Volume 5: "Christmases Past"

I know that memory can be burdensome sometimes, but it can be a beautiful thing as well. In this spontaneous writing endeavor, I choose to focus on beautiful memories -- specifically, "What I Miss Most About Christmases Past".

So, what do I miss most about Christmases Past? I truly miss seeing our little children take part in a live Bethlehem nativity presentation in the yearly church Christmas pageant.

My memory has a lovely picture stored away of our little boy decked out like a shepherd, complete with a bathrobe, a cloth head-dress, and a stuffed sheep under his arm. Then, there's our little daughter. She's wearing a tinsel-decorated, white angel's outfit with a halo made of shiny-gold garland scotch-taped around her head.

Seeing our own children in a humble, live nativity made the birth of a Savior more personal for me. 

Yes, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son", however, knowing "God included my own family" in that amazing love, simply and profoundly takes my breath away. 

In this instance, memory is indeed a very beautiful thing to me. 

Grateful

God Is Not Oblivious Concerning Our Children

God is not indifferent, uncaring, or oblivious to what's going on in the lives of our children. (Let us as parents) entrust them back into God's care.
-- Brian, Daily Audio Bible Host

Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.
-- Proverbs 22:6 (New Life Version)

By Faith! In Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

Never Forget

On this 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and rural Pennsylvania in the USA, these words of the Lord's concerning His children echo in my heart and mind:

(14)But Zion [Jerusalem, her people as seen in captivity] said, The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. (15) [And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. (16) Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me.
-- Isaiah 49:14-16 (AMP)

(14) Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us;
the Lord has forgotten us.”
(15) “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
I would not forget you!
(16) See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.
-- Isaiah 49:14-16 (NLT)

Father God, You will never forget your children. You gave Your Son to be crucified to prove it. The proof You will never forget Your own is found in the nail-prints in His hands. Amen.

Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful

If You Return? Compassion!

For if you return to the Lord... your children shall find compassion...
-- 2 Chronicles 30:9 (AMP)

Lord, as parents we do turn to You and to You alone as our Holy Father God. Please make Your compassion known to our children. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Deo Volente.
Grateful

...When They Are "Older"...

Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are "older", they will not leave it.
-- Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)

God's Word Is Powerful!
Grateful

When Children Sing Blessings Over Your Life

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
-- Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

It was a Thursday afternoon when I entered Mrs. Hilliard's fifth grade classroom to share with her class some of what I have learned on my multiple journeys to The Holy Land. For about an hour I was blessed beyond measure with attentive and engaged students.

However, it was after the hour of teaching ended that the real blessing came. The students stood around me as their teacher said "We have something special for you." Then they all smiled on me as they lifted their voices and sang this blessing over my life:

May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep you forever.
Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor.
Lift up your eyes and see His face and His grace forever.
May the Lord, Mighty God bless and keep you forever.

Yes, as I stood there encircled by the children, tears lined my eyes. Take it from me. When children sing blessings over your life, you will know you are blessed indeed. Besides, on that particular Thursday afternoon (without Mrs. Hilliard's fifth grade class knowing it) I really needed a tender touch from the Lord. I left the classroom humbled, grateful, speechless, and yes, blessed indeed!

Now, I sing this blessing over your life today (and remember I am a child, yes a child of God):

May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep you forever.
Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor.
Lift up your eyes and see His face and His grace forever.
May the Lord, Mighty God bless and keep you forever.

Yes, forever and forever. Amen.
Grateful

The Father Doesn't Cringe When His Children Cry. He Cares.

After vulnerable and encouraging e-mail exchanges with two separate friends last evening about my blog entries over the past two days on the topics of "Expecting God's Answers" and "Trusting God Without Understanding", my thoughts were beautifully stirred in the same vein once again this morning as I saturated in the Psalms:

Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. -- Psalm 5:3 (NLT)

My Prayer: When I cry Lord, you don't cringe at my sobbing, because as My Father, You know children cry. So, I expect Your constant help and rescue. You are my Father. I know You want me to expect You to come and comfort me when I cry. You will answer my cries In the way that You, my Loving Father knows is best. Help me to trust Your answers, even though Your answers are not always understandable to me. Remind me often, Father God, that You do not cringe when I cry. You care. In Jesus' name. Amen.

An early 1980's Gospel song comes to mind now:

Just remember Jesus cares.
He cries when you cry.
And He lifts your case;
To the Father up on high.
Place your trust in Him today;
For there is no other way.
And remember Jesus cares;
Just remember Jesus cares.

