There & Back Again...

How does time fly by so quickly?  Here we are back at the end of another December.   It seems like January happened just a few months ago and yet as the days melted through the Spring, and the hazy days of summer seem to run by right into the hands of a brisk fall, I can well believe another year has come.

 I love the words "there & back again", because they always remind me of the Lord of the Rings and Bilbo's storytelling.   His theme (to me at least) was always enjoy and learn as much as you can where you are at, but always remember where you started.  Always come back to your roots, they are a part of who you are. Although you may change over the years as you learn new truths and experience new things....those moments of "aha" come throughout the year as well because we still are the same person....just (hopefully) a little wiser, braver or ________ you fill in the blank.  Those memories of yester year shaped our future. 
 
There & back again...yeah, I'm not the same person I was a year ago, but yet coming to the end of the year I'm recognizing some of those familiar feelings that start floating around every time I start looking for a new calendar at the store.

Happy Easter! Thank You Lord!

 

Thank You, Lord,
for a costly cross...
an empty tomb...
a triumphant Savior...
and a heart set free
for all eternity!

 

 

A Different Christmas Poem

Photo found on flikr by  Beverly & Pack

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as

many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some

credit is due to our U.S service men and women for our being

able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to

 pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of

our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

Some Inspiration....

God's Amazing Love

His love is unquestionable,

Its power unconquerable,

Its meaning undeniable,

Its mystery unexplainable,

Its sacrifice incomparable,

Its price unimaginable,

Its absence unthinkable![1]

 

 

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"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ~ John 3:16 (emphasis added)

Jesus ~

 the Light of the World, came so we could find our way to God.

 Jesus ~  

the Lamb of God, died upon the cross so we could receive the Salvation of God.

Jesus ~ 

the Bright and Morning Star, rose from the dead so we could live forever with God.[2]

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I am.....

G - God's

R - Redeemed

A - Accepted

C - Chosen

E - Expression of love.

"God chose you from the beginning." 2 Thessalonians 2:13

 



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Footnotes: 1. dayspring free printable

                  2. ibid

Our True Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know that there are probably many bloggers out there today blogging on this holiday that have wonderful posts prepared, but somehow it never dawned on me to prepare one.... :[  So, I just want to encourage all of you to remember who is your True Valentine this holiday.

~ When you see a bouquet of flowers being delivered and are tempted to pine for your own, remember who made the flowers in your favorite field and put them there just for you to enjoy.

~ When you see a box of chocolates being shared and wish that you had one as well, just remember that your True Valentine sends you sweets (blessings) every day in a very wide variety.

~ When you see a note read for the readers eyes only, remember that He who loves you most of all has written you a whole book.

~ When you see the "look" between a couple that speaks volumes, picture in your mind the look on His face when He gave His life for you.

~ When you see a couple sitting together talking, remember He made sunsets for us to sit with Him and marvel at.

~ When you see that special gift meant for a special person, remember the special gifts we've been given...like a special day to celebrate our relationship with our True Valentine!

I hope your day is very special and that you are surrounded by the love of your True Valentine, family, and friends.

P.S. One of those special bloggers that prepared a fantastic Valentine's Day post did such a great job that I thought I would give you a link to check it out! "Singles, Valentine's Day and Love"

Happy Mother's Day

As Mother's Day is tomorrow, I wanted to have a post commemorating the day.  I was thinking about what I wanted to write and came across this example of Jesus' love for Mary in my "Life of Christ" class.

The following is a quote from the book "Experiencing the Passion of Christ" by John MacArthur. 
"The pain of watching Jesus die must have been agonizing for Jesus' loved ones.  But for no one was it more difficult than Mary, His earthly mother.......Jesus saw her standing and grieving there, and His third saying from the cross reflects the tender love of a Son for His mother."  
John 19:26, 27 ~ "When Jesus therfore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, 'Womand, behold thy son!'  Then saith he to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother!'  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
"He was making a gracious provision for Mary in the years to come.  He was delegating to John the responsibility to care for Mary in her old age.
This was a beautiful gesture, and it says a lot about the personal nature of Jesus' love.  Although He was dying under the most excruciating kind of anguish, Jesus, the King of love, selflessly turned aside to care for the earthly needs of those who stood by His side.  Although He was occupied with the most important event in the history of redemption, He remembered to make provision for the needs of one woman, His mother."

Even amidst the physical, unbearable pain, and the spiritually hearwrenching knowledge that His Father had turned His face from Him, Jesus took His eyes off Himself and set the example of looking to others needs above oneself.  He truly fulfilled the fifth commandment as perfectly as he fulfilled all the others, to love and honor His mother.

As I reflected on what I had read, I realized how Christ's life once again set the ultimate standard of how we are to live.  Jesus fulfilled His duty to the fifth commandment when He made sure that His mother would be taken care of in her old age once He was gone.

I had to ask myself.  "When I am in the middle of a stressful situation, do I put my concerns aside in order to see to the needs of others? ~ Especially the woman who has loved and cared for me my whole life?"  "Do I remember how much she has done for me and how much I owe her or do I take her for granted and not show her the love and care she deserves?" 

Mom and I are best friends.  It happens all the time, where she and I will say the exact same thing at the exact same time in a conversation.  Often times we know what the other is going to say before they even say it, because our minds are so similar.  And yet, sometimes we think differently.  When that happens do I make sure that my actions, thoughts, and words honor and show respect to her? 

What about those times that I am fustrated and nervous and am starting to snap with emotions.... while my mom is feeling the same way.  Do I put my self aside and help her?  I have to ask myself, "How many times has she comforted, encouraged, hugged and calmed me?  The answer?  More times that I can count.

The word Christian means "little Christ".   We are to be a "little Christ", a reflection of our Heavenly Father.  Do we fulfill the fifth commandment when it comes down to the emotionally or physically strained times?
Jesus was the perfect loving example.  We have His example to look at and imitate. Do we?

Mother's Day is a day that our country has set aside as a day to show apprecitation for our mothers.  We should show them our appreciation every day by the way we honor, obey, respect and love her.  However, since we have this extra special day, we should take the opportunity and make sure she knows how much she is loved.