Saying Goodbye to my 2013 Word

Pondering here at the end of the year with my 2013 word of the year GIVE. At the end of the 2012
year I began to pray about my word and Give is what the Lord gave me. Here is just a piece of what I wrote in my first blog post for the year 2012. . .

I want to give

 

of my time

of my possessions,
of my praise,
of my love,

 

of Christ's love

of my energy,
of my words,
of God's words,
of my smiles,
of encouragement
of my. . .whatever God leads me to give

 

At Easter time I did a 40 day giveaway on FB. Each day I gave one thing of mine away. Did I miss any of those items? No

 

I gave of my time and love each Tuesday evening at the Homeless Outreach at the bridge. Did I ever begrudge going? No

 

I gave of my energy to ones who are hard to love. Did I ever mind. Well. . .we'll come back to this one.

 

I gave of my smiles, and words and encouragement. Did I mind this? No

 

And how can I say no to these questions? Because I ponder each day how God has given to me. Oh, He gives so much more than I ever could but because of what He has given me, I want to give back.

 

Back to the question up above I hesitated on. That's just me being human and honest. But after pondering and praying, I can say that yes, I did give of my energy and when I focused on God, the giving of that energy became easy.

 

It wasn't easy for Jesus to hang on the cross, to take the sins of the whole world upon Him, to be mocked, to have His Father turn away for that specific time. I can't even imagine.

 

So when someone difficult comes around, I remember what was given for me and I can look into the other's eyes and give what the Lord leads me to give.

 

And when it came to my wanting to give more of my praise. . .I did. I always wanted to freely praise by raising my hands in church when the spirit would move but being the quiet, reserved person I have always been, I made my hands stay down at my side. This year they raised and I cannot tell you how freeing it is to worship in the true sense of the word, unencumbered, not worrying about the people around you who might stare, just giving praise with all of your being to the One who deserves it.

 

I know many of you out there give in so many ways. Thank you for all you do. This is not about look at what I gave. It was just about me being more intentional myself to look out instead of within and give in whatever ways I felt led to. I didn't want to hang onto things, to money, to myself. I wanted to give to my Father in Heaven however many ways I could because I love Him and because it's my way of saying, 'I love you, to Him.

 

What did I learn? I learned by giving, I can let go. . .of many things. And in the letting go, sometimes God chooses to give back. And whether anything comes back or not. . .there is blessings in the letting go, in the giving. It's not about what you will get back in return, It's all about freeing yourself up and blessing others and pleasing God. There is just no better feeling than that! 

 

God helped me to give in so many ways. Some easy and some not so easy. But as this year comes to a close, I know from now on, no matter what my new words will be, give will always be a part of me. . .because it is a part of Him. . .and I want to be all I can be in Him.

 

So it's not really good-by to the word give. It's hop on word, we've got new ones to pick out and places to go. Come on! 

 

Will you join me?  Pray about a specific word God has just for you. Then do share. It's fun to see how God works in all of our lives.

 

May you all have a wonderful, happy New Year

and may it be full of wonderful words

GIVEN

by the WORD Himself.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
 

The Final Piece

In 2011, a big, dark man on a downtown park bench yelled out to my husband, "I'm homeless, there's a lot of homeless people down here and someone needs to write our stories." He was an answer to a six month prayer of mine. I went to meet Greg the next week-end and he stole my heart. We became a team, he introducing me to many of the homeless in our town and I wrote down whatever they wanted to say. A veil was removed from my eyes and I began to see more.

This is also a story about the power of God and if we would just step out in obedience and leave the outcomes up to HIM, the glorious things that can happen. He took an ordinary housewife with no writing experience at all and moved me with passion to start learning. I poured over writing web sites for hours and hours over days, months, years. A wonderful proofreader and my husband helped.

STOP RIGHT HERE. . .

Now let me move you to just an ordinary day. . .NOT!

