When Empty Stockings Hang

In my heart, there are many rooms and one of my favorite areas is the mantel in the hallway where stockings hang. That hall has innumerable stockings spilling over with fullness. One stocking is filled to the brim with the joys of my marriage. Another stocking is bursting at the seams with blessings of my children and grandchildren. There is another stocking that I take off the mantel frequently…the one most frayed because of the many times I’ve revisited its contents. It is the oldest stocking that hangs in my heart, the one of my childhood with the treasures of my family members. That one never changes because the memories will never fade. I have stockings of precious friends that are beautifully displayed. But then, along with the fullness of those I glance to the end of the mantel and see so many empty ones that hang. There is an empty stocking where loved ones used to fill it up who are now in heaven. Empty stockings of dreams that never came true. They call to me some days, and I cannot help but to focus on them. Why do the empty stockings sometimes look so much bigger than the full ones?

But I am not alone in that area of my heart for as I am considering how those empty stockings hang, He suddenly appears from nowhere. He points to one of the empty stockings and whispers, ‘Oh, that one will not even be able to hold the contents when I fill it.’ He moves ahead of me and partially fills an empty one explaining ‘I am still collecting for this one, but here is a deposit as a guarantee that I will fill it.’ We move together walking down the mantel and I notice that He pulls out more empty stockings and hangs them. He turns to me with that loving look and gracious heart and says, ‘You don’t even know to ask for these.’

I can’t think of a better way to take inventory of what I have been given, what I currently have, and what He has promised me for the future than walking the halls of my heart with Jesus. He promises to justify everything in eternity that wasn’t fair on earth. He promises to fulfill every one of my desires that align with His perfect plan for my life. He promises to reunite me with my loved ones who are waiting for me in Heaven. He promises a life of full abundance in Him if I will trust Him, share time with Him and discover this temporal life through Him. He wants this for me and He wants this for you and that is our greatest filled stocking of all…the beautiful Trinity of our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge” Romans 11:13

But What Good Is It?

“…when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd…he asked… ‘Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?’ He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do…One of his disciples…said… ‘There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish – but what are they for so many?’” John 6:5-9

A while back we had the need for a worker to fix a problem at our home. We don’t have the best of luck when it comes to getting the job done in a satisfactory way the first time. Over a span of a few days this worker continued his best but soon it became obvious he wasn’t equipped to meet the expectations of the job. We were hopeful…we were watchful…we were patient! Not that the situation wasn’t disappointing, but I still laugh every time I think of Bruce’s statement that summed it up. He looked at me one evening and said ‘Brenda, I don’t think he’s going to be able to pull this off.’ For whatever reason, it cracked me up then and still makes me laugh to think about it. Bruce ended up redoing the project and with God’s help did a great job.

The disciples were watching this dilemma unfold as group after group crowded in on them in the thousands. I wonder how entertained Jesus might have been in His mind as He considered what He was setting up. Scripture tells us He already knew that He was going to pull off one of the most baffling and supernatural miracles in the Bible. How did He keep from smiling when He asked the question ‘Where is the food?’ When one of the disciples suggested the little boy’s five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus accepted the offer (‘Have the people sit down’). I can only imagine the disciples standing on the side, whispering to each other those same words, ‘I don’t think He’s going to be able to pull this off.’ Were they watchful? Were they hopeful? Were they already considering a plan B?

How many times have we had that same attitude? There have times when facing insurmountable circumstances my heart felt like Jesus just might not be able to pull this thing off…save my child from drugs…sustain my physical and emotional body when I was a caregiver…several years without work…survive the deaths of my loved ones. That’s what God loves to do! He loves to set up unfolding situations that look hopeless and impossible. He loves to be invited into the equation when considering all the problems that surround and consume us. He longs to be calculated into the math of our dilemmas. Jesus was basically saying to the disciples, ‘Bring to me what you already have and watch me provide!’ Their 'what good is it' attitude was replaced with 'so much more than enough' observations as they saw leftovers laying around.

Those words are still on God's lips and in His heart when dealing with our weaknesses. 'Bring me what you have.' We bring to Him our hopelessness…our exhaustion…our loneliness…our unresolved dilemmas. Once we hand them over they become infused with greatness and God’s power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. His resurrection was the greatest thing ever pulled off for you and for me. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, is beyond the ability of our God.

"Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." Matthew 19:26

When Roosters Crow

“Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered…how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.’ And he went outside and wept.” Luke 22:60b-62

Bruce’s mom and dad had this large picture of Jesus that had hung in their den for many years. Personally, it hurt my heart to look at it because Jesus had tears in His eyes and had the most despaired look on His face. When his dad came and lived with us the last year of his life, we hung that picture in the den that we prepared for him. He died near the beginning of 2011 and it wasn’t until last month that I finally found a home for it outside of the family. I offered it to the family first but every single one said ‘No thank you. His eyes are just too sad.’

I can’t even imagine being Peter and facing those eyes in person when Jesus turned and looked at Peter as the rooster was crowing. Peter loved Jesus with a passion like no other. In fact, the night before, Peter proclaimed in front of Jesus and the group, ‘Lord…I’m ready to go with you to prison or to death.’ I believe he really did mean it when he said it. It’s amazing what fear can make you do. Because of fear, what you think you believe in your heart doesn’t end up matching your actions. Because of fear we accept less than instead of waiting on God. Because of fear we say yes to things we might should say no to. I know that there were times when I knew I had grieved the heart of Christ with choices I made. There were times when I said I’m ready to go, but I delayed with my feet. There will certainly be times in all our lives when we will hear our own roosters crow. Times when we feel our faith failure and must face the reality of our consequences. I used to dread consequences when I did things wrong, but now it hurts me more to know I hurt the Lord than any thing else.

But Jesus has a heart bigger than anything on this earth, and a love for us that is unmatched…unparalleled...relentless. His grace for us is unending...inexhaustible...indescribable. He only shows us our failures to propel us to our victories. He only points out the weakness to invite us into His strength. He allows us to feel His sadness to bring us into His joy. In our despair He comforts our hearts…in our fear He extends His courage…in our lack He gives us His provision…in our repentance of sin He offers forgiveness. I love His question to the disciples, and it is the same question He asks us.

“‘When I sent you out…did you lack anything?’ ‘Not a thing’ they said” Luke 22:35.

You Is Good...You Is Kind...You Is God

"And he said, ‘Please, show me Your glory.’ Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you…’ And the LORD said, ‘Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back...’” Exodus 33:18-23

Have you ever felt like your life was at a standstill…frozen in time…silence from heaven…longing for something to change? Maybe it is a new relationship to appear…an old relationship to be restored…an illness to be healed…a job to be found…a mind to be at rest. I hear the heart cry of Moses in our passage this morning when he cried ‘Please, show me your glory.’ He wanted to see God in his circumstances…He wanted to witness the power of God to act in his situation. His plea to see God could have been out of frustration of not seeing His movement...not hearing His plan. I know for me and Bruce, we have been waiting on God to reveal His plan in a certain area. We have been asking for His glory to light our path in making our decisions. But God has placed us in the cleft of the rock as He is on the outside working for our benefit. What is silent to us is activity for Him.

So, like Moses what we do with that? What do we say when we are hidden away in the rock waiting on Him to accomplish the very thing our hearts are asking for? How do we find peace in a place that feels a little chaotic? We remind ourselves of how faithful He is. We bear witness through the stories of the Bible that He reveals Himself over and over since the beginning of time. We challenge ourselves to see Him for the great and good Father He is even when we cannot feel His presence. We turn our prayers into highlighting His character, ‘Father, you are good…you are sovereign…you are faithful…you are present…you are mighty and able to bring our desires and petitions into perfect alignment with your will…You are everything needed for life and godliness.’

Sometimes, until He has passed by and orchestrated all the details to answer our prayers, He will hide the mystery of the journey that got us there. But until then we must be reminded through His word, prayer and meditation that we are loved…we are chosen…we are held…we are remembered…we are His!

https://youtu.be/3H50llsHm3k

Heaven's Wardrobe Hutch

“God spoke… ‘This is how you are to bless people…Say to them, GOD bless you and keep you, GOD smile on you and gift you, GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper.’” Paraphrase by Eugene Peterson based on Numbers 6:22-26.

Like many of you throughout the year, I pick up things for my children for the upcoming Christmas. They are well-aware I keep them in the wardrobe hutch. It is no longer necessary to hide the gifts because our adult children now reside at their own homes. As I shop I see things that look just like something they would love to own. As I consider things at the store I can picture them using it and enjoying the gift. Sometimes I notice that as I am considering a purchase for my children a smile spreads across my face. I can see through my heart’s eye the joy on their face when I share the gift with them. It brings me so much happiness to watch them open it and get excited to receive it. Part of the joy for me is being present with them when they open the gifts. Part of the joy for them is sharing their excitement with us once they discover its contents. Even as adults, they still shake the box trying to guess what is in the package. I love that I can look them ‘full in the face and make them prosper.’ The joy for me is the fellowship…that is the gift.

