Sunday School Lesson

Listening to my husband preach to me about pasta and emptying the cupboard is an exhilarating experience, but let's talk about Jesus!
Yesterday we had a Sunday School Lesson about the shepherds who searched for Jesus. I teach the two and three year olds at our church. We made sheep with construction paper and cotton balls. We heard the story about the angels telling the shepherds how to find Jesus. We became shepherds, taking our sheep along and following stars in search of Jesus. At each star (4), there was an activity to reinforce the lesson. At the final star was a nativity scene. We sang songs of praise and a prayer at the nativity scene.

Christ's Humble Birth

About this time last year, I was heavy with child. I had become (as I call it) "weary in doing good". My body ached and spirit grieved the thought of another day of ferocious heartburn, practically living in the bathroom, and sleepless nights. I'll admit that I was plain miserable this time around. Benjamin came just seven days later and he was a joy to behold. The miracle of a newborn babe is indescribable. There is nothing simple about it except for the peaceful sleeping child who seems without care. So when I think of the Christ child this season, coming as a helpless, soft tender child, I am reminded of my own children. I am reminded of the pains of labor and the sweet victory of hearing their first cries and smelling their new fresh skin. I remember that Christ endured the same birth (without the modern medicine, of course!) that my own endured. I'm sure it was difficult for all involved!

It is amazing to fathom that my Christ came down in flesh, in the most helpless, raw circumstance a human experiences. That Christ's humble birth was in a feeding trough with mummy clothes, while most of our children lay in a posh hospital room with clean blankets and round the clock nurses.

Mary was traveling as she was counting down the days, trying to follow the law and record her and Joseph's names for the census. I don't know how she did it. I really don't.

Today, I'd like to say:
Thank you God for epidurals and comfortable electric beds. Thank you for ultrasounds and nurses and doctors. Thank you God for Mary who endured the demise of unwed pregnancy, a humble delivery, and hardship throughout and afterwards to bring the Son of God into the world who would pay the Greatest price for the most helpless of all - me and you, who can do nothing to better the condition of our hearts. Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! for

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

The Beautiful Bride of Christ

The church. I've been to so many churches in my lifetime. As a daughter of a minister, I saw so much within the church. Some of my siblings never recovered from some of the damaging pains hurt people in the church inflicted on them. God's people are still sinning and sometimes get so comfortable in "church life" that they forget to "put to death the deeds of the body" so they may live. I call these people the "walking wounded" and have been one it seems for quite some time. God has allowed us to endure trial after trial within the last few years of our marriage, and we have clung tightly to try to "consider it pure joy". I will say for now that this is difficult and stop here. That is for another post. And, actually, discussing sick people in the church is also for another post!

Today, I just wanted to write about the church that Christ is continually renewing to reflect his image.

"Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

This is really happening! Christ's cleansing is creating a beautiful body of believers who entertain a sweet community with one another and who seek and find God. It happens! People who love God are really loving each other, giving of themselves to provide for each other in great need, and denying themselves daily. I can say that it is thrilling to experience it, to have a burden relieved because of the beautiful church, to be convicted of sin and admonished due to a faithful brother or sister in faith, to laugh and enjoy community together and teach our children what the true church is, to really begin to know God and seek God through his word. These are the most significant years of my life thus far and have become that because of Christ's radiant bride working in our family and my life.

I am thankful for the church, thankful that we will reunite with these believers after our time on earth, and thankful that the church's main work is to lead us to Christ. Oh, how I need him daily!

Why blog?

I set up this blog so I could collect my thoughts from time to time regarding the different trials and "learning sessions" we come across in life. From parenting two young children, to cooking the greatest banana bread, to digging deep into the word of God and savoring it, I want to log what God has blessed our family with and remember teachable moments. Here are my accounts.