December 16, 2017 - How Not To Make Your Grown Kids Hate Christmas

Great Post by Suzanne Eller!!

52 texts.

The first text looked something like this:

Hey kiddos, when do you want to get together for Christmas? 

And then it began. One of our children proposed a date, and another said it wouldn’t work. Someone else thought a date might be open, only to realize that it was already filled. We kept working at it, until we realized that maybe this was the first year that we wouldn’t be able to do Christmas together.

Did that make me sad?

It didn’t.

Because a long time ago, I made myself a promise — that Christmas wouldn’t be limited to a specific day, or a specific way of doing things. That I would be flexible. That we’d have fun, no matter what day we got together.

I made this promise as a young mom — when I was hauling little kids out of bed and into the car. When I longed for Christmas morning to be with my children, all of us in our pajamas after a big breakfast of French toast.

Though some were more flexible than others, it seemed like there was always at least one person disappointed (or outright mad) because we weren’t where they wanted us to be.

It’s not that there weren’t good memories. There were. Yet, in those early years, we were often a source of disappointment. Richard and I were the first to be married on either side. We were the first to have children. And in those early Christmas years, we were often the ones “messing up” the way things had always been.

One day I realized that I no longer loved Christmas.

As a believer, this weighed heavy. How could I share the joy of Christ with my young family when I wrestled with resentment, uncertainty, angst?

One year cancer gave us an incredible gift.

I got sick at the ripe age of 31. That Christmas I was going through chemotherapy. Radiation was next. My children were young, and all I wanted was to watch them grow up. That Christmas no one said a word about expectations.

I’d see a flash when I laid down for a nap, my body tired from the toxins in my veins. I knew what they were doing. This might be our last Christmas together. They were taking pictures of us all together. They were treasuring the gift of now.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18 (ESV)

It’s been years since that hard Christmas (and yet such a good one). My children are grown, and now that they are, I want to remember the promise I made.

I want Christmas to be about Christ — not me. Not my wishes. Not my traditions, or how I think things should be.

While I have no control over anyone’s schedule but my own, I do have the option of bringing peace into this season. I desire that my children know that mom is flexible. That if it takes 52 texts for us to figure this out (and we eventually did), that I’m okay with that.

You see, my children weren’t created to fill the need of Christmas in my heart. They aren’t supposed to juggle and finagle and worry about who is mad at who. Most of all, I long that when they see me, they’ll see that while I love them with all my heart, Christmas isn’t about a day. It’s about Jesus.

Lord, let my children see you in me. In every day, but especially in this season of celebrating you. 

There’s a hidden treasure in this, one I didn’t realize. Because it’s pressure-free, they work really hard to be with us.

Maybe it’s not on Christmas day, or maybe it is.

Maybe it’s unconventional and Richard and I hike on Christmas morning, while they have sweet family time, or they are with the other side of the family. Yet when we gather (and it’s wild and wooly with 6 littles), my prayer is that they will fall in love with Christmas and all that it means.

If you are on the other side of someone’s anger or disappointment this Christmas, I’m reaching with a huge embrace. I pray his peace wraps around your tender heart, and you see how beautiful you are to him.

If you are the one struggling to hold on to what “once was,” would you consider releasing that to discover the new in this season? You might be surprised at what you gain when you do.

December 14, 2017

Early Morning Musings

Four hours until eye injection #14. I really want to be that cheerful “no big deal” kind of person when it comes to this - and I know that I have a wonderful life and I am so blessed!! But eye injections are very low on the list of ways I’d like to spend my morning. And I wish I knew how the story ends - how many more injections? Will my eye stabilize soon? Will cancer come back? Will the cognitive problems improve? One thought leads to the next. 

I’m getting better at eye injections. And at not knowing the unknown. I know that I can’t control my eyes - or cancer cells or memory issues, for that matter. Even so, I still do NOT like surprises and want to know how it all turns out. 😁

But here’s a benefit of eye injection days. I usually wake up early that day and read - starting with my devotion time. 

I have been reading a lot of Christmas devos this year and thinking about Mary, the mother of Jesus. That girl was so tough!! The idea of traveling a long distance when you are about to give birth - and then to not have a place to stay??? I would have been extremely unpleasant!! 

But she let God be God, even though she didn’t understand all the details or reasons for her situation. I can learn a lot from Mary!! Here is a part of my devo this morning:

“Why did God allow me to be placed in a role that was beyond my capability? This was the first of many ‘bigger than me’ assignments. I quickly learned that God wasn’t really concerned with my capabilities. All He required was a willing vessel. His glory was best displayed in impossible situations...: This Christmas, rather than worry about circumstances that are out of our control, we can choose to trust that God is working in unexpected ways.” - Lili Dunbar

We can trust God. Even when we don’t understand. Even (and especially) when we don’t know how it all turns out. Just need to keep repeating that. 😁

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

December 13, 2017

“One of the most spiritual things you can do is encourage someone. We are told to encourage one another every day so that sin’s deceitfulness doesn’t harden our hearts....

