Shortly before Christmas, my friend Debbi Holmes sent these powerful insights from her own journey with God that I wanted to pass on:
Early this fall, I found myself in a familiar state – my “default” position, so to speak – with the Lord. Throughout my 42 year relationship with the Lord, I have struggled off and on with believing and receiving His love. My tendency is to drift into a place of self-sufficiency, taking care of myself because I don’t feel worthy of His attention and love. However, He has faithfully continued to draw me back, as He did once again this fall.
One of the pictures that comes to mind when I am in this struggle is the story Jesus told of the Good Shepherd who had 100 sheep, one of which has wandered away. I can often relate to that wandering sheep, but the problem is that sometimes I have a hard time believing the Shepherd would actually notice I’m gone, much less come after me. But this is absolutely a lie straight from hell! The truth is that He did come! That’s what Christmas is all about – He came! He was not content to let us live like stray sheep, lost and alone. He came after us, after you and me, to bring us back to the Father. He is truly the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls. (1 Pet. 2:24)
I heard Sara Groves (a contemporary singer/songwriter) on the radio the other day, talking about a line from “O Holy Night” – “He appeared, and the soul found it’s worth.” It’s my favorite Christmas song, but I have never really noticed the incredible depth of those words. He came, He appeared! This very fact in and of itself proves that our souls have worth – that He values us enough to give up His heavenly throne for a womb and a manger and a cross.
This Christmas, I am especially thankful that He came… for me, a lost sheep. And in His grace He continues to come through His Spirit, calling me back to His warmth and love.
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people!” (Luke 1:68)
Merry Christmas … a bit belatedly.
“‘Long lay the world, in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth”
I heard that on the ipod shuffle yesterday during a long drive home. Much deep and profound meaning is hidden in the lyrics of old songs and hymns, if we stop and think about what we are blithely singing.
Thank God for technology.
That was awesome. Thanks so much for your transparency and for sharing that God’s unfailing love is so amazing.
Mike:
Thanks for this. I am grateful and appreciate the “splash” on my own soul.
Also, I am such a sluggard in terms of following blogs…your blog! Keep sending me reminders as I do enjoy your thinking and expressions. You and CS Lewis!!!
Happy New Year…
Gratefully,
bob
On a similar vein, why should we believe that God cares about us? Here’s a humorous but cutting comment attached to a recent physorg.com scientific article on anger at God:
“As a practicing Deity myself I can assure the writers of this article that it is the man made gods (christians muslems hindus etc) that turn people angry then mental and make them go to war.
Any true self respecting god could not be bothered with you insignificant little humans on a minor planet in a small solar system on the outskirts of an average spiral galaxy, one of Billions.
You religious think you’re special.
Your arrogance is beyond belief.
[signed] Spaghetti Monster.”
The skeptics in the world consider it the height of arrogance to think that God gives a rip about us insignificant humans wandering around on this tiny world. And it would be sheer arrogance but for the fact of the tiny baby born in Bethlehem.