GOOD GIFTS

GOOD GIFTS
Have you ever looked forward to giving a loved one a gift? It begins with a thought, and then you go shopping. You may not know what the gift will be but you know it when you spot it. There it is, tucked among all the other items, the perfect gift. You know this person inside and out. There is no doubt in your mind that this is just the gift for them.

You buy it and hurry home with your treasure. You take your time wrapping it, all the while thinking of the one your heart loves, the one the gift is meant for.

You call them up and invite them to meet you. The time arrives, and with gift in hand you head out, your heart filled with anticipation. You arrive at the place you chose to meet. Your eyes scan the room, and then a smile touches your lips as you find them sitting at a corner table, sipping their favorite coffee. You head to the table filled with joy. There is something quite delicious in knowing a secret; of bearing a gift that is about to delight someone near and dear to your heart.

The moment arrives. You can hardly stand it as you take the gift from its hiding place, and set it before them. For a brief moment there is silence as their eyes take in the beautifully wrapped package sitting in front of them. They lift their gaze to yours, question marks in their eyes, but the love dancing in your eyes quickly assures them that the gift is for them.

They reach out and begin to unwrap it. They catch their breath as what was unknown to them becomes known. There is no need to ask if they like it as tears of joy spill down their cheeks and they fly into your waiting embrace. In that moment, your heart rejoices in the giving of a good gift.

Do you know that God rejoices in giving those who love Him good gifts? It’s true! My friend, wipe the Monday morning sleep from your eyes, pour your favorite coffee or tea, and kick off your shoes right there at your desk and nestle into the Lord’s presence. Oh, and don’t forget to have His Book nearby as we will be taking a walk with Him in His Word.

A soft breeze stirred the brush nearby as I took a seat on a large boulder and looked out at the mountains as they stretched high before me. It was a clear January morning, and a wintery crispness was in the air. I had looked forward to this hike in the foothills for days, and now here I was at last.

Life had been so busy and it seemed ages since I had been off on my own. I looked around, not a soul in sight. I was alone. I looked out at the valley below on one side and then over at the towering peaks on the other. It was glorious. There is something about solitude that revives my spirit, and nourishes my soul. I was reminded of Jesus’ invitation to His weary disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31 NASB)

I opened my backpack and took out my Bible, journal and pen. There in the stillness, my soul made its way down a familiar dusty path, to the well and sat down with Him who is my heart’s longing.

“Hello,” He said.

“Hello,” I replied.

“I see you got My invitation,” He said, peering over my shoulder at the place I was reading in Mark 6:31.

I moved in closer to Him as I whispered, “Thank You for asking me to come away with You.” I breathed deeply as my eyes took in the rugged beauty that surrounded me. “Lord, I’m so glad you chose this place for us to meet in today. This is lovely.” I drew near to Him then, and just as He promised, He drew near to me.

Then He took my heart with Him into His Word and we stopped and lingered awhile. Why don’t you join us?

41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. Jeremiah 32:41 (NIV)

How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You.
(Psalm 31:19 NASB)

I sat quietly thinking about His goodness. “Lord, it says here that you store up Your goodness for those who fear you.” I looked up at the great mountains and then at the sky colored a deep blue and thought about His goodness and wondered what kind of storage unit could possibly contain it. That’s when I heard it.

Clip clop. Clip clip clop. Clop. Clop. Clop.

It sounded as if someone was trekking about the mountainside in high heels. My gaze followed the sound. Then movement caught my eye and I caught my breath. A Big Horn sheep stood on the mountainside. His great horns curled around. He lifted his gaze and looked in my direction, his head raised majestically. Then more movement as a female sheep leapt gracefully over a boulder and headed ever higher. More movement as the mountainside came alive. One, two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN. “Lord,” I cried. “I have lived in the desert 33 years and I have never seen Big Horn sheep in the wild. Thank You! Thank You!”

We sat in companionable silence watching power and grace in motion. My heart turned toward Him who gave all for me, and it occurred to me that He had planned this moment, this gift for me. He knew those things that refreshed me, gave me joy, inspired and refreshed this heart within me – His daughter. He had knit me together after all.

It occurred to me that He had gone through a lot of trouble for me. He sent me the invitation in Mark 6:31. He had arranged the meeting place, here at the feet of His glorious snow-covered mountains, and He had brought a gift, which He tucked into the mountainside for me to unwrap at just the right moment; a gift from His heavenly storehouse. David’s words flooded my thoughts, “How great is Your goodness…” My heart looked up into His eyes and there I saw rejoicing

My sweet friend, He delights in you. Not because of anything you do or strive to be. In fact, in Psalm 46:10 He says, “Cease your striving and know that I am God.” Before you loved Him, He loved you. He thought of you before the foundation of the world. He has issued an invitation for you to get away and spend some time alone with Him (Mark 6:31). Will you accept His invitation? Will you go?

Take some time now to walk with the Lord through His Word.

Psalm 31:19
Jeremiah 32:41
Matthew 7:11
1 Corinthians 2:9
James 1:17

Dear one, what’s going on in your life right now? Even amidst great sorrow, trial or pain, or the regular Monday morning workday, God’s goodness is there (Romans 8:28), and His gifts of tenderness come. Are you watching for them? They may be as simple as a loved one’s embrace; or Big Horn sheep on a mountainside. Whatever, and however the gift comes, you can be sure He chose it. In fact, He has been storing it for just the right moment; it is just right for you, and it is good. As you hold the gift, be still, do you hear it? It is the sound of your heavenly Father rejoicing.

