In His Hands

Two days ago I had my initial pregnancy consultation with my doctor's PA. After discussing my past and current pregnancy situations with her, I was told that I am considered a "high risk pregnancy". Having had pre-eclampsia with my last baby, having previous miscarriages, having bleeding with this pregnancy, and falling into the "advanced maternal age" (over 35) category labels this pregnancy as high risk. As much as it can seem at times that the cards are stacked against this little one, I need to daily remember that God is the One who is ultimately in control. All of the risk factors I face are nothing in comparison to the Lord's great power and wisdom. He alone holds this baby and its future in His strong and capable hands. And He holds me there as well. Neither the past nor the present are greater than my God. The future is His and each day is in His hands. He is able to sustain me and this little life that is growing within me, no matter what "risks" may be present. Because His ways are always good and wise and right, I can trust Him to do what's best: for me, for my family, for this baby. Always.

A Cushion of Grace

I recently listened to someone reflect on God's undeserved grace in their life and how they had fallen on God's "cushion of grace". The idea of God's grace as a cushion that breaks our fall is such a beautiful picture of the sweet grace that we are shown through Jesus. It seems most appropriate to reflect on grace during this Christmas season. After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about? Jesus came to earth to save us from ourselves. 1 John 1:14 says that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Jesus came, filled with grace and truth, to this hurting, broken world, to heal and free and redeem us. It was grace that caught this world when it was falling into eternity separated from God. It was His grace that made salvation and redemption of our lost and sinful souls a wonderful reality. And it is His grace that continues to sustain us and empower us to live new lives in Christ. Truly grace is most amazing! What an incredible gift we've been given in Jesus!

Thoughts regarding the Christmas Story

I just want to share this email that I received this morning...

"For many, this story is so out of place with the dominant Christmas "spirit" in our culture that it is best just to ignore it. But for those of us who believe that this young girl having a baby is also the story of God being born into the world, we cannot afford to ignore it. It means that instead of coming like we might imagine with displays of power and undeniable proofs of his existence, this God sneaks up on us, comes to us where we least expect it. It means that instead of compelling us to believe and obey, God comes to us in such a small way that we can ignore him if we choose. He makes himself vulnerable to us and asks us to follow him. It means that this God is not distant or removed, immune to all of our pain and the mess we are making of his world. It means that God has come very close, close enough to touch, close enough to bewounded by us, right into the very lowest parts of our experience as human beings—pain, rejection, brokenness, death. He is not just a 'God-over-us,' but an Immanuel, a 'God-with-us.'

For those of us who accept this story as true, it must redefine the way we look at the world. When we look at the strange nativity scene with the poor family and their visitors who are outcasts and foreigners, we are given a glimpse of God's perspective. If we are going to recognize God when He shows up, then we have to realize that God comes into the world in such as these. We are going to have to learn to notice those who we might otherwise pass by, whether they are on the street, in our neighborhoods, or in our workplaces. We are going to have to see with different eyes and hear with different ears and love with bigger hearts.

And to those of us who feel that we are the empty, the broken, that our lives are full of shame, to every single one of us, this strange story tells us that weare not left to ourselves. We are loved. We are precious. God would go to such great lengths to be with us. And when he came to rescue us, he came as one of us—vulnerable and breakable, just like we are.

So, let's consider that if this outrageous thing is true—this baby who in one lifetime would be a refugee, a homeless man, an executed prisoner. If God comes to us like this, then maybe we are all wrong about what we think is important. If this story is true, maybe it changes everything."

Rachel Tulloch is a member of the speaking team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Toronto, Canada.

