Advent Calendar Day Twenty-five...Christmas is Here!

Merry Christmas...after 25 boxes Christmas is finally here!

In box #25 there are three gifts to represent the gifts the Magi gave to Jesus

Matthew 2:11

"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

December 25th...the day we celebrate Christmas...the day when the Greatest Gift of all came into the world-Jesus.

But Christmas isn't just about a baby being born.  It is about redemption...a way back to God.  You see, the things in our life that are not good - bad thoughts, words, actions - keep us from God.  God is holy and cannot be in the presence of sin.  When sin entered the world, God's plan of redemption was already in place.  It would take sacrifice.  The sacrifice of His One and Only Son to enable us to have a relationship with Him.

There is no way for us to reach Him on our own.  That is why Jesus had to die.  He was perfect and came to earth wholly God and wholly man, to die in our place once and for all.  It is His birth, death, and resurrection that made the way for us to spend eternity with God.

But there is a catch.

You see, with any gift that is given it has to be received and opened.  Taking a gift and leaving it under the tree does no good.  Knowing about Jesus and what He has done isn't enough.  Going to church and being a good person isn't enough.  Dedicating your time, money, and energy isn't enough. 

Nothing is good enough...only God.

You must take the gift and open it for your very own.  It involves admitting your sin, and your desire for God to be the One in control.  It involves humility and surrender, surrender to the One who sacrificed all for you...all you have to do is to surrender your control to Him.  The One who gives good and perfect gifts, the One and Only who can restore your life and make you the kind of person He wants you to be. 

This Christmas  as you open gifts under your tree, how about opening the only gift that can never perish and that alone can satisfy your heart?  Jesus...the greatest gift of all, given for you.  Will you take the gift and make it your own?

Advent Calendar Day Twenty-four

In box #24 there is a star, to represent the star the Magi followed to find Jesus.

Matthew 2:9-10

"After [the Magi] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed."

Advent Calendar Day Nine

On the ninth day of December we found a lion in box #9.  The lion represents the house of Judah, from which the Messiah was to come.

Micah 5:2

"'But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.'"



Advent Calendar Day Eight

On this day, the eighth of December, we found a "donkey" in our box. 

The donkey reminds us of the journey Joseph and Mary had to take to Bethlehem. 

Luke2:4

"He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

I cannot imagine what it would have been like to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem being very pregnant.   I've always stayed close to home during the last month of my pregnancies with my bags packed and ready to go to the hospital.  Mary didn't have that luxury.  Because of the census that had been ordered (Luke 2:1) Joseph had to go to his hometown to register.  The timing wasn't convenient for Mary, but it was God's timing.  His plan was for the Savior to be born in Bethlehem.  He used a Roman ruler to accomplish His plan. 

For me, I like to plan things out in advance.  But sometimes my planning may not be what God has preordained in His will.  Do I submit to His will, or complain that my plans have been interrupted?  

Advent Calendar Day Six

In the sixth box of the advent calendar there is a string (I couldn't find a bridge!)
The string represents the gap that Jesus filled between God and man.

Matthew 1:22-23

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel-which means, 'God with us.'"

Isaiah 7:14

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

When sin entered the world, it caused a gap between God and man that man could not fill.  Our sin keeps us separate from God.  Jesus came, wholly God and wholly man to die to pay the price for our sins.  It is through his death that bridged the gap between God and man.  It is through His sacrifice that paved the way so we could have a relationship with God. 

Advent Calendar Day Five

In box number five we find a cross.

Matthew 1:21

"'[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'"

Jesus came to earth as a baby to die on the cross to be our Savior.  He was the promised Messiah.  It all goes back to the garden.  When sin entered the world, God's plan for a Savior would enfold.  Throughout the Bible we see promises made for the Savior to come and redeem His people.  At Christmas we celebrate not only the birth of Jesus, but we look to what the Gift means...that we could have forgiveness for our sins and a relationship with God.  Jesus is the only way for us to get to heaven.  His birth was for His death, so we could live forever with Him.

"I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  John 14:6

As you prepare for Christmas, have you ever looked beyond the manger to the cross?  I hope that this Christmas you will take time to reflect on the gift that God has given us through His Son Jesus.  God gave us this Gift.  I hope this Christmas you will take the time to receive the greatest gift of all - Jesus.

Advent Calendar Day Three

Day Three brings us to Mary's Song...

 In today's box we find some sheet music to remind us of Mary's Song...

Luke 1:46-55

"And Mary said:

'My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham an his descendants forever,

even as he said to our fathers.'"

Mary's life was forever changed by the announcement the angel made.  Her response is one of praise and worship of God.  She knows Who He Is and what He has done and she offers Him her praise.  How can we praise Him this season, not for what we want or what we are expecting, but for Who He Is alone?  

Advent Calendar Day Two

On this second day of Advent, we are one step closer to the Savior.  In today's box we found rings as a symbol of the engagement of Joseph and Mary.

Matthew 1:18

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit."

