Sacred Vulnerability of Christmas

This week's newsletter we're deviating from our current series to share a timely and valuable word from our Northwest District Supervisor, Steve Mickle. This was a part of the newsletter sent to District Foursquare Pastors. Steve's heart and vulnerability were a help and a blessing to me. I hope this will be the same for you, as well as share a bit of the heart from our broader denominational leadership.

Sincerely, Pastor Mike

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I have always loved the holidays:

The celebration.

The family and friends.

The lights.

The Christmas tree.

The giving and receiving of gifts.

But the past few years have been more weighty than wonderful —something to get through rather than something to enjoy.

 I heard A.J. Swoboda once say, "we Thomas Kincade the nativity scene". If we're honest, we sometimes do that with our lives. We hide our authentic selves from everyone (thank you, social media) and from our congregations. But as we see in the Christmas story, there is a vulnerability.

God came to us. He took on flesh. He was a baby, held in the arms of his mother. He was a refugee in Egypt. It’s strange to think of God in this way, but the whole orb of His humanity is part of the vulnerability of the Christmas story. God embodied and accepted the splendor and brokenness of our human condition. Oh, the wonder and beauty of this reality - God came as one of us.

This is advent – the anticipation of a coming reunion, but a celebration of him coming now to each of us. He meets us in our vulnerabilities. He is in all our unknowns and uncertainties. He is in our brokenness and pain. He is in our joys and victories. We are perpetually in an Advent season – waiting for the ultimate coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and a present reality of the Spirit living in us.

Would you sit with me this Christmas season at the feet of the manger and wonder again about what it means to you and your family and your community that God came and took on our flesh, our vulnerabilities? He was carried in a mother’s womb. He ate at a mother’s breast and He lived in our broken world.

I love you, my friends, and I wish you a very merry Christmas,

Steve

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Author

Steve Mickel, 
Foursquare Northwest District Supervisor

Advent | Prince of Peace, King of Kings

I need to confess something and I hope you’ll keep reading even if your opinion differs: I strongly dislike football. I do, American football that is. Soccer, aka football-to-the-rest-of-the-world, is okay. I have tried to watch football many times, but it turns out I’m not interested enough to learn the rules. If I’m going to watch men dance around in tights, my preference would be ballet. It’s very boring to me, and the games are so long. And why is it called football when the ball is rarely kicked?

If you do like football, would you still consider being my friend?

What if we weren’t talking about football at all, but about public health policy or (insert political issue here)?

The circumstances surrounding the pandemic and our current political climate have been challenging and divisive. We’re exhausted. Our relationships have been strained and some of them have not survived this season. I’ve heard the pandemic referred to as “the relationship accelerator,” because it led many new couples towards marriage and some long-term couples towards divorce.

This season has also led me to re-examine and question my relationship to American Christianity. Christians have been a significant contributor to the divisive environment we find ourselves in today, and I am very saddened by this.

If you, like me, are disturbed by the divisiveness we’re seeing now in our culture and the Church, perhaps the solution can be found by going back to the basics of our faith.

Isaiah 9:6
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

During the season of Advent, we remember the miracle of Christmas: that God loved us enough to come and dwell among us in the form of baby Jesus all those many years ago. He was and is and always will be, the Prince of Peace.

If we seek to follow the way of Jesus, this Prince of Peace, what should that mean for us? In the book of Matthew, Jesus says, “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:17, 20)

Later in the New Testament, Paul revisits and expounds the metaphor of fruit, when he writes, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)

I believe Jesus would caution all of us from pointing fingers at other believers who we perceive as part of the problem, without first examining our own hearts and (in)actions. How have our own actions demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, or not? What about the large and small ways that we’ve chosen not to act? Have you ever wanted to tell someone that their joke or comment was inappropriate, but lacked the courage to do so? How well have you loved your neighbor?

To follow the Prince of Peace means to follow the path of love and to turn the other cheek when we are insulted. And yet, I do not believe that the call to follow Jesus is a call to become a doormat, to let others walk over and take advantage of our kindness.

Bringing peace necessitates restoring broken relationships. I believe that broken relationships can only be restored when we stand up for truth and justice, and people are held accountable for their actions. Following Jesus and working to bring peace through restored relationships and accountability is a difficult and scary process. It takes strength and courage. Perhaps that’s why C.S. Lewis chose to depict Christ as a lion in the Chronicles of Narnia.

“‘Aslan is a lion — the lion, the great lion.’

‘Ooh,’ said Susan. ‘I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.’

‘Safe?’ Said Mr. Beaver. ‘Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.’’

- C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Jesus isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.

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About the Author

Ursula and her husband Spencer have two young children, and their family enjoys playing hide-and-seek and dancing in the living room. She works as a communications and events coordinator with the University of Oregon.

You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.

Advent | Everlasting Father | The Road Back

I will admit that I’ve been late to the party with our annual Advent celebration, distracted by the cute calendar with the little windows. Is this culturally related to the 12 Days of Christmas? Not sure. Anyway, Advent has been a delightful revelation to me in recent years as I've discovered it anew.

I love that the very idea of Advent is so rich with meaning. Not at all static, and not just history, but a beautiful story of redemption that keeps on redeeming. Our modern Advent is alive and therefore full of the same hope and joyful anticipation, 2,000 years later. The story is active love stretched out over our time, and into the future. Yes it is a remembrance of the events of that time, but please, let's not stop there.

It's so much more. It's about family.

God's marvelous plan for healing up our diseased and hopeless souls was staged in a far away culture, and ushered in by shepherds, farm animals, a carpenter and a virgin. A perfect and oh so humble beginning for what was to come. In some ways, Joseph, Mary and Jesus were our real first family.

Like a massive glass prism, God is so many facets at once. He is the Creator of this beautiful, vast and complex world. He is the humble servant Jesus. And he is our personal messenger and counselor, the Holy Spirit. He is alive, eternal and timeless. And he is a father. Ours. That isn't just theology, my brothers and sisters, it's why we are all here. It's relational in the absolute largest sense of the word. His existence, and therefore ours, is wrapped in the historical, yet timeless framework of family. God is our father. We are his sons and daughters - literally his spiritual offspring!

