Ellen Harbin's Blog

Shackled. In 1964, a lyric still common today, was produced. The first phrase begins with an uncommon word; Shackled by a heavy burden.

Fettered. Another uncommon word. Yet, it too, has been repeated in song since 1757, in the lyric, let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee. 

Defined, their meanings are to confine, restrain, and prevent freedom. Though uncommon in speech, shackles and fetters are common in followers of Jesus - they unsettle and unnerve many.

Shame shackles and fear fetters - two common chains and leading contenders to confinement, restraint, and freedom prevention. The chains of shame and fear keep believers locked down in their personal prison. Since Jesus came to set us free - then why are we held captive by pestering shame and fettering fear? 

Can the set-free be set free? 

Yes. But we've been decieved to believe shackles and fetters = prison. And it's not true. Shackles and fetters bind - they constrain, restrain, and prevent freedom. Most prisoners are not in shackles. Even in prison, one can be unrestrained and experience freedoms. 

When it comes to shame, we're shackled by its heavy burden. When it comes to fear, we're bound to anxiety and worry. Set free, yet imprisonsed. It's time the set-free are set free from this confusion. 

Paul and Silas: shackled, yet, imprisoned. In Acts 16:22-34 we read their story. They were stripped, beaten, severely flogged, and placed in the inner cell, where torture occurred and extra security was present through menacing shackles and intimidating fetters.

How can the set-free live as Jesus intends? Follow these three steps of Paul and Silas:

    1. PRAY [Acts 16:25a] – they talked to God about their current reality. They're shackled by a heavy burden and they pray - they presented their shackles to God. Whatever has your attention has you. Though shackled, their hearts were bound to God. Though fettered, they were free to pray. Jesus had their attention.

     2. PRAISE - they praised God through song. These two set-free, living-for-Jesus men are singing. They've been stripped down, beaten up, severely flogged, and shackled. They brought a sacrifice of praise. Jesus held their attention. 

Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Perhaps you've been stripped of diginity, innocence, or reputation. Maybe you've been beaten up by words or hands or past expereinces. The shackles are a heavy burden; anxiety and worry, your fetters. Shame and fear hold you and keep you captive. 

Answer this question: Who threw Paul and Silas in prison? If you answered the magistrates, the authorities, the crowd you may be constrained by the unfair fetter - that's not right, this isn't fair, they don't deserve that. Declaring injustice and wrong misses something greater. 

Praying and singing opened the door to a greater work. What was buried deep within Paul and Silas spilled out when they were shackled. Out of the overflow of the heart, your mouth speaks, Jesus says [Luke 6:45] What goes in, is what comes out - their sacrifice of praise reached others. Some people are paying attention and others need a wake-up call.  

     3. LISTEN [Acts 16:25b, 27a] – other prisoners are listening

People see your shackles; your fetters are obvious and people are paying attention. We are so good at letting others know about our prison pain but what about allowing them to witness the sacrifice of praise? 

Acts 16:26 says, The foundations of prison were shaken...all the prison doors flew open...everybody’s chains came loose.

Two stripped down, beaten up, and flogged followers of Jesus brought a sacrifice of praise into their personal prison and ALL doors flew open, ALL chains were loosed, and ALL prisoners stayed put. 

The set-free are set free.

Yet, they remained in prison. Freed from shackles and freed from fetters is living as Jesus intends. When we pray away the prisons, we pray away opportunities for other prisoners to be set free. 

Living as Jesus intends, lives unshackled and unfettered, but at times, remains in prison. Shame and fear should have no place, nor should they take any space in your heart. Jesus took our shame. It was nailed to His cross and we bear it no more. While in his personal prison, Paul urges a joyful heart [see Philippians], persuading followers to rejoice always. Without lifting the implement of ink, he pleads to not be anxious or troubled with cares.  

