Goodbye 2006 - Hello 2007

Its a little over 6 hours until the beginning of the new year. I love December 31st because it is a milestone of the hope of a new year with new adventures awaiting. This year I love December 31st even more. I'm ready for 2006 to roll on by.

Don't get me wrong. I have a long grateful list of blessings of the wonderful things God has done. Good stuff. Happy stuff. Terrific stuff.

But at the same time, 2006 has had its challenges that I'd rather put behind me as I reach forward to the goal ahead.

What do I want for 2007?

Grace.

I want to learn more about the mercies of God and how His grace reached through time and space to an undeserving young woman, providing unconditional love, unconditional forgiveness.

I want to learn how I can extend that same grace (or a human version of it) to others in a more significant way. I was forgiven much, therefore I can forgive others. I was loved much so I can love others.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Col 3:12-14

A Special Visitor

Tonight I received a special visitor.

I sat and listened to him talk and marveled at the goodness of our God. I marveled in thankfulness at the notion of being able to know someone for so long and see what God has done through the years and to be a small part of that journey.

An 8th grade boy walked into my classroom many years ago. He had a sketchbook with wonderful, fun cartoons. He proclaimed he wanted to be a cartoonist, an animator. I nodded. At Christmas he brought me white chocolate covered pretzels. By the end of that year I knew if anyone could be an animator, he could.

A few years later when I moved upwards to teach at the high school, an 11th grader walked into my class. He had a new sketchbook with even better drawings and cartoons. His dream was still to be an animator. Christmas time brought more yummy pretzels. He graduated in the top 10 of a large senior class, proving himself as a scholastic brain along with his portfolio full of awesome art.

Four years later, he graduated from Ringling School of Art and Design. Sony ImageWorks hired him. He is an animator.

And today, he came by to bring me a Christmas gift. He brought white chocolate covered pretzels and memories of Christmases gone by when I was his teacher and he was the student bearing gifts. And he also brought me a copy of his first movie project: Monster House. I'm proud of this guy! Take a peek at Jarred Love and his work from his college years.

At times like this my heart sings. God is good!

December 26

We had an awesome Christmas, beginning on Christmas Eve with church service. The music was perfect with the Fellowship of the Strings, a 7 year old on a violin, the worship leader's daughter singing "Mary, Did You Know?" and lots of congregational singing.

I love to sing. I grew up in a musical family. We all took a part and harmonized throughout the years. I still love to grab a part when I sing. This year I have some allergy "ick" that is keeping my throat tickly so its hard to grab those notes but it was still a wonderful thing.

Our kids were home for Christmas. That was the best part. Having them home for the holiday. Hanging out in the kitchen. Talking. Eating. Drinking hot chocolate. Remembering other years. Other people. Laughing. Talking. Eating.

It was just great to be together. There is nothing like it this side of heaven.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5

Today FIOS is being installed in the house for TV and internet. I've been told the installer will be here for most of the day. He seems to love the attic. I'm also hoping to hit a few stores to pick up some christmas paper wrap for next year.

Welcome to our World

I hope I never take for granted the birth of Jesus.

The knowledge that God put on a flesh suit as the man of Jesus is incredible. That in that manger, Mary delivered a perfect baby who would deliver the world of their sin. That Mary held God in her arms, nursed him. That he was born with tiny hands who would be pierced upon a cross. That he was born with a head prepared for a crown of thorns. That he was born with blood that would be the perfect lamb sacrifice for our sins once and for all.

That he was born to die purposefully. Not as an oops or a mistake or a plan B.

Our loving God prepared the perfect sacrifice in the man of Jesus.

Blows me away even now. And I hope I never grow tired of the amazing knowledge of His love.

Glory to God in the Highest. For unto us is born a Savior who is Christ the King.

Sneaky Stuff

In the midst of the busy-ness of the season, Dora remains on patrol. She never gives up her role as head of homeland security.

When any of her family is in the driveway, Dora must watch from the fence, making sure we are safe. Its double duty if its includes my daughter who was visiting on Saturday and taking photos for a special gift for a special man. Dora peeked and daughter snapped this photo.

I think I'm okay in writing this blog about the photo session on the driveway. No longer a secret, the gift should be in the hands of the owner by now.

If not, oops! I'm sorry. [grin]

The Nativity

We saw The Nativity movie this weekend. Another great way to spend an evening and help focus on the reason for the season.

I love Christmas with all the decorations and flavors, smells and goodies, packages and bows. I do not like the shopping and the crowds with accompanying traffic. And with all the things I love and hate about this time of year, its easy to be distracted.

Distracted by the packages and twinkling lights. Distracted by the frustation of the malls.

The movie of the story of Mary and Joseph and their journey to Bethleham was very good.

I appreciated the fear and faith of Mary who obeyed and submitted to the will of God. The shunning she endured as no one believed her account.

I appreciated the anguish Joseph faced and the faith he needed to obey the angel and take Mary as his wife anyway.

I appreciated the length of the journey of 90 miles without a car in terrain that was rugged and not easy.

