Joy that will be for all people
Tears stung my eyes as I read the words. Why? Why this division? Why this strife? It feels like just when one group is happy, another is upset. One person’s victory means another’s defeat. One group’s gain seems another’s loss. By advocating one truth, it seems to pit one against another truth of equal importance.
Thankfully, there is good news.
There is THE Good News.
I have had this song echoing in my heart all week. It’s #6 on our Seeds Family Worship, (you can listen here) and sometimes I’ll just sit, all alone in the car, after the kids have gotten out and run into the house, and I’ll just worship God to this song, letting the tears slip down my cheeks, lifting up my hands like a crazy lady, just so grateful that the gift of God, that Jesus Christ, that the gospel is …
joy that will be for all people.
Jesus isn’t the savior for only Americans. Or only Syrians. Or only Democrats or Republicans. Or only Jews. Or black, or white, or rich, or poor. His Good News knows no borders or bounds. It is Good News that is joy for all people.
There is no one excluded. Ever. To all who receive, it is joy. It is peace. It is hope.
And then, in the song, near the end, the choir sings out in Glory to God in the highest, Glory to God in the highest, and my heart gets caught up because Oh yes! We will sing those words and give Him praise and thanks because He is good and has done great things. And for all who sorrow, for all who mourn and weep, for all who ache and yearn and hunger for Him. We will sing He is good, He is holy, He is mighty, He is awesome. Glory to God in the highest …
And on earth peace to men, on whom His favor rests.
On whom does His favor rest? Who has the favor of God?
This isn’t a trick question. It isn’t black or white or rich or poor. Those who are in Christ Jesus have the favor of God.
The only way we can have the favor of God is if we are reconciled to Him. We were enemies of God, but Jesus Christ is our peace:
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
Because of Jesus Christ, God’s favor rests on us. He has killed the hostility, between us and God, and between us and others. Because Jesus Christ preached peace, He is the joy that shall be for all people. So we can move out courageously and generously. We don’t have to be “right.” We don’t have to prove our point. We can misjudged or misunderstood or even mistreated. We can love and give and hold our tongues or turn the other cheek or overlook offenses or just let stuff GO. Why?
Because the gospel’s grace is big enough. The gospel’s grace means you don’t have to demand your own way. We don’t need to be disappointed if we don’t get the perfect gift, or family, or experience.
We’ve already been given the greatest gift. It is a joy that will be for all people: It is Christ the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest.
{Merry Christmas, friends. Thanks for reading.}
A Decade of Dutch
Today, I’m curled up under this blanket, and I keep glancing across the room, watching you, completely absorbed in a new book you unwrapped just moments ago. From the outside, it might just seem like an ordinary day. The day another kid turned ten. But my heart is soaring and I’m silently singing hallelujah because God has been so faithful. And our victories may not seem significant compared to others’, but they are ours and I will exult in God’s goodness to us.
Ten years ago today, Dutch’s birth forever changed my world. As every mother knows, your world is completely transformed in an instant. A wild, raging love pulses through your veins, a fierce, protective love, an intoxicating and all-consuming love. It’s usually mixed with exhaustion and tears, but it’s love.
Dutch, you captured my heart the moment you were born. But in those early days, I didn’t know how hard the road would be. How your uniqueness would challenge me deep down at my core, how I would reach the end of myself.
You would be the undoing of me.
And I’m so glad.
I’ve said it before, in fact, I say it every year on your birthday: I’m so glad for how your uniqueness has challenged and changed me. And I’m still glad. But, this year feel different. This year feels like the quiet dawning of a slightly different era. Not that the future roads won’t be rough, but I’ve seen you grow so much this year my sweet boy. And again, our victories may not be much in the world’s eyes, but they are glorious in mine, so I will celebrate.
This. This picture tells me that you played on your first ever sports team! You were brave, and joined a baseball team, even though you’d never played and this was all brand new and the first practice it poured freezing rain sideways, and you stood out in that outfield shaking and shivering and about froze to death.
