The other day my parents were teaching at a weekly children's Bible club. As my mom was introducing the song "Go Tell It On The Mountain", she asked the kids "What did the shepherds do after they left Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus?". My dad had just taught the nativity story out the book of Luke and clearly explained that the shepherds had told others about the birth of Jesus after they left the stable. Were the kids listening? Of course not. They're kids. But they tried to answer the question anyway. Here's some of their answers:
"They opened presents."
"They gave presents."
"They followed the star."
"They got in a fight."
Wait...what? They got in a fight? I can see where they might have got the first three answers, but fighting shepherds? I don't think I've ever heard that version of the Christmas story. Sometimes kids complain that they hear the same old Christmas story year after year and that they know it all by heart, but we sort of wonder how much they are really listening year after year when they come up with answers like these.
The more I hear the Christmas story, the less it becomes the "same old story" and the more it becomes new and fresh. This year, as I'm going through a time of intense trust in the Lord through all the little details of preparing to go to Africa, the Lord has shown me how He was close by each major character in the Christmas story.
He sent an angel to Zechariah telling him about his son's birth.
He revealed to Elizabeth that Mary was to give birth to a very special baby.
He sent an angel to Mary to tell her about the coming of her baby, Jesus.
He spoke to Joseph through an angel in a dream not once, but four times: once to tell him about the birth of Jesus, then to tell him to flee to Egypt, again to tell him to return from Egypt, and finally to tell him exactly what place would be safe to settle.
He sent a star to the wise men to reveal Christ's birth and an angel telling them not to return to Herod.
He told Simeon he would see the Christ before he died, and moved him to go to the temple at the same time Mary and Joseph were there with the baby Jesus.
And he sent a multitude of angels to the shepherds to tell of the baby Jesus.
Yes, these are all familiar details of the same story we hear every year. But this year, this is exactly what I needed to hear, new and fresh, again. That the same God who spoke to Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, the wise men, the shepherds, and Simeon, and who spoke to Joseph in detail, guiding him again and again, is the same God who will guide me through what seems like an impossible pile of details. I just need to trust. Again.
I hope that this Christmas season, the Lord speaks through the Christmas story new and fresh to you, again and again. Have a very Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
5 Bittersweet Things About Packing
My life is a little chaotic right now. Packing up and moving is always hectic, but moving halfway around the world takes it to a whole new level. I've tried to discretely store my huge packing boxes around my parents' house where no one will trip over them in the dark, but I'm running out of room. And having the holidays right at the time I'm packing doesn't make it any easier, either. Despite all the stress that comes with packing, I've tried to have a good sense of humor and look on the bright side. Packing is never a completely enjoyable process, but here are 5 "upsides" to the downsides of packing.
1. You have to get rid of things. Yes, this sounds bad. But once I started sorting through things and tried to figure out what I needed to take, leave, and throw away, I realized how much junk I had. While I was going through a box of items from my childhood, I kept wondering "What in the world was I saving this for?". Yes, it's a little sad saying goodbye to some things, but it sure feels nice to simplify.
2. Your precious items go into hibernation. Packing always takes a while, and it's good to start packing way in advance to moving. But whenever I put a loved item into a packing box, I know I'm saying goodbye to it for the next few months. My crocheted afghans and pillows, framed photos, and sewing box are hibernating inside already sealed packing boxes, and I miss them! I'm always tempted to break those boxes open and find my precious comfort items. But how nice will it be when I can open those boxes in Africa and take out those items I've missed for the last few months. They will be more precious than ever.
3. There's always a surprise. No matter how careful I am in recording what is in each box, I know that I will have some surprises once I start unpacking in Africa. I keep on wondering just how many vegetable peelers I have packed so far. That could be an interesting discovery once I get there! There's always pleasant surprises of things you had forgotten you had packed and are really happy that you now have them. I just hope I don't get any bad surprises, such as broken items or the realization that I didn't pack something that I really needed.
4. You get to start over again. Taking down pictures and nicknacks arranged in just a certain way is always a pain, but once you move into a new house, it's fun to rearrange and make your house your own with your own style. With me, I've never actually had my own house with my own stuff inside. It's always been living in already furnished places. Now everything will be mine, and I get to decorate in my own style.
5. When it's done, it's done... at least for the next few years. I'm looking forward to being completely packed and having the knowledge that I won't have to do this for probably many years. Sure, I will probably move again someday, but I don't have to think about that right now. I can just relax in the thought that it will soon be over!
