What do Griswold, Chocolates, Snow and Jesus Have in Common?

This morning I woke up to scattered Christmas decorations — in progress. In most artistic endeavors, before the pretty stage, there is an ugly, messy, undone stage. As I looked around I felt sheepish and uncomfortable about the untold hours we’ve given to decking our halls and yard. Rob and I share a propensity to go overboard in creating “Christmas spirit,” and we’re extra excited this year, because all but one of our five children and their families will be here for Christmas! Four grandchildren!

My timidity and self consciousness started a few nights ago when some friends were discussing Christmas traditions. I started wondering how I could possibly explain to someone totally unaccustomed to our modern celebrations what the Griswolding and redecorating of our home has to do with the birth of Jesus. Despite the joy it brings me, I began to feel embarrassed by the childishness of our enthusiasm. My early morning coffee time went from feeling somewhat sheepish and sad, to researching why we decorate at Christmas, then to inspiration to write my 1st blog in almost six years. After a little internet surfing and a bit of soul searching, here are a few thoughts to consider if you also enjoy decking the halls (in whatever your unique way may be) as you celebrate the birth of Christ.

1. Joy — We are constantly reminded of the depravity in this world. Depression and anxiety are commonplace. But the warm colors, carols, and preparations of the Advent season can help us feel joyous. Energetic. A happy focus during the time of year when darkness seems to swallow up the sun too early each afternoon.  For me the joy first sparks in simple things– like pulling out my Christmas mugs. Hanging our growing row of stockings. Setting out each nativity. And what can get pep in your step better than Andy William’s Christmas album blasting through the house as you decorate?

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

2. Made in His Image — Rob and I both have an innate need to create. For me it’s writing, painting and decorating spaces. It’s always about invoking something deeper in myself and others. Genesis tells us in its very first sentence “In the beginning, God created…” I was created in the image of my Creator to be a creator myself! Hopefully, when I am leaning into my faith and creating with the Holy Spirit, anything I do — Christmas decorations or otherwise — serves to point people to Jesus! 

3. Snowmen and snowballs — I’ve lived in the deep south all my life, so I’ve not experienced any white Christmases, but snowmen and snow are still a part of our Christmas lore. My research added a little color and meaning to our Southern-style white Christmas. Did you know it all started in the Middle Ages when people lacked resources for artistic expression? They used the snow, which was plentiful, to create! Even Michelangelo was commissioned to build a snowman for the ruler of Florence! My mom used to build and decorate a “straw man” from chicken wire and pine straw– which was plentiful in our neck of the woods. Snowmen bring such simple joy and artistic expression! My snow village is hosting a snowman contest and sports snowmen all around. And many years ago a family Christmas card picture was taken at the beach with the children around their “sand man.”

Even snowballs hold memories for this Georgia girl. One Christmas Rob bought cotton snow balls for the family, and we wrapped three gifts in white boxes, dressed and decorated to look like a snowman for each (adult) child. My Daddy LOVED the indoor snowball fight we had that year — and each year after for his last few Christmases with us. We all saw the once familiar twinkle of mischief and joy in his eyes that was so often absent in his final years. He chased his adult grandchildren throwing snowballs — and we all had a ball. Sort of like Frosty, my Daddy “came to life that day!” What a gift — and all good gifts come from heaven.

4. Like a little child — Speaking of playing, Christmas transports me back to some of my best childhood memories; it’s the only time I wear themed pajamas and reindeer slippers. I buy toys for my adult children. I have an expansive Christmas snow village that’s my grown-up version of a doll house. As I lay it out, I imagine a beautiful, simple village of peace, love and joy. A yearning for a world yet to come? And a similar favorite tradition, I set up my nativity in the manger Rob handmade me one of our first Christmases together. And while none of this is overtly religious, I think Jesus enjoys our childlike joy, anticipation and celebration.  Our worship in His Name.

4. Decking the halls –Why do we drag a tree into our homes, light up and bedazzle it? Because it’s FUN (or supposed to be for any grinchy people out there). The evergreens are symbolic of the everlasting life in Christ available to all who love and believe in Him. The trees triangular shapes (hopefully) is reminiscent of the Trinity — and the idea that God is relational in His very nature: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The circular Christmas wreaths represent His never ending love as the Advent wreath anticipates and counts the weeks until we celebrate His birth!