Prisons aren't shackles

God could have sent an army of angels, swopped in and scooped up Paul and Silas. He could have healed their wounds and cleared their minds of the memories. But He didn’t. Why didn’t you stop this, God? Why let your followers be hurt? Why the threat of shame and fear? Why the stripped down, beaten up, thrown into prison experience – why, Lord, why? 

The Sleeping Jailer - Acts 16:29-34

We remain in prison because we all have jailers in our life - people who need a wake-up call. Had Paul and Silas been focused on their fetters and scrutinizing their shackles, this man and his family would not have met Jesus. Good things happen when the set-free quit praying away the prison and bring a sacrifice of praise to the prison.

Living as Jesus intends, lives set free - no longer shackled by heavy burdens and pleading His goodness to bind our wandering hearts to Him.

Even in our personal prisons.

One letter makes a big difference.  

Two words have had my attention the past eight months. Each word share the same letters. Except one.

One letter makes a big difference.

Three of my six children got married within eight months: one in December, one in July, and one in August. Three weddings have taught me that adding

One letter makes a big difference. 

Leave. Defined, this word means to go away from or to depart permanently. What happens when a C is added?

One letter makes a big difference. 

Cleave. Defined, cleave means to cling and remain faithful. 

I had a front-row seat as I witnessed each son leave. And though my seat didn't change, my position did. In a split second of time, a blink of an eye, a quick intake of breath they took their leave. For the C to be, it was necessary. 

One letter makes a big difference.

My husband performs many wedding ceremonies. He's very good at it. It's the rehearsals he leads I really appreciate. I've learned much from Kevin. My favorite part has to be when the father-of-the-bride escorts his daughter down the aisle. Bride-to-be is on the left, groom-to-be is on the right. Father-of-the-bride stands between both. And Kevin stops and brings attention to this formation. 

Our three sons desired Kevin be dad for their weddings - asking other special men in their lives to perform their ceremonies. Three sons, three different officiants, allowing Kevin to have a front row seat alongside me. But I was reminded of Kevin's words.

He makes sure everyone is aware of dad's position - standing between his daughter and the man who will become her husband the next day. He'll say something like, "Dad you're still in the picture. But something significant will happen as soon as you answer the 'who-gives-this-woman-to-be-married' question. You'll place her hand in his, step back, and you'll be out of the picture." 

At our sons weddings, I was keenly aware of this transfer. Three times, a bride's dad stepped out of the way. And when he did, my son stepped in where her dad once stood. They took their leave. 

When Andrew, on December 30, 2016, Eric, on July 8, 2017, and Troy, on August 12, 2017 took their leave, they stepped into their new position and immedaitely added a C. And now they Cleave - Andrew to Taylor, Eric to Rebecca, and Troy to Kaitlin. 

Prior to their weddings, my sons did well at honoring and respecting their momma. [That's me!] Many times, I'd receive a greeting before their girlfriend/fiance. It's just how they did it.

Until they took their leave and added a C. One letter makes a big difference.

Like the father-of-the-bride, the mother-of-the-groom must step back. Because another woman has her son's attention. 

One letter makes a big difference. 

Witnessing my sons promise a young lady's dad they would love, honor, cherish, and keep his daughter til death do them part brought great joy to my heart. These girls are in good hands. I know. Because my sons took their leave and added a C. 

My thumb is numb. The doctor numbed it prior to a painful procedure. He said the numbing would last about 12 hours. It's going on 20. Jesus has valuable lessons for me to learn from a numb thumb.

When numb, I turn dumb

Spiritually speaking, numb turns dumb quickly. Recently, I spoke on Jonah and referred to him as dumb. Using Jonah 4:2, we see Jonah knows about the Lord. Jonah knows God is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, and relenting from sending calamity. But a personal storm blew and Jonah forgot what he knew.

I, too, know these things about God. I've known them a long time. And like Jonah [1:9], when he was in the midst of a storm, I know who I belong to and who I worship. Knowing I belong to Jesus and trusting Him in the midst of a storm are different. 

