Laced With Grace

 I have always loved the time of year from November 1, all the way through to January. I love times of gathering, fellowshipping, and most of all loving one another. This year, I will admit to the truth of the difficulty of these events.  We have been extremely busy, and the thoughts of my sister, Wanda stays in the heart of my mind.

Planning what we’re going to prepare to take to mother’s house was always top discussion between Wanda, Aimee and myself. We’d call each other every day to see if who had come up with some new fangled recipe. —To delight the others.

God is all about delighting us. I love what Beth Moore said in her study, 90 Days with the One and Only, “In the Jewish calendar, the fourteenth day of the first month is called the day of conception. If our God of perfect planning and gloriously significant order happened to overshadow Mary on the fourteenth day of the first month of His calendar, our Savior would have been born toward the end of our December. We have absolutely no way of knowing whether or not He did, but I would not be the least bit surprised for God to have sparked His Son’s human life on one Passover and ended it on another.”

Me either Beth. Aren’t we planners as well? When planning a celebration, don’t we try to work it out so that “everyone” can attend? I don’t know about you…but I like to think that the “taking names” (for tax purposes!), was something that God used as well.

Joseph and Mary had to travel back to Joseph’s home town. I kind of imagine that he had a few friends there. Perhaps some relatives. Just for my own contemplative thinking, I like to imagine that he couldn’t go to them at the late hour for a bed for his bride because maybe he wasn’t sure of where they lived now…maybe he didn’t know if he had anyone left in town…one thing is for sure….there was no room for them in the Inn. But God provided.

By the time the wise men arrived on the scene, they were in a house (Matthew 2:11). Perhaps of a relative? I don’t know…but I do know…..God provided.

This is something I read while searching out more on Mary. What her life may have been like up to the point of leaving home and going with Joseph.

“Mary had up to this time been living at the wrong place for Messiah’s birth. A little longer stay at Nazareth, and the prophecy would have failed. But lo! with no intention certainly on her part, much less of Caesar Augustus, to fulfil the prophecy, she is brought from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and at that nick of time her time arrives, and her Babe is born.”¹

The plans God has for you and me are just as detailed. When we leave the plans and directions to HIM, the Master Creator…we will find that it all works out.  When we give our lives to Jesus Christ–and submit to His authority for all the details…the pieces of the puzzle all fit together with a click, as they snap in place.

The job.

The marriage.

The finances.

Even down to the decision of where to go to church.  None of these are beyond His expertise or His planning!

When I read the page for day 5 of the 90 Days with Jesus Study, I immediately thought “party”.

I smiled thinking that we (or at least in our area), will turn any event into a party.

• Hurricane coming? Gather everyone in a safe place and let’s eat! Let’s play some games! What is that, if not a party?
• Bible Study time? Gather them all together in the living room, get out some cups, plates, forks, napkins, make some coffee, have some juice or iced tea ready, plead with Jeff to make a cake with extra thick icing….and you have a Bible Study Party! You learn from the very heart of GOD, and you have you some rejoicing in the kitchen with cake!
• Baby about to be born? The waiting room is OURS! When waiting on that new arrival—there is MUCH prayer—some eating if he/she takes a while getting here…and then once that lusty cry is heard—it is all out party-time!

Christ’s birth is a day to celebrate! While we don’t know the exact day, we do KNOW

He CAME.

He lived.

He died.

He was resurrected.

 He lives TODAY! I think that is worthy of a celebration EVERY DAY of the year!

This is the LORD’S doing; it [is] marvellous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23 KJV

Father God…thank you for tending to each and every detail of my life. All the way from the difficult ones I can see…to the miniscule ones I might not notice. I praise You, for even in the difficult days, I feel Your presence. I KNOW You have me in Your sight. Nothing escapes Your notice. Thank You for following so closely my heart. Take tomorrow and make it YOURS. For Your glory. Not mine. I love and praise You forever. In the precious name above every name…Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ~ Amen.

© Angie Knight-The Knightly News.   All rights reserved.

Previously posted on The Knightly News, December 15, 2008.   Pictured,  grandson, Jake.

