Peace on Earth In Mercy Mired.........

I really cannot explain what a car ride is like with the Jobe Crew. Loud, yes, but more than that. So much more.

Last night was Parent's Night Out at Sharonville UMC. This is where Kevin and I have our church membership. In the United Methodist system, pastors hold membership at a church where they are not pastoring. Anyway, shortly after 9 PM, we were all headed back home. The kids were wired!

They had seen parts of Wall-E. They started out talking about that and every few minutes, the entire way home, Ella would pipe up with, "Wall-E waked up!"

The moon was out, so Risi, every few minutes, would howl at it. Risi has this thing about dogs.

Josiah, Olivia, and Grace alternated between singing, fighting and yelling from the back of the car up to where Kevin and I sat up in the front.

I was driving and giggling most of the way home. It was crazy. And just when it got a little less chaotic, Risi would howl, or Ella would tell us "Wall-E waked up!" And when they didn't do it, I would, and we would laugh harder.

At one point Grace was singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." (The conversation had switched to a Charlie Brown Christmas . )

But Grace had the words a bit mixed up....

"...glory to the newborn King.
Peace on earth
In mercy mired..."

I was looking at definitions of "mired". To sink into. To be held fast by.

And mercy? Compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender.

An offender, that is you and me. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23

A misunderstood song, sung gustily by a young girl. Mired in mercy. I am covered by, sunk into and held fast by mercy. I can certainly think of worse things to be covered with.

Peace on Earth, In Mercy Mired.


Thank you, Jesus.

Allow me to reintroduce the Christ

Breath of Heaven

My Deliverer

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3

Do you ever need delivered from anything? I know I sure do! Mainly from this muck of a life that I have created. Okay, before anyone who knows me protests, we've all made messes in our lives. Created pits that we get really comfortable living in. So, yes, there is muck in my life. And some days are 'muckier' than others.

There is just so much stuff that gets in the way sometimes. In between me and God. So I need to be delivered from that. Rescued from that.

Now, I can sit around talking and bemoaning how hard that is. And it can be difficult. But I am done with that. I am just going to let go and let God. I am going to ask him to be my deliverer. I've asked him to be my savior. But I seem to always relate that to eternity. I'm not there right now. But he can deliver me, right now, while I am living in time.

So, this advent season, I am expecting a deliverer! Praise God!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful that Jesus is not a wimp! Huh? Let me repeat....JESUS IS NOT A WIMP!! Yes, he loves us desperately. That is love...LOVE not LUV. It's not a soft, fuzzy, do whatever you want kind of love. It's a deep passionate, I want what is best for you kind of love.

So many times I hear people say they cannot stand up for themselves because they want to be a good Christian. I don't really remember anywhere in the Bible where Jesus was wimpy. I remember him toppling tables in the synagogue. Showing the pharisees the fallacy of their reasoning when they challenged him. I remember him asking the hard questions (Peter, do you love me?) and giving the hard answers (feed my sheep, sell all you own and follow me.)

Jesus doesn't call us to be nice, he calls us to be his. I am grateful that I am allowed to be strong in him. How do you see Jesus? Maybe this Advent season is a good time to research that for yourself.

Babies!

Don't you just love babies? They are so sweet. Those cheeks. The innocence as they sleep. The smells,the noises. Love love love babies!

Last week I went shopping with my friend, Erin, who says my baby radar is off the charts! (okay, not an exact quote.) But I feel like having a baby with you in a store is an open invite for compliments and an attempt to make your baby smile. I must admit, I've never had a parent get upset when I stop them to gush over their parcel of sweetness.

And waiting on a baby can seem interminable! Nine months of aches and pains (and 9 months of morning sickness in my case.) Nine months of preparations! Decorating, washing itty bitty, sweet, little clothes. Nine months of wondering what your child will look like, act like.

Nine months of waiting.

Nine Months of waiting.

NINE MONTHS OF WAITING.....

I don't always wait all that well.

I wonder how that waiting was for Mary, mother of Jesus.

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20But 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. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." (Matthew 1:18-24)

It is generally assumed that Mary was really young. In her early teens. I can only imagine how scared she was. When did it really become real to her that she was expecting? Right away? The first time she felt a kick? How amazing to know that the child moving in you is God!

I'll bet people stopped Mary to tell her how beautiful her baby was.

Isn’t He (isn’t He) Beautiful (beautiful) ?
Beautiful (beautiful)Isn’t He (isn’t He) ?
Prince of peace Son of God, isn’t He?


Praise God that we are no longer waiting for that baby. Jesus Christ is Born!

Isn’t He (isn’t He)Wonderful (wonderful) ?
Wonderful (wonderful)Isn’t He (isn’t He) ?
Counselor, Almighty God, isn’t He?
Isn‘t He? Isn‘t He?

Yes You are (yes You are)Beautiful (beautiful)!
Beautiful (beautiful)Yes You are (yes You are)!
Prince of peace Son of God, yes You are!

Yes You are (yes You are)Wonderful (wonderful) !
Wonderful (wonderful)Yes You are (yes You are)!
Counselor, Almighty God, yes You are!

*"Isn't He" lyrics by John Wimber

Christmas Prayers

As part of our Advent celebration this year, Kevin and I have decided NOT to send out Christmas cards....WHAT!?!....how can we celebrate the season without Christmas cards?? Aren't good Christians supposed to send out cards?

Now, I love Christmas cards, but I can't find any Biblical reference requiring them. So, here is what we have decided to do. I am contacting my Christmas card list to let them know that instead of receiving cards from the Jobe crew this year, they are going to receive prayer.

During Advent, we are going to sit down as a family and pray for each of the people that would normally get a card from us. And for lots that might not usually get a card. Here is what you need to do. Email Kevin or myself with any specific prayer requests that you might have this holiday season. It can be ANYTHING! Health concerns, praises, requests for friends and family members, prayers for those who do not know Jesus, for those completely stressed out by the holdiay season.

We don't even have to know you personally! Feel free to pass this on and we will pray for anyone who gets back to us! Just leave a comment to this post. You don't have to leave a name if you don't want to. We might not know your name, but God does!! Isn't that cool?

Lord,
I lift up to you right now, every person who reads this post. I pray your mercy and blessings on them. I pray that this Christmas season may be the beginning of a deeper relationship with you. I beg you, Jesus, to touch hearts. To create revival. To help us remember who YOU are.
In the name of the Risen King
Amen

29"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." Mark 8:29

Who are you preparing for this Advent season????

(more to come on this topic!!)