Mary's "Yes" -- My "Yes"

As if one Advent by Candlelight wasn't enough, I was thrilled to attend another last night at St. Bernard's Church. This night, I was able to sit back with dear friends from my Hyde Park community and my ACTS community to focus my attention, and really take in the beauty of this wonderful Season of Advent. Once again, the photos here describe the hospitality of the hostesses that make this night so warm and welcoming. The beautiful songs that were sung that celebrated this beautiful time and short reflection talks by several ladies caused us to hone into this most holy of times of the year. After all, there would be no Easter and Resurrection Sunday were it not for the birth of our Lord.

The talk giver, a renown author and speaker, Lisa Hendey, was eloquent and relevant as she spoke about Mary's "Yes" and our "Yes".

As I heard her speak, Mary's "yes", in a way, became my "yes". Mary’s “yes” changed her life. We all know that "yes" doesn't mean, "The End". It is, in most instances, the beginning of ginormous changes to our lives -- our schedules, our time, our energy (or the lack thereof), our thought processes and our commitment. I know my recent "Yes" to making a huge transition in my life, moving from Tulsa to Texas, holds many unknowns, plus life-altering times ahead, but I know when saying "Yes" to God, He is with me every step of the way.

But here's the deal about Mary's "Yes". Because of her “yes”, she became the mother of Jesus. Though her ordinary life was made sacred by way of an invitation that she affirmed, she was still like any mother. She was still needed by her baby boy in the middle of the night, chased the toddler Jesus with the hopes of a nap soon to come, (I've been there -- haven't you?) and found that her life was no longer hers, but everything about that precious baby consumed her, like our babies were to us. The difference is that her attention turned toward the child who was Jesus. The beloved song, "Mary Did You Know?" was sung last night, and it makes us wonder, if she had known what was up ahead for her and her baby boy, would she still have said "yes". In our lives, we don't know what lies ahead, but with our willingness to follow He Who loves us beyond description and has a Master Plan to work out in us, like Mary, we can resign our own thoughts and submit to God's perfect plan for us.

When we say “yes” to God, He is inviting us to do what is in our capacity to do. Otherwise, He wouldn't have asked. I've learned over and over...."Where He guides, He provides". But most importantly, He invites us to see our ordinary roles as sacred. The sacredness of dependence on God for His grace and mercy to be with us in times of decision making, having His wisdom to guide those He entrusts to us, daily being full of the Fruit of the Spirit as we assist in carving out our children's places in this world, as well as being a light to those God calls us to encourage and support around us.

Mary's "Yes" -- My "Yes" -- I'm there -- How about you?

Making Room for Him

These photo inspirations are from the beautiful Advent by Candlelight at St. Benedict's Church in Broken Arrow where I was so honored to speak at last night. Slowing down from our busy schedules and activities, to purposefully STOP the hustle and bustle to "nest" in God's presence most certainly gives us the perspective of what this Advent season is really all about.

Obviously, candles and their glowing lights are abundant at an Advent by Candlelight. Each table hostess adorns HER table with her own china and place settings, as well as the focal point of the table -- her specially designed centerpiece and trimmings. You can see the intricacy of the details with the sole purpose of pointing us to He Who is the reason for this beautiful season. And, if the tables aren't enough to take our breath away, the hostess serves lovely desserts and provides little gifts for her table guests. While we're treated like royalty, it really is all about our KING, but since we're His daughters.....of course we get the ROYAL treatment.

Sunday began the Advent season which refers to the four weeks before Christmas when we celebrate Christ's arrival to planet earth.
The word "advent" means a coming or arrival, especially of something or someone extremely important. It's when we reflect on God's promises and prophecies to His people. And, it's a time of preparing our hearts in anticipation of the special day when we remember the birth of our Lord and Savior. While enjoying the festivities -- sleigh bells, carols, chestnuts roasting, reindeer movies, parties, visits to see Santa, baking Christmas goodies, gift giving --pondering ADVENT, keeps us remembering that there is such greater reasons for this glorious season. It's about a better day, a better life, it's about HOPE.

My message to the ladies revolved around the Nativity scene. If we look closely at a Nativity scene, we'd see far more than the angels, shepherds, wise man. the animals, the manger, Joseph, Mary and the baby. We'd see and realize that the Nativity scene is an explosion of worship. The angels are worshipping from above, the wise men, with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh are bending low to worship, the shepherds are worshipping.

Advent is about worshipping He who is worthy of all worship and praise. Before His crown, there was a cross and before the cross was a manger and before the manger was a seed. He who left heaven's glory to come to earth was planted in Mary's womb as a seed. He came to you and me to prove His unfathomable and indescribable love to say "I understand you". A baby crying because his diapers are wet -- Jesus says "I understand. I was once a baby." The young child who is restless in church -- Jesus says, "I understand. I, too, knew what it was like to listen to my rabbi in Nazareth to go on and on." The teenager -- nobody understands teenagers -- but Jesus says, "I understand. I was a teenager." The young person who is faced daily with temptation and sin. Jesus says, "I understand. I was tempted in all points as you have been, yet I did not sin." The one who feels rejected, unloved, lied about -- Jesus says, "I understand. I was rejected and despised by men. And what could we possibly do to show our gratitude? We, too, can be worshippers of THE ONE, who is altogether worthy of our greatest praise and worship. Joy to the world. The Lord is come. Let EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM....and heaven and nature sing....and you and I sing.

I pray that we become true worshippers during this Advent season and beyond -- that we come to realize that HE UNDERSTANDS us because He became one of us.

Too Much Christmas Before Thanksgiving?

