Arise

Posted on by Betsy

Happy New Year! My New Year’s Day started off with a bang. As my family of five, including 18-month old twins, was preparing to drive home, I was tasked with keeping an eye on the kids as mom and dad worked on packing the car. I watched them play as I unloaded the dishwasher and got the entire top rack of mugs and cups put up in the cupboard before I realized that nobody had run the dishwasher last night. A few minutes later, one of the twins excitedly ran over to me to offer me a much-needed hug, causing me to spill a large cup of coffee across my dining room table, onto the white padded chair, and onto the floor. As I am writing this introduction onto this post (which I wrote yesterday), I got a notice that read, “Updating failed. Sorry, you are not allowed to edit this post.” Say what??

How is your New Year going?

Let’s get to it. I hope you have made a resolution to read Scripture every day this year. I am here for that, dirty cups and spilled coffee and all.

Once upon a time, a man told me I was worth 500 camels. True story. Apparently, the trinket vendors in Israel judge a women’s worth in camels. He assessed me as he was attempting to sell me some olive wood carvings and proclaimed I was worth 500 of them. I never found out if 500 camels is a high or low value, but it was amusing, nevertheless.

Camels are very important in the holy land. Their ability to travel long distances over arid deserts with little water makes them uniquely qualified to be the beasts of burden to an appreciative nation. Camels, however, have a very poor attitude toward their keepers. Despite their lovely eyelashes and cute stuffed animal faces, they groan and buck and spit. Yes, camels spit. I once rode a camel at the Mt. of Olives and it tried to run away with me, and then tried to buck me off.

In our beautiful passage from Isaiah today, we see the promise of many camels that will be spread across the land. They will come from nearby nations and bring gold and incense. Their arrival heralds the restoration of Israel after a long absence from the Lord. God calls the nation to arise and shine as a testament to his redemptive power:

Isaiah 61 (Common English Bible)

Arise! Shine! Your light has come;
    the Lord’s glory has shone upon you.
2 Though darkness covers the earth
    and gloom the nations,
    the Lord will shine upon you;
    God’s glory will appear over you.
3 Nations will come to your light
    and kings to your dawning radiance.

Israel was not just restored for its own sake, but to be a light to the nations that would draw people to God. He called them to be witnesses to his power:

4 Lift up your eyes and look all around:
    they are all gathered; they have come to you.
Your sons will come from far away,
    and your daughters on caregivers’ hips.
5 Then you will see and be radiant;
    your heart will tremble and open wide,
    because the sea’s abundance will be turned over to you;
    the nations’ wealth will come to you.

Everyone hearing Isaiah’s prophecy would recognize the significance of the camel reference here:

6 Countless camels will cover your land,
    young camels from Midian and Ephah.
They will all come from Sheba,
    carrying gold and incense,
    proclaiming the Lord’s praises.
7 All Kedar’s sheep will be gathered for you;
    rams from Nebaioth will be your offerings;
    they will be accepted on my altar,
    and I will glorify my splendid house.

Isaiah proclaims God to be the hope of the coastlands. This gives us pause to consider our own state of affairs. Where are you walking in darkness today? Do you need to be rescued? Are you waiting for redemption? Will 2024 be your year of soul restoration? As you wait, consider this: God redeemed his chosen nation. You, too, are chosen.

8 Who are these who fly like a cloud,
    like doves to their shelters?
9 I’m the hope of the coastlands.
    Ships from Tarshish are in the lead
    to bring your children from afar,
    their silver and gold with them
    for the name of the Lord your God
    and for the holy one of Israel, who has glorified you.
10 Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
    and their kings will serve you.
Though in my rage I struck you down,
    in my favor I have consoled you.

You, my friend, are worth all the camels on earth. So if you are struggling today, remember that God loves you and sent his son to give his very life for you. In his favor he will console you and rebuild you.

So arise, and shine.

