Author Archives: dinahoverlien
Waiting, Day 6
Waiting, Days 1-5
Here are the first 5 installments of my devotional series for Advent. Thank you for waiting with me! Days 6-12 are on their way. May you sense God’s presence as we sit together in the Waiting Room of Advent.
Waiting – Day 1 of The 12 Devotions of Christmas
Waiting – Day 2 of The 12 Devotions of Christmas
Waiting – Day 3 of The 12 Devotions of Christmas
Waiting – Day 4 of The 12 Devotions of Christmas
Waiting – Day 5 of The 12 Devotions of Christmas
Waiting
Join me on a journey through Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus… by waiting. Welcome to the 12 Devotions of Christmas, every day through Christmas Day!
Three minute devotionals will be aired on WCNP 89.5 daily at 8:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. You can also find them on the WCNP Facebook page. They will soon be posted at the WCNP website (www.wcnpfm.org). Then I will be able to post the audio devotions here as well.
A dear soul is doing all the production—these things take time.
Advent is a season of waiting, so it seems appropriate to practice that very thing!
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently. Psalm 37:7
Advent Adventure
Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The word “advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus” which means “arrival.” So we are waiting for the arrival of Jesus. And for over two thousand years, He’s never stood us up. He always comes.
Did you know that we, in modern times, approach the holiday season a little differently than they did hundreds of years ago? We jump into a frenzy of activity right after Thanksgiving, if not before, spending, decorating, baking, going to programs and concerts, gathering with family and friends. By the time Christmas comes, we’re tuckered out and it’s almost a relief to have a few days of quiet recovery before the new year starts.
In days of old, that was switched. Advent was a quiet time of prayerful contemplation, spiritual preparation, and fasting. It wasn’t until Christmas Day that the celebration part actually kicked off, which then lasted 12 glorious days, full of feasting and gift-giving.
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” may be the most annoying holiday song, but the idea has roots in the early church. In 567, the Council of Tours “proclaimed the twelve days of Christmas as a sacred and festive season, and established the duty of Advent fasting in preparation for the feast.”
Would you do something a bit counter-cultural with me? Would you sit quietly for a few minutes every day leading up to Christmas? Don’t be afraid of the silence, and don’t worry about all the things on your to-do list. Let’s learn to wait well, so when Jesus arrives we can celebrate with hearts fully prepared.
Note of Thanks
I used to make my kids write thank you notes. I was a firm believer that birthday money from Grandma or a Christmas present from Auntie deserved acknowledgement and gratitude. The notes were written in very large letters and usually ran along these lines:
Dear Grandma,
Thank you for the birthday money.
Thanks again!
Love,
Your favorite grandchild
The kids didn’t put a lot of thought or creativity into their sentiments. I didn’t care. I just wanted them to develop the habit of saying “thank you.” It was important to put the simple, terse words down on paper in actual handwriting. Emails, texts, and phone calls would not suffice. That would be too easy. Instead, the scritch-scratch of pencil on cardstock, the crooked address on the envelope and the licked stamp says, “I took the time to do this because I am serious about being grateful.”
Call me old-fashioned.
This year, I’m proposing a new, old-fashioned tradition.
Write a thank you note to God.
Put the pen to paper and jot down a few sincere words of appreciation. Instead of extemporaneous spoken prayers or recited doxologies, give it some thought and maybe a little creativity. A yearly record of gratitude at Thanksgiving could stand as a witness to generations yet unborn.
If you need some inspiration, open to Psalm 106, 107, 118, 0r 136. They all begin with the same line: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.” That’s an excellent place to start.
No Thanks
Thanksgiving is two weeks away! It’s time to buy a turkey, dig out my gravy-splattered recipe cards, and one other thing….oh yeah! Give thanks.
Being thankful and saying “thank you” are two different things. I am struck by how genuinely grateful people seem to be this time of year, yet not many know whom to thank. It’s like appreciating the feast laid out on the table without saying “thank you” to the cook. Knowing Whom to thank makes all the difference.
In November, my Bible automatically opens to Luke 17 where the healing of ten men leaves Jesus asking questions. I make note of all questions when they appear in the Bible, but when the Son of God puts forth a query, I sit up and pay attention.
“Were not all ten cleansed?
Where are the other nine?”
Luke 17:17
The account begins with Jesus going into a village and being met by ten men who had leprosy. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
This poor, pathetic group of outcasts must have recognized Jesus from afar. They seemed to know He had healing power, although all they asked for was pity. No one in the group of ten dared to draw near to the Master, but kept their distance and yelled out at Him. Jesus yelled back and they were cleansed as they walked away.
Nine men kept walking. One man turned around.
Nine men were cleansed. One man was healed.
