Christmas Lights

I love 7:05 on a weekday morning. The first wave of school buses have faithfully picked up the high school kids, the ambitious, overly caffeinated have raced off to work before dawn, and a short window of stillness descends upon the neighborhood. Often as I can I’ll seize this opportunity to take a quick walk.

There is something about walking in the dark. Besides the fact that my neighbors are spared the sight of me in my X-box pajama pants, no-makeup and pre-shower hair, the time just before sunrise offers other advantages. The blanket of black sky begins to give way to a pinkish orange horizon, yet the stars still shine as brightly as if it were midnight. This time of year, the scenery is even further enhanced by the display of Christmas lights covering trees, bushes, doorways and more.

Now I’m not suggesting that those homes without lights have been neglectful. Believe me, I could certainly live without the whole “You’re kidding, none of last year’s lights work?”…”Kids, don’t step on those”…”Josh, take the lights out of the cat’s mouth” scene.

It is just that the prominence of Christmas lights along the street is so noticeable that those homes without any lights are actually the ones which stand out. I’m almost shocked by the difference. The unlit homes reflect almost a cold, sad,empty feeling.

It seems to me that people are the same way. There is an undeniable light inside those who know God. Even when their days look dark, the light within them can’t be denied. This is a very real light, and it came to us about 2000 years ago.

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. (John 1:9)
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

This season, in addition to enjoying the beautiful Christmas lights, maybe we can remember to ask the One Who longs to give His light to all men to make Himself known to those in our lives who don’t know Him.

Shepherds, please share ways you are praying, petitions you are asking, on behalf of those in your lives this Christmas who don’t know the Light of the World.

Making Room

My sister-in-law pulled out all the stops for Thanksgiving this year.

As her many siblings with families-in-tow descended upon her home, she flung the door open wide and welcomed us warmly. Our particular family was thoughtful enough to arrive several hours early, just in time for lunch. Cindy would not be daunted. More proficient than a short-order cook, we were feasting on grilled ham and cheese sandwiches in no time.

Cindy had clearly been preparing for us for days. The house was so clean it looked and smelled like new. While she allowed everyone to contribute to the Thanksgiving meal, she did all the hard stuff -- turkey, gravy, potatoes, stuffing, and homemade pie. As we sat on our duffs, she kept moving. When she wasn’t washing linens, she was organizing card games and movies to entertain her fussy guests. She also planned activities for the children.

Cindy raised the bar for me for Christmas. I’m now working feverishly to have things perfect around here.

A friend told me yesterday that she has organized her time from now til Christmas, carefully assigning every task to a specific day. This way she has made room in her schedule to accomplish all that needs doing in an organized fashion.

I’ve made room too. Room in my home for overnight guests and room in my freezer for an 18 pound turkey. But I need to clear a bit more room. The timeless Christmas carol, Joy to the World, reminds us to “Let every heart prepare Him room…”. So I’m trying to be intentional every day to make room for Christ.

A.W. Tozer reminds us that God has already made room and is waiting for us…

God meant us to see Him and live with Him and draw our life from His smile. He wills that we should push on into His Presence and live our whole life there.

A.W.Tozer, The Pursuit of God

I know I will be stressed for the next few weeks. After all, I'm a woman, and it's Christmas. But I have begun to calm down, and I'm thinking it has to do with my making room every day for Jesus.

Shepherds, please share with each other ideas on how you might be making room this season for Christ.

Puzzling

I began working on a 500 piece puzzle yesterday.

Now, a measly 500 pieces may not sound all that impressive, but bear in mind this is a small, 3-D, 500 piece puzzle of the solar system, containing very little variation in color. Equipped with full strength reading glasses, the task still felt a bit daunting.

Puzzles are fickle. Just when you want to throw them across the room for having searched and searched for a matching piece, viola!, that piece shows up, invigorating you with a fresh dose of ambition to look for the next illusive piece.


I must admit that in my impatience, I tried several times to fit a puzzle piece where it didn’t belong. It looked mighty close, and I barely had to push to make it fit. But I knew it didn’t fit, I was simply fooling myself. In other words, I wanted to do the puzzle, I just didn't want to take the time to do it right.

I do the same thing with God sometimes. I know the proven way for me to feel the closeness and assurance of my Fathers intimate presence in my life is to spend time with Him. To be quiet, to be still, and to listen.

