Badly Influenced

Oh, my son!  My son.  My heart is breaking over him this night.  Not even a year ago, he was the apple of my eye – I was more proud of him than at any other time in his life.  He swore before his country, his family and his God that he was going off to serve in the Marines.  His grades had been steadily improving, his health better, he was student of the month.  Enter the girl.

His walking rebellion, this woman is exactly opposite everything he has ever been taught or formerly stood for in his life.  She is anti-military (although pro-welfare as she and her entire family suck the government DRY with a continuing gimme-gimme attitude), vegan to the point of refusing anything with honey in it (which “prostitutes bees” in her world), openly discusses her illegal drug habit, uses “F**” as an adjective, noun, and verb at every opportunity and the worst of all, she is anti-religion.

Let me correct that.  She doesn’t seem to be against religions in a broad sense, just has a seething hatred of Christianity.  She posts Facebook pictures saying the pope is without a penis and that Jesus reincarnated himself as Hitler to get revenge on the Jews. 

There was something about her I disliked the first time I met her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  Perhaps that she dripped off my son, oozing herself over him in every intimate way possible?  I tried to find something inside of her to like even as I couldn’t understand why Steven did.  At six-four, he is built like a model: sturdy chin, good-looking, muscular and romantic.  She is “short and stout,” and in bad need of a shower and deep dental cleaning.  It was not just her body, but her spirit that smelled foul.

Slowly, I watched his decent.  His rising grades plunged back to mediocrity.  He stopped going to church.  Then, he waited until his dad was at work and slunk into her parent’s house.  Next, he abandoned his promising future and refused to report to duty when it was time to enter the Marines.  It was like he found anything honorable in his life, crushed it into the ground and spat upon on it, with her cheering him on.

Because the only contributing member of her very large family decided not to show up to their job one day and was fired, Steven worked around the clock doing manual labor and turned over his paychecks to keep the lights on.  Even he could not keep them afloat despite longer and longer hours.  When SHE was contemplating dropping out of high school so he could continue supporting her, he woke up momentarily.  They separated.  I quietly rejoiced!

I tried to be compassionate and acknowledged that even while I was glad for this break, his heart was hurting.  Making a clean start, leaving a bad habit is HARD!!  Even if everyone in your family is supporting you, cheering you on, it’s tough.  I tried not to let on that I was doing the happy dance.  He moved in with his brother and talked about going back to school.  Two months of hope ensued where I dared to dream he would find a path back to his potential, again.

Over Christmas, she heard he was visiting my father in Ohio and hitched a ride down, conveniently being left without any way back.  Rude, manipulative little --!!!  No one was happy with it and everyone got all over his back.  Like an addict in denial, he reassured us all he was not reconnecting with what we see as the biggest mistake of his life.

And yet yesterday without telling his brother goodbye, he boarded a bus at 4am to go back to her. 

It kills me to see such a promising young man throwing his life away with both hands!  So I am sleepless in the night wrestling with myself – is this the Proverbs 26:11 situation “As a dog returns to his vomit, so a man returns to his folly.”  Or is this the same sticky situation the Pharisees got into in Matthew 9 when they questioned why Jesus hung around with so-called sinners and He answered them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.  But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Except Steven isn’t in that bedroom tonight evangelizing her, know what I’m sayin’??  ARG!!! 

I want to love her, I do.  I am praying, praying, PRAYING for the both of them!  But she is so prickly!  So nasty!  I want to say, “Hello!!  Earth to Steven!  Do you not remember how you were raised??  What about Colossians 3, “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.  Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.”

Right now, the “anger of God” feels similar to the “wrath of the Mama”! 

But I won’t win either of them over with vinegar and spite.  Trust me, I have a Facebook message or EIGHT that I’d like to write to her, right now!!  Instead, I wrote only, “What have you done?”

So do I find a way to love them or knock their heads with a 2x4?!  Which would feel AWESOME to me right now, but not heal their hearts. 

