Tag: Jacqui Stoner

ONCE UPON A TIME

The Advent, not an imaginary tale

As a child, I read countless children’s stories beginning with “once upon a time”. I loved tales set in an imaginary world: “Snow White”, “Hansel and Gretel”, and “Cinderella”.  Sadly, most people think any story that begins with “once upon a time” is fiction.

NO IMAGINARY WORLD

What if we agreed to use the phrase to simply designate something which happened a long time ago? It is not fiction. Our Advent story does not take place in an imaginary world, but it is a real event that took place on planet earth.

NO DWARVES NEEDED

However, there is a wondrous element to this historical record. The God of Love decides to redeem mankind to Himself.  No dwarves exist in this story, no children wander through the forest following breadcrumbs, and no carriage is transformed from a pumpkin. The account of the Advent fulfills prophecy foretold at the dawn of history.

THE BEST ONCE UPON A TIME

In this best once upon a time, there is a bed of straw where the Son of God slept as a baby.  The Gospel narrative later describes the splintered cross where the adult Jesus dies to rescue us:  All of our shame and sin was nailed to that tree with Him. Then there is that brilliant third day in which Christ the Conqueror rises from the dead.

God cannot lie and He cannot fail. This once upon a time is based on the truth of God Himself. That is why we can join the multitudes of angels and creation in singing, Praise to the King of kings! Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, our Messiah, Name above every name, gloria in the highest!

This once upon a time is enough for me. Is it enough for you?

Once upon a midnight clear…Born now in Bethlehem. Once upon a bed of straw slept the Sovereign Son of God. Once upon a splintered cross Jesus died to rescue us, all of our shame and sin nailed to the tree with Him. Christ the Conqueror was raised. “Praise to the King of kings!” Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, our Messiah, Name above every name, gloria in the highest

THE DAY SANTA AND I PARTED WAYS

She said, “God is good. He’s almost as good as Santa Claus!”

“That’s a pretty tree. God made that tree. That’s a pretty cloud. God made that cloud.”

HE’S ALMOST AS GOOD AS SANTA CLAUS!

My heart swelled with pride as I listened to my 3-year-old daughter utter those statements while looking out the kitchen window.  Such wisdom from such a tiny child. I must be doing this mothering thing right! And then without warning my bubble burst as I heard her next sentence:

“God is good. He’s almost as good as Santa Claus!”

I put aside the chores and rushed to her side. Taking her on my lap I said, “Honey, there’s something you need to know. SANTA CLAUS IS NOT REAL!  He’s just make-believe. But God is REAL.”

I went on to explain to her how God made the world and everything in it; how He made us and her daddy and her little sister. I told her the true meaning of Christmas…the one with the REAL GOD and His gift of Jesus being born in a manger. As we talked more of God and His Son, Jesus, she became fascinated with the Bible stories and the fact that they were all true.

TELL THEM TO YOUR CHILDREN OVER AND OVER AGAIN

I couldn’t help but recall the verses in Deuteronomy 6:4-7: “The Lord our God is the only true God! So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize His laws and tell them to your children over and over again.  Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.” How easily we recall the fairy tales of our youth; the real stories from the Bible should be just as easily recalled.

THE STORY REMAINS TRUE

Were my children devastated and traumatized by Santa’s demise? Not in the least! We continued to make-believe about him just as we did about Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty, and all the other obviously pretend characters. And my children carried the true Christmas story with them into adulthood, teaching it to their children and their grandchildren: the story that remains for all of us now and into eternity.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed; the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay. The Little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying He makes. I love You, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

THE LEAF THAT DREW ME TO CHRIST

I discover a leaf lying on the bottom of the bag.  I grab it impatiently, but on my short journey to the trash can I notice its beauty.

It is a hectic season. Responsibilities with work, family and church overflow my days. Unloading my work tote, I discover a leaf lying on the bottom of the bag.  I grab it impatiently, but on my short journey to the trash can I notice its beauty. Something makes me stop to look more closely at the leaf. It is deep burnt orange and bright crimson swirled together, so incredibly rich, like a sunset in my hand.  The crisp, jagged outline and stem, so perfectly crafted by The Creator. 

