December 23rd, 2007

It's still Christmas time.

I am deeply moved with the beautiful gift expression our children sent us this Christmas. They are responding in a vital way to the people of the earth.

"This gift buys, vaccinates and provides shelter for one goat, while also training farmers on how to raise healthy and productive animals".
"This gift helps communities plant 100 trees".
"This gift provides one month of meals for an orphaned child".
"Please don't give us any gifts this year...we are going to give to a worthy cause instead. We will not go into debt, we will give what we can afford".

It's amazing what happens when we step out of the norm for our society, recognizing that the extravagance of Christmas giving and recieving is ...say it...
I am humbled. I am very proud of them. I am delighted with them.
There is so much we can do to help others.

As Christians, we are representative of Christ, as people of God's Kingdom. Jesus' mission was to preach good news to the poor, release for the captives, sight for the blind, freedom from oppression for the downtrodden.. the time of the Lord's favour has come... from Luke 4:18,19.
If we say, "What kind of a God would allow suffering on the earth?", we are asking the wrong question. "What kind of a person am I, that I allow suffering to go on right before my eyes and do nothing about it?"
Imagine the kind of world we would have if all North American Christians would help the poor of our world in some way, imagine...

"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' Matthew 25:37-40

Lord keep our eyes and hearts open to the needs around us. There is so much work to do. Let us encourage each other in this task.

Thank you so much, my dear children.

'Some people work hard, some people work smart'

Someone said this to me many years ago. At the time, this meant the one speaking was working smart and I was working hard and not accomplishing much because I wasn't working smart. All these years, I have felt that I haven't quite measured up in this person's estimation. It's amazing how one comment can stay in the heart, influencing life and thoughts. It confirms the idea that one should be careful with what one says. Our words have power to uplift and encourage or to keep someone at mediocre for a very long time. It's more than twenty years since this was said to me.

I have finally learnt something better about this idea of working smart.
Working smart is doing the things that really make a difference in life, like spending time, encouraging or helping someone. We are all made in the image of God and precious to Him, therefore we should respect and foster relationship with even those we think a bit strange.
Working smart is remembering that we are responsible for the well being of the earth as well and not be wasteful or overindulgent.
Working smart is spending time studying God's Word, making it foundational to life not just a handy emergency life preserver. We need a prayful relationship with our Creator.
Working smart is loving those who are hard to love and forgiving those who have hurt you. Gather treasure in heaven which is forever, instead of gathering treasure here on earth where things turn to dust.
Working smart is sharing what the Creator has given you so others can be blessed. That's why He gave it to us in the first place.

All these years, I have thought that I wasn't accomplishing much because I work hard and not smart. But now I realize that working smart is not what I thought it to mean. It does not mean you know how to accomplish what's on the list and more. It means rather that you have learnt something about real living and you are trying to live that way. That's what it is...to be a blessing to others and to love the Lord your God with all your heart.

and may the Lord God bless you

Happiness is...

My last post was november 13th! That's a while ago!

I've been going to class, taking notes, reading, taking notes, summarizing, taking notes,responding, taking notes... I figured out that my assignments totalled 6300+ finished words. Amazing. It's a good thing these words didn't all have to be said at the same time, or else myself would have been even more bleary and foggy brained than I am presently. I'm almost done though...only to remember that the exam is in two weeks.Yikes, woman.

My dear little grandson phoned me today. We had a lovely long conversation. We talked about cars and trucks and air planes and breakfast and outside and play and we sang silly songs and did our alphabet. The darling boy made my day! I miss those children so very much and I really shouldn't say this but I cry about them often and think myself very unfortunate that they are so very far away.Then this happens and I'm all better...for a while.

Another wonderful thing happened this week. I received mail from my darling granddaughter. She is doing a project in school. It has to do with a little paper boy called flat Stanley. Well he arrived this week. He is our visitor and we are to treat him as such. He has become a representative of the princess I miss so much! I suppose he is her ambassador. I'm keeping a journal for him and I stick him in my purse smiley face out, or in the seat elastic of my car so he can see out the window. He goes where I go. I introduce him where ever appropriate and people smile and laugh. Ah, imagination is still alive!!

That's it for today. I want to feed my silly dog and do what ever yet...maybe nothing...

Happy December 1st!
It's first Advent; light a candle and remember Jesus.