The Time is Now... and Forever

From the Beginning to the End of the Year

The eyes of the Lord your God are always on [the land], from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. —Deuteronomy 11:12

Last year around New Years, I remember a reflection that hit me strongly, and I remember it even now. It was a depiction of God as a "middle C." No matter where you are, C is always C. It's a note that stays the same despite the changing years, ages, circumstances. Even within a year, so much can change. Last year, I never would've quite imagined this. In fact, flying back to Tucson after the first of the year, I was quite sure that I had gained myself a good friend as opposed to any hopes of anything more. But,things change. This thought might sometimes sadden us (when things are going our way), and sometimes excite us (when things aren't). But it is true. But the thing that never changes will always give us hope and joy and love overflowing... and that is the Lord our God... who is with us from the very beginning to the very end of each year.


The Beginning and the End of Judgment

1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.

2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.

Just the other day I was reading Malachi with Brad, and Chapter 3 has a lot to do with my reflection yesterday. Thank goodness that it is only for the Lord to judge, because I myself cannot hope to make such decisions. I don't know the heart... as 2 Samuel reminds that God does. And because God knows the heart, He's here with us all year long, working like a refiner's fire or launderer's soap... to change our hearts and purify them as they need to be changed. One of my favorite songs by Third Day is "Consuming Fire," not exactly my style of music as it's a bit 'harder' rock, but even the tune is fitting. Because it's a 'hard' subject... God comes and refines us with His fire, and it's hard. But, I pray that God changes my heart this year... from the very beginning to the very end... refine me Lord.


The Beginning and the End

12"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.


The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, keep me strong and faithful throughout the entirety of this year, Lord. Thank You for being the one who will guide me today and forever.

A New Year's Resolution: Refinement & Radiance

Resolution

22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. -Hebrews 10:22-25

I feel like there's so much in this scripture today... in fact, perhaps it's a beautiful New Years Resolution for each one of us: devotion (a sincere heart), faith (in full assurance), repentence and acceptance of God's forgiveness (our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us...), spiritual community with our Brethren (meeting together), good deeds, encouragement in the faith (spur one another on). The encouragement part is mentioned twice, and this year I especially pray that while I aim to strengthen my walk with the Lord, that I may also encourage others to do so. I'm not sure yet. Lord, please lead me in what ways I may find to follow you and also spur on my brothers and sisters in their walks with you.


Refinement

8 In the whole land," declares the LORD,
"two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
yet one-third will be left in it.

9 This third I will bring into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, 'They are my people,'
and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' "
-Zechariah 13:8-9


This morning I'm thinking about how last Christmas I brought home one book- my Spanish Bible. This year I brought home 6 books, all 'fun' reading related to my school work. Now, that's partly because I lean on my online Bible source, but this isn't something I'm pleased about as i now take time to think about it. "Where my treasure is, there my heart will be also." I want to have the dust of my Savior on me, not other rabbis... Lord help me to keep my eyes fixed upon You this year... just a closer walk with thee, Lord. This year, it will be especially important. Guide me. I need you to refine me, Lord. I pray that I'm that 1/3 that isn't perfect but needs refinement. Like the silver and gold, Lord. I want to shine for you.


Radiance

9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. -Revelation 21:9-11

22I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. -Revelations 21:22-27

These scriptures about brides are all the more real to me, as I look forward to Josh & Diana's wedding this Spring. The 'bride' in the scripture is a beautiful metaphor for Christ's relationship to the church, but seeing the images of beautiful brides like Diana will be helps me to realize that we are "radiant" and "treasured" and "precious" to the Lord. Lord, I trust that as I remain close to You this year, You will make me like the city, like the bride that doesn't need sun or moon, but shines with Your glory and Your light.

You have blessed me so, Lord. I thank You so much for the time of renewal and refreshment, for a wonderful family and new family. I ask that You continue to guide me this year... and teach me how to be radiant, to shine for You.

I'm... I'm... I'm... angry!

