He came once...He's coming again!

I've spent a lot of time going through the book of Hebrews over the past year. Much of this book talks about the work that Christ has accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection. At some point, after going through the book many times, my mind set the words of the end of chapter 9 into a rhyme that has helped me to keep in mind the reality of Jesus' first and second comings.

On this, the first day of advent, I thought I would share it with you, as it is a wonderful truth to dwell on during this season.

He came once to deal with sin.
He is coming again to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

To read the passage that this came from, see Hebrews 9:28. I hope you will find this phrase an encouragement, as I myself have found it to be.

Giving Thanks - In Peace I Will Both Lie Down and Sleep

The Lord was incredibly gracious to me this year in blessing me with the gift of sleep. It turns out that I have pretty severe sleep apnea, a condition in which you actually stop breathing at night. It is a condition that can prevent a person from getting the restorative sleep that he needs.

My journey to restful sleep started in April of this year during a regular checkup with my primary care doctor. In the midst of the visit, she asked how I was feeling, and the Lord allowed me to remember a couple of symptoms that I had become aware of during the past several months. I was getting up to urinate at least two or more times per night and, every day at work I would almost fall asleep at my desk. My doctor dutifully followed up with a couple of other questions.

"Do you snore?"

"Yes."

"Do you grind your teeth at night?"

"Yes."

From there, she let me know that I likely have mild to moderate sleep apnea and recommended that I undergo a home sleep test to find out if I really did have sleep apnea. Hearing that I would be doing a sleep test actually made me pretty excited, as I have wanted to do a sleep test for years, just for the fun of it (yes, I am serious about this). The test was a lot simpler than what you make think of when you hear "sleep test." It did not include going to spend the night at a clinic with 20 million electrodes taped all over me. A respiratory therapist came to my home and showed me the equipment I would be wearing to sleep for the next couple of nights: some headgear with a plastic box in front of my forehead, connecting to my skin with some silicon, a nasal tube sitting just at the entrance to my nostrils, and a canvas strap that buckled around my chest (pictured below).

I followed the instructions and completed the sleep test. Two days later, the respiratory therapist picked up the sleep test and my doctor was sent the results soon after that. She called and let me know that I had one of the worst sleep apnea cases she had ever seen. My results showed that I very frequently stopped breathing at points during the night, at one point, my heartbeat rose to 136 beats per minute, and my oxygen dipped to below 72% (when it should be in the 90s).

As troubling as this diagnosis was, I was so pleased to hear this news, as my doctor told me that treating it would really impact my quality of life. Not only was I almost falling asleep at work everyday, I was so tired all of the time that while at work I just longed to go home so that I could just sleep. I basically had no energy to do anything. Hearing that getting the right treatment could impact my energy level significantly was music to my ears.

My doctor made it clear that I needed to get started using a CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) mask/machine as soon as possible. Due to the typical slowness of the insurance approval process, I knew that it might take a bit of time to get my machine. I also new that "a squeaky wheel gets the grease." I therefore made multiple calls to both my insurance provider and the medical supply company to make sure things were moving along as they should be.

During that time, I was a bit afraid to go to sleep, knowing that my oxygen had been going to very unhealthy levels during my sleep, and there was really nothing that I could consciously do to prevent this from happening. I was reminded though that in sleeping we are very much in dependence upon the Lord to sustain us through the night. A couple of verses, in particular brought me encouragement

"In peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

"I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me." Psalm 3:5 (ESV)

I knew that I could ask the Lord to preserve me during these nights of sleep as I waited for my CPAP machine. I also did my best to sleep sitting propped up (not at all fun, by the way). Ultimately, the Lord was gracious to me and allowed me to live through those nights until receiving my CPAP mask/machine one week later.

What is really cool about the CPAP machines these days are all of the data they provide to the user. My machine tells me if there were any substantial air leaks (mask letting air leak out because of not being properly affixed) that night, how much average air pressure I needed, and also a score (AHI) that gives a general measure of the extent to which I stopped breathing during the night. As I started using my machine, I definitely had a bit of a learning curve, as there are different things that affected my mask staying properly affixed. However, I was determined to persevere in light of the possibility of having energy once again.

