CHRISTMAS EVE PLANS?

Where are you going this Christmas Eve? We know where the shepherds were going so long ago as they left their fields in search of the Savior. How dark and cold was it that starry night? I imagine a crystal clear winter sky suddenly bursting with the brush of angel’s wings as shepherds fall to the ground in terror. How is it that glory invades our darkness within and opens us to the message of God?

Unlikely messengers I have been musing; John the Baptist I expect, with his camel hair garments and locust diet sprinkled with honey, but shepherds? They are not priests’ sons, they are not holy, they neither have esteem nor calling to fulfill their story. Yet God invades unlikely territory to  announce good news.

What have you seen and heard this Christmas? Has God come and shown Himself to you in the laughter of family and the love of friends? Has He told you His favor rests upon you and that He has a message for all people? It can be frightening when God tells us where we can find Him yet does not compel us to go. The shepherds chose to run to Bethlehem, to believe they would find a Savior there.

I wonder about us. Have we seen Him? Have we gone to Him when He has called? Have we heard that God’s favor rests on us?

In the midst of presents that will turn to dust in our hands if our hearts don’t hold love, can we become like a shepherd, one who comes to see God and shares with others all He has done?

Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

“When they had seen Him, they spread the news concerning what had been told to them about this Child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:17

CHRISTMAS CALLING

My steps are heavy and slow as we make our way to the manger. I can tell you of all that impedes my way, but your list will be just as long with a different twist, Grief stops me on the way, as I mourn with loved ones who have lost those dear to them; hurry stops me, as ironic as that sounds, as I cannot find the way to God in the rush of the parties and planning and preparation our world demands. All the glad tidings keep me from the great joy.

How do we reconcile, “Peace on earth, good will towards men” when we have no idea what this means for us? Peace in our chaos and peace in our grief. Joy in our mourning and hope in despair. In a Babe in a manger the glory of God descends and the love of God, as He became man, illumines our way.

Hush, He is sleeping now, as He will in that storm-tossed boat with His disciples, but that is for another day. Today a Savior has been born who will show us the Father, bring us His love, give us peace and light our way. Can you spare a few minutes to ponder His Presence in this place? He comes meek and lowly, to bend to your need and ransom your heart.

Medicine from Sacred Scriptures:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:11, 12

CHRISTMAS SUPPLIES

The rush begins: wrapping, baking, shipping shopping, writing, sending, greeting, gathering. It all fills our days; we trade in the commerce of the world when underneath we feel that perhaps Christmas itself may exhaust us. How can this be? The very Christ who came to bring us Life, can find no room in our schedules, our hearts, or our minds. In the celebration of His coming we wear ourselves out; I have even overheard someone say, “Christmas is killing me.”

We go through the dark days of late Advent in a kind of stupor, cramming more and more into less and less of ourselves. We are swallowed by the whale of consumerism and indulgence and we wonder, “Why am I so exhausted?” I confess to being caught by the bait as well, as I shop for children, sew pajamas, deliver presents and make dozens of cookies as my soul loses her footing on shifting sand.

I can, “Be still and know He is God.” The lights this morning on the Christmas tree quiet me. I need only a few small minutes to center myself and find Peace again. He has come and in His coming I am known and loved, held and blessed. How can I carry this into the frantic day, the endless list?

It is as if there is a little child within who longs to be held this Christmas and shown her Father's heart. Christ has come to show us the Way to the Father and I can choose to sit in the Light of His Presence, let it rekindle in me hope and joy, peace and love and from this fountain I can live and move and have my being.

Need supplies for your soul as your Christmas celebrations continue?

Medicine from Sacred Writings:

“John tells us of the goods relating to the soul which Jesus supplies to us by His coming; and these he has darkly described in one sentence, when he says, “And the Life was the Light of men.”

John Chrysostom Fourth Century 

HOLY ASSENT

Heaven’s hush

Angel’s annunciation

Holy assent

Divine Incarnation

Light pierces

Glory descends

God dwells

among men

Emmanuel

diane hallenbeck

Medicine from Sacred Scriptures:

"The Virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son and they will call him "Immanuel." which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:24

SKATING WITH GOD

"I see your coming and going. I know when you rise and when you do not. You came to this sacred space, this holy silence, but what I desire for you is a holy silence within, an assent to the incarnation. And will you let the dear Christ enter in? Your world waits and I want to bring My glory through you. There is no other who can do My bidding as you."

I prefer prayer where I am skating around the distant all-powerful God asking Him to do my bidding. It is unnerving when He begins the conversation. I sort of wish I had left my journal safely on the floor. Why must God speak that way?

