“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim FREEDOM for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners . . . to comfort those who mourn . . .”
Isaiah 61:1
It was a moment every heart longs for at Christmastime—to be together with loved ones, laughing, sharing and enjoying one another! I live far away from my family, and long for them when the holidays roll around. But, this year, Jesus gave me a Christmas miracle of my own. It’s a snowy paradise in Utah this time of year. Beautiful sweeping mountain views take your breath away as they welcome you to a magical little respite called “Park City”. The snow was gently falling as my husband, 22 year old son and I rolled into town. As we rode in our rental car, climbing the mountain pass to my sister’s home, our mouths gaped open at the sight of the snowcapped Deer Valley mountain range and large sprawling lake. This is where my sister LIVES? My heart celebrated for her, knowing the long road it’s been and the many struggles she has faced.
Jesus has been whispering her name over my heart for over a year now—and when I booked a flight to visit her just under a year ago, I chose a February flight, so I could experience the snow. But, then life happened, and to my disappointment, I had to cancel my trip. Then, there was heartache for my 22 year old son, which led me to book a new flight, departing the next day to Utah — in the middle of December. My husband and I were amazed as Jesus went before us offering little signs of grace along the way: $8.50 flights (one way) to Utah, Snow storms redirected from our travel, and a return flight with all three of us seated together…all flights booked the day before travel at Christmastime…truly there is a God!
Seven years ago, when my divorce began, my oldest son chose to live with his father. Since that time, I have had very little contact with him. Yet, here I was flying to Rexburg, Idaho at Christmastime, having booked the flight only the day before…because Jesus told me to bring my son home. So, that is exactly what I did. Out of respect for my son’s privacy, I will not disclose events of the past…but I will say, that Satan has tried every possible way to destroy my relationship with my oldest son. Through the years, there have been many tearful prayers of petition for our relationship to be reconciled. Truly, our Abba Father hears and answers prayer! As I stood on the landing of my son’s college apartment in -5 degree weather, I embraced my son… and a million broken pieces of my heart were supernaturally put back together and then sealed by the love of Jesus!
For truly, only Jesus can bind up the brokenhearted!
I cannot begin to express that gratitude that I feel! It was a whirlwind trip, that no one in their “right mind” would have tried to tackle on such short notice…but when Jesus says “Go” how can we ignore him? I was unsure how all the moving parts would fit together: predicted snow storms, packing up my son’s belongings and shipping them home, flight availability and cost–with one a day’s notice. I also wondered…if I would I get to see my sister while I was on the other side of the country for just two days with all of this going on? Will we get caught in a snow storm, or snowed in and miss our flights to come home? What about my high school senior who will be at home? Will I be able to find someone to stay with him in just a day’s notice? YES, YES, YES!! Jesus went before us, faithfully ordering our every step from beginning to end! Even right down to a providential shuttle ride from the very back of economy parking lot at the Atlanta airport at departure AND again another shuttle ride upon arrival back to Atlanta! We had a lot of bags to drag behind us and Jesus provided. Wow. God is truly GOOD!
In addition to all this favor, I found myself at Christmastime, walking through the doors of my beautiful sister’s home nestled up in the snow- capped mountains of Park City. As I watched the snow gently fall, I marveled at how each tiny snowflake looks nearly invisible from a distance, and yet each one has contributed to the deep powdery snow covering every inch of earth outside.
“We are like the snow, God!” I thought to myself. Like tiny snowflakes, we can collectively change the entire landscape as we cooperate with you, impart your love and build your kingdom on earth!”
One of my favorite moments came after dinner, when everyone else had gone to bed, as I sat up late talking with my sister. I had brought a gift that had been sitting in my home office for almost a year now—a Bible. I wasn’t sure how she would feel about that, because we really haven’t had a lot of time together to talk about God. To my great pleasure, my sister was very excited about receiving this personalized copy of the Bible! I also gave her a Be Free Ministry mug with the verse printed on the back “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36. I watched as she held this mug in her hands, fixated on the verse of scripture…and my heart skipped a beat. She looked at me, and with a smile on her face and quietly said, “I like that.” I smiled back and said, “Tell me what you like about it.” She replied, “I like that it says, ‘The Son’…if the SON sets you free’. Yes! I replied…isn’t that SO beautiful? She agreed! And then it happened. Like pressing the rewind button of a movie and watching all the scenes flash by, I saw our collective life events ordering themselves around this very moment in time, and then stopping here…where God’s faithfulness was so evident in this divinely appointed moment with my sister in her home in Park City at Christmastime, as we spoke of Jesus!!! Again…another Christmas miracle!
What I didn’t know, that Jesus has known all along…is that my sister had encountered the love of Jesus…years ago! How this has never surfaced with clarity in numerous conversations over the years, is a marvel to me, but what matters now, is knowing that my dear sister loves Jesus! Praise the Lord! Our time together that night was nothing short of miraculous as we shared experiences, insights, loss, heartaches, grievances, miracles and the wonders of God—face to face.
Best of all, I became very aware in that moment, of the great love of Jesus in that he would provide opportunity for genuine forgiveness between a mother and son and two distant sisters, who have loved each other very much…but had been divided, were now reunited in peace, reconciliation and love! Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
Love. Peace. Reconciliation. Forgiveness. JOY!!!
Did this spontaneous Christmas miracle sending me across the country in the dead of winter to bring my son home and visit my sister set me back with my Christmas preparations—yes…but in exchange I received a far more valuable gift—a visible, tangible, miraculous encounter with Jesus and his love, peace, forgiveness and reconciliation with a loved ones! Is there someone in your life you desire to reconcile with?
Please don’t wait!
Act NOW!
If you don’t know where to begin…start with praying for guidance to know the will of your Father in Heaven on the matter, and then
OBEY.
Jesus is MIGHTY TO SAVE!
He himself ushered in the ministry of reconciliation through the cross
(Eph 2:14) and “by his stripes we are healed!” (Isaiah 53:5)
Christmas is the perfect time to ask Jesus to shine brightly through
YOU!
He may ask you to go to great lengths to accomplish this feat in His
MIGHTY NAME,
But KNOW THIS…
JESUS will go before you and make what seems impossible…
POSSIBLE IN JESUS NAME! (Matt 19:26)
Truly Jesus is the HEALER of our deepest wounds, for he BINDS UP our
broken hearts with his unfathomable LOVE!
Thank you, Lord Jesus for being faithful to me…
THEN, NOW and ALWAYS!
Merry Christmas!
Scripture References:
Isaiah 61:1, John 8:36, Ephesians 2:14, Isaiah 53:5, Matt 19:26
Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. Be Free Ministry, Inc.
Written by Ashley Gronholm