Does preparing for Christmas resemble a Hallmark movie or a horror flick?
Years ago a TV commercial showed a
frantic woman scrambling to simultaneously deal with a ringing phone,
screaming children, barking dog, and a delivery person at her door.
Finally in desperation she throws her
hands up and cries, "Calgon, take me away!" Immediately she's luxuriating in her
bathroom tub, discreetly covered in Calgon bubbles from the neck down.
Evidently, behind the scenes in Happy
Commercial Land, the dog stops barking to answer the phone, the
delivery person baby-sits the children, and Betty Crocker and the
Keebler Elves get dinner under control.
How about you? Do you feel overwhelmed? Could you
use a Calgon moment? I'm pretty sure the Fed-Ex man and Marie
Callender won't show up to help any time soon, but there's some good
news.
There's a God who loves you. He wants
to help you.
Here's what He says:
"And call for help when you’re in
trouble—
I’ll help you, and you’ll
honor me.” Psalm 50:15 The Message
We can go nuts with Christmas tasks: shopping, baking, cleaning ... Or we can focus on Jesus, who truly is the reason for celebrating Christmas.
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 NLT
So when Christmas preparations start to bury us under a multi-tasking avalanche, we don't have to crumble under it. Let's call to
God for help. He's available 24/7.
Betty Crocker and the Keebler Elves are
already busy in my kitchen.
It's three days until Christmas. Are we delighted or debilitated?
Try these five easy tips to make next year's holiday season more joyful than Tiny Tim on Christmas morning.
courtesy of stockimages @freedigitalphotos.net
5) Prep for next year. Get in the habit of post-Christmas and other clearance shopping.
Watch
for new-in-package items at garage sales and thrift shops.
Keep the
gifts in a tote, and you'll have a head start for next Christmas. Try it for birthdays and baby showers too.
4)Limit spending. Set a gift budget and stick with it, even when those mounted singing reindeer heads beckon.
Re-gifting is great, especially if you've received a mounted singing reindeer head. When you get a potential re-gifting item, tape a note on it. Include the date and who it's from to keep from giving it back to the
original giver.
3)Break Tradition. If you always cook a feast for your extended family, ask each member to bring along a side-dish instead.
You'll save time and money. Plus it assures your guests of one dish they'll enjoy--their own.
Create new traditions, like taking a special family outing in lieu of gifts. Seriously, how many Xbox games do your children need?
2) Under-commit. It's OK to say no.
"Sorry, I can't host the ... cook the... head up the ..." No need to
explain why. A simple, "I'm sorry, I can't." suffices.
You might need to
repeat it several times, or threaten them with a mounted singing reindeer head, but it will work.
courtesy of digidreamgrafix @ freedigitalphoto.net
1)Remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Focus on the joy of Jesus birth. Let cooking, cleaning, and shopping take a back seat to the great news found in Luke 2:11:
"The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"
The sinister egg glared from the Easter basket's grass-filled depths, a single nefarious intruder lurking among the goodies.
The terrifying Eye of Sauron Easter Egg.
Any LOTR (J. R. R. Tolkien's classic book Lord of the Rings) fan can tell you about uber-bad guy Sauron.
He appears as a hideous pulsing eye, much like that of a contact wearer who kept his lenses in too long, but to the 1000th power.
Or as our daughter Patty, the basket giver says, "Blazing with the burning intensity of a thousands suns gone supernova."
We're talking serious corneal abrasion.
Horrifying rendition of the Eye of Sauron wrapped in pantyhose
In the LOTR books and movies the eye of Sauron exerts an almost irresistible pull, similar to a chocolate Easter bunny in a cellophane wrapped box.
For me the rabbit's yellow candy eye isn't half as entrancing as its chocolate ears, but I digress.
In The Lord of the Rings Sauron is after the ring of power, carried by our brave little Hobbit, good-guy Frodo.
Sauron puts all his efforts toward obtaining it. He builds up armies of hideous creatures. He spends his time searching for it, ready to take it by force. His sole focus is to Get That Ring.
So of course I thought about God.
(Huh?)
Yup, my mind flooded with a multitude of ways God trumps Sauron. Here's my top 5.
5. Sauron skulks about in his dark tower.
God IS a strong tower.
You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy. Ps 61:3 The name of the LORD is a strong tower. A righteous person runs to it and is safe.Proverbs 18:10
4. Sauron tries to take your stuff.
God gives good gifts to his children.
...how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask
him. Matt 7:11 For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. Romans 11:29
3. Sauron's eye is creepy.
God's eyes are on us for good.
The LORD's eyes scan the whole world to find those whose hearts are committed to him and to strengthen them. 2 Chronicles 16:9
The LORD's eyes are on righteous people. His ears hear their cry for help. Psalm 34:15
2. Sauron sends out bullies.
God sends angels to guard & help us.
