Changed By Love

Changed By Love

Following the Lamb wherever he goes… Revelation 14:4

There Would Have Been Room

When we went to eat dinner with the lovely family with a ministry of taking strangers into their home, the Ilgenfritz’s, I noticed several nativities around the house. I mentioned them to Joyce, and she told me that she had more of them than she could count. People have given them to her from all over the world. She has several from Peru, the Philippines, Africa, and numerous other countries.  They are different shapes and sizes and made of various and sundry materials.  Many are very cleverly made and could easily be overlooked as a nativity.

Joyce plays a game with her grandchildren at Christmas time and has the nativities hidden throughout the house and they try to find them all. They keep count of how many they find, and then tell her the total. I think the one who finds the most gets a prize.

I went over to her house later and took pictures of many of her nativities.

Here are some of them:

The pictures here show at least 39 different nativities.  She has even more, but she didn’t set them all out this year.  One picture I took of a nativity inside a bottle came out blurry, so I didn’t post it.

I think it is significant that Joyce collects nativities.  I was thinking about this as I uploaded all of these pictures of the manger scene.  She and her husband Morgan have a ministry called the Lighthouse.  They have taken in 411 strangers and let them live with them.  This is a special ministry that not many would be able to do.  It’s certainly not my family’s calling!

They have taken in many unwed mothers and helped them learn how to take care of their babies.  They have given a home to many troubled youths who have accepted Jesus and turned their lives around because of the love shown to them by this special family.

If Mary and Joseph had knocked on the door of the Lighthouse, Morgan and Joyce would not have turned them away.  The story would have been a lot different, and I know that’s not how God planned it, but it struck me that they have taken in almost every stranger who ever knocked on their door.  I’m sure that they will have a magnificent reward in heaven.  They have lived out Matthew 25:35

“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;”

We met them during a time when we were strangers with no where to go to experience the comforts of home or the joys of the Christmas season. They graciously invited us in. They fed us a warm, home-cooked meal. They made us feel special and loved. At a moment’s notice, they changed their plans and fitted us in, even though we are a large crowd and not easy to accommodate. They even helped us get there since we didn’t have a vehicle large enough to get everybody there. They didn’t act like they were the least bit inconvenienced by any of this. On the contrary, they acted like they were happy to have us there and happy to do all of these things for us.

Joyce has called to check up on us since that night. She brought soup over to us one night. It was delicious. The Lord had her make it and she didn’t even know why. Then she thought of us and called to see if we wanted it.

When we needed a ladder, she and Morgan brought one over for us to borrow. She has called just to see how I’m doing. She lets me know that she’s praying for us. She knows that I’ve been carrying a heavy load, and I can feel her compassion as she speaks to me and when she hugs me.

They are living out the gospel. What an example they have been to us and to so many others. May we learn from them and be obedient to our Father as they have been and store up riches in heaven. They emphasize that they are just normal people and that all Christians are supposed to live the way they do. They’re right. But how many of us do? We’re not all called to open our homes the way they do, but we are all called to obey whatever our Father tells us to do. Their love for people, and their willingness to put themselves out for other people is inspiring.

I’m so glad that God put them in our lives and provided a place for us to celebrate the birth of the Savior even though the only room we had was in the inn (the Days Inn).

Our story is still being written. And this chapter has been very difficult and fraught with uncertainty and anxiety. The Lord has been trying to teach us to trust Him no matter what. We will keep taking this test over and over again until we pass it.

The Lord is gracious and faithful. Many of our experiences parallel the things that happened in our Lord’s life as He walked the earth. He did it perfectly, without sin. We are far from perfect. But He is perfecting us and conforming us to His image.

I believe this.

I see Jesus in the Ilgenfritzes. I see their example of love and self-sacrifice for the sake of strangers. I admire them and want to be like them.

The nativities that they have collected symbolize their willingness to give a home to strangers in the name of Jesus. This is the way that they serve Jesus by serving the least of these.

I know in my heart that if Mary and Joseph had knocked at the door of the Lighthouse, there would have been a room for them.

Waiting Expectantly

Christmas is coming to the Douglas household! We’re not sure when. It’s kind of like waiting for the second coming of Jesus. We know He’s coming back soon, but we don’t know exactly when.

We see signs that our Christmas is coming. Our Christmas tree tells us that some gifts will soon be wrapped and placed under the tree. The kids are whispering and planning what to get for each other. We are ordering things online now that we have internet again and an address to have our stuff sent to.

