Tag: gifts

  • Jesus: the Reason for the Season (part I)

     

    “Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” –  Ephesians 4:2–3.  

    Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus
    Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus

    I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time being patient with some people. Maybe it’s the season of the year. Christmas is approaching fast and I don’t have all the gifts purchased yet. The presents I do have are scattered all around my office. The room is a complete disaster. I’m waiting for the neat fairies to descend, wave a magic wand, and all will be categorized, packaged and labeled ready for delivery. I can dream, right?

    Family members can’t make up their minds when they’re available so a Christmas time table can be set. My personality thrives on schedules and unity, and when neither happens, I tend to stress to the max. A gentle spirit rapidly gives way to an abrupt, cool personality. Patience melts into exasperation and love has a hard time finding a home in my heart. The results resemble anything BUT peaceful.

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  • What makes you happy? – Part II

    I find joy and pleasure in the inexpensive and accessible. These things lift my countenance and keeps my cup half full (vs. half empty).  

     For instance, yesterday my husband and I took a drive in the country. We stopped at an apple farm market. There I found great pleasure in:

         *  Talking to a wise, elderly farmer about a variety of apples (he chose just the right mix of apples for making applesauce and pies)

         *  Smell of freshly baked pumpkin spice donuts

         *  Took pictures of goats — I even was brave enough to allow one to eat from my hand and his/her tongue even touched my hand!

         *  A cup of hot apple cider. I felt healing begin as the hot cider trickled down my scratchy throat!

    Look for the positives in everyday life — some days the task is more difficult than others. Good gifts are all around us if we take the time to be still and look for them. God sightings…that’s what I call those gems. Life is fragile, good, and precious!

     “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving,” – Psalm 69:30.

     *** 

  • Father of Lights

               Why is it when I’m down for whatever reason (sickness or injury) that this is the time I tend to look upward? Some occasions, I even dare ask, Why me, God…and why now?  After all I’ve done for so and so, and this is the treatment I receive. It just doesn’t seem fair. In truth, a better question might be to ask, Why not me?

                 Maybe it’s because it’s the direction my face and mind happens to be focused at the time. I shouldn’t wait until those unique times.  My goal should be to please God all the days of my life. Instead, I spend my hours trying to think of ways to please people and end up sad, dry and disappointed in that fruitless quest. 

                I realize there are few rewards at the end of a rainbow when I aim to please people. People are fickle. Their emotions come and go. All of God’s ways are perfect and just. With him there is no variableness. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I won’t find a guarantee like that from any human being. So why is it that some days my goal is to seek approval from family members, friends, and even strangers?

    “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17/KJV).

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  • God-gifts

    I’m thoroughly enjoying a book,  One Thousand Gifts-A dare to live fully right where you are,” my friend Kathy gave me. Ann Voskamp, the author, encourages the reader to be thankful. She claims the “real problem of life is never a lack of time. The real problem of life—in my life—is lack of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks—and He miraculously makes it more than enough.”

    The author suggests creating a list of naming God-gifts. This list helps me reflect on the tiniest of good gifts God bestows. When I focus on daily good gifts, it steers me away from dwelling on what I do not have and causes me to be more thankful for what I do have.

    I’m up to number 30 today:  

    30)  Good night’s sleep rocked by gentle waves

    31)  Leisurely morning wake-up

    32)  Breakfast eaten out doors

    33)  Full sun warms my brow and head

    34)  First sail of the spring season, crisp winds—oh, so good to be out in God’s creation!

     *** 

  • “Hold on!”

     

    First thing this morning, I hear the words to Hold On, by Toby Mac. Listen to the meaning behind the words:

    “Wake up to the morning light – wipe away the lonely night – let a brand new day wash over you…

    So, baby, hold on – just another day or two – I can see the clouds are moving faster now – and the sun is breaking through

    If you can hold on to the one that’s holding you – there is nothing that can stop this crazy love from breaking through…

    And the stars are up, they’re shining for you – oh, how the Father does adore you – His love will never change

    And you and I, we were born to follow the hope that will lead us to tomorrow and no one can take it away.”

    Those words of comfort are just what I need today. How about you? I’m stressing out over silly things like grocery shopping, preparation of food, Christmas gift shopping. Then, when I get the gifts home, I need to organize and wrap them all! I just told a friend that I need at least two assistants to get me through these days. But do I? Maybe, I need to rely on the God who knows all. He knows the pinch I’m in and knows how I tend to over-plan and over-stress.

    God, you know my tendencies to over-book, try and please everyone, and generally make my family miserable with my demeanor. This isn’t what the season is about…dash here and there, quick prepare this and plan for that, dwell on who isn’t coming to a certain gathering, and who isn’t doing/saying what I feel he/she should be doing/saying. That’s just crazy!

    Help me to calm down and allow Your peace to permeate my entire being so I can focus on the true meaning of Christmas:  Your Son’s holy birth.

    Ask:  Is there something I can put aside and not do today? Is there something on my list that is really not that important and I can eliminate altogether? What can I do today to focus my mind and heart on what God desires for me?

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