REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS! A time for reflecting is pretty common this time of year.

News commentators have already started looking back---almost ad nauseam in the "celebrity" realm.

Certainly as one reflects, there is a fine line between discernment and self-absorption.

For me, discernment can only come with an open Bible in my lap. 

Of course, also for me, it doesn't hurt to have a cup of tea (and maybe even a donut) to help me "stay in the Word" for more than a few minutes. Meditation takes perseverance, especially when encouragement and hope are desperately needed.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Thanks be to God---who gives patience and encouragement (Romans 15:5) as we make our way in life....learning from one year, even the mistakes, and taking those life lessons from Him, into the next year.

"So long," 2015.......

I.D.

I.D. is the abbreviation for identity or a form of identification shown to prove one's identity. All of that involves outward identification. Just one look at my photo ID on my passport, accompanied by my Visa, allowed me to enter Turkey in November as a tourist. But....I was much more than that as I carried with me my educational background, my family love, my hopes and the testimony of my faith.

There was no way the airport security personnel could look into my "core."
I "looked" the part of a tourist---not a terrorist. Had security "looked within" my suitcase they might have questioned its "tourist's vacation" contents---tea cups, kiddie books, glue, cooking chips, Bible Study guides and dish towels. Recently, in our own country we have seen how outward appearance often belies inner beliefs or intentions.

To those who know me this picture offers many outward clues to my identity---

As a Christian, I can appear at church on any given Sunday outwardly looking much the same---happy, energetic, spiritual, "together." But somedays my outward appearance contradicts my inner disarray. Inner turmoil can be brewing yet smiles and conversation keep coming. That's okay because there is a time and place to deal with difficulties--- tho church steps on a busy Sunday morning might not be the best choice, at least not for me.

Inner disarray---how blessed to have a Lord who understands and friends in the faith who faithfully pray and offer wise counsel.

Then, one's true I.D. can show forth inwardly and outwardly---beloved child of God, the identity that counts. (Galatians 3:26, I Thessalonians 1:4)

"PERFECT GIFT"

All perfect gifts come from God. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Crickett's Christmas table says it  well!

Thanks be to God for giving His Son, who is the "Perfect" Gift for all mankind.

Tradition, Tradition.....TRADITION!! (x30)

Most families have many holiday traditions. Our longest lasting holiday tradition began Christmas Eve 30 years ago.

We gave an unusual gift to 3 of our couple friends and their children. Not pricey monetarily but for us......relationally priceless! 

Early Christmas Eve morning, 1986, we went to each home and loaded up the entire family in our "new" tan Ford Econoline 150 van. 8 adults and 10 children, a few over the passenger vehicle limit. Seatbelts other than the captain's seats, not even an option.

The "Girls" 1986

Our gift to each was the 99¢ breakfast special at Bryant's. (still at the corner of Summer Ave. & Graham) Plus, each child was given 4 quarters to play the pin ball machines. 

What fun! What a crowd. And so it continued----tho for a few years, Bryant's closed on Christmas Eve so we met at Perkins (2-3x) and Uncle Lou's (1). From tacky sweaters to denim and more subdued colors, along with dark hair and big hair to white hair and no hair---we've continued. "Life's too short to eat low-fat food----so eat at Bryant's" on Christmas Eve.

The "Girls" 1994

Over the years the crowds increased as grands were added to the mix. Today's total would be 48---too many for the small ""counter service" type breakfast.

Original 18 and cousin Betsy

Liles 1st Bryant's with a "grand" 2002---note Life's Too short to eat low-fat Eat at Bryant's sign upper left

But nowadays many of the original "kids" can't make it "home" (AL, IL, MS, NY, NC,  TX) on Christmas Eve....needing to work, be in their own homes for Santa or preaching Christmas Eve services. 

Last year all the Liles were to be together in Colorado so hubby and I weren't even there but daughter Molly and her family were our "remnant" and had breakfast and a picture with Carrie, owner and sometimes cook, before hightailing it to Colorado.

This year the tradition marked our 30th anniversary---with 3 of the original kids and their families (7 young ones) in attendance! 3 of original kids holding "sign" to be "photo-shopped" in to pic.

Merry Christmas Eve---a great tradition!!

Gift Extraordinaire

I know there is probably no such thing as a "perfect" gift but for needed a key-chain, "map lovin' granny" who loves her kids and grands where ever they are----this one is pretty close!!

A key ring map that shows all the places closest to my heart---New York---Lucy, Tennessee---Owen,

Texas---Nathan, Noah, Caleb, John Parker and Andrew. (Proverbs 17:6)

Thanks Day----this is truly a gift extraordinaire. A gift that touches my heart!

