect–far from it in fact.  But regardless of all my imperfections, Jesus’ call still remains.  “Tell them…the kingdom of Heaven has come near.”  And when I think of all the messages I could send with my life, sending the message of Jesus is my ultimate prayer.

“Tell them, the kingdom of Heaven is near…”

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

“Come to me, all of you who are tired and worn-out, 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.”  Matthew 11:28-29

A couple of years ago, my husband and I decided to explore the Harry Potter world at Universal Studios in Orlando.  We got there early in the morning to avoid long lines.  As we had left the kids behind at Disney with family, we decided to hit all three of the roller coasters right in a row.  About midway through the third coaster, as my head was being banged from side to side and my stomach was lurching up and down, I really wanted to get off the ride!  When it was over, I stumbled from the car, looked at my husband and said, “I need to sit down!”  45 minutes and one Butterbeer later, I finally felt more like myself again.  But I was definitely done with roller coasters for the rest of the day.

The past few weeks have found me on a different roller coaster of sorts.   My mind has been swinging around and around trying to engage, create and problem-solve from several different areas.  I’m ready to jump off the ride, but unfortunately, we’re still in the middle!!  I needed a brain massage!  So,  I decided to take my husband’s Sunday sermon advice this morning and spend some time in meditative prayer.

 I sat on the little step-stool in the kitchen that is my Bible study spot and bowed my head over my Bible.  I worked hard to clear my mind and to focus on the image of the Holy Spirit wrapping itself around me like a snug blanket.  

As I floated for a few minutes, pushing aside all thoughts of people and situations I needed to pray over, I heard God asking me, “What do you need?”  And the answer that came to me was, rest.  The above verses from the book of Matthew floated through my conscious mind like wisps of campfire smoke coming up from the Spirit’s flame in my heart.  Come to me.  I will give you rest.

The context of this passage is the burden of the Law on the people of Israel.  The religious leaders were demanding more than the people could ever possibly give–making all sorts of rules and regulations no human could ever follow completely.  Jesus was attempting to simplify things.  He was imploring the people not to get caught up in the human rules and regulations of the church and worship.  Rather, he said, follow my lead.  Love God.  Love others.

Jesus is talking about a spiritual rest.  That is something we don’t do very well in our noisy, always engaged, frenetic society.  We want to go, to move, to do, to achieve until our lives begin to look like a grocery store check-list instead of the beautiful tapestry they were designed to be.  That’s not to say we won’t be burdened.  Living is HARD WORK.  A tapestry doesn’t come together with a few simple stitches.  But through it all, we have the gift of God’s presence, God’s love, and God’s grace.  It’s hard to see those things, however, when we don’t take time to find rest for our souls.

I don’t know what roller coaster life’s put you on right now.  But I want you to know, you’re not alone.  We’re all on this crazy behemoth together.  And while your brain might hurt from trying to problem-solve, or your heart might ache from grief and pain, or your stomach might  be doing flip-flops from anxiety and fear, know that God is right there with you.  Know that God longs to give your soul rest.  Know that He is right there beside you on this roller-coaster holding your hand.  So hang on.  Think about your tapestry.  God is not interested in checking things off of our life lists.  He’s interested in creating a work of art.  

“Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.  Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves.  My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” Common English Bible

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. Amplified Bible

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Message Bible

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 

Over the past year and a half, I have been substituting real sugar for the fake stuff.  I know, I know…there’s a hot debate right now about the pros and cons of fake sugar.  But, my scale tells me that fake sugar, for the most part, is better for me than the real deal.  And while I use it to sweeten my drinks and oatmeal, there is one area where I flat-out refuse to make substitutions, and that is in dessert.  I know there are tons of recipes out there for “delicious” sugar-free desserts, but I don’t want them.  Regardless of what any chef or nutritionist says, fake sugar in dessert tastes NOTHING like the real thing!  And if I’m going to indulge, I’m doing it right!!

The same principle is true in my study of God’s Word.  (Okay, I know this was a ridiculous transition, but would you really have kept reading otherwise?)   I love daily devotionals.  I have several great devotional books I go to for a quick read and they are inspiring and comforting and thought-provoking.  Heck, I write a devotional blog!  However, devotionals can only get me so far in my relationship with God.

I have a devotional book I use off and on throughout the year.  It is beautifully written with lots of lovely images of God’s amazing power and love and grace.  But sometimes, I need more than pretty.  Sometimes, I need something more than quick.  Sometimes, I need to immerse myself in God’s Word and to allow his Spirit to move within my heart and mind, speaking those words to me he wants me to take into the day.

