If We Make It Through December ...

"If we make it through December

Everything will be alright I know.

If we make it through December

we'll be fine." *

 

 

That song by Merle Haggard came out during one of our hardest years as a family in the mid 1970's.  My husband had just lost his job in Beaumont, TX and we were struggling to pay the bills and feed our five children.  Between the two of us we were delivering four paper routes ... I took the two routes in town and Dave drove the two in the rural areas.  It was the end of summer and we were coming up on the holidays and birthdays, and this song played over and over during those long nights throwing papers.  We'd meet back at the house just as daylight was peeking over the pine trees and we'd have about an hour before getting the kids up, dressed, fed and off to school.  During that hour I would almost always dissolve into tears of desperation ... and Dave would without fail turn my tears into giggles with his rendition of Merle Haggard's, "If we make it through December."  It became our theme song that year (I know ... not very spiritual .. but it fit!) 

 

Getting through Christmas and starting a new year became our goal ... we were holding onto the hope and promise that God would sustain us and provide for our needs.  We knew in our hearts that God was our source but this was the first time we really had to stand firm in our faith, looking neither to the left nor the right, and expect a miracle.   Within a few months Dave was working again.  We had much to celebrate that Christmas season and a brand new year dawned with renewed faith, restored hope and a strength of purpose that would see us through many more "December" moments.  We relied heavily on the Christian heritage our parents had passed on to us and learned to draw close to God in the storm.  We were just beginning to learn that God wanted us to live a life of victory ... not that we would not face battles ... but that we would come through them victoriously.  We had to make the choice to live close to God and let Him change our life. 

 

You may be facing a December moment in your life right now.  Perhaps a financial crisis similar to ours, or it may be a failing relationship,  a dreaded diagnosis, or some other desperate situation.  During these times, does it feel that God is unreachable?  Too far away to touch?  He's as close as the mention of His name.  Revelation 22:4 tells us that God's children will bear His name on their foreheads ... the prophet Isaiah tells us we will bear the name of God in our hearts and in the very fiber of our being. 

 

What is His name?   His name is whatever you are in need of at any given moment.

 

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. 

Is there anything too hard for Me?"

Jeremiah 32:27



 

There have been many other times since 1977 that we've had to hum that song under our breath and remember what God has done for us in the past.  We remind ourselves and each other that God's promises are true .. His grace is sufficient .. His mercy unfailing.   

 

"Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed,

for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you

 with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

 

Soon, your testimony will be in the mouths of others ...

 

"We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you." 

(Genesis 26:28a)

 

 

*Song, "If We Make It Through December," written by Merle Haggard

 







Come To The Table ...

I was watching a movie titled, "Stolen Summer" the other night and there was a scene in which a little boy was caught stealing the communion elements.  When asked by the priest why he wanted them, the little boy explained:

"I have a friend who needs a piece of Jesus."

 

That statement took my breath away.  So many times I've found myself in a place where I've desperately needed a piece of Jesus. 

 

I grew up in a church where we were served the Lord's Supper on the first Sunday every month.  Other churches served it every week .. some every day.  As a child I never really understood the power of what we call "communion."  I always thought it was just a time to remember the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us and to be thankful.  And it is ....

 

               .... but it's so much more.

 

As we calm ourselves, meditate on God's great love for us, and step into His presence ... we find healing, peace, direction ... answers to our needs.  I've been in the Lord's presence many times ... but never as close as when I'm in a time of communion.

 

Over the years we have taken The Lord's Supper as a family.  Many times to strengthen relationships among ourselves, renewing our faith and commitment as a Christian family.  Other times when we found ourselves in a time of great need...

 

                                   ...times when we needed a piece of Jesus.

 

As I watched the movie, I was remembering the last time my sisters and I shared communion together.  A few months ago, our sister, Annette, had been battling a terminal illness for several years and, as we gathered around her bedside in the ICU of Dallas' Baylor Hospital, she needed a piece of Jesus.  We all did.  As we shared communion with her that day, we were surrounded by His presence, a cloud of peace and assurance that whatever form her miracle came in, it would be alright.  A few short weeks later Annette slipped away in her sleep.  Our hearts were broken but the peace that surrounded us during our special time of communion continues to carry us through the grief process.  There have been other times when I have simply needed to lay at His feet .. soak in His presence .. and be reminded of His unfailing grace and mercy. 

 

The communion table is always set.  It may not be in a church with the traditional sacraments.  It doesn't have to be.  We've used iced tea and Ritz crackers. We can come to the Table at any time, with whatever is on hand.  I've come to the Communion table at church, in hospitals, at home with my family, and alone in my prayer closet.  I've come when I wanted a special time of worship ... and in times of desperate need.  And each time I've found healing, peace, comfort, direction. 

 

Do you have a need?   Whatever it is ... you can come to the Table.  It's set and ready. Come boldly.  Come hungry.  Come expecting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Tis the Season ...

