Jehovah was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake: Jehovah was not in the earthquake.
And after the earthquake, a fire: Jehovah was not in the fire. And after the fire, a soft gentle voice. (1Kings 19:11-12)

Monday, April 1, 2013

New Life and Living Hope Because He Lives



I weep with grief over the generational sin.

It is in my very roots and I try to bury the pain of  it deep.

Yet, at times the messy grief of it all hurts too much and it wells up and seeps like the sap when the nights are cold and the sun warms the days.

I go back to where I feel and see the pain. The snow is away from the trunk of the tree and the woods are murky and slippery, and we collect sap and they pour it out and it boils and steams and gradually becomes sweeter and sweeter.




I have to visit separate places now when I go back.

And I want to avoid it all together. But the promise of beauty in the woods and smoke and sap as well as the children wanting to go lures me.









I focus on the lovely and the wonder of spring and promise. The sun filters through the empty branches with remnants of last years leaves clinging on some.

And I watch her play "Pooh Sticks" and them running through the woods from bucket to bucket. 
We stand by the fire and we taste sweetness on our lips. 
We see our first robin. 
We drive home late under a round moon that is shy of being full by just one night.


And all the while I bury the pain.




I used to believe that I could simply end it. Refuse to allow this generational sin to enter one more generation. The brokenness rips families apart and I wanted nothing to do with it. I vowed it would stop right here.

But it trickles from generation to generation. As much as I determine not to allow it, my very own children suffer from it too. It doesn't make any sense to them and they wonder at the brokenness of it all. After all, it is our very inheritance.




I see the spile drilled deep to let the sap-water weep out of the age-old sugar maple and the steel bucket collecting each drop that runs up from the roots. The tree brings forth life in the spring and I know the golden sweetness promised in the colourless sugar-water.

As life cycles each year we have vivid reminders that there is new life and hope and redemption and resurrection. But before life comes death.


It was on a tree that a ransom was paid and resurrection life and hope were made possible.



It was His precious blood that ran down from His wounds and stained the wood and removes the stain from me.

He endured unspeakable agony for my sake. As I look to the cross, the red that flowed there I see His great mercy. He has caused me to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Christ's gracious sacrifice breaks the power of generational sin.

It is only through the blood spilled and the ransom paid and repentance that will bring the end to the ways inherited.

He knows my pain and my sorrow. He bore it on the tree. He knows the sin and He took it upon Himself.

In His resurrection there is new life and hope and a new way that removes the bitterness of sin and promises the sweetness of salvation.

It is not just by my choosing to refuse it to drip into this next generation, it is looking to the precious blood of the Lamb, the Living One that gives new hope as we seek Him in all our days.

He gathers my tears and cups my face and says 'Look to me and although you may feel the heat of the fire of testing know the sweet promise of your faith being found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.'






12 comments:

  1. oh friend, i understand this, i do. i am also learning though that God can use us to change that generational curse, to turn it into blessing for our children... perhaps he's stirring up your heart because he want to use you to come against this generational sin and to turn it around for you? many blessings.

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    1. Emily, thank you for sharing and learning along with me.
      May the Lord encourage you as you continue to seek Him and His ways!

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  2. Oh, dear one, we all inherit the sins of our fathers!! And our Lord understands why we do the things we do! I also vowed to stop some of these nasties in my family. But that was where my problem came in. As long as I tried to overcome these things, it was still just me. We all know that with us nothing is possible, yet, with God nothing is impossible. Visiting via Finding Heaven.
    Have a blessed week as you guys in the USA are welcoming the arrival of a new spring.
    Mia

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    1. That is what I am learning! That I can't overcome things on my own. Thank you for sharing your heart here with me!
      Thank you, Mia and Happy 50th birthday!!!!!!

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  3. The true battle begins when you recognize we must fight and put away all bitterness, cling to the cross and remember it was our sin that put Him there. "In the cross, God turned his wrath away from you and toward Christ. In the resurrection, God turns your eyes away from your sins and directs them to Christ." (J Holcomb) Eyes turned toward Christ will not take away the painful situation around us, but it will place within us a hope...the best is yet to come! (1 Thessalonians 4:17)Rebekah, thank you for encouraging me with these words. (Rachel H)

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    1. Rachel,
      I am so thankful for you! You encourage me to love Him and seek Him with all my heart. You challenge me to love my children more. Love growing in faith with you. May we turn our eyes to Christ always, in everything.

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  4. Rebekah, I struggle with being without words sometimes when I leave a comment but this was beautiful. Like Anonymous wrote, your words encouraged me. "In His resurrection there is new life and hope and a new way that removes the bitterness of sin and promises the sweetness of salvation." New life and hope! Thank you and blessings to you.

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    1. Beth, thank you for blessing me with your comment. So thankful that my words were an encouragement. All to His glory! I lay myself out here that He might be glorified and that I might grow in Him.

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  5. I, too, have determined generational sin will stop with me. But unfortunately, my children do not look at things the way I do. God has no grandchildren. Each one must decided for himself if they want His help to lead godly lives.

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    1. Yes, it is an individual thing! 'For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God'. It is definitely not a blame game. We are all held accountable!

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  6. You share truth beautifully. A friend and I were having a conversation about two weeks about generational sin. She was really struggling with how to break the pattern. Every single man in her life (father, uncles, brothers, husband) have all been in prison. And she is so worried about what is ahead for her own young sons. I will continue to encourage her to look to Jesus, just as you are pointing out right here. Grateful for your words.

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    1. Jennifer, thank you for your gracious words. Glad that you have this opportunity to share this truth with your friend. How we all need to continue to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!

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