I join Celine Dion and others in my wish for 2011.

"I pray you'll be our eyes,
and watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
in times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer,
when we lose our way
Lead us to the place,
guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.

I pray we'll find your light,
and hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night,
remind us where you are
Let this be our prayer,
when shadows fill our day
Help us find a place,
guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.

A world where pain and sorrow will be ended
And every heart that's broken will be mended
And we'll remember we are all God's children
Reaching out to touch you
Reaching to the sky

We ask that life be kind,
and watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
another soul to love
Let this be our prayer,
just like every child
Who needs to find a place,
guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe."

by David Foster and Carol Bayer Sager

My Personal Favorite Christmas Song

♫ “A tired man, a donkey,
A woman close to birth
Came to Bethlehem that night
When God came down to earth
Joseph knocked on ev’ry door
The answer stayed the same
Finally, at the edge of town
To a darkened inn they came.

Would you let us in
The road has been so long
Could you spare some room
My wife is not that strong
The child that she now carries
She carries for the world
We’re standing here outside your door
Would you let us in?

Three weary men on camels
Following a star
Came to Bethlehem one night
The journey brought them far
While Herod tried to steer their path
To lead him to the King
The light from God will lead their way
Gold and frankincense they bring

Would you let us in
To bow before the child
Can you spare some room
Let us worship him awhile
The gifts that we now carry
We carry for the world
We’re standing here outside your door
Would you let us in?

Centuries have come and gone
The question stays the same
As on that night so long ago
The night that he first came
Behold he stands at your heart’s door
And asks you still today
He’s waiting for your answer
And this is what he’ll say

Would you let me in
I know your road’s been long
Can you spare some room
All alone you’re not that strong
The cross that I have carried
I’ve carried for the world
I’m standing here outside your door
Would you let me in. . .
My Father’s here outside your door
Would you let us in?” ♫
Copyright : Jeremy Redman, 2006

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23

♫ Who would of thought that long ago
So very far away
A little child would be born
And in a manger laid
And who would have thought this little child
Was born the King of kings
The Son of just a carpenter
For whom the angels sing.
And who would have thought that as He grew
And with other children played
This child with whom they laughed and sang
Would die for them some day
And who would have thought this little child
Could make a blind man see
Feed the hungry make rich the poor
And set the sinner free
Oh who would have thought this little child
Was who the prophets said
Would take away the sins of man
And rise up from the dead?

O I believe and I will always sing
This little child - is the King
O I believe and I will always sing
This little child
He is the King of kings.

Many years have come and gone
Yet this world remains the same
Empires have been built and fallen
Only time has made a change
Nation against nation
Brother against brother
Men so filled with hatred
Killing one another
And over half the world is starving
While our banner of decency is torn
Debating over disarmament
Killing children before they're born
And fools who march to win the right
To justify their sin
Oh every nation that has fallen
Has fallen from within
Yet in the midst of this darkness
There is a hope a light that burns
This little child, the King of kings,
Someday will return

And I believe and I will always sing
This little child - is the King.
And I believe and I will always sing
This little child
He is the King of kings.

Who would have tho't this little child
Is who the prophets said
Will return to judge this world
The living and the dead
Oh, can't you see that long ago
So very far away
This little child, our only hope,
Was – born - a King that day
And can't you see that here and now
As unto Him we pray
This Lord of lords who is our hope
Is still King today
He's still the King today! ♫

By Scott Wesley Brown

This song was written in the late 70's, 30 years ago. Doesn't it seem to describe events today? I love the last three lines and especially the lines about Jesus returning. You can listen to it on YouTube.

"Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for you."

