“You handle the holy things of God as they should be handled.”
My husband’s words stopped my heart and immediately covered it with God’s peace. This was his response to me after hearing about my morning in Sunday school, about how I had prepared (once again) enough materials for a table full of children to make Advent wreaths while, in reality, only needing one set . . . for my daughter. My response to his response?
“Sometimes, I think it’s easier to preach to the crowd than it is to preach to the one.”
And that is where we left it—mutual hearts stirred by one another’s words about holy things and preaching to the one. This was our Sunday moment, an Advent moment. A revelation, a prophecy, and a hope wrapped up in this first candle of expectation.
This was and is the point from which we move forward to the manger, believing that the One who came and the One who is to come best understands about handling the holy things of God and that in the midst of his cradling—his holding of us—we are not forgotten, because we are the why and the what behind his arrival. We are the one in the midst of the crowd. We are his one, and he is God’s One. The One with the one.
Emmanuel. God with us. God in us. God, help us!
Heavenly promise, heavenly provision, and a humble plea to take hold of this mystery that belongs to me and to handle it as holy. To cradle the ones who rest in the palms of my hands even as the One has cradled me in his.
Oh to arrive here, at this state of blessed communion and understanding! I’m not there yet, but I’m moving closer with these conversations and with these intentional steps of pilgrimage. This Christmas will not slip by me. This Christmas will change me.
How about you? How will you walk to Bethlehem this year? Might I suggest this Advent leading? Light the candle of hope in your heart and on your hearth, and see if God is not faithful to make manifest his holiness to you, in you, and, ultimately, through you.
God’s One with the one.
Expect him.
Expect Peace . . . for the journey.
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Elaine, I think one of my favorite things about this post is at the very end…”EXPECT Him. EXPECT peace…for the journey.” That is exciting to me! I think I sometimes forget to EXPECT that God is going to be there doing what only He can do! Thank you for the reminder.
I have never known much about Advent but you have stirred me to search it out.
God bless you!
Marilyn
Elaine, I was thinking — and singing — about Emmanuel just this morning. God with us. What a priceless gift. Love the image and truth you bring to mind about being cradled by the One. Have a blessed season, my friend!
I WILL light the candle of hope in my HEART as surely as I have lit it on my hearth, Elaine. Thanks for the challenge. As much as it depends on me, I WILL hope. Yes, I will.
I most definitely need to light that candle of hope in my heart, now more than ever. Thank you for these words of wisdom…yours and Billy’s. You make a great team!
Love you…
Prayers for the Endean clan!
wifeforthejourney:
If only people knew what a joy it is having you in my life. Of course we both have our “moments” in marriage where we miss the mark, but I am blessed to have a wife willing to take turns with me – picking up all the arrows that litter the ground around the target God has set up for me. Husband. Dad. Pastor. Friend. Sometimes my aim is true and sometimes I shoot without a thought of where I ought to aim. When I say you know how to handle to holy, what I mean is that when it comes to the things of God, you know how to keep the bull’s-eye in sight. Even when you miss, I can always tell what you were aiming for.
Day or night, rain or shine – God has given me a partner that helps me focus in on what matters most. Wife. Mother. Writer. Friend. Thanks for all the things you do, whether you are by yourself, or in a crowd, you are still the same wonderful you!
Love,
Billy
How beautiful Elaine! I especially love your final statement:
“Light the candle of hope in your heart and on your hearth, and see if God is not faithful to make manifest his holiness to you, in you, and, ultimately, through you.”
This is my hope. And btw, the Lord is revealing to me that my word for 2013 is “Holiness”.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
I had to add another comment after reading the one above mine. I love how your Billy wrote those words of love and appreciation for you Elaine. That is very special and …very rare.
I know. He’s my rock!
I just happen to think you and Preacher Billy are the bomb-diggity. You two were so obviously made for each other. Blessings on you both!!
Christmas will be the second anniversary of James’s death. It’s hard to imagine it’s been that long because he is still so very present in my life. Last night, I went to my Bible study group. While it was wonderful to be in a home decorated for Christmas, it also made me feel like an outsider, because once again, Christmas will be difficult for me.
XOXOXO,
Brenda
I hear you, Brenda. This must be a lonely time for all who are remembering and reflecting on missing loved ones. I pray God’s strong and certain peace bathe you in comfort as you travel on to Bethlehem.
I’m right there with you Elaine… Taking those “intentional steps of pilgrimage” towards that manger; to humble my heart and bathe in the love of God’s most precious gift to us…
Thank you for sharing my friend!
Have a Blessed Day!
Good to hear from you, Phil. Praying you, Shannon, and the boys have a beautiful Advent walk together. Shalom.
Elaine, I declare along wtih you that “This Christmas will change me”. I love that. When I read it,it went straight into my spirit and dug a well. Thank you.
Loved seeing your name pop up today, Jane! I pray your are well.
🙂 🙂 🙂 sometimes it’s just all my heart can add 🙂
I needed your “smiles” today, Cindy. Thank you for stopping by.
Very lovely.
“We are his one, and he is God’s One. The One with the one.”
This was just the reminder I needed…with all the busyness of this month/season/year, it’s easy (for me) to let the intimacy of the one-on-one become misplaced in the shuffle…and what a tragedy when that happens…
Thank you for the call to focus on the “holy things”…and just as your husband so profoundly declared – “you know how to keep the bull’s-eye in sight”….