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.