But what about Christmas?

This morning browsing around Facebook, I saw a friend's post commenting on how she is broke. I believe she said negatively broke.

That's an interesting thought--we have times financially (and emotionally, perhaps) when we are positively negatively broke!

I just re-read "Hundred Dollar Holiday" recently. It's an interesting little book written by a Methodist man who got together with friends a long time ago (the book is published in 1998, I think) and rethought how they celebrated Jesus' birthday.

Christmas in today's world puts so many unfair, unrealistic expectations on us. It's a greedy grab-fest, pay now, think later, pay later, pay more later!

But as the author Bill McKibben said, What about that first Christmas?

Think about it--been to the mall recently? Garish and/or pretty decorations, useless gadgets, longed-for material bliss on sale now!

Now imagine the scene in the stable--stinky hay, cow plops, sheep, a crude wooden stable, cold Israel evening, messy afterbirth, but two very blessed new parents holding the very Son of God in their arms and loving Him and His father who gave Him to them.

What on earth made us go from that to Money-Mart-made Christmas 2009?

The gift most people need (aside from an improved economy and more financial stability) is TIME, RELATIONSHIP, love... We need to care for the world we live in, putting resources back into the earth, not piling up plastic packaging and clinging to idols that might interfere in our time with God, with family and friends.

Did God mean for us to have a self-serve holiday? What about the homeless? What about the hurting?

I'm rethinking Christmas, too. I'm not above longing for diamonds and dressy new clothes. But I'd far rather enjoy the sparkle in a little one's eyes as they learn the real meaning of Christmas. Time to relax with family by the fireplace. Time for solitude reading the Bible or a good book. Time to write. Those are the gifts that don't fit under the tree but mean the most to me.

Our first daughter was born 18 days before Christmas. That year brought a whole new perspective on Mary for me...pondering things in her heart, treasuring this new life entrusted to her care.

It's hard to put it into words and maybe I'll make some time to write it out more succinctly this season.

But for now, I'm just thankful for such a Saviour and such a precious gift as Jesus throughout every season of life!

No Now Then?

We usually receive a free paper twice a week. It's called "The Now."

The Now did not arrive on Wednesday or Friday this week.

So I guess we have no Now then?

Hee hee...

Powerless

Today I am powerless.

My daughter lost her job. She feels even more powerless than I do.

I am hurting for her but sitting here hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometers away.

There definitely is power in prayer. I pray she will find work quickly and this time in a more stable environment.

Maybe powerlessness is not completely a bad thing if it makes us lean on God...

...if it makes us realize there is no power in me to change some circumstances

...but I'm "plugged into" The SOURCE of all power, my Father God

Sure, I have some power personally--the power to choose attitudes and actions, the power to be positive and loving, the power to adapt to things as needed, the power to change certain behaviours but ultimately, I surrender!

I surrender my "rights" to my powerful God and choose today to trust in Him.

He is more than able to answer our prayers above what we can ask or imagine. I know He wants good for my daughter, even more than I do.

I choose to celebrate my own powerlessness and to rejoice in His perfect power working on our behalf!

Inspiration On A Disposable Coffee Cup

Wake up and read the coffee cup?

I recently had a wake-up call (although I'd been awake for several hours by time of purchase/first sip) reading "The Way I See It #76" (Anne Morriss, www.starbucks.com/wayiseeit)

Here's what Ms. Morriss said: "The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating--in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life."

My head has been a BIG barrier, so to speak, from committing to writing. So here goes.

I'm committing my head, my heart, my hands to write more often!

Coffee cup wisdom! Aren't we fortunate to live in such an inspiring world?

The power of the written word can open hearts and hands and inspire others into action.