Arise, and Shine by Michelle Robertson

Burning Man

Posted on by Betsy

I am one of those mothers who raised her children not to use the word hate. I was hoping to avoid that moment in middle school when one of them would yell “I hate you!” at me. (Sadly, and predictably, it didn’t work.) I encouraged them to say they didn’t care for something, or didn’t like a particular thing, but the word hate was on the bad-word list.

I am working on a women’s retreat based on Ecclesiastes 3. This Scripture affirms that there is a time for everything, even hate. After doing some research and praying for illumination, I realized that there are many things we should hate. Injustice. Prejudice. Evil. Abuse. Violence. Everything that opposes God.

Several months ago I read something on X/Twitter that I absolutely hated, and I don’t mind saying that. The question was asked, “Who are your favorite women pastors, preachers, theologians, teachers, authors, etc.” A male pastor responded that actually, he preferred these women “hanged or burnt.” He later added “or drowned.”

I realize that Twitterverse is full of ignorance, where cowards hide behind a wall and hurl hateful words under a guise of anonymity. But this guy is so full of himself, he used his real name and the denomination he represents. His church eventually took down his hateful rhetoric, but his tweet had been screenshotted and shared. I hope he lost his job. Some responders tried to defend him by explaining that this denomination was ”traditional.” Really? If you think that burning, hanging, and drowning women fit in with your tradition, I can’t help you.

Today’s psalm comes at a good time for my heart. It reminds me that God is the ruler of everything, and he sits on a throne of righteousness and justice. There is a fire that goes before the Lord that “burns,” but it won’t be the women preachers. It will be the enemies of God on every side … and surely people who use their positions and pulpits to spew hatred that is antithetical to the Gospel will feel its heat, in due time.

Psalm 97 (Common English Bible)

The Lord rules! Let the earth rejoice!
    Let all the islands celebrate!
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround God.
    His throne is built on righteousness and justice.
3 Fire proceeds before him,
    burning up his enemies on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world;
    the earth sees it and trembles!

5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of the whole world!

Famous commentator Charles Spurgeon reminds us that God is the great leveler of mountains: “Men cannot move the hills, with difficulty do they climb them, with incredible toil do they pierce their way through their fastnesses, but it is not so with the Lord. His presence makes a clear pathway, obstacles disappear, a highway is made, and that not by his hand as though it cost him pains, but by his mere presence, for power goes forth from him with a word or a glance.”

If you are facing an insurmountable mountain this morning, go to the One who can melt it like wax.

6 Heaven has proclaimed God’s righteousness,
    and all nations have seen his glory.
7 All those who worship images,
    those who are proud of idols,
    are put to shame.
    All gods bow down to the Lord!
8 Zion has heard and celebrates,
    the towns of Judah rejoice,
    because of your acts of justice, Lord,
9     because you, Lord, are the Most High
        over all the earth,
    because you are so superior to all other gods.

It was interesting to read the responses to the pastor’s tweet. Many encouraged others to speak out against his evil. While addressing the violence he advocated in his “joke,” many people took this as an opportunity to speak out against prejudice and to promote the true Christian ideal of love, inclusivity, and justice.

10 Those of you who love the Lord, hate evil!
    God guards the lives of his faithful ones,
    delivering them from the power of the wicked.

While I hope this man is sanctioned for his words, I know that God is using this conversation to bring forth a justice of its own kind. The fact that his church removed the tweet gives me hope. Somebody is paying attention. Somebody is sowing a seed of righteousness that proclaims that this is not acceptable. Somebody is shining a light on his misogyny, and God will be his judge.

11 Light is planted like seed for the righteous person;
    joy too for those whose heart is right.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, righteous ones!
    Give thanks to his holy name!

This is good for us to remember today. We can rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. We can rest in knowing that God is bringing justice and healing in his wings. No matter what injury you have suffered, no matter what injustice you have received, God will make it right in the end.

Give thanks to his holy name!