Changed by a Baby Boy

♫ Joseph was looking for a place to sleep when
His life was changed by a baby boy
Mary had secrets that her heart must keep
Her life was changed by a baby boy

They were glad (so glad)
So glad (so glad)
They were glad, so glad
Their lives were changed by a baby boy

A host of bright angles tell the shepherd band
Their lives were changed by a baby boy
And when the angel said, "go" they obeyed the command
Their lives were changed by a baby boy

Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah
Their lives were changed by a baby boy
Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah
Their lives were changed by a baby boy

The kings had to follow a brand new star
Their lives were changed by a baby boy
No matter how long and no matter how far
Their lives were changed by a baby boy
I was searching for something I could not name until
My life was changed by a baby boy.

I was glad (so glad)
So glad (so glad)
I was glad, so glad
My life was changed by a baby boy. ♫
Benjamin Gaither and Gloria Gaither

My life also was changed by that baby boy in Bethlehem and may all of your lives know that change, too.

Hallelujah!

Wordless Wednesday

You know it's farm country when. . .
From the light display around the square at Albion, Illinois

Unexpected Outcomes

It’s official with me—I’m on Christmas break. For the next two weeks, “the 6:00 o’clock alarm would never ring.” Sorry, I just drifted off into the Monkees’ "Daydream Believer." (Do you remember that song? Did you have any idea what it was about?—me neither) Seriously, I am looking forward to waking up on my own; that’s my idea of a vacation.

As I sit here at the computer on Sunday evening, my head is full of thoughts of the day. Today, the Rock Group spent our time “wrapping up” our home mission project. We had adopted some struggling families, brought an offering, and together had taken a shopping trip to purchase blessings for our families. I don’t say that to pat us on the back, for none want recognition for merely doing what our King requires of His followers. Rather, they wanted to share some blessings that had come from the hand of God.

There was an unexpected outcome (a term from my grant writing) that I found delightful. As the group spread out the brightly-colored wrapping paper, labels, scissors, and tape (along with Christy’s cool stickers) on several large round tables, the fellowship hall was filled with activity, laughter, and camaraderie. Then, unexpectedly, other people came through on their way to the upcoming church service. Without exception, every one that I noticed had a huge smile on their face as they understood the importance of the scene.

It was unimportant what was being wrapped, but the act of these young adults seeking to brighten others’ lives was captivating. One man stopped beside me; and with the biggest smile I have ever seen on his face, told me that NOW he was in the Christmas spirit. He had been struggling so with busy schedules and life demands that Christmas activities were just another stressor. Seeing the giving hearts and the joy it brought to those hearts had ignited his own joyfulness.

Toward the end of the period and sitting over at one end was the high school Sunday school class. I didn’t notice any interaction between them and the wrappers, but I can’t help believing they saw faith in action. They saw role models who were involved in giving without thought of getting. I, for one, had a terrific time, and I hope the receiving of the gifts will bring joy and a recognition that God and His people care about the hard times they are facing.

I started this with words from a song that I have never understood, so let me end it with another song I have listened to for many years, but don’t get. What did John Lennon mean when he wrote:

♫ So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

Joy?

I hope everyone is having a great or good or, at least, not too bad holiday season. As Charlie Brown and Clark Griswold could tell you, the man-made part of Christmas rarely brings peace on earth.

What should look like the lovely cards or the specials on TV, where all conflict is resolved in two-hours and there is always the perfect guy or girl smiling at the end, reality doesn't very often work like that. Instead we may see greed, family squabbles, plans going awry, and overscheduled weariness.

The temptation is to feel sad, depressed, angry, etc. The ideal—that which is broadcast on the Hallmark Channel 24-7 in December and most of the time on ABC Family—has little resemblance to what is seen in our lives.

We, like Charlie Brown, are overcome with the commercialism of the season.

We have acceded into an illusion of Christmas provided by advertisers who want us to buy, buy, buy and TV producers who want to get more, more, more viewers who will watch their commercials and buy, buy, buy. The story line is generally the same—lonely person with little holiday cheer has heart-wrenching challenges, meets attractive person, has conflicts with that person, and then resolves all issues at the end of the movie and lives happily ever after. Oh, yes, and snow begins to fall lightly, even in California.

