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Expecting the Unexpected: Surprise!

12.10.2019 by Jennifer Howe //

Hey friends, the Facets are expecting the unexpected. December is the perfect time to think about the unexpected surprise. Tracy shared her thoughts here. And it’s super-exciting to let you in on a secret: you’ll receive two sweet surprises over the next two weeks. We’ve got two guests! Please give a warm welcome to our friends, Megan and Maricela!

Expecting the Unexpected (Jennifer Howe)

This year I (Jennifer) need to look at Christmas through the eyes of a child. My perspective has become less childlike over time. On December 10th I sit at my kitchen table wondering how I’ll manage to shoehorn all the events into my calendar. I wonder when I’ll finish decorating the tree. I wonder if I’ll try to bake or do some crafty thing or write cards or…

Anyway, there’s plenty of wonder, I tell ya! I miss the wonder of the season!

The first Christmas gift I can remember from my childhood was Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots (Marx, 1964). If you know the original game, you’re familiar with the loud, surprising gear sound when a hit to the jaw was “just right” and a robot’s “block was knocked off.” As a small child, I expected the sound, but it surprised me every time. That game was played a lot in our family since it never needed batteries. Its noise may have been responsible for my overactive startle reflexes and parental headaches. *Grin*

When I think of expecting the unexpected at this time of year, I find myself leaning into the story of Jesus. Now that’s the unexpected! And yet, some expected Him.

The beautiful thing about my God is that He is always speaking—through everyday things, people who know Him, words on a page, and in whispers when the mind is quiet. And He told the world to expect the unexpected (which truly makes me question the “unexpected” part, but here we are).

O Come, O Come, Immanuel…¹

Isaiah received the honor of announcing the coming King to God’s people hundreds of years before the advent. He would be faithful to the spoken promises (the expecting part), but the time and place would be unknown except to a few (the unexpected part).

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

And ransom captive Israel—that mourns in lonely exile here…

The promise was made by a God who keeps His promises. And yet, the people in that day (and their descendants) would not see the child in their lifetime. Jerusalem would fall, the people would be in exile for hundreds of years, and eventually Israel would be occupied and oppressed by Roman rule—all before the promise would be fulfilled.

Until the Son of God appear…

And then—surprise!—the unexpected happened. The magi in the East expected it and made the trek to worship the new King. I love that my pastor put it this way: there’s a “math problem in the book of Daniel, and the magi worked it out. They looked for a sign in the heavens because they expected God to show them in that way.”² The magi were students of Daniel’s writings and the night sky. They knew the prophetic promise and saw the “new star” because they were watching. Being expectant and open to the unexpected made the difference.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

In contrast, just when the magi witnessed the sign, a little town overflowed with people obeying Caesar’s census decree. Everyone from the House of David was in Bethlehem. The King who would sit on “the throne of David” was right there. The people of God, the ones who knew the scriptures, overlooked the moment that would change everything! A miraculous pregnancy. They baby born in Bethlehem. They all missed it! Except—

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel

And He came with the angelic announcement to shepherds in the field at night.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14 ESV

The expected King arrived in an unexpected and miraculous way. Kings are found in palaces; a trough was an unexpected place. The entire House of David was gathered in Bethlehem, yet the King’s birth was still an unexpected time for people who were not expecting the unexpected. Angels, shepherds, and a delayed caravan of magi? Unexpected.

Do you know the second verse of O Come, O Come, Immanuel?

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

There are fifteen (15!) days left before Christmas, and I’ll be the one thinking about expecting the unexpected. You, too?

Thanks for joining the conversation. Pop a comment below, share us with a friend, and find us on Facebook! Don’t forget—you can receive the goodness in your very own inbox by subscribing.

Signature: Jennifer Howe

 

 

 

 

 

* Click the signature above to find Jennifer’s writing.

¹ “O Come, O Come, Immanuel.” 12th C.
² Chapman, Scott. Hope. 2019.

Categories // Expecting the Unexpected, Jennifer Howe's Perspective Tags // Expecting the unexpected, Isaiah 9:6-7, Jennifer J Howe, Luke 2:10-14, Luke 2:16-19, O Come Immanuel

A Thankful Heart Serves: the Whys and 6 Ways to Serve

11.12.2019 by Jennifer Howe //

Welcome to Facets, friend. Cinnamon and spice is giving way to peppermint too soon. In a couple weeks many of us will gather with family and friends to count blessings and feast together. Our team adds to the thankful list when you visit and take time to connect here, on Facebook, or face-to-face. This month we remember a thankful heart serves. We’re honored when you engage in the conversation. Thank you!

This November we’re writing about thankfulness and the heart of service that flows from gratitude. You can find Tracy’s post here. And we are over-the-moon-excited to welcome our friend, Megan, this month.

