PEACE: Space for God
So Mary receives an unexpected visit from the angel Gabriel and this messenger from God tells her that she will be the one to give birth to the savior of the world, God’s answer and redeeming gift for all creation. How mysterious. How amazing. How miraculous. I found it comforting that God was also working in someone else’s life in a miraculous way and brought the two of them together to walk out this part of the story. Mary was told that her barren, much older, cousin Elizabeth was currently six months pregnant. Someone also experiencing a miracle. Someone that can testify to God’s gracious and promise fulfilling presence with humanity. Someone with eyes to see the reality of the heavenlies around us. Perhaps she rushed to the one person in her life who would be most conscious of the miraculous hand of God. I imagine a terrified but anticipant teenager running expectantly toward the house of her older relative hoping to affirm "Is it true?"
Affirming Gabriel’s message, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and testifies to the reality of Mary’s pregnancy before Mary is even far enough along to “show” and, in the womb, John leaps at the voice of Mary/presence of Jesus. Reality was veiled but not for long, what we see isn’t the whole story. The cover is not the book. How can we trust, live and move in a way that yields to what God says and what we are to believe He will do? I've read an Advent devotional that put it like this, “Mary said “yes” to becoming a space for God. “ We have space for God in our lives too. Let’s open our hearts and minds to the leading of the Spirit. Let’s do life together trusting the good and loving will of God even if we don’t currently see it. Let's walk in the peace of knowing God.
View the time lapse video HERE.
Affirming Gabriel’s message, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and testifies to the reality of Mary’s pregnancy before Mary is even far enough along to “show” and, in the womb, John leaps at the voice of Mary/presence of Jesus. Reality was veiled but not for long, what we see isn’t the whole story. The cover is not the book. How can we trust, live and move in a way that yields to what God says and what we are to believe He will do? I've read an Advent devotional that put it like this, “Mary said “yes” to becoming a space for God. “ We have space for God in our lives too. Let’s open our hearts and minds to the leading of the Spirit. Let’s do life together trusting the good and loving will of God even if we don’t currently see it. Let's walk in the peace of knowing God.
View the time lapse video HERE.
JOY: A GLORIOUS INVITATION
God has this incredible upside down balance of grace and justice that's incredibly hard to predict before it happens, however, it's a distinctive feature of the life of Jesus and the kingdom of God.
I wonder if the shepherds were young like Mary was young. Unassuming, out there in the dark with nothing to light their vision but the moon, the stars, or a campfire? Then heaven breaks into creation with an angel announcing the savior of the world after 400 years of silence from God. An announcement not to thousands but to just a few at best and they weren't influential people either. They were shepherds totally unexpecting anything like this but personally invited to meet the one who is the "visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation" and humbly offered the first hello visitation to them. Humility exhibits God's glory.
I imagine this glorious invitation to be startling and bright at first. Luke uses the word "terrified" to describe the shepherds before everything crescendos into praise. I can only imagine that my first reaction would be to throw up my arms and shield my face. What would you do?
View the time lapse video HERE.
I wonder if the shepherds were young like Mary was young. Unassuming, out there in the dark with nothing to light their vision but the moon, the stars, or a campfire? Then heaven breaks into creation with an angel announcing the savior of the world after 400 years of silence from God. An announcement not to thousands but to just a few at best and they weren't influential people either. They were shepherds totally unexpecting anything like this but personally invited to meet the one who is the "visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation" and humbly offered the first hello visitation to them. Humility exhibits God's glory.
I imagine this glorious invitation to be startling and bright at first. Luke uses the word "terrified" to describe the shepherds before everything crescendos into praise. I can only imagine that my first reaction would be to throw up my arms and shield my face. What would you do?
View the time lapse video HERE.
