The 3rd session of the new bible study James: Mercy Triumphs stopped me in my tracks. Moore presents the biblical relationship between JOY (Greek: chara) and ANGUISH (Greek: thilipsis). She shares that Joy and Anguish can co-exist and both are experienced through relationships. I couldn’t agree more.

Each year I take the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day to reflect on this new year transition. If ever there was a time when anguish and joy co-existed, it has been in my head and heart this week. I grieve the passing of what I know will never be again. I reflect, but I really grieve. I need to do this in order to reset my hard drive to make resolutions for the new year. It’s not a sad time, but certainly a time of not so few tears.

This I know…

1. Baby Girl will never know life just for herself ever again. In the new year she will give birth to her first child. This is when you get to know what it feels like to hold your very heart outside your body. Friends often ask, “Are you ready to be a Grandmother?”  I can’t say that I am.  Because I am in Mama-Mode.  I know that neither her body nor her heart will ever be the same.  How do you prepare your very “heart-outside-your-body” for such a time?

2.  We serve a God of the resurrection and He is still resurrecting dead places in our hearts if we’ll let Him.  Having experienced too often, and for too long, the wounds of  bullies, I now know what makes me such a target.  It doesn’t help that my vocation is one where selflessness, forgiveness, compassion, and restoration are at the forefront of our calling.  #1 Son says I say “I’m sorry” too much.  Maybe it’s because I think others need to hear it as much as I do.  One of the first things we teach preschoolers is to say, “I’m sorry,” when others are hurt.  I think this and taking a nap would make for a world and a church of less hurtful and less hurting people.

3.  When we are in the habit of being obedient with our finances of giving, saving, and sharing, God multiplies that which makes no sense at all.  Like everyone else in the country, we have been affected by economic instability.  Our Dave Ramsey DVDs and CDs have made their rounds this year in the Bull-Reilly-Peaden clan as reminders.  Speaking engagements, workshops, and the generosity of others have blessed our socks off.  Moderate weather has kept the power bills low and the answered prayer of “Lord, don’t let us need nor want anything today,” remind me that He is interested in numbers, too.

4.  It has been a Philippians year:

“For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”  1:19

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”  1:27

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” 2:1

“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.”  3:18

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” 4:8

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.”  4:20

In 2004, Baby Girl and I partnered to lead a Sunday School of 4th-6th grade girls named The Princesses Of The King Sunday School Class. Princess Diaries was the movie of the day and we used many of the items that were shared in the Hathaway film for the basis of our class. We used diaries weekly and the 10 Commandments for the basis of our curriculum. We went to the movies and had “class” in the lobby.  We signed songs in worship.  We attended a Revolve concert.  Titus 2 Mystery Guests were invited every 6-8 weeks to lead the girls in learning life skills that would grow their faith:

– Mary Kay consultant taught them how to wash their faces with a discussion of their countenance.

– Librarian shared what books were appropriate to “set before your eyes.”

– Grandmother to share the importance of beginning a legacy of faith and practical ways to start that.

– Stamping Ministry Leader to teach how to use the written word to “build each other up.”

– A Personal Shopper to teach what to look for in clothing that would honor them as young women and still be in fashion.  Their mantra:  If my clothing draws attention from my face, it is not modest.

All this is to say that I came across 2 paper bags last week while looking for my copy of an old textbook. In these paper bags were 45 envelopes. All but 2 envelopes were sealed. Every envelope was addressed in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade handwriting.

On September 19, 2004, we led a class on Choices. If I recall, the focus was the importance of each decision we make today MAY have a profound influence on the women we will become. These precious young women, 45 in number on that particular Sunday, each wrote a letter to themselves. They were to list 5 things they would choose today (9/14/2004) they fully intended to keep for themselves from that day forward.  I made a commitment that I would mail these letters to them when they were seniors in high school.

It’s time.

I have watched many of these young women of 9-11 years old in 2004 grow into powerful young women of faith. They serve their local church and many have served in the mission field. Many attended Baby Girl’s wedding the summer of 2010.

The 5 years we were a part of the Princesses of the King Sunday School class set the tone for my confidence in Children’s Ministry.  And provided an intentional movement within my soul for giving youth the opportunity to lead NOW by leading those that are coming up behind them.

Baby Girl was a sophomore in high school when we started the class and she served through her 2nd year at Reinhardt College .  She knew every name of the 65 we had on the roster each year.  She knew every birthday.  She knew every band and she knew every song on the High School Musical soundtrack.  She could engage in a way that I never could.  And it was thrilling to see her grow into her ministry calling right before my very eyes and before the eyes of many young women who spent time in the Princess Class.

I will be mailing these precious letters the day after Christmas.

To God be the glory, GREAT things He has done!

That was the question that was asked by an inquisitive young girl as we were practicing for the children’s Christmas program. At the time, we laughed it off with a, “Well, since we are telling the story of the stable in this program, they are all busy hanging out with the shepherds in the fields.” Having found multiple boxes of angel costumes and wings while cleaning out the KidMin supply closet, I could only assume that there may have always been an angel presence in these things in the past. This year’s program was more about the farm animals. This allowed any child with a desire to be in the program, the chance to wear a farm animal headband and be a part.

Then, this morning, while reading Dr. David Jeremiah’s, “25 Reasons Why We Celebrate The Nativity,” he asked me the question, “Why The Angels?” He shared out loud, on the printed page, that “we tend to place the angels on the periphery of the scene, almost at a distance.” He goes on to say, “In truth, however, the angels cannot be an afterthought.” No kidding. Angels were all over this.

We really know very little about the appearance of angels in the scriptures. The artists of the Middle Ages rendered them glowing, wearing white, toting around huge wings, with their heads encircled with halos. Whatever they looked like, it must have been terrifying. Their first words in the scriptures were usually, “Do not be afraid.”

Yep, angels were all over this one. Why angels? I’m thinking that the close parties in this series of events were not likely to ignore the advice of such fabulous messengers.

Angel to Zechariah in the Holy Of Holies… Angel to Mary… Angel to Joseph in a dream … Angels to the Shepherds… even Angels to the Magi to “go home a different way.”

What really hit me this season is that these Angels were busy carrying out the urgent work of God. They brought messages of critical importance to God’s people. There was a sense of urgency, and God’s people responded…immediately:

Mary went to Elizabeth (later we find that Jesus never sent out His disciples to take on a task alone, but always in groups of 2 or 3.)

Joseph took Mary as his wife. (Even when it seems hard to obey, we can trust that “God’s got this one.” And maybe, just maybe, pleasing God and not others should be the priority.)

The Shepherds left their flocks to find the Christ child and told everyone who would listen of what they had seen. (If He truly is LORD of my life and Savior of the world, shouldn’t there be a sense of urgency to tell others of this God of love and surprises?)

The Magi went home another way. (I’ll let you figure out how you’ll go home a different way this season.)

Hebrews 13:2 reminds us that in showing hospitality, many have entertained angels without knowing it. I’m thinking that Angel activity is ongoing. We may not see them, but we can surely follow their lead:

By staying busy with the work of heaven.

By telling people that God is still in the business of creating and resurrecting.

And sometimes exploding in the simple joy of seeing the miracle that Christ is alive in our world is enough to hold us through the dark times.  Especially when we sit, holding our heads in our hands, and exclaim, “This is not what I had planned.” (Getting a “Joseph.”)

Joy to the world…Joy to my world.

Merry Christmas!

I love how the 2nd chapter of Matthew shares some extra details about the Christmas story the gospel of Luke never touches: Magi

Some great insights into the Magi that make me smile . . .

1. We really don’t know how many wise men were in the entourage, only that there were 3 gifts. But allow me to share a precious friend’s insight…there were really 4 gifts.

Go ahead, I’ll let you run to your Bible and check out Chapter 2, verse 11.

Yep, the first gift was WORSHIP. THEN, they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of frankincense and of myrrh.

Do I offer the gift of worship first?  Is worship a priority?

2. Mary and Joseph were Jewish. Shepherds? Jewish. Magi? Not Jewish.

This event was choreographed by a great God who invited those outside the Jewish faith to participate. This is where WE, the Gentiles, come in.