Light is Planted by Michelle Robertson

Waiting for Consolation

Posted on by Betsy

Our passage from Luke today includes a beautiful phrase: “He was waiting for the consolation of Israel.” This phrase comes from Isaiah 12:1, where God brings consolation and comfort to those who wait. I have sat with many people as they waited for consolation. This is what happens in hospital waiting rooms. This is what happens as the hospice nurse is on the way. This is what happens when the horrible divorce is almost at an end. This is what happens when we receive news of an accident, tragedy, or any other life-altering event. We wait to be consoled in the way only the Holy Spirit can console us.

Indeed, today Israel is waiting for consolation and the end of war with Hamas and the return of their captured citizens. Gaza waits for the consolation of the end of the siege. People all over the world are waiting for the end of terror and strife.

Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel, which he know would only come with the Lord’s Messiah. His belief was so strong, he waited in faith and he anticipated Jesus’ arrival:

Luke 2 (NIV)

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

    and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Wow, so much to unpack here, but let’s stay focused on Simeon. He was waiting for the Lord’s Messiah and was empowered in his waiting by the Holy Spirit. He had been assured by God that the Messiah would actually come in his lifetime, and he believed that so much, he went to the temple every day. He was there that day, led by the Holy Spirit, anticipating that he would see Jesus.

Let that soak in.

What are you waiting for today? Do you wait with enough faith that you are anticipating God’s resolution to happen? Are you waiting with full assurance that you will encounter Jesus? Are you making your way toward his saving grace with confidence that you will be delivered?

Anticipation tells us that whatever we do, wherever we are, whatever sin we have committed, whatever burden of grief we bear, no matter WHAT, Jesus is ready. He is ready to heal, to direct, to rebuke, to fight for you … Jesus is ready.

Simeon teaches us to anticipate with hope. We are invited to stand firm on the promises of God in our lives and EXPECT to be delivered. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of Jesus:

Romans 8 (NLT)

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“Neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” God always delivers on his promises.

Simeon waited until he saw Jesus, and we can too. Go to the Temple! He is there.

Anticipate the Day by Michelle Robertson

Bleak Midwinters

Posted on by Betsy

Merry Christmas to all of you! My hope and prayer today is that you feel the joy, awe, wonder, and relief that Christmas morning brings. But truth be told, there are some among us who carry generational trauma at Christmastime. Today can be a trigger day for those whose families struggled with anger, neglect, abuse, poverty, and deep unhappiness. You may be waking up this morning just feeling glad that the season is over, and all you have to do is get through today. For you especially, I pray that God’s overwhelming peace and hope would flood your soul and replace your memories with calm assurance of his presence.

My favorite Christmas hymn is Christina Rossetti’s In the Bleak Midwinter. I think it speaks into every moment of Christmas: The bleak ones, the reverent ones, the tender ones, and the giving ones.

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long, long ago


Angels and Arc Angels
May have traveled there
Cherubim and Seraphim
Thronged the air
But only his Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved
With a kiss


What can I give him?
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give him my heart
Give him my heart

If you are bleak this morning, know that you are loved. If you are filled with joy today, reflect on the maiden kiss that Mary gave her baby. If you are happily weary, rest in the company of angels. If you have hope, go out and tell it from the mountains.

Merry Christmas, my friends! Thank you for reading.

Bleak Midwinter by Michelle Robertson

Hurry in Another Direction

Posted on by Betsy

Last week I preached a sermon suggesting we try to “unhurry” Christmas, and I challenged the congregation to listen again to the familiar Luke 2 passage on the nativity and see if they could spot who was in a hurry the night the Christ Child was born. See if you can spot it, too:

Luke 2 (Common English Bible)

2 In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. 3 Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. 4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. 5 He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.

8 Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night.9 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 13 Then a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

So, Joseph made his way by foot and donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem a distance of about 90 miles. Not in a hurry.

Mary takes time to wrap Jesus snugly in his blanket, and later spends time in reflection, pondering things in her heart. Not in a hurry.