I got up the other morning to run errands in town. I had been told there was a homeless lady sleeping in her car in a certain parking lot. I decided to go see if I could find her. I did. I wrote down information on a piece of paper and just wanted to talk with for a few minutes and handing her the information. As I approached her car, a very loud, vicious sounding dog inside was going ballistic from seeing me. Her car was dead so she could not roll down her window to take my slip of paper, so she opened the door just a little. But this dog's huge head was so strong that within seconds he whipped around her pushing the door open more and took a bite out of my finger.

Blood went everywhere, I start to feel nauseous and faint. I managed to tell her to call the numbers I gave her and they could help. I went back to my car, called my husband and he rushed over to me from work and took me to the Urgent Care Clinic. While I am in the back office with two nurses and a doctor working on my wound, my cell phone rings and I see it is the publisher I had sent my manuscript to. I answered and he said he would like to talk about my book. I laughed and said I would love to but it really wasn't a good time. I explained to him what happened and he asked if I thought I could be ready to Skype with him 3 hours from then. You know I was sure to be home by then!

Three hours later I'm sitting in front of my laptop, praying and trying to settle my stomach down. The doctor had given me a tetanus shot which was making my arm hurt, my wound was stinging and the antibiotics they gave me to take was messing with my stomach. Just as I felt a peace come over me, the phone rang and the publisher comes on to let me know my book will be published!!!

As he is telling me, BOTH of my boys walk into the house. If you've known me for long, you will know why that meant so much to me. Both sons of mine and I celebrated the wonderful news together and my oldest hugged me and said how proud he was of me. My heart was just about to burst!

SO. . .

2 1/2 years after beginning a book,  I'm floating on cloud nine, praising my Savior all the day long, dog bite and all!

The book will not be called a feel good read. It is full of sad stories but there are also inspiring messages between the lines. I have grown so much through this process and I'm pretty sure that was one of God's goals,  ;)

From day one I have told you all that I felt God was handing me puzzle pieces and over time, I could see they were all fitting together but I did not know what picture was going to come out. I did not even know for a long time, what this puzzle was going to be. As more and more time went by, I began to see in my mind how this final puzzle piece might look and I prayed my hearts desire to the Lord for this, but I always ended the prayers with, "Your will be done." Because as Christians, that is the goal, is it not? To have HIS will be done and for all glory to be for Him. That is my desire and my prayer.

God handed me the final puzzle piece and I would like to share it with you. . .

(It will be out sometime in the beginning of new year)

There are so many others out there with not a book to their name who are much better writers than me. This just goes to show that phrase I say so much is true. . .

God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

 

He is calling you. He calls all of us. If you have heard and stepped out, great!

If you haven't because you are scared, please don't be. I do understand. It can feel risky. We think about failing. Let this story encourage you.

Where God calls, He will be there with you to provide what you need.

Start taking the risk. Grab hold of those puzzle pieces He is handing you.

I can't wait to see what your picture looks like!

Ya know what I'm say'n? 

HOPE Everywhere!

I love the little things! I always have but being a counter of blessings, learning to write them down after Ann Voskamp's dare. . .I seem to notice all the more. And I believe that was one of the points, to notice and give God glory for all, even the microscopic. Sometimes the microscopic actually is enormous if we just not look, but really see.

The name of my church is Living Hope. We have a non-profit organization in our town that helps the homeless and needy whose name is Hope House. I am part of a Bridge Outreach Ministry for the homeless, a place where they can come for Hope. It is a dear place in my heart.

When I began to look for a publishing company for the book I had written, I chose one in Nashville and sent my manuscript there. A couple of weeks later, I received a very nice, encouraging but none the less, a rejection letter. But I was not dejected. I had hope because I believed in what I had written. I really believed the story came from God himself and I had the privilege of writing it out. So I prayed for the next publishing company. I believe I was directed from Hope Himself to the next place. I sent my manuscript off again. Three days later, I was accepted. The word hope is in the name of my publisher.

I am not surprised. God has amused me so much through my journey into the homeless community and through this journey of writing. I had no experience in either and there have been so many mishaps and yet, success happened. I have experienced so many blessings through new friendships out on the streets, seeing and feeling grace, growing in my relationship with Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. When I thought I couldn't do something or I was scared, I always heard the whisper, "I can do it through you, I will be with you."

