by Hannah Hanzel | Nov 29, 2016
It was going to be a special Christmas. Everyone home. Everyone safe. But like the horrific vision from the ghost of Christmas Future, you see an empty chair. The chair was meant to be filled – filled with your loved one. Is the chair a high chair? Is the chair your grandparent’s recliner? Is the chair your spouse’s usual seat at dinner? Or is the chair your wayward child’s dust-covered stool in the kitchen?
So many people this time of year reflect on the “First Christmas” when God came into the world as a small baby. But how many will think upon the “34th Christmas” this holiday season? The Christmas when all the world was quite different. Everything, if anything, we know about the 34th Christmas is based on scholars’ speculation. One thing we know for certain is that this Christmas had an empty chair as well.
This was the first Christmas Mary would have without her Son, Jesus Christ. This, to her, was what should have been Jesus’ 34th birthday. She fed, bandaged, loved, and raised the Son of God for 33 years. When the time had come, He placed the sins of the world upon His sturdy shoulders, died on a manmade structure, rose back to life three days later, having conquered death, and then ascended home to heaven. What a sin-shattering, yet divinely restorative year it had been for the world!
Can you picture Mary on the morning of the 34th Christmas? While I’m sure she was sorrowful for Christ’s physical absence, Mary had something more to cherish than the earthly satisfaction of a full house. She had the spiritually reconciling gift of a full heart. Not only did she have forgiveness of sins, but Luke 2:19 tells us that from the time Christ was born she held the treasures of her experiences inside her heart.
If in this past year, you’ve dealt with the loss of a loved one and mourn as Christmas time approaches, I’d like to guide your grieving heart back to Christ. Identify with Mary in her song, her pain, and her efforts.
First, we see Mary as a young woman in Luke 1:46-55, singing to the Lord. She is found worshipping God as the Promise Keeper before Christ was even born. Mary knew God had made promises to her people and had never failed to uphold and honor those promises. Likewise, find joy in God’s promises to you. As you face a holiday without your loved one, rest in the promise-keeping heart of the Father. One of my favorite worship songs states, “You’ve never failed, and You won’t start now.”
Second, Mary understood pain in its entirety. She expected pain and very likely thought of that foreboding pain ever since Luke 2:33-35. In this passage Mary and Joseph were at the temple with the newborn Jesus when a “righteous and devout man called Simeon” approached them. Simeon prophesied about the Messiah as he took Jesus into his arms. Joseph and Mary marveled at this, and moments later Simeon speaks to Mary directly. Simeon tells Mary of the pain to come, not only for her Son but also for her, “…A sword will pierce your own soul too”. For nearly 33 years she knew in her heart that her Son would suffer greatly. She couldn’t stop His pain and to her ultimate sorrow, she knew her sin caused her Son the pain. Mary knows pain.
Lastly, you can identify with Mary in her efforts. She knew God to be sovereign and continued to thrive. After Christ had made His final exit as He ascended into heaven, in Acts 1:14 we see Mary with the disciples, continuing to pray and serve. She understood that, while there was a time to grieve, there was likely a time to grow soon after. She chose to be spurred by the Spirit rather than stopped by the sorrow.
Every empty chair has divine reasoning. Jesus, Son of God and physical son of the Virgin Mary, says in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Dear Mourner, Christ left an empty chair at His mother’s home on the 34th Christmas. He left many things empty that year such as a cross and a grave! Rejoice in your salvation this Christmas! Rejoice that while you mourn over an empty chair, Christ has filled your heart to the brim with His love.
by Hannah Hanzel | Nov 17, 2016
“That one’s Thanksgiving and that one’s Christmas,” my dad said as he observed the turkeys living in our back yard. Growing up as a missionary kid in a central Asian country, our holidays were always different. Of course, Asians don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but my mom was always good about having us celebrate as though we were home in the States. While most families in America were loading their cars with groceries and decorations, my family was at the local outdoors market (aka the bizarre) scoping out live turkeys.
I was somewhere around 7 years old when my dad and two big brothers came back from the bizarre with two turkeys. I can remember the fun of observing them coral the mid-sized birds into one of our back yard pins. Once they settled in a bit, my dad looked at my sister and me and said, “That one’s Thanksgiving and that one’s Christmas. Don’t play with them.” Thinking those were funny names for turkeys, I agreed and went along my way.
It wasn’t long before my sister and I forgot the wise words of my dad and went gallivanting around the turkey pin. Thanksgiving was a big black turkey with a bright red wattle. He was my favorite. I can remember how my sister and I would quietly approach the turkey pin while my dad was at work. We’d peer through the splintered wood pin to try and get a glimpse of Thanksgiving or Christmas. The poor things seemed to know their fate as they often times jumped/flew over the pin wall, causing all my siblings and me to chase them down.