Currently, I'm in a personal storm. And just yesterday [two days after I preached about DEEP stuff] like Jonah, I was numb and dumb followed. The winds blew, things became wilder [Jonah 1:13], and I viewed this storm through numb eyes. Dumb.

The tingling and heavy-like feeling has me focused on my numb thumb. Most days, I hardly pay attention to my thumb. But now that it's numb, I'm consumed. My attention is rivoted on this dumb, numb thumb. Spiritually, this personal storm had me distracted - I became numb and dumb - no longer focused on what I know about God, only that I know God. Enter questions, complaining, exhaustion, irritability, impatience. My heart becomes numb and I act dumb. 

Numb and Dumb keep me from remembering what I know about God

Jonah forgot what he knew when his personal storm blew. And so did I. The storm had my attention. This vessel, my life, is not meant to be steered by me, myself, and I. That's three too many at the helm, overwhelming the vessel. I have a choice: be overwhelmed by the storm, or overwhelmed by a gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love God. 

Allow Jesus to helm the helm!

What? How did I miss this - helm is a noun and a verb? In that case, whoever helms the helm of my heart truly matters. When I'm at the helm, I steer my heart to unsafe, unstable, untrustworthy places. Jesus taking my wheel now has a whole new meaning. Not only do I need Jesus at the helm, I desperately need Him to take control and have complete direction over my heart. 

I waited until the numb in my thumb disappeared before completing this post. It's been 25 hours and the numb has left my thumb. However, my personal storm still hovers. I'm ok with this vessel being tossed about since Jesus is at the helm. I'm no longer dumb, because I know my Lord is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, and relents from sending calamity.

Jesus helms my heart.  A numb thumb taught me this.

 

          

 

 

 

Getting my son's attention I asked, “Hey, Jaylen, do you remember when you fell off your bike last summer?” His quick response was, “Yes. And I have a scar to prove it.”

Scars tell stories.

Scar Stories

 

Scars expose the proof that something happened. Jaylen’s scar on his shoulder proves he took a hard tumble off his bike.

I have scar stories, too. I have scars on my head proving I ran into the corner of a garage door and another proving I fell off my bike as I crossed the finish line beating a boy in the neighborhood race. I have a scar on my knee that proves I tripped while running as fast as I could because my mom had called me home 'for the last time.' And I have five scars on my midsection proving the removal of cancerous body parts.

Exposing scars and telling their stories is proof something happened. Scar stories prove wounds occurred. Exposing scars uncovers the story behind the scar.

It's Easter evening and the disciples are locked in a room, afraid. [John 20:19] In the middle of their fear Jesus shows up, stands among them, declares "Peace" and shows them his hands and side. 

WHEN WE HAVE EYES TO SEE JESUS WE HAVE 20/20 VISION

The last time the disciples saw Jesus, he was dead. Exposing His scars is the first thing the resurrected Savior does when He sees these disciples. Jesus wants his disciples to have 20/20 vision in regards to his death. [John 20:20] 

I had lasik surgery. I now have 20/20 vision. If an ophthalmologist looked into my eyes I wonder what scars would be present to prove I had this corrective surgery. I can’t see the scars, but a professional could – just because I can’t see the scars does not mean they don’t exist. Some scars are buried, some are hidden, some so deep we pretend they don’t exist – but that doesn’t mean they still can’t be exposed.

The greatest presentation of show & tell occurred in that locked room. 

How did Jesus get on the other side of a locked door? Like hidden scars, the disciples are afraid of being exposed, but Jesus shows up. Jesus enters His disciple's fearful place. He didn't bust down the door, He shows up in their seclusion and speaks peace to their anxiety.

And then Jesus exposes his scars, proof of His wounds, giving them 20/20 Spiritual-vision causing His followers to be overjoyed. 

By His wounds we are healed. 

But in John 20:24 there's an absentee disciple. Thomas missed the greatest show & tell presentation of all. 

