The Light

God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. -1 John 1:5b


I'm one of those people that craves the sunshine.  I find myself a little depressed when we have too many cloudy days in a row or if I just don't make time to go outside each day.  I love to through open the blinds and curtains on sunny mornings.  The light shining through gives me a little more energy with which to start the day.


Another great thing about light is how it helps us see things.  Have you ever tried to find your lost - keys, phone, glasses - in the dark?  Turn on a light or use a flashlight as you look through your purse and they are much easier to spot.


Light is consuming.  You can bring a small candle into the darkness and it is immediately evident.  But    is it even possible to bring a small bit of darkness into the light?  The light would swallow it up.


The light energizes us, helps us to see things as they really are and consumes all the darkness within us.  So does the Light.


May the one True Light shine within each of us today and every day of the new year.  May it energize us, help us to see the truth and consume our hearts with joy.  Amen.


Joys:  Leaving today to spend New Year's Eve with great friends at the beach; forecast of sunny days; fun evening with Kevin and Chelsea

The Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 NIV)In the beginning was not "the stuff" or "the family drama" or "the feasts." in the beginning was "The Word."

I like it when Christmas is on a Sunday. Because then the day after is a holiday and most of us don't have to rush off to work. At my house, the day after Christmas is not filled with expectations and rushing around. It's a day to relax and unwind from the last few hectic weeks and enjoy our new gifts and one another.

It gives us one more chance to reflect on why we have been so busy. It gives us another opportunity to get back to the very basics of the season.

As I sit here writing this devotion, I see our Jesus stocking hanging on the mantle. Today we will decide how to donate the money we collected in it. What a great celebration of The Word. How will you remember that "In the beginning was the Word" today?

Lord Jesus,
You are the Word that has been since the beginning. You ARE the beginning. Let us celebrate that today. Amen.

Joys: having a little girl in the house for Christmas; thoughtful gifts; family here for breakfast this morning

Pondering

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19 NIV

I love worshiping late on Christmas eve. By 10:30 at night, if you're not ready for Christmas... Well... You probably aren't going to be, so it's an excellent time to stop, breathe, and focus on the Holy Infant's birth. It's a time to just sit back and soak it all in.

Last night we heard the nativity story from the Gospel of Luke, chapter two being read...again. I found myself wondering how many time I have heard this story in my life. Certainly every year since I started going to church. But even prior to that, I had heard it other places, like in the yearly television treat of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (thank you for your part in spreading the Word, Charles Shultz!). And then I began to think about how many times and in how many places that same story was being told at that same moment... Or maybe a little earlier that day. And about all the times the story has been told over the last two thousand and some years. And even before that, how God's people have always shared the amazing stories of God's love as they gathered in communities of faith to worship him.

As I thought of all that, I felt it as well. I felt this amazing sense of connectedness with all the saints today and throughout all the ages. What a rich and powerful and miraculous heritage we have!

And a thousand years from now, if Christ has not yet returned, the story will still be told... The incredible story of God made Flesh. The story of Love come down. The story of a Baby in a manger and shepherds who adored him and kings who bowed to him and angels who burst into song and a star that outshined the rest... And a mother who pondered all these things in her heart.

Merry CHRISTmas. I love you all.

A Song in Our Hearts

And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name. -Luke 1:46-49

There are a few stories in the bible where a child of God is so filled with joy after witnessing the work of his hand that they just burst into song. David did it often. Miriam did it after god saved the israelites from the egyptians. And then of course, most of us are familiar with Mary's song.

Sometimes words are just not enough when we are talking about what God has done. Sometimes the joy just wells up from the tips of our toes and bubbles over our lips in a song of praise and thanksgiving.

In Mary's song you can just feel that joy... That bubbling... That overpowering need to let it out in song. This spontaneous singing is absolutely the voice of the Holy Spirit. It's the rocks that won't be silent. It's the trees of the field that clap their hands. It's the mountains and hills that burst forth in song.

Mary could not NOT sing. The joy simply could not be contained. We all have this same joy within us and the Holy Spirit longs to bring it forth with music. But we first need to recognize the joy in our hearts by being truly thankful. Mary recognized the blessing of an event that she could have allowed to ruin her life, and when she did, she sang her love for God.

How can any of us keep from singing? Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQI5wxtH6OY

Lord,
Fill our hearts to so much thanksgiving that it bubbles from our lips with song. How CAN we keep from singing? Amen

Joys: Richard coming home today!!!

Life-Changing Interruptions

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. -Luke 1:38

Most of us feel comfortable when we know what our day... And the next several days... are going to hold for us. I like surprises occasionally, but generally, I like to have my short term plans in place... What things I will work on in the office today, what I will be doing after work, etc. When I go on vacation, I like to have any reservations I need in place.

Over the years, I've learned to be a little more flexible. Having kids will sure make one more flexible! Parenting holds surprises around every corner... Do I hear an "amen?". And then I have learned that no matter how tightly I have scheduled myself at work, if a parishioner dies, everything else gets put on hold. Funerals are never convenient!

