Thursday, January 06, 2011
Taking down the tree
Some people are all too eager to take down their pine-shedding Christmas tree. We got ours early this year, so it was becoming an actual fire hazard. But still, I was so bummed to see it go. It felt like Christmas flew by this year... no matter how hard I tried to suspend it into slow-motion. The dinner, the lights, the church service, the presents, the laughter, the music... it raced by like a shooting star.
So, to respond to the melancholy of the passing holidays, our family decided to celebrate the night of taking down the tree. We sang along to some fun Christmas tunes, took pictures of the kids in front of the tree, wrapped each kid with white Christmas lights, and finally decorated our official 2010 family ornament. we even went outside for a Christmas tree bonfire before bed.
I explained how it was the ultimate recycling process. The kids were thoroughly entertained by the monstrous sized blaze in our fire-pit. We have 3/4 of the tree left in the backyard to burn later this weekend; so we'll definitely have to make some S'mores.
Our family night of un-decorating the tree and house was helpful to review the season and to let it linger on for just one more night. However, I still can't take down the last few decorations. I love my hanging snowman banner that says, "Let it snow." I also display my family picture ornaments on an upstairs display shelf so that we can see them throughout the year.
There's also one new piece that I may keep out indefinitely as well. It's a red and green wooden decoration that says, "HOPE." It reminds me that the message of Christmas lives in my heart all year long. It doesn't have to fade into the storage bins like most of the ornaments. I don't have to hide this one in the garage until next Christmas simply because it is green and red.
Even though we know we have hope in Jesus all year, we sometimes forget. Somehow the baby Jesus figure in the manger scene makes it so much clearer. And we feel more hopeful while the kids are smiling and opening presents around the tree. It's just easier to cling to our Christian hope when we're on that long relaxing break.
The truth is that we can all find HOPE in Jesus and His goodness every single day. As I sat reading my Bible this afternoon, I studied the "voice of the Lord..." from Psalm 29. It made me wonder, "What does the voice of the Lord sound like?" I pictured things like thunder, fire, wind, and even a quiet cloud.
The Psalmist describes it like this, "The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars... The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert... The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare" (from Psalm 29:4-9).
The feeling I had after reading this Psalm was one of comfort because of God's power. I might feel defeated about saying goodbye to Christmas, amongst a plethora of other struggles and obstacles, but the Lord is still majestic. The Psalm ends with these words: "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace" (verse 11).
Psalm 29 is an in-your-face reminder that no matter what's going on, you can get through it because God is there for you. It's also a passage about extending our faith. It can be hard to listen to the Lord; it's not usually an audible noise that we can record on our MP3 players. Isn't it more like a reminder of His truth through His word or a fellow believer?
Let's choose to find hope as we listen for His voice in 2011. Let's grab hold of God's strength and peace as we depend upon one another. Share your thoughts about the post-Christmas season. We'd love to hear from you. :)
So, to respond to the melancholy of the passing holidays, our family decided to celebrate the night of taking down the tree. We sang along to some fun Christmas tunes, took pictures of the kids in front of the tree, wrapped each kid with white Christmas lights, and finally decorated our official 2010 family ornament. we even went outside for a Christmas tree bonfire before bed.
I explained how it was the ultimate recycling process. The kids were thoroughly entertained by the monstrous sized blaze in our fire-pit. We have 3/4 of the tree left in the backyard to burn later this weekend; so we'll definitely have to make some S'mores.
Our family night of un-decorating the tree and house was helpful to review the season and to let it linger on for just one more night. However, I still can't take down the last few decorations. I love my hanging snowman banner that says, "Let it snow." I also display my family picture ornaments on an upstairs display shelf so that we can see them throughout the year.
There's also one new piece that I may keep out indefinitely as well. It's a red and green wooden decoration that says, "HOPE." It reminds me that the message of Christmas lives in my heart all year long. It doesn't have to fade into the storage bins like most of the ornaments. I don't have to hide this one in the garage until next Christmas simply because it is green and red.
Even though we know we have hope in Jesus all year, we sometimes forget. Somehow the baby Jesus figure in the manger scene makes it so much clearer. And we feel more hopeful while the kids are smiling and opening presents around the tree. It's just easier to cling to our Christian hope when we're on that long relaxing break.
The truth is that we can all find HOPE in Jesus and His goodness every single day. As I sat reading my Bible this afternoon, I studied the "voice of the Lord..." from Psalm 29. It made me wonder, "What does the voice of the Lord sound like?" I pictured things like thunder, fire, wind, and even a quiet cloud.
The Psalmist describes it like this, "The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars... The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert... The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare" (from Psalm 29:4-9).
The feeling I had after reading this Psalm was one of comfort because of God's power. I might feel defeated about saying goodbye to Christmas, amongst a plethora of other struggles and obstacles, but the Lord is still majestic. The Psalm ends with these words: "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace" (verse 11).
Psalm 29 is an in-your-face reminder that no matter what's going on, you can get through it because God is there for you. It's also a passage about extending our faith. It can be hard to listen to the Lord; it's not usually an audible noise that we can record on our MP3 players. Isn't it more like a reminder of His truth through His word or a fellow believer?
