Speaking of the signs of the end of the age , Matthew 24:10-12,says: “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

I cannot say, without a doubt, that we are living in the end times. However, we know for sure that we are closer to it than we have ever been before in history.  I also think we can point to many things happening in the world and even in the places where we live that make us think that the end times are near, if not right upon us.

As I watch people I know and love fulfill Matthew 24:10-12, I wonder how could such things happen to people who profess, love, and serve Jesus Christ?  I am reminded that none of us is exempt from falling.  We must choose everyday to “continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:27a.

In I Peter 3 it talks about the Day of the Lord and verse 11 says, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?  You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

We must guard our hearts and minds from every evil thought and intent.  We must not allow ourselves the slightest bit of room to harbor offense, unforgiveness, self-pity, pride, judgment, slander, false accusation, condemnation, discontent, ungratefulness, fear, sexual immorality, or any sort of malice.  We must give no place to the devil.

My husband uses a product called Great Stuff to plug holes and cracks around pipes and other places in and under the house where water or critters could enter.  It is liquid so when you spray it so it goes thoroughly and easily into the tiniest crack. Then it quickly expands and hardens into a Styrofoam type substance completely closing the opening.  It really is “great stuff” for the problem at hand.

I was reminded of this product as I was thinking about how we allow even the tiniest crack of sin or evil into our souls, the enemy is like that “great stuff.”  He slides in quickly and easily, filling that space with “not so great stuff” and the longer it stays the harder and bigger it gets until it blocks the truth and flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We become blind and hardened to the Truth.  We are deceived.

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith . . .”  I Peter 5:8-9.

“Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  Ephesians 5:15-17.

Keep very short accounts with the Lord, my sisters, lest any cracks or crevices appear in your soul and get filled with the “not so great stuff.”

We must always encourage one another and build each other up in the faith.  Staying in fellowship, immersing ourselves in the Word and going about doing good.  Praising and thanking God for His mercy and goodness toward us and choosing to live holy and godly lives.  Thereby, we remain in His Glorious Presence and whatever fine lines of sin appear in our souls, they are quickly sealed by His Redeeming Blood, the really “Great Stuff!”

There is such a wonderful opportunity to participate in all of the above at the next Wellspring Ladies Conference being held at Valley Community Church in Weldon, NC, on August 6-7.  Come and share in the Glory of the Lord!  We are so excited about seeing you there!

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Saviour, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

This is a phrase that has been thrown around over many years with many connotations. With divorce rates as they are, often children grow up with one parent, a parent and a stepparent, with other adult family members, or with total strangers. Daddy’s can be the best influence in a young woman’s life, or one of the worst – if not the worst. My life’s view of men was shaped by my dad and other adult male figures in life – uncles, granddads, etc. Unfortunately my view of male figures left me with a great deal of distrust and, as a girl, being made to feel less than. I grew up a hop, skip, and a jump from a time when the woman was considered the husband’s property.

What a difficult mountain for God to have to move in my life. How did he do it?

After my divorce in 1977, I worked as the Office Manager of Kmart in my home town. Mr. Byrd was the manager there. He was the first solid example of a man who loved his wife and family. That was my first glimpse of what a family man should look like.

Then I started going to EWC in Roanoke Rapids – wow more families who loved each other and God. Pastor Tom Johnson ministered one Sunday that God would never call you to him, and then stick out his foot to trip you up. “Excellent” word picture for one who could not trust God; because He was a “He.” My faith was growing, my life was changing, and trust in God was beginning to be very real. I have seen so many examples of godly men in the GCI family. This has been such a blessing.

Before I end this, I have to say something about the second true love of my life. My husband, Ken, (second only to God) has been a rock in my life. I wasn’t just a broken pot when we met; I was a shattered and scattered vessel. Thank God, he and I chose to stick it out and get to the point we are now. Now I know how truly faithful God was, is, and always will be in my life.

None of us are perfect; but God is. SO — “Who’s your daddy?” If you allow God to be, and you do what He teaches; you will become His woman of faith and beauty.

NOTE: Won’t you consider joining us at the Weldon Regional Wellspring Womens Conference? You can talk with and hear what God has done in other women’s lives. Registration or conference information.