Basically our lives hum along pretty much as we planned with only the expected interruptions with a few mild surprises. But occasionally God throws in that totally unexpected and completely life-changing interruption. It might be something exciting like meeting your future spouse or a door to the job of your dreams opening or winning the lottery. It could be something painful like the death of a child or spouse, a debilitating accident or illness. Or it could just be something you never planned to do, like raising a grandchild or moving across the country.

How do you handle this kind of change? I think we can all take a lesson from Mary. In the face of the most unexpected, frightening and challenging surprise imaginable she said, "I am the Lord's servant, May your word to me be fulfilled."

When those life-changing interruptions come, it may be God asking us to change the course of our lives for the good of the Kingdom. Perhaps the interruption is part of a bigger plan. Even if it is not, if we treat it as such, it can only have good repercussions.

Father, help us to work for the fulfillment of your wor in every aspect of our lives, but especially as we take on those life-changing interruptions that come our way. Amen.

Joys: All Christmas services ready; anticipation; Richard coming home tomorrow!

Christmas Angels

In speaking of the angels he says,
"He makes his angels spirits,
and his servants flames of fire." (Hebrews 1:7 NIV)

Angels are a big part of Christmas. There is Gabriel who gave Mary the news that she was to bear a son. There were the heavenly hosts that heralded Christ's birth. And who can forget all the beautiful little Christmas angels that run around in white choir robes and sparkly gold garland halos at church Christmas pageants?

"Angels," Frederick Buechner once wrote, "are powerful spirits whom God sends into the world to wish us well. [But] since we don't expect to see them, we don't."

I think there are the flashy kinds angels like Gabriel that God sends to us. But I think, more often, they are very normal looking. And that is why we miss them. Who could miss seeing Gabriel with his blinding white appearance? No... I think they more often look like you and me. Sometimes the actually ARE you and me.

This is not to discredit the existence of angels. I do believe! However, I also believe that the Holy Spirit occasionally brings us power and knowledge and desire at just the right time and place to be of unique help to another person. It is at these times we are indeed angels... Those very angels of which Buechner says "are powerful spirits whom God sends into the world to wish us well."

We don't need white choir robes and garland halos to be God's angels. We only have to be willing. The Holy Spirit will provide what we need.

Lord, show us the opportunities we have today to be an angel to someone and open our hearts to act upon them. Amen.

Joys: busy activity at church as we prepare for Christmas; hearing Cecelia quote her favorite parts of the book, "The Night Before Christmas"; two more days until Richard gets home.

Excuses, Excuses

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

A teacher was asked what her favorite excuse for not doing homework she had ever gotten from a student.  She said she had some good ones over the years but the one that stood out was from a student who said this:  "My family and I went on a hot-air balloon ride and we were going to crash because there was too much weight in the basket. In order to save our lives, I had to throw my homework out, and it worked." 

Wow!  If that student had just applied that wonderful mind to her homework, I'm sure she would have gotten an A!  We have to laugh at the creativity that went into that excuse.  The teacher, I'm sure, could see all the holes in that alibi and gave the child the appropriate consequences for no homework.

I have to wonder what God thinks of our excuses?  "I couldn't give a dollar to the Salvation Army person at WalMart, because I just gave one to the one at Bi Lo."... "I couldn't buy for an angel tree angel because my own children want too much."... ."I can't teach Sunday School or help with youth because I don't have any children that age"... "I don't get involved at church anymore because I've done my part and it's the younger generation's turn."

I wonder what God's favorite excuse is?  I wonder whether he chuckles or weeps?  I'm sure that even more so than the teacher, he sees all the holes in our pitiful - and sometimes imaginative - excuses.  But God doesn't have to hand out consequences.  They come of their own accord.  We become isolated, self-consumed, bitter and unhappy when we make excuses for not taking an active role in the body of Christ.

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.

Father,

Open our hearts to the gifts and talents you have given us to share.  Help us to find the right ministries and activities in which to use them to your glory.  Open our eyes to how lame our excuses are so that we may push them out of our way.  Amen.

Joys:  The children's Christmas program; Cecelia, the "star" of the show; The best Santa Claus ever

Joy is Faith

¹¹ Those the LORD has rescued will return. 
   They will enter Zion with singing; 
   everlasting joy will crown their heads. 
Gladness and joy will overtake them,    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.- Isaiah:51:11


At last night's Advent service, we talked about JOY.  One of the things said was that joy was not a synonym for "happiness."  No, joy is something deeper than happiness. Joy is more of a constant state of heart whereas happiness is more finite... an emotion that comes and goes depending upon the circumstances.  But if we have real joy, the circumstances don't  change that.  


Where does joy come from?  I don't think we can have real joy without faith.  Without faith, there is no purpose to the world.  There is no rhyme or reason and we cannot be sure that things will work out in the end.  On the contrary... if we didn't believe in a loving, compassionate God, we would have every reason to believe that things would NOT work out in the end and that hate, greed and violence would eventually overcome us.


