Thursday, December 29, 2011

THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

There was a time when the most dreaded gift a person could open was, the ugly Christmas sweater.  The sweater would bring inside laughter to some who were watching the scenario play out, but to the receiver of the gift a fake smile and a forced thank you would be uttered from their lips.  If the receiver was a crude brave soul this sweater would be wrapped up, regifted and the sweater would make its way on a circuit of being the never ending gift.   Amazingly this once dreaded gift has become a sought after treasure.  In fact Christmas parties are planned around, the ugly Christmas sweater. 

Several years ago before my Father passed away my parents had sent a box of gifts to our house for us, our daughters, their spouses and the grandchildren.  My Father had purchased these gifts himself.  Oh boy, it sure was a good thing my parents were not present when we open these gifts because with each gift that was opened a new roar of laughter would begin.  After the gifts were all opened a trading session took place.  One of those gifts was a ceramic wolf head, which ended up being the object of regifting.  Believe it or not eventually the wolf head found its home with a receiver who really loved the wolf head and proudly put it on display.

A few years after my Father passed away Dan and I shared this story about that Christmas with my Mother and we all had a good laugh.  Every now and again someone will bring up that Christmas day and I must say it was one of the best days we spent together as a family.  A “memory” that will not be lost.  There has been much discussion about where my Father had purchased these gifts.  We think it must have been at one of those truck stops that has an oasis, a discount warehouse or maybe a thrift shop.  Who knows……….we got an incredible laugh and a lasting memory of my Father.

Proverbs 15:13(NKJV)
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 17:22(NKJV)
A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
One day there will be laughter beyond our comprehension and I can hardly wait.

Jeremiah 33:11(NLT)
the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing, ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, for the LORD is good. His faithful love endures forever!’ For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD.
Jeremiah 33:11 is God’s great gift to us and this is one gift that should make the circuit of every person in the world.  A gift great enough to bring unspeakable joy to all who want to partake of this precious gift!!

Luke 1:46-55(NKJV)
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.
He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

Sunday, December 18, 2011

THE REMNANT

THE REMNANT
Years ago when I raising our daughters, I would have considered myself a skilled seamstress.  I spent countless hours making clothes, doll clothes, crafts, and curtains.  One thing any seamstress will tell you is; you never throw away any remnant.  That remnant (scrap of fabric, lace, elastic or thread) may be just exactly what you need to create a fabulous treasure that could far outweigh what the supplies were purchased for originally.  Even though I rarely sew now I still have a very large supply of remnants, just waiting for me to have a creative unction.  To most people they would consider keeping these remnants, a true waste of storage space. They would think of a remnant as a useless, small insignificant, disposable item.
The fireplace in our house is adorned with “14” stockings.  One of those stockings is my granddaughter Reese’s.  I made her stocking from left over fabric that originally was used to make flower girls dresses for her parents wedding.  Each Christmas this stocking hanging on the fireplace is another reminder of the day Kurt and Leah said; I do.  Another stocking was also made from a remnant and this year it holds a valuable treasure – bunny hoppers #2.  Now that means absolutely nothing to you but to the owner of that stocking it will be a heart warmer. 
When I was a young girl I thought I was insignificant and of no value.  I did not have any special talents; I was very small for my age and the object of teasing.  School was not my forte and I was a “C” student at best.  Certainly if I dropped off the face of the earth no one would notice because I always felt like I was on the outside looking in, hoping for someone to invite me in.  Chances are most of us have felt like this at one time or another despite of how others might perceive us.  We feel like a remnant.
The following quote is taken from an article written by John Wilson called, The Believing Remnant. Preserved and Secure.
            There has always been a remnant since the nation began with Abraham in Genesis 12. We refer to these people as the believing remnant because Romans 9:6-7 says, "...for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel, neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but in Isaac shall Thy seed be called." Throughout Israel's history we see that the majority of this nation was unbelieving, or as God said of them in Romans 10:21, "...a disobedient and gainsaying people." However, there was always the believing few, as Paul states in Romans 11:5: "Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."
Elijah thought he was the only faithful one left in Israel, yet God said to him, "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." In Isaiah's day the number may have been smaller, because Isaiah 1:9 says, "Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and...Gomorrah." Isaiah also prophesied the return of the future remnant during the seven-year tribulation (Isaiah 10:20-22). There are many references to the believing remnant throughout Isaiah and Jeremiah, as there are in the other prophetical books. In the four Gospels we see the believing remnant in those who "...looked for redemption in Jerusalem" (Luke 2:36-38). These would be those like Simeon, Anna, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary, John the Baptist and all those who believed God's promises. The Lord referred to them as the little flock, for in Luke 12:32 He said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."
Here are few more scriptures to check out of people written about in the Word of God who were used as a remnant, few in number in their day, but mighty in the hands of God.  These are a people of “light”, an unshakeable foe, unyielding to what circumstances said or say and faithful to the Lord, set apart to radiate the promise of God and His Kingdom.
Jochebed (mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam):  Exodus 2:1-10, Exodus 6:20, Numbers 26:59
Elijah:  1 Kings 18, 1 Kings 19:18
Gideon:  Judges 6-8, Heb.11:32
David:  1 Samuel 16:7-13
There was approximately 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament………yet the Lord reserved a remnant of faithful believers such as; Simeon, Anna, Zacharias and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph.
Throughout scripture the Lord has chosen to use people and unlikely things to bring forth His message of good news and that has not changed, even in our day.
Christmas is quickly approaching and it makes me think of what the Lord chose to use as His (the birth of Jesus) story unfolds (a manger – all that was left, swaddling cloth –which is strips of cloth, a remnant) and a handful of willing servants.

