The Christmas Story from Joseph's point of view

This is on the Mercy Me Christmas soundtrack. What a different perspective :) Like my sister said, it's been on repeat in my car for the last week.

Go to sleep my Son this manger for Your bed. You have a long road before You rest Your little head. Can You feel the weight of Your glory? Do You understand the price? Does the Father guard Your heart for now so You can sleep tonight?

Go to sleep, my Son, go and chase Your dreams- this world can wait for one more moment, go and sleep in peace. I believe the glory of Heaven is lying in my arms tonight. Lord, I ask that He for just this moment simply be my child.

Go to sleep my Son. Baby, close Your eyes. Soon enough You'll save the day but for now, dear Child of mine. Oh my Jesus . . . sleep tight.

So wrong.

So I'm driving to work this morning, putting on my makeup at the light near the interstate. I'm listening to the radio, like always (but today is a different station for some reason) and hear "...at first glance, it seems Christmas is all about the presents. But it's not 'all about the presents'." . . . and I think "oh, YES! Someone is FINALLY going to talk about Jesus on a secular radio station, why we actually celebrate Christmas every year." To my dismay, I hear . . . " . . . it's about the memories. Come shopping at (xyz mall)."

Oh, did my heart just sink. "It's about the MEMORIES"??? Really? Seriously? Who in the world gave you THAT idea? Where did you come UP with that???!!

Oh, wait. I remember now. The world we live in every day gave you that idea. The world we LIVE in . . . but stepping back for a minute, let's dial that down a little bit and go not the world we live in, but the hemisphere we live in. The NATION we live in. The media in the nation we live in.

Ah, yes. Now it makes sense. Christmas in the country we live in is NOT about Jesus- about He came (that's "decided to come", "willingly came", "allowed Himself to come") to earth as a newborn, born of a virgin, living a sinless, perfect life as both fully human and fully Lord, teaching and preaching and leaving His Holy Spirit with us, then being nailed to a cross and being spit upon, flogged, berated, utterly and grossly mistreated, killed and buried in a grave (this is Easter, by the way- remember that "HOLIDAY"?) in order to resurrect Himself three days later and ascend to His Father in Heaven.

No, no. Christmas in America is about stuff. Christmas in America is about bonuses and buying "things" to fill up houses which will not last to show off to people we don't even like!!!!, comparing ourselves to others and all their "stuff" to see who has better "stuff" or more stuff. Christmas in America is about sales and crazy shopping hours and fighting mall traffic and a special meal around a table and making lists of the stuff to take back to exchange it for stuff you really do want because you were so afraid of what the gift-giver would say if you didn't like the "stuff" they gave you.

And all for what? To perpetuate the cycle of giving more "stuff" only to be dissatisfied with that "stuff" after X number of ours or days or weeks or months and you have to go out and buy more "stuff"? To perpetuate the "tradition" of giving gifts instead of NOT buying gifts for once- oh, but, no. Then you'd look like the "cheapskate" who spent his or her money sending Bibles to Uganda, the Ukraine and Mexico City or sending 3 month's worth of life-saving vaccinations and vitamins (which WE have access to on a daily basis here in America) to children in Kenya who are dying because THEY DON'T or because you paid for a village in Namibia to have 4 cows, 6 goats, a flock of chickens and a hive of honeybees. Oh, no. We can't have that. Someone might think less of you because you dared to spend money on someone else other than family and friends at Christmas. I wonder what would happen if we just stopped giving people stuff for Christmas and did something else with that time/money/energy/gasoline, etc, if we spent that time doing something that might have some everlasting, eternal value rather than perpetuate the idea of Santa, accumulating things for ourselves and the fact that we need "stuff" around us all the livelong day.

Matthew 6:20- "but store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal."

I'm learning this day by day, sometimes hour by hour and often times minute by minute. This world- this earthly, selfish, idolized world we live in pulls us into the web of sin every single minute- and it's purposeful. It's intentional. That's how money is made, and the devil pulls souls away from the Lord. Remember in Matthew? The "roads"? Matthew 7:13-14- "enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and those who find it are few." The road to destruction (read: "DEATH", "eternal damnation", "Hell") is beautiful, wide, handsome, enticing, eeeeeaaaaasy, likeable- the devil wants this road to be as easy to follow as a personal GPS system with 24/7 concierge service included. But the narrow, HARD, lonely, sometimes (or often) painful, "the-life-you're-living-is-weird" road is the one Jesus calls His believers to take- because THAT'S the road that HE walked. He was NOT the Jesus of the country club, of the brand new sports car, of the designer clothes and jewelry, of the house filled with "stuff" or of the presents under the tree on His birthday every year.

