“Daddy Cuddles”

My grandson Owen's words were clear, through the sobs at 3 a.m. “Daddy, cuddle me! Daddy, cuddle me! DADDY, cuddle me!”. I don’t quite know what was going on for him at that early hour. But certainly Owen was wide awake, something wasn’t quite right and Owen didn’t want anything else but to have some time with his Daddy and the comfort of his father’s arms wrapped snugly around him. It was one of those moments when Momma wouldn’t do and neither would his grandparents (though I must confess that I didn’t budge from the warm cuddles of my bed and blankets).

(This is Owen on a happier day!)

The message I got through the walls and through the tears was that only Daddy could resolve this situation.

As I lay there, in a half-awake, half-asleep stupor, it occurred to me that I’ve faced a lot of situations in my life that only my Heavenly Father could solve. I’ve walked paths (and erred and strayed from paths) that needed “Daddy cuddles” to get me through. I’ve found myself in times that were fearful and uncomfortable where I needed the solution of the power of the Almighty “Daddy” to clarify and make right. I’ve been in those situations where I’ve realized (sometimes late at night or late in the process) that I couldn’t take care of it myself and that I really needed to turn it over to God. There have been times when things weren’t right and only the loving arms of an eternal God could bring the peace that I was so desperately seeking.

So, I’m thinking, I need to recognize, as Owen does, the wonderful grace of “Daddy cuddles” and the power and promise of God’s loving arms that embrace me every moment of my life in His grace!

“Is the Christmas Spirit Gone?”

“THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WAS GONE FOR ANOTHER YEAR!!” the Christmas letter said. Right there in black and white, right after the line that noted the “un-decorating” of the house and just before the line that noted, “(This) Christmas won’t go down as one of the most memorable.”

Now, just what did it mean, “Christmas spirit gone for another year?”

Could it mean that
The spirit of giving had already been replaced with selfishness and greed?
The adornments were gone, but faith lived on?
The images of Santa and the Christ child had been replaced with the more familiar plants, centerpieces, coasters and candles?
The family has put on masks and managed to fake it through the obligatory gatherings not to speak to each other for another year?
The birth of God’s Son really hasn’t made a bit of difference in life?
The celebration of Christmas was o much bother and fuss it is good to be done with it for a while?

Or could it be an innocent passing remark
That marks the packing up of the decorations and has no meaning beyond that?

Oh, how I hope that the Christmas Spirit isn’t gone for another year,
Not to be brought out again
Until Wal-Mart or Target begin to say that it is time to bring it out again
Or until we begin to have our greed turned on again as we seek presents and bigger and better toys.
Or until, as if by some magic, our grumpy, sad faced critical attitudes are transformed to something more palatable to those around us.

Oh, how I hope
That the renewal of the Spirit of God, among us in the gift of Jesus our Savior, is not wasted in our “putting away the Christmas Spirit.”
That the birth of God in our midst, love showered upon us, has birthed in us new attitudes, new priorities, and new images of what we are as God’s children in this world.
That the Spirit of Christmas can transform our lives every day, all year long.
That we can be generous and warm in our response to the needs of others.
That we can see God’s love shared in all things in our lives!!

Please, oh please, when you pack away the decorations and the tinsel leave the Christmas Sprit unpacked so that this Child of God can change your life daily and through out the whole year.

"Three Bullets"

This one has been around a while, but it is worth making the rounds again for reflection.

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Three Bullets
There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner.
As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit. He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away. They he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree. As he went further, he saw a large wild “tom” turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining.
A voice spoke to him and said, “Pray first, aim high and stay focused. However, at the same time, he saw a deer that was a better ill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bit him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake.
Still, the voice said again, “I said, 'Pray, aim high and stay focused.'”
So, the man decided to listen to God’s voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond. When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all of his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to east for his family.
The snake (satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.
Moral of this story:
Pray first before you do anything, aim and shoot high in your goals and stay focused on God. Never let others discouraged you concerning your past. The past is exactly that, ‘the past.” Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future and God is there to help you bear every part of that future. Do not look to others for your blessings, but look to the doors that only God has prepared in advance for you in your favor. Wait, be still and patient; keep God first and everything else will follow.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”

"If You Look for me at Christmas!"

This inspirational piece from a card I received earlier this week. The human author is not identified.

If you look for Me at Christmas
you won’t need a special star—
I’m no longer just in Bethlehem,
I’m right here where you are.

