He has done great things...

“ But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish...” --Isaiah 9:1

No gloom.  I repeat, no gloom.  NO.  GLOOM.  There it is in black and white.  No gloom.  I went to bed last night with a heavy heart.  My newsfeed was already filling with pictures and memories of Gideon.  The anticipation of his arrival and his debut flooded my timehop.  He is 5.  “A whole hand” as I tell every child I encounter when they tell me their age of 5.  A whole hand.  Unfair was all I could muster.  Unfair.  Unfair, that he could not be here with us.  Unfair, that he was taken too soon.  Unfair, that Gabe would never play with his brother this side of Heaven.  Unfair, that we bear this hurt.  I cried myself to sleep.  I woke searching to hear from God.  I woke searching for the comfort I can only find in Him.  I told Gabe of today’s activities and the cupcakes we will eat and the birthday song we will sing. Gideon’s big blue eyes pierced my memory, flooded my thoughts.  

Then as we sat down and I dug into my devotional, searching to hear from God, He was again faithful.  First I read of Mary.  She can trust in God and focus on all that He has done or she can give into anxiety.  The weight she must have felt.  How easy to have lived in that fear and despair and question.  But Mary remembered the past.  She recalls the good things God has done and she focuses on the promises that are to be fulfilled in the birth of her son.  Focus on the promise.  Not on the rhetoric.  Focus on what is to come, not in the present circumstance.  She chooses to sing a song of praise to God...

“for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”--   Luke 1:49

As we came home, I continued to search.  Advent calendar reading it is.  I open in and these are the first words for today...

 The chapter heading: For to Us a Child is Born.  The first verse:

“ But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish...” --Isaiah 9:1

Ah, I’m hearing you God.  There is your voice.  There are your words. Here I am in anguish.  there I was in anguish and it’s okay to be in aguish but there will be no gloom.  No gloom.  Your son has come....

“For unto us a child is born, to us a child is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” --Isaiah 9:6

When I hear the story of Christmas, this is my favorite part.  o triumphant.  So glorious.  Filled with good news.  He is born.  He has come.  He is Holy.  

He is the same.  Yesterday.  Today.  Tomorrow.  His promises are true and they do not change.  He is mighty.  He has done great things.  he has done great things for me.  He will continue to do great things.  He will continue to do great things for me.  For us.  For my family.  For your family.  And HOLY is HIS name.  AND there my focus is turned to HIM.  Not until now while writing this did it truly go back to Him as I have cried off and on all morning and I’m sure more will fall throughout the day, but not until now did that focus go from our grief and back to His holiness.  I have never missed anyone more than I miss Gideon.  But I have never felt more in awe of and more loved by anyone more than God.  The birth of Jesus gives me goosebumps.  He came.  He is alive.  He came for me.  He came for you.  He came for Gideon.  He holds Gideon today in his arms and He sings songs with him and he smiles down and tell me there is no gloom and I am reminded that He has done great things for me.  Great things.  

I pray this Christmas that you will hear the story of the birth of Jesus and your heart will be touched and you will be filled with an adoration of our Heavenly father and you will turn to Him.  Rejoice, because He has come.  No matter what Satan tries to take away, no matter what Satan intends for destruction, He has come.  He makes all things new.  

Thank you Lord for not just cleaning me up.  Thank you for making me new.  Thank you for loving me, even when I hang out in anguish.  Thank you for knowing my heart.  Thank you for giving me your words, your promises so I can be reminded of that hope in you.  Thank you for dancing and singing with my son today.

Why blue eyed babies make my heart skip a beat...