Glory!



An Original Conversations at the Well
© By Diana Morgan February 28, 2011

MY FATHER'S VOICE

MY FATHER’S VOICE

…the Lord called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” (1 Samuel 3:4 NASB)

Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.” (1Samuel 3:10 NASB)

The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word. (1 Samuel 3:21 NIV)

The day was mild, the February sun warm on my face. A late afternoon breeze rustled the trees, their leaves waving a glad greeting as we walked beneath the stately boughs. Children ran and played, their laughter filling the air as Elizabeth and I walked through the park. We chatted about life and hopes and dreams, as mothers and daughters are known to do, when a scene up ahead caught my attention.

A man stood on the grass as he called several names. “Come,” he called. I followed his gaze; watching to see who belonged to him. The father called the names again. I watched as two boys on bicycles looked his way and then proceeded to ride in the opposite direction as fast as their legs would pedal. A younger boy of about 7 stood on the grass nearby, feeding ducks as his father called his name. “I want to feed the ducks!” he replied without so much as a glance in his father’s direction.

While two sons pedaled away, pretending they hadn’t heard their father’s voice, and another stubbornly continued feeding ducks, a fourth son, the youngest, who appeared to be no more than four years of age, had come and was quietly waiting at his father’s feet.

The father looked down as he softly said the small boy’s name. The boy’s face lit up at the sound of his father’s voice. I watched as the father bent down, speaking quietly, words meant for the one who responded to his call. The little boy leaned in until his forehead rested against his father’s face; all the while the father continued speaking. Then he wrapped the boy in his arms and gently lifted him off the ground and began walking along the edge of the water in deep conversation with his son.

A short while later as Elizabeth and I turned to head home, I spotted the father. He was sitting on a large boulder at the water’s edge, his young son nestled in against him. The father pointed at something out on the water as the little boy listened to his every word. My eyes scanned the area, looking for any sign of the wayward sons, but they were nowhere to be seen; they were too busy; too distracted to come when their father called. And oh what they were missing. The scene captivated me, and I tucked the picture into a corner of my heart to ponder later.

That night something stirred me to wakefulness and I sat up, tilting my head to one side as I listened. I was about to lay back down when I heard it; that still small voice whispering to my heart, “Come,” He said. In that moment the little boy who had responded to his father’s voice came to mind, and I so wanted to be like him. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I left the warmth of my bed, grabbed my Bible and headed off to the Well.

I arrived to find Him whom my soul loves waiting for me. I told Him all about the father who had called his sons. He listened as I spoke of the two who had pretended not to hear their father’s voice and rode away; then there was the third son who had stubbornly stayed where he was feeding ducks. At last my favorite part came and my heart was breathless as I told him about the youngest boy who had stood in quiet expectation at his father’s feet.

His eyes shone with memories of eternity past as He carried my heart to His Word. We stopped in 1 Samuel 3 where He told me about a boy named Samuel. He had called Samuel’s name, and once Samuel knew Who it was that was calling him, he said, “Here I am.” We read on until He stopped me again at verse 21. I read it over and over again.

The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word. (1 Samuel 3:21 NIV)

“Lord,” I whispered. “Yes,” He replied. “Lord, thank you for revealing yourself to me through your Word. Thank you for calling my name. Help me to be like Samuel and be listening for your voice and to have a heart that is quick to say, ‘Here I am.’”

We lingered there for a while as His words of truth wove themselves into the fabric of my heart.
Then, in the stillness, He who loves me called my name. He bent down until I could feel His very breath, and my heart leaned in until it rested in His presence. Joy!

My dear friend, what is your response when the Father calls your name? Do you pretend not to hear and ride off to the next task as fast as your legs will go? Do you say, “Wait, Lord, I’m feeding these ministry ducks and I’ll meet with you as soon as I’m finished.” Or do you have a heart like Samuel’s that is quick to say “Here I am.” Oh the wonder that awaits in the quietness of His presence.

An Original Conversations at the Well
By Diana Morgan
© February 11, 2011

LIFE IS HERE

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11:25-26 NASB)

I sat quietly at the Well. The darkness before dawn settled around me as I waited for Him whom my soul loves to come with His glory light and chase all the shadows away.

I shivered in winter’s chill and wrapped a soft throw around me, but it did nothing to melt away the circumstances that seemed to have piled up overnight like snowdrifts in a winter storm. It seemed life had come to a halt, as winter has a way of doing. My writing was especially being impacted. I would try to get going, but I couldn’t seem to get any traction, like trying to drive up a snow covered, icy mountain road without snow tires or chains – I was spinning my wheels and getting nowhere in a hurry.

I hoped people wouldn’t notice me in my “nowhere-ness”, but they did. People who cared about me began asking questions. I thought of a friend who had stopped by my office and commented about the lack of writing he had seen from me recently. I made excuses, but inside I cried out, “I’m stuck. I’m in this snowdrift and can’t get myself out.”

I began justifying my inactivity with “when” thoughts. “When the economy improves, then I’ll get moving. When the pain from this tooth infection is resolved then life can resume. When I have more time then I’ll write again.” When… there is no shortage of “when thoughts” in winter-ness of the soul. Life is up ahead somewhere, on the other side of the snowdrifts of circumstances.

