Letting Our Christmas Joy Be About the Joy-Giver

Here we are – smack dab in the middle of Christmas time – only 13 more days until the presents are all unwrapped, we’re eating our Christmas breakfast and some of us are singing “Happy Birthday, Jesus”!

When I was a very young child, I was taught, like many children, that Christmas Eve was special because Santa was coming and would leave me my heart's desire. I was told to fall asleep quickly so he would come. On Christmas morning, I bounded out of bed to see what Santa brought me. I loved Santa. After all, he loved me whether I was bad or good AND he left me presents. The most important part of Christmas was Santa and the presents. So, bring on jolly old Santa, adorned in red and white, and, oh, so joyous! I can understand how that notion is what is most attractive to the world. Shiny objects. Christmas trees. Twinkling lights. Reindeer. Mistletoe. Jingle bells.

Then there is the story of baby Jesus. I loved being in the kids' Christmas program at church and singing Christmas songs. My parents were adamant I knew that baby Jesus is the Savior of the world. But honestly, from a child’s perspective, everything about the Christmas story seemed so dingy, gray, brown, and so sad. Little baby Jesus was born in a smelly stable because there was no room at the inn. We sang: “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed” So, where’s the joy in that, God? Then, Herod ordered babies killed. Mary and Joseph fled with Jesus to Egypt for protection. How joyous is that? God knew everything but still let that happen. So, children and adults who don’t know the true meaning of Christmas, find their joy partying it up with the jolly old soul, Santa Claus, and all the other tinsel and glittery attractions of Christmas.

Perhaps that's why the world has trouble with the Christmas Story – because it seems to stop at the smelly stable. People don’t grasp that it was EVERYTHING. Now, that I’m older and wiser and have grown in intimacy with Jesus (now, my go-to for breath and life and peace and joy), I can see clearly where the bright lights should shine. The Santa, though he is a jolly old soul, is simply a temporary joy. Joy isn’t found in temporary things – nor in a season. The joy that brings total fulfillment and satisfaction is only found in the ONE Who came down from heaven’s glories to become a baby (like you and me). He Who was born in that smelly stable is He Who will never leave us or forsake us. Joy, real joy, everlasting joy! It’s time we put the main emphasis on God and thank Him for His indescribable gift. True joy isn't found in anything or anyone but Him.

As Christmas approaches, let's ask the Lord to order our steps to make the MAIN thing -- the Jesus King. May we be on purpose in explaining the Christmas story to our children so they know the true JOY of Christmas is only found in Jesus. Let's prioritize taking time for Him first, then step by step, do what brings Him joy each day – being a blessing to others, filling our hearts and homes with His presence and shining our lights on THE LIGHT of the world.

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

Trusting God When It Doesn't Make Sense

Yesterday I posted about the times when we are afraid to trust. We have a host of reasons to have a problem with trusting, especially when it comes to relationships and when someone broke our hearts or when dreams crushed or when we’re let down by a sickness reoccurrence. But we have proof of those who weathered their crisis by trusting in God’s promises and Word and came out stronger than ever before. Their test became their testimony and their mess became a message that others witnessed and they, too, learned to trust.

In the joyous Christmas atmosphere with my fireplace warming me, my eyes take notice of this treasured figurine of "The Holy Family" across the room. It was a gift to us by a dear friend on the occasion of re-saying our marriage vows at Christmas. I start to ponder the unimaginable trust found in the Christmas Story. It’s a true story that boggles our minds. This true story is unparalleled in trust. God invited people from different stations in life to become a part of history. The lowly, outcast shepherds. An unmarried, innocent girl. An expectant husband-to-be. Well-educated men from another country. All of those characters had to draw upon some new level of trust and belief to become part of the “Chronicles of Bethlehem”. Each person had to rely on an inner sense of conviction. What they saw, how they reacted, and what they did, demanded an internal “knowing” that trust was the best choice, God’s choice.

Think about trust in the roles those characters played: Mary had to believe Gabriel, the angel of God when he appeared to her. She chose to say “Yes” to his message. Joseph believed that God spoke to him in a dream. Mary had to trust and rely on Joseph for leadership and direction. Joseph believed in her innocence. They leaned on one another for support as God continued to “direct their steps” (Proverbs 3:5,6).