"To everything there is a season

and a time to every
purpose under Heaven." 
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

My family & close friends know I can celebrate Christmas year round and I struggle to contain my enthusiasm at least until school starts in the Fall.  My favorite season of the year.  But what about the other seasons?

Each year the holiday season of November and December is filled with excitement .. special times with our friends and loved ones .. our attention focused on counting our blessings and remembering the "Reason For the Season" as we worship the King of Kings.  We write out pages of New Year's resolutions with renewed determination to make this the year we lose weight, stop smoking, get a better job.   Then, as the cold winter months give way to Spring, the earth begins to awaken and the cycle of life begins once more.  This is the season when we turn our attention to the sacrifice and resurrection of our Savior.  Our spirits are lifted ... purpose and passion renewed.  And before we know it .... 

 

it's July.

 

It's hot.  It's dry.  Fields are turning brown under the unrelenting heat of the sun.  Wild fires rage through sections of the world leaving in their wake heartache, death, destruction.

 

What season is this?

 

Too often, regardless of the date on the calendar, we can find our spirits languishing in a season of drought.  Where are those "Showers of Blessing" we used to sing about?  We sang about being a "tree planted by the water."   Does it feel like the stream has dried up?  

 

I've been in that place.  There have been times when I felt like my spirit had turned to dust and was blowing away in the harsh winds of circumstance.  I had no tears left ... no words ... no prayers left to pray.  It was at that moment that I heard it ... that still, small voice.

 

"...the times of refreshing shall come

from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19)

 

A time of refreshing ... in the presence of the Lord.  In His presence.  Where is that place ... in His presence?  I've learned that, as Christians, the presence of the Lord resides within us but so often we allow the pressures of life and circumstances to shut it off.  Our spirit becomes dry and barren ... a wasteland.  When this happens, I'm learning to calm myself ... breathe His name ... and instantly I'm in His presence.

 

And I am restored ... renewed ... refreshed.

 

The page on the calendar says July.  This is the season to practice the presence of the Lord.  The season to rest in the knowledge that His mercies and grace are sufficient and new every morning.  The season to have our spirits refreshed, our strength renewed, and our joy restored.

 

In His presence, we can live our lives with purpose and joy!

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 











It's Not In The Well

There's an old country song that bemoans the fact that the singer has been "looking for love in all the wrong places."   I'm not particularly a fan of that song but I hear it from time to time and the last time it came on the radio it got me to wondering what else we could be looking for in the wrong places.  How many times have we looked to others for validation ... searched for solace and comfort in a bottle ... looked in the mirror to measure our self-worth?   Where do we go when we're looking for some much-needed peace and relief from the turmoil or consequences of our own or someone else's bad choices?

In the Bible we read the familiar story of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a water well.  She had come to draw water ... where else would you look if you needed water in those days?   But Jesus knew she was longing for something more ... and He had just what she needed. (John 4:6-30)

But it wasn't in the well!

I've learned that many times the most obvious place is the "wrong place."   Multiple relationships won't fill the need for love.  Praise and acknowledgement, although nice to have, aren't what we need for a healthy self-esteem.  Plenty of money in the bank only gives a false sense of security ... it could all disappear in the blink of an eye.   Shopping, gambling, collecting (a.k.a. hoarding), eating, drinking, surrounding ourselves with "things" or people ... in excess ... are all some of the "wrong places" we can find ourselves looking for what God is holding out to us as a free gift.  I'm learning to look to Him first ... and when I do, I save myself so much heartache, disappointment and distress. 

What are the needs in your life today?   I  don't want to keep running like so many do in search of what I think will quench the thirst of my heart  ... only to die by the well having never tasted the life-giving water that renews my mind, refreshes my soul and strengthens my spirit. 

Just like that day in Samaria, Jesus is still sitting by the well with everything we need to go out and live our lives with purpose and joy!   
      What we're looking for is not in the well!

Hello, my name is ...

The other day as I was driving through town a song came on the radio.  It began with these words,

"Hello, my name is Regret ... Hello, my name is Defeat." As I listened to the song, I thought of all the labels we pick up through the years.  Some we wear proudly.

Christian

loving spouse

homemaker

breadwinner

soccer mom

teacher

successful

energetic

 

Others, not so much ...

 

addict   

divorced

overweight

over the hill

failure

invisible

depressed

 

 

 

Some of these labels we have affixed to ourselves.  Others have been pinned on us by those we love, those we work with, those who think they know us, or maybe don't know us at all.   We don't like some of these labels and yet ...
 

                                                         we still wear them.