My doctor had told me that after about one month, I should feel a significant difference, especially in terms of energy level. Unfortunately, after using my CPAP machine quite religiously for one month, I still wasn't quite feeling the difference that I had hoped for. My doctor encouraged me that for some people, who have had severe cases for a long time (which she believed my case was), it can take longer. She had heard it equated to a person with a normal appetite and a person who had been starving for a long time, both being given a meal to eat. The food that might easily satisfy the one with a normal appetite, just might not quite cut it for the one who had been starving for a long time. My body was starving for sleep, and one month of great sleep wasn't quite enough to satiate that hunger.

I continued onward with my regular use of the CPAP machine, and, sure enough, at about the 2.5 month mark, I realized one day that I had so much energy. Truly, it was more energy than I had felt in a long time, possibly in several years. It was incredible!

It has fascinated me for years how seemingly small physiological issues can have a profound impact upon a person's life. From my experience with sleep apnea, I can attest to the reality of this. Having my sleep apnea under control has enabled me to have the energy to accomplish projects, exercise and enjoy life to a greater extent than I had been able to for quite some time.

The sleep I experience now is such a wonderful gift. It has truly changed my life. I am so thankful for my CPAP machine and the restorative sleep I am now able to experience every single night. More so, though, I am thankful for the gracious Lord God who gave the gift of enabling my doctor to identify and treat this health issue. Praise be to God!

Breakfast - More than Just the Most Important Meal of the Day

I ate a whole lot of cereal for breakfast growing up. Sometimes, I would stick with a favorite brand, but it was probably more often the case that I would quickly tire of one brand midway through the box and feel the urge to start eating a new brand. Fortunately, by that time, cereal manufacturers had developed the concept of selling a variety pack of individual-serving sized boxes of cereals. I’m quite certain that my brother and I consumed quite a few such variety packs of cereal.

Aside from trying lots of different kinds of cereal, though, breakfast time in our house was often a time that my parents used to reinforce in my brother and myself a habit of praying for specific people.

My mom took several index cards, punched holes in one of the corners, tied a piece of yarn through the hole and added a name or picture of extended family members and missionaries. We had at least two such decks of cards, and, I recall each day we would get to flip to a new card in the deck and include them in our prayers as a family that morning.

As Missions Sunday will be tomorrow at my church, my mind drifted this week to thinking about one of the cards we used in our missionary card rotation; this card included a reminder for us to pray for the Harauti people group in India who needed the Bible translated into their own language. In looking up the progress of this work, I was pleased to see that it appears this people group does now have the New Testament in their language, along with an audio recording of the Gospel and the Jesus Film in their language (see here).

The repetition we used to pray for this people group, along with various missionaries and extended family is a practice I have used in my own prayer life, well beyond the time that my parents first introduced this into my life. If you have kiddos, I would heartily encourage you to begin this type of routine with them now, particularly at mealtime.

What better time to instill this type of habit in kids than mealtime? Eating is something that we soon learn we must do to survive. Prayer, God's Word tells us, should be taking place on a recurring basis (1 Thess. 5:17). Coupling mealtime with a discipline that will serve your child well for the rest of their life may take some planning and preparation on your part, but will surely be time well spent.

Decorating for Christmas: An Approximation of What Will Be

Over the years of living away from my parents, I have hesitated to put effort into decorating for Christmas. I believe this has been the case because I feel like I am waiting for the day when I can really decorate a home for myself, my husband, and my children. I see these as being the desired circumstances in which I will be able to have the space needed to decorate, the money needed to purchase a substantial amount of beautiful decorations, and people living with me who will get to enjoy looking at the decorations. That ideal Christmas I am envisioning is not here today. I am single and have no children. Without having those prerequisites met, I think the perfectionist in me has decided that it is not worth the effort to decorate my home as this holiday approaches.