He was the Jesus of barely-sandaled, dirty feet. He was the Jesus who sat with the lepers and the diseased instead of the rich people. He was the Jesus who was born in a barn and was laid to sleep in what the lowest of the low- the animals- ate their meal. He was the Jesus who said when someone treats you as though you were the lowest of the low, instead of doing what the world tells you to and having a "right" to treat them the same way....instead you show them love and respect and, in fact, turn the other cheek as well.

The Jesus AMERICA has created is the "Jesus" of love and tolerance and an easy life. If polled, America would equate "Jesus" with "a good life", "being a good person", "using the golden rule", "going to church" and/or "giving money to the poor".

So wrong. Sadly, mistakenly, eternally wrong. And it is our calling to tell them, to show them in every way, every day, that being a Christ-follower is a WHOLE. DIFFERENT. STORY. We are called to live differently in order to have life abundantly.

Let's start today and show America- and the whole, big, scary world- Who Jesus really is and what He asks of us.

thankful

So I started making a list of things that I'm thankful for just before Thanksgiving. I told myself I'd take a few hours and see how many things I could get out . . . because I didn't think I could ever get everything out. One thing leads to another leads to another that shelters a whole lot of other things underneath it- and all of those things have subcategories underneath all of them. Repeat ad nauseum.

Here's a partial list:
Our God, grace, God's grace, salvation, mercy, missionaries, church, MY church, churches around the world, pastors, lay people, the ability to go to church, Bibles, MY Bible, a Bible that's in MY language which I can read any time I want, love, the thought of future love with a man who will lead me and love me, that this earth isn't my home, adoption, adoptive parents, my brown dogs, the dogs I've rescued, the ability to rescue dogs and find them new homes, dog food, my job, grocery stores, food and the EXCESS of food we have access to every day, the ability to have a job and go to work every day, medicine, over-the-counter medicine, nurses and doctors, our military/leaders/troops and their families, Auburn, football, Auburn football, my daddy, the lessons my daddy has taught me and continues to teach me, my mama, the lessons my mama's taught me and continues to teach me, my brother, my sister-in-law, my friends, my friends who are family, my car, shelters/humane societies/ASPCA and the people who run them, clothes to wear, the EXCESS of clothes I have to wear, shoes on my feet and the EXCESS of shoes I have to wear, sleep, a warm/cool comfy bed, pillows, covers, heat, air conditioning, windows and doors, locks on our doors, ceiling fans, fire and fireplaces, dishwashers, clean running water (in our toilets, outside our homes, through our plumbing, at local parks, etc.), the ability to heat water, refrigerators and freezers and the power to make them work, the abundance of food to which we have access, mail and the people who run our facilities and bring it to us, Target, the post office, paved roads, my health, my senses, Facebook, phones, cell phones, my Blackberry, computers, TV, cable, internet, power/electricity, lighting, technology, people who are smart and advance technology, movies, cars, gasoline, gasoline that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, music, radios, pens, paper, teachers, school, the ability to go to school, freedom to do SO many things we take for granted on a daily basis, books to read, TIME to read books, bookstores, stationery, batteries, rain, sun, clouds, rivers, snow, sandy beaches, wind, the seasons, cool air, screened porches, decks and balconies, apartments, houses, pools . . .

If you have things to add (which you should), go ahead :)

How to "get into the Christmas spirit"

Just in case you were wondering if this world is the place we belong? To share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are lost (or say they're Christians but aren't)? To be living examples of Christ's love, grace, mercy and forgiveness? TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS???

Just in case you were wondering if we REALLY do live in a secular world, desperately stuck in the mire of our own selfishness. . . here you go.

One of our pastors mentioned this, albeit sarcastically, today in one of our sermons.

eHow.com- "How to get into the Christmas spirit"

Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace, love and goodwill to all. But with all the stress and commotion of the season, many of us end up feeling more like Mr. Scrooge than Santa Claus.