But you stuck with it. And what impresses me isn’t your batting average–it’s that you cheer for your teammates, that you love it when other people succeed, and that you show courage every time you step up to bat, even though you struck out almost every single time–you never gave up! That you never had a bad attitude about playing, that even as the smallest kid on the team, you did your best and cheered everyone on. You may not be on the elite traveling team, but you are my MVP! I am SO PROUD of you, Son. 
And this picture shows me that you got your first pet this year. And that you have such a tender heart for animals. That you care for them well. 
And this photo reminds me of that day you caught the hummingbird in your hand. How we were having such a hard day preparing for State Testing, and that that hummingbird reminded me what really matters and I was so proud of you for bravely catching that scared bird in your hands, and how you let it go free! And then, on top of it all, you went and practically aced that State Test — silly me for being so stressed about it! 
And this reminds me of picnicking in the Redwoods, how you love nature, and how of all the attractions in California, you chose the Redwood Forest as the one place you wanted to go. I love that about you, Dutch. You appreciate God’s glorious creation, and I love that you choose trees and rocks over all other options. It also reminds me of the special relationship you have with Daddy. You two are two peas in a pod, that’s for sure!
And this. This reminds me of US. Because what I am most thankful for, of these 10 years, is that we love each other. That even when things are hard, your heart is soft toward me, and I love that our relationship is strong, that God has knit our hearts together. I’m thankful that you still hold my hand, let me cuddle you under the quilt at night, that we still snuggle up in the morning reading our Bibles.
And finally, today we had a significant victory. You know the details, and I won’t share it here with the world, but you know the victory, and my heart is soaring. I’m so grateful to God for the ways you have grown this year, Dutch.
Happy 10th birthday, Son. I’m so grateful for a decade of Dutch and how it’s changed my life forever, for good.
{Thanks for reading.}
Previous years’ reflections:
For hearts that ache for kids
{I had a moment recently where I felt this familiar ache, and then I found this. From last year. And I laughed because–glory!–he can tie his own shoes now! It’s so good to remember, as we commit ALL of our questions and futures to the only One who knows. He is trustworthy. Thanks for reading.}
—
“Mommy?” You whisper into the darkness. “Can I have a rock?”
It’s the middle of the night and it takes me a moment to realize what you mean.
I smile. “Of course.”
I pull back the covers, slide out of bed, creep across the room in the dark. Out in the hallway, I don’t see you, but I peek into Heidi’s room and there you are, arms full of snuggly animals, standing beside the rocking chair, waiting for me.
I slide back into the cool, hard, chair. It creaks loudly as I pull you onto my lap and ease back. You barely fit now, tall and lanky and almost 9-years-old. Your long legs hang off the side, your head rests up on my shoulder. I try to wrap an arm under you but can’t reach, so I just bear-hug you around the middle and lean down so my cheek rests against yours, so I can breathe your breath.
I close my eyes and can’t believe I’m rocking you. You! Almost exactly 8 years earlier, you weren’t even one, and oh! you wouldn’t sleep. I tried every trick. You wouldn’t sleep. And so I tried to rock you. Desperately I tried to rock you. I held you tight, leaning back and forth in that chair, praying you’d sleep. And you fought it. Screamed. Cried and cried and cried and cried for nearly an hour until we were both drenched with sweat and tears and … I gave up. And you just stared at me, and I felt so lost and whispered to God, “Help us.”
So many times, that prayer, through these years.
And tonight I’d whispered that same prayer to the Father. Just seconds before you slipped into my room, I’d been lying awake, unable to sleep, praying, thinking of you. Tears, too, had slipped down my cheeks as I consider 9-years-old and all that’s changing and unknown and silly things like Will you ever be able to tie your shoes or light a match?
Will you make friends? Get married? Be a good father? Thrive?
What will you say, someday, when you look back on your childhood?
Will you love the Lord when you are 20, 50, 80?