Yesterday, however, I decided to go ahead and purchase a small number of Christmas decorations to adorn my 400 square foot studio apartment for this year's holiday season. As I placed shopping bags filled with decorations in the backseat of my car, I had a somewhat depressing thought about how the meager (from my perspective) amount of decorations I had purchased would create only an approximation of the way I hope to decorate a home someday for Christmas.

However, in that moment, it also occurred to me that regardless of the extent to which we decorate or celebrate Christmas here on earth, our Christmas celebration will always be an approximation of the ultimate celebration that we will experience in heaven someday.

That heavenly celebration will be glorious. We will join with all believers to praise and worship our great God. Those of us who know the Lord can look forward to that time with great excitement and anticipation.

But, for now, no matter how wonderful our experience celebrating Christmas, with decorations, parties, and presents, things are not going to ever make for an ideal celebration. We still live in a fallen world where the effects of sin run rampant throughout our day to day lives. Sickness, pain, broken relationships, troubles. Things are never going to be quite right here until the Lord returns.

As I sit here in my little apartment, staring at my 2 foot tall, pre-lighted, artificial Christmas tree, my view of the meager Christmas decorations adorning my home has changed. Instead of them bringing me discouragement that I am not celebrating Christmas the way I think would be most ideal, I am choosing to look at the meager decorations around me as a reminder. A reminder, that all of the beautiful Christmas decorations in the world would still create only a scant approximation of the grand celebration of our Lord that is approaching. And, with that knowledge, I can appreciate my Christmas decorations today for what they are and look forward to that grand celebration with a heart that is thankful, joyful, and excited about what will one day be.

Christmas Joy 2013: The Final Production

My first participation in Christmas Joy came as a handbell ringer. Upon arriving at Bethany Church in the Fall of 2010, it was my pleasure to join the handbell choir, as this was something I had wanted to try for a while. When I glanced at the handbell rehearsal/performance schedule and saw that we would be playing in 8 Christmas performances, I had no idea that the presentation the church referred to as "Christmas Joy" would be quite a production, complete with an elaborate set, costumes, music, choreography, and drama. I was (and still am) so impressed by the amount of work that individuals contribute towards Christmas Joy. Countless hours have been spent writing the script, designing/constructing the set, printing flyers/tickets/programs, learning the music, rehearsing choreography, memorizing lines, preparing food, providing childcare, and covering the performances in prayer. Below is a picture from the first Christmas Joy presentation in which I participated ("Jonah's Light" 2010).

I am particularly excited to be a part of this year's production as it is the first time I've been a member of the drama cast (and a main character!) in the production. I have had such fun working on the production and enjoying lots of time with the others involved in the production. I think that my excitement towards being a character in Christmas Joy is best reflected by the expression on my face in the following photo taken of me and my brother right before Christmas 20 years ago.

However, it is also a pleasure to be a part of Christmas Joy this year, as it is the 40th and final year of this production. The ministry of Christmas Joy has been a blessing to the many people involved in producing it, as well as those who have attended over the years. Although, it will be quite a tearful occasion as we commence with the final performance of Christmas Joy on December 15th, it will also be a time of great joy, thanks, and praise to God for giving this gift for the time duly appointed. And, then, an opportunity to, with trusting hearts, look to the Lord for what He will delight to give to us next. The Lord is the giver of good gifts, and we can be sure that what He gives (or takes away) will be done for our good and His glory.

This year's presentation, "God's Melting Pot," takes place December 1886. The Statue of Liberty has been dedicated, and immigrants from the world over have been drawn to a new life in the young, prosperous democracy, with some seeking gold and silver in Virginia City, Nevada Territory. Two Virginia City Immigrants, George from England and Patrick from Ireland, come to this new land but harbor a deep hatred for each other. How can God bring reconciliation to these life-long enemies?

