It is Christmas Eve.
I am by myself, but I am not alone.
God is here.
And I drink in His presence
...and His love
...and His peace.
Tomorrow, I will celebrate with people.
Tonight, I celebrate with Him.
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11
Merry Christmas!
May you feel His presence, His love, and His peace now and all through the year.
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Friday, December 25, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Game
My student stood at the front of the room during Show and Tell last year and talked about a game she had received for Christmas.
"...And it says, 'What does God want for Christmas?'. Then you look in this box that has a mirror in it and you see yourself because God wants you for Christmas."
When she had finished talking about the game, a student raised his hand and, with a hint of laughter in his voice, asked, "God wants me for Christmas?"
I readied myself, thinking I would need to step in and do a little explaining, but I needn't have worried; my student knew exactly what to say.
She hesitated for only a moment and then, with a wave of her arm to include everyone, she enthusiastically said, "God wants ALL of us for Christmas!"
I smiled at her perfect answer.
God does want all of my students for Christmas.
He wants you for Christmas, too. And for every other day as well.
You have only to come to Him. He won't turn you away. He loves you.
This Christmas season, give yourself to Him.
(And the next time you look in a mirror, remember how very much you are loved and wanted by God!)
"For God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
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"...And it says, 'What does God want for Christmas?'. Then you look in this box that has a mirror in it and you see yourself because God wants you for Christmas."
When she had finished talking about the game, a student raised his hand and, with a hint of laughter in his voice, asked, "God wants me for Christmas?"
I readied myself, thinking I would need to step in and do a little explaining, but I needn't have worried; my student knew exactly what to say.
She hesitated for only a moment and then, with a wave of her arm to include everyone, she enthusiastically said, "God wants ALL of us for Christmas!"
I smiled at her perfect answer.
God does want all of my students for Christmas.
He wants you for Christmas, too. And for every other day as well.
You have only to come to Him. He won't turn you away. He loves you.
This Christmas season, give yourself to Him.
(And the next time you look in a mirror, remember how very much you are loved and wanted by God!)
"For God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
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Thursday, December 17, 2009
Just for Fun
Somewhere, alone, in the dark of an early morning, she wrote...not from scratch...and not even words intended to be written, but write she did...maybe not even well, but definitely memories from the heart. Here it is...snippets of the present and past mixed together...for those who wish to peek inside my life....
...to the tune of My Favorite Things...
A lovely sunset and stars in the night sky
Contagious laughter and a small town fish fry
Knowing a friend's on the phone as it rings
These are a few of my favorite things
Happy exclaims when with others you're jokin'
Warm, loving hugs; memories of words spoken
Walking in snow with my dog evenings
These are a few of my favorite things
When there's too much
Work to do and
I'm in need of rest
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel...so stressed
Colorful trees that I see in the autumn
Crunching leaves underfoot when I walk on 'em
The peacefulness a new fallen snow brings
These are a few of my favorite things
Times with my family we spent all together
Laughter and smiles, all things that I treasure
Driving on trips; how I feel when I sing
These are a few of my favorite things
Sparkling eyes and emotions unhidden
Words sent to me that were lovingly written
God in my life and the joy that He brings
These are a few of my favorite things
When there's too much
Work to do and
I am feeling stressed
I simply remember my favorite things
Cause they make me feel...so blessed!!!!
************************************************************************************
...to the tune of My Favorite Things...
A lovely sunset and stars in the night sky
Contagious laughter and a small town fish fry
Knowing a friend's on the phone as it rings
These are a few of my favorite things
Happy exclaims when with others you're jokin'
Warm, loving hugs; memories of words spoken
Walking in snow with my dog evenings
These are a few of my favorite things
When there's too much
Work to do and
I'm in need of rest
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel...so stressed
Colorful trees that I see in the autumn
Crunching leaves underfoot when I walk on 'em
The peacefulness a new fallen snow brings
These are a few of my favorite things
Times with my family we spent all together
Laughter and smiles, all things that I treasure
Driving on trips; how I feel when I sing
These are a few of my favorite things
Sparkling eyes and emotions unhidden
Words sent to me that were lovingly written
God in my life and the joy that He brings
These are a few of my favorite things
When there's too much
Work to do and
I am feeling stressed
I simply remember my favorite things
Cause they make me feel...so blessed!!!!
