The Astounding Honour of being Chosen

Some thoughts from a Christmas message I gave...

God takes hold of us – he redeems our lives – he reveals himself to us – he moves us from the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of his dear son…. He CHOOSES us to be his friends, to hear his secrets, to bear his life and produce his fruit.

We have really been robbed by this feeble phrase we keep using about our conversion - ‘I made a commitment!’ We are a chosen people, set apart for his goodness and glory. CHOSEN and cherished and appointed and set apart for his glory.

I love all the cameos of people in the Christmas story. There’s the young woman Mary and her solid reliable man Joseph. There’s the grey haired, pregnant Elizabeth and her bumbling husband Zechariah. There’s the old man Simeon, eager with hope, ‘Now I can die in peace. My eyes have seen your salvation.’
And the faithful, fasting, old Anna, dancing with joy over seeing the Messiah – unable to contain herself.

When Mary was told she was chosen to bear this most holy child, the long awaited Messiah - her only words were “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me as you have said. “ No drama, no questions…only humility, awe, a deep sense of honour.

And she hurries to see Elizabeth – and Elizabeth is given the awareness that Mary carries the Messiah - the Spirit overflows in her with a joyful cry – “You are blessed above all other women. And what an honour that you should visit me! You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Can you hear the awe and amazement in her – and see the insight she has? Insight comes as we humble ourselves toward God’s amazing choices and plans. When we place ourselves UNDER his word, we are in a position to get understanding, and see more of what it means.

And Mary has an overflow of joy and exultation:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour …” She is awed at being chosen. Astonished at what God is doing. She describes his mercy and his might, ‘He scatters the proud – he exalts the lowly – he satisfies the hungry.’ Her focus is on HIM. This is what happens when we know we are chosen.

And she bears fruit that lasts – not just the child she bore – but the words she sang. People have praised God with her words for 2,000 years and will until the end of time. The life of John the Baptist, that Elizabeth had the honour to bear, has changed lives all through the last 2 milleniums… and will keep doing it. This is what happens when we say ‘Let it be to me as you have said.’

And there’s our special word woven all through this story… ‘chosen’…chosen to bear the Messiah, chosen to carry the forerunner John – chosen to ‘pray in’ the hope of Israel – chosen to seek outJesus said: “You have not chosen me … throw that idea out - but I have chosen you…”
Does this astonish you – are you humbled and awed by this? Does your heart overflow in worship and praise and proclamation about the greatness of God as a result? I have chosen you… what for?

We are chosen to hear his voice - as a friend hears the confidences of one who trusts them. ‘You are my friends, not my servants, because I have confided in you everything the Father has told me.’
We are chosen to hear the secrets of the Father. He wants to share his heart with us – he wants to share his longings for those you love – for your neighbours and workmates – for a world that will see him one day. WHAT AN HONOUR… are we listening with an open heart?

We are chosen to reveal his goodness. “Let your light shine so that everyone will see your good works and say ‘Wow, isn’t God good!” Our lifestyle – our choices are intended to make people astonished at God. We are chosen to be his representatives through the kind of life we lead.

Do you struggle with feeling you not good enough? Every time we say “I’m not good enough’ we deny the work of the cross. It is a quite offensive to God to keep looking at our own level of righteousness. He only looks at Jesus – so should we. ‘Is he righteous enough?’ is God’s question. Yes – then so are you. God says “I’ve got it covered.” He has included us in Christ, immersed us in Christ - so there is never any question again of our righteousness.

Do you say ‘But I can’t do these things?”
Every time we say “I can’t do this…’ we deny the ability of the Spirit to work in us - and we say the promises of God are not true.

Why do we do this? Why do we evaluate our performance in an unscriptural way all the time? It is because we don’t know how gloriously, astoundingly saved we are. I heard a speaker say recently - ‘We need to know how saved we are.’ What we are saved from, and what saved for. We need eyes to see that we are chosen, and appointed, and fully provided for.
1 Peter 1:3 “I have given you everything you need for life and godliness.” He has redeemed us out of the hand of our enemy - and has chosen us for a mission – an adventure with him – and all we need to accomplish that mission has already been made available.
What did Mary say to the astounding announcement she received, ‘Let it be as you have said.’ Let what you have said come to pass. That’s faith. Do we say that? ‘ I am chosen – how amazing, what an honour!
I am appointed to bear fruit that lasts. Let it be! Let it be!’ It is the agreement of our whole being with the wonderful purposes of God. Chosen – picked out from the crowd – and appointed – given a role and an assignment – that will bear eternal fruit.

