I thought he was with you...

It's something that happens to every parent at one time or another...they forget their child. I don't mean they forget they have a child...they just leave them somewhere. (At least I hope I'm not the only parent to ever do this!)

Mind you, I only did this once and it was YEARS ago. My husband and I had to be at the church at different times so we took two cars. After church, we didn't even touch base with each other...we were both so busy. It wasn't any big deal, we'd be home in a few minutes and catch up over lunch. I gathered up my materials from my class and headed home. I think I was there a couple of minutes before I asked, "Where's Levi?" That's when I heard those words every parent hates to hear..."I thought he was with you."

Needless to say I rushed back to the church where I was greeted by my son and a friend, who was laughing her head off at me, by the way. He was fine - I was a mess.

So why did I tell you this story on this Journey to Advent? Not sure, but for some reason today I thought about the story in Luke where Mary and Joseph we headed home and realized that Jesus wasn't with them.
Luke 2:41- 49

[41] Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 

[42] When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 

[43] After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 

[44] Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 

[45] When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 

[46] After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 

[47] Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 

[48] When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

[49] "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 

I can't imagine what it must have been like for Mary to get that far on their journey and then realize Jesus wasn't there. Like any mother, she probably grabbed Joseph and hurried back to the place she'd last seen her child. Imagine her relief when she found him, teaching in the temple.

I'm sure by now, you see where this random thought is going. I'm on a Journey to Advent and I'm wondering if I've forgotten Jesus. In the middle of all the preparations, the gift buying, the decorating, and the holiday cheer, have I forgotten why I'm supposed to be doing it all? Have I forgotten Jesus?

How far have I gotten down the road, and how could I have not realized He wasn't with me on the way? I need to go back to where I last saw Him, last sensed Him and His presence. If I follow the passage, I will find Him in the temple.

My first thought was, I need to go to church - but I'm already doing that. For some, that is where they are busiest! So I decided to look up what the temple was. According to one source, in classical Jewish belief, the Temple acted as the figurative "footstool" of God's presence. So that's it; I will find Jesus not necessarily when I go to church, but when I take the time to sit in God's presence. 

Christmas is less than three weeks away. The pace of life is moving faster and faster as we get closer to the December 25th...and to the end of another year on earth. Will I keep on moving, or will I realize in the midst of the crowds and the noise, I don't have Him. Will I turn around and take the time to sit at God's feet so that I can once again find Jesus?

Or will I continue on my way saying, "I thought He was with you..."?

The journey feels long....

To be very honest, I just don't feel like writing today on this Journey to Advent. Like many, I am just plain tired. But when you're on a journey, you may pause and rest, but you can't just stop! (Yes, I did watch the Biggest Loser marathon tonight...) So here we go...one foot in front of the other.


Some of the following is from an article by Dan S. Baty called "Love Supreme" from Discipleship Journal, 2003. It was this article that prompted my previous two blogs, and it is based on the scriptures 1 John 4:8 - God is love, and 1 Cor. 13: 4-8. Enjoy!


"God does not envy or boast. 
Envy and boasting are first cousins - and strangers to love. Envy seeks to tear down others, while boasting seeks to inflate self. Both are rooted in insecurity. God's love has no such insecurities....Not only does God graciously enable me to succeed in word or deed, He assures me time and again that He 'delights in the well-being of his servant' (Ps. 35:27)." Dan Baty


God is not proud.
God has nothing to prove. He is God...yet He chose to come as a servant. It takes a lot of confidence to be truly humble. Think about those you know who do the most bragging - pretty insecure, aren't they. Just let things not go their way and you'll see them start placing blame on whoever they can find. But those who are truly confident aren't afraid to serve and enable others to succeed. In fact, nothing makes them happier than to shine the spotlight on others. I am so thankful that God ever entrusts His work into my clumsy hands. Wow.


God is not rude.
"God does not force Himself on us....Though He possesses absolute truth, He does not use absolute force to make us receive it. Instead, He knocks and waits for ready hearts to open the door (Rev. 3:20)" Dan Baty


God is not self-seeking.
"The Son of Man came [for our benefit, not His] to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:10) He gave knowing that some would not return His love...and yet He gave it anyway.


God is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs.
I've often said, if I were God I would have zapped us all by now! I am so thankful that God is not easily angered and in mercy gives us chance after chance. 
Psalms 103:8 - 18 
"God is sheer mercy and grace; 
      not easily angered, he's rich in love. 
   He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, 
      nor hold grudges forever. 
   He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, 
      nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. 
   As high as heaven is over the earth, 
      so strong is his love to those who fear him. 
   And as far as sunrise is from sunset, 
      he has separated us from our sins. 
   As parents feel for their children, 
      God feels for those who fear him. 
   He knows us inside and out, 
      keeps in mind that we're made of mud."