And Clark Griswold’s Christmas vacation? Well, Clark wanted a good, old-fashioned family Christmas. He had visions of everyone coming, staying, and sharing a warm fuzzy time. Unfortunately, to his surprise, not!

It seems families rarely get along well enough to share a peaceful space for very long. Someone is mad or too busy or grumpy or any number of regular human emotions. Likewise, Christmas with the Redmans has brought some good years and some not-so-good ones. We have spent some times together and some apart; some doing what we hoped and some doing what others needed. This year is still to be determined.

We learned that when children marry, there are other families that must come in the planning mix. When our kids were small, we sorta’ controlled the schedules, but when they become adults, we have opportunities to fit in. I think I have given up on the idea of a Christmas family picture. If it accidentally happens, wonderful; if it doesn’t, oh well, I saved some money on new argyle sweaters.

Sigh!

But then again, what is the reason for the season? What is Christmas about anyway?

Going back to the beginning, was there a tree? No! The tree was waiting for a spring day 33 years later when God himself would “decorate” a tree with a life-sized person and paint it red with His Son’s blood.

What about a warm, fuzzy family gathering with lots of food? No! It was in a barn of sorts, probably not warm and any fuzz was from the animals moved out for the occasion.

Were the people smiling and eager to be there? No! They hated it, having been ordered to attend so they could be taxed even more.

Were there bells, tinsel, cookies? Think not!

How about lights and presents? Well, yes. A bright star led magi from the East who brought gifts, not for each other—for the new king.

What about that “good news of great joy” thing? God himself, who created the whole universe, stepped into a tiny lump of clay on a tiny speck in that universe in order that the barbaric and egocentric inhabitants of this planet could participate in His kingdom for eternity. Sounds like good news and great joy to me.

So, is Christmas depressing? Hardly! It may be trite, but if we'll remember "the reason for the season," we are sure to have less grumpiness and way more joy, with or without our “blessings” around us.

Joy to the world . . .

Distinguishing Characteristics

I suppose every age has something that distinguishes it from other ones. During the past hundred years, however, “identifying traits” have sped up. Think about it—when we watch a “Bible” movie, there’s not a great difference between the way life looked in the Old Testament from the New Testament. Clothes looked pretty similar as did modes of travel, cities, cooking, shoes, weapons, etc.

However, A hundred years ago so much changed. Daniel 12:4 states, “O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the TIME OF THE END . . . and KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED.” Consider the increased knowledge: automobiles, airplanes, telephones, television, computers, music, recording methods.

Now, we recognize certain decades like the Roaring Twenties, the Fifties, the Seventies, Eighties’ Big Hair, folk music, rock, disco, Mo-town, hip hop, rap. I don’t even know what the distinguishing music is now. How about the clothing styles of various decades? Mini skirts, leisure suits, midi skirts, leg warmers, scruffy denim, parachute pants, tie-dye, etc.

We can also identify decades by emerging technology—computers, Macs, PC’s, Netbooks, I-pods, I-phones, I-pads. Also, games—PacMan, Mario Brothers, Ninendo DS, Xbox, Guitar-hero and Wii. How about records like 78’s, 45’s, or eight-track tapes, cassettes, cd’s, vcr’s, dvd’s, dvr’s? A few years ago, email became the way to communicate. Then, email was too slow—people would “text” rather than talk. Now, Kindles are replacing books. Cell phones are mini-computers with GPS technology.

It seems to me that we have gone from distinguishing decades down to a few years or even months. I think that today, we can be defined by “social networking.” Many of us Facebook, Twitter, or even Blog (LOL).

I do enjoy Facebook as do my “friends” (Facebook joke), and I would invite you to watch the Christmas story as if it were happening today here in 2010 and were told on Facebook. Point your browser to http://www.ignitermedia.com/ and click on “A Social Network Christmas.” Click on the white arrow below on left. Be sure your speakers are turned up. You can make it full screen if you wish.

Then, just for fun, consider the lyrics of a song a few years ago by Mark Wills.

