Tuesday Tunes: Christmas

In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, let’s talk Christmas Carols. My iPod is chocked full of Christmas tunes.

6 different versions of The First Noel, Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Away in a Manger.

5 Frosty the Snowman’s and 4 versions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Over 10 hours of Christmas music in all.

I have everything from Shirley Temple’s, “I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas” to Nat King Cole’s, “The Christmas Song.” My favorites right now are The Statler Brother’s version of “Old Toy Trains,” Sara Evans’ “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Hard Candy Christmas” by Dolly Parton.

“Old Toy Trains” reminds of my sister and her annual high school show choir Christmas Concert. We would go each year long after her high school days were over, and they were still putting on the same show. I literally cried when they retired the routines that they had used for far too many years.

“O Come All Ye Faithful” reminds me of the road trips I would take with my best friend Shannon. Sara Evans’ version was on the Country Christmas 1999 CD, and we fell in love with it. We would listen to it all year long, singing at the top of our lungs, convinced we were blending right in with the award-winning singer. We were such nerds. Andy Griffith’s gospel CD and the soundtrack to the Wizard of Oz were also staples in our cross-country sing a longs. A few years ago I lost my ’99 CD. I was devastated, but finally found it on ebay. Apparently it was a lot of people’s favorite, because it ended up going for around $40. Listen to her sing that song and you’ll know it was well worth it. For the record, you can get a used one right now on Amazon $0.93.

“Hard Candy Christmas” is just good stuff, and Dolly Parton singing anything makes me happy.

What’s your favorite Christmas song? Whose version is the best? Why? Click on comments and let me know. I am always up for adding one more version of a classic carol.

Mom's Monday Musings: Season of Generosity

The Christmas season has officially begun, and with it the season of giving. Giving truly is better than receiving when the motivation behind the gift is from an overflow of love. There is tremendous joy in witnessing the expression of excitement on the face of a grateful recipient, one who understands, appreciates, and accepts the love that is offered in a well thought out gift. As the “To Buy For” list grows, my heart swells, because I am reminded of the relationships that are represented there.

Regrettably, however, the shrinking wallet usually follows the swelling heart, because our culture tells us that our love must be represented by dollar signs and excess. As a result, I often find myself skimping on the meaningfulness of a gift, and splurging on the extravagance of it instead. The same line of faulty thinking affects the way I give gifts to my children, especially during the Christmas season.  

I struggle to find balance between fulfilling all of their Christmas wishes and restraining the spending and exuberant gift giving that I know only perpetuates a spirit of discontent, and self-centeredness. I realize that this battle is one of my own flesh – doing what makes me feel good versus doing what is best for my children.

Throughout the year, I watch them fall prey to the trappings of wanting more, more, more, and I feel the sting of responsibility knowing that I contribute to that attitude by giving in to their whims and wishes for my own benefit. How can I expect them to be content with the overflowing bounty that they have been afforded, when my actions teach them that they are somehow entitled to more?

As the mom, I realize that I set the tone for the Christmas holidays in my family. How I choose to center my heart and organize my priorities during this time influences the season for my entire family. This year I am making an intentional effort to focus my heart more on the joy of giving and less on the excitement of receiving, more on meaning and less on money. The reason we give is because we were first given to. A baby. A Saviour. A ransom on a cross. A free gift of salvation. That’s the gift I will focus my heart on. That’s the gift I will focus on giving away.

How will I shift my focus?

Melfin, our Elf on the Shelf, will primarily bring gifts that are to be given away…I’ll have a little talk with him.

I will look for ways my family and myself can share the love of Jesus with our neighbors, the figurative and literal ones; delivering cookies, adding $5 in gas to those who pump next to us, visiting the lonely in a nursing home.

We will give gifts that have significance and simplicity.

I will strive to avoid over indulging my children because it makes me feel good.

I will make time in the hustle and bustle to spend time with Giver Of Good Gifts and the very reason that we celebrate.

I look forward to sharing our family’s efforts with you throughout the month of December during Mom’s Monday Musings. I anticipate much temptation, knowing how susceptible I am to all things red, green, and glittery. I ask for your prayers and I encourage you to join me in the fight against over indulgence, to seek opportunities to express the truth of God’s gift, Jesus, in tangible ways to those around you, and to simplify your Christmas.

Mom's Monday Musings

Axl spent much of this weekend with his Nana, my mother with whom he is in love. The hours before Nana arrives pass like those spent watching grass grow. Painful. Forever. Christmas morning doesn't evoke an equal welcome. Time with Nana is a coveted treasure.

Friday we were joined by Aunt Faye, my mom's sister and story-teller extraordinaire. Her stories are big and lively, made all the more entertaining by the laugh she can't contain from the onset.

"Again, again. Start from the beginning and tell it again." Axl pleaded over and over.

I love that he was old enough to understand, to grasp the humor, to appreciate the art of a well told story.

The time together made me remember long summer days, far from home, where I would sit on a front porch shelling peas I had picked through complaints and cries for mercy. Surrounded by cousins, and aunts, and Grandma. We would sing loud and out of tune; I can still hear her voice. Not at all melodious or soft. It was old and raspy and wonderfully Southern. I know now, but couldn't understand then that it was soulful, drawn up from an inner well that never did run dry. A lover of Jesus, a saint if I ever met one, a woman with stories to tell. But I never asked to hear them, and I feel sad.

So many stories buried with the ones I love, missed opportunities, and history forgotten. How many stories are still waiting to be told? Who will they tell them to, if we don't long to hear and absorb them? Who will tell our stories, if we don't.

This week as we gather with family, let us take time to reflect on the history that surrounds the table. Imagine the world's events that are represented in the faces you see. The holidays can be trying. Consider what tension might be eased, by engaging crazy Uncle Joe in a conversation about where he was when Elvis passed away? You may find yourself pleading, "Again. Again."

Find interesting questions to engage relatives with here. 

Fan of Friday...I'm a fan of Thanksgiving

I’m a fan of Thanksgiving, of falling leaves, bare-naked trees, oranges and browns, turkey and dressing, family and friends, thanks and giving.

I’m a fan of Pilgrims and Indians, and the heritage they gave us, of the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, and Miles Standish, who was short in stature and quick in temper.

I’m a fan of breathing it all in, absorbing the air, the smells, and the anticipation of the holidays beginning.

I’m a fan of refusing to participate in Christmas until every Thanksgiving moment has been all gobbled up - pun very much intended.

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

What are you a fan of this Thanksgiving season?

Eliminating the List

I’ve been guilty of keeping a list. You’d never find it on paper. It’s not meant to be seen – that would be cruel. You see this is a list of women that I don’t didn't like. Wait. Hear me out. I had good reason not to like them. They didn’t like me first.

None of them ever said they didn’t like me; I just knew. I could tell when they didn’t light up when I came around, smile when we passed in public, approach me for meaningful conversation or even idle chitchat. If they didn’t stand by me at parties, compliment my shoes, or make me feel valued in any way, then they must not have liked me. And if they didn’t like me, well, I certainly wasn’t about to like them back. They were the mean girls.

Over time, the list grew, and maintaining it became cumbersome. I wanted to be free from the string of names that I considered enemies. I was keeping a list of wrongs, perceived ones at that, and there was no love in my heart. I knew it was a sin.

I started to wonder if these women were really my enemies at all. I mean, I’m likable, at least to a degree, so was it logical that so many women chose not to like me because they were just plain mean spirited? I doubted it.

Tired of carrying the weight of the list, I decided to approach my so-called enemies in a new way. I decided to love on them, to smile at them, stand by them, engage them in conversations, compliment their shoes, make them feel valued in any way possible. I began to treat them like I had wanted them to treat me so many times before.

Turns out everyone on the list smiled back, talked back, complimented back, enjoyed being valued, and freely reciprocated the feeling. Before long new relationships emerged, and every name was erased. Turns out I never had any enemies.

In the end, I was kind of the mean girl. My insecurity, my need to be validated by everyone around me caused me to see everyone’s actions in light of how they affected me. I never considered how the insecurities, situations, or lives of the women on my list prevented them from making me feel special, or that it was not their job to do so. It didn't occur to me that I might be on their list, or that they might be in need of someone reaching out to them.

Do you have a list?

Do you have insecurities that cause you to overlook opportunities to reach out to other women in genuine friendship and love? Consider the words of Jesus.

Matthew 5:43-48 reads, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

I encourage you to take the first step in forging a new friendship with a woman on your list. Send her an encouraging e-mail, offer a sincere compliment, smile in her direction, pray for her – right now.

