Lord, Your name is above all others. Your kingdom includes me and all who believe in You. I honor you and stand in awe of your holiness. I don’t deserve to be in Your presence. You say a word and Your will is done. You open the heavens and the rains and snow fall. You speak and the sun rises to meet each day. You control all of creation and see that everything runs in accordance with Your wisdom.
Your loving hands have once again embraced and protected me this week. You’ve shielded me when I needed to fend off the evil thoughts of daily existence. You’ve been the armor I need to keep the penetrating arrows of sin at bay. You’ve restored my health and even when I wonder if my last breath is drawing near, You continue to sustain me.
You provide all I need to stay alive and be prepared for death. As each day passes and my concerns shift to the cares of this world, I turn to You and You are there. You have given me the talents and gifts to survive, but you also provide me with the luxury of your Holy Word and guide for my life.
Help me forgive those that cause so much harm in this world. As heinous as their crimes may seem, I’m really no different. I’ve fallen short and deserve your punishment, but still You look beyond my sin and at the face of the One who has redeemed me.
I know temptation is everywhere, but I also realize that you have the power to lead me from it. Keep me from evil thoughts, words and deeds and always in the protection of Your mighty wings.
I pray this with confidence that Your Son has given me the victory through His death and resurrection and that Your Spirit lives within me so I can share this glorious news with others.
Poor Charlie Brown. His search for the perfect Christmas tree often left a lot to be desired, but his spirit for the season never waivered. When I think about my own childhood, I recall always waiting until the last minute for my dad to bring home the last tree on the lot, because he could get a deal on it. The smell of evergreen didn’t exactly permeate our home and the few remaining branches on that skeleton of its former self resembled Charlie’s tree. It would be up to me and my sister to turn it into something worthwhile to look at.
Dad would sit in his chair, with his watchful eye focused on each ornament we placed. He was extremely critical from his vantage point. “Put more tinsel over there,” he’d shout. “It needs more lights on the top.” It always amazed me that it turned into something beautiful in the end. There’s something magical about Christmas and trimming the tree is one of them.
When our own family was old enough to hike into the woods, we’d bundle everyone up and pile into the car on our quest for the perfect tree. My husband the artist also had a critical eye and wanted only the best for his family. So we searched – and searched – and searched some more. By the time the perfect specimen was located, everyone but our fearless leader had icicles hanging from their noses. I must admit, the tree was always amazing. The scent of those pine branches, brought a little of the outdoors into our living room. The dog even examined it to see if it was a suitable tree, but didn’t seem to mind that there was a tree inside the house.
Eventually the tree cutting became more of a chore than fun. Our annual tradition gave way to an artificial tree. Still the idea of braving the elements didn’t much appeal to any of us, except our own personal Paul Bunyan.
Over the years, we have replaced the artificial tree a few times. We’ve placed the last one outside for our birds to enjoy and now have a little Charlie Brown tree. Traditions change over time, but the true message of the season never does. Jesus was born and laid in a manger, hewn from a tree. He worked as a carpenter alongside His stepdad, creating pieces of furniture out of trees. Eventually, He carried the cross beams of his execution which were made from the wood of a tree.
If we think about it, the whole reason for His coming to earth as true man/true God, was because of a tree.
“The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached. When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. It thrilled Scrooge with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the mask there were eyes staring at him.”
In the story of Scrooge and his transformation, we come to the end of his dream, where he is met by the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Be. It is what we will all face at one point or another in our lives – that moment when death grips us with its infallible strength. Any choice or hope of clinging to the life we once had is now gone.
We always seem to imagine the end of life as being filled with darkness – the Grim Reaper reaching out to carry us to the grave and the end. Scrooge is reminded through his journey of the fragility of life as he witnesses the illness which is overtaking Tiny Tim. He looks death in the eye as he’s pointed to his own gravestone. It’s the end of our being – so we’ve been told. The world would like us to believe that there is no more, once you die, but we are assured that life goes on even beyond death.
This is the time where we see the effect of Scrooge’s dream. In his former state, he was nothing but a miserly, crabby, unhappy and dying man, but he’s been given a second chance. It’s not his time to die. Like us, when we feel our lives are over, you can bet that God still has stuff for us to do. We can’t determine our own demise. We can’t decide where we will be in ten years.