 

In my office, I would often hand my client a package of these labels and have them write on them all the words they would use to describe themselves as well as the words others had used for them.   Most of them would be covered with sticky "My Name Is" labels by the time they were through.  I even had one precious young lady ask for a second package of labels.  She had them on her arms, her neck, her face and in her hair when she finished.  I led her to a mirror and had her look at herself and asked her if she really wanted to be known by all of those "names."   She could barely see for all the labels covering her beautiful face.  Some of the words already beginning to run as her tears flowed. 

  

I gave her a few minutes then asked her to begin removing the labels she no longer wanted to wear.  In a few minutes she only had two or three labels she had decided to keep.  I handed her one more label and asked her to write on it one word she thought God would use to describe her.  It only took a minute for her to write out the word "princess."   Yes!  This young woman had begun to realize that as a child of the King she was definitely royalty.  

 

What are some of the labels you're wearing?

Who put them there ... you or someone else?

Are there labels that you're tired of wearing?

 

We each have the power to choose the labels we want to be known by.  Don't let someone else define who you are.  We don't have to be known by our birthdate or the number on our bathroom scales.  We don't have to become simply the sum of our missteps or bad choices.   

 

Sometimes, even the good labels can become burdensome if we're wearing too many ... or the wrong ones.  Is your family missing you because you're involved in too many community or church activities?   Are you coaching soccer practice when you'd rather be teaching piano?  

Why not take a few minutes and examine the labels that have been assigned to you ... and start peeling off the ones you no longer want to wear.  Some come off easily ... others may leave a sticky residue or little pieces that have to be scraped off with some effort.  But we are free to choose the labels we will be known by. And in the end ... the only labels that really matter are the ones applied by our Maker ...

Redeemed ... Forgiven ... Worthy ... Precious ... Loved

We have the power to become everything God created us to be .. to fulfill our destiny ... and live our lives with purpose and joy!
 





  I've been saved

I've been changed

I have been set free!

Amazing Grace is the song I sing.
Hello, my name is Child of the One True King!

 



Click here to listen to the song, "Hello, My Name Is" by Matthew West.

When He Spoke Her Name ....

Another Resurrection Day has come and is nearly gone.  Like Christmas, Easter is an occasion that I hope Christians celebrate in their hearts every day.  But I must confess that often I'm guilty of referring to these precious, holy days as "the holidays."   I'm sure congregants in churches all over the world today were reminded of the details of the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord.  Our wonderful pastor shared a message of hope, joy, and purpose as the gifts we were afforded by what happened in Jerusalem that week so long ago.  As he described the scene at the tomb that morning of the third day, with the women coming to anoint the body of Jesus, I tried to imagine just what that must have really been like.   The women were in shock to find the massive stone rolled away from the entrance to the grave and, when they ran inside to look ... He was gone!

 

Stumbling back outside in shock and grief, they came across a man.  Mistaking Him for the caretaker they asked what had happened to Jesus.   They were standing right in front of their Messiah ... face to face with their risen Lord.  Mary looked Him right in the eyes and begged Him to tell her where they had taken Jesus.  She stared into His face and didn't know who He was.

 

But when He spoke her name ....

 

What must that moment have been like for her?  We know she knew instantly who He was ... fell at His feet in worship.  To have Him speak my name.  My name.  My own name on the lips of my Savior.   And then it dawned on me.

He speaks my name!

 

He stands at the right hand of the Father, constantly interceding for us all .... bringing us to the attention of Jehovah God ... and calling each one of us by name.   My name ... and yours ... is on His lips day and night, never ending.  My name ... spoken with amazing love and tenderness by the One who paid all my debts and covered my shortcomings with His blood.   I am awed and humbled as I find myself weeping in worship at His feet.  And for those who have not met this man called Jesus ... He speaks your name as well.  Calling you to find the peace, joy and hope that comes with being a child of the Most High God.   Mary looked right into the face of God and did not know who He was.

 

But when He spoke her name ...



 

 



 





Are There Holes In Your Socks?

Having been blessed with rather large, wide feet, I usually wear black nondescript shoes and try to keep everyone's attention focused on my hair and face. But I am a sock lover ... and I tend to wear them until they fall apart.   Such was the case not too long ago when I found myself at a social gathering where, during a team exercise, we were instructed to remove our shoes.
                             Oh dear ...

I was wearing my favorite socks.  The black ones with little pink hearts and tiny pink roses.

 The ones I'd had for nearly three years and

were completely threadbare with a hole in the

heel of one of them.  

At that moment, it didn't matter that I was actually wearing new shoes that were pretty cute.  I had to take them off and reveal to everyone in the room that there were holes in my socks.  Holes they would not otherwise have known were there.  Although the intent of this exercise was mainly for fun and breaking the ice with newcomers to the group, I came away with an awareness that there are many people who are hiding holes in their "socks."

Holes of loneliness ...  turmoil ... anxiety.
Holes of family problems ... financial worries ... illness.
Holes of addiction.

We can hide the holes in our socks with attractive, good shoes.  Being a loving parent, a good employee, a helper. "What can I do for you?"  How can I show you how good I am?