The angels manifest in the sky and have a choir practice to announce the good news. Not in a hurry.

Later in the story, actually about two years later, the wise men show up with their Christmas presents. Definitely not in a hurry!

So who was in a hurry? The shepherds. “Let’s go RIGHT NOW to see what’s happened. And they went QUICKLY and found the baby laying in a manger.”

But don’t miss the point: they left their WORK to rush into Jesus’ presence. 

Maybe we could do the same today. In the midst of our holiday hustle and tasks, we could stop and leave our work. We could slow down long enough to hurry in another direction. We could put our activities on hold so we might quietly meet with our Lord. We could be settled and silent in the presence of Jesus.

As a result we just might discover an unhurried holiday: a season that will strengthen us spiritually instead of sapping our energy and joy. If we strip away all the extra stuff, maybe we will find ourselves in Jesus’ presence.

So in this moment, unhurry yourself and sit in Jesus’ presence. Breathe in the essence of peace and exhale out all your anxiety. May God bless us, everyone.

Merry Christmas!

Advent Wreath by Becca Ziegler

Magnified

Posted on by Betsy

Today, we continue with “Mary Week” as we read a portion of Luke traditionally known as The Magnificat, the Latin translation of the first line “My soul magnifies the Lord.” This song of praise was sung just after receiving news of her pregnancy, and the language in it reveals Mary’s complete and utter devotion to God, in whom she trusted.

Luke 1 (New Revised Standard Version)

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.

Scholars note that this song resembles Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Upon deeper investigation, there are at least 12 other allusions to the Old Testament in The Magnificat. Do you recognize the significance of this? It means that Mary was a woman who studied and knew God’s Word. Because the Scriptures were on her heart, God’s Word came out in her song.

50 His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

If you were to write your own Magnificat today, what would you sing? How would you praise God, and which blessings would you include? Mary’s song is a gentle reminder to us today to keep reading God’s Word, keep studying, and ponder Scripture in our hearts like she did.

God lifts up the lowly and fills us with good things. Thanks be to God!

Magnificent by Becca Ziegler

The Servant

Posted on by Betsy

My email is filled this morning with “last minute Christmas gift ideas” and I am mentally doing a gift checklist to see if I need anything last minute. In six days it will all be over and our selections, for better or for worse, will be revealed and we’ll know whether or not we got a hit or a miss.

We’ve been blessed with family this weekend and stories of unusual Christmas presents were shared. I had to laugh when my husband confessed to everyone that he had a miss the first Christmas after we got married. He had even gone to three stores to buy it! I still can’t imagine what possessed him to get me a bacon press, and he can’t remember why he was so sure it was exactly what I wanted. It made a great door stop, though.

In our countdown to Christmas readings this week, we will consider the best Christmas gift the world ever received from Mary’s perspective. I am always amazed to think about how young she was and how unstartled she was at this extremely startling pronouncement:

Luke 1 (Common English Bible)

26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27 to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.28 When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29 She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

Can you imagine what it would be like to be visited by an angel? What do they even look like? Of course Mary was confused! But I love that the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you.” Indeed, “don’t be afraid” is often the way angels greet people. I’m not sure that would work for me, as I would probably be lying unconscious on the floor after having fainted, so I would miss the whole “don’t be afraid” part.

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. 36 Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. 37 Nothing is impossible for God.”

Young Mary received comfort from her cousin’s miraculous pregnancy to help her negotiate her own. The normalization of extraordinary conceptions now ran in their family and probably helped both women accept that they had been favored by God, and they would be all right. The angel spoke an important truth that day: Nothing is impossible for God.

What impossible thing are you up against today? What kind of miraculous intervention do you need right now? If an angel were to appear to you in this moment, what news would you hope for?

38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Mary’s example of servanthood is legendary. When God calls us to do an important, wonderful, strange, and impossible task for him, this is how we should respond as well.