That is my Hope. . .Jesus. He is the  true Living Hope and it's His House I will dwell in forever because I received the gift, the gift that came into a manger and the same gift who hung on a cross.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. . .

First Peter 1:3

Hope in the stable. . .Hope on the cross. . .Hope in my heart. The four letter word may be small, but what it is, Who it is, is not. I am seeing Hope all around and not just in the names of things.

Do you see it?

If you are one who has not seen hope, felt hope, know where it is, please write me. Hope is all around. If you cannot see, I will point you in the right direction and we will pray for you to see. It would be the best Christmas present you would ever receive, a Christmas present that is not just given one day a year, but each and every day.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

 

Are You Ready?

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked in the last couple of weeks,  "Are you ready for Christmas?"   What they are asking is if I have all the presents bought, wrapped and under the tree, is all my grocery shopping and baking done.

But, when I close my eyes, I can hear my Lord's voice asking, "Are you ready?"  I don't believe He is wondering about wrapped gifts and food.  He wants to know, am I ready to celebrate His Son's birthday, no matter what.  Is my heart prepared?  Have I kept Him in my mind during the shopping trips, driving through traffic, going to shows?  If the yule log wasn't ready, or if I couldn't find that one particular gift, or if my loved one did not show up, would I still be ready?

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Mary, Did You Know?"  I can just hear that unmistakable voice whispering to me,

 "Kris, do you know, that when you're in the traffic, I am with you too?

Yes Lord, I know.

"Kris, do you know when people get impatient, I will give you grace to handle all situations?"

Yes Lord, I know.

"Kris, do you know when you are missing loved ones, I am here to comfort you?"

Yes Lord, I know.

Kris, do you know when you are weary, I will sustain you?"

Yes Lord, I know.

"Kris, do you know no matter how many sweets you eat, they can't fill you up like the sweet love I have for you?"

Yes Lord, I know.

"Kris do you know that when the tree comes down and all the wrappings are thrown away, when those things rust and fall away, my gift to you will always be?"

Oh yes Lord, I know.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul.

"Kris, do you know. . .the babe in the manger grew up into a man, died and rose again and is here for all mankind?

My gift is for all but they have to be told, everyone...young and old.

The people need to feel my love

Please be my hands and feet and tell them it is from above.

Tell them I am here for them if they would but just look

Share my words with them, give them my Book.

Tell them the greatest gift is theirs, just believe

All they have to do. . .just repent and receive.

Kris, do you know?

Yes Lord, I know.

O reader. . .do you know?  Are you ready?

 

A Real Live Gentleman

He is one of the last World War ll veterans. He was in the Korean War. But like most of these men, he never talked much about it. It wasn't that it was not important, it was very important. . .but some things you just keep to yourself.

I have always known him as a very quiet man but with a quick, dry wit. When you least expected it, he would shoot something from the mouth that would send you off laughing. I think it was even funnier coming from him, because it was so unexpected.

He has always been such a dignified, sweet, gentle man. In fact, put those last two words together and that is the perfect picture of my Uncle Ed. . .a true gentleman. He is one of the rare birds who always opens the doors for you, holds out his hand to help you out of the car, takes you by the arm in so gentle of a way and walks next to you, not in front, not behind, but by your side and then steps out of the way to let you enter a building or room first. He is so respectful and thoughtful.

He is my father's brother. My mom and dad divorced when I was a little girl and dad was completely out of mom's life after that. But his brother, my Uncle Ed and his wife, my Aunt Shay were not. They were in her life and mine forever.

Aunt Shay and mom were best friends until Aunt Shay's passing in 2003. She told my mom once years after the divorce, that my dad is the one who divorced her, not her and Ed. I've always thought that was remarkable. My uncle did and still does help my mother financially every month. He doesn't have too. He wants too, because he cares. Remarkable!

