Excerpts from Becky Lovatt’s Boot - Beyond the Chocolate Window

The Voice of Mary

There goes another one, another twitch of another curtain. The gossip-mongers are out in force and I am the talk of the town.

My name is Mary — well, that is the term that polite people use when speaking of me; I don’t want to mention what the less polite ones call me. I guess I don’t blame them. After all, the evidence is damning: a young, unmarried girl, heavily pregnant; spouting some unrealistic waffle about an angel, conception through the Holy Spirit and giving birth to God’s only son. Whatever next!

However, every word of it is true. Let me tell you my story.

I am a single girl from Nazareth, engaged to an older, wiser man by the name of Joseph. My parents chose him for me, but he is a good man with a good job and a steady income and, to be honest, I am absolutely in love with him!

One day, still waiting for the wedding, I was doing the daily round of jobs, when the house became ablaze with light. There in front of me stood an angel in a shining white robe.

“Do not be afraid,” he said. “I am Gabriel and I bring you news of great joy. You are chosen by God; you will carry and give birth to his son, Jesus, the Messiah, who will redeem his people.”

I was a God-fearing young woman, so despite my fear and disbelief, I questioned him. “How can this be?” I asked.

“The Spirit of God will touch you, and a child will be conceived. He will reign over the people of God, and his kingdom will have no end.”

What was I to say? What was I to do? This was all completely insane! I was not of royal blood; I was just a normal girl. Surely there had been a mix-up, a case of mistaken identity? Yet the angel seemed convinced; his mission strategy was clear: sign up the girl and God will do the rest.

My first instinct was to run, but I calmed myself and began to accept the part I would play in God’s ongoing story. “I am the servant of my God," I said, resigning myself to all that was to come: the shame, the whispers, the dagger—looks, the disappointment in Joseph’s eyes.

A backstreet wedding awaits me now, and a long and tiring journey to Bethlehem, as well as the pain of childbirth and all that will follow. My heart is already so full of love for a child that is only partly mine — a child who will grow into a man and, I believe, live and die to rebuild the broken relationship between us and God.

Prayer

God of justice, who called Mary to carry your son

and bear the brunt of discrimination and gossip,

help me to look to you for my sense of security and purpose,

and to find the peace in you that Mary found.

Help me to respond to your call in the way she did,

by offering myself completely to you.

Please grant me the grace for all you call me to do,

just as you did with her.

Amen.

Excerpts from Becky Lovatt’s Book - Beyond the Chocolate Window

The Voice of Nehemiah

My name is Nehemiah and I am a wine merchant by trade. Although unqualified, I became a high official within the Persian court and was enlisted by God as a master builder. On paper I should never have got the job, but before I knew it I was commissioned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Years had passed since God’s ungrateful and disobedient people had been scattered to the four ends of the earth. Back then, Jerusalem was destroyed and all hope seemed to be lost. Those believers who were not killed were bound and marched out of the city, banished from their homes, from the Temple and seemingly from God. The God of Israel was still faithful to them though, which is why he now sent me to rebuild not only the walls of Jerusalem, but also his covenant relationship with thepeople.

I went to see for myself: the walls were a mound of rubble, the gates were cinders and the returning exiles were in a bad way. So I cried, fasted and prayed earnestly before God, confessing my sins and the sins of my ancestors. I even dared to remind the Almighty of a promise once made: that he would gather the remnant and rebuild his Temple.

Under the cover of darkness, the building began, but so did the moaning and complaining. The people were hungry, afraid and unsure of God’s provision. I was angry that they could not, or would not, put their trust in him.

I reminded them of their history, beginning with Abraham and Moses, recalling their deliverance from slavery, and more; still, they had gone their own way, chosen selfishness over kindness, and death over life.

We kept on building. Mile by mile, stone by stone, the walls were rebuilt, the doors were re-hung and the gates of the city were secured again.

As the walls grew strong, so did the pressure from our enemies; pressed us harder and those inside the walls wavered again. Nevertheless, God was as strong as his word; I posted guards as instructed and when the trumpet sounded, he fought on our behalf.