Joy is the knowledge that God is in control and he will not - he cannot - let us down.  No matter what happens, and even if it means we will be unhappy for a time, we have that assurance.  So even in our unhappiness we retain that joy.


If I had to pick a synonym for joy it would not be happiness... it would be faith.


Father,
Thank you for providing our hearts with the certainty that you are in control so that we may have joy. Amen.


Joys:  Christmas wrapping done; Advent worship... a reminder in the midst of my busyness to slow down and reflect; one week until Richard gets home.

God of Lost Causes

[Daniel answered,] “My God sent his angel and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.” –Daniel 6:22

Sometimes a situation looks so completely hopeless that we simply give up.  The cancer has spread; the judge rules; the spouse packs his/her bags and walks out the door; the pink slip arrives on our office desk.  And with that, our future is determined.  We become a lost cause and our situation is irreversible.  But our God is the God of lost causes!  He takes joy in turning the most impossible situations around.

Talk to anyone who regularly serves in prison ministry. Some of these folks are in prison for life.  Sounds like a lost cause, doesn't it?  But when God gets involved, these lost causes find new purpose.  Maybe they still have to stay in prison, but they find meaning to their life and a purpose to those days.

Many of us can tell a story from our personal lives of a loved one who was told by a doctor that they were dying, but years later they are still living full, happy lives.  … or a marriage that everyone gave up on where the couple is now celebrating their 25th anniversary.  …or a lost job that led to a more fulfilling career.  We can all tell the stories of God having the last word, can’t we?

If we look up the word "fear" or "afraid" in the Bible we will find that the majority of hits reference it as "do not fear," “be not afraid” or “why are you afraid?”  No matter what happens in our life, God has the final word. Maybe he will turn the situation completely around or maybe he will simply bring good out of a bad situation, or perhaps he just has a new purpose for our lives. But if we trust Him we have no need to be afraid.  When the seemingly hopeless happens to us, we need only wonder how God will work in it for our good.

Holy God,
Thank you for being the God of lost causes.  When our situation seems hopeless, remind us that you always have the last word.   Amen.

Joys:  Abeautiful day for a hike; classic Christmas movies; electronic gadgets

What Are We Missing?

¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.- Ecclesiastes 3:11-12

This story was shared with me about a year ago.  I meant to use it, but filed it away and forgot it... until now...

 PERCEPTION.  . . Something To Think About.. . .  

Washington, DC Metro  Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man  with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45  minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people  went through the station, most of them on their way  to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed  there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and  stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet  his schedule.  
4  minutes later:  
The violinist  received his first dollar: a woman threw the money  in the hat and, without stopping, continued to  walk.  
6  minutes:  
A  young man leaned against the wall to listen to him,  then looked at his watch and started to walk  again. 
10  minutes:
A 3-year old boy  stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but  the mother pushed hard and the child continued to  walk, turning his head all the time. This action was  repeated by several other children. Every parent,  without exception, forced their children to move on  quickly.
45  minutes:
The  musician played  continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and  listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but  continued to walk at their normal pace.  The  man collected a total of  $32.
1  hour:
He finished playing  and silence took over. No one noticed.. No one  applauded, nor was there any  recognition.
 No  one knew this, but the violinist was  Joshua  Bell, one of the greatest  musicians in the world. He played one of the most  intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth  $3.5 million dollars.. Two days before Joshua Bell  sold out a theater in Boston where the seats  averaged $100.

This  is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in  the metro station was organized by the Washington  Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and  people's priorities.  The  questions raised:       *In a  common place environment at an inappropriate hour,  do we perceive beauty?        *Do  we stop to appreciate it?        *Do  we recognize talent in an unexpected  context?
One  possible conclusion reached from this experiment  could be this:  
If we do not  have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best  musicians in the world, playing some of the finest  music ever written, with one of the most beautiful  instruments ever made. How  many other things are we missing?  

Indeed.  How many other things ARE we missing?  Especially this time of year.  There is SO much beauty to behold right now.  Last night Daniel and I took Cecelia out exploring Christmas light displays.  So simple, but so much fun and so much joy for Cecelia.  There are Christmas concerts, ballets and plays everywhere.  Have you slowed down enough to enjoy one?  Will you slow down enough to at least enjoy the children's Christmas pageant at you church?  


I can kind of understand what happened at the DC Metro station.  People wouldn't have been there if they weren't on their way to somewhere else.  But still... to walk right by beauty like that and not make it a priority...  But isn't beauty (artistic and spiritual) one of the main priorities of Christmas?  And we walk right by it without noticing all Advent long in pursuit of hosting the "perfect" party or finding the "perfect" gift... or trying to make enough money to afford those things.


There are 11 more days in Advent.  Make it a priority to enjoy some Christmas beauty each day... even if you have to create it.


Lord,
There is beauty all around us, especially this time of year.  Help us to recognize it and just stop what we are doing to take joy in it.  Amen.