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. -Ephesians 4:25-27

Now, I know this is a strange verse to be reading around Christmas time, but it's a good message and still very much needed. Perhaps especially now... when emotions are running high with unexpected blizzards and last minute shopping. Last night, we watched the cute movie "Enchanted," which my friend Ricardo in Brazil would call "agua com azucar"... sugar water. A sweet light little movie, but the enchanted princess transplanted in New York City is able to experience 'anger' for the first time. In fact, she has a hard time putting a name to her emotion... finally able to say, "I'm... I'm... I'm... just so... angry! I'm angry!" Giggling a little after the fact, relieved to be able to say it.

Sometimes it's hard for us as Christians to put a name to this emotion, but it isn't really founded. Ephesians reminds us that while we may be angry, the important thing is to remember "in your anger, do not sin."

In fact, the writer of the ODB suggests that, "Sometimes anger appropriately calls our attention to an injustice that needs to be addressed, and we are spurred to righteous action." However, this is not the case most of the time. Instead, our anger is often "selfishly ignited by the violation of our expectations, rights, and privileges." Instead, we need to know how to make our anger constructive, speaking truthfully to our neighbors for the building up of the body.

I have to say that I have a hard time with one part of this verse: do not let the sun go down on your anger. Sometimes I feel like I need time before I can really talk things out. Perhaps what is easier for me is to talk to my neighbor and reassure them of my love and forgiveness before the sun goes down, but then to really resolve things in the morning.

Seeking to Live & Living Water

4 This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel:
"Seek me and live;

5 do not seek Bethel,
do not go to Gilgal,
do not journey to Beersheba.
For Gilgal will surely go into exile,
and Bethel will be reduced to nothing. [e] "

6 Seek the LORD and live,
or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire;
it will devour,
and Bethel will have no one to quench it.

7 You who turn justice into bitterness
and cast righteousness to the ground

8 (he who made the Pleiades and Orion,
who turns blackness into dawn
and darkens day into night,
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out over the face of the land—
the LORD is his name-

9 he flashes destruction on the stronghold
and brings the fortified city to ruin),

10 you hate the one who reproves in court
and despise him who tells the truth.

11 You trample on the poor
and force him to give you grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,
you will not live in them;
though you have planted lush vineyards,
you will not drink their wine.

12 For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins.
You oppress the righteous and take bribes
and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.

13 Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times,
for the times are evil.

14 Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.
-Amos 5:4-16

In just a few verse, there is the constant repetition of "seek God and live." God offers us life... and I would argue that in seeking Him, spending time in His word, attempting to follow His ways, we are living. In a very real way, His ways lead to righteousness. It feels like the greatest challenge in life is not to lose the LIFE in life. We get so busy with so many things, that we forget to seek the true LIFE that God offers to us. As it says in verse, 6, we might write:

do not seek money,
do not go after your own desires,
do not journey in order to gain your own fame.
For money is only of the earth.
And fame is fleeting and takes from LIFE.

It's hard as a grad student, to keep LIFE in our life, even at the most busy times... we need to take time to seek the life that He offers us, the living water... mentioned in the following verse:

16Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." - Revelations 7:16-17

Lord I thank You for wiping my tears... even when they are foolishly spilled over stress or work or worries. You love me so much, Father... thank You for all the blessings that You have given me. For Your constant, constant love... and for the LIVING water that renews my soul this morning.

I offer myself... to seek You, to seek Your will for my life.

The Forevers and the For Nows

Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven. —Psalm 119:89

This morning I'm thankful for the things that are forever:
God's love in my heart
His Word in heaven
His Guidance, Protection, Love, Forgiveness, Mercy, Strength

And I'm thankful for the things that are just for now (in this moment/on the earth):
Fear, Anger, Bitterness, Hatred, Injustice
Ambition, Selfishness, Competition, Poverty
currently- Finals!

But Your Word is forever, Father! Forever, even in Finals week! Please let me keep Your word on my heart this day and always.

Ready to Rend

Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity. -Joel 1:13

"Rend" is not a word we use often, but it simply means "to rip or tear violently". In the Bible, we read oftentimes about people who tore their clothes when they were in mourning or despair. But, Joel says that we must tear our hearts instead. When you tear something, it is a permanent change of state. A syntactic test that proves it is that you can't un-tear something. It is torn. (Similar to the way you can't un-cook or un-break something... although my wish for an "undo" button would change this!) So, when you tear your heart, that's a real change. That's what God wants. Instead of just saying I'm sorry with your voice, he wants you to say it with your heart- with your life... in a change that is real. Change your heart, and return to the Lord...reassured by his unfailing love, and his promise... that everyone who calls upon His name will be saved.

