COVID-19: Week 5 & 6

Six weeks ago, COVID-19 started to significantly impact normal life, at least where I live. This week, I’m going to list some of the differences that have happened over these 6 weeks, just so I can look back on this and remember!

1. Schools started to close.. at first just for a few weeks, then those weeks extended a few more weeks, then closed for the remainder of this school year. I am still volunteering at my school building once or twice a week to help distribute meals to families that drive through to pick up work packets. We are greeted in the school office by a sign-in sheet and another sheet of names and a forehead thermometer where we are asked to take and record our own temperature each day we work at school. The public schools in North Carolina were officially closed for the rest of the year by the governor on April 24, however remote learning is still to continue until the end of the school year, which for us, is May 22. High school seniors and college seniors are graduating, but unfortunately not able to walk at their commencement.
2. Stores have limited their hours of operation so they can have more time to clean and restock. It has been so strange watching our 24/7 Walmart now close at 8PM on a daily basis! I have seen stores host time slots in the mornings where older people who are more at-risk and vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19 could come shop for groceries. The general public is encouraged to only go out for essential items.
3. Many restaurants have closed or have opted for call-in, carry-out options to keep their business going while staying within the safety parameters. I am SO hyped for post-COVID so Friday night pizza dates can begin again! Fast food chains have closed their lobbies and now only operate via drive throughs.
4. Since people are strongly encouraged not to travel, gas and airline flights are incredibly inexpensive. Just today, I saw a round trip ticket from Asheville to either Chicago or Houston for $60! Gas around here has been sighted as low as $1.50 a gallon.
5. Conferences, interviews and any other meetings that would typically take place in person have now been moved to an online platform.
6. Concerts and tours have been postponed or cancelled. Coachella has been replaced by Couchella.
7. Many church services are being live streamed and some are operating through a “drive in” service where families stay in their enclosed vehicles, park in the same parking lot, and virtually listen to the sermon together.
8. People are social distancing, staying away from each other physically to help limit the spread of this virus. Accidentally bumping into people at the grocery store on an essentials run has been such a treat!
9. Outdoor activity has been more prominent. I am SO thankful for beautiful weather here, and I love seeing people getting outside for a walk, run, or bike ride.
10. We do have our share of rainy days too, which has promoted fun movie watching nights, plenty of reading afternoons, and time to try a new recipe, clean/organize a section of my home, or try a new DIY project.

It’s interesting to think with each day that passes by, we are making another day of history. Each day, I hope that I am “making history” in a positive way and in a manner that loves others by keeping the limit of the virus down however possible. I want to be a person that trusts God throughout this time in history, and I am thankful that He is sovereign and faithful. This world is temporary; His kingdom is forever!

COVID-19: Week 4

Happy Resurrection Day! He is risen: today and every day!

This Holy Week, the week beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday, has hit me differently than in years past. To have the world slow down and more opportunities to be still, I have soaked in the story more than before.

Also watching The Chosen (find it on The Chosen app or on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXOFnNTULFaAnj24PAeblg/videos) has opened my eyes as to what Jesus’ ministry may have looked like.

Seeing an actor portray the kindness of Jesus and seeing that His sole purpose was truly to teach truth and love people, to be about His Father’s business, to restore mankind to Himself, to provide a way to give us access to God the Father, has changed the way I read my Bible, how I pray, and today – how I view the Easter story.

I think about the whirlwind of a week it must have been for the disciples: seeing their friend Jesus ride through the streets of Jerusalem on Sunday, performing miracles and teaching them, only to later watch Him be betrayed by one of the men who had been walking with them for so long.

Then, on Friday, their friend was crucified. The act of being crucified was painful enough, but that is not all that Jesus endured. In those days, that was a method by which people were put to death. As horrific as it would be to have stakes driven through your hands and feet, to suffocate as you try to shift your hanging weight, that is not the worst that Jesus endured for us.

God is a God of love, but He is also a God of justice. He could not simply waive our sins. They had to be dealt with. So, Jesus bore the weight of all of mankind’s sins on the cross, and God poured out His wrath towards those sins.. not on us, but on His Son, on our behalf.