Like wearing a mask .. we hide the pain, the shame, the despair.  It's safer if no one sees the real me.   After all, Christians aren't supposed to have questions or fears .. doubts.   Are we?  Over the years I've learned that isolating and pretending to myself, to the world, and to God that everything is fine just wears me down until my soul .. like my socks .. is threadbare and in need of repair.  I've learned that it's OK to confide in a trusted friend or counselor. It's OK to be REAL.  I've learned to run to the Father with my fears, my failures, my heartbreak ... and in His presence I find the healing and peace that my soul so longs for.

  You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence

and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm 16:11



We can put on our running shoes and run the 10K ... maybe even win the race.  But at the end of the day when we take off those shoes ... the holes in our socks are still there.  What holes are you covering up today?  Is it time to get real ...

 with yourself ...

          with others ...

                  with God? 



                  Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,

for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.

Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk,

for I lift up my inner self to You.

Psalm 143:8

 

Take the Superbowl Challenge

 

 

Superbowl Sunday .. February 3, 2013.  

Superbowl fans look forward to this day all year long.  The game.  The parties.  The food.   

 

The commercials.

I have to admit that I'm not a football fan so all the hype and hoopla surrounding the Superbowl are pretty much lost on me.  But having faced some difficult situations in recent days, I found myself in need of a trip to the locker room for a pep talk.  Sometimes we need the Coach to remind us of what He knows we can do.  We have the training, the skills .. the equipment .. everything we need to get out there and defeat the challenger.

We are the home team!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even when we find ourselves at the bottom of the

heap -- or fumble and drop the ball at some point -- we're reminded that the victory is ours. "How we thank God for all of this for it is He who makes us victorious through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (I Corinthians 15:57 NLT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't intend to let the enemy steal what I already have in my posession.

 

Peace

Purpose

Joy

 

 

 

 

 

I'm going to put my head down and keep on running.  I want the prize.  I want that Superbowl ring and, yes,  I want to go to Disneyland!

 

So ... I've got my armor on ... my helmet securely fastened . and my game face on.  Will you take the Superbowl Challenge?  I'm ready to take back everything the challenger has tried to take away from me and run all the way to victory.  Let's get out there and do this! I'm looking forward to doing my Victory Dance!  How about you?

 

I may not be a football fan, but I'll always be a fan of my grandson, Koltyn Morel, #23 on the Inola High School Varsity team. 



The Place With No Name

I'll say of the Lord He is my Shield,

my Strength,

my Fortress,

Deliverer,

My Shelter,

Strong Tower,

MY EVER PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF NEED.

 

 

There is a place with no name.  I've been there many times ... and you probably have too.  Oh, we've called it many things.

 

The fire.

The pit.

The valley.

Between a rock and a hard place.

Hell on earth.

 

Each of these names describes our experience at the time but what do we call that place where we can do nothing but lift our eyes to the only One Who can possibly save us?  That place where we can't even put into words our desperate prayer ...

                                                                       we have no words left. 

 

Countless hours and precious energy spent weeping, pacing, praying, worrying, and many times finding ourselves fighting back total and complete panic because we can find no way through an absolutely impossible situation.  Then ... at the very moment we sink into complete despair, we remember that we are not alone ... and the flame of hope that had flickered weakly and we thought had nearly gone out forever suddenly bursts into full blaze, shining the light of Truth into our heart and spirit. 

 

The Truth that God has promised a way of escape from every situation.

The Truth that He will deliver us from the snare of the enemy.

The Truth that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

That it is this Truth that will make us free!  *

 



There is no name for this place ... but it is a precious place.  A place filled with hope.  A place filled with promise. A place of healing and restoration.  A place filled with grace. 

 

Yes ... I have been to this place with no name many times.  And each time I find myself there I come away with a few more scars ... but I come away with renewed strength ... renewed purpose ... and renewed assurance that God is walking before me, making the crooked path straight, and dispelling the shadows with His light of Truth, Mercy, and Grace!

* 1 Corinthians 10:13
   Psalm 91:3
   Isaiah 54:17
   John 8:32

 

 

 

 

 

 



God's New Year's Resolutions



"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD.

"They are plans for good and not for disaster,

to give you a future and a hope."

               Jeremiah 29:11

So, I'm wondering this first day of 2013 how many are really putting pen to paper and writing out a list of New Year's resolutions.  You know what I mean ... that list of unrealistic and often unattainable goals that will make us feel guilty, less than, and defeated when we don't see some measure of success by the middle of February (often way before then).   Possibly some of the younger set who have not been discouraged by the tales of older resolution makers are sitting at their computers or using their Smart Phones, Ipads or whatever the writing tool of the day is, and working on their To Do lists for this coming year.

