Easter 2025: Don't Miss the Main Message

As a student of mass communications, I once considered getting into the world of broadcasting. (Preferably classic rock radio, of course.) I’m still intrigued by communication technology, now and historically, and this 1912 quote by the inventor of the wireless telegraph recently grabbed my attention: “The coming of the wireless era will make war impossible, because it will make war ridiculous.” Apparently, Marconi truly believed if we could more easily share information and resources, we’d have nothing left to fight over.

How I wish he’d been right. But wireless tech seemed to have just the opposite effect, with radio communication a major contributor and tool in the wars to follow. Fast forward to today, and we clearly see “more” doesn’t always equal “better,” particularly in a world of impersonal communication. Present state of the global stage aside, perhaps most ridiculous is that we now wage war wirelessly with strangers—and those we once called friends—from behind our own private keyboards.

Certainly, our failures to communicate didn’t begin in the wireless era either. These are issues that may predate even smoke signals. Yet this makes me thankful to know a better communicator than any of us could hope to be, and one who is particularly persistent in his message to us.

While I didn’t always understand it, I now deeply appreciate that “long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Jesus), whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

The created world seems a hard message to miss for me now, given its complexity and beauty. Even “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Through it, “his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” It might be hard for some to ignore something so obvious, but it certainly wasn’t always so clear to me.

Starting with those prophets, the Creator’s story was passed down through the generations, well before wireless communication or even the printing press. I was admittedly slow to believe those messengers. The Bible didn’t make sense to me, and I even fought against believing it. But God’s persistence wouldn’t let me ignore him, and it finally became clear he is showing us “in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself”—that this collection of letters is actually all about Jesus.

Still, his loudest message was in actually showing up. While we become increasingly impersonal behind our devices, in-person communication is so important to God, he came to be with us. Even then, many of us missed the memo, as “he was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” But Jesus didn’t wage war against us for our lack of understanding. Instead, in a shocking communication of love, he fought to the death for us. While momentarily misunderstood as defeat, once the headline of his resurrection started to circulate, his real message began to be received: Murdered by our misunderstanding, he was still willing to forgive, allowing all who hear and believe him to commune and communicate directly with our Creator.

There are so many ways the Lord broadcasts his love to the world, and his message is for you too. So, consider creation. Survey Scripture. Visit a church in person. Speak to God in prayer, asking his help to understand what this message means for you. And if you’re a resister, like I was, I pray he’ll help you to stop fighting and start listening—to receive and believe the message of Jesus.

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And if you'd like to hear this year's Easter message as an actual (and intentionally meta) broadcast, have a listen here:

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-2; Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20; Luke 24:25-27; John 1:10 (ESV)
Art: unsplash.com

Christmas 2024: Learning to Be Simply Childlike... Just Like Scrooge?

I’ve always had a fascination with Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.” From childhood, I’ve seen many retellings of this ghostly holiday tale of miserly transformation (yes, Muppets included), and we even got to reenact a miniature version of our own just a couple months ago. I’ve since acquired a reproduction copy of the original book and spent weeks deep diving into this writing—surprisingly, for the first time—developing a greater appreciation of the author, the story, and even of old Scrooge himself.

As this story takes me back to my youth, including how scary some of those ghosts could be, a different theme has emerged to rival those upsetting apparitions. From memories of his own lonely childhood, to a boy and girl representing Ignorance and Want, to the struggle and faith of Tiny Tim, Scrooge is repeatedly confronted with kids as the spirits push him to process his world as it was, is and may be. Through all his joyless “humbugs,” there is something Scrooge has long forgotten—or, perhaps more accurately, never fully knew. Fear has overshadowed imagination. He has lost what it means to be simply childlike.

It’s no accident, then, that those spirits point Scrooge to Christmas, the very season and celebration designed to remind us of a particularly special child named Jesus. And this child’s story was given to help us reframe our own past, present and future.

Like Scrooge, we might be haunted by our past. But a better story rings out from a more distant time: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,” and, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” (or “God with us”). These words precede those proclaimed by angels at Jesus’ birth, “...unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ...you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” God with us. A baby. This should spark our imagination.

We may be disturbed by our present, becoming classically “Scrooge-like” in response to things happening around or within us. But in Jesus, we see God Himself coming as a child so we can become God’s children too. Even as He grew, rather than growing bitter, Jesus maintained innocence in an unfriendly world—living and loving others as God says we should, forgiving His enemies, giving his whole life, even to the death, so that to everyone who has “believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” If we trust Jesus, He extends His forgiveness to us so we also can forgive and live joyfully.

We might fear our future, like Scrooge forced to face his own mortality. But because of Jesus, we can find even death has no sting. For anyone who receives “the kingdom of God like a child,” He “has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus,” who is “firstborn of the dead.” Dread turns to delight as His return to life guarantees our own.