Oh Lord, my God!  See my distress!  Reach out to my son and this woman.  Pull them back into you…hurry before they destroy themselves…And the tears tumble and I head back to bed with an heavy heart.  Oh God who loves my son more than I ever could, please help him find a way back to you.  Help me to see her through your eyes!

~~~~~
Pondering Points

Proverbs 1:8-9

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck.
Proverbs 5:1-7
My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding; That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey And smoother than oil is her speech; But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol. She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it. Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Romans 5:6-10
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

Packages and Patience

Why do my children never get up as early as I do on Christmas?  Ever??  Here it is 4:30 in the morning and I’ve brought all the presents out from their hiding places, I’ve moved the furniture so everyone can have a great eye-view of the tree, I put out the stockings stuffed beyond recognition, I’ve arranged and rearranged the presents…aaaaaaaaaaand nothing.  Still not up.  Ok, it is a little early.  But I’m So EXCITED!!!

It starts on Black Friday.  Well, it starts that day because I am already wondering how I’m going to save up for next Christmas.  All year long I plan and scheme and scrimp and use supernatural amounts of self-control.  I sock as much as I can in a special savings account to which I have not internet nor ATM access.  If I want to touch it, I have to physically go up to the bank and ask them to remove it.  Even on purpose, it’s painful.

Knowing how many kids I have to buy for (Six!  Plus now my son-in-law, my granddaughter, always my sister and her family, then the stockings and for each other, *whew!*), I don’t rest easy until my monetary goal is reached.  Through the years, things have happened that attack that account and even though they seem important – roof fell in, window smashed, daughter’s wedding – it has horrified me to rend money from the Christmas account.  Completely rattles me!  And I work like a madman at whatever extra odd job I can find until my goal is reached, again.

Near the end of November, I hunt through the ads and plan and scheme and circle and calculate.  And ok, yes it’s slightly anal, but I actually keep a spreadsheet on every purchase and can get all the kids within 5 dollars of each other.  Then, that DAY.  That wonderful, fun, glorious, exhilarating DAY that I go shopping!  In about a six-hour period, I can blow through a thousand dollars.  And it feels FABULOUS!  Because I know I am getting twice what could normally be afforded.  And I didn’t charge it!!  That day’s shopping is my own reward after working months and months.

Because my set budget is so strict, I know I MUST do a good job!  I can’t tell you how I thrill at finding an ad for a toy or gadget or article of clothing in later weeks and obnoxiously point out, “Look!  Their sale price is $34.99 and I paid just $25 the day after Thanksgiving!!”  hahahahaha  (evil, world-reigning type of laughter)

Then I spend literally HOURS wrapping, choosing just the right color ribbon for the package, creating designs and accents, making serious folds and creases as I go.  This year I included my 4-year-old in the process. Each one was a craft project, I would tell her. We’d look at the item and talk about how much the recipient was going to like it, about what a great deal I’d gotten on it (never too early to train a savvy shopper!), and then choose the color paper and ribbon.  Finally, we would admire our work and lay our hands on the package and pray for that person.   It became my favorite part of readying myself for Christmas.

Now I look at the tree dancing in the dark with its sea of presents beneath and I think, “Get up! Get up! Get up!!!” I have been preparing for this day for over a YEAR!

The Christmas season is a crescendo building with cookies and caroling and candles.  We’ve seen plays and heard music and laughed at a chorus of lambs getting too sleepy to endure scratchy woolen ears any longer.  We’ve made special foods and seen relatives we haven’t in months and prayed and worshiped and wrapped and sang and planned and COME ON!!!  GET UP GET UP GET UP!!!!!

I don’t know how God handled the anticipation.  Expecting a baby is such a joyous, wonderful time!  It’s also a queasy, swollen, scary, painful experience – but it’s all with great purpose and meaning!  Of COURSE He had to be God to be patient enough to let his only Son take almost ten long months to be born.  In an animal stall, no less!  Crazy, the details.

He planned for all eternity that it would happen and just waits for us to discover it.  How exciting!

Come on, WAKE UP!

~~~~~
Pondering Points
Galations 4:4-5
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Christmas Memory

I am cheating.  I wrote this 4 years ago when Kaydee was a little thing.  Now my granddaughter is the baby and coming to visit me tonight.  Can't wait!  I thought I would post this for your enjoyment.  It's an oldie, but a goodie.  Merry Christmas, everyone!

