Good News of Great Joy

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Jesus Christ the Lord.”

Whoot to that!

When I think about Christmas I am so thankful. You see, Jesus came to this place to make things new. And that he did. Israel had been waiting. A long time. But when the time had come, the perfect time, the hope of their longings turned to pure joy! In form of a baby boy. Some believed, some didn’t, yet all had to hope. Their long due Messiah was finally here. The hope of salvation could finally be here. Arriving not as the powerful King they were looking for, but in the quiet slumber of a child. And while it was different than thought, the hope of peace filled them full, and a joy covered the people.

The good news of Jesus, to us, is great joy! That baby grew up. The life of Jesus, as he walked this earth, brought love and healing to a broken and thrashed world. The humanity of Jesus to us, is comfort and consolation when we are tempted to despair. The death of Jesus is a payment for our sin and a declaration of God’s unmerited, abounding, horribly awesome love. And Christ’s resurrection is the power of victory, the hope of salvation, and the promise of his return. Now that’s joy if I’ve ever known it.

So now I wait. Not hopelessly! Oh, contrare! You see, I’ve seen the King! And he’s beautiful! I’ve been graciously mobilized to live fully in great hope and abundant joy that Jesus, one beautiful day, will return again. And in glorious power will snatch me from this place and set me in eternity with him. Oh Patty, Heavenly Day it will be! But, while I wait, I live! You see, the enemy came to kill, steal and destroy, but my King came to give me life! Abundant life. And I haven’t got time to waste. People need to be loved. They need to see Jesus. And I am convinced that seeing Jesus, for who he really is, changes everything!

Jesus has come people!! REJOICE!! Good news of GREAT JOY has come... and he saved the world.

Merry Christmas to you. And as a dear friend told me earlier, Christmas Day was so big we needed an eve to celebrate its full awesomeness. So, Merry Christmas Eve... may you see Jesus today and be changed! While we celebrate his coming, we long for and hope in the day he will come again and made ALL THINGS new! What a glorious day!

So live. FULLY!
...maybe today Lord!

"And the Word Became Flesh"

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it...

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

- John 1:1-5, 14

Piece to be raffled off to help fund the Urbana Conference '09 team... www.urbana.org

Contact me if your interested in buying a ticket!

Garnished With Hope

Today is Thanksgiving. A day to remember the blessing and provisions of a new land. The fortitude of the faithful, the mercies of the Maker and the many thanksgivings of the oddly clad Pilgrims. Well everyone really, but i guess it all started with them. One thing i do know... I’m pretty darn thankful for the person who thought of the word “cornucopia”. It’s a good one!

Anyway, on a more serious note, this year’s season comes at a time when more people are facing many more trials during much harsher times. Everyone seems to be talking about the economy and how awful it is. The affects of it are pretty obvious and it has hit closer than expected and comfortable. People have lost their jobs. Their homes. Their health. Families have taken hit upon hit to find a glimpse of hope in the provision of a food stamp, the heart of generous handout, and the sweet voice on the end of a helpline. Simple thanksgivings are found in the supply of the necessities and the abundance of mere relief. (Though in the host of phone calls for food assistance this week, I did get a one from a woman asking if we could provide her family a pie.)

However, in the midst of all of the hardship, there is hope! That hope is found in the steadfast love of God for his wonder-prone crazies (like me), and in the life and victory of Christ.

God is unwavering. His character is sure. It is good and righteous. All just and all loving. Merciful and wrathful. Mighty and exceedingly exalted. Not just the “man up stairs” but a living, active, and patient God. His patience is unmerited and his provisions are sufficient. He chooses, and commands, and convicts his chosen. Corrects and carries the burden his children. He conjures and carves, curves and coils, channels and cracks all the crevasses, creatures and rest of colossal creation. He is God. (And I just used a lot of “c” words.)
“I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.”

Christ was sent and is the perfect substitution. Through the wrath of a holy God poured out on a perfect man, we are granted access to the Holy One. That alone evokes thanksgiving. He qualifies God’s chosen to share in his rightful inheritance. He delivers sinners from the dominion of darkness and delivers them into the transforming kingdom of Christ. Into a new life of light! Man’s standing before God was redeemed though the cross. Through Christ’s death and resurrection. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” I Corinthians 15:57

Even when life serves up a banquet of hardship, it is garnished with the hope! Always. God does not change. His righteousness is steadfast! His goodness is grand. And his promises are sure. Even if that is all we have, we have ample reasons for thanksgiving. “Give thanks in all circumstances for it is the will of God in Christ for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!! May you be fed with the lovely knowledge of Christ Jesus and may that translate into unceasing thanks and a life of giving! May you be stuffed with the good bread of life. Filled full, but not too full, of the true vine wine. And whatever other Biblical analogy you can make for the green been casserole, mashed potatoes and pumpkin goodies.

In the wise words of Solomon, “Eat, drink, and be merry... for tomorrow we die.”Good one Solly... I mean, it is Black Friday!