Here are a few thoughts for this Wednesday's check in.
I am writing this after possibly the earliest and calmest Christmas celebration ever. On the weekend my parents were visiting from out of town. We spent time decorating the house inside and out, baked peppermint cookies, sang carols, played Megan's own Christmas edition of the Pictionary game, exchanged a few gifts and feasted on Maple Cranberry ribs, corn on the cob and for dessert, pumpkin pound cake (with some more of that cooked pumpkin)!
We had such a good time being together.
Still in the afterglow of a good family time together I started my studying of Zechariah.
In Zechariah we find God calling His people to return to Him. Even though His people have turned away from Him, God wants to initiate a new plan to once again save them. In the first vision that the prophet Zechariah records in Zech. 1:11 it says that "all the earth is peaceful and quiet." The commentary I read said that is was not a good peace because in their captivity the Israelites turned away from God. She goes on to say:
"Yet the tranquility of the earth in Zechariah's time is an "accursed happiness," as John Calvin phrases it, because the order gained is not God's order and the tranquility won has been at the expense of God's people and purpose. It is quite possible for humankind to create its own false peace in home or society or nation and to label it good, when God views it as thoroughly corrupt and evil."
For the past few years we have decided to not be a big gift buying family at Christmastime. We desire to give and or make small gifts for those in our immediate family that will emphasize relationship. We also look to be generous to those in need around us. I am very aware that small relational gift giving is not the norm. I am very conscious of the fact that our kids return from holidays with a very short list of gifts that they can report of to their friends. I love gifts a lot but I also know what emphasis on the gift and getting can do. And how that can leave us feeling. As I wade through this season of advent fighting for the peace of Christ to rule my heart I desire that my heart be set on God and my need of Him in our lives. I want everything that we choose to participate in as a family to be a reflection of our identity in Him. As a result I am reminded anew of the importance of bowing and asking God to be my only authority. I pray that I will recognize that which is Kingdom building and that which is false peace during this season. I don't want to mistake tradition and commercialism for truly celebrating God's initiation of a loving relationship with us.
Col. 3:15a
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
Let's hear about your week in The Word. Include your name, scripture passage and a summary.
TO KNOW LOVE
ReplyDeleteKayla ( my oldest), her friend and myself watched a movie last night. I wept through several parts as I reflected on the bond between a mother and her children and the one true love that only comes once in a lifetime. How she explained to her daughter to hold out for that kind of love.
So I tried to sleep late at night afterwards and couldn't. I picked up my devotional book for that day and began to read. I remember before I began to read saying to God, "I want to know that kind of love.... I want to release that kind of love. I heard that still small voice inside me answer back, "You can Laurie, that love is inside of you. You have the power to release it."
So I began reading and I knew that God was speaking to me about love when I looked at the title and noticed the connection: LOVED WELL.
It reflected on a family and their American Thanksgiving dinner and the children commenting on what they were thankful for. Stephen who was almost five silenced everyone with his simple yet profound understanding of love.
"I am thankful that Jesus loves me so well."
The Scripture we were lead to reflect on was based on Ephesians 3:17-19 which we all have heard many a times yet in hearing it again it became my prayer to know and understand that kind of love.
As I reflected further on in the Scripture I was reminded that this kind of love passes all our earthly wisdom and knowledge. It is not something we can learn, or know or read about.
It has to be something we experience, deeply through Christ and hence my quest to know love more begins and to release that love as I experience it.
So, I pray......"That you....may be able to comprehend.....what is the width and the length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ." (Ephesians 3:17-19)
Laurie