Can you imagine? I never have to face that reality: God will never leave me, but in those hours, God turned His face away from His Son, so my sins could be paid for in full.

“And when the sixth hour [that is noon] had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour [that is 3PM]. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'” -Mark 15:33-34

As a Christian, that is something I will NEVER have to utter because Jesus endured that in my place. In your place.

“And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this He breathed His last.” -Luke 23:45b-46

And then, He died. Jesus was dead.

What did His disciples think? The man they had seen do miraculous things, healing people, casting out demons, bringing dead men to life, fulfilling prophesies.. now was gone. He had foretold His death many times. One of which in Matthew 20:17-19,

“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way He said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and He will be raised on the third day.”

How deep was their despair? Did any of them remember that He had not only spoke of His death but His resurrection too? Did they forget? Were they hopeful or just overcome by grief? What on earth was Saturday like for them?

I don’t like to sit in feelings, but this year, I have seen the beauty of sitting in the gripping, painful truth of Friday. The silence of Saturday. Because truly marinating in the death of Jesus and all that He endured out of love for us makes the joy of Sunday even more glorious.

On Sunday, something supernatural happened – something only God could do. Jesus was resurrected! Death could not hold Him down, sin had no dominion over His power, His plan was not threatened in the slightest. This was His plan!

Thinking about Easter and COVID-19 this week, I am reminded that nothing thwarts God’s plan. And as Christians, we don’t have to fear the results of this virus. If death itself cannot stop God, how much less can a global pandemic stop Him?!

I hope the reality of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday encourages you through this time. Yes, we suffer in this life because we live in a fallen world.

But, if you are in Christ, if you have repented of your sins and put your hope and trust in Jesus, Who sacrificed Himself to do what He could only do – provide the once and for all payment for your sins on the cross – you can also look towards the promise of eternity with that same Jesus!

And if you haven’t, I urge you to think about these things! To think deeply about what Jesus offers you. It truly will change your life forever!

Life can be difficult, and I don’t want to walk through it without Jesus. Because of what Jesus did for me, I don’t have to walk any of my days without Him!

“God saw Abraham’s sacrifice and said, ‘Now I know that you love Me, because you did not withhold your only son from Me.’ But how much more can we look at His sacrifice on the cross, and say to God, ‘Now, we know that You love us. For You did not withhold Your Son, Your only Son, Whom You love, from us.’ When the magnitude of what He did dawns on us, it makes it possible finally to rest our hearts in Him rather than in anything else.”
-Tim Keller

 

COVID-19: Week 3

Another week has gone by. There are many signs of life around my apartment complex as people take walks outside and music from my neighbors hums next door.

The birds are singing and the weather allows for free air conditioning, as my windows stay open all day.

A friend said this earlier in the week and I couldn’t agree more, “It feels like we’re finally settling into this, which is good, because we’re going to be here for a long time.”

I am thankful to feel more settled into this new way of life. Teaching from home still has its challenges, but I am getting into the groove and finding a healthier work/life balance than ever before.

I am thankful for FaceTime Bible studies and life group meetings, but I miss seeing my friends’ physical faces. I won’t be seeing my family in Florida next week for spring break as planned. It’s sad, but I know by staying home, I can love others well by keeping my germs away.

The virus continues to spread. Our state has been issued a stay at home order earlier this week, and more things have closed down to limit the spread.

A confirmed case of COVID-19 in the county where I work is brought to my attention via email. The hospital in the town where I live has less than 100 beds for sick people, yet families are flocking to our little city to “get away” from the virus, bringing contaminants with them. This is not time to take a mountain vacation; please come back next year.

There are times when I’m tempted to see the sad realities of quarantine. However, there are blessings in these days too. Here are some that I’ve seen:

-Taking more walks outside
-Birds singing (brings me more joy than I realized)
-More time at home to organize and clean
-The stack of books I’ve been “meaning to get to” is getting tackled
-Scripture memory throughout the weeks
-Cooking meals in a leisurely way; no need to rush because there’s nowhere to be after dinner
-Texting/FaceTiming friends to hear their “happy moments list” of the day
-Sitting in the sunshine (I am SO grateful for spring weather)
-Time to reflect and pray for those that come to mind and praying for opportunities to love others from a distance
-Spending more time reading and growing my relationship with Jesus
-Slowing down to appreciate very small things in each day that I often overlooked before

What are some ways that you have benefitted from slowing down?