He's not just a Dad, but an Everlasting Father.

That title is my absolute favorite in scripture. It encompasses all - a grand design, a spiritual lineage, strong and thoughtful care and the best possible love. It's the ultimate fatherly ideal - a perfect mix of strength and tenderness. Even so, all that God is, quickly becomes too big for us to comprehend. I think he needed to simplify his story for us, and make it real. Yes we needed a savior, but who? Someone we could relate to, and with, on the most human level. A father and son!

I have known about Jesus all my life. I have sung countless songs and have heard so many historical accounts of his actions, and the reactions of people around him. The ideas his parables spelled out have helped me with my own relationships in life, but to be honest, it all didn't fully resonate with me until I experienced fatherhood. With all the joys and heartache.

I have a father. I am a father.

These days, I am feeling closer and better connected to Him, on my step-by-step pilgrimage back. The prodigal son's return. I'm getting to know him again. The work is hard, because of my failures and because of the collective wounds shared all around me. But now those hurts serve to give me perspective, and empathy. And my love is stronger.

Our paradox: we are all entangled in our closest and most essential earthly relationships - for the great, the good, and the not so good. But for now, I think it’s supposed to be that way in a family. All roads back to the Father are lined with the people closest to us, whom we are to interact with, and who partially hold the keys to our eventual fullness. We've learned how to harm. Now we can learn to love.

It's complicated and it's messy.

We may not always connect closely and agree, but as we learn how to love and be loved, the lessons learned and the Spirit's fruit basket reward will make it all worth it. And we will be freed. I believe that!

May we push forward with the Holy Spirit to continue our work, and let Advent stir up our hearts this season!

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About the Author

Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Advent | Wonderful Counselor

As Advent presents a time to pause and reflect, the CitySalt Blog team has crafted some additional writings to accompany our church services in preparation for Christmas. In addition to the regularly scheduled blog posts every other week, we are aligning with the sermon series derived from Isaiah 9:6 and sharing personal reflections each Sunday of Advent.

Isaiah 9:6 ESV
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.

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When I first heard about the unique way our pastors were going to be approaching advent, I was immediately taken back to a profound revelation I received from the Lord about 20 years ago. It was one of those life altering moments that dynamically shifted the course of my relationship with God. Its effect reverberates today and continues to be worked out daily as I choose to embrace its truth.

As a young kid, I grew up in a Christian home with parents who professed faith in Christ and went to church on most occasions. But as I personally began wrestling through life’s challenges, I would read scripture and wish that I could have Jesus physically present with me to tell me how I should respond to each trial I was facing as a young man. I envied the disciples who could ask Jesus any question they wanted and receive his wisdom.

It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties that I went on a journey through John 14-16. Within those chapters, Jesus, the disciples’ Wonderful Counselor, breaks the news that he has to “go away;” that they won’t see him anymore. I had never seen it before, but like walking into a telephone pole while sending a quick text, there it was. Jesus shares the following truth:

John 16:7 (NLT)
“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”

This simple sentence upturned all my pubescent apple cart desires for the physical incarnate Jesus. “It is better for you that I go away…” I reread that sentence multiple times and another proverbial pubescent quote came spilling forth from my lips: “Whatchu Talkin’ bout Willis?”

Throughout these chapters, Jesus breaks down the importance of the coming of the Holy Spirit. He reveals that he now wants to lead his disciples through the indwelling presence of this Holy Spirit. Take a look at

John 16:12-14 (NLT)
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”

Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will be the one to lead, to guide, to counsel us into all truth, and that what the Holy Spirit reveals to us, is coming straight from HIM. Our wonderful counselor is not so far off as we might sometimes imagine him. He has offered his wonderful counsel to us moment by moment, via the Holy Spirit; and the same Spirit that marked the apostles on Pentecost dwells within us today.

May we all take a moment as we enter this advent season to thank the Father for sending us his Son. Let us take another moment to thank Jesus for sending us his Spirit. And may we also thank the Spirit for revealing the wonderful counsel of the Wonderful Counselor, while giving him a moment to speak truth and lead us through whatever life circumstance we find ourselves in this Holiday season.

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About the Author

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids. He loves Jesus, art, music, and poetry. He currently works as the Manager of Learning Technology Solutions for Los Angeles Pacific University and is passionate about adventuring outdoors.

Advent: He is Love | The Love Language of Inclusion

Everyone has a different way they receive love from others. For some, love is perceived as sharing a delicious home-cooked meal at a friend’s house, for others it’s an agreed upon splurge purchase with the family credit card. For me, I feel loved when my friends invite me to share part of their day. It can be as simple as helping my friend weed their garden, allowing us to have a conversation while we pull weeds. Just welcome and include me.

When I think of Advent, I remember that one of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the Angel’s annunciation of Christ’s birth to the shepherds in the fields. God included them in the events of that incredible night.

Luke 2:8-15 TPT
“That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God. And the shepherds were terrified!”

Shepherds belonged to the lowest working class, which was due, at least in part, to the poverty associated with their humble vocation. They learned to live and work on the outskirts of town and community. It must have been a lonely life. God knew His announcement would be a shock, considering the limited nature of the shepherds’ understanding, and He sent His angel to mercifully prepare them. Out of God’s infinitely abundant love, they received a calming message with the wonderful news of the arrival of Jesus, our Savior.

“…the angel reassured them, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!’”

Because the joyous news was for all people, God included the shepherds, and brought the announcement to them by special delivery! They were not left out. Their presence at the stable was evidence that Jesus’ birth was for every human being, no matter their station in life. Even the lowly shepherds were on God’s invitation list.

“Then all at once, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing: ‘Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven!
For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.’”

