Once again, this world feels like it's extra messy and chaotic. And it's Christmas time. It seems to be a reoccurring theme? I guess. Cause it feels like I wrote a prayer similar to this one just a couple of years ago. Obviously we wouldn't need You if we had ourselves together. Because we do. We need you. So much. God we're so broken. So needy. SO hurting. We need you. It's Christmas, and yet the world seems extra hate-filled, violent and rebellious during this time. I'm sorry.
And yet, somehow it seems totally appropriate to me that this world is extra edgy and messy right now. What better time to celebrate your coming than when we're a hot mess full of spite, refusing to listen to any reason and acting like a bunch of toddlers. (And I don't mean toddlers in the precious, endearing sense. Think more dictator and less cute.) Because Jesus that's when you came. Your came in a time of unrest. Of aching. Of crying out. A time that best can be summed up by O, Come, O, Come Emmanuel.
We are not little Orphan Annie's who are really pretty precious, compelling and inspiring all on their own and just need a new wardrobe, haircut and shower. We were more like little kids trained for gorilla warfare. (And I'm not wearing a twitchy smile being cute this time. More like a look of disgust crosses my face.) Rebellious, disrespectful, hate-filled and destructive to the most extreme extent. That's who you came for. That's the ones that you fell so in love with that you refused to give up on us.
You came to enter into our hate, and offer love. Bring peace into our violence. Fill our hungry souls. You came to transform, ransom, redeem, heal and love till it hurt. Then you kept loving. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for offering healing to our pain. Thank you for revealing that we were made for more. Thank you for a taste of victory. Thank you for getting on our level. Thank you for removing the sting of death. Thank you for offering hope and freedom.
Please help those who love and have been freed by you to stop at nothing to walk in that hope and freedom. Please, mostly...just, refuse to give up on us. Be relentless with us. Cause we're still all screwed up and not getting it in so many ways. We need you. My spirit aches with pain and hope, and anticipates the full realization of your freedom.
I need you and I love you. Help me live into that hope and freedom.
Thanks for always seeing beauty in the mess.
We must be pretty freaking beautiful to you then.
Happy Birthday, Jesus. You're always my absolute favorite.
Love,
Lin
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