In the end, Scrooge’s “merry as a school-boy” dancing and delight represent the possibility of childlike belief and joy we can all sometimes forget—or may have never known. Of course, this can all seem like a childish humbug if we’ve lost the plot. If that’s you, ask Jesus to help you learn to trust God and love others in an appropriately childlike way. And I pray you’ll know the joy of having faith like a child in the one who came as a child. 

Merry Christmas!

Scripture (ESV): Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Luke 2:11-12; John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 15:55; Mark 10:15/Luke 18:17; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:5

A Glory No Darkness Can Overcome // Easter 2024

We’re anticipating a total solar eclipse in the Midwest this April—our second in seven years, no less. If you’ve never witnessed a total eclipse, it can definitely be a fun photo opp, but not even the best equipment can ultimately capture the true experience surrounding such an event.

Day gradually turns to a somewhat eerie, dusk-like appearance as distant stars become visible. Evening insects begin to chirp as though the sun is setting. The last glimpse of sunlight, shining like a diamond, fully fades. Then, in totality, as the sun is overtaken and you can look with the naked eye, a shimmering ring of fire comes alive, dancing around the circle of the moon. This brief pinnacle feels impossible to describe—an awe-inspiring display that understandably drives some to chase these eclipses around the globe. I found the 2017 experience worship-inducing, a glorious thing of beauty in creation I then could not have imagined and now hope to witness once again.*

As the celebration of Easter also approaches, this collective anticipation brings to mind some very particular historical moments of darkness and glory portrayed in the story of Jesus.

First, the darkness. Through a mock trial, Jesus was falsely accused and sentenced to death. At His crucifixion, as He hung suspended between Heaven and Earth, for about three hours, “there was darkness over the whole land...while the sun’s light failed” until He took His last breath. This lengthy and unnatural darkness, coupled with an earthquake and other inexplicable events, caused even some involved in His execution to question who this man really was. His followers had questions too. They had once heard him say, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” But what could this mean now that His life was over? His light was gone.

Three days later, the answer came. As from eclipse totality the moon soon gives way again to the sun’s blinding brilliance, the stone was rolled away from Jesus’ tomb, revealing the power and glory of God as His breath returned. The true light of the world stood radiant, full of life again.

Even in His darkest moment, Jesus was overcoming the darkness we so often see around us and even in us, if we’re honest. It’s a darkness that destroys and divides, ready to overcome us with death, to separate us from our Creator and all we hold dear. Yet in that darkness, though it seemed momentarily obscured, the unfathomable mercy and glory of God was still on magnificent display. Jesus walked through the valley of the shadow of death and allowed the darkness to crush Him, but it could not overcome Him. And He will not allow it to fully overtake anyone who follows Him even today. Instead, He offers His own light to show us who God is and guide us in a better way to live now, and the glory of new life through a resurrection like His to come.

Any sort of eclipse can be fascinating to watch, and the rare beauty of a total eclipse an incredible sight to behold. But knowing the one who arranged sun and moon so precisely to create this effect is truly a glory beyond words. Let this created wonder remind you of the Creator and move you toward Jesus, the true light who “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome.”

Scripture: Luke 23:44;  John 8:12 & 1:5 (ESV)

Art: An image of the 2017 eclipse from southern Illinois

Will you be able to view the April 8 eclipse where you are? Check your zip code for timing and details.

*(And, praise the Lord, we did! In the same location as last time, no less. Photos below from 2024.)

Christmas 2023: From a New Birth to All Things Made New

Got a new year’s resolution? As we move through the holidays, you may already be processing what the next year might look like. Whether you’ve gone through a rough season or are just ready for a change, a new year can feel like a fresh start and opportunity for renewal.

Even before we reach the new year, the Christmas story can give pause to consider the fresh start of a brand new life. The entire celebration certainly makes a very big deal about a new birth. And while we might see any newborn as a new life brimming with potential and possibility, everything about the birth of Jesus points us to possibilities of newness and renewal we could have never imagined.

This new birth was both anticipated and surprising. Isaiah, a prophet, declared, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,” some 700 years before angels announced to shepherds, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Through many prophecies and angelic announcements, we get the message that God is doing something new here on Earth—that despite, or even because, we have largely ignored Him, God was coming to be with us in a new way.

Incredibly, Jesus’ birth made a way for us to experience new life and our own rebirth.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Yet it wasn’t just the birth of Jesus that brought this hope, but also His return from death to life, since, “According to his great mercy, (God) has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...” His celebrated birth and return to life point to rebirth and resurrection for anyone who believes Jesus is Lord­—that God truly came to be with us.

Such a rebirth in us also means we are fundamentally renewed. We can no longer simply ignore God, but we can actually know Him and experience the extraordinary love of God. Even through our struggles, it remains true that “...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This new relationship changes how we relate to God and others, and gives us new hope for the future. Now anyone who knows Jesus can look ahead in anticipation not just of a return to life, but also to the full renewal of our world, as He has already stated, “Behold, I am making all things new.” A rebirth of the whole creation is yet to come, without death or sorrow or pain. And God, who once came to be with us as a brand new baby, will be with His people forever.

