Twas' the Week Before Christmas Hodge Podge.....

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Add your link at the end of Joyce's post by clicking here, then go say hi to your neighbors. Remember...no Hodgepodge next week (12/25) but do come back to ring in the new year the week after (1/1/14).   In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us everyone!"

1. Do you believe in miracles?  Yes I do.  I have seen many of them perfomed and am amazed each time.  My most recent experience of a miracle has to do with the premature birth (22 weeks) of little Kash and Kruze.  They were 2 months old on December 1st.  Their little lives and fight for survival has been nothing short of a miracle.

 Little Kruze

 Little Kash

2. What's a recent fad you admit to trying?  I am drawing a blank here.  I am not one to jump on the fad wagon.

3. Peppermint-are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite food or beverage containing peppermint?
I love peppermint.  My favorite foods would involve chocolate and peppermint.  I love them plain.  I love peppermint schnapps when my throat hurts or I have a cough. 

4. Break the ice, on thin ice, as cold as ice (emotionally, not literally) which phrase have you run into most recently? Explain.  I am notorious for procrasting and therefore find myself on thin ice more often than not.

5. Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else's home? Still friends?
Red wine on white carpet and white walls.  I stepped on a doggie toy and the wine went all over the waiters coat, the wall and carpet.  I was mortified and actually cried.  The lady of the house brought out some seltzer water and blotted it all up and you would have never known it had been there.  It was amazing.

6. 'Tis the week before Christmas...are you feeling more like Buddy the Elf or the Grinch before his heart grew?  I am neither right now.  I am just trying to stay afloat. 

7. Share a favorite quote relating to Christmas."Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."  Calvin Coolidge

8. Insert your own random thought here. Here is one of my favorite Christmas songs.  when I lived away from my parents I would put this song on and sit in front of the tree missing them tremendously.  The other night I turned on my tree and this song came on the radio.  I am glad I was alone because I had a good old fashioned ugly cry.  I know with each passing year it will get easier, but for some reason this is not one of those easier years.  One day....we will all be together again....and I"ll Be Home For Christmas....right now...it is only in my dreams.  I hope you enjoy it.

 

The Christmas Candle

About The Book:  Journey back to a simpler time, to a small English village where nothing out of the ordinary ever happens. Except at Christmastime.  When a mysterious angel suddenly appears in a lowly candlemaker's shop, the holy and the human collide in a way that only God could imagine.  Glowing bright with a timeless message, The Christmas Candle will warm your heart with a surprising reminder of God's bountiful love.

About the Author:  More than 100 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.

My Thoughts On The Book:  I actually set out to read this short book in small sessions before going to bed each night.  I figured I could read it in a week, but that is not what happened.  Once I began reading the novella I could not put it down and ended up reading it all in one sitting.   I loved it. I am a huge fan of Max Lucado and that is why I chose to review this book! He is one of my favorite Non-fiction christian writers.  This is the very first work of fiction I have ever read and it is as well-written as the rest of his works. I loved the historical aspect of it.   I believe every one should read The Christmas Candle and catch a glimpse of actions about faith, miracles and God's power.  I don't want to spoil it for another reader but you will love the story of the angel who comes every twenty-five years to bless the candle made by the Chandler of Gladstone. I believe this will become a Christmas classic. 

Statement of Disclosure: I received this book to review from Thomas Nelson Publishing Group's Book Sneeze Blogging Program and Zondervan for an honest review.

Poetry in Motion

I write poetry. I know you find that hard to believe....not! But I have written it for years. I began writing it when I was eight; the year my brother died.  I needed some kind of outlet and poetry gave me just that.  It was a place I could release all the feelings, fears, anger, hurt and pain.  Music became my other outlet. I need music just like I need air to breathe. It is life blood for me. My grandfather was the starting source of my music. He took time with all of us when we were young and taught us all to play guitar if we wanted to learn. I was one of his students. When he died my grandmother gave me his mandolin.  It was a humped back one called a "tater bug" and it had suffered a lot of use and misuse.  There are missing inlays and it has a crack or two in the back....but I love it.  Several years later I penned this poem.

The Mandolin

Round back bent and broken

from years of nightly use

inlays missing, dusty,

rusty from neglect and abuse.

Strings that are still and silent,

out of tune, played no more.

Once a master stroked you,

coerced the sound to soar.

The songs that lie encased,

inside your wooden heart.

These songs were my beginning,

where I got my musical start.

My grandfather once held you,

just like he once held me.