Since the candlelight Christmas services of my childhood, I’ve enjoyed imagining what this part of the story looked like. The Message version phrases it as “a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises.” In my mind I can “see” the golden light of God’s Glory surrounding the angels as they floated, flew, or maybe even danced to the sound of their praise songs to God! The image of the golden light against the deep blue of the night sky must have been a breath-taking sight! And God gave this spectacular experience to the shepherds!

“When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
‘Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.’”

After a lifetime of feeling shunned and excluded, the shepherds lost their inhibitions long enough to want to see the great event with their own eyes. God’s redemptive love and mercy gave the shepherds a place in history. We do not know their names, but their mention in the biblical account of Christ’s birth has been read by a countless number of people for over two thousand years. God saw to it they were not forgotten. I am so very thankful for this further evidence of God’s eternal and inclusive love.

I think this story remains one of my favorites because it reminds me how our God sees us and includes us all in His gift of redemption. And our loving Lord also gives us an endless amount of opportunities for renewal by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

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About the Author

Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”

Advent: He is Our Joy | Complete Joy

John 15:11 (NIV)
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

These words of Jesus are offered in the middle of a speech to His disciples where he comforts them, talks about abiding in Him and remaining in His love, and exhorts them to love one another. In the midst of these thoughts, He explains why He’s telling them all this: so that His joy can be in them and so that it will be complete.

What does this mean? Joy is a confusing word. Merriam-Webster has three definitions for the noun joy. One is “The emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.” The second is “A state of happiness or felicity.” The last one is “A source or cause of delight.”

I tend to think of joy as the second definition most often when I think about the concept in general. But I feel that the third definition is the most helpful when thinking about it spiritually. Happiness can come and go depending on my circumstances. But if my joy is in the Lord, then He is the source or cause of my delight, and that joy is available no matter my circumstances (very helpful this crazy year!). I love how this saint put it: “Jesus is honey in the mouth, music in the ear, and a shout of joy in the heart.” ~St. Bernard of Clairvaux

So in considering all of this, I think this is how we can have joy: Jesus is the source of our joy. If we follow His directions in John 15 by abiding in Him, remaining in His love, loving each other, and having faith and hope in Him; His joy will be in us, and it will be complete. This doesn’t mean that we’ll always feel happy. Sorrow and other sad emotions are part of life. But we can have an inner joy, knowing the Source of our delight, that sustains us when life is tough.

If Jesus is the source of our joy, then that explains why we can sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” We can have joy because He came. And we don’t sing it in the past tense. He is come! He is with us here and now. That is definitely a reason to celebrate. Merry Christmas!

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About the Author

Jessie is an educator, she currently teaches teens and has taught overseas. She is also a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a (long-neglected) blog about the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her trusty sidekick cat, Arwen in the foothills of South Eugene, where she can go hiking within minutes of the sun coming out from behind the clouds.

Advent: He is Our Peace | Memories

When I think about Peace, I think of the times when I was a kid on Christmas vacation. I could sleep in and enjoy the morning, play with the dogs outside in the snow, then do some chores like chopping wood and bringing it inside for the fire. After that, I could warm up, change into some comfy clothes and sip a cup of hot chocolate—freshly made from scratch by my mom. I’d curl up on the couch by the fire and read a good sci-fi novel like something by Isaac Asimov.

It feels significant that these times happened during Christmas vacations. My family would stay home and enjoy each other’s company. I could enjoy being with my family, my loving parents and brother, in our dwelling place, with few burdens and the joy of not worrying about things.

Now that I am older, I realize that I was privileged to have a home where such times of peace could occur. It was a gift that models living in the new Kingdom, with a loving Father who cares for us and the ability to feel His Presence in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Knowing him as a Peace that can dwell inside of us in times of trouble. These special times were a reflection of the promise of the Peace that Jesus brings to us.

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

If 2020 has given us anything, it has given us trouble. But I take heart that, even though I might be isolated, I can shelter with my wife in our home and with the comfort of the Peace that Jesus has given us. I pray that in these times of trouble and dissent, you may also find the Peace that surpasses understanding, which is a gift from our Father in Heaven, His Son, Jesus and in His Holy Spirit.

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About the Author

Mark lives in Oregon with his lovely wife, Darla and enjoys reading, writing, playing games and working to make the world a better place. He currently serves CitySalt church as a sound engineer and on the church council.

Advent: He is Our Hope | Big Hope

We all want hope. Lots of it. By nature, it seems to come in very small ways, in between the layered pains of life - a “glimmer of hope.” Hope is truly essential to our mental health. It brightens our moments and mood, and it gives us something to look forward to. Hope is a small word, but with huge implications.

In its noun form, it appears to just be an emotion: "The feeling that what is wanted can be had, or that events will turn out for the best". And as a verb it seems more active, but still, is based on our attitude: "To look forward to, with desire and reasonable confidence".

Our bible treats hope with more weight because of what is hoped for. Rather than just that our earthly concerns will turn out well for us, biblical hope takes on an eternal dimension. In Hebrews (6:19) our inspired, heavenly hope is a point of strength: "This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls". Okay, now we're getting somewhere.

I love the way the bible describes the perfect trifecta of faith, hope and love. Hope by itself seems a bit “lonely” and perhaps can be too self-centered? To me that's significant because our lives were not intended to be only about just one of these. They all work together for us in beautiful concert.

As dynamic elements of our personal story, consider this:

Faith is action. A request to step out of the boat into the violent waves. It's all in!

Hope is about our attitude, how we view our current lessons of the soul. Good hope sustains this process for the long haul. And it gives us a future.

Love is always the goal -- the real reason for what we go through in life. We are to be fully invested in God's purifying of our love; with ourselves, towards the people in our lives, and back to Father God.

Corinthians 13:12-13
"Now we see a dim reflection in a mirror; but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love."

Yes, love is the endgame. But what about hope? To me, it's the dim reflection - the glimmer. It's also our promise, a down payment for our later reward. And it's a choice - our daily (or more) choice.

