Joining the Angels

Today is the day after mid term elections.  There was a proposal on the ballot for the small, Oregon town that I live in that has caused quite a bit of controversy and division.  There have been committees and meetings and people showing up in mass when the Chamber of Commerce voted on things connected with the issue.  There have been signs, and stealing  of signs, anger, fear and confusion.  The ballots have all been cast and the decision is officially made.  The vote didn't go the way I had hoped, and I  admit to wondering how our little community will change.  I am prepared for some people to be up in arms and ready to verbally blast anyone who will listen.  I am prepared for some superior attitudes from those within the "I told you so" group.  I am prepared for people feeling a bit at odds with others because life will change and some will feel as if they no longer fit, while others will feel it's about time they get to feel as if they belong. 

Also today, on the day after mid term elections, I decided to listen to Christmas music as I got ready for the day.  I'm not yet in full Christmas music mode, but there are random days I just choose to listen to that particular genre.  I love Christmas music, I could listen to it all year long: it tends to be cheery and hopeful and fun, and that's a bit of what I needed. The song, "Join the Angels," by Matthew West, came on and I happily bebopped around as I did my hair and makeup.  As I was singing along the words began to truly resonate within my heart in respect to the reality of it being the day after mid term elections. 

Here are the Words to "Join the Angels":

        Brother, let me tell you why I can't stop singin'

The Lord is come
Sister, let me tell you why the bells are ringin'
The Lord is come   

Born this day in Bethlehem
There's a King in a manager
No room in the inn
The wise men seek him
The shepherds, too
Born for me and you

Come on, join the angels
Singing, "Glory to God in the highest..."
Join the angels
Shoutin', "Peace on Earth, good will to men..."
It's been a long time comin'
He's the one we waited for
So, join the angels
And praise the Lord

Oh brother, if your carrying a heavy burden
Lay it down
Sister, is your heart tired of all its hurtin'
Well, go on lay it down

Born this day in Bethlehem
There's a King in a manger
No room in the inn
Bringing hope to the poor
Strength to the weak
He's come to set us free

Come on, join the angels
Singing, "Glory to God in the highest..."
Join the angels
Shoutin', "Peace on Earth, good will to men..."
It's been a long time comin'
He's the one we waited for
So, join the angels
And praise the Lord

Join the angels

And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God
His name will be called
Prince of Peace
And at the name of Jesus
Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess

Listen

Born this day in Bethlehem
There's a King in a manager
No room in the inn
The wise men seek him
The shepherds, too
Born for me and you

Come on, join the angels
Singing, "Glory to God in the highest..."
Join the angels
Shoutin', "Peace on Earth, good will to men..."
It's been a long time comin'
He's the one we waited for
So, join the angels
And praise the Lord
Come on
Praise the Lord
Everybody now
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord

(from https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/matthewwest/jointheangels.html
Join the Angels - Matthew West; Unto Us: A Christmas Collection; 2016 Sparrow Records; Released 10-21-2016; Producer: David Garcia; Author, Composer: Matthew West)
  
I was struck by the truth that whereas some of the day-to-day circumstances of my life might change by the choices made during the mid term election, the truth that Jesus is the King, that He came to bring peace and hope is still TRUTH.  Not everyone sees this as truth in my small town, but those of us who have met Jesus have been given the opportunity and the responsibility to invite everyone to "Come on, join the angels, singing 'Glory to God in the highest…' "  God calls me, as a Jesus follower, to have the same attitude as Jesus, to represent and reflect all of who He is to those who still don't realize He IS the one we have waited for. Jesus accepted those who believed differently than He did.  Jesus spent time and invested in those who others viewed as lower on the social scale.  Jesus saw in each person He met, the reality that he or she was made in the very image of God.  Jesus didn't accept everyone's behavior, He was very clear on living righteous and holy lives.  Jesus called His followers to love others, but His way of loving wasn't to just give a stamp of approval on whatever someone thought was "right."  Jesus called people to change their way of living so that it lined up with what God said was best.  And He was kind, compassionate and full of grace to each person He met.  I sense a huge challenge to love like Jesus in my community and to join the angels in declaring that the Lord has come into our world and has provided a way for peace and good will.  It may not always be easy as changes take place within our town, but JESUS CHRIST IS KING!  He is Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, and the Prince of Peace.  Come on… everybody now.. Praise the Lord!

