Fall

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:23-24


A few weeks ago, I tripped and hit my chin on the sidewalk. Prayers began to flow over me as fast the blood flowed from my little head. I was quickly mended and healed in miraculous ways, without bruising, infection, and pain. As much as God allowed the cut, He provided the salve.

Many things came to mind. First, I had an entirely new personal perspective of the thorns of sin that drilled into Jesus' brow. My gash was so small, but it was enough to bleed profusely. How much more did His cut up, beat up, sliced up head bleed with no help and only hurt? I had mending; He had murdering.

Second, this physical fall brought forth physical blood. Sin always leads to the shedding of blood. Sin bleeds me to death until His blood leads me to life. I will fall, He will save. I will bleed, He will heal. I see the physical manifestations of my fall; how much more does the Father see my suffering spirit?

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. – James 5:16

Third, after I fell, I was driven to familiar friends like a child to parent’s embrace. Just as the first moments of sin resulted in humanity’s hiding, sin brings on the shame. When my heart, however it is, is revealed to a trusted friend, shame loses its power in my friend’s prayerful embrace. I was meant to be known, healed, and held in love in all times of life. He knows and He provides; I must trust and receive.

Even God’s own Son fell beneath the weight of sin; so certainly do I. God’s own son rose with scars, so certainly do I. No one is exempt from the bleeding; no one is excluded from the healing.

Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com

Christ(mas) Call

Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Leviticus 9:23

What if your father was President of the United States? Three years ago, I watched Jenna Bush call her father, President George W. Bush, before a live audience. As his daughter, she called to show how easy it was for her to contact the most powerful man in the county. She approached him with respect, confidence and playfulness – even a little “fear and trembling” over his response to such an impromptu call. The audience, regardless of personal agreement with the President, was thrilled and honored to be in the presence of such power, albeit vicariously.

Jenna asked her dad, "Are you mad?" He responded, "No, not at all, I'm glad to talk to you." The host asked if the President would like to say Merry Christmas to the audience. The President responded, “I do want to say Merry Christmas to your audience, and I want to tell my little girl that I love her.”

This display reminded me of a much more powerful conversation with the Most High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Ruler of all nations and how we neglect such an honor to call upon Him. If entering the Oval Office is a thrill, how much more then is entering the Holy of Holies at the invitation of the Awesome and Almighty King? Does fear keep us from the thrill of His conversation, as He waits on us to call?

Our “audience” wants to know, “Is it easy to call God?” They are awed by His Presence, but lack the intimate access of being His child to personally experience the conversation. Our Father responds with words of peace to the world and love to our hearts. He says, “I want to tell the people ‘Merry Christmas,’ celebrate my Son’s birth, but to the one who called on Me, I want you to know that there is no reason to fear my wrath only because you are my child and I love you very much! Enjoy my Presence and teach others to do the same through my Son.” This is Christmas.

Click here to watch Jenna Bush call her Dad, Pres. Bush

Enjoy Him, Michelle mlpack1@yahoo.com