Ah, Family (God, help me!)

Okay, I’m writing this blog entry “pre-holiday get together.” Like a lot of you out there, our family will be embarking on the traveling, the activity planning and gift giving challenges that can only come from spending time with family. Let’s break it down even more; we’re preparing for the challenge of family itself! Ah, yes, I hear the groans and the sighs already! Family…yeah.

“…Lord, help me.”

Matthew 15:25

Just an encouraging reminder- to you and to me, as well- “this, too, shall pass.”

I know this is a REAL challenge to all of us; let’s face it, when it comes to family, as much as we love them, we all have our triggers! Hang on! God wants to bless you today.

So, let’s try not to dump the carrot Jell-O mold on anyone’s head

or bust someone’s jaw with a fruitcake,

 or tie up family members with holiday tinsel

or take a baseball bat to the tree.

 It will be over soon. We can all make it through this; we can.

 Like I said, I write this “pre- holiday get together,” so, I’m going into “battle,” just as much as anyone else out there right now.

As irritating, frustrating and downright maddening as family can be, still, in some way, they are a blessing to us. Try, therefore, to pick out SOME blessing needle in the family stress haystack as you may find yourself enduring the get together. I know I’ll be doing my own looking! Let’s keep each other covered in prayer, God bless and merry Christmas to everyone out there!!!

I’ll report back… Here’s hoping!

Immanuel

Of course, this Christmas season, there are nativity displays decorating churches and homes.
And Who is in these nativity scenes? It’s the Baby Jesus.

Baby Jesus- He’s not just another Christmas ornament, created to make our home décor prettier. You and I know the familiar passage from Luke:

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.’ When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’"

Luke 2:10-15

Did you catch that last bit? Let’s see this thing that has happened that the Lord has made known to us, as noted in Luke 2:15. So, what does that mean to each one of us? Is this Baby Jesus, indeed, our Savior? Or is He just a decoration?

 Matthew 1:23 describes the birth of Jesus, stating that His very Name, Immanuel, literally means “God with us.” How do we feel about that? Can we believe that God is really with us? We come now to the close of another calendar year. It’s a time of “new beginnings.”

Dare, then to invite God into your life now; dare to invite Him into showing you what a new beginning means to you.

He’s so much more than the statue of a baby. He’s real, He’s alive- and He IS with you and for you! Therefore, dare to tap into what Immanuel means, uniquely, personally, for you!

God bless you all, Merry Christmas and much love from our family to yours!

The Three Ghosts

And, of course, Charles Dickens must be represented this holiday season in the timeless “A Christmas Carol.” Numerous adaptations have been created on film and television over the years. We usually see at least one version at some point during this season.

One of the biggest elements of the story is the interplay between the miser, Ebenezer Scrooge and the three ghosts, setting up an “intervention,” for lack of a better term, with him, concerning his life choices and mistakes.

Yes, these three ghosts, representing Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future, all challenge Scrooge (and us) to examine the state of our unique, individual hearts in our daily lives. Each one of us is ultimately called to be mindful of the past, present and future, not to be overwhelmed and oppressed by any of it, but rather, to become better, more loving, more fully ourselves through revelation of our daily choices and priorities.

Yes, it’s quite a challenge. Most of us fear it and run away from it, in some way, at some point. Regrets, painful mistakes, loss and personal imperfection may make us feel that we’re only haunted and doomed to fail. It’s especially amplified and lonely this time of year, when self-reflection seems to be the name of the game.

So, which ghost is haunting you the most these days:

 Past,

 Present

 or Future?

Do you feel doom and gloom when you look at any one of them- or all three of them- in the context of your life?

It’s not hopeless for you. Wherever you are- in life, in issues, in pain, in recovery- God is a Spirit hovering over you right now. We need to go to Him, then, with our Truth regarding our past, our present and our future.

“God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:24

Like Scrooge, we need to say “yes” to what God’s Spirit has to teach and lead each of us. God knows all about us, about our current situation, every bit of our past, present and future circumstances:

“Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.”

