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
Light in the Darkness Days 12-16: The Lord Saves
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
Light in the Darkness Days 9-11: Some Verses to Ponder
I realize that I have gotten behind in my original 24 day plan. So, I thought we’d play “catch-up” today with some scripture passages from Isaiah to ponder. God promised to rescue His people, even in the midst of His anger at their rebellion. Time and time again we see that God cannot abandon His people. God will not abandon us, no matter how dark the road we walk may seem. God is there in the midst of the darkness. But sometimes, like the ancient Israelites, we are blind and deaf to Him.
Today, read through these verses proclaiming God’s rescue and salvation. Pray that you will see the Light of God today. Pray that you can BE the Light of God for someone today.
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
There is good news
for the city of Zion.
Shout it as loud as you can
from the highest mountain.
Don’t be afraid to shout
to the towns of Judah,
“Your God is here!”
Look! The powerful Lord God
is coming
to rule
with his mighty arm.
He brings with him
what he has taken in war,
and he rewards his people.
The Lord cares for his nation,
just as shepherds care
for their flocks.
He carries the lambs
in his arms,
while gently leading
the mother sheep. Isaiah 40: 9-11
When the poor and needy
are dying of thirst
and cannot find water,
I, the Lord God of Israel,
will come to their rescue.
I won’t forget them.
I will make rivers flow
on mountain peaks.
I will send streams
to fill the valleys.
Dry and barren land
will flow with springs
and become a lake.
I will fill the desert
with all kinds of trees—
cedars, acacias, and myrtles;
olive and cypress trees;
fir trees and pines.
Everyone will see this
and know that I,
the holy Lord God of Israel,
created it all. Isaiah 41: 17-20
Descendants of Jacob,
I, the Lord, created you
and formed your nation.
Israel, don’t be afraid.
I have rescued you.
I have called you by name;
now you belong to me.
When you cross deep rivers,
I will be with you,
and you won’t drown.
When you walk through fire,
you won’t be burned
or scorched by the flames.
I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
the God who saves you. Isaiah 43: 1-3
Light in the Darkness Day 8: Some Brief Historical Context Amidst the Theological Hodgepodge
Before we go forward, I feel the need to go back a bit and establish a little of the historical context of the fall into exile for the people of Israel and Judah. The nation of Israel had been divided into two kingdoms; the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The holy city of Jerusalem was part of the Southern Kingdom, and the Southern Kingdom proved to be more militarily powerful than their neighbors to the north.
Isaiah began his ministry around the year 740 B.C. His prophecies encompassed both those living in the Northern and Southern kingdoms, as well as the neighboring/invading nations. Isaiah lived through the fall of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria around the year 722 B.C. By the time Israel fell, the people had undergone over 10 years of horrifically brutal physical and psychological warfare. Those who survived the final Assyrian onslaught were exiled to places far away, and Samaria was resettled by the Assyrians.
Witnessing the destruction of the Northern Kingdom, Isaiah turned his prophecies to the south, warning Judah of the same fate which awaited them if they did not change their ways. Although Isaiah wouldn’t live to see it, the Southern Kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonian Empire around 586 B.C.–almost 200 years after Isaiah’s prophecies! The people of Judah lived in exile for about 50 years, until the fall of Babylon to Persia. At this time, the Jews were allowed to return to their homeland. However, they were still occupied by a foreign power and would remain an occupied nation for another thousand plus years.
I find it remarkable to read the ancient prophecies of Isaiah with the knowledge that the people and events Isaiah foretold did not come about for another 200 years. And yet, God had those plans set into place. He called king Cyrus by name, proclaiming him to be His “servant” long before there ever was a king Cyrus in the first place! (Biblical and historical scholars might disagree with me. I suppose this is the time when you read the fine print telling you that I have a MA in Christian Education, not Ancient Biblical History!)
Here’s the theological message I take from all of this. 1) God has a plan. 2) God has a very specific, detailed and organized plan. 3) God will follow through with His plan. 4) God will follow through with His plan in His time–not mine. 5) God will keep His promises.
Even though God’s anger burned against His people, His heart never truly left them. The book of Isaiah is filled with God’s promises of salvation and restoration. God knew His people would be sent away. But He also knew that He would bring them home once more. And if God had such a far-sighted and far-reaching plan of salvation so long ago, how can we not believe that He still has far-sighted and far-reaching plans of salvation today?