Are you feeling up against it today? You are God’s favored one. Nothing is impossible with God.

Favored Ones by Michelle Robertson

Beauty for Ashes

Posted on by Betsy

Losing someone at Christmas time is a gut-wrenching experience. Every holiday season going forward will forever be marked with the sadness of that untimely event. Yesterday, I officiated a funeral for a vibrant young woman in our community who brought light and laughter to everyone she met. As I counseled her mother earlier in the week, I kept hearing the phrase “beauty for ashes” in my mind. This young woman was an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Cosmetology at our local college, and everyone talked about her drive and desire to bring beauty into the world with her teaching, her skills, her delightful sense of humor, and her smile.

I opened today’s lectionary passage and there it was, the “beauty for ashes” Scripture. God is amazing that way.

Isaiah 61 (New International Version)

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,

These were the very words that Jesus read from the scroll in the Temple as recorded in Luke 4:16-22. He was announcing himself as the long awaited Messiah. The use of the word “anointed” is key, as the word “Messiah” means “anointed one.” He then goes on to describe the ministry of the Messiah:

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

In verse 3 we see that the Messiah comes to bestow a crown of beauty instead of ashes to the people. Ashes were used as a sign of mourning and were spread all over the head and forehead. They represented desolation, ruin, and deep grief. Imagine spreading ashes all over your head … surely grief is messy, no matter how you approach it.

But Jesus came to offer a crown of beauty for your head to replace your ashes. He came to give you the oil of joy to replace your mourning. He game to replace your sackcloth of despair with a garment of praise. It bodes the question, why would we sit in ashes when Christ gave us so much better? Through his life, death, and resurrection, we are never permanently separated from those whom we love. And when overwhelming grief finally releases its grip on our hearts, we can live into that beauty, with God’s help. It will never be the same, but it won’t always feel this bad.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.

God is able to rebuild and restore the devastation of a loss by the renewal of your spirit, when you are ready to let him. In the meantime, for those who mourn, remember that you are never alone. Jesus walks your lonesome valley with you. Thanks be to God.

Lonesome Valley by Becca Ziegler

Blue Christmases

Posted on by Betsy

This is an excerpt from ADVENTuring to the Manger, available at Amazon.

When I was a child, my family’s Christmas lights were red, yellow, green, white, and orange. I don’t recall when blue lights came into vogue, but I remember being stunned the first time I saw a tree vibrant with blue LED lights dominating the color scheme. Blue is now my favorite Christmas light color. After all, blue is the liturgical color for the season of Advent.

Then I experienced my first “blue Christmas,” a phrase now used to define a sad, lonely, and sorrowful Christmas. Not everybody has a holly, jolly Christmas. The loss of a loved one, a divorce, a family member not being able to come home, having to work over the holidays, and just plain disappointment can all lead to feeling blue during the most wonderful time of the year. My blue Christmas was due to three things. I had moved away from my church of 16 years, and I was on leave with no Christmas Eve services to look forward to. My oldest daughter had just gotten married and was spending Christmas in another state with her in-laws. Worst of all, my father passed away suddenly two days after Thanksgiving.

I wasn’t just blue; I was black and blue.

Have you ever felt like a holiday could smack you right down? Holidays can be sneaky little buggers. They can come up behind you without any warning in the mall or at a party and poke you so hard from behind that it knocks the wind right out of you. A flash of memory, a familiar song, a taste of nostalgia, and suddenly, unbidden, you are feeling the pain of your loss with such intensity that you can’t move or breathe. The unhappy irony of that is that Christmas is the celebration of the Prince of Peace, the Comforter:

Isaiah 40

1 Comfort, O comfort my people,

    says your God.

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

    and cry to her

that she has served her term,

    that her penalty is paid,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

    double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries out:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,

    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be lifted up,

    and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

    and the rough places a plain.