Am I living up to my starring role?  Or am I satisfied with being an “understudy” in the story He has for me?

3.  The Magi did not arrive at the stable as all of the Nativity scenes suggest.

Verse 11 continues, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary.”

This realization was a huge turning point for me many years ago.  While visiting what would become our home church during our time in New England, the preacher taught that the Wise Men didn’t come to the stable.  I just knew he had it wrong and went home on a mission to prove it.  Upon every reading of all 3 bibles we had in the house at the time, I discovered that I’d been relying on someone else or a plastic scene to tell me the truth of the scriptures.  I confessed it as sin and said, “No More!”  My journey through the scriptures and the life it gives began that very day.  Jesus was no longer on the flannelboard for this Jesus Girl.

4.  Verse 12 shares that upon being in the presence of the Savior, “they returned to their country by another route.”

After I am in the presence of the Lord, do I go home a different way?  I sure hope so.

Several friends have shared how this affects their Advent Celebrations.  One exclaims, “Three gifts were good enough for Jesus, then three gifts are good enough for each one of my kids. ”  That just makes me laugh…and think.

And then a young mother shared how her family models what the Magi brought Jesus in 3 gifts:

Frankincense (used by priests in their offerings to God, pointing toward Jesus’ role as our high priest) – the gift should be good for your mind…books, museum tickets, lessons, learning opportunity, learning kits, etc.

Myrrh (a spice for a person who is going to die) – the gift should be something to aid healing or a practical gift…clothes, shoes, conference, a box of medicines for that college student who has let himself get run down due to final exams, a Bible or something that encourages the recipient’s spiritual journey.

Gold (a gift for a King – or maybe a princess or son of The King) – something extra, fun, shiny, sparkly…toy, game, jewelry.

Your thoughts and ideas?

When I began teaching Children’s Sunday School beaucoup years ago, I soon discovered that I’d be teaching Christmas every year. Not a big “AH HA” to some, but it was to me. The Bible is a huge book and surely there are enough stories in it to teach little people that I’d only have to repeat every 10 years. On the fast track of devouring the scriptures to know God and make Him known, I found myself stopping once a year to tell this story. This was when my Bible became a “pop-up book.”

Remember the pop-up books? These are the books that each time you turned a page, items on the page began to pop up and jump off the page always to the delight of the reader.

If I was going to share the Christmas Story every year, it was important to share it with a sense of enthusiasm and excitement because somebody was going to hear it for the first time. So each year I seek to learn something new about the Christmas story. Then when the time comes to share, I want the story to pop-up from my Bible.

Details I have learned over the years . . .

1. There is no mention of a donkey in the Christmas story. There is donkey in the Easter story, but not in the scriptures for the Christmas story.

2. There is no Drummer Boy in the scriptures (although I really like the song)

3. The wise men did not come to visit Jesus and His mother at the stable (no matter what the nativity set tells you)

4. Elizabeth was the first Believer

5. The scriptures have much to say about Joseph, but none of his words (perhaps your actions ARE enough)

6. There is nothing cute and darling about a feed trough

7. After the wise men were in the presence of the Lord, they went home a different way (nuff said)

What has popped-off the pages for you this year?

Continuing to read for Advent 2011, I have made a few more discoveries . . .

Women need other women and the older woman should be the initiator.

Titus 2 gives us a great example of the older women sharing life with the younger women. The scripture’s direction is aimed at the older women to teach the younger women.

Mary took the 9 day walk towards Elizabeth, but I think it was because Elizabeth had already been “taking the walk of life” to and with Mary. They must have been very close for Mary to go directly to Elizabeth upon hearing the announcement from the angel Gabriel.

I recall reading an article years ago that claimed there to be a chemical released in a woman’s brain at the onset of an extraordinary situation. This chemical provides the “draw” of one woman to another. We are created for one another especially during the remarkable times in one another’s lives.

Despite what I want to see in the mirror, I have become the older woman. May I be found faithful as I share tea, lunch, breakfast, and life with some precious women whose names are written on my calendar and on my heart.