I'll always remember him as the man of few words but I'll never forget the scene in the hospital in 2003. He and I were standing in the room looking out the window together as his wife lay dying behind us. He had his arm around me and said, "We love you Kristy." It was the first time in his 82 years, in my life, that I heard him say those words. But I always knew it. He took care of me in one way or another over my years whether it was having me come out to their Colorado home one summer back in the 70's when my mother was going through a difficult time. He knew that was a difficult time for me also and wanted to give me a break. Like the time when one of my first cars I had as a teenager had brakes that went out and I was a broke teen. It was my uncle who left money on my dresser, quietly, so I could have the brakes fixed. As I was growing up, it was he and my aunt who bought me new clothes to start out the new school years. And every Christmas I receive a card with money in it. He never forgets. Such a quiet man but so full of love.

He is 92 today. He has been living in Texas with his daughter and son-in-law for the past four years. The son-in-law, Doug told me the other day on the phone that he is a better man because of Ed. I have no doubt! I'm sure everyone in Uncle Ed's presence is a better person because of him. I know I am.

I hope the art of being a gentleman does not die off. This world has changed so much since World War ll and the days of dressing up to go to a movie. But Uncle Ed never changed and I am blessed to have had the privilege of seeing up close a real live gentleman and being loved by one.

Happy Birthday Uncle Ed! I love you too~

Kristy

J. O. Y.

When Jesus said "Come as a little child", I don't think this is what He meant. . .

(this picture cracks me up every time)

 

But, I do come to Him like this picture at times. And this is when I feel He lifts me up and puts me in his lap and holds me as a child, comforts me, and says, "Now, now there, it will be alright my child.

 

I've been told by very mature women at least two decades ahead of me with much more white crowning their head than my own, that they still have these moments and they still crawl up into His lap and are always comforted.

 

I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one. We all just need to cry sometimes and I want everyone to know that there is a wonderful Savior who picks us up, holds onto us and says, "Now, now there. . .come to Me and I will be with you and it will be alright.

 

It may not be perfect, but it will be alright. And when we walk hand in hand with this Savior, when He becomes our Lord, we don't just have to hold the letters of J. O. Y. We carry joy in our heart. We may still cry at times, but the joy never leaves because HE is our joy and He never leaves.

 

JOY to the world! It's there within reach. . .do you have it?  Do you know Him?

Don't just see the word. Hold it in your heart.

 

JOY to the world, the Lord has come!

 

Go to him and crawl if you have to. He will pick you up.

 

I know!

Thumbs and Blankies

Have you ever wanted to just sit down and put your thumb in your mouth?  Carry a blankie around for comfort? 

Yes, I just watched The Charlie Brown Christmas Special and I just love Linus.  He on stage at the end telling what Christmas is all about has to be one of the all time greatest scenes.  Yes, I really am 51 years old J

There are days when emotions and bewilderment just get to me, and I just want to do what Linus does . . .sit down with my blankie and stick my thumb in my mouth.  But no, I am a grown woman, so I don’t do that, even though I do wear footie pajamas from time to time.  THAT, I can get away with! 

Having a prodigal and not knowing why, seeing despair through the homeless community, too many deaths going on around me, it can just do one in.  But as Linus tells on that great stage of what Christmas is all about, the emotions become settled as I ponder again on the One who came long, long ago to give us a hope like no other, a love like no other, and a promise that we would never be alone even when we are going through the fire, or the emotional draining situation, we will not drown if we keep our eyes focused on Him.  And He is so good, even through my emotional downs, He picks me right back up with His blessings of His promises, the friendship of special women, the love of my great husband, the funny, silly, quacky humor and love of my other son, and then that indescribable peace settles in once again. 

The downs become ups once more and I can take that make believe thumb out of my mouth and toss the blankie.  I have something better to put into my mouth.  God’s Words. And His words are comfort like no blankie out there.  I may plop on the floor, but with my bible in hand instead of my thumb in my mouth.

Yes Linus, I do know what Christmas is all about. I know who Christmas is.  I will never forget.   

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Luke 2:11

p.s.

Someday I'll grow up completely and throw away those footie pj's. . .

I'm just not ready yet. :)

My Name is Kris And I'm A . . .

GOOFBALL!

Yep, again! I mailed my manuscript to another publishing company. I had a Skype interview with the very nice Mr. Edward Andrews and it went very well. He told me to go ahead and mail him the manuscript. I was elated! I packaged it all up, taking my time to make sure everything was in order, checking all in the cover letter, checked and rechecked everything on the outside of the envelope. Mailed it off Priority and with tracking numbers because I was not going to have this one lost like the other.  I was feeling pretty good until the next day. . .

