An Unexpected Visitor

"And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with 

haste...and into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth."

Luke 1:39-40

Visitation by Domenico Ghirlandaio

During the holiday season your home can seem like Grand Central Station with a steady stream of family, friends, and well wishers - some of whom may drop in unexpectedly. 

Elizabeth had been living in relative seclusion when a young, pregnant Mary arrived at her doorstep over 2,000 years ago. Both women carried a promise so incredible that they could only find comfort and companionship in one another as Mary would remain with Elizabeth for some time. 

How often, when an unexpected visitor shows up on our doorstep do we react (at least inwardly) with frustration because they "didn't call first"? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:2 to, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." That angel can be that neighbor who shows up unannounced with a fruit cake she just made offering a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on at just the right moment. It can be the mail carrier who, as you're signing for that eagerly anticipated package, shares a story that reminds you of what really matters. Perhaps he mentions that elderly neighbor who lives up the street who doesn't have anyone to shove the snow from their driveway. 

While the holiday season can be a busy and demanding time, let us not forget to entertain friends and strangers alike because those unexpected visitors can often bring unexpected blessings to both give and receive. 

Sitting at His feet, 

Valarie

The Big Story

"And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes,

and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

Luke 2:7

I was working as a receptionist for a TV station several years ago when, late one afternoon shortly before Christmas, a man came in asking if he could speak with a member of the news staff. He explained to me that he along with his wife and their small children had been staying at a homeless shelter; but because of some minor technicality, there were being forced out onto the streets. I immediately paged a member of the news staff but they declined to help him. 

After he left the station....well, let's just say I couldn't let it go. Having full knowledge of the power of the media, I picked up the phone, dialed the shelter, and ask to speak with the woman in charge. I never misrepresented myself as a reporter but as it turned out, the mere mention of the station's call letters was enough. Although she declined to comment, she did in the end reconsider the matter. Less than an hour after making that phone call, the man walked back into the station with a big smile on his face and said to me, "I don't know what you did..." but he and his family would not have to leave the shelter.  

If we're not careful careful, we can get so caught up in chasing the big story or what we consider to be the next big thing that we miss the small, everyday miracles happening right in front of us. 

The big story of Christmas doesn't lie in a Christmas tree tall enough to make the Guinness Book of World Records. It doesn't lie in the most extravagantly decorated house on the block. It lies in an event which took place over 2,000 years ago when a poor and humble teenager from Nazareth said yes to what would be the greatest miracle ever known to man.

"Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."

Luke 1:38

Sitting at His feet,

Valarie

The Other Brother

"And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore his father came

out and entreated him (to come in)." Luke 15:28

With the advent of the holiday season I find myself drawn more and more to the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and the love the father showed both sons. Even though the younger son left home and squandered his fortune, he didn't wait for him to crawl back begging for forgiveness. He ran out to meet him. 

When the older son who stayed home was angry, the father, in his joy that his younger son who had been lost but was now found, could have easily ignored him; but like with the prodigal brother, he went out to him, inviting him to come inside and enjoy the festivities. 

The holiday season is a time for reconciliation and forgiveness, for putting aside differences. Is there a friend or family member who, out of pride or unforgiveness, remains standing outside refusing to come in? Why not extend to him or her the gift of grace and hospitality.

Sitting at His feet,

Valarie

Grace

Photo by Bahman Farzad

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, 

always having sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."

2 Corinthians 9:8

Grace has been described as having the unmerited favor of God. Grace has been a recurring theme for me these last few days. I was lying awake two nights ago when I thought of what it means to bestow that same unmerited favor onto other - to be a living, breathing epistle of His grace and mercy. 

"My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness." 

2 Corinthians 12:9

One of the hardest things to do is to bestow grace onto someone who may not deserve it; but as Christians, it is not our place to judge. It is to simply love others as He loves us. (John 13:34) The beautiful thing about grace is that it can be absolutely scandalous, allowing us to do the impossible, forgive the unforgivable, love the unlovable. What right do I have to withhold the gift of grace from anyone when I have an unlimited supply of it?

When grace steps in, things like fear, doubt, judgment, and criticism have to take a hike because in the end, grace wins!

