Awaiting, anticipating the arrival of our two grandchildren, and of course, their dad and mom! After seeing their dear faces on video at their Christmas program, well…it’s hard to wait any longer when you’re a Nana and Grandpa!
Weather and roads be good to them. I pray for a safe passage from Minnesota starting later today and on through the night.
I pray for patient behavior on the part of the 3 ½ and 1 ½ year old, and making of good Christmas memories for all.
.
Last evening our granddaughter, *Liberty, and grandson, **Elijah, participated in their church program in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Our son, Andrew, forwarded a video of their program. We weren’t able to be there in person, because we’re preparing a place for them here in Michigan to come visit for Christmas!
Here’s the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULN-kSLPpAU
**Elijah is in the red wagon – 2nd from the front of the wagon. On the bench, he’s directly to the right of the lady with the microphone. He’s wearing a dark vest, white shirt & tie, with dark slacks.
*Liberty – standing on the platform, she’s the 4th from the end, and smiling a lot for daddy’s camera! She’s wearing white tights, sparkly circle buckle with blue skirt bottom.
I’m sure you could spot them in the crowd, but just in case: they’re the cutest ones in the bunch (of course, I’m not biased in any way/shape/or form!)
.
I’m excited about a book I’m reading, In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas, by Dan Schaeffer.
Back cover reads: “Christmas seasons come and go, often leaving us with vague pangs of regret. Why does the Christmas spirit seem so elusive? …Even those who know the Reason for the season can find themselves wondering if they’ve missed something.”
Yes, that was me. Shop, bake, plan, go here, go there…where is the true Christmas? I knew it wasn’t in doing all the traditional holiday things or buying the hot item for the year, but how could I find this true Christmas? After hearing the Christmas story many times, I became “immune to the story’s real power.”
In this book, the reader sees Christ through the eyes of those whose lives were touched by Jesus—Mary and Joseph, shepherds, angels, magi, etc. Some chapters compare modern day Christmas stories and traditions with the true and accurate story of the birth of Immanuel.
Many struggle with loneliness especially at this time of year when everyone else seems to be joyful and have it all together. Some have lost loved ones, and they will no longer be joining them at the festive table. This time of year tends to accentuate those sensitive feelings. “Celebrate Immanuel—God with you…take this special time to invite Him again into your presence. Thank Him that you are never alone, even when you feel alone.” Just the mere reading of those words brought comfort to my heart. God’s word speaks peace to the searching heart and soul.
*“God humbled himself in a way that even a common shepherd would understand, or a child, or a tax-gatherer, or a fisherman, or a fallen woman, or a self-righteous Pharisee, or me. While lying in a manger, God was making an announcement to all who would come to Him. It was a silent message that told us what we desperately needed to know about our God….ANYONE COULD APPROACH HIM. Common folks can’t visit the palaces of newborn kings uninvited…but kings and princes can visit mangers, and so can bakers and weavers, wise men and shopkeepers, priests and children, cattle and sheep.” This God-Child was available…available and accessible to anyone willing to come. “He had come to mingle with all, to receive them with open arms and put himself at their disposal. All this He conveyed by simply being found lying in a manger!” Wow! What a concept…one I hadn’t even thought of in the past.
The book is practical. At the end of each chapter, Dan Schaeffer includes Reflections and Celebration. This is time to ponder what could be done different to experience the real spirit of Christmas. He suggests concrete suggestions to make it so. For example, in the “No longer home alone” chapter, the author speaks of one thing that keeps us from “entering into the true spirit of the incarnation is our incredible busyness during the Christmas holidays.”
I know I tend to spend less and less quiet time with God when I should be spending more time alone with him. “Make a special appointment to simply be alone with God. Set aside an hour; make yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and clear your mind of everything but His presence.” I need to come into His presence empty handed, not with my usual list of requests bringing only a “grateful heart and genuine thanksgiving for all He has done.”
I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with the true meaning of Christmas, and where to find the spirit amidst the crazy, busyness of the holidays. I plan to share this book with family members and friends alike.
*(Taken from In Search of the Real Spirit of Christmas, © 2003 by Dan Schaeffer, and used by permission of Discovery House Publishers, Grand Rapids MI 4950l. All rights reserved.)
Leave a comment and let me know if you’d like to be entered in a drawing for your free copy!
.