Surely, the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear… “This is my covenant,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 59:1, 21; 60:1
Take some time in the next few days to think about where you are in your life. What are your hopes? Your dreams? Where are you waiting/wanting to see the saving hand of the Lord?
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
Light in the Darkness Day 7: Rescue
And it will be said:
“Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”
For this is what the high and exalted One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
I will not accuse them forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then they would faint away because of me—
the very people I have created.
I was enraged by their sinful greed;
I punished them, and hid my face in anger,
yet they kept on in their willful ways.
I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
creating praise on their lips.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,”
says the Lord. “And I will heal them.” Isaiah 57:14-19
“Did you hear the news?” Isaiah asks. “The Lord Your God is coming! You have turned your backs on him, rebelled against him, not upheld your part of the covenant made long ago. But he IS coming. And he will bring with him healing, guidance, restoration, comfort and peace. Though you walk the path of grief and despair this day, very soon your lips will be be full of praise.”
Hear the good news this day: Your RESCUER is near!
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
Light in the Darkness Day 6: When Your Heart Is In Exile–O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
So justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;
for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
Like the blind we grope along the wall,
feeling our way like people without eyes.
At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;
among the strong, we are like the dead.
We all growl like bears;
we moan mournfully like doves.
We look for justice, but find none;
for deliverance, but it is far away. Isaiah 59:9-11
One of my favorite Advent hymns is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. It captures so much of the darkness and despair of a people living in exile. But it also captures the hope-the faith-of a people who refuse to let go of their belief. In spite of everything–the loss of their homeland, the destruction of the Temple, the enslavement of their children, the total loss of a generation–the people of Israel set their hope for a future on their Deliverer. Isaiah spoke words of comfort to his people, words which came directly from the mouth of God:
But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
Your children hasten back,
and those who laid you waste depart from you.
Lift up your eyes and look around;
all your children gather and come to you.
As surely as I live,” declares the Lord,
“you will wear them all as ornaments;
you will put them on, like a bride.” Isaiah 49:15-18
At this time of year, when the focus is on joy and hope, on being merry and bright, it is easy to forget the many among us whose hearts are in exile–for whom Christmas is a time of pain and loss and anguish. Perhaps God does not give us more than we can bear, but life sure can.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the families in Newtown, CT who lost so much almost one year ago. I can’t imagine their days will be merry or bright. I think of my friends who have lost children and know that, despite the festivities of the season, there is an aching within their souls to spend this season with their precious babes. I think of the families around the country, some within our very own congregations, who are praying for a way to keep the heat on and a little food in the pantry; those families for whom the joy of Christmas morning is the joy of waking up under a warm blanket.
You see, there are many living with hearts in exile this holiday season. There is a deep longing for and need of rescue; rescue from despair, from pain, from poverty, from addiction, from abuse and from neglect. And it is directly to these exiled souls that God speaks, as he spoke to His people in exile so long ago.
And we are His voice. It is us, His people, who are called to offer those words of comfort, of hope, of rescue. It is up to us to keep the light of God’s love burning for those who live surrounded by darkness. We are called to go forth into a cynical, selfish and complacent society and to “arise, shine” and to proclaim once more that the Light has come.
What does that look like? It depends on where God calls you. It could be holding a friend while she grieves, or providing a listening ear for one whose life is falling apart. It could be making/delivering/serving a meal to those in need of food this season. It could be adopting a family for Christmas, sponsoring a child overseas, volunteering at a local charity. The possibilities are endless. But as you prepare to meet the Savior once again, do so with the knowledge that He came to give Hope. He came to give Life. He came to give Love. He came to bring Peace. And God created us to be His vessels of all of it.
If your heart is in exile this holiday season. If the trappings of Christmas are a burden to your soul–a constant and painful reminder of all you have lost or all you long for–remember Isaiah’s words of comfort and hope. Remember that you are not alone–you are not abandoned. God is here. Lift up your eyes. The Lord is on His way.