I was reading the publishing site once again just to familiarize myself with them when suddenly I noticed the man's name at the bottom. This is how I must have looked. . .

Yikes! The man with two first names. I had the sinking feeling that I addressed my cover letter and the envelope to a Mr. Edwards. Sick, sick, sick to my stomach. I decided it would be best to immediately e-mail him and hope he found it amusing. I apologized for turning his name around and asked for forgiveness. I haven't heard back yet. I'm praying he just hasn't checked his e-mails yet or it was just so silly, he laughed and thought nothing more. Haven't we all messed up people's names at one time or another?  Haven't we?

I thought, I may be a goofball but I'm not an idiot. Something told me to go do a google search on this eight letter word. Here is what came up on my screen. . .

Urban Dictionary: goofball

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=goofball

 

 total idiot, someone who lacks any intelligence at all.

 

Sigh!

 

I'll Be Home For Christmas

I was born, raised and married in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  So even after moving to Arkansas and later to Kentucky, I would always refer to home as back in Oklahoma.  After all, that is where I grew up and all my family and my husband's family still live there.

But as I was re-reading the book of Ruth, I ran across something I had underlined 32 years ago.

"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried."  Ruth 1:16-17

These words were a part of our wedding vows.  I was reminded that wherever my husband was, that was my home.  He and I became one all those years ago and as fond as I am of Oklahoma, my home is wherever he is.

When my husband Keith asked me almost 10 years ago how I felt about moving to Kentucky, I cried.  After living in Arkansas 4 1/2 years , we moved back to Oklahoma in a town just an hour down the road from Tulsa.  For 13 years, it was easy to make week-end trips there and the family up the road to see us.  When I learned there would be over 700 miles between me and the rest of the family, I thought it might as well be at the other end of the world.  No more week-end trips.  More like one week out of the year!  But there's that leaving and cleaving thing, and I took it seriously when I made those vows.  While still upset about moving, I went to my Bible and read the Ruth verse again.  I took a deep breath and said,

"Ok Lord, I'm ready to go."

Home is right beside my husband, wherever that is.  So yes, I'll be home for Christmas. . .right beside my sweetie.

 

All I Want For Christmas Is. . .

(a repost but doing again this Christmas)

. . .one goat,

Two chickens. . .

five ducks. . .

and a couple of mosquito nets. . .

After being around the homeless, reading books such as Revolution in World Missions, Radical, and Kisses from Katie, materialism has taken a back seat for me. For over a year, closer to two, the Lord has been laying it on my heart to live more simply and do without anymore store bought things. I haven't shopped in a mall in a long, long time. When I do go into a store and see all the pretty trinkets that I used to ooh and ahh at, now almost give me a sick feeling. My mind goes to all the ones who don't even have enough food to eat and the thought of buying a trinket just doesn't feel right anymore.

I am not condeming those who do, please don't hear that! It's just that the Lord has layed this on MY heart and He has shifted my desires and so I feel this is how I need to and want to be now.  . .and it has been so freeing!

I received a catalog from World Vision

 

and was excited to think that this Christmas instead of gifts underneath the tree for me, I wanted the money that would be spent on me to be spent on a goat, two chickens and some mosquito netting.

The world's deadliest creature, the mosquito, kills nearly 800,000 people every year. While preventing this malaria infection in inexpensive by U.S. standards, it's out of reach for poor African families who must watch helplessly as their children suffer and die. One of the best ways to protect children from Malaria - bed nets - as well as critical education for prevention and control.

The ducks and chickens will produce hundreds of nutritious, protein-rich eggs to feed a family year round. And both eggs and ducklings can be sold for extra income.

Dairy goat milk provides great protein to help children grow. The family can sell surplus milk, cheese, and yogurt at the market to earn money for medicines and other necessities. Plus, fertilizer from goats can increase the amount of vegetables grown in a family garden.

To me, this sounds more beautiful than a pretty trinket or something for my home that would collect dust.