COVID-19: Week 2

Week 2 is behind us! The way I see it, that’s 2 weeks closer to getting “back to normal”!

This week was rough physically and mentally. My body was sore and tired, and my sinuses were pain-ridden for the entire week due to allergies, all while working and continuing to navigate the world of distance-learning/teaching.

Here’s why: We decided to get outside in the fresh air and go for a little 6-mile hike last Saturday. We thought it was a loop, so we figured we’d just keep walking until we got back to where we started.

It was a there-and-back hike. Where you stop at a certain point, turn around, and then get back to where you started.

We did not find this out until 8 miles in, when we thought, “Shouldn’t we be back to our starting point by now?” In total, we hiked for 15.5 miles, 8 hours (1.5 hours in the dark) in mud, dirt, and rocks on a variety of paths: incline, decline, and flat. We couldn’t find our starting point, lost service here and there, had zero snacks, and one water bottle each that had been slowly depleted with time. Our leg muscles had reached muscle failure, and I thought we were going to have to find a place to sleep in the woods, but we finally made it back at 9:30PM.

Graham crackers and water were EVERYTHING in that moment. A shower and a bed had NEVER felt so good. Praise. The. Lord.

The next morning, we watched church virtually for the first time since this outbreak. It was strange to not be in the church building but really sweet to still get to be with the church. I was able to “visit” my family’s church back in Florida via YouTube streaming and Facebook Live streaming to be “at” my church here. Two families in one day!

Our pastor gave the illustration of how we are navigating this time like we are walking through a forest, and God has given us a GPS. He knows exactly where we are going, but we just have to trust Him by following that GPS one step at a time.

For someone who got lost in the woods just 12 hours before, this was such a tangible example! We were lost, however, God knew exactly where in His world we were. We had to follow a GPS and continue walking one step at a time, trusting the He would lead us home.

And He did! And He is.

None of us have ever experienced something like this before, and it’s such a valuable time to be still and trust that God has a plan for all of this. We do not know how long this will last, much like how there were times on that hike where we didn’t know how much longer we would have to walk.

And how much more is this illustration true in our salvation! We were running completely lost, running away from God, not on a loop where we would come back eventually.

We were running in the opposite direction: away from mercy, love, goodness, and peace.

But God..

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2:1-10

If God led us to Himself when we were still sinners, how much more will He guide us, His children, through this time? He is faithful! He will lead us home!

 

COVID-19: Week 1

What a strange week it’s been. Plus I have not touched this blog in over a year, so this is a strange way to begin again. Much has happened in a year, but that is not the focus of my thoughts today.

What is on my mind, as well as on the minds of most people everywhere is this: the COVID-19 virus has significantly impacted our world.

Just a week ago, we were certainly hearing about the virus, but it had not quite began its impact on a local level. How much has changed in just 7 days! Schools nationwide have closed, some have said they are not opening again for the rest of the school year, while many are still in a “wait and see” mode. Many restaurants are closing or eliminating all eat-in options, while providing drive through and call ahead services only. Grocery stores that were once operating on a 24/7 schedule are now closing their doors for a few hours each day to catch their breath, sanitize surfaces, and restock shelves – only to be wiped clean when they reopen. People are out of work, have drastically lowered their amount of work, or had to change their work routine and expectations entirely. As a teacher, I am working the hardest I have ever worked to connect with families and provide digital and non-digital learning opportunities to fit the needs of each student in my class.

Encouraging church gatherings have been moved to online meetups. Wedding celebrations that have been planned for weeks and months are being cancelled or postponed to an unknown date. Staying home, away from community is strongly encouraged, and weekly meetings with friends and family are strictly online. Grandparents are away from grandchildren, friends are separated from other friends, and the popular “this meeting could have been an email”? We’ve got our wish.

