A journey in creativity and faith

Month: December 2014 (Page 1 of 2)

The Light of the world

God said, ”Let there be light.”
And there was light
and life
But life sinned
and moved to the land of the shadow of death

One day
this life who walked in darkness
saw a great light
The light was God’s word
who was born a child in a barn
He was God’s face
who shone graciously upon all people
With his hands, ears, eyes and heart
The light fed, healed and awakened
those who walked in darkness

This pure light
was convicted, tortured and killed
for the sin of the world
The light was turned off
The day was dark
The sun was dark
The light was an out burned candle
and laid in a tomb

At sunrise the beloved women came to the tomb
It was empty
The women were frightened

Then one of them sensed a hand on her shoulder
and heard a voice
She turned around
“It is I”, the voice said
and God’s face shone upon the women

You who walk in darkness
You will see a great light
Believe in Him
and his face will shine upon you
inside you
through you
in the midst of us
because darkness is not the final word

God says “let there be light”
“Come!”

motif: wire post looking like  a cross set against a rising sun

Good news

News

3 injured in shooting at Florida State, Ebola Liberia, Japanese woman poisons her husband, war against Islamic State, obesity costs Britain $73 billions, suspect in subway, seven people are killed at a hospital in China

The good news is

An alien from space
comes down on earth
he is the baby
born in a stable
he is the servant
who loves killers, cheaters, and liars
he is the white lamb
which is slaughtered
he is the blood
which cleans the infected lawbreakers
who say “I believe”
he is the bread
which gives souls eternal nourishment
he is the water
which resuscitates the dry hearts
he is the air
which lives inside the holy breed
he is the light
that never goes out

Mary and Jesus

 

I Didn’t Want to Be a Jesus Freak. Why Would I?

Christmas is arriving in a few days. Have you room for Christ this Christmas? Is there room for Christ in your heart?  I’m honored to host a guest post by Brenda McGraw, author of Joy Beyond, 28 days to finding joy Beyond the clutter of life. Brenda Mcgraw’s shares her testimony about how Jesus never stopped knocking on the door to her heart.  Merry Christmas!

 

Jesus Freak

 

At the young age of thirteen, when I thought I knew everything, I remember rejecting the Savior of the world. In my mind I would make fun of people whom I considered Jesus freaks, and I sure didn’t want to be one. I thought I was having too much fun living the party life. My fun led to a long road that ended in failure. I didn’t make room in my heart and my heart led me astray.

The beautiful words of a Christmas song we sing every year go like this:

“Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of his love.”

Many times we just skim the words and don’t really read them. But this is how I see it:

One verse says, “Let every heart prepare Him room.”

At thirteen I didn’t prepare God room; I didn’t believe in the empty tomb.

At sixteen Jesus was not in the hidden holes of my heart; He waited patiently for me to get smart.

When I was nineteen and getting married, my heart was focused on loving a man; no relationship with the right man, Jesus, began.

When I turned twenty-four, after all the years of no spiritual focus, came along the devastating breast cancer diagnosis.

Did I prepare room then?

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A message stronger than any worry about Christmas preparations

In November, I started to panic about the upcoming December. I spent the first part of December being nervous and stressed about living up to all expectations and traditions. I wish to be a joyful wife and mother who produces beautiful Christmas decorations and bakes delicious cookies. But I fear, I stall, I fail. It’s the 18th of December and I’m not prepared for Christmas, not at all.

What is the meaning of the stress and materialism we lie under the Christmas tree every year? Do we believe we need to stress and strive for perfection so our families can love us? What really makes our children happy?

The reason for the season

I’m taking a break from my worries and look at a  photo of a nativity. Baby Jesus, the reason for season.

Jesus is the gift

What can we do to live up to Jesus’ expectations? What can we do to be loved and saved?

NOTHING

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Christ, a cornerstone and a stumbling block

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

 

When I was a child, I stumbled upon a rock and broke my arm. This rock was not the only rock or stone in my life. The stones of my life were my sensitivity and thoughts. The stones were the schools and jobs where I did not fit in, and all the jobs I could not find. The stones were all the challenges and relations, in which I didn’t succeed.

I know there will be more rocks I stumble upon in the future.  Wait a second, I forgot to tell you about one special stone in my life.

Cornerstone. Photo Credits: Hartmut Tobies

Photo Credits: Hartmut Tobies

Year after year I celebrated Christmas without understanding what or who I was really celebrating. It appeared baby Jesus drowned in all the jingle bells, sugarcanes, garlands, red and blue lights, Christmas pudding and cookies.

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