The incarnation is God’s message that God the Father holds nothing back in order to make room for us. So common and yet so extravagant! Heaven and earth embraced that night and this is what we celebrate.

It’s also is a grand proclamation that if you enter the story, you’ve got everything you need in the person of Christ. All else becomes trivial in the light of His appearance because He’s EVERYTHING from A to Z.

“I AM the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.”

AUTHOR of my everything, my story A to Z

BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR above, my blinded eyes can see

COMFORTOR of weary souls, COMPANION of the lost

DELIVERER, DEFENDER despite the cruel cost

EXALTED ONE who stooped to save, found in a humble place

FAITHFUL ONE of Glory who came to me in grace

GUARDIAN of my destiny, GOD in flesh and bone

HEALER of my solitude, I never walk alone.

INTERCESSOR standing tall, speaking for me, still.

JEHOVAH God creator, with hands of grace and skill

KING of all the universe, immortal God of love

LORD in every circumstance, watching from above

MAN OF SORROWS, MIGHTY ONE who came to seek and save

NAZARENE of providence whose life He freely gave

ONE AND ONLY Sacrifice, The lamb upon a cross

PIERCED for my transgression, my gain found in His loss

QUIET ONE, a still small voice, whispering His plan

RABBI in my ignorance, Redeemer,

SON OF MAN

TREE OF LIFE, evergreen, The fruit of holiness

UNFAILING LOVE, UNENDING JOY, and UNBRIDLED BLISS

VICTOR of my battles. He fought to set me free.

WARRIOR like none other, battling for me.

X-RAY of the human heart, restorer from the fall

YESHUA, redeemer

ZENITH of it all…

Don’t you need Him?  Reach out to Him this day and you’ll see that He’ll give you everything your wounded soul craves.

Because He’s everything…

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Dear Joseph,

I’m worried about you. I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t try to speak some truth to you. Please don’t get me wrong–I was all for this marriage until the stories started. Reality is hard to swallow when you are in the early months of a relationship. You and I both know it takes two to conceive. It’s totally obvious that she is making up stories. She says she loves you. I have no doubt that she wants to be married to you but when someone makes a mistake, they have to face up to it instead of trying to spiritualize it. The theology of her entire story doesn’t make sense.

Plus, think of the narcissism! “God has made me pregnant.” Ugh…   That she would take that route…. To tell you the truth it angers me. We’ve been buddies since Sabbath School and I know what a stand-up guy you are. And you want to put her away quietly? I think that fornication and lying are doubly worthy of a little Levitical heat (if you know what I mean). But I’m not you. I just want you to be happy. Look at all the ramifications, Joseph and don’t get caught in the middle of this.

Anyway, we need to talk. Plus you haven’t even seen our baby boy: Judas! He’s already taken his first steps. So if you are ever in town, let me know!

Your concerned friend,

🙂

He scattered stars to the outer regions of infinity. He separated the dry land from sea. This great God created each cell as intricate, alive and dynamic as a tiny city. The One that created Jupiter and the Milky Way would choose to create me.

Our skin and the inner workings of the human body… the blood and bones, the pelvis, the pinky, the cranium and the clavicle, the liver that filters our blood, the million miles of DNA, all of this…

God left his amazing mark on us.
And it astounds me.
It amazes me.

 

And more amazing still… His Son
I’m amazed that He would be born in a stable.
Not in a palace.
Not in the lap of luxury

I’m amazed that Ruth, Bathsheba, Tamar, David, and so many other misfits are a part of his chosen family tree.

I’m amazed that He would come to the little…

(I, too, am among His little ones… so fearful, often stumbling, often obsessed with the wrong things)

I’m amazed that it was Good News when we deserved punishment, He came with great joy to all people.

I’m amazed that He was scorned as an illegitimate son when He could have levitated above them all. I’m amazed that He remained silent.

I am amazed that Jesus would choose for friends and followers– Tax collectors, fishermen, zealots, and outcasts.

Even more, I’m amazed that he would stay to the very end pay the price for the messes we make- all the messes.

And everywhere he went people were amazed.

The amazing thing about grace, you see, is that when I was in the far country, He sought me!

When I lost hope in God, He never lost hope in me.

It’s His all-surpassing love that drives me…

Amazed that it is laughter and joy- not tears and defeat

Amazed that it is about bread and wine, forgiveness and belonging.

And how I need it!

Everybody needs it.

Amazing- that a God so great would love me this much.

I’m amazed that You would love me with relentless grace

Far beyond all time and space

Relentless stubborn mercy blind

To all that I have left behind.

You loved me in the blinding rain

Even when I’ve caused You pain.

Amazed by the chasm that separated me from You

All the pain that You went through.

And when you get a glimpse of this love, it will grab on to you. It will own you in its bliss.

And the amazing thing about this grace is that it is what it is.

It’s not earned.

It’s grace.

Amazing grace.

It’s grace that tore me away from the claws of Satan

It’s grace that will lead me home.

It’s grace that is greater than all my sin.

He is truth.

He’s as right as rain.

In fact he created rain.

And if you take it into your life.

It will change your perspective

You’ll look at your children differently.

You’ll eat good food and love it even more.

You’ll lose the chip on your shoulder that’s been dogging you for years.

You’ll breath easier.

No more fear of death, hell and the grave- because life is an everlasting adventure more eternal that far-flung galaxies of deep space.

If you take it in, it will change everything.

It will scatter every self-saving instinct you’ve ever known.

And it will bring you once again to Bethlehem.

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Beloved,

Look closer into the manger. I so long for you to look into My eyes.

There was a time you saw Me as Someone who tolerated you and all the messiness of your life, not knowing for a second the depth of the love I offer. I came to you, first, as a baby so that you would know that my vulnerability is complete. I am willing to be born in the world mankind has ruined so that you will know that I am utterly and completely present for you today.