God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 
"God loves it when we see the world through His eyes, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us through that lifelong process. (Jn. 16:13)" Dan Baty


God always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.
It is amazing that as many times as I've messed up, God still entrusts me with His Good News. Sometimes I wish He didn't trust me so much.....I feel like Peter. Still, knowing that Peter would deny Him, Jesus did not stop loving Peter - or believing in him! "When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." I really can't count how many times I've failed and yet God always gives me another chance. He celebrates my successes and heals my failures. 


God's love never fails...And that's as far as I can travel today on this Journey to Advent. Goodnight!

Don't forget the kindness

Today as I continue on my Journey to Advent, I find myself knowing that Christmas is getting closer and closer and I am still no closer to being ready. The thought of shopping for that perfect gift has me completely overwhelmed, and not in a good way. As one friend put it, lack of time and money to make it happen is just stressing me out. I can almost see you out there nodding in agreement. Simply buying the groceries for the special meals of the season is breaking the budget!

Yet in the midst of all this chaos, I still find myself confronted by moments of God's presence....by His kindness. It's not always huge things, but it always comes at just the right time. It might be a cup of coffee from a friend, or even something as simple as a smile when a stranger holds the door open for you. It's those moments when your children actually show they care about each other instead of bickering over who gets to sit by the window. One of my personal favorites is that look that someone gets when you come into the room and it is evident they are truly glad just to see you. Those small acts of kindness are just enough to keep me going. That's what today's blog is really about...kindness.

If you happened to read yesterday's blog, you know that God is love (1 John 4:8).  That means, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, that He is kind. But what does that mean? How will I know it when those moments of kindness come? How will I know it when I see Him?

Since in my class I am currently teaching my students about characterization, I decided to ask them to describe the character trait of kindness. I was quite surprised by the insight of this group of 12 and 13 year olds. In essence, they wrote this blog, and this is what they had to say.

Kindness means the person will always be there for you. 
They say words that give you courage. 
Kindness comes from the heart. 
They stand up for you. 
They love you for who you are and don't try to change you. 
Everything good they do comes from the heart. They genuinely care for you. 
The words that come out of their mouth are always caring. 
They are always thinking on the positive side. 
They will truly be your friend. 
A kind person always smiles at you and isn't selfish. 
They understand that no one is perfect and don't criticize you because you're not. 
To be kind is to forgive someone no matter what. 
To be kind is to never give up on someone. 
To be kind is to do something nice with no reward. 
It means you believe not only in yourself, but you also believe in others. 
A kind person thinks of others and would give their life for them. 
And finally, one student wrote this: Mercy and forgiveness. Greater love hath no man than this, for a man give up his life for another. 

Wow....They pretty well nailed it. God is all this and more!

Is it possible that in the middle of all the crazy hustle and bustle of Christmas, I've missed the kindness? In the struggle to get just the right gift, have I forgotten that I am to show the character of Christ to those around me? (A couple of quick video clips of people fighting over waffle makers and video games pretty much lets me know that a lot of people have forgotten the "kindness" part! I'm pretty sure pepper spraying your fellow shoppers isn't exactly the kindest action either!) And if I've forgotten the kindness, does that mean I've forgotten God?

Just for today, I want to see some kindness...I want to show some kindness. In the whirlwind of activities and responsibilities and expectations, I don't want to forget the kindness....I don't want to forget God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails. 


Psalm 106:7
When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.


Isaiah 63:7
[ Praise and Prayer ] I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.


Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Titus 3:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

 ³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

God is love...means more than I thought.

The first week of Advent seemed to be filled with getting rid of the garbage that so easily piles up in my heart. Everyday it seemed that I was dealing with learning to see my need for a Savior more and more.
This week has already taken an amazing turn - it seems that everywhere I look I am overwhelmed by the love of God. A friend posted on my last post and said the word that it brought to mind was "Tenderness" - and that's exactly what I am seeing. The tenderness of our loving Father and I am overwhelmed.

On facebook someone shared a youtube link of Christopher Duffley singing "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord" and I sit in tears. Today I am overwhelmed by the love of God for each of us....for me.

As I thought about "love", I remembered a sweet little old lady we used to go to church with, Mrs. Katie. Mrs. Katie was a hoot; we never knew what she was going to say. Of course, in our youthful stupidity, we often didn't realize just how wise this tiny little lady was. She'd say things like, "I just realized something - God is love. Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm." We'd just stand there politely and smile. I'm pretty sure inside I was thinking something like "Duh!" I did mention I was a lot younger then - and I thought I was a whole lot smarter than I was. In fact, the older, I get the stupider I realize I truly am, but again - that's a blog for another day.

Three simple words - "God is love." Today I think I started to realize just how smart Mrs. Katie was.