1. You have to get rid of things. Yes, this sounds bad. But once I started sorting through things and tried to figure out what I needed to take, leave, and throw away, I realized how much junk I had. While I was going through a box of items from my childhood, I kept wondering "What in the world was I saving this for?". Yes, it's a little sad saying goodbye to some things, but it sure feels nice to simplify.
2. Your precious items go into hibernation. Packing always takes a while, and it's good to start packing way in advance to moving. But whenever I put a loved item into a packing box, I know I'm saying goodbye to it for the next few months. My crocheted afghans and pillows, framed photos, and sewing box are hibernating inside already sealed packing boxes, and I miss them! I'm always tempted to break those boxes open and find my precious comfort items. But how nice will it be when I can open those boxes in Africa and take out those items I've missed for the last few months. They will be more precious than ever.
3. There's always a surprise. No matter how careful I am in recording what is in each box, I know that I will have some surprises once I start unpacking in Africa. I keep on wondering just how many vegetable peelers I have packed so far. That could be an interesting discovery once I get there! There's always pleasant surprises of things you had forgotten you had packed and are really happy that you now have them. I just hope I don't get any bad surprises, such as broken items or the realization that I didn't pack something that I really needed.
4. You get to start over again. Taking down pictures and nicknacks arranged in just a certain way is always a pain, but once you move into a new house, it's fun to rearrange and make your house your own with your own style. With me, I've never actually had my own house with my own stuff inside. It's always been living in already furnished places. Now everything will be mine, and I get to decorate in my own style.
5. When it's done, it's done... at least for the next few years. I'm looking forward to being completely packed and having the knowledge that I won't have to do this for probably many years. Sure, I will probably move again someday, but I don't have to think about that right now. I can just relax in the thought that it will soon be over!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Walk in My Footsteps
One of my favorite Christmas carols is a carol whose tune is familiar, but I don't think alot of people know the words or the story behind the carol. I read the words to this carol, Good King Wenceslas, a few years ago and it became a fast favorite of mine. The story, whether it be true or mythical, about the real King Wenceslas of Bohemia during the late 14th century is a beautiful picture of Christ.
The carol tells the story of King Wenceslas looking out of his castle over the snow on a cold and windy night. He sees a poor man gathering wood and asks his page where the man is from. The page tells the king about the man's poor dwelling, and the king feels such compassion that he asks the page to gather a feast to take to the man. But instead of asking his page to go, the king goes out and asks his page to go with him. The wind and cold are so fierce that the page soon loses heart and tells the king he cannot go on, so the king tells the page to follow in his deep footsteps in the snow and walk right behind him so that the king will block the wind for the page.
What a beautiful picture of a king who leaves the warmth of his castle and sacrifices his own comfort not only for a poor man, but also for the page who should be taking care of the king himself! Christ has done this for us and asks us to follow in His footsteps. He goes out to help the needy and asks us to follow, looking out for and protecting us at the same time. What a wonderful Lord we serve! Below are the words of this beautiful carol:
"Good King Wenceslas"
by John M. Neale, 1853
Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.
"Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pinelogs hither;
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind's wild lament and the bitter weather.
"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, good my page; tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod, which the Saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.
The carol tells the story of King Wenceslas looking out of his castle over the snow on a cold and windy night. He sees a poor man gathering wood and asks his page where the man is from. The page tells the king about the man's poor dwelling, and the king feels such compassion that he asks the page to gather a feast to take to the man. But instead of asking his page to go, the king goes out and asks his page to go with him. The wind and cold are so fierce that the page soon loses heart and tells the king he cannot go on, so the king tells the page to follow in his deep footsteps in the snow and walk right behind him so that the king will block the wind for the page.
What a beautiful picture of a king who leaves the warmth of his castle and sacrifices his own comfort not only for a poor man, but also for the page who should be taking care of the king himself! Christ has done this for us and asks us to follow in His footsteps. He goes out to help the needy and asks us to follow, looking out for and protecting us at the same time. What a wonderful Lord we serve! Below are the words of this beautiful carol:
"Good King Wenceslas"
by John M. Neale, 1853
Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.
"Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pinelogs hither;
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind's wild lament and the bitter weather.
"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, good my page; tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod, which the Saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.
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