I do wonder how much God gave up – as far as control though? He may have been a baby – and surely humbled Himself – but – did He give up control? Or was He in complete control? Wasn’t this the original plan from the beginning of time? Is Jesus (Lamb of God – Incarnation) plan A or plan B?
And if He was in complete control as a baby – what does that say about Him?
Christmas is for all! Adults, kids, and everyone! That’s the good news.
“Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men on whom God’s favor rests.” Luke 2:14
God’s favor rests on humanity – on all of us. God’s peace comes through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus – the Prince of Peace. He is our restoration – the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
Jesus is the very good news of Christmas – He is for everyone.
And He is as approachable as a baby. Gotta love it!
God was in complete control. He had command over legions of angels. At anytime he could have commanded them to protect him and there are indications they indeed protected Him at key moments.
But that was not God’s final plan as given to us from the old testament prophecies. His plan was to fulfill them and die for us sinners as the blood sacrifice for our sin.
God is sovereign and knew we could not save ourselves…. and to show his love and understanding he came as one of us and felt all the anquish and despair we feel as human beings….his fallen creation.
Thank You Lord Jesus for coming as an innocent child and saving us from our sins.
Phillip Yancey once described it as God without bladder control! I like that better than God in complete control. What was the point of coming down to earth if not for the physical limitations. To know the pain, the human struggles of walking/talking, the laughter, the temptation to laugh at a naughty remark, a splinter in your finger, affection for a sibling. All of that was a big pie slice of His chart of intentions.
P.S. I love your writing. Just introduced to your books this year, rock on!
I agree with your girls, it’s more personal when it is hand written, have to say he has a bad hand writting sorry Don, yours is a bit better than mine, but my excuse is I learned 4 languages by age 10, and writing from Write to left, then left to write???!! what is your excuse??? chicken scratch writting??? LOL just laugh it off, who cares…I am sure he doesn’t read all the responses, so he’s not gonna be hurt by what he doesn’t know is out there on his blog!! hahahaha! Merry Christmas ladies!
so that’s what i get for making fun of Don’s hand writting…can’t spell Right, not write to left , so no more rejection of anyone’s handwriting…it’s great, so long as we can read it
Great post. Shows how secure God is in his God-ness. A great insight into a reluctant God but a willing Father. I wonder some times,if our ability to know, experience Him isn’t inversely proportional to how much we know or think we know about him.
I love your handwritten notes as well, just wish I could read them better! I don’t mean to be critical, but I struggle to decipher them sometimes! Merry Christmas!!
I am increasingly astounded by the humility demonstrated in the entire life of Jesus. He was born in a feeding trough and executed in a city dump. This is the God of all creation! The craftsman who composed the complexity of the galaxies and orchestrated the simplicity of our faith. Yet He descended to us, as us, with us, for us so that we might become heirs of the Almighty Father. Now, we are lacking in no good thing, as we grow in knowing the weight of His Glory. Being put in the position of a “powerless” infant speaks volumes about His heat, doesn’t it?
This is how we are to approach the world, and our God: with trust and humility.
Love this perspective, Naomi. The simplicity of God’s actions are so often overlooked. I think this is because man tries to overcomplicate things that he/she doesn’t understand.
Saw this post title on facebook…you had me at diaper! I think a lot about Mary these days leading up to the day of birth and how she said yes no matter how terrified she must have been – amazing faith. Wonder if God had a short list for the mother of his son and Mary won…Merry Christmas,Don.
*heart not heat. Though He’s probably quite warm, too. Like a fire. Or a trip to the Bahamas. Not that I would know, I’ve never been there. To the Bahamas, I mean, I’ve been to a fire before.
My 4 year old granddaughter told me recently, while we played “Christmas” with her Fischer-Price nativity set, that “jofess and Mary got diapers at Target” and that there were 2 wise men and a wise girl.” I like her version. And I agree, Jesus as God’s Son, coming here and being one of us, nothing short of crazy love.