Mary, Joseph, the Magi, and the shepherds had a choice. They believed the angelic visits. The star in the sky and the dreams were signs of God’s direction. Each of the characters believed they had a role to play and each of them relied on God's guidance. They were positioned to be a part of a miraculous and eternal story-line, and they submitted to it.

Now, here’s the “Chronicles of Dallas or Tulsa or Phoenix" or whatever town you and I are in today”, God is writing our story. Mary and Joseph only received one piece of information at a time. Still, they continued to walk in the grace and guidance that had been given to them. Trust enabled Joseph to marry Mary. Trust caused them to leave Bethlehem and travel to Egypt. They returned and lived in Nazareth. God guided. God provided.

What about our stories? Right now you might be right in the middle of trying to find your way in business, in relationships, in your health. Trust will keep you steadfast and immoveable -- not the trust found in partners in business or family and friends or even in the medical report you just received. Trust is our complete reliance on the character, ability, strength, and truth of God. It is simply the confidence that we place in "our all-sufficient One". Our pennies bear the quote "In God We Trust".
That is the trust of all the characters in the Christmas Story. That is the trust that God wants His children to have in Him. May we trust God implicitly, then trust our sovereign God to be in the people and in the situations of our lives.

Merry Christmas and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

Merry Christmas and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

It’s the birthday of our Savior! A day of celebration and joy to the world on this beautiful Christmas Day. Yesterday, I was blessed to be a communion server at my church. It hit home to me that the baby boy sleeping in the manger came to die, so in serving His body and blood, I was giving the Savior of the world -- the conqueror -- not as a little baby. What a privilege!

My Frisco family and I celebrated Christmas Eve at my home for dinner, then a precious time of Payton playing the piano and Staci and Alexia leading us in singing and praising our Lord for His willingness to become one of us earthlings. They opened my gifts to them. Then we headed over to the Wallace’s for their Christmas Eve gifts-giving. It’s always been our Christmas Eve tradition to open gifts and on Christmas Day, we opened the filled stockings.

I kept our traditional Christmas Eve alive as I read our family’s favorite Christmas book “The First Christmas Story” that Papa read to the grandchildren from since the oldest grandsons were just little boys. I did my best to be in the “Papa-style-and-form” with the Austin Family on FaceTime with us. Technology can be such a blessing to us.

In a couple of hours, we’ll travel over the rivers and through the woods to our Austin family for a reunion that celebrates Jesus’ birthday, enjoy a great meal together, get my traditional family photo and embracing everything that Christmas is about – love coming down to earth. We’ll celebrate that love today.

Maybe, this Christmas morning you're having your traditional family breakfast and opening "Santa's" presents and seeing what he left everyone in their stockings.....no longer hung with care. Now they're on the floor, stuffed full of goodies and treasures. Santa's cookie plate only has a few crumbs left.

Oh, the joy of hearing children's laughter and excitement today -- and the thrill of Christmas in their eyes. If your children are grown, enjoy the sweet memories of past Christmases. If you are missing children and loved ones today, then spend Christmas with God's Son praising and thanking Him for coming to be one of us. And if your loved one is in heaven, like mine is, we can know with certainty that he or she is having the most joyful Christmas possible.

Christmas and the tangible gifts we received from friends and loved ones are temporary. But the gifts that heaven brings us are eternal. Just think of it. We know the end of the Christmas Story. Eventually, that sweet little baby boy would grow up and would ask for this "cup" to pass from Him, but it didn't and He pursued and prevailed to become EVERYTHING we would ever need, or want, wrapped in one package. That sweet little baby boy grew up to die for our sins on a cross, just like He said He would. Then, He rose from the grave on the third day, just like He said He would. So that’s not really the end of the story – it’s just the beginning of our future where we will spend eternity with Him, just like He said we would.

Let's spend today celebrating the fact that the baby in the manger was God's perfect gift to us. I hope you will receive all that Jesus was born to give. May your Christmas be blessed with faith, hope and love. God's greatest gift is love. "For God so loved you that He gave you and me His one and only son."

May God richly bless you and those you love, on this special day. From our family to yours.....MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas Eve -- PLEASE Make Memories That Count -- You Just Never Know!