I hope you do sense a fresh start and crush any positive goals you might set for the new year. But I pray you experience the ultimate newness—the brand new life that can only come from knowing Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:11; John 3:16;1 Peter 1:3;
2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 21:5 (ESV)
Art: pixabay.com

Free Advent Reading Guides

The season of Advent has just begun. Advent is a time for the Church to anticipate the Christmas celebration of Jesus' birth as we also look ahead in anticipation of His return.

If you've not already started one, an Advent reading guide may help encourage you to keep this focus during what is so often a busy time of year.

New for 2023, "The Weary World Rejoices" is now available as a free e-book from the Gospel Coalition.

For other downloadable options, "Good News of Great Joy" and "The Dawning of Indestructible Joy" are available in various formats from Desiring God.

A 31-day Advent Scripture reading plan is available to follow with a free ESV.org account.

For kids, "The Jesus Storybook Bible" has a free downloadable Advent kit, which includes music, coloring pages, ornaments, memory verse cards and more.

Whether you utilize any of these options, or simply enjoy your own time with the Lord in Scripture, I pray you find great joy and encouragement in remembering all we have in Christ today and forever. Praise the Father for the birth and forthcoming return of His Son, Jesus.

From Fragile to Forever: Where the Best of Health Is Found // Easter 2023

It can be a confounding thing to encore a summer of excellent health with a sudden, headlong dive into a new season of medical office visits. They become those kinds of places you’d rather avoid where everybody knows your name. And while it’s rough enough trying to determine the roots of any ailment, one might also fall further down the rabbit hole of navigating a money hungry health industry in search of reasonable rates sans standard healthcare. The entire endeavor grows tiring and time consuming, yet the phrase “be your own advocate” perhaps never rings more true.

While the stories, of course, play out differently, medical misadventures seem recently rampant in sections of my circle. From the obnoxious sinus issue or stomach bug to full-blown hospital stays, health concerns are an unfortunately, if unsurprisingly, common topic. Through it all, the fragility of our physical nature and the frailty of life itself can cross the mind. But this also brings to mind the promise of a cure even beyond any we might hope for now.

It’s in the Easter story this hope is found, but in the most unimaginable way possible. It’s there we see the injury of God’s own Son, Jesus, leading to His death. Somehow, we’re told, He had to be hurt so we could be healed. But since illness and injury abound, and the death rate clearly still stands at one per person, healed how? And in what way?

Looking ahead to what Jesus would do, Isaiah writes, “...he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” And looking back, Peter puts it like this, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Beyond physical healing, these words speak to our relationship with our Creator. We all neglect to live and love God and each other perfectly (a.k.a. “sin”), and we experience all sorts of struggles in our world because of this, including the physical. We owe a debt to the Lord we can’t even pay, and often the more we try to fix things, the more things go wrong. It can all seem utterly hopeless.

Thankfully, Jesus’ death was followed by His return to life. He did live perfectly, and He was willing to be our guarantor, taking the debt we owe on Himself so our relationship with God can be healed. No need to be our own advocates: Jesus stands in that place, even praying for His people. Plus, His physical healing points to the possibility of total healing and resurrection for us too.

Perhaps you’re familiar with the miracles of Jesus, several of which were physical healings. From the blind to the lame, the anemic to the leprous, people’s bodies were restored. In some cases, even people whose hearts had stopped beating altogether. These rare and temporary healings provide glimpses of that greater, eternal healing to come through this particularly Great Physician.

Just before calling his friend, Lazarus, back to life, Jesus says to the man’s sister, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” It’s a great question for us, too.

Undeserved advocacy. Comprehensive healing. Payment in full. All this for those who simply believe and trust Him. And, so, I pray for you the very best of health found only in Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, John 11:25-26 (ESV.org)
Art: unsplash.com

Christmas 2022: A Wonder One Can Never Outgrow

As a kid, I heard plenty of culturally familiar Christmastime tales you might also recall. But there was one unique to my family that my grandpa who raised ponies would tell. He claimed that starting at the stroke of midnight, as Christmas officially began, he could go out to the barn and speak with those ponies for exactly 1 hour. I always wanted to know what they had to say, but somehow never got to experience this phenomenon myself.

Meanwhile, there was always some ruckus coming from the rooftop near the chimney of our other grandparents’ home on Christmas Eve, as my brother and I eagerly awaited that grandpa’s appearance following his annual private conversation with a jolly visitor.

Whatever your tradition, certainly some of the story and spectacle that so enthralled us in childhood is only right to outgrow. (Well, maybe not the talking ponies.) Still, a danger lies in outgrowing wonder altogether. I’m excited to see amazement reignited for many as we capture new photos from deep space. Yet even in this amazing tech age, such newness can fade fast as we get caught up in daily life or lost in screens—true for both adults and kids.