THE INVITATION TO CONNECT WITH HIM

I realize God placed the leaf in my bag to draw my attention to Him in the middle of my hectic life.  The Creator and Sustainer of the universe intentionally reaches out to me with an invitation to connect with Him. So, I pause and decide to accept His invitation. I am seen, loved, cared for by my Beloved. He asks me to linger. It is wonderful to be fully in His presence. In those moments, the words from Psalm 46:10 sink deeply into my soul: “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God” comes alive in me. I carefully place the leaf aside, as a remembrance of this time of heart-to-heart connection with God. 

THE LEAF LOST ITS BEAUTY

Days later, I picked the leaf up again, but the leaf in no way resembles its previous beauty. It is an ugly blotched brown, dry, shriveled and crumbling. How disappointing!

CONNECTED TO THE VINE

Oh Lord Jesus, is this what you mean when you tell us to stay connected to You, The Vine?  When I take time to connect with You, my spirit is alive, vibrant, and beautiful.  But when I discard time with You and focus only on the cares of this world, my spirit quickly becomes dry, brown, and crumbled. I do not resemble the creation You intended me to be and cannot do the things You created me to do.

I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (John 15:5).

DRAW US TO YOU EVERY MOMENT

Jesus, in this season when we prepare to celebrate Your coming to earth, draw us to You every moment. Help us keep our eyes and heart fixed on You, not on the temporal distractions swirling around us or the trappings of the season. Help us remember that we are the branches, and You are the Vine. Apart from You we can do nothing.

All is calm and all is bright; everywhere but in your heart tonight. They’re singing carols of joy and peace, but you feel too far gone and too far out of reach.

Somewhere in your silent night, heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried. Hope is here, just lift your head, for love has come to find you somewhere in your silent night.

From heaven’s height to manger low; There is no distance the Prince of Peace won’t go. From manger low to Calvary’s hill; when your pain runs deep, His love runs deeper still. He has always loved you, child and He always will.

Somewhere in your silent night, heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried. Hope is here, just lift your head for love has come to find you, somewhere in your silent night.

Lift your head! Lift your heart! Emmanuel will meet you where you are. He knows your hurt,
He knows your name and you’re the very reason that He came.

Love will find you! Ooh, love will find you! Love will find you.

MARY DID YOU KNOW?

Looking back, I reflect with clarity God’s hand on my life, but I cannot see what lies ahead.

I am excited about retiring and look forward to the next chapter of my life. Yet, unexpected emotions pop up, regarding the end of a season and the beginning of a new season. Looking back, I reflect with clarity God’s hand on my life, but I cannot see what lies ahead.

My job with my current employer began as a short-term temporary assignment, but circumstances offered me a greater role. God gave me a boss who was also my biggest cheerleader. She prompted me to further my education, launching my career path. My entire 23 years was like that. God gave me people who had a larger vision for my future than I did. God always has the larger plan in mind.

CHANGING SEASONS

Recently, in what could have been my final promotion, I blew an interview.  Although it was 100% my own fault, God allowed it.  He knew then what I know now: the promotion would have added more years to my career. According to God’s timeline, this season is ending and the unknown (from my vantage point) looms on the horizon. Do you also find it challenging to change seasons?

UNCERTAIN AND CONFUSED

How do you think Mary and Joseph felt as they walked over to the final hill into the town of strangers, Bethlehem? God had figured everything out, even though the young couple were uncertain and confused. He had a greater vision for their future than they could ever imagine. Their story through their seasons is like no other’s.

HOW PERPLEXED THEY MUST HAVE BEEN

Over the course of the years came major events. A king tried to murder Mary and Joseph’s first born. Then there was the occasion when they lost their special twelve-year-old in the large city of Jerusalem. The frantic parents discovered their young son Jesus teaching old men in the Temple. How perplexed they must have been. As an adult, Jesus became a teacher, who was both honored, revered, vilified, hated, and spit on.

Then came the cross. None of Jesus’ disciples understood the magnitude of what His death meant for the entire world. Even though Jesus had told them about it, they had no clue regarding the upcoming resurrection.

CON YOU GLIMPSE THE JOY TO COME?

Mary knelt at the cross, lost in confusion and grief. Yet God’s favor on Jesus, was present every step of the way, every season, even into eternity. Mary, in your heartbreak, could you glimpse the joy to come?

O COME, ALL YOU UNFAITHFUL!

Everything hit her like a tsunami. It filled with her overwhelming guilt.

In an interview, Lisa Clow remembered the circumstances of the unusual titling of this song.  She was coming out of a year of pain comprised of a miscarriage of twins, financial worries and dealing with deep wounds of bitterness.  Christmas was coming. For the first time she told her church that she wouldn’t be participating in the music.  Lisa didn’t give them the reason; she just declined the invitation. 