When I take the time to sit in God’s presence, to soak in God’s Word for myself, independent of anyone else, then I am growing deeper into my relationship with God.  When I take the time to soak in God’s Word, to read more than a scattering of verses here and there, I get a better and bigger and more complete picture of who God is.  When I take time to meditate on God’s Word, to think and ponder over the text, I am better able to discern God’s plans for me, and to see how my little life can better fit into the grand scheme of things.

Sometimes, when I spend too much time depending on other people’s views of God, I feel a lose my own relationship with God.  A couple of weeks ago I picked up my daily devotional and started to read.  The words were beautiful and comforting, but instead of feeling fulfilled, I felt absolutely empty.  The devotional was meaningless to me.   So, rolling my eyes, I said “Whatever” and put it aside.  In that moment, I realized I needed to drink from that well I had been neglecting.  I needed the Word–not a substitute for it, no matter how lovely and well-intended that substitute may have been.

Since then, I’ve rearranged my schedule a bit to fit in some Bible reading time.  Instead of showering in the morning, I shower in the evening.  It’s a little change that doesn’t take much, but making that change has given me the opportunity to become grounded again.  The Word is my anchor–it is the way in which God and I communicate best.  I can’t do the tasks God has called me to do without it.  And although the book of Zechariah might not be as moving or relevant to my life as Paul’s letter to the Philippians, it still reveals to me some important qualities of God.  It shows me the absolute and complete love God has for His people.  It shows me how far God is willing to go to bring his children back to them.  It established God’s expectations for living.  And it helps me to grow in my faith.

The Word is an anchor for our lives.  Don’t substitute it out for something else.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

My son came to me with a joke the other day.  “Mommy,” he said.  “I have a joke.  How do you make time fly?”

“Hmm…I don’t know, G.  How?”

“You throw a clock out the window!  Is that funny?”

“You bet!”

In reality, we don’t have to throw clocks out of windows to see time fly.  It just does it all on it’s own.  One day blends into another and another and before you know it an entire week/month/season/year has passed!  Which makes me wonder, what am I doing with this time?  Am I making the most of this daily gift God has given me?  Am I using the gifts and talents God endowed me with to show his love to others?

The honest answer to that is, not always.  Maybe, not even often.

Advertisers and corporations tell us that life is made up of the big moments–amazing vacations, huge life events, bold and daring adventures.  And while those can all be impactful things, the vast majority of our time is spent among the little things.  It’s getting up and going to work each day, shuffling our kids to various activities, sitting around the dinner table and sharing the day, quiet evenings at home sharing a show on the t.v.

I don’t know about you, but when I look at my “little things”, I want to make them count.  I want my daily duties to be as intentional and meaningful as the big moments.  If the majority of my time is spent at work and home, then I want to make what I do in those places count for something.  I want to know, at the end of the day, that I did my best with all God placed before me.

Here’s a verse I’ve been pondering the past few days:

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.  “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blewaway. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.” Haggai 1:7-10

Haggai writes these words to the exiles who have returned from Babylon.  Instead of taking time to rebuild the Lord’s Temple, the people have become preoccupied with their own lives.  God is reminding them that He must come first.  It is He who will provide for their lives and their livelihood.  But first, the people must build His dwelling place.  

What this says to me, is that I need to live my day to day life with God at the center of my being.  And for me, I can’t do that if I am not spending quality time in the Word.  When I take time in the morning to enter into God’s presence and to fill myself with His Word, then time in my own life becomes more ordered and meaningful.

In taking time for God, I can make better use of the time He has given to me.

Am I perfect?  No way!!  Do I succeed in this endeavor every day?  Not a chance!!  Do I always make use of the time God has given me?  Nope!!  I sat on the couch and played Angry Birds for an hour and a half last night while watching the Olympics!  Not a great use of time.  However, I’m trying.  And I’m seeking, which is really the true beauty of our faith. God extends to us His grace every single day.  So open your day to God.  Open your day with God.  Because time flies, and it’s a ride I definitely want to be on.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 

It was BEAUTIFUL outside yesterday!  The sun was shining, there was no breeze, and the temperature rose to a downright balmy 65!!   While we haven’t had much snow this winter, our temperatures have been dipping well below normal.  Arctic blasts keep coming in waves and we have been in the midst of the dreaded “polar vortex” sweeping down from the Arctic Circle.  To sum it up: it’s been miserable.  So when the sun peeked out to warm our little stretch of the Earth yesterday, we embraced it wholeheartedly.