Instructions
Things You'll Need:
· Christmas Decorations
· Christmas Tree Lights
· Food To Donate
· Christmas Music
· Christmas Movies
Step 1- Shop early. Nothing takes away the Christmas spirit like fighting for parking and struggling through crowds.
Step 2- Wish people that you meet in stores and other casual environments a happy holiday. Say it with a smile.
Step 3- Drop spare coins in the Salvation Army collection buckets.
Step 4- Do something nice for someone. Offer to baby-sit so a friend can do her Christmas shopping , take cookies to your neighbors, or shovel an elderly neighbor's walk.
Step 5- Volunteer your time to a worthy holiday cause. Even if you are busy, you can spare an hour or two to help people less fortunate than yourself.
Step 6- Organize a drive at work or in your neighborhood. Collect food and personal items and donate them to a local shelter for the homeless or for battered women.
Step 7- Play Christmas music.
Step 8- Watch Christmas movies. "It's a Wonderful Life" is a good one for reviving a flagging Christmas spirit, as is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Step 9- Read "A Christmas Carol" and "A Child's Christmas in Wales."
Step 10- Decorate your house for the holidays.
Step 11- Don't spend more money than you have. Anxiety over after-Christmas bills can ruin your holiday.


Not one mention of Jesus the Son of God, God the Father, the Immaculate Conception, the newborn King born and placed in the lowliest of places- a manger, out of which animals eat- God's amazing, unforgettable, amazing grace . . . not one mention.

How's that for Christmas spirit? Let's start to change that this year!!!

Animals- and the state of my heart

Those of you who know me know that I have a few "hot buttons"- if someone pushes them, bad things happen. These hot buttons are the following:

a. animals- the abuse of animals, the neglect of animals, not treating them like they're supposed to be treated, etc.
b. children- exactly the same as above, but insert "children" where you see "animals"
c. having my picture taken, mainly without my permission
d. disrespect for the military, police, fire and EMT personnel

This post is in specific reference to animals. I hate it when people don't take care of their animals- either as they should or as I believe they should. I hate it when people say they have an animal (dogs, especially, because they require so much more from their humans) but rarely invite that animal into their life, except to let "it" use the bathroom, feed "it" and take "it" to the vet. I hate it when the dog is an outside dog when the dog clearly wants to be an inside dog- and no one inside has allergies to the dog. I hate it when people adopt animals when they know they (humans) have allergies they can't overcome OR they develop allergies to the animal and then don't try to find the animal a better life by rehoming him/her. I hate it when the animal becomes an afterthought.

However, this post is not in reference to all that. (Y'all just witnessed a rant- I apologize. Sort of.)

I was walking my pups (hahahaha!!) the other evening- before it started getting dark again at 1630h . . . a resident stopped me and the boys as we were walking to pet them, talk to them and ask me questions. As it turns out, she's a tech at a local veterinarian, and we ended up talking for awhile. It's always heartwarming to meet someone who loves animals and hopes for their well-being as much as I do.

However, at the end of the conversation, we were talking about food and vet choices and such. One of the last things I remember her saying was "does he [Jackson] have those tumors yet? Those little lipomas?" And I thought...how dare she? Then I remembered- this is part of her job, most likely. Yes, he does have them, I told her, and yes, he has had them for awhile, but I'm told it doesn't much matter unless they're massive and get in his way. They're not "contagious", they pose no threat to him medically and they just develop- it's not a sign of anything to come. She didn't mean it the way I took it, she just knows the breed (those happen frequently w/Labradors and spaniels) and was asking questions.

But it started me thinking- and I ended up having a minor meltdown later that night. Those tumors means my little boy is getting older. I know that I won't out-live my dog(s). I know that dogs don't live as long as humans. I know that dogs age 7 times faster than humans. I know this.

But it doesn't make it any easier to swallow. And I've never really thought about it- it's never really hit me 'til now.

There will come a day . . . when I'll walk in my house . . . and not see Jackson Brown and/or Chewbear Boy. There will come a day when those sweet faces won't greet me at the door, tails a-waggin', 2-3 toys apiece in their big, soft mouths, moaning and groaning about how they're so happy to see me. There will come a day when that will happen- but I'm not thinking about that day. And I'm willing it until they're at least 25 years old. :)

It just made me sad to think that. It made me really, REALLY sad. Parents have children- they actually give birth to their children, nurse them, grow them, teach them and send them off- but parents on the whole typically out-live their children. Most of the time, children do not die before their parents.

But in the case of (especially) dog owners, they never out-live their "children". I don't know how long the oldest dog is/was, but I'm certain it wasn't long enough to outweigh the time, effort, money and bonding between the dog and his human. I'm certain the owner of that dog wishes he could live as long as he does . . . so he doesn't have to feel the pain of letting the dog go.