Our hearts are home to hope, and we are to invite it in. In this day of rampant cynicism amidst high expectations, our constant challenge is to hit refresh, purify our hearts, and return to our blessed hope.

Proverbs 4:23
"Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life".

In this season of advent, we all need hope. Even BIG hope!

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About the Author

Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

4th Sunday of Advent | Love: Mini Advents: Spreading LOVE & Making Space for God

1 John 4:7-8 NIV
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

• Because God is love.

• For love comes from God.

• Dear friends, let us love one another.

I was not raised by religious parents. Celebrating traditions in Christianity were not part of my childhood. Yet I am so incredibly grateful – every, single, day, - for the life that the Lord has given me; hardships included.

As I search for guidance on what to write for the fourth advent week, I can’t help but pause at the pattern of the four weeks. It is a familiar pattern that I believe is meant to be a model for our lives.

This pattern begins by wishing, wanting, hoping for something. Still, we don’t get overwhelmed in our desire, rather we find peace in our faith that our hope will one day be realized. This knowing brings joy to our hearts and as joy helps to open our hearts, Love can flow freely from above, to around us, and back up in gratitude.

I am humbled by our lack of understanding when faced with God’s greatness. I cannot pretend to comprehend His great design, but God must have not designed this process lightly. There must have been much care and attention put on this process; both in the worldly structure (hope for provisions, success, relationships) and within us as His creations (hope for His guidance, His gift of eternal life). Regardless of what we are hoping for, with peace and joy, Love can spread and grow within us.

Are we constantly living mini advents year-round? Do you hope for things? Believe in them and live in faith for those things? Does this bring you joy? Do you spread Love when you are experiencing joy?

“Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God”

Could this be a recipe for making space for God in our lives? For God’s pattern was this - Jesus came, gave us hope in salvation and left us with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Max Lucado seems to have said something similar. In the article, “Max Lucado Launches John 3:16 Movement” his take on John 3:16 is discussed:

Max Lucado, author of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope, calls the well-known verse “a 26-word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same.”

“John 3:16 has always been that one verse that I thought summarizes, encapsulates, [and] carries the heart of the Gospel like no other verse,” Lucado said Monday on Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16 states. (Christianpost.com)

For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Because God loved the world, He sent us hope, the Prince of Peace, that whoever believes and holds this hope, will have eternal life.

The last key step in bringing God and love to our lives, to this world; we must now choose to make space in our lives for the Holy Spirit to thrive and spread Love.

For no cake was ever baked without the action of making it. While God is all powerful, He wants our participation in the kitchen.

This month (and beyond) I will look for His presence and make space for it in my life by having hope and living in the peace and joy of that hope.

This way I can both honor God’s gift of Jesus and prepare for His return, by living in Love, by living with God here and now.

Peter 1:22-23
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

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About the Author

Leona is a wife, mother and traveler who is intrigued by how different people live. Her latest project is exploring ways that different walks of life can simplify, in order to live a fulfilling journey.

3rd Sunday of Advent | Serious Joy

It’s funny, these things of God. They are usually simple, and yet also totally complex.

Take for instance, joy. Who doesn’t like joy? Who doesn’t want to be joyful? But on the other hand, joy? Really? It’s a good thing, yes. But there are serious things in this world. Serious issues and serious needs, serious plans and serious pain. Is it even ok to be joyful?

Like many things in God’s Kingdom, joy is complex… Joy can look so uniquely different to each person. What does joy look like to you? What comes to mind when you think of joy? To me, off the top of my head, joy is the sweet smiles and piercing giggles of glee from my boys. It’s catching a glimpse of a mountain, with a sunset behind it, and a person standing on the very top. Joy is the feeling in my chest when you walk in the room, and I get to hug you. Joy is the swirl of creamer as it sinks into the beautiful brown coffee in my favorite cup. These are the things that come right to mind when I think of joy. What about you?

I am 100% confident, though, that I don’t even scratch the surface when it comes to understanding joy. I believe joy is a deep, layered mystery. An important mystery. As a word, it’s mentioned in the Bible hundreds of times – it’s a reaction, a command, an attribute of God, a thing, a feeling... The Bible has an awful lot to say about joy. My favorites are where it says that the joy of the Lord is our strength and in God’s Presence is fullness of Joy - how cool is that? There are so many layers to this joy thing. The more I look into it, the more I feel the invitation to dive in even deeper.

So this Advent Season, let’s take time for joy. As we pause and make room for Jesus in our hearts, He can’t help but talk to us about joy! His birth was announced with joy, He endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and He gave us the Holy Spirit, who’s Presence produces joy.

Joy. Serious joy. The mystery of joy, the strength of joy, the certainty of joy, and yes, maybe even the dancing silly giggles of joy! Let serious joy meet you this season, wherever you find yourself. In grief, let joy be a silent but strong arm to lean on. Or in celebration, let joy join you on the dance floor. Because joy isn’t one thing or the other. Joy is the affirmation that love wins, joy is a part of God that is beyond our understanding… except that we can trust it and it is good. Joy is not an expectation, a manufactured feeling, or a performance. Importantly, joy isn’t up to us. Joy was God’s idea.

I’ll close with a spoken word piece that really resonates with my heart and expresses way more eloquently than I what I am trying to say. Also if you’re feeling inspired to dig into the mysteries of serious joy, there’s a list of some scriptures I have been sitting in this week to get your thoughts going!

To close, I pray for us all, that we each get blessed with a new layer of serious joy this Christmas that meets us with open arms right where we are.

SPOKEN WORD:

What does joy look like?

When hope is nigh,
Does it dress itself in wonder?
Does it cower in defeat?

What is the source of your joy?

Is it hopes and dreams newly kindled?
A new love bursting at its seams
Promises fulfilled

Does it manifest in silent hope,
The toothless smile eclipsed on the tender visage of a newborn?

Is it born out of moment or is it a discipline?

