The Power to Change Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV).

Using plain paper and a pencil, my eight-year-old granddaughter created a birthday card I will always treasure. It wasn’t just the simplicity of the card but the words that touched my heart. On the front, Cheyenne had drawn an angel. At the top were the following words: “Happy Birthday, Nana. We believe in God.” At the bottom, she had written, “I love you.”

Her artistic endeavors spilled over inside, where two more illustrations—one of a heart sporting wings and one of yours truly—graced the pages. What captured my heart, however, were the words, “I love you to the moon and back,” and “You have a giant heart as big as this.”

How could a grandmother not love a card fashioned from a child’s imagination as well as her heart? It’s the best gift I could ever receive.

Who doesn’t enjoy giving and receiving presents? However, there is a difference between presents and gifts. Lawyer James E. Faust explains the difference. “The true gifts may be part of ourselves—giving of the riches of the heart and mind—and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store. Of course, among the greatest of gifts is the gift of love. Love seeks to give rather than to get. Charity towards and compassion for others is a way to overcome too much self-love.”

Self-love has led consumers to camp out days before Black Friday at superstores, hoping to be first in line to purchase big screen TVs. Self-love has led to shoppers fighting over bargains and spending more money than they can afford. Whatever you call it, it’s not about Christmas. Christmas is about the birth of our Savior over 2,000 years ago.

How can we return the focus to what really matters? While commercialization has blinded many to the real meaning of Christmas, as parents and grandparents, we have the power to change it.

A recently-released children’s book, “The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas,” was written by Jill Hardie. Because Hardie saw how easy it is for families to be ensnared in the commercial blitz and forget the deeper reason for Christmas, she found a special way to show her children the joy of giving to others and that giving, itself, is a gift. In this heartwarming, powerful book, families can rediscover the true joy of “giving unto others.”

“Each year we have continued the tradition (of the Sparkle Box) and have realized that it’s not only a gift to Jesus and to those in need, but a powerful way to center Christmas,” says Hardie.

In a “me-first” society, it’s up to us to make the change. “The Sparkle Box” is more than a book. When people band together to spread the news, in the end, it transforms the giver and the receiver—all in Jesus’ name.

 Carol’s new book, “by FAITH alone,” is now available at amazon.com.
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Socks and a Pair of Size 12 Boots

Posted on December 16, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,and to give his life as a ransom for many”—Mark 10:45 (NIV).

Socks and a pair of size 12 boots is all it took to put an ear-to-ear smile on the face of a homeless man. As a “Tulsa World” editorial said, “What a story!”

If you missed the heartwarming story that has become an online hit, the details might just inspire your giving this season. If a tourist had not snapped the photo of a New York City police officer putting the new socks and boots onto the feet of the homeless man, none of us would probably have learned of his generosity and kindness. (AP Photo)

On a frigid night last month in Times Square, 25-year-old Officer Larry DePrimo spotted the barefoot man sitting on a sidewalk. Homeless, the man was begging for change. DePrimo, according to reports, didn’t hesitate but immediately walked to a nearby shoe store to purchase a pair of the store’s best all-weather boots and thermal socks. The storeowner offered a discount when he learned why DePrimo was making the purchase. However, the total purchase price was more than $75, a large amount of what he earns for a day’s wages as a three-year NYC police veteran.

An Arizona woman, who was visiting New York with her boyfriend, witnessed the act of kindness. According to Jennifer Foster, who shot the photo with her cell phone, “The officer did not know I was watching but this man’s face lit up like it was Christmas. . . like he had just been given, literally, a million dollars.”

DePrimo also was unaware that Foster, who is a sheriff’s office dispatch manager, had posted the photo on the NYPD Facebook page, along with the following commentary: “His presentation of human kindness has not been lost on myself or any of the Arizona law enforcement officials with whom this story has been shared.” Foster didn’t even know the NYC police officer’s name when she made this comment.

When the photo drew thousands of comments, reporters asked DePrimo why he had bought the socks and boots. “I was just doing my job,” he said. Referring to using his own money, he added, “You just don’t think about things like that.”

