CHRISTmas Ramblings

"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2: 15

I just love that God sends His angels to invite shepherds to greet the Lamb of God (John 1:36).  The Messiah has been born and God sends angels to shepherds first, and Christ becomes our shepherd and savior.  Isn't it great news that Jesus comes to all--the plain and the ordinary?  May we all have humble hearts that accept Jesus just as the shepherds did, and may we all have the courage to do as they did--RUN to see Jesus and then spread the WORD. 

Our CHRISTmas (Yes, I always spell CHRISTmas like that now.  I think we all need to be constantly reminded that Jesus is why we have CHRISTmas.)  tree is up, and I love walking around it looking at the ornaments.  I don't have one of those beautifully decorated florist-looking trees; however, I do have a beautifully meaningful tree.  Every ornament on the tree has some meaning to it.  I must add that even the old ornaments are getting new meaning.  You'll understand more if you keep reading.  Here are a few of my favorite ornaments.

 

This is my absolute favorite ornament that is on the tree.  I love the verse ~ Romans 8:32 ~ "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"  What an amazing love that is!!

 

My friend Louise made this sea shell angel for me.  I have two of them and I just think they are so sweet.

 

Yes, it is ugly, but it reminds me of the best vacation we have ever had.  One fall we took Blake to see Thomas the Tank Engine in North Carolina.  A town a few miles away was having its Wooly Worm Festival which we stumbled across.  We stopped and let Blake enjoy the rides and we looked at crafts.  It was also Blake's first helicopter ride.  It was just the best four day weekend ever. 

 

My "teacher" friend, Sally, from the Meadow brought back this ornament from Africa for me.  I love thinking about old friends as I do my "tree walk."

 

Ah, my wise men riding on a ??  What is that, you ask?  You can't tell?  Why it is a headless, legless camel!  Duh!  This is one of those old ornaments that is gaining new meaning thanks to roosters.  They dropped him (several times) and the legs and head fell off.  No, I will not throw it away!!  It has great meaning.  AND have you thought how God revealed His son to shepherds AND to kings and Christ is known as both our SHEPHERD and OUR KING?  Don't you just love the way God gives meaning to all He does and the way He does things?  I so wish I understood more than I do. 

 

This was made by Blake in his science class in fifth grade.  He was a Dallas Cowboy's fan and made this for our tree.  (When he brought it home, I thought it was the Star of David and was so proud that Blake would make this at school.  Then he just burst that bubble when he announced it was the star for the Cowboys.  Ugh!)

 

 

Oh, this lovely, ugly, meaningful creature.  This is some dog reindeer from some story when Blake was little.  I think he got it in a Happy Meal and insisted that we put it on the tree.  He had TWO and TWO still grace our tree.  I tried so hard to get him to "let's not put that one on", but he would have nothing to do with my suggestion.  It was his "fave-wit".   Now, 13 years later, I can't bear not to have both of them on the tree. 

 

"Miss" Terry (who shares the same birthday that I do) helped me teach Mission Friends to the Littles at Lawtonville Baptist in Estill, SC.  Every Wednesday evening we did, I know, at least seven different activities to try and teach and entertain four-year-olds.  Those Littles (mine included) had the attention span about as long as a gnat's eyelash.  Anyway, "Miss" Terry made these thumb-print ornaments at one of our stations one Wednesday night.  This was mine--a running around chicken!  (She should have made it headless b/c I am sure I looked like a chicken with my head cut off in that room!)

 

Nick made this in Mrs. Miner's four-year-old class at Asbury.  A good resemblance of our CHRISTmas tree, huh?  HAHA!

 

This ornament is almost 25 years old.  The Colonel hangs it at the top of the tree to keep the Roosters away from it.  It is our "First CHRISTmas Together" ornament.  We had to find one with snow on it b/c the first CHRISTmas we were married it actually snowed!  We have pictures of us sweeping the snow out the back of his Ford Ranger. 

 

The Roosters and I bought this for the Colonel this year since he purchased his lovely camper for Father's Day this year.  We do not want him to forget the year he turned our family into "happy campers." (Oh, the "happy" -cough, cough - vacation pictures we have this year.  Haha!  Seriously though, I think we enjoyed it more than he did.  I hear he has been trying to sell the camper to anyone that mentions liking camping.)

