Good Tidings of Great Joy!

One of my most favorite shows to watch at Christmas, is "A Charlie Brown Christmas." There is just something about the scene where Charlie Brown asks "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" and Linus says, "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about." Then Linus walks onto center stage, asks for the lights to dim, and starts sharing the Christmas story.

You see, Charlie Brown had been feeling down. While everyone else was hustling and bustling and being excited about Christmas and preparing for Christmas, he didn't feel the same "Christmas spirit."

How many of us feel the same way at Christmas? The Christmas carols are playing nonstop on the radio and in the stores, all the stores are decorated (and have been since Halloween, it seems), and people are running frantically about trying to find gifts. Sometimes we feel like all of this is happening around us but we just can't "feel" that Christmas spirit. Like Charlie Brown, we see the "trappings" of Christmas, but we don't feel "a part" of it.

Sometimes when life is busy and there are difficulties, I have struggled to "find" the Christmas spirit. It is when I stop to realize that the Christmas spirit is not about the hustle and the bustle and the trappings, that I remember...it is about remembering the most important gift of them all.

When Linus gets up on the stage to tell the Christmas story and all is quiet and the lights are dim, it helps me to focus on what is the most important. It helps me to have the "true Christmas Spirit."

Are you struggling this Christmas to find the "Christmas spirit?" It isn't about the carols, the tree, the lights or the gifts. It is about a gift that was given to you, to all of us so long ago...

...and the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)

Immanuel, God with us... A gift of hope... A gift of love... for all... for you.

As you watch the hustle and bustle around you, do not be discouraged, you have been given Good Tidings of Great Joy! Take time to read the Christmas story and know that long ago, before you were even born, a gift had been planned ahead of time, just for you! (Luke 2:8-14)

And, if you get the chance, listen to Linus share the Christmas Story on "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and be filled with the true "Christmas Spirit."

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

What Mountains Need Moving In Your Life?

Did you ever take a drive in the mountains on a sunny day when, all of a sudden, around the next curve, the sun disappears and it's darker outside? You know it's because the mountain is blocking the sunlight, but you can't wait to get around the next curve to be back in the light!

Our lives with God are a lot like that.

We can be going along on our merry way when, all of sudden, we're in the dark. We thought everything was fine. We followed the road and stayed between the lines, so where did the darkness come from? Why has the way become unclear?

Sometimes it has to do with not paying attention to the signs along the way. Sometimes it's because we've taken a wrong turn or exit. A lot of the times it's because we've allowed an area in our lives to become a mountain.

You see, unlike the sun rising and setting, God never moves. His light remains to guide us. It is when we "move" in a wrong direction or allow a "mountain" to block out His light, that we are in the dark.

A "mountain" can be anything in your life that has grown big enough to block out your focus on God. It could be that you've gotten so busy that you don't have "time for God." It could be that you've been following your own way for so long that you didn't even notice you were "in the dark." Or it could be that a very real problem, hurt or situation has become so difficult that you can't see anything beyond it.

So how do we "get back into the light?" The bible tells us that His word is a lamp for our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105). In 1 John 1:5 we learn that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.

If we spend time reading His word, we can't help but be "in His light." His word can guide us in knowing which roads to take and give us the "signs" along the way.

What about those mountains?  Maybe it's time to "move them" or "remove" them. God is bigger than any mountain we could possibly have in our lives. The creator of the universe is more than capable of helping us to move any mountains. Nothing is too difficult for Him. (Jeremiah 32:17) In fact, He tells us that we can move the mountains, ourselves, with a little faith. (Mark 11:23).

What mountains do you have in your life that need moving? Do you want to be "back in the light?"

Spend time in the Word, follow the road "signs" and keep driving...it'll be just around the next curve!

Are You Trying to Have a Hallmark Family Moment with an "Addams" Family?

