Can you even imagine how overwhelmed Mary must have been given all this information?? She, a virgin, was going to carry the Son of God in her womb. He was going to be great with an enduring eternal kingdom. The Lord was with her and she was told to not be afraid. Mary said and addressed the obvious, “how can this be, since I am a virgin?” How is this even possible, literally? She understood the biology involved here and her question was one of genuine understanding…how?
The Holy Spirit will come upon her and she will conceive….at the fullness of time, Jesus was going to be born of a woman and born under the Law by the power of the Holy Spirit. “For not any word, nothing will be impossible with God.” Nothing, including a virgin birth. Nothing, including God being made flesh to dwell among us. Nothing is impossible with God.
Then Mary said….amazing words. Worshipful words. Words of submission….and humility. “Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word.” Deuteronomy 15:12-17 talks about the concept of being a bond-slave, a voluntary slave joined permanently to a master’s household, by choice. Mary chooses the place of a bond-servant, she bends the knee in her heart, mind, and will to submit to God Most High. What beautiful words of humble servant hood. It was going to “cost” her greatly…on many levels. It was an amazing task, I understand…but think about it from an earthly perspective, there would be much speculation and potentially much trouble, yet she bends her heart and knee, “I am your servant….do as you will”.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Jesus, He will and He is. Luke 1:32-33
Gabriel visits Mary with greetings, encouragement, big news (really big!) and comfort. He tells her; the Lord is with her, she is going to have a baby and she doesn’t need to be afraid. Then he goes on to tell her a little bit about Who she is going to birth.
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
1. He will be great.
2. He will be called the Son of the Most High.
3. He will be given the throne of David.
4. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
5. He will have a kingdom that will have no end.
These are five very powerful statements about who Jesus will be. Don’t you think there were some expectations as to what this should “look like”? 30ish years later as He hung on a Roman cross….would this seem true? Jesus is the promised Messiah. He is God, in flesh. I think what hits me the most is; these five statements are totally true, He is King of kings and Lord of lords….but He is coming as the suffering Servant to die for sin and that is going to look very different to the human eye and perspective yet it does not change the truth of these statement one bit.
Jesus came to satisfy and walk out the righteous requirements of the Law, willingly die in order to pay the price of sin and take upon Himself the wrath of God and be raised again to life from the dead. His first coming looked very different than what was expected ….but His death, burial and resurrection proved that the statement s are exactly Who Jesus is. He is great. He is the Son of the Most High. He has the throne of David. He is reigning over the house of Jacob forever and His Kingdom endures forever….
“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
1. He will be great.
2. He will be called the Son of the Most High.
3. He will be given the throne of David.
4. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
5. He will have a kingdom that will have no end.
These are five very powerful statements about who Jesus will be. Don’t you think there were some expectations as to what this should “look like”? 30ish years later as He hung on a Roman cross….would this seem true? Jesus is the promised Messiah. He is God, in flesh. I think what hits me the most is; these five statements are totally true, He is King of kings and Lord of lords….but He is coming as the suffering Servant to die for sin and that is going to look very different to the human eye and perspective yet it does not change the truth of these statement one bit.
Jesus came to satisfy and walk out the righteous requirements of the Law, willingly die in order to pay the price of sin and take upon Himself the wrath of God and be raised again to life from the dead. His first coming looked very different than what was expected ….but His death, burial and resurrection proved that the statement s are exactly Who Jesus is. He is great. He is the Son of the Most High. He has the throne of David. He is reigning over the house of Jacob forever and His Kingdom endures forever….
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Mary Richly Blessed! Do not be Afraid. Luke 1:26-31
I really cannot even imagine the day (or night) of this historical event, when Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth, to Mary…an engaged young virgin. Gabriel came in and said to her, “Greetings, favored one (you who are richly blessed), The Lord is with you.” I find it very interesting that Gabriel’s address was so personal. It was a non-threatening greeting, a statement of how fully graced she was and then the statement, “The Lord is with you.” That was an understatement considering He was going to be “with her” in a whole new sense really soon….as a baby in her virgin womb.