In thinking about wonder, I can’t help but recall a rather remarkable birth announcement no modern day gender reveal display could top. As some shepherds were out in the field, “...an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”

This incredible display of light and sound and glory definitely rocked these guys out of a standard night of sheep herding, so much they ran off the job just to find a baby and managed to stir up wonder in everyone who heard their story. But it’s an announcement that should move us to wonder too. This is obviously no ordinary birth, and it’s just at the start of an amazing story of God loving the world so much He came to be with us. The one with the power to create those distant galaxies we’re just glimpsing showed us miracles here on Earth. He taught us what it means to love your enemies, of which we all could be counted as we turn from the wonder of knowing and trusting Him. He displayed self-sacrifice, His life for all who would trust and believe in Him, and in returning to life showed us the new life and peace that can be ours with Him. Those shepherds found an infant named Jesus, and His is a story we who know Him can ultimately never outgrow.

If this sort of wonder is something you’d like, or even something you’ve lost, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Ask God to show you His peace and presence through this good news of great joy. And in this season, I pray you do experience the true wonder of knowing Jesus.

Scripture: Luke 2:9-14, ESV • Art: unsplash.com

When the Fighting Is Finally Finished // Easter 2022

As news of war once again dominates headlines, many of us find ourselves longing for real peace. Faced with the reality of yet another unnecessary tragedy, voices are again raised with desire for justice and an end to evil, oppression and death.

Even for those of us not in the middle of a war zone, these desires can be familiar. We all experience various types of battles in our lives. These might stem from issues or disagreements with others, or even from within ourselves. In recent years, we’ve seen a notable increase in general rudeness, lack of love or simple kindness, and even overt lawlessness. Regardless of our circumstances, real peace may feel a far way off.

I appreciate that Jesus is realistic about such trouble. He reminds His followers, “In the world you will have tribulation.” Yet He precedes this statement by encouraging them to find peace in Him, and follows with, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And this overcoming happened in a way those who were with Him never imagined.

While those followers might have expected Jesus to lead them into battle against Roman occupiers, He takes a decidedly different tactic. When one attacks a servant in the garden just before His arrest, trial and execution, Jesus not only says enough to their aggression, but brings healing into the situation. This was a different type of battle—one that He would fight alone and to the death.

“It Is Finished.”
Jesus spoke these words as He died, the fight he had entered now done. His was a battle not simply for an end to human conflict, but to end the conflict between us and God. In our warring on Earth, we see reflected our lack of love for God and even anger against Him. Yet, rather than destroy His enemies, we see the love of God as Jesus allows the sacrifice of Himself instead. And in His return to life, He stands victorious even over death, ready to offer us new life and friendship with Him. This alone is a peace greater than we could have dreamed.

“It Is Done!”
Now we wait to hear these words as we anticipate the end of all battles among humans as well. We find these words in the biblical Book of Revelation 21, where Jesus tells us He is “making all things new.” God will again be with His people, and, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” When the fighting is finally finished, all our longings for real peace and justice, for the end of evil and death, are fulfilled beyond our greatest expectations.

As we wait, and as many of us pray, comfort can be found in Jesus’ victory for anyone who stops fighting God and surrenders to Him. His first cry of completion guarantees His declaration to come. And as Jesus promises His followers, both then and now, we truly can take heart and find peace in Him, the Prince of Peace, who has already overcome and will come to heal our world.

Scripture: ESV.org • Photo: Unsplash.com

Enjoy a related video from bibleproject.com.

Christmas 2021: The Perfect Gift at the Perfect Time

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16

As this year’s holiday season approached, media began sharing images of cargo ships parked off the coast unable to unload. Threats of supply chain disruption and shipping delays prompted announcements that we must “shop early” if we hoped to take delivery on gifts in time for the holidays. Some even went so far as to question if Christmas could be cancelled.

I immediately flashed back to childhood with a smirk, curious if these reporters had ever seen a classic holiday special. I grew up on animated threats of the holidays in peril, yet saved at the last minute by some fanciful change of heart. And, I mean, every Who down in Whoville knows you can celebrate without ribbons, tags, packages, boxes or bags, right?

But beyond the amusing nostalgia, I wondered if they knew of the circumstances surrounding the first celebration of Christ, when Jesus was born. He came in spite of, and even because of, the disruption of imperfect people throughout history, including those in his own family line. And His delivery on Earth would provide a far greater delivery every one of us needs.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” -Galatians 4:4-5

This gift of God was presented to the world at just the right time, a child celebrated by shepherds, prophets and angels at His birth. He was born into a world that had largely forgotten and ignored God. But God still loved the world so much He came to be with us in the person of Jesus. His perfect life, death and resurrection were also precisely fulfilled, providing that way of redemption and adoption into God’s family for whoever believes in Him.

It’s been a while since that first delivery, but Jesus promises to return right on time again, this time to deliver the joyful restoration of our sadly broken world. Just like before, some wait with anticipation and some ignore Him altogether, but He continues to be patient with us. To quote 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” That is, we have this opportunity to trust Jesus over anything else, and to receive the ultimate change of heart that comes from knowing God’s love forever.