God is no different as He relates to us as our Father. He knows all the good things that He is choosing for us. Things to experience with Him...gifts to discover because of Him…future blessings that will be unwrapped through Him. He sometimes wraps up our blessings in plain paper, while other times we discover gifts in beautiful wrapping. He knows just when certain gifts are ready to give. I can just hear the whispers of heaven as He tells the angels to watch us open our beautiful presents. We are aware when a gift comes directly from the Giver…a prayer answered…a need met…a nudging of guidance. Those are the times when God’s presence is obvious, and His blessings are experienced. He has an abundance of gifts in His wardrobe hutch, just waiting for the exact time to prosper us. He fully understands the joy of the fellowship between Himself and His children. There are no presents as precious as His presence, and that is a gift that will never wear out.  May God look you full in the face, smile at you and hand you His blessings this season and every season.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights" James 1:17

When Calendars Cry Out

“…and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

We have just had new hardwood floors put in our house, due to water damage in our walls that traced down under the floor.  God was so generous as He provided for this expense through our insurance company.  However, our house is a complete mess!  While everyone’s wall on their facebook is displayed with beautiful Christmas decorations, my pictures are conspicuously absent.  Doors need to be placed back on their hinges…sanding dust needs to be wiped off everything from walls to dishes in cabinets…furniture needs to be moved back…baseboards need to be cut, painted and nailed back down.  I lay awake at night arranging in my head all that needs to be done in the very month when Christmas already crowds my mind and calendar.  So, I ask myself this morning, ‘Will there be room in the inn this year?’ 

We all carry Christ within us just like Mary.  We all are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Christ just like she and Joseph?  We all will wrap the thought of that precious baby Savior up in tender traditions…relational celebrations… culinary experiences…and yes, even moving spiritual observances.  But will we really ‘make room in the inn for the Savior’?  Will we serve somewhere when our calendar is already about to explode?  Will we have room in our hearts to forgive as Christ tells us to forgive?  Will we make room for God to heal our hearts while seeing the empty seats at the holiday table?  Will we allow mercy and grace for others to pull up a chair even if it is an unwanted guest? 

Making room in the inn is to set our gaze on the things that really support the reason for this season… God stepped out of heaven, invaded our earth, and did for us what we could never do for ourselves.  Making room in the inn is to be aware of our surroundings and do for others as Christ does daily for us.  Making room in the inn is to have spiritual eyes for the things that break God’s heart.  It’s to feed where others are hungry…its to invite in when others are lonely…its to share the message of God to a hurting world.   I pray that as I am about to put my house back in order that I will make room for Him in the inn.  I pray that my heart will always display a vacancy sign for His indwelling, and that space will always be made for Him no matter what my calendar screams.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Rev 3:20

What Good are His Blessings?

But Abram replied, ‘O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?’” Genesis 15:2.

Now before we get consumed with judgment for poor Abraham, we must consider the tender intimacy that he experienced with God. Their relationship had transformed from the Creator and the created to the Father and His son. James goes so far in 2:23 to say that ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend.’ The more intimate they became the more comfortable Abraham was in asking God anything. He fully understood that what he held in reserve from God would become a barrier to their relationship. He formed the brazen question to a God who isn’t fickle or thin-skinned. He had the courage to verbalize the question, and gave expression to what most of us feel in our hearts all these years later.

‘O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have _______?’ We all possess a blank that our hearts can fill in. In our prayers we fully recognize God is powerful enough to do the impossible…He is sovereign. In our prayers we acknowledge that His other blessings are good. But do our words fall short from asking the courageous question of Abraham…what good are the blessings when my heart longs for the one thing I don’t have?

God didn’t punish Abraham for his honesty. God didn’t withhold future fulfillment or blessings because He thought Abraham was greedy. God fully understood the heart of His child, and the longing of his child’s heart. And God still does. Romans 2:11 states that God does not have favorites, and that each man is no greater than another before Him. Even after God answered his question by taking him outside and showing him the numerous stars as it related to future blessings, Abraham continued the questioning. He asked another question that probably strikes the chord of our heart… ‘LORD, how can I know?’ Again, God reaffirmed that His promise would be fulfilled in His timing…and it was. Abraham finally got the longing of heart, and because He believed, God credited righteousness to his spiritual bank.

I don’t know what _______ you hold in your heart, but God certainly does, and He also knows mine. When we pray let us all have the courage to fill in that blank and allow God to be God, the one of mystery…the one of perfect timing…the one of ultimate power. He is our Creator, our Father and our friend who never changes.

‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’ Hebrews 13:8