Thomas is one of the original 12 disciples – he walked with Jesus closely, he witnessed miracles, he listened to Jesus preach and teach – he was in attendance for three years. And now he’s a missing disciple.

Does your church have a way to file a 'missing person report'?

When a person goes missing we go to the authorities and file a missing person’s report. What disciples were missing from your church on Easter Sunday? Which followers of Jesus were absent and missed the exposure of His scars? Which disciples need the scar story retold?

John 20:24-25 Thomas wasn't with the disciples when Jesus came...so the other disciples told him. Have you reported to the absent follower we have seen Jesus the Lord? Have you described what you saw? Did you leave any details out? HE IS RISEN! I SAW HIS SCARS! HE IS ALIVE! Do you tell what you have seen?

John 20:25 unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it, the absentee disciple says.

Doubting Thomas has a reputation

Over the years, Thomas has been consistently referred to as Doubting Thomas. If critical, I’m not sure this is reasonable. Any suspicious, cautious person who says I’m not sure or prove it gets labeled as a Doubting Thomas. Haven't we have all been there? Discouraged, devastated, distraught? This was Thomas’ moment. 

He can’t see Jesus. And unless he does, he'll struggle believing Jesus is present. And that’s the value of other disciples exclaiming the existence of Jesus. They have seen the Lord and now they can expose what they saw. Because these disciples found the missing disciple, Thomas has a glimmer of hope, a speck of faith. 

20:26 A week later his disciples were in the room again, and Thomas was with them.

Doubting Thomas waits.This doubter remained a whole week waiting for Jesus to show up. This doubter has faith Jesus will come.

John 20:26 “Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace…”

In the middle of the Doubter's doubt, Jesus shows up and speaks "peace." Jesus loves Thomas right where he’s at - in his doubt, in his discouragement, in his skepticism, in his pessimism -Jesus loves this disciple.

But Jesus loves a doubter too much to leave him there.

Thomas missed a lot while he was missing. In his absence, Thomas missed blessings, he missed fellowship, he missed out on the original scar story. But Jesus loves Thomas and shows grace to His disciple and exposes His scars anyway. 

20:27 Jesus says to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side…’

Jesus was nailed to the cross days before. He had scars deep enough for a finger to penetrate where a nail had previously pierced and a man’s hand can plunge where a sword once penetrated.

Deep wounds leave deep scars

Disciples are often focused on the wound. Jesus wanted Thomas to focus on the scars. Why? Because scars expose. Disciples of Jesus need to remember that scars are not the wound, scars prove a wound occurred. Jesus had wounds inflicted to His body. He was wounded for Thomas, He was wounded for you. He has the scars to prove it.

Let’s assume Thomas was at the cross. He watched in agony as the nails were driven into His Master’s hands - hands that days earlier healed the sick, held children, served the bread and the cup, touched the untouchable, and even washed Thomas’ own feet. Thomas also witnessed with internal, horrendous pain as the spear drove and was plunged into the side of Jesus.

Thomas was wounded as Jesus was dying.

Thomas heard It Is Finished and assumed Jesus was done. Gone.

Thomas didn’t know what to do with all these deep wounds in his soul, so he went missing.

And now Jesus loves Thomas right where he’s at but He loves him too much to leave him there - so Jesus exposes His scars to Thomas. The scars remind Thomas of the cross, the scars remind Thomas that Jesus Himself, days earlier, told His disciples you do not realize what I am doing, but later you will understand; I will be with you only a little longer; do not let your hearts be troubled.

And it was directly to Thomas that Jesus responded, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” after Thomas questioned something Jesus had said.

Thomas was a wounded disciple. Wounds leave scars. These scars on Jesus remind Thomas that Jesus is who He says he is and He accomplished what he said he would do. These scars tell Thomas the story, they expose that Jesus is THE WAY, that He is THE TRUTH, and He indeed is THE LIFE.