And when he touched our heart strings,

set both out spirits free.

When I hold you now I know,

that I am gree to know,

where eagles fly, where steel wheels turn,

where'er I want to go.

Thank you Grandpa for this gift,

your favorite mandolin.

I'll use it - while I'm here -

and then pass it on again!

This poem and mandolin sparked another flame of musical symbolism in my soul and I began thinking about myself. The writer, the musician, the singer...and found myself asking...

Body Music

Who are you?

Where is the face I looked at yesterday....or was that last year?

God! This is so depressing.

I still feel young....yet, I am seeing my mother

in this mirror more and more.

My hands are short and stocky,

remnants of my Creek Indian Heritage.

These hands were made to work hard and the

calloused fingers are testimonials

that they have.

My eyes see into your soul.

I want to know you and I usually do...

many times on a plane higher than you are

even aware of.

My eyes are the windows to my very being.

They tell you when I 'm sick, tired, distressed,

or even....lying!

My eyes have never learned to keep secrets.

My mouth is not too big, so I don't

shoot it off without provocation.

It is not so small either.

I will strike up a conversation with anyone.

I like people.

Strangers are just people I haven't met yet.

My ears are large enough to listen when

my friends need a friend, yet

small enough to easily shut out

thinks I don't want to hear

at the most convenient times.

My body, once looked like a sleek, classical guitar

before the days of children and marriage.

Now I see a bass violin - curved, but

definitely thicker.

All in all I like me.

We can't all be classical guitars.

The worlds orchestration needs a mixture

of musical types.

I am a bass fiddle, at this time in my life...

so close your eyes and hear my music.

As I leave you with my poetic offerings today I give you this mock Irish blessing.  May your music today be soothing. May you share your song with all those you come in contact with...and no matter what instrument you play....may you know that you are part of a great earthly band called the human race.  God Bless you and yours today.

My Life Has Been A Tapestry

I love to read anything by author, Rick Warren.  Even though it has been out for a number of years,if you have not read Rick Warren’s book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” you should.  I read it right after it came out about ten years ago….and it is still haunting me.  Every day I find myself looking to see if my life has purpose….I know from my reading of this book that my  life should be purpose driven but often it is not.  Most times I find that my life is merely circumstance driven and it is when it is in that mode that I do not function well at all.  Many times I ask myself…Just why am I here? What is my purpose?  What is the true meaning of life in general?  What is the true meaning of MY life?  It seems when I find myself asking these questions that I am in the All About Me Mode…..and to be honest…I am. But let me tell you (and myself)  It's not about me. It is all about God….and a person’s life cannot be truly successful unless he/she knows his/her purpose in life.  Col 1:16 tells us that-“ For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him.”  Hello…should that not send up a big red flag?  I mean come on….it firmly states that I was made by God for God.  I was made for His purposes…..because He never creates anything without a purpose.  So I am back asking myself….”How do I discover said purpose?”  I believe there are two ways…the hard way….without God…and the easy way….with God.  Have you ever asked God…..”What on earth have you put me here for?’  I have…and I am sure he probably laughed his head off….God wove a tapestry…..and I am in it.  I am not an accident…..I was planned….and I am loved….by God.  Carole King (one of my favorite singers did a song in the early 70’s called “Tapestry") and it fits my thoughts so well today that I had to share the lyrics  and song with you this morning:

My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue
An everlasting vision of the ever-changing view
A wondrous woven magic in bits of blue and gold
A tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold

Once amid the soft silver sadness in the sky
There came a man of fortune, a drifter passing by
He wore a torn and tattered cloth around his leathered hide
And a coat of many colors, yellow-green on either side

He moved with some uncertainty, as if he didn't know
Just what he was there for, or where he ought to go
Once he reached for something golden hanging from a tree
And his hand come down empty

Soon within my tapestry along the rutted road
He sat down on a river rock and turned into a toad
It seemed that he had fallen into someone's wicked spell
And I wept to see him suffer, though I didn't know him well

As I watched in sorrow, there suddenly appeared
A figure gray and ghostly beneath a flowing beard
In times of deepest darkness, I've seen him dressed in black
Now my tapestry's unraveling; he's come to take me back
He's come to take me back.