It was then that I remembered a phrase from an advertisement for a housing development that I had noticed on a billboard just before Christmas. I remembered it had caught me by surprise and I had written it down in my journal to ponder. I turned to the page in my journal and read the words again.

Your New Life Is Waiting For You Just 15 Miles Ahead

“I am the resurrection and the life.” My heart looked up startled at the sound of His voice as He whom my soul loves drew near. Without even saying good morning, I blurted out, “Lord, I’m stuck!”

“Walk with Me,” He said. I knew He meant a walk together in His Word, and my heart quickened as He led me in all my “stuck-ness” to John 11. I love to read about the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Countless times the Lord and I walked together through this very place in His Word, and I would find myself standing just behind Mary and Martha, breathless as Jesus uttered the command, “Lazarus, come forth!” I waited quietly for the story to unfold before me.

“Lord?” I whispered. “It’s very dark. I can’t see anything.” There were muffled voices as though spoken from behind a barrier. I tried to focus in the darkness, and noticed the slightest hint of light several feet away, but something was blocking it. I squinted in the darkness toward the light. “Lord, it’s as if there’s something blocking that light over there. It’s like there’s a…that is to say, um, Lord, it’s like there’s a big rock in the way.”

The words seemed to hang suspended in the darkness as my thoughts raced. The Lord had shown me the story of Lazarus from many different perspectives. I had sat in the house broken and grieving with Mary. I had run to meet Jesus with all my “if only” thoughts with Martha. I had stood filled with questions in the crowd of onlookers. But never had I seen it from behind the stone of winter – in the darkness of the tomb with Lazarus.

My eyes began to adjust to the darkness, and I took in the walls of stone. I caught my breath as I spotted Lazarus wrapped in burial cloths. I put a hand over my nose as I recalled what Martha had said in response to Jesus’ command to roll away the stone, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench…” His voice interrupted my thoughts as He asked, “When did Lazarus come to life?” I sat very still thinking about the question. I’d always been on the outside watching for Lazarus to come struggling out, wrapped tightly in grave cloths. I had always thought of Lazarus as being alive when he came out of the tomb. “When did life come?” He asked again.

I was not at all sure of where His question was taking me. Suddenly loud scraping sounds filled the air as men pushed the heavy stone away from the opening, and light mixed with dust filled the tomb. Through the dust Jesus’ voice thundered, “Lazarus, come forth.” His words reverberated inside the tomb of stone. Then I saw it, the gentle, but unmistakable rise and fall of Lazarus’ chest beneath the strips of cloth. He was breathing. He was alive! “He came to life when You called His name, and told him to come out,” I whispered.

Everything came to a stop then, as though frozen in that moment. That’s the amazing thing about walking through God’s Word with Jesus; He stops at incredible places. Places just right for heart-to-heart conversations with Him—like now.

“Do you think Lazarus was having ‘when’ thoughts?” I could feel my eyebrows crinkle in the center as I looked at Him with question marks in my eyes. He directed my attention back to Lazarus as He asked, “Do you suppose that Lazarus thought to himself: when I get outside then I’ll start breathing? Did he lay there waiting to be unwrapped before he got moving?” His questions came steadily and I wrestled with the words He spoke.

Then, as though an unseen hand had hit the play button, the scene came to life again. Lazarus sat up and struggled to his feet. He began to move toward the entrance of the tomb. The way was difficult. He could only take tiny steps and moved his body side to side. The scene stopped again. “Tell Me, is he any less alive bound and struggling? Is his life waiting outside in the sun or once the grave cloths are pulled away?” The Lord asked. In response, my puzzled heart looked into the Teacher’s eyes as I said, “Lord, you could have caused the grave cloths to fall away the moment You called Lazarus to come out. He could have walked or even run from the tomb then.”

We sat quietly, and then the One who gave all for me said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” I sat very still pondering His words from His Word as the scene came to life once more. I watched as Lazarus struggled outside into the sun. He was still struggling when Jesus directed the people to unbind him and let him go. The scene came to a stop as something about it caught my attention. Ever since Jesus had commanded Lazarus to come out, he had been struggling, inching his way in obedience to Jesus’ word to him. Lazarus didn’t say, “Well, Lord, when you unbind me I’ll come out.” No, Lazarus, in obedience, struggled and inched his way out until he finally stood face-to-face with Jesus.

“What a joyful moment that must have been,” I mused. My heart looked into eyes that held memories of eternity past as I said, “Lord, Lazarus was your dear friend.” I felt His hand upon my heart then as He whispered, “You are My friend if you do what I command you.” I recognized His words from John 15:14, and they pierced my heart as I realized I was not doing what He had commanded me to do. I was all wrapped up in life’s circumstances. I was in effect saying, “Lord, I’ll get back to the work you gave me to do when you unbind me and let me go; when you take Your heavenly snowplow and clear out these snowdrifts of circumstances, I’ll write again.”

I suddenly felt very small as I recalled Jesus’ circumstances as He labored, barely able to stand, under the cross. He had struggled on the road, under the weight of the cross, under the weight of my sin. Sometimes He fell, but He struggled to His feet and inched His way, step by labored step, in obedience to the Father, on toward Calvary, where He poured out His life for me. “Oh,” was all I could say there in His Presence.

Then the One who named the stars looked deep inside my heart as He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” In His glory light the shadows disappeared and I could see what He was revealing to me. My heart looked up as I said, “My life in you is not dependent on circumstances. Help me to keep going even when things get difficult, and I feel stuck. Give me strength to keep pressing on in obedience, inch by inch, step by step, until the day I stand before You face-to-face and the circumstances of this world fall away in Your Presence.”

