The baby born that cloudless night slept in a bed of hay; The One for whom a thousand years is but a single day. The One who hung the stars in space and formed us from the dust; The Lord of all creation had come to dwell with us.
His mother watched each tiny breath with eyes of wondrous love; Another watched with yearning heart from heaven up above. His mother dreamed of royal robes and kingly crown one day; The Other knew that pain and suffering marked the baby's way.
It was a deep, miraculous love that filled that tiny place; Trusting hearts, a baby's gift and a Father's perfect grace. He looked through time and saw each soul His precious Son would save; With open hands and longing heart the priceless gift He gave.
I have taken my current memory verses from Mary's "Magnificat":
"For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him." Luke 1:49-50
I have thought a lot about this humble young girl as I've worked on committing her words, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to memory. I have been thinking about gratitude, obedience and trust.
Surely Mary was blessed among women - chosen to be the mother of the Redeemer of the world. The blessing, however, didn't come without its share of suffering. Loss of reputation and trust, causing, for a time, great hurt to one she loved and was going to marry, and the possibility of stoning were all a part of the cost of obedience to the will of God for her life.
Yet she chose obedience despite the cost, gratitude for the blessing, and trust in a God she knew was faithful and good.
God has promised each of us who love Him that He will never leave or forsake us. He has told us that He has a plan to prosper and not to harm us. Over and over again in His word He has shown us how He blesses those who walk in obedience to His word.
In spite of the suffering, Mary was part of a perfect plan whose blessing simply cannot be measured. There were many more days of suffering ahead for Mary, but the day came when she saw this beloved Son become her Redeemer and Lord.
As we walk through days of difficulty, as inevitably we will, we can know that all will be well. He has promised - and His promises never fail. This special season reminds us over and over again that He has come to save and to give life abundant. For the Mighty One has done great things for us!
There are some books you just know you have to not just read but own. A few weeks ago, Sarah mentioned just such a book in her blog post on "Recent Reads." It is "Honey For A Woman's Heart" by Gladys Hunt.
My daughter discovered books when she was just a little girl. At bedtime, I would sit in bed with her and read aloud all the books I had loved. Those were precious times and continued even after she could read the words all by herself. However, she loved reading on her own too. I still have a mental picture of her curled up on a chair on the front porch, her cat sitting in her lap as she devoured book after book.
She read so many books so quickly, I was hard pressed to keep her supplied. My biggest concern was finding books that would nourish her intellectually and spiritually. A friend recommended "Honey For a Child's Heart" - also by Gladys Hunt.
It was a wonderful resource for good books for all the different age groups. We brought it with us when we went to the library or book store. As the months and years passed the pages were worn and filled with check marks as she read through all the wonderful books. I discovered some that I had somehow missed in my own growing up years. Imagine never having read "Anne of Green Gables"! I was thankful over and over again for Mrs. Hunts' invaluable guide.
My order was in today, and I have "Honey For A Woman's Heart" in my hands right now. I have only had time to browse through it quickly, but it makes my little heart go "pitty-pat" just looking at all the books waiting for me to discover. It is much more than just a list of books though. Mrs. Hunt has written about writing and reading, and it is inspiring. She writes:
"A literary work is part of God's created order. It is written because people have been gifted to write, to sub-create; and when we say, 'What a fine book this is!' we are praising the Creator for making these gifts part of the human experience. We are delighting in the gift of our fellow human beings. We appreciate the beautiful language and the emotion of a poem or narrative passage, and in doing so we proclaim 'This is good!'
I cannot wait to read this book, to make it worn with usage and filled with check marks. I love to read!
Tis the season......How I love this time of year. I love it in a different way now that I am all grown up and a Grandma. When I was a little girl, there were "visions of sugar plums dancing in my head." These days I simply long to see with His eyes the things He longs to impart to my spirit.
I think, since He tells me to "give thanks in all circumstances...", the lenses He wants to use to give me that vision are those comprised of gratitude. And so the list continues:
I am thankful for:
- grown children who take the time to visit their elderly grandparents; the joy it brings is immeasurable
- the smell of apple pies baking in the oven
- a day to spend with family and friends - a day of abundant provision and gratitude
- pretty pansies brightening the front porch
- a beautiful bouquet from my husband "just because"
- crisp, cold air and a brief moment of snow flakes
- the pleasure of friends - those in my "real life" and those whose necks I have never hugged but who are every bit as dear
- the joy in the anticipation of His birthday
- decorating the house for His birthday
- Christmas music - some of the lyrics just give me goose bumps and eyes that water*
- The Gift - who am I that He should send His beloved Son to die that I might live? Simply thanks seem so inadequate. I must give Him my heart.
