Martha, Martha CHILL!!!!

...Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42 NIV 　

Martha: Hurry up Mary, we have to get all our Christmas trees up before our company arrives! And how about that bathroom theme, I put you in charge of coming up with something!

Mary: Martha, relax our guests, just long to enjoy the season with those they love and remember Jesus who came into this world as a babe.

Martha: Mary, you know my goal is yet to be reached of a tree in every room. And the baking, do you realize that our company is almost here and you have yet to make a single cookie? Mary, can’t you stop reading the bible for just a minute so we can hurry to Walmart to get some more decorations, I don’t think we have enough and without the that dried fruit I can’t make those fruit cakes everyone loves. While you are just sitting there, get online to find some of those “Gift in a Jar” ideas!

Mary: Sister, settle down, it will all turn out we already have plenty of decorations and food. You know that the bible says we can’t live by "cookies" alone but by every word that comes from the Lord!

Martha: Chocolate, Mary, you know we need more chocolate to make plenty of fudge and chocolate covered cherries. We can’t forget the live Christmas greenery I want to put on the porch to welcome those who come. Hey, Sister, I think I saw Chia Pets at Walgreens we need to get a few of those for gifts and while you are there get that CD with Burl Ives singing "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" will ya?

Mary: Martha, I just can’t get over the fact that God sent his son to save the world! I want to read it over and over again!

Martha: Hurry Mary, I want to buy something very clever to use for name tags so we will all know one another. Oh, Mary must you be so slow, we have so much to do and it is nearly time for the Mall to close!

Mary: Martha, Martha you should know, the only thing that matters is that Jesus will be here! And as far as name tags, I think we will all recognize Him! Well, if you can stop long enough to see Him!

The names have been changed to protect the…..guilty!

I must confess that for way too long I have been "Martha" in the little narrative above! I love to decorate for Christmas, I enjoyed making my home look like Christmas has arrived. But sometimes in my desire to bring Christmas, I, like Martha, forget the guest of honor. I am harried, stressed and mostly disgruntled because things never turn out the way I expect them to because my eyes are focused on the wrong things.

Lord, help me to lift my eyes to you and remember afresh the reason we celebrate and who should be glorified for His gift of salvation He brought to the world!

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

Martha: Hmmmm? I wonder what kind of gift I would give someone who named the stars one by one?

　

　

This is God's Year to Act!

One Christmas Eve, it came my lot, so to speak, to work that 2nd shift. My mind was on the activities going on at home, the traditional things that happens each year except, sadly, I wasn't there. The evening had been pretty quiet since patients were sent home, if at all possible, the day before Christmas. Only emergency surgeries would take place for the next couple of days, only the very sick would spend their Christmas in the hospital. As I was pondering all I was missing at home, my pager went off and I was called to the emergency department. As I made my way down to the emergency room, I wondered what it could be since even this area had been slow all night. I was instructed to give a breathing treatment to an older woman sitting upright in the bed not looking at all like she was in distress. In fact she was dressed brightly and wore bright makeup and Christmas earrings. I assessed her breath sounds, which sounded clear, asked the normal questions concerning her reason for coming to ER but received only vague answers until we began to talk about Christmas. We chatted mostly about cheery things and how bad it was that we both were in this place on this special night. Doubting the doctors orders a bit, I prepared the treatment, which the lady readily took. I then wished her a Merry Christmas and was out of there. As per protocol, I reported to the nurse my assessment of the patients condition. Out of earshot of the patient, I shared my opinion that the patient seemed perfectly fine to me. "Oh, she's one of our regulars at Christmas time" she said in a matter of fact voice. "Regulars"? I asked. "Yeah, Gladys lives alone and has no one at Christmas time so she usually shows up here, we think, just to be with people". "We could have as many as three or four this evening". "Gladys is just one of many", her voice now lower and sadder.

My heart sank as I thought of my complaining. I at least had a family to share Christmas with this year. Christmas Day would be full of laughter, love and sharing of gifts. How much I had taken for granted.

As I recalled that Christmas Eve several years ago, I thought of what Jesus read from the Scroll in the synagogue at the beginning of His earthly ministry. He read from the Book of Isaiah which foretold His coming.

Our beloved Savior stood as he read from the scroll.

