Righteousness

I am fed. I am full. I am stuffed full and fed. I am right. I can see no wrong. I am strong. I am winning. I fight to justify myself. Every view point I hold is the best. And not just for me. I get others to agree with me and convince them to see things my way. My ego is increased. There is more of me. My voice is loud. My arrogance prevents me from listening and when I try I cannot hear. I am a leech. I suck life out of all who hear me shouting from high on my hill. I care for no one who stands in my way. My name be known. My name be greater. I am better. I know what is best. Not just for me. I am self-righteousness.

I am hungry. I am empty. I am desperate, hungry and empty. I am wrong. I can see it. I feel weak. I am losing. I am tired of fighting to justify myself. Every view point I held was skewed just for me. I need something to fill me. My ego is decreasing. There is less of me. My voice is quieted. I am humbled and listen and when I listen I can hear. I am naked. I am a sinner and I have been rescued from high on a hill. He cared for me, a no one, and stood in my place. His name be known. His name be greater. He is better. He knows what is best. Not just for me. He is righteousness.

I am fed. I am full. I am satisfied, full and fed. I am made right. I have repented my wrong. In my weakness He is strong. He has won. I am justified. His view point is perfect. And not just for me. It is finished. I find no reason to convince others to see things my way. I would rather they see His way. My ego is broken and laid at His feet. My voice is a song of praise to Him. His holiness allows me to see my sin and hear the temptations and the lies. I am covered. My sin put to death high on that hill. I care for others because I am not better. My name was unknown. I was not greater. His way is better. I am forgiven. I am made new. I am justified. Not just for me. He is my righteousness.

He is Jesus. He is not just for me.

The Christmas My Eyes Were Opened

Growing up I would have said that my most memorable Christmas and holiday traditions were full of Christmas music, presents, being forced to sit on Santa’s lap, awkward family photos, and of course the ever popular "cram into the family car and try to find the house that had created the most obnoxious light display." This gradually changed as I got older and learned about the birth of Jesus. I would try to get my Christmas shopping done early so that I could focus on its true meaning, and yet come Christmas morning, it still felt like materialism had seized the day and that all Jesus is and had done was still somehow overlooked.

 

Four years ago, that all changed for my family.We found ourselves in the middle of high end Suburbia, surrounded by the American Dream, unemployed and about to lose everything. Would the unemployment check come in time? Would we be living a true Suburban life in the back of our Chevy Suburban? Living in one of the most expensive places on earth, where most people around us had everything the moment they needed it, and us with four kids unsure of how we would pay our bills, God did something amazing. He didn’t give us a money tree in our backyard. He didn’t give Jeremy a job right away. He didn’t send an angel in the middle of the night to put presents under our tree or rain manna from heaven to feed our growing kids. But He did provide all we needed, and He gave us something that was worth more than all those things combined. He allowed us to slow down and truly see people. To receive more of Him and participate in what He was already doing in a way we would not have been able to if we were caught up in the materialism and chaos that Christmas so often becomes.

 

In the middle of feeling we had nothing to give, God opened our eyes. When my sister’s Denali had to go to the shop we were able to let her borrow our old Dodge Caravan since we only needed one car. We were able to go to a cold weather shelter and feed, serve and relate to people there in a new way. He awakened us to how we regularly chose busyness over people, entitlement over humility, selfishness over generosity, Bible studies over Biblical living, significance over sacrifice, the American Dream over contentment. When face to face with the reality that we could lose all that we had, we found true contentment. We realized that no one could take away the one thing that mattered more than anything. Jesus came to Earth, suffering in a greater way than we will ever have to endure, all because He loves us. All that the world has to offer can be lost in the blink of an eye, but the love our Savior poured out for us on the cross is endless.

 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. When you are out shopping this Christmas remember we are celebrating Emmanuel. We have the opportunity every day He gives us breath to love the world around us and show them Emmanuel. God is with us. No material thing is worth being too busy for people. No gift is better than the gift of Love that was given to us. Slow down, let Him show you the needs all around you and enjoy giving. You won't believe all you will receive.

 

More of Him.