Loading clothes into the dryer, I suddenly heard Katherine screaming like the world was coming to an end.  As I raced like a madwoman up the stairs, my first thought was, “Someone broke into the house to take the presents and now they’re stealing the baby!” With screams so ardent, I expected to find her fallen on the floor, at least.

Safe where I left her, I picked her up and found a clean, dry diaper. I bundled her in a blanket and held her close, but she didn’t ask to nurse. I rocked her by the light of the Christmas tree and whispered, “Mommy’s here. Mama’s here, Kaydee,” and she fell back to sleep within a minute.

I kept rocking, thinking of all the things I had left to do this Christmas Eve. I had already stripped, washed and re-made five beds, today – and pillows!  I had finished wrapping and adding ribbons to presents for eight people. I had dressed up myself and the baby and had attended two Christmas Eve services, racing from one to the next on terrible roads in snowy, blowy weather. It was very, very late, but I had so much left to accomplish.  Still, at this moment, I wanted nothing more than to gaze at cherub cheeks and pointy chin, perfect pouty lips and button nose. I wanted to hum “Away in a Manger” and inhale baby hair.

The Christmas lights twinkled. My to-do list beckoned. I ignored them, all. I wanted time to enjoy this tiny warm body that needed her Mama. I wanted my arms to surround this little creature that cried with world-ending passion not because of her busy schedule or the economy or that she didn’t get her way – but because she needed her mother and her mother was elsewhere.

I noticed the clock - 12:04. “Merry Christmas!” I thought. I wonder if Mary had a lot of things she needed to get done, but wanted only to hold baby Jesus. Maybe, did she look at those curved pink ears, nuzzle that downy head and wonder, “Father God… WHAT THE HECK??” That first-time Mom had to be so overwhelmed by everything! I thought to myself, “I get to be a first-time Mom all over, again. Did Mary hold her little baby like I and cry out, ‘God, I have no idea what You’re up to! I didn’t even expect this pregnancy! What do You have in mind for my life – and this little child? How can we affect Your world? Teach me how I can serve Your plan for me.”

I put Kaydee back down in bed and she didn’t make a peep. I almost wished she would so I could pick her back up, again. Sleep in heavenly peace, my love. Sleep in heavenly peace.

Pondering Points

Luke 2:16-19 ¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart

Quiet, please

I have been profoundly affected by gun violence.  On a personal, immediate, forever level have I been changed.  Warped.  But my life wasn’t altered in a hail of bullets.  It took only one.  Several followed, but that first was all it took.  And I have never been the same.

So I feel that makes me uniquely qualified to comment on all the gun control/gun rights arguments that are circulating this week.  Here is my profound statement:

SHUT THE *-------* UP!!!!!!!

JUST. SHUT. UP!

Zip yer pie hole!  Stuff it!  Come here and let me smack ya!  Whatever euphemism you’d prefer to insert here, DO SO!

Are you crazy???  Now is NOT the time to push your politics, no matter what they are!  These families, this community, we as a nation are in mourning!  They haven’t even buried everyone, yet, for Pete's sake! 

It is hard enough for these families to go get a gallon of milk and the store screams, “It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year…” at them and it grates against their very being.  And then they have every single show, Facebook feed, tweet and radio commentary using their lost family member to push that minute’s agenda.

It is time to be quiet!  It is the time to hold each other and learn to breathe, again.  Breathe – not inhale in order to out-shout the next person.  Take a chill pill, take the high road, take a timeout; do whatever it is you need to do in order to STOP TALKING!!! 

Turn off the media, turn off your Facebook, turn off the phone.  You’re not ever, ever going to control “the other side” or that post-happy person.  Nope.  You can only control what you do.  You don’t have to play defense.  You don’t have to play at all.

Don’t let either side use you as a mouthpiece to shout!  Would you like to be riding in the back of the limo on the way to the cemetery and see the streets lined with people shaking placards at you declaring “FOR” this and “STOP” that?  No.  But isn’t that what is happening, in a sense?

Be still.  Stop wanting to know the intimate details and every late-breaking bit.  They only report it because they think you want to know.  Does it really enhance your life or change any of the facts or save one single soul because you’ve pried hard enough into the case?  It doesn’t.  And ultimately it hurts those families trying desperately to bind their wounds.