Do you know what that appointment is? What is it that God has shaped you for in this life? You have talents, skills, gifts, longings, dreams. You were crafted by him – his work of art – for good things that will reverberate into eternity – EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE BORN. (See Ephes.2:10)

This appointment/assignment from God is not determined by a role you might have – or the place you serve. It is about what you impart into this world – into others. Hope, encouragement, wisdom, resources, bringing order, bringing clarity, comforting and healing…The assignment stands – even if our roles and responsibilities and relationships all change. Find it – and you will find fulfillment wherever life takes you.

Christmas Contrasts

Such strange contrasts this year...
Heaps of snow in the UK and Europe - tropical heat here in NZ with 95% humidity!
Bumped into a friend in the mall and she spontaneously said, "I hate all this!" - meaning the shopping, the glitz, the commercialism. "It has nothing to do with the real thing," she said. So we had a conversation about what to do with this peculiar thing called Christmas.

I am currently preparing for the Christmas Day Service - my angle is all the surprises that hit the different characters in the story... and the surprise to us all that God cares so much that he sent Jesus. Does it surprise us? The lavish grace, the extreme lengths of his love...? It is so easy for us to yawn our way through the story and not be impacted. I heard a minister at the local meeting say, "What can we say that we have not said before..." Mmmm... This is why I ask the Lord each year to see something fresh in this story. And he does not fail to reveal something to get excited or moved about.

I was surpised (gobsmacked) to go to a little house party and see this woman's home festooned with about 100 Santas, many of whom sang or danced... and numerous angels and lights and cutsy toys with Christmas clothes... the whole place was packed with it all - everyone had their mouths hanging open... She should charge for a visit! There were three nativity scenes too (one quite big and beautiful) and also a Santa cover and floor mat for the toilet!!! It was truly bizzare! I came home 'Santa'd out' and feeling very sad actually.

Then in contrast - the wonderful 'Random Acts of Culture' U Tube clip of the Messiah Hallelujah Chorus being sung in a big shopping mall. It made us weep with the joy of declaring who Jesus is in the midst of hedonism and commercialism. So, so wonderful.
Talk about contrast!

When we first settled back in NZ after 16 years in Africa, we found Christmas hard to do here. It was end of a long year... we were all tired and looking forward to a long hot summer holiday - and Christmas seemed to start end of October in the shops... and it seemed hard to make it meaningful. So we decided on 3 important things to include:
1. Find a time/way for meaningful worship - which was sometimes going to a lovely choral concert like the Messiah - and sometimes doing an evening at home of reflection and readings just to focus and worship.
2. Give to the needy in some way - we have done dinners on Christmas day for the lonely, given surprise gifts of money and food to needy families we know etc.
3. Tell the real story somehow. For some years we put on a Carol Festival with the story and carols and a brief message (not a concert - or a formal 9 lessons..)- we have also visited neighbours with carols and a blessing prayer - and had a local carol evening and told the story. It seems a shame not to use this time of year to proclaim the good news.

Again this year we have aimed at these three things. The rest we can do or not do. If family are around we get together - if not we share with good friends (our chosen 'family').

Then I got a newsletter from Michelle Perry, a remarkable woman working in Sudan - read her Christmas update here and marvel with us. Please note, she has only one leg! and God uses her so powerfully. http://theunpavedroad.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/christmas2010.pdf Here is a snippet -

Jesus was born in a filthy stable to an unwed teenage mother in the back corner of an oppressed occupied land, spent His earliest years as a political refugee, grew up learning simple carpentry from his earthly father, spent His time among the forgotten and rejected and called a rag tag group of ruffians to turn the world upside down with love. He loves to use the very things we least expect and show up in places we would run from. What, beautiful Jesus, do you have planned for this storm‐tossed patch of earth and its peoples?
So Jesus, You said to ask of You (Ps 2:8). Here I am. For Christmas this year, I would like a nation. Sudan. All of it. Every tribe and language and dusty forgotten corner, every war‐torn bit of outback, each of the 3 million orphans longing for a home: I want them all. I want Your glory to cover this nation as waters the sea, to see a tidal wave of love sweep through our midst.

All I want for Christmas is.....? What? What is worthy of his love - his sacrifice?

The unsatisfying symbol

After taking communion this morning at church, I thought 'Why would Jesus have instituted a symbol or ritual that could become empty and meaningless?' We take communion every Sunday - and I am not sure I want it that way. It seems hard to make it 'meaningful' each time. Many looked very disengaged. And I always wonder if it keeps us too plugged into his death for us - and not launching into his life and Kingdom and eternity... and all those other great things. Hmmm...

And tonight - again in the wee small hours (which is often when my head connects with my barely conscious musings and allows them to surface)... after a visit to friends and a lovely meal and precious conversation...we were given a luscious, very heavy Christmas cake to take home, dense with fruit soaked for two weeks she said, and the top smothered in all manner of dried fruits, and almonds... yuuuum! We had a tiny bite each when we got home - and David said, "I would prefer it with custard" because it is so very rich. Feasting, rich food...such is Christmas.