¹Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. “The Gospel According to Luke.” Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Blue Letter Bible. 19 Feb 2000. 4 Sep 2008.

“And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7

With the eyes of my heart I look over the young girl’s shoulder and watch as she begins to wrap the newborn baby in the cloths she had packed all those days ago before they began the long, arduous journey. She cradles His hand in her own, counting the tiny fingers once again – pressing them to her lips in a tender kiss.
The promised gift has come in the form of helpless babe.

The years slip swiftly by, and I see the questions and wonder in her eyes as she looks across the table at hands grown calloused from work at the carpenter’s bench – hands that held tightly to hers not so very long ago.

I see tears fill her eyes as the day comes for Him to leave the childhood home and begin the work He has come to do. What pride and joy shine from those same eyes as she watches those hands reach out to heal and minister to the needs of those that follow after Him.

Just three short years later, and there is unbearable pain and anguish in her eyes as she looks at those precious hands splayed out on a wooden beam – pierced and bleeding. Hours later, did she once again tenderly cradle those hands as they prepared His body for burial?

Afterward they gathered together, those who had loved Him and were devastated by the loss. Was she there too? Did she look with eyes filled with fear when He suddenly appeared in their midst, or did those mother eyes recognize her child in this risen Lord? Did she hear Him say:

“See My hands and My feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
Luke 24:39

Those precious hands, once so tiny and helpless, now forever scarred with the imprint of a love that cannot be measured. No longer the hands of her child, they were the hands of her Lord.

Blessings,
Linda

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25 (NKJV)

Does the fact that Christmas is just ten days away make you cringe or even panic?  Do you have a list of things that need to be done or purchased and realize that nothing has been crossed off your list yet?

For the past five or so years I have learned not to allow these things get me down.  Unfortunately I had to learn the hard way when chronic illness crept into my life like a thief in the night robbing me of the stamina I once had in order to accomplish the things I thought I needed to get done for the Christmas season.   I have learned that my home does need to be perfectly decorated; I do not have to bake everyone’s favorite Christmas cookie, candy, or cake; or have the perfect Christmas dinner; or the perfect tree with all the special trimmings; or spend a fortune for gifts.

I’ve learned that what people really want – those closest to us – is our special attention.  We can find ourselves so busy with all the holiday trappings that we neglect the very people we claim to be doing all the fuss for.

This past Sunday afternoon I had a Women’s Christmas Tea for the ladies of our church in our home.  I not only wanted to show my love and appreciation for each of them, but I also wanted them to know that we can have a wonderful time of fellowship without all the hype and fuss.  I knew my limits as well.  Other than the usual weekly cleaning that my husband always helps me with, I did not worry that everything had to look spotless or beautifully decorated.  I decided that since it was an afternoon Tea, that the food would be simple as well.  I furnished the hot tea and sparkling punch along with a tray of freshly baked scones and mini muffins purchased from my new friend who has a lovely Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room in Pottsville, PA.  I had the ladies bring cookies for a cookie exchange using one dozen from each lady for all to share at the tea.  To make it even simpler I purchased Christmas paper plates, cups and napkins.  I did not want the focus to be on the food or a beautifully decorated table.  I wanted the focus to be on the fellowship with one another as well as the real reason for this special season – Jesus.  We had prayer and devotion; a white elephant gift exchange; Christmas Pictionary; and a great time of fellowship and laughter too.  The two hours set for the Tea flew by way too fast!

This year there will not be any homemade cookies or candies from me.  Although, those who know me are probably thankful to hear this since for some reason my cookies never turn out like they should.  My husband and I will enjoy a few Christmas gatherings with the church, some extended family members and our small but precious family (mom and our daughter Heather and family).  Knowing my physical limitations we chose carefully which gatherings we attend as well as limit the amount of time spent at each gathering so as to not overly exhaust myself .  I’ve learned that I do not have to be supper woman and do everything myself.  My daughter and grandson love to help with the Christmas preparations.

In simplifying my life I have been able to give the gift that each family member desires from me – the gift of quality time with ME.   In so doing, we can all enjoy the real reason for this special season – God’s precious Gift to each of us – Jesus

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)