Family members have said that giving comes naturally for this young officer. According to an uncle, Deprimo “learned his kindness from a grandfather who died in June.”

Upon learning of the selfless act, a neighbor said, “The whole family is very respectful, very nice people. I hope my kids grow up to be like that.”

What if we all learned a lesson from this young man’s example? Although it’s the season of giving, I have a feeling that Officer DePrimo is in the habit of helping the less-fortunate throughout the year.

As holiday cheer motivates us to be more giving, let us remember the generosity of Jesus, who came, not to be served, but to serve

Carol’s new book, “by FAITH alone” is now available at amazon.com.
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Can You Hear It?

Posted on December 5, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel“–Isaiah 7:14 (NIV).

I wanted to share the following poem written by one of my former students, who is also a dear friend. Clayton Bates is the Associate Pastor of Worship at St. Andrews Assembly of God. Clayton shared this poem and the reason he had written it with me recently.

“It is becoming a Christmas tradition for my brother and me to text Christmas poems back and forth as we look forward to seeing each other.  Most of these are nonsense and a lot of silliness, but once in a while we write something a little deeper,” he says.

The following poem is definitely deeper and a wonderful reminder of what Christmas is really all about–the celebration of our Savior’s birth. If this poem has touched you, please share this link with others.

Can you hear it,
buried beneath a million things
vying for our attention?
Drowning in a sea of voices,
never-ending choices
competing for our ear.
Surely you will hear it if you listen,
among the tinsel as it glistens.

It’s still there.
Do we care?
Will we dare
to stop and be still,
to feel the thrill
of more than just a passing pleasure,
a priceless treasure from heaven’s vault
to cleanse our fault
and make us new?

Do you…hear God’s love calling,
like rain it’s falling upon our weary existence…
refreshing, reviving, rebuilding, restoring…
Do you hear it?

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Get Ready, Get Set, Let’s Celebrate

Posted on December 2, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,and will call him Immanuel”–                   Isaiah 7:14 (NIV).

Has Christmas lost its meaning for you? Could it be the over commercialization that has led to Christmas décor vying for shelf space with Halloween costumes in September? What happened to Thanksgiving? In the rush to lure consumers to start shopping earlier each year, as evidenced by major stores opening on Thanksgiving Day, marketing strategists appear consumed with squeezing every last dime out of us to up their profits.

While I am not opposed to free enterprise, I am saddened by the materialism that pervades our country. One major chain even started running Christmas commercials several weeks before Halloween. If we allow ourselves to be caught in this flurry of consumerism, preparing to celebrate Christmas can lead to stress as our to-do-list begins to take over the season. You might just start asking, “Where is the joy in Christmas?”

What if our focus changed from fancy parties and gift exchanges to the most wonderful celebration of all—the birth of our Lord Jesus? Elaborate plans? Not needed. Simplicity is the key to a joy-filled season.

Instead of being overwhelmed by mountains of additional tasks in an already busy world, we could choose to celebrate the babe born in a manger. His birth is a miracle. While we may not understand the mystery surrounding His arrival over 2,000 years ago, observing Jesus’ birthday is a reminder of God’s great love.

Instead of shopping until we drop, what if we assessed what we already have? I would hazard a guess that we all have more than enough. What if our more than enough became a blessing to someone in need?

When my sons were young, I can recall shopping for Angel Tree gifts. After they selected an angel from the tree set up in a local store, I allowed them to choose the presents for a child who might otherwise go without.

Another family tradition at Thanksgiving and Christmas included purchasing groceries for a family in need. While my sons may not have understood the importance of helping others when they were so young, I know it influenced them. Grown now, they continue to seek out opportunities to give to others.

Recently, my youngest son purchased breakfast at a doughnut shop for two young men in military uniforms. When I told him how proud I was of him, he replied, “I learned it from you, mom.”

My oldest son recently helped to fulfill the wish of a young Texas boy with a terminal illness. Posting the 12-year-old’s request for a gentle horse on Facebook, my son located the right horse at the right price—free. An outpouring of love from my son’s connections on the social media website also led to the boy’s receiving a saddle, bridles and spurs—everything he needs to be a cowboy.

