Saturday, May 11th, 2013

What I learned by being my Mother’s daughter

I suppose none of us ever grasps all that God works in our lives through our mothers. I believe that is true even when growing up is hard. I’m thankful that so much blessing has come from my mother in the midst of our normal family–in other words, we are all very imperfect.

And so on this Mothers Day, with thanks to God for Mother, I share this classic post with you again.

Months before the celebration of Mother and Daddy’s 40th wedding, my sister Pamela dreamed of a quilt to honor Daddy and Mother and to express thanks for the years God had given them together.

Pamela recruited squares from each of the sisters and sisters-in-law. . . . Then Pamela assembled, quilted, and stenciled the gift for Daddy and Mother.

As I look over the squares of this quilt, from oldest child to youngest of us 10 children of George and Pam Henry, I’m reminded of a few of the things I’ve learned by being my mother’s daughter. . . .

Read and/or listen to the rest of “What I Learned by Being My Mother’s Daughter”. You’ll also find photos of all the family quilt blocks, the illustrations for my thoughts.

Happy Mothers Day, dear Mother! I love you.

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Sunday, December 2nd, 2012

Advent: Looking backward and forward

Last Sunday, I asked, “What is Advent?”  But that answer was only half the answer. I quoted this passage, which looks back to all God’s people who were waiting for God’s salvation, which came to us through Jesus, born at Christmas:

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10-12)

But if we keep reading, the very next verses turn our eyes forward in Advent, looking toward the return of Jesus–his second coming.

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  14 As obedient children,  do not be conformed to the passions  of your former ignorance,  15 but  as he who called you is holy, you also be holy  in all your conduct,  16 since it is written,  “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:13-16)

There will be another advent of Christ; he will come again.

Advent is a season for introspection. Peter gives us God’s high standard as we contemplate our standing with him: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). This is a time to ask ourselves questions like:

• Am I clear-thinking and sober-minded, or are my concerns mainly trivial? (verse 13)
• Is my hope set fully on the grace I will receive from Jesus at his Second Coming, or do I cringe at the thought of leaving behind the life I love? (verse 13)
• Am I an obedient child of my Father, or am I still shaped by the passions that drove me before? (verse 14)

If regular personal devotions are not part of our lives, this would be a time tailor-made to begin. We remember that God charged the adults in Deuteronomy 11 to “lay up these words in your heart and in your soul” (verse 18), and that he expects us to “love the LORD [our] God” (verse 1). The living water in our own hearts is the fountain from which we shower Christ on our family. Our time with God and his preparation of us is a necessary foundation. Without it our Christmas activities will degenerate into hoopla.

But however much we want a significant Christmas celebration for our families, that is not the primary reason for our contemplation and self-examination. Our deeper motivation is the strengthening of our ultimate hope in Jesus, “so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” (1 John 2:28).

May this time be a reflection of what our lives are—gratitude for the promises that were fulfilled when God gave us the gift of his son and anticipation of and preparation for Christ’s coming again.

Adapted from Treasuring God in Our Traditions

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Friday, November 30th, 2012

Are there Advent calendars?

“Mommy, Mommy! May I open the next window on the calendar?” A simple pasteboard Advent calendar with one flap to open on each day in December is probably the most familiar way to help a child understand the wait until Christmas. In the stores, several themes are likely to be available, including Swiss mountain villages and Santa’s workshops. But since the Advent—the coming—we’re waiting for is Christ’s, let’s make sure our daily countdown has a real Christmas setting. (from Treasuring God in Our Traditions)

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To all who have asked, I’m sorry. I don’t have Noel Advent Calendars anymore.

There’s been a pang of regret every time I have to say that. For a season I was making them myself. After that, I contracted the work. Now the last few years, plans just haven’t worked out to continue producing them.

That pang somewhere in the area of my heart was because I felt I was fulfilling a mission to help families treasure God in their CHRISTmas celebration. It gave me great pleasure to hear of God’s work through the Noel Calendar.

But this year there’s been a lightening of my heart because I’ve seen other Advent Calendars that I’d be pleased to use myself, and even the most expensive costs less than what I’d need to charge for mine.

Here’s the story that goes with the Noel Calendar. You may have lost yours or you may find a way to use the story with another Advent calendar. Blessings as you count the days till the day we remember Jesus’ birth.

Here are an assortment of Advent calendars, sorted somewhat by price. Some are for one season’s use. Others could become part of your family’s tradition.

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The familiar sort of Advent Calendar with one door to open each day.

Come to Bethlehem and See — Advent Devotions and Stickers with Advent Pamphlet

Magnet Advent Calendar

The Magnet Advent Calendar is fun for kids to play with even if you’re not using it in the usual day-by-day Advent calendar routine.

