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Promise
Birth Weeping Adoration |
Nativity Series |
Promise
Reflections by the artist on
Promise
Nativity Series
There has always been a promise. From the beginning, when we first heard the curse we brought upon ourselves in the Garden of Eden, that is when we first heard the promise. We didn’t know much about the one who would come, we certainly weren’t told the whole plan. We knew that God would save us. He would send a victor to conquer death.
Centuries later, generations later, still waiting, we heard more bits. He would be a descendant of kings. He would bring justice and righteousness. He would bring together many diverse and distant people and to God. And he would be born. He would not be angel or an apparition; he would come as a man. He would be born.
The promise became real to every mother who heard it. “Could it be my child?” And like another rainbow, children reminded us of God’s promise.
Even today, living in the age between the promise of a Messiah and the promise of his return to us, we see hope so clearly when we look into the eyes of children. We see the possibility of a future of peace on earth and goodwill to mankind. As we approach again the nativity, let us lay before the Christ-child a gift from our hearts. As he gives Himself to us, let us give to him our children, our futures and all of our hopes.
12-16-13
S. Jewell S. McGhee
Promise
Nativity Series
There has always been a promise. From the beginning, when we first heard the curse we brought upon ourselves in the Garden of Eden, that is when we first heard the promise. We didn’t know much about the one who would come, we certainly weren’t told the whole plan. We knew that God would save us. He would send a victor to conquer death.
Centuries later, generations later, still waiting, we heard more bits. He would be a descendant of kings. He would bring justice and righteousness. He would bring together many diverse and distant people and to God. And he would be born. He would not be angel or an apparition; he would come as a man. He would be born.
The promise became real to every mother who heard it. “Could it be my child?” And like another rainbow, children reminded us of God’s promise.
Even today, living in the age between the promise of a Messiah and the promise of his return to us, we see hope so clearly when we look into the eyes of children. We see the possibility of a future of peace on earth and goodwill to mankind. As we approach again the nativity, let us lay before the Christ-child a gift from our hearts. As he gives Himself to us, let us give to him our children, our futures and all of our hopes.
12-16-13
S. Jewell S. McGhee
Birth
Reflections by the artist on
Birth
Nativity Series
Birth is shocking. It changes everything. We experience no greater transition this side of death.
Birth takes us from a warm, safe familiar place and introduces us to a loud and confusing world where we are unequipped to meet any of our endless needs.
As we reflect on our transition from womb to world, we can begin to appreciate the magnitude of the journey Jesus took for our sake.
Where he came from and where he went to could not be more different.
Being light, he came into darkness. Being whole, he entered our brokenness. Being omniscient, he had to learn, to grow in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:40). Before his relationship with God was intimate and effortless, now he had to grow in favor with God and other people. He submitted himself to the limits of language’s imperfect communication and the emotional distance of our human relationships. Heaven was joy, and he experienced our sorrows. Being a king, he became a servant. Being everything, he made himself nothing (Philippians 2:6-8)
No one has ever un-wrapped a more astonishing Christmas gift. Drop your jaw. Jump up and down! Squeal and scream! You have been given the most shocking and amazing gift ever. “For unto you is born this day . . . a savior who is Christ the LORD” (Luke 2:11).
12-16-2013
S. Jewell S. McGhee
Birth
Nativity Series
Birth is shocking. It changes everything. We experience no greater transition this side of death.
Birth takes us from a warm, safe familiar place and introduces us to a loud and confusing world where we are unequipped to meet any of our endless needs.
As we reflect on our transition from womb to world, we can begin to appreciate the magnitude of the journey Jesus took for our sake.
Where he came from and where he went to could not be more different.
Being light, he came into darkness. Being whole, he entered our brokenness. Being omniscient, he had to learn, to grow in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:40). Before his relationship with God was intimate and effortless, now he had to grow in favor with God and other people. He submitted himself to the limits of language’s imperfect communication and the emotional distance of our human relationships. Heaven was joy, and he experienced our sorrows. Being a king, he became a servant. Being everything, he made himself nothing (Philippians 2:6-8)
No one has ever un-wrapped a more astonishing Christmas gift. Drop your jaw. Jump up and down! Squeal and scream! You have been given the most shocking and amazing gift ever. “For unto you is born this day . . . a savior who is Christ the LORD” (Luke 2:11).
12-16-2013
S. Jewell S. McGhee
Weeping
Reflections by the artist on
Weeping
Nativity Series
I would prefer to skip over the hard parts of my life. It would be easier to ignore pain, sorrow and loss. It is hard enough to deal with my own darkness, but even harder to deal with other people’s.