I just realized how depressing this post is beginning to sound. But on a happier note, my dogs are perfect :) . I love 'em and they know it (and so do you, incidentally!)- I wouldn't trade one moment of my dog's lives for anything. I love them, and I wish they could be around forever, but I know they won't, so I'll do everything in my power to make their lives here on this earth as wonderful and happy and healthy as I can.

New job, new life . . . and changes galore!!!

So.... I'm sure many of you know, but for those of you who don't, here goes . . .

I should say- first of all- I'm sitting in my sister's house, after her babies have gone down for the night. I've had an absolute blast with them- as always- as they are precious in and of their own right, but to have two God-fearing parents who love them and are bringing them up right...well, that's just a fabulous combination. The rain is falling, I'm trying not to cry while The Notebook is on in the background, I've had a great weekend, I'm feeling really good . . . and it's time to catch up on the past few weeks.

First and foremost . . . I quit my job!!! THAT'S RIGHT!!! I. QUIT. I quit, I quit, I quit!! I did not, however, tell my former bosses all I wanted to tell them for more than a few reasons. A.) As a Christ-follower, I'm called to a higher standard than those who aren't, therefore it sets a good example to those around me to NOT say what I want to say, though the world would tell me it's my right to do so. So... I won't give them a dose of their own medicine- instead, I'll turn the other cheek. B.) I'll never go back there to work- not EVER- nor will I tell anyone to go get a job there, but they do know a lot of people, so I don't want to "burn a bridge". C.) (and maybe the most logical) If I thought it would do ANY good whatsoever, I'd tell them, but....they're the bosses and while they're in charge, they can run their business any way they want to. They can treat their employees however they want, say whatever they want, act however they want...and none of their employees can change that. SO. Mouth. stays. shut.

Those of you who know me know I've been unhappy for a long time. TOO long. However, just when I thought the job market was bad, it became worse. Then it got "more worse". :) So I was out on an appointment with a great client- working on a day I wasn't supposed to be working when I called a sweet friend of mine in the apartment business. She works for a great company who treats their employees well- and I wanted in on it. She's tried to hire me before, but something always kept getting in my way. I called. "PLEASE tell me you're hiring now..." I said with more than desperation in my voice, I'm sure. She told me she wasn't but another apartment community within in the owenership was. (This was Saturday.) I tried to go Monday and Tuesday, but was never able to get away. I downloaded the application (thank you, GOD, for smart people who do Your work every day in the fields of technology) and took it in on a Wednesday. I walked in, put it in the face of the assistant manager and was thrilled with her reaction. "Wait, what's.... really? REALLY? This is so exciting!! Yes! How soon can you start???" I felt pretty good about it- plus, they know me, know my work ethic and my knowledge of their community, and I felt like the Lord had really shined a spotlight on that community- "here it is, daughter. Go." She called that day and said I needed to come by the next day to meet the regional manager, who "just happened" to be in town. (Previous statement said w/loads of sarcasm, by the way.) She said if I did that, it would certainly help expedite the process. ABSOLUTELY. I'll be there. Thursday came, and I did as told. Met her, met the property manager and walked away with "unless you fail the drug test, you're in. When can you start?"

Needless to say, I was bouncing off the walls. As soon as I walked out, I felt infinitely better. I knew the day was coming when I could tell my bosses SEEEEEE YAAAAA!!!!!!!! And that day was supposed to come on Friday- the next day. But it didn't. So then I thought, maybe Saturday. But no. Monday morning I walked in and told them it would be my last day, that I shouldn't be there for more than a few hours due to the fact that there was NOTHING to do but merge a few contacts and let people know what needed to be done in the way of my clients. So Monday, November 9 was a VERY GOOD DAY. I walked out of that office at 0900 to take my dad to the airport and run some errands for him (including picking him up from the Tuscaloosa airport an hour later) and came back for a few hours that afternoon. When I walked out that afternoon, I felt like the BIGGEST weight had been lifted off my shoulders. (Sigh.) Ahhhhhhh . . . freedom from the tyrants that ruled my life for the past 21 months. Hallelujah.

Now, please don't hear me saying that my job will be perfect. I know that job most likely does not exist. BUT. On a scale of 1-10, where -7.5 was my old job??? This job is an 8!!!!

I'm the newest leasing consultant with Cameron at the Summit, an upscale apartment community located in the heart of the Summit shopping area, Birmingham's most distinct and indulgent shopping experience. (MAN, do I ever sound like a commercial???!!) I am thrilled. I have great bosses, work for a great company who does take care of their employees (and by that I mean.... I have INSURANCE, paid holidays, sick and vacation pay and I don't have to work every weekend- oh, PRAISE GOD!!!!), work with great people (in the office and on site), have great maintenance staff and have the opportunity to live there when my lease is up in April. YAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!