Thank You, Father, for Your promises and Your blessings. Teach me to rend my heart and return to You.

And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the LORD has said,
among the survivors
whom the LORD calls. Joel 1:32

Those Who I Love, I Rebuke

14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." -Revelations 3:14-22

As I've currently been giving countless hours to a study on direct/indirect discourse styles in Composition Class Peer Review Sessions, I can't help but relate this passage to those findings. While the study itself exists because there is variation, the interesting thing is how resist many people are to giving negative feedback. I have one student who said nothing but positive comments over the course of the whole Peer Review session. And his partner's paper was a C+ (although I might've given a B- as a gift), there was certainly room for correction!

My professor Norma Mendoza Denton (who wrote an AMAZING book about girl gang culture) was recently telling us about the importance of having an advisor who is willing to give honest feedback. They need to be able to tell you when something needs to be fixed.

Well, we all have the very best advisor and wonderful counselor in Jesus. He knows what we need, and he's never distant. He stands at the door and kncoks. And best of all, his rebuke comes out of love.

The Undo Button of Life

Peter went out and wept bitterly. —Luke 22:62

The sign that I have been on the computer writing too much lately, I find myself wanting to press the undo button after real life events. Example, I put my hair into an unruly ponytail. Undo. I began cooking pasta and then decided to just grab a sandwich instead. Undo. I returned my books when I still had one more thing to look at. Undo.

But sometimes even on the computer we can't undo our mistakes. Example: I was crushed last night when I realized that I hadn't saved and somehow my Word closed without the autorecovery document coming up. An hour's work down the tube! That is never a good thing, especially when you're exhausted.

But with Jesus, we don't have to worry about closing the wrong window... when we shut Him out, He's there waiting for us... all we have to do with is go to the door... ask, knock, and seek.

Thanks for the Guidance!

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. —Proverbs 3:6

Lord this morning I'm so thankful for a kind and understanding family and boyfriend, who are always there for me.

And I'm so thankful for your answer to prayer- an understanding professor- which is really calming my heart right now.

Direct my paths today Father, so it may all be to Your glory- all my work, all my interactions with everyone, all of everything.

A Little Child

O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. —1 Kings 3:7

This is an interesting verse for me to read right now, as I'm questioning my direction for next year. But even people who aren't making such a 'next step' decision always have something to decide. Whether it is what to do for Christmas? New Year's Resolutions?

Right now I do feel rather weak... and it's good to know that I don't need to know it all. My heavenly Father will show me the way. And even King David (servant king) was ok with admiting when he didn't know.

Brokenness

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart. —Psalm 51:17

11Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. -John 3:1

I remember that in church we used to puzzle over the verse to a praise song that said, "Brokenness is what I long for." How could you long for brokenness? Brokenness can't be a good thing. A broken catcard, a broken computer, a broken alarm clock, all very bad things. Even worse a broken spirit! But, this kind of brokenness is different.

"Contrite" is a word that's not used very often, and I feel people often confuse it with the word "trite," which sounds similar but is almost opposite in terms of meaning. Since, it is essential to understanding this passage, "contrite" is feeling sorrow or regret for one's sins.

Now, we can look back and understand the need for brokenness. If the catcard weren't broken, you wouldn't take it to the student services desk. If the computer weren't broken, you wouldn't take it to the store. If the alarm clock weren't broken, you wouldn't take it to the shop. If your heart weren't broken, you wouldn't take it to God. We need to be broken in order to understand our sins.

Lord, like Paul, I'm thankful that I'm incapable, that I can't on my own, that I'm feeling broken right now for the sins I've committed- for I know that sin affect not only myself but other and You dear Lord. But it has brought me back to You. Thank You for Your forgiveness Father. Plesae use me in some small way today.

True peace is not the absence of war; it is the presence of God. —Loveless

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:7

At this time of the semester, I feel that we do need the peace that passes all understanding. Guard our hearts this day, dear Lord... let us feel and show your peace.

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!"

This morning I take note of the "continually" and thank my Father for continually rescuing me from things that have brought me down. In church yesterday Hermano Pina mentioned that the evil spirits that surround us are like dogs... they can smell fear. Whether you call them evil spirits or temptations, we don't need to fear, because our Father always is here to rescue us.

3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.

In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. —Psalm 16:11

This Christmastime this is particularly meaningful to me. It is not presents we need but his PRESENCE. I believe this His is the spirit that makes Christmastime so special. I remember sitting at home and listening to the sound of the Messiah, shoveling the driveway and coming inside to a cup of hot chocolate and some warm chocolate chip cookies, calling friends and loved ones and greeting them with a Christmas smile. It's not even those specific events or actions... it's the warmth that fills you as you remember the best Christmas gift ever. ODB has a particularly beautiful reflection on the topic this morning... good to remember that it is the Christmas season and NOT Finals season/Shopping season/etc... first things first.

7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Last night I went to the GCF Christmas party, and I was reminded that love comes from God. We sang some beautiful Christmas songs... and I loved it! Great music, great songs... while we didn't quite get "Lo How a Rose," we'll save that for next time. And it was so great to see everyone and to think about other things besides school for a while. The thing is, when I arrived, I was still very much 'not present.' I was still with my work... which has piled up very quickly (especially in light of my due date which appears to be one week early). But, after donning some fairy wings, seeing Lise model plastic bags and having my cat with the radio-active eyes 'stolen,' the laughter had taken that away for a bit. I was finally present with my friends... loving being with them... and feeling that love that comes from God! What a beautiful present!

Side Note: Daniel 1:11-16 has an interesting plea for vegetarianism! (Ok, ok, so it's really about following what the Lord has called you to do and how He helps make things possible for those who are faithful... but it's in there.. Look it up!)

When the Going Gets Tougher

It seems that when things are tough, other things want to add to it.

Last night I did laundry and must've had the clothes in the dryer too long. (It was a really huge load of laundry, so I figured it needed it.) Anyway, they shrunk. Some things aren't too bad, but the jeans are the worst- especially since I only have two pair... and they were both in there.

Some of you might know why this is particularly hard for me. I just managed to squeeze into them, looked at myself and cried. This it the exact worst time for this to happen to me. When I'm stressed, I always feel like I need to lose weight (to try to control something again). But, this made me feel like I "need" to lose so much weight in a way that's filled with negative feelings. Now it's really hard to fight them off. I know it seems stupid- all because of an overactive laundry machine- but isn't it usually stupid. Isn't it usually the trivial things in life that can really get to us?

Void, if you're out there, please say an extra prayer for me today. I'll pretend that this prayer is for me... and for all of us who are just having a tough time today... It's time to pull out that secret weapon: He who STRENGTHENS us... please strengthen us today, Lord.

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen
-Ephesians 3:14-21

His Out-of-This-World Gifts!

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? —Romans 8:32

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. -1 John 2: 15-17

This beautiful verse from Romans serves to remind us that if God was selfless enough to give His only Son, His Son (He not with Him) also is that selfless and giving... as was rightly proven through Jesus' life and death. It's like the Heifer project... where you buy a cow for a family and the family gives that cow's calf to another family... and so on and so forth. God gave His Son, His Son gave eternal life through His death, His death gave eternal life... and His message of hope is passed from heart to heart... and so on and so forth. I'm not much of a mathematician, but I would say it grows exponentially.

The gifts He gives aren't of this world. Pride is often mentioned in the Bible, and again I think it's important to remember the context- an extremely hierarchical society- where you were defined by your status (your job, your family name, your money). But, have things changed that much? Aren't we surrounded with labels such as brand names, level of education, occupation, neighborhood/home, etc. God reminds us that it's not about "the things of this world." Instead, we need to thank God for th heavenly gifts He showers upon us. Father, we thank You for Your out-of-this-world gifts this season!

Is He in You?

