New Year's Resolution: No More Fries

I have a habit of not ordering French fries. They are not good for you for numerous reasons. However, I must admit that when my husband orders them, I taste them. One or two or several. I tell him I'm testing them to make sure they are not poisonous. Just trying to take care of the guy. Anyway, we've been doing this for years, so my husband is quite understanding of this habit of mine.

In spite of his generosity, I have decided to STOP testing his fries. I made this decision last night at Hardees. Although it is not my favorite place to eat, I do sometimes cave into going because I'm just too tired to fix anything or have run out of ideas.

David ordered a big burger special. He filled his cup with pop and went to a table while I ordered a plain hamburger and a hot tea. I waited for my hot tea and David returned to the counter to visit with another customer. I decided to go to the booth and wait. I sat down and thought, "Wow, David has his order already. That was quick."

So, I made my self comfortable and, of course, started testing the fries. It's what I do. As I ate one fry after another, the individual David was visiting with at the pop machine, came up to the table and stared at me. I had no idea who he was. David arrived at about the same time and pointed to a table nearby where he had already placed his own pop and napkins--our burgers and fries, as yet, undelivered.

Whoops.

Christmas Cards.... What to do with them....

Merry Christmas from our house to yours....

Due to email, facebook,
 technology,
the Christmas card--
like so many things--
may become a thing
of the past.

However, we all get a few of them,
and I have wondered over the years
what to do with them.

Greetings!

Family pictures were taken,
envelopes carefully addressed
and then slipped into the mailbox
with me in mind.



Thinking of you on a white Christmas....



I used to quickly read each, then
stash it in a Christmas basket.
It was a nice look during the season.
When removing the holiday decorations,
I would re-read each, study the pictures...

Wishing you happiness ....

...and then tape them together in a bundle
to be pulled out the following year
as reminders as to whom to send cards to.



Eventually, after several years,
they were lovingly tossed.

Can't Wait To See You At Christmas!

 Finishing my devotions, a new idea occurred.

Why not keep the cards at bedside year around?

I could pull one from the top of the stack

and include this family in my nightly prayers.

It would then go to the bottom with a new card

on top to be prayed

for the following evening.

With a card in hand,
I can pray
that these be
persistent in  faith,
that God will provide strength
 and grace to go on, and
that they may may experience
 joy in moments of frustration
and sorrow-- because we understand
the God of the universe
is there beside and with us--
and that is enough.

Christmas Joy!



Prayers for you

 and may your

CHRISTMAS JOYS

(and cards)

last all year long.

****************

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

For those of us who make New Year's resolutions, we have already started thinking about the list. In the past, I've had resolutions like-- eat more nutritionally, exercise regularly, commit to a daily Bible study, and forgive(ness) issues.

It has been said that we can not live effectively today unless we know what to do with our yesterdays. And if past behavior is a predictor of future behavior, we are not going to live very effectively tomorrow either unless we take care of those yesterdays.

We each have a unique life story that belongs only to us.

Get out your photo albums and compare....
Or, recall some things that don't fit in photo albums..
And you will know that, yes, your story is yours alone.

I believe that everything we have been entrusted with has meaning.
The difficult part is figuring out the meaning and, then, what
to do with it.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Thinking about your past, thinking about your future, and thinking about the LORD'S plans for you--not to harm you, to give you hope and a future--I believe that New Year's Resolution you make will become a reality.

A Savior Was Born

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and
lying in a manger. Luke 2:11-12

It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment that was like none other.  ...God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb. God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created. God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother. God had come near.  ...To think of Jesus in such a light is--well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn't it?  ...But don't do it. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him walk into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out. (as written by Max Lucado in Celebrating Christmas With Jesus)

...because Jesus came we have hope...

Merry Christmas

Martha, Who Me?

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...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...."  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 out a hymnal..  I'll play the piano 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.

Amen.

Tell Your Story

A little over 2000 years ago, a very pregnant Mary was riding a donkey on her way to Bethlehem--the city of David. Bethlehem was the place where God first's appointed earthly king was born and raised as a shepherd boy 1000 years before Mary took her journey.

Because Mary and Joseph were both of the lineage of David, they made this trip to take part in a census as was the law during the time.

We know the story: they ended up in a stable because there was no room in the inn. A stable with noisy and smelly animals. A stable where the Christ child was born. Can you imagine Mary's thoughts? Gabriel had told her she would give birth to a son, that his name would be Jesus. He would be called the Son of the Most High; his kingdom would never end. Talk about over-whelming. And, here she was under the stars pondering all this.

Listen to the song, "Mary Did You Know"... just google it. It will help you understand the magnitude of all this: Jesus' birth!

2000 years later, here we are. It's our story, too, because we are all of the family of Christ.

Some stories are told. Some stories are told through other people's stories. Some stories are left untold. Tell your story. Tell what it means to believe in Christmas.

The Wise Old Owl...

While taking out recyclables early one morning, I heard hoot-hoot. Since ancient times, the owl has been considered wise. Science, however, has discovered that compared to other bird brains, its brain is relatively small.

I'm wondering if the owl wasn't considered wise, because his eyes focused on what was ahead of him at all times, and because of his focus, he really didn't have a lot to say.

I start out morning devotions with, May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my Rock and Redeemer. Even though I say this meditation from Psalm 19:14, I often slip and even though my mind and heart say "stop!"--my mouth keeps running.

I don't really want to be a bird brain,
but it seems I could learn something from the owl:
....say less, listen more.

 

        
      
This morning, I happened upon Ecclesiastes 5:1-2... Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

When Will It Stop?...

Another report on mass shootings, this time in San Bernardino, CA. When will it all stop? Or, how much worse can it get? I recently read Ben Franklin's words in his 1787 Speech to the Convention for Forming a Constitution for the United States in Philadelphia.

I'll let you determine how it may apply.

In the beginning of the contest with Britain when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers for our Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered.... And have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived for a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without his concurring aid, we shall proceed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.

In spite of all that is going on here on Earth, we need to remember Romans 8:39--For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

 

....and

Unless the LORD builds a house,

its builders labor over it in vain;

unless the LORD watches over a city,

the watchman stays alert in vain.

Psalm 127:1