 

 

And this precious Rooster made me a mom sixteen years ago.  I just love this kid so much!!

 

 

This is on my CHRISTmas list this year.  (I know Santa is going to bring it b/c I just ordered it.  Haha!)  Dr. Jeremiah is one of my favorite pastors.  If you have never listened to one of his sermons, you are missing out. 

 

Another item on my "wish list."  Besides "I love you", God says this to me often.

 

Last night's notes from my Bible study video.  The lesson REALLY spoke to me.  Can you tell? 

 

 

 

 

"Monday, Monday"



 

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." ~ John 1:14

 

 

Today it was back to school and work for the Dew Crew.  However, after I had been at work for about an hour, I got a call from the Roosters' school nurse.  Nick was complaining of an earache.  I left school, got them and off to the pediatrician's office to get ears checked.  Both of them had infections in their left ears.  Their doctor couldn't believe they weren't bellowing in pain b/c she said their ears looked horrid. 

 



 

I must say that our pediatrician's office is super fast.  We have been going to the same doctor since Blake was born, and we have always gotten in an out in a flash (except once when the twins were infants and needed those four shots at once).  Even though we are in and out quickly, I always grab something to entertain them or I promise you they will find something themselves--not good.

 

This has become our favorite activity while waiting.  I bring crayons and the boys draw a mural on the table cover.  I used to draw a railroad track for Blake and he would play with his Thomas trains on it.  Blake always had a train, or two or three with him when he was small.

 

Today we were in a Mickey Mouse room, so the boys were drawing Mickey on the paper. 

 

Here they are drawing snowmen that were having a snowball fight.  How fitting.

 

And here we are having a carpet picnic with lunch that the Colonel brought home for the roosters.

 

And this is me yesterday after I fell down our stairs in boots.  I missed a step and ended up twisting my foot and landing on the right side of my right foot.  OMG!  It hurt so bad!  I grabbed my foot, sat on the step and kept telling God (like He didn't know) that I had broken my foot.  You know how it goes, "Oh, my God!  Oh, my God!  I have broken my foot!  God, please don't let it be broken!"  It wasn't. I have a really bad strain.  I'm limping today, but it already feels better than it did yesterday.  (And as much as I dislike the frumpy look; I had it after church.  Yes, that is a flannel shirt with jeans.  I cared not about frump yesterday.  LOL!)

God's Journey

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. ~ Psalm 119:105  
"Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" ~ Jeremiah 23:29

I am doing a Bible study on my own because the winter Bible study at church has not started yet.  One of the questions asked in the study this week was "Do you fear what it might take for you to "see" God in your life?  Now normally I would answer "no" to that question; however, this question was asked in the context of Job 42:5. ("I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You."  You remember Job, right?  He was the "blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil {man}" Job 1:1.  He had a more than comfortable life protected by God yet the Lord allowed satan to attack Job.  And when the devil attacked, he gave it 100%, didn't he?  Invaders attacked Job's fields, took his oxen and killed his servants.  A fire burned up his sheep and killed even more servants.  Job's camels were raided.  A tornado struck the house where his children were eating and all were killed.  Then Job's health was so bad that even his friends didn't recognize him (Job 2:12).  Job's skin was covered with boils that he went to sit in an ash heap to try to get relief.  Why would God allow this to happen to Job?  The blameless, upright, God fearing man?  Job answers the question for us:  "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You." Job 42:5  After everything that happened to Job, his "wilderness" allowed Job to have a deeper, personal experience with God.  So, back to my study question:  Do you fear what it might take for you to "see" God in your life?  How did I answer that?  I have to be honest.  I answered, "Yes."  I honestly said to myself, "Surely, there is a better route to seeing God than walking through the wilderness?"  THEN, I started thinking about the wilderness.  Oh, the wilderness!  The forty years of wandering in the wilderness for God's people.  Whew! 