A new stage was set. Israel had moved into a fresh phase. Now we waited for God’s salvation to be fully revealed — at his time, in his place and on his command.

Prayer

God of relationship, help me to work on my relationship with you so that I will be better equipped to build significant relationships with others. Where there is relationship breakdown, help me to forgive and rebuild by leaning on, and trusting in, you.

Amen.

Excerpts from Becky Lovatt’s Book - Beyond the Chocolate Window

The Voice of Esther

My name is Esther. I am a Jew and I am very proud of the heritage I hold. I did not have a very good start in life as I was an orphan. However, I was raised by a very kind uncle who shared his faith and confidence in our God with me. He told me stories from his childhood, of how the people of Israel, my people, were chosen and blessed by God.

I grew into a wise and beautiful young woman who, it turned out, had also been chosen by God. You could say I was ‘named and claimed’! For such a time as this! Let me share my story...

My uncle and I lived in a small house, not far from the king’s palace, and it was not long before the king’s advisors noticed me. When the king was looking for a wife, I made it to the top of the list and, despite the competition, I soon become queen of the Persian empire.

Not long after this, one of the king’s men became hostile towards the Jewish people: treated them badly; exploited them and discriminated against them. He made life difficult for them and eventually sought to kill and destroy all who bore the name of ‘Jew’.

My uncle came to me. “You have the king’s ear,” he said. “You are his wife. Talk to him on behalf of your people. Stand up and be counted as one of us.”

However, no one approached the king; it was against all the rules of court. You almost needed an invitation. It was the same even for me. Yet, my people’s distress disturbed me, so I prayed for guidance, strength and courage.

God’s assurance came. He told me that I was where I was for “such a time as this”. He had placed me in this position at this point in history so that I could help his people.

I was afraid going to the king. It came with its own risks; if he so chose, it would be my death that would come. Still, I kept in mind that people would die if I did not take this step — thousands of them, citizens of God’s kingdom; slaughtered, just because of their race and faith in God. I had a job to do, I had no choice, so trembling I approached the

throne.

To my amazement, the king listened to me. He put an end to the plan to kill all the Jews and punished his corrupt advisor instead. My God had filled me with his courage and placed me here... for such a time as this.

Prayer

God of Esther, who positioned her for “such a time as this”,

help me to be ready to fulfil my role today.

Grant me the strength and courage that you gave to Esther

so that I will be brave enough to face

whatever you have planned for me.

Amen.

Excerpts from Becky Lovatt’s Books - Beyond the Chocolate Window

The Voice of Jonah

I am not a prophet nor a ‘man of God’. When I heard God calling out to me, I ran in the opposite direction! My name is Jonah, and my story is very well known. I was the one who was swallowed whole by a giant fish.

I was minding my own business one afternoon, when a messenger of God showed up with a job for me. “God wants you to go to the city of Nineveh,” I was told, “and get the people there to repent and turn back to him.” What a joke!

“Why do you not go yourself?” I challenged him. “I’ll tell you why: because Nineveh is a dark and horrible place. No one there cares about God, and if I would rock up there with a message like this, I would certainly not come out alive. If God wants someone to go to Nineveh, he can find someone else. You go!”

I was clear on that. So clear, in fact, that I boarded a boat bound for a port on the other side of the known world. There I found a quiet space below deck and fell asleep. Becoming an agent for God was the last item on my agenda right now — if it was on my agenda at all...

My escape had not gone unnoticed. Before too long, the boat began to pitch in the growing swell of waves. The wind howled, and the rain began to lash upon the wooden decks.

I was woken by men in panic. “Get up!” I was told. “Start praying. Maybe your God can save us from certain death at the hands of this storm.”

I knew the weather conditions were probably down to me. I had angered God, and I decided that the only way out was for me to throw myself on his mercy. I ordered the sailors to cast me overboard and I waited on his grace.

