The HOLIDAYS are here!

Holiday season is upon us!  That realization may bring  a myriad of emotions – excitement,  joy, anticipation but also weariness, disappointment, sadness or anxiety. Are the negative experiences inevitable? While it is indeed easy to exhaust ourselves or our bank accounts, it is actually possible to experience the season with a heart of celebration and peace.  The key is found in understanding God’s purpose for holidays.

The Old Testament book of Leviticus tells us that God established certain days for His people to observe. “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:’” (Leviticus 23:2). He spelled out specific “holy days” – holidays - that commemorate significant times and events in Israel’s history which He wanted His people to remember. These were times to gather together for worship and fellowship, times to express thanks for His provision, times to increase in knowledge of Him and to celebrate who He is – and yes, times of feasting and fun!

The first step towards a joyful holiday season is to see the holidays as HIS. Instead of a holiday, we can make them HOLY days by purposing to dedicate them to HIM.  That doesn’t mean we spend all day at church, refuse to bake cookies or wrap presents, and ban participation in neighborhood parties!  Rather, we see these days as opportunities to glorify Him - in whatever we do, doing all to the glory of God.

The themes of REMEMBER, REFLECT, REST, and REJOICE can help us experience the holidays as God intends.

•REMEMBER:

The word “remember” has two layers of meaning in Scripture and both apply here. One is “to recall”,  and the other is “to intimately know”.  We can employ both meanings in our holiday celebrations as we not only recall precious memories but especially as we review what God has done for us. Sometimes, our memories are tender and sweet and delightful.  But other memories bring old hurts and pain to the surface and we’d just as soon stuff those down.

God is so very much aware of the hurts we have, from the past and the present.  And He does not leave us without instruction.  Instead of ignoring or pretending, He encourages us to face them and allow Him to bring healing.   Lamentations 3:19-25- I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them,    and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,  for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,   to the one who seeks him;

 Also call to mind the good memories, especially the faithfulness of the Lord. Psalm 105:5 – Remember His wonders, which He has done, His marvels, and the judgments uttered by His mouth.  Share these things with your family and create a time of focus on the Lord.  Thank Him and glorify Him by expressing confidence that, indeed, He is good to those who trust Him

REFLECT

While it is so good to remember, to remember the faithfulness of God and what He has done, it is also so beneficial to spend time of reflection. Reflection on who God is, what our walk with Him is like right now….and what does He want for us coming up.  Hebrews 10:23-25 is good counsel -

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

Reflect on who God is - His faithfulness and His call on our lives.  Reflect on what He wants for you, His plans for you.  The holidays can be a great time to “circle the wagons” and ponder goals for the future.   Reflection.  Considering how to encourage one another.  Love and good works.  Beautiful.

REST

Rest is a major theme of God’s appointed times.  And to that, we all say hallelujah!  But secretly we think - HOW can we accomplish that? We would love to relax, to rest, of course!  But how is everything going to get done?  Yet  it is so clear as we study the appointed times of the Lord that He does not want us to run ourselves ragged.  The hectic, frantic, chaotic pace that often characterizes our holidays benefits no one.  So, what are we to do? 

Perhaps we need to get rid of some of the things we think have to be done. God never calls us to meet every expectation or fulfill every imaginable demand.  He calls us to Himself.  And in that, we find that He will direct our actions, make clear our paths.  Ask Him before you add anything to your plate.  Ask Him what are the things that are on your plate right now that need to be taken off.

REJOICE

The final suggestion I have to offer to help us make our holidays Christ-exalting is to REJOICE!

The best counsel ever is found in Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 

REJOICE!  Rejoice in the Lord!  Be happy!  Celebrate!  Have some FUN!  God commands us to!  And did you catch that last phrase - it is a safeguard for you ? That means that if we don’t find our joy in the Lord, we will look for it elsewhere.  And all other elsewhere’s will eventually disappoint us.  The safest place to find our joy, our satisfaction is in Christ.  As you look ahead to this holiday season, make sure you plan for time to REJOICE

REMEMBER REFLECT REST  REJOICE. May the Lord’s appointed times for you be the best ever this year!

Sometimes you just need a nap...

