Advent Series: Highly Favored By God

Hey everyone! Next up is a guest post by my wonderful husband Jake!

What does it look like to be singled out and favored by the Creator of all the Universe? Power, prosperity, and prestige? Jesus' mother Mary experienced this favor firsthand and it's not exactly what we may have had in mind, but there's so much to be learned!

In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel shows up in a small living room and greets Mary saying,“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” As far as Mary knew, the last time Gabriel stepped on the scene was to Daniel, when he was sent by God to give Daniel understanding pertaining to the restoration of Jerusalem, the coming of the Messiah, and the desecration and desolation of the Temple (Daniel 9:21-27). Now, here he is standing in Mary's humble home in Nazareth saying that the Lord has chosen her to bestow His blessing and favor upon. It's no surprise, that this  "troubled" Mary and left her "considering what manner of greeting it was." Can you imagine her thinking, "Who me? Favored by God? Blessed among women? I'm just a young girl from Nazareth."  Nazareth wasn't looked fondly upon, remember Nathaniel in John 1:46, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” But this is how God deemed fitting to bring is His son into the world. This says so much about God, what matters to Him, and How he sees and evaluates.  "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)

But what is more interesting is the blessing and favor Mary experienced. I would suppose it is a bit different than what we would expect from such a claim. The virgin birth (although prophesied about by Isaiah centuries before) in an honor/shame based culture would have been undoubtedly a scandal that would have the whole town talking. Can you imagine bearing the stigma of being pregnant before marriage in that culture? According to the law, adultery was punishable by death! (see Leviticus 20:10) Or think about the 90 mile trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem Mary made...in her third trimester! Anything but comfortable, I'm sure. And it was only to get there to find that no place would let her in and ended up giving birth in a stable for animals, laying her newborn in a feeding trough! Did this offend Mary? What happened to being highly favored? She had believed and obeyed, and this was how she was treated? Was God testing them? Training them? Preparing them? Was he shaping them to base their hope in His promises and His nature rather than temporary ease and comfort? The promises of God undoubtedly must have been running through their minds throughout the course of the experience, sustaining them along the way. The Angel had foretold that her son would be great and will be called the Son of the Highest and sit on the throne of His Father David. And that he would reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His kingdom there will be no end. (cf. Isaiah 9:7)
Mary and Joseph would have been familiar with the promise made to David that from His line would come a King who would sit on the throne forever. And to think Mary was carrying this one inside her body!
"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever"(2 Samuel 7:12-13,16, NKJV)
The whole scenario is teeming with conflicts and pressures inward and out. This is the setting God chooses and divinely sets up for the His entry into human history as a man. If we peer in just a little closer, the knowledge of God is dripping off of God's dealing with Mary. There's so much to be said about who He is, His works, and His ways. It's much more than a nice Christmas story, this really happened and it tells about what God is like and what He values.
For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)

Mary's experience shows us that being highly favored by God is more than having everything going your way and a smooth ride through life. Mary would certainly attest to this, in fact, in Luke 2:35, while Simeon is blessing Jesus, he tells Mary "a sword will pierce your own soul"referring to the pain of seeing Her Son crucified. Some blessing, eh? But she believed that she was involved in something so much greater than a life of side-stepping discomfort, therefore she obeyed. Oftentimes, I expect blessing and favor with God to translate to increase in wealth, comfort, and ease. However, a misplaced hope (blessings in this age) leads to painful letdowns, discouragement, disillusionment, offense, and depression. Don't get me wrong, God does bless our circumstances and we need to seek that from Him, but when our hope is anchored in His promises (rewards, blessings, resurrection, etc. in the age to come) we have a grid (ie. carrying the cross) for embracing suffering and self denial and can carry our heart like Mary with faith, obedience, and perseverance when the going gets rough! May God's great and precious promises fill our heart with grace and peace!

Advent Series: Peace on Earth

There are a lot of phrases or words that are associated with Christmas

Joy. Peace. Merry. Cheer.

One phrase that I've been pondering lately is "Peace on Earth"

The reason this line has become a Christmas slogan is because of something the angels said when they appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem.

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest

and on earth peace, goodwill toward men"

I began to wonder what kind of peace Jesus brought to the Earth in His first coming.

He didn't bring peace between Israel and Rome, or the rest of the nations.

He didn't bring peace between person to person (Matt 10:34-35 Luke 12:51 - Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.)

So what kind of peace did He bring?