A Christmas Poem

Twinkling lights strung on the tree
Adding to our jubilee
Reflections of our Savior's glory
Revealed within the Christmas story

Hanging bulbs upon the tree
Decorating joyfully
To celebrate Emmanuel
Among us Jesus came to dwell

A brilliant star placed on the tree
Shining bright for all to see
Pointing to the One who came
With hope and healing in His Name

Presents wrapped beneath the tree
Lovely gifts for you and me
Reminders of the Father's love
In sending Jesus from above

Carols sung around the tree
Filling hearts with song and glee
Echoing the angels' praise
Christ was born on Christmas Day

Jennifer A. Parsons (2009)

"Sweet Baby Jesus"- (Poem)

This is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago. It seems to fit with the "Saviour" blog I just posted:


"Sweet Baby Jesus"

Sweet Baby Jesus
Precious Gift to Earth
God became flesh
Through Your most humble birth
Deliverer and Savior
Redeemer of all men
You left Your home above
So I can live again

Sweet Baby Jesus
Mighty King of Kings
You are the reason
My broken heart now sings
Restorer and Messiah
I ask You now to free
My soul from sin and darkness
And the pain inside of me

Sweet Baby Jesus
Counselor and Friend
I give to You my heart
To heal and to mend
Hope of all the nations
You've come to make me new
All that I've been seeking
Is found only in You

Jennifer Parsons (2007)

Saviour

I was thinking the other day how this is the 37th Christmas season that I have experienced in my lifetime, and no two of them have been exactly the same. Even with the annual traditions that help to add stability to an otherwise chaotic time of the year, it still seems that each Christmas season tends to bring with it a new and often unpredictable set of surprises. Unexpected joys. Unforeseen sorrows. There are so many things that can come upon us at Christmas.

This particular Christmas season has found me reflecting more than ever on who Jesus came to earth to be...and what that means for me today. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)
We read and hear these verses so often this time of year that it can become easy to just gloss over them. But the significant truths found in these two Scriptures are far too wonderful to even begin to fully grasp!

Praise God! Jesus did come to be our Wonderful Counselor! He is full of Truth and knows what is best for us. He alone knows all things and is perfectly wise. Jesus is sufficient for all that we face!

Praise God! Jesus did come as The Mighty God! He is our strength in every circumstance. He holds supreme power and authority. He is able to keep His promises and meet everyone of our needs.

Praise God! Jesus is The Everlasting Father! He is eternal...everlasting...and without end. As the second Adam, Jesus gives us life as we are born into His family. He is the Head of us all!

Praise God! Jesus did come to be The Prince of Peace! He came to bring rest to our souls and peace between us and God.

Most significantly, Jesus did come to be our Saviour! He came to save mankind from the mess that we've made. He came to rescue us from our madness. To save us from our sin and shortcomings. He came to save us from ourselves!

The comfort of Christmas is knowing that no matter where we find ourselves...no matter what trials we might face...Jesus is here. He's right here with us as our Immanuel..."God with us". (Matthew 1:23) He's here with His counsel and might. He's here loving us forever as an everlasting Father. He's here with His peace. And above all, He's here to save.

"...the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." (1 John 4:14)

Seasons of the Soul

The first snow fall is upon us and although the calendar says it is technically still autumn, it definitely feels like winter. One of the things I love most about Wisconsin is the distinct seasons. There is no mistaking when winter is here. Or spring or summer, or fall. While I have my favorites, each of the seasons bring something unique to our lives and to the world around us.

As I write this, I hear the wind blowing and see swirling snow outside my window. These are definitely not my favorite parts of the season. Braving the cold...slippery roads...these are things I would gladly do without. It reminds me that winter can be such difficult season for some people. Not just because of what occurs outside...frigid temperatures, ice, wind, and snow storms...but because of how those things often resonate with what's taking place on the inside...within a person's soul.