Merry Christmas Eve!! PLEASE Make Memories That Count -- You Just Never Know!
My sweet Mama would always make her calls to each of her grown children on Christmas Eve morning -- "Merry Christmas Eve!". We expected that call. And, with fervor and joy, I say that to all of my FB friends today -- MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

Eight years ago, our family was making their usual trek to Oklahoma for Christmas. Ryan, Shawntel and the boys flew into Fort Smith AR for time with her family first before coming to us in Tulsa. I'll never forget the hilarious story that ensued.

Typically, Ryan has a vehicle reserved that would accommodate the six members of his family, plus lots of luggage, but to his dismay, the reservation got lost in the shuffle, and the only vehicle they had was a 12 passenger van to rent. And that's how our Christmas of 2009 began with the most awesome of memories to be made. How amazing that God would give us this Christmas to remember in such a profound way.as it would be the last Christmas we had with my Sweetheart, their Dad and Papa.

Once all of the family made it to Tulsa, including Larry, Staci and their two, who came in from their home in Hot Springs, AR, we were ready for our traditional Christmas activities. And, the best part, Ryan's accidental misadventure with the car rental and having to get a 12-passenger van, made way for all of us to pile in and be all comfy cozy -- but not before the guys put up Christmas lights inside the van, with a wreath on the front bumper and the Wuerch/Wallace Family Country Singers & Dancers had a rowdy, hilarious time of singing Christmas carols, cheering and waving to passerbys -- making this night one to remember.

First order of business was to head to our family's favorite restaurant for making even more lasting memories -- Casa Bonita, followed by games and family fun. And, afterwards, we headed to Rhema Church/Bible College to drive through their spectacular lights extravaganza. It was so cold, but the family togetherness kept us warm. I've included photos -- note the one with my Sweetheart in the front passenger seat who seems very much in pain. He had reason to be.

The next day, we all went to Great Granny's to have some sweet time with her, then because it looked like it may snow, we took her home with us.

And that's when God put icing on the cake.....er..earth, for the Christmas to make memories like never before. We were literally snowed in which made for all 13 of us to have even more fun times of celebration: frolic and playing in the snow, having yummy meals together, the kids putting on their annual Christmas program/talent show for us, the reading of the Christmas Story with the kids by Papa, and Great Granny giving out her Christmas envelopes.

We made lots of precious memories in this time that we knew was orchestrated by God. During this entire weekend, Papa (my Sweetheart) valiantly fought through so much pain in his back.
He braved the pain by putting out every effort to build a snowman, to play and put his best foot forward.

2009 ended with our family tightly knitted together in love and support which prepared us for 2010 which would be, early on, the year of Papa's brave battle with Stage 4 Kidney Cancer and we would never have a Christmas on earth with him again. But, that's okay, because this Christmas was one that could ALWAYS be remembered as God saving the BEST for LAST!

I can't begin to encourage you enough to make the moments, minutes, hours count while you can. Tomorrow or next year could be one that changes everything. You'll be so ever grateful, like we were, that we celebrated each other in a way that God proved "Joy to the World" to us. For us, it was a Christmas to remember -- FOREVER! This is Christmas Eve. Keep Christ the center of the celebration. It's not Santa Claus is coming to town. It's Jesus is coming to town to bring His the perfect gift....HIMSELF!

God Showed Up

As we get closer and closer to Christmas Eve, I think about the most remarkable moment when God showed up on this earth as a precious, perfect little baby boy -- who just "laid in a manger". Hmm. I don't think I ever saw him crying and Mary needing to hold him to soothe him. How perfect that little man was.

That "picture" is vivid for us -- after all, we've witnessed it in movies, nativity sets, dramatic productions and heard detailed stories and songs about the "Sweet little Jesus boy. They made you be born in a manger. Sweet little holy child. We didn't know who you were." That cold, dark night is conveyed as sweet and mild with angels looking down and the earth standing still to welcome the King. But in reality, Mary, nine months pregnant and Joseph had toiled to make their way for miles and miles for many days to arrive at the lowliest place possible – the place where the animals bedded down and were fed. Today, we are advised to stay close to home -- "no traveling after 7 months -- even in an airplane or car".