She was stunned, confused, perplexed, wondering and pondering, to which I say…REALLY!?! I would have been fainted on the floor! Immediately though she was comforted…”Do not be afraid, Mary.” Do not be afraid. I’m not Jewish and you and I can’t really think Jewish but Mary was and she knew the Torah, she has heard all the stories of the Old Testament, she was devout. So when an angel appears with this kind of word I’m thinking fear was an understatement as well! Yet she was told to not be afraid.
As we know Mary treasured and pondered all these things (and all the things to come) in her heart. She treasured them, held onto them….remembered them. What is told to someone at the beginning of a journey is usually very important and this is no exception. She’ll have to hold on to the Truth given her and remember it for a long time. “The Lord is with you” and “Do not be afraid.” The God of the Universe knew exactly what she needed to know…like you and I, I’m sure she would have liked more information (she’ll get a little more, but that is what we’ll look at tomorrow ) than she got but in His Grace, Love and Sovereignty He gave her what she needed.- Out of the gate, at the start of the journey Truth. The Lord is with her, she will never be forsaken…and she need not be afraid. What blessed words…
She was stunned, confused, perplexed, wondering and pondering, to which I say…REALLY!?! I would have been fainted on the floor! Immediately though she was comforted…”Do not be afraid, Mary.” Do not be afraid. I’m not Jewish and you and I can’t really think Jewish but Mary was and she knew the Torah, she has heard all the stories of the Old Testament, she was devout. So when an angel appears with this kind of word I’m thinking fear was an understatement as well! Yet she was told to not be afraid.
As we know Mary treasured and pondered all these things (and all the things to come) in her heart. She treasured them, held onto them….remembered them. What is told to someone at the beginning of a journey is usually very important and this is no exception. She’ll have to hold on to the Truth given her and remember it for a long time. “The Lord is with you” and “Do not be afraid.” The God of the Universe knew exactly what she needed to know…like you and I, I’m sure she would have liked more information (she’ll get a little more, but that is what we’ll look at tomorrow ) than she got but in His Grace, Love and Sovereignty He gave her what she needed.- Out of the gate, at the start of the journey Truth. The Lord is with her, she will never be forsaken…and she need not be afraid. What blessed words…
December 5th....Disgrace Gone, Luke 1:18-25
Well, the 400 year silence is broken to an old priest with a barren wife, with news of the birth of the forerunner of the Messiah’s, what an experience! Zacharias can hardly believe it (no really he can’t!) and questions Gabriel. The response? Well let’s just say Zacharias mouth was shut for a good long time! As he is delayed within the temple the people start to wonder what is going on and when he comes out mute. Well, there is a lot of speculation. Imagine the trip back home once his duty of service is over. Imagine trying to “explain” all this to Elizabeth. She’ll get the picture soon enough I suppose, when her old barren womb is alive for the first time.
As we look at Elizabeth today and then in a few more days….imagine the disgrace she had felt for literally years- feel it. In a culture that said women’s value was simply what they could produce she had to have been looked down upon with distain and judgment by many, both men and women…especially women. At first glance she responds with human eyes…eyes that simply see a desire and dream come true and a type of oppression lifted but she also sees God grace. Luke 1:24-25, “After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, ‘ This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.’”
God had certainly graced her and shown favor but it was so much bigger than simply her disgrace among men. Earthly eyes simply see our oppression and dreams that die here….His eyes, spiritual eyes see the true disgrace that will be take away as Messiah dies for the sins of Elizabeth. She will catch a glimpse of it and oh….what great grace that will be. Elizabeth is relieved from her human disgrace but the promise of the removal of spiritual disgrace is also given…Through the Messiah Jesus Christ, all our disgrace will be taken away- the disgrace of sin.
