....And helpless as a man on the cross.
"We in our foolishness thought we were wise.
He played the fool and He opened our eyes.
And we in our weakness believed we were strong
He became helpless to show we were wrong."
have the courage to say: 'I believe'.
For the power of paradox opens your eyes,
and blinds those who say they can see."
-God's Own Fool, sung by Michael Card
| How do you celebrate Christmas? | |
I only use it as a time with family | 14 (50%) |
I celebrate Jesus' birth at this time | 16 (57%) |
I celebrate everything- Santa Claus, Jesus, Trees | 4 (14%) |
I don't celebrate it because its a pagan holiday | 4 (14%) |
I don't do much, because I hate how commercialized its become | 2 (7%) |
Other reason (please expound with a comment) | 3 (10%) |
There were 28 votes total. Thanks to everyone who voted and/or left comments! It was so interesting to hear your thoughts and reasons. I believe its important to be purposeful in all that we do, and celebrating Christmas should be no exception... so I hoped this provoked some thought ??
It was interesting to see the difference of popularity in the options, but to see that each option was chosen at least once! Hmmm....What should we poll next? =)
Amy's post and its comments reminded me of the following tale. And its true, I hate to say. Every bit of it.
A couple of months ago I was sub-pianist at a church here in town. Half way through the last verse of the opening hymn, a wasp flew at me and landed dead-center on my chest. In medical terms that would be something like medial thorax, I think. Anyways, I couldn't decide whether I should swat at it or leave it there, thinking in the back of my mind, "If I swat at it, it might get mad and sting me! Maybe it will just buzz off if I leave it alone." I finished the song. You may clap and cheer at this point, in celebration of my bravery, but I must say this was truly a miracle. I wish I could remember what song it was. It could make this story more interesting.
During the greeting time I motioned for my brother to come save me. The elderly elder (who once told me, in a fashion, he'd marry me if he was younger) came to my rescue as well, just at the point that I was swatting the wasp off of my chest. It started buzzing its wings as it got tangled in my hair. I got a little frantic at this point. It then flew over to the window where the elderly elder smacked it multiple times unto death with his bulletin. I don't really care to think what was going through the minds of the kind people in the congregation, when they witnessed their lunatic fill-in batting her chest as the ending to a reverent song.
A couple of months ago I was sub-pianist at a church here in town. Half way through the last verse of the opening hymn, a wasp flew at me and landed dead-center on my chest. In medical terms that would be something like medial thorax, I think. Anyways, I couldn't decide whether I should swat at it or leave it there, thinking in the back of my mind, "If I swat at it, it might get mad and sting me! Maybe it will just buzz off if I leave it alone." I finished the song. You may clap and cheer at this point, in celebration of my bravery, but I must say this was truly a miracle. I wish I could remember what song it was. It could make this story more interesting.
During the greeting time I motioned for my brother to come save me. The elderly elder (who once told me, in a fashion, he'd marry me if he was younger) came to my rescue as well, just at the point that I was swatting the wasp off of my chest. It started buzzing its wings as it got tangled in my hair. I got a little frantic at this point. It then flew over to the window where the elderly elder smacked it multiple times unto death with his bulletin. I don't really care to think what was going through the minds of the kind people in the congregation, when they witnessed their lunatic fill-in batting her chest as the ending to a reverent song.
God is so much bigger than my plans.
"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9
"Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3
These verses give me peace because I know He holds my tomorrows. These verses give me joy, because I have felt that He held me yesterday. He never fails.
Please vote in my poll that's in the side bar. These can be so fun and the results extremely interesting. You can check more then one answer, but please don't select conflicting answers as to make the poll's results an inaccurate representation of its readership =)
If none of the answers apply to you, or if you just feel the need, please expound in a comment under this post.
The poll is designed out of curiosity-- nothing more, so have fun with it!
Well I wouldn't trade my journey with the Lord
For anything this world could afford.
