Hi Reader,

I hope this letter finds you well, and that you are staying warm and enjoying the unescapable stillness winter provides.

I want to share a sweet dream I had a couple of weeks ago with you.

In the dream, I sat at a table across from my sister Avila. I said to her, “Jesus spent most of His life in the normalcy of what it means to be human- living day to day as we do. So our day-to-day, our mundane, that is what He wants to talk about. That is where He wants to meet us.”

As I told her this I had tears streaming down my face, and could tangibly feel the truth of this touching the depths of my heart.

The day before I dreamt this we had a Christology class talking about the humanity of Jesus, and it ministered to me very deeply. I want to share with you some takeaways.

the humanity of Jesus and our deepest griefs

Jesus had a messy and painful upbringing.

Have you ever considered that maybe the reason so little is said in the gospels of Jesus' childhood could be because He is covering His family?

Mary and Joseph were responsible for raising the Son of God- that has dynamics. Jesus at one point, in coming to the knowledge of Himself, found that Joseph was not His real father- that has dynamics. Joseph was entrusted to raise a boy he knew was not his, and others thought was illegitimate- that has dynamics. Jesus' siblings had to grow up with a brother who was always right and always perfect- that has dynamics. Joseph died when Jesus was young- that has dynamics.

What does this say about Jesus?

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Do you have family wounds? He wants to meet you there. Have you been wrongly accused? That's the conversation He wants to have with you. Deep pain? He's felt it too, and wants to comfort you. Have you lost someone dear to you? So has He, and He wants to sit with you.

Let us not overlook these 30 years before Jesus' ministry. The way Jesus lived in the normalcy of what it means to be a human gives dignity to the human experience, so it follows that this is the conversation He wants to have with us.

Jesus knows what it's like to have a full day of work, then go home and have to decide what to make for dinner.

What does the way Jesus spent the majority of His life tell us about where He wants to meet us?

Right here. In the day-to-day, the mundane, the coming in and going out, processing of pain, and what to make for dinner. Jesus has lived this too. And He wants to talk with you about it.

There's far too much we disqualify as unimportant to our conversation and walk with the Lord. But looking at His life, I believe He would say otherwise.

Here's a Christmas song I've been loving that beautifully shows the humanity of Jesus:

I Will Find A Way Jill Phillips & Andy Gullaho... PREVIEW   ​

advent gallery

The hall to the sanctuary of MAPS is currently lined with beautiful Advent paintings by people in the community. The paintings have given such a rich and deep experience to that walk I make so many times a day, and have caused me to revel in wonder at the story of Christ being born. I took a few pictures of some of my favorites to share with you:

I wish the deepest joy over you as you marvel at the beauty of our Savior and Friend Jesus, that as you receive a deeper revelation of how much He cares about your daily walk, you will look and find that He's cared about and been there in every step all along.

—Maddie

​maddiecandler.com

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