Back at the Well, we sat in sweet companionship in the quiet mist of dawn, and He shared words with me that He gave another friend of His named Paul to write down. 2 Corinthians 4:17. He personalized them just for me the way only He can, “Diana, do not lose heart, but though your outer person is decaying, your inner person is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for you an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while you look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Then He whispered, “Write.” I opened my laptop, the cursor flashed as though mocking me. I began to feel panicked, but then my heart nestled down at His feet and I worshiped Him. My fingers began tapping the keys, haltingly at first. Then letter by letter I began to write about the Word walk the Lord and I went on together, and those things whispered from His heart to mine. When I’d finished, I placed what I’d written in His hands, you know, the ones with deep dark places in the centers. “Well done,” He said and my heart smiled.

Then He touched the tops of the mountain peaks with soft hues of mauve and pink as the day began to wake up. I headed out the door, strips of circumstances still wrapped about me, but under all those circumstances was LIFE, glorious LIFE.


My dear friend, what circumstances have you “stuck” today? Take them to the Lord. Go with Him on a walk through His Word. He’ll stop you at all the right places, and give you what you need to press on. Sometimes you’ll run and sometimes the way will be hard. The circumstances wrapped around you so tight that you can barely move. He will strengthen you to keep walking in obedience to Him, step by step, until one day you step across heaven’s threshold and stand face-to-face with Jesus. The circumstances of this life will fall away, as Jesus wraps you in His embrace and whispers, “Well done. Oh, well done, my friend.” Joy!

An Original Conversation at the Well
By Diana Morgan
© Copyright February 2, 2011