Janet Arrington

Janet Arrington — A funny thing happened on the way to the 3rd grade. In the second grade, a boy (ugh!) liked me; and during recess one day he kissed me on the cheek. Boy was I mad – I slapped him. I had grown up my full 7 years right between a brother, 1 year older, and a brother, 1 year younger. I knew how to defend myself pretty well by then. Anyway, that young fellow was something of a bully, and I’m sure he deserved to be taken down a peg or two. I love justice – don’t you?

On the way to church, I was practicing the presence of God, when He revealed that all week I had been subconsciously dreading Sunday and the reason I had difficulty sleeping last night was because of my anxiety. As I was pulling into the parking lot, He revealed why. My church asks that each member agree, as a part of membership, to serve in the nursery once a year and this was my day.

It isn’t that I don’t like children. To the contrary, I love them and in my past that love showed in ways that astonished friends to the point that they jokingly called me “the baby whisperer,” for my ability to calm crying babies when even their mother’s could not.

My first babysitting job was when I was in first grade. I watched a neighbor’s baby for her while she took a shower.  And I babysat throughout high school, college, and into my marriage. I looked forward to the time I could have children of my own.

When the time came when we agreed to have children, none came. We went through the emotional brutality of fertility treatments for several years, during which time every couple in our childless Sunday School class became parents, except us. I distanced myself from children and isolated myself from young families because being around them made me feel like such a failure as a woman−exactly what God did NOT want me to do.

But I, like most people believed I was in control…all I had to do was decide when I wanted my babies and they would be there. Yes, we are told that children are a blessing from the Lord, but what I heard was, it is a blessing THAT you have children, not it is a blessing WHEN God gives you children.

A few years later, all was gone from me: marriage, dreams of a future, promise of children, my home, and my job. It was just God, and me eye-to-eye, with no static in between. It was then that I finally heard His voice. And His voice said the thing I had longed to hear my entire life:

I love you. Your value does not come from what you drive, where you live, what you wear, how many men find you attractive, or your job. Your value rests in the fact that I love YOU.

This morning I entered worship, with this discomfort about working in the nursery. God met me there, washed over me with a fresh infilling of his Spirit and a fullness of his deep, deep love as the dance team rose, and danced to the hymn, “Oh the Deep Deep Love of Jesus.”

Today I understood one more piece of the puzzle of my life. My value is not in whether or not I have children. My value is in the deep love my Savior has for me. This is not the first time I have served in the nursery. However, this IS the first time I’ve enjoyed it.

Karen Sleeth

Karen Sleeth has lived in North Carolina for 26 years and in her house for nine years. She shares her yard with a herd of about fourteen deer, a raccoon, a family of possum, a hawk and her young, a wise old owl, many birds, snakes, and a bunny she has seen only once. “I assume it took the warning I gave ‘Run for your life!’” This is Karen’s first year attempting to convince the deer that the yard is not their salad bar. Karen is a member of Christian Assembly Church in Durham.

Here’s just a little recap:

The lie that screams at us at every turn, “Be independent!  Independence is a sign of strength!   Depend only on yourself!  You can only be successful by depending on yourself!” has caused us much struggle, pain and confusion in this life.  We were created from the beginning to be dependent on God.  We were created with that need for Him even before the fall.  We were created to be in His Presence, always.  Remember in Genesis 3:8 when God came and walked with Adam in the cool of the day?  In the cool of the day,  literally means a breeze, spirit, at a time when the Spirit of God was moving and present.  What a thrill to know that He still desires to walk with you and me, In the cool of the day.  He knows and longs for us to know that our only safe and restful place is found in our dependence on Him.

When Gloria and I were flying back into Fayetteville on Sunday night we came through a very lively thunderstorm.  I had not flown in years and was amazed at the Lord’s peace and Presence as our dependence that night was entirely on Him.  Bless God!  He is faithful and true.

This is only a tidbit of what the Lord will be speaking to us this next weekend at Wellspring in Kernersville.

There is still room to register. Please come, you will be blessed!

For event and registration information click here.

