Come On In!

I never cease to be surprised by God’s timing of circumstances. The direction of this series of writings was scheduled out long before I realized how specific they would be in my own personal life. This past Sunday was my last day of teaching a life group at a church I have been a member of for 17 years. But for several months before the pandemic hit, the Lord had already begun to impress me that it could be time to move on to something else He had for me. Nothing specific materialized, so I continued in my current ministry with a sweet, vivacious group of gals I led for close to 10 years. Out of the quieter days brought on by a forced slow down, God first led me to a writing ministry but continued to impress both Jim and I that it was time to set out toward our next place. If you are a member of a church, you know what a difficult choice this is. Most folks assume that folks only leave churches after significant disagreements or irreconcilable differences.

While this is unfortunately often true, it became more about a growing issue in our own lives. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that any relationship with any church where you are committed doesn’t have its share of trials and challenges, but for us, that isn’t enough reason to pick up stakes and move on. Entering the retirement phase of life brought fresh conviction that I now had the time to pursue some ministry opportunities closer to God’s personal vision for me. Therefore even as I am writing this, Christ is assuring me, He is the Door. As He is leading me, I am reminded He is the author of exits. He closes doors behind us as He leads us on to the next one He will open in His perfect time.

When Jesus stated, He was the Door in one of His “I am” proclamations, He was announcing to the world that He was the entrance into salvation, and for us to gain eternal life, we have to cross His threshold. There are no other openings or windows, only the Door. Christ even states that to attempt to enter into His grace except through Him constitutes a person being a thief or a robber (John 10:1). Once we enter into faith through Him, His identity as the Door expands and grows as we mature in our walk of faith with Him. I look back and see how many doors He has opened for me, taking me to new adventures and challenges. I also see how many doors He thankfully kept closed even when I persistently knocked, even a few I tried to force it open. Because He knew what lay behind it was either not yet in His time, or it just wasn’t where I belonged.

So as part of my Christmas refreshment, God is taking me through the “I am’s,” reminding me today, He is the Door! If I want to really cast off the shadow of the Christmas past of failed expectations, hurry sickness, and holiday stress, I must enter the season through Him, the Door Himself. The season of Advent is about preparing ourselves for worship and reflection about His first coming. In that manger, the baby who would change the world came to be open the Door to our return to the Father. If I enter into any true worship and have any real Christmas joy this year, it must be based in HIm. Too often, I try to enter the Christmas season by making my list and checking it twice. I look at my finances, my calendar and begin to schedule gatherings and church events. I plan menus! While all these can be good stewardship of time, talent, resources, and practicality, I am reminded that sometimes the stillness of the Holy Night is drowned out, and the incredible wonder of God leaving heaven to come to earth is treated like Hallmark reruns. Oh yes, I set out my nativity collection proudly while I inwardly struggle to worship the Living Christ and maintain my fellowship and quiet time with Him in yuletide chaos. Then I am reminded..”I am the Door.” He is my entrance into true worship. He is my exit out of meaningless Christmas obligations that make me a slave to the must and the should. He offers the threshold where I can walk out of the winter wonderland of materialism, commercialism and into green pastures beside still waters. At the onset of the season, I need to remember this and hold fast to this truth.

This year as my personal life looks different with both Jim and I in retirement, God reminds me how He has faithfully brought us through to reach this season. As I seek a new place to worship and serve, I trust He will show me the Door and open it at just the right time. As I continue to try and prepare myself for Advent, though I struggle on this pandemic impacted planet, He reminds me there is peace on earth and goodwill toward men. Not because of lower case numbers or successful vaccines but because Christ brought it to us. Christmas is a time when we take time to rejoice that while we were out in the cold of our own sin, without shelter of any righteousness to call our own, God moved here one dark night, bringing the Door to heaven and opening it wide to the whole earth!

God, thank you that you promise in your word that when we knock, you will open the Door. Today Lord, I stand at your Door, knocking to enter into Advent. Let me leave all the trappings of what I think I need to be happy at Christmas at your threshold and truly enter into your joy. Let me experience the wonder of worship of you alone. When the din of the worlds’ party gets too loud, Lord shut the Door behind me and help me find the silent, holy night.

Come back next time where the 5 o’clock worker discovers her Christmas Lights might be burned out in the vineyard.