Heather Holleman's Blog, page 5

Back After New Years

Enjoy a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! I’ll travel next week to speak at Cru’s Indianapolis Winter Conference on Seated with Christ, Sent, and Six Conversations. Ashley and I will both give the Six Conversations worksop. If you would, please pray for the college students attending this conference. I’m praying right now that God’s word comes alive to them, that they experience the love of Jesus, and that their hearts are stirred to surrender to Jesus and and to follow Him in marvelous ways.

Meanwhile, enjoy the delights of this season!

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Where Faith Works

Another deep journaling prompt came to my mind this morning as I continued to read Matthew. Jesus talks quite a bit about faith in chapters 17-23. He rewards faith. He compliments people for their faith. He talks about how even faith “as small as a mustard seed” can move mountains.

This made me wonder again: What in our lives requires faith right now? Where are we needing to apply faith because we cannot see the way ahead? What are we actually trusting God for because we’re no longer able to depend upon ourselves?

I made a list of what I’m trusting God for and where I see faith needing to operate in my own day.

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“Deep Journaling”

My friend mentioned the difference between journaling and “deep journaling.” I love connecting with friends who love journaling, and I love asking them about their techniques. I shared with two other young friends today about how I engage in “deep journaling.”

Journaling might mean simply recounting the day, for example. Deep journaling means that I’m positioning myself to let the Holy Spirit deeply work in my heart as I pray and read God’s word. Deep journaling means that I’m asking questions that invite growth, change, and insight. For example, this morning, as I read the book of Matthew, I noted how Jesus primarily comes on the scene as a Healer. He heals. Wherever He goes, I noticed how often He heals. If Jesus is a Healer (perhaps most of all), what if I asked myself this question in my deep journaling time?

Where do I need more healing in my life? What areas need God’s healing touch?

I spent some time writing out what feels less than abundant, less than peaceful, less than joyful. Is there anything out of alignment in my life? Is there anything sick—either spiritually, physically, or emotionally?

You might need healing in your body from illness. Maybe you need healing in how you relate to food or how you relate to your own body. Maybe you need healing in your mind because of depression or anxiety. Maybe you need healing in your relationship to God and others. Maybe it’s a need for financial healing.

What needs a healing touch?

Wow. Hard questions, right? Deep journaling.

Make your list. Write about these things for a few pages for deep journaling. Then ask Jesus to heal you. He is a Healer. He heals.

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Getting Christmasy

We enjoyed some time in Pittsburgh yesterday. I loved the gingerbread house display! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

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The Christmas Cookies and Candied Pecans

We made a batch of Christmas cookies after perfecting our candied pecans. I love long baking days. Now, we eat some ourselves and give the rest away!

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Prepare Him Room

It always struck me that God arranged things so that “there was no room” for Jesus at the inn. We read in Luke 2:7 the famous words: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” And, remember, of course, the wonderful Christmas carol that pleads, “let every heart prepare Him room.” I just love the symbolism. I love how Christmas invites us to question if we’ve made any room for Jesus at all in our hearts.

The inn obviously sheltered too many people with too little space. We often think about making room in our schedule, and we consider time the problem. But what about the more literal notion of becoming overwhelmed with people and having no physical space designated to retreat? What if Christmas makes us think about our own lives as little inns where we need a space reserved—a special chair, a prayer closet, a spot at the table, at the base of a tree—where we say, “This is where Jesus and I meet together, where I make room for Him”?

You know where I meet with Jesus: the mustard recliner. It’s worn out, scratched by cats, and tucked in the corner of my bedroom, facing the sunrise. My space in my inn includes a blanket, a journal, a curled up and purring cat, pens galore, my Bible, a few devotional books, a box of tissues.

If you haven’t made a space, think about it. It’s been the best thing to have a physical space where I spend time with the Lord, where I prepare Him room.

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Simple Christmas Prayer

This morning I thought about the simplicity and power of David’s words in Psalm 51: 10-12. When I think about Christmas, I often pray that God helps our family and community feel that Christmas spirit and the joy of a Savior’s birth. But we often don’t feel that way. We often feel a different kind of spirit of loneliness, boredom, despair, anger, jealousy, or disappointment. Maybe, like David, we struggle with guilt and shame. David prayed this (and it’s a perfect prayer for the Christmas season):

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”

What if we all felt a restored sense of joy, of being sustained, of being “right” with God and with others? What if Christmastime meant a time to understand afresh why Jesus came to us and what His birth, death, and resurrection mean?

Because of Jesus, Christmas means David’s pray is answered for us, right now. The Holy Spirit doesn’t leave us. The joy of salvation is ours. The power of God is ours. We can be right again.

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The Creek in Winter: Solitude and Rest

I went to the creek to declutter my mind, to sit on a log and listen to the rush of water over mossy rocks. I went to perhaps spy a pheasant or a beaver. I went to rest alone and let God cleanse me of muddled ideas, busy schedules, and burdens carried. You can cast your burdens on Him like the trout fisherman who wade in and throw the line. You can stand as still as a stone and let God move; you do nothing but receive the sunlight on your face and the sound of water in your ears. You sit carefully upon a log that’s mostly hollowed out and home to something. You arise much later, hollowed out yourself and ready as a vessel floating on the water.

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Winter Contrast

I love a bright blue sky in winter. I notice the tree limbs and love how they rise, dark and empty. I can hardly wait to return to the woods and notice all the things you only see in winter.

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Talk to One Stranger a Day (My Student’s Advice)

I recently read a student’s paper on how he made a New Year’s resolution last year to talk to one stranger a day. And he’s done it. He recounted one story of how talking to a stranger at a sporting event led to one of his deepest friendships, including spending Spring Break together.

I’ve been attempting his challenge for many years, but it wasn’t until I read his paper that I thought about how my weekend traveling became so delightful by simply talking to strangers. First I complimented a young girl’s hair tinsel, and we had the best conversation while in the airport security line. On the plane, I complimented a mother and daughter on their Dunkin’ Donuts coffee (claiming I wish I had some!), and that led to an hour conversation that included our views on standard written English, the Holy Spirit, dating in one’s thirties, the King James Bible, and TikTok. We’re texting friends now.

Start with a compliment or notice something about a stranger in the elevator, in line, or wherever you are. Here are my two favorite ways to start:

Do you like your (shoe brand)? Should I get some?

It’s (notice the weather). Are you a (weather) person? (It’s freezing! Are you a winter person?)

As the holiday season can sometimes make people feel more lonely, it’s time to start talking to strangers.

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