Monday, Monday.....

This "meditating Monday" a time of reflecting on yesterday's sermon. As always,  Pastor Cole gives much "food for thought."

He gave as an 8 second example of sharing one's faith. (2 Corinthians 8:9) Cole has a way of cutting to the chase. He is a master in the fine art of making a point. I on the other hand, ramble around with a plethora of words--struggling to pare it down or pitch it out. Not just with words but with everything.
Poverty is not just an economic state---it is also a social factor. It can be relationally distancing---even isolating. The "poor" can be exploited and easily taken advantage of. God's will is to close those relational differences by drawing near to God in order to draw near to others.
These "poor" ones in our society are often seen as having nothing to offer. How relationally demeaning that is!!

Yet, the passage from 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 emphasized those Christians who gave from the "muscle" of their means---NOT their fat, because there was none. "Their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality." (8:2) They gracefully gave out of their own lack!

A Shared Cuppa

They might have been sipping from their own cuppa pover-TEA but they were willing to share with others.
Now there's a truth to savor on this Monday, Monday.....

Monday, Monday, so good to meMonday mornin', it was all I hoped it would be (Mamas and the Papas)

...because the truth of this passage began to sink in and just like the "Grinch" I felt like my "heart grew three sizes that day." (Dr. Seuss)

Giving and Receiving--More than an Adage

It is better to give than receive. An old adage that researchers say "proves" to be correct.

I had visual truth of that tonight as I saw grandaughter Lucy open and put to use the "gift" we sent her. Lucy is so-o-o "into" decorating this year. Her "gift" was a box of "treasures," her daddy's childhood ornaments---handmade, received and collected for many years. 

FaceTime with watching Lucy decorate and find just the right place on her tree was the BEST gift!

Lucy shows her favorite of Daddy's ornaments---an aluminum foil star made by him as a pre-schooler.

It is indeed better to give than receive but it's more than an adage, it's scriptural! And....the wording goes even deeper. (Acts 20:35)

Lucy received a gift. I received a blessing!

Calculated Splurge

Only 2 a year---that's the deal! Chick-fil-A milkshakes that is.
After untold numbers of Chick-fil-A milkshakes during my 2009 cancer battle when eating could only be done thru a straw---I developed a "taste." Since life was more important than worry about weight gain, it worked. But....after that the 520 calories a "pop" began to take its toll----thus the rule. Only 2 Chick-fil-A milkshakes a year.
Wisdom finally set in and 2x earlier this year I had only 1/2 a peach milkshake and 1/2 a strawberry one. I love friends who indulge me and share with me to "enrich" my goal. So.....I had one whole one left for 2015 and sweet friend Drenda treated me to it.
A Peppermint chocolate chip milkshake with 2 cherries!!! YUM!! (
(I actually drank, ate and slurped mine before remembering to take a pic, so I borrowed one.)

Sweet friend. Sweet treat. A calculated splurge comes to fruition in the best way possible!!

Chair of Discomfort at the Table of Life

It is the holiday season---a joyous celebration for Christians throughout the world.

However, Christmas does not exempt believers from hard places----deep hurts----struggles and longings as they face Christmas without their loved ones. The best reminder is that Emmanuel is "God with us!" (Matthew 1:23)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God......(1 Corinthians 1:3-4)

That's what friends of the faith do----reach out to others to comfort them, even when they are suffering themselves.

That's what Jerrie did----she invited me to lunch. She shared her bounty and served me in a glass that reminded me, "Don't get tangled in the tinsel."

Such an act helped me refocus----enabling me to cut through the Gordian knots of life. Fear, sadness and disappointments being chief among them. Kindness can aid in disentangling those "impossible" knots that too easily surface this time of year.

Intuitively, my hostess listened to me "unload" from my chair of discomfort and made the table of life seem a lot more palatable. Just sitting at her table made me smile!

Let them eat cake....

Let them eat cake is probably a misinterpretation of Marie Antoinette's, Qu’ils mangent de la brioche." Let them eat brioche" or rich & expensive bun, would have shown her disdain for the peasant class but was probably said 100 years earlier by the wife of Louis XVI.

Regardless, since I don't eat chocolate at night, I chose to follow my neighbor's offering----"let her (Dotsy) eat this rich, dense chocolate cake" for breakfast with a cup of tea! Fairmont Organic Breakfast* to be exact. YUM!

*Ali Baba, Turkish apple tea was hubby's PM leftover---but he says YUM to it as well.