While waiting for everyone to get ready for church this morning I happened to pick up an old copy of Discipleship Journal. I was already thinking about the Journey to Advent and the turn it had taken. (I really like this stretch of road a whole lot better by the way!) Anyway, back to the Discipleship Journal. The first article I turned to was by Dan S. Baty called "Love Supreme," an article about God's love. What really caught my eye was the scripture reference he used, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. I have heard that verse a thousand times focusing on how we are to love others, but if God is love (1 John 4:8) then this passage is a description of God!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.⁸ Love never fails....

I know there is no way I can cover that entire passage in one blog, so it may be that it shows up throughout this week. For today, I'll focus on just the first part: "Love is patient." I don't know about you, but I sure am glad God is patient with me. I've said before, I'm glad I'm not God because if I were, I'd have probably zapped everyone by now...bet you're glad I'm not God, too!


God is patient, giving us chance after chance...telling us over and over again. I still remember a pastor saying to me, "God not only knows the last thing He told you, He knows the last thing you understood." The Bible puts it this way:

2 Peter 3:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance

When I think of this passage, I remember a book I read a few years back called The Shack. Now, I'm not into debating the theology of this book - I'm not nearly smart enough for that. There is one part, however, that really stuck with me. The following is a review I found online and it explains the passage far better than I could. The full review can be found at http://theshackreview.wordpress.com/ and it's by Rachel Musgrove. (Link to full review)

"Jesus directs Mack to a cave like entrance, which Mack unsteadily enters into. He comes to a chair sitting in the middle of an open space which he sits in, waiting for something to happen. As he did this, a beautiful Latina woman appears.

She begins a barrage of questioning that intentionally lead Mack down a path of his judgment. She asks him of repentance and then informs him that he will be the judge of God and the human race. She peels back the layers of Mack with a brutal honesty until Mack finally confesses that He’s angry at God.

The questioning goes on until the woman asks Mack to choose 3 of his children to go to hell and the other 2 to go to heaven. He screams at the woman that he can’t, he won’t make that choice. He offers himself in their place. The woman smiles and says, “Now you sound like Jesus.”

God is love....Love is patient. In the words of Mrs. Katie, "Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm."

Today I braved the mall....

Today I ventured out beyond my fears and went to the mall....and survived!

I am not a big shopper. I am not a little shopper either. Let's be honest - I'm not a shopper at all! I get completely overwhelmed by the choices and the fancy signs that promise money off if I'll just fall in love with what is on the hanger. The thing is, I'm not sure I fall in love with what is on the hanger as much as I fall for the sign above it! But that's blog for another day. Today is about going to the mall.

There was only one thing that could get me to venture out into the traffic and crowds - Love.

You see, this week has been kind of a yuck week for my teenage daughter. Nothing really awful, just one of those weeks we all have sometimes. Today was the last straw...a friend was supposed to come over and at the last minute let her know he couldn't come. The look on her face was not so much sad as just - tired. She'd already had a rough week and now the weekend was looking pretty dismal as well. That was when I suggested we make a quick trip to the mall to pick up an item she'd had her eye on (and had a coupon for money off on! Hey, I did mention I'm a sucker for a sale!) She gave the standard, "I guess so..." but in just a few minutes she was ready to head out the door. I could tell by the increase in conversation this was just what was needed.

We made our way across town and managed to find a parking spot close to the entrance. In minutes we were inside picking out just the right color and size. We made our purchase and wandered to another store or two, just to look around. She suggested things that I might like, and I suggested things for her. For me, the best part was just being together....and the new look I saw on her face. It wasn't pure joy or anything, but I did see a little more spring in her step. Things were looking up.

We'd have stayed longer, but she got a call from another friend asking her to come hang out. Oh yes, things were looking up. We hurried home, and I watched her get ready for her girls night out and smiled as she headed out the door. I put on another load of clothes and settled down to think about today's blog on the Journey to Advent. All I could really think about was that trip to the mall.

There was really only one thing that could make me go to that mall...I did it for her. Love makes you do crazy things sometimes.

I guess that's really what Christmas is all about - Love. The presents we buy are to reflect our love. The lights and trees are done to see our children's eyes light up in wonder - it's done in love. The performances and trips to play in the cold - all are done for love. Christmas is a love story. It's the story of how the King of Kings left the beauty and riches of heaven to come to be born a human....because of His great love for us.

If in my human limitations, I can notice my daughter's face, how much more can He notice mine? I look and try to figure out what is wrong....He looks and immediately knows. I saw my daughter's want...He sees my needs. I just had to brave the mall...He chose to brave the sin of the world. I paid for an item on sale...He paid the ultimate price for me.

Today on this journey to Advent...I thought about love.

Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

What happens to garbage?

Today's random thought is probably a bit more random than most, even for me.

As we were headed to school today, I happened to look beside the road and notice a trashcan. My mind did it's normal pingpong ball thinking and I realized how glad I was for the trash men that come and take my garbage away. After all, in Victorian England (we're studying A Christmas Carol) they didn't have that convenience.

