Empty Chairs

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 AMP

¹⁶ Rejoice always and delight in your faith; ¹⁷ be unceasing and persistent in prayer; ¹⁸ in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

To be honest, these words from Ephesians 5 are slightly confusing on a normal day let alone when we are walking in seasons of loss, grief, betrayal, disappointment, or unexpected change…to name a few. Yet here we are, it’s Thanksgiving, the season of sharing what we are thankful for as we go around the circle at the table. This year, what is staring us in the face is Dad’s empty chair at the table.

When I see that empty chair and feel my heavy heart, my mind travels to another table. The table in Psalm 23.

Psalm 23

¹The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me]

I shall not want.

² He lets me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.

³He refreshes and restores my soul (life);

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

for His name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

When I think of Psalm 23 I think of a passage that we turn to during difficult circumstances or one that is read at a service after someone has moved into Heaven. In this last year a Pastor shared with us something to add to our “wonderings” list, might Psalm 23 be the picture of our lives from the time they begin? As humans from the moment we are conceived we begin life and at the same time the journey towards death and eternity – either eternal life or eternal death. Could Psalm 23 be the picture of us walking in “the valley of the shadow of death” (verse 4) from the moment we were created? We take a breath and begin that walk with our Shepherd through our earthly journeys, moving towards death, and into eternity. Psalm 23 could be a beautiful picture of The Shepherd walking with us through all things on earth and leading us into eternity where we move to that next table.

The Pastor then shared with us about verse 5, “You prepare a table before me.” Could this table be the table talked about in Revelation where those who receive Christ’s invitation will join in the wedding feast of The Lamb? At this celebration table “the valley of the shadow of death” will be over, our cups will overflow (verse 5), and we will “dwell forever in the house and presence of the Lord” (verse 6). When the Lord says it is time, we will celebrate at a banquet, the wedding feast of The Lamb! We will sit at a table with Jesus! Our joy will be made complete in Him. I can now see Psalm 23 as the story of our journey with The Good Shepherd walking with us from the moment we were created, through death, and into eternity with Him for the ultimate Thanksgiving feast! The banquet that Revelation talks about.

Revelation 19:6-9

⁶ Then I heard something like the shout of a vast multitude, and like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of mighty peals of thunder, saying,

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all] reigns. ⁷ Let us rejoice and shout for joy! Let us give Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb has come [at last] and His bride (the redeemed) has prepared herself.” ⁸ She has been permitted to dress in fine linen, dazzling white and clean—for the fine linen signifies the righteous acts of the saints [the ethical conduct, personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character of believers].

⁹ Then the angel said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me [further], “These are the true and exact words of God.”

This is the next table we will get to be at with Dad! The table you will get to be at with your believing loved ones who have moved into Heaven! And more importantly, the table at which we will get to see and celebrate with Jesus! Can you even imagine?! I am in awe of this picture. This brings gratitude to my heart. Dad and many of your loved ones are already there with Jesus waiting for us to join them. My gratitude continues to grow.

Friends, this is our time to prepare for the biggest thanksgiving feast of our lives…our eternal lives! “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (verse 9). You, me, everyone is invited to this marriage supper! It’s our turn to respond to the invitation, to have our names added to the guest list, to claim our open seat at the table. Now is our chance to receive the incredible gift of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. Now is our time to respond to His gift with our lives here on this earthly journey towards eternity. We have the opportunity to study God’s words, to spend time with Him, to share His invitation with others, to prepare our spirits for eternity with Him. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day of this earthly world, we all do it, regularly. Jesus reminds us in Colossians that during our time on these earthly journeys to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3: 1-5, 15-17

