December 24th

I'm slow in getting this posted, but want to anyway!

Today the last figurine is put on the advent calender.

The culmination of this month of anticipation.

My prayer on December first was that this Christ-Child would show me more of Who He is.

And He has.

So many thoughts and lessons I'd like to write down...but now is the time to worship.

The pastor at the church we attended last week when our van was broken so we were limited to a church within walking distance put it this way:

"The coming of Christ is so awe-inspiring and powerful that to try and give tips and applications is like teaching a group some new card tricks on the edge of the Grand Canyon."

Really, we just take this time to worship together.  To bask in the immensity and incredibility that "there is born to you this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

And with the angels, sing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Pictures

I started a picture book at the lunch table today.  I read the title.  Turned the page.  Read the title again. 

Under the title this time was the dedications.  Both author and illustrator dedicate their words and pictures to someone or ones. 

As I’ve gotten more involved in the world of children’s books I’ve learned that a good illustrator is able to capture the heart of the words in an insightful and real way.  They go together. 

Often the pictures will even tell details of the story that the reader might not have known.

In a good picture book, the words and pictures are so closely aligned that if either were missing it wouldn’t be the same story. 

There is no frustration as there can be when you read a book and then watch a movie and get disappointed because the image in your head was just ruined on the screen.

It’s just as it should be.  The book we read at lunch was that way.  Poignant, rich, beautiful, and though I’d only planned to read a fourth of it we couldn’t stop.  We had to read it all.

Much more so the Word made flesh.  Jesus came to illustrate God.  So entwined that when we read about Jesus, we’re seeing God.  It is a story so beautifully and perfectly illustrated there is a sigh in the soul.  Yes.  This fits.  It’s as it should be.

God.  Made flesh. 

Illustrated in the baby Jesus.  The man Jesus.  The suffering Jesus.   And the resurrected Jesus.

A story worth reading every day.  A story worth considering every moment.  A story worth sharing with everyone.  A story worth celebrating all month long.  All life long.

The Stable

Sorry I haven't been out much to clean up...it's been so cold.
I haven't changed the straw though it needs it, but there's
some fresh stuff in the corner I'll spread on top real quick.

I know there's nothing here to make you really comfortable, except
if you call the warmth of stinky animals and the pokiness of straw
comfort. 

You created them, though, so maybe You do.

There was a wind storm here last week and everything's out of place.
Last month the hens caught some disease...nearly lost them all.
Nearly lost all hope.

Really, I don't know why You'd ever want to come here, especially
if You knew what You were getting in to.

It's a far cry from where You've been.  Really far.

The air on Your skin, You've never had skin before so You couldn't
feel air on it, full of cold and yet warmth of touch, warmth of breath, warmth of life.

The filth.  The sorrow.  The messes.  You, Whose very being
is Perfection.

I don't know why You would.

But please....if You so choose.

Come.  Into this here mess of a stable.

This needy heart.

Be born and dwell in me.

December 1st

Oh first of December
This, the first year ever
I, as an adult,
Have the Advent Calendar out on time.

One sheep only,
Twenty-two more animals, stars, wisemen, shepherds and angels
To go
Then the Baby.

The Baby
Of all babies
For Whom
This month's celebration is for.

And maybe, just maybe,
This baby, born over two thousand years ago,
But still living,
Even in me...

Dare I hope
This time
He will show me more of Who He is?
And my children, too.

More than gifts,
More than festivities,
More than decor and delicacies and thrill,
This is what I seek.

On Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas from all of us here....finally the days of December are full and it's time to celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Here's some happenings at our home....I thought this picture of the little lady reading a chapter book with the baby nearly stepping on her head was pretty funny.

Meet Tom and Holly.  I'm sure you can figure out who's who.  These two bears have brought endless entertainment for the children this December.

I was annoyed with Brian when he allowed Dawsy to spend some of his birthday money on Tom at the Christmas tree farm....we have enough stuffed animals, I thought.  But for $4.00, I don't think you could buy something that would provide so many hours of fun.

They have a boat, a plane, and many other vehicles.  There's a whole wardrobe furnished by Noelle's dolls.  (You'll see her hair pretties, too).  Many other animals have been vying for Holly's hand in marriage (the kids witnessed the real Tom and Holly's wedding this summer).  But apparently there's an announcement that a marriage will take place on Christmas Day!

