Beauty and the Beast

Many of you know that we had a real winter storm in Tennessee yesterday. I classify it because many times these storms never materialize although people clear the bread & milk from the grocery store days before they've been forecasted to hit.

For as long as we've lived in this state "snow" is considered a four-letter word that sends everyone running for cover. The longer I've lived here the more I've come to understand why.

Sleet, snow, and ice are beastly to deal with here in the South. Many of the roads are windy. Quite a few of the driveways run uphill. We have something called "black ice" which I am pretty sure is invisible.

There are very few tire tracks down the street right now. A few hours ago I watched as our neighbor tried to get into her driveway. To fully appreciate the amazement of her struggle you'd have to see that the driveway is hardly a car's length in distance but covered with inches of solid ice. She made it but it took quite a lot of work.

Wordless Wednesday--HOPE

When it comes to resolutions don't be an old bag

As we embark upon a new year many of us make resolutions. We resolve to make important changes in our lives that are long over due or to perform tasks that we have been putting off. The first day of each year, in a sense, we start fresh. It's a great feeling.

Many times the freshness wears off quickly as we fail to make good on our resolutions or continue to put off certain things. In short, for most, resolve is not enough to bring about much of the change we need.

Sometimes Love Lets You Fall

It was a quiet Saturday afternoon, and my mother and I were enjoying a cup of tea and some conversation. Her full-time job and my "newlywed status" did not allow us the time to visit as often, which made our times together even more deeply treasured.

While the women were inside chatting, the men were out in the garage doing some kind of "man thing" to one of the cars. Every now and then we would peek out the window to check on them. We did a "head count" just to make sure they were all accounted for, but otherwise left them alone. Over the years we had learned never to disturb men at work.

We had just changed the topic of conversation when my husband appeared in the doorway. By the grimacing look of pain on his face and the tight grip he had on his thumb I could see, without him saying a word, that he was hurting badly.

Merry Christmas from the Lancasters

Make a Smilebox greeting

No Room

"So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:6-7

At the time of Jesus’ birth a census was being conducted which required people to return to their place of origin. Joseph and Mary were traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It was during that trip that Jesus made His entrance into the world.

There were no hotels or motels. No hospitals with elaborate birthing rooms. Apparently a lowly stable, more like a damp and dingy cave, was the only place that they could find to stay.

Have you ever wondered about that? The Son of God, King of the Jews, Messiah, the Christ Child came to this earth and God did not even arrange for a room for Him in one of the local inns. What a way to treat your only Son. He was of the noblest of origins yet born in a stinky stable-like environment sleeping in a feeding trough. What a way for the Son of God to spend His first night in the world.

Christmas Presents or Presence

"You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your Presence."

Acts 2:28

When I was a child the weeks before Christmas were very exciting. Our house was decorated beautifully and smelled of freshly baked cookies. We spent time with family and friends and, of course, participated in the yearly Christmas program. Then, on Christmas Eve, we were almost sick with excitement (and a few too many cookies) as we waited for Christmas day.

Bedtime would come and my parents would hurry us off to bed reminding us that we needed to go to sleep so that Santa could visit. After all he only traveled at night and if he did not come we would not have any gifts to open. We would try to stay awake just to hear or catch a glimpse of this jolly old man; who somehow managed to keep all the children of the world’s addresses and requests straight and deliver everything in one night.

No Gift To Bring

"And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:11

One of the things that I enjoy most about the holiday season are the annual Christmas programs that I have been watching since I was a child. I am sure we all have our favorite one and, for some of us, it may be hard to choose. One I personally relate to is "The Little Drummer Boy."

For those of you who have not seen it I'll give a quick synopsis. A young boy’s family is killed and he is taken away, to be sold at a time deemed most profitable, by a nasty man. The man uses the boy’s ability to play the drum among other things for financial gain. He repeatedly mistreats the child who, by the way,  lost his smile the day his village was destroyed.

Mine, Mine, Mine

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine."
Isaiah 43:1 NKJV

The question seemed to leap off the page during my quiet time. "If you were to ask God to change your name, what would you want your name to be, or to mean?" Wow. Now there was a question to ponder. In some ways I had been pondering it for years.

When I was a little girl, my friends and I would play. Part of the fun was in choosing new names that we liked better than the ones we had. None of my childhood friends felt that their parents had given them appropriate first names—myself included. Worse yet were the "unmentionables," those, of course, being our middle names. Heaven forbid we even allow them to surface in a conversation, which, by the way, is something I still struggle with to this day.

The Battle

Wounded and weary the warrior laid down

Face deep in the dirt with mud all around

Longing for silence, no strife no more fight

Jeers by the enemy instilling more fright

A voice said "Arise, stand tall, I know that you're hurt

But the time has now come be sober, vigilant, and alert

Your enemy is roaring and prowling about

It's not time to be silent, lift your voice now and shout

Submit to My plan

I'm in command

I'm the power behind your sword

I'm Your Captain, The Highest, Your Lord

Warrior, lift up your head

Listen to what I have said

The plans for this battle were drawn before the foundation of this world

I knew of this war and every dart that would be hurled

I gave you weapons of war and power to fight

Go in My Power, My Strength, and My Might"

Lifting my head I looked at His face

I caught a glimpse of His glory, His eyes full of grace

I rose to my feet with the help of His hand

Positioned on His Word I fought just to stand

The forces of darkness came running at me

I submitted, I resisted, and they had to flee