Courage

"There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, 'Yes, I've got dreams, of course I've got dreams.' Then they put the box away and bring it out once in awhile to look in it, and yep, they're still there. These are great dreams, but they never even get out of the box. It takes an uncommon amount of guts to put your dreams on the line, to hold them up and say, 'How good or how bad am I?' That's where courage comes in." ~ Erma Louise Bombeck

Erma Bombeck definitely wasn’t a woman that keep her dreams in little box. She went after them with gusto… writing 13 books over her career, becoming a principle player in the final implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1978, participating in Good Morning America from 1975 until 1986, writing columns in various newspapers and magazines from the time she was a student in Junior High until her death. She was a woman that was full of courage.

Where can we get courage like that? Do we need to find something that we’re missing or do we need to lose something that we’re holding on to in our lives?
What would happen if we went after our dreams with the same passion that Erma Bombeck went after in hers? Well, one of two things…

We SUCCEED or we FAIL. Both of those results can fill us with fear.

If I succeed – what then? What will people expect from me from that point forward?
If I fail – then what? Will everyone think “I knew she couldn’t do it anyway”?
These are thoughts that went through my mind when I considered starting this Blog. And then I realized - in both of these instances, I was worrying about what other people would think. I was going to let other people keep me from my dreams!

I decided to go for it and I haven’t turned back. I hope you do the same…

Trust...

Trust – verb: have confidence or faith in

Proverbs 22:19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you.

I’ve always enjoyed teaching Sunday school, especially during the Christmas season. For the last 16 or so years, my classes have consisted of 3 year old toddlers to high school seniors. I’ve found that children can have such a hard time imaging adults as babies… but they don’t have any problem envisioning baby Jesus in a manger. Kids can accept and welcome Jesus into their hearts so easily. They trust Him.

When we (grown-ups) were younger, we just knew that we would be taken care of – either by our parents, our teachers, our grandparents, God – someone would rescue us if things got too bad. When we get older, it becomes too easy to turn cynical… to lose faith in mankind – sometimes even in God. Life can become so hard that we feel like we can’t depend on anyone but ourselves. I know - I’ve felt like that myself. But, the thing is… it doesn’t have to be like that!

Comfort can come from within us, but it also can surround us every minute of every day. All we need to do is open our hearts once again and accept the love Jesus is offering us… with that same faith we had as children. Trust is all it takes.

Advent

Well, today is the first day of Advent… the beginning of the Christian year. What an exciting time! This is the season that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and all the HOPE that the miracle of that moment represents to mankind. I know it can definitely be hard to reconcile “Jesus the baby” with “Jesus the man” he became… the man that hung bloody and broken, dying on a cross, approximately 33 years later.

When each of us were born – swaddled in our blankets in some hospital nursery – I’m sure our family dreamed of how we would change the world. Maybe they imagined we would be doctors, lawyers, firefighters – maybe a president out there among us – no matter what, we were destined for greatness. They, I’m positive, looked in our eyes and saw nothing but perfection. I can’t even imagine what Mary felt when she looked in baby Jesus’ eyes for the first time – what a spectacular gift.

Jesus was God’s gift to humanity, but He also has given us all a unique gift… it’s in our DNA. We are capable of doing great things with these abilities – each one of us. All we have to do is “listen” for Him – He’ll tell us how to use those talents. Utilizing what is given to us is our present back to Him. Maybe that can be the first thing we give for Christmas this year!

Photo - http://www.freebibleillustrations.com/main.php/v/42_Luke/

On Your Knees

(*Something brought you to my mind today
I thought about the funny ways you make me laugh
And yet I feel like it's okay to cry with you
Something about just being with you
When I leave I feel like I've been near God
And that's the way it ought to be...)

My husband and I were on the way to my parent’s house today – halfway there in fact – when my phone rang. It was my son, calling to tell me he had a flat tire and was stranded on the side of the interstate with no spare. Of course, we turned the car around and rescued him. That’s what parents do – even when the child in question is twenty four years old.

I can remember so many times in my life, when I had to pick up the phone and call my family and have them come save me from one disaster or another. No matter what time of day (or night) it was, I knew when I made a SOS call, it would be answered… and I made plenty.

I know that my family has prayed for my health and happiness throughout my life. That thought humbles me. I pray for my loved ones, too… that God gives them what they need… that they carry Him in their hearts… that they are filled with peace… and that they follow His plan for their lives.

(*And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
More than you'll ever know.)

*More Than You'll Ever Know ~ Watermark

It’s Over, or Is It?

Well, Thanksgiving is over… what now? Christmas! It’s right around the corner. Today was “Black Friday”. But, I have to admit, I’ve never been one of “those people” that gets caught up in the hype of waking up at 2:00am, fighting hundreds of other shoppers to the department store, freezing in line for 30 minutes or more while you wait for locked doors to be open - only to get to that one aisle where your particular item should be lining the shelves and discover… they are already completely sold out!

To so many people, Christmas is about finding that perfect gift… or maybe about decorating your home in just the right way. I can understand wanting to make Christmas special – especially if you have small children in your life. But, my personal opinion is this… if you really want Christmas to be special – remember the reason for the holiday.

Before we open gifts on Christmas morning we read about the birth of Jesus from the Book of Luke in the Bible. We’ve done this for years – it’s a wonderful tradition that I hold very close to my heart. The story follows:

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 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. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 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.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

So, I guess if you really think about it, Thanksgiving isn’t over at all, is it? Christmas and what it represents is a magnificent thing, and I’m incredible thankful!

Thought for the Day

Never give up, never give in, never quit trying.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.