************************************************************************************
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
The Blind Side
When I tuned into The View this morning, I expected to be entertained...to laugh, to listen to the banter about the topics of the day, and to hear a couple of interviews.
I got so much more.
Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron were on today. They were being interviewed about their new film, The Blind Side. The movie is based on the Tuohy family who takes in a young man who is in need. They care for him, love him, and make him a part of their family.
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy saw a need they could meet and they met it. They didn't expect to have a movie made about what they did. They weren't looking for accolades. They simply showed God's love to another human being in need because it was the right thing to do.
I listened to an interview Leigh Anne did. She said of her family, "We've been blessed and we really live by 'To whom much is given, much is required'."
Oh, that we would all live our lives open and large, loving and compassionate....giving out of the abundance we've been given.
As I listened to an interview online with Sandra Bullock, the interviewer said of the Tuohys and their generosity, "How many of these types of people are really living in the world?" Well, my answer is, "All the Christians should be living that way."
I should be living that way.
I was so much more than entertained when I tuned into The View. God used it as a reminder to me to be about His business....to love, to give, to look for ways to make a difference in the lives of those whose paths cross mine today...and every day.
The Blind Side opens wide on November 20. I haven't seen the film yet, but I'm inspired already.
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required...." Luke 12:48
"This I command you, that you love one another." John 15:17
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I got so much more.
Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, and Quinton Aaron were on today. They were being interviewed about their new film, The Blind Side. The movie is based on the Tuohy family who takes in a young man who is in need. They care for him, love him, and make him a part of their family.
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy saw a need they could meet and they met it. They didn't expect to have a movie made about what they did. They weren't looking for accolades. They simply showed God's love to another human being in need because it was the right thing to do.
I listened to an interview Leigh Anne did. She said of her family, "We've been blessed and we really live by 'To whom much is given, much is required'."
Oh, that we would all live our lives open and large, loving and compassionate....giving out of the abundance we've been given.
As I listened to an interview online with Sandra Bullock, the interviewer said of the Tuohys and their generosity, "How many of these types of people are really living in the world?" Well, my answer is, "All the Christians should be living that way."
I should be living that way.
I was so much more than entertained when I tuned into The View. God used it as a reminder to me to be about His business....to love, to give, to look for ways to make a difference in the lives of those whose paths cross mine today...and every day.
The Blind Side opens wide on November 20. I haven't seen the film yet, but I'm inspired already.
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required...." Luke 12:48
"This I command you, that you love one another." John 15:17
************************************************************************
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Thankful
I am thankful.
I am thankful for God--who blesses me is so many ways--none of which I deserve. I am thankful for friends who laugh with me and help me through hard times. I am thankful for worshiping openly without fear of persecution. ...Thankful that I don't lack food or shelter. I'm thankful that my arm is healing--it's taken time--but it is healing. I'm thankful for people who believe in me when I'm too hurt and worn down to believe in myself. I'm thankful that I grew up in a wonderful family. I'm thankful for the beauty that God created on earth. I'm thankful for seeing people raise their hands in worship to God. I'm thankful that God loves me and I get to go to heaven when I die. I am thankful that God used someone I didn't even know to heal a place inside me that had not been alive for a long time. I'm thankful that I've now had a chance to talk to that person several times. I am thankful that God is with me every second of every day and that He will never leave me. I'm thankful that God allowed me to be alive. I'm thankful that has He saved me from death and walked with me through difficult things. I'm thankful for the beauty of the autumn trees and the pure white sparkling diamonds of a new fallen snow. I'm thankful that my eyes see and my ears hear....that I can taste and touch and smell. I'm thankful for the gifts of talent that people share with others. I'm thankful that God places people and circumstances around me that bless me.