Nine men were grateful. One man said, “Thank You.”
Hear the difference:
Ten men
stood at a distance
and called out in a loud voice.
They went and were cleansed.
One man
fell at Jesus’ feet
and praised God in a loud voice.
He came back and was healed.
All ten had faith—only one had gratitude.
Dear Jesus,
may my call for help from a distance
draw me to Your feet with praise.
Oh Lord God,
may the intensity of my thanks
match the fervency of my requests.
Journey to the Center
PB took me on an adventure last weekend to the center of the earth.
Or more precisely, the center of the Northwest Hemisphere.
Who knew this remarkable spot was right here in Wisconsin?
I didn’t. Until Saturday.
In case you need to brush up on your Junior High geography, here’s a quick review.
There are only four places on earth where the 45th Parallel Latitude intersects the 90th Meridian Longitude.
- The Pacific Ocean—45°S – 90°W
- The Indian Ocean—45°S – 90°E
- A mountain in China—45°N – 90°E
- Poniatowski, Wisconsin—45°N – 90°W
The only place on all of earth’s 197 million square miles where a person can stand exactly halfway between the equator and a pole and halfway between the prime meridian and the 180th meridian is right here in America’s Dairyland.
We drove north for a couple hours, turned into a farmer’s cornfield, then walked 1/4 of a mile.
PB sure knows how to get to the center of this girl’s heart. He took me on a surprise adventure to a place I’d never been before and we stood on a special spot together that no one else among the world’s 8,045,311,447 people were standing.
It was magical.
A perfect date.
We became official members of the 45-90 Club.
Then we got some lunch and drove home.
It was such a good day!
Life’s an adventure with PB!
Make Yourself At Home
PB and I have gone into homes where no one offered to take our coats (so we tossed them in a corner), we weren’t welcomed to come in and sit down (so we stood around awkwardly), and nothing was offered to eat or drink (although cookies sat on a plate all evening). Sometimes people just don’t know how to be hospitable.
We’ve also been places where we were greeted politely (although it seemed a bit formal), we were escorted to an immaculate parlor (where we sat awkwardly), and gourmet food was served (with all the properly placed silverware and goblets). Sometimes people only know how to entertain.
For over three decades, PB ended worship services with a paraphrase of Ephesians 3:17-19. It starts like this: “We pray that Christ will be more and more at home in our hearts, living within us as we trust in Him…”
Is Christ “at home” in my heart?
Do I address Him formally? (Dear Gawwwwd.) Is there awkwardness between us because there are things too touchy to talk about? (I’d rather not discuss that please.) Am I following the rules of etiquette and decorum? (And making sure everybody else is, too.)
Am I trying to entertain God?
Or am I waiting at the door, anxious to invite Him in with warmth and joy? (Lord! I’m so glad You’re here!) Do I offer Him myself, foibles and faults included? (I’m not much, but I’m all Yours.) Does He feel comfortable enough to put His feet up on my coffee table? (Make Yourself at home here.)
Is my heart hospitable?
I can invite Jesus to stop by, perhaps on special occasions. I can clean up the place, get dressed up, and put out the best china. But He’s not impressed by my outward show of righteousness.
Or I can sign over the deed to the place and give Him ownership. I can let Him clean out the closets, clothe me in His righteousness, and fellowship at the table daily.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door,
I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
Revelation 3:20
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I’d bring Him a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I’d do my part.
Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart.
~ Christina Rossetti
Coming and Going
PB and I have been doing some coming and going.
We took a drive up north to see the fall colors.
The leaves weren’t in full autumn splendor,
but glorious nonetheless.
“The Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.”
Ps. 121:8
This verse is from a dearly loved psalm in which the phrase “watch over” appears five times in eight verses. I often send this verse to people who are anticipating a surgical procedure. I tweak it just a bit: “The Lord will watch over your going into anesthesia and coming out of anesthesia both now and forevermore.”
I’ve read that psalm hundreds of times, but today I noticed something new. The Lord is most watchful when we’re moving. Coming and going. Going and coming.
Our Teddy is a boy on the move. When he visits, I am on high alert making sure he isn’t riding his bike out on the street or wandering off into the woods by himself. I need to be on the lookout for swinging baseball bats and flying Nerf gun bullets. My ears are attentive to the sound of the rattling cookie jar lid and the crash of thousands of Lego pieces being dumped out.
But when I’m reading “The Bunny Book” to Teddy, he sits still and cuddles up to me. I relax and enjoy the momentary closeness. It’s magical.
God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful so it’s not taxing for Him to keep watch over my coming and going. Yet, I wonder if He most enjoys those moments when I cease my striving and simply sit still, savoring His nearness.
“What is the chief end of man?
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
(Westminster Catechism)
a small drop of ink 