gifts

Invited Guests

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We were invited to a Christmas party by a host we didn’t know. And we knew none of the other invited guests. It was quite interesting to say the least. We were the strangers entering a home where most everyone knew someone else. It felt a bit awkward at first walking into a house full of unknowns, but we managed to meet some interesting people. The house felt a bit cramped with such a large crowd, and the host informed me that they wished they had made the kitchen and dining room bigger when they were building the house over twenty years ago. At the time, they were expecting their third child. Then a fourth came along a few years later. Now in a few months, they’ll be empty nesters.

The house was overflowing with talking, laughter and food. Their youngest son, who is a musician, played for the crowd. The mini concert was beautiful, but it caused even more noise in the cramped space. Some people who were already living with hearing loss felt as if they had lost even more of their hearing that night. But we all continued talking.

We met a couple who had moved here from San Diego four years ago. They said they didn’t miss anything about their life out west. They had settled into this neighborhood we were visiting and loved it. She was working remotely, but was planning to retire soon. They were building onto their house. She said they had attended our church for a bit when they first moved here, but it wasn’t the right fit. They have since found a “theologically conservative” church a little farther away.

Another woman has been single more years than she had been married, and she didn’t expect that to change anytime soon. She said she met the hosts at church. She enjoys visiting her daughter at work on Sunday evenings for dinner.

Then we met a couple who attends our church. I’ve never seen them before in my life, but there they were. After talking for a time, we discovered we had attended the same college a few years apart. And we even knew some of the same people. The wife has had two cornea transplants in the past year, and her husband is losing his hearing. But they love life and enjoy camping in nice weather.

The hosts were very pleasant people. We talked as if we had known each other for years, even though the wife and I had met only days earlier. And my husband, who is a musician, had a great conversation with the musician son. We had a nice time with a group of strangers that evening. After all, friends start off as strangers.

The house was crowded with standing room only for the latecomers. It was loud with many voices all at the same time. You had to talk loud and listen closely to the person next to you. But somehow it worked. Everyone took it in stride. There was no pushing or shoving, just polite jostling as people struggled to get from here to there. People moved cautiously through the space carrying plates of food and cups of warm wassail. It was a pleasant evening in the midst of strangers.

It’s the holiday season and people are being merry and bright. Festivities abound this time of year, and it doesn’t hurt to meet new people who are celebrating the birth of our Savior.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10

This time of year is when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I think about the trip Mary and Joseph took that led them on an adventure of a lifetime.

I wonder what thoughts and fears were swirling in the minds of Mary and Joseph when they learned they must go to Bethlehem. I wonder what strangers accompanied them as they set off for Bethlehem. They couldn’t have been traveling alone. After all, Augustus had authorized a census to be taken throughout the Roman empire. Every man was forced to return to his ancestral town to register himself and his family. There must have been hordes of people on the roads going in different directions during that time. There must have been much confusion and anxiety in the preparations for travel.

But a couple in their situation, engaged to be married and pregnant with her first child, it would have been very unusual to travel together. Yet, here they were. Traveling to a distant place where Joseph’s ancestors were born. I wonder. Did he still have family in Bethlehem? Did he know anyone there who could assist them in any way?

Mary and Joseph were most likely surrounded by strangers. They intermingled with them and made acquaintances as they traveled. And they kept traveling. Others could see that Mary was heavy with child. Who knows if they offered assistance. They didn’t know that this couple traveling weren’t yet wed. They didn’t ask. And I’m sure Mary and Joseph didn’t tell. They were all on a journey to be counted. All familiar yet unfamiliar. Even Mary and Joseph not yet married. They knew each other, yet they didn’t. They had never lived together, yet they were alone in a crowd sharing the most intimate of times. Tied together through a betrothal and a pregnancy all begotten by God.

And when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, all the inns were full. People who arrived first got first pick of the best places to lay their head. By the time the couple arrived, there was no room for them. Oh. I’m sure they weren’t the only ones stranded out in the open. But a bigger problem was that Mary was heavily pregnant. Due at any time. What were they to do?

They eventually found a space to keep them sheltered from the elements. It could have been a barn. Or a cave. It was in fact a stable for the cattle. That’s where they lay their heads. And as it would happen, Mary delivered this child of God. Born in a stable in the dark of night. Was anyone with them to help her? Or were she and Joseph all alone? We don’t really know.