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Saviour, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

Hi, my name is Debbie Lennon.

In the last couple of years, I’ve been on a journey to discovering my true authentic self in Christ.  Actually, it’s been a life-long journey, but it’s been rather intense within the last couple of years.

Let me explain:  If there is one word that describes my growing up years, it’s CONFUSION.  From a very early age, I was confused about my identity as a person, as a girl, and as a woman.  I felt deeply ashamed to admit this to anyone including myself.  Well, I knew I was confused, but I kept judging myself to be stupid and that I need to “get with the program.”

I thought I was confused because of my profound hearing loss.  I lost my hearing at the age of 3 for reasons still unknown, and as a young girl, I thought people talked funny because I could never understand what they were saying!  This created a lot of comical moments for my parents and teachers as they worked with me to re-establish my vocabulary and practice my listening skills.  The extraordinary length my parents took to help me gain footing in a hearing world is the very reason that I am able to function as well as I do (my father had actually gotten a new engineering job after he graduated from college and he asked for a one month extension before he started his career so he and my mother could invest their time working with me).

So I knew I was loved.

However, as I grew older, it became apparent to my family and to me that I was deeply confused about who I was, what my dreams were, and how I felt about things.  I had relied on my mom to help me navigate my way through childhood and adolescence.  For some reason, I lacked the ability to form my own thoughts, my own opinions, and to forge my own independence.

Through my mother’s influence (and Billy Graham), I became a Christian when I was 14, but it wasn’t until my early college years that I really began to understand what it meant to “be saved.”  From that point on, God began to painstakingly reveal Himself to me.  In the process, He began to reveal what was in my heart.  He revealed that it was a vast wasteland, void of deep emotional roots and that this was the reason for my confusion.  This was painful for me to accept. I was deeply embarrassed & ashamed to admit this.

With His grace, I was able to go on to lead a successful career as a trainer and a teacher working with special needs students.  I developed a wide circle of friends.  I mean, I led a privileged life – so how could my heart be a wasteland?  I felt like something was wrong with me.  I confessed, I repented, I prayed, I received prayers and yet, I still felt stuck in this wasteland.  I thought it was my fault.

God patiently took me on a journey to explore my heart.  He revealed to me that I had experienced early hidden trauma in my life.  I struggled with His revelations and wanted to die.  Last fall, He gently told me in a dream that He wanted me to join Him in the “desert.”  I didn’t want to go.  My life felt like a wasteland and He wanted me to go into the desert??  But I submitted to Him and waited to see what he would reveal to me there.  It was hard.  But I tell you, it has been life-transforming.

It seemed to me that once I began my journey with Him in the desert, everything in my life kind of went south.  My teaching career became a tragedy of sorts as I struggle to meet confusing federal and state mandates.  My old friendships dried up for inexplicable reasons.  My family relationships became distant as each of us went on to lead our own lives.  I began to question – once again – who am I?  What is the purpose of my life?

One day, I was reading my Bible and came across this verse in Matthew 8:20.  Jesus was responding to a scribe who told Him that he would follow Him wherever he went.  And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  This really puzzled me.  Why would He speak in riddles to someone who wanted to follow Him?  I asked God to reveal what He meant.

And He did.  God revealed to me that when Jesus came to us, He did not have an agenda of His own except to do His Father’s will.  In other words, he didn’t have a peg to “hang His hat on.”  He did not promote His own agenda of theology points or philosophy.  He did not rely on his own heritage or career as a carpenter to define Who He was.  He submitted Himself to the trials and tribulations of the Roman government.  He did not even defend Himself to His own people.  His whole identity rested in the knowledge that He was the beloved Son of God.

This really resonated with me.  It dawned on me that I was going to have to let go of the things that I relied on to give me my identity.  God had already prepared the way for me to do that as it seemed that everything in my life was already going south and they were no longer sustaining my identity as a worthwhile person.  This was a painful process for me because I realized that as a single person, I could not rest in my identity as a wife, a mother, a Godly woman – not even as a teacher or a faithful daughter or friend.

