Presents or Presence?

I must have been 10 or 11. And I had one thing on my mind- the Magnavox jambox that was at the top of my Christmas wish list. I had to have it. Not only was it equipped with a double cassette player for dubbing tapes, it had a CD player. And every soon to be middle schooler needed a CD player.

A few days shy of Christmas, my mom traipsed off to the store, leaving me alone with a tree full of presents. Let's just say self-control was not a virtue I possessed as a kid. I frantically began shaking each package that remotely resembled a jambox, listening carefully to ensure I didn't choose the wrong one. After all, time was of the essence, and I didn't want to get busted!

I made my selection and gingerly pulled the tape off one side. I loosened the paper and scanned the brown cardboard box for evidence of its contents. And then I saw the only word I needed to see- Magnavox. I was elated! The jambox would soon be playing in my hot little hands. I re-wrapped the opened box in a flash and placed it perfectly under the Christmas tree.

I must say this story makes me giggle. But when I stop and reflect on a deeper level, it begs me to question whether I'm still anything like that 10 year-old girl. As a child, I'd sit for hours with Christmas sale flyers strewn around me, making my list and checking it twice.

My focus was always on the gifts and never on the Giver.

It saddens me to think how many Christmases I've squandered because of unfulfilled expectations, longing deeply for perfect gifts to make me happy. My husband thinks appliances qualify, and let's just say I'm not the vacuum cleaner type. I've shed many a disappointed tear on Christmas morning because the gifts I got never quite measured up. I admit I'm too often fixated on presents rather than His Presence.

How about you? Do you gravitate toward gifts or the Giver? Are you focused on presents or His presence?

This Christmas, let's rest in the presence of Jesus Christ. Let's rejoice that we've already received the perfect gift from our Heavenly Father. And let's remember it is only Jesus who will ever fulfill our expectations and satisfy our deepest longings. He was and is and will always be our only perfect gift.

As Oswald Chambers says, "Nothing can satisfy the need [in us] but that which created the need. This is the meaning of Redemption- it creates and it satisfies."

Thank you Lord Jesus for creating in us a void that only you can fulfill, and help us never to be satisfied with any present other than your presence.

Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! Acts 17:26-28 The Message

"How to" Series: Cooking a Turkey

A delectable turkey is a done deal if you carefully follow these tried and true turkey tips.

1) A turkey needs adequate time to defrost (at least 4 to 5 days in the fridge). Check your turkey the day before your gathering to make sure it is defrosted. If you need to defrost a turkey in a pinch, fill up your kitchen sink with cold water so that the turkey is completely covered.

2) After your turkey is fully defrosted, open packaging and discard. Rinse turkey well, and pick off stray feathers. Remove neck and paper pouch under the skin containing gizzards. Pat dry with paper towels.

3) Butter bird inside and out. Use approximately one stick of softened butter and a paper towel.

4) Season well with Tony’s Chachere and garlic powder or salt and pepper if you like less of a kick. Rub seasoning inside turkey and underneath skin. Then sprinkle seasoning on top of skin and rub well.

5) Stuff bird loosely right before cooking. Stuffing too early can cause food borne illness. For each pound of turkey, plan on ¾ cup of stuffing.

6) Tie legs together with kitchen twine. This is called trussing your turkey. It helps it to cook evenly.

7) Put turkey in roaster breast side up.

8) Tent breast with foil. Add 2-3 cups of water to roaster so turkey does not burn. About every 45 minutes, remove foil tent and baste bird with pan juices. Re-cover breast with tent after basting. Remove foil tent during the last thirty minutes of cooking. Return to oven to brown breast.

9) Bake turkey at 325 degrees for the amount of time specified on the packaging. Be aware that a stuffed bird takes approximately one hour longer to cook. Cook until the stuffing reaches 165 degrees and the deepest part of the thigh reaches 180 degrees on a meat thermometer.

10) Let turkey rest for 30 minutes while making gravy and finishing up side dishes. To make gravy, fill measuring cup with 2 cups of cold water. Gradually whisk in 1/3 cup of flour. Make sure there are no lumps. Boil pan drippings from roaster and then slowly add flour mixture, stirring constantly until thickened. Season with salt and pepper as needed. If you like your gravy thinner, add a little more water to the pan. If you want it thicker, add 2-3 tablespoons of flour to 1/3 cup of cold water and slowly stir into gravy mixture.

Enjoy! And have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Serving up a Helping of Hospitality

With the holidays rapidly approaching, many of us are hustling and bustling in order to have our homes picture perfect for various gatherings. If you are like me, this may even involve some conflict...between you and your man as he wonders where in the world your sanity has gone. Why, oh why, he wonders, must you spit shine the floor? And clean compulsively until seconds before company arrives?

Now listen up ladies...he may have a point.

You see, as women, we often let our view of hospitality become jaded by the world. We forget that fellowship is the key, not a fancy meal or a perfect home. We tend to be just like Martha.

In Luke 10:38-42, we find the familiar story of two sisters from Bethany, one consumed with the "fixins" and one consumed with fellowship.

"As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."

Like many of us, Martha had a heart for hospitality. If she didn't, she wouldn't have welcomed Jesus into her home. But she became distracted by the details. She took her eyes off her Savior and placed them on her circumstances. And then she began to whine about the work involved in ministering to her precious Jesus. Satan stole an opportunity that was intended to bless her and robbed her of her joy.

Thankfully, Jesus loved Martha enough to gently rebuke her. He reminded her that Mary had discovered the most important thing....fellowship with Him. Sitting and His feet and soaking up every life-giving word that flowed from her Savior's mouth. Basking in His presence. Experiencing the fullness of His love. Knowing that it would not be taken from her.

This holiday season, I pray that you and I, like Mary, will remember that it's all about relationships. Let's not become distracted by the details, but instead examine our motives and purify our hearts so that we are able to joyfully extend hospitality to others.