Wonders of His Love

Life involves a lot of waiting.

There’s the day-to-day waiting—waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting in the doctor’s office, waiting in traffic, waiting for payday, waiting for our “turn...” Then there’s waiting on a larger continuum—waiting for our children to grow up, waiting for the tide to change, waiting for our ship to come in (a result of the changing tide?), waiting for answers to prayers, waiting for a new season of life…

During the crazy years when my children were younger, I often put off doing things, telling myself I was waiting until I had more time. For instance, I’ve been telling myself and God for years that I just wasn’t in a place where I could feasibly have an early morning, one-on-one devotional time with him. After all, I had to get kids to school, then myself to work. Plus, I’m really not a morning person…He knows that, right? But now I’m out of time, so to speak, and a few weeks ago He told me in no uncertain terms that 6 a.m. was going to be our time. And do you know what? He’s taking our time together and multiplying it exponentially. The blessings are flowing, and I thank Him for His patience with me all these years.

I’ve also passed up some opportunities to explore life over the years, setting them aside until I had more time. I was always on a mission down the beaten path, and the side roads had to wait. But this weekend my daughter and I took a quick trip to visit my mom and on the way we enjoyed a couple of diversions I’d put off time and time again. In Luray Hannah asked, “What is that huge tower we always pass?”

I didn’t know, so we took an extra half hour to explore the Luray Singing Tower, a majestic stone tower that houses a carillon of 47 cast bronze bells and is surrounded by public park land. Appropriate for the season, the inscription on the largest bell reads, “GLORY TO GOD, PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO MEN.”

Before we got to Mom’s house we also stopped at Central Coffee Roasters® in Sperryville, Virginia. It was only 20 minutes from our destination and I had always wanted to stop there, but just never took the time. It would have been worth it just to breathe in the heavenly fragrance of freshly roasted coffee beans, but of course I left with a pound of Panama beans, as well.

When I was a child, Christmas seemed to be more about waiting than any other day of the year. My sister Ellen and I each had a stuffed Santa, and as soon as the Christmas decorations were unpacked I would ceremoniously prop mine up on my bed, sleeping with him curled in the crook of my arm until Christmas morning. I would whisper my secrets in his plastic ear and remind him of my wish list each night, as I waited with growing impatience for "the big day."

Now Thanksgiving is over, and I have no excuse left to put off my Christmas preparations. I don’t sleep with my Santa anymore, but I do put him out as a reminder not to cry or pout during the frenzied weeks ahead. And the older I get, the less Christmas is about Santa and the more it’s about the Messiah.

Today was the first Sunday in the liturgical season of Advent. Advent means “coming,” and as Christians we’re reminded to be preparing our hearts for His coming, once as a baby in a manger, and soon as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace that we so long for. Our annual celebration of the birth of the Christ isn’t just a sweet story we relive each year, but the past truth our future hope is rooted in.

Let every heart prepare Him room.

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

~ Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7 (NIV)

Overwhelmed by Thanksgiving

I have a couple of dear friends who emailed me this week asking if there was a Thanksgiving blog entry in the works. There wasn’t, but I didn’t want to let my faithful readers down. So I started asking God for a heart message about this, my favorite holiday.

Oddly enough, what I got wasn’t a neatly wrapped blog about all of the reasons I am (or should be) thankful this Thanksgiving, but rather this one question: Why am I not more thankful the other 364 days of the year?

I revisited my Thanksgiving post from last November because I didn’t want to repeat myself, but I can’t help it. There are two perennial truths that are unavoidable:

1. "From each individual breath we take to our very lives, and everything in-between...it's all from God, and it's all good.”

2. “I pray we will all have thankful hearts, each and every day.”

It appears that change for change's sake is a bad idea when it comes to gratitude. I still haven’t answered the question though. Why am I not more thankful the other 364 days of the year?

I am glad every day for so many things in my life…so many blessings straight from the hand of God. But I know I could be still more grateful if I only recognized that all of the good things in my life—every good thing—is from God. They’re not by accident, and they're certainly not by my efforts. His goodness abounds, and it is almost too much to wrap my mind, much less my heart, around.