Want to bring a new richness to this year’s Christmas celebration? Try putting Christ at the center.

Coming soon: Carol’s new book, “Sola Fide: by FAITH alone.”

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What do you lack?

Posted on November 19, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name”—Psalm 100:4 (NIV).

One of the things I like about technology is being able to stay connected with others. While I sometimes groan about our fast-paced world, I love keeping up with like-minded individuals through Facebook. On November 1, I noticed a 40-Day “thanks”-giving challenge. Each day in November, people began to post those things and people for which they are grateful. I joined the challenge and began posting daily.

During November, we celebrate a national day of thanksgiving, always the last Thursday of the month. This American holiday is a time to remember and give thanks for all of our blessings. For many, however, it’s the only day of the year they feel led to express their gratitude.

Did you know that one of humanity’s most powerful positive emotions is gratitude? Several years ago, psychologists started studying the science of giving thanks. What they discovered might surprise you. When you count your blessings, it makes you happier, even during difficult times.

Psychology professor Michael McCullough has studied people who were asked to be thankful on a regular basis. “When you stop to count your blessings, you are sort of hijacking your emotional system.”

Research by McCullough and others has revealed that giving thanks is a powerful emotion, feeding on itself. McCullough says, “Psychologists used to underestimate the strength of simple gratitude. It does make people happier. It’s an incredible feeling.”

Another psychologist, Maryann Troiana, has her clients keep a gratitude journal. By listing daily what they are thankful for, it changes their attitude and outlook on life. Agreeing, psychology professor Robert Emmons says, “It is important to focus more on the people for whom you are grateful. By concentrating on what life would be like without the good things, especially people like our spouses, you begin to realize just how grateful you are.”

Grateful people “feel more alert, alive, interested and enthusiastic,” Emmons says. “They also feel more connected to others.” Emmons, who has written two books on the science of gratitude, often studies the effects of using a gratitude journal.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul writes, “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”

Thank God no matter what happens? Surely, Paul was joking. What if we lived each day in gratitude for what we do have? What if we recalled the ways He has taken care of us in the past? Instead of complaining about those things we lack, what if we began to take an inventory of our simple treasures and conveniences like family, friends, food, shelter, electricity, a vehicle, our health and more. The list is endless.

While we can be blindsided by life’s unexpected burdens, we can choose to give thanks in all circumstances. Each day should be a day of thanksgiving to God and a lifestyle among God’s people. What are you thankful for today?

Coming soon: Carol’s new book, “Sola Fide: by FAITH alone.”

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Picked from the Patch

Posted on October 28, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of”—Luke 6:45(NIV).

 Fall means cooler weather, leaves changing colors and the explosion of pumpkin patches. Children, especially, love picking a pumpkin to carve a face into the round fruit and then decorating it with a candle so the scary face glows in the dark.

When someone says, “pumpkin,” the first thought in most people’s minds is Halloween. For me, it’s pumpkin pie. However, I had never considered how a Christian is like a pumpkin until I came across the following story: A woman, recently baptized, was asked by a co-worker what it was like to be a Christian. She replied, “It’s like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in and washes all the dirt off you. Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed and other sinful stuff. Then, He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for the entire world to see.”

While this may be a simplistic explanation of Christian transformation, it can give us pause to consider what it really means to be a Christ follower. First, it starts in the heart. While we can intellectually choose to believe, profess our faith through baptism and clean up our behavior, if we haven’t allowed Jesus to have complete access to our heart, what comes out of us may not be very Godly.

One way to monitor what comes out of us is to track our words. The Apostle Paul said, “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate” (1 Corinthians 13:1 MSG). If anger, criticism, bitterness and hatred spew out of our mouths, what does that say about our heart condition?

In Luke 6:45, Jesus says behavior starts in the heart, so we need cleaning from the inside out. Once our hearts are right, Godly behavior follows. We might try to hide the condition of our hearts by being insincere in what we say or do, but eventually the truth is exposed. God wants to give us a new heart, one scrubbed clean.

King David, confessing the sin in his own heart, invited God to change its condition: “God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10 HCSB).

