Rachel's Writings: Christmas

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Rach J

Each year that Christmas returns I find myself more and more amazed and drawn into the story of the divine becoming human. Over the past month I have been reading (on and off due to ridiculous work loads) ‘God Came Near’ by Max Lucado. A dear friend (Petra Hr) recommended it to me and I am so thankful that she did. I am half way through and after every chapter up until now I have wept.

Tears of joy.

Tears of guilt.

Tears of amazement.

Tears of realizing this story is truly real.

Lucado is gifted writer, he has the ability to draw you into moments of Jesus life as if you were standing right there beside him....and often I’ve longed for that to be real. I think it would have been incredible to actually have witnessed Jesus in the flesh but still know what we know about Him today. But I am insanely excited to meet Him one day in heaven, which will be SO much better!

I want to share with you some of my favourite quotes from the book thus far...

The birth of Jesus

“God entered the world as a baby. And a more lowly place of birth could not exist”

“Majesty in the midst of mundane.”

“His golden throne room had been abadoned in favour of a dirty sheep pen.”

“Those who missed the Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no they missed it because they simply weren’t looking. Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?”

“He who was larger than the universe became an embryo.”

Baby born to die

“If there was hesitation on the part of his humanity, it was overcome by the compassion of his divinity. His divinity heard the hopeless cries of the poor, the bitter accusations of the abandoned, the dangling despair of these who are trying to save themselves.”

“And you can be sure of one thing. Among the voices that found their way into that carpentry shop in Nazareth was your voice...” (p33 incase want to add more)

Just call me Jesus

“There was not one person who was reluctant to approach him for the fear of rejection.”

This book has unveiled the christmas card image and nativity scenes from my mind. I have seen the Christmas story from a new perspective and my prayer is that my perspective of life in general and my role in this world would be widened and deepened.

As well as reading this book I have listened to an array of Christmas songs. One that was introduced to me this year was written by Pastor Rick McKinley and I had the honour (even though I don’t think I managed to do it justice) of singing in Church on Boxing day called ‘This Child (He Reigns)’.

Infinite love and deity, born with His eyes on Calvary

Equality with God lay down, born to wear a servants crown

A babe to grow and bear my nails

Infinite love will prevail, infinite love will prevail

Creator God in creation lay, Angelic choirs rise to say

Glory to our God who is most high

Here is the child that was born to die and rise and

Reign forever more, He reigns forever more

See the babe and hear His cry

The gaze of the Father in His eyes

In Supreme desire He comes, Ancient of days lying young

Our sin His mission to prevail, in sacrifice He’ll conquer hell

In sacrifice He’ll conquer hell

Creator God in creation lay, Angelic choirs rise to say

Glory to our God who is most high

Here is the child that was born to die and rise and

Reign forever more, He reigns forever more

This song paints a picture of the reality of Jesus’ purpose. God had planned that Jesus would come into the world as a baby and die. That was his mandate, calling and purpose for living. This song is laced with deep truth, one that touched my heart is the last line of the chorus ‘He reigns forever more.’ I had practiced this song a bunch of times before the morning we sang it but the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart on Boxing day, and as I sang that last line for the last time my eyes filled with tears. Jesus fulfilled God’s purpose. He lived as a man and died but He rose again and reigns.

He reigns forever more.

Let that sink in a moment.

He reigns forever more.

That means every day that I wake up Jesus reigns with God.

No matter how I feel, what’s going on in my life, where I am, what I am doing, or the lack of not knowing what I’m doing...

He reigns.

Forever.

More.

He watches over me, smiles and dances.

He walks with me through the difficult journey of life because He knows the reality of the difficulties but offers me peace, hope and love that never fails.

This was a soul awakening moment for me, I knew that God reigns on high. I had been brought up knowing that but in that moment I believed it from the depth of my soul.

Even though the Christmas season is slipping away for another year the awakenings that have touched my heart will remain with me throughout the year.

Here are some of a few of my favourite shots from the festive season:

I hope and pray that you had a Christ filled Christmas filled with love, joy, peace and hope that only Jesus can give.

Labels: baby Jesus, Christmas, joy, Max Lucado 1 comments |

The Christmas Story.

