The 12 Days of Christmas

Today is the third day of Christmas. Traditionally, the 12 days of Christmas begins on December 26th with the Feast of Stephen (a day to commemorate the martyrdom of Stephen). The season ends on January 6th with Epiphany or Three Kings Day. That is why some people keep their decorations up after New Year's Day.

Our family enjoys acknowledging this tradition for several reasons. For one, we are easing our way out of Christmas instead of rejoining the rat race the day after Christmas. This is when we make cookies, finish craft projects we intended to give as gifts, play games and watch movies together, stay in our pajamas for a couple days. It is another opportunity to focus on Christ with scripture readings about His revelation to all people. Most of the Advent scripture reading focuses on Jesus fulfilling Jewish prophecy. Epiphany is the celebration of God revealing Himself to the Gentiles as commemorated by the Kings from the East acknowledging the lordship of Jesus.

So, feel free to leave up your decorations, ponder the significance of Christ's birth a little longer and keep eating Christmas cookies. You have 9 more days!

Reflection on the Shepherd's Candle

Have you noticed that when God shows up, it's usually so understated? And the way He enters the scene is quiet. And the people He chooses to work through are simple. When he is working on my behalf, no one else sees the way he slips into my circumstance. I can be wailing over the trouble at my back door and His Spirit passes through the front door with such subtly that I could miss it. But something, the fragrance, the warmth, something ensures that I turn my attention from what concerns me to what concerns Him.

The Ancient of Days has been trying to turn mankind's attention for centuries. What might it be like if we recognized Him at the first sign of His Presence? Would we not perceive that what concerns Him IS what concerns us? Maybe that is what He had in mind with the display of wonder to the shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Instead of the military power the general population craved, He lit up the sky for a few ordinary individuals. If God had done it just a little closer to town, hundreds would have seen that display and would have believed the baby born in obscurity was the Son of God. Why show up where so few were gathered? Why not announce the Messiah to someone with more influence, more clout?

I am as ordinary as one of those shepherds. I doubt like Zechariah. I worry about what people think like Joseph. But I also ponder being chosen like Mary. We share these human characteristics with the people we immortalize in the Christmas story. Yet each one was as ordinary as you and I. Each one was chosen as a vessel through which God could reveal Himself to a world longing for rescue. You and I are the vessels of today. It's not likely that people will read about us centuries from now as they gather around lighted candles. But it is likely that a child will see his worth to God because he understood his worth to you. It is likely a little girl will grow up to choose motherhood because of the influence my choice will have on her. A young woman may choose life because the value she sees you place on your own child. A young man may share with those in need because he saw you give sacrificially. A young person may choose their spouse carefully because they want a marriage like yours.

So that is what I see in the flicker of the Shepherd's candle. Ordinary people who are at home in the hands of God, become the fire that ignites passion in someone else.

The Angel's Candle

I am running behind on these Advent posts. But I generally don't have my thoughts formulated til after we have reflected on the week's readings. Week three focuses on the announcements made by the angels. There was the announcement of the end of infertility to Zechariah, the glorious one to Mary, the reassuring one to Joseph and of course the multitude of angels appearing to the shepherds. There's a really great perspective on Zechariah in Watch For the Light. It's the December 13th reading, written by Karl Barth.

Our family discussion this week centered around how our lives announce Christ to the people around us. We are the hands and feet of Jesus to each other, to the children in need with whom we shared our gifts with this year, and everybody inbetween. We reminded each other that we even announce Christ to those we don't know who observe how we treat each other in public. Do we show kindness in our speech and actions? Are we helpful to one another or annoyed by interruptions?

My hope is that we are loving and patient. My desire is that we will portray family life as the treasure it is. May the end result be our tiny group of six announcing to the world that the love of Christ is a tangible thing.

The Treasures of Darkness

What circumstance in your life right now would you trade if given the chance? I read something in Streams in the Desert this week that caused me to reflect on recent hardship with gratitude. It was about lace spinners in Brussels working in the dark, alone in tiny rooms with only a narrow window to cast light directly on the pattern they are weaving. The beauty and value of the art comes from the darkness in which it was created.