I just love how personal and patient and yes, gracious the Lord is in His dealing with people. She was thrilled to be pregnant and I’m sure very set free from the distain of men….but soon her Messiah will be in the womb of her close relative and that day she will see a bit more clearly the hope of genuine permanent grace, grace that is greater than all our disgrace… true disgrace that will be taken away by the shed blood of the Lamb.
As we look at Elizabeth today and then in a few more days….imagine the disgrace she had felt for literally years- feel it. In a culture that said women’s value was simply what they could produce she had to have been looked down upon with distain and judgment by many, both men and women…especially women. At first glance she responds with human eyes…eyes that simply see a desire and dream come true and a type of oppression lifted but she also sees God grace. Luke 1:24-25, “After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, ‘ This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.’”
God had certainly graced her and shown favor but it was so much bigger than simply her disgrace among men. Earthly eyes simply see our oppression and dreams that die here….His eyes, spiritual eyes see the true disgrace that will be take away as Messiah dies for the sins of Elizabeth. She will catch a glimpse of it and oh….what great grace that will be. Elizabeth is relieved from her human disgrace but the promise of the removal of spiritual disgrace is also given…Through the Messiah Jesus Christ, all our disgrace will be taken away- the disgrace of sin.
I just love how personal and patient and yes, gracious the Lord is in His dealing with people. She was thrilled to be pregnant and I’m sure very set free from the distain of men….but soon her Messiah will be in the womb of her close relative and that day she will see a bit more clearly the hope of genuine permanent grace, grace that is greater than all our disgrace… true disgrace that will be taken away by the shed blood of the Lamb.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
December 4th…..Forerunning
Webster’s defines Forerunner as; one that precedes and indicates the approach of another. Luke 1:16-17 states; “and he (John the Baptist) will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘To turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”
So let’s look at John’s forerunning and then at Jesus’ forerunning…did you know Jesus was a forerunner too? John’s forerunning “job” was going to, in the power of God; turn back the hearts of the people and make ready a people prepared….prepared for what? John was the one who was going to plow up the hard ground of Israel’s heart to open up the ground and make it ready for the WORD of the Lord- the Word, in the flesh, Jesus. He was to make ready and go before the Lord, so that the good seed of the Word itself might be planted and grow up!
John was the one who preceded and indicated the approach of another namely Jesus BUT Jesus was also a forerunner and an even better one. John tilled up the ground and then Jesus planted the Seed, Himself…and that Seed had to die (Check out John 12:24-25, 27-33!) so that it could bring life to many. In doing all of this, Jesus became our forerunner in the True Temple, in heaven itself…in the very presence of God. Hebrews 6:19-20 states, “This hope (the hope of the Gospel) we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizekek.”
Jesus preceded us into the presence of God to present His own blood….God approved of the payment and Jesus rose from the dead! But Christ forerunning role also indicated that there would be the approach of others…through His sacrifice, the believers can now approah. Christ accomplished an invitation to draw near through His blood, right into the presence of God, in Christ Jesus! John tilled the ground of a nation to make the way for Jesus to till and change the heart in the person. Forerunning….
So let’s look at John’s forerunning and then at Jesus’ forerunning…did you know Jesus was a forerunner too? John’s forerunning “job” was going to, in the power of God; turn back the hearts of the people and make ready a people prepared….prepared for what? John was the one who was going to plow up the hard ground of Israel’s heart to open up the ground and make it ready for the WORD of the Lord- the Word, in the flesh, Jesus. He was to make ready and go before the Lord, so that the good seed of the Word itself might be planted and grow up!
John was the one who preceded and indicated the approach of another namely Jesus BUT Jesus was also a forerunner and an even better one. John tilled up the ground and then Jesus planted the Seed, Himself…and that Seed had to die (Check out John 12:24-25, 27-33!) so that it could bring life to many. In doing all of this, Jesus became our forerunner in the True Temple, in heaven itself…in the very presence of God. Hebrews 6:19-20 states, “This hope (the hope of the Gospel) we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizekek.”