 My youngest decided it was shorts and t-shirt weather, and while I didn’t completely agree, who was I to argue with the glory of the sunshine?  His one acquiescence to mama saying, “It’s not THAT warm outside!” was to leave on his snow boots.  And so, we trooped outside, each to our own happy golden pursuits.  My husband painted shelves in the garage.  My oldest walked around imagining some great adventure.  My youngest and I rode bikes and played Frisbee.

Resting on the swing set midway through the afternoon, I turned my face up to bask in the warmth the sun’s rays were radiating down.  This, I thought, is a promise.  Winter is going to end and light and warmth and life outside will resume once more.

In reflecting on this promise which Nature brings, I couldn’t help but think about God’s great promise of love.  “For lo, I am with you always,” Jesus said, “even to the very ends of the Earth.” 

“The mountains may shift, and the hills may be shaken, but my faithful love won’t shift from you, and my covenant of peace won’t be shaken”, says the Lord.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you see God’s amazing promise of love for us?  God tells us over and over again in Scripture that He is here, that He will stay by our side, no matter what season of life we may find ourselves in.  So when the winter of life seems dark and unending–when one problem after another rises–when it feels like it would be easier to just give up, let go, lay it all down–remember God’s promise of Spring.  Remember God’s promise of life.  Remember God.

The Arctic winds howled through the night last night, bringing the frigid temperatures back once more.  Shorts and t-shirts were traded for sweats and coats and hats and gloves.  But it was easier, somehow, to go out in the bitter cold this morning because I carried with me that beautiful promise of Spring.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Love is kind and patient,
never jealous, boastful,
    proud, or rude.
Love isn’t selfish
    or quick tempered.
It doesn’t keep a record
    of wrongs that others do.
 Love rejoices in the truth,
    but not in evil.
 Love is always supportive,
loyal, hopeful,
    and trusting.
 Love never fails! 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

My husband and I went to a Gary Chapman marriage seminar last weekend.  That, in and of itself, can be a risky endeavor!  My husband and I are human beings, so our marriage will never be perfect.  But, overall, I think we have a really good thing going.   We communicate well and trust one another and try to resolve conflict in a non-hostile manner.  We work together as partners and hold one another accountable.  So, the thought of delving deep into our relationship and potentially pulling out something we’d rather leave buried kind of worried me!!

However, the conference ended up being a really good marriage 101 refresher and we took home some information that will be useful in ministry, as well as about 5 books!

The idea that has stuck with me this past week is the risk involved in loving another person, whether it be a spouse, family member, friend, co-worker or maybe, even a stranger.  You see love, in the Christian definition, is about so much more than just a feeling.

When we love, I mean really love as outlined by Paul in 1st Corinthians 13 and demonstrated by Christ in his very life, we are putting our entire self out there to be rejected in a myriad of painful ways.

When we allow ourselves to love another person, and to show that love to another person, we are putting them first.  We are thinking about what they need, what they desire, how they communicate and respond and feel, how they need us to respond to them.  Then, we act on that, despite or in spite of what we would prefer.  And we act on that not so the other person will reciprocate and do the same for us.  No, we serve the other person because it is how we are called to love and to show God’s love.

What that means is that no matter how negative or confrontational your co-worker, sibling, spouse, child can be, you always strive to treat them with kindness and compassion.  You work to hear what they are trying to say, even if they’re saying it in a way that makes you want to grab a frying pan!

Practically speaking, the risk of loving another person involves keeping your mouth shut when you want to speak.  It involves not bringing up all of the past hurts you have endured because of their words or rejection.    It involves listening, even when you’re tired of hearing the same things over and over and over again.

The risk of loving another person also involves being willing to speak the truth in a loving manner.  Please note the loving manner.  If you find yourself attempting to hold someone you love accountable by starting with a “You always….” statement, it’s probably best to stop and reconsider.  Nothing sets people off like a great big “YOU…”! 🙂

My husband is actually really great at loving accountability.  It’s one of the things I love most about him.  When I’m reaching for the cookies/ candy bucket/ brownies/ cake icing, etc… he simply asks, “How does that fit in with your health plan?”  Or, simply states, “That’s not worth it.”  There’s no judgement or condemnation.  He’s truly trying to support me and hold me accountable for my healthy living goals.  And although I might cringe a little bit, I recognize the truth of his question or statement and understand that he’s really just trying to take care of me.  It comes from a place of love, and (let’s be honest) depending on my mood could be a bit of a risk for him to mention!!