Our souls experience different seasons just as nature around us does. There are times we feel excitement and great expectation as we experience the new life and fresh hope of springtime. Sometimes our souls seem to be living under the warm sun, blue skies and growth of summer and we are filled with joy and sweet pleasure. Still there are other times as we reap the fruits of hard labor and enjoy a harvest of blessings that our souls know peace and contentment...the season of autumn. And then there are the seasons of winter, the times when our souls can feel dark, frozen, barren, or empty. Bitter winds can seem to be swirling inside of us. This season of the soul often sneaks up on us unannounced and almost always lasts longer than we'd like. Days can turn into months, always feeling like winter... but never Christmas. In this season, we can sometimes lose hope of ever seeing the sun again. Isaiah 60:1 speaks such wonderful encouragement to souls who may feel stuck in the season of winter: "ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." -(AMP) The light spoken of here is Jesus. In John 9:5 Jesus referred to Himself as the "Light of the World". Because He has come...as our Saviour, Redeemer, and Deliverer... we do have hope for our souls. No matter what season we may find ourselves in, we know that He is there with us. His light is able to dispel the darkness and the warmth of His love can reach to the deepest places within us to comfort and heal and bring about new life.

So even when winter may feel like it goes on and on without ever being Christmas, we must hold onto the truth that Christmas has come. It came with Jesus coming to the earth to be hope for all people. It comes as we accept God's free gift of salvation. And Christmas remains in our hearts as we carry within us the promise of eternity because of the precious gift of Jesus.

That's a promise and a gift for every season!

"I Need To Be A Pro"

Recently my four year old discovered that she could attain "pro" staus on Nintendo wii bowling. To say that she was proud of herself is an understatement. I suppose the fact that the rest of us made a huge deal out of it added to her sense of triumph. Today she came to me crying, with a look of despair on her face, saying that she was no longer a "pro". She frantically played the game, desperate to regain her status, only to grow more discouraged in her lowered position. As she continued to cry, she kept saying, "I need to be a pro". My heart broke as I realized how much importance my precious little girl, barely more than a baby, was placing on this arbitrary title and accomplishment that she felt she needed to achieve.

It got me thinking, though. Isn't that just like so many of us? I know I am like that! One day I can feel significant or successful, based solely on the title given to me that day because of how I performed. The next day, however, I can "lose" my status or sense of worth and feel inferior and lacking. So I strive and strive to do better...to do more...to be more. And a perfectionist is born. The titles and feelings I experience are constantly shifting when I let my own efforts and abilities (or lack of) determine who I am and what I'm worth. The truth is, who I am and what I'm worth doesn't change in God's eyes. No matter what I do or don't do...no matter how well I get it all together or how badly I fall on my face...He loves me, accepts me, and cherishes me. Nothing I do can lessen or increase that love and acceptance. Not my striving. Not my success. Not my failure. And the same is true for my daughter. Whether she is a "pro"or not, it doesn't matter. The reality is she is precious and worthy simply because she is God's child. A daughter of the king! And there is no greater status to enjoy.

A Bible That's Falling Apart...

I hate it when a good book ends. Yesterday I finished reading "Sisterchicks in Gondolas" by Robin Jones Gunn and I regretted turning the last page. Although fiction, it had been a heart-gripping book for me. I even made a list of quotes from the book that struck me so intently so I wouldn't forget them. Ideas about shame and grace and freedom. I shared one of those thoughts in my blog about shame. I'd like to share another one today: "A Bible that's falling apart ususally belongs to a person whose life isn't." I'm reminded of the first Bible I owned after I became a Christian at the age of fourteen. I read it over and over, underlining passages and memorizing Scripture from it until the binding literally fell apart. Fast forward twenty-plus years to the present. I no longer own just one Bible that I read from on a daily basis, but now I own several Bibles in different translations and sizes. I have Bibles I mark in, and others I don't. Some are used for study purposes, others simply for reading. I've got favorites for memorizing verses. Favorites for toting along to Bible studies. And depending on what my "flavor of the day" is, I have at least a half dozen translations to choose from for general reading. Have I complicated the process of reading God's Word? At the very least, with the inconsistency in which Bible I use, I most likely won't see another Bible fall apart any time soon!
I guess the real issue isn't how many Bibles I own or use, but whether or not I am in God's Word consistently. Am I reaching for it as I reach for food when my physical body is hungry? My spirit needs to be fed the Word just as my body needs to be fed food. Am I daily reading it, listening to it, meditating on it, and digesting it? My spirit will shrivel up and die if I go too long without God's sustaining Word. Of course it would make sense that a Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to a person who whose life isn't. No other book can impart the hope, healing, guidance and grace needed to keep a life together. My prayer is that God would help me to always be faithful to His Word. May He help me to daily desire above all else that which I need the most...His holy, empowering, encouraging, guiding, cleansing, healing, live-giving Word.