Some disciples are afraid to expose their scars because they would be reminded of the wound. Deep wounds leave deep scars. Wounds hurt. Scars remain to remind us of the deep, deep love of Jesus in the midst of the deep, deep hurt.

You will never have a scar from a wound that goes deeper than the love Jesus has for you

As Jesus exposed his scars to Thomas he said Stop doubting and believe.

Jesus loved Thomas right where he was, but he also loved him too much to leave him stuck on the wounds – Jesus exposed His scars so that Thomas would stop doubting and believe. 

Seeing, touching, and diving deep into the scars of Jesus requires a response from a disciple. 

20:28 My Lord and my God! Thomas responded.

Thomas had his faithlessness turned into faithfulness, his doubt turned to delight, because the scars of Jesus were exposed, telling the life-changing story so his life could change. Will you?

 

What do you want me to do for you?

Jesus asks this of a blind man. Go ahead, look it up, Mark 10:51. See? It's right there in red letters. An impulsive answer might be, "Duh! he wants to see." 

What occurs before the question should have your attention.

Mark 10:46 A blind man is begging as Jesus passes by. 

Blind Bart had one thing on his agenda for the day: beg. Same plan every day. Claim his spot, lay down his cloak, take a seat at the center of his cloak, and wait for the passers-by.

The cloak was essential to a blind man. The cloak and beggar are inseparable. It was his security, it marked his his safe zone, and reserved his spot at the edge of the city. An effective beggar had a long cord attached to his cloak, while at the other end a bowl was attached. When something was deposited in the bowl, the beggar would yank the cord and draw the bowl close, retrieving his revenue. Hidden pockets were fashioned into the cloak's layers holding and hiding everything the beggar owned.

Mark 10:47 On this particular day, the ordinary became extraordinary. As Blind Bart heard Jesus was part of the passers-by he began to vociferate. Blind Begging Bart bawled in a loud, strong voice, imploring Jesus, have mercy on me! 

Followers of Jesus don't always follow well. 

Mark 10:48 Those followng Jesus, including his disciples, vehemently rebuked the bawling beggar, harshly telling him to hush up. They may have even pushed him back toward his begging spot, an awkward altercation for sure.

Jesus stopped.

Mark 10:49 Two beautiful words. Blind Begging Bawling Bart has Jesus' attention. Because he was the loudest? Not at all. Because Jesus has a divine appointment with Bart. Because Jesus loves Bart. Because Bart's cry for Jesus was heard. Jesus stopped. Jesus paid attention to Bart. 

Any encounter with Jesus requires a response.

Jesus told his followers, the same ones who rebuked Blind Bart, to call him toward Jesus, participating in Bart's significant encounter. Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you. The Greek word for call is phoneo. It's as if Bart gets a phone call from Jesus. A personal call from Jesus.

Mark 10:50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. Be very careful not miss the order of events. Blind Bart leaves his security, his safe place, his everything before he comes to Jesus. Blind Bart jumps off his boundary marker and catapults himself toward Jesus. Blind Bart encounters Jesus.

A blind man sees Jesus.

Blind Bart is in a face-to-face encounter with Jesus. The eyes of his heart are fixed and focused on Jesus. The eyes of his heart have 20/20 vision. Yet, Bart is still blind.

What do you want me to do for you?

Mark 10:51 This question from Jesus came to Blind Bart after he wholeheartedly saw Jesus. Blind Bart has all he needs - Jesus. He left everything and came to Jesus. That's enough, because Jesus is enough. Blind Bart was whole because of Jesus. Even though his eyes were unseeing holes in his face, his heart was whole. But Bart has faith that Jesus is able to restore his physical sight so Blind Bart answers, I want to see. 

Mark 10:52 Immediately Blind Bart could see. Immediately Bart followed Jesus. Bart faithfully followed Jesus - not because he received his sight, but because he desired to follow Jesus. 

It's your turn to answer the question.

