where’s your little child?

where’s your little child?

Nov 15

This weekend I am overjoyed & childlike as I praise God for the gift of Christ to me! I love the Christmas season!  As the air becomes cool & crisp, I find myself longing for some quiet time near a fire, where I can watch flurries and journey back in time to that little town in palestine where the greatest news ever told first began. I allow the ‘little boy’ in me to become a clay-mation character in the Christmas scene… shepherds, stars, angels, sheep, a stable and of course, the Baby!  AMAZING!

The God who created the world including you and me – the God who longs to be in eternal loving relationship with us – chooses to step out of perfection into sin, suffering and selfishness in order to share life with us. And He does it with incredible humility and vulnerability by entering the world as an infant.

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

He would lay in a wooden trough at birth and upon a wooden cross at death – both because He loves us and desires us to move past despair & grasp our destiny through Him.  It’s the greatest love story ever told! Allow me to tell it another way…

Once upon a time there was a very rich king. His power and preeminence were known throughout the world. Yet something was missing in his life: A woman to join him as wife and queen. Without such a partner, the palace was empty and desolate.

One day, while riding through the streets of a small village he saw a beautiful peasant girl. She was so lovely that she immediately won the king’s heart. He desired her more than anything else in the world.

Every day the king would ride by her house hoping for a chance to glimpse her in passing. He pondered how he might win her love. He thought, “I will draw up a royal decree and require her to be brought before me — then I shall make her queen of my land.”

But as he considered this action, he realized she was a subject, and would therefore have to obey him. Under those terms, he could never be certain that he had truly won her love.

Then he said to himself, “I shall call on her in person. I will dress in my royal robes, wear my priceless crown, my best rings — bear my silver sword — I will overwhelm her with my majesty and position and sweep her off her feet so she will want to become my bride.”

But again he realized he would always wonder whether she had married him for the wealth and power he could bestow on her.

So he had another plan. He decided to shed his royal robes, dress as a peasant and go to town in a carriage, where he would be let off secretly. He would enter the village and become one of the peasants. He would work with them, live with them and suffer along with their daily toils.

Entering into the very life of the village brought about the results he desired. He was truly admired by his love, won her as his wife, and made her queen of the land. ~ Soren Kierkegaard (as told in the conclusion of the message this weekend)

God has entered our world and our lives through Christ. He comes to share all things and to receive our love. We can accept this amazing offer or we can refuse it. The choice we make will have great bearing on whether or not we ever get to experience that ‘little girl or boy’ faith that is in each of us.

• Read Isaiah 9:6 again… what title of Christ do you grasp the most and least? Why?
• How can you rediscover your ‘little child’ & live with wonder, laughter & hope? Hint: it begins w/ the realization the “unto YOU a child is born”… what needs to change this season?

I’m praying that you experience the joy of Christ as Savior & Lord – right now!  You don’t have to get all cleaned up before accepting Him – remember, He was first born in a dirty stable – He can certainly be born in your dirty heart. Tell Him that there’s room, confess your sins, ask for forgiveness and let Him come alive in & through you!  He’s ready!

Letting the ‘little boy’ out to play, Chilly