"Sometimes the darkness in our lives is worse, because we cannot even see the web we are weaving or understand what we are doing. Therefore we are unable to see any beauty or any possible good arising from our experience. Yet if we are faithful to forge ahead and we do not give up, someday we will know that the most exquisite work of our lives was done during those days when it was the darkest." Cowman

This month marks one year Danny and I have been on a tough financial journey. We are still on that train, so I can't wax eloquent about how we did it. We are doing it. I can't believe I am saying this, but I wouldn't trade this past year. Oh, there have been dark days. But we are not totally in the dark. God has allowed us glimpses into how He desires to shape us into people He can use. What God is teaching us about Himself, ourselves, money, faith, holding on, I don't think could have been learned any other way. This has been a year of rapid growth. It's like what Job said, "My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you." We may have another year of it. I hope not. But in light of how we have learned to lean, wait and abide; how our kids now view God's faithfulness, the miracles they have observed weekly; I can't really do anything but continue to trust God's purpose in all this.

There are days I beg God for relief. He either brings it physically or he carries my spirit above it. But he has not forsaken me. So I don't think trading the path we have walked this year for one with less thorns and potholes would be a fair trade. We are in the middle of something BIG.

Isaiah 45:3
I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the Lord,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.

I cannot count how many times this year I have read a passage like this and God has illuminated it right before my eyes. All around me may seem dark, but a tiny crack of trust lets in just enough insight to see with spiritual eyes. Why does God do that?? Why does He go to such lengths to make sure I get it? Because He loves me and he doesn't want me to miss what he is doing in my life. He has something wonderful for us that we have not yet been allowed to see. Why does he hide it away, while we go about our work in the dark? So that when He reveals the blessings along the path, we will will know HE IS THE LORD! This is all about him. It is not about us. It may feel like it is all about us when we are crying and fretting over earthly matters. But every time we calm down enough to dig into His Word we are reminded that we are here for His glory. And if there is one thing my family is learning this year, it is how to sit back and let God make Himself known in us. Wow! When I put it like that, how could I ask Him to stop?

The Second Light of Advent

Preparation. It isn't all that necessary to my modern day survival. If I am not prepared with dinner, I can drive a mile and find a variety of choices to feed my family. If I am not prepared for Christmas, some store will be open at the last minute. Being ill prepared for physical life naturally spills over into how prepared I am in the spiritual realm. However, a quick fix is not so readily available.

The focus of the Bethlehem Candle is preparation. Am I prepared for Christ to show up in my life? Am I in a place to hear Him when he does? Will I notice His power when it is being displayed? Even with ancient prophecies that were widely known, the people of Bethlehem were not ready for the birth of Christ. Jesus showed up in their city unnoticed. Even with that huge, bright star glaring overhead, people went about their daily business with no regard to the truth illuminating their streets. What truth or insight alludes me when I am wrapped up in things that don't really matter?

How marvelous are those times we take notice of what the Creator of the Universe is up to all around us? Isn't it great when God allows truth to illuminate the cracks in our heart? Sometimes we position ourselves to hear him. Sometimes pain and suffering have to run their course for us to recognize God's presence. When it appears our life has fallen apart, His light shines on the scattered pieces He wants to sweep up and piece back together. The end result is a heart more alive and responsive to His grace than what we started with.

Are we prepared for that kind of salvation? Or, like so many 2000 years ago, will we miss God showing up in our lives because it doesn't look like we think it should?

Christmas Fun

It seems Dove is the only one willing to trudge through the mud and cold. Today she had a horse back riding lesson. None of the other kids wanted to go with us. So we made a day of it. After the horse fun, she rinsed the hoof cleaning grim off her hands and we stopped at the outlet mall. Apparently Dovie is as spur of the moment as I am. She wanted to get her ears pierced. So we did! Can you see her sparkly addition?


Then Pottery Barn made my day with this clearance West Elm silver tree. Yahoo! Now I have to figure out how to make the felted wool ornaments I saw in Holiday Crafts 2008.

Look at sweet Jett in this polar bear sweater and hat duo! Couldn't resist bringing this home for him. He loves new clothes as much as his Poppy.

Gingerbread

Here are our Gingerbread creations. Not quite the edible delicacies that Chad creates. But beautiful none the less. Every year our homeschool group gathers to construct one-of-a-kind houses. This year I did a little preplanning with google. Promise and I created the creche and Noah and Dove built our vacation home. I still want to make the candy cane sled before the kids or the cats eat our handiwork!