What do you want Jesus to do for you? Consider what you're attached to that needs to be thrown aside. Consider where the eyes of your heart are focused. 

Bart wholeheartedly followed Jesus before he answered the question. 

 

 

  

How many times has the demand make it go away been uttered by you in prayer, pleaded internally, or even screamed out loud at God? Followers of Jesus utter, plead, and scream all kinds of demands at God.

What happens when God answers not yet? 

Before Jesus began His ministry of preaching, teaching, and performing miracles He had a significant experience - one where He could have chosen to utter, plead, scream, demand make it go away to the Father.

But He didn't. 

Luke 4:1 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert

He was led into the desert. Led into the dry wasteland. Led into the wilderness.

The Greek word ago is translated led. Jesus was led into the desert but ago goes a step further - the word also means He was accompanied by the Spirit. The Spirit of God led Jesus to the edge of the desert. But the Spirit also crossed the threshold with Jesus, walked with Jesus into the wilderness, and walked alongside Jesus deep into the dry wasteland.

The Spirit did not give Jesus directions and leave Him alone. He didn't drop Jesus off at the edge saying see you in 40 days, stay strong, hope it goes well. He didn't ignore Jesus or forgot about Him while in the desert.

And Jesus never uttered, pleaded, screamed, or demanded that God make it go away. 

As followers of Jesus, it makes perfect sense that we too will be led into a desert. It should also make perfect sense that followers of Jesus respond and react to desert expereinces in the same manner as Jesus.

Jesus faces the desert - He doesn't avoid the wasteland.                      Jesus quotes God - He doesn't question God. Jesus stays put - He trusted the Spirit to lead Him out since He led Him in.

When God's answer is not yet to your demand make it go away you have an opportunity to imitate Jesus in the desert.

Don't avoid the wasteland. Face the wilderness with an assurance of provision - manna, unexpected help, is found in the desert. [Deuteronomy 8:16 & Revelation 2:17] Streams in the desert are provided by the very one who leads you there. [Isaiah 35:6]

God's Word is revealed to you in the desert. Trust His Word, don't doubt or question it. God says He is with you always and will never abandon you [Nehemiah 9:19] and that includes when you're led into the desert. Quote His promises often. One must know His promises to quote His promises. 

Don't rush deliverance. Look for it, hope for it, trust it will happen. But don't rush it. There are lessons to learn in the wilderness - if you're only looking for escape, you'll miss what the Spirit of God wants to teach you and show you. After all, He led you there and He will not abandon you.

Change the demand make it go away to thank you, Jesus, you don't go away. 

 

 

 

Today I was struck by a word: REMAIN.  I love when God's Word does this. A word is revealed and I pay attention. Hours after being struck, REMAIN remains stuck on my mind. I don't mind.

REMAIN was revealed. REMAIN remains stuck to me. 

There is only one place a follower of Jesus should REMAIN. Jesus uses this word in John chapter 15. He uses the word repeatedly: REMAIN in me and I will REMAIN in you...Now REMAIN in my love...If you REMAIN in me and my words REMAIN in you...

See? His Word REMAINS, it's stuck to me. I still don't mind. 

As I was studying 2Samuel 11, the story of David and Bathsheba, this word REMAIN was first revealed to me. Most are familiar with the story here in 2Samuel. King David notices Bathsheba from his palace as she's bathing on her rooftop. He sends for her, sleeps with her, she gets pregnant. Sin. Sin. Sin. 

David's sins keep piling up. To hide the fact that he's the reason she's pregnant he has her husband murdered - but that was Plan C. Plans A & B failed. [read 2Samuel 11 for the whole account]

What about the word REMAIN? Here it is: 

2Samuel 11:1 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army...But David REMAINed in Jerusalem.

David REMAINed. Many followers of Jesus are stuck on their faith journey. Perhaps they're like David. No, not adulterers and murderers. Rather, stuck, because they REMAIN, instead of being where they're supposed to be. 