Congratulations, Tom and Holly, you couldn't have picked a more celebratory day for your union!

Here are Tom and Holly on a sled.  I hear they were at the North Pole yesterday...somehow the children got ahold of foam (for all you new moms, fear foam and quickly get it out of the house).  This foam snuck in and I didn't know about it till I heard them all yelling "Snow, snow."  Then it was too late so we went with it.  In this picture they are watching the snow melt (aka vaccuuming).  Then they were headed to Ethiopia for some warm weather.

It's amazing to watch them capture joy and Christmas and all that's wrapped up in it.  I've thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with them and through them this December.

The candles flicker on the mantle, lighting over the bowed wise men.  The white lights fill the tree in the corner and underneath a Prestige Red Poinsettia beckons for admiration.  How all these symbols became part of the celebration of Christ's birth I don't know.

It's sure beautiful, though.  The symbols (well, many of them), as well as the reason for celebrating.

I think about Mary.  How she chose to trust God.  She willingly opened herself up to God's way with her even when it was unknown, unclear, uncertain, uncanny, unconventional.

She was not disappointed.  In pain?  Yes.  Hurting?  Yes.  Disappointed?  No.

Somehow she was able to see that God's way was higher than her way.  To be involved in His work might mean misunderstandings, danger, even death.  Intentionally she chose His way anyway.

Think about it.  When she said to the angel, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said,"  she knew that to be pregnant while betrothed meant death.

Her first provision from the Lord was the angel's information to her...she would be overcome with the Holy Spirit and that's how she would conceive.  Mary didn't have to second guess how she got pregnant.  She knew it was a work of God within her.

The angel also told her about her cousin Elizabeth.  Barren for so many years and now, past childbearing she was miraculously bearing a special child.  Mary was immediately able to go to someone safe who would understand what she was going through.

Not only did Elizabeth understand what she was going through, she also prophesied that Mary was pregnant  with Elizabeth's Lord before Mary even had a chance to say hello.  Talk about confirmation and strength to continue trusting!

She probably helped with Elizabeth's birth and was provided with the knowledge she'd need for her own.

Next was the hurdle with Joseph. Once he found out she was pregnant, what would he do?  He had the power to have her stoned.  But before he could even tell Mary that he was going to have mercy on her by quietly putting her away an angel explained everything to him in a dream.
Once again, God came through. Mary had a righteous man to take care of her and the baby.

Mary's trust had to continue, as they were forced to travel at the time her child was due.  Would they make it to Bethlehem or be stuck on the road in a vulnerable position?  She had to trust through her contractions that somehow God would provide a place for her to labor in privacy, safety, warmth, and comfort.

As Isaiah's prophecies were being recited and fulfilled, I wonder if Mary said some of his words to herself as she followed her Lord.  Maybe she prayed the words "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."41.10


Mary's opportunities to trust continued throughout her lifetime, but the ultimate trusting and providing is found in the child she carried.  He who spoke the world into being came to provide a hope and an everlasting future for us if we put our trust in Him.

And He who promises is faithful.

A blessed, merry, precious Christmas to you.

It's mostly a process, this life.  Such as, right now I am going gray.  It's slow, but sometime in the imaginable future I will either have gray hair or will be coloring it. I'm getting prepared.

The other day a friend stopped by I'd not seen for three years.  She walked toward me, waving, and I waved back, watching, wondering, was it really her?  No longer was her long hair the brown I knew her to possess.  Now it was a lovely white!!!

How hard it was for my brain to accept the change as we stood and talked about life.  Even now I think if I saw her it'd take me awhile to adjust.  When changes happen quickly it's difficult to take it all in at once.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Isaiah 11.1

This time of advent; it's a gift.  My family and I have been spending time nearly each day singing, reading, talking, praying, crafting the events that took place so long ago.

We haven't always done this, but I'm so thankful we're taking the time this year.  We've revisited the ancestors of Jesus and sympathized with Mary and and I just can't believe in only a few days she's going to deliver Baby Jesus!

I wait anxiously for the heavenly host to shock the shepherds.  We'll picture them running, the angels lighting the way, to go worship this Infant-King.

