Author: Wick

We’ve heard that phrase from our 2 year old, probably about 20 times a day. Whenever something goes wrong, or someone gets hurt, or she falls down – we hear “that’s okay!”  (for incredibly cute video evidence, click here)  So I should have known this morning, when my plans for them fell apart, she’d be the first to reassure me.

I had today off, so we decided last minute, as we danced to Christmas music in the living room in our PJ’s – today would be a great day to visit our local Children’s Museum! It didn’t take long for all 3 girls to be ready, even with socks and shoes on (a big deal in our barefoot-lovin’ house). We head out the door, and drove across town, talking about our favorite parts of the museum.

We got all 3 girls out of the minivan, across the bare parking lot, and to the front door before daddy read the sign – “Monday – Closed”. Cue the depressed music. But I wasn’t giving up without a fight. There was a donut shop on that side of town that I’d never been to, and figured the girls would love checking out with me. So off we went, with promises of fresh baked donut-goodness in our minds. We found a parking spot very close in the tiny strip-mall, and were crushed a second time when we saw all the lights off, and the “OPEN” sign as dark as a cloudy winters eve.

“I’m sorry girls, it just doesn’t seem like things are working out for us today.” I said, as we loaded back into the minivan. The older two had just climbed in, and I was lifting our 2-year old into her seat, when she smiled at me. She must have sensed my disappointment, and immediately said “It’s okay daddy!”. Her sisters chimed in with the same, and our 5 year old said “Daddy, how about you surprise us with something new. And DON’T tell us until we are there, okay?”

The morning was redeemed with some great family time, stopping by the new thrift store and “shopping” (spending a whole $6, and getting shirts, dancing outfits, moving/talking ponies and more!), off to the bakery for a 75 cent cookie, and to Kroger together for some lunchmeat to take home! What a great trip together!

Sometimes God reassures us in unexpected ways. Sometimes it’s a giant, trumpet-blasting event, like the coming Christ-child. But other times, it’s the whisper and smile of a 2 year old in her puffy winter coat saying “it’s okay, daddy”…

Dust.
Dry ground. The absence of sound.
Heat all around, and thirst of those desperate to drown.

The seed was cracking and parched.  But onward God’s covenant marched.
The faithfulness was His, in the midst of a people content with what is.

He poured forth discontent. Like a tidal wave that was sent,
That was meant to prepare where He went.

Drenching that which was dry, all of creation letting out a collective “sigh”
Relief and rescue was coming, and the voice of Jerusalem lifted high.

From “what is”, to “what will”, God was moving, IS moving still.
The world may seek to break and destroy, but they cannot kill.

And so this morning, we the sheep remember our Shepherd above
We are thankful and quenched by the gift of His love.

Isaiah 40:3-11

“A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

A voice says, ‘Cry out!’
And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand for ever.
Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
‘Here is your God!’
See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.”

“..And there were so many fewer questions when stars were still just the holes to heaven.”

Jack Johnson is pretty good at expressing a common sentiment among parents, and even adults. Thinking of this statement biblically, it seems life was easier when all we thought about was “Asking Jesus into my heart.”. “Seems” being a key word here. Imagine all the richness of our faith, and experiences of God’s New Life we would miss out on, if we’d simply left it at praying a prayer when we were 5.

And yet, there is some truth here as well. In the past 10 years, my faith has changed and deepened. I’ve been freed from many of the dispensationalist, and Zionist elements I never realized had influenced my faith, and been given a new Hope for all the Christ is doing – both now and for eternity. I no longer believe we’ll be “raptured” to a distant city where we float on golden streets; but that scriptures point to a “New Creation”, and coming together of both Heaven and Earth in a physical existence like never before. This earth, and what we’re doing in it, will not simply be “thrown away”, but are intimately connected to what God is bringing about.

Even my wife has said it, “How can so many people ‘interpret’ the Bible in so many ways? Why can’t it just be simple?” Amen. Unfortunately, because of the fallen nature of humanity, there will always be men and women who bend God’s word to say what they would like it to say. Even in my excitement over what I believe to be coming, I am at the same risk.

Now, more than ever, we need a reminder of what God says about what He is up to. Deuteronomy 30:11-14 says,

“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.“

The Truth of what God is doing is accessible, and already a part of who we are. We can search the scriptures as a family, and with our children, and trust that we are receiving Him. Christianity is not a gnostic treasure hunt. It is Love coming, fully and forever…

ps. “X” is the Greek letter “chi”, which traditionally stands for “Christ”, allowing the title of this post and words like “X-mas”. Also, for more on a renewed understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ, check out “Simply Christian” by NT Wright.