Advent Calendar and Story Book

Nativity Advent Banner with pockets

Nativity Fabric Advent Calendar

Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar Set with Wooden Stable

Wooden Nativity Advent Calendar with 24 Magnetic Figures

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Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

Advent: What shall I do? part 2

More suggestions for Advent devotions.

1. Good News of Great Joy — I mentioned earlier Desiring God’s booklet of daily Advent readings. It is available now to download.

2. A Twitter follower suggested that I check out The Park Forum. They describe themselves as “helping urbanites enjoy the Bible daily by writing short and smart devotionals. As the Park is to the City, so the Word is to Life.” I’m curious to see their devotionals during advent.

3. A Jesus Advent Celebration — MrsHLBjr’s comment on my previous Advent post:

Last year, I downloaded Ann Voskamp’s Jesse Tree Advent Devotional which includes printable ornaments to be cut out and hung on the tree after reading the day’s entry. We also used this in conjunction with her son’s advent wreath, which can also be used during lent (along with her Trail to the Tree Lent Devotional) and the 40 days until the Ascension.

My kids loved this and we created new traditions for our family with these tools.

4. Knowing Him by Name — Bethany’s comment on my previous post:

Focus on the Family has an an advent book which is free for download. It uses Scripture readings, activities, and thought-provoking questions centered around the names and titles of Jesus to help parents introduce their children to the Savior.

Thank you, thank you for your suggestions.

Are there other Advent resources you’d like to mention?

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Sunday, November 25th, 2012

Advent: What is it? And what shall I read?

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10-12}

Advent is what we call the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25, sometimes in the last weekend of November, sometimes on the first Sunday in December. This year, it begins this coming Sunday, December 2.

1 Peter 1:10-12 is a clear description of what we look back to during Advent. For four weeks, it’s as if we’re re-enacting, remembering the thousands of years God’s people were anticipating and longing for the coming of God’s salvation, for Jesus. That’s what advent means—coming. Even God’s men who foretold the grace that was to come didn’t know “what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating” (verse 11). They were waiting, but they didn’t know what God’s salvation would look like.

In fact, God revealed to them that they were not the ones who would see the sufferings and glory of God’s Christ. “They were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven” (verse 12). They were serving us. We Christians on this side of Jesus’ birth are a God-blessed, happy people because we know God’s plan. The ancient waiting is over. We have the greatest reason to celebrate.

(This was posted originally at the beginning of Advent 2011, and is taken from my book, Treasuring God in Our Traditions.)

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Here are some sources of daily Advent readings you might want to check out for personal or family devotions.

Desiring God will offer a daily Scripture reading guide later this week.

Arrival: Preparing to Celebrate Christ’s Birth – Free download of Billy Graham’s advent devotional.

The Essential Journey to Bethlehem — Daily Advent Scripture readings from Scripture Union. You can download the free ebook or subscribe via email, RSS, FaceBook, Twitter, or email.

When I mentioned Behold the Lamb of God last year during Advent, Russ Ramsey responded with this description:

It has 25 chapters, one for each day of December leading up to Christmas day. I designed it that way so if folks wanted, they could use it as a 25 day Advent devotional. And I did write it for family devotional use. The chapters are short enough to read in about 10 minutes. It follows the story of the need for and the coming of Christ from Eden up through the Nativity story. You hit the New Testament somewhere around chapter 17.

May God bless you as you celebrate his advent, his coming.

Please tell us about Advent resources you’ve found helpful.

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Sunday, May 13th, 2012

What I learned from my Mother

Months before the celebration of Mother and Daddy’s 40th wedding, my sister Pamela dreamed of a quilt to honor Daddy and Mother and to express thanks for the years God had given them together.

Pamela recruited squares from each of the sisters and sisters-in-law. . . . Then Pamela assembled, quilted, and stenciled the gift for Daddy and Mother.

As I look over the squares of this quilt, from oldest child to youngest of us 10 children of George and Pam Henry, I’m reminded of a few of the things I’ve learned by being my mother’s daughter. . . . (Read and/or listen to the rest of “What I Learned by Being My Mother’s Daughter”-and there are photos of all the family quilt blocks.)

Happy Mothers Day, dear Mother! I love you.

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Saturday, May 12th, 2012

When Mothers Day isn’t a celebration

(This was posted originally for Mothers Day last year.)

God knows, Mothers Day is the hardest day in the year for some of you.

Large bouquets of white roses are at the front of our church. If you were with us this weekend, one of those roses might have been for you.

