Kid in a candy shop!

"Celebrate God all day, every day.  I mean, revel in him!  Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them.  Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!  Don't fret or worry.  Instead of worry, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for goof, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."--Phillippians 4:4-7

Check out that Chrismon tree.  The beauty of it is  not-describable. There is nothing but white and gold found amoung those ornaments.  Each ornament is a symbol of Christ, conveying the life of Christ.  Every church has their own tradition of how to decorate their church, who decorates and when.  By my church welcomes everyone, all ages to come and learn about the Chrismon tree and help decorate it.  You will see at the top is the symbol for the Father, slightly lower on the left is the Son and on the right the Holy Spirit.  These three ornaments are the highest on the Chrismon tree and represent what is number one and center of our lives as brothers and sisters in Christ.  I am blessed to have memories of decorating this tree from an early childhood.  Now I am the one who stands high and places the top most ornaments.  Many memories are made at the decorating of the Chismon tree and many are to be made. 

The season is Advent, as we all await the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ.  His birth is soon, but his coming is any day now.  The excitement that is in all this and amazing.  

Today, I just feel like a kid in a candy shop.  I don't like Candy that much, but what I do love is feeling the joy, peace and happiness of life.  Life can be stressful, and for sure I know that.  I am finishing up exams today and this time next year I will be preparing for graduation.  The choices that we make our lives are our own, and they are what determines how we will grow.  I received an email from a friend, that I would like to share with you. 

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now..... a year from now. 

A frail old man went to live his son, daughter-in-law and four year old grandson.  The old man's hands trembled, his sight was blurred and his step faltered.  The family ate together at the table.  But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult... peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the table cloth.  The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.  "We must do something about father", said the son.  "I've had enough of his spilled milk, nosiy eating, and food on the floor."  

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.  There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.  When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.  Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.  The four year old watched it all in silence. 

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.  He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" and just as sweetly the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and for Mama to eat your food in when I grow up."  

The words struck the parents so that they were speechless.  Then tears started streaming down their cheeks.. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.  That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. And for the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family.  And for some reason, neither husband now wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the table cloth soiled..

This story is so precious and shows us that children learn from every example that we set. We are all role models for someone in our life, it may be someone older or someone younger, btu there is always someone watching our every move.  Happiness can be found in the little things, so enjoy life and treasure what you have.  While I work on doing the same in my life, I reflect on the little things  that have made my day:

• The beauty of life and the blessing I have to help my parents decorate my home.  It is filled with snowmen, ornaments, trees, bears, crosses and more.  It is the season of Christmas that excites me.
• The gift of my friendships in the past and present and what is more to come.  I am blessed to still be connected with those from my elementary school years, middle school and high school.  I am blessed to have some wonderful friends, while in college.  Friends are a special part of our lives and each one is treasured. 
• On this rainy day, it can be hard to see the sunlight, but it is there. I am thankful to live in an area that does not have dust storms and droughts on a regular basis.

Today, I just feel like a kid in a candy shop.  No worry or sadness.  Today, later than normally I checked my email.  Most days I have a majority of junk mail or sales in stores.  I occasionally have a 'real' email.  But today, I not only had a 'real' email, I had an email that was the topping on the ice cream sundae.  One of my best friends, Aaron, is serving our country as a marine and is half way around the world.  I was blessed to hear from him and learn that all is well. 

Dear heavenly Father, 

The message that you give us as we eagerly wait the coming of your Son is so helpful.  During this time of the year, the scurry and rush is among us all and it is nice to know you are there for us. Help us to remember that every action we have is watched by not only you, but by others around us.  If we choose to misbehave, not only are we not being loyal to you, we are also causing bad images of us to be seen.  I am blessed to have you as the center of my life, whom I rejoice and praise!  Lord Jesus, as I pray every day.. I pray for all the troops that have chosen to serve our country for us.  Especially watch over those families that have a loved one away.  In Jesus holy name, I pray. Amen. 

Tis the season...

Tis the season of advent.  Yes, I know that is not the normal phase, but it is really what is happening. "Light one candle to watch for Messiah, let the light banish darkness, he shall bring salvation to Israel, god fulfills the promise." It is advent, we are waiting for the birth of Christ. 

Church was just wonderful this week.  I love my home church and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  The stress of school is overwhelming, but this morning I was blessed to be among wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ rejoicing together.  It doesn't matter the size of your church, the age demographic or the performance--what matters is coming together praising the LORD Jesus for the right reason!  Being surrounded by those that love you is more supportive than anything else in the world.  And having a place where I know that I am accepted as a child of God with my own image is breath taking. 

This time of year can be a hard one. The stress is overwhelming from the ending of college semesters.  Work load for many is more compressed then other times.  Memories are exposed from ones that are no longer in our lives.  Some may be going without things they once had.  But instead of dwelling on the negatives and the hardships of life, it is a wonderful time to rejoice and remember to live everyday like it is a new one.  Jesus gave as a wonderful gift, the ability to life live fully. 

December is such a wonderful month.  I think I have decided that November and December are my favorite months.  My birthday, friends birthdays, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas... what more special can it get :).  The calendar is filling up and I am more than excited to know that I will be spending my Sunday afternoons decorating the church and spreading Christmas joy with those that are home bound, while spending time with the people that mean the world to me. I plan on going to Christmas concerts, volunteering at Yokefellow, visit people and remember that I am doing what I want to do. I am blessed to know that I live in a country that has the freedom to celebrate Advent and Christmas freely and openly. 

About a month ago, I learned about a mission to encourage all to wear red on Fridays to support our troops.  While at first, I thought really I support troops all the time and pray about them daily.  But then I got thinking.. they give their every moment to protecting others and standing up when they would rather lie down.  They are the reason that we can openly and freely celebrate Advent and Christmas, so why not wear red on Fridays.  In this day and year everyone knows of at least someone that has chosen to serve our country.  They may be a mother or father, son or daughter, sister or brother, husband or wife.   Or maybe a friend or a friend of a friend.  OR maybe they are someone that is just on a prayer list, but together as brothers and sisters in Christ we all know someone that is a troop serving our country and we should support them.. I wear red on Fridays now and support troops. 

Dear gracious Lord, the blessing that you have given us to wait for the birth of Christ is precious.  We often push to hard to get ready for Christmas, but through you we should remember to wait and to wait for the star to show us the way.  You are amazing Lord Jesus.  I ask for you to watch over everyone that is dealing with anything that causes a struggle and to watch over those that are caring for them.  While I wear Red on Fridays, I don't want that to be the only day I thank a solider, but instead I want to be do so as a reminder that you have chosen those to protect others like me.  I pray for all those in my church that are suffering sickness, pain, turmoil, sadness, but also those that are rejoicing, praising and being who they are everyday!  Lord Jesus, help me to remember to wait.  To take to just wait.  In your holy name, I pray, Amen.