May you have
The Spirit of Christmas
Which is Peace,
The gladness of Christmas
Which is Hope,
And
The Heart of Christmas
Which is Love
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
“What do you want for Christmas?”
“What do you want for Christmas, Mom?” An inevitable question, that invariably gets asked this time of year.
Our answer last year when Audrey asked, was, “Nothing.” And we meant it. We had our health, a beautiful new grandson, and so much to be thankful for that as we looked around our beautiful home, and in our closet, and our pantry, there wasn’t a thing we wanted, or really even needed….let’s face it, we all know the things that we REALLY want; money can’t buy.
So Audrey did the only logical thing. She bought us a pair of goats, and eight chickens, and gave them to a family somewhere in Asia in her parent’s name. I don’t think Audrey has ever been so excited nor had so much fun, shopping and giving a Christmas gift. She almost bought a water buffalo, but decided against it.
The idea of giving a gift to someone that will help in their livelihood and future appeals to me. You know the old adage,
“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day
Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.”
So when she and I discussed the idea we both felt it was the absolute best idea…and she couldn’t believe how cheaply she could help someone like that. When we received the card in the mail, Rog read it and said, “We got chickens and goats for Christmas!” We both laughed, but we were glad. And this year, who knows, we may get that water buffalo!
You can help put in a water well for $100.00 and if that seems a little rich for your blood, you can give $25.00 and give someone two chickens which will produce hundreds of eggs which they can eat or sell. One goat is $75.00. The possibilities are endless, shoot, you can buy an entire barnyard of 2 cows, 2 sheep, 2 pigs, 2 goats, + 20 chickens for $2000.00. You certainly couldn’t buy that much livestock in the U.S. for that price. Plus remember those animals multiply, and the offspring are sold, or help feed the family.
Here are just a couple of organizations that I know of who you can contribute to that do this sort of thing. They are reputable and the options are limitless. The organization that Audrey ordered from was Gospel for Asia, Gospel for Asia
Or there is World Vision . I’m sure there are many others, maybe you even know of some already, but I encourage you to look around you this Christmas and ask yourself.......
What do I really want for Christmas? 
Friday, November 25, 2011
Because He Loves You.......
Not really for anything specific…….there is just too many things to name.
But I am thankful.
I realize as I read the thankfulness lists of others, and then stop to think about being thankful too, the precipice of my thankfulness comes from a verse in Deuteronomy.
As Thanksgiving has been approaching, I have felt compelled (woke up in the middle of the night) to read the book of Deuteronomy. This is not a book that many people would consider light reading, but as I’ve read it in this season of thankfulness, I realized that as Moses took the people of Israel through their past, reminding them of all that God had brought them through, their own behavior and choices; their history. After he did that he gave them hope and promises for their future.
The Israelites had come along way, but they also had a long way to go. Moses wanted to remind them of the past to give them strength for the future. Thanksgiving does that for us. It reminds us of our past, our blessings, and gives and reminds us further that when we move forward into our futures, that our God who has brought us to this point, will abide with us still.
The summation of these blessings for the Israelites is spoken by Moses when he says:
The Lord did not set His love on you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers…..Deut. 7:7-8
This is not the only place in Deuteronomy where Moses reminds the people that God loves them. So as I’ve read, I’ve been reminded over and over that the greatest thing I have to be thankful for is that God loves me. This isn't the first time I've read this passage and those words have come off the page, in fact I read it every once in awhile, just to remind myself that it is ..... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9
Everything that I have or even don’t have I have because of God’s plan….and His plan for me is for no other reason than because He loves me.
So as I am Thankful, and come to the table today, I will give thanks and rejoice in God’s love for me through Jesus Christ my Savior!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, October 21, 2011
They had been with Jesus
Nicolas plays basketball on a city league here in Emporia. The other evening a few of the guys that he plays with practiced out at our church’s gym. When they were done, one of the fellows approached Nic and asked him if he attended church there. Nic’s reply was yes.
The fellow then proceeded to ask Nic if he knew a certain individual who he thought attended our church, Nic replied that he did. The conversation resulted in how this gentleman knew our fellow church member when the gentleman commented “well all I can tell you is that he is a (political party affiliation).”
As Nic related the story to me I was saddened that the man’s remembrance of this fellow wasn’t that he was a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, but what his politics were.
You may think that politics are important. That by being involved you can change the world, and influence things for the better, but let me remind you that the apostles, who had every reason to hate the Roman empire, and politic against it with everything they had, choose instead to become known as followers of Jesus; people who had been with The Christ. Their influence is still felt to this day, centuries later.
Election season is upon us…whether we like it or not, and I am already sick of it, and we don’t get television. If I had a nickel for every e-mail that I have received bashing Obama, the Democrats, politicians in general, I’d be a wealthy person; and I mean WEALTHY!
