Merry Christmas! It very much does not feel like Christmas to me. But I suppose that's another way in proving to myself that feelings lie. Most are fast asleep on this cold December night. That, or anxiously awaiting the first sight of dawn so they can rush to the tree.
The gifts that took days to wrap and the next year to pay for will be ripped open in a matter of moments. Wrapping paper remnants and mushed bows will be found for weeks to come. Come Thursday, the stores will be swamped with returns. So, Christmas is finally here. The day we have been planning for months. Now what?! The tree will come down soon, as will the lights and decorations. Kids (and my dad) will go back to school. We return to our normal lives. What do we do then?Just because the Christmas season is over doesn't mean the reason for it must be forgotten. The Light of the World is still here! Celebrate that! That's worth celebrating every day. It's not over yet though! For me, it's just getting started! Come Thursday, you will find me with my family hitting the mark down racks at Walmart. Sunday is our postponed Christmas program. The gift given on Christmas is still with us today. Don't get caught up in the post Christmas blues. The Christmas season may have just come and gone, but the season of Christ is upon us! There's much to do to prepare. Merry Christmas y'all! .... And to all a good night!
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So, I wrote this post last night. LATE last night. However, the text did not show up, so, I shall continue it on tonight. I am going to take a different approach to it this evening than I was planning. To do this, I am taken to Colossians 3. Verses 18 - 25. "Wives, submit yourselves until your own husbands, as it is for in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Father's, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons."Family is important. I can rest my case with this statement alone, "with divorce rate rising, and marriages failing, families crumbling, there is no doubt the devil is working over time to destroy our families today. If family wasn't important, why would he be going to extreme lengths to destroy it?" I believe the five most important relationships you will have in your life are as follows...The Relationship With Your Parents
The Relationship With Your Siblings (if applicable) The Relationship With Friends The Relationship With The Opposite Gender The Relationship With God (most important)Many teens push their parents and family off. I understand that in a way, yet I don't one bit. I feel that the emphasis on family today as became overly prominent, above God Himself, yet in many regards isn't brought out enough. The way God set up the family has been brushed aside while a humanistic way if raising a family has been tried, and failed. I realize, many of y'all are living with families who are far from perfect (but aren't we all). There can be no perfect family because there are no perfect people. Maybe you've sat through Christmas get togethers that went far less than well. I understand that. I have a blessed with a great family. Many times, maybe its just me, but many times, I tend to overlook that fact seeing only their faults. Come on, I live with them. But I do have a great family. My parents raised me in church, I was homeschooled, I've had it a million times better than many other kids do. However, as some have accused me of before, I am not living in a "perfect family", neither do they have the perfect daughter (or sister, or however it applies). How dare I expect more from them than what I do myself. How dare I expect them to meet the picture I have in my head while I certainly am not close to hitting any perfect daughter awards. The only reason families today aren't how they could be, or used to be, is because families have gotten their roles all mixed up. As explained throught the Bible, every family member has a specific job to do, allowing the family to work. When one member fails to their part, it disrupts the whole family. However, the fact of one member ignoring their position does not give the others the right to disreguard theirs. We still have a job to do. We won't answer for what others do, but we will answer for what we do. This Christmas, treasure your family. Enjoy it. Thank God for who you have today because you never know who may not be here next Christmas. Starting Friday night, we got our part of the ice and snow around here. More ice than snow though. I love how it looks outside, I think it's beautiful. The only thing I don't like is the freezing temperatures. I hate to be cold! (Which I am right now.) I do enjoy sledding, and looking at the snow though. The other thing I dislike about it is the bad timing for church today. I am praying it doesn't turn into another year of snow and ice and disrupted church services. As I studied for this post, I realized, the Bible has a lot to say about snow...
Have I mentioned I enjoy lights this time of year? What's not to like about them? At my house we have lights everywhere. Everything lights up. The tree, of course, fiber optic poinsettia plants, electric fireplace, scentsy, and countless other glowing decorations. We have a mini tree in our rooms, and I strung strands of Christmas lights around me and my sisters room as well. I love things that light up or glow in the dark. Its the kid in me. My little niece and nephew are entranced by any form of light. They stare at them for long periods of time. Start them young. :) ...
Christmas baking has begun. Only 4 more days until Christmas! It coming apon us crazy fast. But, I'm beginning to get into the Christmas mood, I guess you could call it. I thought I knew the direction this post was going to go, but this morning changed that. This post actually has very little... if anything... to do with Christmas itself...
So, this evening I went along with my niece and nephews for their first of two Santa visits. (As the photographer, of course). As I was there, I couldn't help but stop and think about what was going on. Parents, dragging there kids along lined the square, a block deep, all to place them in a strange guys lap and take a picture of them. This Santa created me out just a bit.... okay, a little more than a bit. With missing teeth and all, the parents still eagerly placed their children in the hands of this guy. That just gives me the wrong feeling. Now I don't have a problem with people who do the Santa tying, but I am not planning to do it with my kids, and this is why....
I take a deep breath as I type this yet again. I've written it 3 time now, and lost them. :-\ Maybe there was a reason in that. Here I go again..........So, what type of traditions do y'all have? Around here it's mainly Christmas movie. I'm talking the old Christmas classics; Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, Nester the long eared donkey.. the good ones. :-) We always know when my mom breaks out Rudolph and the Christmas music is playing that Christmas is well on its way. Well , that our it's just after Thanksgiving. :-) A tradition I am sure to not forget is that of photos. if y'all have known me very long, you should know I am obsessed with photography. My future...
Just 7 more days, Folks! =)
Luke 2.8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, then angel of the Lord came unto them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in waddling 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, good will toward men. Day two.... 8 more days until Christmas. Getting excited? This Thursday, I'm going downtown with my niece and nephews ( and their parents) to see 'Santa'. We never did anything like that as kids, and I probably won't with mine... for a few reasons.... but it's fun. I get to go take pictures as usual. :-) This will be Stella and Kaden's first Santa excursion. It is going to be so cold though. Today's been nice and warm, but that will soon change. Cold is iconic of winter. We had one winter where it was so warm we went outside with our cousins to play with short sleeves and no jacket. It didn't feel like Christmas. As much as I hate to be cold, I very much desired it that day.
The chilliness of winter warms the hearts of many. Anyone seen how the Grinch stole Christmas? We have more than a few times this year already. There are those who are "Grinch's" or "Scrooge's" in this world; many live daily with cold and bitter hearts. Most of which aren't cold and hardened toward Christmas in itself, but toward others. They continually carry the burden of the past with them, and visit past wounds with no forgiveness. Their cold heart leaves a negative presence wherever they go. Instead of being positive, they bring the mood down. They find joy in making other miserable as well. Each of us, if we were truly honest with ourselves, would find a corner or two of our heart that has been frozen over with the coldness of bitterness. At least subtly, we can see the effects play out in every area of our life. We need to thaw the icy portions of our hearts. It's more difficult to do than warming the outside, but it's way more rewarding. Speaking of that, I am freezing so I'm going to go grab a warm blanket, and a nice hot cup of coffee. I'll be back tomorrow. :-) |
Lizzy parkerMarriage.
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January 2023
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