100/100 given before Christmas

What I experienced because of the challenge to give away 100 things
- It was harder than I expected to find 100 things to give
- I cleaned out a lot of garbage along side the 100 items
- I cleaned out places I had not cleaned in a long time
- The house is cleaner over all
- I found things I was looking for
- I blessed people with stuff I didn't need and they could use
- I saw my daughters get generous
- MCC has more stuff to sort
- I realized I need to do this more often

The Answer is a Question

This is the follow-up post to Jesus didn't skip.

"What do you think of Christmas trees?" I ask Jesus as a conversation starter. "They're nice." he says in a pleasant and agreeable way as if he hadn't challenged me the day before. Let's cut to the chase I think to myself and then I ask "So what message did you have for me about the Christmas drawing I did the other day?" He answers in a kind voice not an accusing voice:
"Do you just say you worship me or do you actually worship me?"
"Do you just say you'll humble yourself or will you actually humble yourself?"
"Do you just talk about celebrating me or do you actually celebrate me?"
I know it is Jesus speaking these words into my heart because they hit me profoundly. I am amazed at his wisdom and insight. Plus it has to be Jesus; he loves to answer a question with a question. I guess I have some more to chew on.

I hope you hear and ponder this message also if Jesus is speaking to you through this.

Jesus didn't skip

Every year for advent we do something creative for the count down. A lot of people use chocolate calenders or tree ornaments. In our count down I prepare 24 things that we can make or do with or for someone, that won't take too long but is fun; one per day.(On another day I will post ideas I've had over the years) For now I want to tell you what happened as I was preparing this years idea. This year I have a plan that the 24 tasks will be written on one side of the paper and on the other side will be a potion of a larger picture and when all 24 tasks are done and flipped over we will have pieced together a picture. I didn't have a picture the size I wanted so being the creative me that I am I decided to start drawing. I wasn't really sure what I wanted and I'm kinda in a time crunch, as tomorrow is Dec 1, so I thought if I just start drawing things of Christmas I will have something in the end. First I started with a tree, then I put typical manger scene next to it, just the stable to start with. Then I started drawing in each person in our family and of course Mary Joseph and baby Jesus in a pretty little feeding trough. Everyone was in, I drew some stars at the top and ....... I stopped and looked at the drawing....... by the way I was skipping my devotion time to do this since I was feeling in a rush. Funny thing is Jesus wasn't skipping because he revealed something to me right at this moment as I was taking stock of what I had just begun to draw. There it was, I had roughly sketched my family looking straight at the Christmas tree with Mary, Joseph and Jesus behind us.The stable was so close to the tree that some characters of our family had to be drawn inside the manger scene, but still faced the tree.  At this point I realize I am not happy with what I have just drawn. I am actually kind of stunned as I see it. I try to see how I can re imagine what I am drew... change this person's body and arms, re draw that...I can't. It is very clear; what's been drawn has been drawn. We are so into the Christmas tree that we are not even aware of the birth of our savior. The sentence seems to echo in my mind. It's true of the drawing but is this truly how it is for us? What does this all mean? Do we cancel the Christmas tree?.... I think my family will have mutiny if that is the outcome. Jesus has a message for me in this and I will be asking him to reveal more.

 Jesus I want to face you not the traditions we've made up.

Christmas Break Challenge

I want to give you the same challenge as we gave in our Young Moms Bible Study for the Christmas break.
Some of you might be like me, when routine changes I need something different to keep me focused on Studying and learning from God's word, or I do nothing at all.

The challenge is to read one chapter a day in Mark and journal. There are 16 chapters, so since there are 21 days we actually have 5 free days. (which I know is 3 weeks, when Christmas break is only 2 weeks, but that is how long we have until out Bible Study meets again)

So the challenge is read a chapter and journal your thought and answer some application questions of the text. Like-

What does this say to our world?
What does this say to our family?
What does this say to our community?
What does this say to our congregation?
What does this say to me?

or

What does the text say?
What does the text mean?
Ho will I respond?

or other questions you think are important to the chapter.

So I'm going to do this here through my blog, I'm going to journal my thoughts on each chapter and I'd love for those of you who are taking up the challenge to join me by adding your thoughts, comments and questions for each chapter.

Christmas on the Brain

I don't know if you've started thinking about Christmas yet, but it has been on my mind a little these days. We are trying to think creatively about our gift giving this year, gifts that don't add to the commercialization of Jesus Birth, and this takes a little more time than going with the allotted cash up to the nearest mega store just so there'll be "stuff" under the tree. Last year we found this site called Advent Conspiracy, their slogan is "Christmas can [still] change the world", and change it for the better, not the worse. Maybe your kids are like mine; I know my kids say the meaning of Christmas is Jesus and that that is why we celebrate but why then is it that they have already begun making their wish lists, wouldn't this show that subconsciously they have learned the meaning of Christmas is "more for me"? When did Christmas change to this and how do we change it back? These are some of the things Advent Conspiracy helps people work through. Check it out if you also want to change Christmas.
Advent Conspiracy links:
Advent Conspiracy
rethinking christmas

The Nativity

I watched The Nativity and it is a very good movie. One thing I loved about it was how real it made Mary and Joseph, the movie shows the emotions you don't read about in the gospels, yet they where real people with real problems so they did experience all the emotions. Watching this movie has helped bring some focus back on Jesus, who of course gives meaning to this season..... speaking of bringing Jesus back to his celebration I am also trying to memorize the Christmas story (40 verses from Luke). I hope by Christmas morning I have it done so well that I can tell the story like they did in the "good ol' days" before the printing press..... only 22 days to go, I better get memorizing...... I think Jesus can so easily be lost in these festivities, these traditions we have, I challenge you to find ways to bring Jesus back to his party. I'd love to hear what you do.

-18

BUUURRRRRRRRRR!!!
It's getting colder UUGG .... butttt that means we are getting closer to Christmas!! YEAH who's excited??
I want to be the first to wish you A merry Christmas Season. and now here is my favorite U-Tube Christmas lights display.