Unfortunately, Thanksgiving Day came swiftly. This meant sure death for my feathered friends. That fateful day came, and all the “men-folk” grabbed a How to Pluck and Kill a Turkey book and marched out the backdoor. One would read the instructions on how to “dress out” Thanksgiving the turkey while three others performed the instructions. I begged my mom to let me go watch the dirty deed with no avail. Hours later, the men emerged from the back yard with wide eyes and much laughter. I can only imagine what went on back there that day.
Regardless, my family had a wonderful Thanksgiving with a full meal. American colleagues and Asian friends from the area joined us as we sat around our long, wooden table, elbow-to-elbow and celebrated Thanksgiving together. Old traditions were observed, and new ones were created.
I tell this story to make one point… missionaries need prayer during the holidays. Of course, they need prayer year-round, but especially at holidays. Here are three key ways to pray for missionaries during the holiday season:
- Fellowship. It can quickly become a time for loneliness and homesickness. Pray that each individual missionary or missionary family would find meaningful fellowship this holiday season.
- Encounters. “Why do you celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas?” In the ministry world, this is a question that blows a door wide open. Pray that missionaries take advantage of this reflective and spiritual time of the year to reach the lost. Pray that non-believers become curious and interested in the Christian heritage of the holiday season.
- Peace. Year-round, missionaries labor, stress, plan, serve and equip. Pray that this holiday season is a time of recovery, peace, joy and rest.
Our prayers are critical for the Beautiful Feet (Rom. 10:15) around the world this holiday season. As you sit around your Thanksgiving meal this year, with family and friends, remember to pray for the missionaries around the world who daily give their lives for the cause of Christ. Meanwhile, I’m going to go ask my mom whatever happened to the second turkey named Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
by Hannah Hanzel | Oct 11, 2016
Most people this time of year are thinking of pumpkin pie, hayrides, and fluffy warm feelings as the weather cools down and loved ones get closer.
Me? Well, all I can seem to picture as November nears is a wide view of the globe and America exploding on an atomic proportion. As visions of Trump and Clinton dance in my head, I can’t help but feel anxiety grow.
I hate politics. Up until this year presidential elections “didn’t affect me.” I trusted my parents would vote well and my under 18-year-old self would be just fine.
Well, this year is different. I now have the privilege to vote. As I watched this last Presidential debate, I nearly broke out in hives. It’s not the decision-making that makes me anxious, but rather the two options we’ve been given.
So how do I vote? How do I choose between the “lesser of two evils”? Why should I vote? What will one vote do against the will of two powerful and driven candidates? Can I just not vote and tell people that God will do what He wants anyway? How would God vote? Can I just not “American” today?
As I sought the answers to these questions I asked God to help me with three things. Through praying for these three things, I pray you too will find peace to your political worries.
- Patriotism. God, show me what it is like to be passionate for America. Help me be proud of the people who came before me and fought that I might worship You freely. Open my eyes to see the American people the way you do. Father, give me a drive for America!
- Tenacity. Create a hate for injustice in me, O God! Give me the spirit of a fighter. Let me speak up for the unborn, the lost, the immigrant, the abused, the prejudiced-against, the widows, and the orphans. Have me fight along side You against the ones opposing Your will.
- Discernment. Honestly, Lord, this election scares me to death. Enlighten me with wisdom and courage. Let me not shrug this responsibility due to ignorance. Grant me the drive to know more and do the best I can do!
In the end, November isn’t a month of mass destruction, as my imagination would have me believe. Soldiers aren’t going to ransack my apartment the day after I vote. I will still have my salvation. I will still read my Bible. I will still pray to the Almighty Ruler.
Can I just not “American” today? No! I must “American” today, lest I lose my political right to “Christian” tomorrow.
by Hannah Hanzel | Aug 30, 2016
As the world progresses, things get redefined. Roles get changed; goals get redirected; and standards fluctuate. What was expected of a young woman in 1916 differs greatly from what is expected of a young woman of 2016.
Marriage no longer means “man and wife;” love no longer means you wait for sex until marriage; parenthood no longer means discipline, coupled with compassion; and passion for Christ tends to no longer mean honesty and devotion.