I'm not ready physically for Christmas Day (procrastination is a great strength of mine).  The presents still need wrapping.  Some food still needs to be purchased and prepared.  I still need to get stamps and put them on my Christmas cards so they'll be in the mail before Christmas.

Though I don't think this is the smartest way to accomplish the Christmas tasks (look at my Christmas planner, my budget, my lists...I try, I try), it's not the most important part.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--
and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
Isaiah 11.2,3a

It's a process, this readying of the heart.  I take this week, this last week of anticipation, to ready my heart first.  Trusting God will provide me the strength, wisdom, and ability to accomplish the most important things!

May you as well make it your top priority this week to ready your heart.  Read and feel Luke 1 and 2 all week.  Google search the prophesies which foretold His coming.  Pray, sing, offer thanks.
Make room in your heart so that on Christmas you're prepared, and miracle of His birth will not be a shock you can't take in but a gift you're prepared to receive.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
Luke 1.68

Even Angels

He's been setting them up high---near the light.

I noticed it first when I couldn't sleep.  Fumbling

for the living room lamp switch I heard a thud.

That the thud was an angel made me smile.

Then last night when the company was leaving

and we switched the lamps on after advent

she pointed out a shape illuminating out of the

tall lamp.  I smiled and said it must be an angel. 

They're found near lights around our home.

And I look at them, these children, and think

about how they just know angels should be up

high near the light. 

But I also know how much they have to learn.

That the babe in the manger, clothed

in poverty

till the day He died, will call them to hard things.

That the way of the Cross for lovers of the Christ-Child is

paved with difficulty and full of

opportunities to grow.


He left those angels to be an alien and stranger

on earth. 

Leaving the light

to be a light for us.


I learn so much every year.


Dear, dear little people in my home....

may this Christmas season illuminate your

understanding of the Christ-Child

even just a little more.  The One in

whom even angels long to look.

Even angels long to look into these things.  1 Pt. 1.12b

Waiting...

She asks me if there'll be cake in heaven.  And I, being busy doing something else, pause briefly to file rapidly through my dusty knowledge of heaven to answer with a pretty confident YES! 

That's good enough for her and she's off dreaming about cake in heaven.

It's been a month of birthdays and feasts so our table's regularly seen cake.  Her grandparents spend the evening here and she tells Grandma that we're going to have cake in heaven. 

Grandma looks to me with eyebrows raised and I figure I better have a reasonable explanation for my approval.  Well, when we get to heaven, I say, there's going to be a wedding feast and we'll be invited, actually, Christ's people are the bride.  And whoever heard of a wedding feast without cake?

(Okay, Brian and I didn't have cake at our wedding but then that takes it out of the classification of feast....does cheesecake count?)!!!

This three year-old daughter waits in hope for the promise of cake in heaven and I'm glad.

(I figure if I'm wrong it's no problem since the feast could only be better than we imagine, and if there's no cake then there'll be something we could not even ask for or dream of!)

We enter this season of advent...a gift of waiting for a promise.  Only as much as I understand do I appreciate the waiting...

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Two women.  Both ends of the age spectrum represented.  Each encountered God radically.  Hadn't the LORD's people been waiting for three hundred years for Him to speak?

He changed their lives, their hearts.  This One God.  Once again speaking, making promises...promises that gestated inside these women till their time came...

And His promises were fulfilled.  Both had miraculous pregnancies ending in the gender predicted.  They responded in obedience in giving these boys their preordained names.  John.  Jesus.

They truly came.  The forerunner and the awaited Messiah.  Emmanuel, God With Us.

I enter this advent desiring to wait with them.  To feel what it must have been like to anticipate what God was doing in them.  Through them.  With them.  For them.  For all humankind. 

Elizabeth and Mary offer a pregnant picture...the counting of days until painful arrival.  The wonder and beauty and agony and discomfort all tied together.  Waiting in hope for the fulfillment of a promise.

And what is waiting worth unless we wait in hope?

I know their promises were fulfilled because the end of their story's been told. 

But in re-waiting I renew anticipation of my own waits.  And of His second coming.  For He's promised to come again.

Since He fulfilled it the first time, I can wait in hope that He will fulfill it again.

"Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?  "I am," said Jesus.  "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

My daughter waits in hope for future promises to the degree she's able at her age.  Do I?

Text: Luke 1.56, Mark 14.61,62, NIV, pictures of cakes enjoyed in November