The lyrics of this song tell me that my life is a test, a trust and a temporary assignment. God tests my faith , love, obedience, and character every day.  One day He will come to take me back….and on that day He is going to ask me "Karen, what have you done with what I gave you?"  I shiver in my boots when I think on how I will answer that question….some days I will be able to look Him in the eye and proudly tell Him what I have done….other days I am ashamed to say….I will answer Him with my head looking downward out of shame.  I must remind myself daily that life is preparation for eternity.  So if life is preparation….then how can I fulfill God's purposes and bring glory to God? I understand from Bible studies and Sunday School, and church that if I fulfill God's purposes on earth I will share in the bounty of heaven one day.  I have to remind myself daily that a life without meaning is wasted.   I truly believe that I was made to bring pleasure to God in worship.  From the first moment I stepped in a choir loft to sing God’s praises….whether it be a chancel choir….singing traditional music….or the Arbor singing contemporary songs….I am loving my God with every lyric, note, movement to the max.  When I sing on Sunday’s….it is a case of total surrender to me….for a brief shining moment….I totally abandon myself into His arms….worship for me…..is a lifestyle.  If I could only do one thing in my life…..it would be worship.  When I go to church on Sunday….or Weds….or whatever day….it is my safety zone ….and a place where I can find God….when I can’t seem to find Him anywhere else.  I am refreshed here….I am revived here….I am renewed here….I am alive!  It is the place I can escape the trials of the world….hummm….I am missing something here….God is with me always….so I need to just relax…and trust God to be there…..You know….when I became a Christian….it happened in the blink of an eye…..but it has taken me the rest of my life to strive to be Christ-like….So….with that in mind….I am asking God to make me useable…an effective character…..that effectively serves….useable….that is what I want to be when I grow up.  Happy Monday to All!

 

A Very Silent Night

One of my favorite Christmas hymns is Silent Night.  I love the peaceful sound it has and I love the fact that it is  beautiful with full orchestration or just a single guitar.  Amanda and I sang it at church this morning for my congregation.  As I sang the song and told the story I felt my throat tightening up and my eyes filling with tears.  There is just something about this song.  Josef Franz Mohr was born to an unmarried woman, in Salzburg, Austria, in December of 1792. His father deserted her before Josef was born. An illegitimate child of that century and culture had very little advantage unless God intervened. Josef's mother found him a sponsor who provided him with a chance for higher education. Josef chose the priesthood as his profession. Ordained in 1815, he was sent to pastor a church in a remote Alpine village. Three years later while preparing for Christmas services at St. Nicholas Church, Josef experienced an event that would prove to not only bless him and his congregation, but the world over.  The church organ was broken, which in Father Josef's mind made it very difficult to plan an effective Christmas celebration for his congregation. The young priest took his problem before the Lord. God reminded Josef of a poem he had written several years before. Father Josef quickly jotted down the words, took them to his organist who composed a tune. December 24th, 1818, with just a guitar for accompaniment, Stille Nacht was sung for the first time.  Shortly thereafter, the organ repairman heard the story, took a copy of the song and began to spread it throughout Austria. It eventually came to the attention of a local tailor, Herr Strasser, whose children were singers; local celebrities. Much to the delight of their audiences, the Strasser children added Stille Nacht to their repertoire. The fame of the children and of the song began to spread to the point that the Strasser's were asked to give a performance of Stille Nacht before the king and queen.  In 1838 Stille Nacht was published in a German hymnbook for general congregational singing. Germans who moved to America brought their songs with them to the new world. It wasn't long before Stille Nacht was translated into English, and Silent Night became America's most beloved carol. 

Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

While The Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

The first people to arrive were the shepherds.  Knowing that Jesus is our Shepherd I think it is perfect that they came first.  The King was born in a lowly manger....and visited by men most people did not like to be around.  So, what did the shepherds think on that night?  How did they feel about being part of this great Story?  I think their story must have gone something like this...