These handwritten love notes are so romantic, poignant, and meaningful… What a lost art; what a priceless communion… Thank you, and Christmas blessings on you and yours.
I was signed in as my husband! How funny! These handwritten love notes are so romantic, poignant, and meaningful… What a lost art; what a priceless communion… Thank you, and Christmas blessings on you and yours.
Wonderful thread. I am becoming a bit unconventional in the development of my faith and you and those who communicate with you are often a breath of fresh air to me. Thank you for taking the stuffiness out of Christianity. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
thanks for this it made me think I posted it on facebook god’s recently been doing a lot in my life but the main thing he’s been doing is making me obsessed with the person of jesus and getting me to the point of giving up everything that distracts me of him recently I sold my xbox because it was preventing me from doing his will and was overall just a waste of time. thanks for making me think Merry CHRISTmas donald
-Nick
I too have enjoyed these notes…I’m a 5th grade teacher, aka, a professional handwriting “deciferer,” so the writing doesn’t phase me. Plus, I think the handwritten notes make them more endearing.
I’ve noticed the comments are 99% positive, so it’s apparently hard to argue with the endearing handwritten note…I guess you should have handwritten those relationship advice posts. (sorry, couldn’t resist)
Excited about the movie’s upcoming opening!
Merry Christmas, and may this new year be the best one yet!
I guess God knew about Brene Brown’s research even thousands of years ago, “vulnerability is the birth place of joy and love and in order to make ourselves be truely seen we have to be vulnerable.”
[...] Blue Like Jazz, posted a blog the other day that expresses a similar thought. The post is called “Changing God’s Diaper”: I can’t think of a better way for God to enter the world then as an infant. He became one of [...]
Although I think I can see where you are going with this and can appreciate what I think is the heart behind it I believe it is important to realize that God is in control, always has been, always will be, although within his control he allows creation to exercise their freewill.
You don’t have to publish this next things but you are welcome to if you like. It sounds like you have issues and even problems with control. I’m thinking you’ve seen men and women abuse that. I would just ask you to consider in prayer if you are making out things as good and evil instead of understanding how good and evil lies in what flows from the heart. We don’t want to turn a thing as something evil that God has said is good as born again in Christ.
I would also say that God coming to us as a baby was a very humble thing of emptying Himself of his glorious position for his mission on Earth and any power He gave up was in direct relationship with his relationship to his Father. His trust was always in his Father’s ability to care for Him, although human beings are given stewardship for a time.
Anyway, you may not see this as important and that’s fine although a few years back when God called me to a time of personal bible study with Him without distractions and outside influences one of the first things He showed me was how much in control He was and always was and that is actually quite liberating to know (yes, liberating) and it surely helps equip us with finding rest in Christ.
Anyway, I did like the overall thought behind what was written, although the use of the word control I felt gave it a twist that didn’t fit. Humility in submitting to the will of his Father out of live and emptying of position out of love I see more fitting.
I also find that when others have a problem with control itself it can be a narrow way of looking at things (how it hinders me personally)instead of seeing how control is actually quite beneficial once we understand that our actions have far reaching effects, even if we’ve repented of them and asked for forgiveness. Our freewill is not a right, it’s a gift and God has put in place measure to restrict our affairs there when it is harmful not only to ourselves but others.
I, for one, am loving these “handwritten” blogs. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us this way. Merry Christmas!
I am loving them as well! Keep em coming and Merry Christmas
Good news! God is one of us.
I do wonder how much God gave up – as far as control though? He may have been a baby – and surely humbled Himself – but – did He give up control? Or was He in complete control? Wasn’t this the original plan from the beginning of time? Is Jesus (Lamb of God – Incarnation) plan A or plan B?
And if He was in complete control as a baby – what does that say about Him?
Just some thoughts to add to the mix.
Merry Christmas!
is Christmas for adults to children or what?
