Merry Christmas!

Praise be to God for His Indescribable Gift!!

May you all have a blessed and joyous Christmas and know that you are loved so much, that God sent His son to this earth, for YOU.

Thank you all for your love and support during 2010. I will be back after the New Year. I plan to take some time to enjoy my kids and the simple things in life. God bless!

Remember the Shepherds

Ever feel insignificant? Unimportant? Imperfect? Forgettable?
Yeah. Me too.
I've shared my thoughts with you and with my friend Diane about feeling insignificant or lacking a clear calling. Basically, forgettable.

This past Sunday I was reminded of how much God uses the forgettable. The non-important, non-flashy members of society. The no names.The insignificant.

God chose to send the angels to the shepherds to tell about the great and awesome Savior's birth. He didn't need to go to the king or the leaders. He didn't go to Ceasar Augustus or Quirinius, even though everyone knew them and they would be able to spread the word. God chose the lowly nightwatchmen of sheep. The poor and humble shepherds. They were the ones whom the angel spoke to. They were the first to hear the news. They were the ones most used by God.

And Mary and Joseph were nothing to write home about either. They didn't live in a palace. Joseph was a carpenter. He didn't have riches to boast about. And Jesus grew up doing the work that God planned for him, living a humble life, never needing riches or servants or the fine things that the leaders and important people of the day thought made you who you were.

And then there's Bethlehem. A small village essentially. There was no room for them, but as you consider the size of Bethlehem, that's probably because it was a "one horse town" that didn't have places a visitors bureau, because unless you were from there, you really had no reason to go there. An insignificant village. It wouldn't be on the maps if it weren't for the fact that Jesus Christ, Savior of the world was born there.

So as you ponder your life and feel forgettable and brush off the thought of God using you for His kingdom's work, remember the shepherds. Remember the stable. Remember Mary and Joseph. And remember that YOU are loved by God and YOU are worth the saving.

Luke 2:8-15 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

It's the thought that counts...

Going on the assumption that it really is the thought that counts, well... you all have had some great reading and entertainment here this week!
However if you can't read my thoughts and have no clue how touching the greatest Christmas Story really is, or how cute it was when my daughter sang "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (her version) on my first ever video post,(I know you all just said a prayer of thanks that you didn't have to torture yourselves with that)  then I guess I'll give you this:

I'm a little bit off schedule this week due to this happening not once.But TWICE yesterday. I have several dozen cut out cookies to get baked and when my oven keeps starting on fire due to the fact that I never bothered to clean up the caramel that spilled from the monkey bread that I made 2 weeks ago just the day before it puts me behind schedule.

So, as soon as I get this all cleaned up, I'll be back.

Or at least I'll be thinking about you.

Doesn't that make you feel better?

Oh be careful little eyes what you see...

It starts out innocently enough. I walk to the mailbox to get the mail. As I flip through all of the bright and colorful pages it happens,

"hmm... yeah, my pots and pans do look a little dingy"
" that new kitchen-aid mixer my husband surprised me with is an older model now... they have that glass bowl now... I like this color more.. of course, that may mean repainting my kitchen and then I'll need new curtains...."
"those lamps are all wrong for my living room"
" I should have a sweater like that for the holidays...I have those other 5, but they aren't quite like this style...
"think of all the kids' programs and games and recitals I could record with that video camera- that doesn't use a small VHS tape"
 "ohh... that dress is cute, Maicy should have that!"
 "Hmm... I wonder if Jackson would like that"

Suddenly, everything that I was more than happy with, becomes old worthless junk. No longer good enough. Every year I go through this. I page through catalog after catalog, pining after things that will not in anyway make my life better. Because the ultimate gift is not a thing. It's a Savior. None of this stuff even comes close to filling that spot in my life. It only distracts me from the focus of the Christmas season.

I walk to the mailbox. I keep the cards from friends and family, set the bills in the organizer, and toss without even opening, the endless supply of catalogs and sale fliers. If I didn't know I needed it before I saw it, I certainly don't need it now. (and in case my son or husband is reading this, no, I did NOT throw away the Cabela's fliers- yes, I realize those are "different")

What about you? What great ideas do you have to help stop the commercialism from distracting you from the true meaning of this holiday?

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15