Archives for December 2014

The IN-Keeper: Have I Made Room?

The Inn-keeper in the Bible Story of Jesus’ birth intrigues me. Not much is written about him. Leaves much to our imagination. With the census going on for the entire Roman World, you know his inn must have stayed jam-packed at 100 percent occupancy. He was truthful to Mary and Joseph. He certainly wasn’t a mean man. In fact, I can sympathize with him. Guests checked out, then more guests with reservations checked in.  He was trying his best to be hospitable by offering a stable and manger out back.

Little did he know he was too busy and lacked room in his life for the Savior of the World’s birth. Ouch. Doesn’t that hit close to home?

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” –Luke 2:7 NIV

Anything of value in our lives requires us to make room.

We make room in our time schedules, our budgets, our hearts for a new relationship we value. Even for Christmas we make room, don’t we?

To bring in my new wonderfully-smelling fraser fir tree, I moved over my upholstered comfy chair and reading lamp. Box after box of Christmas decorations require me to move my year-round décor and replace it with my valued Christmas festive decor.

In the Bible Story of Jesus’ birth, the Inn-Keeper had no room for Jesus. Mary and Joseph resorted to a hay-filled stable, along with the animals. Our Savior of the World Jesus was born in a tiny manger. The tiny manger was plenty of room for the King of Kings and was truly the first King-Size Bed. 

The big question is: Do I make room for Jesus? So often I don’t with my hurried schedule, my shortened quiet time, quick prayers.

Jesus is our only “In” to eternal life. We who believe are all “IN-Keepers.” How much room am I making in my schedule, my budget, my heart for Jesus, the Savior of the World, my Savior?

Forgive me, Lord, for being too busy. For not making room for you. Take my whole heart, Lord. Lord Jesus, move everything else out to make all the room You want and need in my heart. You are the only way IN to eternal life. I desire to be a true “IN-Keeper.”

 Reflect:

–“Make room for us in your hearts.” –2 Corinthians 7:2a NIV

–“ ‘Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’” –Mark 14:14-15 NIV

–“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” –John 21:25

Renew:

–How can I make more room in my life for Jesus?

–Who else may I be pushing out because “there’s no room in the IN?”

Resource:

-“But this I do know. My own true love. All your life long, you wait for your own true love to come–we all of us do–our destiny, our joy, our heart’s desire. So how am I to say it, gentlemen? When He came, I missed Him. Pray for me, brothers and sisters. Pray for the Inn-Keeper. Pray for me, and for us all, my own true love.” –from the Inn-Keeper’s perspective, taken from Frederick Buechner’s  “The Birth.” Magnificent Defeat.

Do My Gifts Have Meaning?

Gift giving is a natural part of Christmas. It seems most of us, though, if you’re like me, get our checklist, and just go to town buying and checking off the list as quickly as possible. Then we’re onto the next Christmas party or task.

More than 15 years ago my pastor, Rev. Dr. Danny Massie, told a story about his childhood, and it transformed the way my heart desires to give gifts and the meaning behind them.

Danny grew up in Canton, Mississippi. His Daddy ran the Madison County Feed and Store. When he was a little boy, his Dad proudly built their family’s two-bedroom home, and they finally moved from their little rental home. His family was so proud, especially of the cedar mantel, the symbolic center of the home. Danny’s Dad had taken a cedar tree, and had cut, hewn, and beautifully carved that mantel. Danny remembers the hours and hours his Dad put into sawing, shaving, sanding, and polishing the prized mantel.

A year later, because Danny’s Dad had extended so much generous credit to customers who couldn’t pay, he lost his business. Danny’s Mom suffered a serious bout with depression. They sadly had to sell their home and move into a rodent-infested tenement apartment. Leaving that home was like ripping out the warmth and security from his soul. Danny begged his Dad to take the mantel with them, but his Dad, quiet and reflective, said it needed to stay with the house and that the apartment couldn’t hold it. Danny and his brother graduated from high school and went on to college and seminary.

Years later, Danny and his wife Tita had four children and were living and pastoring the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport, TN. Their church was raising funds for a Habitat for Humanity house. Danny recalled the painful, emotional memory of his father’s mantel in a sermon to illustrate the importance of having decent, affordable housing.

Unbeknownst to Danny, some of his church members were so moved by the story that they contacted his old home church in Canton. They reviewed the tax records and found Danny’s old homeplace in Mississippi.  They drove from Tennessee to Mississippi on a mission. They contacted the owners. As it turned out, nearly 40 years later, the mantel had been taken down from the fireplace but was still on the property.  The owner said he had thought of disposing it so many times. There must have been a purpose behind the preservation of that mantel.

A few weeks after the trip, on June 28, 1992, during what Danny thought would be the closing Benediction to his sermon, triumphant music played as Danny’s son and one of the church elders processed the beautifully restored, 100-pound mantel down the aisle to Danny.  Tears flowed. Hearts overflowed. What a gift…what a meaningful gift.

Danny has been the Senior Pastor at First (Scots) Presbyterian Church since 1997. Danny brought His Father’s Mantel from Tennessee, and it hangs on the wall in his office in Charleston, SC.  That meaningful mantel has warmed hearts in three states. What gift could I give, could you give to warm hearts for years and over such distances?

Others who knew how to give meaningful gifts were the wise men as they welcomed the new Baby Jesus. Gold is the gift for a king. Frankincense is appropriate for a diety, a god. Myrrh is embalming fluid, used in preparing a burial. It makes me teary-eyed just writing those words. When you sing the Christmas Carol “We Three Kings,” you see the gifts’ symbolism explained. What gifts…what meaningful gifts.

Ah, and the sweet, baby Jesus—He is the Ultimate Gift to the whole world.

What a Gift…What a Meaningful Gift.

This Christmas, really for any holiday and special occasion, go deep, my friend. Get to know your family and friends’ hearts, their stories, their passions, their history. Meaningful gifts don’t have to cost much, except perhaps your time, your effort, and your heart.

Reflect:

–As you consider the loved ones you will see over this Christmas, how can you present them with a meaningful gift? Please comment.

–How much of yourself are you sharing with loved ones, both sweet and painful  memories and dreams, so that they may give you meaningful gifts?

Renew:

–“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! ” –2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV

–“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” –James 1:17 NIV

Recharge:

–We have 15 days before Christmas. If all your gift checklists are complete, please consider writing a meaningful letter to each loved one. Tell each loved one at least one way your life has been impacted by him/her. Or tell a fun/sweet memory. Tell your dreams.

–Please comment and let me know how this “meaningful gift” idea resonates.

Resource:

http://www.songonlyrics.com/kem-we-three-kings-lyrics

What Do You Want For Your Birthday?

December is a month for some significant birthdays in my life. My precious Mom’s birthday is December 6th. Two dear high school friends’ birthdays are today and December 13th.  The birthday of one of my Godly mentors is December 26th.

Oftentimes, a simple question is asked to those we love before their birthday: “What do you want for your birthday?” If you are like me, I just want to ensure my loved one is honored in the most meaningful way. Isn’t that what we want for our birthdays…to  know we are loved and cherished?

The most significant person in my life, really in this world, celebrates His birth each December 25th. Isn’t it wonderful that we all adorn our homes in Christ-mas finery and decorate the inside and outside with bright lights in honor of His birthday?  We bake treats, buy gifts and send cards to our most significant loved ones , friends, and coworkers (and even strangers), and go above and beyond to volunteer and do “random acts of kindness” this time a year. Why? Perhaps it truly is all part of His birthday celebration, honoring the Light Of  The World.

However you may feel about Him, one fact is irrefutable. History sets its time stamp of demarcation with Jesus’ birth—BC, “Before Christ”, and AD, “Anno Domini,” Latin for “In the Year of Our Lord.”   Even the Old Testament prophesied Jesus’ birth (especially in the book of Isaiah) at least 700 years before He was born! Isn’t it fitting that we give Him our best as we celebrate His birthday?

When I was growing up, we baked a birthday cake for Christmas Day and sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. I will always remember those sweet memories.

So, on this December 2, 2014 AD, in the year of our Lord, 23 days before His birthday, I  encourage you to ask Him a simple question:  “Lord, What Do You Want For Your Birthday?”

Then listen…

Could His birthday gift be:

to reconcile with your loved one…

to rake the yard of and sit with an elderly neighbor…

to babysit for a worn-out married couple to have a date night…

to share your testimony and love of Jesus with your co-worker…

You can almost hear His still, small voice, can’t you?

“Your Heart, Dear One. That’s all I want. Your Heart.”

Reflect:

  • How will this Christmas, Jesus’ birthday celebration, be different from years past?
  • How can we listen and act more intentionally after asking the question, “Lord, what do You want for your birthday?”

Renew:

  • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” –Colossians 3:23
  • “I am sending Him—who is my very heart—back to you.” –Philemon 1:12.
  • “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the Truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart.” –1 Peter 1: 22

Recharge:

  • After asking, seeking, and listening, what intentional actions in your life have you been prompted to take?
  • Consider baking a birthday cake on Christmas Day and singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. Let’s party!
  • Please leave a comment.

Resource: