Time to Leave

 

December 30

“Everything will be fine you’ll see,” his mother said lovingly to the boy.

“But suppose the world does end,” he insisted, “I won’t ever see you again.”

She assured him, “I’ll see you in Heaven. You will go up from here and your Dad and I from the Civic Center.”

“How will I find you in Heaven? It will be more crowded than the Civic Center.”

She hugged him. “Remember Heaven has pearly gates? Wait for me there. Ok?”

“That’s a deal Mom.”

 “Mizpah, because he said, ‘May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.” (Genesis 31:49)

Go Figure

 

December 29

Before they left the funeral home the sisters prayed for a sign that their deceased dad was all right.  A few days later Diane was listening to Public Radio while driving her car. Faith Middleton, was interviewing an author who responded to a question by saying, “It all began when I was shipwrecked off the coast of Africa.”

That’s exactly how her dad started every bedtime story when they were girls. She called her sister who had heard the same program. They took this as a sign their dad was ok.

 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136.3)

It is all attitude

It Is All Attitude

 

December 28

 

She was in her 80's and walked a mile everyday to the church office arriving with a smile and a kind word for everybody.

Then there was Leo, “Mr. Fix It,” drawing after his car rolled backwards demolishing a metal shed he had just erected. What are you doing Leo?  “I'm designing a new shed and this time I'm making it out of wood, so if this ever happens again, at least I'll have some kindling left."

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

The Day After

I admit to a day after Christmas let down. I don't want to let go of the spirit of Christmas.
Why can't we continue to smile at each other and wish each other good will as we did
yesterday? Why not continue serving and giving to each other. I want to hold onto the
spirit of Christmas and not go back to "normal."

"Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude praising God and saying: 'Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." (Luke 2:14)

Christmas away from home

 December 25  Christmas Day  from my journal

 

Christmas away from home

 It is my first Christmas away from home courtesy of the U.S. Army. I’m stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. My view of Christmas is snow, sleighs and evergreens.

Here there are palm trees, plastic wreaths and cardboard snowmen. I’m just not in the Christmas spirit. I go to the chapel for a candle light service complete with familiar carols and readings. Leaving, it dawns on me that the first Christmas was in a desert. I get it loud and clar.

“Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

 

Merry Christmas everyone. Peace

The Wise Men

 

December 23 from my journal

 The story is familiar. Magi come from the East, following a bright star. "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped him." (Matthew 2:11)

HOUSE! What happened to the stable?
The wise men traveled better than a year to find the new king' When they didn’t return to Jerusalem, paranoid Herod orders all children in Bethlehem two years and younger slain. Wise men obey God and act on faith. I should too.

"And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod they returned to their country by another route." (Matthew 2:12)

"Its a wonderful Life"

 

 

December 22 from my journal   three days to Christmas

 

The video I bought Christmas week  was Frank Capra's classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." I didn’t know the story but I like Jimmy Stewart.The main character George Bailey is a family banker. He is a good man but blames himself when things go wrong. He had misplaced his faith.
The message is an important reminder that when our heart is right and we help others God will bail us out just as George Bailey was delivered in the film. It is a wonderful life when we see God in it.

“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich and He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22)