“An assent to the incarnation”? Can it be that Luke’s gospel account of Zechariah’s encounter with the angel tells me more about the incarnation than I care to know. God longs to speak, first of all. He also wants to act in and through me, though I am often ignorant and stubborn, He will act just the same. If He must silence Zechariah what must He do to get my attention?


Send His Son, born of a Virgin, to save me from my sin. The Holy Spirit asks, “Will I let the dear Christ enter in?” Since I wrote yesterday the words have haunted me. There is so little ready in my soul, so much noise and clutter. “Good News of great joy that will be for all the people… there is born to us, in Bethlehem, a Savior. He is Christ the Lord.” Lord of me. This indeed is Good News.


Have you need of a Savior? A Lord to lead and guide you?


Medicine from Sacred Scriptures:

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.” Luke 1:19-20

A GIFT?

A precious friend I know received this gift; she said, “God has been telling me He has a gift for me for over a year and I have just now lifted the lid from the gorgeous box.” Her drawing comes from her time in prayer last week. The beautiful gifts spilling from the heart of God are unique to each of us. Each butterfly represents something for you~ joy, hope, peace, love. What is it you are in need of this day? He has come, Emmanuel, God with us.

As I thanked her for sharing the drawing she said, “When I see you I see the box.” I shy away from this perception, and yet, I wonder. When we draw close to God He draws close to us and gives this beautiful box filled with all His goodness. Then He asks me, “Can you let Me in and allow Me to fill you?” As I love in His love I hold joy and peace and grace for others. I become, in the smallest tiniest way, a sliver of the mystery of the incarnation. Christ in me, the hope of glory, (Colossians 1:27), spilling out onto other’s lives and sharing the gifts God has for them.

This is the gift. His very Self...His love for us, His joy, His peace. Come to Him and receive your gifts; come in your joy, come in your pain, come in your sorrow. Come in your loneliness and your laughter. He longs to give you Himself. He is your peace, your shield, your provider, your strong tower, your hope, your consolation. He is your comforter, your Savior. Draw close to the One who holds your life in His hands and accept all He offers this Advent season.

Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

“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

GUESTS?

Reaching for the knob of the back bedroom door I turned it slowly, opening the door, unexpectedly finding the boy’s room wrapped in cold. I had come to put the space in order, making the bed and sweeping things clean, and I found a picture of my interior life at Advent. In the rush of the season, the wrapping and baking, making and taking, I find my soul left in the cold as my self must attend the world’s gatherings.

A little piece of me would like to sit by the fire and be fed, have a guest (maybe two at most) and enjoy the peace and joy that Christ comes to bring. Instead I find one day runs into another; words remain unwritten and thoughts unspoken as life crowds out the warmth of the Light. Sickness comes, a loved one dies, an old grief holds us in despair, disappointment suffocates, deadlines press us and ends beg to be met with some kind of holiday cheer. We must serve up eggnog, enthusiasm and goodwill and yet the hearth of our hearts burns so small it refuses to fuel the pace we keep.

This December morning I sit in the radiance of the sunshine streaming into our sun room as the temperatures outside hover below zero. This, too, seems a picture of our deeper life; we can seek refuge and find inner joy, a holy fire that will dispel the dark and cold we find waiting in the world.

O Little Town of Bethlehem

“How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still

The dear Christ enters in.”

Anyone coming to you for Christmas? Have you made their room ready?

Medicine from Sacred Writing:

“He enters by the open door; He has promised to come in and He cannot deceive...Embrace Him, the One you have sought; turn to Him and be enlightened; hold Him fast.” 

~ St. Ambrose of Milan fourth century ~

SWIRLING

The morning sky this week has been ablaze with color; rich fuchsia on Tuesday and deep twinges of pink this morning, but I am not talking to the Creator and was a bit furious the heavens dared to be so gorgeous. How can the sun rise day after day, heedless to the world's loss and pain? Regardless of the hurt and heartache you are going through, the deep dark of night will fade and the morning come to light your way. The way... that is the hard part. How do we walk through Christmas with disappointment, discontentment and even devastation in our hearts while expectations swirl all around us like snowflakes on a winter morn.

I missed the Ladies Christmas Brunch yesterday; it just couldn't be done. I curled up in a chair with the “Better Homes and Gardens” December issue and cried into my tea. One of my dear friend's sons died over the weekend, twenty-seven years old. Too soon, too young, too tragic, too close to Christmas; I want to scream, “God, can't you see?”

Of course He sees. He counts my friend's tears, “Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll- are they not in your record?” Psalm 56:8 It isn't really “in” to talk about grief and pain and sorrow as we prepare for Christmas, but under the wrapping, shopping, running and baking some of our hearts are breaking.

