Becoming Me on Facebook

I created a special Becoming Me page on Facebook. I hope to be able to use this page to start more discussions and to get to know my readers better. If you are interesting in joining, the link is to the right.

Returning Gifts From Jesus - At (in) Courage.

I'm at (in) Courage today with a story that I started writing last January. I had every intention of finishing it months ago, but could never find the right direction to take it...until I received some bad news...then it was as if God was whispering to my heart and saying, "That lessen you wanted to share with others...it's for you too."

Two days after Christmas I stood in line behind 19 people. We all fidgeted and sighed as two clerks slowly helped customers exchange unwanted merchandise for store credit.

“It's the wrong size,” I said when asked for a reason why I was returning a blouse. “And my son already has this toy truck” I offered when placing the next item on the counter.

I flashed a sympathetic smile to a woman returning a pair of dark red high heels. “My daughter keeps telling me that I need to stop wearing frumpy shoes, but these are not going to work for me,” she said while handing over the box of good intentions.

Click here to read the full story.

A Baby Changed Everything

One month shy of six years ago, my life was forever altered by a bitsy baby girl. Exhausted, yet exhilarated, I clutched her tender body...pink and squirmy...and kissed the top of her forehead.

"You were so worth it," I panted.

That sweet baby girl changed everything.

More than 20 centuries ago, another baby changed everything...for His earthly parents, several shepherds and scholars, and some others the change was immediate. However, most of the world would not know the significance of the divine descendant of David until about 30 years after He was placed in a bed of hay.

He was the only baby who changed everything for everybody...and who still can change everything for all who believe.

For it was not the first robust cries of this precious baby born in Bethlehem that brought light to a dark world. Instead, it was His last cry...the enervated, convulsive wail of a dying man hanging from a blood-drenched cross on Calvary... that changed everything...and in the most beautiful way imaginable.

I wonder if, as He drew His final breath, Jesus murmured, "You were worth it." Because, had He not felt that, we would still be in the dark.

Instead, Jesus was born, sacrificed, and resurrected so that we too can one day live with Him in paradise. May this gift forever be your hope...your peace...your joy...and your love.

Hallelujah!


“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2: 11-14 NIV

(This piece was originally posted on December 24, 2008)

(Disclaimer: The baby pictured above is my newborn niece, and not my daughter.)

Happy Birthday Jesus Give-Away

Last week my family watched a movie about adorable puppies on a mission to save Christmas. If people and animals alike did not grasp the true meaning of the holiday before Santa's magical icicle melted...Christmas would be lost forever. What a task for six young Golden Retrievers and Santa's fluffy white pup. The movie, of course, ended on a happy note when the townsfolk and townsfur understood that Christmas is all about being kind to others.

I was not surprised that the movie took this slant...nor am I blasting the picture...it depicted many positive values. But I did find it ironic that a film about helping others learn the true meaning of Christmas never explored the heart of the holiday: Jesus.

Yes, it is true that some of our current Christmas customs derived from ancient Pagan practices. And it is also unlikely that Christ our Saviour was born on December 25th...But the holiday of Christmas that we celebrate today was established as a commemoration of Jesus' birth. And that is why I celebrate.

The beautiful truth that radiates throughout the Christmas season is that God, the infinitive king of the universe, became a tiny and poor baby in order to live amongst His creation and save them from death...from themselves.

That is a lot to explain to young children, so for the past four years we have adopted the tradition of hosting a Birthday Party for Jesus. This year, DaySpring is providing me with lots of cute and fun party supplies from their Really Woolly collection. They also agreed to provide one of my readers with the same party kit along with two adorable plush lambs and a Christmas DVD.

The kit includes:

• 9 Online Event Access Tickets

• 1 Scripture-Based Celebration Guidebook

• 3 Candles

• 8 Plates

• 8 Napkins

• 8 Noisemakers

• 6 Balloons

• 1 Banner

To be eligible to win this prize pack, please leave a comment at the end of this post before 3pm EST on Tuesday, December 9. If you have a suggestion of a game or two that the kids and their friends can play a our special birthday party, please feel free to share your ideas in the comment section as well.

The winner will be randomly drawn during my party on Tuesday, December 9 and announced later that evening.