A STOP IN BETHLEHEM

BETHLEHEM

…in your light we see light. Psalm 36:9

It was dark and there was a chill in the air as I headed to the well. I stopped and lit a spiced cider candle before taking my place. I watched the flame dance and the warmth of the fragrance was soft and inviting. I opened His Book and read Psalm 36 and suddenly and without warning these words jumped off the page and into my heart, “in Your light we see light.” I looked up to see Him whom my soul loves looking at the candle and I smiled as I saw the Light of the world bathed in the soft glow of the candlelight and then my heart got all excited and breathless as it raced back to Psalm 36:9 and read again, “in Your light we see light.” I could not contain myself as my heart looked up at Him again and said, “In Your light I see light.” I could tell by the light dancing in His eyes that He had arranged this moment for me and He came and took a seat very near me at the Well and His presence enveloped me there in the light.
He took me to Isaiah 9:2 and I read it slowly (that’s the best way to read His Word), “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light – a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.” (NLT) I sat wondering about this light the people in the dark would see and where exactly the light came from and then I stopped in verse 6 as we read together, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on His shoulders. These will be His royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the Lord Almighty will guarantee this!”
My heart looked into His eyes as I whispered in the stillness, “You are the light that shines on those who live in the land where death casts it shadow. These verses are talking about your birth, aren’t they?” He nodded quietly and my heart caught a reflection of memories from eternity past shining in the eyes of Him whom my soul loves. I wondered then if the angels decorated for Christmas. Did they hang a wreath on Heaven’s door or put up Christmas lights? Did Heaven celebrate the day He laid aside His glory and took on the helplessness of a newborn? Did Jesus followers who had already walked across Heaven’s threshold light candles and sing to Him about that day while angels stand in silent awe of the very wonder of such love by the Creator that He would take on the form of the created? As I sat in the stillness my heart thought it heard echoes of the joyful celebration intertwined with awe and wonder thundering from Heaven.
I wondered if it was the voices of angels my heart heard and if so were they the same angels who had proclaimed Jesus’ birth to a group of shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem? “What of everyone else? Where were the people of Bethlehem? Didn’t they hear the voices of Angels proclaiming the birth of Him who came to die? Wouldn’t the sound of thousands of Heaven’s warriors singing praise to God travel through the streets of Bethlehem? Did anyone stop even for a moment, tilt their head and wonder what the sound was? Where were they?” I thought to myself. “They didn’t have room,” He said, following my thoughts.
I turned His words over and over in my mind and I realized things hadn’t changed much. My thoughts turned to Christmas lights and I thought about all the different lights of the season: Christmas lights that adorn people’s homes; Christmas tree lights that shine and twinkle and add warmth to evenings with family as they gather around the Christmas tree. The soft glow of candlelight for Christmas parties with co-workers and friends and family as their laughter fills the air. Lights shine from department store windows as frazzled and harried shoppers rush about, cramming one more thing into one more moment in one more hour of one more day. Budgets strain, heads pound, rest is scarce and hearts cry out in the midst of Christmas carols and sleigh bells. All the while, standing unseen by human eyes, the Angels are still proclaiming the Good News! I thought how easily we are distracted by “world-lights” and we miss Him. “No room,” He repeated.
As the flame of the candle danced, my heart nestled quietly at His feet and there in the Light of His Presence He began to share a story with me (He is the Master Storyteller, you know). It was a story of Christmas. As He began to weave the threads of the story into my heart I knew I needed to write it down so I opened my laptop and my fingers danced across the keyboard as He spoke.
The alarm rudely interrupted her sleep and she fumbled in the darkness until her fingers found the off button. Silence filled the house once again with the exception of Andy’s soft snoring. Beth groaned as she sat up. “How on earth had she allowed herself to be talked into this?” she wondered to herself as she headed to the shower. She stood in the shower willing herself to wake up as she recalled the conversation with her friends; the same conversation they had every year, and every year Beth laughed, told them they were crazy and then declined their offer.
She hurried from the bathroom to the closet where she quickly pulled on jeans and a sweater, selected comfortable shoes and sat down on the edge of the bed to put them on. She glanced at the clock; the illuminated numbers mocked her as they announced the time: 3:55 AM! Could it have really been just seven hours ago that she and Andy, Richard, Julie, Amy and John had sat in the living room downstairs sipping coffee in front of the fire after a wonderful Thanksgiving meal? Amy and Julie began talking about all the great bargains they were going to find on their annual shopping trip the next day and Beth could see the invitation coming. She had sat next to Andy giggling, already preparing to decline when she heard Andy say what a good idea he thought it was. After all, money was a bit tight and it wouldn’t hurt to get in on some bargains. “If it’s such a great idea why am I the one going shopping in the middle of the night?” she whispered. The only reply was Andy’s snoring. She pulled on her coat just as a car pulled into the driveway. She peered through the blinds and saw Amy walking to the front door, so grabbing her purse she kissed Andy’s cheek and switched off the light as she headed downstairs.
Beth opened the front door to find Amy standing on her doorstep smiling, holding out a travel mug with a bright red ribbon tied to the handle. “I come bearing gifts,” Amy said with a soft laugh. “It’s too early even for coffee,” Beth moaned as she stepped outside and turned to lock the front door. Amy’s cheerfulness wasn’t dampened in the least by her friend’s lack of enthusiasm. She continued holding out the mug to her friend as she said, “It’s Starbuck’s Christmas Blend. I ground it myself this morning. I even used your favorite creamer: toffee nut. But wait, there’s more. I also added just a sprinkling of ground cinnamon on top. Come on grumpy, take a sip,” Amy urged. “I now know why it is called Black Friday,” Beth said as she took the mug from her friend. “Do tell,” Amy said as they walked to the car. “Because it’s black outside which matches my mood,” Beth quipped as she climbed into the backseat.