If you would like to consider giving in this way please go to the online website of World Vision at http://www.worldvisiongifts.org/ and see what you could give this Christmas season to a family in need.

Another wonderful place to go to shop is http://www.amazima.org/. . .you can buy beaded necklaces made by the Ugandan women and the money goes back to them so they can support their families. With this, you do end up with something pretty around your neck or can give to a loved one.

These kind of gifts change lives. . .these kind of gifts can save lives!

And if you would like to give a gift to the homeless, instant coffee or coffee bags would be a wonderful gift, maybe along with a coffee mug. Hot chocolate and cider bags would be great. Also a great gift would be warm, wool socks.

Please pray about what God would have you do this Christmas shopping season. Let's give a Merry Christmas to those who really need it. The cheer will come in the giving.

words from Katie from her book Kisses From Katie. . .

"Lord. . .help me to never be too busy or too comfortable to rememeber the people who suffer. Help me to never stop desiring to do something about it. Lord help us to remember that as the body of Christ, this is our responsibility. Thank you for loving us even when we forget."

May we never forget. . .

for our backyard neighbors and for precious ones like these. . .

It's priceless!

(For all who have donated to our Blanket Ministry and for the Bridge Christmas bags, I shout out a great big Thank You from the bottom of my heart!)

I'm In The Wrong Era!

I know good and well God does not make mistakes. BUT, if He did, it would be putting me in the wrong era. I was doing really well to use the computer. Then I got my own laptop. I've had to learn how to copy, paste, photoshop, and then came blogging and learning to link things. I thought I was doing pretty well. Then after a year of fighting it, I got onto Facebook. Yes, I caught on and I enjoy that. I was really happy in my little world and then I kept being asked if I twittered.  "No," I would say, and I don't want to tweet. I'm happy in my own little world of the laptop and Facebook.

But I've come to realize by wanting to be writer, I've got to step it up. SO, I got myself a Twitter account. I couldn't see for a long time how this was much different from Facebook. My mother would ask what the difference was between the two and I really couldn't answer her intelligently because I really didn't know. But all the experts say I need to Twitter, so I got Twitter. I seem to twit to a different audience, a much bigger audience than FB. Don't ask me why? You probably already know. You can explain it to me. But again, I was back to being happy in my little world of computer, Facebooking, and Twittering.  AND THEN,

A publisher I had contacted wanted to talk with me only on Skype. SAY WHAT! 

 

I do not Skype. I don't know how to Skype. I don't even have a camera on my computer.

 

 He told me it was simple to set up a Skype account and the camera was not needed, we could just do audio. I'm thinking then why can we not just talk on the telephone. I realized later, it would probably be a conference call with others on the other end of the line.

I googled Skype. Setting up the account was not as intimidating as I made it out to be. But then they wanted me to download and a box popped up saying this could harm my computer. My computer had just been healed of a horrible virus. I didn't want to go through that again so decided to wait for my husband to arrive home and let him do it. In the mean time I sent my son to Best Buy to buy a camera for the laptop. If I'm going to Skype, I might as well see the people too. After it's all installed, I will have to learn how to use it. Pray for me!

Oh, and then there is the smart phone. I don't have one. Do I really need it? I will probably find out one day that yes, I do. But for now, I am perfectly content to hold on to my dinosaur of a flip phone.

Did God leave me out of the wrong era? I used to think I belonged in the era of long, flowing dresses and button up shoes and carrying just the right parasol.

 But then I have a hot flash and think, No, no long dresses for me and the button up shoes would take too much effort to put on each day and the parasol thing would get old after awhile.  That era also had none of the wonderful items I enjoy today. Things like dishwashers, washer and dryers, toilets and paper to sit right beside them.

I guess each era has their own good and not so good. Each era, there are things to learn.  I guess one of the things the Lord wants from me is to use my noggin and start learning all the wonderful things out there that make this world move forward and that includes facebookin', twitterin', and skypin', all for His Glory, always for His Glory!

I figured out the first two. Surely I will figure out this third one and just hope nothing else comes to me before I master it. One thing at a time is my motto! There's a FB status.