With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming soon, there will be a lot of family gatherings. With everyone gathering in one place to spend the holidays together, you may be envisioning the perfect "Hallmark" family get-together, with everyone happy and enjoying each other. The house will be decorated down to the smallest detail, including the holiday salt and pepper shakers. The food, of course, will be cooked perfectly and served on time, and your table will rival any image featured on the cover of the Southern Living magazine. At least that's what it looks like in your mind, right?

What happens, though, when your family is less "Hallmark" and more "Addams" family? (The Addams Family was a television show in the 1960's. Each member of the family was quirky and unusual. They did not look like anyone's idea of the "perfect" family, but they were a close family).

There is a lot of pressure and stress in trying to create the "perfect" family get-together. It's almost as if you think that if you "set the stage" and make all the arrangements and preparations, it "will be wonderful."

But that's not how real life is.

Did you grow up in a house where everyone "got along" with everyone else and life just went along smoothly? Probably not. Do you remember getting together with grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins for the holidays? Did the visit always go smoothly or are you just remembering it that way?

When you mix together parents who work full-time, kids who'd rather be doing their own thing, and families traveling distances for the holiday, the odds are that things may not go smoothly. And when you toss in the individual personalities and issues that are ongoing in family relationships, it could even be "lumpy."

The thing is, you don't have to have a "Hallmark" family to be able to enjoy your family get-togethers. You just have to make the most of what you have and be thankful that you have it.

Let this holiday get-together be more about "being together" and less about "the perfect family moment." If you like to cook and have time for it, then enjoy your preparations. If you work full-time, however, consider buying a cooked turkey and having it sliced. You could have everyone bring an item and you could set up a "Holiday Buffet" with paper plates, napkins and colorful plasticware. Remember it's about the "being together" NOT the display.

Just a note about the people you may know who may not have family in the area to spend the holidays with. Invite them to your gathering. It will be a blessing to you both!

This year, make the decision to make the most of your holiday family get-togethers. Remember to "be in the moment" and make memories. It's not about the perfect family at the beautifully set table with the perfect menu, it's about the real people gathered together. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, so make the most of today... even if your family is more "Addams" than "Hallmark."

Are You A Master Gardener in Someone Else's Life?

My husband has an amazing gift for gardening. He can grow so many different kinds of plants and his specialty is orchids. They are beautiful! The time, care and nurturing he puts into the taking care of his plants shows in how they flourish. He truly has a "green thumb."

I, on the other hand, have a "black thumb." It doesn't matter how many different kinds of plants I try to grow or how much time I spend on them, they never seem to survive.

I am a Master Gardener, though, when it comes to nurturing, fertilizing and taking care of the loved ones in my life. I try to pay attention to their needs and am aware of their "growing" seasons and "dormant" seasons. I do my best to shine just the right amount of light (encouragement and wisdom) into their lives.

With all this tending to the other "gardens" in my family, I didn't realize that my own garden had gone dormant. Where there should've been buds and blooms, there were only stunted plants overshadowed by weeds.

Isn't it amazing how we can spend so much time taking care of others and forget completely about ourselves?

In the past year, I've been trying to learn more about me and what helps me to "grow." I'm trying things I've always talked about trying, but, until this year, never did.  I went to a writer's workshop in a town I'd never been to and with people I didn't know. I also went on a cruise.  I had so much fun at both and felt energized! It felt like coming out of a long sleep.

How is your garden growing? To quote my sister, "Are you Bonsai-gardening someone else's life and leaving your own to wither?" Bonsai gardening is a very detailed, labor-intensive, nurturing type of gardening. The careful, selective pruning at just the right time to shape the plant takes a lot of time. If you've ever seen the little Bonsai trees, it can take years to grow a very small, carefully shaped tree.

Are you spending so much time on everyone else that you've forgotten how to take care of yourself? Here's a test...ask yourself this..."If someone gave me a day all to myself to do whatever I want, would I have any idea what I would like to do?" If you can't come up with one thing you'd like to do, your garden has gone dormant and it's time to bring it into the sunlight and start nurturing it. Start by making a list of what you'd like to do. Have a "possibilities" list and a "dream" list. Do something off your "possibilities" list...soon...within the next month! Share your "dream" list with your loved ones. Sharing it helps you move toward  a "someday" of actually getting to do it.

