Last night I had the privilege to speak to the amazing MOPS groups at Antioch Church of Erwin. The women were warm and welcoming, and I was so blessed to meet them. I spoke about seasons in our life (from Ecc 3) through the stories of Mary and Elizabeth. The final segment of my talk was on Ecc 3:11 "He makes everything beautiful in its time." God promises us here and in Romans 8:28, that He will turn even the ugliest seasons of our life beautiful.
I was finalizing my speech this weekend. THIS weekend, with images of lost beautiful first graders and the teachers and staff who loved them. I have images of two of the parents burnt in my brain. Oh Lord, help, how can your scriptures tell us that everything will be beautiful, everything is being worked for our good? There is so much hurt, and evil, and brokenness, some days it is inconceivable to swallow these promises. But that's just it. They are promises from a God who does not fail.
Mary and Elizabeth's lives held much hardship and sorrow. Individually they faced barrenness, poverty, isolation from family, being a refugee, and both having their precious sons murdered. Yet through their lives we see redemption and times of celebration; a long desired child given, financial provision through foreign wise men, and finally - triumphantly - death overcome through Jesus. The goodness of God is so evident and it is encouraging. It gives us hope.
Our lives are so similar to Mary and Elizabeth's lives. Our struggles are different, our blessings are different, but the faithfulness of God through the good and difficult seasons is the same. Just as the celebrations of their lives are remembered and honored, I believe God wants us to boldly celebrate the goodness He has worked in our lives as well. Sometimes people feel like it is callous to celebrate one's happiness when people around us are suffering, but celebrations of the faithful are not about us, they are about giving glory to God for His goodness and giving much needed hope to one another.
I challenged the women last night to share how God has made past seasons of their life beautiful. The conversation that followed for the next hour was amazing. There were stories of greatly painful seasons that God had so graciously made beautiful. The stories were hard. Our tears were many. This life is not an easy one. Yet each story was like a candle being lighted, casting more and more light into that room. Each story shouted, "Have hope!" "Do not despair!" "God is good!" As I sat listening, I thought, "This is Christmas." To celebrate the close of a year with the retelling of stories to bring each other hope. To remember the birth of our Savior, with recounting the ways He has saved us. It was an amazing celebration.
With just 5 days now before Christmas, I encourage you to make time to share as a family the goodness God has worked in your lives. May your shared stories brighten your Christmas celebration with the radiant love of Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas friends!
Celebrating that even this can be beautiful
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I think goes to show that God puts just the right people in your life at just the right time. I think we all needed to hear Wendy speak about the seasons of our life. It was a great night spent with lots of laughs, lots of tears but most of all lots love shared with each other, which is exactly what I think we went in to MOPS this year wanting to find. A closeness, a connection that we all need as mothers, wives and friends, that we now have.
ReplyDeleteI think goes to show that God puts just the right people in your life at just the right time. I think we all needed to hear Wendy speak about the seasons of our life. It was a great night spent with lots of laughs, lots of tears but most of all lots love shared with each other, which is exactly what I think we went in to MOPS this year wanting to find. A closeness, a connection that we all need as mothers, wives and friends, that we now have.
ReplyDeleteThank you Johna! It was so nice to meet you and your MOPS group. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly. Blessings to you this Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWe loved having you at MOPS. It was one of our best meetings ever. Just sharing and loving. Thank you for opening up that opportunity and I hope we can have you again before I "graduate".
ReplyDelete