Indeed, the winds stilled and the waves hushed, and suddenly I was face to face with a massive fish. It opened its mouth and swallowed me whole. I expected to die...

Yet, there I lay, dishevelled but alive, decomposing food, muscle and bone. For three in the gut of a fish, among days. The smell was horrendous and I often choked for air, but one thing is for certain: it concentrated my mind! My prayer there was heartfelt; I willingly

recommitted myself to my God and to his service.

Eventually, the fish spat me out.

Then, once again, God called. This time, there was no more running. I was Nineveh-bound.

I walked through the city, where evil was displayed on every corner. I shared my message and waited for the fallout of God’s judgement — but it didn’t come. The people repented, offered prayers, put on sackcloth and ashes (a sign of deep sadness), fasted and gave themselves to God. I was amazed, but my surprise changed to anger as God announced his forgiveness.

I demonstrated my frustration, but God was unfazed by my anger. In his mercy, he again welcomed me into his presence.

God of the big fish,

help me to focus on you and

to put my trust in your love, mercy and forgiveness.

Help me to forgive those around me,

just as I am forgiven by you.

I recommit myself to you,

to be the child of God you are calling me to be,

in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Excerpts from Becky Lovatt’s Book - Beyond the Chocolate Window

The Voice of Micah

My name is Micah, and I was a prophet during the reigns of three kings of Judah. When God foretold his judgement on the people for their sins, he showed me visions of his vengeance, of mountains melting beneath him and of valleys being split apart — “...like wax before a fire or like rushing waters down a hillside,” I was told.

God warned about the wicked — those who wanted status or defrauded people and robbed others of their inheritance. He spoke of false prophets and those that would lead others astray. He rebuked the leaders and the rulers, and those who allowed power to corrupt them. They would be punished, he said. He had a case to bring against his people, the people he had brought out of Egypt, who had been slaves and now had been delivered.

However, amid the warnings and the judgement there was always hope — a promise that he would bring them to the safety and to an abundance of green pastures. In the days to come, the Lord promised a new Temple, built on the mountain of God. Here peace would reign; here all people would learn his ways. Swords would be beaten into gardening tools and spears would become like pruning hooks. In this time and this place, nations would no longer take up arms against other nations, and no—one would train for war. The Lord had a plan and I was to be the messenger, to reveal it to his people.

This was the plan: God would gather the lame, assemble the exiles and turn them once again into a great nation. The Lord would rule, and his people would be saved from their enemies. Out of Bethlehem, the smallest of the tribes of Israel, he would bring a man whose origins stretched back to before the beginning of time. Israel will not be discarded; our hands will be lifted up in triumph and those that follow and obey God will know salvation.

What does God want, and what does he ask of his people? Burnt offerings? Rivers of gold? A firstborn son? No! Just this: that we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him.

Now I wait for the holy one of God, who will call all to act justly, to value mercy, to love unconditionally, and to walk with him, our comfort and friend.

Prayer

God of mercy and forgiveness,

help me to learn what it really means

to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you.

Help me to show your love and your mercy

to all those with whom I have contact today.

May I demonstrate your justice towards all I meet.

In your name.

Amen.

Excerpts from Becky Lovatt’s book - Beyond the Chocolate Window

The Voice of Isaiah

It all began in the year that King Uzziah died. ‘I was a young then, but now I am old and nearing the end of my life. However, before I ‘go to glory’ and join my God, I wanted to share the pathway of my life and the pictures God gave me, so that others might draw strength and trust from my story.

It started with a dream — a vision, really, but I wasn’t hallucinating. I saw myself standing in the courts of God, in the throne room of the

Almighty. Suddenly, I was not alone. I was surrounded by creatures, the like of which I had never seen before, or since. Each one had six wings and they flew all around me.

I covered my eyes because I felt so vulnerable. I was afraid that I’d die if I saw God. I knew I was not worthy to be the company of such angelic beings, yet there I was. Then one of the creatures touched my lips with a burning coal and I heard the voice of God speak to me. “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?”