God, our kind Father, does not distance himself from our sorrows. As we cry messy tears, eyes streaming, snot dripping unattractively, weeping abrasively; he pulls us into his chest and holds us. “In all their suffering, He suffered, and His Presence saved them. He redeemed them because of His love and compassion; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past.” Isaiah 63:9
That first Christmas, King Herod found out that an infant was born whom the stars foretold to be the coming king. Not knowing which boy was the destined child, he had all the baby boys in Bethlehem killed in order to secure his own kingship.
Joy is not the only emotion of Christmas.
We do not have to put on our “happy faces” to approach Jesus at the manger. God has given the gift of his son and said, “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight. . .” God knows that we are barely holding it together, that we are about to fall to pieces. And he says that his Son is a gentle savior to the broken hearted, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.” (Matthew 12:18; 20-21)
Bring your sorrows, not just your joys to the nativity this year. Give God your tears, and be comforted.
12-17-13
S. Jewell S. McGhee
click here to view the account of the tragedy in Matthew
Weeping
Nativity Series
I would prefer to skip over the hard parts of my life. It would be easier to ignore pain, sorrow and loss. It is hard enough to deal with my own darkness, but even harder to deal with other people’s.
God, our kind Father, does not distance himself from our sorrows. As we cry messy tears, eyes streaming, snot dripping unattractively, weeping abrasively; he pulls us into his chest and holds us. “In all their suffering, He suffered, and His Presence saved them. He redeemed them because of His love and compassion; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past.” Isaiah 63:9
That first Christmas, King Herod found out that an infant was born whom the stars foretold to be the coming king. Not knowing which boy was the destined child, he had all the baby boys in Bethlehem killed in order to secure his own kingship.
Joy is not the only emotion of Christmas.
We do not have to put on our “happy faces” to approach Jesus at the manger. God has given the gift of his son and said, “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight. . .” God knows that we are barely holding it together, that we are about to fall to pieces. And he says that his Son is a gentle savior to the broken hearted, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.” (Matthew 12:18; 20-21)
Bring your sorrows, not just your joys to the nativity this year. Give God your tears, and be comforted.
12-17-13
S. Jewell S. McGhee
click here to view the account of the tragedy in Matthew
Adoration
Reflections by the artist on
Adoration
Nativity Series
Some folks are really hard to shop for. What do you give to someone who has everything they need and gets themselves everything they want? Mom and Dad might have a hard time shopping for Grandpa, but the grandkids have no problem at all. Children make ornaments out of trash and decorate them confidently, slop on some wrappings joyfully, and present them enthusiastically!
It is important for us to practice the discipline of giving. The essence of giving a gift is giving yourself. We find this so hard because giving reveals our limitations. Part of giving is letting go. The child’s gift shows that they lack skill, money, and maturity. But the child has no fear because they give to someone who loves them.
That first Christmas, we know what gifts the great wise men brought to the baby king Jesus, but what did the shabby shepherds bring? What gifts do we bring to God who gave us the quintessential Christmas gift? We cannot make it even and give a comparable gift. Our gift will not be in the same price bracket. So then, what do we give to God?
Adoration.
Adoration is the paper ornament we lift up to our LORD. We give this present to our Daddy who loves and cherishes it because he loves us.
12-17-13
S. Jewell S. McGhee
Adoration
Nativity Series
Some folks are really hard to shop for. What do you give to someone who has everything they need and gets themselves everything they want? Mom and Dad might have a hard time shopping for Grandpa, but the grandkids have no problem at all. Children make ornaments out of trash and decorate them confidently, slop on some wrappings joyfully, and present them enthusiastically!
It is important for us to practice the discipline of giving. The essence of giving a gift is giving yourself. We find this so hard because giving reveals our limitations. Part of giving is letting go. The child’s gift shows that they lack skill, money, and maturity. But the child has no fear because they give to someone who loves them.
That first Christmas, we know what gifts the great wise men brought to the baby king Jesus, but what did the shabby shepherds bring? What gifts do we bring to God who gave us the quintessential Christmas gift? We cannot make it even and give a comparable gift. Our gift will not be in the same price bracket. So then, what do we give to God?
Adoration.
Adoration is the paper ornament we lift up to our LORD. We give this present to our Daddy who loves and cherishes it because he loves us.
12-17-13
S. Jewell S. McGhee