Look again at Paul’s “Love is…” statements in 1st Corinthians 13.  They are beautiful and wise and selfless and good and so hard to live into every day!!  But what a different world we would live in if we could try to live into just a little of them!

So, will you risk rejection with me this week in offering love to those around you?  Even if they’re not supportive?  Even if they judge?  Even if they do not change?  Will you love them anyway?

The caveat to all of this, of course, is for those who are in abusive relationships.  I very firmly believe that if you are being abused in anyway, shape or form–physically, sexually, emotionally or verbally, you need to leave the relationship immediately.  There is a difference between someone being difficult to live with/work with/be in relationship with and someone who is an abuser.  If you know of someone who is in an abusive relationship, encourage them to reach out to those professionals within their community to get out of the abusive environment and started down a road of recovery.  

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17

I am linking up today with other women taking the “Risk Rejection” challenge over at Amy’s Place.  I would love for you to come along and share in some other stories of wonderful and inspirational God driven risk-taking!

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

I have to confess, I’m kind of an expert at rejection.  Growing up as a nerdy girl in a small school, you got used to being picked last in every sport in gym class.  I got called “three eyes” instead of four during my lazy eye corrective patch stage.  Most school dances I went with friends rather than dates.  And, so on and so forth.  Professionally, I’ve had every type of rejection letter/email/phone call you could get.  The worst is the professional “it’s not you, it’s me” speech.  Whatever…I just always assume God has something different and better in store.  And usually, He does.

It’s ironic then, given my vast experience with rejection, that I am really not much of a risk taker.  Sure, there have been moments when God has blown the doors of my life wide open and forced me to free fall into a risky endeavor.  That’s how I ended up at seminary twelve years ago–giving up stable, full-time employment to move to a city where I didn’t know anyone and start a Master’s degree program I wasn’t sure would get me anywhere.  And low and behold, it forever changed my life, although not in the ways I anticipated.  However, I’m digressing….

The point is that when Amy Sullivan invited me to participate in this little “risky business” trial, I wasn’t sure I qualified.  In fact, my initial response was, “I don’t want to take a risk.” And that, I think, is precisely why I need this.  Over the past year or so, I’ve kind of been stuck in a rut professionally.  I know (kind of) where I want to be.  But, I’ve done very little to get there.  And part of doing very little to get there is because the thought of risking everything I’ve dreamed of and hoped for is terrifying. Thinking about it and doing nothing is much safer than putting it all out there and risking falling flat on your face.

What if the dream I’ve aspired most to never materializes?  What if I’m not good enough?  What if I have to throw my dream away?  What if I was wrong about everything I thought God was calling me to do?

Those are some scary thoughts.  Just typing them makes me want to shut the computer and drown myself in a Hallmark Channel movie.

However, the reality is that I will never achieve anything if I don’t take a risk.  So right now, I am baby-stepping into risk-taking.

I’ve recently signed a freelancing contract to write an entire unit of curriculum for an online based educational publisher.  I just received my “author packet” and I was tempted to immediately email the project manager and tell her she needed to find someone else.  “I can’t do it!!!!  I’m not smart enough or experienced enough or talented enough!  I can’t do this and work full-time, too!  It’s going to be awful and I’ll never get another writing contract again!!”  And while all of those things might, indeed, be true–I need to take this risk.  I need to push myself in the direction that I feel (that I have always felt) God leading me to go.

Therefore, I’m taking a deep breath and wading in.  I don’t know where it will all lead or if it will be successful or if it will take me a step farther toward my dream of being a professional writer.  I do know, however, that I will grow and be a wiser woman for having taken it.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Link up with me at Amy Sullivan’s place and share the ways you are engaging in some risky business!!

 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and His Glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.  Lift up your eyes and look about you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.  Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy….. Isaiah 60:1-5

Over the past several weeks, we have looked at the salvation story of God through the words of Isaiah the prophet.  In the story of the people of Israel, we find the whole story of God’s love and plan for His people.  God created and established a kingdom, but His people rebelled against Him.  That rebellion distanced them from God, and darkness covered the land.  And yet, God in His infinite incomprehensible Love set out to rescue His broken and exiled children.  He redeemed them from their captivity and brought them back to His holy dwelling–to the center of His heart.  But God wasn’t (and isn’t) finished yet.  There is one final promise He has made to those who call on His name–the promise of restoration.