1 Corinthians 1:27(NKJV) says:
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 
Last week I went to my grandchildren’s Christmas program.  My grandchildren attend the same school where their Mom (Leah) is a second grade teacher.  The second graders were up on stage to sing their Christmas songs and one of the boys in Leah’s class became fearful and ran off the stage into the secure arms of his teacher (my daughter, Leah).  As I watched this unfold I could not help but think; Leah must have gained the confidence of her students by pouring into their young lives and when fear swept in, that little boy knew just where to go.  This may seem very small or insignificant but who knows what seeds are being planted and what this young boy could grow up to accomplish.  I wonder what Billy Graham’s mother thought as she watched him become the greatest evangelist of our time.  How about the mother who gave birth to James Robison (Life Today show)?  She was a victim of rape who decided to have the baby (James) and give him up for adoption.  Countless stories could be told of remnant believers used in the hands of a mighty God…..
I truly believe God always preserves a remnant in every home, family, neighborhood, city, church, workplace and generation who is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are the lifeline connection for others whereby not only can they hear the good news they can see the good news.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17(NKJV) says:
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 
To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 
For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

A.W.Tozer said:  What is God trying to do with His believing people?-the Bible calls us a remnant according to grace, believers taken out of the great, teeming swarm of so-called religious people in today's world. I am inclined to join others in wondering if the Lord is postponing His coming because He is trying to get His Bride ready? For years it has been the popular idea in evangelical Christianity that the whole body of believers in Christ would rise like a flock of frightened birds when the Lord comes. But A.B. Simpson and William MacArthur and others in the past generation said, "Oh no! The Lord will take with Him those who are prepared and ready for His coming!" I do not presume to give an answer satisfying to everyone in our churches. But I know that many Christians are too smug about this, saying in effect: "I am converted to Christ through grace, so I can live as I please!" Of some things we cannot be dogmatic; but we know this for sure-God has no halfway house between heaven and hell where He takes us to fumigate us!

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."

Friday, December 9, 2011

MUNK UP!! I suppose you have a better idea Smart Guy!!

MUNK UP!!
I suppose you have a better idea Smart Guy!!


Alvin, Theodore, Simon…once again will make their debut on the big screen.  I talked Dan into going to the first two movies with me; Alvin & The Chipmunks ~ Get Your Squeak On, and The Squeakquel.   How could I resist, I just had to see the adorable talking chippies?  Childhood memories of the munks flooded my mind because I loved watching them every Saturday morning.  The first movie he thought was cute; however, after he watched The Squeakquel, Dan reassured me he was truly declaring war on the chipsters. 