Joys:  Photos of Holy Cross folks volunteering at the Extreme Home Makeover in Lincolnton; People that go "all out" decorating their homes for Christmas bringing joy to those who pass by; Cecelia's excitement about being the Star in the Christmas program.

We Shine You, Lord

⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.- 2 Corinthians 4:5-7


Yesterday at church we offered our time and talent commitments for 2012.  It was an inspiring service, but I was particularly touched by the song the ensemble performed.  The words were absolutely perfect.    You can listen here to You are the Light by Steve Fee.  Here are the words:

We are the people of GodThe sons and daughters of loveForgiven and restored and redeemedLiving our lives to the praise of our KingWe are the ones who will shineHis light in the darkness of the nightThe hopeless, the broken, the poorThey will be hopeless and broken no more

You are the lightThe light of the worldAnd we shine You, LordYou are the lightThe light of the worldAnd we shine You, Lord 

We are the people of GodThe sons and daughters of loveForgiven and restored and redeemedLiving our lives to the praise of the KingWe are the ones who will shineHis light in the darknessThe hopeless, the broken, the poorThey will be hopeless and broken no more 

We shine like stars in the universeProclaimimg the hope of our GodAnd to the sons and daughters in all the earthWe shine You, Lord 

And to the lost and the brokenThe hurting and hopelessWe shine You, LordTo the ones who are wearyBurdened and sufferingWe shine You, Lord 

We shine like stars in the universeWe shine, we shineTo the sons and daughters in all the earth 

We shine You, Lord yeah

 We spend a lot of our time arguing theology and stuff like the proper age and way to baptize and whether or not communion is simply symbolic or something more.  We even argue about who gets to go to heaven.  But when we boil it all down, isn't our faith really just about helping the "hopeless, broken and poor" so that they will be "hopeless and broken no more?"  Isn't our only real job just to "Shine you, Lord?"


If we would spend less time and energy arguing about things we really don't know and more time and energy doing the things we do know, maybe the hopeless, broken and poor would already be healed.  Jesus told us that we are the light of the world and that it is his light that we shine.  He wants us to help one another, not convince one another that unless you believe as I do, you're going to hell.


I am convinced that divisive issues are the favorite tool of the devil.  He uses them to distract God's people from real ministry.  We become "righteously angry" and leave to find or even develop new "bible believing" churches.  And we are sure God is on our side.  But all that time... when we are forming committees to prove the others wrong... when we are writing letters to church leaders... when we are visiting other churches to find a better fit... all this time would have been put to better use healing the broken, hopeless, poor, weary, burdened and suffering.  Satan wins.


Let's find new ways to put our time and talents to use.  Let us shine Jesus.


Lord Jesus,
Teach us to shine you.  Amen.


Joys:  beautiful music at church yesterday; how Holy Cross encourages every member and visitor to use their time and talent to shine Jesus; fun with friends last night.

Christmas Grace

⁶ But he gives us more grace.-James 4:6b


Christmas is about presents.
Christmas is about Jesus.
Christmas is for children.


We've heard these phrases and Christmas is, to a greater or lesser extent, all of these things.  But I think one of the biggest things Christmas is about is grace.  Look at our personification of Christmas... Santa Claus.  Supposedly he has a Naughty and Nice List, but do you know any child that has been passed by by Santa because they have been naughty?  GRACE!


And what about the gifts we give one another?  Everyone NEEDS socks, but we don't look for them under the tree.  No, we look for things we DON'T need... like IPads and marshmallow shooters and foot massagers.  GRACE!


Is there any other season where we eat as recklessly?  Fudge, pumpkin rolls, homemade cookies by the dozens, creamy drinks.  We may gain a few pounds but we give ourselves a little something this time of year.  GRACE!


And it all started with what?  A baby in a manger who would one day give his life so that we may live forever... even though we don't deserve it.  GRACE UPON GRACE!


Lord,
Christmas is about grace because you are about grace.  Help us to accept it all with open hearts and open arms.  Amen.


Joys: Getting some wrapping done; lazy, rainy days; GRACE

Bow Down

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. –Psalm 95:6

There is no better way to experience the season of Advent then with a heart that is in awe and worship of the majesty of God.  Advent is about awaiting God’s greatest gift to the world.  When we come before God humbly bowed in worship, how much more are we humbled and awed by the prospect of his Great Gift?

Even Christians have learned to throw around Christian-sounding phrases during this time of year… “Jesus is the greatest gift of all”… “Jesus is the reason for the season”… “put Christ back in Christmas”…. There’s nothing wrong with those phrases, but after a while, they begin to sound trite.  Especially when we toss them around as we push through the malls in a panic to spend more money on more things that our family and friends don’t need.

Most of us have probably thrown ourselves into the Christmas rush.  But it’s not too late to withdraw for a moment or two; catch our breath; find an altar or our own personal worship space and take some time to bow down and worship…  open our hearts to the awe of that “greatest gift”… “reason for the season”… “the Christ of Christmas.”  