God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, "This is God's year to act!" (Luke 4:18, 19 MSG)

... "You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place." (Luke 4:21 MSG)

Have you ever needed good news? Have you ever felt poor if not monetarily, poor in spirit? Have you ever felt like a prisoner to horrible circumstances or maybe blind to what God can do for you, if you only ask? How many at this time of the year feel battered and bruised or burdened by life's heaviness?

The good news is this is the year! God is ready to act in your life, Jesus is ready to come to where you are this Christmas season!

You may be lonely like Gladys, or you may be surrounded by people yet still lonely! Last year may have been your worst yet but grab the hand of the Messiah he alone has the Good News!

Sent from Jeanie!

The Dawn of Redeeming Grace!

The original paper found with Silent Night or Stille Nacht which Mohr and Gruber penned that night so many years ago.

Did you know that in 1939 Montgomery Ward assigned Robert May the task of coming up with a story for a coloring book that they would sell in their store. Out of that assignment came "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" and later came the song we know and love. Did you know that a thirteen year old boy named Jimmy Boyd was the first to sing "I Saw Mama Kissin' Santa Claus" in 1952? This song topped the charts two years in a row during the Christmas season. It was banned by the Catholic Church for being too suggestive until young Jimmy went to the Bishop of Boston and the next year the ban was lifted. Because of instant access to information on the net, even I am able to find this kind of trivia about some of these songs we know and love. I also loved to read about the beloved Christmas hymns that fill the air this time of year.

I read today of the history of Silent Night which was a poem written by Joseph Mohr in 1816 but was put to music by Franz Gruber in 1818 when Mohr went to his little apartment in Orberndorf, Austria to have his poem made into a song he could present that night for midnight mass. Because the organ in the church was not working the composer grabbed his guitar to pick out the melody and eventually hummed the beautiful song we love to sing every year. The song originally "Stille Nacht" became popular throughout Europe but finally worked it's way to America and became Silent Night!

As I looked at the lyrics of this beloved song, I think of the wondrous night that would have been, the miracle of new life as thrilling as that is, could not match this night. In the first stanza my mind can picture the Silent Night, the Holy Night.

Silent night, Holy Night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace!

But in the second stanza it is anything but silent! It is the record in Luke that describes the angels that came to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus!

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born;
Christ the Savior is born.

God in his loveliness had chosen lowly shepherds to be the first hearers of the good news. If I had lived back then I may have very well been counted among this motley crew! How blessed they must have felt to receive such an honor. How humbled I am that God sent His good news to me in my sinful state. Grace came down to the shepherds then as it comes down to us even now.

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Praise God for that dawn of redeeming grace!
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth;
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth;

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

Luke 2:13-14

Sent from Jeanie!

The Grand Puzzle!

Today I plan to shop for a perfect Christmas puzzle, an annual event at our house! It is very relaxing to me to sit down and find where each piece goes. My husband on the other hand lasts about a minute and then he is done. He always threatens to get a hammer and a chisel and force the pieces into place. I find a hammer very distracting when I am trying to relax. Some of my kids and grandkids are like me and can sit for hours working to make the picture come to life.

The bible is a great puzzle with all the pieces, waiting for us to place into it’s proper place. I have been reading the bible since I became a Christian, over forty years ago but in the past two years I have put more effort into placing each piece of the puzzle. My heart is blessed every day as the picture becomes more and more alive to me. When one more piece slips easily into it’s proper place (without a hammer mind you). For many years I was reluctant to read too much in the Old Testament because I was sure OLD meant OLD and wondered if I could find much there other than a great scripture that I would pull out from time to time. As I put my heart and mind to the task of deliberately putting the pieces together, there are not words to describe the blessing I have received from seeing the whole picture fall into place. More precious is the thought that I, in my life time, will never find all the pieces until I go to heaven and then I will see in whole what I can only see in part now.

Just think about a puzzle for a minute. When I start putting a puzzle together, I look for all the pieces with a flat side, these pieces are for the frame around the puzzle. That is the way the bible is, so let’s imagine that we place the flat side pieces completely around both the old and new testaments. Now, let’s go to work!

Even as I study the Christmas story there is so much that was foretold in the old testament like John the Baptist for instance!

As odd as John might seem to us with his clothes made of camel hair, his meals of locust and wild honey and home in the desert he was spoken of in Isaiah 40!

