2008 Hirst Christmas Message

“I want a live animal for Christmas,” Isa said at lunch. Jon answered, “We are not getting any live animals for Christmas this year.” After some discussion about turtles, Isa said, “If God thinks it’s best, when I grow up, my husband is going to work with animals.”

I smiled because it makes me happy to hear that our family’s vocabulary is beginning to be full of phrases like “If God thinks it’s best” and "I hope." (I was sad because I was not-so-secretly hoping for a Christmas puppy!)

We all want control of our lives. We’re told that to be successful, we must become better and better at being in control of our lives. Our language is full of ways to gain control. “If this…then that” “When this…then that.” We think we can understand the cause and effect of things and feel most comfortable when our lives can be explained by simple rules.

But our Christian walk is nothing like our language insists. We are truly out of control. That does not mean that there is no order or control in our lives. It’s a matter of who is in control—our good God.

We can never understand God’s ways. Sometimes he gives us a glimpse of what he is up to, but most of the time, we have to live in a state of uncertain certainty—uncertain as to what will happen, but totally certain of who is in control.

Our lives have been filled with transitions and liminality (see http://ourwordshop.blogspot.com/2008/01/living-in-liminality.html). We live in the in-between…in a process of growth, never arriving, but always traveling. I have been concerned that our kids may grow up with a sense of insecurity. Instead, they are developing a sense of hope. When the kids ask about their school next year we say, “We’re still thinking and praying about it.” When our little girl answers “I hope I can go to my school next year,” We pray she is learning more than a fleeting hope, but a true, strong hope that will help her face this world.

According to the Strong’s Concordance, “Hope expects good" while “Fear expects evil.” (Strong’s Concordance, 1679, 1680) What a wonderful freedom to know that to drive out fear, we can hope by expecting good. How many times do we take uncertainty and respond by assuming the worst? Instead, we can hope in an amazing God that is in control of everything and can make good out of evil.

This year as you face the uncertainty in your life, may God help you to expect good. Many blessings as you experience 2009.

Jon and Mindy Hirst

News:
Jon and Mindy: Working on our new book which is due out early 2009. Taking care of the munchkin-heads. Making fires and talking.

Jon: Meetings, meetings, meetings. Blogging and Twittering. Trips to State Parks on the weekends.

Mindy: A delightful garden. Walking to the bus stop. Hanging out with Emi. Writing Beyond the Call scripts. Seeing old friends that come through Colorado.

Isa: 2nd grade, reading, writing and telling time. Mealworms and homework. Neighborhood friends. “Yeah-huh” and “No clue”

Adin: Kindergarten, alphabet sounds. Songs and recess. Riding the bus. “You know…” "What's tomorrow gonna be?"

Emi: Walking the neighbor’s dog home from the bus stop. Videos. Walks to the park. Helping Mommy with chores and errands. “I do it myself” “I got work-a-do”

Prayer Requests: Wisdom that we make good decisions for our kids’ education and health. The ability to hope moment by moment in our good God.