Praying today I found myself yelling at God, “What do you expect me to do? How am I to carry on and “do” the holidays. God Gently whispered, "Just come to Me, child.” I imagined myself, very small, crawling onto God's lap, so to speak, and do you know what happened? I wept, sobbed, tears pouring down my face for all the losses those I love have suffered. I rose from me knees with the weight of grief just a little lighter and the knowledge that I am held, I am loved and that I do not need to carry on; He will carry me and those I love. 

Are you mourning? He comes to you as Emmanuel, God with us.

Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

“Praise be to the Lord, to God, our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Psalm 68:19

CHRISTMAS CHAOS

Finding the Christmas ornaments proved to be insanely challenging this year. I must have been in some kind of crisis last year because as I entered the dark attic I found complete chaos- each of the holiday bins meant to hold decorations for Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving were nearly empty but the attic floor held piles of stuff for each season. What a mess. Wooden paddles and candle holders were missing from the German Christmas pyramids; I couldn't rest until I’d found all the pieces. The pyramids spin slowly moving the carved figurines as the light from the candles heats the air beneath the paddles.

What a  picture of my soul; the flame of Christ’s Presence can fill me and fuel everything I do. Everyone wants to bring light and love to others, but first we must find the source of Light and what holds the light. For me, the candle holders became a vivid reminder that my soul is the container that holds the Light of Christ.

Sorting through the whole attic on the first day of Advent, I finally found what I was looking for. How appropriate. I must look through my soul at the beginning of this season, if I would trim my life with all that Christ has for me, some old things must be sorted and sifted in the Light of His coming.

“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.” We are all captive to one thing or another: power, possessions, people, placating, pick your own vice and add it here. The call of Advent is to have an open ready heart for the King of Kings; He needs no stable, but we stand in need of His Presence in our lives and hearts.

May the Wonderful Counselor give the grace you need to clean house in your soul (and maybe your attic?)

Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1

CHRISTMAS LOSS

A warm sun melting the thin ice on our pond makes me wonder what December looks like for you. Here we are warming and freezing alternately; one day is cold (14 degrees) yet today we step outside to a balmy 41 degrees. Our hearts might be the same; we engage with warmth, energy and openness or we find ourselves a wee bit frozen inside, unable to embrace the whole deal- life, loss, joy, sorrow.

Our community is grieving the loss of the beautiful teen I told you about on the first day of Advent; this family’s pain has become the underlying question for many here who knew and loved them, and even for those who didn’t, our hearts cry out, “How can they survive the loss of a child so young at this, the “most wonderful time of the year.”? As long as our hearts break with pain we know we are still alive, fully human, able to hurt and heal.

Our Christmas tree came waltzing into our house like a tall frozen pencil this past weekend. Hoping to trim it with one of the college boys, we were sadly disappointed as all  we did was watch the ice melt. Finally her big bushy branches relaxed after the weight of the cold was lifted from her. (We even tried a hair dryer, but she was cold from the inside out; you cannot rush the warming process).

I wonder if  our hearts need to be warmed by the Light of the World, the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace? Can we see how frozen places prevent us from living and loving as we could?

“Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

“I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners...Peace, peace to those far and near.says the Lord.” Isaiah 57:19, 20

December gifts:

1. my daughter’s comfort

2. muffins with lovely friends

3. lattes at Starbucks

~join me in jotting down all the ways you see a “wink from heaven” as you notice 

Emmanuel, God with us~

DECEMBER GIFTS... OPENING PRESENTS EARLY

Emmanuel, God with us. And how am I to know He is near, with me, in this holiday season? Each day in December I look for a wink from heaven, a little present of some kind to remind me that God is near; they come in the most unusual shapes and sizes. Today’s gift was my daughter reaching for my hand as I cried during church. I prayed with a friend for her friend whose 14 year old daughter is dying of cancer. I was overwhelmed with sadness for this little family as they possibly face their last Christmas with their child. I cannot wrap my heart around this pain, I can pray for a miracle (join me!) and I can ask for the God of all comfort to comfort them. And in my sadness God gave me my gift; my child bringing God’s comfort to me.

It may be tea with a friend, an unexpected phone call or visitor, it may be a conversation with a loved one or a Christmas card from a dear friend. Open your eyes and heart this Advent to see the loving touch of your Creator in every day that He gives you. I keep a list of my December Gifts as a reminder of God’s presence and faithfulness. Watch what happens as you begin to pay attention to His nearness; the hustle and bustle of the holidays slowly begins to fade as you see God send you reminders of His love and care for you. Try something new this Christmas.

Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God.” Isaiah 40:1