Christmas Invasion

Christmas invades our lives in December. Some people, eager for the season, rush into the season as soon as their family and circumstances allow. However, family and friends drag others, who dig their heels the whole way, into the celebration. In Matthew 2, there are two distinct groups invaded by the Christmas story: the Magi and Herod and his government.

The Magi, excited by the appearance of the star, traveled may miles to celebrate the birth of this baby King. Not sure where this King dwelt or the importance of His birth to the Jewish people, they traveled to Jerusalem to seek information. Assured by government officials in Jerusalem that Bethlehem was the place of a ruler’s birth, they traveled to that city. Overjoyed by the sight of the star in Bethlehem, they bowed down and worshiped this little King. Leaving with this King, precious treasures of frankincense, gold and myrrh, they traveled home a completely different road.

Herod wanted no part of this celebration. They would have to drag him, kicking and screaming, into this celebration. He would never celebrate this King’s birth. He would destroy this King if he could. In fact, later in this passage, we see his wrath has many baby boys killed. He would not celebrate another King. He was the only King.

As this season invades your life, how are you responding? Are you like the Magi, seeking ways to worship the King? Are you like Herod, looking for ways to do your own thing, be your own king?

Things Learned in a Long Weekend

This past weekend, we had a long youth retreat-from Friday night to Monday. These are things I learned along the way.

1. Q-99 is the weapon of choice (Q-99 is a anti-bacterical spray we use for disinfecting everything.) I could not count the times I said, "Do not spray someone else with that Q-99."

2. Censorship, even kind censorship is not appreciated. I have a young friend on myspace that uses language not in keeping with her belief system. I reminded her that I read everything she writes and I discovered last night she unfriended me. (Do you know unfriended is not an dictionary word.)

3. New things are always more exciting than old things. This weekend, I allowed a staffer to fry, who had never fried, and it was the highlight of his weekend. This experience was much more exciting than washing pots.

4. You also find time for things you really want to do. Amidst standing on my feet 8 or more hours a day, supervising teenagers and writing checks, I still had time to work on my Beth Moore's Believing God Bible study and read a little of a book.

5. You can do whatever God puts in front of you. This weekend was a challenge. One of the groups made last minute payment and I was scurrying around to find enough workers. Most of my older staff were busy, but my younger staff did come through for me. Most of this staff had only worked one summer and maybe one retreat, however they did great and God was honored by their work. I, in the past, would be frantic about not having enough help, but I've learned to calm down and know He always supplies what I need.

6. Youth are great. I hear people talk about the youth of today: "They have no work ethic. They don't care about anything but themselves. They don't love Jesus. Why can't they be more like we were." The youth, I've seen, are wonderful. They love Jesus better than I did at their age and they are so willing to please. It is my privilege to work with them.

What did you learn this weekend? Let me know. I can't wait to hear.

Poisoned Trees

Yesterday, I see on one of my Facebook friends that she is "...lying in the shade of poisoned trees." Now, granted she is 20 years old and in college but I think ,I know this is probably not a literal lying but is she in trouble or sad or just being really dramatic! So, what does a mother figure do? She messages her about the lying thing. Today, my sweet, young friend messages back to say, "LOL, no, this is the title of the new Dashboard Confessional's CD. Now, I know who Dashboard Confessional is but I had no idea this was a new CD. No matter how I try to keep up with things, the world changes way too fast for me. However, my young friends are so kind to put up with my lame comments and lack of knowledge.

Maybe, I should say something about riding in a Yellow Submarine or I'm jumping on Grandma's feather bed. Do you think they would understand what songs I was referring to by my comments?

How about you? What thing change too fast for you? Or does the world seem to stand still for you?

(You would be pleased to know, in only 10 minutes, I figured our how to hide the link above!)

Looking forward to hearing about the changes in your world!

The First of Many

If you know me well, you know I love new things. Technology might anger me at random times but I love the challenge of learning new things. Being a blogger is a my new thing. I've been reading Beth Moore's blog at Living Proof's website and I am encouraged to the point of tears or laughter or both. I've been thinking about blogging and all the ramifications of writing a blog since I've been reading Beth's posts, so I decided to take the plunge today.

Years ago, maybe 15 years or so, God gave me a Godsend name. (If you watch Heroes, you recognize the term Godsend.) He told me this name would be for a ministry in the future. Therefore, over the years I tried to squeeze the name into every ministry I was involved in at the time. But, the name never seemed to fit. It didn't seem to fit a homeschool ministry, could fit a women's minstry but didn't seem to be the right time or right place and finally God didn't want to combine camping ministry with the name. I finally decided to give up! Wise of me, wasn't it?

Now years later, God says, "Write a blog!" and what name pops up-Forever Friends- my name of long ago! Not only does the name fit but when I am choosing a template to blog, I find the template Thisaway Rose. I'm blown away! Why? God told me to include a rose in the ministry's logo. How cool is God! Of course as I write this, I have tears streaming down my face. I'm grateful to serve a God who loves me and fulfills all my dreams and all His plans.

So here's hoping (in the Biblical sense of a certain hope), we become Forever Friends. Looking forward to a lifetime of posting and sharing.