He fills my heart with laughter
He's my now and ever after.
Weeeeell, I'm lovin' this livin' for the Lord.
I'm findin' all I need in Him and so much more!
I'm standin' here confessing
I'm addicted to the blessing
of a life with an eternal reward
now I know that I'm forgiven
and I have a home in heaven
and I'm lovin' this livin' for the Lord.
I awaken every morning and I see
all the bounty of the Lord surrounding me.
my heart is overflowing
and I can't keep it from showing.
Okay. I know its weeks past Thanksgiving now but I've been having some very Thanksgiving-ish thoughts lately and I'm thankful for those thankful thoughts, because I know its important to be thankful all year round. Right? Right. God is blessing me with these feelings of gratitude by revealing how blessed I truly, 'uly am.
For anything this world could afford.
He fills my heart with laughter
He's my now and ever after.
Weeeeell, I'm lovin' this livin' for the Lord.
I'm findin' all I need in Him and so much more!
I'm standin' here confessing
I'm addicted to the blessing
of a life with an eternal reward
now I know that I'm forgiven
and I have a home in heaven
and I'm lovin' this livin' for the Lord.
I awaken every morning and I see
all the bounty of the Lord surrounding me.
my heart is overflowing
and I can't keep it from showing.
Okay. I know its weeks past Thanksgiving now but I've been having some very Thanksgiving-ish thoughts lately and I'm thankful for those thankful thoughts, because I know its important to be thankful all year round. Right? Right. God is blessing me with these feelings of gratitude by revealing how blessed I truly, 'uly am.
Weekend before last I went with a group from several churches to a prison for a Christmas church service. I didn't do much. I stood in line with the other visitors and shook many, many hands belonging to the inmates. Some of these men looked worn out, others appeared to be the macho type, and others struck me to be the type that may have been business professionals in their past. Almost all seemed affected by our presence, the gospel message, and our very simple gift of shaking their hands and wishing them well. Realization #1 : I take my friends for granted. My home life and physical circumstances. I take my freedom to make my own decisions for granted and I had been taking my freedom in Christ for granted! I'm so thankful for my salvation. The excitement is re-awakened in my heart, of what it was exactly Christ did/does for me. Can't explain what I learned that weekend. And that's ok. Its something the Lord can work in your own heart.
This last weekend I was involved with a free photo shoot at the pregnancy center I've been learning and working at. We had 16 families represented so we had a fairly good turnout. Ok, in reality we couldn't have done any more than that. We had a really good turnout. Some of the clients are from broken homes, wives who are separated from their husbands for one reason or another and/or financially burdened homes. Realization # 2: I take my family for granted. I take for granted that they all are alive, well, and living in the same home with me. I think about these things sometimes, but its refreshing to be reminded yet again and let it motivate me to treat my family like I appreciate them (I fail in this area way too often) and to be truly thankful.
Realization Summerization: I take a lot for granted. Hit me over the head with that next time I complain, ok?
This last weekend I was involved with a free photo shoot at the pregnancy center I've been learning and working at. We had 16 families represented so we had a fairly good turnout. Ok, in reality we couldn't have done any more than that. We had a really good turnout. Some of the clients are from broken homes, wives who are separated from their husbands for one reason or another and/or financially burdened homes. Realization # 2: I take my family for granted. I take for granted that they all are alive, well, and living in the same home with me. I think about these things sometimes, but its refreshing to be reminded yet again and let it motivate me to treat my family like I appreciate them (I fail in this area way too often) and to be truly thankful.
Realization Summerization: I take a lot for granted. Hit me over the head with that next time I complain, ok?
lyrics: Brian Free and Assurance
This is an excerpt from an email I received this morning from a woman I admire with all my heart. These words blessed, challenged, and strengthened me."...Press in to what the Lord has for you, if it hurts, press in more, to Him. And 'duck under'. Duck under the authority that God has placed over you. When we press in and duck under, the lesson gets learned sooner, and the hurt fades away, and blessing comes as His glory shines through us. Love you, Aunt Faith"
"So don't live as those who have no hope, for all our hope is found in Him. We see the present clearly, but He sees the first and the last."