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
Light in the Darkness Day 5: When We Know Better, But God Knows Best
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15
I ate six of my mother-in-laws amazingly delicious homemade cinnamon rolls over the course of about four days–SIX! I knew as I put every bite of that soft, gooey, sugary goodness into my mouth that it was not the best decision I could make. I knew there would be consequences. But they were decadently divine and
I wanted to eat them so I did it anyway. Therefore, it wasn’t really a big surprise when I stepped on the scale a few days later and found myself up three pounds for the week. And those three pounds are now my responsibility to take back off.
I think I’m probably not alone in making choices and taking actions that I know are not the best for me. Most of us know exactly what we’re supposed to eat, how much we’re supposed to spend, the kind words we’re supposed to use, how much sleep we’re supposed to get, how we’re supposed to solve a conflict. However, the little rebellious gene that dwells somewhere inside us often convinces us to throw what we’re supposed to do out the window and to focus, instead, on what we desire.
And when we focus on what we desire as opposed to what we know to be right, there are negative consequences that we must then contend with.
God laid out a clear path for the nation of Israel to follow. Namely, they were to follow HIM. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength. Keep Him ever before you. Teach His commands to your children. Follow His commands in your home. Worship God alone. Do what is right. (Deuteronomy 6) God knew what was BEST for His children. He set forth a plan and a path for them that would lead to rest, to peace, to fulfillment–to salvation.
But, like so many of us, they would have none of it. “We don’t need God,” they said. “We can take care of ourselves. We’re busy. We’re working hard. We’re prospering. We’re growing. We’re powerful. What do we need with repentance and contrition? What do we need with Sabbath rest? Don’t worry about God’s anger. It’s all good. Life is good.”
In their determination to know better, the people of Isaiah’s time forgot that God alone knows BEST. And their “better” led them into the worst period of devastation and despair they had known. They lost everything. Babylon descended with an almighty vengeance-massacring, plundering, and enslaving the people. Those who survived the purge of Jerusalem were marched forcibly into exiled servitude. They were stripped from the land God had given them and sent, once more, into the wilderness. Yet this time, God’s light did not go before them leading the way.
As we enter into the rush of the Christmas season, I think it’s good to stop and ask ourselves, “Are we doing God’s best, or are we relying on our own version of ‘better’?”
In REPENTANCE and REST is your salvation.
In QUIETNESS and TRUST is your strength.
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
Confession 318: Don’t Trade the Turkey for Debt
Before I begin this post, let me just say that I LOVE Christmas!! I love the joy and the hope and the promise and the peace. I love that we celebrate salvation. But I don’t love the commercial nature of Christmas–the shop til you drop don’t worry about the cost you’ve got all year to pay it off race to the finish with the biggest and best gift ever culture we’ve created. So, before we rush from the dinner table to the department store this Thanksgiving, let’s take a moment to stop and reflect on the true purpose of gifting during this Christmas season. This is a post from a year ago, but, I still believe in it.
“For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloth and lying in a manger….Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth, Peace, Good will to all men.”
Luke 2:11-12, 14
It was late September when my kindergartner brought home the fall fundraising catalog for school. Browsing through the plethora of cheap holiday “gifts”, my eye caught on the bright and festive wrapping paper section. Looking at the multi-sized and multi-colored boxes so artfully positioned around the page, I said to my husband, “I want to have a big Christmas this year, with lots of presents for the boys to unwrap.”
Looking up from the allure of the bright and shiny packages, I rewound my brain. Did I really just say that? Whose birthday are we celebrating at Christmas anyway? Oh right, JESUS’!!
Before the holiday commercial frenzy sets upon us once again, I thought it would be appropriate to remind myself, and anyone else who might read this, that the love of God entering into the world through Jesus Christ cannot be contained by a beautifully wrapped box parked under a festooned tree, no matter how many lights the tree holds. (At our house, it’s usually between 800-900.)
This season, I want to challenge us to give gifts to others that come from the abundance of God’s love and grace, rather than the holiday clearance sale at the department store. Before we plunk down money on a gift for someone, let’s ask ourselves two questions:
1. Does this gift reflect and honor the love of God that we are supposed to be celebrating this season?
2. Does this gift truly express the feelings of love, friendship, gratitude or appreciation I might have for this person?
And just a quick hint, dropping a bunch of money down on something shiny doesn’t necessarily make the item a gift of love, or, an expression of God’s love. Don’t get me wrong. I like jewelry as much as the next woman, but it’s not a gift I would value as much as, per say, a fun experience with my family.
