Christmas Hope

The Old Testament prophesies*:  

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, one of you will come for me , one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are of old, from ancient times.  Micah 5:2

. . . *a prophecy 
is a prediction,
 a foretelling, 
a divine forecast.


The New Testament confirms the prophecy. . . 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David. . .   He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger . . .  Luke 2

Mary, did you know?

Have you heard Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene's lyrics
"Mary Did You Know?" . . .
{If you have a chance, listen to this on utube.} 

One can not help but be touched by this song.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?

. . . calm a storm with his hand?

. . . has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

. . . This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

This sleeping child Mary held would be a leader, a prophet, a lawgiver, a deliverer, a teacher, a priest, an anointed one, a mediator, a human and an intermediary between God and man. . . and Our Savior.

He is All this.

And, because He is ALL this,

we have hope.

And, when we have hope,

each day is new.

Your Christmas celebration
 may be past,
or you may be
putting the house in order,
baking goodies,
and wrapping gifts. . .

. . . in the midst of it all . . .

Considered the season of the "Good News,"

 when it is all done and over. . .

for some of us, there's a let down. . .
a feeling of what-now?

There are no extra cars in the driveway.

The front entry way is missing fourteen extra pairs of shoes.

We prepared and prepared and now it's passed.

Passed?
Many have this feeling after December 25th.
But actually, it has not passed.
It is just a beginning for Jesus, the babe of Bethlehem.

He was made like us (a baby) so that he might deliver us.  
He became man to save man. 

(His genealogy is given in Luke and goes back to Adam, "son of God.")

He was God manifest in the flesh.  Although becoming a "man," he was born holy.

{from "What the Bible is All About" by Dr. Henrietta C. Mears}

Our homes may seem empty....

Our hearts are not. . . "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come"

 I leave you contented because of God's promises.

May you always have hope and dwell on the Good News.

In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. . .John 1:1

Merry Christmas. . 
   from our house to yours.



                                                 Next blog:  January 5

Christmas and Martha

Martha?

God used the story of Mary and Martha from the book of Luke to explain how we should relationship with Our Savior.  You may remember that Martha was the busy-body in their household--concerned about preparations for many arriving guests.

Mary, on the other hand, sat contently at Jesus' feet.  I remember hearing this story in Sunday School  as a child and thinking that perhaps Mary was lazy and even irresponsible--not helping her sister, as needed.

But, of course, the story is bigger than this

 because 
Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus.  

Jesus tells Martha, "Martha, Martha, 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?  Who, me?

I do not consider myself anxious or impatient.  Others may disagree.  However, I am typically the energy-bunny in the house whether our house is full or empty.  And, I know, I need to learn to settle.  I have discovered that some of my most creative moments, the times I have felt filled with praise for an awesome creation, the times I have felt connected to another soul, have come when I have been still.  

So, this morning I determined to start out differently.

1) I opened the window and let the December air rush in as the stars twinkled through bare tree branches.  Pulling the covers up to my chin, I breathed in fresh, winter air--and rested. 

2) I used the Christmas dishes to eat my ordinary breakfast of oatmeal. 

3) I decided not to watch the clock when I did my daily Bible study and finished reading Mark.

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.  Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them. . .

Mark 16: 19-20

3) Later in the morning, I went to our wellness center and stopped to talk to a friend.  Stopped--and talked.  More than the Hi, how are you today? in passing.  Later, I swam my laps and decided not to count them.  Instead, I pondered my blessings.

 4) While picking up in the afternoon, I pulled a hymnal given as a confirmation gift from the bookshelf.  Finding the Christmas hymn section, I opened it and placed it on the piano.  I'll play the piano tomorrow when my  husband is playing pool with his buddies.

God wants us to be busy.

He also wants us to rest, 

be content, and trust 

so we do not miss out 

on what He is trying to 
convey to us.