Christmas is for all! Adults, kids, and everyone! That’s the good news.
“Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men on whom God’s favor rests.” Luke 2:14
God’s favor rests on humanity – on all of us. God’s peace comes through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus – the Prince of Peace. He is our restoration – the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
Jesus is the very good news of Christmas – He is for everyone.
And He is as approachable as a baby. Gotta love it!
God was in complete control. He had command over legions of angels. At anytime he could have commanded them to protect him and there are indications they indeed protected Him at key moments.
But that was not God’s final plan as given to us from the old testament prophecies. His plan was to fulfill them and die for us sinners as the blood sacrifice for our sin.
God is sovereign and knew we could not save ourselves…. and to show his love and understanding he came as one of us and felt all the anquish and despair we feel as human beings….his fallen creation.
Thank You Lord Jesus for coming as an innocent child and saving us from our sins.
Phillip Yancey once described it as God without bladder control! I like that better than God in complete control. What was the point of coming down to earth if not for the physical limitations. To know the pain, the human struggles of walking/talking, the laughter, the temptation to laugh at a naughty remark, a splinter in your finger, affection for a sibling. All of that was a big pie slice of His chart of intentions.
P.S. I love your writing. Just introduced to your books this year, rock on!
I agree with Jessica! I love these handwritten blogs
Merry Christmas
I agree with your girls, it’s more personal when it is hand written, have to say he has a bad hand writting
sorry Don, yours is a bit better than mine, but my excuse is I learned 4 languages by age 10, and writing from Write to left, then left to write???!! what is your excuse??? chicken scratch writting??? LOL just laugh it off, who cares…I am sure he doesn’t read all the responses, so he’s not gonna be hurt by what he doesn’t know is out there on his blog!! hahahaha! Merry Christmas ladies!
so that’s what i get for making fun of Don’s hand writting…can’t spell Right, not write to left
, so no more rejection of anyone’s handwriting…it’s great, so long as we can read it 
Great post. Shows how secure God is in his God-ness. A great insight into a reluctant God but a willing Father. I wonder some times,if our ability to know, experience Him isn’t inversely proportional to how much we know or think we know about him.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! I agree with Jessica, I love the handwritten blog posts! Good to see that new pen being put to good use!
Also: shows God loves a good aventure. Kinda hard to do if you are always in control.
I love your handwritten notes as well, just wish I could read them better! I don’t mean to be critical, but I struggle to decipher them sometimes! Merry Christmas!!
In a Vision, by St. Francis of Assisi (trans. Daniel Ladinsky)
I asked for the most intimate experience with the Christ.
No one would believe what happened
in a vision more true than
this world:
The sacred chord
pulsated light throughout the universe
as I nursed my own
Lord at my
breasts.
I am increasingly astounded by the humility demonstrated in the entire life of Jesus. He was born in a feeding trough and executed in a city dump. This is the God of all creation! The craftsman who composed the complexity of the galaxies and orchestrated the simplicity of our faith. Yet He descended to us, as us, with us, for us so that we might become heirs of the Almighty Father. Now, we are lacking in no good thing, as we grow in knowing the weight of His Glory. Being put in the position of a “powerless” infant speaks volumes about His heat, doesn’t it?
This is how we are to approach the world, and our God: with trust and humility.
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
Love this perspective, Naomi. The simplicity of God’s actions are so often overlooked. I think this is because man tries to overcomplicate things that he/she doesn’t understand.
Saw this post title on facebook…you had me at diaper! I think a lot about Mary these days leading up to the day of birth and how she said yes no matter how terrified she must have been – amazing faith. Wonder if God had a short list for the mother of his son and Mary won…Merry Christmas,Don.
*heart not heat. Though He’s probably quite warm, too. Like a fire. Or a trip to the Bahamas. Not that I would know, I’ve never been there. To the Bahamas, I mean, I’ve been to a fire before.