Amy and Julie chatted cheerfully as Beth sat quietly in the backseat. She thought about all the things at home she had planned to accomplish that day and wouldn’t get to and would either not get done at all or be pushed to another timeslot. But where would she find time in a schedule in which every moment was already filled? “There’s no room,” she thought to herself. Beth’s mind began racing through the days ahead which were filled to the brim with the tasks of the Season. Her insides suddenly felt as if they were in a vice being squeezed as she ran down her mental calendar. There was a school field trip to the food bank downtown to show the kids how food was distributed to the needy. Then there were two school programs to attend, Andy’s staff Christmas party given by his employer, a family Christmas party at Andy’s parents’ house and the church Christmas pageant, their small group Christmas party at their house, and then she had agreed to help Amy at the local rescue mission on Christmas Eve immediately followed by the Candlelight service at church, and then, finally, Christmas Day. All of this was added on top of the usual day-to-day activities of family life. Then there was the added stress of the economic crunch which was now being felt in their life. As a result of layoffs at Andy’s place of employment his workload had increased but his benefits had been reduced. She sat surveying her life, “no room,” she whispered into the darkness.
She was brought back to the here and now as Amy pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot where a crowd of shoppers had already congregated at the doors waiting for them to open. Beth got out of the car and decided to try and enjoy herself as the three friends spent the morning shopping together. By eleven o’clock they had each nearly completed their shopping. Julie spotted a Panera and they decided this would be a good time to stop for lunch.
“So,” Amy began, “are you all ready to begin the Advent activities?” All three of them had purchased Advent calendars. Julie and Amy each shared various activities they already had planned and then they looked at Beth eager to hear what Advent plans she had made. “Well?” Julie enquired. Beth looked down at her fork as she confessed that the Advent package was still in its box, unopened. Amy and Julie sat looking at their friend, expressions of concern in their faces. Tears sprang into Beth’s eyes as she felt the internal vice tighten. “No room,” was all she could manage to say.
A few hours later Amy helped Beth carry her packages from the car into the house. Amy gave Beth a big “I love you friend” hug before she headed home. Beth closed the front door and didn’t see her friend sitting in the front seat of her car with her head bowed having a conversation with her Heavenly Father about a dearly loved friend and sister in Christ who had found herself with no room. A few hours later found Beth lying exhausted in bed and yet unable to sleep. Her thoughts were racing around and around in her head leaving no room for rest or even the ability to carry it all to the Lord. “No room,” she whispered. Sometime in the wee hours a troubled sleep came.
The weeks passed and Beth ticked off the activities on the calendar as each came and went. The week before Christmas Beth was heading out the door to one more meeting when Andy asked her why the Nativity had not been set out yet. Beth turned and looked at the place on the mantle where the Nativity usually sat, she felt that internal vice tighten another couple of notches as she mumbled under her breath, “No room.” She arrived home late and the kids were already in bed and Andy had fallen asleep on the couch. She got ready for bed and went back downstairs to clean things up and get ready for the next day’s activities when she noticed Andy had set the Nativity out on the mantle.
The fire snapped and crackled cheerfully in the fireplace inviting her to rest a while. She stood there looking at the figures and realized she simply wanted Christmas to be over. She was tired of the endless lists of things that had to get done and places she had to be and deadlines she had to meet and she knew she had been standing there when she should have been doing things – there was no room in her day for standing and looking at Nativity scenes. No room for rest. “No room,” she whispered as she walked off to her next task.
Christmas Eve arrived and Beth pulled into an empty parking space in front of the Rescue Mission. She spotted Amy’s car a few spots over and headed to the entrance as she glanced at her watch. She hoped all would go smoothly as there was no room in her schedule for anything unplanned. They were supposed to finish serving dinner and wrapping gifts at the Mission by 6:30 which would leave Beth just enough time to go home, clean up and go to church with her family for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 8:00.
Amy and Beth worked hard cooking in the kitchen and then served food for two hours straight. The next shift of servers arrived to relieve them and Beth headed toward the gift wrap area where she would spend her final hour at the mission wrapping gifts for the many people who would be spending Christmas there. Suddenly the air seemed stifling and Beth decided to step outside for a moment or two for some fresh air. She stepped through the rear door into a small courtyard behind the mission. The air was cold but welcome. Beth closed her eyes for a moment, leaning her head against the stone wall.
“Are you alright?” A man’s voice interrupted Beth’s quiet moment. She opened her eyes and found herself looking up at a tall, middle-aged man with a scruffy looking beard and ragged clothes. “I am fine. Just getting a little air,” Beth replied as she turned to head back inside. “The name’s Gabriel,” the man said as he extended his hand. Beth pretended not to notice his friendly gesture and reached for the doorknob as she said, “I really need to get back. There’s so much left to do.” Gabriel stepped closer and reached the door first and held it open for her as he said, “Can you come to the Christmas play we are doing tonight?” Beth tried to hide her surprise as she wondered what type of Christmas play this raggedy man would be in as she quickly replied, “No. I couldn’t possibly. No room,” she finished as she disappeared through the door and quickly headed to the gift wrap area. She glanced around the room and didn’t see Gabriel anywhere and assumed he had probably gone to the dining hall. She quickly put him out of her thoughts as she wrapped Christmas presents.
An hour later found Beth walking to her car wondering where the joy was she was supposed to feel – especially this time of year. But she didn’t feel joy. She reached her car and stood there a moment in the dark wrestling with something inside that was threatening to consume her. What was it she felt exactly? She closed her eyes and turned her face heavenward just as the first snowflakes began to gently fall and as they began kissing her face leaving droplets of moisture on her cheeks she realized what she felt inside: dry. “Oh Father, please help me,” she whispered into the darkness as she opened her car door and climbed inside, unaware that her prayer was heard long before it ever left her lips and help was waiting just down the road.
Beth pulled out of the parking lot onto the two lane road toward home. The snow was falling more heavily and she slowed her car as she entered a sharp curve. As she made the turn a deer suddenly sprang from the darkness directly in front of her and Beth slammed on the brakes, her car skidding to a stop as she heard a loud noise coming from her car. She sat clutching the steering wheel, her heart beating wildly as the deer stood staring at her in the headlights and then bounded off leaving her there to deal with this on her own. “Great!” she exclaimed as she rummaged through the glove box for the flashlight. She snapped the flashlight on, opened the car door and got out and walked to the other side of her car. Just as she feared, the rear passenger side tire was flat as a pancake. She walked back to the driver side, grabbed her cell phone from the center console to call the Auto Club but was unable to get a signal. “Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!” she yelled into the darkness to no one in particular.