Last week I met and played with three great little boys for an evening. I met there mom in February while we were taking the Hospice volunteer training together. I loved her from the start and through some of the conversation we had during training I was led to give her a book that my mom had given me that was concerning autism, vaccines, and gluten-free dieting. (Yeah, they all have something to do with each-other. Read the book.) Two of her three boys (ages 4,5, and 8) had been diagnosed with Autism.To make a longer story shorter, she read the book and decided to try the gluten-free diet with her boys. Its a daunting thought when you realize how much of what we eat has gluten/wheat in it. She bravely took the plunge, taking all three of her little boys off of gluten and at least the youngest off of dairy as well.
3 months later, the youngest is now talking whereas he wasn't before (Its my understanding that
he wasn't talking at all, but I know that at least he says a lot more than he use to.) He makes eye contact and responded well to my instructions as his babysitter. I didn't meet him before, but according to his mom the diet has made a vast difference in this little boy's life. I'm truly praising the Lord for this! And if you can't tell, everything about how God has worked our friendship with this family, really excites me! I enjoyed my time with all three of the boys. We had fun together!God is making obvious opportunities for me and I am so content. I feel enriched by the people God has placed in my life. I still don't feel like I'm doing enough and I sure hope I don't miss the boat and ignore any promptings to be His representative to others. THANK YOU JESUS FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN MY LIFE! This post... no... this entire blog... is dedicated to you.
PS... Melissa, if you happen to ever read this, thanks to you and your boys for being such a blessing in my life.
In contrast to the last post, the following addresses what so many of us are in bondage to. This was convicting to me and revealing of just how many sins pride hides behind. Take the time to read it.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny. . .
because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment. . .
because you "deserve better than this."
I cheat you of knowledge. . .
because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing. . .because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness. . .
because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.
I cheat you of vision. . .
because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship. . .
because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love. . .
because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven. . .
because you refuse to wash another's feet in earth.
I cheat you of God's glory. . .
because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. Untrue.
I'm looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry. . .
If you stick with me you'll never know.
||from a book by Beth Moore||HT: Emily
A peek inside my journal....
"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:13&14
These verses almost never cease to put a peace in my heart. When life seems so complicated and doctrines and issues are overwhelming, the Lord graciously reminds me, that it is humans who complicate life and the "law".
If I put my focus on serving, how much time would I have left to wonder how the law should be carried out in every detail? No doubt its necessary to attempt to discern these things. But where is my emphasize in life? If I was busy lovingly serving others, would the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place?
photo credit
This quote speaks to exactly the areas in my heart that God has been working on. By the moment I have choices to make concerning my attitudes toward life in general. I can wallow over the past, complain about the present, and wish I was somewhere else, doing something else, or even that I was someone else. Or I could praise the Lord for bringing me through the trials, acknowledge how they've provided wisdom to live in the present, reach out to others that are experiencing similar trials, and have true faith in the God whom I've given my future to hold."We used to think that one of the unalienable rights of man was that he should be able to plan both his professional and his private life. That is a thing of the past. The force of circumstances has brought us into a situation where we have to give up being 'anxious about tomorrow'. But it makes all the difference in the world whether we accept this willingly and in faith, or under continual restraint. For most people, the compulsory abandonment of planning for the future means that they are forced back into living for the moment, irresponsibly, frivolously, or resignedly; some few dream longingly of better times to come, and try to forget the present. We find both these courses equally impossible, and there remains for us only the very narrow way, often extremely difficult to find, of living every day as if it were our last, and yet living in faith and responsibility as though there were to be a great future.... It is not easy to be brave and keep that spirit alive, but it is imperative."
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