Too often I’d prefer the quick and easy way, to listen to a speaker, read a quick book, or even sing a song or two. But then, I am only riding on the coat tails of the experience of someone else, rather than allowing God to enter my own experience with Him.

In her book, Strengthening the Soul of your leadership, Ruth Haley Barton says the following…

One of the things I know for sure is that those who are looking to us for spiritual sustenance need us first and foremost to be spiritual seekers ourselves. They need us to keep searching for the bread of life that feeds our own souls so that we can guide them to places of sustenance for their own souls. Then, rather than offering the cold stone of past devotionals, regurgitated apologetics or someone else’s musing about the spiritual life, we will have bread to offer that is warm from the oven of our intimacy with God.

The way I figure it, just like my puzzle, I can pursue God hurriedly and get it wrong, or I can set aside time to seek Him well, which promises the much sweeter reward.

Shepherds, please share your favorite ways of spending time with God.

Clifty Falls

We spent a few days down at Clifty Falls in southern Indiana last weekend.

After reluctantly waking early Thursday morning and throwing a change of clothes in a suitcase, we hit the road. I wasn’t particularly surprised to hear our 6th grader, in typical pre-adolescent dialect, tactfully surmise from the back seat of the car, “So…this really isn’t supposed to be a fun vacation, right?”


He may have a bit of his mother in him. I’m not much of a camper, really not an outdoorsy type at all. But it seemed only right that over Fall Break we should take in the ambiance of Fall -- and Fall means colorful leaves. So since colorful leaves are abundant in state parks, to a state park we would go. (I suppose sitting in the backyard would have been more convenient, Clifty Falls doesn’t have the monopoly on colorful leaves, but getting away from the distractions of home sounded good.)

The only problem with planning a 2 day trip to a state park to enjoy the outdoors is that if the weather chooses not to cooperate, you are really spending 2 days inside a motel room, watching the weather channel and the Monk marathon.

Not to be daunted by the rain, my husband led the charge. We hiked up and down pieces and parts of Trails 1 – 9, each marked either “rugged” or “very rugged” on the map, (which tends to discourage the not so outdoorsy, rather arthritic hiker.)

I must admit, I am glad Steve pushed us toward hiking. We did see an abundance of leaves, but even better, I learned why it is called Clifty Falls. Turns out there are a number of waterfalls in the park. Who knew?

The first day, with only a persistent drizzle, we made our way to the north end of the park to take in the mightiest fall of all, Old Clifty himself. It was impressive.

The rain kicked in around midnight, and promised to continue throughout the entire next day, dampening any of my ambitions of further rugged and very rugged trail hiking. Rats. Guess we would have to simply enjoy a leisurely breakfast with never ending coffee, warm waffles and bacon and then make our way home.

Imagine my surprise when our 6th grader, realizing it had been raining all night, bounded out of bed, threw on his muddy shoes, and hurried us quickly right back to Clifty Falls. He seemed to suspect something, and his intuition was right. That waterfall looked and sounded nothing like the Clifty we’d seen the day before. What had been a gentle, trickling flow of water had suddenly become a raging, roaring force of nature that literally took our breath away.

That made me think. Having tasted the sweetness of knowing the Lord, I often allow my relationship with Him to be little more than a quiet certainty in my life. But just like Clifty after the rain, we can know an abundant, never ceasing, vibrant relationship with our Father. We just need to take the time to get there.

What a broad world to roam in, what a sea to swim in is this God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. A.W. Tozer

All our lives long we might talk of Jesus, and yet we should never come to an end of the sweet things that might be said of Him. Eternity will not be long enough to learn all He is, or to praise Him for all He has done, but then, that matters not; for we shall always be with Him…and desire nothing more.

Frederick Faber

Shepherds, please share in a post below ways you maintain a vibrant relationship with God.

America's Next Top Model

I was hijacked Saturday afternoon by Reality TV.

In my defense, it had been a rigorous few days, everyone in the house was occupied, and I was just plain tired. My fatigue led me toward the softness of a warm afghan, several gooey chocolate brownies, and an episode or 2 of Americas’ Next Top Model.

