Life's Little Frustrations

Putting up the Christmas tree is what I'm about,

But when I plug the lights in some of them are out.

All that is necessary is for one bulb to blow

And out the whole string of lights will go!

Joy

Nehemiah 8:10b, "The joy of the Lord is your strength."

Would you like some joy today? What is the source of joy? How can we get some joy? I'd like to suggest two ways.

First, we enjoy God. How do we do that? When we talk about the "how to" of living the Christian life, including enjoying God, we come back around to our familiar disciplines--reading God's Word, prayer, fellowship with fellow believers, and sharing our faith in Christ with others. One result of following these disciplines, of spending time with our Heavenly Father and His children and telling other people about Him, will be joy.

Second, we find these words in II Corinthians 4:7, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us."

We are the earthen vessels, and the treasure which we contain is God's Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce joy in us. This joy is a gift from God which He gives to those who are submissive to him. It bubbles up within us like a fountain of pure, sweet water. It is independent of our circumstances. It is this joy that is our strength at all times and in all places.

In Philippians 4:4 Paul exhorts us, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" So we rejoice in God, enjoying Him and celebrating the joy which He gives us.

Thank You, Father, for your gift of joy. May I receive it by enjoying You and rejoicing in You. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

The store shelves were stocked all neat and tidy

In hopes that shoppers would come to Black Friday.

And come they did, with elbows flying,

Rushing and shoving and swarming and buying.

One woman, to get others out of her way,

Even resorted to using pepper spray.

Guards were stationed at Walmart to control the crowd

In case the shoppers became too rowdy and loud

With pushing or fighting or giving a shove

As they prepared for the season of brotherly love.

Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:1-5, "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."

How quickly we went from a national attitude of thankfulness to a national attitude of materialism. Thanksgiving Day was swiftly followed by Black Friday, with stores opening earlier than ever before and crowds of people waiting for hours outside for the doors to part.

Certainly I hope that the merchants do well during the Christmas shopping season. Surely we all want to have good gifts to give our family members and friends as a symbol of God's greatest Gift to us.

But it is so easy to become too caught up in the spirit of shopping. It is sometimes difficult, but so important, to keep all this in perspective and focus more on the spiritual implications of the Christmas season rather than the material ones.

How easy it is to cross Thanksgiving chores off our list of Things To Do and write in the items that will prepare us for Christmas. But I suggest that we never cross off a thankful heart nor a grateful attitude but live in Thanksgiving mode all year long.

Father, may everyday of the year be a day of Thanksgiving for Your blessings. May we turn our eyes from the material to the spiritual during the Christmas season and all year long as well. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

When my house is cool and quiet

Sometimes I think that I just might

Snuggle down in bed as in a cocoon

And sleep and nap and doze till noon.

But something always wakes me up--

The phone, a child, the doorbell, my pup.

Defining Roles

When people are born, they are known not only by their names but also known by their connections to their parents and other family members. In school people are known mostly by characteristics or roles--he's football player, she's a cheerleader, she's a good student, he is President of the Student Council, etc. When we marry we are known as someone's wife or husband, and when we have children we are known as someone's mother or father. Many people are known for their vocations or for other things that they do. Almost everyone has various roles in life.

As important as my family roles are to me, there is one role which I want to define my life above all others, and that is Christian. I want to be known as a Christian first and foremost. I want to be a Christian mother, a Christian grandmother, a Christian friend. I don't want to be defined as a cancer survivor but as a Christian who so far has survived her battle with cancer. Whatever other roles I have or will have, I want to primarily be known for my faith in God and my service to Him.

I was delighted to read of this same desire in Friday's "Decatur Daily" article featuring local artists including Courtney Croxdale. The article opens with these words, "How would you define yourself? Courtney Croxdale uses the words 'Christian. Alabama native. Traveler. Adventurer. Artist. Designer.' Courtney added these words, "I don't consider myself a Christian artist, but Christian defines who I am and what I do. And what I do is art, so it is an extension of my faith."

How would you define yourself? What is the most important role in your life--your defining role? How do you think you are known? How do you want to be known?

Father, when people see me, I want them to think of You first of all. Amen.