It’s strange and not what we’re wired for at all. We are designed for community. Genesis 2 is the first place in the Bible where we see God’s good gift in providing other people in our lives. However, we are also called to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31). We make these changes to help protect those more vulnerable than us. We regard life as precious and seek to do what might be foreign to our community-wired selves in order to love our neighbors.

The world seems to be standing still. Life as we know it has been completely put on hold. No human knows for sure how long this will last for. Weeks, even months! This “new normal” that we have had to adjust to in just a few days feels like a bad dream, and I’m ready to wake up.

However, I have to remind myself that each day holds a silver lining; I just need to be faithful to look for it. Here are some reminders that have brought peace to my soul from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1. Serve: An Opportunity to be the Body of Christ

1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always,”

There are always ways to serve, but I am seeing many more needs pop up due to this quarantine period. Many people struggle to make ends meet, and now even more so with less or no work hours to bring in finances. We can be the church, serving joyfully and faithfully!

I saw online how an individual used social media to reach out to her community, asking for any donations for two single moms in desperate need. In just a matter of 24 hours, donations were sent in, and each mother was given $3000 in cash to provide food for their children and pay their rent for next month. What joy must have filled those mother’s hearts! I don’t know if they knew Jesus, but my prayer is that they saw a tangible way in how we can gladly be the church in response to the gift Jesus has given us in Himself.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to hop on a school bus and deliver breakfasts and lunches to some of the students in my community. It was humbling to see where many children call home and exciting to watch the surrounding schools pool together their time and energy to happily serve food. I hope that through operations like this, parents will see that we truly care for their child beyond academics and that it brings us joy to love families well.

2. Pray: Intercede on Behalf of Our World

1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without ceasing,” 

I will never forget the solemn look on one little face we delivered to, however. I knew he was grateful for what he had been given, but kids can’t fake emotions. He was hurting, and it broke my heart that I could only give him a sandwich to “fix it”.

In that moment of handing food to that sad face, I felt as though that was all that I could do for him. However, we can pray! We have access to the very God of all creation. Jesus is at the right hand his His Father, interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:34). There is power in our prayers! The second best thing I could do for that student is to provide a meal. The very best thing I can do, regardless of where I am, is to pray.

Pray for those that are sick, medically fragile, working in hospitals, jobless, single parents, concerned, taking care of little ones, strapped, living in an unsafe home, struggling with depression or anxiety. Pray for people that are lost! Who knows what God is doing? He knows!

3. Trust: God Knows What He is Doing

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

On Thursday night, we huddled around our computers and phones, eager to “meet” together online. We had met in person only a week before, but we love to be together, so this interaction was highly anticipated.

We talked about how we saw God’s fingerprints on various parts of our week. It was encouraging to hear how each one of us saw God actively working! A reminder from Romans 8:28 kept coming to mind, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” We can be thankful for this circumstance because we know that God is still working and will continue to work!

Who knows what will come of this? Maybe with more down time at home, parents will have the opportunity to reconnect with their children. Maybe God will work in a broken marriage by allowing that husband and wife to spend their quarantined days talking about their difficulties and working through those obstacles together. Maybe an individual that has been struggling with questions about God will pick up their Bible and hear God’s voice through His living Word.

Maybe relationships and marriages and lives will be transformed!

On Sunday at our last physical church meeting together (for a while), our pastor said that maybe God is allowing this time for us to get in our Bibles, to memorize Scripture, to pray, to spend time with God when life has otherwise seemed “too busy”? Maybe this is a time where God will graciously make us aware of our misplaced priorities (I’m really talking to myself here) and show us.. we need to be with Him!!!

We have to trust in what God is doing, and we can rejoice in this time because it is God’s will for us today! He makes all things beautiful in His time and works everything together for good and for His glory.

 

 

 

A Letter to the College Student

Dear Reader,

You’re in college.

[Stop: maybe you’re not, yet were interested by the title. Either way, I hope what’s about to be said encourages many people in different seasons of life. But for the sake of organizing my thoughts and sticking to the title, the theme will remain college-focused.]