The cute little furry friends have gnawed their way through parts of our deck and no longer does cute describe them according to Dan.  I will spare you the details as to how he has waged war on the chipsters, as for me I guarantee you I will be sure to watch Chip Wrecked opening week at the local movie theater, even if I have to go by myself.

How can something so stinkin’ cute cause so much destruction?  Well they certainly get themselves into plenty of trouble on the movie screen, but you can walk out the door realizing…it was only a movie.   Real life sets in ~ with the deck dilemma and no matter what I say Dan wants a munk free environment!

Sometimes life is like that, we get sucked in by the cute seemly innocent outside package and before you know it; I Had A Bad Day.   The bad day can come in many different forms, from simple distractions that get us side tracked to full blown sin.  It may also come from the kind of nuts we may have been storing.  Several years ago after watching, Get Your Squeak On the following occurred:

Last night I woke up from a deep sleep around 12:30am with Alvin & The Chipmunk’s rendition of the song I Had A Bad Day running though my brain.  The harder I tried the less successful I was at getting the lyrics and tune out of my brain.  I remember the first time I heard the song, I Had A Bad Day, my then three year old granddaughter was singing it in the back seat of my car.  Since I do not listen to the radio stations which air that particular song, I was unaware of it.  My response to my granddaughter was; Oh, Princess Angel Baby (that is what I call my granddaughter) you should be singing, I had a good day.  At which time I endeavored to assist her to change the words.  Of course my granddaughter being the scholar that she is, informed me; oh no, Nana it’s “I Had A Bad Day” and she was quite adamant about that fact.  Little did I know but this had become my granddaughter’s favorite song.  As I lay awake in bed I began to wonder how such a catchy tune could have such disheartening lyrics. I realized it was the tune my granddaughter was attracted to, not the words.

 Now my brain is wide awake, I roll over look at the clock and it is 1:30am!  The creative brain that I have (not) began to think about how the Chipmunks were stuffing “nuts” down the tree trunk as they sang “I Had A Bad Day”.  This made me think about how we as people store “nuts” in our trunks.  Many of us have trunks full of junkie nuts!  Instead of storing “nuts” we would be much better off storing the golden nuggets of the promises of the Word of the Lord and His plans, purposes and guidelines for our lives.  How do these “nuts” get stored in us?  It is the same way the song was lodged in my mind, through repetition.  In the Word of God we are encouraged to think on: (Phil 4:8 NKJV)  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.  We must take our thoughts captive according to (2 Cor .10:5). It is also revealed in the Word that we will reap what we sow (Gal.6:7).  So, if we sow “nuts”, that is exactly what we will reap.  I think it may be time for us to shake our trunks and get the “nuts” out of us.  Then begin to fill and replace those “nuts” with golden nuggets.  The Bible says in Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.  It also says “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34).  I certainly want an abundance of good days!

My brain is now at this time burning the midnight oil and much to my dismay it is 4:00am.  However I did manage to accomplish how I was going to rewrite the song, “I Had A Bad Day”.  I decided the tune is happy and deserves happy words to go with it.  I am personally boycotting “bad days” and replacing them with “I Had Glad Day”!

The following is my rendition of, “I Had A Glad Day”.  :
There is a moment we’re looking to seize.
We step out in faith and we choose to believe. 
They say my blue skies fade to grey
They say my passion could go away
And I don’t need no discouragement
You stand firm in line and you won’t hit a low
You put on your smile and get a coffee to go
You tell me your life has stayed on line
No need to fall to pieces at anytime
And I don’t need no discouragement
Cause you had a glad day
You’re stepping one up
You sing a glad song as you travel along
You can look to your right
You can look to your left
You put on a smile and you go for a ride
You had a glad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re stepping one up and your staying in line
You had a glad day
You had a glad day

Have a Glad Day!!!    Penny