It was a cold night. The coldest night of the year, they said. They were right. It was the kind of night where you feel the chill deep down in your bones, and you couldn’t stop shivering even if you wanted to. On nights like these, I hate being a shepherd. I mean, it’s bad enough that they pay us next to nothing and the owners treat us like dirt. It’s bad enough that we have to stay up all night fighting off wolves and other creatures, even the occasional
human thief. Hell, it’s bad enough that these sheep are so dumb they’ll walk straight into a hole that a blind guy could see, and I have to fish ‘em out. But the part that really gets me is how people look down on us. I mean, I know we smell bad since we hang out with sheep all the time, but that’s not the reason. When we’re in town people avoid us because they think we’re scum. Men pull their daughters a little closer when we’re around because they’re
afraid we’ll try to rape them. Other people put their hands on their money bag when they see us because they’re afraid we’ll rob them. I’ve never hurt anybody in my life! I’m just trying to survive like anyone else. It’s not like my life’s goal was to be a shepherd. I just couldn’t get any other job, and it’s better than nothing. Like I said, it was the coldest night of the year. We were sitting around the fire trying to keep warm, but it wasn’t working. Someone starting passing around a flagon of wine they had swiped from an owner. I took a few big
swigs because it helped me feel warm. I thought I might be able to get some sleep, so I started to doze off. That’s when it happened. This bright light came from out of nowhere, and I heard someone shouting something. I figured someone was using some kind of trick to be able to steal our sheep. I squinted and saw the figure of a man saying, “Don’t be afraid. I have good news.” He tells us that in town the new king has been born and that we should go see him. He said that a star would show us the way.
 
All of a sudden the light disappeared. I thought maybe the wine had some funny stuff in it and I was seeing things, but everyone else saw it too. And after the spots went away from our eyes, there it was! A star that I had never seen in the sky before, shining as bright as the moon! We headed off, not knowing why. It didn’t make any sense. After all, why would a bunch of dirty shepherds be allowed to see a king? Even regular people didn’t want to
be around us. Why should a new king be any different?

When we got into town, the star didn’t show us the way to a palace or a fancy house like we thought. We figured a king would be born in a real nice place. I saw King Herod’s house once and it was the biggest thing I’d ever seen. Instead, the star led us to a cave filled with animals. In there was this real young girl and a guy who turned out to be her husband, with a newborn baby wrapped in rags. Now I knew we were crazy.
 
One of my friends told them why we were here, and the guy looked surprised. “The angel told you too, huh?” he said. An angel? That’s what that thing was? He said that angels had told him and his wife that this baby was the Messiah that God had promised to Israel. They weren’t sure what it meant either. They just somehow knew it was true.
 
I walked over to take a look at this kid. He was asleep, so I was real quiet because I didn’t want to wake him up. Suddenly he opened his eyes and looked up at me and smiled. It wasn’t one of those normal baby smiles. It was more like how my mom used to look at me when I was little. It was the kind of smile that said “I love you.” I still have no idea what all this King and messiah stuff is about. What I do know is that there’s something real special about this baby boy. I don’t know what God has in mind for him and his parents, but I know that somehow God will make it all work out.....and He did.  It worked out just like He had planned.

What's Up Joseph?

Michael Card does a song called, Joseph's Song and it is so beautiful.  I feel sorry for Joseph because he seems to be forgotten in this big story.  Yet, Joseph is another character in this play of life that I have often wondered about.  What did he feel when Mary came and told him what was happening?  What did he think when the angel visited him and explained the situation?   What was it like to be Jesus' step-dad?  How did he feel in his supporting role of this cast of characters?  I was thinking about this on Friday while my students were taking a test and decided that Joseph must have felt something like this...Why did this happen to me? Ask anybody in town, they’ll tell you I’m a pretty good guy. I work hard for a living running my family’s carpentry business. I got engaged to a nice girl from a nice family. Everything was going great until I found out she was pregnant. It just didn’t make sense. That wasn’t like the Mary I knew. A girl with a family as great as hers  just doesn’t do that kind of thing. Then she came and told me this unbelievable story about an angel and the Messiah and how we were part of God’s great plan. My first reaction was, "Come On!"  I truly would have thought she had gone crazy but it sounded like even she was having a hard time believing what she was telling me, like it was the truth but it was so painful she could barely get it out.
 
Now, I know the laws of Moses. A woman who commits adultery is to be publicly stoned to death for the shame she has brought on her family. I loved her.  I didn’t want to see that happen to her. Her family had suffered enough because of this. So I was going to break things off quietly and help save face.  It was about that time when the angel came and spoke to me. I thought I was going crazy. But the angel said that everything Mary told me was true—that this baby was really the Messiah and we were charged with his care. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a religious man. I believe that all the promises God made to our people will be fulfilled one day. I just didn’t expect it to look like this. No one I’ve told about this has believed me. If God was going to do these things in such a weird way, don’t you think God would have let everyone else know? Wouldn’t God at least have told the religious leaders? They’re the ones who are supposed to know what God is thinking. But instead it’s up to me, a simple carpenter, and my new wife to care for this baby as if he were my son. I have no idea what will happen with this boy. But deep down inside, somehow I know everything will be alright. Somehow God will make it all work out.