EVERYTHING HIT LIKE A TSUNAMI!

And then came that ill-fated Sunday morning when they sang the traditional “O Come, All Ye Faithful”.  Everything hit her like a tsunami. Overwhelmed with guilt, she contemplated how her joy had run out and that she felt like a “triumphant failure”.  As she drove home in tears, she asked: “Is that really who is invited to come to Jesus? The faithful? The joyful? The triumphant? If so, then I am hopeless.” 

COME ALL WHO ARE WEARY

The Holy Spirit brought to mind “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).  This is an extremely broad call to the bitter, broken, fearful.  It summons those who struggle with guilt, who would prefer to hide under a rock and never be seen again. Jesus invites us to rest.  To rest in His life, death and resurrection.  We cannot find such a beautiful breathing space and respite with our own resources. 

HIS PROMISE IS PEACE

This call isn’t to those who think they have life all figured out and are self-sufficient.  It is to those of us who have dealt with reality and found we do not have the resources to go forward.  “We have nothing,” Lisa remarked. “His promise is peace for those who believe.”

HE JUST SAYS “COME!”

Maybe you are facing these holidays depleted.  You are running on empty. Your joy departed the scene quite a while ago.  Jesus calls to you in your state of poverty, regardless of whether it is emotional, mental, physical or spiritual.  He just says, “Come!”

Come, weak and unstable, Come, know you are not alone. See what your God has done. Christ is born for you. O come, bitter and broken, come with fears unspoken. Come, taste of His perfect love, guilty and hiding ones, there is no need to run.

MEMORY OF THE MANGER

It was standing room only. Yet, did we do justice to the birth of the Son of God?

After dinner on Christmas Eve, as children, we always attended church. Everyone dressed for the occasion. After all, we weren’t we celebrating the birth of The King? This goes much further than any earthly coronation. I saw men in suits and ties; women decked out in dresses and hats. It was standing room only. Yet, did we do justice to birth of the Son of God?

THE PROCESSION OF THE KINDS

The manger took center stage in the front of the sanctuary. The service began and everyone turned to the rear to view the stately procession of the robed Three Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-10). As they proceeded down the aisle, the men sang their theme song, each one soloing his own verse. All the congregation then slowly turned to the front as the “kings” reverently processed to the manger. At the feet of the sleeping baby Jesus, they lay their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

SURROUNDED BY WORSHIP

The voices of the choir encircled our hearts with beautiful Christmas music. We all joined in, singing the familiar carols. The stately pipe organ accompanied it all. I felt surrounded by emotions of expectation and worship, totally caught up in God’s greatest gift, the Lord Jesus Christ.

NO ONE WAS FORGOTTEN

Christmas Day, we attended a quieter service, followed by Mom’s sumptuous meal with a flaming English plum pudding, topped with sweet vanilla fondant for dessert. With full bellies, we then sat around the beautifully lit, fully decorated evergreen. Dad proceeded to read “The Other Wiseman“ and Luke’s Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20). Of course, we followed with our exchange of gifts. The day ended with delivering Mom’s homemade bread to our neighbors. Mom’s baking was a treat. No one was forgotten.

THE GREATEST GIFT

Christmas is a time of hearing God’s word; of feeling like actual witnesses to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. This is God time of giving. He offers the greatest gift: eternal life. Without the birth of Jesus and His love, there is no Christmas, no reason to worship, and no hope.

THE OPEN INVITATION

May the gift of love, grace and eternal life, which Jesus came to offer, be yours this Christmas season. Make an effort to share it, especially with those outside in the cold who long to be invited to the manger. There is always room for one more.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

WE ARE FAVORED, DO NOT FEAR!

He makes her the most honored woman on earth, but she is to become intimately acquainted with the worst heartbreak known to humanity.

I have struggled with all types of fears, both real and imagined during recent years. I view my friends either expanding in trusting God or floundering in despair. In my own heart, often I wonder about God’s plans as I navigate through a world unrecognizable from ten years ago. What does God say to my heart during these times of turbulence? He points to Mary.

GOD FAVORS HER

She is only a simple teenage girl, brought up in a backwater town. So why Mary? God never provides any extensive explanation. The angel announces to Mary that she is chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. God “favors” this unwed girl to give birth to the Chosen One, the Savior of the world. All she knows is that God has chosen her. God “favors” her.