Please visit the Gratitude Community at Ann's. It will lift your spirits and fill you with joy.
Blessing and wishes for a joyous Advent Season, Linda
picture: the little tatted ornaments I made a few years ago gracing our Christmas tree
* This is one of the songs our choir is singing this weekend for our Christmas program. Breath-taking!
The forecast for snow was a tad optimistic - at least for our part of Texas. The air filled with tiny flakes as I made my way to the door of Mary's house, but if you blinked you missed it! Nevertheless, Christmas was alive and well indoors. The house is always decorated beautifully, just in time for the big party!
The beautifully set table - waiting for the meal to begin. The menu is always the same because we unanimously agree that there is nothing better than Mary's Chicken Pasta Salad!
The desert table - yummy!
Here are just a few of the prices awaiting us. When you get Bingo - you get to choose a prize. There is always a lot of good natured teasing about who is going to get to go first.
Here we are - sisters of the heart!
It was a wonderful time; it always is. We've decided that, really, we have to get together more often.
The weather people are predicting snow for us tomorrow. SNOW!! I lived up north for the first thirty-six years of my life. When we moved to Texas I considered the possibility that I would never see snow again. After thinking about it for about thirty seconds I decided I was fine with that. So under ordinary circumstances my plan for tomorrow would be to stay strictly indoors, dress warmly and drink lots of hot tea.
However, tomorrow is not an ordinary day. Tomorrow is the day of our annual Christmas Bingo Party. After hearing the forecast I thought perhaps I shouldn't go. After all, Mary's house is a forty minute drive from mine. If the snow should actually amount to something, it could be a very exciting ride home indeed. I sat myself down and had a little talk with....well you know....me. "Linda," I said, "this is the Christmas you've been thinking and praying about. It is spending time with those who are dear to us - giving, not things, but something from the heart."
These women have been a part of my life since the first small group Bible study we attended more years ago than I can count. We are no longer together in that group. Our lives have gone in different directions as our children have gotten older, but on this day every year we gather together.
After the hugs and greetings, the conversation flows as though we had seen each other only a day or so ago. These are friendships built on the foundation of our shared faith. We have laughed, cried and prayed together as we've walked through the best and worst of times. These precious women are my sisters.
So I will venture forth! Actually....knowing how precious this time is for us, my husband has offered to drive me there and my friend's husband also offered to take the day off from work and pick up every one of us and deliver us back home.
Monday was a dark, cold, rainy day here. We ventured out to do the grocery shopping - dashing from the car to the store in the wet chill. When we got home, the little head cold I had been brewing made me just a bit weary so I decided to give myself the afternoon off.
The darkness of the cloudy day permeated the house. I slipped into the living room and knelt in front of my little bookcase to choose a movie. For some reason I didn't pick one of the Christmas DVDs - instead I found my hand reaching for "To Kill A Mockingbird". It is one of my all time favorite books and movies. Harper Lee is a master story teller.
Within a few minutes I was lost in the story - for truly it is a gripping one. When it was all over I found myself thinking not so much of the story itself but of the atmosphere of the time and place - the scenes on the front porch in particular.
In the peaceful quietness of a summer evening Atticus sat on the front porch listening to the voices of his children as they talked to one another from their beds. He wasn't busy with anything; he simply sat rocking in the old rocking chair. On another occasion, he sat with his little girl as she told him what was troubling her.
The whole rhythm of that time was slower. There was no hurry to run to the store or get the children to practice of one sort or another, no rushing off to a meeting or out for a quick bite to eat. The pace was slow and peaceful - time to simply sit and perhaps talk over the day.
I have purposed to make this Advent Season a step back in time. We have pared down the gift-giving this year - less frantic looking for something we don't already have. The calendar has only a few important dates marked off. I want to walk slowly through this time becoming more mindful of what this miraculous season is really all about.
I don't want to miss what He wants to whisper into my heart.
Please visit Ann to read more about seeking Christ this Christmas Season.
Blessings, Linda
If you haven't visited the Christmas Change blog yet, you really should. You will be abundantly blessed.