I encourage you, especially during Christmas when there is so much to do and the preparations are many, to just STOP whenever you can and connect with someone with more than a Hi, how are you?  STOP and enjoy the lights on your tree when everyone else is asleep.  STOP and watch the snowflakes drift to the earth.  STOP and clear your head of the clutter . . . 

God wants your heart, your mind, your soul.

That's why he came.

  
 Dear Lord, When I feel hurried, 

Amen.

give me peace.  
When I am frustrated, 
give me perspective.  
When I am too busy 
being busy, remind me 
of your presence 
and why you came.  

 ***

 I can not help but comment on the situation in Connecticut.
It sickens me and I can not stop thinking of the incredible sadness enveloping so many because of this.  Pray without ceasing came to my mind.  

I leave you with Romans 8: 18, 19. . . 

     For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*** 

Christmas Cookies

Stored in the cellar in various, marked containers, the cookies waited to be assembled.  The family arrived--aunts and uncles and cousins to Grandpa and Grandma's house.  The traditional Christmas feast of turkey, ham, several salads, a variety of vegetables, a relish tray and rolls with butter was enjoyed. Although stuffed, the meal was not complete until several aunts disappeared into the basement to pull together an assortment of cookies and candies that was a delight just to look at--a collection of sweets that Grandma Stauffer had diligently and lovingly prepared in the weeks preceding the holidays.  

When individual families returned to their own homes, 

each made sure a left-over cookie container was in their possession 

with their favorites nestled inside.  

Early in our marriage, I tried to emulate Grandma Stauffer's Christmas-cookie skills in our own home, but they were never as pretty or tasty.

Was it the ingredients?  

Did I rush through the forming and shaping?  

Should I not let the children frost with creative flair?

Grandma Stauffer is no longer with us, but the cookie tradition is and will be.  Christmas is not Christmas without the cookie tray--which means a good variety--at our house.  Over the years, my skills have improved, and my children even make comments of "Ohhhh, Mom."

Me, digging in:  Cookie Season

The kitchen resembling a disaster area.

 It doesn't help that I try to wrap gifts, decorate, you name it, at the same time.
 Perhaps multi-tasking doesn't mix well with Christmas cooking-making.






There is also a problem in our household, in that I live with the "cookie bear."  Cookies seem to disappear as I make them.  Over the years, I have had to locate various hiding places so that cookies are still available on Christmas Day.  I have also realized it is best to make/bake the cookies when the cookie bear is busy elsewhere.  

Cookie Bear cleaning up the back yard?

Other things I have learned:

1) It is more fun to make cookies when one has help.

2) The "whoops" cookies can be stored in a container for the cookie bear so that when he gets the urge, it can be satisfied.

3) Grandchildren are best at assembling the cookie tray....

Today, after making/baking a dozen different cookies and candies, I know that when my children and grandchildren walk in the door with "Merry Christmas," the next question will be, "Where are the cookies?"

Cookie Bear:  Just sampling?

In the midst of Christmas preparation--

whether you are wrapping gifts, making cookies, 

or decorating the tree, 

let us all remember to open our hearts to God's abiding presence--

the reason for the season.  

Let the joy of the angels of Christmas become our joy,

let the devotion of the shepherds' become our devotion,

 let the vision of the wise men become our vision,

 and may the wonder of God's love be born in us.

Rouse up from sleep...He is coming; He is coming indeed.

Christmas News Letter, 1985

Creative Christmas Letter, 1985, from friends

The Christmas "newsletter" has had its critics; however, it is a means of getting the family news out to those we don't routinely connect with and sending warm holiday greetings at the same time.




Feeling ambitious, I emptied our front-entryway buffet so that I could refinish it before the holidays.  I discovered Christmas newsletters written in 1985.  Re-reading them 25+ years later, I was reminded how unpredictable life is and how, without God's grace, we would be hopeless.  

