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For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

Recently, I attended the musical comedy, Elf.   The venue was beautifully decorated with lights, trees, and tinsel, yet amidst all the outward signs of the Christmas spirit, there was a void in the mood needed to fill your heart and excite your spirit.  What’s Christmas without the music of the season, people laughing, children’s joy, celebratory faces, and the presence of God?  It’s dull at best and depressing at its worst.

I loved the movie, Elf.   It was wonderful as it was, but then the writers, directors, and the powers that be in theater, decided to rewrite the script which everyone knew and loved to make it more “modern day” friendly.  I mean, Santa using an iPad, the sleigh devoid of reindeer?! The process took away all the spirit and fun of the production for me, which ironically was the theme of the show -our Christmas spirit.

I wonder if we have also taken the Biblical Christmas story and inserted our “modern day” reasoning into it as well. It’s perfect as it is and beautiful, so why do people try to rewrite it to suit themselves? There are those who doubt the virgin birth and the resurrection and are trying to rewrite the Bible. We are losing the battle in this secular society that insists on changing everything to make it acceptable to all.  We can’t explain all the wonders of the Christmas story, but we can take God’s word on faith and celebrate it!  Emmanuel, God with us makes it a celebration and is reason in itself for spirit.

During the performance, I began to look around at the faces of children  who were expecting a magical night, and it made me imagine that night long ago when the Savior was born and the Christmas spirit began.  It reminded me that there are so many people in our world who are hungry for the Christmas Spirit.  We come to Christmas with great expectations, but many times our spirit doesn’t match our expectations. It’s up to us to open our hearts and our minds to the spirit that comes when we truly celebrate the reason for the season, the birth of our Savior.

Christmas is in our hearts and it’s there for sharing with others.  If we do nothing to share and celebrate it, others will have license to rewrite it to suit a new generation.  I love the story just as it is – a child of God born in a manger to a carpenter and his Mary.  It holds majesty and glory for me.  I love the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

 

 

Inheritance is defined as something as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession received from predecessors.

A couple of years ago, it became necessary for me to have my gall bladder surgically removed.  The diagnosis was, “Your gall bladder is a mess, and it has to come out.”  I met with my surgeon, a great guy, who appreciated the humorous side of all this.  He sat down to discuss the surgery, and began the conversation by asking, “So, who gave this to you?”  When I laughed, he said, “I mean from whom did you inherit this messy thing?”  When I said that my Mama had hers removed, he said, “Well, there you go.  She’s the benefactor.”

Turns out, gall bladders, like many things in this life, are inherited.  Inheritance is so much more than monetary gain, material things, and physical things.  It can also include things in our spiritual life.

The town of Bethlehem is mentioned 35 times in the Old Testament, yet who knew at that time that it would be the birthplace of Jesus and the beginning of our inheritance as Christians.  Bethlehem was chosen many years before the birth.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy stated by the prophet Micah.  He was born as a baby, and in 33 short years gave us the greatest inheritance the world has ever known – Christianity.  The baby born in a manger came to tell us that God knows us, that our sins are forgiven, that prayers are answered, and that heaven is assured.  What an inheritance!

My messy gall bladder is history now.  At my post surgery appointment, my surgeon and I joked about the bad eating and lifestyle choices that contribute to the inheritance of a bad gall bladder.  We agreed that some changes needed to be made.  As I prepared to leave, he said, “Diane, remember your inheritance; go, and please sin no more.”

I think of that often and wonder if Jesus as the baby in a manger and the man on the cross would say the same thing to us this Christmas.  Celebrate the birth of your Savior, the  inheritance which is yours, the place in heaven reserved for you, the wonderful heritage of your faith; then, go and sin no more.

Merry Christmas!

We have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.   1 Peter 1:4

Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your soul and with all your strength.   Mark  12:30 

Essential is defined as “absolutely something with which we cannot do without.” Necessary is defined as “something that is important but not essential.”

In the early 1980’s, our family and friends of our family spent a weekend at at a mountain lake cottage in late winter.  During the night an unexpected snowstorm hit, and we awoke the next morning to blankets of snow and ice.  Normally, I would consider this fun and exciting, but we had limited food, water, warm clothes, electricity,  and chocolate!  There was little chance of getting down the mountain in one piece, so we settled in to ride it out.

