God, Protect Me...

From the Thou Shalt Laugh Comedy FB Page...

Anyone else cringe a little once you realize this is sometimes....... you?
Yeah, me too.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2  (NIV)

Thanks God, for all the unseen things you do to protect me - each and every day.


-Mags

What Does a Bald-Headed Cleaner-Guy and Jesus Have in Common?

We have this walk-in shower that is all one piece (floor and walls) - the engineers that designed it tried to create a no-slip surface by subtly mottling the floor.  I don't know about "no-slip" (get some conditioner on it, and it's quite slick!), but those little divots sure get dirty quickly... and are nearly impossible to clean!


Enter the Mr. Clean Magic Bathroom Eraser... (*pause for Superhero music):

With a little effort, the dirt that has fused itself to my shower floor "magically" disappears!  What's interesting is that the little white brick started off looking like this:

But now looks like this:

Aside from the fact that it's NASTY, notice that after it removed? absorbed?  all of the stains (leaving my shower floor sparkly-new again), the sponge-like pad is deformed... dirty...broken... completely used up.  

JESUS did that for us.

Jesus was like the brilliantly-white, new Mr. Clean Magic Eraser who came down to earth to clean up our mess.  By the time His task was complete, He was tired... broken... and completely used up.  He was the "Magic Eraser" to our sinful lives.  And, because of Him, we can be shiny new each day... every time we ask for forgiveness.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

 ... What we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-19ish (MSG)

I'm thankful that every day (every hour or minute if I need it!), I can ask for forgiveness and receive it.  I can be washed clean with Jesus the "magical eraser" of sin.

:) Mags

If Jesus Had Twitter...

Igniter Media is one of my very favorite Christian video groups - their stuff is AMAZING!!  This Easter, they created a video called "Follow" that tells of the crucifiction as if Jesus was on Twitter.  I'm not as much of a Twitter fan as Facebook... but they're similar enough! ;)  Considering Facebook is my homepage (I'm a total FB junkie!), this video really spoke to me!! :)  I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did - and I hope your Easter was full of laughter and fun and a moment or two of gratitude for the sacrifice made by our Savior.  He is RISEN! :)


PS - This video has sound, so be sure to pause the music at the bottom of this blog so you can hear it!

:) Mags

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y, J E S U S ! ! !

If there were ultrasounds 2000 years ago... perhaps Mary and Joseph would have seen this...

Today is a Miracle Day - not only the virgin birth - but the day that God decided to send his one and only child down to earth to live WITH us... fully knowing the rough and rocky path that Jesus would face.

Want to honor Him today? Start by saying "please" and "thank you" and "I'm sorry" and "I forgive you." Remember to say "I love you" ... often. Ask about someone's day. Go the extra step... or the extra mile... to help someone else. Recognize another's pain... and act on it instead of ignoring it.

You don't have to walk on water or turn water into wine or cure leprosy with one touch to be Christlike. You just have to give of yourself: your time, your talents, your energy, your heart. Start with that... see how it feels. That's the magic of the Christ's message.

Happy Birthday, Jesus
...and...
Thank you, God!!

Of Running, Stumbling, or Crawling...

I joke with my friends that the only "running" I do is if I'm being chased or about to be mugged. I think the "Runner's High" must be a myth... because the only thing I've felt when running is out-of-breath, hot, and sweaty. But I can appreciate the difficulty of a good race - whether a sprint or a marathon. I came across this video posted on a friend's Facebook page:

I cannot imagine the pain of a torn hamstring - or the crushing disappointment he must have felt when he realized his medal dreams were lost in this race. How determined he must have felt when he decided that injury or no injury, pain or no pain, he was going to cross that finish line one way or another. And how heartbroken his dad must have felt when he realized that not only was his son hurt, but was also being thwarted from his goals.

I love the reaction from his Dad - pushing through the crowd and security guards right onto the track to help his son... Taking on his son's weight to help him cross that finish line.

