by April | Jan 20, 2011 | Encouragement, Thankfulness, Uncategorized
We recently got new cell phones-the old ones were failing, so it was time. But, these are very different from what I was used to. They are more like tiny computers. In fact, I’m using it right now to write this blog.
When we were at the movies the other day, I noticed the ammended reminder signs to turn off our cell phones. Now it included the advisory against texting during the film. Two weeks ago, I would have thought this warning was silly…
All of this has gotten me thinking about change.
As a kid, I remember carrying a dime for the fabled emergency call I was told to always be prepared to make. I wore a backpack stocked with all my cassette tapes, and strapped on a walk-man that weighed like ten pounds, so I could have my tunes with me. (If you’re wondering where my schoolbooks were, don’t worry, they were safe in my locker.) Heaven forbid if my backpack got left in the car on a hot day–my tapes would sound warped and squeaky the next time I listened.
My daughter has an iPod that holds some two-thousand songs and slips neatly into her jacket, or jeans. She has no idea how amazing that is! And since we’ve gotten rid of cable, and only watch Netflix, my kids have no idea what anguish it was to wait for a repeat of favorite show just to miss it and hope against hope they’d run it a third time. Shush, don’t tell, but when I first started watching TV there were still black and white shows on! Or maybe it was because our first TV was a tiny black and white?
So, where am I going with all this? I was just imagining a time traveler from only fifty years ago popping in on our civilization and being in awe about the advances we’ve made, the ability we have to communicate so easily with one another, and to ask where in the world all the pay phones went to.
And it all makes me wonder just which things around me I’m taking for granted.
by April | Dec 11, 2010 | Christmas, Encouragement, Immanuel, Thankfulness
Guess what? It’s almost Christmas. And unless you’ve been living in a cave somewhere, the advertising gurus of the world have been drilling the holidays home into your brain for well over a month now. In fact, I think I saw Halloween and Christmas decorations up at the same time somewhere.
It’s easy to get caught up in the mad rush to get it all done. That’s one reason we, as a family, try to plan it all out early, so we can enjoy the day to day traditions we love so much about the season. Getting up every morning and turning on the tree and lights. Reading from scripture about the Christmas story. The kids taking turns reading our advent calendar. All along, pointing our family to the real reason for the season—Jesus birth.
I love Christmas carols and all the music playing on the radio—I don’t get one bit upset when they start to play it before Thanksgiving, because to me Thanksgiving rather ushers in a whole month of thankfulness that I feel when I remember the gift God gave us in His Son. The lights on the houses and trees serve to remind me that He is the light of the world. And when they play hymns on the radio, I feel blessed that they are playing music to my Lord every day for a full month—all because of His birth. Who else get’s a month long birthday celebration?
Now, I’m not naïve enough to think that everyone who celebrates Christmas is Christian, or even knows why we celebrate. I’m reminded of a mom and daughter a few years ago who were looking at boxed Christmas cards next to me. I was struggling to find just the right ones, and the daughter (about 16) held up one to her mother and asked, “What the heck does Im-man-u-el mean anyway?” Her mother shrugged and said it was probably something religious and they tossed the cards aside, moving on before I could speak. That event served to remind me I should always be ready with an answer.
Immanuel. God with us. God came down in the form of a helpless human baby for us, to be with us, so that we didn’t have to be alone anymore. He searched us out—there is no other world religion that can boast of a god that came to earth specifically to have a personal relationship with them. No one but Jesus. We don’t have to work and slave and prove ourselves good enough. All we have to do is believe in Him and turn away from our sin.
The gift of grace, love, relationship, forgiveness, hope and reconciliation is all wrapped up in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luke 2: 8-12 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
To read the full Christmas story, please click here Luke Chapter 2
by April | Nov 24, 2010 | Encouragement, Food Allergies, Thankfulness
For us, Thanksgiving is about being thankful for our blessings—but it’s also about the sharing of a good meal. Two years ago, about now, we were facing our first gluten free Thanksgiving. It was struggle, but we made it. We exchanged old favorite recipes for new ideas. We cast off gluten and embraced a number of new flours—not all those experiments worked, mind you. Don’t ever try to make gravy with tapioca starch—unless you want jello that tastes like turkey. Not tasty. Nope.
Last year, some dear friends took us in because I was recovering from pneumonia, and they embraced a new diet for us—one void of not only gluten, but egg and dairy had to be eliminated now as well. It was lovely, and gave me courage that I could find some new traditions to embrace. But, keep in mind, I come from a long line of traditional cooking. You always have certain staples on the table—green bean casserole, apple and sausage bread stuffing, and a yummy fruit salad dish called Angel Salad (sworn to secrecy by my Mom2, so I will not tell you the ingredients, except to say it includes eggs and loads of dairy).
Where was I? Oh yeah, the year of giving up… I mean adjusting and embracing our new life in allergy-free land. Guess what? After doing this a while, it’s getting to be fairly painless—not entirely, but fairly. I mean…I really miss fluffy rolls! But, I’ve come up with a rice stuffing that still uses apples and sausage, and is very good. I’ve made green bean casserole by making my own cream of mushroom soup with coconut milk and potato flour (which, by the way, trumps Campbell’s by far—don’t get me started on Campbell’s). However, we’ve added a new troop to the injured list, my daughter is allergic to onions. SO, this year, I’m going to forgo the hour of soup making, and just come up with a new, new alternative.
Back to thankfulness. I’ve got a long line of things I’m thankful for. My family, my friends, my warm safe house, and living in an era where I can find safe foods for my children to eat. I’m thankful for my personal relationship with Jesus—He’s not a far away savior, He’s right here with me as I go through life’s trials and joys. I’m especially thankful I can get my eyes off my circumstances, and keep them on the Lord. I’m thankful for the Word of God that I can freely read anywhere and any place I want without fear of imprisonment and torture (this cannot be said for many countries). For all of these things, I’m Thankful to my Father God, my provider, my comforter.
Col 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Col 3: 15-17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
by April | Oct 11, 2010 | Encouragement, Thankfulness
Over the summer my dad and my daughter were canvassing a thrift shop aisle when they happened upon a reading lamp for a sweet deal. It was bright fuchsia, metallic and flashy—just her style. They tested it out, but when we got it home, we noticed that although it turned ON, the touch sensor didn’t turn OFF. So my dad, handyman that he is, went and got a new switch and gutted the touch sensor. The “sweet deal” was a more expensive deal now, but the important thing was that my daughter had this really cool lamp and Grandpa had fixed it special for her.
After we moved it into her room, we discovered she didn’t really need a lamp–she had two in place. Instead, she ended up making a spot for it, because she loved it, but it wasn’t in the best spot. It’s been sitting, mostly unused-but loved-on a small stand. That was, until the other night.
About a week ago, as my daughter was climbing into bed, we heard a loud crash from her room—she’d accidentally knocked her glass lamp off the desk. Now, my girl is passionate about reading before she goes to sleep, so her first thought upon seeing her broken lamp was that she could no longer read in bed. I immediately moved her fuchsia lamp over to her bedside so that she could read—and all was well with the world.
Last night, after I tucked her in and flipped on her fuchsia lamp, I got to thinking about God and how he takes care of us. That’s when I realized that he had provided a replacement lamp for my daughter, a full month before she even needed one. With a contrite heart, I began pondering all the things that God provides for me that I never even notice—because like the lamp, they so often enter our lives in this seamless, subtle way.
Mathew 6: 8b for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Mathew 6: 25-33 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We recently got new cell phones-the old ones were failing, so it was time. But, these are very different from what I was used to. They are more like tiny computers. In fact, I’m using it right now to write this blog.