I began to quietly survey the food situation and the speed with which 4 kids and 4 adults were consuming it, and I quickly deduced that our essentials would be depleted long before the snow melted.  In an effort to save us all, I  began to “squirrel away” food.  In my mind, this was essential.  I would have made it work, too,  if our Black Lab hadn’t begun to find the food and eat it.  The dog outed my plan of survival for all, and the other 7 started a mutiny based on the incorrect thinking that I was only thinking of myself.

It was at this time when we decided to brave the roads, pack up, and head down the mountain in our respective cars.  Our friends slipped and slid, but made it down.  We, on the other hand, slipped and slid so close to the edge of the mountain that Randy made all the women, children, and dogs exit the car. We walked down and left him to maneuver down the mountain.

As all of us were waiting and watching, along with a ranger, at the bottom of the mountain, we saw a most amazing thing.  Randy was backing the car ever so slowly, but successfully,  down the mountain.   As we were watching in awe, the ranger asked, “Who is this guy, and is God his co pilot?”  My friend quickly replied, “I hope so because God is the only one who would ride with him!”

It was later when everyone was safe and reunited that I realized that I had confused essential with necessary.   Life and being together was essential while food was only necessary.  The love of God is essential, while material things are not.  In this Christmas season, it is good to take time away to ponder on what is essential and what is just necessary.

 

 

 

Thoreau said, Our lives are frittered away by detail…simplify, simplify.

As soon as the calendar flips to December and the Advent season arrives, our thoughts turn to Christmas gifts, gatherings, and celebrations. I wonder how many of us are already making things complicated.  Christmas has become so stressful as we try to entertain, buy gifts, cook, etc., that it makes me wonder why we don’t just keep it simple.

My mind goes back to the Christmas story.  It all took place in a simple time, in a simple stable, with a simple carpenter and his wife, simple shepherds, simple animals, a simple inn keeper, beautiful angels, three wise men, three gifts, and the Christ child.

The word “road” can mean the same as the word,”way”.  The road Joseph and Mary took to Bethlehem was the simple road which shows the simple way to the Christmas miracle.

During this Christmas season, I am trying not to miss the simple ways to celebrate Christ’s birth.  Wouldn’t it be a wonderful gift to all humanity if Jesus became a word that was used all through our society not only during Christmas but everyday?  If we could make Jesus the ordinary word on the street what a difference we would see!

We can make that happen if we concentrate on hearing the simple ways God would have us to hear the news of Jesus’ birth.  Take time to listen to the words of the Christmas hymns, the words of the carols, the Christmas story, and the words of joy around you.  Jesus speaks when we listen.

We can make it happen if we see the simple ways that we can help others by giving, not only monetarily,  but with our hearts.  Put God’s will first.

We can make it happen if we keep these simple ways sacred.  Try to take 5 minutes a day to be silent and pray for peace, hope, joy and love.  Follow Him and live a simple life in confidence.

The simple way isn’t complicated.  Love came down at Christmas.  It’s that simple.

 

 

 

 

There is plenitude in God.  That great fact must never be lost or obscured.  We must not exchange this immense graciousness for a few scraps of human morality or a few shopworn proverbs.  God is a vast reservoir of blessing who supplies us abundantly.  Eugene H. Peterson

In the little brown Cokesbury hymnal, there is a song entitled Count Your Blessings.  We sang this hymn often on Sunday nights in my hometown church, and I always loved it!  The chorus goes like this: Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done,  Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Years ago in a small group meeting, someone suggested the idea of keeping a daily journal as part of your morning devotion time.  I took that suggestion and began to write in one every day in the form of a prayer.  After the perfunctory thank yous, calls for forgiveness, and prayers for family, friends, and those in need, I began to make personal requests for guidance, grace, church, and many other needs which would arise. As the journals were filled, the year was recorded on the front of each one, and put away.

Some time later as I happened upon the journals, I began to read over the prayers I had made during different years, now long forgotten.  It was amazing to me that each of the requests I had made had been answered in some way – some no, some yes, some not now.  I began to write “answered” by each one, and before I knew it, almost every request had “answered” written by it.  Looking back over all the “answered” marks,  made me realize just how blessed I am and how faithful God is through our lives.

A lot has happened to many of us during this past year; some exciting, some happy, much of it has been sad, even heartbreaking, but through it all, God’s gratitude to us has shown through.  Everything we have is a gift from God.  Our response to His gift should be our gratitude.