But there were people out and about. In the fields, shepherds were watching their sheep. Suddenly an angel was hovering in their presence. And he spoke words of joy and blessing to them. After he shared the good news that the Promised Messiah had been born, a host of angels joined him singing and praising God. Then this band of weary shepherds went to find the babe in the town of Bethlehem, just right where they were told he would be found. He would be in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And he was.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14

Oh. Mary and Joseph weren’t alone for long. As this strange band of shepherds burst into the stable, there was the baby just as they had been told. He looked like any other baby. A newborn. But they knew he was different. And they bowed to worship him. I’m sure Mary and Joseph were in awe. How did anyone know they were in the stable and that Mary had just given birth? How did these men know? They weren’t strangers for long, as the men shared how the angels surprised them in the field with the great news of the birth of Jesus.

You can read the full story in Luke 2.

Mary and Joseph encountered these shepherds coming to worship the Messiah. They wanted to pay tribute to their Savior. Little did they know of the life he would lead, but they bowed before him in humble gratitude. Strangers yet kin in spirit.

Later, when the wise men came to call, it was with the same reverence they bowed in worship. As they offered their humble gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, the knowledge of who they were worshipping left them in awe. A small child yet the Savior of the world was in front of them, unaware of the mission of his life. They too were strangers in a foreign land yet bound by the Lord of the universe.

We too can be strangers to the Savior, yet we don’t have to be. We too can bow in worship before him, not only during the season we celebrate his birth, but we can choose to bow before him in submission every day. I pray that your life will be lived in surrender to His will. Don’t be a stranger to the goodness and forgiveness of God. He is the Good News the world has been awaiting.

Crushing Disappointment

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It was the night the Awana kids had been waiting for ever since the opening week. They could wear their Halloween costumes, and they were allowed to spend their hard-earned Awana bucks in the Awana store. They were so excited. They didn’t know what goodies were waiting for them in the store, but they were ready to find out. They were thrilled to see everything on display as they took turns carrying in their fake money and shopping for goods. And when they came back with their prizes, they were beaming.

It was finally the last little boy’s turn for my group. I went with him. He was ready to spend the seven fake dollars he was holding in his hands. But he wanted to save some for the next time the store was open. They only problem was that seven fake dollars don’t buy much in the store of little goodies. There were some big costly prizes to be bought with the right amount of money. And the prices and size of the prizes trickled down to little bits. He had to stay in the little bit section. He looked and looked over all the prizes that were in his price range, but he couldn’t find anything he wanted. Nothing was jumping out at him. And I tried to help him by pointing out toys and goodies he might have missed. But no. Nothing.

And then the most awful thing happened. Someone came to the door of the room and told us that the store was closed. Shopping was done. As I coaxed him out of the room, his head hung dejectedly down to his chest. He had nothing to show for his seven fake dollars. The boy who is usually full of his own self importance was left with nothing. I tried to encourage him by telling him that he had time to earn more money for the next time the store was open. It will be a few months before the store opens again.

The kids can earn Awana bucks by memorizing Bible verses and bringing their Bible, Awana book and vest each week. He sometimes forgets to bring them, and he doesn’t always have a Bible verse memorized. He’s more interested in talking back and writing on the white board. He doesn’t seem to understand that those things don’t earn him any money. He’s only seven, and he may not have much encouragement at home to learn the verses each week. But he can do it if he would put forth the effort. I see some moments of encouragement and goal setting with him in my future.

As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. Philippians 4:15-17

As I was reading my Bible this week, I came across Philippians 4:15-17. It jumped out at me differently this time. I wondered. Did Paul ever feel disappointment in his situation? Did he assume all the churches would financially support him as he sat in prison? Did he believe that the believers in the cities he had travelled to on his missionary journeys would remember him in his time of need?

Paul had been put in prison because of his teachings about Jesus Christ who had appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Paul’s life had been transformed by the saving power of Jesus, and he used every day of his life to tell others about his newfound freedom in Christ. He wanted others to know this Jesus and believe in him, too. But there were those who didn’t agree, and they hated Paul with a vengeance. As he had once hunted followers of Jesus, he found himself being hunted for the same reason. And then he was imprisoned before being killed.