The only place a follower of Jesus should REMAIN is in Jesus. 

David REMAINed in Jerusalem and he turned weak, complacent, lackadaisical. He was the king. THE king of God's people and he stays home in his palace while his army is out fighting battles. David REMAINed - it didn't land well for him.

I'm reminded of Eve. She REMAINed next to a tree talking to a snake. Had she not REMAINed in a conversation with a snake she would have REMAINed in paradise. That didn't land well for her.

Noah built an ark. All the people watched him build this massive ship for 100 years. They thought he was crazy - until the rains came. For those who REMAINed outside the ark, it didn't land well for them. 

As a follower of Jesus, REMAINing anywhere other than in Jesus will get you stuck. And this, my friends, will not land well for you.

Luke 1:45 [NIV] blessed is she who believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!

Mary made no room for anxiety in her heart. She believed God would accomplish what he said would happen. There was no room in the inn for Mary to deliver the baby Jesus and there was no room in her heart for anxiety to be delivered.

Mary had plenty of opportunity to accomodate anxiety, after all, she's a first-time mom-to-be and she's left town days before her due date. She didn't make room for anxiety on her journey while walking miles to the little town of Bethlehem or riding on the back of a donkey. She didn't make room for anxiety as she went into labor. She didn't make room for anxiety in the only place in town for her to deliver her baby: a stable. No matter how unstable her situation, Mary refused to set a place for anxiety at her heart's table.

Mary wasn’t anxious. Mary believed God. She took him at his word. 

Luke 1:45 [KJV] for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Mary allowed her life to become a stage where God would present his perfect performance. Mary was determined that her stage would be performance-ready for what the Lord had told her would happen.

Is your stage performance-ready? Decorations need to be pulled from their slumber for decorating to be accomplished. Lists need to be made, items purchased for the baking and cooking to be accomplished. Shopping needs to happen for gift-giving to be accomplished. A clean house needs to be accomplished for guests to be invited over.

All that needs to be accomplished - decorating, list-making, baking, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking, planning - does it make you anxious?

Anxiety and worry are like the cousins no one wants invited to any festive gathering. Why make room for them? There's no room for Jesus when worry and anxiety are allowed in. 

Some wear anxiety and worry like an ugly Christmas sweater - no one really likes them but somehow their presence makes you feel better. You don't have to make room for these uninvited characters. These holiday-bashing, party-crashing, chaos-creating characters called anxiety and worry should be confronted with a sign that says NO ROOM when they show up at your inn.

Mary wasn’t worried, she wasn’t anxious, as she delivered the Savior into the world.  She didn’t panic when she encountered no room in the inn. She wasn’t thrown into some internal chaos when she went into labor on a donkey. She had no room for anxiety and worry in her inn. She delivered the Prince of Peace on her anxiety-free stage. 

Mary made no room in the stable for these two unstable characters because Mary believed God when he said he had a perfect performance to accomplish in her life. 

Has anxiety arrested you? Has worry warped you? Do you believe God can accomplish a perfect performance on your stage? 

God used Mary as his stage to deliver the Prince of Peace so that you don’t need to be anxious or worried about anything this Christmas.

Make room for Jesus in your heart and see what performance God will do on your life's stage. 

 

 

When was the last time you were awestruck at redemption? 

I am in awe of God's amazing grace that redeems lives. Jesus captures a heart, connects to a heart, and changes a heart. Because of redemption. The Redeemer also re-captures and re-connects hearts back to their Savior. 

Jesus captured my heart at a Methodist church. As a young girl I remember people standing to testify about redemption. Testimonies of how Jesus re-captured their hearts. Stories of how He redeemed their lives and re-connceted hearts back to Him. These people were doing as Psalm 107:2 says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..."

When was the last time you said so? When was the last time you testified to redemption? When was the last time you witnessed redemption at work? 