In 1967, history was made with the first human heart transplant. Forty-five years later, science has made even more strides in medicine. However, there is only one way to be completely transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Have you allowed God to capture and clean your heart? When you do, He’ll also set a guard around it. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Coming soon: Carol’s new book, “Sola Fide: by FAITH alone.”

Leave a comment for the author below.

 

 

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Every Day is a Holiday

Posted on September 17, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”—Psalm 118:24 (ESV).

Have you heard of National Hummingbird Day, National Cheese Pizza Day, Be Late for Something Day, National Iguana Awareness Day, Make Your Bed Day, and one of my favorites, Eat an Extra Dessert Day?

Although most don’t celebrate these unusual days, I was intrigued by the list at the “Holidays for Everyday” website. Some I had never even heard of, but I might implement a few, like an extra dessert on September 4. Oops, I missed that one. Is there such a thing as celebrating belatedly?

I’ll pass on the day to observe awareness of the iguana as I don’t care for lizards. I make my bed each morning so this means I celebrate this holiday daily. I love the hummingbirds who visit my feeder each morning but I don’t know how to make their day special. Be Late for Something Day was celebrated on September 5 but as of this writing, I have two appointments for which I cannot be tardy. I had to skip that one too. That leaves National Cheese Pizza Day, observed on September 4, which has already passed too. However, when I do eat pizza on a rare occasion, I like one loaded with extra veggies.

According to this same website, September 13 is Positive Thinking Day. September 15 has been designated National Thank-You Day. The third Tuesday in September is the International Day of Peace and the 21st is World Gratitude Day. The fourth Sunday in September is a time to observe Good Neighbor Day, while September 28 is Family Health and Fitness Day. What do these six holidays have in common? If you think about it, you will see the connection between these celebrations and scripture.

I located 64 Bible verses about positive thinking, 70 about thankfulness and 54 on gratitude. What about peace? I found 199 passages. I also discovered 90 verses about our neighbors. Looking up the word health, I found 44 verses and 12 about fitness. Verses about the family numbered 116.

Another commonality they share is the relationship between our attitudes and the kind of day we experience when we are living it for God. Consider Psalm 118:24. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

If we would begin each day recognizing, regardless of our circumstances, that it is a gift from God, our outlook on life would change. With a positive attitude, we would be grateful, giving thanks, not only to God but also to those He has placed in our lives, including those neighbors we might consider pesky. Think how peaceful our world would become if we observed these holidays, not just on calendar-specific days, but every day. The result would be healthier relationships within our families, within our communities, within our countries and within the world.

We shouldn’t wait for a special day to celebrate but treat each day as one which the Lord has made. That’s a reason to rejoice.

Email your comments to the author at carolaround@yahoo.com or leave a comment below.

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Can You Shout Hosanna?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“So they took branches from palm trees and went out to meet him. They shouted,‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” —John 12:13(NIRV)

We observed Ash Wednesday last month with the tradition of placing ashes on our foreheads as a sign of repentance to God. Before we began, our pastor reminded us that the ashes were from the burned palm branches waved by the children in the 2011 Palm Sunday service. I was amazed at how the time had flown. Hadn’t my grandchildren just joined with other children in the church to march into the sanctuary, waving their palm fronds and shouting, “Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna!”

In the gospel of John, the apostle tells us that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem when the crowds met Him. As He rode into town on a donkey, the crowds greeted Him with shouts of “Hosanna” and with the waving of palm branches. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Zechariah 9:9 foretold this day. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

According to history, the donkey was domesticated in Mesopotamia. Used as a beast of burden and renowned for its strength, the donkey was normally ridden by nonmilitary personnel. However, scripture indicates riding a donkey was not beneath the dignity of Israel’s noblemen and kings. 1 Kings 1:32-40 tells us David indicated His choice of Solomon as king by decreeing  that the young man should ride on the king’s own mule.

Jesus didn’t ride into Jerusalem on a war horse but on a lowly beast of burden. While the people, including the disciples, didn’t realize the significance of this fulfilled prophecy at the time, the symbolism behind His choice of transportation should not be forgotten today. The Prince of Peace, who came so we all might find peace and rest in His sheltering arms, chose a lowly animal to help announce that He is the Messiah.