Let me share--

We'll call this-

 From the Past

Letter 1

Holiday greetings from our home to yours!  As I watch the month race by, I realize this is the only way I reach most of you. . .  There's a special twinkle in our Christmas lights this year as we anticipate the arrival of our "new team member," hopefully no later than December 31.  (We would like a tax deduction.)  . . . Shannon is ten, in the fifth grade, and caught up in friends, the telephone, and enjoys singing in the choir at church.  Casey, seven, is in second grade and still manages to delight the rest of us with her indelible wisdom of life. . . "

Epilogue:  Signed The Wilsons, Shannon is in her middle thirties, Casey is in her early thirties.  Their "tax deduction" for that year, a new brother is in his mid twenties.  The writer of the letter, their mother, is a grandmother and alone.  Shannon's, Casey's, and little brother's dad died of cancer.

Letter 2 

 Dear Family and Friends, Merry Christmas!

We think of you always but especially this time of year we wish we were closer so we could share a little bit of Christmas love with you. . . It's been a lonely year without John at home.  The Navy has stationed him in the Mediterranean. . . I stay busy with nursing school, studying and the children.  I'll graduate in June and then we will celebrate. . . 

Epilogue:  Signed, Love the Harrises, Jan and John divorced, and Jan eventually married another.  Her new love drowned in the Mississippi River while fishing.  Jan worked as a nurse, re-married, and now struggles with MS in her retirement years.

Letter 3

Seasons greetings to all.  1985 has been a fun and exciting year.  The highlight of the year was our trip this past summer to Alaska. . .  It was an experience, camping and traveling so intensely, with a five year old and a two year old. . . JB started kindergarten this fall and has loved it.  Jeff, our two year old, is constantly moving, wanting to play "hike," and only looking like an angel when asleep.

Epilogue:  Signed The Hansons, Ann and Brad eventually built their own home in Alaska and live there six months of the year.  Their two year old is a forever toddler in heaven.  They had another son.  The Hansons are grandparents of an adorable little girl and expecting another.  

 Letter 4

It's hard to believe that Christmas is close on our heels and that 1985 is coming to an end.  Our life has been pleasantly uneventful . . . Shauney, our twelve year old dog, is still active.  We've lost two guinea pigs, two dwarf frogs, and three fish to the great animal heaven in the sky . . .

Epilogue:  Ginny was my college roommate.  We were forever friends.  However, I have no idea where she is and how she has been.  I loved her sense of humor and her candidness in every situation. 

Letter 5

At Christmas as always, we pray that God will guide you, guard you, bless you.  This year we are definitely not dreaming of a white Christmas.  Winter set in early, and we have had white ground covering since November 8th.  The adverse weather presented a lot of harvesting problems. . .  No doubt you have heard of the National Farm Crisis Rally held in Ames last February.  Nearly 20,000 attended, and it gave farm and agricultural people a feeling of a common bond.  We were fortunate to be a part of it. . .

Epilogue:  Signed "Mom and Dad," and "Come see us when you can,". . . Mom died of a rare cancer several years ago.  Dad is content in an assistive living facility and will always be a farmer at heart.

Letter 6

. . . and the short notes, "From our house to yours" with a precious picture of a little boy holding his new baby brother.

Brad with new brother, Chris

Epilogue:  Little boys that are now grown men (and with another brother added to the family).  Grown men with wives and children of their own.

Our family Christmas card, 1985

A lot has happened.

Much has changed.

 ... moving to the country, the teen-age years, a total of 16+ years of college, finding jobs, planning weddings, adjusting to in-laws and being one, grandchildren, welcoming retirement . ...

Someone said, "The only thing we can be sure of is change."

However, the ONE thing we can be sure of is God and His grace.

During this season remember that we come from God and we return to God.  Counting each day as a blessing and remembering that we are the hands and feet of God can bring us joy.

Life unpredictable?

Perhaps so.

The Old Testament, however, became predictable when the prophets fore-told the birth of Jesus.

Therefore the Lord himself

will give you a sign:

the virgin will be with child

and will give birth to a son

and will call him

Immanuel.

Because of this promise, 
we can sing, 
"Joy to the World."