I just read today’s posting of “Our Daily Bread,” by Julie Ackerman Link:
https://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml
She refers to a “friend who fell off her bike and suffered a severe brain injury.” Her doctors were not sure if she would live or die. She lived–Praise God–and now “Sandy’s back!” Physically, emotionally, psychologically, and mentally.
Amazing, that I too survived a brain tumor. Our hospital stays nearly overlapped. While she was in rehab, I was having brain surgery.
We can praise God together–we are both whole again! “Sandy’s back, and so am I!”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
.
Praise Him, Praise Him (Author unknown)
Praise Him, praise Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
Praise Him, praise Him,
All you little children,
God is love, God is love.
We have so many Praises over the last year to be thankful. Just to name a few of those Praises:
“For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” Psalm 48:14
May you and yours experience these promises this Christmas Season.
Merry Christmas and a Miraculous 2010,
Steve and Teresa Lasher
https://www.lasherstudios.com/
.
Read about my life with an ADHD child, feelings of inadequacy, and hope beyond hope at:
https://www.differentdream.com/2009/12/life-as-the-mom-of-an-adhd-kid-part-two/
This is the second day of my guest Blog posted on my friend, Jolene Philo’s, website. She is the author of a new book just recently published, “A Different Dream for My Child—Meditations for parents of critically or chronically ill children.”
Jolene and I met at the Cedar Falls Writers Conference in Cedar Falls, Iowa and instantly bonded. We discovered one common denominator: we were both mothers of prodigal sons.
You can also view my post on Jolene’s personal blog page at:
https://www.jolenephilo.com/Jolene_Philo__/Home_.html
If you’d like to talk, I’m here for you,
Teresa
.
Take a minute to check out my guest blog posted on my friend’s, Jolene Philo, website. She is the author of a new book just recently published, “A Different Dream for My Child—Meditations for parents of critically or chronically ill children.” This much-need book “addresses the spiritual needs of these parents as the author shares her own life lessons, as well as those of other parents who have walked this road…you do not have to lose hope.”
Jolene and I met at the Cedar Falls Writers Conference in Cedar Falls, Iowa and instantly bonded. We discovered one common denominator: we were both mothers of prodigal sons. She asked me to be a guest blogger for a couple of days. Today’s entry is entitled, “Life as the Mom of an ADHD kid, Part One.” I share a few lessons I learned along the way…sometimes the hard way!
Read more of my introductory story at:
https://www.differentdream.com/2009/12/life-as-the-mom-of-an-adhd-kid-part-one/
Won’t you join me and tune in tomorrow for Part Two?
You can also view my post on Jolene’s personal blog page at:
https://www.jolenephilo.com/Jolene_Philo__/Home_.html
I’d love to hear feedback from you,
Teresa 🙂
.
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” – Proverbs 17:6
The Bible says that an old man’s (and woman’s) grandchildren are his crowning glory. What a privilege to wear that glorious crown! – Nancy Corbett Cole
I’m wearing my crown proudly, how about you?
.
How well do I know God?
I must confess—not as well as I’d like to and not as well as I should. Other things (and people) seem to crowd out my time with God. Why is that? Is it because I’m afraid to spend time with him? Am I too busy? I’ll admit, most of the time other duties and priorities seem to take preeminence. Yet, I know, that when I do take the time and spend in the Word and in prayer that He more than makes up that time for me.
Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring.” (NLT)
Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. His going forth is prepared and certain as the dawn, and He will come to us as the [heavy] rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth. (Amplified)
Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.” (NIV)
.
Some of you have asked about the status of the 3rd wise man. If you recall on my post of November 9, my girlfriend and I found two wise men, and they immediately joined Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus in our outdoor nativity scene.
Friends, and family alike, have searched high and low for the whereabouts of a 3rd wise man. Thank you for so heartily pursuing this quest. I am delighted to report that the 3rd wise man has now been happily joined with the rest of the group in the cleft of a large rock in our side yard. (See photos)
Our daughter, Amanda, diligently sought “Craig’s List” and with the assistance of a generous fire fighter, who remains anonymous, procured our third wise man. Amanda admitted she received a few strange glances while traveling on the road with a very still passenger–but worth the effort!
While I was visiting a friend in the hospital Amanda, and boyfriend, Austin secretly placed him in his rightful place next to his cronies, the other two wise men.
Now the three Magi/wise men can “bow down and worship him….when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)
.