Rach J

Merry Christmas to one and all.

It still seems unreal to me that today is Christmas day, nevertheless I have been reflecting the whole month of Decemeber upon The Christmas Story.

Here I find myself at the doorstep of the stable in Bethlehem, peering in from the side lines.
Although, this year it has been different.

This year I have allowed myself to enter the story...flaws, failures, fears and all.

I have entered regardless of any of these things that try to hold me back.

It feels as though The Christmas Story is actually real to me this year. Ok, yes I've always known the truth but I've never experienced the truth. Not fully.

This month my eyes have been revealed to the wonders and depths of The Christmas Story. No longer do I look at it as a child's nativity story but a true and living event that did actually unfold in history.
But the birth of Jesus is not how the nativity plays imagine it or how some old time carols (some of which I love) paint it. A song that was introduced to me last year was 'Labor of Love' by Andrew Peterson and the lyrics have lingered in my heart throughout the year. The lyrics of this song is the most honest, realistic and humbling description of Jesus' birth I've ever come across.

Labor of Love lyrics:

There was blood on the ground

You could hear a woman cry

In the alleyways that night

On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean

And the cobblestones were cold

And little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above

But for the girl on the ground in the dark

With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side

Callused hands and weary eyes

There were no midwives to be found

In the streets of David's town

In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed

Shafts of moonlight on his face

But the baby in her womb

He was the maker of the moon

He was the Author of the faith

That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above

But for the girl on the ground in the dark

With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love

For little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

It was a labor of love

It was a labor of love. Love that Mary and Joseph had for their creator. Along the journey of discovering the deeper meaning of the Christmas Story I have come to understand and get to know the people of Mary and Joseph (Mary more so this year!)

Mary.

Mary was probably not much older than me. So around 19. And she was told she would have a baby. An unmarried teenage girl would give birth to a Saviour. WOW! So an Angel of the Lord shows up and tells her she will bear the Son of God and His name will be Jesus.

An angel shows up, that in itself is enough to send me over the edge. At the start Mary is hesitant, unsure of what this greeting means. Once Mary has got all the facts straight.

She says "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38

Her response has lead my mind to wonder over and over what my response be?!

Could I trust my God that much?

I would be terrified, I would feel unworthy for the task at hand, and ultimately I think, I'd like to runaway rather than have to tell my fiance (or family) I'm knocked up before the wedding.

Later in this same chapter we hear of Mary's song, and my prayer would be that no matter what God brings before me that I can celebrate and be joyful in that. I desire God to put the passion in my heart to trust Him to the ends of the earth. Not just trusting Him with my life, but what is even harder...my heart.

Mary's Song

46And Mary said:

"My soul glorifies the Lord

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

50His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55to Abraham and his descendants forever,

even as he said to our fathers."

Luke 1:46-55

I want to be a Mary, not just at Christmas time but my whole life through.

~ ~ ~

Ultimately this year I have seen The Christmas story unfold in a bigger way. From experiencing The Story of God (taking the whole Bible and revealing and highlighting Gods redemptive arc across history) I can see clearer how the Christmas Story fits in with the rest of scripture. I have found the Andrew Peterson album 'Behold the Lamb' such a blessing to my heart this month. I adore how Peterson begins the album with preparing (and foretelling) us for the The Christmas story to unravel across Old Testament history right up to the birth of Jesus. It feels as though Jesus' birth story is just being sung to you and I have found joy, comfort and sorrow in these songs. I have found myself (especially in Labor of love) going through the emotions of Mary and Joesph. (So if you don't have it...buy it!)

I want to finish with two of my favourite prophecies from the Old Testament about the birth of Jesus:

Isaiah 9 v6,7:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Micah 5 v 2:

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The verse from Micah has especially touched me this season. I put myself in the place of Bethlehem. Though I am small, weak and at most times feel insignificant in God's huge story...I am still a part of it and great things can happen if I let Him use me.

So that is the end of my rambles for this evening, here are a few photos from my Christmas day. I hope and pray you all had an amazing day celebrating our Saviour's humble (and humbling) birth.