What would you do, if you were given an extension on your life, just at the moment you thought that it would soon end? Would you rejoice, as Scrooge did, at the news that he was still alive? Would you try to amend your old ways and redeem yourself? Would you spend all your fortune on helping the poor or doing good for others, or would you squander every last cent on your own pleasure? Scrooge managed to do all of that, because he had the opportunity to meet death at his grave site.
As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, who paid the price of our redemption completely, let’s stop and take a breath. Remember what a great gift salvation is for us. Share that blessed gift with others – don’t hoard it for yourself and those you love. The world needs to know that God loves them more than they can imagine.
“Then I saw the sinful buried, who used to go in and out of the holy place. They are soon forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is for nothing. Because a sinful act is not punished in a hurry, so the hearts of the sons of men are given completely over to sin. Even though a sinner does sinful things a hundred times and lives a long time, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, and let others know they fear God. ECCLESIASTES 8:10-12
When we moved into our new “old” house four years ago, these little treasures went undiscovered for two Christmases. Paul had meticulously carved chunks of wood into these special Santas and I have enjoyed displaying them over the years. We no longer have a lovely mantel like we did in our old home, but still, the thought of their being lost in the move was hard to handle.
In the Summer of 2019, before anyone heard of COVID19, Paul discovered an unopened box in the garage attic. There, nestled among tissue paper, were the Santas none the worse for wear. We were able to display them last year and have decided to keep them on permanent display in our house.
Of course we don’t believe in Santa Claus, but we do love what he represents – the spirit of Christmas. This year, more than ever, we need more of that spirit. It doesn’t come packages in ribbons and bows, but the true spirit was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.
Let’s never lose track of that amazing message. Never let it get lost in transition or in any other way. Keep it alive throughout the year and make it readily accessible.
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosover believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
The second ghost to appear to Scrooge, is the Ghost of Christmas Present. He’s dressed in green, fur lined robes and a candle lit crown of holly and ivy rests on his head. His purpose is to further point out the sins of Scrooge and lead him to repentance.
As with most stories of old, the protagonist and antagonist are clearly depicted. We might look at Scrooge as the villain, but he’s really the hero of this story, because he changes his life around, during this evening of dreams and ghostly presentation. Learning the true meaning of Christmas and Christian charity.
This ghost, like the first, takes him on a journey of his current surroundings – showing him the affluent celebrating the holiday with their Figgie Pudding and enormous table of treats, while the poor celebrate, with their meager gifts in poorly heated and lit homes. There was no middle class – just the haves and have-nots. All around the city, he’s observing celebration and joy, yet he feels completely separated from it. When they visit the Cratchit house, Scrooge notices Tiny Tim’s crutch standing near the fireplace and suddenly realizes the magnitude of this family’s suffering. His heart is beginning to melt like the icicles which have collected upon the roof. He wonders if the boy will live. He’s actually concerned for his welfare. This poor family seems to possess as much as those who have the luxury of spending a fortune on their Christmas meal. They have not been blessed with wealth, but they have the true love of family and being connected.
The spirit then shows Scrooge two emaciated children, hiding under his robe. The boy is named Ignorance and the girl named Want. This part of the story depicts the social message as the ghost declares to Scrooge, “Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.” Once again, Scrooge’s conscience is put to the test.
I think the message of this portion of the story is that Christmas is not about our giving, but of the greatest gift ever. Even those who didn’t have much to share, were willing to do so. The true joy of Christmas is sharing in the greatest gift to all humanity – the birth of our Savior.
The Ghost of Christmas past will live one more day – the future takes over – we think of our own repentance. We see our sinful selves and how we’re being devoured by sin. Our hearts are laid bare before God. Since the wages of sin are death, we feel complete loss until we realize that God has actually taken it on Himself to solve the problem.
He did this by sending His own flesh and blood to live with us and experience all the things we do, but remained sinless. Through Jesus, we are sure of heaven and all its blessings. Even the Scrooges among us have been saved.
STAY TUNED FOR PART THREE – THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS YET TO BE.
It seems that some of the world’s greatest literature includes a ghost or two. In Shakespeare’s work, the protagonist is often confronted with ghosts. Spirits are sometime seen as evil or forces from the devil. Some might be portenders of future events. Some ghosts fill our dreams, our thoughts and our imaginations.
In the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, as told by Charles Dickens, ghosts lead this wealthy man through the past, present and future and help him see the mistakes he’s made – the state of the world outside his own and how he can change the course of his life. He is first confronted by the ghost of his dead business partner, warning him of what lies ahead if he continues on the same path Marley forged in life.