You may not be aware of Me
Amid the celebrations –
You’ll have to look beyond the stores
And all the decorations.
But if you take a moment
From your list of things to do
And listen to your heart, you’ll find
I’m waiting there for you.
You’re the one I want to be with,
You’re the reason that I came,
And you’ll find Me in the stillness
As I’m whispering your name.
Love
Jesus

"Christmas From Jesus' Perspective"

The Christian singer, Matthew West, began to think about the idea of what Jesus must have thought when he was asked to come to earth, leaving paradise with its streets of gold, leaving the perfection of his Father’s Kingdom to come to the chaos of earth. It is an interesting line of thought since we probably never ponder the idea of Christmas from Jesus’ perspective.

Matthew West wrote a song about Christmas from Jesus’ perspective. It is called “Leaving Heaven” and it is on his “The Heart of Christmas” album.
Here are the lyrics:

“Leaving Heaven”
Well, it’s been real nice living way up here
In paradise, over the atmosphere
But I can’t stay long, gotta make my way
I’m leaving Heaven today

You see the world is dark and it needs a light
I’m gonna hang a star in the eastern sky
So everybody’s gonna know where I touch down
I’m leaving Heaven right now

I’m gonna walk around that broken Earth
Trading in these streets of gold
So if you ever wonder how much you’re worth
You should know
That you’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven

Ain’t gonna be no kingdom, ain’t gonna be no crown
Just a little old manger, in a little old town
But it’ll do just fine for this humble King
I’m leaving Heaven let all the angels sing

I’m gonna walk around that broken Earth
Trading in these streets of gold
So if you ever wonder how much you’re worth
You should know
You’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven

And when my time comes to an end
I’ll lay down my life like a truest friend
And when I get back home, I’m gonna make some room
So, don’t you worry, ‘cause I’m coming back for you

And you will say goodbye to that broken Earth
You’re gonna walk on streets of gold
And if you ever wonder what my love is worth
Well you should know
That I’m the reason you’ll be seeing Heaven
Oh, you’re the reason why I’m leaving Heaven
I’m leaving Heaven

"Jesus in our Box??"

I've had the chance to spend a little time in line at the postal counter in my supermarket. I'm a "people watcher" by nature so I've had "fun" looking at the variety of packages people carry to the counter. Every size and shape to be mailed off to distant friends and relatives.

I noticed more than one customer who had so over stuffed their mailing boxes that they were bulged and bursting at the seams. I could only hope that the packing tape would hold until they reached their appointed destinations.

I got to thinking that this is the same way that people in Jesus time handled Jesus. They had "boxes" of specific shapes and sizes into which they were trying to "fit" the Messiah. They had "boxes" of particular configurations into which they tired to fit Jesus. "Messiah" didn't "fit." Jesus didn't "fit." Jesus was not a king, but an infant born out of wedlock. He came from a simple family to the back woods areas of Galilee. He hung out with the "lower class" and spent his time rubbing elbows with "sinners." For those who didn't believe, Jesus just didn't fit their definition, their "box."

I'm sorry to say that we, in 2011, are no different. We have our own expectations of Jesus (and of God). We expect prayers to be answered, to be comfortable and secure, to be "successful" and to have a certain kind of life. We expect God to be there when we "need" God, but we are not bothered by ignoring God at other times in our lives, times when the blessings are flowing beyond our need. When God doesn't "fit" out box, our expectations or our image, we are quick to doubt -- to doubt God and God's presence, power and providing in our lives.

Jesus started out His life in a manner that says God doesn't fit our expectations. God won't fit into our "boxes." Jesus came to help us know that outside the box, bigger than our expectations and in ways we can never imagine, God leads us to life and salvation. God fills every promise. God splits the seams of expectations to bring forgiveness, renewal and redemption.

In these waning days of Advent watching, God is appearing. Be ready. Have your eyes open. Expect God in new ways in your life, in your heart.

"A Christmas Message"

Here is the Christmas Message shared by ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson. I found it worth posting for my readers.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all (Titus 2:11).

Yes In this world where God creates with deep
beauty and profound mystery.
In this world where so many yearn for
God's healing and peace.
In this world where some have thought God has forsaken us:

Yes Here, in this world, the grace of God has appeared.

Not just in this world but for you.

Yes For you, weary from trying to meet the
expectations of others.
For you, worrying about an uncertain future.
For you, wondering if you are worthy.

Yes For you, the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation.

Not just for you but for all.

Yes For all, salvation has come in the wonder of
God in mercy bending low to meet us
in our humanity.
In the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection.
In the power and promise
of the gospel's proclamation,
God's goodness and loving-kindness has appeared
in the Savior Jesus.

So with angelic messengers and witnessing shepherds,
we raise our voices:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favors."