It's Saturday: Christmas

SusieQ says--Maybe I will try to just be quiet, be in silence, and take in all the wonders of Christmas and not make soooo much noise or try to impress everyone like most of the world seems to try to do; in other words, just be humble. I wonder as I wander; yes, I do. Saturday question—Do you know why bells and cymbals are rug at Christmas?

Christmas surely can be a time of joy, but it also can be a time of sadness too (i.e. for many reasons). I hope we share the joy with others but also are thinking of folks who have sadness a.k.a. tough sledding. I hope we do! Steve, anybody can be a Steve, says—"It’s likely someone you know needs encouragement. You’d be amazed how a phone call, listening ear, text, email, or handwritten note could bless someone today. Go for it. Share the love of Jesus with someone who needs it.”

When I was a lad on the farm a mile and a quarter south of Roseland, MN, I was fascinated when I would set up the dominos and then watch them tumble down by hitting each other. Actually, I still do! I think we see the domino effect in our culture by folks who do bad things, say bad thing, and by folks who say and do good things; this effect is maybe passed on from one generation to another. Soooo is that our genetics, our past environment or our current environment? Will the domino effect always continue? Can the bad chain be broken and the good chain continue? WorldClassLarry says—Somehow, we need to determine what the good and bad is! It doesn’t appear that everyone thinks the same about that! Ouchy ouchy!

Do you ever waffle about a decision? Of course you do! I do, one minute I think it’s a good idea and the next I don’t think sooo! I had such a waffling experience about doing something for Christmas. I finally made a decision and then even wondered if I made the right decision (i.e. sorta kinda like buyer remorse). It was about doing something to make others merry and jolly. It was a battle I had going on inside of me. Guess which dog won?

Do you ever overreact about situations, both good and bad? Do you ever overreact over Christmas? It appears that many folks do, my opinion. Do you ever get going toooo fast for our own good? I remember two old friends who are now both deceased, who disliked Christmas immensely, couldn’t wait until it was over. They told me this several times every year. They both said Christmas was over played and it put way tooooo much pressure on them and their families. It became no fun. That was their opinion. Well, they don’t have to worry about it anymore. I enjoy Christmas, well most of it or at least some of it!!! Hey, someone(s) decorated my tin hut for Christmas! What a hoot! Maybe they thought I need more jolly and merry! haha

Christmas stuff—Kids are wishing for special toys and stuff for Christmas. It’s a lot of fun for many kids. Adults toooo wish for stuff. What are you wishing for? Well, most of the stuff we wish for we don’t get if we don’t work for it (i.e. unless it’s a government give away that is). Reality is most folks wish for much stuff but don’t do much effort to get it except wish. Yes, I have to admit that I have had a lot stuff fall into my lap it appears. I have no idea why. And much of the stuff was really good stuff!!! Really good!!!! AverageJoe told me that the more he gives the more he receives. You believe that? Or is he way out in left field! O is is right field?

The OtherWarrenFromOmaha sent me this--I was in the local Hi-Vee the other day picking up a few groceries, like lettuce, grapes, and a bunch.of bananas (they do not sell half bananas in Omaha) , waiting in the checkout line ( I hate self-checkouts). I put my items on the moving belt, with a metal bar separating my items from the lady ahead of me, when all of a sudden the check out gal removed the bar and began checking out my items to the lady ahead of me. I said " stop, stop, those are my items, and not hers". The checkout gal simply smiled at me and said. "Don't fret about it, she wants to pay for your items. Wow, what a deal.----Wish I would have picked up some steaks. Have a good day, unless you have other plans. w in Omaha

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it—“Many people think you only get good gifts from God if you are good. But that’s confusing God with Santa Claus! With Santa we say, “You better watch out, you better not cry . . . Santa Claus is comin’ to town.” I read this about Christmas that I believe--God doesn’t keep a naughty list and a nice list when it comes to his blessings. The Bible says in Matthew 5:45, “[God] makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong” (CEV). God doesn’t play favorites with his grace and his goodness. God offers his grace to everyone—even to people who don’t believe he exists. Whether or not you follow him, God gives you his grace every moment of your life. You wouldn’t even draw your next breath if it weren’t for the grace of God. As Psalm 145:9 says, “The LORD is good to everyone” (NLT). This is very different from what the world teaches. The world teaches that you get what you deserve in life (i.e. good things happen to you because of the good things you’ve done in the past, and bad things happen to you because of the bad things you’ve done in the past). But God operates by grace. If you got what you deserved, then you wouldn’t even be here on Earth. If you got what you deserved, then you would have nothing. Did you deserve to be born? Do you deserve to be able to see colors and taste flavors? Do you deserve forgiveness? No. Those are gifts of God. In Luke 2:10, an angel says to the shepherds, “Don’t be afraid! . . . I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!” (TLB). This is the first public announcement of Jesus’ birth. Who is this announcement for? Everybody. That means people from every race, every religion, every economic status, and every culture around the world. When the angel announced the Good News at Christmas, there were no restrictions or qualifiers or limits. There were no conditions on who got to hear and respond to the Good News. That’s true today too. Christmas is for all people—because God is good to all people.” I believe that! Ring the bells and clap the cymbals!

A friend was walking with her friend and her friend said to her--“…you are sooo ebullient! I am soooo happy for you.” Maybe it ‘cause she is loved and is loving. I think that loving stuff is probably the greatest feeling in life.