The ghost of Christmas past is met next. How many times, especially during the holidays, do we dwell on past Christmases? We may have adopted several traditions over the years and become disappointed when they are glazed over by something else. We may look at those old memories and wonder why we can’t have it like it was way back when. The truth is, time marches on. New traditions are formed. New ways of celebrating the birth of Christ happen. Just as generation after generation has difficulty understanding the new one, we all tend to think that nothing can take the place of what once was.
Scrooge is swept away by the Ghost of Christmas Past to the early years of his life – years filled with ambition, climbing the ladder of success and experiencing loss of those he loved. In his quest for success he became shrewd and miserly, but lost out on the important things that could’ve changed the outcome of his life. His goals became obsessive and his dreams took a back seat.
Scrooge witnessed the replaying of his young life – his falling in love – the celebration of Christmas at the Fezziwig’s home and all the joy surrounding it. Then reality set in. His youthful heart became calloused with ambition and in the process overlooked the true joy of living.
We can’t go back and change what was. It would be lovely if we could, but then what would we learn from those difficult choices and mistakes? Our past is over and done, but it is still a part of us. Changing the focal point of our living is what makes the future brighter. As Christmas draws near, let’s not forget what it’s all about. A little child was born in poverty. His life had been predetermined by God, His Father. He would only live 33 years, but He’d change the course of the salvation of man’s soul for eternity.
All the festivities, the special food, the gifts are nice reminders of our joy at this time of year, but the true satisfaction comes from knowing that our redemption was paid for by that little baby – God with us.
Scrooge was cut to the core by his visit to the past. Surely his mind was reeling over what could have been. We all go through thoughts like that. The thing that makes stories into classics is how they remain pertinent at any time in our lives.
“Spirit!” said Scrooge in a broken voice, “remove me from this place.” “I told you these were shadows of the things that have been,” said the Ghost. “That they are what they are, do not blame me!” Charles Dickens – “A Christmas Carol“
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
2 Corinthians 13:11
It’s Sunday. We will again tune into our church’s electronic service and worship our God. We’ll sing hymns and hear the Word – we’ll listen to the message and be inspired, but something will be missing.
Our Sundays have changed since the pandemic hit us ten months ago. Churches began to go with the flow and offer services on line. Now we can even choose which service or services to attend. We can sit in the comfort of our own homes, sip on a cup of coffee, relax in our pajamas and not think about starting up the car in freezing temperatures.
We became accustomed to this form of worship, because we didn’t have a choice. Our government shut down our churches because of a germ. We comply for the benefit of our fellow man and ourselves so that the virus will not spread. The germ could be found in church as well as any other gathering place. The fact that singing in church could also spread germs sealed the deal.
So, here it is, the second Sunday in Advent. Our hearts and minds should be focused on the coming of our Savior, King, Jesus. Our voices should be raised in melodious anthems sung by choirs and congregations. Those songs are designed to be sung in groups of more than one or two. It isn’t the same this Christmas season. Nothing is the same.
I truly miss the fellowship of Christian worship. We can still enjoy the Word of God where ever we are, but being together, encouraging one another, hugging, smiles, and tears are still missing. My heart is sad because of it, but then I’m reminded of the very first Christmas when Jesus was born.
He came to this earth in the presence of his mother, Mary and her betrothed husband, Joseph. They had no place to stay, because the town of Bethlehem was filled with visitors and the inn was full. Instead of the royal welcome He should’ve received, Jesus was born in a holding place for animals. His bed was their feeding trough. Certainly the angels in heaven rejoiced at this wondrous event. Shepherds were frightened as they tended their sheep when that heavenly choir brought them the news that the Messiah was born, but it wasn’t a usual royal birth.
Last year I spent Christmas Eve in a hospital bed. It was a most unusual Christmas, but God was with me in that room. The huge window next to my bed revealed a misty, midnight sky. Eventually a star appeared. Even in the silence and aloneness of that moment, I was reminded that all my fears – all my hopes and dreams – all my sadness was outshone by that little star.
Like the first Christmas, when the star led the shepherds to Jesus, I was permitted a glimpse of what it must’ve been like.
We will gather together in fellowship again. It may be a while, so in the meantime, we should continue to lift each other up in prayer. We should share time with them online. We shouldn’t let that flame go out. God’s love will never die. We must work hard to keep ours alive.