Let's choose to find hope as we listen for His voice in 2011. Let's grab hold of God's strength and peace as we depend upon one another. Share your thoughts about the post-Christmas season. We'd love to hear from you. :)
Labels: Bible, hope, peace, post-Christmas, strength
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Be courageous! Be strong!
As I read through one of my favorite devotional books this morning, I was touched by some challenging words. They are from the August 3rd entry from "Streams in the Desert." The words begin with a verse from the Bible: "Be men (and women) of courage; be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13).
The entry goes on to quote Phillips Brooks: "Never pray for an easier life-- pray to be a stronger person! Never pray for tasks equal to your power-- pray for power equal to your tasks. Then doing your work will be no miracle-- you will be the miracle." So what does this look like on a practical level for you and me?
COURAGE:
It means delving into things that aren't necessarily comfortable. Helping the neighbor who has recently lost her husband by bringing meals and extra bedding for her guests. It also means going out of your way to spend time with her after the funeral is over and everyone else has left. Though it's difficult to interact with grieving hearts, it is very very brave.
It also means forgiving your spouse in front of you kids even when you feel like throwing out ten more cutting words in your defense. It takes courage to allow God's spirit to convict instead of tearing into that person who has hurt you. Sometimes a friend or a relative might cause you pain and you must respond in the same way: FORGIVE!
Maybe for you, it means staying at a job that you don't necessarily love because it's where God wants you at the moment. Or it could be the simple response of walking with the Lord even when you don't feel His touch or can't see His plan. Continue to read His word. Continue to trust His plan. That takes courage, friend!
STRENGTH:
Maybe you are called upon to help a co-worker move some heavy boxes. Go ahead... extend your strength for her, even though you'd rather be watching the baseball game instead. What about rearranging the family-room for your wife for the twelfth time this year, simply because it shows her that you care? Flex those biceps because you are strong!
And yet, it could be as simple as following up with a friend who has battled depression. You might feel tired of hearing about his problems and sorrows; but your strength gives him so much comfort while he simply tries to make it through each day.
Maybe you are called to be strong during these tough economic times. Strong to make the tough cut-backs. Strong to endure those two used cars sitting in your drive-way. Strong to do without... even though you'd rather buy those new shiny gadgets. Flex your power by putting your money into savings instead. Fix that item that's broken instead of replacing it; this way, you can extend a hand and help someone else who has much less.
Courage. Strength. These are essential to our Christian faith. But, many of us forfeit their presence in our lives because it's easier to avoid the work involved to develop them. We run. We hide. The result is that we are cowards and we are weak.
Let's step up to the plate fellow believers. Stand! Run! Soar into the challenges of today. When you are called upon to be courageous and to show your strength, be ready! No matter what the cost, you will reap the benefits of a pleased Savior. His smile will shine upon your life as you obey Him...especially when it's hard.
The entry goes on to quote Phillips Brooks: "Never pray for an easier life-- pray to be a stronger person! Never pray for tasks equal to your power-- pray for power equal to your tasks. Then doing your work will be no miracle-- you will be the miracle." So what does this look like on a practical level for you and me?
COURAGE:
It means delving into things that aren't necessarily comfortable. Helping the neighbor who has recently lost her husband by bringing meals and extra bedding for her guests. It also means going out of your way to spend time with her after the funeral is over and everyone else has left. Though it's difficult to interact with grieving hearts, it is very very brave.
It also means forgiving your spouse in front of you kids even when you feel like throwing out ten more cutting words in your defense. It takes courage to allow God's spirit to convict instead of tearing into that person who has hurt you. Sometimes a friend or a relative might cause you pain and you must respond in the same way: FORGIVE!
Maybe for you, it means staying at a job that you don't necessarily love because it's where God wants you at the moment. Or it could be the simple response of walking with the Lord even when you don't feel His touch or can't see His plan. Continue to read His word. Continue to trust His plan. That takes courage, friend!
STRENGTH:
Maybe you are called upon to help a co-worker move some heavy boxes. Go ahead... extend your strength for her, even though you'd rather be watching the baseball game instead. What about rearranging the family-room for your wife for the twelfth time this year, simply because it shows her that you care? Flex those biceps because you are strong!
And yet, it could be as simple as following up with a friend who has battled depression. You might feel tired of hearing about his problems and sorrows; but your strength gives him so much comfort while he simply tries to make it through each day.
Maybe you are called to be strong during these tough economic times. Strong to make the tough cut-backs. Strong to endure those two used cars sitting in your drive-way. Strong to do without... even though you'd rather buy those new shiny gadgets. Flex your power by putting your money into savings instead. Fix that item that's broken instead of replacing it; this way, you can extend a hand and help someone else who has much less.
Courage. Strength. These are essential to our Christian faith. But, many of us forfeit their presence in our lives because it's easier to avoid the work involved to develop them. We run. We hide. The result is that we are cowards and we are weak.
Let's step up to the plate fellow believers. Stand! Run! Soar into the challenges of today. When you are called upon to be courageous and to show your strength, be ready! No matter what the cost, you will reap the benefits of a pleased Savior. His smile will shine upon your life as you obey Him...especially when it's hard.
Labels: Bible, courage, faith, family, strength