Staying Free

I have been on a diet.  I realized early on in the summer that I had gained some pesky pounds and that my clothes just didn't fit as well as they should.  I'm not a fan of dieting.  I prefer to eat whatever I want (that I rationalize I am doing "within reason."  If I'm on a diet, I obviously don't do that super well.)  Diets have always been a struggle for me mainly because  I am not a fan of salads, I prefer cheese.  Just cheese: on everything, with everything, oh and ice cream, I love ice cream, and M&M's, and corn, oh delicious sweet corn…  hence my dilemma, hence the diet.  I suppose I could've just bought new clothes. The problem there is that I have A LOT of clothes, and I actually like what's in my closet!  The thought of having to replace things, cute, adorable things, is a serious downer. 

I am close to my weight loss goal (yeah!).  I'm planning that Thanksgiving will be a "free day" and I'm going to enjoy what I eat.  I have realized though that because I've eaten less sugary things and less super rich, cheesy food, those items don't set as well with me if I over-indulge.  Even though Thanksgiving is a "free day," I will still need to be careful and eat within constructive boundaries.  It has occurred to me, that once my diet is officially over, I will need to always eat within constructive boundaries if I don't want to have to re-experience that last several months.  That particular thought always brings a big sigh from me.  AND I know that I want to continue to be able to move, have energy, be agile and flexible, and fit into my clothes while also breathing,  I have sadly reached the age where  what I indulge in food wise will always need constructive boundaries… that is just reality for me. 

I received a diet bonus today.  This crazy eat-less, eat better experience gave me an "A-ha!" in scripture.  The first verse in Galatians 5 popped up in my church's app this morning:  "So Christ has truly set us free.  Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law."  Jesus has set me free by what He did on the cross:  I am free from the punishment of sin, I am free from the shame  of sin, I am free from the fear of not ever measuring up, not ever doing it right or not ever doing enough.  Freedom is fabulous!  And sometimes freedom creates this attitude in us where we begin to believe we're invincible.  Do you remember when you first got your driver's license and you were free to drive all by yourself?  Do you remember when you first lived on your own and you thought, I can spend my money however I want? Do you remember when you finished your last diet and thought I will always stay below X number of pounds? (I do!)

God connected dots for me this morning by comparing this verse to my diet.  When I reach my goal weight, I am officially off the diet.  The idea is that I can go back to not having such restricted food choices. The truth is if I go back to eating whatever, whenever, I will soon be back in the same place I was at the beginning of the summer and I'll be back to diet slavery.  I have to keep the vision in mind of why I went on the diet in the first place:  to continue to be able to move about freely, with energy, be agile and flexible and fit comfortably into my clothes.  That vision will help me create constructive boundaries so that I can eat freely and maintain my vision. 

The same is true in my relationship with Christ.  Jesus doesn't want me to live life trapped by a bunch of rules.  He wants me to be free to enjoy a dynamic, growing relationship with Him.  I have to continue to keep the vision in mind and not be distracted by what I am free to enjoy.  The vision is that I get to be friends with Jesus.  I get to be a really close, tight friend of Jesus.  I get to be a member of His party tribe!  I get to be on His speed dial, to be invited to His house for holidays, go to lunch regularly with Him, hear all the great things He knows and is doing.  I get to be privy to all that!  And even though He has freed me to live life to it's fullest, the vision of being Jesus' friend is paramount and I need to set constructive boundaries so that the vision is continually fulfilled -- just like setting constructive boundaries when I sit at the dinner table, or indulge in a tasty snack, will free me from having to repeat the nasty diet cycle.

God longs for me to be a Jesus follower, not a legalistic rule follower.  He wants me to be so enraptured with the person, power, and purpose of Jesus Christ, that I am willing to live freely within the boundaries of what would please Him most. 

I may soon be freed from my diet, and I am already truly free to enjoy Life at its absolute BEST.  All praise, glory and honor to Jesus.