FOCUSING ON GOD’S BIGGER STORY

I don’t mind long projects as long ss they can be finished in a day. By golly, it if means I have to say up all night then so be it!!!

Years ago, when my children were young, I found a wooden trifold stand up screen at a secondhand store which I thought would look perfect in the corner of our living room.  It just needed a bit of a makeover.

I picked up some fabric, padding, and trim and got to work.

I let the kids stay up and “help”. I don’t remember how long it took only that we watched the movie “Pipi Longstockings” three times in a row. Yes, three times!!!

I know some of you who are A type personalities may be wondering how in the world does any sane mother keep that kind of a schedule? Believe me when my children became teens all the late nights caught up with us. I can remember so clearly the time when this mama was on her knees asking God to fill her gaps!!!

I love projects. I always have and I love finishing them!!! No dilly-dallying. Let’s set the timer and see if we can beat it.

All this leads me to an advent Christmas banner…also made within 24 hours. Ha!!! Every day during the Christmas season, we add an ornament cut out with felt to the Christmas tree. There is an accompanying Scripture passage and a hymn or Christmas carol. And whoever happens to be in the house at the time gets to add the ornament to the tree!

There is something about the advent season that takes us beyond the present!!!

As Pastor Rich reminded us on Sunday, when we focus on God’s word and His work throughout the centuries there is a shifting of the magnifying glass from our present troubles to the eternal power and faithfulness of God manifested throughout the history of the world.

Our faith does not rest in some God or angel who met somebody under some tree and gave him tablets that nobody can read (Mormonism), or a god who met some man in a cave in some unknown place (Islam).

No, our God is the God who made the universe and put the stars in place and calls them all by name. Our God is the God who made the earth and everything in it and placed us on it!!

Our God came to us to dwell with us. He intervenes in human affairs throughout history!!!

He appears to individuals like Adam, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses.  He appears to groups of people like the seventy elders on Mount Sinai, and to an entire nation which He led through the wilderness as a visible cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

When we pick up the Scriptures we read over and over again that at such and such a time, when so and so was king, in such and such a place God spoke, or God did something. This is seen throughout the centuries!!!

Who is a God, like our God?!! There is none.

Though there have been periods of silence as in the four hundred years between Genesis and Exodus or the four hundred years between Malachi and Matthew, God has proven to be faithful to His promises.

Yes, there are times of waiting …but God is faithful in the waiting!!!!

God will fulfill what He says He will do. We have seen it over, and over, and over again!!!!

This is the story of Christmas.

God came to dwell with us, just like He promised, and He will build His kingdom and dwell with us forever.

This is our God. He came to us!!! And will come again!!!

Unlike this mama who likes a quick and easy project, God’s plan has unfolded throughout human history.

This Christmas let’s shift our focus to God’s bigger story and find our place within it!!!

I’ve included two songs. “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” & “Mary Did You Know” If you have a moment grab the hands of your spouse, your children or just sit quietly with a cup of coffee, close your eyes and worship.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from my house to yours!!!