“A voice of one calling in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord make straight paths for him”. Isaiah 40:3

John is a piece of the glorious story told at this time of the year and fits perfectly into the puzzle! Remember, even his birth was a miracle as found in Luke 1. An angel went to an old priest named Zechariah, and told him his wife Elizabeth, who was barren and way past childbearing age, would have a son. He was to be called John, according to the angel Gabriel who would say about the pregnancy “With God nothing is impossible”.

My prayer is, that I find more and more pieces to this glorious puzzle as I celebrate this season glorifying our wonderful Lord!

I hope to get my puzzle and finish it before Christmas hopefully without a hammer or chisel! I’m thinking of a 1000 piece-er this year! Join me in my search for the perfect pieces to the grand “Puzzle” this year!

　

　

SHALOM!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

One of the things that I have pulled from my Christmas decorations is a little candle holder that says Shalom! I bought this on sale but instantly fell in love with it. It seemed just saying that word gave me a sort of kinship with Jesus since he most likely used this term as he greeted people he met on the street or perhaps customers that came to the carpenter shop that he and Joseph worked in. Shalom is a Hebrew greeting used to say hello or goodbye. Which would be good for me since I usually don’t know if I’m coming or going. It means I wish you peace not just lack of war but peace as between God and man. Another word for Shalom was completeness! Completeness! Don’t we all yearn for that kind of peace.

I remember one night a few days before Christmas when the kids were all little, Larry as well as most of our five kids were sick in bed with the flu and I alone was left to hurriedly shop for a few things for the kid's Christmas presents. I remember money was especially tight that year and to spread the little bit we had five ways would be a challenge. As I drove I felt more and more sorry for myself! It seemed that everyone had an arm full of packages, brightly wrapped.  Ladies floated down the street with their beautiful winter attire, white fur encircling their faces, everyone was happy and gay, and was singing and dancing in the street! Well, not that last part but it did seem like I had come upon the scene in one of those old Bing Crosby movies! I could almost hear Silver Bells playing in the backround as the busy shopper rushed home with their treasures. Lights glittered everywhere almost mocking me and my low mood and on top of all that it was beginning to snow so hard that I wasn’t sure I could make it to the stores to shop. I pulled into a parking place, put my head on the steering wheel and cried praying as the tears rolled! Why? Doesn’t my family deserve presents like other people? Why, now is everyone sick at my house, couldn’t it wait until after Christmas? When I lifted my sick, sorry, head the biggest snow flakes I had ever seen was falling from the clear night sky. All I could say was “beautiful” and as I opened the car door and got out the whole world seemed to stand still just for me. The snow had accumulated so fast that there was hardly a footprint to be seen, the heavy layer of snow seemed to envelope my little world at that moment so that it even muffled the sound of traffic and I FELT GOD!  I felt peace!  I didn't deserve it, but I felt wholeness and just as the giant snow flakes melted when they touched my face so did the self pity. I felt a oneness with God! I felt, SHALOM! I asked God to forgive me for my ungratefulness and for not seeing all his blessings. I thanked Him for caring for this "girl" even when I felt sorry for myself and especially for giving me something that could never be found in those beautifully wrapped presents. He gave me His only begotten son!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16


We still wait until the last minute to shop, more out of habit than anything else but as we rush out to finish our shopping, I always remember when God blessed me with His presence that beautiful snowy night!

SHALOM!

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause

Larry with our grandson, Kellan! He has been blessed to look into the precious faces of nine grandchildren! Praise God!

...Peace on Earth Good Will to Men! Luke 2:14

As I dug through decorations this year, as usual, memories came from the boxes also. I pulled out a Santa and Mrs. Clause creamer and sugar bowl with and inscription on the bottom. It said Avon Collection 1983 which to most would mean little but it reminded me of one of the most difficult Christmas’ we ever had. I had taken on an Avon route and went door to door with my youngest daughter Mendy tagging along. I was selling all sorts of products from perfumes and lotions to Christmas decorations. I wasn’t much of a salesman but I did enjoy the people I met as well as being able to buy some things for us. But that isn’t why I remember the festive Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause. It was that year that “Peace on Earth” was hard to find in our lives.