Have you ever given thought to the route God chose for Israel when He delivered them from Egypt?  In Exodus 13: 17, the Bible says that "God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near..."  That last part made me stop and reread it:  EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NEAR.  I don't know about you, but when I use my GPS, I almost always tap the icon that reads "fastest route".  I never really gave much thought to this verse because the Bible tells us why God chose this route ("for God said, 'The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.'") A sit and think moment for yours truly.  Ah, so here is yet another example of how our God sees the entire picture and we only have a snippet.  Our decisions are based on the snippet we see and understand; God's decisions are based on the entire picture and His love for us.  I know that even though I don't understand the way God chooses (or even agree with His way if I am perfectly honest), I do know His way is always the right way.  I am trying to learn and repeat confidently, "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3) and pray boldly, "Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths.  Lead me in Your truths and teach me" (Psalm 25: 4-5)  I have not yet arrived at boldly praying that prayer.  I sort of squeak it out with an addendum--"but, please God, don't let it take me down THAT road."  (I am being honest here, remember?)

Then I started thinking about how God led the Jews out of Egypt.  He was visible.  By day, God guided His people by a column of cloud and a pillar of fire by night.  When the pillars moved, God's people moved.  When the pillars stopped, God's people stopped.  But is the only thing the pillars did was guide the people?  Nope.  The cloud pillar PROTECTED the people from the hot sun as they journeyed.  The fire gave light to the Jews BUT was darkness to the Egyptians (Exodus 14:20).  Sure would be easier to follow God if we had a cloud to see and a fire to follow, right?  But we do, don't we?  HIS WORD.  Thus the reason for the two scriptures that opened this post today.  His Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.  His Word is a fire that breaks rocks! 

Okay, back to the "long way home."  There was also another reason why God chose the "long way".  Remember that Pharaoh decided that he made a mistake by allowing the Jews to go free and decided to go get them.  However, the path that the Jews were taking led Pharaoh to believe that the Israelites were just lost and roaming aimlessly in the wilderness.  Fair game, right?  Afraid not.  More like just another part of GOD'S PLAN.  What the Egyptian's thought would be an easy victory for them ended up being a major (understatement but my vocabulary is limited-ha) defeat--a defeat where God would get all the glory.  (You remember--God opens the Red Sea.  Jews walk across on dry land.  Rain [Psalm 77:16-20] behind them made the path muddy for the Egyptians and THEN God rolled the waters over them and ALL the soldiers were drowned.)  So what did the Israelites have to do to defeat their enemy this time?  Absolutely nothing BUT follow God.  God did it all.  Sometimes the battle plan is two-fold:  What we are to do and what God is going to do.  In this case, the Israelites just had to keep walking and the "Egyptians shall know that I (God) am the Lord" (14:18)!  Their deliverance was the act OF God, but it was accomplished through their obedience TO God.

Yep, the dry and dusty wilderness that Israel saw as they camped at Etham certainly looked like an uncomfortable journey ahead for them I am sure.  However, we need to remember that the Lord chose this path because HE saw the entire picture.  We also need to remember that God can see the end result of the path He has chosen for each of us.  We need to meditate on His Word.  Psalm 145: 17 tells us, "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds."  We can trust that God loves us enough to allow things in our lives that are only necessary to bring us closer to an abundant relationship with Him.  He not only wants us to "hear" how much He loves us, but also to "see" how much He loves us.  "No matter where God takes us, our greater good is always on His heart." (Shirer)  It is the reason and purpose for all our wilderness journeys.    

So, am I still fearful of the places God may take me so that I may "see" Him?  Honestly, yes.  However, I am praying for God to constantly remind me of His great love for me.  For fear and faith can't live together in the same heart.  I read where "true faith depends on what God says, not on what we see or how we feel."  It has been also been said that "faith is not believing in spite of evidence--that's superstition--but obeying in spite of consequence." 

Remember, we don't have to figure out the wilderness; We just have to trust God through it and remember Psalm 145: 17 ~ "The Lord is righteous in ALL His ways and kind in ALL His deeds."  Let's ask God to work on our fear by showing us His love.  Maybe the best place to see and remember His love is by falling on our knees at the cross.  (John 3:16)

Days in Pictures

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! ~ 2 Corinthians 9:15

The past couple of days in pictures.

 

Nick brings his train pillow into my room and wants to know if he can sleep in my bed.  Now look at that adorable face.  There is no way I could ever say no to that sweetness.