In this world, gifts might get stuck in transit. Plans might go right off the rails. But with Christ, the celebration can never be cancelled. As the holidays roll on, I pray you’ll know the joy of celebrating more deeply, anticipating the greatest gifts still to come in Jesus.

Scripture: ESV / Art: Unsplash.com

Epic Garden Battles // Easter 2021

With spring having sprung, gardening is a hot topic at our place. After last year’s bumper crop, and the very long winter that followed, the spouse is all-in on getting the food stuffs growing again. And while he obviously loves it, so much of his focus sounds like all-out war. Guarding against adorable vermin or undesirable pests, overgrowth or underwatering, he’s ready to protect this new plant life at all costs. And as the celebration of Easter approaches, I’m reminded of a few garden battles of biblical proportions.

Battle Lost
Genesis 2:8-9: “And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

The Bible starts out in a perfect garden. Just imagine: No weeds, no disruptive creatures, no drought or floods. Better yet, no issues even between people. Humans and the rest of God’s creation humming along harmoniously. But the story takes a turn with a sudden battle for control. Should we trust the one who first planted the garden and its tree of life, or ignore him in an effort to gain more? Caving to greed, the humans harvest from the wrong tree and lose it all—the garden, their trust in each other and their friendship with God. As overfertilization leads to plant death, the battle is lost. Sickness spreads. Thorn and thistle now dominate the landscape.

Battle Won
Isaiah 11:1-2: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him…”

As years of thorny battles wear on, one day a new shoot comes up. A baby grows to be a man, and that man turns out to be the ultimate gardener. He arrives to show us how to cultivate our relationships again. Expected by some, yet unrecognizable to others, he is ready to fight with his own blood, sweat and tears for his people in his garden, even as we decide to fight against him. In a garden called Gethsemane, he’s arrested. Despite no fault being found, he is prosecuted and placed on a wooden cross, sometimes referred to as a “tree.” Crowned with thorns on this tree of death he does not deserve, this man called Jesus dies...

While this looks like no victory, no one even imagined that 3 days later, life would emerge from a tomb. Even a woman finding the grave empty and seeing a man nearby thinks he's just the local gardener—until he calls her by name. But as a seed falls into the ground and dies to reproduce exponentially, Jesus died and rose to bring new life into the world. The garden battle is won! As the original gardener, he naturally knew what was needed to help it heal. And to each of us, He asks an old, familiar question: “Will you trust me to heal you too?”

Battle Done
Revelation 22:1-2: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Much as it began, the Biblical story closes with a perfected future garden. We get a glimpse of renewal to come, of a world growing complete and healthy again, of harmony between God and people restored. The thorns have gone, and the tree of life we once rejected now heals us. For all who trust that ultimate gardener, the garden battles are done.

Anyone who gardens is positioned for a unique perspective on loss, triumph and restoration as you guard and nurture your own vegetation. Yet even if you lack a green thumb, every new bud and petal can call to mind these garden battles lost, won and done, even as we navigate the thorns of life that still remain. So as the flowers bloom this spring, I pray you do trust Jesus, the ultimate gardener, for the complete nurture and healing only he can bring.

Enjoy the greenery and happy Easter!

Christmas 2020: The True Light Still Shines In the Darkness

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” -John 1:5; 9-14 (ESV)

While 2020 needs no year in review, it’s no stretch to describe many of its moments as “dark.” So it seems especially exciting to have so many celebrations at this time of year which include elements of light. Whether special use of candles or festive decorations, drive-thru displays or consideration of stars, there’s a cheer and wonder these lights can bring.

With just the two of us, we sometimes skip concerted holiday decorating efforts, but we actually cracked open a box this year to discover a couple forgotten sets of unopened solar lights. Given all the dark spots of 2020, and inspired by others doing the same, we decided to light things up a bit more than usual this season, gradually expanding our display in hopes of bringing a touch of brightness to anyone passing by.

Looking at lights in this year like no other—from our meager presentation to every holiday display, and on up to those in the sky—I’m reminded each one is a representation of something greater and brighter and more true. And as we look for something bright in a world often dark, we need look no further than a much celebrated baby in a manger to begin to see that true light.

This light came into a world of darkness, God Himself made flesh. He illuminated what it means to be fully human, to live as the light of the world. On Earth’s darkest day, that light was momentarily snuffed out, only to reignite in glorious resurrection. This is the light shining in the darkness that the darkness could not overcome. Instead, overcoming the darkness within and around us, this blazing glory makes it possible for us to know God, and to one day see our dark world shine bright again. And this true light is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Earlier this year, I considered that we never know what tomorrow may bring, as 2020 certainly proved. As I quoted then from Ephesians 5, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” This remains my prayer and encouragement for you, regardless what another year brings, to trust Jesus and truly experience His love and light that overcomes the darkness.

Hoping your holidays are merry and bright!