Jesus preceded us into the presence of God to present His own blood….God approved of the payment and Jesus rose from the dead! But Christ forerunning role also indicated that there would be the approach of others…through His sacrifice, the believers can now approah. Christ accomplished an invitation to draw near through His blood, right into the presence of God, in Christ Jesus! John tilled the ground of a nation to make the way for Jesus to till and change the heart in the person. Forerunning….
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Advent Musings....The Holy Spirit!
In reading Luke 1:1-17, these verses are talking about the birth of John the Baptist, verse 15 says “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.” The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead and has been a real Person from all eternity, yet in the Old Testament there was no permanent residency of the Spirit within any human. The Holy Spirit would “come upon” people for a certain time or task…and then leave, but the housing or indwelling of the Spirit was not available under the Old Covenant, because every person (even the really good ones) was still under the condemnation of sin.
In the case of John the Baptist this is very strange and odd that he would be filled while still in his mother’s womb. Interesting….very interesting. John’s task (as forerunner of the Messiah) is very unique and I believe it marks the beginning of a complete and total change that is about to take place. A New Covenant is going to be established through Christ where the presence of the Living God, by the INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit will be in the life of every believer in Christ. John is the last Old Testament prophet and his “job” is going to be the most important one of the entire Old Covenant time. As he decreases and Jesus increases, it’s a picture of the Old Covenant times coming to an end and a New Covenant being ushered in by Christ.
Now, why do I find it so interesting that he is filled with the Spirit while still in his mother’s womb?! Who cares, right? Except it seems to me that it says something about what Power source is going to be needed to accomplish this task of “preparing the way” of the ending one Covenantal time and a New one beginning. Everything is going to change. Everything.
Years later, while John was imprisoned, Jesus would say of him in Matthew 11:11-13, “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesies until John. “ John “prepared the way” and prophesied and then Jesus came, the One who is the fulfiller of the Law and Old Covenant - Jesus the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world- Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith- Jesus the Light of the world….the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus.
John the Baptist was awesome and his “job” was one of a kind and huge….but anyone of us in this New Covenant who has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with 100% complete access to the Living God at all times and a relationship that beckons draw near is greater- not greater in value but in availability and access to God. The Luke account of breaking the silence to old barren people with news of a filled forerunner of the Messiah is Kingdom altering and life altering for you and me. Wow.
In the case of John the Baptist this is very strange and odd that he would be filled while still in his mother’s womb. Interesting….very interesting. John’s task (as forerunner of the Messiah) is very unique and I believe it marks the beginning of a complete and total change that is about to take place. A New Covenant is going to be established through Christ where the presence of the Living God, by the INDWELLING of the Holy Spirit will be in the life of every believer in Christ. John is the last Old Testament prophet and his “job” is going to be the most important one of the entire Old Covenant time. As he decreases and Jesus increases, it’s a picture of the Old Covenant times coming to an end and a New Covenant being ushered in by Christ.
Now, why do I find it so interesting that he is filled with the Spirit while still in his mother’s womb?! Who cares, right? Except it seems to me that it says something about what Power source is going to be needed to accomplish this task of “preparing the way” of the ending one Covenantal time and a New one beginning. Everything is going to change. Everything.
Years later, while John was imprisoned, Jesus would say of him in Matthew 11:11-13, “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesies until John. “ John “prepared the way” and prophesied and then Jesus came, the One who is the fulfiller of the Law and Old Covenant - Jesus the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world- Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith- Jesus the Light of the world….the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus.
John the Baptist was awesome and his “job” was one of a kind and huge….but anyone of us in this New Covenant who has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with 100% complete access to the Living God at all times and a relationship that beckons draw near is greater- not greater in value but in availability and access to God. The Luke account of breaking the silence to old barren people with news of a filled forerunner of the Messiah is Kingdom altering and life altering for you and me. Wow.
