Are You There God, It’s Me, Emma
When it comes to spiritual attack, there are a number of defensive positions that spring immediately to mind:
The Ostrich – (nosuchthingasthedevil, there’s only what we can see)
The Rhino – (I’ll fight on my own: stand back Holy Spirit, with my lightning prayer moves I got it covered)
The Hamster- (stay on the wheel buddy, keep busy and it’ll all be fine)
or – my personal default: The Porcupine.
Here’s the drill: A few weeks with my prickles out, pretending everything is fine. Mainly to myself. I’m not as close to the Lord as I’d like, but it’s Winter Solstice! I’m sticking cocktail sticks in oranges and He’s sorting out presents for good boys and girls. (Oh wait, that’s someone else.. )
In my head I reckon I’ll migrate automatically towards the manger. Biblical truth will impart itself osmotically through the medium of tinsel and mincing pies.
Ok, maybe not. But this is still a situation that I can fix. No need to bother God with it or talk to Jesus.
What I need is A Decent Quiet Time or Some Better Bible Notes. So, in the gap between Hollyoaks and Hairy Biscuit Bakers, I open the Bible, and search for something reassuring about sheep. Instead I end up blinking at the regulations on mildew.
I’m about to give up, but on the mantlepiece I catch a glimpse of the Christmas scene again. And it hits me – Christmas is not about me travelling towards the stable. That’s the point. If I could make it to heaven by myself, Jesus need never have left.
The devil tells me I can make it to God on foot – but he mocks me every time I stumble. Christmas is a reminder that God has come to me. And that tiny baby is stronger than the mightiest army.
such beautiful words. x
Everything I read, it seems, relating to Jesus this Christmas, is of “God with us”. Think God’s trying to make a point. It also reminded me of the verse in ‘once in royal David’s city’ which goes:
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
Mind you, not so sure about absolutely all the other verses. Yes! we have a wonderful heavenly future, reigning with him, as God the Father’s children. But right now, in the stable, with the cow-dung +flies +mess of life, we NOW have God with us.
Im trying so desperately to read the last 2 blogs but I just cant focus for long enough to do it…
Athough I do know my black dog is in front of the fire warming his paws..staying for christmas me thinks..
Someone wake me in 2013
This is great Emma, I need to hear this at the moment x
Kerrycakes, and MaBelle: thanks.
Ruth – you’re right, the promise of heaven is a wonderful thing, but there’s hope now because He’s with us. Big love to you.
P – you’re not missing anything!
God’s got the black dog muzzled and He’ll bring us through tonight and through Christmas
Just want you to know that, today, you’re descriptions of defensive positions made me giggle!!
My parents often call me a porcupine – prickly, pushing them away.
Today mum rang – how are you?
Fine!! But the tone betrays the reality.
Still got my black dog, but he’d tamer than his was a few days ago. Love that God comes to us in our mess, he’s been in the mess before and understands, and that a baby is stronger than a mighty army!!! Xx
Littlemisshugs – I’m still saying fine to mumcalls too. Glad the dog’s not been beastly..
Thank you Emma for a great post and to others for pointing out that God is indeed here with us in our mess! This has been something that has kept cropping up a lot recently and yet whilst this is an awesome promise and reassuring I can’t help but think we need to push it on towards the transforming work that the Holy Spirit wants to do in each of our lives. We don’t have to face the ‘mess’ alone, but sometimes we (well I do) think that is a good excuse to stay there then, instead of handing over the mess, dealing with the mess & our lives reflecting more of the beauty of our Saviour.
Mess can hinder us and hold us back from our true calling in God’s Kingdom.
” I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” Philippians 3:12