What Happens After Jesus is Born?
We come to know God. The afterglow of Christmas has me looking and listening for God to reveal himself. Jesus is God in the flesh, God making himself known to man. So after Jesus is born, we can expect to see and hear God. To know him more fully.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been verbally expressing my frustration with a particular loved one. He is facing consequences of a poor decision. The problem is, these consequences don’t just affect him. They’re bleeding into my life and I resent it. I literally spoke the words out loud to myself It’s his mistake, and we’re paying for it.
That’s when I saw God. In the sin of someone else I recognized him. For it is my sin that did the bleeding. Literally. My mistake, and he paid for it. And this cross-shaped reality makes it so I never bear my consequences alone.
Walking the road of consequence with another is Jesus territory. And when I saw this truth, my resentment faded. And I will now sacrifice in joy. Because this is what you do when you’re family. This is what you do when Jesus is born in you.
God never stops revealing himself. So I keep listening and looking for glimpses. Last night in those moments on the way to sleeping when you’re not quite there yet but you’re not quite awake, I heard God. Christmas day didn’t happen without disappointment. It’s a day full of expectations and whenever you’re hoping for something other than Jesus there’s risk for disappointment. I needed a particular moment to go differently. For me. For him. But the fullness of the day sustained me, gifting me more than I needed.
In the days that followed I questioned that moment. How I reacted, what I didn’t say. And in that wakeful sleep, God responded. He doesn’t want you to receive his gift, he wants you to receive him. A painful truth right to my heart. You received the gift I gave you, because you receive me. I hadn’t recognized a gift from God that day but I knew then what it was. But to receive me, you must receive him. Yes, I know.
I fell asleep last night asking for forgiveness. I entered my dreams knowing God more fully.
Look and listen! For he’s making himself known all around you and you don’t want to miss it.
Looking forward to discovering more of God this coming year.
Breakfast Casserole for New Years Day brunch
This is a family favorite! Great to make for just your little family and easy to make for company.
Ingredients:
1 Pkg of Crescent rolls
1lb of regular or breakfast sausage, browned and crumbled
2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese
5 eggs
½ Cup milk
pinch of salt and pepper
Directions:
Unroll crescent rolls into a 9X13 pan, press and seal the seams. Evenly place the crumbled sausage on top of the crescent rolls, followed by the cheese. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour this over the sausage and cheese. Bake at 425 for 15 -20 minutes or until the center is firm. The top will brown a little bit, but be careful that the bottom does not burn. If you find the bottom is cooking faster than the top, place the pan higher in your oven.
Cut into squares and serve with fruit.