Presents aren’t bad.  They bring joy in both giving and receiving them.  But the joy will be multiplied if our hearts have been properly prepared.  The joy will be magnified if we give and receive gifts from the perspective of why we exchange gifts.  And the malls… they will not seem as crowded and pushy… instead they will feel festive and joyful.  Take time to kneel before the Lord our Maker before we head into the rush.

Lord God,

This Advent help us to take time to first prepare our hearts.  Bring to our souls the true wonder and awe of your Great Gift.  Amen.

Joys:  Getting caught up with some tasks and errands I have been putting off; Christmas lights; sleeping in to the sound of rain.

Christmas Fun

⁹ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’-Acts 11:9


As Christians, we can find a lot of negative stuff about the season... consumerism, fraud and theft to name a few.  And there are plenty of aspects to Christmas that really have little connection to the birth of Jesus.  But does that mean they are all bad?  God cleaned up some things in Peter's dream in Acts that Peter never would have imagined could be clean.  And I believe that he can clean up the things we may have muddied about Christmas. Here are some things that don't necessarily have anything to do with the birth of Christ that I love about Christmas:

• Christmas specials... the sappier the better
• And even more fun... Children's Christmas specials like Rudolph and A Charlie Brown Christmas
• The ornaments my children made at school
• Knowing I've found just the right gift without stressing about it
• Christmas cookies, fudge, and all the other wonderful goodies of the year
• Elvis Christmas CD
• Santa Claus!
• The excitement of wondering what is in that pretty package with my name on it
• driving around neighborhoods looking at light displays
• getting up absurdly early Christmas morning to open presents
• Having small children around to enjoy the season with

Can you add to this list?  I'd love to see some comments on my blog page or on Facebook.  What do you love about Christmas... even if you won't see it at church?

Father,

I love that you give us life to enjoy in its fullness and that we can be a little worldly even in our our religious celebrations.  Help us to keep it balanced, though and to remember the Christ child in the midst of the excitement.  Amen.

Joys:  All of the things in my list above!

Saint and Sinner

^{I was looking over some of my devotions from last year and found this.  I wanted to save it to my blog so I would have it forever, so that's why there are two devotions for today. -Karen}

¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. –Romans 5:19

The children's Christmas program is one of the highlights of the season for me.  Even if I am not personally connected to one of the little ones, I attend; because even if it's one of those years when I am not particularly feeling the spirit of Christmas, every last ounce of "scrooge" is drained from my heart by watching the joy and excitement of these children.  How much more exciting it was for me this year with Cecelia getting to be a part of the program!

She was so excited to get to be an angel!  She talked about it all week.  But when we got to the church she discovered (to the chagrin of ANY 2-year-old) that she was NOT to be the center of attention.  There was so much activity going on around her.  It was kind of scary for her and I felt her on the very verge of tears.  However, she wanted to be an angel with all her heart and soul, so even though it was out of her comfort level, she put on the pretty white and gold costume and allowed the shimmering halo to be placed on her head.  She was an angel!  We looked in the mirror and showed off to Mommy and Daddy and although she would have preferred that I hang around, she was okay staying with the cast by herself waiting to be brought on stage. 

And of course, to this grandma's eyes, she was perfect... everything an angel should be.  Well almost.  You see, recently Cecelia has discovered that her finger fits perfectly into her nose and she has been fascinated by this fact.  So... here is what she looked like most of her time on stage: 

 

But of course, to me, she still looked like the most angelic angel of all angels anywhere.  Only a grandparent could understand that reasoning.

And only God can understand how his children can be fully saints and fully sinners at the same time.  He nudges us to do something that might make us uncomfortable.  We want to do it with our whole heart and soul, but we are afraid.  But when we realize that God is nearby encouraging us, we get the courage to step out of our comfort zone and try.  Usually our efforts are less than perfect.  But God overlooks that.  He brushes away the “sinner” part of our nature and embraces the “saint.”  He knows that our finger is stuck up our nose, but it’s the glowing halo that brings him joy and that’s what he focuses on.

Don’t be afraid of God’s call because you don’t think you can do it perfectly.  God is not looking for perfection.  He is looking for us to express our love for him with all our heart and soul.  He only sees the saint… just like a grandma…

Father,

Thank you for overlooking our flaws as we express our love for you.  Keep nudging us to step out of our comfort zones even when we are afraid.  Amen.

Joys:  Children’s Christmas program; my Cecelia angel; Santa Claus

Un-Grinching

It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas..."
He thought, 

 "...means a little bit more." -Dr. Suess from How the Grinch Stole Christmas 

 

Cecelia's absolutely favorite Christmas movie is The Grinch with Jim Carey.  As a matter of fact, we watch it ALL YEAR LONG... sometimes more than once in a day. After we made Christmas cookies on Saturday, we "taste-tested" them with some hot chocolate as we once again watched The Grinch.  I know the movie quite well now! 

It's easy to be a grinch at this time of year.  We all see the greed but find it difficult not to participate in it to some level or another.  We know it is not about the packages, boxes or bags and yet we are all out there with our packages, boxes and bags.  It has become infused into our society.  Christmas equals commercialism.  The rush of shopping and the endless list of invitations and activities of the season causes us stress and we take it out on those we love and tempers flare.  It's enough to make a grinch out of anyone.