I, on the other hand, am old enough to fall into the category of those who just don't make that list anymore because my journals,  Bibles, and dresser drawers are filled with 50+ years of unfulfilled New Year's resolutions. 

It's time to try something different.

 

I want to discover what God's plan is for my life this year.  What a concept! God said, "I know the plans I have for you.  A plan for good and not evil." (Jeremiah 29:11)  God already has a plan!

 

So why am I spending every New Year's Day writing out my own plan?

 

I've spent this first morning of 2013 thinking about the plans I know God has for me this year:

 

He's planned for my success.

He's planned for my health and wellness.

He's planned for all of my needs to be met in Christ.

He's planned for Goodness and Mercy to follow me ALL the days of this year

 and the years yet to come.

He's planned to lead and guide me in every decision I face.

He's planned to be with me in sunshine and sorrow .. for the sorrows will surely come.

 

Now this is a list I can live with!  How about you?  Let me encourage you to make your own list of what you know God has planned for you.  If you need help get out your Bible and start reading through, picking out the promises God has made through the ages ... they are still in effect today.  I know you'll be on your computer so Google Promises of God and see what comes up.  Better yet ... spend some time in His presence and let Him tell you Himself all the wonderful things He has in store for you.  God's resolutions are never in danger of not being fulfilled ... He keeps His promises!

 

I'm wishing you all a very happy and blessed New Year ... filled with all God's best for you and your families.  Now ... I'm going back to work on my list. 

 

There are many more "resolutions" on God's list for us!



 







What's In a Name Anyway? (The Innkeeper's Story)

We've all read the Christmas story as it's written in the gospels.  We get four different perspectives from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  But ... have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear the story from the innkeeper's perspective?   Or .... better yet .... from his wife?   Well I have.  Loving to take literary license I sometimes write in things that don't belong in a particular time period or setting so keep that in mind as you read my rendition of how the innkeeper's wife might have told her story about what happened at their place the night Jesus was born.

After calling several of her friends excitedly to tell her news and getting nothing but answering machines, she's pretty excited to finally reach a live person and I picture the conversation as going something like this:

"Oh dear, now I don't remember why I called.  Oh yes!  I wanted to tell you about all the excitement around here last night.  Just wait til you hear!  The most amazing thing happened!  Well .. as you know, all the inns around here have been filled up for days because of everyone having to come back and register for that new tax law.  Yesterday, we were closing up early because we had just rented out our last room for the evening when this couple came in looking for a place to stay. Well, Samuel told them we were full but the man said his wife was about to give birth and they'd already been turned away everywhere else.  So Samuel told them they could stay in the stable if they wanted.  But you know me, I made sure a bill was made out and put in the drawer .... and I charged them full rate too!  But that's not what I called to tell you.

Sometime after we'd all gone to bed and had been asleep for a while, I awoke with this incredibly bright light shining in my face.  The shutters were closed but this light was so intense, it shone right through them!  I woke Samuel and we went out to see what it was. What's that? 

Of course he was scared!

 

But I had him by the tail of his nightshirt and he didn't have any choice but to come along.  Anyway, when we got outside, the whole sky was ablaze -- by this time we could hear singing and music.  It was the most incredible thing I'd ever seen!  This bright light was shining right over the stable and, when we got up closer, we could see that the sky was filled with .... Dorcas, are you sitting down?  The sky was filled with angels! 

 

No ... I had not been drinking!!  Do you want to hear the rest of my story?  Now .. where was I?  The angels!  They were singing the most beautiful music.  I couldn't help but think how wonderful some of those songs would sound in the synagogue --- you know, kind of break the monotony of singing the same old songs, Sabbath after Sabbath.  Although, old Sister Fishburne probably couldn't get the chords right on that harp of hers.  I don't know why they continue to let her keep plunking away on that old thing when Grace's daughter can play so beautifully.  Alright, alright .... I was getting to that.

 

We could hardly get inside for all the camels and donkeys and goats, and what have you.  It looked like an entire caravan had stopped right outside our stable doors.  Actually, now that I think of it ... that's exactly what happened.  A caravan from somewhere back east with three wise men, or kings, or whatever they were.  You could tell just by what they left outside they were filthy rich.  I mean it!  Those camels had finer dresses than anything I've got in my closet!

 

Anyway, I finally got through and got a good look at them.  One of them was just kind of ordinary, nose-in-the-air type, and one was short and dumpy.  He couldn't hear very well either and I'm not sure he really knew any more about what was going on than I did.  But, Honey, when that tall one turned around and looked right at me, I nearly swooned.  That man had some eyes ... let me tell you ... he had some eyes.  If he had raised one eyebrow, I'd have had everything I own packed and thrown across his camel in a flash!"  (Can't you just see her fanning herself?)

 

"Oh right ... like you wouldn't!  Just let me tell my story.