Then I thought again of communion. We take a tiny square of bread, and a thimble sized amount of juice (or a sip of a common cup.) Mmmm is that an inadequate symbol for the rich feasting we are called to enjoy 'at his table'? Would that bread satisfy a real hunger? Would that juice satisfy a real thirst? Does this tiny taste in any way speak of the lavish love and the abundant grace that is there for us. I pictured the broken body - the whole body - not a tiny little bit... and the blood gushing from his side - a river, not a thimbleful! Something doesn't make sense here.

Does our neat and tidy and tiny symbols speak loudly enough to us of the rich feast? My husband decided some while back to take the biggest piece of bread on the plate - because he believes in abundant grace! But here's the worry - are we also just nibbling on HIM, just sipping a drop now and then? Do we really hunger and thirst and say 'I will not let you go until you lavishly bless me?!!!' Have we in our deepest heart a sense of the mighty ocean of love for us that flows from the Father's heart - or the groaning table of grace that we can feast from. Are our images too small - so our expectations are too small?

The Scripture so often uses the word 'ALL'. "All grace for all situations.." "The God of all comfort.." No limits here. No tiny morsels.

What if next time I led communion I talked about this - and used lavish amounts of bread and red juice... ? That would startle us all! But the next time - would we just go back to our tiny portions. Sigh... what to do? Father - your wisdom please?

"Fear not!"

How many times are those words spoken in Scripture. I heard someone once say 365 - one for every day of the year. I haven't counted! But even in the Christmas story they are spoken a number of times.

In the Kingdom of love - the realm where God rules in all his goodness and love - there is no fear. His perfect love has cast out all fear. So is fear the root of sin and disobedience? If we trusted and did not fear, we would have no cause to sin, surely?

Jesus tells us not to fear lack or need. "Seek first the Kingdom of God... and all you need will be given you." Paul assures us in Romans 8 that we do not need to fear condemnation or being unacceptable, or being accused or being separated from the love of God.

I am becoming more and more aware of how love banishes fear. Whenever I find fear rising (about my computer messing up - about people not co-operating on something I consider important - about failing to meet deadlines or find the mental space to write a promised piece...) I speak to my soul about being loved, now, by Abba Father ("He is loving me right now") and I speak to him as my big Daddy who can fix anything even while I sleep! I am more and more aware that I do not have to carry the 'weight' of things. That is his role, not mine. "Cast (throw rapidly) your care on him, for he cares for you." Soooo simple really.

But my heart still needs to learn - in all those little nooks and cranny's - to rest, to trust, to enjoy waiting for his answers. My 'make it happen' personality has to lie down quietly until the anxiety is replaced with restfulness. It feels almost like a game now... "Oh - here it comes again... that anxiety... now just lie down, my heart, and rest again in his love... there - that feels better! All will be well." I see waves rising and falling... and they seem smaller than they used to be. Hallelujah!

"Faithing" or Resting?

I heard a new phrase from a video clip by Denise Jordan (see www.fatherheart.net) where she said she was often "Faithing it" - meaning speaking in faith in order to push through difficult circumstances.
I realised that I do that a lot. When adverse things happen, or threaten, or my feelings go negative, I speak the truth in faith and this 'steadies the ship' and I don't succomb to fear.

But there are other ways to get through the testings. Ways that do not require so much work! Trust/faith is also about resting. Learning that I am, to God my Father, his little child, has enabled me in a new way to rest, take my hands off, lean back into him and know that the 'battle belongs to the Lord' and I can trust him to work it out. So I can simply say 'I can't do this/work this out/fight this battle.. - it is yours Abba. You are my big Daddy. Please do something.' This is so restful, so simple. I do it regularly now. Much less of a sense of self-effort.

As the Dilmar ad says, "Do try it!"

Christmas contemplation

From Bennan Manning (see previous post for p.1)

…The contemplative at Christmas, living one day at a time in a state of preparedness (in fact, homesickness) for the fullness of the Kingdom, listens intently as Paul tells the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

On an icy winter’s night two weeks before Christmas I was at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. All flights had been cancelled due to fog and freezing rain. The airport terminal was in bedlam. Thousands of people were clustered at the ticket counters demanding a projected departure time; others were wrapped in stoic silence. Children were crying, the public address system was blaring and the defeated were bellying up to the bar. I was tense and apprehensive. I had to get to Texas to start a retreat the next day. How could the Gospel be preached in Dallas if the weather wouldn’t shape up in Chicago?

Directly across from the plastic chair in which I was slumped sat a middle aged black woman with a child cradled in her arms. She was laughing. The world was collapsing, thousands were stranded, O’Hare was a shrieking snake pit and she was laughing! Irritated but also intrigued, I said to her,

“Ma’am, every other person here tonight is rattled and miserable. Would you mind telling me why you’re so happy?”