When #1 Son and Baby Girl were little, I had all these dreams of offering them a holiday season filled with glorious memories and multiple experiences to fully engage their little minds. A few years and several back copies of Southern Living later, I was in sensory overload, as was my family. Then I was hit upside the head with a sermon that changed everything.

This young pastor shared that “If Jesus came back as the entire world is anticipating the arrival of the Christ child during the Advent season, what would He find? Would He find over eating, over drinking, over stimulation, and a world overwhelmed with accumulation?” It knocked me so hard, I dropped all my packages.

That year I decided to declutter the holidays by inviting each member of the family to share the 3 things that made Christmas Christmas. I further decided to only do those things for that season. I was completly surprised by the response. It seemed even the house gave a sigh of relief.

My man’s list:
1. A fire in the fireplace
2. Open gifts on Christmas Eve
3. Church on Christmas Eve

Baby Girl’s list:
1. Fire in the fireplace
2. Open Gifts on Christmas Eve
3. Church on Christmas Eve

#1 Son’s list:
1. Open gifts on Christmas Eve
2. Only 1 Christmas tree in the house and it should have all our handmade ornaments on it (Up to this time, I was trying to keep up with the fabulous ladies in the Junior Service League Christmas Tour of Homes and had a theme-decorated tree in every room that made the house so bright at night we were getting fly-bys from Hartsfield International Airport)
3. He wanted to be IN the Christmas Eve service at Church

My list:
1. Family Christmas Letter written to all our friends and family coast to coast (This endeavor had made for sibling banter between me and my hilarious brothers. We love getting Christmas cards, but I know your name. Please tell me what’s going on your life.)
3. Bobbi Jean’s Lemon Cake only once a year and HAS to be on Christmas Eve (Bobbi Jean was the woman my Daddy married when I was 10 years old. She was an amazingly generous woman. She taught me everything I know about the blessings of family traditions and the power of random, kind words, and face time with those you love.)

Just in case their list of 3 changed, I would ask the question “What 3 things makes Christmas Christmas for you this year?” each Thanksgiving. It freed up a ton of time, energy, and resources.

Now that Baby Girl is married to #2 Son, a fire in the fireplace still tops her list of must-haves.  However, they live in a little house where there is no fireplace.   A fireplace DVD will be their first gift from us for their first Christmas in their new home.

What 3 things makes Christmas Christmas for you?

Advent is the season when the world prepares for the coming of Christ. Customarily it is the season following Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas Eve. For those of us who serve on church staff, we get to enjoy “Pre-Advent.” This is the month of October when ideas and calendars lay scattered upon every flat service of home and office, and a few places in between. Pre-Advent is when Advent materials are ordered and devoured. Although it is the millionth time I hear the story, there will be little people and others who will be hearing it for the first time. I have to be ready. I have to have a profound sense of wonder and a building sense of excitement for a powerful story that is all but mundane.
As a Mom, I have constantly found myself immersed in the “Mary” side of it. J. Ellsworth Kalas calls Christmas, “a chick’s holiday,” and I must agree. Kalas contends that the majority of what we know as the Christmas story took place at a table where two pregnant women, Mary and Elizabeth, enjoy one another’s company in a home where the man of the house, Zechariah, can’t speak a word. For three months, the conversations, the laughter, the food prep, the prayers of these two women hold them both for a lifetime. Somewhere around this time is when Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father and Mary’s finance, hears that Mary is pregnant. But I always wondered “How?”   “When did he hear?”  “What was his immediate response when this chosen man finds things are “not as I had hoped.”
I am a Jesus girl who doesn’t struggle with the scriptures. He said it, I believe it. But the details fascinate me. I praise our God of details.
Adam Hamilton’s “The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem” begins his second chapter with a few details that have just delighted me this Pre-Advent.
Discovery #1: The maps matter. Nazareth is Mary’s hometown. For the first time, I entertained the thougth that it probably wasn’t Joseph’s. According to the census, each man had to go to his own town. Joseph’s hometown, according to the Gospel of Matthew, appears to be Bethlehem. Bethlehem is 4 miles from Ein Karem, the traditional hometown of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Mary travels the 9 days from Nazareth to Ein Karem to spend her first 3 months of pregnancy with Elizabeth a 90 minute walk from Bethlehem.
Discovery #2: Men will take a 90 minute walk over a 9 day walk any day to see their gal. Joseph must have been thrilled to hear that his betrothed was so close. The walk to see Mary must have been swift and filled with joyful expectation. Joseph sees Mary. They talk. The sun begins to set and he heads home. The walk back home to Bethlehem must have been brutal and long. Don’t you see her crying in Elizabeth’s bulging lap? Don’t you see him stomping his way back home angry at the world?
Discovery #3: A 90 minute walk does wonders for angry disappointment. I imagine that by the time Joseph gets home, he prepares for bed. He is exhausted from the anxious expectation of seeing his gal. He probably didn’t sleep well the night before anyway. He was tired from the walking, weary from the anger and disappointment. Hamilton goes on to share that though Joseph was devastated by her apparent unfaithfulness, “At some point during Joseph’s ninety-minute walk back to Bethlehem, his anger must have given way to concern for Mary’s life.” Joseph’s head hits the pillow and “the rest is history.”
I can’t wait to see what else this Jesus Girl will learn this Pre-Advent. I am downright giddy already. Lord, may my heart and mind be decorated for Christmas this year before the front door. Amen.