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. —1 John 4:4

I think that Gatorade had this slogan years ago. "Is it in you?" They showed images of fluorescent colors filling athletes before they would do incredible things. Now, at this time of the year, we need to all ask ourselves: "Is He in you?" His greatness and power are 100x the strength of Gatorade, and it's helpful on such a greater level. God's power isn't doesn't just give us strength to climb that rock wall but to climb the metophorical "mountain" of papers to write or taxes to pay or gifts to buy. What we need to ask this holiday season is: "Is He in you?" If not, fill up... and you'll overflow with love... overcoming the "mountains" of this world.

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. -1 John 1:5-10

A further reason we need God in our lives... there is NO darkness in him. Artists recognize the importance of light and darkness in the shading involved in their work. In fact, you're hard pressed to find a place where there is absolutely no "darkness." Of course here we're not talking about physical darkness or lightness, but we're considering the light- guidance, perfection, safety, warmth, love, clarity that God provides as opposed to the dark- fear, danger, ruin, lack, old, cold, unuseful.

I think it's always important to remember the context. At that time, streets weren't filled with street lights, and there wasn't electricity to flip a switch, create an artificial daytime and pull an all-nighter. Darkness meant unproductivity, staying at home, inability to do pretty much anything. On an emotional level, they say that people in Alaska have more trouble adjusting to darkness than to the cold. Darkness is often link to fear, sadness, many negative emotions. No wonder it's so hard to get out of bed in the wintertime! And that's why people began the tradition of the Christmas lights... to fill the winter darkness with the light of Christ that came into a dark world. This season let's fill our hearts with His light... invite His light into your heart and your home this holiday season, as we reflect on the beauty of Christmas.

What Can I Give... Poor As I Am?

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!-2 Corinthians 9:15

As a little girl, I remember how we used to sing in Sunday School...

"What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?"

As a carefree little girl, well-taken-care-of by my parents, I had not a worry in the world. I didn't feel poor at all. I could put a quarter in the offering plate, which my parents had passed on to me. I didn't know the struggle of "what can I give...?"

But recently, as a grad student... having sacrificed a summer of earnings, I've felt the pinch. On Black Friday, I went out with my parents to buy a new computer (since mine was no longer working properly), and I had an mini-emotional breakdown of sorts. It was about priorities (what did this spending say about where my priorities were), it was about selfish desires and consumerism (why was I spending this money on me), but it was also about the fact that this computer cost half of all the money I have to my name, and Christmas is coming. I save up all year so that I can give the people I love at least something little... something to show how much I love and appreciate them. And now I really feel like, what can I give them, poor as I am?

But the song answers that question:

"If I were a wiseman,
I would do my part.
But what can I give Him?
I'll give my heart."

So even though I might not be able to give the gifts I'd like to give this season, ODB has some ideas... and hopefully people will know that these come with a lot of heart:

• The gift of listening. No interrupting, no planning your response. Just listening.

• The gift of affection. Being generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, and pats on the back.

• The gift of laughter. Sharing funny stories and jokes. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”

• The gift of a written note. Expressing in a brief, handwritten note your appreciation or affection.

• The gift of a compliment. Sincerely saying, “You look great today” or “You are special” can bring a smile.

And best of all... the gift of the news of Jesus as Lord and Savior and His indescribable gift of eternal life.


With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day....The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare...But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. -2 Peter 3:8,10,13

As I mentioned last week, one of the most precious gifts a grad student can give is their time. In fact, I'm convinced that it's not just grad students these days. It's the travelling businessman, it's the overbooked high school student athlete, it's the ________. Everyone is busy these days, and I really wonder why. We've created all these devices to make us more efficient and effective, and I wonder whether they will be our demise. Since we can do things faster, we have to do more things. And it somehow seems so all-important.

Now, don't get me wrong. I do believe that we should glorify God with everything we do- and that means everything from construction work to a college paper to a grad student presentation at a conference. However, we have to keep in mind that our days are numbered. That our perception of time is not the same as God's, and that all this will disappear. Really, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. It's so easy for me, especially at the end of a hectic semester, to get so wrapped up in my work that I can't see out of it... I can't see the beauty of being with my family or the joy of advent. I spent the first few days of Thanksgiving break caught up in giving every moment to my studies. Then, I realized that I had sacrificed more important things- my family and my Lord. Lord, help me to keep in mind that everything in this world will be laid bare. Yours is the important and eternal kingdom... and I give my heart to You first.