In college, we do things to prepare for the next season. We’ve worked hard in high school to get good grades so we could actually get into college. We’re taking an algebra class now so we can take statistics later. We’re working in this internship now so we can land that sick career job later.

We live in a mindset of “I’m doing this now because I’m thinking about later.” And that’s great! That’s responsibility! However, it’s easy to get caught on that never-ending treadmill of “next”, at least for me.

Planning for the future, having a vision, and being goal-oriented are all wonderful things, but I consistently get stuck on the “later” aspect of life ahead instead of looking down and seeing what’s right in front of me. Not a month, semester, or year ahead but what’s here for me today, in my season now.

Can you relate? What does the Bible say about this living-in-today mindset? It says a lot, but I’m just going to touch on three things.

First, it says to rejoice! Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Each day given has been granted by the Author of life. As Christians, we are here on earth to bring Him glory and every day is a new opportunity to praise Him for that! Enjoy the blessings He has given you in this season!

Secondly, the college student can use their season to love God and love the people He has put in friend circles and communities in this moment! I think of Paul’s encouragement to Timothy. 1 Timothy is a letter from Paul to Timothy, encouraging him in where God had him, ministering to the Ephesian church. This was a big job for a young person! I think sometimes we can get caught up in the idea that “I’m just a college student,” and we fail to realize our Christian influence to those around us right now. Paul urges Timothy, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). You are never too young to encourage, pray for, and show kindness to another person. Make the most of your season now!

Third, we can work hard in this season of study and part time jobs. Getting into the routine of going to class, studying in the library, coming home and cooking Ramen for dinner every single day can become mindless. I’ve been there! But Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” We can use the brains, talents, and gifts God has given us! Who knows? Someone may be affected by your work ethic and ask you why you choose to live dedicated to your season. What an opportunity to segue into the Gospel!

Keep going, but remain aware of your season. Find joy in each day the Lord gives, love others around you in your circles and communities, and work hard because of the strengths you’ve been mercifully given by God.

[And if you have a commute? Get a worship playlist going or pray out loud (this is powerful!) or commit to meditating and memorizing a passage of Scripture. I quickly learned to love my 45-minute college commute with the Lord.]

Before you know it, a rich, sweet time with Jesus will have seemed to fly by once you’ve reached out to take that diploma, but time that will have not been wasted.

2019 Reading List

Ever since I was young, I have loved reading. My parents started exposing me to books at a young age, I taught myself to read when I was 4, and I grew up with fond memories of a fresh stack of Nancy Drew books after each library visit.

Through undergraduate studies and now being in graduate school while teaching students of my own full time, reading has been put on the back burner.. reading books of my own choosing, that is. (I have been reading my fair share of textbooks for quite a while.) 😉

By God’s mercy and grace, 2018 was a year of growth and learning for me. (What year isn’t, for that matter?) My love of reading came back with a strong force, and I am excited to compile a list of books I hope to dive into in the next year. There is no way this list will be completed in one year, but this is my first step to getting organized!

I’m sure more books will be added to the list as the year goes on (especially after putting more titles on my Amazon wish list just this week), but here is what I have so far. I have enjoyed reading lists from other folks as well, so I thought I would share mine. Enjoy!

1. Not Yet Married by Marshall Segal

2. Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt

3. Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart by JD Greear

4. Galatians for You by Tim Keller

5. Acts 1-12 for You by Al Mohler

6. We Cannot Be Silent: Speaking Truth to a Culture Redefining Sex, Marriage, and the Very Meaning of Right and Wrong by Al Mohler

7. A Time for Confidence by Stephen Nichols

8. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

9. In the Year of Our Lord by Sinclair Ferguson

10. The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield

11. Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions by John Piper

12. How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age by Jonathan Leeman

13. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

14. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

15. The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung

16. Crazy Busy: A Mercifully Short Book about A Really Big Problem by Kevin DeYoung*

17. Zeal Without Burnout by Christopher Ash*

18. Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson*

19. The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile**

20. The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne Stabile**

*Can you tell that I’ve been convicted about the idea of being too busy? This topic will be blogged about this year, I am sure!