Can you imagine that Joseph – he who was not even the birth father of this baby -- more than likely, was the mid-wife for Mary? Can you imagine the weight on his shoulders? Can you imagine the thoughts of Mary – from the announcement by the angel that she was favored and would give birth to the Son of God, would lead to this place and in these circumstances? Mary was a woman who experienced the pains of birth. There were no epidurals back then -- no monitors that kept track of the baby's heartbeat. There were no incubators in that cave. The Son of God wasn’t placed in a sterile, comfortable cradle. He was placed in the animals' feed trough. And, to Mary, her newborn baby probably looked like anything but a king. His face was probably prunish and red just like every other newborn baby. His cry was as shrill and helpless as our newborn babies are. And He was absolutely dependent upon Mary for his well-being. Can you imagine the weight of being responsible for raising a king – never mind, the Son of God?

That night, as extraordinary as it was with shepherds being startled and amazed by the host of angels that announced a king was born, it was still an ordinary birth. And for the next thirty-three years Jesus would feel everything you and I have ever felt. Weak, weary, hungry, thirsty, and broken-hearted. His feelings got hurt. His back and feet ached from the uneven and rocky roads he would travel. He suffered heat exhaustion in those dry, desert places. He felt alone when his so-called friends abandoned Him. He was misunderstood and his best intentions were ridiculed. He eventually died a death of thieves and murderers with very few of His followers standing by Him.

To think of Jesus in such a light seems almost irreverent. There’s something about keeping Him divine that keeps Him distant and predictable. BUT DON"T DO IT! For heaven’s sake, DON'T! It was a Master Plan for Him to be human so that you and I have someone who gets us -- who gets our needs -- who understands our pains -- who SHOWS UP for us when we need Him most. Let Him be as human as He intended to be. Let His human example of loving in spite of pain, refusing to sin in spite of temptation, forgiving in spite of rejection -- be our example to others, too. Let Him into the mire and muck of our world. That's how He showed up and that's how He "finished up". Only if we let Him in -- can He pull us out! Let Him be God with us for in letting Him be God with us -- we are never alone and never without a Savior. Let Him SHOW UP in you and your world today!.

Every Place We Live Can Be Bethlehem

 My post today was inspired by a dear friend and wonderful encourager, Carolyn Cline Boyle. She is radiant, joy-filled and exudes the love of Christ every time I see her. She is also one of my followers on Facebook. Her comments after my post, yesterday, were especially meaningful to me. My post was entitled "Mary, Did You Know?" This was Carolyn's comment to that post:

"Every morning your words bring me back to the meaning of this beautiful season. Life is moving so quickly, the world is so full of conflict and struggle and I need to realign my reason for being, when all this is swirling around. We have a manger scene in almost every room and I am going to take a deep breath and take time at each one with a special prayer each day. I am so blessed to have this world of faith “cocooning” me and I am so blessed to read your words, dear Donna!"

I shared those words with you not to impress you, but to impress upon you what I heard. Carolyn said she was going to take a deep breath at her manger scenes and offer a special prayer. I, too, have many nativity/manger scenes that I strategically place in my living, dining and kitchen area, but I moved them about my home to the bedrooms, office and even my bathrooms after I read her comments. I want my own journey to Bethlehem and the manger to inspire me and my visitors in every room.

When my now 16-year old granddaughter, was about 4 years old, she loved playing with all the characters in my larger nativity set. One day she started to play and baby Jesus was missing. She went into panic mode "Baby Jesus is gone. Where is Baby Jesus?" she cried. We later realized her big brother (age 5 years old at the time) had hidden baby Jesus from her. It was finally a "Silent Night, Holy Night" when Jesus was returned to His manger.

The Christmas Story is much more than a nativity set. It is a picture of how close Christ will come to us. The first stop on His itinerary was Mary's womb. Christ grew in Mary until He came out. And, Jesus gives us the same offer. "If you'll let Me, I'll move into you." He is IN us and I pray He will come out in our speech, in our actions, in our decisions. Then, not just in the manger scenes, but Bethlehem will be in every place we live, and every day we live will be a Christmas when you and I, like Mary, will deliver Christ to our world.

"Christ in YOU, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Let every heart prepare Him room.