So stop.  Please!  Give relief to your spirit.  Come back to Advent.  Prepare yourself for Christ at Christmas.  Leave the screamers to themselves.  Let the story go still so we can lay these children and their teachers to rest with respect and honor.

Praise God.

~~~~~
Pondering Points
Ecclesiastes 3:1- 5
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones together,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Proverbs 25:20

Like vinegar on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.  Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood, sorrow gnaws at the human heart.

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 23:1-4

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

Matthew 5:4

[Jesus said,] “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Luke 2:16-18

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

 

Christmas and Crying

I didn’t want to get up.  Fought it for over an hour.  Lying there, holding Kaydee tight, absolutely did NOT want to get up.  Because I didn’t want to write about sadness and mourning and parents that have to unwrap Christmas presents themselves and take them back to the store.  Didn’t want to picture them having walked through the worst day of their lives to numbly stumble through the door and have that stupid TREE be there, front and center, mocking them.  Happiness in the middle of a bloody nightmare.  What about the Christmas chain?  Just made about a week ago, we wrote the days inside each, then glued together with little hands who so eagerly ripped off one day at a time as a countdown to Christmas; keep it?  Crumple it, rip it to shreds, throw it away?  Or tear off one each day as though they were here because Christmas is coming, whether we can stand it or not?

The images wouldn’t stop.  I tried to shut my eyes against them and force them out, snuggle my own little love bug safe in my arms and go back to sleep.  All I could see were parents and grandparents empty.  Holding each other tight, crying until they were dry, then crying some more.  Other homes scarred with holes punched in walls, still reeling from screams of disbelief and curses bouncing from every corner.  And yet the tinsel gleams, the packages wait, the neighbor’s lights outside blink-blink-blink incessantly.

“Oh, Lord!” I cry.  “My God!” and every ragged breath is a prayer.  So much grief, so much pain!  “Carry them through this time – the parents, the grandparents and oh no!  The children of the teachers slain!  Yes, their children…and those big sisters and little brothers, siblings of that class...”  The petitions tumble like a dam broken from my heart, crash upon the black and rise to heaven.  The sadness doesn’t ease, but I feel heard.  There is a relief in being listened-to. 

Tim Jahn, pastor and dear friend wrote, “This shooting makes me think of Matthew's Christmas account, which rather than songs of joy, includes these words from Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more." If we dare to sing with joy this Christmas, we do it knowing the dark, violent times into which Jesus was willing to be born for us, and we do it even as we mourn with those whose lives are turned dark in our own time.”

It hurts like a betrayal.  Like a mean, hot, red, angry hurt!  And yet Christmas is all in the middle of it?!  How can that be??  It just doesn’t make sense!

No, it doesn’t.  Nor will it.

And yet I truly believe with every bit in me, the crying parts, the ugly parts, the hopeful parts – everything! – that there is JOY.  What??  Do not mistake me.  There is no happiness here.  But there is joy.  Because God did not for one second abandon those babies.  WE are reeling!  WE are stunned and afraid and sobbing without respite.  But you know the angels did not delay.  They took up those children and comforted them and they got to meet Jesus today!  The person whose love makes their parents’ pale in comparison.  THEY are having their best Christmas EVER!

They are living out the hope we have.  They are experiencing the truth about love, about Jesus, about Christmastime!

The realization makes me want to shout it, “They are ok!  In fact, they are wonderful!”  

And THAT is joy.

~~~~~
Pondering Points

Isaiah 51:11

The ransomed of the Lord will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

Isaiah 51:3

The LORD will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD.  Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

Matt 11:28-30

[Jesus said] “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Romans 8:35-39

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
     No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Revelation 7:15-17

Therefore, “They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.  Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Bad Girl

I did a naughty thing.  And ooooo, it’s bad!  I am torn between convicting myself I have done a sinful thing and being proud!  Well, it was rather passive-aggressive, I guess; that’s not good. 

I had been sitting way too long in a defective, gaping hospital gown the last time I was at my OB-GYN’s office.  I had put off this dreaded appointment for more than two years and now that I’d worked up the courage to finally go in, they were making me wait more than a half-hour in the cold, perched on an awful papered table. 