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Perspective. It is all around us when we take the time to stop and see, to listen, to ask questions, and to be available. The other day I was checking out at the grocery store talking with the clerk. She made a comment about my boxes of waffles and I told her my kids go through them like crazy. She told me with a laugh that her grandson keeps stealing her waffles. I smiled and commented that kids are such a blessing. She said something to the effect of “More than you will ever know.” I don’t even remember what happened next but somehow, she told me that her adult daughter had died. I offered my condolences and mentioned how hard that must be and how difficult it must be with the holidays coming. We continued talking and mentioned the empty chairs at the holiday table. I shared that this was my family’s first holiday without my Dad. She asked about him. When I said he was 61, she gasped at his young age and asked what he passed away from. I told her brain cancer and we kept talking. I shared that it is difficult but that our family believes that this is not it, that we will see each other again someday in eternity. She stopped bagging groceries, looked me square in the eye and said, “Oh, I believe in Jesus Christ too. I don’t know how I would get through this without Him.” We shared about our common beliefs and our hope. In the end she told me that her adult daughter died unexpectedly and tragically and her husband has also died. With tears in her eyes, we talked about the hope we have that helps us walk with this incredible pain and loss. I looked back into her tear-filled eyes as she bagged groceries and said, “I will pray for you right now as I walk to my car.” Barely able to speak she thanked me and continued bagging the next lady’s groceries with tears running down her face. How she gets up and faces another day with a daughter’s life taken by the evil of this world, a husband gone, and a grandson to raise – must only be by the grace of God and with a mind set on things above, not on earthly things. Perspective -in Jesus Christ.

We have our Thanksgiving tables, the Psalm 23 table, and the Revelation’s table, now back to our tables this Thanksgiving. The ones that many of us will have empty chairs at this holiday season from loss that comes in a variety of ways. So now what? Friends, when we look at those empty chairs at the Thanksgiving table this year, whether it’s the first year of a loss or change, or the 30th year, those empty chairs cause pain and heartache. This is real, let’s acknowledge that. If our empty chair is from a loved one that has moved into Heaven, let’s talk about them and give thanks for them and the impact they had and continue to have on our lives. For those in our lives who have empty chairs because of other life circumstances, let’s allow them the opportunity and safe space to lament and grieve these changes as well. No matter the circumstances surrounding this year’s empty chair, let’s also take the time to look back and see how The Good Shepherd has walked with us through these painful journeys. Let’s take time to thank Him as He still stands beside us today as we experience the pain of that empty chair. Grief and gratitude, I don’t know about you, but I feel them both this year.

As we experience this around our tables, likely with tears pouring onto our plates, let’s also remember the empty chairs waiting at The Banquet Table in eternity. The ones waiting for each of us who are yet in our preparation time here on earth. The ones that are available for those we know and love who have not yet responded to Jesus’ invitation. The ones that are already claimed by our loved ones who are there waiting for us with Jesus. Let’s take this time we have here on earth seriously and accept the invitation to prepare ourselves for THE big feast in eternity and to share this invitation with others! Let’s continue on in this earthly pilgrimage with a mission to fill those empty chairs for the ultimate Thanksgiving feast!

Keeping on with eyes up,

SJN

This Little Light of Mine...

I have found that sometimes after I respond to God’s invitation to “come” I am surprised by the way He speaks. The way His words, especially passages that I have read many times, can come alive in new ways. In a world that is so loud and busy, both audibly and in our thoughts, one practice that I have found valuable and helpful to implement when I am in God’s word is Lectio Divina. This involves reading a portion of scripture multiple times and asking the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants to reveal to you that day. This practice can help me focus in on the scripture and brings me back for multiple looks when my mind begins to wander and I don’t remember what I just read. It’s a simple process with steps to follow and lots of room for the Holy Spirit to move.

Lectio Divina:

-Choose a short Scripture passage for your meditation. Quiet yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to guard and guide your reading and listening.

-First Reading of the passage – Read the passage and allow yourself time to take in God’s words.

-Second Reading of the passage – Listen for any words or phrases that stand out to you. Circle or underline them if you would like. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what He has for you in those words.

-Third Reading of the passage – Take a few minutes of silent reflection. Listen to how the passage seems to touch your life experiences right now.

-Fourth Reading of the passage – Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what the passage might be inviting you to do, to be, or to change.