5  Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

    and all people shall see it together,

    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Even in the bluest of Christmases, God comes into our valley of sorrow to lift us up and level us out. Grief is a natural expression of a life that was well loved. It is the heart’s way of dealing with the unthinkable void that death creates. God longs to bring comfort to his people who mourn. He longs to comfort you in your blueness. And here is the good news: he will stay by your side until you begin to feel just the smallest and slightest bit better. And eventually you will.

He won’t leave you or grow tired of comforting you, for he is the everlasting God.

28  Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

    his understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the faint,

    and strengthens the powerless.

30 Even youths will faint and be weary,

    and the young will fall exhausted;

31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

    they shall walk and not faint.

Are you having a blue Christmas this year? You are not alone. If you look around, you will probably find others in the same color scheme as you. So don’t feel ignored or left out of all of the “have yourself a merry little Christmas” celebrations…others are faking it, too.

I hugged a friend last week who just lost her mother. I know she is dreading this Christmas. I have experienced that same dread and the feeling of disconnect with the joy-to-the-world spirit that others were feeling. I even felt resentful and could not wait for Christmas to be over. As I held her, I heard myself saying, “Every time you miss your mom this season, try to get up and do something for someone else. Think of someone who needs a prayer, or a card, or a casserole, and focus on that.”

I don’t know if that will help. I do know that when we push our way out of our circumstance, we survive for another day and live to tell about it. Sometimes that’s all we can hope for. Blue Christmases are a game of survival. And when grief finally loosens its stranglehold on us, we can begin to feel joy again.

So look around. Others are blue, too. Somebody you know is having a bleak mid-winter this year. Find someone who needs their pain to be acknowledged and let them know that you see them. When you do that, blueness begins to fade … theirs, and yours.

If you are looking for a resource on grief, try Mourning Break: Words of Hope for Those In Grief, available at Amazon.

Bleak Midwinter by Michelle Robertson

I Am Not the Messiah

Posted on by Betsy

Many years ago I attended a pastor’s retreat where we were encouraged to set boundaries, recognize our limitations, and learn to lean on God for strength and direction. The oft repeated mantra for the weekend was, “I am not the Messiah.” It began as a humorous call-and-response led by one of the speakers, but as the weekend went on, we became aware of the many times in ministry when we fall into the trap of thinking we should have all the answers, be able to solve everyone’s personal problems, raise funds, cast big visions, preach stellar sermons every week, resolve every conflict, and have the ability to fix everything. Part of this conundrum is based on our natural desire to help our people and our churches get better and thrive. The other part is based on unrealistic expectations some congregants have of their ministers. In any case, remembering that “I am not the Messiah, I just work for him” is a healthy way of dealing with our own limitations and the truth of Who is really in control.

This is a life lesson for everyone, not just clergy.

I chuckled when I read today’s lectionary, remembering that good lesson from many years ago. In actuality, we were quoting John the Baptizer when we chanted, “I am not the Messiah.” Do you remember the event?

John 1 (New International Version)

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Before we get to the punchline, let’s stop right there. “He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” In that one golden sentence we find the shared call of every single follower of Jesus. We are not called to be God. We are not called to sit in the judgement seat that God occupies. We are not here to save people, like Jesus does. We are not called to resolve issues with an iron fist. We are not called to determine the parameters of the sheepfold. Those things are of the Lord. All we are called to do is witness to his light.

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

John reminds us that we serve the Lord in a wilderness of secular thinking. We serve the Lord in the bumpy places where there is confusion and hurt. We serve the Lord by witnessing to the glory of God in the darkest places. We serve the Lord when we reflect his light.

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

How about you? How can you witness to the Light? How can you offer the hope of the Living Water to the people who are parched and dying of thirst?

No, we are not the Messiah. But pointing to him every day and in every way will bring us great joy. Our witness is strongest in our actions, behaviors, and choices. These are the things people notice. As the old song says, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” So, go and witness to the light.

Witness by Michelle Robertson