So this year my prayer for myself, and for you, is for an awareness of the gifts in every moment, and that we may be overwhelmed with Thanksgiving!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ~ James 1:17 (NIV)

Thank You

Yesterday I met a remarkable young woman I see almost every day on TV. Rebecca Pepin is a local news anchor and editor of the book, Faces of Freedom—Profiles of America’s Fallen Heroes, Iraq and Afghanistan. This week we welcomed her to our church, where she spent some time sharing her story, and how this powerful book came about.

Rebecca’s story is compelling, particularly in light of Faces of Freedom. Born in Canada, she became an American on October 27, 2006. Gaining citizenship in the United States is not a quick and easy process, and she does not take her identity as an American lightly. In fact, I would dare to say immigrants who have earned their citizenship are far less likely than the rest of us to ever take it for granted.

The creation of the book itself is also an extraordinary story, and it was a truly collaborative effort. It profiles 52 fallen heroes—one from each state, as well as from the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Men and women from all branches of our military are remembered by contributing writers across the country. Many sponsors helped finance the endeavor, and all proceeds from sales of the book go to Fisher House Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project. Fisher House Foundation builds “comfort homes” on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. Wounded Warrior Project strives to raise consciousness of the needs of military service men and women who’ve been severely injured in the line of duty, and enlist the public’s aid for these valiant servants.

But the most forceful stories of all lie between the pages of Faces of Freedom. Rebecca will tell you her goal was to put faces to the numbers of fallen soldiers…numbers we have almost become desensitized to as the wars have continued. Personal histories, letters, photos, family anecdotes… All of the signposts of young lives lost are here, and I am humbled and filled with gratitude as I read each profile.

In her introduction to Faces of Freedom, Rebecca writes:

“The primary purpose of this book is to raise money to benefit veterans, through Fisher House and Wounded Warrior Project, and to heighten awareness about the sacrifice and selflessness of our troops. These men and women are not just numbers. They were our friends and neighbors, and the loved ones of our fellow Americans. While only 52 fallen heroes are featured here, Faces of Freedom is a tribute to all that have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we—and our future generations—may live in peace, security, and freedom.”

So on the eve of Veteran’s Day, it seems appropriate to encourage you to visit Rebecca Pepin’s website—www.rebeccapepin.com—and, if you’re able, to purchase a book (or several). You’ll not only be riveted by the stories, but you’ll be contributing to two great causes. (Copies of Faces of Freedom would make great Christmas gifts, too!)

Rebecca also includes this wartime prayer from Eleanor Roosevelt in her opening comments:

“Dear Lord,
Lest I continue
My complacent way,
Help me to remember that somewhere,
Somehow out there
A man died for me today.
As long as there be war,
I then must
Ask and answer,
Am I worth dying for?”

It’s a powerful question on Veterans’ Day and everyday. I don’t know the answer, but I can at least say thank you to all of those who have served and are serving today, and their families. If you have the chance to do the same tomorrow, I hope you take it.

Photo 1: Faces of Freedom cover
Photo 2: Rebecca Pepin
Photo 3: Rebecca and Ruth McGlothlin, mother of fallen Marine Ryan McGlothlin, Lebanon, Virginia.

Election Day

Election Day. What did it mean to you?

If you’re a school-age kid or a government worker, maybe it was just a day off. But if you were able to vote, I hope it meant your chance to exercise the freedom our founding fathers and soldiers have fought to ensure for you.

When it’s all said and done tonight, I don't really care who you voted for (even though I did think it would have been amusing for both sides to have a post-voting sticker that read, “I Cancelled Out Your Vote”). In fact, I told several people today that I just plain love Election Days. I would drive across three counties to vote for Dog Catcher!

The main thing is, you and I both had the opportunity and privilege to make our voices heard today by voting in a democratic election. That’s a wonderous thing, no matter which side you’re on. And ultimately, we’re all on the same side again.

God bless America.

Photograph: Getty Images