December 21, 2010

Unlikely

This is a verse from one of my favorite "newer" Christmas songs:

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we've projected,
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl
Just a child --Is this who we've waited for?

How Many Kings, Down Here

I find myself focused on the "unlikeliness" of God's plans this Christmas. It's hard to ignore. Today my 5 year old son even asked me, "Mommy, how can a baby be a King?" Hmm.

Unlikely...

CS Lewis said that "The Son of God became man so that men could become the sons of God." There is a song that describes this as "a strange way to save the world." That song has always made me a little defensive. Someone calling my God's plans strange? No you didn't...

But the truth of the matter is--it is strange. Strange to us because His ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts.

Last year at this time I was on the brink of an emotional meltdown. I was in the deepest pit I have ever been in. For that darkness to be made light seemed very unlikely to me. It seemed very unlikely that I would ever be who am now. And I certainly wouldn't have chosen the path God did to get me out of the pit. All of it was...unlikely, to say the least.

What is amazing is that when His plans and purpose are revealed to us, we see the Glory of God. We gain some small understanding of His infinite wisdom and we know that it is okay to trust Him. Because even though they may seem strange, His ways are impossibly perfect. Time after time.

God's ways are not mine. They are the unlikeliest ways and He is the unlikeliest hero. But he is MY hero and I take comfort in knowing that He is in control and I am not. I celebrate His presence! I celebrate The Word becoming flesh, knowing suffering and dying so that I could be set free. (He didn't stay in the manger, ya know!)

He has given me so much, taught me so much, healed me so much, loved me SO much. He sacrificed everything...for you and me. What do I possibly have to offer as a gift to this Savior? What do you have to offer? For that answer we need only look in the mirror.

John 1:4-5
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Merry Christmas!
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8 comments:

Amber said...

Thanks for reminding me that I need to lean on Him (when I lean on myself I just fall over).

-Amber

Married with Children..... said...

Absolutely a great post Keelie! Perhaps my favorite one from you entire blog so far!
BTW: I can't stop singing this song! I have my kids singing it too! It's great and so right on!
Merry Christmas----LOVE YA

gbfministry said...

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

One word -- Amazing.

Thanks for this post :)

Have a Merry Christmas sweet friend!

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas Keelie! Thank you for sharing your absolutely beautiful post.

Michele said...

Wonderful post. Merry Christmas!

Chris@Joyful Mother said...

Amen!! Merry Christmas Keelie!!

chris xoxo

sarah said...

I sang "How Many Kings" in church this past Sunday. I love the message of that song! I also love "A Strange Way to Save the World"! I love this post! I feel like for the first time in my life I really "get" Christmas. My main goal is to make sure that my daughter and the rest of our loved ones "get" it too. I really feel that the Holy Spirit has laid the story of Mary on my heart this year. Such a powerful story! I had the honor of singing a song called "A Baby Changes Everything" for our Christmas show at church this year. It is an awesome song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArwfK-tc_Vs this is the link to me singing the song. Thanks for this Christmas message and most of all for your encouragement, inspiration and wisdom! I have shared your blog with my First Place 4 Health group!