Your sadness may be related to your mother:

• Your mother is not alive.
• Life with your mother was too difficult to celebrate.
• Your mother wasn’t part of your life.
• You can celebrate with your mother because she lives too far away.
• Your mother is ill or suffering dementia.

It may be grief related to your own mothering:

• You have longed for children but have never been able to be pregnant.
• You have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth and never had even one sweet moment of looking into your baby’s eyes.
• After that loss, you fear it might happen again.
• You laid your baby down to sleep one afternoon or evening, and your little one never woke again.
• After losing that child, you feel fear when you look at your other children or think of having another.
• You were so close to adopting the child you already loved from a distance, and then the plans fell through.
• Your child–whether a child or adult–lost the battle to a disease, or died accidentally, or was murdered, or took his or her own life.
• Your child was placed for adoption and has another mother now.(If this is you, I hope you will read Julie’s blessing and thanks to you.)
• You  grieve over a pregnancy you chose to end.
• Your child is alienated from you.
• You’ve always dreamed you’d be married by now, with children, and that hasn’t happened.
• Your child has a disability that doesn’t permit you ever to hear “I love you” from him or her. (If this is true, I hope you will be comforted today by John Knight’s post that he posted last year about his wife and son)

God knows. That wasn’t a throw-away phrase I used at the beginning. God does know. He knows your fear, grief, anger, anxiety, love–the welter of emotions today that you hardly know how to name. He knows that even though you may be mostly composed most days, this day stirs it all up.

I pray that your church and others close to you will be Christ’s hands and heart for you today.

Even if other people aren’t aware or sensitive, I pray for you today that you can feel deeply the com-passion (together-suffering) of Jesus who bears our griefs and carries our sorrows.

(This was also posted with permission at the True Woman website. If you go there, you can see scripture passages they included that you may find comforting and encouraging.)

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Sunday, April 8th, 2012

How long is Easter?

I watched midnight quietly welcome Easter to Minneapolis.

At the same moment:

It was 8 am in Uganda. Nephew Luke might have been grabbing a bite before gathering with other believers.

It was 6 am in Cameroon. I’m guessing that Steve and Julie, my brother-in-law and sister, would soon be waking and preparing to celebrate.

It was already 1 pm in China. The church bell in Ya’an would have been heard 4 hours earlier. An hour after that, believers in Yibin would have been summoned by their church’s bell.

When my church service begins at 11 am, others–like my cousin Rachel and her family in Hawaii–will just be waking to Easter’s light.

How many hours does Easter last on our globe? My math fails me. And that’s just as well, because the reality of Easter is not a one-day thing–not a 24-hour event.

Easter is our reawakening to the ever-living Jesus. The celebration is our springtime springboard into the whole year of THE LORD IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED.

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Sunday, April 8th, 2012

Easter Sunday

Lenten Lights is a series of devotional readings leading up to Easter. A brief introduction to the series can be read here.

[Begin with no candles lit.]

HE IS GOD! He cannot stay dead. HE IS ALIVE. The true Glory of God shines in the world. The Light has won! The Eternal Light! TheBright Morning Star! The Light of the World!

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

[Light all seven candles.]

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

(Taken from Matthew 28:5-6; Colossians 1:15-23; 1 Peter 1:3-4)

The Lord is risen!

The Lord is risen, indeed!

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Taken from Lenten Lights

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Saturday, April 7th, 2012

46. Lenten Bible reading

1 Corinthians 15

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Friday, April 6th, 2012

Good Friday thoughts

For about as many years as we’ve been at Bethlehem, on Good Friday we’ve attended the noontime service of the Good Neighbor Fellowship, a collection of some of the churches within easy walking distance of ours.

Today the service was at Hope Community Church, one of our daughter churches, now grown up and thriving just 3 blocks from us, the old mother church.

A few random thoughts during the service . . .

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When Pastor Steve Treichler took the pulpit to welcome us, he drew attention to a couple of lines we’d just sung:

When, through grace, in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles and asks no more:

As he drew us into the wonder of if, he became more and more animated till he reined himself in, remembering he was supposed just to be doing the welcome. “Sorry, I’m preaching, but that [gesturing toward the words on the screen]–that‘s worth the price of admission,” meaning today’s worship service. But my thoughts went wider–to eternal worship.

When, through grace, in Christ our trust is – That’s not just worth the price of admission. It is the price of admission.

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With Easter coming, it’s the season for Facebook and Twitter posts saying things like, “Hey, look! I must be a great treasure, because Jesus found me worth dying for.” But this song gets it right.

How Deep the Father’s Love  . . .

That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

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Friday, April 6th, 2012

Good Friday

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