 

Remember that couple I told you had stopped by and Samuel had let them stay in the stable?  Well, the woman had had the baby sometime during the night ... a little boy.  It turns out everyone had come to see the baby!  Wise men, angels, even the shepherds had come down off the hills --- and they brought the sheep with them ... of course!  You should see my lawn!  Let me tell you .. I was taking names!  Everyone of those sheep farmers is going to get a bill from my groundskeeper!  What a mess!

 

Oh, and speaking of a mess.  We're out there trying to get everybody out of there and trying to get all of the animals calmed back down when here comes the news media!  And me still in my nightgown and curlers, with cold cream all over my face!  I'm telling you it was a madhouse! 

 

Angels and helicopters everywhere. 

 

And on the ground it was even worse.  Reporters running around pushing microphones up in everyone's face ... camels tripping over cords.   I thought they'd never get out of there.  This place looks like we just closed down a three-ring circus!

 

Yes .. everything's quiet now.  I went and had a look for myself at that new baby.  I guess he's cute enough but he didn't look so special to me.  Kind of scrawny really.  My Jonathan, now that was a pretty baby. 

But .... there was something different about his eyes.



He seemed to look me right in the face.  I know newborns don't really see very well but this baby looked right into my eyes and ... I don't know .... I just felt kind of weird...

like he knew who I was and everything about me.

 

Yes, Samuel's really excited about the whole thing.  He said one of those guys from the east told him that the birth of this child had been foretold centuries ago and that a special star had guided them to our stable  They said this little baby was supposed to be a great king or something like that.  He's already called the folks on the west coast about movie rights or some crazy thing.  You know Samuel .. anything to make a shekel!  He's out there now tearing down that shed.  Thinks he's going to make a killing at the market selling pieces of the manger that kid was born in.  I mean, really Dorcas .... a hundred years from now what difference is it going to make?

What did they name him?  Well, I think they named him Jesus.  No ... I've never heard that name before either.  Oh well ... what's in a name anyway?

Jesus ... Jesus ... Jesus

there's just something about that Name.

Master ... Savior .... Jesus

like the fragrance after the rain.

Jesus ... Jesus ... Jesus

let all Heaven and Earth proclaim

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away

but there's something about that Name.

 (Bill & Gloria Gaither)

There's Just Something About That Name

The Grinch has struck again ...

... but Christmas is still the most wonderful time of the year!

 

When I was a child I loved this story and my kids and now their kids love watching this Christmas special each year about the people of Whoville whose Christmas trappings, trees, gifts and food were stolen by the Grinch who hated Christmas.  He was so sure he would stop Christmas from coming once and for all ....

 

 but it came just the same.        

 

I've seen the Grinch already this year.  Our family has been hit hard with nearly unbearable loss .... we've had deaths, heartbreak, financial setbacks ... all just as the holiday season begins to unfold once again.  Everywhere I turn I see the sooty footprints the Grinch has left as he crept through our lives stealing our happiness and peace of mind. 

 

At least ... that's what he thought he was doing.   But he's in for a surprise.  

 

Yesterday I wept as I placed flowers on the fresh grave of my younger sister, Annette.  Then turned and placed flowers on the graves of my mother and aunt who will be celebrating their second Christmas in the presence of the King this year.  Last night I received word of two more totally unexpected deaths in our extended family.  Today I spent time with my precious dad who could barely stay awake and couldn't talk to me.  More tears.   And yet..  the song is still there.





Shhhh...

Do you hear what I hear?

 

I hear music .. children practicing for their school & church Christmas pageants.  I hear laughter as they make their Christmas lists and color pictures of angels and wise men on camels.  I hear the tinkling bells of the Salvation Army volunteers collecting donations for the less fortunate in our area ... so I pull out a couple of bills to put in the kettle.

And the smile on my face finds its way to my heart. 

 

So much has been stolen from my family at the beginning of this Christmas season and yet we still have each other, steadfast friends and a deep, abiding faith in the true meaning of Christmas ... God's love personified in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 

 

Yes, the Grinch has struck ... but my heart is still full of Christmas.  I've determined not to let the Grinch steal the joy .. the good will .. the song in my heart that comes with knowing that Christmas is more than lights, presents and long lines at the department store.  It's celebrating my personal relationship with the Saviour ... the Giver of Life ... the everlasting Prince of Peace.  

 

The tears may come again tomorrow but my heart will still sing

 

Joy to the World ... the Lord has come!



Another Empty Chair

This will be my second holiday season since the deaths of my mother and aunt in a car accident, and I was not expecting to have yet another empty chair at our Thanksgiving table this year.  Just when I was beginning to settle into my new "normal" without them ... my sister, Annette, slipped away in her sleep a few days ago.  Wait!  We were supposed to be old ladies together ... and I'm the big sister ... I always go first. 

Not this time.

Through my tears and initial shock I'm left wondering how can I give thanks today?  But it doesn't take long for that list to form in my mind.