♫ “I saw Star Wars at least 8 times
Had the pac-man pattern memorized
And I've seen the stuff they put inside
Stretch Armstrong
I was Roger Stauback back in my back yard
Had a shoebox full of baseball cards
And a couple of Evel Kneivel scars
On my right arm
Well, I was a kid when Elvis died
And my mama cried

It was 1970- something
In the world that I grew up in
Farrah Faucett hair-do days
Bell bottoms and 8-track tapes
Lookin' back now I can see me
And oh, man did I look cheesy
But I wouldn't trade those days for nothin'
It was 1970-something

It was the dawning of a new decade
When we got our first microwave
And Dad broke down and finally shaved
Those sideburns off
I took the stickers off of my Rubix cube
Watched MTV all afternoon
My first love was Daisy Duke
In them cut off jeans
A Space Shuttle fell out of the sky
And the whole world cried

It was 1980-something
In the world that I grew up in
Skating rinks and Black Trans Ams
Big hair and parachute pants
Lookin' back now I can see me
And oh, man did I look cheesy
But I wouldn't trade those days for nothin'
It was 1980-something. ♫

A Strong-Willed Girl

We watched some more of “The Nativity” movie this morning in Sunday School, and again it took me deeper into the story and character studies of the people involved.

This depicted Mary as a quiet, hard-working, and pensive young girl who hardly knew Joseph but was promised to him by her parents in an arranged marriage. It reminded me of the arrangement made for Tzeitel (the oldest daughter) and Lazar Wolf (the butcher) by Tevye (the father) in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Such arranged marriages were made for a variety of reasons; but in “Fiddler,” it was an act of kindness and care by parents who sought to protect their daughter from starvation in difficult days ahead. The same type of motivation may have been in the story of Mary and Joseph.

The plan for Messiah’s birth had been a long time in developing and coming to fruition. Hints of the plan were scattered through the holy writings passed down for generations. Yet, it was the lifeline, the hope, that all Jews clung to, yet not believing they might actually see the implementation of the plan.

Of all the females in all the generations of all of human history, God chose this young girl to be the one to bring His Son onto a planet that was hostile, brutal, and difficult in every way. Mary was, for all practical purposes, a slave, i.e. a citizen of a conquered land. Her people were taxed beyond measure. The movie had shown a small daughter taken from a family who could not pay their tax assessment. As we sat and watched in our warm, comfortable classroom, we were horrified.

Now I’m just guessing, but I think Mary must have been a very strong-willed young woman who thoughtfully and voluntarily chose to surrender that strong will to the God of the universe. She was going to need internal strength. She would be insulted, laughed at, mocked, and perhaps face stoning as the new of her pre-marriage pregnancy became known. She was going to face a horrendous 80-mile trip and childbirth in unthinkable conditions.

What does the story have to do with us? Are we clinging with all our might to the lifeline, the hope of Jesus’ return? Do we believe it possible that we may actually see the implementation of that plan? Are we strong enough to withstand insults, laughter, mockery, and death to follow the God of the universe? Are we strong-willed people? And, more importantly, are we willing to surrender our strong will into God’s hands?

The Christmas story produces a plethora of issues for us to contemplate.

♫ “Mary was the first one to carry the gospel
When the angels brought the news
Of that precious little boy
Mary was the first one to carry the gospel
And that news brought joy, sweet joy,” ♫
Bill Gaither and Mark Lowry

Do you have questions about the logistics of Jesus’ birth? I do. I didn’t use to, but watching the movie, “The Nativity” causes me to pause and not just read over Luke 2 lightly like I did for years.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Answers.com says it would have been an 80 mile trip probably taken in a caravan for safety from accident, injury, or attack of bandits, and would have taken from four days to a week. The stories generally indicate that they went alone, but none of us know. I hope Mary had some other women around her.