As I have seen little more than “progress” in the world, I have begun to realize what the world typically expects of people. This has brought me to the realization that you raised me all wrong. Let me give a few examples…
First, on one hand, society has told me that I should do what feels right, what makes me happy. I should follow my dreams and run after what I want in life. On the other hand, you both have raised me to sacrifice. My desires should come second to God’s desires for my life. You taught me that my happiness is a worthy sacrifice to offer to the Lord in return for His will.
Second, society has told me that to be better I must be thinner, more athletic, smarter, and always dating. Again, you taught me wrong. You taught me that I am loved and preciously accepted, not only by both of you, but also by the King of the heavens and earth. You’ve told me since the day I was born that my life is worth something, all because of the One who knitted me together in the womb.
Lastly, the world has taught me this new thing called tolerance. Everyone tells me that there is no absolute truth and that what is true for one person may not be true for me. You taught this to me all wrong, I guess. You both taught me that the Holy Word of God is truth. Dad, you taught me to have standards for myself and to act graciously, but not compromise. Mom, you taught me to not tolerate a relationship with a man who is below my standards and to be a lady.
There are many other things you taught me that the world has called “wrong.” At some point in your parenting experience you decided to ignore the world and teach my four siblings and me what God truly desires for us. You took all the “right” teachings of society and traded them in for the Bible’s “wrongs.” I thank the Lord for your bravery and investment.
I hope as you get older and see all of your kids’ mistakes and victories that you can sit back and realize you did well. Despite fear, disappointment, and society’s prompting, God has blessed your work.
Mom and Dad, I love you. Thank you for all the things you did wrong.
by Hannah Hanzel | Aug 3, 2016
Lucille Ball – an amazing comedian, a beautiful woman, an extremely talented actress, and one of my favorites. I just finished watching all the I Love Lucy seasons, all of which I own, for the fourth or fifth time in my life.
What can I say, I love I Love Lucy! The more I watched it the more curious I got of why (in real life) Desi, aka Ricky on TV, and Lucy divorced. Their marriage was so perfect! Between European vacations, cruises, road trips across the country, and an adorable son, how could they possibly not get along? Or maybe that’s not the reality of it all…
The true reality was that Lucy and Desi had a horrible relationship. Desi was a rampant playboy, and Lucy was a tunneled vision businesswoman. Their relationship was rocky from the start. As Lucy started the process of I Love Lucy, her one condition with the studio was for Desi to be cast as her husband in the show. This was one of her ways to keep Desi home from his band’s travels and shenanigans.
This recently made me realize something very interesting. Lucy really had two husbands. There was the Ricky she wanted and the Desi she had.
There was the perfectly-scripted, funny, sweet, and giving Ricky. Ricky loved and provided for his family. He always had time for Lucy, played catch with his son, and was always up to staying home and spending time with friends.
Then there was the unscripted, rude, and absent Desi. He didn’t make time for his family. He ran around town shamelessly escorting other women. His friends were far from the Mertz’s company.
Lucy had the seemingly ideal situation. What she did not have, she made. Though she did not have the husband she wanted, she could write it in the script. Desi may never reach her expectations, but Ricky will every time (and in under 30 minutes!).
Sometimes we treat our God like this. When God doesn’t show up in the way we want or expect, we take over and write our own show. This, of course, is so wrong.
When we treat God like someone we can script or predict we lose so much. There are three crucial things we lose in that instance.
- Our Real Reality. In reality, God is in control, whether we acknowledge it or not. When we deal with lost expectations that we had for God by “taking control,” we enter the fabricated world of self-sovereignty. Bottom line: God is sovereign, and we are not.
- Our Peace. If we were to recount all the times we felt God’s control in our lives, we would remember the peace we had in that knowledge. Again, when we feel that loss of something expected or experience a change in plans, and we react by “writing our own script,” we will lose that peace. The only lasting peace that passes all understanding is found alone in the Holy Director, Writer, and Producer of Life.
- Our Blessed Calling. We are called to servant hood. To obey and trust the Lord’s plan and participate in his work, whatever that looks like for the individual. By calling our own shots, we become our own masters, forsaking the sacred call to lay down our man-made crowns.
It was said that, later in life, Lucy and Desi reunited as friends. This, more than likely, was sort of a publicity stunt to encourage the I Love Lucy fans.
Precious Child of God, how wonderful to know that we need not “re-enter” God’s will with past malice or fear of abandonment. Unlike Lucy and Desi, we have the gift of reconciliation on unconditional terms. The Most High Director has had his share of diva cast members and is more than prepared to accept them with his perfect script.
As you deal with change in plans or disappointment, cling to the Rock rather than fabricating your own. God is on His Director’s chair putting it all together. Be patient and obey, Beloved.