-Take time to thank and praise God for how He spoke to you through His words today.

Awhile back I did this when reading Psalm 1. (I was reading the Amplified version of scripture as I appreciate the descriptive words that add meaning and life to the passages for me.)

Psalm 1

Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly (following their advice, their plans and purposes), nor stands (submissive and inactive (in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down (to relax and rest) where the scornful (and the mockers) gather.

But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted (and tended) by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; is leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper (and come to maturity).

Not so the wicked (those disobedient and living without God are not so). But they are like the chaff (worthless, dead, without substance) which the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked (those disobedient and living without God) shall not stand (justified) in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregations of the righteous (whose who are upright and in right standing with God).

For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly (those living outside of God’s will) shall perish (end in ruin and come to naught).

There were several words and phrases that spoke to me that day…

Delight and desire

What is my delight and desire in? Do I delight in God’s words, His instructions, His teachings? Do I desire His words, His instructions, His teachings? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word 'delight' as “a high degree of gratification or pleasure.” It defines the word 'desire' as “to long or hope for.” The challenge here is to long for God’s words and find gratification in them. How does one do that? I think Psalm 1 tells us how, by habitually meditating on them.

Habitually meditates

In Psalm 1 it says when one “habitually meditating (ponders and studies)” God’s teachings day and night they “shall be like a tree firmly planted (and tended) by the streams of water.” When we respond to Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11 to “come” (see September post), God gives us rest, renewal, and blessing and then there is more. After we come, when we take His word and fill our minds, hearts, spirits, and words with His truth throughout our day, it begins to change our thoughts, our countenance, our spirits. It grows in us a desire and delight for more of His words, His truth, His guidance and teaching. Just as we spend time to grow and develop earthly relationships, God invites us to do the same with Him. When we do that He says we will be firmly planted and tended by Him, The Living Water.

Firmly planted

Can’t you just picture that? A tree with roots planted deep in the soil by a stream of water. The words “firmly pIanted” do not go unnoticed to me. When we immerse ourselves in God’s word and it begins to permeate through our being, we start to experience that delight and desire for God and His words. We begin to experience a deeper connection with Him. It doesn’t mean life becomes easy, that we are always happy and doing well, or that we are without pain, loss, trials, and incredible hardships – what it means to me is that as we experience those things here on this earth, we can experience the gift of being connected to Him through it all. And when we are connected to Him we can allow Him to tend to us is all the different seasons of life.

Tended

Tended, what a beautiful image. Back to the dictionary. One of the definitions of 'tended' is “to apply oneself to the care of: to watch over”. Another definition is “overseer.” As we walk through our days filling our minds and thoughts with God’s truths, we become firmly planted as we navigate through life’s situations. As we experience those ups and downs connected to Him, Jesus tends to us. He oversees us. His words repeated in our minds and thoughts can allow His truths to speak louder than the enemy’s lies. It can allow Him to tend to our spirits and empower us as we go out and produce fruit for Him.

In its season

So often I wish things would move faster. That answers would come more quickly. That God would show up sooner, louder, and more clearly. If we look across to the lanes of fellow believers running the race we can get distracted and even delayed. Psalm 1 clearly says that when we desire and delight in God’s word, when we meditate on it throughout our day and night, we will be firmly planted, tended, by streams of water and ready to bring forth fruit in its season. We all have different seasons. God’s timing, plans, and purposes for each of our lives are likely going to look a little different. Sometimes a lot different.

Sometimes we wonder…

When will I see the fruit? (Fruit of…restoration, health, joy, breakthrough, relief, etc.)

When it’s my season (see Psalm 1.)

When is that?

When The Living Water has tended to me and declared it is my season.

What do I do while I wait?

Delight and desire His word. Ponder His words. Fill our minds with them and in turn become firmly planted in His truths. Allow His words and His Holy Spirit to tend to us. Stay connected, firmly rooted, so we do not fade or wither.