LOVE: HE STEPPED DOWN WHEN WE COULDN'T STEP UP
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." - John 3:16-17
We will never see God apart from going through Jesus Christ. Where we fail Jesus succeeds for us and that brings me peace. He is the light of the world given for us. He is loves pure light by which we see to live and walk within the darkness of a world that is sinfully selfish by default and determined to redeem itself according to it's own double standards. Into this world of darkness Jesus steps down and provides a way out. He becomes a ladder bridging our brokenness with God's perfection. He makes himself into the steps that lead to the kingdom of God. He is the peace between God and man. Glory streaming from heaven above robbing evil and pain of their ability to define us. Referencing Genesis chapter 28 where we find the story of Jacob's ladder I recently recognized that Jesus claimed to be that ladder in John 1:51. So this drawing depicts the King of kings, the Prince of Peace stepping down into our darkness with his marvelous light.
We will never see God apart from going through Jesus Christ. Where we fail Jesus succeeds for us and that brings me peace. He is the light of the world given for us. He is loves pure light by which we see to live and walk within the darkness of a world that is sinfully selfish by default and determined to redeem itself according to it's own double standards. Into this world of darkness Jesus steps down and provides a way out. He becomes a ladder bridging our brokenness with God's perfection. He makes himself into the steps that lead to the kingdom of God. He is the peace between God and man. Glory streaming from heaven above robbing evil and pain of their ability to define us. Referencing Genesis chapter 28 where we find the story of Jacob's ladder I recently recognized that Jesus claimed to be that ladder in John 1:51. So this drawing depicts the King of kings, the Prince of Peace stepping down into our darkness with his marvelous light.
CHRISTMAS: THE VULNERABLE GOD
Today's drawing focuses on the vulnerability of a newborn. Any further effort of my own to visually portray the infinite wrapped up in the finite doesn't suffice. To elaborate, I'd like to quote artist Makoto Fujimura's Christmas Eve address at the closing reception of a benefit exhibit in Japan.
"A Japanese pastor wrote that the most important message of Christmas is that Jesus was born as a babe, weak and vulnerable to the world. A baby is utterly dependent on a mother and a father, and others helping the baby to survive. Imagine, one who would claim to be the all-powerful Creator in flesh, becoming vulnerable and DEPENDENT on fallen human beings like us!
But when you think about it, a baby’s strength also lies in this weakness, as he or she draws people together. The message of Christmas is a paradox. It is through the weak that power is displayed. It is through the vulnerability, that true lasting security is gained. It is through being utterly dependent on others, that a true community is created."
View the time lapse video HERE.
"A Japanese pastor wrote that the most important message of Christmas is that Jesus was born as a babe, weak and vulnerable to the world. A baby is utterly dependent on a mother and a father, and others helping the baby to survive. Imagine, one who would claim to be the all-powerful Creator in flesh, becoming vulnerable and DEPENDENT on fallen human beings like us!
But when you think about it, a baby’s strength also lies in this weakness, as he or she draws people together. The message of Christmas is a paradox. It is through the weak that power is displayed. It is through the vulnerability, that true lasting security is gained. It is through being utterly dependent on others, that a true community is created."
View the time lapse video HERE.
HOPE: BEHOLDING GOD WITH US
Whoever or whatever we worship takes priority and precedence in our decisions and commitments. We order our lives around them or it and the meaningfulness illuminated in our world view is defined by our worship. Matthew 6:21 states, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." The Magi ordered their lives around observations of a coming king. Following through with their belief led them face to face with the King of kings. Such a long journey from seeing a peculiar star to beholding God incarnate would require endurance, steadfastness, and a lot of supplies for the trip. Measurements, calculations, and reason in what the Magi could interpret would manifest confidence in what they hoped for and assurance about what they had yet to see.
Jesus was around two years old when the Magi met him. You can't walk away unchanged from such a long journey packed with such a confirming encounter. As a two year old, I wonder if Jesus knew the Magi were coming? Psalm 139 tells us God's eyes saw us when we were formless and all our days were written and planned before a single one of them began. This drawing envisions the view from Joseph and Mary's front door as Jesus witnesses the arrival of the Magi.
Jesus was around two years old when the Magi met him. You can't walk away unchanged from such a long journey packed with such a confirming encounter. As a two year old, I wonder if Jesus knew the Magi were coming? Psalm 139 tells us God's eyes saw us when we were formless and all our days were written and planned before a single one of them began. This drawing envisions the view from Joseph and Mary's front door as Jesus witnesses the arrival of the Magi.