Out of thankfulness—how do we serve? (J Howe)

“All you need is love…”¹

“You serve out of who you are,” he said. I (Jennifer, who recently changed my post color from pink to blue) realized my brain cells shifted focus to turn that idea over and over while the radio program faded and continued on in the background. I can’t serve out of who I’m not, I suppose. But serving out of who I am? Normally, this thinking would begin a spiral of introspection toward shame, but not this time. I chose to be compassionate toward me and become more curious than condemning, a new thing I hope to see blossom in my thought life.

I need a fresh reminder of what my God has to say about serving.

My first random act of kindness was in response to the Live Aid telecast in 1985. People in a country I knew nothing about were dying. I was only in high school, but I had to give. Years later I experienced a prompt to be generous for another cause, but it felt different—now I knew the guilt trip thing. Serving others doesn’t always feel the same, I thought. What’s the difference?

We have the opportunity to serve, but how will it look and feel? Is it the cause, the real person representing the need, or something else? I need more than Beatles lyrics to motivate me.

Shiny shoulds, wooden woulds, and tinny cans…

Sometimes I’m disappointed with my insensitivity. When I serve for all the wrong reasons I end up with sickening service or something worse. I easily make a list of reasons I should serve; they’re shiny and make me look good. When I struggle to serve, I have a list of woulds lined up, and I walk down that list teetering on a rickety picket fence. If I want to get over myself, I make a list of cans—but there’s a tinny echo to “I can do this.”

Honest reasons for every season…

How does a woman who loves God serve, and who does she serve?

Serve the LORD with reverential awe
and rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2:11 CSB

Serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:2 CSB

It all starts in one place: relationship to the Lord. Why do anything of significance anyway? If it’s all about me, I have the power to make up my own mind and set my own agenda. Sometimes that may come across as kind or even genuine, but deep love comes from the deepest places.

But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 NLT

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Psalm 116:1 ESV

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 ESV

When I pause to reflect on my God’s loving heart—mercy and grace at the cross—I should be affected. If I’m not, I wonder where my heart is focused. Jesus came, lived, died, and rose—to pay for sin, reconcile us to Holy God, and graciously gift us freedom in this life. If I’m cold toward Him or others, I haven’t thought about the rough-hewn crossbeam and nails. Awe and reverence, trembling joy, gladness, and love are found at the crucifixion, the empty tomb, and the torn curtain (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23). Humility and worship flow out of meditation like that!

Choosing…

Choosing between loving God in serving others and my ugly, self-serving ways is a real struggle. It’s a fight to choose selflessness over self-protection. Knowing the problem is half the battle. Choosing thankfulness and letting my service flow from that is the other half.

Why would I make that choice? Sometimes I choose because it’s the right thing, even if I’m waiting for my feelings to catch up. Sometimes the feelings amplify the calling I know is right.

For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. Galatians 5:13 CSB

We have freedom of choice. No one forces anything, even God (I like to think the shoulds are outta here!). He knows freely-given love is the only real love there is. Commands in the Bible, not suggestions, are always for our good. The truth is, Plan A for our lives is that we love and glorify Him. If we begin to grasp what He has done for us, what other emotion can we have but thankfulness? Our choosing process changes at that point, doesn’t it?

We are free to choose, but two opportunities fight against serving others in love: self-serving and self-protection.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. ²

Friend, I’m on the choosing road every day. I want this for me, you, and the world:

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT

Out of thankfulness, how will you serve someone today? Will it require specific talent or giftedness, or will you need to grow in thankfulness and engage your heart?

What to do? What to do?

Some ideas for serving in this season might be—

  • Volunteer with or support your local homeless shelter (PADS is one in this directory)
  • Carry an “essentials bag” to give away (Homeless Backpack Network)
  • Find a coat drive in your area to help people stay warm (One Warm Coat is one)
  • Organizations collect new toys for Christmas (Toys for Tots is one)
  • Support an organization caring for children (CAFO, Safe Families, or others)
  • Serve your church’s mission through ministry

These aren’t the only opportunities. I would love for our readers to start a list below or at our Facebook Page. Let’s help each other be creative in our service in this season and every season. We need ideas for spring, summer, fall, and winter, friends!

Signature: Jennifer Howe

 

 

 

 

 


¹ “All You Need is Love.” Lennon-McCartney. 1967.
² “The Road Not Taken.” Robert Frost. 1916.

Categories // Jennifer Howe's Perspective, Thankfulness: How do we serve? Tags // 1 John 4:19, All You Need is Love, Facets of Faith, Galatians 5:13, Luke 23, Mark 15, Matthew 27, PADS, Psalm 100:2, Psalm 105, Psalm 116:1, Psalm 2:11, Robert Frost, Serve, Service, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Road Not Taken, Volunteer

God Responds to His Children—Perfectly

10.18.2019 by Jennifer Howe //

Hello, friend. I’m thankful you’ve dropped in for a visit. You’re always welcome here, and our team always hopes this space becomes one of your favorite places to think deeply and share generously to the community that has built here over the years. If you’re new, Tracy shared thoughts on the question this month here. Be sure to check in next week for thoughts from our guest, Ever Moore. We know you’ll love meeting her! This week, I’m thinking about how God responds perfectly.

