It really is hard to believe. Who could have believed the barrage of change we have seen since last Christmas? Sure, we knew it might be a bit crazy with an unknown virus and a U.S. election. But a pandemic? Countries and states shutdown? Protests, violence and destruction? It’s still a bit much to take in. Not to mention, it’s not over. Much of the change we have experienced is here to say, for the foreseeable future anyway. Many of us still can’t to work, go to school, worship, or travel normally. Our lives have been greatly disrupted. The world is truly upside down.
While a lot of us are still reeling from the shock of the torrent of change, some of us are starting to ask the question: What now? What does God want from me now? So, what does God want from us in a world that upside down? Great news! He has an upside down gospel that fits a time exactly like this.
Now, if you’re like me, you may be saying, “Sure. I know that God is hasn’t left me, but what am I supposed to do? I am scared. My children, my relatives, and our acquaintances are scared. We don’t know how to function or move on. We’re not even sure when or if this insecurity of the unknown will ever end. And even if a vaccine is found, and the political climate quiets, how do we even begin to re-enter this ‘post-COVID’ world?”
It really is so easy for us to forget that the savior who has been with us in our mostly predictable lives in the recent past did not live a “mostly comfortable” life or come to save a “mostly comfortable” people. Distraught, empty, and at our wits end? That’s right down his alley.
Just a glimpse of Jesus’ life reminds us of the difficult time Jesus lived in. Who was he? An average member of an oppressed minority group from a nothing town who was placed in a feeding trough at birth. In fact, Philip was asked in John 1:46, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Not only that, but he and his family were refugees, running from a tyrannical ruler who wanted him dead.
And whom did God choose to announce his birth to first? The rich and powerful? The religious leaders in the temple? Not at all. He announced it to Shepherds. Uneducated and of humble position, they heard the news first.
What about his welcome? Well, it might have been a little more prestigious if his announcer hadn’t been his unruly hippy of a cousin wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:1:1-17).
And the list goes on. He broke Sabbath rules, created a cabinet of lowly, uneducated laborers, and associated with religiously unclean characters. Corrupt tax collectors, promiscuous women, cripples, children, and those who had nothing to give; that is who he brought his kingdom to.
As for the religiously upright? He never fit in with them.
Because of his humble status, the upright among his own people were not only disappointed in him, but scorned him as well. How did they react to him? Try these:
“ . . . and when they saw Him, they implored him to leave their region” (Matthew 8:34).
“ . . . Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him” (Mark 6:3).
“And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things” (Luke 4:28).
“ . . . and they got up and drove him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff” (Luke 4:29).
“But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:25).
“He came to his own, and those who were His own did not receive him” (John 1:11).
“And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left” (Luke 23:33).
In upside down times like these, fraught with fear, uncertainty, and even despair, may we truly see Jesus. Not the Jesus we have been fitting into our comfortable, predictable lives, but the savior whose life was always upside down, always the opposite of what those who had it together wanted. He is the King of Kings, but few in his time saw him that way. If anyone knows about uncertain times, it is Jesus. So, as 2020 comes to an end and the uncertainty rages on, may we rejoice in him, the one who triumphed in uncertain times and reminded doubters then and now, “I have said these things to you, that in me you have peace. In the world you WILL have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Nativity Of Jesus – Scene With The Holy Family With Comet At Sunrise
I don’t admit this to many people. It’s a bit embarrassing I guess. I teach English, love literature and writing, yet I have a secret obsession. It’s nothing racy; it’s quite innocent in fact. So, what is this secret? I love, as in LOVE, cheesy romances, especially Hallmark movies. Consequently, one highlight of my holiday season is the yearly arrival of something called The Countdown to Christmas. If you don’t know what this is, it is the showing of Hallmark Christmas moves 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Halloween-at least this year-to New Year’s Day. This means that any time I can find 15 minutes in my day or have insomnia at 2 am, Hallmark is there for me, ready with movies full of idyllic small towns, sweet romantic moments, Christmas spirit, and sickeningly happy endings. What could be better?
Now, if I’m honest, Hallmark Christmas movies have morphed. While they have successfully added more cultural diversity to their lineup, they have, in turn, completely removed the true meaning of Christmas. Sure, the mention has been minimal at best-a Christmas Eve service at most-but now it is nothing more than an inclusion of “Joy to the World” or another genuine Christmas carol in the background.
Lately, I have been truly questioning my love for this tradition. How much of my holiday excitement should come from these Christless flicks? Should I be supporting a tradition that promotes Christmas spirit for the sake of some obscure joy we are supposed to feel for no particular reason or some belief in an imaginary figure we all know doesn’t exist?
Now, don’t get me wrong. I still love these movies and will watch them from time to time. But this disillusionment with my beloved Hallmark Christmas movies-and those like it-has also caused me to evaluate the Christmas movies my kids and I watch. Now, we are fairly diligent about what our kids watch, a task becoming more and more difficult now that my oldest is in high school. Like many Christian parents, we are always looking out for appropriate movies they can watch, holiday movies especially. Just last night, my younger son watched a movie related to a book he read in school last year called A Boy Named Christmas. It is an adorable story about a boy who finds out that his recently decease mother had named him “Christmas” after a holiday celebrated by a magical village of elves she visited as a child. Was there any mention of Christ or his birth? Of course not.
When my children were little, I quickly found that the only mainstream movie that actually acknowledged the true Christmas story was A Charlie Brown Christmas. In all reality The Cat in the Hat, while he may know a lot about other topics, does not know a lot about Christmas at all. Neither do any of the other beloved children’s characters, unless the character is Bob the tomato from Veggie Tales.
My logical side tells me not to worry. “It isn’t any big deal, the secularization of Christmas,” it says. “People really know the true meaning deep down.” But I know the truth. See, I have taught in public school for over 20 years. About 13 years ago, I did a fun analogy lesson with some 9th graders right before Christmas. It included many holiday examples, religious and secular. One question included Christmas is to ________________ as July 4th is to independence. Much to my surprise, they couldn’t figure out the origin of Christmas for several minutes until one boy with a Catholic background finally said, ”It’s a birth”. Now, this scenario may not be the case in every class, but it is a warning to us of the toll that wiping the holiday clean of Christ has taken on society as a whole.
Now, I have to ask myself if my children or I should be watching any movies that deny the true meaning of Christmas. Well, my guess is that we will continue to watch holiday movies from time to time. At the same time, I do have a responsibility as a Christian and parent not to perpetuate this blatant disregard for the true meaning of this foundational holiday.
I’ll admit, I am not exactly a fan of the catch phrase trend which includes “Keep Christ in Christmas” and other such sayings, but I am prayerfully asking myself what my responsibilities are during this sacred time of year. Lord, turn my heart towards you alone during this time of year. Please grant me the wisdom to speak about and value your birth and the gospel instead of promoting a faceless spirit or empty consumerism. May I continually respond as the shepherds did saying, “Let’s go the Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened . . . “ (Luke 2:15).
I see it all the time. Ad after ad advertising blogging as an escape from the chain of the 9 to 5 job. It is amazing to me how many of these ads refer to teaching as the job they wanted to flee. How could they teach when they really didn’t enjoy it? It is hard for me to imagine. Now, I have been writing since I was a young girl. Stacks of journals holding my deepest secrets are proof it is truly a passion of mine, but one thing I have never wanted to escape is teaching. The days spent learning with teenagers is not a hindrance but an inspiration to me, something I sincerely hope to do for the rest of my life, in one capacity or another.
Did I want to be a teacher growing up? No. I wanted to sing, act, and practice medicine but not teach or write for that matter. I did love kids though. I loved babysitting, mentoring, working with kids at my church, and even took an opportunity to work with inner-city youth the summer before I graduated from high school. For no particular reason other than God’s prompting, the second semester of college, I switched my major from pre-med to English education and never looked back.
As an undergrad, I was amazed at my classmates who did not enjoy the teaching portion of our course work. Sure, I felt overwhelmed much of the time, but I found the experience inspiring, even exhilarating. Despite the challenges of student behavior, learning challenges, and devastating home situations, I have never finished a year without an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the opportunity to walk alongside a throng of diverse, beautiful teens. Exhaustion? Yes, I have felt that. But after 21 years, I still step into the classroom with a sense of great anticipation.
I write because I love it. Maya Angelou’s quote that “writers write” holds true. But I don’t write to escape my career. In my case, “teacher’s teach” just as much as “writers write”. My career is a gift from God, the inspiration from which my writing springs forth. These image-bearing individuals have been God’s lens into this beautiful fallen world He is redeeming. Do I want to write more? Yes. But my daily interactions with these unique individuals are the breath in my lungs. To give that up would be to pull the plug on a sea of muse I get to swim in every day.
The result? I write when I finish grading, while my kids are in music lessons, or for an hour before church. And often my job or duties as a wife and mother prevent me from crafting that piece I’ve been ruminating on right away, but that is okay. God knows the plans he has for me, namely that he made me to be a teacher and a writer and will make a way for me to be both in his time, not mine.
I do it all the time. I am simply perusing Facebook to “kill time”, and soon I’m coveting someone else’s family, vacation, job, place of residence, cabin. Whether it’s an idyllic beach vacation or a creative activity with their kids, their online lives seem so much better than mine- less stressful, more fun, more ideal. If I admit it, I’ve always been this way-the coveting type. I envy others’ sense of style, popularity, fun personality, job, or life in general. You’d think I’d have outgrown this ridiculous habit. It’s not like I don’t know that there isn’t a single person who hasn’t been touched by this fallen world. Time and time again, I have idolized a person’s life just to learn of a heart break they’ve endured, usually something much more tragic than I’ve never even come close to experiencing. Broken relationships, wayward children, contentious relationships, debt, discontentment-dysfunction is rampant, even in the lives of those who have the most convincing Facebook photos. Sure, I stop and give thanks when I’m made aware of these realities, but it never takes long for my contentment issues to sneak back in, convincing me that other’s lives are still somehow better, more fulfilling than mine.
Just like my recent growing screen addiction, I excuse away my glaring jealousy. I tell myself it’s not too serious and move on. The problem? It is serious, however; grave, in fact. The green monster directly conflicts with the basic tenets of our faith. In James’ “Taming the Tongue” chapter, he exposes the gravity of simple envy saying, “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (3:14-15). Wow! Despite my efforts to brush it under the rug, this is no light matter.
It shouldn’t surprise me, really. The truth is that when I’m coveting the alleged simplicity of my friend’s stay-at-home mom status or idyllic neighborhood, I’m violating Christ’s command to “love my neighbor”. In 1 Corinthians 13, commonly known as “the love chapter”, Paul describes love. Here he tells us that “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast . . . “and “ . . . rejoices with the truth” (13:4, 6). Well, that is convicting. My small habit of putting others’ lives on a pedestal actually prevents me from loving others as I should. My failure to see the reality of my friends’ and acquaintances’ hardships is a wall barring me from “’bearing’ one another’s burdens” in order to “fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 5:2). Much to my chagrin, this small habit can actually render me paralyzed in my faith, blind and disobedient to my loving Father.
The seriousness of this sin begs the question: If envy is the disease, what is the cure? The answer is glaringly obvious. The easiest way to combat envy is to be thankful. A quick google search tells me that the Bible mentions the word “thanks” 73 times and phrases that mean “give thanks” 114 times. Take for instance 1 Thessalonians which says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you” (5:16-18), “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (1 Corinthians 16:34), or ”Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). The list could go on for miles.
Yes. God’s word gives us a steady barrage of reminders to be thankful scripture wide so that we will acknowledge our need for and dependence on Him. As with any command he gives, whether it addresses gratitude, purity, forgiveness, or numerous other issues, our obedience benefits us infinitely more than we know. As Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), living our lives in alignment with his tenets frees us to live the “abundant” life he promises. One essential tenet is to give thanks-not just when we feel like it, but “in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Imagine the time I could save if I practiced this simple command!
In a fallen world consumed with the need to have the ideal relationship, kids, house, job, vacation home, you name it, contentment is more difficult than ever- and technology’s unrelenting presence does not help. Lord, please make my heart newly thankful in this month of Thanksgiving and beyond. You give so many good gifts. May I always give thanks realizing that “Your steadfast love is better than life” and is cause enough for my “lips to praise you”(Psalms 63:3).
The term “one of those days” doesn’t fit really. It hasn’t fit for 18 months now. In any case, I was more stressed than I’ve ever been, in ways I couldn’t quite identify. Our school district had announced that this school year would be “mask optional” only to reverse the decision 48 hours before opening day. Some people were angry, some happy, but a general feeling of discomfort was pervasive. It was as if we were waiting for the next last minute change to drop. Sure. As teachers, we were ready for whatever came, ready to engage young minds despite the subpar morale, but that didn’t change the fact that this was a much different “first week” of school.
I’ll be honest, “walking by faith” was the last thing on my mind as I tried to chorale my scattered mind into organizing my room and lesson planning, something I was desperately behind on. I recognized the name as it came across my email, but what I read next was the last thing I expected. Within seconds, I was in the middle of a testimony of a former student. She was applying to a Christian college and wanted me to edit her entrance essays, one of which asked her to tell her salvation story. Sure, I knew this student and her family. We were “familiar” and aware of each other’s commitment to the gospel, but as I read this honest account of her doubts and struggles, her desire to rebel against God and the way God had transformed her mind and her family, I was changed. All of a sudden, my heavy head lifted, my weighted heart lightened, and the stress around me melted away.
In a mere moment God used this common request to edit a college application essay to remind me, remind me that he is at work, even when I’m too self-interested to see it. In the midst of my wallowing, this extraordinary young lady-and many like her-was expectantly praying for and pursuing the future God has for her. She wasn’t walking but forging ahead by faith, unlike me.
I didn’t truly process the transformation in my attitude until that evening. This one small request revealed the definite sin issue I was dealing with. No, life is not, and will never be, perfect or even predictable. As Christ promises, “In the world, you will have tribulation” (John 16:33) and Paul warns us we will “groan” in our earthly “tent” (2 Corinthians 5:4). Along with these acknowledgements, however, both passages offer hope, hope that is found when we are looking at the cross, not the world around us. Christ reminds us he has “overcome the world” (John 16:33) while Paul exhorts us to be of “good courage” as we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:4).
I was so ashamed. How dare I ignore his promises because of a little dissension? People often ask me how I work with teenagers. “I could never do that” is often the comment I hear. Well, while teaching has its peaks and valleys, this particular young lady was unknowingly used by God to breathe life into my “dry bones” that day, and for many to come. And now when I see her excitedly preparing for her future, I am reminded of God’s miraculous work going on around me, even when I can’t quite see it.
While I don’t know what legacy I’ll leave behind, I can be certain of this: God will use me to exalt his great name. He will use even my small acts of faithfulness for his kingdom purposes. I don’t want to miss out on the moments God has given me to be a small encouragement to those I encounter, whether it be for a lifetime, a season, or one brief moment.
As a teacher, my emotions ebb and flow with my ever-changing schedule. Actually, the seasonal changes resemble the gravity-defying roller coasters I loved to ride in my youth. At the beginning of every year, I grieve that my own children are getting so old-they go to high school and middle school this year-and frantically prepare my room and curriculum, reminding myself find time to pray for my students, the most important part. I relish in the enthusiasm of my students in the fall, brace for the winds of change as soon as the holidays are in view, and bolster every ounce of enthusiasm I have to combat the lethargy and moods the spring brings, telling myself we just have to make it to May, then it will be “smooth sailing”. Soon enough that smooth sailing turns into an intense feeling of loss as students, some I have known since they were 14 “leave the nest” of high school, taking a piece of my heart. My heart shattered, I keep busy with finals week and year end duties and stumble into summer, both physically and emotionally exhausted.
Summer is both lonely and rejuvenating as I have time to myself, time with my family, time to process, time to do things I want to do like hike, write, pray more, and spend time with friends. Soon enough, as I am experiencing right now, summer is almost over; I need to by school supplies for my kids-I put this off until the last possible moment-and get them-and myself-ready for school.
One of my favorite verses is 2 Peter 1:3. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence”. “ . . . everything we need for life . . . “ I’m sure glad. I admit I should be more concerned with my own godliness, but I am definitely concerned with life. My marriage, my parenting, my relationships with family and friends, my interactions with my classes and their ever-varying dynamics. It’s overwhelming.
Good thing God is a practical God. Holy and practical. As Lamentations tells us, “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease. For his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). He is faithful to us in general as well as specific. Some instances include:
Times of fear. From childhood to old age, fear is a real part of life. Sure, we know we shouldn’t fear, but from a young age we fear the dark, abandonment, bullies, heights, dogs, etc. . . . As we age, we add fear of rejection and failure. Some fears we can’t even name, generalized anxiety that we can’t quite pinpoint. God knows. Like a desert spring, his words are there, reminding us not to fear. In Deuteronomy God tells the Israelites, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Psalm 23 acknowledges our deepest fears admitting, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah and many more instances show us that God is with us in our fear. And then there is Jesus. The angels acknowledge the shepherds’ fear at his coming. He calms the storm and continually teaches fear of God instead of our physical world. In Luke, he reminds us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Luke 14:27).
Times of pain. One of my favorite movies is The Princess Bride. The dry humor led my family and friends to watch it so much I have most of it memorized. Before Wesley, the long lost love of the main character, Buttercup, reveals his identity, he tells her, “Life is pain, highness”. We have all had painful seasons, some more than others. This year, on top of the malaise of COVID, our city lost 4 teenagers in two weeks to senseless car crashes. To boot, the staff at my high school recently received emails stating that another of my students died in a summer car crash followed by news of a student who died of a seizure. While we are most definitely promised suffering like Christ’s (2 Timothy 3:12), the saying “Life is pain” is a reality in our everyday lives, sometimes for a season and sometimes longer. God does not leave us alone in our pain. Psalm 34:18 says that God is especially near to us during times of pain stating, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit”: Jesus addresses our suffering saying, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33): and Paul encourages us, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).
Times of uncertainty. Despite my choice of profession, change is hard for me. While my job promises change from semester to semester, my church’s unprecedented change in leadership, not to mention the changes occurring in my children’s lives are definitely leaving me with a feeling of mild trepidation. My best friend used to say, “Change is good; it lets you know you’re alive”. It may be a good sign of God’s work in our lives, but it sure can be uncomfortable. From concerns for our physical needs to anxiety about the future, God promises his presence and comfort. Matthew illustrates God’s care for us physically explaining, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (6:26); Jeremiah tells the Israelite exiles in Babylon, “ . . . I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope . . . I will be found by you . . . and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations . . . and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:10-14); and Psalm 139 emphasizes God’s faithfulness regardless of our circumstances saying, “Where shall I go from your spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me . . . even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you” (139:7-12).
Ezekiel 3 tells us our life will have seasons. Seasons of peace and rejoicing, seasons of upheaval, and seasons of pain. In all of these seasons, God is with us, carrying out his perfect plan, and making “everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Lord, thank you that I can trust you to provide all I need in the wildly varying seasons of my life.
