What if Life Moments are Sacred?

Hello! It's been a bit since I hopped on here; I've missed you, Friend. *hugs* Let's catch up in the comments!

How can I describe several months in a sentence?

Oh, God has been good. And faithful. And not just because good things have happened, He just IS good. In big moments and small ones, victories and in the "middles" of life that involve working and pressing on and being faithful. Today I read this verse and loved it:

To those who, by keeping to what is right, continually set their hearts on these—glory and honor and immortality—He will grant life in the age to come.

- Romans 2:7

Oh, may that be me, us! May we be found keeping to what is right. Continually setting our hearts on God. Press on, Friend.

I can't describe the last few months in a sentence, but I do wanna share a special moment here. And who knows? Maybe there'll be more fun posts soon. ;)

A few weeks ago, I sat on one of those big, wooden spool thingies (what are they even called?) in the middle of our forest clearing. I pulled my feet close to my body. Half-wilted flowers lay around my toes, smudges of frosting, and they were the remnant of a wedding.

And when I lifted my chin, I saw a wedding arch above spring grass, and I wondered.

What if life moments are sacred?

Because earlier, my brother made a vow to a lovely woman who returned the promises, and somehow, God was there. There was a wedding with flower crowns and photos, dear friends and good food. The couple committed their lives together and drove away on their honeymoon.

But when it was over, I still sat in the clearing with tears and wondered how ordinary moments can become sacred.

I wonder if those type of moments are all around me.

What if right now, right where you are, God is waiting to make this moment more? What if there's beauty beyond the four walls or job schedule or ordinary tasks waiting to be completed?

What if I looked deep into the eyes of people around me and remembered: they're made in His image?

What if I paused and realized that right now the Holy Spirit is literally in this room? If I saw that He is always at work around me?

Because the wedding didn't feel different. I cut tomatoes and carried a tier of the cake down the hill, panting (it was heavy). I curled little girls' hair and ran around in my yellow Crocs. It was ordinary. And yet, it was sacred.

I sat pondering, and I cried too. My brother was gone, and it wasn't bad, but it was different. It made me think of Jesus.

I miss Jesus. I wish He was here. I wondered why He had to go away and sometimes asked how this promise was true:

 

Yet I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I am leaving. If I don’t leave, you see, the Helper will not come to you. If I go, however, I will send Him to you.

- John 16:7 

That's why ordinary moments can be sacred: because there's this Helper who is living inside me and every person who puts their faith in Him. He transforms life.

Looking back on this year, that's what I yearn for: Jesus will return, and we'll have a glorious wedding one day. But today - right now - we have His Spirit in us. He answers prayer. He works around us. He connects His people in ways too wonderful to describe.

And He is in this simple life moment. That makes it sacred.

I pray God opens my eyes.

Lord, please help me fight these distractions that pull my vision down to this earth, let me see the way You do. Let me look for sacred moments. Let me look in the eyes of beautiful people around me and be blown away by the You in this world that's home for now.

Now, the “sting” that leads to death is sin, and sin’s severity and intensity turn on the Law. Yet thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus the Messiah! 

So then, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, excelling in the Lord’s work always, knowing that your hard work and difficulties aren’t for nothing in union with the Lord.

- 1 Corinthians 15:56-58

 

Thoughts? Wanna catch up? Let's chat below!

 

~♥~

How the Christmas Story Points to a Kingdom

 

Once upon a time, there was a King.

Sometimes His people humbly gave the King their simple hearts. Those days were glorious ones, with festivals of remembrance and times of peace, the towering House they built Him of gold and precious stones and acacia wood or cedar and cypress.

But often, they forgot or just didn't care. That's when the King prodded them back. He did whatever it took to draw His people back to their loyalty. Enemies attacked, the land was barren. Thus, heroes ensued, heroes like Esther and Nehemiah and Daniel, who stood up for the King's people, who gathered them back to His land, and who offered the King's promises in the thick of exile.

One hero heard a whisper from the King, and it was a promise:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting"

Therefore He shall give them up,

Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;

Then the remnant of His brethren

Shall return to the children of Israel.