I always thought it would be cool to be a Ninja – to have the agility, the elasticity to glide over roof tops, leap stealthily from house to house with the greatest of ease. I suppose it may have to do with my childhood fascination with the circus and the aerial performers flying through he air. Who would’ve thought there was an actual day that celebrates Ninjas?
Of course my days of that kind of adventure are long gone. I have discovered that my knees, even though they ache all the time, were x-rayed and found to be the knees of a young woman. I should by all rights be able to be a Ninja, but something in the back of my head encourages me to stay safely on the ground.
Now, with everyone masking up, the whole world has gone Ninja. Masks used to be reserved for super heroes, bandits and phantoms of the opera. Now everyone is wearing them. It’s been interesting to watch how Americans have taken the disposable mask to a whole new level. We now have masks with an extension of our own face painted on them so we don’t look like we’re wearing one. There are masks with our favorite football teams, flannel plaids, designer type masks and an assortment of creative ideas. Leave it to us to make lemonade out of lemons, but I digress.
However it isn’t really a digression. Ninjas have been around since the ancient of days. They invented masks, I think. I wonder if they would’ve had the same effect if they snuck up on someone while wearing a smiley face mask?
So today, when you put on your COVID19 protection, think of yourself as a Ninja and you will be in good company. You can even yell “Haiii Yah!” without being embarassed.
As you know, I’m a movie buff. I love watching musicals even though it makes no sense to start singing for no reason. I can sit and watch the old classics all day. There’s something about Christmas movies that strike a nerve – especially those with tons of nostalgia mixed in. Hallmark movies, even though filled with much the same story line and happy endings, we need a little bit of happy right now. The holiday season this year won’t be the same as Christmases past, but it will certainly be memorable.
Here are a few quotes from Christmas movies. See how many you can guess. Some will jump right out at you, while others take a little more thought.
“No one should be alone on Christmas.”
“We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice.”
“Keep the change, you filthy animal.”
“You put on the suit, you’re the big guy.”
“It’s a one-year membership in the jelly-of-the-month club.”
“I wish I had a million dollars…hot dog!”
“Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind.”
“I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.”
“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”
“You have such a pretty face, you should be on a Christmas card.”
Here are the movies they’re connected to. Can you guess them all?
A CHRISTMAS STORY
ELF
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION
CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS
THE SANTA CLAUS
HOME ALONE
Just for fun, you might want to add who said the line.
I love the old movies about Christmas. You know the ones that make you feel all soft inside – cause you tear up or strike a familiar nerve. Movies like, “A Christmas Carol,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas.” These movies are packed with family values, love for one another, charity, peace on earth and all the good things associated with Christmas. The strand that ties them all together is that life isn’t always perfect. Life for most people has its glitches and roadblocks.
To find the true miracles, we often have to dig deeper than the gifts of “The Christmas Story.” Ralphie’s dream of getting a Red Ryder B.B. gun, in spite of his mother’s objections, simply doesn’t result in the perfect, happy ending.
I think the true miracles of Christmas can be found in the simplest of things. Memories of those simple things are alive in my brain, more than any of the gifts I’ve ever received. I couldn’t tell you one special gift I asked for and got for Christmas, but I do remember the old scraggly tree we got at the last minutes in order to save money.
I recall my dad spending lots of extra hours working, so we could have special clothes to wear. I remember my mom spending hours curling my sister’s and my hair with rags. I think about the Christmases where homemade ornaments, knit scarves, mittens and doll clothes were all we had to give or receive. The smiles at receiving whatever was given always outweighed the gift itself. The time spent together is a miracle in itself.
When Christmas caroling one year, the little choir we were a part of was visiting an elderly man of ninety something. He didn’t answer his door, but peeked through the window as he heard the joyous voices. Almost like a little child, he pressed his nose against the pane and a small smile curled the edges of his mouth. He looked down to open the window slightly, so he could hear better. When his face reappeared, small tears had formed in the corners of his eyes. I considered that a wonderful miracle.
Sometimes we have to search hard for miracles. Maybe you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one this year. Perhaps you just lost your job and your debts far outweigh your assets. You might be struggling with addiction and feel there is no way out for you. There are many who are homeless, living under bridges with no warm blankets or clothes to push out the winter’s cold. How can there be even the tiniest miracle in any of that?