I missed the brilliance of the light and the glory of a multitude of heavenly host praising God and singing Glory to God in the Highest. I missed the accurate timing of the magi's arrival and the accuracy of why they did not return to tell Herod of Christ's birth.

But the best part, was the birth of Jesus. The King of Kings laying in a animal food trough. And being held in Mary's arms...God himself. Emmanuel. God with us. The long-awaited Savior, redeemer of our souls, perfect sacrifice for our sin.

Clean UP

This fall's trees were a wonderfully unusual display of colors. Bright reds and yellows. But when it came time for the leaves to fall off, they still behaved like normal.

Seems they hang on until the last minute and then they all fall off. Brown and curled up. No longer looking pretty.

With a yard full of trees this means my lawn was buried in leaves.

But yesterday evening just as the sun was setting, the yard heroes arrived in their orange truck. Frenchy's crew to the rescue.

They spent the remaining daylight in the backyard, irritating the dogs with their leaf blowers and lawn mowers. This was about the same time as the arrival as the heating guy to replace a thermostat.

It was doggy bedlam as Dora went into her mode as "Head of Homeland Security" and Thelma displayed her circus act jumping from chair to chair.

This morning I'm anticipating the orange trucks arriving again to finish the front yard leaf cleanup. Frenchy's crew does an awesome job. The yard will look like a park when they are finished as they remove the last of autumn just in time for winter to arrive.

The dragging off of the leaves reminds me of the day to day, season to season things I need to do as a follower of Christ. Important self-checks. Stuff to drag to the curb. Trash to take out.

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4: 22-32

Random Questions from a busy weekend

Where do lost nuts and bolts go?

Why do thermostats go quirky in the middle of the night?

Why do city planners decide to tear up streets in front of the mall during December?

Why don't washing machines come with an easier system for attaching water hoses during a move?

Where do lost ceiling hooks go?

How often will our grown children move?

Why do the tastiest snacks have the highest fat gram count?

When will I get too old for Disneyworld?

Why do dogs sleep so much?

What happened to the Cowboys and who were those clowns wearing their uniforms?

Why exactly did the Cowboys pay so much for T.O.?

Why does ice cream taste better in the winter?

Greatness and Love

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 35-39

Father, my friend is ill and needs your healing hand upon her. Surround her with your comfort and strength and remind her of your greatness and love. There is none like You. In Jesus name which is above every name, Amen.

Inheritance

Lately I've been thinking about this notion of being a co-heir. It got my motor going during Thursday bible study as we were studying Romans and Ephesians. A sermon a week or so ago ignited it again as Mike taught on God as the Father.

The idea of being co-heir with Jesus excites me. Adopted daughter of the King of Kings. Not a step daughter. Not a half daughter. Not a foster daughter. Not a hired hand.

This inheritance is not something that I share with Jesus as a portion.

This inheritance is not something that I share with other believers as a portion.

About 12 years ago, I was contacted by an attorney I did not know informing me that my brother, sister and I had inherited our grandmother's portion of a piece of property. The distant relatives (I didn't know even existed!) had been trying to find us because they were selling the property.

Overnighted paperwork arrived for signatures. My sister and brother and I called each other on the phone, dreaming about how we might spend our windfall. We giggled. We fantasized. We had grand ideas of how we would spend our fortune.

A few days later another overnight envelope brought the closing papers and a check with my name on it.

$111.76 (or something like that. Now a distant memory but barely over 100 dollars and some change).

A big let down! I had such dreams!

Looking at the paperwork, it became obvious that this property was left to distant relatives who's children inherited. Many of them already gone, their children and children's children and in some cases (like ours!) their children's children's children inherited their portion.

I always think of this when I imagine sharing my inheritance with others. While it is how it works in our human economy, God's economy is very different!

We don't share by the portion, we share in the whole. All of it belongs to the believer.

We get ALL of the blessings of God.
ALL of the forgiveness.
All of the Holy Spirit.
All of His Grace.
All the redemption through His blood.
All of His holiness.
All of His Love.
All.

Not a portion.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1: 3-14

Enough

Once a year its lovely. But enough already. Time to put it away.

I woke up this morning to 21 degrees and the snow is still on the ground.

The dogs ran outside for the morning ritual only to run back inside and under a blanket. They are still there.

To make matters worse (to me!) the local news is all about the weather. An "Arctic Blast" logo shows on the corner of the TV screen with scrolling notes below it, with school, church, business closings. Yesterday the "news" pre-empted national tv shows.

How many times do I need to see the sand trucks loaded up? How many times to I need to see the jack-knived semi-truck stranged on I-35?

Its no longer snowing. The sun is out. The sky is gorgeous blue. But the snow and ice remain...for the moment. With the sun out I suspect that by noon we will be back to normal. Hopefully the TV stations will find something else more news worthy soon.

In the meantime, I snuck outside with my camera to take a photo of a bit of my garden. The flowers were surprised in the middle of the last blooming cycle.