So what was left for me?  Back to my confusion – Who was I and what is my purpose in life? Do I have anything to live for?  I came in possession of a book called “Transformed into Fire: An Invitation to Life in the True Self” by Judith Hougen.  God used this profound book to reveal and cement my true identity in Him.

And this is what I wanted to share with you: We are His Beloved.  Another book, “Life of the Beloved” by Henri J.M. Nouwen expounds this point in a more succinct manner.  I encourage you to read both books for a greater understanding of this truth: We are His Beloved.

God revealed this profound truth to me last spring.  It is still relevant to me today and it has finally brought me a measure of peace after a lifetime of confusion.  My wasteland is slowly transforming into His garden.

I also feel that God wants me – and you – to know that if we truly accept our identity as His Beloved who submits to His rule and Kingdom, it will very likely bring polarizing reactions from the community as He uses us to expand his Kingdom.  This was certainly true during Jesus’ ministry on Earth.  Many will be drawn to Him by His astounding love through us.  Others will resent us, because they will think “How dare we believe that we are special?” Let us take hold of this Word and allow it work in us.  Don’t allow our earthly identities deflect who we really are in Christ.  I believe it will carry us far as we go outside of our comfort zone to reach the lost within our community.

Thank you and I say to you….Go with God….

The other day, the Lord spoke this to me: “Breakthrough prayer is personal! Let’s get personal and see a breakthrough!” I recalled 2 Kings 4 when Elisha had developed a relationship with the Shunammite woman and her family, staying in their home, sharing meals, seeing a child brought to her, etc. When the child became ill, Elisha says, “she is troubled in her soul, and the Lord has hidden it from me.” He knows the Lord could have told him, but instead the woman was required to seek him out, in faith and friendship. When Elisha’s servant goes ahead of him, healing doesn’t come. The breakthrough comes when the long-time, trusted friend, Elisha, arrives and, in a very personal way — mouth to mouth, eye to eye, body stretched out on the boy — raises up the boy.

Regarding finances, I suspect many women have looked at their budget and resigned themselves to staying home. They have not made their desire to go to the conference known to their husbands. If their hubby knew, he would rearrange things and have heavenly wisdom to get his wife to the retreat. It would be great if husbands knew it was happening and insisted their wives go!!

One of the strengths of Wellspring has always been the relationships that are formed among the women. It’s always as though God spreads a special covering of safety over the conference so that women are eager to help one another and open to receive help from one another. By the time we are grown up, almost everyone has experienced betrayal of one kind or another so that we do not find it easy to trust again. But as I begin to open my heart to God, I find that He graces me to open my heart to His people as well, especially to my sisters. So I encourage all of us not have guarded hearts toward one another and especially not toward the Lord. We serve a Lord Who loves us better than we can ever love ourselves. And everything He has for us is good!

On the word about finances: The women who have been serving behind our information tables at Manna on Sunday morning tell me that an unusual number of men have been stopping by to get information on the conference because they want their wives to go! Interesting . . .

No change in my life has come without pain.  I have come to greatly value the results that the pain of change brings.  The humbling and breaking of my own proud, selfish heart.  I cherish it and if any hardship is from the devil, than I do give him credit for being responsible for pushing me closer to the King of this world  HA! and having my heart and life changed to be more like Him.  Isn’t it wonderful that the devil is a tool in the hand of God?  I hope you enjoy this word as much as I did.  

Sue

“Invitation to a New Season”

by Shelly Kalenius of Extreme Prophetic Ministries

Apr 27, 2009 

Recently, I had the honor to participate in the birth of our second grandson Ethan. As I watched my daughter Sarah go through the different stages of birth, the Lord gave me a picture. There are several stages of labor, but the one He spoke to me about was “transition.” 

Transition is the most difficult phase of labor, as the contractions are stronger and longer than earlier contractions and they prepare for the final push. Many physical and emotional symptoms may occur during transition such as dizziness, trembling, nausea, anger, and surprisingly, despair. The pain is so intense and the task of getting that baby out seems so impossible that the mother may lose hope and sight of the goal for a short time. Pain can change our perspective and behavior in ways we could not imagine.