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. I Kings 19:1-8
Sometimes after the highs of our lives (wonderful blessings or even great spiritual victories as was the case with Elijah), we experience quite undesirable lows. How gracious of our God to include in His Holy Word this story of Elijah’s journey from depression back to joy! Tucked into the books of I Kings is a prescription that we can use in our fight for joy. Let’s see what is included in this passage…
Here’s the background – Elijah, prophet of God, was witness and catalyst to a mighty display of God’s glory. He invited the prophets of the false god Baal to a showdown between their god and the One True God. I hope that in Eternity, God will pull back the curtain of time to let us witness this amazing event where God shows those misguided people Who He is! Talk about a blaze of Glory! (For the details, check out I Kings 18)
In spite of this great victory, Elijah is human. And that means he is susceptible to doubt and fear. He falls prey to the temptation to fear what man could do to him (or in this case, a woman!) and he subsequently doubts God’s care for him. In this state, he runs away from the problem, hides out, and prefers death to living this way. God shows such tender mercy to him! Instead of telling him to straighten up and face things like a man, God is so gentle, so kind, so compassionate. Look up Psalm 103:13,14 for a reminder of how God sees us.
This passage above has a message for us about our own tendency to dip into depression. First, don’t be taken off guard. Know that we are all vulnerable in this way and be intentional about resting in Him always, especially in the aftermath of those “mountaintop experiences”.
But if you find yourself in the valley, take a page out of Elijah’s story. Take care of your body. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to take a nap! We are physical beings, not just spiritual ones! And when our bodies are exhausted or ill, that can definitely take a toll on our spirit. Take a nap. Eat healthy. Go for a walk. Get a physical. Maybe there is a physiological cure to your spiritual woes!

Living Stones

There are some folks with whom I meet, regularly and intentionally, to encourage one another in our pursuit to become more like Jesus.  The church body that I call home, a small group of women, a group of married couples, and some close friends that know me (and still love me!) all are part of God’s blessed design to strengthen my faith, mold me into Christlikeness, and overall to enjoy following Him together. One of the groups I belong to was reading an assigned passage together and it struck me in a fresh way.  Ephesians 2:19-22 says ”So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

You’ve probably read those verses hundreds of times, as I have, but one little phrase stood out to me. “Being fitted together”.  What does it mean to be fitted together?

The phrase conveys the meaning of smoothing out an edge here, rubbing off an edge there, so that two pieces can be joined in construction, dovetailed, coordinated, harmonized.  “Fitted together” is different from “piled up together” or even “seated together”. It implies change, adjustments, connections, contributions, modifications. All done in order to accomplish an intended design.

Since I Peter 2:5 calls us “living stones”, it is helpful to include that as we apply this verse.  Think of an accumulation of stones, piled upon the Rock, Jesus Christ our Cornerstone. Being randomly stacked together is much like the folks I see on my regular trips to Kroger, especially Stephanie, my favorite checkout clerk. We smile and chat and are glad to see one another but there is nothing required to “fit together”. Sort of like Christians visiting around churches but never settling on one.

Or we can be closely aligned (but still not “fitted together”). Such as the great group of folks I do step class with at St Marys Wellness Center.  They are my friends, my workout buddies, and absolutely precious people.  We are even all pretty committed to our wellness routines!  But not “fitted together”. The most required of us amongst ourselves is to arrange our step benches so that we all can fit. Kind of like regular attenders at church….no real commitment or change required.

So what does it mean to be “living stones”,  “fitted together”, as the apostles Peter and Paul exhort us? First, we cannot skip over Christ as our Cornerstone.  This “stone which the builders rejected” is of primary importance. He is our foundation (holds us secure) , blueprint (for the dwelling place of God), and our purpose(to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God). Without Him, we are just meaningless rocks – not living stones!

Not only are we built upon Christ, He also intends for us to be “fitted together” with one another. This means we have been designed to not be a solitary rock, nor piled up randomly,  nor even to lie close beside other living stones.  Rather we are to be customized in order to be a useful piece in the overall structure. Beginning with our original motif (our gifts and talents), we progress through shaping and sharpening(sanctification) so that we mesh perfectly with other living stones for the sake of becoming a beautiful and beneficial display of the glory of God. “Fitted together” means we must be in committed community with other “living stones”. Not just enjoying church, not only regularly attending, not even only being a church member. Instead, it is being committed to a local group of believers with whom we can learn and grow and serve and change …”fitted together”.

This is how we are able to display to the world the essence of who God is, edify other believers, and become conformed to the image of The Cornerstone, Jesus Christ. I hope you will commit yourself to be “fitted together” for Him.