“Are you alright?” a familiar voice asked. Startled, Beth pointed her flashlight in the direction of the voice and found Gabriel standing across the road. “Wh-what are you doing out here, Gabriel?” Beth asked nervously. Gabriel smiled as he explained, “We are having our Christmas play right over here in this field. You are invited, Beth.” He finished gently. Beth couldn’t remember telling him her name and it gave her an odd, unsettled feeling. She glanced at her watch as she said, “Sorry, Gabriel. I have to see to my car and then I have someplace to be and…” her voice trailed off and she heard Gabriel’s voice right next to her softly say, “I know Beth, you have no room.”
She turned around expecting Gabriel to be standing right behind her but was surprised to see he was still across the road. She stood shivering by her car, a puzzled look on her face as Gabriel said, “Don’t worry about your tire, Beth. Come,” he invited. She stood there shivering as she wrestled over what she should do. A thought occurred to her then that perhaps she could get a phone signal out in the field so she made her decision and quickly grabbed her car keys and her cell phone, shut the driver’s door and hit the lock button and headed across the street, hoping she wasn’t acting foolishly and that Gabriel wasn’t crazy.
It had stopped snowing and they walked together in silence, the fallen snow crunching under their feet. Beth stole a sideways glance at the odd man walking beside her. “He must be seven feet tall,” she mused to herself. He was in need of a haircut and a shave. His clothes were tattered and obviously meant for someone a bit shorter. She looked down at his shoes; they were mismatched. As she looked at his feet something else struck her; something about his walk. Yes, he walked with purpose; like he knew where he was going and what to do when got there. “Odd,” she thought to herself. She decided to ask a question that had come to mind when he had first mentioned the play, “What part do you have in the Christmas play?” she asked. “I’m a messenger,” He said quietly. “You mean you play an angel?” she asked. “Something like that,” He said. Beth looked up at him and thought she saw something flash in his eyes but quickly dismissed the thought as they came through a cluster of trees into an open field.
Movement caught her eye and she could make out sheep through the darkness their gentle bleating breaking the stillness. She could also see several small campfires dotting the field and men huddled around them, some stretching their hands toward the flames to keep warm. Beth looked at Gabriel as she asked, “Shepherds?” “Yes,” came the one word reply. Gabriel seated Beth at a small campfire. He handed her a wool blanket which she gladly put over her legs. He pulled something from his coat pocket and handed it to her as he said, “It’s the script. You can read along, if you like.” She looked down and saw that he had handed her a Bible. It fell open to the book of Luke. She was about to say something but when she looked up Gabriel was headed in the direction of the shepherds.
Beth began to read the text, “There were shepherds in a field outside of Bethlehem, tending their flocks by night.” She looked up as her eyes took in the scene before her, “Shepherds tending their flocks by night,” she whispered. It was then she noticed Gabriel standing near a group of shepherds. “But when did he have time to change?” she wondered out loud. He was clothed in white and looked quite impressive as she took in the realistic looks of fear mixed with awe on the faces of the shepherds. She looked down, following the words of Gabriel’s announcement to the Shepherds and looked up as the words came to life in the field before her very eyes.
Nothing prepared her for what happened next. All of a sudden the field shown brilliant as what appeared to be an army of men all every bit as tall as Gabriel and they were singing a song she had never heard before – it was a song of praise to God and the very ground beneath her seemed to reverberate with the sound of their joy. “Oh!” she cried. “But how…who…?” was all she could manage. Then just as suddenly as they had appeared they vanished and the field was cloaked in a strange silence.
The air was electric as she heard the shepherds’ excited tones and then they all began running. She read the text out loud, “They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph and there was the baby lying in the manger.” She looked up to see the shepherds slow their pace as they approached what appeared to be a hollowed out place in the hillside. She caught a glimpse of firelight and a young man and woman sitting in its warmth. The shepherds stood peering inside when she heard it – a baby’s cry through the night. Beth saw a tiny hand extend up out of the feeding trough and the young woman brushed a tear from her cheek as she motioned the shepherds to come near.
As Beth sat riveted to the scene the young woman lifted the baby out of the manger. He was wrapped in strips of cloth, “just as the angel said,” Beth whispered. Something on the hillside above them caught her eye and she looked up just as the clouds lifted, revealing the hilltop and on it stood a cross. She caught her breath as she stood looking from the manger to the cross the tears flowing down her cheeks as a familiar voice softly asked, “Beth, do you have room?” She went to her knees in the middle of that field and talked to the Lord about her heart that she had allowed to become so busy that she had run out of room: no room to sit with Him, no room to read His Word, no room to sit in His presence.
Gabriel helped her up and she smiled as she noticed he was wearing his tattered clothes and mismatched shoes again. As they walked back toward her car it began to snow again and as she turned her face heavenward and the snowflakes gently kissed her face, leaving tiny drops of moisture on her cheeks, she realized she wasn’t dry on the inside anymore. Her once dry heart was drenched in joy. They arrived at the car and she stopped and stared. She turned a puzzled look at Gabriel. “Look at that,” he said, “someone fixed your tire.” Gabriel helped her into her car and before he closed the door she reached out and took his hand in hers. She couldn’t speak and he simply nodded and then closed her door.
She glanced at her watch and then out the window, intending to wave goodbye to Gabriel but he was gone. She pulled her cell phone from her coat pocket. “That’s funny,” she thought, “My cell phone has full power now.” She shrugged and called Andy and quickly told him about the flat tire and that she would just meet him at church. Then she dialed Amy’s number. She answered on the third ring and Beth told her how much she enjoyed the Christmas play the mission had put on and she hoped they would do it again and that Gabriel made an excellent angel. “Amy?” Beth said into the silence. Amy sounded confused as she answered, “Beth, I don’t have any idea what you are talking about. The mission didn’t do any Christmas plays. And Beth, there’s no one at the mission named Gabriel.” Beth set her phone down on the seat, her heart overwhelmed within her.
Fifteen minutes later she pulled into the church parking lot. She hurried inside and spotted Andy and the kids sitting in the third row. Andy squeezed her hand as she sat down and then kissed her cheek as he whispered, “I love you, Beth.” Then he reached over and pulled something from her hair as he whispered, “Beth, where on earth have you been?” She looked at the piece of straw Andy held in his fingers and she smiled as she said, “I’ve been to Bethlehem.”
I closed my laptop and through my tears whispered, “Lord, thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you for going from the manger to the cross for me. Forgive me for the times I didn’t have room for you. Help me never to lose sight of who you are and why you came. When I am distracted by the world-lights of this will you take me back to Bethlehem? My heart looked into the eyes of Love as His voice thundered through my soul, “I will beloved. I will.”