This required a change in dress, as my old job let me be "casual professional", this entails business attire. There's a whooooooole "policy manual" on it, more than a few paragraphs on what I can and cannot wear, what I can and cannot "expose". Needless to say, shopping was involved.

Now those of you know me also know that I'm still in the process of trying to lose the weight I've been carrying for....well, way too long. So I don't want to spend a whole lot of money on clothes that WILL be too big for me in a few months (or more, whatever), so it's hard to find the line between "spending too much" and "not spending enough on what I need". UGH. Oh, well- my daddy, God bless his ever-loving soul, is waaaaaay too good to me and helped me out greatly. I have some nice, new duds (thanks to Steinmart, Target and TJMaxx) and hope to add to the collection (albeit in smaller sizes) in the next few months!!

That said . . . each and every one of you have the right to take away anything at all you see me eating or drinking that will not help me accomplish this goal. I pray no one has to do this- because I'm pretty darn unhappy with myself lately.

What else? I hope to be moving to either a one bedroom apartment at my current complex OR on site at Cameron in April (or earlier???) when my lease is up. No more roommates for me until I marry one :), God-willing. It's exactly what I needed for the time being, but now.... I'm over it. No more, please. (Applications are currently being accepted for those willing to help me move!)

My dogs are perfect (but what's new). They LOVE our new dog park, and we are waiting with bated breath for the one to be built around the corner from us.

I get to go to leasing school in Atlanta in early December- I'm very much hoping to dovetail that trip with some time with friends, spent playing with their kids, meeting new children they've had since I've seen them last, eating some good food and basically getting out of Birmingham for awhile.

Sooooo . . . now that you know what's going on in MY life, what's going on in yours? Am I updated on you all?

Nostalgic

It's hard not to think that you may not have the very best parents in the world...but I'm convinced that I absolutely have the very best parents in the whole wide world. And they were given to me (and I to them by God's grace and God's grace alone.


My parents have blessed me and graced me with INFINITELY more than I deserve and could ever, EVER pay them back for. (What a great model of what Christ did for us, right?) I've been babysitting and spending time with different families, along with mine, a good bit lately, and I've become extremely nostalgic in the process.


Things I remember:

~ my daddy's homemade pancakes in the oven on Saturdays, with real maple syrup in the little grey canteen-lookin' thing and ham with red-eye gravy

~ my DD dog sneaking up the stairs at night, hitting the squeaky part of the steps and hearing one of my parents (if I was up) say ".....DD....back downstairs...." and hearing her slink back down to wait at the bottom of the stairs 'til she could try to sneak up again

~ cartoons on Saturday mornings

~ my daddy or mama coming to get us after school and us being SO excited when DD was in the car with him or her, hanging her head out the window

~ my dad's old "moose" (the old Jeep he had forever- and LOVED)

~ snow days- or ice days- when the power went out and we'd build a fire and camp out by the fireplace until it was bedtime....and mom wrapping me up like a burrito and putting a hat on my head- usually the Santa cap that sat atop the big white bear my best friend gave me for a birthday

~ my mom making dinner every night- I remember meatloaf night, taco night, fish sticks, chicken casserole of some type, pizza on weekends sometimes- but usually homemade

~ our sunken living room with the beautiful hardwoods and rug in the middle- with the record player over by my daddy's office

~ my comfy, cozy bedroom upstairs

~ rubbing my daddy's feet as he laid on the couch and GUILTED me into doing it for him!

~ the very first phone I had in my room....a Garfield phone :) I remember the way it smelled!!! (good, not bad)

~ the many, MANY life lessons I learned in my childhood home

~ playing basketball and kicking the soccer ball against the brick retainer wall all.day.long

~ parking my car in the natural area next to the garage beneath the trees

~ the smell of the room downstairs where my daddy kept all his guns and ammo

~ the wallpaper on the downstairs half bath

~ taking all of our cold stuff out of the fridge and putting it in the snow on the deck

~ learning how to make sourdough bread, cook, bake, do laundry and clean baseboards

~ learning how to drive- my parents teaching me, faithful all the way



These are just a few of the many, many things I remember about my parents, what they taught me, what they continue to teach me. Thing back on what you remember about your parents, about growing up, about life lessons. Give yourself the chance to think back and be nostalgic for a bit.