Rest on the flight to Egypt

Ponder this picture by Luc-Oliver Merson...draw from it what you will

Easy!

Is life really that simple? If you're in trouble, pray! If you're happy, sing! Sounds just too easy. And don't I need to have some special prayer book or some special place to pray? Don't I need to have a special voice to sing?

Life can be simple when you serve God. Of course, if you pray when you're not in trouble, you'll have it down pat when you call for help; and there are other "frequent pray-er" benefits as well. Making a joyful noise unto our God is another wonderful tradition because God hears the music from our hearts, not from our mouths.

So, remember to pray every day (all day!) and always sing joyfully to the Lord, He loves to hear your voice!

Celebrate!

The most joyful news ever received by the people of this world: a Savior has been born--hope has been born! In a world that is often short on both joy and hope, it is good to remind ourselves that Christ came to bring us joy, hope and life eternal. It is the reason we celebrate His birth with such enthusiasm; we all were given the gifts of hope, joy and life. The gifts we give to one another are our way of sharing God's gifts to us--reminding one another of the goodness of our Saviour. Joy to the world!

Not so Silent Night

Courtesy of Asbo Jesus

Holiday Greeting

Politically Correct Greeting by Dave Burchett:

Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice but, with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all.

Holiday Greeting by Amanda:

Merry Christmas!

Protection

Bicycle helmets, football helmets, chest protectors, chin guards--we manage to protect almost every part of our physical bodies today. Why don't we protect our spirits as well?

Just as the protective gear used in sports keeps us from harm, so also the armor of God can protect our spirits and our souls as we play the game of life. The trick is to put on the protective armor without putting on a mask as well. We need to be in control of our lives without controlling others or being phony.

Don't hide the real you behind a mask but be sure to put on the protective armor of God's love and eternal hope. How you ask? Read and study God's Word until you are so familiar, you are entirely protected.

The Bible

I know I've been linking to other places and quoting several others lately...but when I run across a story or article that interests me, I want to pass it along. So today, another one! Adam Hamilton at "Seeing Gray" presents a good piece on the Bible...
http://adamhamilton.cor.org/2008/12/12/president-bush-evolution-and-the-bible/

You'll want to read the whole article but his description is this:
"The Bible is an amazing, challenging, beautiful, confusing, inspiring, upsetting and deeply true book that is not best described by simplistic statements"...as the kids would say, "True, that!"

What to get...

For those still searching for the perfect gift for those you love the most...take a listen, you might be surprised to know what they really want...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3C-PO8FmoY

(it says "sons" but counts for "daughters" too)

The Star

Amazing...to find Christmas in a "science fiction" short story. If you read the attached, bear in mind it was written over 50 years ago and also with this thought...Perhaps they realized their passing would light the way for others.

http://lucis.net/stuff/clarke/star_clarke.html

God's Creation

I look at these things, the stars, the ocean, all the things God has made…they are more splendid, perfect, beautiful and lasting than anything man can create or even conceive. It seems like when we were more aware of milky ways and horizons, it was easier to believe. Could Joan of Arc have led her army, could she even have thought to, could she have trusted enough, without having a sense of something greater, bigger than herself?

We have obliterated the stars with our artificial light – but perhaps we’ve blinded ourselves, too. Without the wonder, the greatness of the galaxies in our sight, we’ve lost the ability to believe in, or expect, miracles. When you cannot see the glory of God’s creation, how can you wish to glorify the Lord? No longer seeing anything greater than ourselves, we turn inward, we worship our own thoughts, our invention, our desire.

Taking it personally...

Every time you interact with someone, you have the choice to listen, acknowledge and then let the words go, or take them personally. Taking it personally means you see the persons words as some kind of slight and to do this, you have to hear their words in a negative light. Normally what others do and say doesn't have any bearing on you but is based on their own experiences, emotions and perceptions. Most times you will end up feeling hurt for no reason.

If this happens, put a little space between you and the speaker. Ask yourself if these words are reinforcing an insecurity within yourself or if you can really be sure that they intended to offend you. Also, put yourself in their shoes and remember that these are their opinions and are based on what's going on with them and may very well have nothing to do with you. You may just be an easy target for someone having a bad day.