On a cold December evening in 1983, I waited for Larry to come home knowing he was going to be late because of an eye appointment that he would go to right after work. I fixed supper as usual and we waited for him to come home. As I heard him pull into the driveway, I was anxious to find out about his appointment since he had been battling iritis for a few weeks but when he came through the door the look on his face told me that something terrible had happened. He quickly rushed me into the other room, as not to upset the kids, to tell me that the eye doctor had given him the horrible news that he was losing his sight and had very little time before he would be completely blind. The ashen look on his face told me that a death sentence couldn’t have been worse for him at that moment. I had never seen my strong husband that beaten, a crack in his armor I had never seen but I was looking at a broken man. For the next few days he could hardly get out of bed, paralyzed by this terrible prognosis. I remember sitting on the side of the bed praying for him, knowing that I could not help him but it had to be God. As the days, that December, dragged on, he had the constant reminder of his plight as his eyes were kept dilated in order to heal them. As he struggled to work, this was a constant reminder that very soon he would not be able to work to support his family, he seemed to be a man without hope.

I noticed a change had taken place, one day close to Christmas when he came to me with a verse that he had “happened” upon! It was in Romans which says:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

To this day I call it Larry's verse because I believe that was the beginning of healing for my dear husband, it wasn’t overnight but I believe the Lord saved him from blindness. I also know it was the beginning of him really seeing and trusting the Savior and recieving the hope that only God can give. These days he still has bouts with this eye condition but he believes, the remnants of the disease that threatened his eye sight serves to remind him of the hope he was given that day as God’s word spoke to him about trusting.

So if you come to my house you will see Mr. and Mrs. Clause sitting out where I can see them as a reminder of the most difficult and best Christmas we ever had and the glorious truth that our God gives hope and joy and peace as we trust Him.

"Small One"!

This is my daughter's donkey Ruby Lulu!

Missy, Jenna and I sat glued to the little portable DVD player in the back seat of my daughters car. Jenna spends most of the twelve hour trip home watching this nifty little gadget play her favorite films. This particular evening we were watching “Small One”, a story originally written by Charles Tazewell but of course Disney had made it into a delightful little cartoon. A tear jerker none the less!

The story took place near the little town of Nazareth and it was about a little donkey named “Small One” who had become old and weak and could not carry his load anymore. He was loved by a little boy who had spent many days, throughout his life, playing with Small One. One day the father of the little boy decided that the donkey could not work hard anymore but cost money to feed him so he would have to go. Understanding his father’s dilemma, the little boy agreed to take the little donkey into town himself to find him a good home. With great hope the little boy set out for town.

Have you ever felt too old and weak, to be of any worth? Or perhaps old age isn’t what makes you feel worthless, maybe you are too young, too sick or too insignificant to feel worthy. I think all of us have been there at least a few times or maybe you are going through a season of feeling this way.

The boy optimistically went to town looking for a kind master that would take Small One and treat him well. But as he searched throughout the town not one person wanted the old donkey except the tanner who wanted to kill him for his hide. Knowing he could not go home with his friend, he was saying his last goodbyes before taking him to the tanner. As he wept (and as I wept) over the old donkey, a hand touched boy’s shoulder and he looked into the loving eyes of a man who wanted to buy the gentle donkey to carry his pregnant wife for a great distance.

Isn’t God merciful? Just as we feel we are ready for the scrap heap or the tanner, he sends us someone who lovingly reminds us of our worth. As I grow older, and as I listen to those who are even older than I am, I realize that it is the devils trick to have us give up. The author of lies, would have us believe we are worthless to everyone including God. How clever of Satan, since the gray hair on our heads usually indicates years of doing life and the wisdom that brings. Worthless? Fortunately, the bible says no such thing! Many who were of advancing age were called to do great things. Even as we read about the birth of Jesus we are introduced to an old woman, a widow, who stays at the temple day and night, praying and fasting, and about an old man named Simeon who was promised that he would not die before seeing the savior. Both of these “seniors” were there in the temple, by God’s design and will to see the baby and recognize Him as the long awaited Messiah.

As the little movie comes to an end you see the beautiful silhouette of Joseph leading the donkey on which Mary, the mother of Jesus, sits. Though this was a very simple story it rings true in my heart, God does not give up on us so why should we give up on what God can accomplish through us at any age or station in life. Small One, though old and weak carried the Savior to the world and so can we.