“Sho,” she said. “Christmas is coming and dat baby Jesus – He make me laugh.”

I repeated it to myself , Dat baby Jesus – He make me laugh!

Hmm! Am I getting too serious about life? Have I let my sense of childlike wonder fade? Am I so caught up in preaching, teaching, writing and travelling that I no longer hear the sound of rain on the roof? How long since I stopped making snowballs and flying kites? Am I growing uncomfortable with Jesus telling me to model my life after the birds and the flowers? Am I irritated with people, like this woman, who don’t seem to realise how serious life really is? Has getting serious about life meant becoming sad about life? Is living just another word for endurance?

Years ago I learnt that the name Isaac means laughter. When old Sarah was told she would soon be pregnant, she laughed in disbelief. But God had the last laugh. A son was born to them in their old age, and the mirthless human laugh of despair turned into the Father’s laughter of love. “They named their son ‘Laughter’ for he was a sign of the triumph of God’s levity over man’s gravity,” writes John Shea.

Jesus is God’s final laughter. Laughter is the celebration of incongruity, dissonance, lack of harmony. Nothing could be more incongruous in Hebrew tradition than a virgin having a baby. Christmas is a reminder that we need the laughter of God to prevent us from taking the world too seriously… The Christian law of levity says that whatever falls into the earth will rise again. God’s laughter is his loving act of salvation begun in Bethlehem, and Christian laughter is the echo of God’s joy within us.

Christmas is the awesome mystery of the messianic Son of God in diapers. For the contemplative at Christmas it is “glad tidings of great joy” that fills his heart with the laughter of the Father. I suspect that this is what my friend Carey Landry had in mind when he wrote that reverent and rollicking song, “And the Father Will Dance as on a Day of Joy.”

As Advent draws to a close, go to the Father and ask Him, “Abba, why are you dancing?” See him point to the manger and hear him say, “Christmas is coming and dat baby Jesus – He make me laugh!”

…My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, if you have been struck by the grace of Christmas, if the Lord in his mercy has given you the courage to accept acceptance, if you are convicted that Christmas is the decisive breakthrough of the passionate love of God in Jesus, if you trust that God is faithful to his promises, that he will finish what he began, that amazing grace is at work right now, that you have only checked into the hotel of earth overnight and you are en route to the heavenly Jerusalem, then in the immortal words of John Powell, “Please notify your face!”

On the other hand, if you have not been struck by the grace of Christmas, ask for it and it will be given.

The Contemplative at Christmas

I can’t resist a great quote about Christmas from a book we are reading by Brennan Manning “The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus.” So lovely. It is a call to contemplate – to consider, ponder and wonder.
Chapter 12 ‘The Contemplative at Christmas’
He begins by quoting Paul Tillich
“To be struck by grace does not mean that we are simply making progress in our moral self-control, in our fight against special faults, and in our relationships to others. Moral progress may be the fruit of grace, but it is not grace itself. Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life… Grace strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness… and our lack of direction and composure has become intolerable to us.
Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness and it is as though a voice were saying “You are accepted. You are accepted by that which is greater than you… Do not seek for anything; do not perform anything; do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted.”
If that happens to us we experience grace. After such an experience we may not be better than before, and we may not believe more than before. But everything is transformed.”

…In prayer we discover what we already have. We already have everything, but many of us do not know it and therefore don’t experience it. Everything has been given to us by the Father in Jesus. All we need now is to experience what we already possess. The most precious moments in prayer consist in letting ourselves be loved by the Lord.

…The contemplative at Christmas grows quiet before “the light (that) shines in the darkness” (John 1:5) He stills his soul and becomes tranquil like a child in its mother’s arms. He takes in to himself the mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation and love that are embodied in the Child of Bethlehem. He surrenders to the grace of the Word made flesh. He accepts acceptance.

…Hope remains unruffled by all the legalists…party poopers and prophets of doom who have appeared on the scene since that memorable midnight when Mary spanked her baby and the infant Jesus screamed joy into a hushed and waiting world. In the messianic cry, the Christmas contemplative discerns a sonorous, saving voice:

“Sshh! Be still. All is well. I am here. Do not be afraid. be afraid. The world is no longer in the hands of the Evil One but in the arms of a loving Shepherd. In the end everything will be all right. Nothing can harm you permanently. No suffering is irrevocable, no loss is lasting; no defeat is more than transitory, no disappointment is conclusive. Nothing can ever separate us – not troubles, worries, persecutions, not lack… not attacks or invasions. There is nothing in life or death that will ever come between you and the love of God made visible before your eyes in this manger tonight.”

(more coming...)