Is it ephemeral,
Does it ebb and flow between conscious thanksgiving and quiet reverence?

Nehemiah said to the Israelites,
Do not be grieved for the joy of the lord is your strength.

What happens when grief is not compatible with joy?

What if my pain doesn’t echo the melodies within a praise song?

What if my heart is too preoccupied with its rupture to see the Father beckoning still?

Joy is not the absence of pain.

Yet it stands in the midst of chaos and destruction and
Locks arms with peace, hope and love and resounds I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN

It is the inner dwelling of the chambers of the Father’s promises

Laced with purpose, joy infuses the most broken of futures and claims, however incredulous, there is a good and expected end.

Joy is the Father’s love song to the narrow crevices, the deepest cavities our soul.

And it sings:

YOU SHALL OVERCOME

YOU SHALL OVERCOME

YOU SHALL OVERCOME

-Spoken word by Ollie Danner

Verses to consider:
Luke 1:8-14
Psalm 16:11
Nehemiah 8:10
John 15:9-11
Colossians 1:11-12
Isaiah 35:10
Isaiah 49:13

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About the Author

Pam is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her. She loves people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids, women and families with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other.

Pam is currently serving as Children and Family Pastor at Valley Christian Center in Albany. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys. Their family will always be a much loved part of our CitySalt family.

2nd Sunday of Advent | Peace: Oh Come, Thou Dayspring

Isaiah 11:1-9
“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom...
Not by appearance shall he judge,
nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
as water covers the sea.”

I’ve loved singing hymns since I was a child, sitting next to my parents in church, listening to my dad harmonize and to my mom’s beautiful soprano lilt. Eventually, I learned to read the alto line, and would concentrate on being able to follow the often-unintuitive harmonic changes. I didn’t pay very close attention to the words, preferring to admire how the sound of my voice mixed with others to create beautiful noise, instead of pondering the archaic language and outdated turns-of-phrase tumbling out of my mouth.

And, I confess, there are times I read the promises of scripture much like I sang the prose of songs: without much thought as to what they really mean. Or, more specifically, what they mean I am being called to do. “Isaiah 11, yeah, the wolf and the lamb and no more hurting and killing.”

During Advent, many of us will sing the familiar refrain of Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel. Here’s a version I love.

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“Oh come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer / us to thine Advent here / disperse the gloomy clouds of night / and death’s dark shadows put to flight.”

Come thou Dayspring.

A “dayspring” is the dawn of a new day, or the beginning of a new era, a new order, a new way of doing business. Far from just another sunrise on just another day, the particular dayspring of Jesus’ birth would mark a profound shift in what it meant to be alive on this earth. This Dayspring would bridge social, economic, gender, religious, health, legal, and all other divides. This Dayspring would bring hope to a people suffering under the tyrannical rule of a violent empire and to those within the empire, too. This Dayspring would turn notions of forgiveness, hospitality, and faithfulness on their heads. This Dayspring would conquer death, and show us that we can, too.

From Isaiah’s prophecy (“There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain”) to Mary’s Magnificat (“[H]e has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate”) to an 18th-century German hymnal (“death’s dark shadows put to flight”), we see that the incarnation, the enfleshing, of God signals a profound change in the same old death-dealing order of things.

And yet, I find myself thinking in ways and taking actions that give death victory. “I’m just one person, my actions won’t make a difference.” “There are so many things going wrong, I can’t think about them all.” “This is just one of the compromises I’m making to this imperfect world.” These are not the thoughts that fuel the dogged pursuit of peace, they are complacency and surrender to the lies of the Enemy.

How can we pursue peace? What choices can we make that help foster the flourishing of God’s whole creation? How can we contribute to life, and not death, to healing, and not violence? How can we love, and not fear?

A prayer, because we won’t be able to do this alone:

God for whom we wait,
Lord of night and the solemn beauty of darkness:
you have grieved over your creation,
over our swords and all the terrible weapons we fashion.
Nations and peoples live in fear: how can we make tools of our swords
or take the wages of our weapons to feed the hungry?
Give us, Lord, a love that is greater than our fear.
We wait for the Messiah,
keeping watch and praying in his name,
Jesus, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

– Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, 1988

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About the Author

Sarah is the author of Vegangelical: How Caring for Animals Can Shape Your Faith (Zondervan, 2016) and Animals Are Not Ours (No, Really, They’re Not): An Evangelical Animal Liberation Theology (Cascade Books, 2016). She spends her days working for CreatureKind, helping Christians put their faith into action. She lives in Eugene with her husband, son, and animal companions and enjoys action movies, black coffee, the daily crossword, and dreaming of her next international journey.

1st Sunday of Advent | Hope: This House Has Good Bones

Isaiah 9:2, 6
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined…For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulder; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

My children and I noticed Christmas lights popping up around town just after the switch to standard time in November this year, which seemed earlier than usual. “Why are people putting up their Christmas lights now?” my daughter asked me.

“Maybe they want more light,” I told her. “It’s dark so early this time of year.”

When the above scripture talks about darkness, it is talking about more than a lack of light. It is speaking of a deep spiritual darkness, one that is relevant to us today as well.

Last year I gave up reading the news for Lent, and continued my ban on news for several months longer. It was great. I could have happily gone on that way indefinitely, not knowing about migrant children being separated from their parents at our border, or the random episodes of violence that so often make the headlines. Ignorance can be bliss, at least temporarily.

But we are not called to live in ignorance, cut off from the troubles of the world. The world’s troubles continue, whether or not we recognize them. And at some point, we are all affected. We might choose not to think about climate change, for example, but it’s hard to ignore when our air becomes heavily polluted by wildfire smoke every August.

In a poem titled Good Bones, writer Maggie Smith proclaims that,

Life is short and the world
is at least half terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real dump, chirps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful, right?
You could make this place beautiful.

We can’t ignore that we live in a land of deep darkness, as scripture says, or as Smith puts it, that the world is in large part terrible. But in spite of it, I do have an unshakeable sense of hope. I always picture a positive future for us on earth, just as it is in heaven.