It may take time for your garden to start growing again, but it's worth it. We weren't created to wither away, we were created to blossom and bloom!

Become a Master Gardener of yourself today. I guarantee you'll have a "green thumb" in YOU!

The Beautiful Day

Have you ever gotten up in the morning, looked outside and said "What a beautiful day!"?

This morning is like that. The sky is a cloudless blue with the Autumn sun glinting off the leaves on the trees. There is a gentle breeze blowing and the morning birds are waking the day with their song.

Nope. It doesn't get much better than this.

I love days like this, don't you? I could just sit outside and drink in the day. These kinds of days bring peace to my soul. The noise of everyday life fades away as I sit and enjoy the beauty.  Ahhh.....

There are many opportunities for "beautiful days" in our lives. I've noticed, though, that when my life is filled with stress about very real problems or with imagined potential difficulties, I don't notice the "beautiful days." Stress and worry always seem to take center stage, playing their annoying monologues in my head, drowning out the possibility of a "beautiful day." The sky could be a cloudless blue with a perfect breeze, but I would miss it because I was too busy paying attention to the noise in my head.

It is hard to notice the beautiful day when the car has broken down, the bills are due, or a loved one is sick. It almost feels like a betrayal to focus on something other than what is obviously more important. But maybe I've been doing it wrong. What if I spent time, a moment or a morning, drinking in the beautiful day to restore my soul and give me peace? Would it help me to focus better on the people or things needing my attention if I was able to have that foundation of peace? It would certainly quiet the running "what if's" so that I could pay attention to the "here and now."

The "here and now" is all that we really have. Each moment should be lived to its fullest. There will always be difficulties in our lives. We can choose to live each moment, appreciate the beautiful days, and pray for grace for those days that are overwhelming.

I love a beautiful day! I pray that I pay better attention to the beautiful days God puts in my life. I'm going to work on living my life to its fullest and let Him help me on those days that are harder.

What kind of days are beautiful to you?

Seek them out...immerse yourself in them...find rest for your soul.

This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

When Music Ministers

I had the privilege of being in the music ministry for about 35 years. It was an amazing thing to be able to lead in sharing the love and presence of God through music. Music reaches down to our souls like nothing else can. While we may not always be able to remember a verse we read, the words of a song that touched our hearts can stay with us for a lifetime, lifting us in times of need and refreshing us from the inside out.

Standing onstage, leading worship, I've had the opportunity to witness the touch of music upon many people. Some people were fully engaged from the moment they walked through the doors of the church, high school auditorium, cafeteria, etc. It was as if they looked forward all week for the chance to be able to worship! They worshipped fully with hands raised, joyful faces, eyes closed. Others, would, hesitantly, clap along with the faster songs, and when the slower songs began, their eyes would close and you could tell they were in their own private worship time, oblivious to others around them. Still others, you could tell, came in carrying the weight of their world on their shoulders. For these people, it was a struggle just to come to church...just to put one foot in front of the other. I've seen what happens when the words of a song are exactly what that person needed to hear at that moment. The silent tears and the look of peace upon their faces. There was a comfort that was happening, a refreshing. Then there were others that sat with their arms crossed, faces set with a look that said, "try and reach me if you can." Sadly, these people don't realize all they are missing out on. For whatever reason, they've chosen not to engage. The music might be "too loud" or the church "too non-traditional" or the people "disrespectful because of how they're dressed."

Worship isn't about "others" or the "type of service" or even about "church" or "religion." Worship is about spending time with the One who loves us more than life, itself. It's a "one on one" relationship. When we spend time, one on one, with our Abba Father, we are spending time in the presence of love, being loved, being encouraged, and reminded that there is One who is greater than all the things that are happening in our world and He is more than able to handle all of it.