Put simply, that's what God does for you and me every day.

Jesus Christ came into the world as the ultimate demonstration of God's love.
This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.
I John 4:8-10 (The Message)

In two days, we'll celebrate Christmas. We'll gather with family and friends, eat too much, (some will drink too much!), open presents, and have a merry time. Many families will feel they can "check off" the "nativity duties" by attending their church's Christmas pageant, going to Midnight Mass, or donating to some charity organization. Then they are "free" get on with the more "jolly" aspects of Christmas...

I challenge you and your family to not treat Christmas as just a check-list of "TO DO" items. Take 5 minutes on Christmas morning to reflect on the true miracle we are celebrating. Remind your kids (again!) that it's not all about Santa, the reindeer, and the presents, presents, presents.

For Unto YOU A Child Is Born...
And HE will save the world.


That's worthy of celebration!!

Merry Christmas!
:) Mags

Christmas Has Gone To The Dogs...

Saw this post on a friend's Facebook page:

A Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard.
During the night, someone came across this... An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep. He chose baby Jesus as his comfort. No one had the heart to send him away so he was there all night. We should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus' lap from time to time. This is too sweet not to share...not to mention that the dog breed is a "shepherd!"

First of all, I really hope someone adopted this cute puppy!! And second of all - how powerful is this... that when you're lost, abandoned, or alone, you can ALWAYS curl up in the lap of God and feel protected.

Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Christmastime is a season of great joy and fun for many, many people... Yet, for others, it's a harder time - a time of loss, sorrow, or hardship. We pat ourselves on the back for donating a toy, or a meal, or a coat to some charity organization, but many of us really have NO IDEA what it feels like to be lost at Christmas. My hope is that everyone can take a minute to curl up in the lap of Jesus... and take a moment of comfort from whatever hard things that affect their lives.

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

May the PEACE of the Lord be with you this Christmas season!
:) Mags

Karaoke Tuesday: Hope Now by Addison Road

So it's after Easter... everyone has had their fill of marshmallow Peeps, jellybeans, and Cadbury eggs. You may have brought your kids to the obligatory Easter Egg Hunt... you've undoubtedly taken your Easter Photos with them dressed up in their new spring clothes. Hopefully, you found a moment to reflect on the meaning behind Easter... the part that is deeper and more important than visiting with the Easter bunny. So what now?

I was struck by a new(ish) song I heard on 93.3 recently by Addison Road called Hope Now. Take a look at the lyrics below:

If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I'm Yours

I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I'll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

I am not my own
I've been carried by you all my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down

You've become my hearts desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free


It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13:13. After the widely-used wedding verses on Love Is..., comes this sentence:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.

After the betrayal.

After the pain.

After the sacrifice.

After the Cross... comes Faith, Hope, and Love.

As the story posted on Easter Sunday said, we are not just celebrating "Easter" once a year. Easter is every day. Every day, we reap the benefits of Jesus' sacrifice and blessings. We may dig out the plastic eggs, bunny ears, and baskets in March and April, but it is through all seasons that we should be cognizant of the marvelous gift we were given. As the song says, it is the Love of Jesus that has set us free.

I attended an Episcopal school from grades 4-8. We had Chapel services each Thursday, and at the end of the service, the Pastor would say, "Go in peace... to love and serve the Lord" and we would reply, "Thanks be to God." While I enjoy much more the unscripted church service we attend now, I do think that farewell is fitting for this post. The best way to show our gratitude for the blessing of Jesus' sacrifice is, indeed, to go in peace... to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God. ♥

My Name Is Maggie... Do You Believe In Easter?

If you are actually stopping by here on Easter Sunday, I imagine you are looking for something more meaningful than the crackle of the wrapper around a Reese's Peanut Butter egg (my personal favorite Easter treat)... so I have a story for you:

THE STORY OF EDITH BURNS

original story by Russel Kelfer

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people.
His favorite patient was Edith Burns.