When you realize that the words of others don't necessarily have anything to do with you, you will no longer feel it as an attack. While it's easy to take things personally and we're all guilty of doing it, you should never let anyone's perceptions affect how you see yourself. Your life is personal to you and it's up to you to influence your own sense of well being.

Thomas Merton

This year I was introduced to Thomas Merton...not physically (he died 40 years ago today) but through his book "The Seven Storey Mountain". I had heard the name and knew a few details of his life, mainly that he was a prolific writer and a Trappist monk at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky. But I had only seen the man as a "success" and knew nothing of his struggles with life and with his faith.

One of my favorite Merton quotes..."The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them."

When you have the opportunity, spend some time with his writings...

Happy just because...

Sometimes you've just gotta be happy. Even when things aren't going quite like you planned and life seems a bit rougher than usual, sometimes you've just gotta be happy! On those days when there's no particular reason to rejoice, just think of our great God and you will find a reason.

Check out 1 Chronicles 16:31-32...the seas, resounding and praising God; the fields, jubilant--and you can't help but be happy. If the very planet we are on can praise God, we can surely find some reason to be happy and thankful. And even if you can't find a reason, sometimes you just gotta be happy anyway!

Family Christmas Cards...

An interesting take on the new trend to send Christmas Cards with "YOUR"
picture on it...I believe he has a point!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97854252

Rejoice always...

Rain is pretty normal in the northwestern US. Sometimes they get tired of the gray skies and wet feet. It can be hard to rejoice when your whole world is shades of gray. Trying to think of rain as a gift from God or as a symbol of righteousness, helps a little. But for those who live in rainy climates, the sun just seems to make it easier to praise God; for desert dwellers, it's rain.

Wherever we may live and whatever may be going on in our lives, God always provides a way for us to rejoice and worship Him. For starters, we can rejoice in the knowledge that god is in control of the rain as well as the sun. Think of Him as you umbrella in the rain and your sunscreen in the desert.

Memories

I read an article recently that quoted a scene from "The Godfather"...a wannabe hit man is applying for a job. He sets out all his expertise as well as his cold blooded ability to do what is required. After listening silently, the Godfather leans forward and says (in a way that only Marlon Brando could) "But tell me, do ya spend time wit' your family?" There's something to be learned here.

Time spent together as a family is the cornerstone of strong, healthy relationships. More often than not, you don't start out to "do" anything memorable...watch a movie, go on a walk, go to the lake/beach or just simply "waste time together" but memories happen. In years to come, these times will be brought up again and again and once more you recall the laughter or the peace that comes from shared experiences.

My children are grown and gone now but give us a few minutes together and a wonderful memory will appear and we get to live it all over again! Never pass up the opportunity to spend time wit' your family!

I don't have the words...

A worker trampled by "Black" Friday shoppers:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html

I'm sorry but if this is what it takes to give or get a present this Christmas...count me out!

It's Christmas...waiting, renewal, rejoicing...how can this happen?

Wounds

Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, we all have a negative side. It may be made up of anger, anxiety, complaining, criticizing, procrastinating, controlling or any number of other emotions and is usually a cry for help. Perhaps they are cries from early childhood, rising from emotional wounds that never healed. We are told to get over them, rise above them, forgive and forget, concentrate on the positive...so much so that we thrust these unhealed wounds down below our conscious level.

But wounds do not just go away. If unhealed, they cry like abandoned children in the dark, forgotten places within us. The only way they can make their presence felt is through these negative attitudes and our addictive escapes. Seen in the light of day we recognize they are all symptoms of pain.

For our own well being, we must take time to bring our wounds to the surface, face the cause and rely on God for peace and healing. While it's easy to speak, this is not an easy or welcome task. It takes time, commitment and courage but by the simple act of laying it all at the feet of Christ we can be healed, restored and made whole. After all, He knows a little about pain Himself.

Humility...

True humility is about becoming honest with ourselves, acknowledging both our strengths and our weaknesses, accepting that we can be both saint and sinner, angel and monster. It's about seeing ourselves as we really are. Humility neither exaggerates nor plays down the truth about who we are. It simply accepts the reality that we are fragile and fallible human beings who need a power beyond ourselves if we are going to become the people God wants us to be. In short, this is what it means to be humble: being real about who we are.
Trevor Hudson