**I have been interested in the enneagram lately, and these two books seemed interesting. Of course, my identity is not in my enneagram number, but in Christ. However, I am looking forward to perusing through these two titles!

Happy reading and happy new year!

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing: What’s the Big Deal?

I am a sucker for Christmastime. I love the lights that decorate neighborhoods and storefronts, the excitement that gift giving brings, the Christmas movie nights while sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies, but I especially love the Christmas carols.

How incredible it is to see the Gospel sung out by so many people each year! The true meaning of Christmas, the real historical account of the reason we celebrate, the “joy to the world!” is explicitly shared for all who listen. Whether it’s from the car radio as you drive to work or heard through a mall speaker while shopping for presents, the Gospel is fluttering through public areas. Oh, how I pray for eyes and ears to be opened and hearts to be impacted!

My favorite Christmas song has consistently been “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” for the last few years. I have not yet read richer lyrics and each time my heart is greatly moved.

A tiny backstory, because I am a trivia geek and really enjoy history..

Written by Charles Wesley in 1739, this hymn was written as a Christmas song, about a year after Wesley’s conversion. He was inspired after hearing church bells on Christmas Eve. Through his writings, Wesley’s desire was to deliver solid doctrine to those who were poor and/or illiterate.

“Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

I don’t think I quite realize the incredible news that the angels are proclaiming here. Christ is born! If He wasn’t, we would not have hope nor a reason to sing. This is big!

“Christ, by highest heaven adored: Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; hail, the incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

To me, this is the “power verse”, the part that makes my heart pound, my throat squeak, and my eyes tear. The Creator of our world and everything inside and outside of it sent Himself in the form of a human baby to this sin-riddled, broken-down world to save those willingly running away from Him.

He was pleased to dwell, the song says. Pleased? To dwell with us? Here? Yes, because of His love for us. He had no obligation to come, would have been free of any kind of blame if He chose not to come, but He did: for you and for me.

Emmanuel: God with us. Literally here, with us and for us. His position as Deity did not matter. As Philippians 2:5-7 says,

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

The last verse brings all of this good news to a crescendo of exaltation!

“Hail! the heaven born Prince of peace! Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the son of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Okay, this verse might be the greatest part, the moment where I imagine the multitude of angels bursting through the night sky, singing their hearts out to those bewildered shepherds like they had never sung before.

This would be the night every angel would be talking about at the water cooler for ever and ever.

Jesus is here! He is bringing light to the dark world, life to the dying people, healing to the wounded. Again, he lays his glorious position aside and comes that we may receive a pretty incredible gift: an opportunity to be born again, a spiritual birth that makes us new.

This is our reason to sing! This is our reason to rejoice! This is the wonderful news of the Gospel!

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus: Psalm 73

Over the past few weeks, I have found beautiful things from the book of Psalms. In it, there are transparent cries to God for deliverance and reminders of Who He is. For me, it’s very easy to let my heart wander towards what this world has to offer and, by God’s grace, the psalms have exposed that. I recently read a psalm that shed some light on that subject, with a firsthand experience from the author.

It comes from Psalm 73. The author had, for a time, taken his eyes off of God (vs. 2) and longed for the lives of the arrogant and wicked (v. 3). They were prosperous! They had no earthly cares! They were fat from rich food! There was no fight to become more like Jesus and no resistance to the temptations of sin. Life seemed easier. “Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches (vs. 12).”

However, as I kept reading I noticed a sudden switch. The psalmist’s way of thinking drastically changed once he stopped to spend time in God’s presence (v. 16-17): “But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.”

Taking our eyes off of the prize of why we fight this glorious fight can quickly make us feel tempted to wander. But taking time to remind ourselves of truth is what can reorient us, just like it did for the psalmist. By the end his heart sang out (vs. 24-28):

“You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to You. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my Refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.”

God reminds us of what we have in Him. I believe he does this for many reasons.

1. He reminds us so we can develop a heart for the lost.

When the psalmist was pondering what these wicked people had in the world and then transitioning to thoughts of what he had in Christ, I can’t help but wonder if he thought about what they didn’t have. Yes, people living their “best life now” may not be actively fighting for purity or trust in Jesus, but they cannot experience true joy or satisfaction apart from Him. This realization can drive us to pray for those around us who don’t know Jesus and spur us on to be lights in a dark world.

