Category: Christmas

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, (Isaiah 9:6)

There can be a lot in a name.  My name is Michael, which means, “Who is like God?”  I like that—it’s a constant reminder of the answer…Nobody. When I begin to get a little too big for my proverbial britches, my very name brings me back to Earth.

Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor.  Think about it—what does a counselor do?  A good counselor does three things—listen deeply, see to the heart of the issue, and offer wisdom.   So, we serve a God who actually listens to us—listens deeply. He doesn’t just pretend to listen while he mentally plans out his day, the way I might.  He actually considers every word you speak—and those you don’t.

Jesus also sees to the heart of your issue—after all, he knows you better than you do—remember Psalm 139?  You couldn’t hide the truth from him if you tried, so knock it off already.

Wisdom?  Uh…do I need to point out that his words are the very words of God?  Literally? Yeah, worth listening to.

You, Beloved, have a Wonderful Counselor.  Walk in his wisdom today.

Happy Tuesday.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…  (Isaiah 9:6)

Babies are amazing.  Tiny noses and toeses and fingernails.  They even smell good.

Mostly.

The feeling of joy, of life, that you get from holding a newborn—it’s…wow.  It doesn’t even have to be your baby. It can be a nephew, or a cousin, or the child of a friend.  Hey, it could be a random kid from the mall that you grabbed just for the experience.

Not that you would ever do that because that would be very very wrong and earn you psychiatric evaluations and the serious threat of incarceration.

My point is this: Hope arrives with every baby.

How great is it that God chose to bring Christ to us in this way. Think about it—the Messiah could have appeared fully grown, striding out of the desert on a Tuesday morning.  He could have simply walked into the temple and started preaching. Instead, we get to see him as a baby—yes, so that his genealogy could be verified and so that prophecy would be fulfilled—but also so that we could see the Lord of the Universe willing to humble himself by birth, as he would one day humble himself by death.

Your God loves you so much that he sent a baby—the epitome of life—to call you to eternal life.

Heed the call.

Merry Christmas, Beloved.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).

This is the nature of light and dark.

We instinctively fear the dark and crave light.  In fact, a flashlight or candle or somesuch is near the top of every emergency supplies list. And it’s not just for the practical value–light is also, by its very nature, comforting and encouraging.

The deepest, blackest darkness can be pushed back by the light of a single candle.

Metaphorically and literally

An alternate translation of this verse is, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it. As though if only the enemies of God could really understand his light, his love, his purpose for us…everything would be different.

If only the darkness in me could truly understand…

Someday, Beloved.

Happy Thursday

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind (John 1:4).

Through him all things were made…

Even us.

That life that was breathed into Adam, that spark that separates us from all other creation…

That’s from Jesus.

At the cross, he gave his life to redeem us. But at creation, he gave of his life to bring us life.

Perhaps that is why accepting Christ feels so much like coming home.

Breathe deeply today, Beloved.

Happy Thursday

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:3).

Not a random collection of happenings

Not an impersonal, unknowable force

Not a philosophical construct

But a person, a personality, an artist who spoke this world into being with a desire for beauty and the knowledge that one day you would be here to enjoy it.

Nothing random about it.

One of the reasons Jesus came to us was so that he could identify with us, experiencing this life and this world as we do. I wonder what he thought as he gazed upon the night sky, or a storm-tossed sea, or a flower or a bug or a sunrise or…

I wonder if he thought, “Wow! I done good.”

Of course, Jesus had better grammar, because bad grammar is a sin, but still.

Enjoy the world he created for you, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isaiah 9:7)  

I’m not really a fan of big government.  More of a low taxes, leavemealoneandlletmelivemylifewithoutyouconstantlytellingmewhattodoandtryingtoprotectmefrommyself kind of guy.

But His government?  Let it grow, baby.

You know, the best form of government would be a truly benevolent dictatorship.  We get someone in power who knows what’s best, wants what’s best, and is willing and able to do what’s best without regard for lining their own pockets.  

The problem, of course, is that people are people.

Because even the best of men and women tend to be sin-encrusted narcissists, that kind of rule is just not possible.

Outside of Christ.

One day Jesus will rule here on Earth, in the flesh.  We will get someone in power who knows what’s best, wants what’s best, and is willing and able to do what’s best without regard for lining his own pockets. His reign will go on and on and just get better and better.

Until that day, we can know his government in our hearts and lives.

If you belong to Jesus, his peace and power and rule in your life are growing each day.  Oh, you may not feel it all the time, but it’s happening.

Chew on this today: are you allowing Christ to govern your life, or are you getting in his way?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 9:6)

We know him by many names.

Jesus Christ

Alpha

Omega

Emmanuel

Lamb of God

Mighty God

Light of the World

The Bright Morning Star

Wonderful Counselor

The Amen

Man of Sorrows

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

The Word

The Author and Finisher of Our Faith

Bread of Life

Living Water

Prince of Peace

I Am

God calls him by another name, the name which is above all names.

Son.

And here’s something really crazy.  Because of Christ’s sacrifice, do you know what God now calls us?

Yes, you do.

How can that be?  What can that mean?

Chew on that today.

Happy Friday, Beloved

Everlasting Father,  (Isaiah 9:6).

I hope you have a great dad.  

Really

I hope he is loving and strong and gentle and a daily blessing to your life.  I hope this, not only to make those family Christmas dinners a little less awkward, but because it will give you a better picture of God.  You see, God presents himself to us in many ways through Scripture, but I think the one that hangs most people up is the image of a father.  It can be difficult to see God as loving and caring if your earthly father was cold, distant, abusive, or absent altogether.

Look, I’m not gonna get all psychoanalytical here, but I need to point something out.  Whatever your earthly dad does well, your heavenly father does even better. Wherever your earthly dad messes up, your heavenly father gets it right.  He is the perfection we all fall short of. He is the goal we can never quite attain. He will always be there to cheer you when you win, and comfort you when you lose.  His advice will always be perfect, and his discipline will always be just. He will come to all your ball games, all your dance recitals, all your spelling bees. He will be there at the hospital bed and at the wedding altar.

He will always love you.

Always, as in Everlasting.

Walk in his love today, Beloved.

Happy Thursday