And He shall stand and feed His flock

In the strength of the LORD,

In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God;

And they shall abide,

For now He shall be great

To the ends of the earth;

And this One shall be peace.

- Micah 5:2-5

And when the days grew long and the years felt endless, those people held onto the promises: this time of waiting and hurting won't last forever, for one day a birth would beget a King.

So they waited.

And the King did come. Amidst the prayers of countless, a decree went forth that the world should be registered, and the King answered His promise by using a young couple in the exact city He promised.

A Baby was born. And somehow that helpless Child was the King's Son who humbled Himself to enter the world.

Not as a King, welcomed by servants and armies with the majestic palace He deserved.

He was born in a barn, and His entourage was shepherds who literally lived in the fields.

Christmas morning, an awesome humility and the craziness that the Maker of all allowed Himself to become like us, to live life. He was the literal King of the Jews.

And yet His people, instead of lauding Him, treated Him with contempt. After a life of danger and people twisting His words and trying to take advantage of Him, He went further to give His own life breath into their hands and died a most terrible death. Because if He didn't, how could those sin-torn people ever come in the presence of the holy King without dying in His presence?

This was humility.

                        

And yet the King’s Son was more powerful than death, and He defeated it the first time, promising that the enemy of death would one day be destroyed forever. Then He left for a time.

The King was gone, but His Helper remained in the land.

But remember the hero's promise? It wasn't complete. Because the King's people were still scattered abroad, and where was peace and this strength that was promised?

Another birth was needed. And the entire world felt it. It groaned and labored with birth pangs. Again, The King's people had to wait, to be loyal, until the Day arrived wherein the promise would be fulfilled.

Seasons passed. The Helper was faithful, and the King's message was spread across the world to foreign nations; children were adopted into His family, waiting.

And they still are.

But one day, the promise will be fulfilled.

This labor will be completed, and the King's Son will return a second time, with majesty and power. Evil will be judged, peace spread across the world that will be refined and made new.

Instead of shepherds, the armies in heaven will follow Jesus on white horses when He returns. He will come as King, as Ruler, and His government and peace shall know no end.

So they wait. We wait. And one day soon, the King will come and judge and make war. Then all will be new, and we will be with Him forever.

And that's the beauty of Christmas.

Christmas was Jesus' first coming, the humble birth of a God who deserved to come in power. What a day to celebrate and rejoice over and spread His good, wonderful news!

And yet, another Day is coming. It's a fearful, glorious Day of hope and judgement and newness. So we must live waiting in loyalty to our Father in Heaven that we may be counted worthy when He returns.

That's what I pray for this Christmas, how I ask my Father to work in my heart and in yours. (and it’s what I fangirl over too, get excited about!)

Merry Christmas to you, dear Friend! I hope it’s full of traditions and fun and joy and wonder! And may it be a day of celebrating the humility of Jesus and the glory to come! ♥

*hugs*

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, Price 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 judgement and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

- Isaiah 9:6-7

~♥~

Author Interview || by Cherith Brook

Hello Friend!

*hugs*

Happy beginning of December! It's a quiet, ashy-grey day here as I rest before going to work, plugging those Christmas lights in, and going full speed ahead as I sign up students, check out customers, clean, do computer work, and all those fun things that come with working at a music store.

I'm already excited. *grin*

But before all that, I have a little treat for you!

My friend Cherith Brook hosted an author interview for me on her blog!

She asked great questions. If you ever wanted to know what my favorite books are, what my least favorite parts of being an author is, or what a typical writing session looks like, here you go!

And make sure to enjoy her other posts and get to know Cherith! She's a beautiful lady and sister in Christ I've been blessed to talk with, and I think you'll enjoy her bookish posts. *wink*

Click the image below to visit Cherith's blog and watch the interview!

Maybe this December is going to be hard for you. Or maybe you're already celebrating!

But may this beginning to December be blessed, my Friend. May it be full of Jesus' shalom. Because He is so, so good and worthy of praise! And that Hope you can have in Jesus - it's absolutely amazing.

(psst - want a challenge for December? Click Here to join me and some family + friends in memorizing Luke 2 this month!)

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

- John 8:12

~♥~