I will never forget Sarah’s words during this time, “I can’t do this anymore…I don’t want to do it…I don’t want to be here! Can I stop now?” These words tore at my heart. I wanted to take the pain away, but it was not my battle. What I did do is pray, encourage her, tell her she could do it, persuade her to keep up the good fight and remind her how close to the goal she was. She needed to make it through this transition in order to move to the next stage, the actual birth.

Over the last several years, we’ve been blessed to live in a time of spiritual awakening to the hidden things of God, the supernatural realm of the Spirit, signs, wonders and miracles. I believe in these last two years we entered into a major transition. We have been, and continue to be, tested, shaken, and pruned. The whole earth, the economy, and the Body of Christ are being shaken and sifted. 

In this season, our love for one another has been tested. It has been a time of learning how to “go low” and prefer others above ourselves. These are key lessons to learn, because Love is the foundation that will stand during this next season.

Like transition during the physical birthing process, I believe we are moving into an even more intense level of transition. There will be a time of tremendous pressure as we draw a line in the sand, choosing to stand for righteousness and justice, for mercy and grace. We must choose this road if we want to press forward. We must understand and count the cost of this choice. We need to listen for the cries that will come with this transition, “I can’t do this anymore…I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to be here! Can I stop now? This hurts too much!”

If we understand some of the by-products of transition can be despair, loss of hope and anguish, we can choose to come alongside people, encouraging them to fight the good fight, to remember the prize at the end of the race, and to help them through the hard places. We are all human and all going through this together. Who knows? It could be me or you crying out. We need each other and we need accountability. The pressure of birthing, of changing and transforming into the likeness of Christ is not for the faint of heart. Together, with God’s mercy and grace, we can finish this race.

Our Prayer: Thank you, Father, that You are the Master Gardener, pruning us when necessary so we will yield good fruit. We offer our hearts to You as we enter this new season.

We Decree that:

• There is no compromise in our level of love and mercy and we will not waver from the truth.

“But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.”—Psalm 86:15

• Through God’s mercy, healing is coming to those in the Body of Christ who have been wounded by us or others in the Body. We speak restoration, wholeness and unity, in Jesus’ name.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”—James 5:16

• We walk in love with one another, putting aside fleshly judgment, preferring one another to ourselves.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”—Romans 12:10

• We choose to walk a very clear line, committing to be an example of His righteousness.

“O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; make Your way straight before me.”—Psalm 5:8

• We take a stand for morality and will walk with and for God. We stand for His truth and righteousness (in love), and we ask God to help us so we will not disqualify ourselves by stepping into judgment or the anger of man.

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”—Matthew 7:2

• Conviction and clarity will come to the Body, and unrighteousness and lawlessness will be revealed and dealt with.

“Love…does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.”—1 Corinthians 13:6

• We submit ourselves to God’s shepherding in this new season we are entering into.

“So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.”—Psalm 78:72

• We embrace the finished work of the Cross and ask forgiveness for pride in our own ability to fulfill what is right.

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”—Isaiah 53:5

• We depend on God’s grace to fulfill the assignment He has given us.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”—2 Corinthians 9:8

• We will walk in humbleness before the Lord and man. When we make mistakes, we will confess our sin. We will help each other and hold each other accountable.

“(Living as becomes you) with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.”—Ephesians 4:2 AMP

• We will embrace this new season God is taking us into with open hearts and a willingness to take a stand for a moral revolution, walking in purity, grace, righteousness and mercy.

“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”—Galatians 6:9

For instance, Murray writes, “His faithfulness is our security,” What a powerful statement! Jesus is faithful to the Father and faithful to us. While He was on the earth we saw Him do all and only what the Father told Him to do. He never failed in any obedience and He never added to His assignments. He did exactly what the Father told Him to do. What perfect submission! What absolute faithfulness!

Because we witnessed His faithfulness to the Father, we can trust His faithfulness to us. He will do everything He promised. It is His Nature to be faithful to the Father and to His word. He will complete what He started in me. He will never leave me. He will never forsake me. He will always sustain me. He will always provide for me. He will always protect me. This means

• when I don’t feel His presence my feelings are deceiving me;
• whatever I don’t have, I don’t need;
• whatever I am facing will eventually benefit me;
• when I am weak He is strong in me;
• when I am fearful I have forgotten these things.