Regardless of those details, it was a long and I can guarantee an uncomfortable trip. Mary and Joseph knew this was God’s Son, and did they know He was to be born in Bethlehem? Had they memorized Micah 5:2? “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel. . .”

When God asks me to do something, I tend to think He should make it easy and comfortable, and when He doesn’t I tend to complain or suspect that it wasn’t Him speaking. Maybe that’s why He doesn’t give me great things to do. Maybe I don’t want Him to. Maybe He looked high and low for a man and woman who could walk that walk.

In the days ahead, let’s think about that great story that sounds good from a book but lived out far differently than the words we read once a year.

♫ “Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rules the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am?” ♫
Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene

Hmmmmm, that's nice!

I’m back to the blogosphere. It may take a bit to re-habitualize my visits, but I’m eager to re-connect with my thoughts and with times when God speaks and share them with anyone who might be out there.

For the past several months, I have not been able to do either of those things. I was focused! I had one goal! It was so big that it was difficult for me to allow other thoughts. My only goal was to write an important report that would please those who would judge it.

I was like our dvr when most of the space for recording is used and we try to record; a message pops up saying that it is 99% full and new recordings cannot be made. Information must be deleted.

That’s where I was—99% full.

Just to demonstrate how “full” my head was, my farmer husband mentioned that he was probably going to get a new tractor. Ordinarily, an enormous protest would have erupted from my mouth with thousands of reasons why we couldn’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t. That day, I scarcely blinked and shrugged my shoulders. “Hmmmm, that’s nice,” was my response.

Oh, I wasn’t alone in this. There are hundreds of other people across the country doing the same, and that’s source of the pressure. We are all competing for grants from Washington. The program I work with will expire on August 31 next year, and we must be approved by those who judge it and re-funded if we are to continue. Wednesday was the day chosen to submit the final copy after months of research, writing, correcting, rewriting, and traveling to trainings in Chicago, Atlanta, and Memphis.

When the time came, you cannot imagine how hard it was to click the “Submit” button, for when I did, it became final! No changes could ever be made. There was no turning back. Whatever the future would be, it was sealed. (We won’t know until spring or summer the results, but I’m praying for favor.)

I realize, however, that the day will come for every one of us when we will have to “submit” our life’s report to the great Creator. Now, we can research, write, make mistakes, correct mistakes, and re-write. While we live, there is the opportunity to learn what He wants us to do and seek to do it with all our hearts. Or, we can guess and hope for the best. Or, we can pretend that there is no “submit” button or judge and go our own way.

But, what would it be like if we were all so determined to please our Judge that all other thoughts were trivial, if we were that focused? Is that what He meant when He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”? Sounds like it!

♫ “And the things of earth
Shall grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”

Tomorrow is the day I've been working toward. Lord, may it go smoothly and with your blessing.

(VALJEAN)
One day more
Another day, another destiny
This never-ending road to Calvary...

Tomorrow we'll be far away,
Tomorrow is the judgment day

(ALL)
Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!

Check the Counter

If you look in the right hand column, there is a counter that represents a major part of my life for the past several months. It's almost time--next week, I think. In the meantime, let me share a song I love, especially at this season:

♫ As we prepare to celebrate
the birth of our Lord
Let us always remember why He came
And as we present our gifts
to our friends and all our loved ones
Let us offer Him the holy gift of praise.

Hallelu, hallelujah
Hallelu, hallelujah
Hallelu, hallelujah, praise the Lord
Hallelu, hallelujah
Hallelu, hallelujah
Hallelu, hallelujah, praise the Lord

As we offer him our praise
Let us sacrifice our lives
So that all the world may
Know of His love
How His birth in Bethlehem
Was a gift from God to man
Thank you, Father,
For your perfect gift of love.

Hallelu, hallelujah
Hallelu, hallelujah
Hallelu, hallelujah, praise the Lord
Hallelu, hallelujah
Hallelu, hallelujah
Hallelu, hallelujah, praise the Lord.♫
"Christmas Praise" by Jim Murray

God bless and I'll be back soon!