When we spend time in worship, we are not only worshipping Him, but His Spirit is ministering to us. We all need to be nourished, to be refreshed, to feel joyful and alive. When we sing, and engage, we are awakening that part of our souls. It doesn't matter what kind of voice we have. I cannot tell you how many times people have said to me..."I can't carry a tune in a bucket. If I sang, the people next to me would tell me to be quiet." To these people, I would say, don't you know that God knows the voice he gave to you? Your voice is music to His ears. Your singing is for your relationship with Him, not for the people next to you. To the people sitting next to that person, I would say, "If you are listening to the person next to you, you are not fully involved in your worship. Every voice is a sweet sound to His ears. Tune in to God and tune out to what's going on around you."

Music can minister to us wherever we choose to worship. We can be in a car, singing along as loud as we can. We can be at home, singing along while we're cleaning. We can be at work with our music playing softly in the background, when a favorite song comes on and just washes over us with peace. Sometimes, just reading the lyrics to a song, can minister to us. It doesn't matter where we are, because wherever we are, He is.

Find a song that really means something to you, that touches your very soul. Write down the words, sing it, listen to it. Engage, sing, and connect to your Father who loves you dearly and loves hearing your voice. You will be refreshed, you will be renewed, you will be ministered to.

Jamie Grace has written a song called "Beautiful Day." It's all about taking the time to "get your worship on." Take time today to "get your worship on."

What to Do When Your "Happily Ever After" Isn't

What do you do when your "happily ever after" doesn't turn out that way?

We grew up reading the fairytales and watching the Disney movies. There's the whole "prince" and "happily ever after" thing in each story. Sure, sometimes there's a wicked witch or an evil stepsister, but the story always turns out wonderfully, in the end.

The thing about those stories, is that they're not real life. Real life can be messy. Sometimes, there seems to be more "wicked witches" than "happily ever afters."

I think we really want to believe in the fairytale, in happy endings, and when things don't turn out the same as in the story we've written for ourselves, it can really get in the way of a true happy ending.

For those of us who have had a bad relationship experience in our past, we may need to examine the fairytale that might still be alive in us. If we don't, we may be in danger of repeating the story, much like the "Groundhog Day" movie. Are we still looking for the fairytale or the prince, the one who meets all of our needs and always tries to make us happy?

Relationships are made from real people with their own stories, coming together to join those stories and write a new one together. There simply are no "fairytale" people who live their lives completely for the other person's fulfillment, to ensure their happiness. (And if there were, we really wouldn't want that).

It is perfectly fine to look for someone who has the "good" qualities on our "list." We just have to be careful not to "write them" into our fairytale. Even if they really were a prince or princess, they will not always act in a "fairytale" way. Sometimes people act more like "wicked witches" than "princes or princesses." (We have only to look in a mirror on some days to see it in ourselves, right?)

So what do we do when our "happily ever after" wasn't?

The first thing we need to do is to appreciate and love who we are. (If we cannot do that, how can we expect anyone else to?) The God who created all things, made each of us. (See Psalm 139:14).  He loves us and made each of us unique with our own "good" qualities and gifts. We are simply amazing! He also has good plans for us. (See Jeremiah 29:11). You see, when we truly love and appreciate who we are, there is no end to the possibilities and plans for our future!

The second thing we need to do is to "rewrite" the ending. "How can I do that?" you ask, "the relationship is already over." Once you figure out that the "ending" is really the "beginning," you can write your new ending according to how you want your story to go. The relationship may be over, but your new life is just beginning. What would you like to do? How do you want your story to go? It is your chance, to be your own author, to write a new story.

"Happily Ever After" isn't just a phrase at the end of a fairytale, it can be how you choose to live your life, going forward. Life isn't a fairytale, but it is "your" story. There may be wicked witches, evil family members and trolls, but there could also be "fairy godmother-type" people who love you and are a blessing to you. How you choose to live your story is up to you.

How will you write your "happily ever after?" Make it an amazing, interesting journey. Fill it with people and things you love. Love yourself and really "live" your story, starting today!

...and she lived happily ever after!