Art: Unsplash.com

"Look Closer This Christmas"

Just sharing this fantastic short video about the unconventional arrival of the long-expected eternal King Jesus. If you'd like to take a closer look at the story of His birth, check out the beginning of the Book of Luke.

Merry Christmas!

Awake, O Sleeper! // Easter 2020

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. -James 4:13–17

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. -Ephesians 5:14–17

On the evening of February 24, which now feels practically like a year ago, my husband and I simply stayed home. Unremarkable? Perhaps. But we really should have been at a local community center taking full advantage of a month-long membership nearing expiration.

That night we learned of a shooting at the center. An employee who’d helped us adjust our membership was dead. A day later, I shared some thoughts online, which included this statement: “The every day truth is we literally do not know what the next moment will bring.”

Just a few weeks later and the unthinkable began to affect us all—this global pandemic and simultaneous economic crisis that even we sci-fi fans didn’t ultimately believe could actually happen. Yet here we are, watching over a million worldwide become ill and thousands die, perhaps even people we know and love, as we “stay at home” and try to protect ourselves and others. And I realize again that stark reality: We do not know what tomorrow will bring. But despite this truth, we’re often so busy sleeping our way through life that we neglect to take seriously the most important things.

Thankfully, our Creator does take our lives, and our eternities, very seriously. Violence, disease and death entered our world because we neglected to listen even to God. For that, He could have rightfully returned the favor and simply neglected us. Instead, He is not only aware of the fears and pains we try to ignore, He came and experienced them Himself.

As we face a pandemic that both figuratively and sometimes literally takes our breath away, I’m reminded of Jesus’ struggle to breathe on the cross. A victim of this kind of crucifixion was hung in such a way that they were forced to push up by the feet in order to exact a full breath. With His feet nailed in place, this already impaired action was beyond excruciating.

I also imagine the moment Jesus returned to life. What was it like to take that first full, deep breath? No struggle or pain. He came out of the tomb completely restored and alive.

Those two little snapshots offer just a tiny picture of how seriously God takes our situation. The first is a picture of God suffering for us, taking the punishment and death we deserve on Himself. The second shows the defeat of death and a resurrection we also can have in renewed bodies and, ultimately, a world restored without death, debilitation or disease. This is just part of what the Lord offers to anyone who believes in Him.

So I ask sincerely: Do you believe?

You may live to 100 or die unexpectedly tomorrow, but every one of us has an expiration date. That next breath is not guaranteed. Our lives truly are “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” So I urge you to fully believe in who Jesus Christ is, what He’s done and what that means for you. The whole Bible is His story. Take a look at those pages. Ask Him to show Himself to you.
If you need a Bible or have questions, never hesitate to ask.

Whatever you do, don’t sleep through this moment. This is that wake up call to be raised from death, just as Jesus was on that first Easter morning, and to make the best use of the very limited time God has given you here. For the Christian, this means us too.

I’m thankful the Lord has spared me so far through all these recent events so I could share this with you. I pray He’ll awaken you to respond to Him.

Stay safe. Be well. God bless you.

Christmas Makes Prayer Possible

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” -1 John 5:13-15

It’s not uncommon in our culture to hear words like “thoughts and prayers.” Related sentiments are often expressed with the best intentions and genuine care, especially following personal crisis or major catastrophe. But at times a sense of helplessness and hopelessness may lead to frustration with such words. When desires are not soon fulfilled the question may arise: What good does prayer really do?

The celebration of the birth of Jesus can also bring the birth of hope for such a question. The entire trajectory of this tiny baby’s life, ultimately leading to His death and astounding resurrection, was to show us who God is and make it possible to know Him very personally. That knowing includes being able to talk with Him anytime, expressing both fears and joys, needs and thanks.

In Jesus we see God act on our behalf, proving we can trust Him to act for us today. While we should take action when possible—either for ourselves or in the lives of others as God may even use us to respond to a request—prayer now becomes an extraordinary act in itself. This is communication with our very real God who has actually lived among us, experienced pain like us and can affect all the things we cannot. While the Lord makes very clear that His ways are not our ways, and He may not respond precisely when and how we expect, He does hear those who believe in Him and we can trust Him in any circumstance.

This year I’ve had the privilege to participate in some big prayer events in and around St. Louis, and I’ve clearly seen God respond to the prayers of His people in amazing ways. But we can also see this in simple, everyday communication as we trust the Lord and watch for His responses. We can begin to see He truly is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)

While I am glad to pray for you anytime, my prayer for you this season is that you do trust in the name of Jesus, the Son of God who makes prayer possible, and experience the true comfort and joy of knowing and speaking with Him each day.

Art: unsplash.com

What God Does With Broken Things // Easter 2019

What do you do when something you own gets broken? We usually try to repair or replace, or, if all hope is lost, we recycle what we can. Things break around us all the time, and this expands beyond mere stuff. We see it in situations and systems, people and our planet, things often far too big for us to try to “fix” on our own.