The root of the word “restoration” is, of course, to restore.  When we think of restoration, we think of fixing up old houses or bringing back endangered habitats or feeling better after a sickness.  Our current operating thought about restoration is (generally) to bring something back to its original state.  However, when you look at restoration from a Biblical perspective, to “restore” isn’t just to bring something back to what it once was; to “restore” really means to make something into what it was originally designed and created to be. 

God didn’t rescue and redeem the people of Israel so that they could go back to the way they were before.  “Before” didn’t work out so well in the long run.  “Before” led to rebellion, which led to destruction and exile and isolation from God.  “Before” created a cycle of events which has been playing out through the course of millenia, from the Garden of Eden to the Desert Wanderings through Exile and thousands of years of Occupation.  For while the people were redeemed, they were not yet restored.

In looking back at the creation process in the book of Genesis, we see God’s ultimate design for His creation.  God created all things, and God breathed His holy Spirit into His creation.  God created human beings in His very own image and made His dwelling among them.  There was no hunger, no sickness, no death, no fear and no shame.  Everything was in perfect order, and God was at the center.

So when I think about the “restoration” God has/is/will bring, it is this that I tend to dwell on: God’s desire is to bring about His original design and plan for creation.  And His original design and plan for creation was that we would dwell with Him within it and that He would be the center of all His created order.

When we celebrate the birth of Christ, it is just the beginning of the story.  God came into this world to rescue, to redeem and to restore.  There is a past, present and future promise to behold!  “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ WILL COME again!!”  Christ rescued us from the trappings of our sinful rebellion.  He redeemed us with his blood.  He restored us to right relationship with God and conquered death once and for all so that nothing can separate us from the Love of God.  

And yet, there is more to come!  God’s process of restoration is still going on!  And this process of restoration isn’t some sort of spiritual, mythical, ethereal process going on in heavenly realms.  God’s restoration is here and now; a real and tangible process happening on this earth and in our own lives.

While I believe in the second coming of Christ, and I believe that God will ultimately restore his creation and bring about His promise of a new heaven and new earth, I also believe that God is working His restoration process in our lives right here and right now.  God is restoring His people–bringing them back to Himself.  His Spirit lives and moves and breathes within us, bringing about wonderful new things in this present moment.

And so, this New Year, I want to focus on God’s restoration.  Over the course of this year, I would invite you to pray about ways that God may bring His restoration to your life.  I will be sharing stories of restoration with you, both from my own life and from the lives of others.  I want you to share your stories, too.  Whether it be a healed relationship, new health, a new career, overcoming great obstacles, overcoming addiction, recovery from grief, loss, etc….I want to see God’s restorative hand at work.  

Restoration 2014–let’s see the amazing work God will bring!

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

This song almost brought me to tears the first time I heard it.  It is a beautiful and powerful testimony of the redemptive power of God’s love.  Many blessings and much peace this weekend!

Sara

What a beautiful sight!
On the mountains a messenger
    announces to Jerusalem,
“Good news! You’re saved.
There will be peace.
    Your God is now King.”
 Everyone on guard duty,
    sing and celebrate!
Look! You can see the Lord
    returning to Zion.
 Jerusalem, rise from the ruins!
    Join in the singing.
The Lord has given comfort
to his people;
    he comes to your rescue.
 The Lord has shown all nations
    his mighty strength;
now everyone will see
    the saving power of our God.  Isaiah 52:7-10

Depending on which theologian you study, the book of Isaiah is traditionally broken into 2-3 books.  Regardless of whether it is 2 or 3, a good two-thirds of Isaiah consists of dire warnings given to the nations of Israel, Judah and all of their neighbors.  Yet, interestingly enough, the title “Isaiah” translates to the Lord saves.  Looking at the prophecies of Isaiah from this perspective, it would appear that Isaiah is a salvation story rather than a cautionary tale.

The Lord saves….this is the message passed down throughout Scripture.  The Lord saves….from Genesis through Revelation.  The Lord saves….regardless of our rebellion.  The Lord saves….in spite of our hardened hearts.  The Lord saves….even if we choose to abandon His ways.  The Lord saves…..

And this is the true message of Christmas, isn’t it?  “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, A SAVIOR….”

The Lord saves….but this time, God didn’t come as a mighty warrior leading His people forth in power and might.  But rather, God came down in the dark of night, as a vulnerable baby, cold, crying, hungry, surrounded by barnyard animals.  God came down to a people who were oppressed, impoverished, beaten-down and yearning for release.

The Lord saves….

The Lord saves….

The Lord SAVES….

Blessings and Peace,

Sara