I was overrun by emotion, swept up in the very moment. So before I even really knew what I was doing, I was putting up my hand. I hadn’t thought it through, hadn’t undertaken a risk assessment. I hadn’t even consulted my loved ones.

“l‘ll go,” I said. “Send me!”

And send me he did. He sent me to “an unclean people” with “unclear lips”. He sent me to tell them to repent and turn back to him. There was no going back — no pretending it had all been just a dream. This was my new reality: I was a prophet of God.

Years passed, and over time God’s message changed: destruction was in the past, repentance was the order of the day, and hope was at hand — the hope of a child to be born, a son to be given who would be called “wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, everlasting father and prince of peace”. He would come from the line and the throne of David, and he would establish a kingdom built on justice and peace. A people who were

‘walking in darkness’ would see the light dawn.

However, the child that was born would not remain a child, of course. He would grow and become a man - a man who would be a servant even to servants and who would lay down his life for his friends. He would redefine all things. He would be like a shepherd for scattered sheep. He would also be treated badly — his beard would be pulled, he would be mocked and he would be whipped on the back by his aggressors. Ultimately, he would take upon his shoulders the sins of the world. He would suffer and die alone and in agony.

Nevertheless, this would not be the end. Hope would come again. He would rise up, like an eagle taking flight. He would never grow tired or weak again. The child of hope would come to stay forever. He would make his home among us. He would come and renew his people, and everything would change.

Prayer

Lord of the manger and of the cross,

thank you that you are with me

as I prepare to greet you again this year.

Help me to remember that even when you were a baby,9

the cross that lay ahead was always the purpose of your life.

Help me to work with those around me to share your story,

not just one of a baby born in a stable,

but of a man who died for our salvation.

Amen.

Excerpts from Becky Lovatt’s Book- Beyond the Chocolate Window

 The Voice of Salome

My name is Salome. I am the mother of a boy who died but was revived and rescued from death by the prophet Elijah.

Our land had been struck by a heavy drought. It had not rained for years. All the crops had failed, and food was running short. In fact, I had enough flour and oil left to bake just one more meal for my son and myself — before starvation and death would be our fate.

Into our village came a man — old and unkempt, but with a kind face and an air of authority about him. He approached us as we slowly gathered wood to build our final fire.

“Please,” he said, “can you make me a cake?”

I almost laughed in his face. “We have nothing,” I explained, and I spelt out our predicament to him.

“I have come from God,” he told us. “He has promised that if you help me, the little flour and oil you have will never run dry. Trust in the God of your ancestors and deliverance will be yours.”

I made a cake for the man of God and, true to his word, the flour we had never ran out. The man stayed with us for months and months,  until the rains came and our fields were once again ready for the harvest.

Time passed, but with every passing day my son grew weaker. I watched as he deteriorated in front of my eyes. I cried out to God who had saved us from certain death - could he now restore my son’s health?

But death came.

I didn’t know what to do with myself. I beat my chest and wept until my eyes had no more tears left. Where was God now?

Then, when all hope seemed lost, Elijah returned. 

I pleaded with him. “I helped you. Now, could you help me and restore my son?”

It was a bold request, but the prophet didn’t flinch. Instead, he knelt and prayed. Then he took my son in his arms and breathed over him.

To my amazement, my son opened his eyes! He was alive!

From then on, I followed Elijah’s ‘career’ with interest. There was, for example, the ‘battle of the barbecues’, as I call it, against the supporters of a god named Baal. There, the challenge to light a fire with a lightning bolt was laid down; Elijah’s God not only did that but he managed to light a pile of wood that had been soaked in water to show his power...

Then there was the time Elijah fled the wrath of the queen, who hunted him down whilst he hid in a cave. There God came to him. There was a great wind, a fire and an earthquake, and yet Elijah realised that God was not in any of these. Rather as they passed, Elijah heard God in the still small voice.

Prayer

God of Elijah, who restored the dead child to life again, come and help me to know your still voice of calm. Amidst the busyness of my life, help me to find space for you, so that you can show me what you would have me do.

Amen.