2. He reminds us so we can set our mind on future things.

Part of verse 24 and into verse 25 says, “You will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.” When we see Jesus for Who He truly is, external factors will lose their luster. WE are reminded of our eternal home. Like the well-known hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” says,

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus;
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”

3. He reminds us so we can find joy in Him.

Verse 26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” We can find joy in all circumstances. I was recently talking to a friend, where we were sharing our journey to finding joy in all circumstances. The world wants us to feel happy, be happy, do things that make you happy, etc. and I believe the Lord loves seeing His children delight in good gifts He has given them! However, happiness is so very different from joy. In the difficult seasons where God is transforming us to be more like His Son, we can still find joy when HE is our Joy.

4. He reminds us so we can proclaim His gloriousness.

The psalms so often end in praise. This is a heart I want to cultivate in my own life! Verse 28 says, “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my Refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” It is good to know Him, to draw near to Him. When we draw near to Him, we see His goodness more deeply. Through this, we delight in Him and our automatic response to this is praise! His goodness and care drives us to praise His name and tell others of what He has done. As we treasure Him, we grow in Him. As we grow in Him, we proclaim Him. And has we proclaim Him, others are affected and through the work of the Holy Spirit, they begin to treasure Him too.

Look to Jesus: He is very good, He bring lasting joy, and He eternally satisfies like nothing else can.

Anxiety: Trusting an Unknown Future to a Known God

Anxiety is not something I have particularly struggled with on a regular, consistent basis throughout my life. I have not had to deal with social anxiety, anxiety leaving the house, panic attacks, PTSD, etc. However as a type A, planner kind of person, I have had plenty of instances where I had to make a big life decision or transition into a new chapter, and felt myself feeling anxious as I dove into the unknown.

Whenever this happens, I find myself not at peace until I can find the answer to the solution or the path carrying me down the next new road. This summer I have gone through many transitions, and am praying about some big life choices I need to make. Usually the ball is in my court you could say: I can see all of my options, and am able to make decisions with much control: choosing a college major, accepting a job position, etc. That’s easy!

However, the Lord has been working in my heart this summer to, in the words of Corrie Ten Boom, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

I have found myself in a position where I cannot see all of my options and it’s difficult to make choices without seeing it all laid out in front of me like a job contract or a plan of study form.

In a previous blog post, I talked about the analogy of walking down a dimly lit path and Jesus is there holding the flashlight. Because He has created me, He gets to choose how much of the path I see at a time. And because He has created everything else, He has planned my path out, and knows what it looks like fully illuminated. And because He is good, I can trust that He will lead and guide me through places I cannot see in that moment.

But the road is still dimly lit, from my perspective. And, sinfully, sometimes I allow my mind to wander down a path of anxiety. It’s sinful because I’m believing the lie that I know what’s best and if God would just let me do His job that would be great. But it’s not great! He has the best plan and does not withhold good things from those who know and love Him.

Now I know all this to be true, but practically what can I do to combat the devil’s schemes to let my mind wander and doubt God’s goodness or understanding?

After reading a book on guarding your eyes and heart, I realized I am not guarding my mind. In the book, the author finished by encouraging readers to memorize Scripture that they can speak back to themselves, squashing the lies they are tempted to believe.

Here are some of the ones that I’ve been meditating on and memorizing to help me stop my wandering mind dead in its tracks. (Spoiler alert: IT WORKS.)

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.” –Psalm 84:11-12

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied.” –Proverbs 19:23

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” –Romans 8:6

This has been mind-blowing to see in action. I will notice myself thinking and worrying about the future. I’ll stop and say, “I need to think of a Scripture!” and start reciting it in my head or out loud. My worries stop and my mind shifts to a peaceful state, even though my circumstances have not necessarily changed. Scripture is truly living and active, people!

Do you have certain verses or passages from Scripture memorized? I’d love to hear ones you already know or are working toward memorization in the comments!