Christmas Memories

 I've had memories of Christmas' growing up running through my mind for the last few weeks. 

Memories of laughter and fun. 

Memories of family together.

Memories of a crowded table - everyone has to keep their elbows in so we don't knock the food off each other's forks.

Memories of too much food and my Grandma always offering more.

Memories of singing carols together with my Grandma at the piano.

Memories of my sisters, my cousins and I are huddled around the nativity set, each taking our turn to place the figurines of the set in place as Grandma read the Christmas story aloud.

Memories of puzzles started and completed.

Memories of gifts that reminded us how loved and care about we were.

Memories of welcoming in many who had nowhere else to go for Christmas.

This Christmas is the second one since my Grandma passed away. Although there were Christmas' before she passed that she wasn't able to be there, it's different now to know she's not just down the road waiting for a visit.

It's still a little bittersweet to think about Christmas this year. For so many years my Grandma, her house, her cooking, her plan for the family for the day was the center of all that happened. Even when she no longer hosted, she still had influence on the day.

But, the part that I keep coming back to is how she made sure that we never forgot what it was really about in the midst of the food and the presents. She was never afraid to tell us grandkids that we had to wait to open presents until we'd read the Christmas story together.

She'd read the Scripture about Jesus' birth and you could hear in her voice how much it meant to her. That to her this was the most important part of everything about that day. 

I'm challenged that I need to remember the reason why we do this all. The thing that is the most important about this day.

So, today, can I encourage you to take the time to stop and read and remember that in the midst of all this time of year brings, the most important thing is that we're celebrating the promised and long-awaited Messiah coming to earth?

We celebrate because Jesus coming to earth as a baby changed everything.

Light in the darkness.

Peace in the chaos.

Comfort in the brokenness.

God's Peace When Life Isn't Peaceful

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the LORD, the LORD is the Rock eternal." (Isaiah 26:3-4)

I've found myself turning to these verses regularly in the last while. A reminder that peace comes from God, and that it's not based on my circumstances.

As 2019 draws to a close and a new year begins, I know a number of people who are facing circumstances that feel anything but peaceful. And that is my own circumstances as well. 2019 was a hard year for lots of people - likely including many of you reading this, as it was for me.

As I write this, I'm looking at the chalkboard I have hanging by my chair - the one where the word God gave me for 2019 is written. The word written on that chalkboard:

PEACE

When I reflect on 2019, it doesn't seem like a year with much, if any, peace. At least when you look at the circumstances of 2019.

But, as I think more about it and as I've learned more about peace over the last 12 months, I've realized that peace isn't about my circumstances. It's not about what happens.

The peace that God has in mind when He gave me this word for 2019 and the peace talked about in Isaiah 26:3-4, isn't based on circumstances. It's a peace that comes in the middle of often challenging circumstances. It's a peace that comes when we choose to surrender and trust when things don't make any sense.

In Isaiah 9, we are told that Jesus would be called the Prince of Peace when He came. It sounds great and beautiful. And it's true - He is the Prince of Peace.

But, the circumstances Jesus was born into and lived in, were anything but peaceful. One only has to read Matthew 2 and the events around the wise men coming and their conversation with King Herod to know the violence and upheaval that was the time Jesus came to earth. The Prince of Peace wasn't born into a peaceful world.

And He didn't live and minister in a peaceful world either. The truth is, there are times when I look at the way Jesus spoke and ministered and it doesn't seem to jive with the idea of Him being the Prince of Peace.

But, that is why the peace God speaks of isn't based on circumstances or on things making sense to us. The peace God speaks of comes in the midst of trial, in the midst of pain, in the midst of confusion.

I'm not sure how to describe it exactly. Putting words to this part of what I've learned over 2019 is proving more difficult than I thought. But it's something that's different than what we usually think of as peace.

As 2019 comes to an end and I move into 2020, my prayer for all is that we would continue to experience God's peace and understand more of what it means. The Prince of Peace has come and He is with us, no matter what we're walking through. His peace is not dependent on our circumstances or on what our world tells us what it is. We do not walk alone. The Prince of Peace goes with us.

The Things we Often Skip

Sometimes, in our familiarity with certain passages of Scripture, we miss out on an important part of it. I had that happen with me recently.

Almost all of Philippians 4:4-7 is familiar to us. It's quoted often in many different situations.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heats and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7, CSB)

But, we often actually only use verses 4 and 6-7 when we quote it. For some reason, we skip over verse 5. We read the first part about rejoicing in the Lord and then we jump to the part about not worrying. But, in the part we skip, are four words that why it is possible for us to rejoice always and why we don't need to worry.

The Lord is near.

All of this is possible because God is right there. He is near. His closeness is the reason for us to rejoice always. We can count on Him and that is reason to celebrate.

We can also let go of our worries because He is near. We're not praying to a distant God and asking Him to take our worries; we literally get to hand then over to a God Who is right there. He takes them directly from us.

We can pray with thanksgiving because God is there. His presence, His nearness, means that if we take even a moment to look for His activity in our lives, we will see it. And it can result in gratitude.

We also experience His peace because He is right there. It is His presence that changes everything. He peace isn't something we have to try to manufacture. We experience it because of His nearness in the midst of all circumstances.

You may have noticed that I've actually still skipped a part of verse 5 in what I've said. We often skip this part of the verse too. I wanted to start with what we commonly talk about and how it ties together with part we easily skip over, but this doesn't mean the first part of verse 5 doesn't also fit in with what I'm saying.

Verse 5 says, "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." Gentleness is not something that comes naturally to us, or even is generally valued or encouraged by our society. The only way we can live it is to be dependent on God's presence with us, empowering us to live out our gentleness in a world that doesn't value it.

The Lord is near.

Really, in many ways, the four most important words in this passage. Yet, part that we too often skip in our focus on what else is said in this passage. They're words we cannot continue to skip, because they are key to understanding and living out all that these verses contain.

Prince of Peace

Crisp, cool air. Clear, blue skies.

A world covered in white reflecting the brilliant sun.

Snow falling over the tops of my boots with every step, as I sank into the soft, fluffy snow.

The noise of traffic on the road nearby muffled by these depths of snow. Snowplow blades scraping on the road, the only noise carrying to where I am.

There's something about the snow that makes this crazy world we live in seem more peaceful. It forces us to slow down. It creates silence where there's usually noise.

It may be past Christmas now. We've had the day where we celebrate the birth of the Messiah. But that is where my thoughts are drawn again as I walk.

Jesus was called the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6 where His birth is prophesied. In a world where peace often seems elusive - both globally and in our individual lives - it seems fitting to me that we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace at this time of year. For a brief time, there seems to be a way to escape the craziness and find some peace.

The snow has reminded me of that. And I'm encouraged to look for ways to experience the Prince of Peace in the midst of the craziness that life often is.

Elusive Peace

Silence falls with the snow

A blanket of white covers

Noises muffled and distant

Silence becomes my friend

An escape from the rushing

Leaving busy-ness behind

Peace - often seems so far away

But in this moment it reigns

What always seems elusive

Has come so very near

How do I make it more than this?

How do I learn to live in it?

In the midst of the busy

In the midst of the rush

How can peace reign always?

If Jesus came to bring us peace,

Why does it seem impossible

To find in each of our days?

As I ask, He answers me

"You have to choose to turn your eyes

Turn the towards Me

Take them off your circumstances

And keep them always on Me

Then My peace will reign

In your every day life"