His faithfulness is my security.

I am completely dependent upon Jesus, and even that brings me security because He is faithful and He is strong. With all my life I trust Him.

Life experiences tend to uncover whether we are good theologians or bad ones. We come on difficult circumstances and we either fall apart or we go through with an abiding peace, depending upon what we know and have experienced of God in the past (or what we learn of Him as we look to Him in the hard time). That’s theology. Painful things happen to us beyond our control and we either become resentful of people and bitter toward God or our trust and belief roots go down deeper into the soil of God’s love as we lean on him and learn of His faithfulness. Again, our reactions to life are the consequence of our theology. As Carolyn James says, “Not only am I a theologian but it truly does matter whether I’m a good one.” In other words, if I don’t know Who God is, how can I trust Him when life catches me off balance?

Sometimes we avoid asking God hard questions because we are afraid He won’t be able to handle them. Amazing that we feel this way, but we sometimes do. I used to skip over passages in the New Testament that address the role of women. The passages angered me and I was afraid to ask God about them. It seemed better not to question Him than to risk having Him answer in a way that was not acceptable to me. (Did you catch the arrogance of that? — that GOD should be acceptable to me??) Down at the bottom of my soul was this very important unanswered question: what if God really does value men more than women? Unconfronted, that question loomed like a dark cloud over all my reactions to life and made it virtually impossible to trust Him, especially when difficult circumstances arose.

Needless to say, God did not let that question lie buried beneath my fear! When it finally bubbled to the surface in my 20′s after 6 miscarriages, I began a journey with Him that has brought incredible security, honesty, and pure joy to my life. There is not enough space and room here to tell you how He answered me, but much of that story is in my book, In the Beginning. Of course, new questions arise all the time, but I have learned that God can handle the most difficult questions my soul can devise! He is bigger than all my questions and able to handle all of my doubts. In the end, each time I expose my question to Him, there is that familiar place of rest reserved for me against His breast. It is never He who withdraws from me anyway. He knows everything in my heart before I do and loves me just the same. When I acknowledge my doubt to Him then He always shows me the way through, back to the place of rest in Him. Sometimes He gives me understanding and sometimes He doesn’t, but He always restores me to resting in Him.

So I guess, Carolyn James, that I am a theologian too. I know God — not as much as I want to know Him, but more and more all the time. I pray that God will give all of us the courage to not only acknowledge our theology but to become GOOD theologians through the application of His word. As Carolyn said, “Not only am I a theologian but it truly does matter whether I’m a good one.”

Sitting in church the Sunday before Christmas, God began to reveal to me the real point we are celebrating at Christmas. It wasn’t something new, but He made it so fresh and alive for me that it seemed like a whole new Truth: God Himself came to us! That’s what we celebrate at Christmas, that God came down and dwelt among us as a human being. Emmanuel. God with us. We could not go to Him so He came to us. That’s what that fancy word, incarnation, really means: God became a man and walked around on the earth in the flesh!

God came to us as a man, numbering Himself as one of us, identifying Himself with all our sin and shame and failure, and leaving the glory of heaven and union with the Father to do so. He did this because He loves us and He desires for our relationship, lost to the human race through the sin of Adam, to be restored.

Emmanuel, God with us. God came to us. He humbled Himself even to birth in a stable and life as a helpless baby, child of impoverished humans. GOD did this, the One Who is the Creator of all that is, the One Who holds all things together by the Word of His power, the One Who thundered and roared on Mt. Sinai, Who set the universe in order and yet caused it to stand still, the One Whom John envisioned in glory and it knocked him out cold — this Great and Almighty God, King of the universe, came to us as a man. We could not go to Him because of our sin-taintedness. After Adam’s sin, the door into His presence was closed and locked tight with a sworded angel guarding the entrance. So He came to us, took back the keys, and reopened the door for us. And He remains with us now in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Somehow our family’s not being with us made us more susceptible to the wonder of God Himself being Emmanuel, GOD WITH US. What a wonderful gift.

Emmanuel. God with us. Astounding Truth!