 

I bought this bread machine about a year ago.  I am a total bread freak.  I LOVE bread.  I haven't used it in a while, so I pulled it out last week and got busy on making some bread.

 

This bread cookbook got it right.  I have tried several different recipes and none of them went wrong.  LOVE this book.

 

No, I didn't make this, but I certainly ate the entire thing sitting in my Suburban in the parking lot of Duncan Donuts.

 

My new favorite smell for the Fall.

 

Not only do I have Legos all over my den floor, but now I have them climbing up my fireplace.

 

I pulled out my driveway one morning and this was the first thing I saw.  Picture is horrible, but the sunrise was beautiful.

 

A corner of my den

 

I thought the scripture for the Letter D was most appropriate for my Roosters.  Ha!

 

Ernie our elf showed up yesterday...One year I caught the Roosters shooting Ernie with their Nerf guns after they realized Ernie was hanging around to report all behaviors to Santa.

 

The big Rooster hanging out with the little clucks.

 

FOOD!  Where are the greens?  Um, I don't like them.  Blah.

 

The little clucks hanging with the big rooster in his room.  I rarely go down to Blake's room b/c it is scary!  Notice the sofa cover half on and half off his sofa.  Oh, and yes, those are sports goggles that the big rooster is wearing.  He lost, yet again, his glasses and doesn't wear his contacts all the time.  When he doesn't want to put in his contacts, he can be found looking like this.  I will be so glad when his glasses are in.  He actually wore these things to drive today.  I died laughing at him, and he said, "I wear them b/c I have a fast car."  (ROTFLOL--He has a Toyota Corolla.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  I don't think speed is an issue.)

 

My Shallow Side

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, ~ Hebrews 12: 28

My shallow side has been showing itself lately.  I thought I might share it. I've never been a member of the fashion police or the trendy girl in the crowd. I enjoy being comfortable which means jeans, t-shirts, shorts, sweats, flops or no shoes period.  However, I will admit that I have somehow acquired a taste to be more "aware" of fashion.  I honestly think I can blame this on my friend Gwen.  (Gwen, if you are reading this, my dwindling checkbook is all your fault.)  Even now when I buy something I like and don't really know what to wear with it, I will Google images or call Gwen.  She just has that gift of knowing what looks good and knowing how to put outfits together that don't make one feel, look or act like a frumpy, old woman.  I hate frump (Well, except while I'm chasing kids around the house.  At home, I am all about comfort and just finding something clean to wear.)  However, there are times when I enjoy dressing up.  I am also all about a good sale.  I very rarely buy anything that is not on sale.  I just don't think the mark-up in clothing prices is worth it.  Here are a few purchases I've made lately b/c I just couldn't pass up a bargain. 

 

Just a little sparkle for the Christmas season. 

 

 

A little more sparkle...I am thinking this might be my little "something" to wear to the Singing Christmas tree service at church...

 

 

Super deals I just couldn't pass up...That first sweater I found at the Loft and it is sooooo soft...

 

 

And the Roosters and I did some coloring in the den yesterday after we finally got the floor devoid of Legos. 

 

Thanksgiving pictures to come soon.

Our Week

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.  Romans 5:5

It has been just me and the children this week as the Colonel has been in Colombia South America.  My friend and neighbor, Elizabeth, took the Littles to school for me and Sister spent the week with me.  I feel like I spent my entire week trying to stay on top of everything around the house, at school and with the kids.  The Colonel is usually the one who reminds me of what needs to be done. It's that military focus.  I have it not.  We survived the week.

Yesterday I cooked a roast and watched our Gamecocks beat Florida.  It looks like we may have a shot at the championship if a few things fall into place over the next two weeks.  As much as I love the Gamecocks, the best game was Georgia and Auburn.  What an amazing finish with Auburn defeating Georgia in the last few seconds.  The only reason I am relishing Georgia's defeat is because it was needed to help South Carolina advance.  I usually pull for Georgia except when they play Carolina.  