COMBINING FAVOR WITH HEARTBREAK

I always connect favor with honor: someone given front row seats, the keys to the city and a crown on their head. It is hard to combine the concept of favor with heartbreak.

FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY MIXED WITH JOY

In Luke 1 the angels twice calls Mary “favored by God”, blessed by God. He makes her the most honored woman on earth, but she is to become intimately acquainted with the worst heartbreak known to humanity. At the angel’s initial announcement, she feels fear and uncertainty mixed with joy. This expands and painfully stretches year by year. She sees her beloved Son grow up and do the unexpected, time after time. Her sinless Son lives in a broken world, attacked by the forces of hell.

THE GOD WHO REDEEMS ME AND EVER KEEPS ME

This favored woman daily needs the angel’s words to resonate in her heart: The God who redeems you and ever will keep you is near, do not fear. In these days of darkness, I also need this promise and hope. The God who redeems me and ever keeps me is near. Do not fear.

Humble virgin, arise and take heart you’ve been chosen to carry a son. Give no heed to the trembling inside for the wonder has only begun;

Do not fear, do not fear, the child you will hold is the Savior foretold drawing near. The God who redeems you and ever will keep you is near, do not fear!

BEHOLD THE GIFT!

Surely everyone deserved this. Anyone, except for me

My husband is known as a giver of great gifts and I am a regular beneficiary. One Christmas in particular, he gave me extravagant gifts. Each one was more lavish than the last. I felt so undeserving of his unabashed love and generosity for me. I began to do the math, to count the cost in my head. The sum was too costly! Why would he spend this much on me? Surely there were others more deserving, our grandkids, kids, or parents. Anyone but me.

THE GIFT I NEEDED

I am about as directionally challenged as they come. It is no shock that one of the best gifts was a GPS. I had recently received a promotion that required me to drive to different locations on a regular basis. Without it, I would be hopelessly lost. My husband knew I needed this gift. His face filled with joy as he gave it to me. I needed to receive it.

THE GIFT GOD KNOWS WE NEED

My husband’s love and gifts are just a dim reflection of God’s demonstrated love and extravagant gift. He knows we are desperately in need of a Savior, or we would be hopelessly lost for eternity. We all are undeserving. Still, God gave the best gift in sending His son, Jesus Christ, Divinity Incarnate. He came in our flesh, breathed our air, and died in our place. But that’s not the end. The tomb is empty! He rose again so that we can be with Him forever. This Christmas season, I invite you to behold this gift, a demonstration of a love beyond all comprehension. Understand that He loves you so much that there is no cost too high. Will your heart prepare Him room? 

Behold the King has come, divinity incarnate, creator of the world, breathing our air
Behold what light has come and the dark cannot contain it
The Savior of the world is finally here

Behold, the Father’s love beyond all comprehension
He gave His only Son to die in our place
Go and see that empty tomb. He’s not there, for He is risen
Every heart prepare Him room, Jesus Christ, the King of Heaven

MELTDOWN AT THE CHICK-FIL-A

In front of the store with friendly people, I was angrily berating my husband for not having any alternative plan.

If my watch pedometer is correct, that Saturday I walked 7.5 miles in New York City. No, I was not training for a marathon (unless there is a marathon for stupidity). The bus dropped us passengers off for three hours of free time before seeing a Broadway Show. Our group quickly scattered in different directions. The fly in the ointment is that my husband and I had made no plans for where we would spend our free time.

LOOPING AROUND THE TWIGHT LIGHT ZONE

And so, we found ourselves exhausted from wandering in what seemed like a Twight Zone episode, as we looped repeatedly around the area near Rockefeller Center. It may have also been a scene from the movie Ground Hog Day. I am not particularly good at following Google Directions when it is in walking mode. The constant stepping wreaked havoc on the inflammation I have in my back. My fuse became shorter and shorter as my husband offered well intended suggestions. Do you know in downtown New York City it is rare to discover places to sit down, unless you are paying a fortune for a decent restaurant?

IT ALL CAME TO A HEAD AT CHICK-FIL-A

Ironically, it all came to a head in front of a Chick-Fil-A. That is when it dawned on my husband that where he wanted to go (Macy’s) was a good ten blocks further. He had missed my earlier words specifying how far it was. And so, next to the store that stands for great values, I was angrily berating my husband for not hearing my previous explanation and not having any alternative plan.