I wonder how Mary felt.  She had been visited by the angel Gabriel and told of God's plan.  But now she would have to walk a difficult road in her love and obedience to God.  Others would talk and question, but Mary trusted God and submitted her heart to His plan.  And I'm so glad she did!

What challenging road does God have you on right now?  Can you trust Him with your heart, as Mary did so many years before?

Graduation

~Graduation...a time to celebrate~

On June 3rd we had the privilege of watching our oldest graduate from high school. We also had the chance to cheer her on as she gave the Salutatorian speech for her graduating class. We were so proud, not just of her achievement, but of who she is becoming to be. It is an honor to see her choose to walk in faith and to follow the giftings that God has placed on her life. Way to go Courtney! We are so proud of you!

A Legacy and a Tribute

Frank & Quita
Celebrating 50 Years of Marriage

January 31, 2010

On January 31st we had the privilege to host an anniversary celebration to honor Tom's parents for their 50 years of marriage.

We had lots of yummy food...Frank & Quita had a chance to renew their wedding vows...There was also time for Tom & Sean to honor their parents with a Tribute...Special friends came from miles away to join in the celebration and to share their stories of friendship and encouragement from times spent together...We had a scrapbook to give to them filled with encouraging notes, words of blessings, and pictures from their friends from all over the country. It was a great time to renew friendships... We all enjoyed being able to bless Granny & Grandpa...

Celebrating Family Friendships

I Want My Children to Be Friends

One thing that I desire as a mom is for my children to be friends. I want them to learn to love each other today and be true friends when they are adults. With seven children in the house sometimes it feels like all I do is "survive". After reading A House Full of Friends by Susan Alexander Yates, I was challenged to begin to build routines and celebrations into our family that will hopefully encourage friendships.

Our home is filled with the typical sibling rivalry experienced by most, but my hearts desire is to be intentional about providing opportunities to grow friendships in our family. One way I have done this is to begin praying for my children to be friends. My prayer is that their friendship will last a lifetime.

Some other things that I have started to encourage their friendships are:

• Birthday Posters - A day before the birthday celebration for one of our family members I get a poster board and everyone works together to create a "Happy Birthday Poster". I have also started letting the children decorate the house with streamers and even to bake the cake and decorate it too. (I must admit I had a hard time doing this because I love to do it and - I like it done neatly!) They have found great joy in being a part of getting the celebration ready.
  
• Birthday Cards - Along with the poster each child (and parent too) get a blank card and decorate it for the one we are celebrating. It gives those doing the artwork a chance to be creative, and to share how they appreciate their sibling.


• Special Blessings - I have tried to look for ways to have my children bless their brothers and sisters by celebrating special achievements or events. One example was when Courtney tried out for the play at school. She had a minor role and was an understudy. We wanted to let her know that we think she is a "star". On opening night we decorated her bedroom door with stars...so it was a "Star's Dressing Room". Each of us decorated a star with puffy paint and a short message for Courtney. It was fun and it spoke volumes of love to Courtney (the play was months ago and those stars still adorn her door).


• Attend Sporting Events - I love watching kids play sports, but it is a challenge with little ones. I cannot count the many times I have missed their one basket of the season when taking care of the little ones during the game. There have also been times when only one of us have gone to the game. It is so much easier to leave one parent at home with the little ones. However, we decided that we all need to be there to cheer on the one in the game (or on the sidelines).

I know I have a long way to go in the daily encouragement of friendship but focusing on special celebrations has been a great start in encouraging their friendships with each other.

What do you do to encourage friendship with your children?

Sweet 16

A Surprise for Courtney's 16th Birthday

Turning 16 is a special event. To celebrate Courtney's almost sixteenth birthday I decided to invite some godly women to speak a blessing into her life on this special day.

Courtney's surprise began on the way to school. We left home with Courtney believing that I was taking her to school. I handed her a journal and asked her to read the Bible verses I had written in it that morning. She read the verses but didn't turn the page. (On the next page I had a note to her explaining what we were doing.) We passed by the entrance to the school and she said, "Mom, what are you doing?" With a smile I replied, "Read the note I wrote to you in your journal."

Our first stop was at a friend's house. Marilyn and Joanna made pancakes for us. When breakfast was over Marilyn spoke to Courtney about character and the women that had impacted her own life because of who they were on the inside. She challenged Courtney with some Bible verses and spoke of qualities she has seen in Courtney's life.

Stop number two was a haircut. Michelle, Courtney's Bible study leader surprised Courtney by showing up and speaking to Courtney about beauty. She was challenged to be beautiful on the inside by cultivating her relationship with Christ. (The haircut turned out great too!)

For our third stop we went our to lunch. Courtney's best friend Marie was waiting for us in the restaurant. Marie and her mom Lynn had lunch with us as we celebrated "friendship". Then the two girls got to go shopping together and have their pictures taken.

For our fourth and final stop we met Lisa and Katie at Java. Lisa and Katie both spoke to Courtney about her relationship with God and His word in her life. This day was such an incredible blessing to Courtney and I pray that it impact her as she heard other significant adults speak a blessing into her life.