Advent is here and with it we remember the coming of our King. Two thousand years ago our God chose to enter into our world in the most humble of ways, born in a manger because there was no room in the inn.

Do you wish that Jesus was here among us now, that you could sit across the table from him and get a straight answer about your big questions? I know I do. But Jesus wouldn’t give a straight answer anyway, preferring to teach through story and metaphor. Preferring to answer with a question.

Jesus was a light in the darkness. He came as our Savior, and he came to bring hope. Scripture tells us that when he left our world and ascended to heaven, we became his hands and feet.

This is an immense responsibility. We are Christ’s hands and feet. We are called collectively as Christians to be the light to the world. On a bad day, when we’ve read too many sad stories in the news, or when tragedy has touched us directly, we may say it’s too hard. We may say it hurts too much, there’s too much work to be done, I don’t know where to begin.

I imagine that if Jesus were sitting across from us at the table, he might simply say, “This place could be beautiful right? You could make this place beautiful.”

Friends, I invite you to partner with Jesus this Advent season in bringing hope to the world. Here are a few concrete ideas for how to do just that.

Do random acts of kindness. Brighten someone’s day with an unexpected act of kindness. Write an encouraging text message or email, leave quarters at a laundromat, bring cookies to your neighbor, take time to recycle, send a Christmas card to your grandma, donate your used winter clothes to our Eugene Mission Warm Drive. Small acts of kindness to others (and the planet) do make a difference.

Serve your church or other local nonprofits. If you have a heart for service, there are many opportunities within our church as well as in the community. Food for Lane County, the Eugene Mission, and Habitat for Humanity are just a few local organizations that often need volunteers. Connect with Pastor Mike for details on serving our church or ideas on connecting with local nonprofits.

Give relationally. If you’re like me and you haven’t yet completed your Christmas shopping, consider giving fewer material items and more relational or experiential gifts. This serves to strengthen relationships and create positive memories as well as cut down on waste — and it may even save you money. Relational gifts can vary widely depending on your budget, but it could be as simple as cooking a special dinner for family members.

Donate globally. Consider a donation to a nonprofit that helps the poor and marginalized in the developing world, where your dollars can make the biggest impact. One of my favorites is the Fistula Foundation, which provides life-changing surgery for women with devastating childbirth injuries in parts of Africa and Asia. Look for charities with high ratings from a reputable third party like Charity Navigator.

Visit adventconspiracy.org for more resources on living missionally during the Advent season.

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About the Author

Ursula and her husband Spencer have two young children, and their family enjoys playing hide-and-seek and dancing in the living room. She works as a communications and events coordinator with the University of Oregon. Ursula is also CitySalt’s Children’s Ministry Director. 

You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.

Fourth Sunday of Advent | Immanuel - “God with Us”

I have to tell you, I really love the Christmas season.  

Upon hearing that, some of you agree and some of you cringe. And I think that’s a part of why I love it…  the wonder, the complexity, the thought-provoking element that it brings.

For me, whether its Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or Winter Break, this time of year gathers all my friends, from all sorts of backgrounds and beliefs, into a similar song.  It opens hearts and love abounds. I love that it breaks down barriers and it brings people together. I love that so many share the desire to celebrate, to have joy, to be generous and festive. It’s a time when families gather, traditions are created, pictures are taken, and memories are made. It’s a time we think of others and how to delight their hearts. Even our houses are decked out with such gaudy atrocity that kids squeal with delight! Schools get a break, many people get at least a day or 2 extra off, and calendars are overflowing with party plans.    

Pausing and looking around, I think we display community more right now than any other time of year. And I believe Jesus is with us here. In the middle of this. He is with us, and He loves this.

But there’s more, isn’t there? As I’ve gotten older and experienced more life, I have both experienced and witnessed a different view of the holidays. There is also the side of not having a group to gather with, of all this togetherness making the alone so clear, painfully highlighting what is lacking. Of not being able to afford to eat, let alone buy gifts for the family. Of the very words used to celebrate this time causing division and pain. Of the highlighted suffering in the world contrasted by spending $5 for a red cup.  Of remembering a lost loved one, the suffering and sadness of the last with or the first without. Of memories being more painful than warm, of curling up at home and just wishing it was January. Of the tension of holding the broken overshadowing the invitation to celebrate. Jesus is with us here too. In the midst. Holding us tight and sharing in our tears.

And as I have taken this time to stop and try to capture a summary of what others may experience in this season, I realize that this is an impossible task. I am likely leaving out your point of view, what is important to you, what you are passionate about, what you love and what you hate about Christmas time, and I’m sorry. The truth is, each one of us would describe this season, this moment, in a totally unique way. Our internal design, our likes and dislikes, our memories and wounds, our families and surroundings shape each one of us so totally uniquely and cause us to experience this season so differently.  I think that is amazing. But the really amazing thing is, in each of our descriptions, whether we know it or not, only one thing never changes - Jesus is with each one of us.

So this season I have spent many quiet mornings, with my cup of coffee, learning to just sit with this dichotomy. For me, I realize it’s actually the reason why I love this season. I realize that every single person would describe their Christmas differently. Their likes, dislikes, beliefs, and the list goes on. But that doesn’t change a Truth. Christmas is declaring a Truth. And the Truth of Christmas time is so much bigger than our current experience and circumstances. And whether we realize it or not, whether we make it the center or a side note, whether we even believe it or not, the Truth of Christmas is Jesus, and that He is with us.

Christmas is an indisputable Truth and a reminder of just that - that Jesus is with us.   Immanuel. That He came down in the raw, in the real, in the poop and the blood, the miraculous and the mundane.  He experienced the silly, the fun and the festive, and He also experienced the sad, and the deep, and the painful.

He is the two sides to the coin. He holds the tension. He knows that in God’s Presence is the fullness of joy, and that as we are suffering, we are in God’s Presence.  He is the King and the Baby. He is the Ruler and the Crucified. He is the life that is attained through death. He is LOVE.  