57 years of being the older sister and bossing her around
countless wonderful childhood memories 
a lifelong friend who prayed with and for me during life's ups and downs
a brother-in-love and nieces and nephews who have made my life richer

                         .... and the list goes on.

Is there an empty chair at your table today?  It may not be for a loved one who is no longer with us but possibly a dream that has faded ... a relationship that has been broken ... a financial hardship that seems impossible.  There are many things that could ruin this day of giving thanks for the many blessings God has poured out on us ... if we give them that power. 

The choice is ours.

I have decided to dry my tears ... I know there will be many more in the days to come ... hold my husband, children and grandchildren a little bit tighter, thanking God for every day I have them in my life, and spend the day being thankful for God's goodness, mercy and grace that is new and fresh every day.

Would I call Annette back because I miss her so terribly?   No .... she's dancing down the streets of Heaven ... pain free, healed and whole.  Instead, I will remember the blessing she was to all of those who knew and loved her.

Instead of focusing on the empty chair ... I'll turn my attention to the overflowing cup of grace that now sits on my table.

Goodbye Anne ... we'll see you again soon.

A Time For Giving ...

As the weather begins to cool and we catch a hint of relief from the summer's unsympathetic heat, in our mind's eye we can catch a glimpse of football games, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows over a roaring fire, and snuggling into a warm new sweatshirt.

For those of us here in the south those days aren't quite here yet but, every now and then, when the breeze blows just a certain way, we can feel it -- it's in the air -- Autumn!  And, as the air gets chillier and the mornings brisker, we find ourselves looking forward to the comforting fragrances of cinnamon, fresh apples, cloves, and other wonderful scents that begin stirring up a sense of holiday excitement that has lain dormant for seven or eight months.

But...
              not everyone.   

There are those in our communities who, although they may welcome the cooler temperatures, are dreading the approaching fall and winter months because there are not enough blankets for tucking the kids in bed on cold nights, not enough money to pay the rising heating bills, and last year's jackets no  longer fit.  There's no anticipation of delicious fragrances and thoughts of the upcoming holidays fill their hearts with despair.  As the cooler temperatures arrive and the Holiday season approaches, the needs of many low income families will become even greater.

• blankets
• warm clothing and coats
• holiday foods
• Christmas gifts for their children

Can God use you to touch one family this winter?  Is there a blanket or afghan packed away somewhere that you rarely use?  Has someone in your household outgrown a sweater or jacket this year?  Many families living in and around our communities will be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas in very sad circumstances.  What better time for us to share with them the love of our Savior?

Requests are already coming in to local food banks and shelters for blankets, coats, and food.

I hope you will join me in reaching out to those who are facing a long cold winter and bring your gifts to local churches and outreach ministries. 

Is there someone near you whom you can bless with a friendly visit, a small gift, or a home-cooked meal at any time, but especially the holidays?  What an awesome way to live our lives with Purpose and Joy!

Autumn .. a Time of Renewal.

Autumn is my favorite time of year.  And yet, it's actually the season of slowing down, sloughing off, and yes ... even death.   How could anything like that be so beautiful?  The vibrant reds, yellows and oranges of the leaves just before they fall to the ground and die. 
The gorgeous, sleek horses romp and play in the crisp air even as they begin to grow their shaggy overcoats to keep them warm when the north winds begin to blow. Slowly the sweet songs of the birds begin to die out as they head for warmer climates.  The butterflies in the fields disappear.   The prairies of wildflowers are turning brown .. mourning the deaths of the morning glories, bluebonnets, and buttercups.  And yet...there's a hint of excitement in the air. 
                                      Where did that come from?
               
Since the beginning of time, the seasons have come and gone. (Ecc. 3:3)  The earth knows that new life is only lying dormant for a time and then will return with renewed glory and vigor.  The bare trees stand proud and tall, knowing this is only a season of renewal.  The birds and butterflies disappear to warmer climates ... for a time of refreshing ... they know they will return bringing new life with them in the Spring.   Wild flowers that once spread their beauty across the fields have dropped their seeds, to lie in their deep earthy graves ... awaiting the day they will spring forth in a blaze of color.   As I gaze out at the fall beauty around me, I hear that still small Voice within whispering, "Consider the lilies of the field.."  (Luke 12:27-28)  Hmmm...

These seasons of renewal are not only for the earth ... they're for me

...  and for you.  

The beauty of this approaching Fall season is prompting me to reflect on things in my life that need renewing. I need a time of refreshing. There are areas of my heart and spirit that have lain dormant (did they die?) for a time.  But as I turn my eyes toward the Giver of Life I can feel my spirit leap to attention.  My hope and faith are renewed.  I can look at things differently ... disappointments are still there but now I can put them behind me and move forward with the promise of better things on the horizon.  Grief and loss are being replaced with hope and expectation. 