Concert in the Cul-de-sac

Saturday was such a blast! The band did a great job on their Christmas music. Chick-Fil-A brought food. The Ariases went above and beyond normal hospitality to allow more than 100 people to run through their yard. I saw people I hadn't seen in years. Holley May and Janice Givens were there. The Wilsons and the Fountains drove a long way to see Noah. Aunt Denise and Cousins Joshua and Jessica drove down from Columbus just for the show. Thank you to everyone who came to be a part of concert in the cul-de-sac. I think this needs to be a Christmas tradition!

Who did you see there?

Fear or Love

I have been pondering this post from Candy since the day I first read it. Take a look at it. It is worth the read. I couldn't get past the thought that someone needs to hear that I am not afraid of their addictions, their struggles, their issues. My brother, who is in prison because of addiction, has struggles and issues and no one to listen. I have been afraid of these things. Afraid I won't have answers for him, afraid I will blame myself for not looking after him better when we were young, afraid that I can't fix him. I am afraid of his pain. Looking back at those sentences, I see how many times I say "I." But those things aren't mine to carry. And his story is not about me. Only the scarred hands of Jesus are equipped to hold that stuff. I am just supposed to be the love. That is it. Love. So I can remain immobilized by my fear or I can reach out to him right smack in the middle of his.

How many people cross our path waiting for us to love them? If we don't love, they might look for someone else. But what if they don't look? What if they give up? Let's be a part of the movement! Who do you need to love?

This poem is by George MacDonald:

I said, Let me walk in the field;
God said, No, walk in the town;
I said, There are no flowers there;
He said, No flowers but a crown.

I said, But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din;
But he wept as he sent me back,
There is more, he said, there is sin.

I said, But the air is thick,
And smog is veiling the sun;
He answered, Yet souls are sick,
And your work is yet undone.

I said, I will miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say;
He answered me, Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they.

I pleaded for time to be given;
He said, Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide.

I cast one look at the field,
Then set my face to the town;
He said, My child do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?

Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light Divine,
The path I had feared to see.

Do You Like My Hat?

I have worked on this tree topper all day. Everytime I got one pick secured, another one would fall out. I sent everyone out of the room so I could concentrate. At last it was stable. Danny walked in and said, "Do you like my hat?" And of course, I laughed and in Suess fashion said, "I do. I like it. I like that hat. I like that party hat."

Silly or not, I like it. The hat stays!

The First Light of Advent

The glow from the single purple candle fills us with anticipation as we sit around the table together to begin this year's Advent journey. This first light represents Prophecy - such a mysterious concept. The Bible is rich with prophetic words about the coming of Christ that the world largely misses. When you explore the prophecies concerning Jesus with your children, you are opening their minds and hearts to why Christmas is important. I believe we influence how they will experience Christmas for the rest of their lives.

Isaiah 7:14 and 9:2, 6-7 tell us of God's promise of a savior. Matthew 1:21-23 tells us that the promise was fulfilled and his name is Jesus. This is a great place to start. There are so many resources online for Advent readings. Over the years we have collected ideas from different books and websites. There are so many. Don't get overwhelmed trying to do everything that looks good. Here are some of our favorites:

1.Books by Arnold Ytreeide. There are three in this series. We rotate each year. The chapters are very adventurous stories meant to be read each night. Each ends leaving the kids eager to hear more.

2. A schedule of nightly scripture reading/Christmas songs for each week of Advent. The one I use was printed from the Focus on the Family website years ago. It's not available now. But google a few til you find one you like.

3. Christmas cards: Hang up the cards you receive or put them in a special basket. Each night pray for one of the families from whom you received a card.

4. Books like Redeeming the Season and Before and After Christmas give great craft and giving ideas: make a nativity, gingerbread stable, garland, etc.

There are so many great books and resources. What are some of your favorites?

Enter Advent

Advent - preparing for the coming of Christ. This is a simple way to introduce family time into your home.

It's Snowing

All that talk last night about needing fake snow and what do I wake up to today? Snow! Big chunks are actually falling. The kids are freaking out. But it probably won't stick. However, when we see flurries in Georgia, everything shuts down. So this should be a fun day.