The Story that never gets old - John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

My three and a half year old son Braxton loves a good story. The story can come from reading one of his beloved books; he never seems to tire of reading one of his favorite books and has quite remarkably memorized a rather incredible number of his books, verbatim. Another likely source for stories and what thrills Braxton most is having someone just tell him a story. The request for a story comes just about any time of day, but the most common setting for this is over a meal when his big blue eyes look up at you, and with delight and excitement all over his face, he says, "Mommy, tell me a story. Will you please tell me a story, Mommy?"

Having worn out our reserve of creative storylines, Forde and I have resorted to asking Braxton for guidance. Who's in this story? Where are they? What are they doing? This at least helps us have a jumping off point. Almost without fail, the answers to these questions are the same.

Just yesterday morning, I overheard Braxton ask Daddy for a story over breakfast. The questions commenced. The answers anticipated. The all-too-familiar story began.

Braxton is obsessed with the movie Cars (thank you, Pixar!), so our stories usually involve a cast with some assortment of Mater, Doc, Holly Shiftwell, Red, fill-in-the-blank of any Cars characters, and always, always Lightning McQueen. Their location may change, pending his mood or what he's recently read, from Mexico, Tokyo, Paris, London, Texas, Charlotte, or Radiator Springs. Yet, the storyline inevitably follows a very similar pattern. A race, a broken tire, the comeback, and eventually Lightning McQueen proving to be the victor or hero.

Listening to all of this unfold, secretly relieved I wasn't in the hot seat, I laughed to myself. He's heard, read, or seen some version of these stories 9000 times, but it's all he wants to hear. It just never gets old to Braxton. Ever! Each time he hears whatever part of the Cars story we're telling that day, it's as if it's the first and yet thousandth time he's heard it. His eyes are wide with anticipation, body bouncing with excitement as the details pour forth, but he's quick to correct when some detail is slightly off (or not coming quickly enough).

Sometimes I truly marvel at how many times the same story fascinates and thrills Braxton! I get so bored with it and (warning: confession coming!) disappointed when the expected answers come to what story this will be, all too often just simply trying to drudge through telling it one. more. time. (My attitude could use an adjustment!)

Then, it hit me.

The Lord opened my ears to hear something new and eternal beneath Braxton's daily request. Indeed, I was listening to something far greater, far more remarkable, far more beautiful than just a 3 year old wanting yet another Cars story. I was really listening to the echoes of the deepest cry of his heart... and mine.

Braxton's desire for a good story has roots in a greater desire for a far greater Story. God has put eternity in the heart of man (Eccl. 3:11), and in each of our hearts is a deep longing, an unquenchable thirst, and an insatiable hunger for Him, for His truth. We were created to know and walk in a right relationship with God. The fall - sin - broke that, and this desire has been twisted, torn, broken, misguided, overlooked, disbelieved, forgotten even. Yet, page after page, Scripture tells the story of how God has taken a fallen creation, a fallen yet chosen people and redeemed and reconciled them to Himself through His Son Jesus.. It's the story that should never get old!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." 
John 3:16-17 ESV 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 ESV

This is God's story. Intricately woven through every story in Scripture and throughout every page of history are the eternal themes of God's creation, man's fall, redemption through Christ, and restoration to God. The characters and locations may change, but the story follows some part of this pattern... and the Victor, the Hero, is always the same.

Braxton reminded me that the Bible tells of a wonderful love story between God and man, a story that truly never gets old. It's one for the ages! And yet, for many, it's all-too-familiar and boring. For some, it's new and thrilling. For others, it's not worth noting. Too often, I sadly fall in the all-too-familiar, boring camp. Here, too, I could use an attitude adjustment and a daily dose of my son's child-like faith and fascination when approaching God's story.

How about you?

Humbly,
Jessica

The direction of your heart - 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Originally written January 1, 2003; edited January 2015

"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season and have found this new year to be a pleasant one thus far. The start of a new year seems to always bring a breath of fresh air to me. No matter how good or bad the previous year was, something about a "new year" screams new beginning, starting over, a blank canvas, a new chapter. And so, we start of a new chapter: 2015. I love new chapters of life.

As I look back on 2014, I have mixed emotions. The past year had some hardships. There were relational strains experienced, deep, deep grief and loss alongside friends... and of my own, lots of frustrations, bewildering events and seasons (potty training... all year - need I say more?!), busy schedules, and some insanely profound heartache. It was undoubtedly a tough year.

And yet, this same year that is rightly classified in any of the above categories was also a year of rich, rich blessings. I experienced and witnessed incredible growth, miracles of so many kinds, new friendships, deeper friendships, precious new memories, fun adventures, and intense rejoicing. I am truly amazed considering the juxtaposition of this past year and overwhelmed with joy at all that happened. The Lord so faithfully and patiently grew and blessed me through it all. Even the hard parts.

I have no idea why the Lord chose to give us the year behind exactly as He did, or why He's chosen to give us what will come in this new, unknown year. Nevertheless, the Lord has impressed upon my heart a prayer I want to be praying for my boys (husband included!), others, and myself. It is Paul's words in this passage.

May the Lord direct your/their/my heart(s) to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. 

Fill in the pronoun desired, and this passage is so rich! These words encourage me to no end knowing that regardless of situation or circumstance, good or bad, hard or easy, confusing or straightforward, the Lord is directing my heart to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ. In the realm of uncharted territory such as a new year, it's comforting to know that the One who has already charted this course is directing my heart and my path... and it's directed to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.

Being the word geek that I am, I looked up "direct" to expand on the meaning and gain a better understanding. Word searches often enlighten my study of the Word and help solidify God's truth in my mind, as was the case with this passage. While I don't know the exact Greek meaning for the word translated to "direct," just flushing out the English definition alone was powerful! It means to guide, tell, show the way to, aim, or point to something, just to name a few. This really spoke to me about how faithful the Lord is to use everything (yes, everything) to direct us, point us, show us His great love and the steadfastness of Christ.

Yet, do I have eyes to see this, even when the smokescreen of life tries to conceal it? 

Do you?

I admit, I don't always have the eyes to see or the heart to trust this is true. Sometimes I let my circumstances scream too loud. I allow my lack of understanding to trump God's infinite understanding. How I pray to trust Him more this year, to wait on Him, and to believe and really know that in and through all things God is and will be directing my heart to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ. What a wonderful direction of our hearts!

As I begin to dip into the year ahead, just barely putting my toes in at the edge, I'm ever so thankful for Paul's words to cling to, look to, and pray through this year. For I know that wherever the Lord leads me, whatever path He takes me down, whether the terrain is complex, foreboding and seemingly impassable or wide open spaces, He is always directing my heart, pointing me to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.

This year probably won't go exactly how I hoped or planned, but it will go exactly how my gracious, loving, and steadfast heavenly Father planned. Let us never forget the direction of our hearts this year and always. Remember... and, as often as you need, join me in praying Paul's words while traveling along the road of 2015.

In Christ's steadfastness and God's love,
Jessica