An Original Conversations at the Well
Diana Morgan
© Copyright December 7, 2009

From Thanks"Getting" to Thanks"GIVING"

I woke early and headed to the Well. I stopped and got my coffee with toffee nut creamer and lit a few spiced cider candles before I took my place at the Well. It was still dark and the house was bathed in stillness. He whom my heart loves hadn't arrived yet so while I waited I took a deep breath and let it out - grateful for a day free from rushing about and so glad there was no where I had to hurry off to.

With gratitude in my heart for precious time at the Well I allowed my thoughts to turn to things I was thankful for. That's what Thanksgiving Day is for, isn't it? I began to make a list of all the things I was thankful for: Salvation, home, family, my job (especially in this economy), ministry, friends. I sat thoughtfully tapping my pen on my journal as I prepared to become more detailed in my "Thanks" list, and then looking up I noticed Him.

He was standing at the living room window studying the eastern sky which was still cloaked in darkness. His eyes looked serious as He turned His gaze toward the deep places of my heart and I wondered what He saw there. Feeling a bit exposed I decided to tell Him about my "Thanksgiving list". I held up my journal so He could see it as though He didn't already know all that was written on it; even those things I hadn't thought of yet. He sat down but instead of studying my list He continued to gaze beyond my line of vision to the deepest places of my heart.

"Lord," I began, "did you see my list? I am thankful to you for these things." I thought I sounded quite sincere and I waited in the stillness for Him to approve my "thankfulness". But instead He said something that turned my thoughts inside out. He continued gazing into my heart as He said, "I see 'ThanksGETTING' in your heart." His Words thundered through my soul shaking loose my ideas of giving thanks. I turned my startled heart toward Him whom my soul loves and asked what He meant by "ThanksGETTING".

I read through my list again and as I did the Light of His Presence fell across the page and I saw that the things I had written were things I had "gotten". "Hmmmm," I thought to myself, "ThanksGETTING." I turned my puzzled heart back to Him and together we began to talk about people close to me who were struggling. Some had lost jobs. One dear family had lost a child. Others had lost fathers, husbands, friends. Another was facing fierce battles of the spiritual kind and her family was under attack from an enemy wishing to destroy them. Is it possible to have a thankful heart even in the midst of pain? "These are hard things, Lord," I whispered. I tried to put myself in their shoes and then a question formed in my heart and I knew He had placed it there, "If I lost everything, would I still give thanks? Was He worthy of my thanks apart from anything else?" Knowing my thoughts He gently took me with Him to His Word.

Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures for ever.

Psalm 105:1 Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name.

Psalm 103:1 Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being praise His holy name.

Psalm 101:1 I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.

He then took me to Psalm 100 and He read it to me and His Words turned golden in my heart as they cast His light into the dark corners of the deep places I could not see.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5 NIV.)

Light dawned in my heart as I said, "True thanksgiving begins in worship. I was focused on things received instead of on You - the One who gave them." I looked up into the eyes of Him who patiently teaches me and loves my often slow to understand heart. His eyes were still serious but ablaze with His glory.

Words from Isaiah 9:6 poured into my heart then, "And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." "Oh," I cried, You are gloriously enough and worthy of all my praise and all my thanks simply because of who You are." I realized anew the importance of knowing the Lord - knowing His character. He is the One who enables the hurting to still worship, to still give thanks in the midst of dark days.

I was overwhelmed there in His presence and my heart bowed down to worship Him as my "thanksGETTING" turned to "thanksGIVING".

Dear one, as you go about your Thanksgiving Day stop and before you begin listing all that you are thankful for turn your "thanksGETTING" to "ThanksGIVING" and worship Him for who He is: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The Great I AM. Alpha and Omega.

El Shaddai - All Sufficient One
El Olam - The Everlasting God
El Elyon - The God Most High
Jehovah-nissi - The Lord My Banner
Jehovah-jireh - The Lord Will Provide
Elohim - The Creator
Qanna - Jealous
Jehovah-shalom - The Lord is Peace
Jehovah-sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts
El Roi - The God Who Sees
Jehovah-raah - The Lord My Shepherd
Jehovah-shammah - The Lord is There
Jehovah-mekoddishkem - The Lord Who Sanctifies You
Jehovah-rapha - The Lord Who Heals
Adonai - Lord, Master
Yahweh - LORD (Jehovah)

Psalm 9:10-11 "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord..."

Can you think of other names of God? Rock. Savior. Comforter. Hiding Place. Redeemer. Enjoy your time focusing on who He is and then give thanks for Who He is and what He has done. GLORY!!

Have a blessed and glorious Thanksgiving!

Love,
Diana

An Original Conversations at the Well
Diana Morgan
November 26, 2009

I recommend reading Trusting in the Names of God by Catherine Martin.

SILENT TRANSFORMATION

I hear the fire crackle happily as I gaze out at the glorious colors of fall. A few leaves gently drift past the glass. I take a sip of coffee, the rich aroma inviting me to let go the stresses of the busy world, and rest a while.

I read Amy Carmichael's words, "Home of my heart, lest I forget my redemption's cost to Thee, let my earliest thought be set upon Thy Calvary."

I nestle in, wrapping my shoulders with the warmth of a soft throw. Amy's words take me to the feet of Jesus. My heart looks up to see Him looking out the picture window as the first snow begins to fall. The snowflakes, like delicate lace fall softly, without a sound. Soon the world will be covered in a dazzling white blanket. I wonder how something so still and quiet can work such transformation. "Ah," I whisper, as my heart's gaze falls again on the object of it's very existence. "Lord, it is like you. You come silent as the snow, doing your transforming work in my life." I close my eyes, wrapped in His presence and I am at rest. Joy!

Copyright 2010
Diana Morgan
Conversations at the Well
November 12, 2010

REFLECTIONS OF HIS GLORY

REFLECTIONS OF HIS GLORY
Earlier this week, as I strolled through my yard, I spotted two brilliant, yellow butterflies. They were dancing happily amongst the beautiful yellow lantana. The butterflies brilliant color and graceful dance only served to draw my attention more closely to the breathtaking color of the flowers. Oh, aren't we, God's women, like those butterflies? We too have joined in the dance, and as the world observes, the vivid hues of our life points to the One whose Glory we reflect.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness, with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV