Monday Morning Memo: Hearing Their Story

Christmas. This word conjures up many different emotions in those we meet. Some approach the day feeling almost giddy...anxious to see what wonderful treasures they will be given. Others enter this season feeling the same way, but their excitement is from what they will be giving...not what they will be receiving. Still others are so sick of seeing signs of Christmas in the stores and through the media since August, they just want Christmas to be over. 

Then there are those whose pain keeps them from barely noticing the lights, tinsel and presents. I’m afraid there are many who feel that way this year.  We live in a dark world where there is pain from physical illness…pain from losing loved ones…pain from lost jobs leading to financial insecurity…and pain from strained or fractured relationships with those whom we love.   

Unfortunately, those who are hurting this year may never be the same again. They may never embark on this time of year without remembering these difficult days they are walking through. I am confident that their joy will return because their focus will be on their Savior, but there will always be a part of them that will forever be changed. There is no way they can forget times such as this which have had such a dramatic impact on their life. 

At this point, you may be thinking that I am trying to squelch any Christmas enthusiasm you may have, but I can assure you that is not my intent. I just want you and me to remember that everyone we will meet between now and Christmas has a different “story”. Each person will be viewing this Christmas through their own personal lens and even though it may not be obvious what they are going through, they may be crying out for someone to care. They may need you and me to be understanding, patient and loving, not trying to make them see Christmas through our eyes but see this special day through God’s eyes. 

God didn’t send His Son to this earth as a baby just so we can have a perfect life. Believe it or not, He didn’t send Him so we can give and receive gifts. He sent His Son so we can have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. The familiar verse in John 3:16 tells us, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  If we truly believe this, it should totally change the way we approach Christmas. No longer will our focus be on giving or receiving, but on making sure that everyone, no matter what their “story” is, has the opportunity to believe in Him. Our responsibility is to share...but remember that we will never be heard if we don’t first care. 

It never ceases to amaze me that many, including me, know the reason for the season, but neglect to tell anyone else. We are so caught up in our own agenda that caring about another person’s “story” is just out of the question. Unfortunately, we leave that up to our Pastor because he gets paid to make sure others know the reason why the babe was born in the stable. 

If we knew the cure for cancer, would we tell others? If we knew that a tragedy was going to happen to someone we love, would we warn him or her? Of course we would. Why? Because we would want to make sure they were safe. We would want to make sure they knew of the impending events so they would be ready and could avoid pain and suffering. 

None of us know whom God will put in our path in the coming weeks; but we do know the reason for the season. Will you join me in making sure our lives impact those on our journey in a powerful, positive way? Let’s care about others enough to learn their story, walk alongside them, and share the reason with them. Our words and actions just may give them the hope they’ve been searching for and will make this Christmas one which will have an eternal impact on their life.  Trust me…it will give them a year they will never forget… not because of pain…but because of great joy in becoming a follower of Christ. Believe me, there is NO greater gift you can give than this! 

Monday Morning Memo: Destination: Heaven!

I could not get peace this past week on what I was supposed to share with you today.  I had ideas…but when I went to write them down…my mind would go blank.  Usually when that happens, it means I’m not listening to what the Lord is trying to tell me…so I waited.  Then, suddenly, I felt His direction.  

 

For some reason, I felt the Lord telling me to share with you the final chapter which I wrote for my first devotional book, Image Seeker.  I know some of you own the book, so this will be a “repeat” for you.  But if you are like me, you could have easily forgotten it since it has been many years since it was published.

Day 31

 

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.  And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert” (Mark 13:32-33).

 

He IS Coming Back!

 

Have you ever wondered what it will be like when Christ returns?  I have.  I know that many people have various beliefs and ideas on exactly when and how it will take place.  Scripture tells us. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42). 

 

I have decided to end this book by sharing with you a dream that I had one night, and I want you to know up front that the details are not supported scripturally.  As most dreams are, this one was rather bizarre and strange, but it had a life-changing effect on me.

You see, I dreamed one night that we did know exactly when Christ would return.  We knew the date, the hour, and even the place we needed to go to for His arrival.   Each area of the country had central locations that were designated to “house” all Christians who were ready to meet their King at the appointed time.

The location for our area was the third floor of the church that we were attending.  The day arrived and people started pouring in, excitedly talking and sharing in the anticipation of Christ’s return.  For some reason, at some point in the dream, Christ allowed me to “float” above the room to watch everyone’s arrival.  I can remember experiencing such an exhilarating feeling as I saw many people whom I dearly loved enter the room.

But all of a sudden, the doors closed and the locks were turned.  Those still standing outside the doors began pounding with their fists and shouting to be let into the room.  I remember beginning to cry, and I told Christ that He needed to re-open the doors because not everyone was inside yet.  I could see familiar faces of people that I thought for sure had accepted Christ and I was desperate to make sure they were included.