Count your blessings, and Happy Thanksgiving.

 

 

Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.  James 1:19

Lately, I’ve become aware of the way people participate in conversations.  It seems that we are taking our cues from the interviews we see on television news and talk shows because it has become more about the interviewer than the interviewee.  The interviewer is quick to interrupt while interjecting their own opinions thus turning the whole thing into an argument rather than an interview.

I have a friend who says that when he is confronted with people who question him on his authority or ability or continually interrupt, he begins the conversation by stating the ground rules.  The rules are, “You talk first, and I will listen, then I will talk, and you listen.  No interrupting when it’s not your turn.”  That sounds like kindergarten rules, but it is the only way some people can communicate without imposing their opinions on others.

It’s been interesting to watch and listen to our conversations in small groups or social situations.  There are some who lose interest in the conversation unless they are the ones doing all the talking.  Others, listen with their ears, but are already presuming to know where the person speaking’s thoughts are headed, so their attention is divided as they mentally  prepare their answers or their disagreement.  The best listeners thoughtfully ponder what’s being said, process it, and then ask meaningful questions or make courteous comments.

While watching the hearings of the last month, it occurred to me, that we would all benefit by thoughtful listening rather than presumptive hearing.  What you live and what you say need to tie into each other when you speak.  There needs to be a connection there.  When we listen, we should do so with not only our ears, but our mind, our senses, and our heart.

As Larry King said, I never learned anything while I was talking.

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.  Proverbs 18-2

 

Greater love has no man than this; to lay down one’s life for his friends.            John 15:13

Lottery fever has been sweeping the country with almost a billion dollar jack pot awaiting a winner who ends up with the lucky numbers on a ticket.  It’s thrilling for many, and people waited anxiously to see if they were the lucky winners.

On Dec. 1, 1969, there was another kind of lottery.  The difference here was the players had no choice in the numbers they had been given, and the end result was not money, but rather service to their  country.  This lottery was sponsored by the Selective Service of the United States of America, and its purpose was to draft young men for service in the war in Vietnam.

I remember vividly being in the lobby of my dorm at UGA while anxious young college boys sat glued to the television set awaiting the result of the lottery.  The 366 numbers randomly picked by officials corresponded to the birthdays of the guys, and it would be the order in which they were drafted.  September 14 was the first date pulled, and the lottery continued until the last date of September 24 was called.

There were many emotions that night as many of our close friends had low numbers and knew that they would be reporting for duty soon.  Others breathed sighs of relief as their numbers were high. The war or conflict as it is sometimes called, was laden with differences of opinion, political unrest, confusion, and lack of support for  these soldiers in all branches of service.

We lost several friends during this conflict, and many of those who returned home although physically alive and well had many mental and emotional scars that have remained with them long after their return.  Some were prisoners of war, some were privy to terrible battles, many endured the death of their friends, effects of agent orange, and unfathomable grief and sacrifice.

Still they served, fought and died for this country.  Many came home to a country who shunned them rather than welcomed them with honor.  To these soldiers and all the veterans of this country, we owe a great debt of gratitude for doing the job they pledged to do and ensuring the freedoms that we enjoy.

These are lottery winners whose sacrifice can never be repaid.  As we approach Veteran’s Day, it is incumbent upon all Americans to remember that sacrifice.  A grateful nation should give our thanks, appreciation and respect to all veterans of all wars which defended the United States of America.

 

 

And he said to them, “Go out into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”  Mark 16:15

Stating the obvious is defined as, “saying something that everybody already knows or understands.”

Sometimes people make comments which might seem obvious to one person but not to another.  Years ago as my cousin, Jack, was preparing to leave for college and go on to medical school, my Mama presented him with a problem.  She had a place on the end of her index finger that would just start bleeding for no apparent reason, and it took a while to get the bleeding to stop.  The conversation went like this, “Jack, what do you think about this finger that bleeds all the time?   Jack said, “Well, Mi, if you don’t stop the bleeding, you are going to bleed to death.”  Stating the obvious!

As  Christians, do we sometimes think we are stating the obvious when it comes to our beliefs?  Perhaps what we believe is obvious to us, but it is not to a person who has never read the Bible, heard the good news, and known the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are folks in our world these days who reject the virgin birth, the crucifixion, and the Bible in general.  They simply don’t believe that these things ever happened and thus are not true.  No one has taken the time to share the obvious things that we, as Christians,believe with them.

We repeat the Lord’s Prayer with little or no thought for the meaning behind these words.  Would it be obvious to a non believer how we feel about these words if they watched us saying it repetitiously?  Years ago, I sat next to a visitor in church, and when we began repeating the Lord’s Prayer, he did not participate.  At the end of the service, he said, “You know, that is a beautiful prayer you all prayed, but I am not familiar with that prayer.”  That man stating the obvious made me realize how many times I assume.

There are so many things that we Christians believe that are obvious to us but need to be shown to unbelievers through our words, actions and deeds.  Never assume that our faith is obvious to all.

 

 

 

 

In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37

In 2001, the University of Georgia welcomed their new coach, Mark Richt.  One of the first things he did was introduce the phrase, finish the drill to his players and the UGA faithful.  These three words became the signature statement for many years.  I’ve used these words myself many times when projects get started around here but never seem to get finished.

Drills are defined as “disciplined, repetitious exercises used as a means of teaching and perfecting a skill or procedure.”  We think drills are a waste of time on a daily basis, but when that expertise is needed, the skills we perfected can serve us well in the game of life especially in times of emergencies where we must call on them.

Right now in our society, we, as Christians, will be called upon to finish the drill for Jesus and help sustain His kingdom here on earth.  There are many these days who don’t believe in the Bible, renounce Jesus as the Savior, are skeptical of the virgin birth and even the resurrection.  We have to call upon the drills we have learned to be able to face these doubters.

There are five “R’s”  in my mind that help us finish the drill.  First, we must Review the scriptures and the teachings that we were taught using Bible Study and quiet time.

Secondly,  we need to Remember the scriptures that can apply, the creeds that can give us courage, and the prayers and hymns that we know by heart.

Thirdly, we need to Rehearse defending our faith to someone who might challenge us.

Next, we must Reinforce the faith of our children, grand children, friends, relatives, etc. as we battle for our beliefs and faith.

  Finally, we need to Restore our Christian values and core beliefs.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.”

We are all in this battle together.  Jesus will give us all we need to win for Him if we practice His teachings and finish the drill .

It has been said that optimism is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat; chutzpah is taking tartar sauce with you!  Chutzpah is defined as extreme self confidence, nerve, gall or audacity.

During the last week dealing with the aftermath of Michael on the Florida panhandle and southwest Georgia (wiregrass) area, I choose to use the word Chutzpah to describe these folks who are victims of the storm.  They are calling on every ounce of extreme self confidence they have!

Most of the folks I know in this area, have no power, no gasoline, no water, and no immediate hope of internet and cable services.  Yet, they go out every day with their saws, their tools, their strong backs and offer to help out their neighbors, friends or strangers who need assistance while trying to take care of their own losses.  That’s Chutzpah

My cousin, Gene, sets out every day to help one person, but he says on his way, ten others are asking him to help them, and of course, he does -that’s chutzpah.

The hospital in my hometown of Donalsonville is running on power provided by generators to keep patients alive and comfortable.  They have no power for air conditioning (and believe me they still need it), computer services or heating water.  My friends there are putting out appeals to put hospitals first on the list – that’s chutzpah.

The lineman who work tirelessly to restore power are in staging areas near there and working through countless trees which are down on streets and roads everywhere.  I can’t imagine the countless hours they are putting in to help those in need – that’s chutzpah.

The wait for gasoline to power cars, trucks, etc. can stretch into two hours at gas stations and until yesterday, the folks had to go to Dothan or surrounding areas to fill up their tanks.  It takes chutzpah.

Many farmers who had picked some cotton already and stored their crops in storage bins lost the storage bins in the storm.  The crops that could survive need gins, dryers, and warehouses which are mostly lost as well.  My Daddy was a farmer, and I know that farmers live and die by weather.  This is bad for them, yet they all have chutzpah,  and I don’t see any of them giving up.

Amidst all this, every time I call to check on them, the response is always the same, “We are hurting, but God is good, and we will get through this together.”  Chutzpah.

Tonight while we in the unaffected areas are watching television after a hot meal in our comfortable homes,  please don’t forget those who are hurting, and please pray for all the affected areas and people.  They may have chutzpah, but they can use all the help they can get!