And that is what is being highlighted to me during Advent this year. As I go through each week, taking time out, making space, being present, the tension gets very loud. Trying to hold my view, and your view, and make space for the rest of the world’s experience right now. I wrestle with how to give a voice to it all, how to honor God in it, how to love people in it, how to balance having so much going on at the same time. As we prepare, whatever that looks like for each of us, we cannot help but stumble into this wrestling match – for each of us it’s varied and personal and real. And He is with us.  

He knew there was no easy answer. He knew there wasn’t a right slogan or a pat solution that would help us with this wrestle of life. He made us way too complex for that! He made each of us so unique and varied. He knew that only by coming, only by really Him personally being with each one of us, would we have access to the answer. And the answer is Him!

Jesus said, “In this world you will have troubles.” And we can all attest that this is true.  But….He is with us and He has overcome this world.  

So as Christmas Eve comes upon us, and we get ready to light the last candle of Advent, this is what stands out to me:  Jesus is with us.  Immanuel.

My prayer as you read this is….that you would feel His presence. That whether this moment is filled with excitement or suffering, you would know that He is with you. His love gives you permission to wrestle and grace for what that looks like. He joins in your laughter and wipes your tears. He knows what hurts, and He understands our why.  We just get to be exactly who we are, and He is always with us.

And He is with us, also helping us to love our neighbors – giving us the patience and insight to honor their wrestling, the love to let them be in their process, and the understanding of how complex and different we all are. He is reminding us that He came for all of us, and that He asks us to love and let His light shine, because through this is how others will come to know Him.

So this holiday season, I wish you a season that is filled with the wonder of the Truth.  The Truth that is the foundation below it all, that never changes, that we can count on, and that will never will leave or forsake us. Immanuel.

Thank you for being part of my community, and a wonderful piece of my life that I treasure! Much love to you today!

Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

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About the Author

Pam Sand is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her.  She loves young people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other.  She joined our staff team in 2012 and oversees the ministry of ages from birth to eighth grade. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys.

Third Sunday of Advent | Learning to Find JOY in the Holiday Season

I know it sounds silly. The holiday season is suppose to be full of joy. In my experience though, it won’t just float down upon us, or come wrapped in a decorated box. By following the evolving traditions of modern culture, are we finding true joy? Or just moments of surface happiness, strung together like Christmas lights around the tree?

Over the years, my husband and I have simplified holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. This has been about not doing, not buying, not planning things. It is a very cleansing experience and opens up space for what truly brings us joy. There is a lot of intention in our choices, but they also come from a specific lifestyle we have chosen. We are both lovers of adventure, travel and experience, and over the last 12 years we have lived between 3 countries and in numerous homes. Moving will drive you to insanity if you cling to material things, so we don’t.

I can clearly divide our 12 years together into 7 “seasons”. While we are continuously working toward maintaining the lifestyle we have chosen, we often make last minute, unexpected decisions. We try to intentionally leave our hearts open to opportunity that may present itself, and to be aware of the Lord nudging us in a specific direction.

When we approach times of change and are faced with uncertainty, we can feel scared and anxious.

Luke 2:8-9
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

We push and pray ourselves into believing in the future, into having Faith in what God has for us, into believing in His promises and His word.

With each “seasonal change”, I imagine myself (and the life-journey I am on), as a painting that the Lord is carefully adding to or revealing. We can’t imagine what He has in store for us in the future, but as we dream about tomorrow’s adventures, we can choose hope and excitement.

It is not easy to choose hope and excitement over fear. In this struggle, I cling to my faith. Some moments I feel like a child telling myself, “there’s not a monster by the closet. It’s only a pile of clothes” or “it will all work out, everything will be okay”.

It’s not easy to choose hope and excitement over fear. Yet it is possible.

This year the Lord has us in yet another new season. He has sat down in front of the canvas and is ready to reveal a new chapter in our lives; now pause. Again.

He has sat down in front of the canvas and is ready to reveal a new chapter in our lives.

Breath in that truth.

Luke 2:10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

While we have the freedom of choice, God is there with us, guiding us, encouraging us and lighting the right paths at all the forks in the road. His Holy Spirit lives with us and it all began with the birth of Jesus Christ. There is no uncertainty in this truth, regardless of what unexpected changes we may be facing. This “good news” that has brought us “great joy” is here with us now, in this moment. We do not need to wait.

As the shepherds sat in the field, ready to wait out the night and in anticipation for a new day, they were probably a little cold and maybe a little anxious. They became “terrified” by the sudden appearance of angels. It was unexpected and powerful. Yet it was in this moment that the Lord brought them joy.  In these moments of uncertainty, in seasons of transition (whether it is a big life change or just a new year) we have the opportunity to experience true joy.

When we have been stripped of the comforts that we thought we needed to fill our lives with, whether through hardship or choice, space is created to return to what truly matters. What is it that truly matters? Each year, this becomes a topic of conversation, revolving around gifts, stuff and the chaos of the season. Often times we acknowledge the fact that we do too much, buy too much and make ourselves too busy. Sometimes we are afraid of missing out on something or feeling empty without “the holiday cheer”. But if we can face the truth that “GOD IS ENOUGH” - more than enough! - we can find ways to create space in our lives to find joy in what we have.

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About the Author

Leona Abrahao is a wife, mother and traveler who is intrigued by how different people live. Her latest project is exploring ways that different walks of life can simplify, in order to live a fulfilling journey.