That’s why it’s amazing to consider what God does with broken things, and how He has a remarkable way of working with and through them.

Broken Bread Multiplied
The Bible tells us Jesus frequently used bread as a visual aid to teach greater truths. On two occasions he used a few broken loaves of bread and some fish to feed thousands. To one crowd who wanted more of this miracle meal, Jesus told them this was about more than their growling stomachs, stating, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Broken Bodies Healed
When people around Jesus were broken, He could simply touch them or say a word and their bodies and minds would be healed. Yet even that physical healing was pointing toward a greater spiritual healing. All this dysfunction and disrepair actually points to our broken relationship with God. But Jesus was about to repair even this by being broken Himself.

Broken Lord Restored
Shortly before being arrested, Jesus broke bread in front of His closest followers as part of a Passover meal, telling them it represented His broken body. Days later the Bread of Life Himself was broken on a cross and placed in a tomb. When Jesus stepped out of that tomb 3 days later, well, you might imagine even His closest followers had a hard time believing.

As a couple of them were walking home, Jesus caught up and walked alongside. Yet they had no idea it was Him until He did something very familiar, blessing and breaking bread in front of them. Suddenly they knew the once broken Bread of Life was now restored! And if He was restored from death to life, He can restore us too.

Broken People Renewed
It really is amazing to see God work with broken things, especially people. Even though we contribute to the mess anytime we choose not to love God or others, He continually invites us to the table, offering something more satisfying than we’ve ever known. For whoever comes to Him, He’s ready to give real life, renew our relationships and even bring us into a fully rebuilt world one day.

He sure didn’t have to take on another project, but I’m beyond thankful the Lord continues to work even on a broken mess like me. (“Under restoration,” as I like to say.) And if you haven’t yet accepted the offer, I’d like to invite you to His table to see all the amazing ways Jesus, the broken and restored Bread of Life, is able to multiply, heal, restore and renew.

A Christmas Invitation

It’s been a year where the next big news story quickly overshadowed the last, so much that late in the year the internet has filled with memes reminding us of major events which seem already forgotten. Through quick and frequent change, I’ve felt an increasing need for a place of stability and rest, and it’s clear I’m not alone. Everyone’s looking for these things in different places and many ways.

As I navigated 2018, that kind of rest wasn’t found in entertainment, though we thoroughly enjoyed our share of concerts and such. It definitely was not found in politics, though I do appreciate that right to vote. (And the end of the endless advertising... Who’s with me?) It wasn’t in media (social or otherwise), or the gym, or social gatherings, though there was opportunity to enjoy all those. It wasn’t even found in my own house, though I am thankful for a place to call home.

But when the Christmas tunes started rolling out this season, I found myself latching onto the words of the hymn above. Familiar words for me now rang with new hope and invitation.

Those words certainly remind us of what’s celebrated at Christmas by looking back to Jesus’ birth. As we’re told, “...when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4–5) From birth to death to resurrection, everything Jesus did was providing His people the way to be free from our fears and sins (“sin” meaning all the ways we ignore God and His law) so we can truly know God and be made part of His family.

But the hymn also points ahead. As we trust Him for what He’s already done we can look forward to the next truly big story, the day Jesus will return. “...so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28) His first appearance now makes way for His second, giving hope for a world He will make right again.

So whether looking back in celebration or forward with anticipation, the song expresses an invitation for Jesus to “come.” But what’s mind blowing is when He invites us to come to Him. His common invitation is simply, “Follow me.” He persists in inviting with, “Come to me... I will give you rest.” Jesus Himself is that stable place of rest we fail to find anywhere else.

This Christmastime, I invite you to consider who Jesus is and to hear His invitation to you.

All the best to you this holiday season!

Our Only Hope in Life & Death // Easter 2018

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
-Luke 24:1–7 (ESV)

Since December, I’ve attended several funerals and memorials, being directly involved in two, and even in the presence of one friend’s passing. Many have lost loved ones in our church family and among childhood friends, and I’m aware of others going through similar times of loss, or who have in recent memory.

Death isn’t something most of us linger on unless we’re confronted with it in some way, and for good reason. We say it’s “part of life,” but it doesn’t feel right when it hits us. It’s something we all know will happen, but remains impossible to “get used to.” Even if we somehow numb ourselves or explain it away, one day it will sting our emotions again when it becomes personal, for us or someone we love. If we’re honest, death feels like an enemy, because it is.

That’s why I’m so excited for the hope celebrated at Easter. Remembering the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ gives reason to celebrate the ultimate hope, even in the face of death.

In His life, Jesus defeats death by choosing the way of life, living just as God says we should. The rest of us prefer to do things our own way, fracturing our relationships with God and others. This is the hopeless way of separation, and the ultimate separation is death.

In His death, Jesus meets death head on. He did nothing wrong. He doesn’t deserve it. But He’s willing to take what we deserve instead, to experience that ultimate separation Himself so, hopefully, we won’t have to.