But as I pleaded, I heard the anguishing words, “Those who are pounding on the doors never accepted me as their Lord and Savior.  It is too late for them.”

I cannot explain the pain that I remember feeling at that point in the dream.  It was a feeling of utter despair and agony, and at that point, I woke up in a sweat and was shaking all over.

I do not profess to be able to interpret dreams, but I believe that Christ allowed me to experience this to impress on me that everyone will experience eternity.  The day will come for each of us when Christ will either welcome us into His gates to live with Him forever, or will tell us that because we did not accept Him while we were on earth, it is too late for us, and our eternity will be in hell.

This dream not only spoke to me to make sure I was ready to stand before Christ someday, but it also gave me an urgency to make sure those I come in contact with are ready to meet Him too.  And so I want to end this book by asking if you are ready.  If your life ends today, will you be ushered into the “room” that Christ is preparing for you, or will it be too late and the doors will be locked forever?  The choice is yours.  I’m praying that you do not delay in your decision and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior today.   You see, I can hardly wait to spend eternity in heaven, and I want to make sure that you are there with me too.  And don’t worry; I’ll know who you are because you will look just like our Father!

 

Image Seeker Prayer – “Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that You sent your Son to die for me so that I can have eternal life with you.  Forgive me, Father, for my sins; cleanse me and make me new.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me the wisdom, power and love to live victoriously for You until You call me home!”

 

Maybe I was supposed to share this chapter with you today…because you haven’t made the life-changing decision to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.  If not, I urge you to do so today.  Time is of the essence, and I promise you it will be the best decision you will ever make.  All you have to do is say this prayer:

 

“Dear Jesus, I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, were resurrected and that you are alive and well today.  I believe you are the Son of God and that you deeply love me.  I confess that I am a sinner and I need you to forgive me and cleanse me from my sins.  I accept you as my Savior and want you to create a new and clean heart in me.  I now want to live every day for you, and I know I will have eternal life with you because of what you did on Calvary’s cross for me.  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen.”

 

Maybe you have accepted Christ into your life, but you know of someone who hasn’t that needs to read this blog post today.  Please share it with them.

 

What a wonderful time of year for us to tell others about our Jesus because every person will face eternity someday.  Let’s make sure their destination address is “HEAVEN”!

Monday Morning Memo: Letting Go

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week.  We were blessed with a great day with our family.  The only thing that would have made it absolutely perfect, would have been to have our oldest daughter and her husband with us.  But they were with his side of the family for this holiday…and then we will be thrilled to have them here for Christmas.

 

We gathered together for lunch at our son’s home.  My daughter-in-law had contacted me several weeks prior and offered to host all of us for Thanksgiving.  I have to be honest…my first thought was that I should be the one hosting.  Isn’t that how it works?  Shouldn’t Dan and I host since we are the parents?  I guess that is what I have always expected from myself.  I wanted my grandkids to be able to say, “Remember how we always went to grandma and grandpa’s house for Thanksgiving?”  We have always loved to host family and friends here…in fact for quite a few years we hosted my side of the family at Thanksgiving…welcoming 30-40 people into our home.  It was wonderful and we enjoyed those times.

 

But, the reality is that it’s a different time in my life when my health makes it difficult to be the one hosting and so I thanked my daughter-in-law for offering and told her we would love to go to their home.  And do you know what?  It was wonderful!  My daughter and I made food to help with the meal and then she arrived before us and jumped right in and helped with all the final details.  I could just thoroughly enjoy the day without all the responsibility and I loved it.

 

We bowed our heads as our son offered thanks for our meal, and I felt tears forming in my eyes.  I listened to him thank God for our many blessings, that we could be together to share on this day, and for sending His Son to die on the cross for our sins.  I felt overwhelmed with thankfulness as I shared this moment with our children who love the Lord and are raising their children to love Him too.  I felt blessed to have these children who are willing to step up and open their home for us to gather in.  

 

Before Thanksgiving, my daughter offered to host our family Christmas this year.  At that moment, the same thoughts went through my mind about the expectations I have put on myself…so I didn’t give her an immediate answer.  But the day after Thanksgiving, I told her that if she was still willing, we would love to take her up on her offer and I am so looking forward to it.  

 

Sometimes it’s hard to let go of our own expectations, isn’t it?  We put pressure on ourselves that is entirely unnecessary and as a result, we suffer consequences both physically and emotionally.  Life has its seasons, and sometimes it requires us to loosen our grip on those plans which just aren’t possible…to enjoy the new plans which God blesses us with. 

 

As we go through this wonderful Christmas season, let’s do our best to relax and not over-pressure ourselves to have perfection.  Let’s loosen our grip on those traditions that maybe have to be re-designed to better fit our current capabilities.  And then let’s always keep in mind that this season isn’t all about us and what feeds our psyche…it’s about a baby born in a manger for you and for me 