Perspective

This morning I awoke to a terrible smell. The smell of smoke lingers throughout our home today as a result of a frightening oven incident that occured last night. What started out as a simple, "Let's have frozen pizzas for dinner" ended in an oven that somehow went into the self-cleaning function mode, resulting in a house filled with smoke and fire trucks at our home. Lots of drama over pizza! Although it was upsetting and costly, we are grateful that nobody was hurt. It could have been so much worse...
I saw a sign this week that says "The closer we are to God, the smaller everything else appears." That's persepctive. Perspective is what allows us to look at something like a house full of smoke and still be thankful. This morning when I got up and was greeted by an offensive smell, instead of allowing it to start my day off with a crabby attitude, perspective allows me to see it as a reminder that I have a lot to be thankful for. My family is safe. My home is still intact. And when I keep my eys on Jesus and follow close to Him, the things that can seems so big and overwhelming seem a whole lot smaller. I guess sometimes I need reminders...even stinky, dramatic reminders like ovens billowing clouds of yellow smoke...to remind me of this truth.

Casting Crowns- "Always Enough"

I listened to this song as I was driving my kids to school this morning and I thought what a perfectly beautiful follow-up this makes to my post from last night about Jesus being enough. What a wonderful song...

"You're Enough"

Yesterday as I was organizing a binder filled with things I have written, I came across a poem that I wrote a year and a half ago. It was a poem among many from the last year or so still waiting to be filed away, but the title of this particular one caught my eye: "You're Enough". In the last couple of weeks, circumstances both around and within me have brought me to a place of needing to be reminded of the truth that no matter what I am facing, Jesus is enough. His love is enough. His grace is enough. HE is enough. It was true over a year ago when I wrote the poem. It's true today. And it will always be true because He never changes! How thankful I am that God so graciously reminds me of His faithfulness to be all that I need!

"You're Enough"

You're enough when I am hurting
Enough when I'm afraid
You're enough when I'm regretting
Choices that I've made
In every situation
No matter what life brings
Jesus, You're enough in everything

You're enough when I am lonely
Enough when I am weak
You're enough when I'm not able
To find all that I seek
Today and each tomorrow
In the days still yet to be
Jesus, You're enough for all of me

You're enough when I am empty
Enough when I'm alone
You're enough when I'm discouraged
By the troubles that I've known
Every step of this journey
Wherever You may lead
Jesus, You're enough for what I need

J.A.P. (2008)

Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

This has got to be one of the most beautiful songs ever! I can't get enough of it!

"The Most Beautiful Place To Be"

For the last month or so I've been so blessed to be a part of a Bible study with a great group of ladies. We've been going through the wonderful book "Seeking Him" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. The heart of the study is about personal revival. This poem came about as a result of the last couple of weeks' studies. Such powerful stuff. Broken before Jesus truly is a beautiful place to be.


"The Most Beautiful Place To Be"

At the feet of Jesus a woman wept
Washing His feet with her tears
Broken before Him, she kissed Him and knew
She had no reason to fear
Though she was a sinner, in Jesus' great love
Her soul had been set free
Broken before Him
Down on her knees
The most beautiful place to be

At the foot of the cross a woman wept
As Jesus suffered and bled
The body of Christ, broken and torn
Her precious Savior now dead
Though she was a sinner, in Jesus' great love
Her soul had been set free
Broken before Him
Down on her knees
The most beautiful place to be

At the foot of my bed, I wept tears of grief
Repenting of all my sin
Humbled and broken by mercy and grace
Changed by His cleansing within
Though I am a sinner, in Jesus' great love
My soul has been set free
Broken before Him
Down on my knees
The most beautiful place to be

J.A.P. (2009)

Shame Off You

I've been reading the "SISTERCHICKS" series by Robin Jones Gunn. The thing I love the most about good Christian fiction is how God's truth is weaved throughout the story line. Sometimes I believe God uses fiction to speak into my life just as much as He uses profound writings by scholarly authors of non-fiction. It happened just this past week...

All of us have heard...and probably have had someone say to us at one point or another... the words, "Shame on you". It's a phrase that parents frequently use when scolding their children and perhaps it's not given a whole lot of thought to. In the story I was reading, two friends were sharing parts of their life journeys with one another. Sensing that one of the friends was carrying a heavy weight of shame, the other friend turned to her and said, "Shame off you." Shame off you! I was completely struck in a way I have never experienced when I read those three words. Never in my life have I heard that statement. What beautiful, liberating words! For those of us...(because of abuse, childhood hurts, our sin and the sin of others, etc)... who have been shame magnets and know what it's like to live with a heavy load of shame, words such as these are life giving! To be able to speak freedom from bondage into somebody's life. That's powerful! God's Word Says in Isaiah 54:4 , "Do not be afriad; you will not suffer shame; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth...". Romans 10:11 says that, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Shame off you. Shame off me. Jesus took our shame upon Himself when He was on the cross so we wouldn't have to bear it. Not then. Not now. Not ever. What a beautiful Savior.

I Want to Be the Moon

As I was driving my kids to school this morning I passed a church with a sign that read: "Love, Beauty; it is the shadow of God on the universe." It reminded me of a T-shirt that I saw in a catalog earlier this week that really inspired me: The front of the shirt read: Be the Moon. On the back of the shirt were the words: Reflect the Son. I love that! Both the quote on the sign and the words on the T-shirt speak a wonderful truth: God is amazingly glorious, and we were made to reflect His glory (2 Cor. 3:18).

The author of the quote on that church sign declared in a poetic sense what Scripture has proclaimed to be true for thousands of years: God's glory overflows from the very essence of who He is, filling both the heavens and the earth. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands"(Psalm 19:1). In Isaiah 6:3 we read: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." Truly His glory is everywhere. In creation. In us as we operate as the body of Christ. In love lived out in relationships. In service. In sacrifice. In forgiveness and compassion and humility. I know that God doesn't require my assistance in displaying His glory, just as He isn't dependent on me to bring Him praise. But even though He can cause the rocks to cry out in praise to Him (Luke 19:40) if His people don't worship Him, and He has put His glory in all of creation to testify to His power and divine nature (Romans 1:20), it is His desire and plan that His people would be the most brilliant reflection of His glory! That is why we are here. I want to be a part of such an amazing and priviledged purpose. I want to reflect my Creator's glory to those around me. I want to be like the moon. That's my prayer...that I might reflect the Son more clearly along this journey.

Lyrics to "Your Hands"

"Your Hands"- J. J. Heller

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands

"Your Hands"- J.J. Heller

A Prayer/Poem of Many "R's"

For what seems like a very long time a recurrent prayer of mine has been that God would "redeem, renew, and restore" areas in my life that I desperately need His touch in. As I've prayed this over the months, I found my requests expanding to include other areas of need such as repair, release, revival, etc. until one day I realized that my prayers were beginning to sound like an English lesson in alliteration! :) This past week I decided to put it down in poem form:

Revive my weary spirit
Renew my troubled mind
Read my hidden thoughts
Reveal each one You find