Sitting at His feet,
Valarie

What Rainy Days Have Taught Me

"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with 

silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby."

Langston Hughes

First of all, my thoughts and prayers are with those in Mexico and Texas impacted by Hurricane Patricia. 

Because the weather here is fairly consistent without any extreme changes in temperature, I never bother to check the forecast. I typically dread rainy, cloudy, or otherwise overcast days; but lately I've found that I don't seem to mind when the clouds, the wind, and the rain come. Aside from wanting to curl up with a good book or a classic movie along with a glass of wine, I've learned a few lessons along the way.

Embrace the storm. The rain, no matter how hard or softly it falls, always has a healing, cleansing effect. If that downpour comes in the form of tears, allow it to have its way, praising the One who controls the wind, the rain, and the waves.

Photo by Sermon Spice

Storms aren't meant to last. The sun will come out again. In the meantime, sing, play, and dance in the rain.

Singin' in the Rain, 1952 MGM 

There is always a rainbow (or two) after every storm. There will always be storms in life. Sometimes it's just a drizzle. Other times it may feel as if we've been swept away by a monsoon; but the appearance of rainbows reminds us that God is always with us.

Photo by jetzworld

"When thous passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, 

they shall not overflow thee." 

Isaiah 43:2

Sitting at His feet,

Valarie

When You Just Can't Let It Go

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, 

even as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

I was sitting outdoors enjoying a perfect autumn afternoon. There was gentle breeze blowing through the trees leaving in its wake that peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). My neighbor, who is not a football fan, was watching the Seattle Seahawks play the Cincinnati Bengals, a game which they lost in overtime 27-24. 

Why, you might be asking, if he's not a football fan, would he show such interest in this game?

As it turns out, his great-niece and her husband are both Seahawks fan. Over the course of time, their relationship broke down leaving him hurt. That hurt eventually turned into anger and bitterness.

The average football game lasts three hours. Given this game went into overtime, I couldn't help but think of how much time and energy he wasted out of bitterness and unforgiveness. It takes a lot more energy to hold onto to unforgiveness than it does to forgive because forgiveness is about releasing. Pastor Jimmy Evans once said that when you hold onto unforgivenss, you are forever attached emotionally to that event. 

I remember a story Oprah Winfrey once told about the day she was taught a lesson about unforgiveness. She had been withholding forgiveness from someone who had offended her. One day, she spotted this person on Michigan Avenue in Chicago going into one of the really nice stores, happy as a lark. In that moment she realized that they didn't care one bit that she had been holding a grudge against them. 

I don't know the reason for the breakdown in the relationship between my neighbor and his great-niece. Part of forgiveness, as Iyanla VanZant put it, is giving up the hope of what could've been. There will probably be a lot of "could've beens" that he will have to let go of. The greater tragedy would be for him to never experience the healing that would come from turning the situation over to God regardless of the outcome.

Sitting at His feet,
Valarie

Terms & Conditions

Photo courtesy of Flickr

As I been forgiven much in my life, there has also been much that I've had to forgive. Over the summer I recalled a painful incident from my childhood which still stung as though it happened yesterday. When I addressed it and found a way to forgive, one very difficult yet important lesson came out of it. In order to forgive, I had to take "me" out of the picture. Forgiveness was impossible as long as I focused on the pain and the offenders. When I allowed the offense to be less about me, healing and forgiveness were inevitable.

We often withhold forgiveness because we believe that by offering forgiveness, we're letting the offender off the hook. NEWSFLASH!!! They were already let off the hook when their sins along with your and mine were nailed to the cross.

When someone offends us, the pain can sometimes cut so deep that we will only extend forgiveness on our terms. We wait for the offender to come to us asking or even begging for forgiveness; but as we see in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), the father didn't wait for his son to come to him asking for forgiveness. The only term he offered for forgiveness was love (Luke 15:20).

The amazing thing about forgiveness is that when God forgives us, He blots out the offense as though it never happened. Words cannot describe how awesome it feels to not only receive this kind of grace but to extend it to others as well. There is no offense so great or pain from that offense so great that His love, mercy, and grace cannot cover. (1 Peter 4:8)

Sitting at His feet,
Valarie