25 Questions for Mary

I love that song that Kristi posted yesterday. Did you all listen to it? It reminded me of a Max Lucado book I read years ago- God Came Near. If you haven't read it - find it and put it on your reading list. These are from his book form a chapter called 25 Questions for Mary. I'd love to know which one you find the most compelling/interesting!

1. What was it like watching him pray?
2. How did he respond when he saw other kids giggling during the service at the synagogue?
3. When he saw a rainbow, did he ever mention a flood?
4. Did you ever feel awkward teaching him how he created the world?
5. When he saw a lamb being led to the slaughter, did he act differently?
6. Did you ever see him with a distant look on his face as if he were listening to someone you couldn't hear?
7. How did he act at funerals?
8. Did the thought ever occur to you that the God to whom you were praying was asleep under your own roof?
9. Did you ever try to count the stars with him....and succeed?
10. Did he ever come home with a black eye?
11. How did he act when he got his first haircut?
12. Did he have any friend by the name of Judas?
13. Did he do well in school?
14. Did you ever scold him?
15. Did he ever have to ask a question about Scripture?
16. What do you think he thought when he saw a prostitute offering to the highest bidder the body he made?
17. Did he ever get angry when someone was dishonest with him?
18. did you ever catch him pensively looking at the flesh on his own arm while holding a clod of dirt?
19. Did he ever wake up afraid?
20. Who was hi best friend?
21. When someone referred to Satan, how did he act?
22. Did you ever accidentally call him Father?
23. What did he and his cousin John talk about as kids?
24. Did his brothers and sisters understand what was happening?
25. Did you ever think, That's God eating my soup?

You're Here Francesca Battistelli - Mary & Jesus Christmas Music Video

A Mother's Perspective

The kids were out of school Monday for a snow day, and we had a great day together. When the schools get closed, I know that the day could go either way-- it will be fun and enjoyable for all, or the kids will be really happy to get back to school so they can come out of their rooms.....



Anyway, God blessed us with a day of listening ears, good spirits, a patient Mom, and fluffy white snow. I tried to relish the moments because I know soon enough, they will be too cool to go sledding with Mom. They will be more interested in their friends and not what game we can play together. They won't carry on conversations such as this:



Me: I distinctly remember telling you to put away your Legos, Caroline.



Caroline: Stinkley! Who's Stinkley????



Me: Nevermind. Just put them away please.



These little snippets of time I will remember always. I tuck them away in my heart to cherish and look back on.



This time of year, I think about how Mary must have felt giving birth to Jesus. Loving Him as a son, but knowing that He was the Son of Man, the savior of the World. How amazing! I wonder what it was like watching Him grow up, live a sinless life, minister to the lost, and die on the cross.



I heard this song on the radio today, and I wanted to share it with you. It brought me joy listening to it, and then watching the video someone made on Youtube. Mary's perspective.....All part of God's great gift to the world.

(Go to the next blog entry to see the video! I couldn't figure out how to link it to this post!!)

Tradition!

Today I sat with my daughter on our bed. She was playing and I was folding clothes. It was one of those moments I want to remember forever. She was playing "Santa". Now let me first of all say that some of you don't believe in playing Santa with your kids. I totally respect that. We haven't officially decided what all we'll do but as of now we have Santa at our house.

So anyway she said she was santa and that I should sit on her lap (HA!). We chatted for a bit and I asked her what santa says and she said "say cheese". That is hilarious to me because last week we took her to say Santa and I told her he'd say "ho ho ho" and instead he said "say cheese" because they were taking their picture!

Anyway, we played Santa for a few minutes and then I asked her why we celebrate Christmas. She said "have partys". Well yes, we do have parties but it's more than that. I explained that Christmas is the birthday of Baby Jesus. We still have some more work to do on that one but it's a start. :)

I'm telling you this because 1) it's a cute story and 2) it was a reminder to me that we need to constantly be talking to Grace and soon Graham about the real reason we celebrate. It's so important to me that we don't get caught up in the gifts and parties and such that my kids do not see the reason we do those things. HE CAME. This is perhaps the most important thing in the life of a Christian. The coming of Christ.

I want to start traditions with my family over the holidays.. how we set up the tree, how we do presents etc, but I also want to set up traditions of how we celebrate the coming of our Messiah. I haven't figured it all out yet but when my kids are older and sharing stories I want there to definitely be a bit of fun holiday tradition as well as memories of the child born on that day so long ago...

What family traditions surround your house at Christmas? (about the presents, etc, or about Jesus!)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Beyond the Craziness

18 more days left until Christmas.... Are you ready?