By Faith! In Faith! (Hebrews 11)
Grateful

God's Child -- God's Children

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given...
-- Isaiah 9:6a (NIV)

God the Father gave His Child to be physically born in Bethlehem so we could be spiritually born again as children of God the Father.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
-- Luke 19:10 (NIV)

So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
-- Galatians 3:26 (NLT)

Look Up And Be Radiant! Let Your Hearts Swell With Joy!
Grateful

Who's Your Daddy? God or the Devil?

1 John 3:1-10 (NLT) is direct and powerful. Sounds like John is basically asking Who's Your Daddy? God or the devil?

(1) See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don’t know God, so they don’t understand that we are His children. (2) Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when He comes we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. (3) And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure. (4) Those who sin are opposed to the law of God, for all sin opposes the law of God. (5) And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, for there is no sin in Him. (6) So if we continue to live in Him, we won’t sin either. But those who keep on sinning have never known him or understood who He is. (7) Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it is because they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. (8) But when people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil. (9) Those who have been born into God’s family do not sin, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they have been born of God. (10) So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the Devil. Anyone who does not obey God’s commands and does not love other Christians does not belong to God.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Prayer: Simple & Profound

Prayer is so simple that even children can pray, and it is so profound that unless adults have childlike hearts they cannot pray.

Then He (Jesus) said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." -- Matthew 18:3 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Learn To Pray -- Not How, But Now!

There is no way to learn to pray but by praying.
-- Samuel Chadwick

And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.
-- Jude 1:20b (NLT)

Lord, teach us TO pray! Lord, teach us not merely how to pray, but mainly TO now pray!

Lord forbid it and Lord forgive us if we avoid praying not primarily because we don't know how to pray, but because we simply and sadly won't take time to pray. Even a child knows how to pray. Help us to become as children and to pray now. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Turn From Sin, Be Like Children

(1) About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Which of us is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" (2) Jesus called a small child over to Him and put the child among them. (3) Then He said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. (4) Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (5) And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me. (6) But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in Me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck. -- Matthew 18:1-6 (NLT)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Christmas Prediction in the Book of Job?

This morning in my devotional time, I found what appears to be an illuminating Christmas prediction in the Book of Job. As soon as I read the words found in Job 39:9, I could hear the lyrics of a beloved Christmas Carol playing in my mind.

Here's Job 39:9 "Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night? (NIV)

Here's the beloved Christmas Carol:

Away in a manger, no crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle (oxen) are lowing. The poor Baby wakes.
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus. Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side,'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus. I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
and take us to Heaven, to live with Thee there.

ALL... JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful

The Passage of Time

James Taylor sings a song titled Secret of Life. One line from the old tune says: The Secret of Life is enjoying The Passage of Time.

Well, I'd agree that's at least one secret of life. But the greater secret, or mystery to me is The Passage of Time itself. It seems just days ago that my son and daughter were little children, Now, all of a sudden, our "little" son is a 22-year-old college graduate and beginning his chosen career in radio broadcasting. Our "little" daughter is 20 and already a university junior as a fashion marketer and living three-and-a-half hours from home. It's unbelievable how fast time has rushed past our family.

This morning as I had my usual quiet time on the front porch, our neighbor was playing with his little four-year-old boy on the sidewalk next door. Listening to his young son's little-boy-laughter penetrated my heart and reminded me of the mystery, yes, the mystery of The Passage of Time.

I am reminded of these words from a poem my wife and I used to incorporate in advertising when we were full-time photographers. It was an effective sales pitch that encouraged or warned parents to have their little children remembered in portraits before it was too late. Listen to these 13 words:

Whatever happened to yesterday?
It picked up our children and stole them away.

Now, rest assured, I have enjoyed The Passage of Time, but I am still confounded by it all. James Taylor's song advice may be very close to some of the the best counsel we can get about the mystery of life's brevity: Enjoy the passage of time. That is, enjoy the passage of time by being present in your present and by being up-to-date in your relationship with God and your relationships with others, especially your own family members.

Another old Gospel song by the Gaithers said it this way:
We have this moment to hold in our hands,
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand.
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
but we have this moment... today.

The time that remains is very short... 1 Corinthians 7:29 (NLT).

ALL JOY!
Grateful

Note: This blog entry specifically spells out in part my life's joy-description, which includes, but is not limited to, these 7 words:
Live to help others minimize future regrets.