The little ones are excited and asking when Christmas will be here. I can honestly tell them, “I don’t know when.” I’m waiting for everything to come together (gifts to be delivered) and for the conditions to be right for Christmas to happen. The snow has been a joyous sign! I don’t know when Christmas will be. But the kids know that Christmas will happen because Mommy said it would.

Isn’t that how we should live as Christians waiting for the return of Jesus? We know that He’s coming back. We just don’t know when. We see signs of His coming. He told us what some of those signs would be. We see that Israel miraculously became a nation again, fulfilling the prophecy that the fig tree would blossom.

Mark 13:28-37

28Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

29So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

30Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

31Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

34For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

He told us that He’s coming back, so we know that it’s going to happen.

The question is: Are we excited about His coming? Are we anxiously awaiting the return of our Bridegroom?

We should be more excited about it than children are about the coming of Christmas morning.

Examine yourself right now. Are you watching or sleeping?

Treasures of the Snow

“Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?” (Job 38:22)

According to data provided through scientific study and weather analysis, it is estimated that each year there are approximately 1 septillion (or a trillion trillion) snow crystals that drop from the sky across the world. More amazing than that is the fact that there are no two snowflakes alike.

How like the Creator to create something so exquisite. So unique. So like us. (Just like the snowflake, no two human fingerprints are alike. The ridges on the fingers, palms and soles of the feet have three characteristics which appear in combinations that are never repeated on the hands or feet of any two persons. These markings form on a person’s hands and feet before they are born and do not change for as long as the person lives. In general, any area of “friction” skin that you can cover with a dime on your fingers, palms, or soles of your feet will contain sufficient individual characteristics in a unique 3-unit relationship to enable positive identification to the absolute exclusion of any other person on earth.) “ I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . .” (Psalm 139:14).

So like Him. The uniqueness of every snowflake speaks of the uniqueness of our God and His “one and only Son” (John 3:16, NIV). “God alone is God; there is no other.” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Job 23:13). And “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). God is absolutely and truly unique. There is nothing or no one else to whom He can be compared. “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6).

While there are no two snowflakes alike, they do have one thing in common. All snowflakes are hexagonal, which means they have six sides (sometimes referred to as “arms” or “wings”).

How appropriate.

“Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.” (Isaiah 6:2). “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and . . . day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:7-9).

According to scientists, in order for a raindrop or a snowflake to be created, a tiny speck of dust must be drawn up into the clouds. It is there that water vapor attaches itself to the dust particle and the process begins. High above the earth, the conditions in the clouds actually cause a snowflake to form around the nucleus of a dust particle. Dust cannot be transformed into snow by remaining earthbound, because it is the atmosphere of the clouds that causes the transformation to take place.

Think for a moment about the process just described. God said to Adam “for dust thou art” (Genesis 3:19). Just as the dust of the earth and the atmosphere of heaven must come together for a snowflake to be born, so too a sinner cannot be transformed into a saint if he remains earthbound. The dust of the earth – man, and the atmosphere of heaven – Jesus Christ, must come together for a saint to be born. “Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3).

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18). After the snowflake is formed and floats with such beauty through the air, we see the beauty, the glory, and the purity of the snowflake. The dust is not visible. All that is evident is the beauty and the glory that has formed around the tiny particle of dust. So too, we are “transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

And so, I now know why the sight of falling snow brings me such pleasure. It is another uniquely beautiful creation . . . created by a uniquely beautiful Creator to remind us of Him . . . and who we are in Him.

–Cheri Henderson, hendersonct@aol.com

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This was written by my friend, Cheri, an amazing writer and poet. Be sure to visit her website at: http://cherihenderson.wordpress.com

To read the entire article from which this was excerpted, go to:

http://cherihenderson.wordpress.com/1st-poem/

Miracles, Blessings and Grateful Hearts

We are in a beautiful house in Pennsylvania.

This subdivision has more room than our old one, but we’re still believing for land of our own.

God took care of us. He answered our prayers in the nick of time and used a miracle or two to do it.