I'm thankful that God is.
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I am thankful for God--who blesses me is so many ways--none of which I deserve. I am thankful for friends who laugh with me and help me through hard times. I am thankful for worshiping openly without fear of persecution. ...Thankful that I don't lack food or shelter. I'm thankful that my arm is healing--it's taken time--but it is healing. I'm thankful for people who believe in me when I'm too hurt and worn down to believe in myself. I'm thankful that I grew up in a wonderful family. I'm thankful for the beauty that God created on earth. I'm thankful for seeing people raise their hands in worship to God. I'm thankful that God loves me and I get to go to heaven when I die. I am thankful that God used someone I didn't even know to heal a place inside me that had not been alive for a long time. I'm thankful that I've now had a chance to talk to that person several times. I am thankful that God is with me every second of every day and that He will never leave me. I'm thankful that God allowed me to be alive. I'm thankful that has He saved me from death and walked with me through difficult things. I'm thankful for the beauty of the autumn trees and the pure white sparkling diamonds of a new fallen snow. I'm thankful that my eyes see and my ears hear....that I can taste and touch and smell. I'm thankful for the gifts of talent that people share with others. I'm thankful that God places people and circumstances around me that bless me.
I'm thankful that God is.
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
Home
As I turned the car, the moon came into view. A full moon....large, glowing...almost the color of a harvest moon. In its light, I could see the outline of mountains to the left of the busy freeway.
But in my mind, I was on a country road looking across moonlit corn fields...
...Home.
Home. What a comforting word. The place you're always accepted and always welcomed, even when you haven't lived there for years. The place you can laugh and talk or just sit quietly with no words exchanged at all because you know each other so well the silence is comfortable...no need to fill every second with conversation.
At some point in our lives, it may be impossible to go home. But God has equipped us with feelings and memories. Home can be forever in our hearts whether we can go there physically or not.
And that is where I was the other night as I looked at the full moon, thousands of miles away from where I grew up. I took a trip home. Remembered all the faces of loved ones who now wait for me in heaven. Thought of the beauty of flat lands and corn fields against the night sky. Heard the laughter of days gone by.
It made me smile...
remembering...
Home.
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But in my mind, I was on a country road looking across moonlit corn fields...
...Home.
Home. What a comforting word. The place you're always accepted and always welcomed, even when you haven't lived there for years. The place you can laugh and talk or just sit quietly with no words exchanged at all because you know each other so well the silence is comfortable...no need to fill every second with conversation.
At some point in our lives, it may be impossible to go home. But God has equipped us with feelings and memories. Home can be forever in our hearts whether we can go there physically or not.
And that is where I was the other night as I looked at the full moon, thousands of miles away from where I grew up. I took a trip home. Remembered all the faces of loved ones who now wait for me in heaven. Thought of the beauty of flat lands and corn fields against the night sky. Heard the laughter of days gone by.
It made me smile...
remembering...
Home.
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tomorrow
Things will be different tomorrow.
Someone will be gone--someone who, honestly, has driven me a little crazy at times--but someone who God has helped me have patience with and love. This person was just starting to make some good choices and really try.
I could see a change beginning to take place...
A life ripe with promise.
And now...
And now, I no longer have the opportunity to make a difference in his life.
The privilege of helping to mold the person he will become now falls to someone else.
And I have to admit...
That makes me sad.
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Someone will be gone--someone who, honestly, has driven me a little crazy at times--but someone who God has helped me have patience with and love. This person was just starting to make some good choices and really try.
I could see a change beginning to take place...
A life ripe with promise.
And now...
And now, I no longer have the opportunity to make a difference in his life.
The privilege of helping to mold the person he will become now falls to someone else.
And I have to admit...
That makes me sad.
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