The most unlikely place for the King of Creation to make His human appearance, was in a lowly stable. Everything about that first Nativity of our Lord, was inconceivable – a virgin birth – born in Bethlehem as foretold by the prophets – true man yet true God- born to deliver the entire world from the chains of sin, guilt and death. None of it made sense, but these miraculous events were tucked away in Mary’s heart and undoubtedly remembered as they occurred.
There are times when we have to search hard for a miracle, but they do exist. I love those old movies, but I think Linus expressed it best. In “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” these were the words he recited:
“And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.”Luke 2:8-14
At the time I posted this picture we were about three months into the pandemic. I was in denial, hoping that this was all a figment of my imagination – that I’d wake up and it would be over. For a while there we had weekly updates from the Governor – statistics of the living and the dead. I was beginning to feel like a character in a Monty Python movie.
By that time in 2020 people were already finding creative ways to pass the time. They were getting to know their spouses and children again – in close quarters every day. Dirty laundry, sitting in a heap began to multiply and grow like the virus itself. Some folks wrote parodies that were quite funny and entertaining. Some posted silly COVID19 cartoons (including myself) to try and keep things in perspective. Some of us used the ‘time out’ to complete undone tasks while others slipped into their own little cocoon and felt good about not having contact with others.
I even toyed with the idea of deep cleaning my house. That lasted for about an hour. Instead I became a fan of old movies on TV. I spent a lot of time learning how to become a Zoomer instead of a Boomer. The Technology I had been avoiding for so long was now a part of my life.
I started thinking about silly things, like how many empty coffee cans we were saving and why – how many plastic bags could you get into another plastic bag before throwing the whole lot away. I spent a lot of time sitting down during my waking hours. Everything I eat has gone to my hips and I’ve discovered that cropping doesn’t work to eliminate the extra baggage.
Whenever there’s a new announcement about the state of the pandemic, we’re told to hang in there for another few weeks. Those few weeks turn into months and somehow we feel like a child asking his parent when they’re going to get there and the reply is, “Pretty soon.” I’ve actually read that someone is suggesting wearing a mask at home. Personally, I would be dead in an hour if that were the case.
Now a vaccine is in the works. I wonder if this is designed to get rid of us old fogies. It would eliminate the surplus population, as Ebenezer Scrooge once said. There’s not much we contribute to society anymore. I wonder if we’ll have a choice?
So today I’ll think about cleaning my refrigerator. I’ll consider dusting the furniture. Notice, I said I’d think about it. I may even be so bold as to go grocery shopping. I look forward to a weekly happy hour via the internet to visit with dear friends. This and shopping are the highlights of my current condition. But I will hang in there with the rest of the world. It won’t be long now. Or will it?
Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
As we say hello to the last month of this eventful year, all of us are quite eager to get it done with. The year 2020 will long be remembered as one to forget. For the first time in a hundred years, a worldwide pandemic swept across cities and country sides with rampant disregard for anyone in its path.
We were subjected to impeachment hearings, presidential campaigns ad nauseum, name calling, bullying and injustice. Our city streets exploded with protests and violence, unleashing more hatred and anger. Mandates came at us on a weekly basis – wear a mask, masks don’t help – every symptom meant you had COVID19 – death came to many too soon – schools were closed – small business and the entertainment industry were put on hold – economy would most likely tank – fear, anxiety, depression set in as families huddled together and got to know one another again.
So we have experienced just about every human emotion and we’ve gotten through another year. There is hope on the horizon with vaccines that will help eliminate the pandemic. There is optimism by some that our country is on a better path with the election of a new president. We look ahead with anticipation to the start of a new year and pray that the next one will be better.
During this month, we are also looking forward to the celebration of Christmas. We are on the cusp of a great adventure. The King of Kings is born in a dirty stable, surrounded by smelly animals. The promised Messiah came to fulfill the covenant made with man in the Garden of Eden. From the depths of poverty, in a land filled with anger, frustration, hopelessness, the Prince of Peace would emerge. His birth would lead to a ministry beyond compare, a horrible death and resurrection from that death.
As we make way for the Lord, let’s remember that He will come again in majestic glory. We can count on it!
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
Life is a patchwork of moments — laughter, solitude, everyday joys, and quiet aches. Through scribbled stories, I explore travels both far and inward, from sunrise over unfamiliar streets to the comfort of home. This is life as I see it, captured in ink and memory. Stick around; let's wander together.
God's amazing grace removes walls and replaces those barriers with Jesus, freedom from sin's consequences, freedom to forgive, and freedom to love unconditionally.
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