We keep rocking. The chair is loud and creaky and you’re whispering to me how you like the sound, “It’s like a radio.” And we keep rocking, and I think how I would never have dreamed back then, when you were screaming at 11-months-old, that you’d be this walking documentary boy, an absolute wonderment. And I silently thank God again and again for this moment, that you want me to rock you, and how precious this is and into the darkness you whisper:
“Mommy?”
“Yes, love?”
“Your titanium scissors surely aren’t make of titanium. They are just steel. Titanium is used more in name than actual substance. People just like to think things are made of titanium.”
I smile. I love you, son.
Eventually we tiptoe past sleeping sister and back to your room.
“Will you snuggle me?”
“Of course.” I slide in next to you and pull the down comforter up, around us, under our chins.
“I can’t believe they use tiger and lion bones in Chinese medicine.”
I smile and touch your cheek.
And in a few seconds, you’re asleep. I watch you for a bit, and commit all my questions to the Only One who holds us in the palm of His hand.
Your Father and mine.
I love you, son.
{For hearts that ache for kids, for prayers and sleepless nights. We serve a God who knows and hears and answers. Thanks for reading.}
5 fabulous gifts for a Christ-centered Christmas
Christmas came early to us this year, in the form of some very generous saints who shipped us a boxful of books and DVDs, the perfect pastime as we’re snowed-in here at Papa & Oma’s house. It got me thinking that if you are still looking for a few fabulous items to bless your loved ones, items that will draw your heart and attention to Christ, here are some suggestions:
- Seeds Family Worship. Ok, I could go on for days about how great these are. Every song is a scripture passage, word for word. We use them at Renew for the scripture memory verses, but we listen to them constantly and the kids LOVE every one of them. We got ours at the end of the summer and I’m amazed that three months they’ve learned so many scriptures, just from having these on in the car. They sing along, and I even noticed how bad attitudes melt away when we start singing aloud God’s Word. They also have a brand new Christmas album, which is fabulous. Even if I’m driving alone I find myself turning these up and singing along. 😉 We’re not even big music people, and never used to listen to music in the car, so it’s pretty significant that we’ve been listening to these for three months nonstop. You can also get most of these as free downloads with Amazon Prime. But I like having the CDs in the car. There’s also FREE SHIPPING this week.
- Melody & Truth. These are some friends of mine who have put together a lovely assortment of Christmas songs. I listened to this on my drives back and forth from OHSU this week — so encouraging! I especially loved Oh Holy Night and their original song May It Be (#8), super fun! You can download individual songs on Amazon, or get the whole album. Enjoy!
- Stories of the Saints. So we talked here about the story of the real St. Nicholas, and what an amazing godly man he was. We talked some about different books that help teach the real story. Well, there are not one, not two, but THREE fabulous books here that tell the true stories of the people behind Santa Claus, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day (click each one for separate links to each book). They are all FABULOUS. The kids love them. I highly recommend! They also have 6 of these same books about William Tyndale, Paul the Apostle, Thomas, John Bunyon, Richard Wurmbrand, and Stephen the first martyr. They look fabulous as well, though I haven’t personally read them.
- Bible graphic novels. If you have a kids 8-yrs-up on your list, these graphic novels are fantastic. Our kids have absolutely loved The Action Bible for the last 3 years, so when they saw these New Testament graphic novels by the same artist, they jumped on them. They literally read these for HOURS that night, then woke up at 6am the next morning and immediately grabbed the books and continued reading. They are that captivating! I highly recommend The Apostle (about Paul), The Twelve (about the disciples), and The Followers (about those who followed Christ after His ascension). (FYI: They also have the Kingstone Bible series, which looks great but I haven’t personally seen it.)
- Heroes of the faith: Torchlighters 12-DVD set. Okay, so we haven’t had time to watch these yet, but since my kids are completely mesmerized by anything on a TV screen, I venture to say that they will love having TWELVE dvds with stories teaching about amazing people who bravely followed Christ no matter the cost. We’ll definitely be watching some of these if/when cabin fever sets in!
Hope some of these can bless you and yours. Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading.