This is a short reflection I wrote for my church and school community that’s reading “Centered Christmas” by Kirstin Ricketts and Melissa Cheatham. My portion was from the song, “Oh Holy Night”, so I thought I could share it here too.
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“Long lay the world in sin and error pining…”
It was chaos. The Israelite’s world was a mess. You know, my kids have destroyed our wooden floors and I’ve given up cleaning them, because one day, we’re going to start all over and get new floors. But God, in His mercy and love, didn’t look at His children’s hardened hearts, and the chaos and mess of the world this way.
Throughout the prophetic books of the Bible, we learn of the heart of God. He experienced rejection and heartache as His chosen people stepped more and more away from Him and into the ways of the cultures surrounding them. Through the prophets He kept reminding the Israelites of who He was and who they were, but they didn’t listen.
God wanted so much more for His chosen people.
“But He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.”
The soul felt its worth. I’ve been wondering for days…Jesus, how do you define my worth?
But maybe instead, we start with, “He appeared.” My worth is because of who He is, not because of anything I’ve done. We don’t know our worth without Him.
God, who created the worlds, the stars, the rolling thunder (cue How Great Thou Art), chose to be with us physically as a man, conquer death, and later still exist in His children as spirit. As we believe in the incredible existence, power and greatness of our God, then we begin to fall on our knees in wonder of why He even created us, and why He chooses to continue to dwell with us.
“He appeared.” Yes, Lord, move me in awestruck wonder of you. May your radiant presence overshadow me.
Jesus changed the perspective of who God is. The great I AM. “Everything you ever need is everything I am” (cue House Upon a Hill)…and it’s true! Jesus is everything we need. God is intimate and personal, and wants more for us than we even think to ask for. He does care and my worth is found in the truth that I am chosen by Him.
There are many stories, but I want to just share two times I felt personally, without a doubt, seen and loved by God.
One – In confession once, the priest asked me, “What is Jesus telling you right now?” And I silently listened and heard Him tell me, “We are family.” Joy and love filled my soul. He’s not ashamed of me and my brokenness. He’s always drawing me in closer, cleansing me of my sin, defining my identity, and giving me strength to start again.
Two – During an online training this fall, a girl whom I’d never met, asked if she could pray for me. I said sure, but didn’t tell her yet what I wanted prayers for. She prayed “Come Holy Spirit”, and then put her hand to her chest and said, “Oh, I’m feeling some anxiety in my chest, do you suffer from anxiety?” That was exactly what I was going to ask her to pray for. God spoke through her, telling me that He sees me and He knows it all.
I bought a ring last spring because the message included in the package said, “He is the God who sees me.” And every time I look at it, I think, “He sees me.” And I believe this for me and for you too.
When I delivered a few Christmas packages to some families this year, I made sure I told that to each of them, “God sees you.” Because it’s true! You matter to Him, and He sees what you’re going through and He cares. He doesn’t always take the hard stuff away, but He promises to be with us through it (see Isaiah 43). He is so good, and He’ll continue to unveil our worth to Him now through eternity.
I am grateful to be on this journey with you. Merry Christmas friends!
My Heart, My Home 