Gloom and Distress

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Gloom and Distress

Isaiah 9:1

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress."

(We will focus on the content of this devotion in the days and weeks to come.  Don't miss a single word.  Let me know if you can relate.)

I LOVE TOTE BAGS!  Let me show you the one my husband got me for Christmas! 

(Caroline picked it out!)  For anyone who knows me, knows that pink is "my color." 

Over the last few weeks, as I've studied "the Baby born in the barn," and all that means in this day and age. One of the big lessons I've learned is that Jesus' birth brings something that I have not been living.  

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress."  Isaiah 9:1

(Jesus had not been born when this Scripture was written.  This verse describes what Messiah would do once He got here.  Read Isaiah 9.)

For way too long, I've been carrying areas of sadness, gloom and distress in the deep tote pockets of my heart.    Oh, I can pretty it up on the outside - but deep, deep down - it's there.

While reviewing my 2011 Prayer Journal over the last few weeks, the Lord revealed to me that these areas of gloom are so comfortable and at home in my heart - that I don't even realize they're there.  I've been living with them.  Sadly, they've become those friends that passively torture your heart - filling you with sadness, dread and defeat.

Yet, the Baby born in the barn that cold, starry night, CAME to deliver us from this deep sadness, gloom and distress.  For example:

• Shame and embarrassment -  Divorce?  Abortion?  Addiction? Bankruptcy?  Foreclosure?
• Disappointment and distress -  Shattered dreams of what was to be.  Vocationally...  The man you said, "I do" to, hasn't turned out to be your prince Charming.  (Please come to ISI this week if this is yours.)  Children in rebellion. Finances out of control.
• FEAR - from things in the past... 
• FEAR for the uncertainties of tomorrow... 

FEAR is my big one. 
What's in your pretty little tote?  Oh friend, we can dress up and pretend it isn't there - but it is.  It's become a squatter in the residency of your heart - living there without your permission - but you doing NOTHING about GETTING IT OUT.

NOT ANYMORE FOR ME. 
As I begin 2012, these areas are no longer welcome.  They must NOT ONLY BE THROWN OUT, BUT they must be DESTROYED.

Isaiah 9:1 is a promise from the Lord to me...  And to you - if you will accept it from Him.

Please know, doing the same old thing - the same old way, will not yield different results.  We must be intentional.  WE must go on offense.  In some cases, we must get radical in our pursuit to be free.

What I will share in the weeks to come, you may not hear in many churches.  Yet, do not fret, everything I share WILL be BIBLICAL.  There are days that I will have to divert and talk about ISI or something else.  But rest assured - this is my focus as I start 2012.  The squatters of gloom and distress must go!

Are you with me? 

Question:  What's in your pretty little tote?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 

I'm so happy to be back and I'm so happy that you are here!!!    Even though I cannot see you, many of you take time to connect with me personally so I feel a bond with you.  I've missed you over these last few weeks.

Christmas Break was refreshing.  We were home the entire break!   Both my husband's family and my own live in the same town - so it makes holiday's especially easy.  No airports, long lines, or treks down an Interstate.  I especially love getting to sleep in my own bed each night.  It's a blessing that I probably take for granted!

I did not send Christmas cards this year.  There is part of me that feels guilty about that decision - especially for each one that I received in the mail,  I wanted to reciprocate.  But to be honest, they stress me out - BIG TIME!  And when I get stressed out, my kids and husband get the brunt of it.  So in lieu of becoming more stressed on top of the cooking, shopping, decorating and the wrapping - I opted out this year. 

So I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to share some of my pictures with you now.

This is my mom and dad.  They always prepares a feast for us!  We love going to their house.

My husband I enjoying all the appetizers. 

Brunch Christmas Morning at my sister-in-law's house - front right.

This year, we celebrated Christmas very differently.  Tim and I sat our 9 and 11 year old down and told them that we will only be celebrating Christ from now on at Christmas.  That Santa is not real - of course they already knew. 

(Now I realize that some of you may have very strong feelings about the Santa thing.  Please don't send me notes telling me that I've ruined my children.  My sister and I did the Santa thing growing up and we turned out just fine.  We both are in full-time ministry and love Jesus with our entire being.)

Paul Newby's wife, Macon gave me this idea.  So, Christmas 2011, the Furman's started a new tradition!  It's worth sharing, so take notes and do it in your home next Christmas.

Roped off area.  You can see the black hearts on the landing area.

We roped off the gift area of our house - as seen above.  So when my children woke up - they were forbidden from entering the gift area.  In lieu of gifts, they were given 4 black hearts.  (One for each family member.)

The gift area represents heaven.  And heaven is closed to those whom have black hearts.  You must have a white heart before you can enter.  (I strategically hid 4 white hearts - it was a scavenger hunt of sorts!)

However, Jesus came into the world to give us white hearts.  Therefore, we must find Jesus, so that we can find our white heart and enter heaven.  (Ideally, you should hide the white hearts under "Jesus."  Perhaps in a nativity scene or snow globe or picture etc...)   

They had such a great time searching for the "white hearts.".  It didn't take long before they found them! 

What a beautiful visual of the reason for Christmas - Once they found the white hearts, I stood at the entrance to the gift area and allowed them entrance as they gave me their white heart.  We closed by reading the Christmas account in Luke 2 and portions from Max Lucado's, "An Angel's Story." 

It was a sweet, sweet tradition that I pray we look forward to for many years to come!  Macon tells me that she continues to do this year after year even now with her young adult children.

Thank you for allowing me to share my Christmas memories with you.  I have much, much to tell you.  See you back tomorrow.

Happy New Year!!!

Standing Firm during Christmas Celebrations

Luke 2:1

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth, to Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary..."

A few days ago, I had lunch with friends.   One of the gals, who has far more Bible knowledge than I mentioned, that it was not necessary for Mary to travel the 75-80 miles to Bethlehem. That Joseph could have gone by himself to register and saved Mary the discomfort and inconvenience of the mountainous journey.

So why did Mary go?    Can you imagine being 9 months pregnant and riding on a donkey through mountainous terrain for 75+ miles? 

What was happening in Mary's circumstances to make her want to go this inconvenient distance?

• Were the whispers and ridicule from others too humiliating to endure without Joseph around?
• Were the interpersonal relationships within in her family too hard to deal with following the news of her pregnancy out of wedlock?  After all, it had been 6 long months of being misunderstood by the people closest to her...

When all she had done, was yes to God. 

When you and I choose to say yes to God and to the best of our ability live the Bible in our everyday lives, we too will often be misunderstood, just like Mary was.  Sometimes by those closest to us.

As we prepare to gather with family and friends over the Christmas weekend, I want to encourage you to stand firm in your godly behavior.  The temptation to fit in and be accepted is quite powerful.  

There are people in my life - people that I will encounter this weekend, if asked would say that I've "taken this God thing just a little too far."    Saying yes to God and being misunderstood is really hard.  After all, I just want to fit in, to be accepted.

If you are in circumstances such as these, stand firm with me dear sister - loving those around you, not judging in any way shape or form but just allowing your light to shine, they they too may want to know your Jesus. 

Power verses:
"Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."  1 Peter 5:8-9

You are the light of the world.  In the same way, let your light shine before men...  Matthew 5:14, 16

Let's vow to pray this for each other.

Merry Christmas!