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Say Yes – part 4 – “The Right Accessories for the Walking”
So, you might be done with this metaphor of mine, but I hope you will give me one more moment to talk about – “Walking in the Yes!” Again, the “Yes” that I am referring to is your response to Father God’s story – his pursuit of your heart, his gift of life, and his constant desire for a conversation. Have you “opened your door to him” (Romans 8)? If so, then I hope that you are “weaving and reaching” – weaving him in to your day to day by reaching out for him in prayer and conversation amidst the details of your day. And lest I ever let you forget – He has already said yes to you, and he endlessly reaches for you with his love. “I have...
Read MoreSay Yes – part 3 – “Dishes and Diapers But Still Walking!”
I have already shared with you in previous posts my thoughts about “Walking in the Yes!” Again, the “Yes” that I am referring to is your response to Father God’s story – his pursuit of your heart, his gift of life, and his constant desire for a conversation with you. One of the first steps in this relationship is our focus and attention in the midst of our day to day. Through the words of Romans 8, Bebo Norman and Brother Lawrence, I encouraged you to “open your door to him, cry out and lift your eyes to him, and abandon yourself in his hands.” And then I reminded you that he is already there – loving you! So, this month, I wanted to take you a...
Read MoreSay Yes – part 2 – “Walk in the Yes!”
I am still thinking about a quote by Henri Nouwen in his book Road to Daybreak. I wanted to talk more about this idea of “saying Yes!” If you recall, Nouwen wrote that – “Christmas is saying ‘yes’ to a hope based on God’s initiative, which has nothing to do with what I think or feel” (105). This hope has all to do with Jesus and what he did on our behalf. Jesus “entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all . . . . Absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:1-3, 39 Many of you resonated with Nouwen’s words, Father...
Read MoreSay Yes – part 1 – “Christmas is . . .”
“Christmas has arrived again . . . . Somehow I realized that songs, music, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and many sweet words do not make Christmas. Christmas is saying ‘yes’ to something beyond all emotions and feelings. Christmas is saying ‘yes’ to a hope based on God’s initiative, which has nothing to do with what I think or feel. Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God’s work and not mine. Things will never look just right or feel just right. If they did, someone would be lying. The world is not whole, and today I experienced this fact in my own unhappiness. But it is into this broken world that a...
Read More“Our Scavenger Hunt to Advent!” (God card #6 – Christmas)
Our kids love scavenger hunts! So, we tend to move in the direction of things they enjoy when we want to teach or affirm something. As we continued the focus on God card #6 – I believe God is Christmas, we decided to paint the picture of where we have come from and what place in history does the Christmas story rest through the fun of a scavenger hunt! We gave each one of them a slip of paper with some things written on them that they had to find and bring back to the kitchen table. And it was from these things that we painted the picture! Maya: picture of clouds, wrapping paper roll, mirror Ada: people, baby Jesus, cross Carson: sword, dragon, people, rock It was a...
Read More“Immanuel” (God card #6 – Christmas)
We continue this week with God card #6 – I believe God is Christmas. He is a generous giver of great gifts. We weren’t ready to move on, still so much to discuss. As I began the day at the kitchen table, I found my Bible already there waiting for some conversation. So, I just opened it and found myself at the end of Matthew. Strange, I said to Father. The last chapter of Matthew, the death, crucifixion, the resurrection and now the Great Commission. Is this what is on your mind? We are talking about Christmas, you know. Shouldn’t I be at the front end of this deal? But I read on. The Great Commission, some of the last red letters in the Bible. His...
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