It's been "beginning to look a lot like Christmas" for MONTHS now. And, this year I’m noticing more and more families are skipping right through Fall and Thanksgiving and are fast forwarding the Christmas spirit of lights and decorations everywhere. In fact, last week while in Austin, I helped with Christmas decorating, and when I arrived in Frisco, Staci's home was already decorated so beautifully.

It's been "beginning to look a lot like Christmas" for MONTHS now. This year I’m noticing more and more families are skipping right past their Fall and Thanksgiving decorations and are fast forwarding the Christmas spirit of lights and decorations everywhere. In fact, last week while in Austin, I helped with Christmas decorating, and when I arrived in Frisco, Staci's home was already beautifully decorated..

I was amused at some FB posts a while ago as some folks were complaining about the early sales of Christmas decorations and hearing Christmas music playing since back in August. I get that retail stores, needing their bottom lines increased, amp it up to get us into the "buying" spirit waaay before the Christmas season. I can’t fault them for that. In order to vacate those shelves as quickly as possible, there are already 50% off sales.

I get that most of us want to embrace each season and make it as memorable as we can. We want to savor Fall with the leaves changing colors, candy corn, pumpkin spice coffee, autumn décor, and we want to remember the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving and make this Fall season special and meaningful.

But, what's the big deal? Why should it matter when people begin to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. Different strokes for different folks. What matters is that we open our hearts and our homes to gratitude at Thanksgiving and to the joys, delights, thrills and celebrations of CHRISTMAS – Christ and His coming to this earth. Actually, Thanksgiving AND Christmas are seasons that could easily be merged together as one.

I’ve been pondering Advent and Christmas for several months now, partly because I’m a guest speaker at an Advent by Candlelight event back in Tulsa. AND because I packed up my home to move all my belongings to Texas, I sifted through a lot of Christmas décor and sold it in my garage sale. With fifteen tubs of Christmas décor remaining, I think I’ll still manage! Oh me! But, I won’t need to be decorating this year as I’m in Texas for the holidays and my girls have made this Mama proud with their exquisite decorating abilities.

My grandson is creating a melody of Christmas music and hearing those familiar tunes causes me to embrace this season even more. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. I’m already allowing myself to get enraptured by the miraculous Christmas story -- the UNLIKELY turn of events that altered the course of our present and future. And, as I’m embracing Christmas early, pondering and thinking about all that Christmas means, when my family is all together here in Frisco this Thursday, this mode of thanksgiving, will simply open the door for all the joys and beauty of Christmas.

I didn't complain about the early sales of Christmas decorations and music playing in the stores. It has just caused me to hone into the beautiful journey that will lead to the most HOLY DAY – and, it would have been alright if I started way back in July! After all, it’s more than a season or a day, it’s about a REASON for unspeakable joy, indescribable love, and amazing sacrifice – that the ONE who placed the stars in the sky and Who knows them ALL by name -- chose to come to this earth as a little baby to be with me, understand me, live in this world like me -- HE totally gets me and my frailties, but better yet, He is my all powerful, incomparable, awesome and GREAT, amazing God. I'd say that's plenty reason to be celebrating ALL YEAR ROUND! So the next time you're tempted to complain about "too early".....turn that around to being thankful for the reminder to thank God for THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. It’s just too great a story to compact it into just one celebration.

Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving?

It's been beginning to look a lot like Christmas for MONTHS now. And, I saw some FB posts where folks were grumbling about Christmas decorations being sold and Christmas music playing since back in August. I get that retail stores, needing their sales, amp it up to get us into the "buying" spirit waaay before the Christmas season

And, I get that most of us want to embrace each season and make it as memorable as we can. We want to savor Fall with the leaves changing colors, candy corn, pumpkin spice coffee, autumn décor, and we want to remember the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving and make this Fall season special..

But, I started thinking -- what's the big deal? And why should it matter when people begin to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. Different strokes for different folks. Bottom line is that we open our hearts, and our homes, to being thankful at Thanksgiving and to the joys, delights, thrills and celebrations of CHRISTMAS – Christ and His coming to this earth. Actually, Thanksgiving AND Christmas are seasons that could be celebrated all year long.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas for several months now. I won’t be decorating to the extreme this year, like I traditionally do, as I’ll be heading to Texas to celebrate and then onto Seattle to celebrate there. I’ve started my Christmas baking. I bought some gifts for my family back in September. And, I’m already very tuned into the miraculous story of Christmas – the real reason for the season. Part of that is because I’ll be speaking at two churches for their “Advent by Candlelight” events, so Advent and Christmas were already on my mind waaay before Thanksgiving and Christmas. And as my heart and mind go there, I’m already allowing myself to get enraptured by the miraculous Christmas story -- the UNLIKELY turn of events that altered the course of our present and future. And, as I’m embracing Christmas early, pondering and thinking about all that Christmas means…..when my family come into Tulsa next week for Thanksgiving, we'll all be in such a mode of thanksgiving, it will make an easy transition for all the joys and beauty of Christmas.

I haven't complained about the Christmas decorations and music in the stores. It has just caused me to hone into the beautiful journey that will lead to the most HOLY AND MIRACULOUS DAY – and, it would have been alright if I started way back in July! After all, it’s more than a season or a day, it’s about a REASON for unspeakable joy, indescribable love, and amazing sacrifice – that the ONE who placed the stars in the sky and Who knows them ALL by name -- chose to come to this earth as a little baby to be with me, understand me, live in this world like me -- HE totally gets me and my frailties, but better yet, He is my all powerful, incomparable, awesome and GREAT, amazing God. I'd say that's plenty reason to be celebrating ALL YEAR ROUND! So the next time you're tempted to complain about "too early".....turn that around to being thankful for the reminder to thank God for THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.