That is why it is so important to step back and take a deep breath.  Take a few minutes each day for some time with God in worship, prayer, devotion and/or study.  Read the ancient prophecies from Isaiah and the other prophets about the hope of the coming of Christ.  Santa and snowmen are fine, but make the manger scene and the Christ child central to your Christmas motif.  But don't just decorate with it... ponder it.  Holy Cross has Advent worship each Wednesday night.  Come and take that deep breath with church family.

It's easy to get carried away with the hoopla, but what if the Grinch really did come and "steal" Christmas this year?  What if there were no gifts or trees or feasts?  Would Christmas loose its meaning for us or would we still join in Christmas community to sing Joy to the World?  And would the Grinch say that our singing was "both jubilant AND joyful?" 

Father,

Some of our hearts are feeling grinch-like at this time of year.  Maybe it's because we don't have the money to participate as we would like, or maybe a loved one is missing this year or maybe we are just tired of the greed and commercialism.  Whatever the cause, help us to slow down, take a breath and feel the real joy in the true meaning of Christmas.  Amen.

Joys:  Baking and decorating Christmas cookies with Cecelia; Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child; Chelsea's help in my Sunday school class.

Total Silence

²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.-Matthew 14:23


How often do we get to experience real silence.  There's always something... cars going by, someone watching TV, birds chirping, the hum of the A/C or refrigerator.  But I got to experience total silence yesterday on my hike.  


It's amazing how the mountain has changed since I began hiking regularly in May. Late Spring, Summer, Fall and now the edge of winter.  At the top of the loop that I hike, you are too far from the creek and the river to hear them.  I suddenly noticed the quiet.  There were no leaves or nuts left to fall from the trees, no scampering squirrels and surprisingly, no birds.


I stood and listened.  It was strange, but wonderful.  I immediately felt connected to God.  I stood quietly like that for 2 or 3 minutes until I finally heard a jet in the distance and the moment passed.


How can we get more quiet in our lives?  I'm convinced we need it.  But how?  Every second of our lives is crammed with noise.  I think we should try.  Maybe we can't get do it every day or even every week, but maybe we should try to get to some of the quiet places like the mountains or the woods.  And in between we should try to do the best we can... turn off the T.V and the I-Pod and put the phone on silent.  And just be still.  And connect with God.


Father,
Help us to find some silence in our lives and spend it getting closer to you.  Amen.


Joys: great hike; total silence; Friday

Traditions

  ⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.-Mark 7:8


A line from a short video shown during Advent worship last night:

The traditions sometimes become more important than the real relationships.

I have been guilty of that in the past. Have you ever just picked up a gift... any gift... not out of love for the person you are giving it to, but only out of obligation?  Have you ever gotten frustrated with your kids because they weren't paying attention to the special Christmas story you picked out to read them on Christmas Eve... the book you MUST read to them and they MUST pay attention because it's tradition?  Have you ever stressed yourself out to the max because you HAVE to make Christmas cookies with your children today even though you have a hundred other things to do?  And don't even get me started on Christmas cards....


Over the years I have learned.  I used to make dozens of cut-out sugar cookies for my little boys to decorate with frosting and sprinkles only to watch them do one or two, lose interest and leave the rest for me.  I did this because I loved doing it with my mom.  But when I finally realized my boys didn't care so much, I scratched it off my "traditions" list.  I've made a "no gifts" pact with people who I know would only stress over picking out a gift.  Instead, I give gifts to those I know can't reciprocate and know I don't expect them to.  I do NOT do Christmas cards!  I've learned to simplify Christmas and I enjoy it so much more!


Don't get hung up on the traditions of this season.  Focus instead on your relationships. It's not worth spending hours on making cookies if everyone is going to be miserable while you pretend to have the perfect Christmas.  Through the dough away, make some hot chocolate and pop corn and watch a silly Christmas movie together instead... or whatever.  Be willing to change your plans if "tradition" isn't working.  We should be enjoying this wonderful season of loving, giving and hoping... not developing ulcers.


Father,
Help us to "chill" this Advent and just enjoy or family and our friends.  Help us to love one another enough to put aside our most cherished traditions if necessary.  Amen.


Joys:  Advent worship; a hiking day; lost another pants size... yay!

Stretching

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience-Colossians 1:9-11

At Book Club last night, we strayed a little from the subject matter... not exactly unusual for a women's book club :) .  Anyway, we got to talking about stretching.  Joan has been doing simple stretching exercises for years and recently I've been dabbling in some beginner's yoga.  We talked about how good stretching is for overall health.  I have been amazed at the energy it releases.  Try it... right now.  If you're sitting down, simply extend one leg straight out and stretch from the hip to the tip of your toes, flexing and pointing, flexing and pointing.... ahhhh... the muscles you stretch feel great, but you also feel it deeper, don't you?  Don't you feel a little wave of energy?  Now imagine stretching most of your muscles like that every morning.  What a great way to start the day!