Old and Barren...Luke 1:7
Zacharias and Elizabeth were both old and she was barren. In other words, time marches on and they got no babies. God had been silent for 400 years to the entire nation of Israel and that included silence to them. I’m sure they had given up any hope of ever having a child. Old-ness and barren-ness are really big problems and there was nothing that either of them could do about it.
There is always more going on than we can see with our eyes ( even when it come to something as sweet as babies) and as I have been thinking about being old and barren, I’ve been thinking about the spiritual climate of the nation of Israel at that time and yes…even the world. It was old and barren. The nation of Israel (as a covenant people) was at least 1500ish years old and as spiritually barren as you can imagine, but so was the rest of the world. The entire world because of sin was old, dying, barren and without any hope of bearing life at all-ever.
How interesting that God breaks the silence with news of a new life the little baby John, a forerunner (more on that soon) who will make the way ready for Life itself, to an old and barren couple. It paints a much bigger story of what is to come…God alone was going to get the glory for all the work…and He alone would do all the work in the most impossible situations.
If it’s impossible to make old barren ground of a womb fruitful and life-giving, how much more impossible to make dead barren hearts alive and life-giving? Impossible to us, but possible to Him, He excels in the impossible. Old and barren might sound really depressing, but seeing what He can do in the midst of it? Astounding.
There is always more going on than we can see with our eyes ( even when it come to something as sweet as babies) and as I have been thinking about being old and barren, I’ve been thinking about the spiritual climate of the nation of Israel at that time and yes…even the world. It was old and barren. The nation of Israel (as a covenant people) was at least 1500ish years old and as spiritually barren as you can imagine, but so was the rest of the world. The entire world because of sin was old, dying, barren and without any hope of bearing life at all-ever.
How interesting that God breaks the silence with news of a new life the little baby John, a forerunner (more on that soon) who will make the way ready for Life itself, to an old and barren couple. It paints a much bigger story of what is to come…God alone was going to get the glory for all the work…and He alone would do all the work in the most impossible situations.
If it’s impossible to make old barren ground of a womb fruitful and life-giving, how much more impossible to make dead barren hearts alive and life-giving? Impossible to us, but possible to Him, He excels in the impossible. Old and barren might sound really depressing, but seeing what He can do in the midst of it? Astounding.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Advent Musings….Silence Broken, Luke 1:1-13
400ish B.C. (you know I love the ish!) The Old Testament historical and prophetic accounts come to an end with Nehemiah and Malachi – with the wall completed around Jerusalem, the rebuilt temple and a lone prophet speaking - then all goes silent. Obviously God is still at work and in control but He does not speak to the children of Israel for 400ish years. 400 years is a long time with no formal declarations, words, encouragements, correction, prophets or spokesmen on the scene….simply silence.
Silence can be deafening….especially as oppression is getting louder. Many things change over the 400 years, Israel is both hurting and hardened…waiting and trudging forward. The noose around their necks is getting tighter from all angles. Life was volatile. What they didn’t understand (and frankly I don’t think a lot of people understand) is; the real oppression is within.
At the right time, at the fullness of time the silence is broken and God is about to speak. The 400 year silence is broken to an old priest who is serving in the temple of the LORD by burning incense before the LORD. Gabriel’s first words to Zacharias, by the order of God Most High, were “Do not be afraid”. Silence broken, God is speaking and will continue to do so.
I wonder how much fear ruled the people of Israel in those 400 years of silence. I wonder if any feared that God had abandoned them or if their covenant God had simply forgotten them? He had not. Of course Zacharias was terrified and needed the word, “Do not be afraid” but that is not all that Gabriel said… God was ready to speak in a way that had never been spoken before….God was going to become flesh. Silence Broken and never again would God be silent. Think on that. He has now spoken to us through His Son and He is still speaking.