I am so grateful for the foundation that was laid for me as a child. People not embarrassed to say so, said so. They stood in that church and proclaimed of their re-captured and re-connected lives through redemption.

Redemption - capturing, connecting, changing - happened at the altar of that Methodist church. Lives were altered at the altar. Hearts were redeemed - captured and changed - at the altar.

Every Sunday night people were challenged to bring their lost, broken, hurting, confused, angry, messed-up lives to the altar so Jesus could redeem them; capture, connect, and change their hearts. For the ones who already knew about Jesus, and His work of redemption, they came to the altar to be re-captured and re-connected to Jesus. They came to be re-altered at the altar. 

Over time, the wooden altar rails needed re-finishing. As people knelt at the wooden altar rails, as Jesus redeemed and reclaimed their hearts, the wood was receiving the tears and snot of the redeemed. Even the wooden altar rails needed a refinishing so the wood could handle more redeeming work of Jesus.

When was the last time you brought your tears and snot to the altar? What needs to be re-captured, re-connected, re-altered in your life? Kneeling at the altar will bring redemption to your heart and life. Become awestruck at God's work of redemption in your heart and life. And then... 

Let the REDEEMED of the Lord say so.

This morning I woke before the crack of dawn.

I went to bed last night with the goal of waking before the sun rose because I love to watch the sun rise. Especially at the beach. Yesterday I did the same thing. This is not something I do everyday  - just when I'm at the beach.

Kevin and I are on vacation in Gulf Shores, AL with four other couples. The goal of this vacation is to vacate our 'regular' lives and relocate for a week to a place we could rest, relax, and simply enjoy being with our friends. And what does this have to do with cracks? I am so glad you asked.

With my morning coffee and Bible in hand I went to the third deck of the beach house to await the declaration of the day's beginning. Ugh. Clouds. Everywhere. Thick, dark, layered clouds. 

I opened to Psalm 97 and read clouds and thick darkness surround him...the heavens proclaim his righteousness. I love when God's word speaks into my current reality.

I was disappointed that the clouds messed up my morning. After the Holy Spirit revealed God's word to my heart, I grabbed my camera and took a picture of the massive, cloudy eastern sky. These clouds didn't mess up a thing - God had a lesson he didn't want me to miss.

In the cracks of the clouds.

The sun's light was so powerful as it penetrated through those cracks. The light shined through the cracks displaying a beauty I almost missed because I assumed the clouds had messed up my morning. 

I have cracks. My friends I'm on vacation with have cracks. Spaces and places where certain brokenness has caused cracks. As Jesus was rerouting my attitude over the cloudy sky I was pondering the cracks in the ten people sharing the beach house. 

God made sure the sunlight peeked through the cracks in the clouds to display the beauty of a sunrise. Jesus, being the Light of the World, is able to peek through the cracks of humanity as long as he has been placed deep in hearts.

My friends are steeped in the love of Jesus, therefore, his light shines in their deep spaces and places and peeks through their cracks. Yesterday I learned some things about one of these friends in particular. She shared openly about some cracks from her life. Oh, she didn't refer to them as cracks, and until this morning's sunrise I hadn't thought of them as cracks either. 

I was amazed at her strength and resolve through some difficult circumstances that I wasn't even aware she had experienced. She definitely has cracks but like the cloudy sky, she isn't messed up. Jesus shines through her cracks because his light goes to the deep places of her heart. I love how Jesus shined in her and his light oozed out of her as she shared her cracks with me.

2Corinthians 4:6-7 teaches that God made the light of Jesus to shine in our hearts. The writer went on to use an analogy that Jesus in a heart is like a treasure in a clay pot. 

Jesus is the Light of the World shining in our hearts. Because humanity is broken, we are like clay pots that have cracks in them. Where's your focus? On the messy brokenness? Or on the Light that is waiting to shine through your broken messes, the cracks in your clay? 

I am grateful I woke before the crack of dawn to see the sun shine through the cracks in the clouds.