As a wise pastor shared when my children were very young, “Ministry begins in the family.” Trust that as our children reach ages 10-12, you are not only their parent, but their spiritual mentor, as well. Know that God wants you to be prepared to be the spiritual mentor you are to be. But also know that God cannot use you if you stay mad at yourself all the time, criticizing yourself for not being the perfect mother, father, daughter, wife or person. You can’t think that “it’s too late.”

If I am impressed by the Word of God, I will impress my children with it. I will put it into their minds in such a way that it makes an indelible impression upon those children forever and ever. Such children will never let the Word of God fall to the ground. Does this make us have perfect children or make us the perfect parents? Far from it! I’m not even a good one some days, ask my kids. I am absolutely nothing without the love of Jesus – no longer the Jesus of the flannel board, but the Jesus of God’s Word. You are qualified to be a spiritual parent, and He’s given us the handbook to do it.

I’ll close with this passage from THE PARENT WARRIOR written by Karen Scalf Linamen, “I used to think how wonderful it would be to have perfect children. Now I know how much they would miss by being too good. I don’t want perfect children: I want something far better for them than that! I want them to know the power of the Holy Spirit, to feel God’s hand of change in their lives, and to recognize the depth of their need for the blood of Jesus Christ. I want them to know the power of renewal.”

3 John 1:4 reads, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” May your children walk in truth and trust that God will bless your efforts.

What is the real purpose of having spiritual traditions and memories? Well, for one thing, it’s fun! But the main reason is to help us understand who we are, what we believe, and what makes our family unique. Traditions perform a vital function in a family because they give us identity. Traditions are a way of saying, “This is what we believe and how we are different from everyone else.”

Anything can become an important spiritual tradition to your kids at any time. Scripture tells us to “Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.” My part is to acknowledge Him in ALL our way. His part is to direct the path.

Reserving a night exclusively for family is a great way you can prioritize what is of value in your life and at the same time teach your children and profess to your community lessons and skills that can strengthen your family’s faith. Once you pick a night, guard it. Even turning off all phones will set an example for the family that this night is a priority. If there is a community or school activity that some of the family members can’t miss make that event the family activity and include all the family members.

A friend shared with me that to move the family night required permission from all family members. He also shared…”expect flack, but ride it out.” What do you do? Let each member pick an activity and then assign it a night. Here are some ideas – if bad language or selfishness has been a problem, plan an activity on the subject and a round table discussion; learn magic tricks, do puzzles, board games, family dinner/cooking, visit historical areas nearby and learn local or family history (While you are teaching your family to love their God, teach them to love their country,) plan to visit nearby mountains, lakes, caves, plant a tree, gather shells, go bird watching, take a walk/bike ride, go camping on Red Top Mountain, fly kites, go to the neighborhood pool, rent a movie, practice our fire escape plan (we go over this every time the time changes), make a survival kit, make a list of emergency numbers, take a CPR class, the sky’s the limit.