Out of boredom, I broke the no-cell-phone rule and was having a light text conversation with my daughter.  Finally, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I wrote, “If they keep me sitting here in this ugly thing any longer, I’m going to vandalize the office!”

Her response was quick: LOL – do it!!

I was so afraid I’d get caught!  My heart was beating madly in my chest, but listening hard, I could hear the doctor was still with another patient.  I jumped down from the table and untacked an 8 ½ x 11 flyer of a mom holding an ultrasound picture in front of her very full belly that read, “Protect Your Baby Before He is Born.  Get Vaccinated Against Flu and Pertussis.”  Hands shaking, I folded it and stuffed it into my purse, then scrambled up to the table.  Afraid of the gaping hole it left, I climbed back down and rearranged some of the papers on the board so it wouldn’t be too obvious, then hiked myself up again, breathing wildly from the excitement. 

Awwww, I am in trouble!  Secretively giggling and hands shaking, I text my daughter back – “I did it!  Tell you about it, later! HAHA”

Remembering it in the dark of night, I am arguing with myself.  WWJD hits me square in the nose and I sass back, “Well, I could have maybe added a thought bubble above the ultrasound that read, ‘No, Mama!  The FDA and CDC never intended for vaccines to be administered to fetuses!  They have never conducted fetal testing; in fact, that is what they’re doing now – on us!  Just last year, the number of spontaneous abortions [miscarriages and stillbirths] jumped up in moms who got flu shots but had otherwise healthy pregnancies.  Please don’t!’”

That’s me all over – just one big jumble of controversy.  LOL  I suppose it was better that I just stuffed it in my pocket and didn’t start a firestorm. 

The doctor came in and while talking to me, glanced at the board.  I could see her thinking, “That looks different; what’s missing?”  Then she looked back at sweet-little-smiling-pastor’s-wife-me and instantly dismissed the thought that I would remove anything off the sacred cork.  Nah, must have been her last client.  HAHA  Oh, I’m sure the drug reps that brought the flyer gave her plenty more to replace it.  Mary...!  haha

So, now I struggle.  Did I sin?  This was surely against the 7^th commandment of “Do not steal” or maybe the 10^th of “Do not covet they neighbor’s belongings.”  My original intention was mischief, but what if I am morally opposed to prenatal human experimentation?  Would that be covered under WWJD?  At least under Walden for its civil disobedience?  Something??

If I am trying so hard to rationalize it away, maybe I should stop being a coward, take my trophy and mail it back to the doctor saying, “I did this and here’s why.”

Well, because I like it there and I don’t want to be dismissed as a patient.  Plus, I know opposing this makes me the David among the Goliaths.  Some even think I’m nuts!  Then there’s the issue of their being able to trust me.  Screwed that up.

Ok, but Jesus stormed right into the Temple and TOTALLY messed with their heads!  He definitely made no friends, people thought he was crazy, he wasn’t trusted by many, they eventually crucified him…but he was right.