Imagine how God might use you to encourage someone to press on when they feel like giving up. Or how God might help someone’s marriage as you tell them how you’ve overcome the same problem in yours. Think about how much of a difference you could make to someone who is down by telling them who they are in Christ.

Sometimes you can literally be a voice of hope. You can be the difference between someone quitting or staying in the game. Between someone giving in or continuing the fight. From someone continuing to hate or choosing to forgive. Between someone losing it or finding real peace, contentment, and joy.

Be watchful. Be prayerful. Be ready. You may walk by someone at work who seems fine, but is in real pain. You may talk to someone by text that puts up a good front, but really needs someone to listen. You might encounter a total stranger, and one word of encouragement might make a big difference.

You have no idea what God might do in someone else’s life through one simple act of encouragement. Be available to him today.” - Craig Groeschel

December 12, 2017

“But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”—Philippians 2:7–8 (NKJV) 

Reputation . . . It’s everything, right? Webster’s defines it as, “The common opinion that people have about someone or something.” This is what most people care about: what others think of them. It has everything to do with what we’re known for, negatively or positively. And we try so hard to uphold a certain reputation because everyone cares about the opinions of others . . . except one person.

Jesus Christ disregarded reputation altogether! How is this possible? Only someone who is divine could actually do it. When Jesus came to Earth, He gave up his deity—basically His true essence since the beginning of time. While on Earth, He cared only about one thing: the way His Father viewed Him, not people.

The crazy thing is that most of us only care about what others think of us and disregard what God says about us! But Jesus had a perfect understanding of how His Father viewed Him, and this set Him apart from anyone in all of humanity. In the gospels, it’s evident that when Jesus called God His Father it angered many. People considered this to be blasphemous, but He was just proclaiming the truth.

Because of this rock solid foundation in His reputation before His Father, what others thought of Him—or even accused Him of—didn’t faze Him because He only cared about one opinion. Because of this, He was free to do anything and everything that was asked of Him by God. Most of us avoid doing things God asks us to do because we’re afraid of what others might think of us. But Jesus didn’t have this problem. He was obedient in every way, and as we see in this verse, He even chose to die out of obedience to God’s will!

I’m not sure about you, but if you’re anything like me then God’s will must seem crazy sometimes. Believe me, sometimes it is—but only if we try to understand it with our finite minds. We must learn to give up our reputation and disregard what others will think of us in order to obtain the greater mysteries of God through faithful obedience. And you know what? People may think you’re crazy! But are you going to live in fear of your reputation, or will you submit when God is asking you to be obedient? Whose opinion will you value?”

“Only One Opinion Matters” by Joel De Sousa

December 11, 2017

We are all so busy getting ready for Christmas. Shopping, cooking, shipping, cleaning - so much to do!

I was at a store in Memphis on Friday that was in the middle of a 14-hour sale. When I walked in, every register was open but the lines were still backed up - at least 12 people per line. I thought about walking back out the door, but decided to stay. 

I made my way to the front with my items and the lines were no shorter. The woman in front of me kept turning around, rolling her eyes and nodding at the clerk. I just smiled at the lady - I did not do the “I agree” eye-rolling that I may have done in the past. 

When I got to the register, you could feel the weariness and frustration in the employee. She immediately apologized for the long wait and then almost flinched as if waiting for a scolding about their inefficiency. I felt so sorry for her. I can’t imagine what this season is like for her. And when you work in retail or hospitality - when do you have time to shop, cook, ship and clean?

If we want to be the body of Christ, let’s start by showing kindness to the people we come into contact with each day! By saying a kind word, offering a silent prayer, giving a smile instead of a sneer. You can give that gift to your community without spending a penny - and it will change the season for you!!

December 9, 2017

“Suffering isn’t an obstacle to being used by God. It is an opportunity to be used like never before. You’re actually better fit for ministry in the crucible of pain. You have a stronger voice to project and to declare, and it’s easier to belt from the diaphragm of your soul when you’re hurting. It’s counterintuitive, but in the middle of my hardest mess, I’ve found ministry to be a great strength waiting to be tapped into. It was welling up within me—a greater desire than ever before to tell the whole world that Jesus Christ can turn off the dark—because I experienced it myself." - Levi Lusko

“If your heart is broken, you’ll find GOD right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.” Psalm‬ ‭34:18‬ ‭MSG‬‬

December 8, 2017

“We don’t have to interact with anyone, so we don’t. Now people interact online and through social media and really never have to interact. You can even shop online.

But Jesus always had time for other people. He talked to them, fed them, healed them, and forgave them. He often met physical needs in order to address spiritual needs. If we’re too busy even to interact with the people around us, let alone engage with their struggles, then we’re not following Christ’s example. And we’re also missing out on the blessing of loving and serving one another.

Today take the time to stop, listen, and talk with someone you see every day but rarely slow down to get to know.”

- Craig Groeschel

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,”. Hebrews‬ ‭10:24‬ ‭NIV‬‬