Christmas: A Wonderful Surprise

Personal thoughts I journaled over Christmas break.

Life is interesting, filled with surprises.  But the greatest surprise is to be surprised by grace.  God's grace abounds.  He's full of mercy, love, compassion for us.  It is never His intention to harm us.  That's not in His will for us, though in this life, on this earth, we will have momentary trials, He promises us that these are merely momentary, and have no comparison to what is ours in Christ Jesus and what the eternal side of our lives will be like.  It seems like a long waiting game sometimes.  But then again, ask someone in their old age and maybe they will still be able to find things they regret not experiencing, not saying, not doing.  Time still passes, as slow as it can be, as fast as it can be, it does not stand still whether we want it to or not.

When Christ was born, entering the scene of our world, humble and in the form of a babe...the angels warned us to not be afraid.  Whatever may come, there is hope.  A Saviour is here.  A savior of our souls, a lover, a groom, one who would come to love us to the end, sacrificing His purity for our filth.  Making a great exchange, because of a love so great, so unending, never failing, relentless, untiring.  We are now reborn into a Kingdom unshakable. There is an open invitation to the greatest banquet of all time.  Come, sit, dine.  More than what you are even yet capable of desiring is yours.  Imagination beyond your imagination.  Beauty and glory your human eyes would perish from peeking at. A gift you cannot lose once received.  A gift that can never be taken away from you.  A gift you can share with others.  

Mary pondered these things in her heart.  A woman in a society where she had not much of an identity.  A young lady in a land where righteous men had the right to stone her to death for being pregnant with child before marriage.  This is the way Jesus chose to enter our world.  He stepped down from his throne.

God is perfect.  Perfectly loving and good.  His kindness came before us.

Eternity is written on our hearts.  I love being His child.  It makes the story of life so much more sweet.  Though I see the bitterness, I am not a citizen of this world.  No longer am I a slave to sin.  

Jesus was born, died, and risen so that we can hear Him say, "Welcome Home My Child.  I love you.  Welcome Home."

Waiting On Him

“Often a Christian man or woman falls prey to that cruel and vexatious spirit, wondering how to find marriage, who, when, where? It is on God that we should wait, as a waiter waits--not for but on the customer--alert, watchful, attentive, with no agenda of his own, ready to do whatever is wanted. 'My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.' (Ps. 62:5 KJV) In Him alone lie our security, our confidence, our trust. A spirit of restlessness and resistance can never wait, but one who believes he is loved with an everlasting love, and knows that underneath are the everlasting arms, will find strength and peace.” 


― Elisabeth Elliot, Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity

What To Look For In A Spouse

After finishing Tim Keller's book, "The Meaning of Marriage," I found myself still asking this question, "So what do I look for in a potential spouse?"

I went back to see what I could come up with as gleaned from the book.  I still believe physical attraction is important, but am I missing out on discovering the qualities and characteristics I should truly seek in a person?  Am I guilty of eliminating people with beautiful character by scanning a room based on looks and polish?

Here, I will remind myself and share with you what to keep in mind during the marriage-seeking season.

Jonathan Edwards tells us that, "true virtue in a person--contentment, peace, and joy from the gospel--is beautiful."

I want to learn to find myself attracted to one's spiritual fruit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22,23 ESV)


Tim Keller urges us to look at these things in a person: Character, mission, future self, and mythos.

What is a mythos?  It can be described as books, places, music, pastimes--inconsolable longing, things that get you in touch with the Joy that is God.  Sharing this with someone is a wonderful experience, I think.

When you meet this person, get to know each other in aspects of family, church, and community life.
-deeper everyday life to evaluate character
-serve together
-fellowship and bible study together in community
-worship together

Also, ask yourself if you've made it past the infatuation stage with this person:
-have we been through and solved a few sharp conflicts?
-have we been through a cycle of repenting and forgiving?
-have we each shown each other we can make changes out of love for the other?

One more thing I suggest is to get mentorship and friendship from a married couple before and after marriage.