The lights? They remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. Brilliance in the darkness! Our lights welcome family, friends and even strangers who are traveling in the darkness. If you come by our house after Thanksgiving and before New Years, you will see Rob’s handiwork! He has strung about 25,000 lights all over our yard. It takes weeks. As he’s working, he meets new neighbors and talks to friends. People know him for His lights. Because I know who Rob is, I know He’s sharing a light much greater than all the LEDs in Home Depot! Glory to God!

Arranging my Fitz and Floyd reindeer container (just like one my Mom has) is always nostalgic. The green of the holly leaf is again symbolic of the eternal hope we have in Jesus. All who love Him and believe in Him can live in Heaven with Jesus for eternity! We know because of the completed work of Christ when His blood was shed (represented by the red holly berries)  on the cross where Jesus died for our sins. Jesus was born for Good Friday and Easter — and our restoration to our Father in heaven. That is more than enough to celebrate every day!

5.. Stockings and gifts — Legend has it that there were daughters of a poor family who hung their stockings by the fire to dry at night. Filled with compassion, St. Nicholas anonymously dropped coins down the chimney into their stockings to provide the girls with a dowry and the hope of marriage and a good life. Surprises, charity, gifts, and love abound at Christmas. What wonderful way to reflect the heart of our Creator, Father, Savior and Friend, to family, friends, strangers, prisoners, those in need…to everyone. Even those normally unwilling to hear about Christ are drawn into our Christmas celebration and our hearts’ expressions of the joy, love, hope, peace found in the birth of the long-anticipated Messiah.

6. Christmas Bells — It’s not Christmas at my house without silver bells, as we grew up calling the red, green and silver Hershey’s kisses my Mom only bought at Christmastime. She would fill the basket her little Christmas elf held with silver bells. I have an elf with a basket too– and I buy and eat chocolate kisses or silver bells every single year. I’ve lost my father and my mom is almost 92. The fond childhood memories these little chocolates trigger make the calories totally worth it (we always have New Year’s resolutions, right?). And we’ve added three oversized bells hanging from the family room chandelier. Throughout history the joyful noise of bells signifies an important event. Churches ring them after weddings, before worship and on Christmas Day! 

Writing this has added meaning to my celebrating. Decorations become sign posts pointing me to the One it’s all about. Whether you celebrate in simplicity or abundance, in baking, decorating, giving, or however God leads you — and especially if Christmas can be a lonely and difficult season (which I have experienced too) — my hope is that my reflections will bring joy and perhaps more context to your Christmas — and above all to point you to the one and only source of Life, our sufficiency, our Hope of Glory, Jesus Christ.

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

PS I’m still working on the technical side of my website, and haven’t been able to update my distribution list. Thanks to those of you who have indicated you’d like to be added — I’ll get there! As always I love all your comments — please feel free to let me know below, if you’d like future posts sent directly to your email.

Do You want a “Stable” Life?

img_3766We love Christmas. Advent reminds us of the wonder of childhood. And it’s an amazing and wonder-filled story, isn’t it!? After riding a donkey all day, Joseph and his wife Mary, a virgin, arrive in Bethlehem with her in labor — to deliver our King in a stable!

We were in a restaurant having dinner, just minutes from the hospital when my daughter-in-law was in labor… and my son and I were nervous to get her to a good, sterile place for a safe delivery!

But Joseph and Mary couldn’t find a room… the city was booked. A feeding trough in a cave filled with livestock was their best bet.IMG_1035

I heard a story about a 3rd grade Christmas Pageant. The Inn Keeper dressed in sheets had one line, “There is no room at the Inn,” but when he heard “Joseph” explain young “Mary’s” predicament, compassion overtook him and he went off script, “okay, come on in. We’ll find somewhere for you.” We might all do the same!

But our Sovereign God is intentional… nothing in the Bible story is off script or a Plan B detour.

Jesus came from heaven to earth to live among us; He lived a sinless life.  He freely chose to bear our sins, to pay our debt with His life, so that through Him we will never be condemned — though without Him, we deserved the wrath of God.

IMG_5886He would be born in a humble stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. He would perform many miracles, and teach with Wisdom unexplainable. But He would also be rejected and scorned. The “Inn crowd” would not recognize or accept Him. He would be greeted by shepherds (the lowliest, dirtiest crowd) and dine with sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes. His crowning Glory — the plan from the beginning — was His gruesome death on a Cross. He came to Save each of us, if only we’ll believe.