He brought a peace that saved our everlasting souls

He made peace between God and man.

Colossians 1:19-20

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Hallelujah! 

Jesus bore my sins inside His body and became accursed so that I would not be cut off from God's presence. He tore the veil and made a way for me to approach the Father.

Peace.

But, Jesus wasn't finished there.

He does plan to bring peace on Earth.

In fact, there will be a day when there is peace among the nations and wars cease to exist.

Everyone loves to quote Isaiah 9 in the Christmas season, but most of this section is about Jesus' second coming!

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined...

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

There will be a day where Jesus sits on a real throne on Earth and rules over the nations.

On that day, His government and peace will know no end.

He will be the perfect leader. He will be the just judge. He will be our King of Kings.

I'm thankful that the Lord of hosts is zealous to be made one with His creation.

We wait for that day with expectancy. 

Come Lord Jesus!

((Just wanted to let you guys in on something awesome for this advent season. Jake and I are doing an "advent calendar" where you read scripture about Christ's first and second coming every day. We're loving it! I have to be honest and say that I'm behind already, but it's been super edifying for us to go through together. You can find it here))

Advent Series: Celebration of the First with Longing for the Second

Nothing makes me long for the second coming of Jesus Christ more than the celebration of His first.

Singing those hymns fills me with joy, gratitude, awe, but then also a nagging feeling in my belly.

It's the ache of missing someone.

I remember the first time I heard a song by Misty Edwards where she sings:

"We miss you Jesus, and we want you to return"

I remember thinking to myself:

"That seems strange to miss someone you've never been around or 'met.'"

Later, God convicted me of that sentiment, showing me that the reason I felt that way was because I didn't know what I was missing.

Meaning, I didn't know WHO I was missing.

Without a real revelation of Jesus (His thoughts, emotions, character, plans) we won't wish we were with Him.

Now of course every Christian would say they wish they were with Jesus, but do we miss Him?

Can we say that we long to be with Him?

I couldn't say that, and still without abiding in the vine I lose track of it.

The Spirit bears witness or testifies of Jesus (1 John 5:6)

When we talk with God, abide in the vine, and walk by the Spirit (all one in the same) we will inevitably desire to be one with Jesus.

At the end of the story, we see in Revelation 22:17 that the Bride will be in agreement with the Spirit in saying "Come Lord Jesus!"

I want to agree with the Spirit now.

I don't want to wait.

In so many of the old carols and hymns, the writer talks about the first and second coming of Jesus.

We were never meant to be satisfied with only the first. 

Let us be thankful and never forget how God took on flesh and humbled Himself, but let it ignite an insatiable desire to see Him come once again and make His home among men, forever.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with men to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

Mama & Baby

(This photo is from a month ago, but look how cute he is!!)

Have you ever heard of the gift giving method of "Want, Need, Wear, Read"?

Basically this is a way of organizing the gifts you're giving so it's not too heavy in one area.

Jake and I really like this for Israel (and our future kids) because we don't want him to grow up with an over abundance of toys.

Does that sound mean?

He's definitely going to have toys and we are all about having fun, we just want to foster creativity, simplicity, and thankfulness through having a bit less.

Some of my most cherished and vivid childhood memories had nothing to do with toys.

Cardboard boxes, homemade forts, Popsicle stick people, a pen and paper to write my own comic books.

So, on behalf of Izzy, here is his Christmas list:

WANT
Musical instruments, maybe a drum or a xylophone 

Fisher price classics, like this camera or record player

Push toys like these cars

NEED

Some mittens

Shoes for this soon to be walker. Red, brown, or these

Eating utensils. These are fun, but maybe not practical.
Is it ok to say he NEEDS tub toys? He loves bath time, but we don't have anything for him to play with while he splashes around.

WEAR

Warm sweaters, like these
These comfy funky sweatpants or stretchy pants
Some pants and long sleeve Ts

READ
I love the not so girly Babylit books
Anything Eric Carle
Charley Harper ABC
First Bible

So there you have it. The tastes of our almost 10 month old.
And here's one extra picture, just because he's so darn cute

Maranatha Series

A few weeks ago I posted a blog about why the end times are important. I feel the need to continue writing about this topic, the blessed hope of Jesus' glorious appearing (Titus 2:13). I want to spark the interest of people who might not have thought about it before. My first point in that last post was about how the return of Jesus is how we finish the story, and is extremely important. I want to talk more about that, from the perspective of watching a drama unfold, either in a theater, a novel, or a movie. Have you ever watched a movie that leaves you with so many loose ends? I hate that. To me, that is a poorly written story. We want/need closure. Here are a few things to think about, maybe some 'loose ends' so to speak, that are yet to come in this unfolding drama.