So much of the things I say and what I stand for are dismissed by others simply based on the fact that I am a Bible-believing Christian.  Why not be bold??  Not just on this issue, but many things!  As long as I am continually searching my heart to know if my intentions are in line with God’s will, should I not keep trying to make a difference in my world, even if it’s not popular?  Hmmm…

~~~~~
Pondering Points and PS
(P.S. I purposefully brought in verses on being right, being wrong, judging and seeking God.  It is all over the place, but so are my thoughts on what I did…)

Psalm 20:7-8

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Proverbs 3:5-8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

 

Romans 14:7-12

No one lives for himself alone. No one dies for himself alone. If we live, it is for the Lord. If we die, it is for the Lord. If we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  Christ died and lived again. This is why He is the Lord of the living and of the dead.  Why do you try to say your Christian brother is right or wrong? Why do you hate your Christian brother? We will all stand before God to be judged by Him.  The Holy Writings say, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me. And every tongue will say that I am God.”  Everyone of us will give an answer to God about himself.

James 1:5

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

1 Peter 2:15

For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Let's tell them our secret

“Well, I’m not a Christian, my husband is,” the voice from around the corner sounded haughty, yet guarded.  “I don’t know what all these primal rituals mean at Christmas!”

She went on chatting with her listener about all the things she had to get accomplished, the meaning of which was lost on her and the whole thing brought on great confusion.

My first reaction was a human one – instantly defensive of my heritage and traditions.  Secondly, it was prideful.  I wondered if the voice belonged to the dance mom that was the only one who forgot her daughter’s costume for rehearsal then yelled at her, saying it didn’t matter anyway, stop crying and go to class.  But my last reaction was more loving as I tried to understand.

I’ve been around Christians since about the time I could walk.  My mom became a believer as a young adult and I went along with her.  Eventually, it became MY faith, not just hers, but that was a years-long process of discovery.  Being a follower of Jesus is like learning a whole different culture.  It has its own dialect, routines, expectations, history, world-view.

I had taken several American Sign Language classes and considered myself knowledgeable in sign when I went to a church with a full-fledged interpreter.  I found I was completely lost!  There were so many church-related motions I didn’t know! 

Of course all the unique things we do at Christmas can feel like “primal rituals” to outsiders – they are adventuring into a foreign land.

I remember reading the true Christmas story with a dear friend of mine who was a new Christian.  She opened the Bible and told me about the “Maggie” from the east.  I said, “No, it’s “Magi,” like magic.”  She asked what that was.  I said, “You know – the three wise men.”  She had no idea!  If you’ve grown up your whole life celebrating Christmas with Santa, Rudolph and Ebenezer Scrooge but nothing religious, how would you know who the kings are?

We should be using this season to take the hand of the unbeliever and lead them into the rich history we have – the meanings and nuances of this beautiful time of year.  They already know that Christmas is FUN; they just may not know what it truly means for their lives.  Let’s let them in on the secret!

~~~~~
Pondering Points
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the very power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14-15
But the person who is not a Christian does not understand these words from the Holy Spirit. He thinks they are foolish. He cannot understand them because he does not have the Holy Spirit to help him understand. The full-grown Christian understands all things, and yet he is not understood.
Colossians 4:3-6
Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Matthew 16:24-27
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul?  For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward everyone according to what they have done.

 [Jesus said] “I leave my peace with you. I give my peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid.”

 

It's the end of the world and we know it

It is official – I have laser vision!  HAHA  I was driving home from church tonight, enjoying all the Christmas lights in the dark and realized, “Hey.  I can really SEE all the bulbs!  Like individually...  from the highway.  Hmmm.  That’s a little odd.”

Suddenly sharper eyesight with all my other dizzy symptoms of late slightly alarmed me.  So yes, finally, after days and days of putting it off, I will finally go see a medical doctor.  Promise.

NOT that it really matters because the Mayans said we would all be asteroid dust in a few weeks.  Right before Christmas – now that’s mean. 

Well, being silly over an ancient prophesy is one thing.  But what if something truly serious is going on in my brain and I suddenly have a closer expiration date?  Makes ya think.  Honestly, I am so happy living the life I have, there wouldn’t be much to fix.  I’d still do craft projects with and read stories to my girl.  I’d still love on my older kids and adore my granddaughter.  I’d continue to steal romantic moments with my husband at every opportunity.

I guess I would play piano little more, write a little more, eat MUCH more and pack for my trip to India!  Going on a mission trip to that land is something I am aching to do.  In fact, I have now saved $172.64 toward my goal.  I know – drop in the bucket.  But it’s all about the baby steps.  It makes it real to me.  I know that some way, whenever God says it’s time, I’m going to go.

It shouldn’t take having a scare with death to get us to dream.  We are created with so much potential that we’re the only ones limiting ourselves!  Why is it we are our biggest critics?  Think about all of the sports stars you admire, all the singers you love, each of Hollywood’s brightest that you’d rather be.  Now erase them in your mind.  Picture if only YOU were left in this world.  Guess what?  Christ would still give his life for you.  You are worth that much!  We are loved way beyond what we could ever imagine!!  We are valuable!

With a support system like that, we could conquer the world!  So what do you want to do with the rest of your life?

~~~~~
Pondering Points

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Psalm 39:4-7
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.  My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
John 14:27
[Jesus said] “I leave my peace with you. I give my peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid.”
Philippians 4:13
For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Colossians 3:1-3
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
James 4:13-17
Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.  Remember, anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.