In the book he wrote to the Philippian church, Paul was joyful. As he sat in jail, he showed no signs of disappointment or discouragement. His faith was in Christ alone. He wrote letters to the churches he had visited and ministered to. He would hear along the grapevine how the churches were doing, and he learned of the struggles some of them were experiencing. He wrote to give them words of encouragement and admonishment. He loved those people and hoped and prayed that they would remain faithful to God. Since he couldn’t be with them in person, he did the next best thing by writing letters.

When Paul was in prison, he needed financial support. One church he had ministered to sent him money and supplies on a regular basis. Others sent nothing. He told the church of Philippi that he had learned to be content with nothing and with a lot. He had lived through both extremes and found that God was the sustaining force of his life whether his belly was full or empty. Whether he was warm or cold, he would praise the Lord. His situation would not alter his view of God or his joyfulness.

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4:12

I wonder though if he ever experienced disappointment in the churches that never helped him out. Did they ever think about him and then ignore his needs? Were they just always so low on cash and supplies that they couldn’t scrape up anything for him? Didn’t they think to plan ahead and set aside a little bit each week to share with him? Did they just not have enough faith to trust God for their needs? Or were they so single minded that they only thought of themselves? Can you imagine him sitting there pining for the generosity of those who had been helped by his teachings? And then getting nothing in return? We never hear of that in his writings.

Unlike my little Awana guy who didn’t plan appropriately enough to earn more money and was greatly disappointed, Paul was joyful regardless of his circumstances. He was thankful for those who prepared ahead of time and faithfully helped him out. He knew that times were tough for them, as well. And he let them know that he was joyful regardless of his situation, and he wanted them to be joyful with him. He didn’t create a list of those who never helped him, and he never chastised them. Even though he knew that this group of believers in Philippi was the only church to send him supplies, he loved the others just the same. He knew that if they shared with him in need, God would bless their generosity. The other churches didn’t know the joy they were missing out on by not helping a fellow believer in need.

Paul’s joyfulness can be a great lesson for us when we become disappointed and disillusioned with others. Our expectations may be out of control and unrealistic, while the actions and words of others may be, as well. Our joy must come from God and God alone; not in our accomplishments, which are fleeting, but in the love and mercy of God our Father. He alone is our present help in trouble. He will not fail or forget us. He stands with us as we stand strong in faithfulness to him.

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10

The Christmas Gift

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

As I signed her Christmas card, I realized its message was an obvious reflection of the true meaning of Christmas. There were no Christmas trees or Santa or reindeer. No elves or mistletoe or sleighs. No snow or stockings or elves. There were just words taken from the book of Matthew proclaiming the birth of the Promised Messiah. It was a message of hope.

I knew she considered herself to be religious. She is, after all, a devout Catholic who attends an online Irish Mass in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Oh. She once regularly attended in person at her parish, but a global event three years earlier got her out of the habit of meeting with friends and family. She now chooses to worship alone, if she worships at all.

I wondered if her out of town guests arriving in a few days would note the religious overtones of the card. I could just imagine them asking her about the one who had signed the card. I wondered if they might possibly ask if the person seemed to be a holy roller. Were they religious? Were they a Christian? I wondered how she might respond to the question. How would she describe me? And then I had to come to an honest conclusion that perhaps I haven’t shared enough of my faith with her. Perhaps she thought I was just a nice person. And that’s it. Did she really know that I’m a Christian?

I also wasn’t sure how she would accept the gift I was offering to her. It was an outside the box type of gift. Not one that just everyone would give. I wasn’t sure if she would think it weird since it was homemade. But when she opened the gift and realized what it was, she squealed in delight. Her face lit up with joy. She told me the gift she was bringing for me the next day was not nearly as creative. The point of my gift wasn’t to be creative or to outdo her gift. It was to make her holiday just a bit easier. 

In my mind, I had decided how and when she could use the gift. But when she later told me her plans for it, they didn’t match the scenario in my head. I was a little disappointed, but then I had to remind myself that the gift was hers to use as she saw fit. It didn’t have to fit the imaginary scene in my head. So I smiled and said that her plan sounded perfect. And I meant it, because it was her plans that mattered. Not mine.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8

She’s often in pain and doesn’t have much stamina these days. She walks painstakingly slow now, and is scheduled for an upcoming surgery after the first of the year. She lives alone and has to climb stairs even when the pain is unbearable. She’s past the age of retirement, but says she wants to work ten more years. She needs help but won’t ask for it. 

