by Stacy Turley | Aug 5, 2022 | In the Word |
My father-in-law James Turley was passionate about the genealogy of his family. He had traced back the Turley family, in some cases, to before they immigrated to the United States. He had a great deal of knowledge of the maternal branches of the family tree as well. He knew where many of the family members lived, what they did for a living, and where they were laid to rest. He spent many hours researching the details of their lives and many more hours traveling to visit the cities where they lived and were buried. He knew their names and in many cases he had pictures of them from various historical documents. His mission was to document the Turley family history for future generations. Dad Turley did not want his family tree to be forgotten after he was gone. He wanted all of them to be remembered.
In Matthew 1, verses 1-17, we read about the genealogy of Jesus. Many times in the past when I read this section in Matthew, I frequently skimmed over it. I did not really see the need to read through all these names…so-and-so, the father of so-and-so, the father of so-and-so…and on and on for 42 generations. It seemed like details that were not necessary. Oh, how wrong I was!
“So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.” ~ Matthew 1:17
I believe that this section is so revealing of the character of God and His love for us. This Holy Spirit-inspired scripture reminds us of how intimately God knew those who lead to the birth of His son Jesus. He did not only remember the people who did “big things” in His name. He remembers ALL of the people in the family lineage of Jesus. Those who made many bad decisions, those who were deceitful, those who were prostitutes, those who committed adultery, and on and on. God knew all of them by name and loved them all. So much so that He allowed His perfect son to be born of a lineage that was full of dysfunction and sin. Why? Because Jesus came to conquer that very sin and bring healing and restoration.
God’s awareness and intimacy did not stop with the birth of Jesus. God knows our names too. And not just our names….he has put our tears in His bottle (Psalm 56:8) and numbered the hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:29-30). He knows us intimately and He knows our family lineage…all of the branches! Matthew 1:1-17 is a beautiful example of how much God loves each one of us. He shows us how well he knows us by saying our names, naming our children and parents to the beginning and end of the ages, numbering our hair and bottling our tears. We are KNOWN. We are LOVED. We have VALUE! This is a passage to celebrate and find comfort in. For Jesus knows more about us than we know about ourselves.
While we may have missing links in our family tree or we may rather not remember some of the more interesting characters of our lineage, God remembers and knows all of us. Our background and our sins do not matter. God is not afraid of dysfunction. He has the power to overcome and defeat all sin, to redeem our story, and to bring beauty from the ashes of our lives.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: (Please share in Comments to encourage one another.)
- How does this make you feel that God knows you by name, sees your tears, and knows you intimately?
- Have you seen God redeem parts of your story? If so, how?
- Is there anyone in your family who may need to hear about the love of Jesus?
- What is one step you may take to help a family member or friend feel known, loved and worthy…to show them the love of Jesus?
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. Thank you sharing with us the genealogy of Jesus. For showing how important we all are by naming and documenting the ordinary people with ordinary lives who lead to the extraordinary Jesus. Help us to remember that we are known by you, loved by you, and valued by you. Help us also share this same love and care to one another. Amen.
Hugs & Blessings, Sweet Circle!
Stacy
by Stacy Turley | Aug 2, 2022 | Life's Journey |
“Are knitting and crocheting idols for me?” That is the question that I recently asked my counselor. It seemed to me that there was a brief look of confusion on her face when I asked that question. I honestly did not want to explain because I feared that if she said “yes” that they were idols for me then I would have to give up two activities that bring me so much peace and joy. Let me explain…
In my blog post on 7/26/2022 called “In The Word #8: My Idol Was All About Numbers”, I shared about my obsession with body image that dominated my life in my mid-30’s. Body Image, weight, clothing size…all of them…were idols to me. After writing that post, I began to reflect on what my idols today might be. One of the things that I thought about was my love of knitting and crocheting. I shared with Kim, my counselor, that when I am stressed and overwhelmed, I typically pick up my needles to calm my spirit before I open my mind to prayer. As the needles click together rhythmically or the rotation-and-pull of the hook glides through the stitches, I feel my tension and stress fade away. My mind becomes occupied with a gentler and more calming activity rather than the spinning and spinning of the day’s anxiety. After I have a moment to calm down, I am able to pray and have a conversation with God. In all honesty, I don’t pray every time, but it is easier for me to pray after I am settled a bit. My fear was that since I pick up my needles before I speak to the Lord, I may be treating these activities as idols.
I thank the Lord often for my counselor who also shares my faith. She is able to observe and process more clearly my obstacles from a faith-perspective than with the lens I am using for myself. She is a gift to me. She asked me if I thought if it was possible that God Himself gave me these talents and activities as tools to slow down first so I may come to Him more fully. As she asked the question, I felt a sudden peace in my spirit. Her words felt right in my being. Almost as if God was saying, “YES! This is a gift I gave you. Do not fear.”
The process of knitting and crocheting remind me of how God created me…how He knitted me together in my mother’s womb (see Psalm 139). He is using these tools to calm my spirit and pave the path to come to Him in my time of stress. When I remember who I am in Christ as I reflect on this passage of scripture while each stitch is made then I am preparing my soul to hear Him more clearly. I respond to Him with a more open mind rather than being blocked by my human emotions.
Thank you, Jesus.
“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.”
~ Psalm 139:13-14
My counselor also reminded me that the enemy loves to warp our perception of right and wrong, good and bad, righteous and not righteous. The enemy is the master deceiver, the father of lies. (John 8:44) With every gift from God, the enemy takes great pleasure in trying to destroy it by making us doubt its goodness and turn away from God’s promises and gifts. (1 Peter 5:8-9) I was reminded that it is possible that the enemy was deceiving me to think these gifts, these tools, given by God to me to bring me His peace and tranquility were bad and wrong. Now when I pick up my needles, I thank God for the peace I feel, and I rebuke the enemy in the name of Jesus! I demand that he leave me alone.
What are my idols today? I am still processing this question and asking God to reveal to me all the things that I am putting before Him in my life. I know it will be a constant battle throughout my time here on earth to resist my selfish desires and continue to put Jesus first. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit in me who acts as my counselor to nudge me and say, “Here’s one, Sister.”
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: Please share in the Comments section below.
- What are your idols?
- How are you making changes in your life to put God first?
- How is God meeting you where you are today to help calm your spirit and bring you peace?
PRAYER:
Abba, Father. Thank you for the gifts and talents that you have given of each one of us. I am so grateful that we are all uniquely made, knitted together by your hands, Lord Jesus. You know us intimately and desire a relationship with us. As the body of Christ, we are all needed for your Kingdom and our talents compliment each other. Help us to see where we are creating idols in our lives above You. Help us to respond actively when the Holy Spirit says, “Here’s one,” by accepting and repenting. For when we accept and repent, the power of Jesus will redeem! Amen.
Hugs & blessings, Sweet Circle,
Stacy
Recent Comments