Earlier this week, my friend and colleague, Kim Kerkstra sent a group email with the following. I wrote her back using way too many exclamation points; I was that excited, asking if I could share with you. I was challenged and encouraged and trust you will be as well.
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I was throwing out my tea bag and I noticed how at this time of year even my garbage looks Christmas-y. Crumpled red serviettes, broken down candy cane boxes, bits of green ribbon, dry and crackling poinsettia leaves. And somehow, today I see a lesson in it. Now don’t worry, this isn’t a ploy to sermonize about the obvious waste of the season, but instead a challenge for my heart to embrace which I’d like to share with you. I wonder if my life is so permeated with Christ that even my “throw-aways” are colored by Him. I’m sad to know that many of them are not so Christ-colored but instead tend to be tainted by the ugliness of my sinful self. I wish for those minute moments, spare words, or turned away facial expressions to reflect, not me, but the reason and purpose behind continuous following, learning, and faith. Amen.
I pray this for you, in a season glittering with lights,
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his light to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
Arise, shine for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you
And nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see…
We ourselves heard this voice bourne from heaven,
for we were with him on the holy mountain.
And we have something more sure,
the prophetic word,
to which you will do well to pay attention to as a lamp shining in a dark place
until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
knowing this first of all,
that no phophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man,
but spoke from God as thay were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
From different parts of the journey through the history of God’s relationship with humanity. May you be blessed with knowledge this Christmas as you celebrate one special moment in this legacy of relationship with the Light of the World.
(Numbers 6:24-26, Psalm4:6, Isaiah 60:1, Matthew 5: 16, 2 Peter 1:18-21 ESV).
“Even my throw aways are colored by Him” I like this to be a question we ask ourselves. When we are in people’s presence are they glad we are there. Are they happy when we leave or wish we would stay? Are what we are letting fall off of us giving notice to our relationship with Jesus? I know the apostles were spoken of as being different because “they had been with Jesus”. Are we… if not perhaps we are not spending enough quality time hanging around the Teacher. To have what falls away from us colored by our relationship with Jesus…. to have his flavor fall from us as we interact with others in our journey.
Great question Mark! Thanks.