I remember as a child out in the country we didn't have any clue what a garbage truck was except through books and movies. We all had a trash pile where we burned what could be burned and a compost bed where anything biodegradable went. While the compost heap was a pretty good idea, the trash pile was another story. True, things burned but you had to deal with the ashes and of course there would always be the leftover materials that just wouldn't burn. Some of those piles could get pretty big until my daddy took his farm equipment and dug a huge hole to bury the trash...then we'd start all over again. Yep, it's pretty cool to have the convenience of just taking my garbage and and rolling it out to the street only to find it has disappeared by the time I return home in the afternoon.

On days that I forget to roll the can to the curb, the trash really builds up. It's a bit of a bother...but if there is  something stinky in there it becomes a bit more. No one wants to return home to the aroma of week old chicken parts or even worse, broccoli leftovers!

I don't think I've ever thought this much about my garbage! Then I got to wondering, where does that garbage go? I've heard stories of floating garbage barges somewhere off the coast of the United States. I know in some places there are "land fills" where the garbage is buried and towns are even built on top of it.  I've even been to "the dump" on a few occasions. (It's a pretty interesting place...but stinky. Don't know if I'd want to live on top of it!)

It's hard to imagine all that people have thrown away. But to be honest, once I take my garbage to the curb, I rarely think about it again...until today. Today I thought about my garbage in a different way when I realized everyone's life is full of garbage, and not the physical kind. Our lives are full of hurts and fears and, let's be honest, sin. There's lots to stink up our life unless I take it to the curb through confession and prayer...but then what happens to it?

I know that old saying, "God tosses it into the sea of forgetfulness" but today I had a thought that caught my breath. What happens to the garbage? It was heaped upon Jesus. When He died on the cross, He took on all my garbage...and everyone else's too. Does that thought hit you in the gut like it did me?

This was a Random Thought I didn't expect to find on the Road to Advent.

2 Corinthians 5:21

New International Version (NIV)

²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 9:28
New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him

Isaiah 53:5

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
   and by his wounds we are healed.


Isaiah 53:12  (NIV)

¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,^[a]
   and he will divide the spoils with the strong,^[b]
because he poured out his life unto death,
   and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
   and made intercession for the transgressors.

Waiting for Christmas

Not feeling too well, so today's "Journey to Advent" is a repeat of a blog from last year. Christmas is less than 24 days away....and my son is already bouncing off the wall. He seems to be the only one who is ready for Christmas this year! 

Christmas is less than 24 hours away and my son is bouncing off the walls. He can hardly contain himself...he is rotating between me, his dad, and his sister, looking for someone to help him contain his excitement. Since we open one gift every Christmas Eve, he is already bugging us to open that gift NOW since it is technically already Christmas Eve day. The rest of the family is content to lie around in a lazy fashion, slowly preparing for tomorrow's "festivities" and all that entails.

What is the difference? Well, part of it is that my son has been sick with the flu for the past 3 days and now he's finally feeling better. The rest of us have been "getting ready" for a while and to be honest, we are kind of tired.

Some of you are already making the connection. You already see this random thought coming.

I got to thinking, this is a lot like the people who were waiting on the Messiah 2000+ years ago....and those of us waiting today. My son is so excited. He has felt the pain of sickness and now finally sees and feels the celebration of the season. He is like the shepherds or the wise men. Those of us who have been well for a while have worn ourselves out. We are like....well, everyone else! Like a person who has newly realized that Christ came to save us, my son is excited! He wants to move and "DO" something! Those of us who have known "Christmas" for a while have grown weary. We've forgotten what we are working toward...or maybe we've just gotten too tied up in the "working for" part. Those shepherds did nothing but show up. The wise men did do some traveling, but it wasn't like their traveling caused Christ to be born. Even Mary - although I'm sure she had to do some preparation to give birth - it's not like she "made it happen." God did it all....we simply get to respond to the gift He gave.

Today, I pray for each of us to find the excitement of knowing that our Savior has come...that we don't grow weary in the preparation of the event and miss the joy. Christmas - the preparation for that first one required saying yes to whatever God had in store. It required taking whatever was in front of you, even if it was just a simple manger, and dedicating it to His service. It required recognizing that God is with us...and that it meant good tidings of great joy that were to be for all people. It was filled with hope for tomorrow! It required...well, just us to be there to receive.

No wonder my son is so excited! He is finally free from that which held him captive on the couch for three days and he is ready to celebrate! May our hearts recognize that we've been set free from a much greater sickness - that of sin - and now we have been given a gift. Here's hoping your day is filled with the anticipation of the only gift that never gets old, never wears out, never breaks or gets boring - the gift of our Savior.

Merry Christmas, and in an adaptation of the words of Tiny Tim, "God has blessed us, everyone."