Our beautiful grand house that God provided
Our grand stairway
Our breakfast nook/dining room windows
Bushes of holly in front of our house
See, it really is holly!
Our grand entryway
We did Christmas "light". I bought each child one gift and they opened them on Dec. 26th.
Kelsey decorated the mantel the minute she found a box marked "Christmas".
Us on our grand staircase
Thankful kids
Celebrating Morgan's birthday with a Conga line
Giving thanks
Big back yard
We had a Tea Party and read 4 books about Princess Emma and Princess Abby
Cuteness incarnate
Emma's happy because...
... we made Christmas cookies!
Enjoying our gas fireplace
Birthday present? Christmas present? Gift from God!
Now our Christmas begins! Photo taken Jan. 6

We love Christmas. It is a season of remembering the birth of Jesus and celebrating our family’s love and togetherness. The whole atmosphere is uplifting, joyful and wholesome. Nobody can take that away from us. Our Christmas tree is a signpost that something exciting is coming. We will put gifts under that tree. We give each other gifts because we love and want to bless each other. We constantly point our children to the reason for the season.

Jesus is a gift beyond compare. Our gifts are paltry compared to that great gift that God gave us. But the desire to give is God-given and blessed by Him. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. This season is a set-apart season for giving and blessing and loving and thinking about Jesus. I love it that my children have the memories of past Christmases and enjoy making new memories with their family. These are precious and holy to them – the joy, excitement, family time, and Jesus – not the tree.

There’s nothing pagan about that.

We’re celebrating it now in the time frame that God has given us for it. We do things a little different around here…

And now for your listening pleasure…

Little girls sing a happy song from Penney Douglas on Vimeo.

‘Tis the Night Before Christmas Eve, and We Have a House!

Hallelujah!

Yesterday when I got up, I was pretty sure we were going to get a phone call and we would have a house. God had filled me with His faith. But I didn’t know how much of a struggle it would be to get into a house, especially before Christmas! There were two possibilities. The first was the house that a Christian couple was hoping to find someone to lease to own. They would have rented it, but they would have kept it on the market and showed it while the renters lived there and would have made the renters move out within 30 days if they found a buyer. We didn’t want to live that way, but we were getting rather desperate, so I called them to see if they would just rent to us at least until we found somewhere else to live so that we would have some place to unload all of our stuff from the moving truck. I couldn’t get a hold of them because they were on their way to Hawaii. The staff of the realty sent them voice messages, but they never called back.

The other house was the 3000 sq. foot one that we had been turned down for because the agent thought we had too many kids. He knew about the “rule” that only two people were allowed to occupy a bedroom. According to that rule, we would “have” to rent or even own a 6-bedroom house, no less. We have never even seen a 6-bedroom house available for rent. Gary called some commissions and some other agencies and found out that the rule is for unrelated people and that when a house exceeds 2900 square feet that rule doesn’t apply. He also found out that a den could be considered another bedroom, too. He called the man back and told him what he had discovered. I was so proud of him for fighting for his family that way.

The guy turned out to be a great guy. He was out of town yesterday, but he made sure that he showed us the house today at 11:00 AM, in spite of other pressing appointments and traveling he had to do. We had sent him all kinds of information through email to try to speed up the process. Yesterday, I asked him how soon we could move into the house. He said his record was 25 hours. I think we beat that record! We saw the house at 11:00 AM today. We brought a completed application with us. We went ahead and gave him a security deposit. He said he had everything he needed to present to his broker. He couldn’t say for sure whether we would be accepted, but he said he felt very good about the whole thing. He gave us the phone numbers for the utilities. We called to put them in our name.

He called a couple of hours later and said they were working their tails off to get us out of that hotel. He said that our package had been approved and that they were writing up a lease agreement for us to sign. They were making another key since there was only one. He called a little bit later and said that one of their representatives was going to meet us at our hotel so we could sign the lease and take possession of the key!

So we hurried home from the bank where we were opening up an account, so we could deposit Gary’s paychecks and continue paying for all of this stuff. Then we signed a lease agreement (which felt like we were signing for a mortgage) and got the key to our new house!

The house is beautiful! It is going to work out very well for us. There’s even an intercom throughout the house. I will be able to gather everybody for school without resorting to yelling and throwing tantrums.

I don’t have any pictures yet. My camera batteries died, and the ones we bought from Dollar General are no good! But I promise to put some on here as soon as I get some.

Thank you so much for praying for us and for interceding. There was nothing easy about any of this. We had to fight for everything that we got. This was a battle, but we knew we had the victory. Because God gives us the victory. I was so sure that God would give us the house before Christmas. And He did! It’s our Christmas miracle.

PS I’m so looking forward to cooking again. I can’t believe I said that!