One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.

Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"

Beverly said, "Why yes I do."

Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?"

Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room."

After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"

Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient"
With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"

Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.

Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick.

Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you."

Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work... I'm not interested."

Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family."

Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you."

One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day"

Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, "Do you believe in Easter but you have never asked me."

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked." Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"

Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life. "
Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday." Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter.

When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"

Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"


God works in wonderful ways, and to believe in his power is to truly be free. Not only do I wish you and yours a Happy Easter - but I wish for you the ability to see Easter as a daily celebration of His love for you. More than bunnies, and chicks, and eggs, and baskets... More than a once-a-year party... but as a daily reminder of the promises that are still to come in your life.

So......

Do you believe in Easter?

I Found God in Transformers...

No Sacrifice... No Victory...

That is one of the mottos of Optimus Prime and his Autobots.

For those of you who missed the 80's and all it's Transformer glory, the short story is this (courtesy of this website):

The Earth has become a battleground. Centuries ago, on a distant planet, the robotic alien races known as the Autobots and the Decepticons waged terrible war over a powerful cube called the All Spark. The cube was lost and both races vowed to find it. Now the cube has come to rest on Earth, hidden away by the US government for years, and the final stand of the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime against the Decepticons, led by Megatron will take place on our planet. But the Autobots have an ally: humans.

Fiery battles ensue and eventually, Optimus Prime is willing to sacrifice himself to save humankind... planning to stick the All Spark cube in his chest to destroy it and save Earth. Whether or not Optimus Prime is forced to this end will be yours to discover if you see the movie. What I love is that you can find so many Christian undertones weaved throughout the storyline...

God asks us in Romans 12:1-2 to sacrifice the commonplace behaviors and corruptions of earth to live in a way that is acceptable to Him...

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

The Bible is packed with characters who made sacrifices to claim God's victory...

Noah... who sacrificed his reputation to build a giant boat that would guard his family against the end-of-the-world flood.

Moses... who gave up his independence to follow God's instructions and return to Egypt to save the Israelites.

Mary and Joseph... Joseph knew that baby wasn't "his" yet sacrificed his pride to be an earthly father to God's son while Mary gave up her own expectations and dreams to serve as the mother to Jesus.

Jonah... who had to face his fears to follow God's instructions.

Saul/Paul... who sacrificed his power in the Roman Empire to serve the Lord.

And Jesus... who truly gave the ULTIMATE sacrifice... Himself. His sacrifice yielded VICTORY for all of mankind.

Without sacrifice, there can be no victory. The important things are worth fighting for... they are worth the sacrifice.

Incidently... the other main motto of the movie is this:

One shall stand - One shall fall.

Good vs. Evil

God vs. Satan

Everlasting Life vs. Death

Who knew that you could find so much Godliness in some transforming robots? :)

--> Note: The Transformers movie is PG-13, and in it's original form, this is NOT for young kids. However, you can visit GoodMoviesOnline.com and purchase the edited-to-PG version that removes sexual references, anything with human blood, and all foul language. While the special effects are fabulous, the items that earned it's PG-13 rating are obnoxious and unnecessary. Do consider watching an edited version if you have kids!

Karaoke Tuesday: All I Can Say by David Crowder

At the end of December, I attended another funeral for an infant and helped, with my Sunday School class, to serve a funeral meal for the family and friends. The family discovered on December 23, just three weeks before their due date, that their son had died in-utero. And sadly, on Christmas Day, the Mom went into labor, and Rowan silently entered the world.

