A couple of nights ago I posted a photo of Stella on facebook looking
intently at our Christmas tree. She had come over to visit for a couple of
hours. She was actually asleep when her mom brought her, but as soon as they
got out of the driveway Stella was up! As usual, when she enters our living
room she begins, “Woo! Woo!” She LIKES our tree! Diona says she doesn’t mess
with theirs, but for some reason she just can’t keep her hands off of the tree at
our house.
Someone commented on the photo, “Don’t you wonder what’s on
her mind?” So now you get the rest of the story. Stella had gone to the tree, over on the back
side so I couldn’t see her. But I could
hear her talking to it. So I said very quietly, “no no”. She came around the
tree a few steps and stopped again, putting her hand out, talking quietly to
herself and then looking at me. She
inched around the huge base of the tree and with every few steps, she repeated
the motions of talking, wanting to touch, me saying “no no” and her putting her
hand down.
By the time the photo was taken she was intently spying a
little wooden soldier hanging from a lowest branch. She kept looking towards
me, but finally she could no longer resist and she quickly plucked the soldier
from the tree. I no longer wanted to say
“no no”, so I watched as she turned it around in her tiny little hands and
talked to it. Content that she had finally got to touch the tree, she laid him
down and walked away to play elsewhere. She was happy that she had experienced
what she so wanted!
We raise our children so well on “no” that there are even
manufactured t-shirts that state “My Name is Not No No!” It’s not our intention to squelch the wonder
and miracle of those first exciting experiences, but we have to keep order and
we really do. We can’t just let them tear up things. Without order there’s
chaos. But watching Stella first go around the tree, talk to herself about it,
reach out tentatively and then touch the tree, ever so gently, to pluck that
soldier from its boughs reminds me.
This reminds me of that first touch of Christ on my life. I
knew I was forever changed. I knew things were going to be different. I also
knew that I had wanted order and neatness in my life. Touching Christ was messy. It was going to
shake up my world. Not everyone would understand this newfound love of my life.
Not everyone would want to tag along or experience Him with me. I even heard a
few “no no’s”.
Oh beloved, as you wake up this morning I pray that you will
let yourself go and let yourself experience fully ALL that is offered from God
through Christ! Just as the splendor of Christmas trees are decked out all
around us, a life in Christ is a decorated life like no other, with the light of
life shining out for all to see and be drawn to. He is the light of the world!
He is the Creator of the Universe! He is the giver of the blessings! All of it
is for you! Go ahead, reach out and touch Him for He is risen and He is calling
you. He always calls you with love, He never says no, don’t touch Me for He
delights in even a touch of the hem of His garment! He knows you because He
created you to be a shining example of His glorious mercy and grace. He’s for
you and He created you to be a living illustration of His wonderful blessings
and care. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Ephesians 4:24 Put on your new nature, created to be like
God—truly righteous and holy.
John 1:16 For out of His fullness (abundance)
we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace
after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and
even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. (Amplified)
Psalm 4:7 You have given me greater joy than those who have
abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the
darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory
of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
John 16:24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using My Name, and
you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
Ephesians 3:19-21 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to
understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life
and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His
mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask
or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus
through all generations forever and ever! Amen
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