The Day After is Boxing Day!

December 26th is not only a day for Santas everywhere to catch their breath, but, I remember when we lived in Canada -- we celebrated Boxing Day! Though it lends to the fact that empty boxes from the gifts and presents are trashed and unwanted gifts are returned to stores, it came from a British origin that is traced back to 1833 when lords of manors and aristocrats distributed “Christmas boxes” filled with gifts, money and leftovers from Christmas dinner to their household servants and employees. They had been required to work on December 25th and were recognized for their good service throughout the year. It is also said that Boxing Day's name came from the charity boxes that were placed in churches during the Advent season for the collection of monetary donations to be distributed to the poor on December 26th. It is also the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and and known for his acts of charity. (Ireland celebrates December 26th as St. Stephen’s Day.) So there you go -- now you know! You're welcome!

But we've taken Boxing Day to a whole new level in our family this year. Our birthday celebration for Jesus was literally amidst boxes and it will carry on in a ginormous way today. We are literally boxing boxes, loading them up and getting them to their new place. Today is the last day in the beautiful home where so many lives have been touched, healed, restored and have come into the family of God. So many precious memories here, but have no fear -- we expect even greater blessings coming in their new season.

We didn’t forget that yesterday was Jesus’ Birthday – so, as with another little tradition to savor, I made a lasagna for the “moving team”, but, most importantly, made my chocolate cake! We sang “Happy Birthday to Jesus “ and partied to “Boxes we have raised so high – sweetly towering to the sky!”

I would be remiss to end this blog with Boxing Day "talk", because while we'll soon be boxing away our Christmas decorations that include the manger scenes and Holy Family figurines -- we will never be able to box away God's great love for us. For some, seeing Jesus as a baby in a manger and "boxing" Him away for another year is as close as they want to get. Perhaps the grown-up Jesus seems too far removed from their every day life. If we keep Jesus at arm’s length, we’ll never get to know and love Him for Who He truly is. If we don’t get to know Him, we won’t love Him. If we want to move faith from our heads to our hearts, we must fall in love with the REAL -- alive and well -- Jesus.

To fall in love with Jesus, it must be more than a once-a-year way, but deeply -- everyday. That kind of knowledge takes time and persistence, just like any good relationship. Jesus invites us to abide in His love — rest, stay, tarry — not rush past it. In John 15:9, He said, “‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.’”

How do we get to that kind of love? There are so many reasons to love Jesus. He is real, and He loves us so much. For us to experience that love, we need to really know Him. As we stand at the front door of the Wallace’s new home, and as we stand at the door of a new year, won’t you join me in seeking to know Him more? That’s my Priority #1 for the new year!

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

He’s the God of Time & the God of Timing

My two mini-me’s and I planned all week for this day. It is girls-day-out. The husband/dad is out of town, so it is a perfect set-up. But, first order of the day is taking Emma (their Yorkie) to the vet to see after a little health issue. That sets us back on getting to Neiman’s Mariposa for our favorite chicken broth and popovers by 11 am. We arrive in the Neiman’s parking garage, park, and an older woman is waving for our help. She has locked her keys in her car, her cell phone is dead and she is distraught about getting to her daughter to go school-shopping with her. She is in tears, apologizes for being so emotional, and taking up our girl-time. She asks to use our cell phone.

We accommodate her and because she is a bundle-of-nerves, Staci takes over making calls to her car dealership down the road for coming to help her. I go into my comforting mode and assure her that it is God’s perfect timing that we show up at the time she needs us. It is by no accident that we get to be the ones to assist her. We know that. We calm her by praying with her. I tell her we are thrilled to be Good Samaritans to her. She says, “Oh, I must not be a Good Samaritan because I don’t think I could do what you are doing. I’m not as kind as you are. I wouldn’t stop to help someone, but I am a Christian.” She tells me where she goes to church. I reply: “You will be a Good Samaritan, too, because the example is set for you today by our getting to help you."

It is piping hot outside. We are all “glistening” from the heat. She continues to try to persuade us to go inside and get out of the heat. We refuse to leave her alone. She is immensely concerned that she is spoiling our day – especially for Alexia. We assure her she is not. Soon her daughter shows up, along with the locksmith. As we are handing her over to the others, she pulls out $100 and asks Staci to give it to Alexia. We refuse to take it but she is insistent with tears in her eyes. Staci explains to her that last night they prayed that Alexia would be blessed today with extra money for some great deals we’ll find “thrift store shopping” (Alexia's absolute love as she gets name-brand items, redesigns them, using the sewing machine I bought her for her birthday last year). I'm so proud of her skills and wise-spending.

After a delicious lunch, we head to The Star (the Dallas Cowboys headquarters), where Payton works as a real estate associate at Monarch Realty. We took him soup and popovers. He gives us a grand tour – perfect for photo opportunities. After that, we head to the thrift stores and Alexia is delighted with her finds. She’s not ashamed at all of thrift sale buying – she knows a deal when she finds it. It was a God-perfect-timing day.

I share this exhaustive story with you today because I want to emphasize that God is not just the God of time and eternity…He is the God of timing. When we take on our daily roles as His servants on a mission each time we step out of our homes, we are clocking in to God’s assignments, set-ups, not only getting to give and be His hands and feet extended, but we are positioned for His blessings to land on us when we least expect it. Maybe it's time to clock-in to His schedule -- get in-sync with God's perfect timing. It’s a great place to live, walk, talk, and be His ambassadors.

Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary

Tuesday of Holy Week -- Jesus most certainly set the record straight about God's house being a place of prayer and holiness. When He saw the money changers and merchants selling their wares, He turned over their tables and cleared them out, exclaiming, "God's house shall be a place of prayer!" Matthew 21:13

Bringing that home to my life, I look within at the "tables" in my life -- those things that would distract me from being that pure and holy sanctuary for His presence. So I pray "Lord, clear out my heart. Do what you will, even to the point of 'over-turning' any tables that may distract me from You. May my heart's song, and my life be a sanctuary for you:
"Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary;
Pure and holy, tried and true;
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living;
Sanctuary for You."