Second Sunday of Advent | Rediscovering the Joy of Christmas

It was early, which has always been my hour to begin looking at the world
And of course, even in the darkness, to begin listening into it,
Especially under the pines where the owl lives and sometimes calls out
As I walk by, as he did on this morning. So many gifts!
What do they mean? In the marshes where the pink light was just arriving
The mink with his bristle tail was stalking the soft-eared mice, 
And in the pines the cones were heavy, each one ordained to open.
Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.
-- from It was Early, by Mary Oliver 

As a child I loved everything about Christmas. It was the most magical time of year. I remember the excitement of driving into Forest Service land to pick out the perfect Christmas tree with my parents. I always wanted something huge. The tree that would actually fit in our house never seemed big enough out in the forest. Then there was the tradition of getting our treasured family ornaments out of storage every year and finding the perfect spot to place each one. I loved the way the tree looked in our living room, covered in mismatched ornaments and lights. I loved the smell of the fir needles wafting through our house. I loved watching as wrapped gifts were placed under the tree and the anticipation of opening them on Christmas morning. 

We didn’t go to church and I didn’t know much about Jesus back then. Still, the magic of Christmas was all around, in the decorations, the carols, the lights, and the gifts. And yes, Santa Claus was a big part of it too. I would leave milk and cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve and he always left behind crumbs and a thank you note. I used to get up on Christmas morning at the crack of dawn to see what surprises Santa had left in my stocking. I would fall back asleep on the couch as I waited for my parents to wake up at a more reasonable hour. One early morning I even heard bells as I tiptoed towards the living room.

At some point I stopped getting up early on Christmas morning. I stopped believing in Santa Claus, and I stopped receiving so many gifts from relatives. By the time I was an adult, Christmas had almost entirely lost its magic for me. 

By then I knew Jesus and I had no use for the clutter of Christmas trees or decorations, stockings or Secret Santa gift exchanges. I rejected the emptiness of our highly commercialized cultural celebration of Chri$tma$. It was the holiday season I spent working at a busy Portland-area shopping mall that really turned me off. Between the constantly looping holiday video, the grumpy customers, the freeway traffic jams, and the ever-changing sales that never rang up correctly — it was a giant headache. After that, I opted out of the gift giving side of Christmas as much as possible.

Now as a mom of two young children I want to create memories of a magical Christmas season for my own family. I also want our family celebration of Christmas to be something that honors and draws us closer to Christ. Gifts are a part of our family celebration, but our goal is always to have gifts be a side note to the joy of spending time together, rather than a central focus. 

I also want to be open to receive gifts this Christmas season, the gifts that come directly from the Lord and that are often overlooked. Sometimes we simply need to open our eyes to become aware of these types of gifts. As Mary Oliver writes, “Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.”

So I will use this Christmas season as an opportunity to practice gratitude and notice the abundant blessings already present in my life. This weekend I took my daughter roller-skating and she was brave and resilient in the face of many falls. Yesterday I saw a huge double rainbow out my kitchen window. Tonight my husband made us dinner, and later I got to snuggle close to my 2-year-old as I put him to bed.

But it’s not all rosy is it? This morning I cried in my car on the way to work as I thought about the brokenness in our world and my inability to do much about it. Sometimes the world around us feels very dark indeed. 

Thankfully Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the biggest gift of all — Jesus Himself. Emmanuel. God is with us, and He is the light we need to overcome the darkness. It is no accident that we celebrate Christ’s birth so close to the winter solstice, literally the darkest time of year.

John 1: 4-5
“In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.”

Jesus, redeemer, bringer of hope, bringer of light. Let us be open to receive the gifts that you have for us. And let us be filled with your light, so that we can be a light to others when they need one. 

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About the Author

Ursula Crawford and her husband Spencer have two young children, and their family enjoys playing hide-and-seek and dancing in the living room. She works as a communications and events coordinator with the University of Oregon. You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.

"Responses" by Laura Rice

Our response when confronted about our sin is a significant clue to the condition of our hearts
before others and God.  When John spoke Sunday evening, he sought to illustrate the different
ways we may react.  He succinctly told of 6 scriptural scenarios.

Adam and Eve were disobedient. Their responses were classic: Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. They were grieved by the consequences God pronounced but failed to truly repent. The story of Cain and Abel clearly shows, again, a man warned and bent toward sin, who when confronted arrogantly deflects his actions and even moans and complains about God’s meting out of consequence.

King Saul was the most clueless about his sin.  He is proud of his accomplishments as a warrior
and seems to easily ignore God’s instructions about offerings.  His arrogance and bitterness follow him forward throughout his life.

These 3 recountings have the same theme. No one wants to take responsibility for their sin.  Each has a wrong view of God and of the severity of disobedience.The next 3 stories demonstrate God’s desire for us when we sin. Judah, the fourth son of Israel and Leah go through some trials in order to own his sin.  He had previously attempted to save his brother Joseph when the other brothers were intent on killing him.  He had compassion.

This is many years before he sins against Tamar.  When she does confront him he takes responsibility and even makes full retribution to her for the denial of a husband.  I see again
his heart of compassion and his taking responsibility for his actions. David was already set up for sin when he doesn’t join his men at war and steps out of his palace and sees Bathsheba. Then when he is tempted by Bathsheba’s beauty he takes what he wants and even has her
husband killed when her pregnancy is realized. 

It takes the prophet, Nathan, to voice the truth of what he’s done, but David quickly repents before God. Then there is the short story of the tax collector who knows who he is and what he has done, and then repents. This is contrasted to the Pharisee who thinks highly of himself.
The moral of these stories is:  Keep our hearts open to hear from God; read the word to stay in touch with what God desires from us both in word and actions;  allow God to examine our hearts; and allow others to expose attitudes and deep ungodly leanings in us; remain humble.   

I have done all of what the first 3 stories have showed.  I definitely have hidden my sin from God and others.  I have learned that is a miserable way to live.  Blaming my sin on someone else or on circumstances left me feeling nervously deceitful.  Coming clean may be hard but there is a great relief in agreeing with God.  I have also been warned by God before I chose to sin.  Though that seems like a no-brainer (to listen to Him), temptation and bondage are powerful.  Our hearts can be incredibly deceitful. I have learned to repent and forgive quickly.  We know God will help us through because this is His will, to be in right standing with Himself and others.