Psalm 139: 7-10

We all live imperfect lives, filled with imperfect choices. God knows this and loves us the entire time. Look at this season, not as a time to be condemned, but rather, like Scrooge, let this be a time of renewal, hope and reconciliation. The past, present and future, in God’s Hands, can be used, indeed, to bless and prosper you.

“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.”

Jeremiah 29:11

When it comes to your “three ghosts,” be blessed, not haunted. And yes, like Tiny Tim is famous for saying, “God bless us all, everyone!”



“A Praying Man”

“Pray without ceasing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Returning, once again, to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” we see how the bleak, frustrating circumstances in George’s life, have now led him to this prayerful moment in the film. George finally comes to a place in which he prays about his circumstances. He fully admits to not being “a praying man,” as he, in desperation, asks for God’s help. This has not been the Christmas Eve he wanted for his family, for himself. Still, he prays.

No matter what you’re going through right now, no matter where you find yourself, you can still pray. God hears you anytime, anywhere, even, in George’s case, in a bar.

God has the final say; He is working on your situation. Your prayers DO matter!

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

James 5:16

ZuZu's Petals: "Paste it”

“Love is patient…kind”

1 Corinthians 13:12

Yes, I’m back at the film classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This is one of my favorite scenes in the movie.

In spite of all of the aggravation and worry, the George Bailey character still cannot deny his love and concern for his children. In this case here, it’s Zu Zu, who’s come down with a fever. She received a flower from school, was so excited that she didn’t want to button her coat on her way home, for fear that she’d crush it. In fact, it’s that very flower that’s keeping her excited and awake. All she wants to do is look at it. But George knows that she needs her rest.

In this scene, we see the tenderness expressed between father and daughter. We see how George “negotiates” with Zu Zu about her flower, even going so far as to “paste it,” at her request, and hide the petals in his pocket when some of the them fall off. In spite of every stress going on, George is still patient and kind with Zu Zu (1 Corinthians 13:12).

There’s something else to take away from this scene as well. Aside from the general concepts of love and patience, each of us needs to recognize how God as a loving Father, looks after each one of us, knowing our needs and seeing to our them; He knows what’s best for us (Psalms 23:2), for, in every way, He is our Shepherd (Psalms 23:1-6).He can paste our lives back together when they’ve seemingly fallen apart.

Again, wherever you may find yourself, especially this holiday season, trust God, as the child of His that you are, with your life and issues!  When it comes to love, know that without a doubt, He loves, is patient and kind with you, no matter what!

“Angel Discussion” ("It’s a Wonderful Life")

All right, what’s Christmas without this film classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life?”

I have a real soft spot in my heart when I first discovered this gem as a teenager. I was struck with the chicken pox and this film helped me as I itched, scratched and spent that Christmas recovering.

It’s a staple in family traditions and television programming each year. It works because we can relate to the story and the lead character, our hero, George Bailey. His mix of optimistic dreamer, dutiful family member and frustrated, imperfect person, exemplify this heightened holiday season of hopes, challenges, expectations and stress.

One of my favorite scenes in the film involves the “angel discussion” concerning him. In fact, George is assigned his own lovable angel, Clarence to watch over him.

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”

Psalms 34:7

Indeed, as we see George Bailey’s character unfold and the decisions he makes as well, the angels are in constant discussion about what to do to try to help him in his life.

How about you? Do you feel that there are angels at work, on assignment for the issues of your own life? With the Christmas season, there’s even more emphasis on the reality of angels. We see them everywhere, if nothing else, as part of Christmas décor, topping Christmas trees, accenting homes and shops.

But never forget that they are God’s real agents, working, out of His love for you, to help you in every area.

“For He will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways.”

Psalm 91:11

And the best example of that help was, years ago, when an angel brought the best news possible concerning the arrival of Jesus:

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2:9-14

Whatever you’re facing, remember, as you see each decorative angel displayed, that God, through those angels, still wants to minister and help you today!

Ah, more waiting...

Ah, more waiting... will know, one way or the other by March hopefully. Here's to praying...