MY BODY IS FAILING

My body is failing as I age. Recently I had a series of infusions for a back inflammation which does not seem inclined to clear up any time soon. I do not behave well during stress when my pain level is at a ten. As you read this, I am sure you have already picked up on that point.

SLOW TO GET ANGRY???

And what does the Bible say about all this? “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (James 1:19). However, I chose to go in the opposite direction. I wanted to sprint towards angry words and remain slow as molasses in listening. No way did I want to place a filter over my mouth.

NOT HURRYING TO OBEY

David’s words of Psalm 119:60 were ignored: “I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.” Even though my feet were moving slower and slower due back pain, my spiritual heart ran full tilt against God’s instructions. I wanted my husband to hear me loud and clear, even though God was emphasizing to me that duct tape over my mouth would be a much better behavior plan.

QUICK TO LISTEN…SLOW TO SPEAK

So, the day after, are we still married? Yes. Is my back still screaming? Yes. Do I wish I could take back every word that came out of my mouth in front of Chick-Fil-A? Yes!!!!! Lord, please ingrain in my heart, no matter the circumstances, to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” Also, thank You God for a forgiving husband.

Click to listen to the story of Eric Ludy

HOW ELLIE LEARNED “TO REMAIN”

She remembers the intersection, but her mind totally blocked out the collision. Her next memory is waking up in the ambulance.

In John 15:1-8, Whenever Jesus repeats a word, it isn’t because He likes how it rolls around on His tongue; it’s because the word is vital. In the Amplified Version, the word “remain” is repeated eight times. Remain means “to dwell”; to consistently live in the same place. To remain in the Vine of Jesus Christ means that we live and breathe daily in Him. We don’t wander off on our own, occupied with our personal plans, worries, and thoughts. God doesn’t plan for us to be the broken branches withering on the ground because we have lost our roots in Him.

THE BREATHING ROOM SHE DESPERATELY DESIRED

Let me tell you about Ellie (name changed for privacy). She was so excited. After months of pulling mandatory 70-hour work weeks, she finally had a week off. This first day was the breathing room she desperately desired. A break to regroup, contemplate and catch up on her first loves of reading and creative writing. Her early morning trip to fulfil multiple errands on that fateful day was short-lived.

GOD EXTENED HER BREATHING ROOM WITH A TRUCK

God thought Ellie needed extended breathing room. While at an intersection, a work truck pulling a full trailer of hay t-boned Ellie on the driver’s side. He had blown through the red light. Ellie remembers the intersection, but her mind totally blocked out the collision. Her next memory is waking up in the ambulance.

LIVING IN SURVIVAL MODE

In previous conversations with Ellie, we discussed her work schedule, her feelings of isolation, and the amount of time she spent worrying about God’s provision. Unknowingly, she drifted further and further from being rooted in “The Vine” as repeatedly mentioned in this passage. Her schedule was in survival mode: going to work, returning home to greet her cats, a brief meal, then crashing from exhaustion. The next morning, she would repeat the same cycle. This is how she remained before the accident.

LIVING ON “THE SHELF”

What currently bothers Ellie the most is she has lost her “mojo,” her constant busyness. For all her adult life, she has worked, worked and then worked some more. She came from poverty and dysfunction. Her heart extends as far as the ocean as she cares for her clients with disabilities. Doesn’t God understand her clients need her? Why has He placed her on the shelf?

RELEARNING “TO ABIDE”

On God’s chosen shelf, she is relearning what it means to simply abide in Christ. Work is set aside, plans are put away, and Christ sits next to her in her living room. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart] … My Father is glorified and honored by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My [true] disciples.

SHE WAITS AT THE STOP SIGN

I thank God every day that He spared Ellie’s life. In my eyes, she is a star that lights up a room, displaying God’s redemption in all its glory. Right now, Ellie waits at the stop sign God has placed in her path. Her heart hates waiting as she waits and waits some more. There are so many questions, but God repeats, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11) The crash is just a blip in God’s good plans for Ellie’s eternity as Ellie relearns what it means “to remain”.

RELEARN WHAT IT MEANS “TO REMAIN”

Have you wandered away from The Vine with your roots in Him becoming weaker and weaker? Maybe you have crashed to the ground; no fruit to be seen. I urge you to stop, evaluate, and put on pause your busyness of life. Relearn what it means “to remain.”

Click to hear about waiting from Ruth Chou-Simons