Wide aWake Wednesday

It's Wednesday, so you're probably expecting Share the Love Wednesday, which is now forever changed to Share the Web Wednesday - no alliteration, no can do. But, your "scheduled quite regularly these days" programming is being interrupted so that I can bring you "Wide aWake Wednesday" in honor of the fact that is is 1:30 AM and I am indeed wide awake. I feel like I just woke up from a four hour power nap. From my bedside table an empty Mountain Dew can looks at me sheepishly.

The middle of the night is a very vulnerable time, so I don't enjoy experiencing it. I always try to pray myself back to sleep, which I used to feel really guilty about, fearing God might think I thought He was too boring to stay awake for, but then an amazing Bible study teacher explained that there was no safer, more peaceful place to fall asleep than in the arms of Jesus. What a freeing thought. But I'm usually either just sleepy enough that my prayers turn into half coherent hallucinations or I'm too wired and can't concentrate on one thing at a time. This is where I find myself now, jumping from one tragic event to the next, because my middle of the night daydreaming doesn't take my wandering mind to creative places or warm fuzzy memories. No, just the opposite.

The middle of the night is when I'm most afraid. Big terrifying thoughts like death, leaving children without a will, and the urgency of needing to get that done years ago. Small irrational fears like Axl's 1st grade teacher thinking I'm a failure, when I have to ask the Thanksgiving plan again, because I lost my notes from the beginning of the year meeting. The one that was supposed to save her the hassle of dealing with it the week before any big event. Self deprecating thoughts like other, more of everything women would just get up and use this energy to clean something or bake or both instead of wishing the energy would just go away so that they could sleep.

Tonight, this morning, tomato, tomoto, I'm taking every thought captive, refusing to spend another minute in fear and shame - two places that God has called me out of.
2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to God."

Obedient to God and His reassuring truth that death is not a thing to be feared by a child of God, and more importantly, He is in control of my children, loving them, providing for them, with or without me here to oversee His work. Thoughts obedient to God say my worth is not bound to poor organizational skills, or a need/desire for sleep. Though just to be clear, obedience to God does not include disorder and laziness. When I intentionally filter every thought through the truth of God's Word, I'm not at the mercy of my sinful, wandering mind. Instead, I can rest easy in the never ending mercies of the Father.

Do you have thoughts that hold you captive or cripple you with fear? I encourage you to seek out Biblical truth that speak to those areas. Be intentional about memorizing the Scriptures so they're always at your disposal. Identify the thoughts immediately for what they are, and take them captive with God's Word.

Tuesday Tunes: "Sun & Moon"

The Psalms are full of Scriptures testifying to God's great creation and the praise that that creation continually brings forth.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Psalm 96:11-13 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 148:3-10 3-4 Praise Him sun and moon; praise Him all you shining stars. Praise Him you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

All of nature is a testament to His power and stands in awe of His majesty. We, all of mankind, are God's greatest creation. God saw Adam and said it was very good. But from the beginning man has chosen to go his own way. Choosing to worship the creation instead of the Creator.

For me that looks like refusing to die to self daily, and instead feeling as if I'm owed quiet time, open lanes for speeding, and the ceasing of all others cell phone conversations in my presence. Ironic that other people's selfishness is so annoying. Oh the list is long and ugly, and I realize more and more every day that I am the center of my universe. I must decrease, so that He may increase. I must give more away. Love. Grace. Mercy. Tolerance. I must reflect Jesus who gave it all away. The struggle continues.

I love the idea of nature offering praises to God. The imagery all around offers reminders that my life is to be about praise, about the creator, and not the creation made in His image. Some of my favorite worship songs center on that theme.

Response, the latest effort released by Phil Wickham, offers a collection of 11 powerful songs that will move your heart toward God. My favorite, by far, is "Sun & Moon."

If You are the sun
Then I wanna be the moon
I want to reflect the light
That shines from You
And if this is war
Then I'm gonna draw my sword
This time I know what I'm fighting for

God I wanna let You know
I want everything You are
I'm waiting for the morning light
To show a fire in the dark

Shine Your light
I want to feel You now
God I need a miracle
Take my heart, make it glow
Shine Your light
From the inside out
I wanna be more like You
If You are the sun
Then I wanna be the moon
I wanna be the moon

If love is a choice
Then I need You to hear my voice
I'm the one knocking on Your door
Making all this noise
Whatever it takes
I'd give it all away
I want to show my love in a thousand ways

The moon sits in darkness; It offers no light on its own. The sun is the source of its radiance. Jesus you are the Son, so I want to be the moon.