Now imagine giving your spiritual muscles a little stretch every morning.  Reflect on some scripture and spend some time in prayer... speaking AND listening.  Finish up with your favorite hymn or song of praise.  Wow... doesn't that feel great?  You've connected with God and as you begin your day, you don't leave Him behind, but feel His presence with you.  You've stretched those spiritual muscles and feel it deeper than the effort seems to ask for.


Like physical exercise, we know good spiritual habits are good for us and make us feel great.  And yet we find excuse after excuse not to do it.  


During Advent this daily stretching is more important than every.  Our spiritual muscles are being assaulted with commercialism and stress and being way, way, way too busy trying to have the "fun" we are supposed to be having this time of year.


Let's make a daily spiritual stretch our Advent gift to ourselves!


Lord,
When we do it, we are so glad we have spent time with you and in your word.  It makes us feel so much better and gives a that lift we need to start the day.  Help us to look forward to our time with you rather than make excuses to skip it.  Amen.


Joys:  Fun at Book Club; a day off; stretching

The New Homeless

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.-Luke 12:48b


The face of the homeless has changed.  We once equated homelessness with the chronically unemployed, alcoholics, drug addicts. 15-20 years ago, experts started warning us that most of us were only a paycheck or two away from losing our homes.  It has come to pass.  People are losing their homes and with this terrible economy, their families are at a loss to help them.  Sunday night "60 Minutes" did a story on the plight of the homeless in Florida.  It was a real eye-opener.  I hope you will take the time to watch it.   It shows the face of the "new homeless."  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7389750n&tag=contentBody%3BstoryMediaBox


Most of us really have no idea how things have gotten for even people who have worked hard all their lives to provide for themselves and their families.  Most of us really have no idea how incredibly blessed we are to have a warm place to sleep at night and a roof over our heads.


One of the members of Holy Cross has been very busy over the last couple of months making "Jesus stockings."  She sells them and gives a portion of the proceeds to charity.  The idea behind them is to hang the stocking during Advent and have your family add money to it all season long.  After Christmas, decide on a charity to give the money to and send it to them.


The need this year in the world, in our own country and even in our very own backyards is greater than I've ever known it to be.  And it's not just people who are chronically unemployed or people with addictions or those who have learned to "work the system"  (although we need to help all these as well).  There are young families out there that had dreams of a nice home and a good education for their kids and those dreams have been dashed by a sudden turn of events.


Whether or not the homeless is your choice, I hope you will give the idea of a Jesus stocking a try this year.  You don't have to have one especially made (though Cathy's are beautiful)... it can even be a jar or a bowl.  The need is so great... and remember... to those to whom much has been given, much is expected.


Lord Jesus,
Give us compassionate, loving hearts that make us desire to share our abundance with those who have so little.  Amen.

Joys:  my home; my warm bed; Hesed House and other homeless shelters that make a difference

Do You See a Tree in This House?

¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.-Philippians 4:13

A month or two ago I told Cecelia that when it was Christmas time we would make Christmas cookies together.  The day after Halloween, Cecelia (with a memory like a steel trap) said it was time to make Christmas cookies.  I told her it wasn't Christmas time yet and she said yes it was.  We argued back and forth (don't you love arguing with a 3-year-old?) and then I playfully admonished her by asking, "Do you see a tree in this house?"


Well, she thought that was the funniest thing ever and picked right up on it.  For the next few weeks, whenever I asked her to do something she didn't want to do, she would use it:


Me:  It's time for your nap
Cecelia:  Do you see a tree in this house?


Me:  Don't play with your food, finish eating.
Cecelia:  Do you see a tree in this house?


And so it became a "thing" with us.  She would ask me for a cookie before supper and I would counter with, "Do you see a tree in this house?"  Or she would ask to watch "The Grinch" for the 3rd time in a row and I would say, "Do you see a tree in this house?"  We had a lot of laughs with that phrase over the past few weeks.


Well, this weekend, Cecelia helped put up our Christmas tree.  After a while it dawned on her and she said, "Kaymee!  We have a tree in this house!  Now we can do everything!"


We put up a Christmas tree every year to celebrate the birth of Christ and St. Paul tells us in Philippians that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  So yes, Cecelia... We DO have a tree in this house... and it DOES mean we can do everything!


Thank you God for sending Jesus to strengthen and empower us as we live our lives for you.  Amen.


Joys:  Surprise visitors at worship today; Cecelia's excitement about going to the airport to see Opah off; Advent

Alphabet of Thanks

 ¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
 ² Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

 ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

   his faithfulness continues through all generations.-Psalm 100

For many years now, my devotion for Thanksgiving has been my Alphabet of Thanks.  I will continue the tradition.  I pray that each of you discover an abundance of blessings to be thankful for in the coming year.    May God bless you with all good things.