As a mommy changing lots of diapers, and doing lots of late night feedings these days, this resonates beautifully with me.
Good words, Don. Thanks for sharing them, and Merry Christmas to you!
My 4 year old granddaughter told me recently, while we played “Christmas” with her Fischer-Price nativity set, that “jofess and Mary got diapers at Target” and that there were 2 wise men and a wise girl.” I like her version. And I agree, Jesus as God’s Son, coming here and being one of us, nothing short of crazy love.
These handwritten love notes are so romantic, poignant, and meaningful… What a lost art; what a priceless communion… Thank you, and Christmas blessings on you and yours.
I was signed in as my husband! How funny! These handwritten love notes are so romantic, poignant, and meaningful… What a lost art; what a priceless communion… Thank you, and Christmas blessings on you and yours.
Wonderful thread. I am becoming a bit unconventional in the development of my faith and you and those who communicate with you are often a breath of fresh air to me. Thank you for taking the stuffiness out of Christianity. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
thanks for this it made me think I posted it on facebook god’s recently been doing a lot in my life but the main thing he’s been doing is making me obsessed with the person of jesus and getting me to the point of giving up everything that distracts me of him recently I sold my xbox because it was preventing me from doing his will and was overall just a waste of time. thanks for making me think Merry CHRISTmas donald
-Nick
Thank you for restoring the art of the handwritten note. Merry Christmas.
I too have enjoyed these notes…I’m a 5th grade teacher, aka, a professional handwriting “deciferer,” so the writing doesn’t phase me. Plus, I think the handwritten notes make them more endearing.
I’ve noticed the comments are 99% positive, so it’s apparently hard to argue with the endearing handwritten note…I guess you should have handwritten those relationship advice posts.
(sorry, couldn’t resist)
Excited about the movie’s upcoming opening!
Merry Christmas, and may this new year be the best one yet!
I guess God knew about Brene Brown’s research even thousands of years ago, “vulnerability is the birth place of joy and love and in order to make ourselves be truely seen we have to be vulnerable.”
Jesus = God translated into human. Love it!!
Jesus is God translated into human. Love it!!
[...] I love Donald Miller [...]
[...] Blue Like Jazz, posted a blog the other day that expresses a similar thought. The post is called “Changing God’s Diaper”: I can’t think of a better way for God to enter the world then as an infant. He became one of [...]
Although I think I can see where you are going with this and can appreciate what I think is the heart behind it I believe it is important to realize that God is in control, always has been, always will be, although within his control he allows creation to exercise their freewill.
You don’t have to publish this next things but you are welcome to if you like. It sounds like you have issues and even problems with control. I’m thinking you’ve seen men and women abuse that. I would just ask you to consider in prayer if you are making out things as good and evil instead of understanding how good and evil lies in what flows from the heart. We don’t want to turn a thing as something evil that God has said is good as born again in Christ.
I would also say that God coming to us as a baby was a very humble thing of emptying Himself of his glorious position for his mission on Earth and any power He gave up was in direct relationship with his relationship to his Father. His trust was always in his Father’s ability to care for Him, although human beings are given stewardship for a time.
Anyway, you may not see this as important and that’s fine although a few years back when God called me to a time of personal bible study with Him without distractions and outside influences one of the first things He showed me was how much in control He was and always was and that is actually quite liberating to know (yes, liberating) and it surely helps equip us with finding rest in Christ.
Anyway, I did like the overall thought behind what was written, although the use of the word control I felt gave it a twist that didn’t fit. Humility in submitting to the will of his Father out of live and emptying of position out of love I see more fitting.
I also find that when others have a problem with control itself it can be a narrow way of looking at things (how it hinders me personally)instead of seeing how control is actually quite beneficial once we understand that our actions have far reaching effects, even if we’ve repented of them and asked for forgiveness. Our freewill is not a right, it’s a gift and God has put in place measure to restrict our affairs there when it is harmful not only to ourselves but others.