I am confident this is going to be a great month.

When I first decided to make February my month of Gratitude and Joy, I figured God would allow my arm to fall off or that suddenly Netflix would reveal the Gilmore Girls Reunion Episodes were nothing but a cruel hoax.

Instead, I am seeing so many blessings around me I can’t decide which one to write about first.

AshWat, Richie and I went to a new church yesterday, which by God’s grace happens to be conveniently located NEXT DOOR to my favorite restaurant in Carytown. I had heard mixed reviews on this church, but felt immediately at home and enjoyed both the music and thought-provoking sermon. Over lunch next door, all of us agreed we’d definitely want to check it out again.

The sermon was on John 1:1-13.

“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him (Jesus)  all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light (the life found in Jesus) shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it….
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own (his people), but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

I absolutely love this passage. It shows Jesus’ GOD-Ness, and attests to the fact that every living thing was made through him..including you and me! His life, death, and resurrection were his sacrifice of love to anyone who would believe in him and be set free from darkness- the darkness of sin, shame, and death. Only the Light can get rid of the Darkness, and Jesus is that light!

I loved also the illustration the pastor gave of two people arguing over what Shakespeare meant in his writing and how it would settle the matter completely if Shakespeare himself walked in the room and said “Dude, this is what I meant.” It would be pointless to argue with him.

In the same way, Jesus is the author of life and humanity. He entered into the boundaries of time and space to give authoritative affirmation to the reality of God, of his love for us, and his hatred of sin and evil. You can’t argue with someone when they DON’T STAY DEAD. He must have been (and still is) who he claimed to be: God in the flesh, our perfect sacrifice willing to lay down his life in place of mine. And yours. In the Battle of the “Gods” (whatever dictates how you live your life), Jesus is the most epic mic drop ever.

It is important to note that he gave the right to become children of God to those who believed in him and accepted his free gift of salvation. People are still free to reject him, and indecision is a decision in itself. Tomorrow is not promised. From even the darkest corner, God will hear your cry for help and come quickly to rescue you and give you new life filled with light and love. He did it for me, and he longs to do the same for you.

I’m so thankful.

Ang