In our society, most of us already have an abundance of “stuff” crowding out the living spaces in our homes. Instead of adding to that, let’s use this Christmas season as a time to bring God’s love into the world, which was the point of the holiday in the first place. Think about alternative gift giving. Here are some ideas:
1. Instead of getting your child’s teacher another coffee mug or kitchy item, make a donation of classroom supplies. Get them a gift card to an educational supply store. Volunteer to cover recess duty for a week.
2. Instead of buying random gift items for extended family members, make a donation to their favorite charity on their behalf. Better yet, make one large donation in honor of the entire family to your favorite charity and, by doing so, educate others about the good work that charity does.
3. Write notes of gratitude to your co-workers and deliver them with a loaf of homemade bread. Or, get together with your co-workers and use the money you would spend on one another to adopt a family in your area. Or, even better, adopt one of your co-workers and their family if they are in need.
4. Scale back the money you spend on your children’s Christmas. Instead of piling oodles of stuff under the tree, pick one nice gift you know they would really value and appreciate and leave it at that. Then, take your children shopping to pick out clothes and presents for other children in need. Let them wrap the gifts and help you deliver them to whatever organization you’re working through.
5. For your spouse, make a date and spend some quality time together. Make them a photo collage of the past year’s events that they can take with them to display at work. Engage with them in one of their favorite activities.
The list could go on and on. The point is, this holiday season let’s make an effort to think outside of the box—literally. Let’s reclaim Christmas by focusing our efforts on bringing Christ into the world, showing his love both to strangers and those dearest to us. Give Christ this Christmas. Give His Love. It’s brighter and shinier and bigger than any package to be found under a tree.
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
Confession 317: Top Ten Life Lessons I Learned From a 4th Grade Project
The past month and a half, my 4th grade enrichment group has been working on creating a digital narrative. Students used an online tool to construct a multi-media slideshow presentation which featured a significant/memorable event in their lives. Today, we had our big premiere, attended by parents, grandparents, teachers and classmates. It was a lot of fun. And honestly, I learned a lot. So, here are the top ten life lessons from my 4th grade project…..
1. Creation requires chaos. In working through the chaos, we establish order and are able to bring forth a completed work of art. It’s kind of like dumping all of the pieces of a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle out on the table. It takes a while to organize, but we eventually get a system worked out and are able to complete the task.
2. Not having all the answers is okay. I’m a natural know-it-all. I like having answers. The problem is that when you have all the answers, you don’t engage in problem-solving. And if you don’t engage in problem-solving, then you’re not allowing yourself to learn. When we allow ourselves to say, “I don’t know the answer”, then we’re opening ourselves to collaboration which leads to entirely new ways of thinking and problem-solving.
3. Perfection is overrated. Or, as fitness trainer Jillian Michaels says, “Perfection sucks!” The reality is, no one is perfect. Therefore, nothing we create will be perfect either, be it a project, work of art, relationship, etc…. And that’s okay, because when we allow ourselves to be rid of perfection then we are truly free to create and explore. And on that note….
4. Seek to make mistakes. It’s in our mistakes that we actually learn. Making mistakes allows us to expand our thinking. Making mistakes forces us to do some problem-solving. Making mistakes leads us to learn. When we make mistakes, we gain understanding, and that understanding allows us to help others who might be struggling with the same situation.
5. Ask for help. Sometimes I think that asking for help is a sign of failure. I have a neon bright independent streak that runs through my veins. I say things like, “That’s okay. I’ll figure it out.” But really, I won’t. I need help. You need help. We are created to need help. Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs? Why did Paul have so many companions on his mission trips? Because we need other people. We need help–both to give and to receive it. And when we ask for help, new solutions arise. We are able to go farther and be stronger when we share the burden with someone else. Two minds truly are better than one. That said….
6. Don’t rush in to “fix it”. Problem-solving is about learning and growing. So, if we rush in and try to “fix” someone else’s problem, we’re taking away from them an opportunity for growth. We’re robbing them of part of their journey. So, the next time your child is struggling with that homework assignment/project, let them be for awhile. Encourage them, support them, make them some hot chocolate and popcorn. But let them struggle. Let them think. Let them problem-solve. Let them do the work. Let them grow.
