Friday, December 19, 2014

Psalm 61, 62

Isiah 11:1–9        

Revelation 20:1–10        

John 5:30–47

Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:1-2 (NKJV)

The Messiah—the one for whom we wait, is the most commonly known uniqueness about the Jewish religion—and also my heritage.  Yet, through turns of events over the years, God called me to conversion through the yearning He put into my life to seek Him, many times since my adolescence—only to end up disillusioned.

By mid-life I began to question if Jesus really was who Christians claimed, the Son of God—very difficult for me to fathom. Not until my serious journey through to conversion when I read and re-read the Gospels—as advised by a qualified person to help me with my search—did I grasp that Jesus was the Messiah. To this, I could relate.

On the second Sunday in Advent this year, I will have celebrated the 25th anniversary of my conversion. I marvel that Jesus, the Great Physician, through faith and prayer, brought healing into every area of my life—especially from the pain of my childhood, that I carried into and through adulthood for many years.

Each Advent my relationship deepens as I reflect on my life’s journey and purpose as a beloved child of God. While discovering my true self in the context of the second half of life, I’m learning “to be” instead of “to do.”

In these latter years my disposition has evolved from living “overwhelmed,” to becoming more calm, peaceful, and loving; resulting in an increase in joy—beyond what I could have asked or imagined.   To God be the glory!

- Phyllis Beauchamp