Shall not fade or wither

Sitting in this fall season we can see what the next part of this verse talks about. “…it’s leaf shall not fade or wither…” That hit me loud the day I read Psalm 1 through the Lectio Divina steps. In a season of my life where weariness of the soul can hang heavy, it can feel as though I have become a fading leaf. I do not want to be a faded leaf and I definitely don’t want to wither. So I am faced once again with the choice to either run towards God or away from Him. To dig deeper into His words and become more connected to Him or allow this season to uproot me.

When my kids started going school a few years ago a dear friend shared with me that her family prayed on the armor of God (Ephesians 6) every morning on the way to school. I loved this idea and quickly implemented it on our car rides to school. After we pray this we often sing along to the radio, talk about what we are looking forward to in the day ahead, and comment on the colors and clouds in the sky. These days we are regularly noticing God’s glory in the sky and thinking about what Grandpa might be experiencing in Heaven. Inspired by Psalm 1’s challenge of not fading, we have added something else to our morning routine. Lately as my kids are leaving the car I have added, “Go be a light today!” Last week I forgot to say it one morning and my 7-year-old turned to me as he stepped out of the car and said, “Go be a light today, Mom.” He’s caught on. And now he is challenging me.

In a world that seems to have a lot of darkness, a lot of fading and withering, let’s challenge each other to delight and desire, habitually meditate, be firmly planted, tended to, and trust in His seasons for us so we shall not fade or wither. So we can go out and be a light today. Maybe even singing, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…”

Blessings,

SJN

Come

Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”

Almost a year ago now our family received news that would change the rest of our lives here on earth. A diagnosis that came out of nowhere and in only 5.5 months our 61-year-old Dad moved to his Heavenly home. This last year has been challenging, exhausting, and incredibly painful, to say the least. I am sure that many of you have also experienced deep, indescribable pain in your lives and an exhaustion that affects your body, mind, and spirit. I sit here now, this side of God’s “no” answer to an earthly miracle and “yes” answer to a Heavenly miracle, feeling that exhaustion to my core. Often repeating the prayer, “Jesus, please hold my heart and dear Lord, please settle my soul." Sometimes those are the only words I can get out.

One day when I had the energy to open my Bible, I read Matthew 11:28. I had been asking God for rest, for comfort, for soul peace. As I read His Words I realized something, Jesus’ words started with an invitation, an invitation that required a small yet powerful action on my part…“Come."

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Come.

To Me.

And I will give you rest.

Learn from Me.

And you will find rest for your souls.

That rest I am yearning for, even praying for, is there for the taking but it requires and invites me to “come” to Jesus to receive it. And it doesn’t say I “might” find rest, He says I “will” find rest.

The Amplified Version of the Bible says that when we come to Jesus, and even more, when we learn from Him, God will give us rest, renewal, and blessed quiet for our souls. That is beautiful. We have the opportunity for our souls not only to rest but to be renewed and then even blessed. In my mind rest is great, step one. Adding renewal after that rest is what I need to be able to get back up and keep going, to walk with others, to live out God’s daily promptings and callings on my life. And then even more, it says our souls will be blessed. By just taking the step to come to Him, to learn from Him, we can experience rest, renewal, and blessing for our souls. The Bible sometimes uses the word “selah” which some Bible scholars say means to, “pause and reflect." In my opinion, this verse in Matthew 11 benefits from a “selah” moment. Read it again, it’s good.

In a world that moves fast, where work is never done, life is rarely quiet, the alerts are constantly going off on our phones, watches, and wash machines...we need that rest and peace so badly. It’s a gift for our weary bodies and souls, but we have to take the time to do the first part, “Come."

Coming to Jesus doesn’t mean the pain of grief and loss is gone. Or that stress and busyness are no more. It doesn’t make all right with the world. For me, it doesn’t bring my Dad back. What it does do is activate Jesus’ words that say if we come to Him, He will give us rest for our souls. I don’t know about you, but my soul could sure use that rest. Today, I challenge you and me alike to take Jesus up on His invitation to “Come” and receive His rest, renewal, and blessing for our souls.

Blessings,

-SJN