But the trouble is, as I have told you before, you haven’t believed even though you have seen me. But some will come to me—those the Father has given me—and I will never, never reject them. For I have come here from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to have my own way. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the Last Day. For it is my Father’s will that everyone who sees his Son and believes on him should have eternal life—that I should raise him at the Last Day.” (John 6:36-40, TLB)

IMG_1134“O Holy Night” is one of my favorite Christmas Carols. It gives wonderful insight into why Jesus left heaven:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth.

“And the soul felt its worth.” Jesus left heaven to rescue you because you are of great worth to Him. God loves you so much that He gave His very life so that you could be with Him forever.” (Michael Youssef)

If there had only been YOU, He still would have come. His love for YOU drove Him from his throne in Heaven to  a lowly stable on earth, to die and be raised to life to set YOU free. You, my friend,  are completely loved  — just as YOU are — by the Creator God of the universe. His Son Jesus, is His personal Gift to you.

Have you opened your incomparable Christmas gift yet?

Are you feeling anything as you’re reading? Could it be Him stirring your soul? God makes Himself known… and when He does, you’ll know it. Don’t be too smart, too proud, too anything to miss His gift, Jesus Christ.

“So what about these wise men, these scholars, these brilliant debaters of this world’s great affairs? God has made them all look foolish and shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense.

He has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted as nothing at all, and used it to bring down to nothing those the world considers great, so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God.”  (I Corinthians 28-20, 28-29 TLB)

IMG_1142Do not harden you heart when He stirs you with the worth of your soul and His great love. What good is a gift that is never opened?

How then shall we to respond to this unbelievable act of love and grace? Listen to “O Holy Night” with fresh ears and an open heart. The end of the song provides the answer: Christ’s sacrifice (lowly birth, sinless life, death on the cross, and resurrection) is a call for each of us to fall on our knees in surrender, worship, gratitude and adoration.

How may God be inviting you (personally) to respond to Him today?

Christ in your heart is your only hope of glory. He must reside IN you. Have you accepted Him? Not just believed the story in your mind? “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” (James 2:19 TLB)

Matthew 7:21-23 says “Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven.  At the Judgment many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.’  But I will reply, ‘You have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.'”

Intellectual understanding or belief is not all He is asking.  Going to church isn’t the ticket. Giving and serving are not your admissions price — God has infinite resources.

IMG_1132He wants your heart. Your surrender. Your worship. The God of the universe wants an intimate and personal relationship with YOU through sincere conversation (prayer and reading your Bible). Would you talk to Him now?

If you already know you are saved, know Him and love Him — His gentle words will be even more direct and personal. The more we return to Him and spend time seeking His face and understanding who He is, the more peaceful and joyful our lives will be. The more you and I will be transformed into the likeness of Jesus — and God will be glorified in our beautiful worship!

In the midst of the wonderful energy and excitement of the coming weekend, I pray your soul feels its worth. And that with all that is in you, you find time to praise His holy name. Merry Christmas.IMG_1139

 

 

Is Prayer Your Steering Wheel? Or Your Spare Tire?

“How are you?”

Traditionally, we’ve answered, “fine.” But more commonly, the new answer is — “BUSY!  I’ve been crazy busy. Not sure what I’m even doing.”

Fine implied a sense of well-being. Busy suggests our time is occupied. But how we are doing has a lot to do with what and Whom is occupying our lives.

IMG_3079I long for peace, stillness, quiet — but I feel busy, distracted, overwhelmed and scattered much of the time. I’m not sure exactly what I’m doing. Which begs the question — what do I WANT to be doing? What really matters?

We frequently talk about our goals and priorities. But we can’t truthfully have priorities unless we are willing to STOP doing one thing in order to do the better thing. So many of us constantly ADD to our schedules… saying yes to the next thing without ever subtracting anything! All of us are stewards of the same 24 hour day. Which of your priorities is getting squeezed out due to your chronic busyness?

IMG_4110For many Christians, Jesus (seeking His face) gets lost in our fast paced busyness. We profess that prayer, worship, praise, petitioning God, and reading our Bibles is foundational to our Christian walk. Of utmost importance to us. But some days we barely squeeze in a minute at bedtime to sigh… “Lord please forgive me, bless me and those I love, and please — could I sleep through the night, just this once? I’m so tired.”