How many place hope in the next election, praying that a chosen candidate will lead our government and get us out of this mess? Why do we keep looking for a great military leader to ride in on a stallion and save the day? How many look to man to help them escape from the problems we have all helped to create? Things are no different today than they were when Jesus rode into Jerusalem that day over 2,000 years ago.

Our Savior didn’t come just to liberate us from our worldly adversaries, He wants to free us from all our enemies, from the root of all our problems—sin, evil and death itself. He came to challenge our values and our notions of dominion in every way. So, what are we to do with a Messiah who came in peace, humility, and riding on a lowly donkey?

Can you shout, “Hosanna?”

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Are You Living in God’s Fullness?

Posted on March 26, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b (NIV)

Many of us, who love working in our yards and flowerbeds or walking in nature, feel closer to God when we take time to appreciate the beauty. I think it is because we feel His presence in each blooming flower, blade of green grass, the buzzing bees, the singing birds and even in the weeds that need pulling. I liken this love of nature to God’s love for us. He created these things for us to enjoy, not to destroy. The weeds are a reminder to me that He wants to remove the bad stuff in our lives to make us more like Jesus.

Recently, while trimming my rose bushes, I noticed blood running down my forearms. I had on gardening gloves but could not bring myself to wear long sleeves. It was too warm. The thorns had ripped my flesh and as I watched the blood dripping from my arms, it was a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

His suffering is greater than anything I could ever imagine. The crown of thorns planted on His head caused more pain than what I felt from the barb of a rose bush. On a pilgrimage to Israel last year, I purchased an authentic Crown of Thorns, a vivid symbolic reminder of the suffering He endured for us.

Scripture tells us that the soldiers “platted a crown of thorns” or braided vines of thorns together to form a crown. According to my research, there are two types of thorn plants growing around the Holy Land. One is called the Zizyphus Spina Christi and the other qundaul. While both have long, flexible twigs that can be woven into crowns, the qundaul has the cruelest thorns of the two. The brutality of the soldiers has led most theologians to believe that the qundaul plant, with its spikes of 1 to 1 ½ inches long, was the one used for Jesus’ crown of torture.

Can you imagine the pain and humiliation Jesus suffered at the hands of the soldiers?  Why would their desire to mock Him lead to the weaving of a crown of thorns, a task that could have easily wounded their own bodies if they had been careless?

Careless is a word that applies to us if we are not aware of the thoughts, words and actions that can lead to our own destruction and others around us. Our Savior hung painfully on a wooden cross with a crown of thorns pushed into His scalp. He endured it for me. He endured it for you.

I believe it is no coincidence that spring and Easter coincide. Just as the flowers burst through the soil to reveal their beauty, our Savior rose from the dead three days after being killed in a manner most of us cannot comprehend. Friday was not the end. It was only the beginning.

Have you accepted His gift? Are you living in God’s fullness?

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What will you do with an extra 24 hours?

Posted on February 29, 2012 by 4Seasons2013

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 is a well-known chapter in the Bible. It is also one of my favorites. Wise King Solomon is the author of this book. When I look at this scripture, I am reminded of how fleeting life really is. As I live more years, I am amazed at how fast each second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year passes.

When we observed Ash Wednesday last week at my church with the  the practice of placing ashes on our foreheads as a sign of repentance to God, we were reminded by out pastor that these ashes were gathered after the palms the children had waved in church on Palm Sunday 2011 had been burned. Hadn’t we just celebrated that day?

Why does time go by slowly when we are younger, anticipating important dates, like getting our driver’s license, high school graduation and so forth? Time seems to crawl.

However, somewhere along the journey, we quit anticipating and looking forward to milestones. Maybe it is because we begin to realize that our time is limited. Maybe it is because we are more aware of what really matters in life. Hopefully, we come to the point where our priorities change and our life slows down enough to spend more time with God and in service to others.

2012 is a Leap Year. It only happens once every four years. What will you do with your extra 24 hours?

 

 

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