Quiet Time Reflections

I have been reading through Isaiah and was captured by Chapter 53.

It is amazing how Jesus is described, actually prophesied about since he was yet to make his appearance on earth.

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering".

Isn't it amazing that there was nothing humanly (appearance wise) remarkable about Jesus??? It was Him, the Lord within Him that drew people to him.  Isn't it amazing that He was despised and rejected, that he had sorrows and knew suffering?  It is amazing that we have a God who understands us as humans because He walked this earth and experienced life.

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. . .But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought US PEACE was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed".

It is so humbling to read these verses.  It makes me sorrowful that I don't live my life completely for the Lord, that I don't spend every moment of the day pursuing Him or seeking to live out His will in all circumstances.

"And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor.  This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind".  Ecclesiastes 4:4

This verse grabbed my attention.  In no way do I want to live my life keeping up with my "neighbors" or desiring what they have.  It is so easy to live a life of comparison, but it is so futile.  Ecclesiastes is such a good reminder of why it is important to keep your focus on that which is important--living for the Lord.

Having children makes it difficult to decide how to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Christmas. Madeline and Ryan, I hope you read this some day and know that we (mommy and daddy) have put and will continue to put a lot of thought into how to celebrate Christmas.  We want you to experience the magical belief in Santa and enjoy receiving presents, but we want Christ to be the center of Christmas.  We want you to know that we celebrate Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ and the salvation it ultimately brought.