Silence can be deafening….especially as oppression is getting louder. Many things change over the 400 years, Israel is both hurting and hardened…waiting and trudging forward. The noose around their necks is getting tighter from all angles. Life was volatile. What they didn’t understand (and frankly I don’t think a lot of people understand) is; the real oppression is within.
At the right time, at the fullness of time the silence is broken and God is about to speak. The 400 year silence is broken to an old priest who is serving in the temple of the LORD by burning incense before the LORD. Gabriel’s first words to Zacharias, by the order of God Most High, were “Do not be afraid”. Silence broken, God is speaking and will continue to do so.
I wonder how much fear ruled the people of Israel in those 400 years of silence. I wonder if any feared that God had abandoned them or if their covenant God had simply forgotten them? He had not. Of course Zacharias was terrified and needed the word, “Do not be afraid” but that is not all that Gabriel said… God was ready to speak in a way that had never been spoken before….God was going to become flesh. Silence Broken and never again would God be silent. Think on that. He has now spoken to us through His Son and He is still speaking.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Ode to Expectations...
I get myself into trouble every holiday with my expectations….expectations of myself and others. Whether it’s trying to have a Martha Stewart look, Norman Rockwell setting or Leave it to Beaver image….if I’m not careful, very careful I can get myself in a lot of trouble. It might be an unfinished side-dish, dry turkey… a sideways look from a cranky Aunt or a snarky comment round the table. You name it, it can be big or small but simply put; life is not Norman Rockwell or Christian Leave it to Beaver.
As I have been preparing for Thanksgiving I’ve been thinking a lot about my “expectations issue” and seeing how connected it is with my perceived value and finding approval- When even part of my worth and approval is based on my performance and the performance of others AND/OR their reaction to my performance . Uggg. No wonder I get myself into trouble!
SO, as I’ve been praying about this, the Lord has landed me in Romans Chapter 8….in a vital truth for the believer in Christ, an expectation that is FULLY met in Christ. Nothing (not even holiday mental meltdowns) can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. These are the verses I’m writing down on my 3x5 card for Thanksgiving, verses that I desperately need to be convinced of. Here are my added thoughts…
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life (including not having dinner done on time for all the waiting guests),nor angels, nor principalities, (including that crabby person who has issues) nor things present, nor things to come, (including past hurts that surface, unfinished family drama or even any present drama) nor powers, nor height, nor depth, (including the really great times and the really hard times, emotional highs and lows…and other people, especially others!), nor any other created thing (including all the holiday traditions that go well and go south and all the in-between stuff. Including being lonely in a crowded room or isolated from a conversation…all of it) NOTHING, not one thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
That is something to be truly thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving….may He give us eyes to see where our true expectation is met, in Him!!
As I have been preparing for Thanksgiving I’ve been thinking a lot about my “expectations issue” and seeing how connected it is with my perceived value and finding approval- When even part of my worth and approval is based on my performance and the performance of others AND/OR their reaction to my performance . Uggg. No wonder I get myself into trouble!
SO, as I’ve been praying about this, the Lord has landed me in Romans Chapter 8….in a vital truth for the believer in Christ, an expectation that is FULLY met in Christ. Nothing (not even holiday mental meltdowns) can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. These are the verses I’m writing down on my 3x5 card for Thanksgiving, verses that I desperately need to be convinced of. Here are my added thoughts…
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life (including not having dinner done on time for all the waiting guests),nor angels, nor principalities, (including that crabby person who has issues) nor things present, nor things to come, (including past hurts that surface, unfinished family drama or even any present drama) nor powers, nor height, nor depth, (including the really great times and the really hard times, emotional highs and lows…and other people, especially others!), nor any other created thing (including all the holiday traditions that go well and go south and all the in-between stuff. Including being lonely in a crowded room or isolated from a conversation…all of it) NOTHING, not one thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
That is something to be truly thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving….may He give us eyes to see where our true expectation is met, in Him!!
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