 

 Better late than never.  You can tweet that ;)

 

 

The VERY Beginning of Christmas

Have you ever wondered like me, how it was in Heaven just before Christ left to come to Earth as a babe in the manger. Max Lucado obviously has too, for he wrote a book about it called Cosmic Christmas.  Here is what the inside cover says . . .

. . .do we know the whole story?  What about the hidden happenings that might have led up to the Savior's birth?  Was the arrival of Jesus a quietly profound event?  Or could it have been the result of heavenly battles, angel armies, and a scheming Satan?  Envision a confrontation in heaven between the King of creation and the rebellious Satan.  Threats.  Challenges.  A gauntlet laid on the floor of the sky.  And then the passage from heaven to earth.  "There was a war in heaven" the Bible states in Rev. 12:7.  Angels battling Satan's armies as they transport the essence of heaven itself.

The back cover reads. . .

The two stood facing each other, God robed in light, each thread glowing.  Satan canopied in evil, the very fabric of his robe seeming to crawl.  Satan rose slowly off his haunches. Like a wary wolf, he walked a wide circle toward the desk until he stood before the volume and read the word: Immanuel.

Immanuel?  He muttered to himself.  "God with us?"  The hooded head truned squarely toward the face of the Father.  "No. Not even you would do that.  Not even you would go so far.  The plan is bizarre!  You don't know how dark I've made the Earth.  It's putrid.  It's evil, It's. . .

"It is mine," proclaimed the King.  "And I will reclaim what is mine."

"Why?" Satan asked.  "Why would you do this?"

The Father's voice was deep and soft.  "Because I love them."

Wow!  This gives me goose bumps.  And you know what I think?  Anyone out there who is wondering if they are worthy, please just let me shout a great big "Yes!"  The angels and Satan battled in Heaven for you.  God let a part of himself leave the comfort of a holy home to come to this Earth for you and for me.  Why?  Because He loves us.  Yes, you are worthy.  You are special.  You are loved.  Let's live our lives showing Him that we think He is worthy, that He is special,  that He is loved by us.

As a new month begins, let's prepare our hearts by thanking Him, our Heavenly Father, for the battle that was won on our behalf, the battle that was fought before that very first Christmas tree went up, before there were wreaths on the doors and bells ringing from the churches.

Thank you Father for loving us so!

It is going to be a Merry Christmas

My Mother's Hands

After two years apart because of many miles, this past week I was able to hold my mother's hands. . .in greetings, in love, in honor.

These hands, frail from time and work, are precious to me and others.

These hands have prepared many delicious meals, baked mouth watering delicacies, sewn wonderful creations to give beauty, pressed dried flowers to send to her grown daughter miles away because she knows it makes the daughter smile.

These hands of hers have folded in prayer so many times. They have lifted in surrender to her Lord, they have folded on behalf of others, they have held on to dear ones and squeezed little children with love.

These hands have gone through much in life, much of not being easy, and yet these eighty-two year old hands live in grace, give grace, give thanks, and even wonderful backrubs that would make the toughest of tough purr.

These hands embrace God's Word, embrace her grown children, embrace the little ones who live next door, makes the little ones birthday cakes and decorates even though they are filled with pain because her giving to others is more important than the aches in the fingers.

This daughter knows when her momma folds her hands in reverence, the Lord hears and seven hundred miles plus down the road, the daughter knows, the daughter feels, the daughter is blessed.

After a week, I had to leave to go back to my home. My mother and I say good-bye the night before as I lay in bed with her. She held me, I held her. Then I quietly left the next morning as she slept. We say goodbye this way because we know we'll both cry and it's easier this way.

The next morning as I rode down the highway for the first 20 miles of hundreds in front of me, my stomach lurched as I shed tears as I thought about my mother and her hands. I knew how much I would miss her. Her hands are precious but even more so is her heart. I pray as the arthritis creeps into my own, I'll always remember the soft touch and love coming from my mother's hands no matter what and how it made me feel. May my own always reach out and touch as hers do and that the beating of the heart comes through as hers does. Mom, you are a shining example. May I follow well.

Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31:31