What do you need renewed in your life today?  What difference would it make if you focused your attention on the promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you?  (Heb 13:5) That surely Goodness and Mercy will follow you ALL the days of your life and your soul will be restored?  (Psalm 23)   

The root of the word "refreshing" means to "cool by blowing" with the potential for change and renewal ... the place where we can experience the very breath of God, ".... a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19-21)  

The cooler temperatures haven't reached our part of Texas yet ... but they're on the way.  However, after spending some much needed quiet time in His presence, some soul-searching and yes, some repenting, I'm enjoying my time of refreshing and renewal ... and ready to continue living life with purpose and joy!

Now That It's Monday ...

Ethan, Emily & Trevor

We've eaten platesful of ham, chicken, or barbecue with sides of beans, potato salad, rolls and all kinds of decadent desserts.  We've taken pictures of the kids dressed up in their new clothes, scraped the last red jelly bean out of the carpet and, hopefully, found the last hidden hard-boiled Easter egg (winking at Linda).  Those who only attend church on Easter and Christmas have nearly nine months before they have to dress up and go again.  The songs have been sung, crucifixion sermons have been preached, and there's not a chocolate Easter Bunny in all the land with it's ears still intact.  The Easter celebration is over for another year.

Now what?

I love Easter .. Resurrection Sunday.  The food, colored eggs, new clothes ... I love it all.  But for me it's a reminder that life is still good.  No matter what is happening in the world or in my own life, the message of the resurrection of Christ brings a renewed hope and expectation of things to come.  Spring is in the air ... new life all around us.

Cody & baby Carson

The trees are putting on leaves ... gardens are flourishing ... the smell of freshly mown grass is in the air.

Resurrection is everywhere!

Is there something in your life that needs to be resurrected?  An unfulfilled dream?  A relationship that has lost its passion?  The hope that things will ever get better?  I know there are areas in my own life that need to be resurrected.  As a Christian, I know that there is a divine plan for my life but, if I lose sight of my goals,  I'll find myself struggling to just get through another day.  I've learned that changing my focus from my probems (and we all have them) to the blessings in my life (we all have those too!) gives me renewed energy and motivation to get back up and start again. 

We all have strengths ... talents ...  purpose. 

Jacee, Jaden, Jacob & Garrett

Life goes on.  We each have the choice to move forward regardless of the obstacles in our way:

 disappointment

 health issues

       missed opportunities 

...or we can stay where we are - paralyzed in regret and resentment.  Where are you today?  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is our source of hope and expectation that there is nothing that cannot be resurrected and renewed.  

Reagan

Having turned 60 last summer, my biggest hurdle is the feeling that I'm "too old" to be of much use at this point in time.  That's not the truth ... but it can cast a pretty big shadow sometimes.  Whatever your hurdle is ... let's catch a new vision ... dream a new dream ... and allow God to breathe a breath of life into our renewed purpose.  I'm ready to go forth in JOY!

Precious Memories ....

Memories .....

                        they can evoke powerful emotions .... good and bad.   As a life coach, I often help people process through painful memories of their past.  But many times reliving the good memories can bring healing to the spirit.  My sisters and I experienced this over the weekend while visiting with our 82-yr-old dad who now lives in a nursing home.  Having suffered several debilitating strokes and then the sudden accidental death of our mother last year, Dad is often confused and has difficulty speaking coherently most of the time.  But we do get glimpses of "Daddy" from time to time and we know he's still in there.  Often we'll bring pictures or try to talk about the "good old days" hoping to jog his memory and stimulate his senses enough to keep him communicating and able to relate to his surroundings.  On this last visit we began talking about the days when he traveled and sang with the southern gospel quartet, The Virginia Travelers, and how later my sisters and I sang back-up for him when he did his solos. 

Left to Right - Mitch Brown (Dad), Glenn Currier, Dave Rose, Jim Cook, Paul Secord at the piano

As we began singing, his countenance brightened and he began to sing along with us.  The tears began to flow as we realized he was singing harmony and remembered the words of the songs he sang so many years ago.  We could see he was reliving those wonderful days.  Soon we had staff and visitors

standing outside the door of our private little room listening in on our "jam session" with Dad.  No one but us knew that this precious elderly man had once traveled extensively singing in great concert halls as well as many churches and camps spreading the Good News in song and Christian entertainment for many years.  His beautiful natural tenor voice made him a favorite and there were many requests for his solo features such as "Oh What A Savior," "I've Been To Calvary," and "Sweet Jesus."  His voice is now weak, cracked, and often hard to hear ... but I believe the angels in Heaven stopped their singing that day to listen once again to Mitch Brown sing "What a Day That Will Be."

Mitch Brown 2012                                                            Mitch Brown 1962

Thank you, Dad, for living your life with great purpose and joy!

Left to Right - Margie, Debbi, Dad, Lena, Annette