In His resurrection, Jesus soundly defeats death. The enemy is conquered. It can’t keep Him down. And His return to life and restored body shows us a better life might be possible for us. We can have hope for resurrection and restoration as well.

Now Jesus invites you and me to His way of life, to a restored relationship with God, to a place where death no longer has its sting or any lasting power over us. Taking that invitation, trusting Him, changes the way we understand life and death, giving a hope that can’t be broken because Jesus, who was broken and died, is very much alive.

It’s my prayer that you come to know the hope of life in Jesus in ways you never before imagined. And if you are one of the many who has recently lost a loved one, I pray you’ll find comfort in Him as well.

Art: unsplash.com

Christmas 2017: Gentleness in a Jarring World

“...unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
-Luke 2:11–12

People I talk to seem to agree this year’s headlines have felt more than a little jarring. Watching disaster, scandal and tragedy unfold, with something new and often unexpected each week, leaves us wondering what could happen next. The realm of social media seems to argue at every turn of events, seeking someone to blame, making the collective experience that much worse. There’s nothing gentle in the way the world is trending.

All this has me considering the unexpected gentleness of what Christians celebrate at Christmas. God Himself comes into the world, very personally present. But He doesn’t come with a great amount of fanfare. There’s certainly some, especially as angels make their announcement, partly quoted above, to initially shaken shepherds, but even this isn’t a widespread broadcast.

What’s more, who do they run off to find? A very unintimidating newborn baby. And where do they find Him? Among animals off the beaten path in an overcrowded city, where the family aren’t exactly expecting visitors.

Even a few years later when men from the East show up to find the same child, they locate Him by way of astronomy, an unusual celestial event perhaps unnoticed by many. It’s not until they inquire of the local authority that someone takes new notice, and in a jarring act of jealousy tries to end his perceived competition.

Clearly if the God of all creation wanted to enter the world, He could have done so any way He chose. Yet He chose this way, coming not as some angry, destroying deity, but one humble and helpless, protected by others in a dangerous world. This is the picture of the Mighty God who is the Prince of Peace, one who grew up like us and can personally relate to us, one who would subject Himself to evil and even death so we could know God. Jesus gives us the ultimate picture of gentleness in a world that’s increasingly jarring.

Perhaps more unexpectedly, He invites us to know true gentleness, to know peace through Him, even in our world today. In Matthew 11, Jesus gives an invitation, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This is far more than just a break from crazy headlines. For anyone who trusts Him, Jesus is offering rest from the weights and struggles each one of us carries inside. To truly know Him is to know peace with God, and to receive all He’s ready to give.

Praying this holiday season you discover new hope through the gentleness of Jesus.

(Scripture: ESV • Art: unsplash.com)

Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go // Easter 2017

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
-Jesus, quoted in John 10:27-30

___________________

Remembering is so important. Throughout the Bible, God constantly calls His people to remember. Remember His promises. Remember His faithfulness. Remember what He has done.

I was recently surprised to realize it’s actually been 20 years since God unmistakably called me to Himself. Ten years ago I shared that story in an Easter letter, which launched my holiday writing tradition and eventually led to the creation of this site. On this anniversary I wanted to share the story again, now slightly refreshed with a deeper understanding.

I spent days pondering these memories, through which the Lord deeply encouraged me. It’s a story that says nothing good of me, but so much about the faithfulness of God. It struck me to consider the reality that in all this time, despite my stumblings and struggles, He has never let me go.

As the Church remembers Jesus’ death and resurrection this Holy Week, I humbly submit to you the story of how God brought me from death to life in Him. Please read here: “my story, His doing.”

God’s blessings to you this Easter. †

Scripture: ESV, Art: creationswap.com

Christmas 2016: The Hope of a Child

 

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be
upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

A child’s birth gives a family so much hope. Hope for the potential of what he or she will become. Hope of love and care. Hope of a future to extend a lineage.

The birth of Jesus gave hope for all this and eternally more, and not only to His earthly family but extended to the whole world.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16

“Whoever believes.” This may already be you. Or perhaps it will be you. Maybe even today.

Believes what? That Jesus is all the Bible says he is. That He, the only perfect child, would grow into a perfect man. And that man would love His people so much that He, though innocent, would die the death of an imperfect criminal.

Why die? Because the world is filled with imperfect people constantly acting against God’s commands. We are the imperfect criminals deserving capital punishment, having no future hope without the birth, life and death of this perfect child.

Why can we have eternal life? Because after 3 days Jesus exited the grave. God Himself was willing to take our punishment. Now our hope springs to life, and new life. His birth can lead to our re-birth. His death saves us from eternal death. And all He does allows us to know God now and eternally.

As Jesus fulfilled the full potential of a perfect human being, we now have hope for the love and care of God Himself, and a future as His child forever.

I pray you truly will believe, and in believing know, all the hope and promises of God delivered through the birth of Jesus.

God’s blessings to you this holiday season.
(Scripture: ESV • Photos: creationswap.com)