1. Villain - we see throughout the Bible (and in our own lives today) that there is an enemy among us. He steals. He kills. He destroys. He did, however, suffer a major blow when Jesus rose from the dead, making a way for sinners to be atoned and receive eternal life (hallelujah!). But he knows his time is short, (Rev 12:12) and he is filled with a rage that wants to eliminate God's chosen people (Israel) and the grafted in olive branches (the Church) (Rev 12:17). Don't you want to know what will happen to him? Will he be successful in his mission? I'm anxious to see!

2. The enemy's puppet - There's a character that we have yet to see that the old testament prophets, the apostles, and Jesus all alluded to. The lawless one, the man of sin, the son of perdition (2 Thess 2) the beast, or, as he's more commonly known as, the anti-christ. This man will be a 'substitute anointed one' and will have far reaching power and authority politically, economically, militarily, and religiously. Daniel tells us he will have a 7 year reign, John tells us he will suffer a mortal wound, Jesus quotes Daniel in warning of this 'abomination of desolation' and that when you see it you should flee Jerusalem. There is so much to be understood about this evil man, and not for the sake of knowing facts, but because he will deceive many (Rev 13:14) and most of the inhabitants of the earth will worship him (Rev 13:8) and he will be Satan's puppet to conquer and kill the saints (Rev 13:7). He will seem very appealing, so we must be on guard and know what to look for! (Rev 13:3b-4)

3. Israel - the Lord's chosen people. The whole Bible is really about this group. Their devotion, their waywardness, their captivity, their freedom, their land, and their city, it's all so important to God. If we don't take the time to study the word, we're left thinking that God has most likely turned his back on them forever and that now the church is God's new chosen people. If that were true, it would be a contradiction of God's own character. He made a covenant with these people and He chose them, even with their hardened hearts (Gen 15:17-21) The end of the story for Israel is great and terrible (Joel 2:11). Jesus said He won't come back until they want Him (Matt 23:39) so that means something has to change. God also cares about the land and will set up a throne in Jerusalem for Jesus to reign on forever (Luke 1:32) If you have any understanding of what it's like in Jerusalem, and what currently sits on the temple mount, you'll know that there are some big plot twists coming to look forward to!

4. The Bride & Bridegroom - in an attempt to not join the blog world in criticizing the church, I will keep this brief. The bridegroom Jesus has left to prepare a place for His bride. He will come back for her, but will she be ready? Will she be blameless and without offense (Phil 1:10)? Will she have bright and clean garments to wear (this stands for the righteous acts of the saints) (Rev 19:7-8)? Will she be joining the Spirit in a unified cry for the return of her Bridegroom, King, and Judge (Rev 22:17)? Will she hasten His coming with a holy lifestyle (2 Peter 3:11-12)? What will it be like when they are united at last!? (Rev 19:9)

5. The vindication of the oppressed - like I said before, it's plain to see that there is an enemy among us. One thing that I believe most of the world is longing to see is justice for the oppressed. For those young and innocent ones who have been treated in the foulest ways, we wish to see the wrong things made right. Only one person can bring about true justice (Deut 32:35) (Rom 12:19) (Heb 10:30) Only one person can still be merciful in the midst of wrath. Only one person can release judgments and not harm man's free will. This man is Jesus, and He has it in His heart to do these things. (Revelation 6-19)

So, these are just a few things that I hope will 'whet your appetite' and point you to the scriptures. This is more than just a drama or a story. This is real life. These are real people and it's really going to happen here on earth. The more I dive into the Word of God with these things in mind, the more excited I get about my walk with the Lord. Feeling dull and complacent? Wishing you had that zeal and passion you had before? Search out God's plans to make all things beautiful in time. Dive into just how glorious His return will be. Meditate on the merciful gift of the resurrection of the body. Get excited about living with God on earth as a human without sin and with a perfect body. I can't wait! Love grows in my heart for God the more and more I anchor my hope in the age to come.

Come Lord Jesus!

Papa & Baby

Here we have SuperDad

Diaper changing whisperer

Fussy baby serenader 

Sound affects professional

Car seat carrier

Percussion instructor

Sanity keeper