7. Keep focused. My oldest son is very easily distracted. I have to confess, he gets it from his mother. We see bright, shiny objects and are just gone. It drives my husband and my youngest crazy. And while I don’t think we need to have every endeavor completely planned out to the end, there needs to be something tangible we are striving towards. Research shows that students are more successful in school when they are keeping track of their progress. Likewise, we are more successful in our endeavors when we have something we are working toward. And, we need to keep focused on that. As the apostle Paul wrote, “We press on toward the goal to win the prize….”
8. Allow for flexibility. While focus is a key component of any endeavor, I am a big believer in the fluidity of life. Computers crash, people get sick, you have kids, the weather changes….life happens. And so, we need to be flexible enough to change with it. When change happens, which it will, we need to embrace it for the opportunity it is. Not to sound like a broken record, but when we allow ourselves to be flexible then we are much better able to problem-solve which (again) leads to growth and innovation.
9. Celebrate along the journey. While not every endeavor may end in success, it’s important to stop and celebrate along the way. Take some time to give thanks for the work that has already been done. Give God praise for the work He will yet do. Give yourself a pat on the back for meeting a goal. We always celebrate progress reports, even if they’re not “perfect”. Those progress reports represent hard work. And while the journey of learning is not over, it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate what has already taken place.
10. Pray without ceasing. Cover everything in prayer. Prayer is a beautiful gift from God, full of promises and hope. The day before our big project, the district’s internet connection was disrupted. One of my students asked me what we would do if that happened during our slideshow premier. “It won’t,” I responded. “I’m going to pray that all runs smoothly.” He asked me how I knew it would be okay. “Because,” I replied. “I believe.”
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
P.S. I was trying to think of a song that would be appropriate for this post. I thought of Alanis Morissette’s “You Learn”. I know, it’s not a Christian song, but God can speak through anyone, right? Happy Friday!
Confession 316: When You Feel Like You’re Not Good Enough
Lately, I have been in the midst of a semi-midlife crisis. I turned 37 in September and for some reason, the knowledge that I am about halfway (the Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise) through my time on this earth has really pushed me into a mental and emotional tailspin. I find myself asking questions like:
What am I doing with my life?
Why am I not farther along a career path?
How did I go from being the head of a department to a teacher’s associate?
What happened to my potential?
Should I just give up on my dreams?
Am I a failure? This, actually, becomes more of a statement in my mind rather than a question.
Professionally, I feel like a failure. And the subsequent feelings of frustration and disappointment and anxiety that come with that often leave me wanting to do nothing more than curl up on the couch with a fuzzy blanket and watch cheesy Hallmark Channel holiday movies all day. I want to go into a cocoon and sleep through this phase of my life, emerging some Spring day beautifully successful and at peace doing exactly what I love and actually making a living with it without all of the frustration and angst and uncertainty of getting there.
Feelings of failure, of disappointment, of unworthiness often lead us into emotional paralysis. We get stuck. The Enemy worms his way into our heads and pretty soon, the voice of discouragement is all we hear. But there’s a greater voice calling out to us. And if we (if I) can push through all the muck in my head that keeps me feeling depressed and anxious then I can hear it. And God my Creator– the one who said I am wonderfully made–who tells me He has counted each hair on my head–who has called me His own while still in my mother’s womb–who will walk with me into the darkest places this life can hold–who loves me enough to give a part of Himself to me–He pulls me close and whispers to my soul,…
“You are my dearly loved child. Listen to MY voice. I created you with a purpose, and no purpose of MINE is a failure. The only job you have is to be the person I created you to be–to follow ME wherever the MY path may lead.”
This song, from singer/songwriter Laura Story, speaks to the heart of what I believe. When I get out of my own head, when I push away those voices which proclaim failure, unworthiness, not enough and focus instead on the voice of the One who has lavished His great love on me, then I am able to “Be Me”. When I look at myself through the One who created me, I am better able to move past my feelings of disappointment and to pour myself into those tasks God has given me to do. I find new purpose, new meaning, new hope and new thanksgiving. In those moments when I allow God to be at the center of my being, I am able to say: “Surely, I DO SEE the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:2
Praying that you will see the God’s love and goodness in your life today.
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