God Responds to Me (JJ Howe)

How does God respond to me?

That’s the kind of question I (Jennifer) can turn over in my mind for quite awhile. I often turn toward Him during a quiet, reflective pause in my day; the times I need patience or help; and the desperate, ugly-cry moments. I know how he responds then—He responds in love.

What about when my heart and mind are distracted by innumerable things? How does God respond when I haven’t paused, reflected, or connected? What then? If I were Him—but I am not Him. Running the character of God through my own human, flawed filter has serious problems and repercussions. The mighty, eternal God of truth reveals His nature and character without a doubt. The Bible is clear:

The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8 CSB

How does the merciful, gracious, patient, loving God respond to me, you, any of us? How can we be sure He will? When I need to know the heart and mind of my heavenly Father, I search the pages of scripture. You, too?

He knows.

The Lord’s response to me is perfect. That’s all there is. (Okay, we can pack it in since there’s nothing left to say, right? I’m kidding.) His response is perfect because He knows every detail of His creation. His response to me is out of deep love, and it’s in keeping with His character and everything He knows about me.

O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 NLT

I’m thankful God is not fickle or passive-aggressive. He is present in a deeply personal way! My thoughts, words, actions—He knows it all before I begin. Why is that important? Because the best response to a person takes everything about them into account.

A special friend knows me well. She is able to pick out a gift that is perfect for me, and I’m both thankful and amazed. My husband has over 20 years of life with me, so he has the opportunity to know so much more about me. How much more intimate knowledge does my Creator hold? When He gives a gift out of His boundless love, there are no words.

He cherishes.

My God knows and cares for me. Because He does, I know He’s thinking about me.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand! Psalm 139:17-18a

When I began dating my future husband all those years ago, it was obvious I was thinking about him all the time. Sometimes a little gift would be left on a car at work. Phone calls were made every night at the same time. He was on my mind even in the busy times (mostly because I couldn’t wait to shag free from the busy to spend time with him).

When you intimately know, care for, and think fondly and highly of someone, you cherish them. Friend, our God cherishes us.

He loves.

Jesus is the embodiment of love. He offers His love completely, without hesitation, and sacrificially. Hundreds of years before the Christ walked on the earth, King David prophesied our need for salvation would be met in Jesus; the Lord provides for those who revere Him.

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:9-10

In Christ, the child of God receives genuine righteousness, His! Unchanging and faithful love has been gifted to us in Jesus. Peace with God and peace within our soul. We have restored relationship with our heavenly Father in Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit in us. God’s love grants us right standing, “rightness,” with God, and that yields the wholeness we were made for!

He stays.

The next verse is precious to me. When I think I’ve “lost” my connection (usually due to choosing busyness and allowing too much noise in my life), I’m reminded that He is never misplaced. He is always present. He is with me all the time.

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence! Psalm 139:7

I’m married, and I know the permanence of the relationship these 22 years. On any given day or night, I know where my husband is, but occasionally he travels or I do. When we are separated by distance, we will still honor the vows that marked the beginning of our married life. Why? Because we are committed to being with each other.

God’s commitment to me looks the same and different. The permanence is the same but more intimate and heightened; nothing changes my relationship to Him. Paul wrote,

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38

Nothing? Life, death, spiritual beings, fears, worries, the powers of hell—even my foolish busyness? Nothing. He is committed to me to the end and for all eternity. That’s genuine permanence right there!

He hears.

His ear attunes to me, my heart, all of my life. Every breath, every word, every heartbeat—my heavenly Father’s ear is so keen, He catches it all. The Spirit intimately connects—hearing, inspiring, and often amplifing the cries of my heart.

He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 145:19

It’s not like having a programmed smart device in our home listening for the next question or command. It’s closer to a very important skill that may be diminishing in our culture: actively listening. When you love and care for someone, you listen very carefully and respond with their best interest in mind. If my husband were to use his words to ask for help, I’d hear his voice and heart in that ask; and then I would want to give my best yes because I love him.

With God, I make many requests. What I know is, “he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him” (1 John 5:14).

God responds perfectly!

It never enters my God’s all-knowing, deeply-loving mind to turn a cold shoulder to the child He loves. Sometimes I miss out on pausing, reflecting, and connecting, and that breaks His tender heart. And it has consequences for me in my life, consequences He would never want any of His children to experience.

It’s all true up there. He loves me (us!) and wants the very best for His child. Out of that love, He will wait for me to come to Him and spend time with Him.

Because I love God—I won’t want to make Him wait.

Is there any particular way you experience God responding to you? I’m curious! Share below or at the Facebook Page.

Signature, Jennifer Howe

Categories // How does God respond to me?, Jennifer Howe's Perspective Tags // 1 John 5:14, Facets of Faith, God responds, Jennifer J Howe, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 139, Psalm 145:19, Psalm 85:9-10, Romans 8:38

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