I am like most of you out there. This time of year is crazy busy. Christmas programs to go to, shopping to do, Christmas cards to send, baking to accomplish, piano concerts to attend......This week seems the busiest of all; plus with the snow, even more planning ahead has to occur.



I was so grateful for last night, when because of the bad weather, all evening activities were canceled. I savored the quiet time cooking dinner, eating slowly, laughing with the kids, doing spelling words at leisure, treasuring bed time stories and prayers. After the kids were tucked in, my husband went out to meet a friend and I got my jammies on and had some uninterrupted quiet time. Then I got to catch up with a friend on the phone and tackled those Christmas cards that have been sitting on my bedside table. I ate some peppermint ice cream. It was a needed reminder that we must stop and enjoy the moments God gives us every day.



My friend who I caught up with last night lamented about how busy her week was shaping up to be, and she went on and on about the commitments she had to fulfill, spending so much time in her car shuffling her three kids from activity to activity. My head was spinning just listening to her! To be honest I found myself thinking to myself, "I don't want that life." Am I traveling down that road already?



I gently asked her, "Could you say no to some of those birthday parties? It would make your life a bit less crazy...."



It is hard to say no, isn't it? Especially to fun things. Especially at Christmas. I am as guilty as anyone. I am a "yes" person who is trying to say "no" more often.



What comes first on our list of priorities? Time with our Lord? Family? Church commitments? Work? Fun? A certain t.v. show? Our to -do list?



I challenge you (and I challenge me!) to go beyond the craziness of Christmas to find the peace and calm that Christ can bring if we let him. Eliminate one thing from your schedule. Spend it doing something quiet- prayer, study, reading, quiet time with your husband or kids. Relish in the tranquility that God wants us to experience as we prepare our hearts for this season of joy.



"Be Still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10



"After the earthquake came the fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a gentle whisper. " I Kings 19:12



"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business ...." 1 Thessalonians 4:11

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests,prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our savior." 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Time Away

I'm back.....for now :)

I had to take some time away from the routine. I was getting so wrapped up in "doing" that my heart really wasn't into much of anything; teaching, studying, praying, blogging, etc. When I get that way I am so easily drained and exhausted.

So, I took some time away from some things. I didn't want to DO things because it was there. I wanted to invest in the things I was doing, with my heart and passions behind them. I blame our women's Bible study, in a good way.

As we were studying the life of David, it was brought to my attention that I was not giving God my best. That then lead me to realize that because I wasn't giving God my best, nothing else was getting my best either. I had lost focus. I was going into my day in an exhausted rush of "do this, do that, have to get this done" rather than realizing that each day is a gift for God!

I started getting up 30-45 minutes earlier and having quiet time. Some mornings I would read my Bible, some mornings I dig into a chunk of scripture, some mornings I just lay still on the couch with my dog, some mornings I just spend time in my home. Amazing what being quiet can do for a person. I have been starting my day out quiet and reflective and seeking God and being grateful for a new day.

It is refreshing. And God is leading me in new directions, but that is for a different post.

If you find yourself stuck in the "doing" phase of life, take some time away. Praying for you friends!

Advent

Kristi's last post inspired me. God is enough, but when I get to those moments .. those awfully hard moments... will I be ready to lean on those simple words? Hmmm,

In that light, I'm working on preparing my heart for Christmas. I LOVE LOVE Christmas. I love the lights, Christmas trees, warm drinks, you name it. I spend lots of time preparing for Christmas. We put up the tree weeks in advance. I make presents lists that I want to buy others, I make grocery lists, I bake lots of goodies and I plan out our family celebrations.

But I have never (and I'm not proud of this) prepared my heart for Christmas. I've never walked myself toward the birth of Christ. One of my priorities these past few weeks has been to spend consistent time with God. It's been very good.

I'm reading an Advent Devotional by Ann Voskamp this season. Todays reading was about Noah, specifically the Lord destroying the earth because of the wickedness of man. What I love about these readings is that they are going to walk us from the beginning of man to the birth of Christ. In today's reading she shares about God having such a tender heart that we can imagine the flood being his tears of sorrow at such a sinful world his loved children were living in. Noah and his family had to cling to the ark for life. "God the Father was sending His Son Jesus on another piece of wood and we cling to that Son for dear life".

I'm so thrilled that God is opening up some new thoughts on his love to me. I'm happy that I'm finally preparing myself for Christmas fully.

What is a tradition, or something that you do to prepare yourself for the birth of our Savior?

Let the countdown begin!