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. Acts 5:19
1. Sauron gets defeated.
God reigns forever.
The LORD will reign forever, your God, Zion, for all generations! Hallelujah! Psalm 146:10
God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. Psalm 47:8
To get the full picture substitute "Satan" in place of "Sauron." Replace the ring with yourself.
Grrr! Stupid Christians. Stop it
already. Shut up!
And they'd stop talking about Jesus.
But they kept acting like him.
They kept showing me love,
and extending friendship. No strings attached. Just love.
I'd point out all the good deeds
I was doing to tip the heavenly scales in my favor. "I'm a good
person. I do more good things than bad."
They'd open a bible and show me what
God said about it. Verses like
We are all infected and impure with
sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy
rags. Is 64:6
I didn't like God's answers. They
didn't line up with my thinking, so I refused to listen.
But his people kept showing me love
anyway. They'd bring me cookies and invite me to picnics.
courtesy of AKARAKINGDOMS @ freeigitalphotos.net
A church picnic? No way. I expected an
ambush by those Jesus people. I pictured them springing out of the
woods, armed with bibles. I steered clear.
It bugged me to watch those Christians.
They were more than happy. They were joyful. And they didn't pretend
to be perfect.
Their methods of working through their problems sat at
the opposite spectrum from mine. They were always forgiving people
instead of taking my advice, which ranged from intricate schemes of
revenge to old-fashioned butt-kicking.
But they just kept loving me. And all
their love finally got through.
Courtesy of graur razvan ionut @ freedigitalphotos.net
Plus, I figured God couldn't made a
bigger mess of my life than I already had.
So I prayed,
"Jesus, I'm sorry for the all the
wrong things I've done, the messes I've made. Please forgive me. I
want to be yours."
And at that moment, I became His.
God welcomed me into his amazing love.
It was a supercharged version of the love his people had been showing
me all along.
I received a new life. A fresh start.
Has it been easy?
Not always.
Has it been easier than when I lived
without God?
Totally. Absolutely. Infinitely.
photo courtesy of Naypong @ freedigitalphotos.net
Even when I slip up, God gathers me up,
brushes me off, loves on me, and sets me on my feet. His crazy
amazing love never changes.
If you've taken the time to read this
far, I suspect you're ready for some of that love yourself. Here's how.
Jesus is the gateway to his father,
God.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.John 14:6
To start a relationship with him, speak
this life-changing prayer:
Lord, I'm sorry for doing things my
way instead of yours. Please forgive me,
and be my savior.
If you prayed that with a sincere
heart, you've just become his child. Buckle in for an explosion of
crazy amazing love.
And if you prayed it, please
let me know. I'll celebrate with you.
3)Break Tradition. If you always cook a feast for your extended family, ask each member to bring along a side-dish instead. You'll save time and money. Plus it assures your guests of one dish they'll enjoy-their own. Create new traditions, like taking a special family outing in lieu of gifts. Seriously, how many gifts do your children need?
2) Under-commit. It's OK to say no. "Sorry, I can't host the ... cook the... head up the ..." No need to explain why. A simple, "I'm sorry, I can't." suffices. You might need to repeat it several times, but it will work. That goes for parties too.
courtesy of digidreamgrafix @ freedigitalphoto.net
1)Remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Focus on the joy of Jesus birth. Let cooking, cleaning, and shopping take a back seat to the great news found in Luke 2:11:
"The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"
Dear Nancy, this blog is written
especially for you. I've walked a mile in your mid-heeled
pumps, and want to remind you that no matter how crazy things get,
God loves you, and is standing by to help.
Nancy, please don't give up.
By David Castillo Dominici @ freedigitalphotos.net
You're working as hard as you can to
take care of your family. You handle the cooking, housework, yard
work, kids' transportation, pet care, and volunteer
activities-church, school, and sports.
You love your
husband with your whole heart, but you'd appreciate more romance and fewer dirty clothes on the
floor...six inches from the hamper.
Courtesy of anankkml @freedigitalphotos.net
You love Jesus.
You're concerned about the battles your
kids face every day walking into their classrooms. Along with drugs
and bullying, you're troubled about their constant exposure to a world view
that says everything's permissible--except true Christianity.
courtesy Gualberto107 @freedigitalphoto.net
You and
your family are bombarded with the lie that christians who take a
stand for biblical values are ignorant and narrow-minded.
photostock @ freedigitalphotos.net
You want to
give your kids an alternative to the Harry Potter and Twilight novels
the rest of their friends, even the christian ones, are devouring.
You want to turn on the TV without listening to a string of words
being bleeped out...and hearing those that should have been.
Courtesy of hin255 @freedigitalphotos.net
In the midst of your super-heroic,
super-busy life, you need time for prayer, love, laughter, hope, and
a nap.