That being said, if you will be in the Long Beach, California area on December 7th, 8th, 14th or 15th, I hope you will come out to see any one of the 8 performances of Christmas Joy at Bethany Church (2250 Clark Ave. Long Beach, CA 90815). Admission is free, as is childcare for those five years of age and younger. Performances are at 3:30pm and 7:00pm. For more information, please call 562.597.2411. Hope to see you there!

A Treasured Christian Legacy

Reading words written in decades past is an exciting experience in and of itself. Reading words belonging to those in my ancestral line is doubly thrilling. Reading the words of previous generations regarding their walk with the Lord is, to me, an absolute treasure.

Recently, I've been researching the history of my Dad's side of the family. While I was visiting my parents a couple of weekends ago, I was able to look through a large file of pictures, e-mails, and newspaper articles about our family's history.

One special treasure was the letter pictured above, from my great great grandmother, Charlotte Lyons, to my grandfather, Norbert Lyons. It was so exciting to hold the letter and envelope, look at the 3 cent stamp and 1944 postmark, and marvel at how the post office could deliver a letter to its destination with only the addressee's name, city, and state listed on the envelope.

But, what was even more exciting, was reading the words my great great grandmother wrote:

Corunna, Michigan
May 7th 44

Dear Norbert,
In looking through Grandpas treasures, found this little letter written by you 20 years ago. Thought you might like to keep it. Hope this will find you all with better health than when I was there. Baby Wesley was the only well one.

I think in the past if we had all looked to our Heavenly Father for guidance, things would have been better for us. We wouldn’t have made so many mistakes. But now may we look to Him in time of need. Thanks for the many things you done for us during Grandpas illness & death. He didn’t know about it. But always spoke of your kindness & care for us. I hope you can get the kind of home that’s best for you. The only way I can help you all is by the way of the throne. Ethel will be better when she gets her teeth. Don’t try to come out. It takes money to buy gas. I am able to walk a little better.

While I am lonely sometimes, friends are kind & God is with me.

With lots of love,
Grandmother

In recent years, I have come to see how privileged of a background I have come from. Having had grandparents, great-great grandparents, and beyond, who knew and loved the Lord, and were faithful in telling their children about the Lord and salvation through faith in Him, is of incomparable worth.

I am so thankful for the generations before me who have lived in obedience to the Lord and did their best to help their children to come to a saving knowledge of the truth, which is found only in Christ Jesus. While their lives may have consisted of rather ordinary, routine work and care of house and family, their faithfulness to the Lord, in the time and space in which He placed them makes their lives anything but insignificant.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 3:14-15

The Exquisite Handwriting of My Mother

My mom would say that she doesn’t have the nicest handwriting.

I suppose at face value this is true. Surely, there are those who have honed calligraphy skills who can write words in the most elegant cursive imaginable.

However, my mom’s handwriting has a beauty unlike that of any other person in the world.

When I see my mom’s handwriting, even just in the form of writing my address on an envelope, I feel her great love for me.

I remember the times that she woke me up for school, took care of me when I was sick, let me help her make food for the family, and disciplined me when I disobeyed. I remember the times that she has held me, sat with me, cried with me, and spoke words of life to me.

The great love that she had for me and my brother was demonstrated again and again and again through all of the simple, mundane moments of life as she and my dad raised us.

When I see her handwriting, I know the great love for me that is behind the pen and paper, and I feel completely loved and treasured.

It recently occurred to me that I should experience this same feeling when I read God’s word. God loves and cares for me so much more than do my parents, and I want to have the same response to seeing God’s word that I do when I see my mom’s writing. It seems easier to me to feel this great love when looking at my mom’s handwriting. Perhaps, it is just because of the physical presence she has had in my life. I have come to know her presence through the joys and challenges of life.

However, I have also come to know the Lord and His character through the joys and challenges of life, and even more so, through His word. I want to be increasingly more aware of His love for me.

I am thankful that among many other ways that He has shown His love for me, He has given me a mom whose writing has great power to encourage me and make me feel like a treasure.