We believe these few moments are all we can afford to give Him. Recently I had a 16-month period worthy of a country song.  Three weddings, my father’s death, my first grand daughter’s birth, a fire, and a move. Complete with their own caprice, all were squeezed into my already crazy busy life.

I wish I could say it was my priority on maintaining a rich and constant prayer life that got me through this overwhelming season. In truth,  my prayer life shifted to one of abiding prayer (I was with God: thankful and aware of Him), but my time devoted solely to being in His presence was inconsistent at best. I believed I was just too busy for daily, deep, relational prayer time.

IMG_4032I want to change that moving forward… because “normal” only exists as a setting on my dryer! “Normal” days won’t magically follow this “season.” Maybe I will have a little reprieve, but not for long. Life keeps coming. I’m responsible to choose how I will be.

I needed union with God through all the craziness. I don’t need to take another step without the Holy Spirit’s hand. I’ve missed out on blessings these last months by letting distraction and busyness curb my prayer life — why?

Even when we say we say we WANT to make prayer a priority, we’re neglectful. Following are two simple reasons:

  • We believe the lie that we don’t have time.
  • We don’t believe the Truth that prayer will really make a difference in our lives — that it’s necessary.

First — you and I both have time. How much time do you spend watching TV? (average is 5 hours a day) On social networks? (average is over 2 hours/ day) — you get my drift. Screen addiction is real! As are the idols of worshipping our children, work, hobbies, etc. Whatever it is you are doing, we all make time for what we want to do. For Who we love.

We know the right answers. Maybe we need compelling reasons to believe in and obey God’s command to pray.

Prayer — stepping away for quiet, devoted time with His Father — was necessary even for Jesus, who was God! He knew his time on earth was short, yet in the midst of His demanding, important ministry of healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, saving the world form destruction and teaching about God — He frequently slipped away to a solitary place. Left all the many miracles He could do… to be with His Father (Mark 1).

IMG_4685If anyone could have justified busyness it was Jesus. One with God. Always successful. Always good. Infinitely able — but He consistently left demands and to-do lists undone to be alone with God the Father in prayer. It was His priority. And he knew it was necessary and fruitful. How much more so for us — no matter what all we have on our plates?

Jesus said not to even try doing life without ample time spent seeking Him. It would amount to nothing!  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

While He was on earth Jesus himself was dependent on spending vital time in prayer with the Father. How much more so should we? Hebrews 5:7 reveals the passionate prayer life of our Lord.  Jesus knew prayer to the Father was necessary on this earth.

IMG_4300In John 5:19 Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

And we try to rationalize that we are too busy, important, overwhelmed… to pray?

God made us to do good works… the opposite of busyness isn’t laziness. But when our prayer life falters, we easily land in a sloth of distracted activities (maybe seemingly productive), but it’s just fruitless busyness without God at the center. How much better all our efforts would be (even if we had less time to give to service and work), if we refused to squeeze out God. Do we really believe that? Do we believe His Word?

It’s a matter of the heart. Am I a people pleaser, proud of my accomplishments, relying on my own strengths and ability to perform? Do I have something to prove? Am I over achieving? A martyr? Seeking comfort and ease? How am I making life about me? The list is endless.

Why am I doing “this” (fill in with our current excuse) and claiming it leaves me little time for prayer? We are finite. Time is finite. We need to embrace our inabilities and believe that God is the One who accomplishes all things. The Bible doesn’t tell us we’ll be held accountable for outcomes. We will, however, answer for disobedience and how well we KNOW Him.

IMG_4080We are too busy (like Martha, reprimanded for doing what did indeed need to get done), if we cannot sit listening at the feet of Jesus when it’s appropriate. Mary was commended for doing the better thing in Luke 10:38-42 . When I am too involved, overwhelmed, pressed, etc. for unhurried time in prayer, the Word, and the Presence of God — I am too busy. No excuses. Just repentance.

God and time with Him must be my undisputed priority. With God at #1 all the worthy and wonderful second things can fall into place. If I make ANY second things first, nothing can work well — not even a country song.  God demands the worship that is rightly His (Exodus 20:5).

How’s your prayer life?  Today is the day to make God and prayer our undisputed top priority.

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)IMG_3650

title credit to Corrie Ten Boon