Most important, you need to be reminded how precious you are
to God. How much He treasures you. And it's not for what you do. He loves you for you.
Serge Bertasius Photography @ freedigitalphotos
So Nancy, be encouraged as you take
your stand against a world that doesn't understand God's Word; that
ridicules your determination to live by it, and raise your children
by it.
You may feel overwhelmed at times. You
might not do everything right. But keep standing strong. Keep
pressing on.
Courtesy of graur razvan ionut @ freedigitalphotos.net
Here's God's message for you:
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for
the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he
will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deut 31:8 NLT
I truly want to hear from all the "Nancys" out there.
What are you believing God for
today? What are your hopes and dreams and
aspirations? What have you endured? Where do you struggle? How can I help?
Please leave a message in the comments below. If you don't want to share it in the comments, email me directly
(jeaniej@cox.net).
Grrr! Stupid Christians. Stop it
already. Shut up!
And they'd stop talking about Jesus.
But they kept acting like him.
They kept showing me love,
and extending friendship. No strings attached. Just love.
I'd point out all the good deeds
I was doing to tip the heavenly scales in my favor. "I'm a good
person. I do more good things than bad."
They'd open a bible and show me what
God said about it. Verses like
We are all infected and impure with
sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy
rags. Is 64:6
I didn't like God's answers. They
didn't line up with my thinking, so I refused to listen.
But his people kept showing me love
anyway. They'd bring me cookies and invite me to picnics.
courtesy of AKARAKINGDOMS @ freeigitalphotos.net
A church picnic? No way. I expected an
ambush by those Jesus people. I pictured them springing out of the
woods, armed with bibles. I steered clear.
It bugged me to watch those Christians.
They were more than happy. They were joyful. And they didn't pretend
to be perfect. Their methods of working through their problems sat at
the opposite spectrum from mine. They were always forgiving people
instead of taking my advice, which ranged from intricate schemes of
revenge to old-fashioned butt-kicking.
But they just kept loving me. And all
their love finally got through.
Courtesy of graur razvan ionut @ freedigitalphotos.net
Plus, I figured God couldn't made a
bigger mess of my life than I already had.
So I prayed,
"Jesus, I'm sorry for the all the
wrong things I've done, the messes I've made. Please forgive me. I
want to be yours."
And at that moment, I became His.
God welcomed me into his amazing love.
It was a supercharged version of the love his people had been showing
me all along.
I received a new life. A fresh start.
Has it been easy?
Not always.
Has it been easier than when I lived
without God?
Totally. Absolutely. Infinitely.
photo courtesy of Naypong @ freedigitalphotos.net
Even when I slip up, God gathers me up,
brushes me off, loves on me, and sets me on my feet. His crazy
amazing love never changes.
If you've taken the time to read this
far, I suspect you're ready for some of that love yourself. Here's how.
Jesus is the gateway to his father,
God.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.John 14:6
To start a relationship with him, speak
this life-changing prayer:
Lord, I'm sorry for doing things my
way instead of yours. Please forgive me,
and be my savior.
If you prayed that with a sincere
heart, you've just become his child. Buckle in for an explosion of
crazy amazing love.
And if you prayed it, please
let me know. I'll celebrate with you.
I treated you well.
I gave you shelter.
I poured time and effort and money into
you. This is how you repay me?
You quit on me without any warning.
It shouldn't end this way.
I feet totally betrayed...and I'm just
talking about my car dying.
I took care of it.
I drove it gently.
I parked it in the garage.
I shucked out money for regular
maintenance.
My repayment for all that care? The
engine gave out.
I picture Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the
Scarecrow chanting at the engine, "Rapping and tapping and
knocks. Oh my!"
Most of us, at some point, have been
sideswiped by betrayal.
We skip down the yellow brick
road of life and hit a barricade-
A cheating spouse.
An ungrateful child.
A thieving co-worker.
A disloyal friend.
An absentee parent.
The pain of betrayal is gut-wrenching.
It leaves us shaken and reeling, our
trust shattered.
After all, we cared for the person.
We treated them well.
We gave them shelter.
We poured time and effort and resources
into their life. We're repaid with a knife in the back, a kick in the rear, a slap in
the face.
Ever been there?
Jesus has. He had thousands of followers--and I'm not talking Twitter. Of his 12 closest friends, one, Judas, sold him out for 30 silver pieces.
A knife in the back, a kick in the rear, a betrayal kiss on the cheek, worse than a slap.
Jesus knows EXACTLY how we feel because he endured it himself.
"He comforts us in all our
troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we
will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:4
It's true. He's comforted me more times than I can count. And he'll do it for you. His arms are open right now, waiting for you. Run to him.
You're not alone. God cares for you, and so do I. Contact me if you want prayer. I'll pass along God's comfort.
Soon Dorothy and her pals will have a
new refrain. "Healing and comfort and help. Oh my!"