A - Angels that come in human form.  They are always there at just the right time.
B - All the Babies and small children in my life
C - Cecelia (granddaughter), Carson (baby nephew), Chelsea (Kevin's girlfriend)
D - Daniel
E - Eyes and Ears with which to fully experience the wonders of this Earth
F- Family, Friends and all the Fun we've had together over the past year
G - being a Grandmother.  Only another grandparent can understand just how thankful I am.  Also, Kevin's Graduation coming up in May.
H - Hiking in the mountains and my improved Health because of it
I - Ice cream.  I can't have it often, but that makes it even more wonderful when I do.
J - Jesus.  God in human form.
K - Kevin
L - Love, Laughter, Living Life out Loud
M - Memories; Music
N - Trying New things.  Keeps me young!
O - the Ocean... the sight, the sound and the smell
P - Playing Princess with Cecelia
Q - Quiet times... for prayer, for meditation, for creativity, or just for recharging
R - Richard and 30 years of marriage.  Who'd have thought it gets so much better?
S - Sunshine
T - Tracy (Daniel's girlfriend)
U - Umbrellas... literal and figurative
V - Variety. So many wonderful choices in life!
W - Wild flowers.  God's beauty blossoming sometimes in the most unlikely places
X - eXtra.  More than I need to live
Y - Yo-yos... symbolic of the playful and fun side of life; Yoga
Z - Zebras... symbolic of the uniqueness of God's creation.  So much diversity!  So much individuality!

Happy Holy Days!

¹¹ The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”-Nehemiah 8:11

Here we come holiday season!  And with it come the two biggest annual complaints:

1.  The Christmas season starts earlier and earlier every year.
2.  It's not "Happy HOLIDAYS" or "HOLIDAY trees,"  it's "Merry CHRISTMAS" and CHRISTMAS trees

So let's tackle these complaints and see if we can see them in a new light and stop our whining before it starts.

1.  It's easy to assume that it is the retailers that have Christmas starting about the same time as Halloween these days, and perhaps they are.  But if we REALLY hated it, the retailers would quickly get the message and would not want to anger the consumer.  I think a big part of us (even those who dread the commercial part of Christmas) look forward to the deeper message.  I think the world has gotten so tough, that we are ready for the messages of "Peace on Earth" and "Good Will Toward All" earlier and earlier.  I think we are so stressed these days that we crave the retelling of the amazing story of God Made Flesh.  Maybe starting Christmas right after Halloween isn't such a bad idea.

2.  So what is wrong with the word "Holiday?"  Do you know the etymology behind that word?  It comes from the words "holy" and "day"... holy day, meaning "religious festival."  If you prefer to SAY "Merry Christmas" there is certainly nothing wrong with that, but why should we take offense if someone wishes us "Happy Holy Days?"  As Christians we should be happy to accept others wishing us a good anything!

Let's not start advent with a defensive attitude this year.  Let's enjoy the season for everything it is. And everything it should be.

Father,
Prepare our hearts for advent.  Help us to enjoy the season but take time to focus on the reason.  Amen.

Joys:  Last day of the work week; Richard and Cecelia getting to spend today together; fun shoppping and dinner date with Richard last night

Truly Thankful

 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.-Colossians 3:15-17

Wow... "thankfulness," "gratitude," "giving thanks"... all in one short paragraph.  It must be important!

I have known people who have dwelt in their need.  Those who mourn all the things they don't have.  They hoard what little they do have.  They are negative and bitter.  They don't attract many people into their lives.  Not for long anyway.

I have known people who have very little who count every little thing as a blessing.  They feel as rich as royalty.  They love.  And they are generous.  They give from the little they have.  They are a joy to be around and family and friends gravitate toward them.

I have known very rich people who live as if they have nothing.  They might as well not have anything for all the joy it brings them.  They are like the poor person who dwells in his need.

And then there is the very rich person who is humbly grateful for every penny... for every thing... and for every person in his/her life.  This type is harder to find, but they are a wonder to behold.  They are exceedingly generous and live their life in gratitude.  They not only attract friends, but unfortunately they attract those who only pretend to be friends that they might con this person out of whatever they can.

In my youth, I worked at a grocery store.  I remember a very small event that made a very large impression on me.  I was standing in the office when the bookkeeper got a call from another near-by store in the same chain.  Supplies were late coming in and they asked Cathy if she had any extra return forms because they were out.  Cathy replied that she did not have many, but they were welcome to half of what she had.

Isn't that they way we should be with all of our "stuff"?  If someone is in need, shouldn't we be grateful enough for what we have... even if it is very little... that we would share without hesitation?  Isn't half of what we have exceedingly more than the "nothing" someone else has?

We can only be this generous if we have true gratitude in our hearts.  And we can only be this generous if we truly see others as our brothers and sisters and love them as such.

Lord Jesus,

Help us to have true gratitude... the kind of gratitude that leads to spontaneously generous actions.  I pray that our Thanksgiving this year will be about so much more that eating too much.  Amen.

Joys:  Having Richard at home for a few days; just me and my guys together at dinner last night; being thankful for the little things