Church was wonderful today.  In Sunday school, Alberta shared a brief part of her testimony on God's kindness during the loss of her seven week old son James. You know that Alberta (Mrs. Stewart) is an amazing kindergarten teacher and more than a wonderful friend.  However, she is also a gift from God.  I mean that with all sincerity.  God knows exactly what we need in all areas of our lives and gives to His children in abundance.  God gave my family Alberta because we need her.  She has been such a role model for me as a mother, a teacher and most importantly as a woman of faith.  Mr. Stewart (He is my Sunday school teacher, so I find it hard to call him "Ed".) and Alberta have what I call "Jesus hearts".  They have this joy and love for others that you just know comes from their love for Jesus Christ.  They are such genuine people.  I just love them.  Alberta's testimony just fit so perfectly with Dr. Lincoln's sermon on hope.  I look forward to Sunday all week long.  

The big rooster, Blake, has wrapped up football season and has started wrestling. I am glad he is involved in sports as I truly feel it helps guys stay out of trouble. However, I just can not go to his matches.  There is just something so wrong about me sitting in the stands watching someone body slam my child.  I can't do it.  I just don't trust myself not to march into that circle and tell Blake's opponent that if he touches my son again I will break his legs!  So, I listen to his wrestling adventures when Blake returns home (after his shower, of course).

And here are a few pictures from the week...

This past week my students had to take a benchmark test.  It is not a secure test.  This is what one of my students put for an answer.  His mother nor I were amused.

I went shopping this week online.  I have fallen in love with shopping online.  I don't shop often, but I what girl doesn't love a good sale.  Oh, the sales I found this week!!  Dresses, skirts, pants, sweaters, and boots!  

I hope your week is filled with the love of good friends and hope in Jesus Christ!

With? For? Why not both?

"I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing:  To live with Him in His house my whole life long.  I'll contemplate His beauty; I'll study at His feet."  Psalm 27:4 (The Message)

The scripture for today that went along with my devotional passage was Psalm 27:4 written above.  I started thinking about the section of the verse that said "to live with Him in His house".  Don't we all want that?  To know that after we leave this life, we have a glorious one with Jesus forever?  So, we want to live WITH Jesus forever, but what about our time here on earth?  Do we want to live FOR Him while we are here?  The main idea of the lesson this morning was depending on God and realizing that our well-being and security lie with Him not in the things of this world.  It was trying to get me to see that living FOR Jesus is what I should be striving for each and every day.  Do I?  Do you?  

If you have been reading this blog, you have heard me say that my form of worship is linked closely to singing.  (You also know that I can't sing, but I do love music--LOVE it.)  So, naturally while I was reflecting on Psalm 27: 4 and asking myself the hard questions, the song "Living for Jesus" started "playing" in my head.  While I can't sing worth a lick, I do manage to pluck out a few songs on the "plano" (as Nick calls it).  The words to that particular song just seem to be a good match for today's scripture and the devotion's big idea.  I've attached the words to the song below in case you haven't heard it.

Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

• O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
  I give myself to Thee,
  For Thou, in Thy [redemption],*
  Didst give Thyself for me;
  I own no other Master,
  My heart shall be Thy throne,
  My life I give, henceforth to live,
  O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

The Compilers prefer that the New Testament word, “redemption,” be used and sung instead of “atonement.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/456#ixzz2jy5NjVfk

So, while I want to live WITH Jesus, am I living FOR Him now?  I started asking myself "what does it really mean for me to be sold out for Jesus?"  What things am I putting before Him?  What is above Him on my "to do list" or my "needs" list?  Am I thinking about what living FOR Him might really mean?  I'm not really big on hardship and uncertainty, and Jesus tells us we will have those kind of times.  But, here again, I can learn from Paul.  In this verse {¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9: 15-16)}, Jesus says He is going to SHOW Paul what he will have to endure before Paul even begins his work for Jesus.  Paul knew the cost up front.  Would it behoove me to just get beyond what the cost "may be" for I really know not?  Wouldn't it be so much better if I followed Paul's lead and just said "whatever my lot" (you know the song) I realize I have been chosen for a unique purpose in God's plan?  And God's plans and purposes haven't changed.  My faithfulness is not judged against my friends' callings or my neighbors' callings, but against my own calling.  Am I going to trust Christ and live FOR Him now no matter the cost?  Yes, I want to be WITH Him, so will I live FOR Him?  Am I willing to do BOTH?  Are you?