Too many.... too many baby funerals around my life. I don't know why... I don't know if it's all the processed foods that have mutated our genes and chromosomes... Or if we're breathing poison air... Or... I don't even know... All I do know is that I've either attended or known about at least 6 infant funerals in the last three years.... Samuel, Francis, Julia, Nathaniel, Kayla, Rowan. And aside from that, I have too many friends who have struggled to even get pregnant - only too find that some glitch or defect in someone's body prohibits this... and their attempts either result in miscarriage or are thwarted completely. We even dealt with an early-term miscarriage between the birth of our sons, Jack and Luke (I figure that child was likely our girl...!). :)
These [at best] disappointments and [at worse] jagged holes of grief can leave a person feeling spent and alone. I found another wonderful song by David Crowder that seems to address this. Of course, I heard it during Worship when our friend, Micah, sang it during Communion time (You rock, Micah!) :)


LYRICS - "All I Can Say"

When we face tragedy or grief or grave disappointments, it so easy to feel alone and abandoned. But God never abandons us. No matter how heavy our "cross" - when we feel like we cannot go another step, God is there - walking with us, talking our burdens, crying with us, sharing His strength. Sometimes, we are too wrapped up in our own issues to even realize that God is with us. Sometimes, we cannot see Him through our tears. Regardless, He IS with us - every aching step... every joyful leap. The peaks and the valleys, He is with us. God did not promise that a Christian's life would be "easy," but He did promise to always be with us. We are not alone. It may be too much for "you" to handle...but it's never too much for God.

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (The Message)

You are not alone.

Karaoke Tuesday: Our Love Is Loud by David Crowder

This is such a fun song! One of the things I just love about the 9:30 Contemporary Worship at our church is the grungy, "garage-band" feel of it. We always sit in the 3rd or 4th row - right by the large speakers. On many of the songs, it can get so loud that I just feel like I'm "IN" the music; THIS is one of those songs... and the title makes the "loudness" of the music all the more fun...
LYRICS - "Our Love Is Loud


This song got me to thinking: It is no doubt that Christians love the Lord, but do we "LIVE" the Lord in our everyday lives? What if our everyday faith... our everyday prayers...our everyday joys... our everyday LOVE were LIVED OUT LOUD for people to witness? How could that impact someone else in our lives if we were more open about our faith? Just as we all bopped and clapped and danced to this song in Worship, couldn't we demonstrate our faith and love to others by our words and deeds in our everyday, walking-around life?

Are you living OUT LOUD? Are you standing up for your Faith? Are you standing up for God? For Jesus?

Then he [Jesus] said, "Go into the world.

Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all.

Mark 16:15

You can hear David Crowder's song HERE on LastFM! Crank up your volume and just enjoy...! :)

♥Mags

Christmas Caroling... with Michael W. Smith & Chris Rice

Our last Christmas carol was the song of Jesus' impending arrival from Mary's perspective. Michael W. Smith does a similar song about the everyday, ordinary person greeting Jesus in Welcome to Our World:

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from god
You've been promised, weve been waiting
Welcome holy child
Welcome holy child

Hope that you dont mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long awaited holy stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home

Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
World now breaking heavens silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around you
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect son of god
Perfect son of god
Welcome to our world

Chris Rice also does a version of this song that is beautiful:


A baby is always a miracle... but the greatest miracle is when God came down in human form as Jesus. Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Caroling... with Amy Grant

Amy Grant has a ton of fabulous Christmas songs and albums. I always enjoy her version of Sleigh Ride. But one of her most powerful Christmas songs is Breath of Heaven - a song from Mary's perspective as she gets ready to become the mother of God's son:

I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,
And I wonder what iIve done.
Holy father you have come,
And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.
I am frightened by the load I bear.
In a I walk this path alone?
Be with me now.
Be with me now.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place,
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.


While searching for a video of Amy Grant singing this on You Tube, I came across a short film originally produced by the LDS Church where a YouTube user had muted the original audio and dubbed over it with Amy Grant's song. It really matches perfectly - I thought you might enjoy it:

This season, when you take a moment to remember the gift of Jesus given to us by God, remember also the sacrifices made by Mary and Joseph... everyday, ordinary people chosen by God to take part in a miracle. Merry Christmas.

♥Mags

Christmas Caroling... with CeCe Winans

A few years back, David and I went to our first Michael W. Smith Christmas concert. He was touring with Amy Grant and CeCe Winans. And although we've been to other such concerts since, not one has captured the magic and power of that first show. Perhaps it is because CeCe Winans has not been a part of any concerts we've seen since. Because when she sang her version of Oh Holy Night, I nearly fell to my knees at the power of her voice. There are many, many beautiful versions of this song, of course. It is a beautiful song in and of itself, but CeCe Winan's is stunning. The album version is good - but even that cannot quite match the power of her live performance.



Oh Holy Night is one of my favorite Christmas songs, and there are many amazing versions out there. Other ones you might want to check out are Shawn McDonald and Shane & Shane's versions. If you have a favorite version of this song, feel free to post it in the comments section!

Have a blessed Christmas!
:) Mags

I Found God In Santa Claus...

I know there are some Christians out there who want to distance themselves from Santa Claus and the commercialism that accompanies the Christmas holiday. It makes sense, Santa does often overshadow the true purpose to the Christmas celebration. But, I happen to love Santa Claus and the spirit of Christmas he symbolizes, and I think there is room for both Jesus AND Santa Claus at Christmastime.

Of course, if you compare the two side-by-side, Jesus is the clear winner (exerpt below by the Rev. James Spellman):

Santa lives at the North Pole ... JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh ... JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year ... JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies ... JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ... JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ... JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap ... JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl,what's your name?" ... JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ... JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ... JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry" ... JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys ... JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but ... JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree ... JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

But what about their similarities...? God and Santa are very similar in many respects (exerpt below originally from HERE - and yes, it's tongue-n-cheek):

They look and dress alike: Both are older dudes with big fluffy white beards and both wear robes (sort of, Santa's red outfit looks like something you could wear as a robe).

They're both all-knowing: God, in his omniscience knows everything that has happened. Santa is virtually the same, he knows what EVERY person did EVERY year.

They're both everywhere: Just ask any priest, particularly in a church, and they'll tell you that God is everywhere. Santa delivers presents for the WHOLE world (at least those of us that celebrate Xmas and can afford it, but who's counting??) in one night, that's darn near close to omnipresent.

They're both all-powerful: God, because you know he created the universe and all that. Santa, because let's face it, the dude is a supply chain genius, even better than Michael Dell, that's pretty omnipotent.

They both judge: God looks at our lives, whether we've sinned or not and decides our eternity in heaven or hell. Santa looks at our lives, whether we've been good or bad and decides whether we'll get the GI Joe with Kung Fu Grip, American Girl Doll (heaven) or a lump of coal (hell) of course that's only for a year but you get the point.

They are both related to Jesus: Jesus is apparently God's only begotten son and Santa brings gifts ONLY on Jesus birthday, I can't think of many people other than parents that would celebrate their child's birthday EVERY year LONG after he died. I guess we're the beneficiary of Santa not being able to let go.

They both live in billowy white areas: God--Clouds, Santa--Snowy North Pole.

They both have friendly, protective servants: God--Angels, Santa--Elves

They both get offerings from the believers: God believers give money, Santa believers give him cookies and milk.

:)

What I love the most about Santa is the way he inspires others to spread goodwill and charity at Christmastime. Many of us remember our own childhood Christmases where Santa brought that one magnificent gift that we'd been craving (For me, it was a 4-foot long, Kenner Glamour Gals Cruise Ship). Now that I'm a "grown-up," I want other kids to feel that same joy - so our family joins in on all of the adopt-a-family opportunities we can afford (through our church, the kids' schools, hubby's work, etc.). Christmas makes people feel generous. Of course, it'd be nice if we all felt generous all year around. Of course, it'd be nice if we did it "just because Jesus would want us to." But if the end result is that Santa is a good "non-partisan" type figurehead that inspires people across different sub-faiths to be more generous... so is that really a bad thing??

I don't know if God objects to Santa. I do know he doesn't like it when people or things overshadow Him and His Son. But, there ARE ways that we, as Christians, can use Santa to remind children of the true meaning of Christmas: GIVING:

God gave the world His only son.

Jesus gave His life for the salvation of the world.

We can give to others in the spirit of Christmas.

T.A.W. wrote a fabulous article on enjoying BOTH Jesus and Santa at Christmas. My favorite idea was to write a letter from Santa to your children:

Dear [Child's Name],

It's so great to see you this year! I've been having lots of fun making trips around the world. Thank you for the cookies and milk. I'm glad to know that you've been very good all year!

Rudolph has been guiding my sleigh this year, as usual. If you hear thumps on your roof top, it's probably him.

I wanted to let you know why I do this every year. I love to see your smile when you open a present from me. However, the reason for Christmas is about Jesus. Jesus gave the ultimate gift when he died on the cross. He gave us life. And that is why I give presents every year to remind children (and adults, too!) that Christmas is about giving. If you know the Christmas story about Jesus, why don't you share it with your family?

Ho! Ho! Ho! And Merry Christmas! I know you will have lots of fun today.

Love, Santa


Still not sure how Santa can be "Christlike?"

Read this article about a Jewish man, Jay Frankston, who dressed as Santa for many years - bringing gifts to needy children...

Or visit BeAnElf.org and see how volunteers sort through thousands of "Dear Santa" letters at local post offices and bring gifts to the neediest children based on their letters.

Santa is a servant of Christ too.

I love this Oath by the Rocky Mountain Santa:

The Santa Claus Oath

I will seek knowledge to be well versed in the mysteries in bringing Christmas cheer and good will to all the people that I encounter in my journeys and travels.

I shall be dedicated to hearing the secret dreams of both children and adults.

I understand that the true and only gift I can give, as Santa, is myself.

I acknowledge that some of the request I hear will be difficult and sad. I know in these difficulties there lies an opportunity to bring a spirit of warmth, understanding and compassion.

I know the "real reason for the season" and know that I am blessed to be able to be part of it.

I realize that I belong to a brotherhood and will be supportive, honest and show fellowship to my peers.

I promise to use "my" powers to create happiness, spread love and make fantasies come to life in the true and sincere tradition of the Santa Claus Legend.

I pledge myself to these principles as a descendant of St. Nicholas, the gift giver of Myra.

Phillip L. Wenz
©Arcadia Publishing

There's room in my heart for both Jesus and Santa, but I welcome your thoughts and comments too!

Merry Christmas!!

♥Mags

I Found God In A Wrinkle...

...In Time's author, Madeleine L'Engle. (I know... the title just pulled you right in and then I veered off in another direction! Sorry!)

I was surfing the Facebook feeds when I stumbled across this quote posted by my high school friend, Joe:

"There was a moment, known only to God, when all the stars held their breath,

when the galaxies paused in their dance for a fraction of a second, and the Word,

who had called it all into being, went with all his love into the womb of a young girl,

and the universe started to breathe again, and the ancient harmonies resumed their song,

and the angels clapped their hands for joy"

-Madeleine L'Engle

And I was just struck by this quote - with the enormity of it. We have entered the Christmas season, barreling into it with our shopping frenzies, our lists of Santa Claus, our party obligations. We may (or may not) take time out to remember the point of Christmas.... choosing to fill our minds with Black Friday bargains or recipes for egg nog. Those things are fun, and can certainly be a part of our holiday celebrations, but it is imperative that we remember the CENTER of Christmas is Christ, the miracle of his birth, and the impact He had on all humankind.

This weekend, my friend, Steph, and I will volunteer at our church's Christmas ADVENTure for primary age kids. We are making a Christmas Countdown Advent Calendar out of pizza boxes, construction paper, and large office tags. On the inside lid of the box is this reminder:

The True Meaning of Christmas

The FIR TREE - Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven.

The STAR - The star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise.

A CANDLE - The candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.

A WREATH - The wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.

A HOLLY LEAF - The holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.

The GIFT - God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son. Thanks be to God!

A CANDY CANE - The candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.

An ANGEL - It was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men.

A BELL - The lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

A SANTA CLAUS - Santa Claus can symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December. Certainly he can be a part of your Christmas, but he is not the center. The center of our Christmas celebration should always be remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

REJOICE! It is Christmastime

You can keep your shopping and wrapping and caroling. You can enjoy your egg nog and breakfast casseroles. You can sit on Santa's lap and make your Christmas wish list as long as you want. But through it all, remember that you've been given the most important gift already... and that gift came from God, himself.

Merry Christmas, God... and Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Karaoke Tuesday: Who Am I?

Anyone feeling pitiful today? Weary? Defeated?
Anyone feeling tired? And insecure? Again... Defeated?

Some days are like that... heck - for some of us, MOST days are like that!

Every once in while (and we're talking once in a GREAT while!), I have a morning where everything goes my way... the kids wake up agreeable and don't fight... and they don't wake me up until after 7AM... I get to Starbucks, and they are serving my very favorite: their pumpkin cream cheese muffin, and I have a gift card with which to buy it... life is good.
HOWEVER, usually mornings do not go that way... Kids are up at 6AM... shooting each other with guns made from K'Nex... I'm exhausted even after a night's sleep... by the afternoon, I've lost all my patience and the "Mother of the Year Award" ... again. "Defeated" is often the word that describes me by dinner time!

These are just everyday trials... small things in the midst of a big world. Some people are dealing with BIG problems - even on a daily basis. But with billions of people in the world - all dealing with their own problems - it's easy to wonder if a big, big God can even hear our issues through the cacophony of angst. That's one of the reasons I love this song by Casting Crowns... it sums up my feelings of inadequacy and gives me comfort that my God is watching out for me with his safety net. That doesn't mean that bad things won't happen in my life; it does mean that God will hold my hand and help me through them... no matter what else is going on in the world - I have his undivided attention... as do you... and you... and you. That's what makes him God of all creation! :)

I also like this song for the refrain - that it's not about what I DO that is important... it's about Jesus and what he has already done for me. Something to remember in my most defeated times - that Jesus was strong enough for both of us. Enjoy the words below - you can listen to this song on Last.FM.

Song: Who Am I?
Artist: Casting Crowns:
Album: Casting Crowns
LYRICS

I Found God In Fortune-Telling...

Have you ever wondered about those carnival fortune-tellers? Or remember playing with a Magic 8 ball in your childhood? Do you just shake your head at the 1-900-numbers flashed on TV urging you to connect with a psychic who will "see" your future?

Those aren't going to give you authentic prophecies. But for those yearning to find out more about Jesus as God's Son and our Savior, you can look to the Bible for your answers.

Personally, wading through the entire Bible is a bit daunting. Several posts back, I commented that I was starting to read the Bible start-to-finish. Just FYI, I'm beginning Exodus. So I can't just pop out all of the prophecy information, and lay it out for you.

BUT... with the miracles of the Internet, I don't have to do all of the work!
I found this fantastic Bible verse site while I was looking for links between "God" and "shoes" (for an upcoming Women's Event at my church... soon to be blogged about, of course!), and it sets up the Old Testament Prophecies with the New Testament fruition in an easy to read table!

Here is the link:
http://encouragingbiblequotes.com/versesmessiaha.html

While you're there, you may want to pop by other pages on Encouraging Bible Quotes.com - a great resource!

Happy reading!
:) Mags

God and Pants... Part 3

Considering I wrote two different posts on my cursed pants / Jesus pants, it would stand to reason that I would take a moment to write about another pair of pants... The Traveling Pants. :)

In 2001, Ann Brashares wrote The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants. What a cute story!! Four girls stumble upon a pair of well-loved blue jeans in a thrift store - and amazingly enough it fits all of them perfectly: the tall athlete, the curvy tempermental, the willowy beauty, and the small-boned rebel. That it fits all of their vastly different heights and frames AND makes them feel beautiful is no less than a miracle.

In the premier novel and the 3 books that follow, the girls share the pants each summer - mailing them back and forth across the places where they visit. From summer camps to visits with relatives... from digs in Turkey to movie internships, the girls use the pants to keep in touch with each other and keep their friendship connected. And the pants are there through all of their summer experiences: the divorce and remarrying (to other people) of Carmen' s parents, Lena's first love... and loss, Bridget's coping from mistakes she made with her boyfriend, Tibby's grief at the death of her friend, Bailey, plus various other family, social, or school issues. The pants are a constant comfort to each of them.

In the final book, the pants are lost - mirroring the feelings of loss the girls are going though as their individual lives push them farther and farther apart from each other. However, the girls come to realize that the pants were only a symbol of their everlasting friendship, and that the jeans, specifically, didn't have to be physcially present for their friendship to endure.

Now think of our Lord... a one-size-fits-all God who is with us through our hard times and our good times. He's with us when we succeed and when we make mistakes. He will comfort us when we are hurt and celebrate with us when we are happy.

When you meet other Christians, you have something instantly in common. No matter your size or weight or style, your faith links you together.

When Jesus died on the cross, the apostles were "lost" at first. How could they go on? How could their Lord continue if he had been crucified? But like the traveling pants, Jesus lived on in the hearts and minds of those who believed in Him. Tibby, Carmen, Bridget, and Lena discovered that they didn't need the actual pair of pants to remain best friends - even as miles and miles might physically separate them. Likewise, we don't need the physical body of Jesus to be there for us to be covered by His love.

For the girls, believing in the power of the pants was enough.

For Christians, believing in Jesus is a power in and of itself.

If you were to re-read this series of books with the parallel of God & Pants in your mind as you read, I think you'll look at this "humorous, light, fluffy, summer read" in a whole new way. But that's the fun of this blog... finding God in everyday, ordinary places... and what's more "ordinary" than a novel?! :)

If you'd like to read Parts 1 and 2 of God & Pants, follow these links:
Part I "I Found God In Some Cursed Pants"
Part 2 "Not Cursed After All... They're Jesus Pants!"

Karaoke Tuesday: "I Believe" by ZOEGirl

When I first started listening to Christian contemporary music, there was one song that I played over and over: ZOEGirl's "I Believe." Our first son was only a year or less, and my husband and I would giggle at him through the rearview mirror on our Blazer because as soon as this song would come on, his eyes would brighten, and he'd start bopping back and forth to the music... not unlike those Saturday Night Live, obnoxious, date guys who bounce their heads to music while cruisin' for chicks! :)

This is such a great "I'm-a-new-Christian" song; here are the lyrics.


Can you remember a time in your Christian walk when things changed for you?

When you finally, finally! felt God inside your heart?
When God breathed His life into you, and you were forever changed?
Do you remember when you stopped feeling self-concious when you talked about your faith?
Do you remember feeling like you could "shout it from the mountains" because suddenly, your faith had meaning and you felt like you understood, for the first time, what it meant to be Christian?

Sometimes, it's hard to be a Christian. People stereotype you into one of the pop-culture caricatures or set you on a clay pedestal- and then are aggravated when you fail to meet their expectations. Tempations strike the Christian just as it does the non-Christian. Being Christian will not exclude you from hardship, persecution, troubles, grief, sorrow, or pain. But BELIEVING does ensure that you will always have someone walking alongside you regardless of whatever trials comes your way. You are never alone. You always have a friend. You always have someone on your side.

That is something to celebrate.
Being a Christian is something to celebrate.

So celebrate it. Take a moment and just revel in the miracle of Jesus Christ, your personal Savior. That is something to smile about!

:) Mags

Song: I Believe
Artist: ZOEGirl
Album: ZOEGirl
Here it on Last.FM