Her only child is flying home to celebrate the holiday with her for the first time in several years. She has had a countdown on her phone for months waiting for the day her daughter arrives. She said her daughter was her reason for living. The visit will give her the encouragement she needs to make it until she has surgery.

It is the season of gift giving. I realize there are times that it’s important to give good gifts to others. Not necessarily expensive or designer gifts. But gifts from the heart. Gifts that offer a personal touch. Some groups set a price limit. Others know no limits. Some offer few gifts, while others give lavishly. But isn’t it true that it isn’t the gift that matters? It’s the heart of the giver. Gifts should be offered freely with no strings attached. Was there a spoken or unspoken expectation of reciprocation? Hopefully not.

The gift of God’s only son is a gift from his heart to everyone. And it offers a personal touch on the heart of every believer who accepts it. We can rejoice with great joy this Christmas season knowing that the sacrifice of God’s only Son is the gift that keeps on giving. By accepting the gift, we are given even more. We now have the promise of eternal life in heaven.

When someone on this earth accepts the gift freely given by our heavenly Father, the gift of salvation and eternal life, angels rejoice. Heaven throws a party when a lost sinner becomes a child of God.  Have angels partied for you yet? If not, there is still time. With a repentant heart, pray the sinner’s prayer below that Billy Graham invited people to pray when they accepted Christ as their personal Savior. 

Dear God,

I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness.
I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died
for my sin and that you raised Him to life.
I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord,
from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will.

I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents. Luke 15:10

Essential Workers

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I got the email last week from my employer. It said that because of the business we are in, we are considered to be essential workers during this pandemic. I was rather surprised, but then I realized that what we do impacts hospitals and long term care facilities.

I must say that I felt a sense of pride. A sense of ownership. I am doing something that can help make this world a better place. I am contributing to the safety of those who have contracted this terrible virus. I am needed.

I also felt a sense of humility. And thankfulness. I am employed. I am able to work every day. All day. I am working from home, but I am doing the job that God provided for me. Little did I know that I would be employed when so many others have lost their jobs. I pray that the small company I work for can remain open during this time of great need and uncertainty. I don’t take this work or this paycheck for granted.

No. I’m not making masks. I’m not caring for sick individuals. I’m not delivering groceries to families. I am not building temporary hospitals. I am not working on a new vaccine or cure. I am not creating a quicker, easier testing method. I am just doing the job I was given. I am helping hospitals and other healthcare providers keep their information safe and secure.

I sometimes wonder if my work really is necessary. If it’s doing any good for anybody. Am I really helping at a time when help is needed all around me? Then I recall the kind emails I have received from multiple clients thanking me for providing them with much needed information during these tumultuous times. They tell me that the information is very timely and invaluable to their work.

Every kind action and word of advice and encouragement are needed at this time. These are times when we are making a difference in our world. Let’s make a good, noticeable difference.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. Romans 12:6

I was reminded that God has given each of us a special gift. Oh. Our gifts don’t all look alike. We don’t get to choose our gifts, but each gift is essential in building God’s kingdom. God has assigned each of us a specific role. A special calling in order to fulfill his plan for this world. We must act now. We must be willing. We must obey in order to fulfill his plan. We are essential workers in the kingdom of God.

He has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. Ephesians 4:7

If you have been given the ability to prophesy, speak out boldly with the strong faith God has given to you. If your gift is serving others, then serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach your students well. If you are gifted with words of encouragement, then be an encourager to those who need it. If your gift is giving, then be generous because there are those who need to receive. If you are given the gift of leadership, then take that responsibility seriously. Don’t let it go to your head. If you are gifted with kindness, then shower kindness on others with a glad heart.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10

If you can speak, then speak as if God were speaking. If you can help, then help others with the strength and energy that God provides. If you have the gift of helps, then find ways to help others. If your gift is hospitality, then open your home or prepare a meal for others. If you have wisdom, then pray that God gives you wise words when they are needed.

These gifts are given to us to be used. Not to be hoarded or neglected. Some may say they don’t have a gift, but that isn’t true. God didn’t pour out gifts on a select few. He showered every one of us with a gift designed specifically with us in mind. Now it is up to each of us to use that gift. To deny it would be going against our Maker. All of these gifts that God has given are necessary to complete his good works. Each worker is essential. No job is too small or insignificant. There is work to be done. Let’s do our part.