Rescue me from darkness
Release me from these chains
Rid me of all pretense
Remove my guilt and stains

Replace my tears with laughter
Repair each broken part
Resurrect my dreams
Redeem my wounded heart

Remake me in Your image
Redirect my feet
Realign my will with Yours
Restore Your peace so sweet

Recognize my weakness
Reach down from above
Reign in me with power
Refresh me in Your love

Record my name in Heaven
Remember not my sin
Respond to me with mercy
Raise me up again

Recover what's been taken
Right my every wrong
Relieve me of my burden
Receive my praise and song

Reassure my spirit
Remind me of Your ways
Repeat to me Your promises
Remain by me all my days

(J.A.P.)

A Care Bear Object Lesson

I never cease to be amazed at what God will use to remind me of what I need to know. The last thing I expected was to get up this morning to receive a lesson in humility by a three foot Care Bear. Actually, my four year old daughter dressed up in her "Harmony Bear" costume was really just being used as an object lesson and the Holy Spirit, of course, was the teacher.

As I was running around the house trying to get my kids out the door on time for school, my "Harmony Bear", all ready for her preschool Harvest costume party, decided to have a minor melt-down. From across the house I could hear her scream and wail. That usually meas that another child is somehow involved. Looking at my oldest son I asked, "How can anyone dressed as Harmony Bear sound like THAT? Isn't Harmony Bear supposed to be a peacemaker? Maybe ALL of us need to put on Care Bear costumes and see if it gets us more peace around here!" to which my son was quick to reply, "It won't help, Mom..."

It wasn't until we were driving to school a little while later that the Holy Spirit faithfully reminded me of what we had studied in Bible study on Tuesday. Of course putting on a Harmony Bear costume won't transform us into peacemakers, but God's Word tells us that there IS something that we are to clothe ourselves with in order to better love our sisters and brothers in Christ. Colossians 3:12 says that we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. I was reminded of the challenge given to us in Bible study not to leave the bedroom each morning without being clothed in humility. Perhaps if I can first learn to consistently apply that practice to my own life I can then help my children apply it to theirs. And hopefully that will mean fewer unexpected early-morning object lessons using purple bears. It sounds like a "beary" good plan to me.

Chris Rice- "Come to Jesus"

Among the Thirsty- "I'd Need A Savior"

Natalie Grant- "Held"

My All In All (A Poem)

My spirit is desperately in need of being stilled and quieted by the Lord tonight. So many things weigh upon my soul. I am reminded after a long and trying day that only God is able to meet these needs deep inside of me. Only He is able to speak peace to the storms that rage inside. Oh, how I long for Him to do just that tonight...

When the clouds roll in
And darkness falls around me
I will call to You
To keep me safe from harm
You're my hiding place
My shelter and strong-tower
I will run into
Your ever-loving arms

When I've lost my way
And can't see the path before me
I will trust in You
To guide me by Your light
You direct my steps
And walk here right beside me
I am in Your care
You keep me in Your sight

When I'm weak and tired
And my strenght has almost failed me
I will rest in You
As You surround me with Your love
You're my hope and joy
My healer and sustainer
You fill my soul
With comfort from above

When I'm all alone
With nothing to hold on to
I will cling to You
You never let me fall
When I'm at the end
Your faithfulness with find me
And through all my days
You'll be my all in all

Jennifer A. Parsons

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my blog! I am a traveler on the path to know ultimate life and Truth in Jesus Christ...the kind of truth that sets a person free (John 8:32)! Sometimes the journey is joyful and leads to unexpected treasure. Other times it is perilous and wearisome. I invite you to join me as I reflect on the places that God has taken me so far and process the steps of this journey still around the bend. I am encouraged that even when I fall along the way, my God is there to pick me back up and lead me on to my final destination. It is my greatest desire that through each step and stumble He would daily make me to be a little more like Himself...transforming me into His image...from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18)!