I caught the season finale, where the number of perfectly chiseled beauties had been whittled away over several months; with only a handful of exquisite young ladies left standing. In spite of their flawless figures, skin, smiles and photogenic perfection, only one would be named as America’s Next Top Model.

At that fateful moment when the winner was announced, I was struck more by the reaction of the first runner-up than the winner. She was aghast, angry, and practically sobbing at her loss.

I realize this was a competition and she had her eye on the prize, but come on! Really? Is it that horrible to be named the 2nd most poised, lovely, graceful beauty in the modeling world? From my couch, with brownie crumbs on my chin, hair in severe need of root touch up, and those darn 20 extra pounds, I’d have taken 2nd place.

Hmmm. This world of ours has sure done a number on our perspective toward achievement. Unless we are more successful than the other guy, (and there is always another guy), we are simply unsuccessful.

As Christians, we may have the tendency to measure our success in the same way. But listen to what A.W. Tozer says…

The one who is elated by success and cast down by failure is still following the success of this world.

At best her fruit will have a worm in it.

God will allow His servant to succeed when she has learned that success does not make her dearer to God nor more valuable in the total scheme of things. (paraphrased, Born After Midnight, 59.)

A good friend reminded me this morning that God’s will really encompasses just two things…that I love Him with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength, and that I love others as myself.

The world can keep her trophies and accolades. I’d rather be successful in my Father’s eyes.

Shepherds, please share with each other what it is you do that you think is pleasing to God.

Visitors

I had some guests this past weekend. VIP’s. My daughter and her boyfriend came home from IU for a visit.

I haven’t seen Lisa since August, so mentioning that I was looking forward to seeing her would be a gross understatement.

To celebrate her arrival, I kicked it into mom-mode, maid-mode, chef-mode, and any other mode that might help me get everything ready. I bought Lis her favorite lunch from Buffalo Wild Wings, loaded the frig with a few of her favorite recipes, scoured the house, and did a mountain of laundry in order to free up the washing machine so I could do her laundry when it arrived.

While she was sweet to thank me, I don’t think any of my efforts really impacted her one way or another. More than anything else, she seemed to appreciate the times we spent talking, laughing, and watching a movie together.

I tend to overdo. Endeavoring to please others and God, it is sometimes the simple thing, not the extravagant display which means more. Taking a minute to write a note or make a phone call usually has much greater impact than inviting 12 women to a 3 course meal around a perfectly decorated table. Responding to God’s nudge to take a walk with Him, journal and spend time in prayer must at least hold equal value to the times when I’ve spent hours in expository study of a biblical doctrine.


Shepherds, what is the simple thing that you could do today that would make a difference, either in your walk with God, or relationship with another?

A Broken Heart

This past week, I hurt someone I care about.

In a vulnerable moment, my preadolescent son shared with me the name of the new beauty in middle school with “almond eyes, silky hair and perfect skin” whom he had begun admiring from afar.

In an absent-minded moment, my son’s entrusted secret escaped my lips before I could reign it in. I shared his very private news with my neighbor.

Though my son said nothing and did a masterful job at playing it cool, I knew at once that I had crushed him. I would rather die than hurt him, but hurt him I had. And worst, I might have jeopardized the wonderful trust that exists between him and me.

As soon as we had a moment alone, I began to ask his forgiveness. Though hurt, he was quick to forgive. I wasn’t willing to let myself off the hook so easily, and spent the rest of the evening ostracizing myself for letting him down. I apologized more times than I could count, until finally, Josh said, “Mom, it’s over. I’ve forgiven you! Forget about it!”

Why is it that we hold onto our failings and sin so much longer than we need to? Just like Josh, our Father stands ready to forgive and embrace us. Unfortunately, we’d often rather cower in the corner, unwilling to fully receive His grace.

A.W. Tozer had something to say about this…

Brother Lawrence expressed the highest moral wisdom when he testified that if he stumbled and fell he turned at once to God and said, "O Lord, this is what You may expect of me if You leave me to myself."

He then accepted forgiveness, thanked God and gave himself no further concern about the matter. The Warfare of the Spirit, pp. 102-104

I can’t get over the grace of a young boy toward his loose-tongued mom. If only I could fully grasp that same type of grace extended to me by my Father, gratefully receive His forgiveness and move on!

Shepherds, will you share with each other how you work toward restoration with God when you have walked away from Him?