When people speak of you, and they will, who will they affiliate you with? Whose follower will you be?
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
The fellow then proceeded to ask Nic if he knew a certain individual who he thought attended our church, Nic replied that he did. The conversation resulted in how this gentleman knew our fellow church member when the gentleman commented “well all I can tell you is that he is a (political party affiliation).”
As Nic related the story to me I was saddened that the man’s remembrance of this fellow wasn’t that he was a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, but what his politics were.
You may think that politics are important. That by being involved you can change the world, and influence things for the better, but let me remind you that the apostles, who had every reason to hate the Roman empire, and politic against it with everything they had, choose instead to become known as followers of Jesus; people who had been with The Christ. Their influence is still felt to this day, centuries later.
Election season is upon us…whether we like it or not, and I am already sick of it, and we don’t get television. If I had a nickel for every e-mail that I have received bashing Obama, the Democrats, politicians in general, I’d be a wealthy person; and I mean WEALTHY!
When people speak of you, and they will, who will they affiliate you with? Whose follower will you be?
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
Monday, August 22, 2011
Paying it Forward
Roger and I usually eat out on Sunday’s after church. It is my “day off”. However, I had quite a bit at home I wanted to try to accomplish Sunday afternoon so I ask Rog if we could just run through McDonalds and pick up lunch and take it home, plus I needed a Coke really bad.
He complied.
As we swung through the double drive through, we noticed a pretty red car in the other ordering lane that actually wound up in front of us when we turned the corner to go to the “pay here” window. It had a Missouri tag on it, which isn’t unusual at a McDonalds a half a block from the interstate. We thought nothing of it.
As we pulled up to the window to pay, the young lady told us “It is already taken care of.” I can only imagine the expressions on our faces as we both looked at her and said, “What!??” She said, “Your meal has been paid for.” “By who?” we both asked in unison. She looked at the red car at the pick up window and said, “The lady in that car. She said to tell you ‘Thank you Jesus’.”
Roger’s response was, “But she is from Missouri!” (in other words, she doesn’t even know us!) The little girl grinned and said, “I only know she paid for your meal.”
By this time the red car had pulled away. As we pulled up to the pick up window to get our food, we both strained forward to catch a glimpse of our “gifter” as she turned back onto the road. She looked over at us too, grinned really big and waved; needless to say we both smiled and waved right back.
As we drove off, the obvious question came from Rog, “WHY! Would she do that?”
I remembered a movie we saw years ago called “Pay it Forward” starring Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment. The premise was exactly what this lady had done. Do a good deed for someone with no expectation, and simply ask them to “pay it forward”.
As we watched her turn back onto the interstate I told Rog, maybe she wants us to “pay it forward”.
A gentle unexpected kindness from a stranger. Surprising and refreshing. I know how it made us feel, and I’m thinking that if something as simple as a ‘quarter pounder’ with fries and a Coke can make someone’s day, perhaps it should be done more often. I’m now looking forward to the chance to “pay it forward” for someone and hope to get to see the look on the face of the recipient…….I’m sure they will be smiling to.
"Therefore, whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them, because this summarizes the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12
He complied.
As we swung through the double drive through, we noticed a pretty red car in the other ordering lane that actually wound up in front of us when we turned the corner to go to the “pay here” window. It had a Missouri tag on it, which isn’t unusual at a McDonalds a half a block from the interstate. We thought nothing of it.
As we pulled up to the window to pay, the young lady told us “It is already taken care of.” I can only imagine the expressions on our faces as we both looked at her and said, “What!??” She said, “Your meal has been paid for.” “By who?” we both asked in unison. She looked at the red car at the pick up window and said, “The lady in that car. She said to tell you ‘Thank you Jesus’.”
Roger’s response was, “But she is from Missouri!” (in other words, she doesn’t even know us!) The little girl grinned and said, “I only know she paid for your meal.”
By this time the red car had pulled away. As we pulled up to the pick up window to get our food, we both strained forward to catch a glimpse of our “gifter” as she turned back onto the road. She looked over at us too, grinned really big and waved; needless to say we both smiled and waved right back.
As we drove off, the obvious question came from Rog, “WHY! Would she do that?”
I remembered a movie we saw years ago called “Pay it Forward” starring Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment. The premise was exactly what this lady had done. Do a good deed for someone with no expectation, and simply ask them to “pay it forward”.
As we watched her turn back onto the interstate I told Rog, maybe she wants us to “pay it forward”.
A gentle unexpected kindness from a stranger. Surprising and refreshing. I know how it made us feel, and I’m thinking that if something as simple as a ‘quarter pounder’ with fries and a Coke can make someone’s day, perhaps it should be done more often. I’m now looking forward to the chance to “pay it forward” for someone and hope to get to see the look on the face of the recipient…….I’m sure they will be smiling to.
"Therefore, whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them, because this summarizes the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12
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