One of the reasons I dread making declarations like, "I'm going to live Christmas every day in 2012" is because that makes me accountable to anyone who happens to read my blog!

Oh, I knew full well I would not live up to even my own expectations, let alone those of anyone else! But part of being a disciple is sharing our shortcomings and failings--both to teach others and to encourage them in their own walk.

A dear friend has something frightening happen to her, another friend grieves over the loss of a loved one; An acquaintance shares a terrible tragedy they have lived through; the pain, suffering, grief, hardship and struggle just goes on and on and on. I'm not lamenting, really . . . just observing and commenting.

These situations become a problem for me when I begin to pile one on top of another, when I begin to make them pebbles on the path, then more challenges occur - to me and to others - and they become stones, boulders, then mountains! My acts of kindness -- praying for others, providing a listening ear, a caring heart are a matter of course. That's the easy part. The challenge to is live Christmas through it all.

It's all too easy to forget about the baby in a manger, the star, the shepherd and the angels . . . the journey to Bethlehem and yes, even the Cross when so many are in pain, are suffering, are hopeless. But remember we must! compared to the Cross . . . life's hurdles pale . . . compared to the journey Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem, not knowing how it would all turn out . . . life is not so hard.

Fortunately I catch myself when I stumble on a pebble, stone or boulder. I remember the baby and the angels and the star. I remember most of all that God chose to take on human form and walk among us! Angels sang! They came down from heaven to announce the Savior!

Living Christmas every day is not easy to do. But if I remember my goal . . . and the reason behind it . . . life is a little easier to live and the troubles of this world are easier to bear . . . because this is not our home. We are only travelers here on the journey to eternity.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

The Example of the Shepherds

"So they [the shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told" (Luke 2:16-20 NIV).

The shepherds give us a wonderful example of Christmas living after Christmas! They spread the word concerning what they had been told about Jesus! The story contained, I'm sure the recounting of the fear turned to awe at seeing and hearing the angel and then the host of angels!

Not only were the shepherds amazed, but those who heard their story were as well! Isn't that how the Good News spreads? We share our excitement, awe and joy with anyone who will listen! The shepherds continued to praise God after they had seen Jesus.

They glorified Him for choosing them--lowly, dirty, smelly souls who were looked down upon in 'proper society'--to be the first to hear the Good News!

This is our example for living after Christmas. We are to continue to glorify and praise God. Then we are to retell the story, as often as we can, to anyone who will listen.

My prayer is that you will be amazed today, by the inconceivable truth that God came to earth to walk among us.


Blessings on your journey,
Mary

And The Word Became Flesh

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:10-14 NIV).

These words really struck me this morning. John sums up the whole story of God's relationship with us in these few verses! God came into the world -- with us -- for us. Unspeakable! Beyond comprehension. God became man. He didn't just reach down from heaven, he stayed a while.

I marveled even more at this thought as I watched the sun rise through the back windows this morning - a purple and crimson sky welcomed the day! The God who made that majesty is the God who walked among us!

This is my Christmas reminder today: he walked among us.

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

What is Mankind that He is Mindful of Them?

"what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" (Psalm 8:4 NIV)

David is asking God how he can even consider mere humans to be worthy of His time and attention. He tries to grasp the majesty of a being so great and mighty and yet so loving and generous. Keep in mind, this was hundreds of years before Jesus walked the earth.

I ask God this question often! How can He even look at me, sin-filled as I am, and still love me? How can He hold a place in heaven for me after all I've done to hurt Him in my life? This is the part of the Christmas story I have returned to time and time again lately.

How could God, Creator of the universe, choose to walk the earth? Not only that, but to grow inside a woman's womb, to experience birth, toddlerhood, childhood, into adulthood. I think He was so confounded by we humans, that He decided He needed to become one of us in order to truly know how it feels to be human!

That is so remarkable! He even experienced human death! How can we doubt His love for us? How can we not express our gratitude by living Christmas every day?

"He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:2-5 NIV).

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Christmas Living After the Christmas Tree

I really like our family Christmas tree this year. The white bows and ribbons were used in my daughter's wedding several years ago. You could call it recycling but I call it reliving a wonderful experience for our family (and frugal decorating!)

I love to weave together the memories of our family life. Each year I go for a slightly different theme. This year I used white, silver and red as the primary colors. My son's ornament collection has grown to over 25 Mary's Angels from Hallmark (he gets one every year since his first Christmas). We also have Hallmark's Christmas Around the World ornaments from my daughter's series.

Rounding out the tree we have Santa ornaments, snowman ornaments and twelve "names of Christ" ornaments. Guess it kind of sounds like a jumble/ hodge-podge, but it was challenging not to put too many ornaments on the tree and I'm pleased with the result this year. (Can you tell I really, really love Christmas?!)

I know I should take the tree down this weekend - especially since I have a 3-day weekend and will finally have the time to reorganize and put away everything the way I have wanted to for the past several years. I hesitate because it is a visible reminder of my Christmas living pledge. It's 'easy' to remember the plan when I have that tree sitting in the corner of my living room.

I'm kind of in the hot seat, too, because I've 'put it out there' for all the world (or at least anyone who reads my blog:-). So if I 'fail' in my effort, everyone will know. But I guess the true failure will be in not trying to do it anyway. Failure is really just another opportunity to learn - and humble ourselves.

Feel free to check in from time to time to see how my Christmas living unfolds after the Christmas tree is put away and life resumes 'as normal.'

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV).

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Learning Backward, Living Forward

I often return to past posts when I am pondering a topic or idea about which to write. The lessons I learned from and through past experiences still apply today - not only to me but to each of us.


As I continue to grasp the full meaning of living Christmas every day, rereading these posts helps to refine my vision and reveal even deeper truths to discover and study.

This is an excerpt from I DID IT!! and I WANT, originally written in 2008:

How often I have felt proud of myself for accomplishing a goal - large or small - as if I, of my own volition, could accomplish anything without God's purpose and plan for it to be accomplished. I'm not saying I'm helpless, powerless and/or without skill or talent 'on my own'. What I'm saying is that I need to remind myself often of the source of my abilities, skills, talents, and yes, my accomplishments.

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. [Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV]

All the creative musings of my mind and touching and inspiring words of my hands are wrought from the heart and mind of God. All things I want and all the goals I wish to achieve are best measured in relation to how they will help me accomplish the specific and divine purpose for which I was created.

Living Christmas every day requires daily study, focus, intention and divine guidance! God is so gracious to allow me to be so remedial in my learning and living while still using my words to reach others!

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Two days after Christmas

Today is December 27. For some reason this morning I thought of the shepherds during that first Christmas.

Discussion on Facebook already has begun: when folks should/do take down the tree. Life needs to get back to "normal," the reminders of the holiday packed away for another year . . . by this time that first Christmas the shepherds had undoubtedly returned to their flocks. I'm just not ready to put Christmas away yet.

I bet there was still much conversation about those angels, and that baby, the star, and the wonder/hope of what it all foretold. I bet those shepherds lingered that night . . . knowing their sheep were unattended . . . or perhaps knowing it was time for the "next shift" to come to town as they took turns watching each other's flocks.

I'm pretty sure they never looked up in the night sky and thought of it in the same way as they had the night before those angels appeared! I bet they secretly hoped to see more angels . . . receive even more good news . . . maybe a prediction of the future . . . life would certainly never be the same!

Our Christmas tree will stay up a while . . . at least through next weekend. This year the predominant ornaments are angels. I started buying my son the "Mary's angels" series by Hallmark on his first Christmas and by now they fill the tree--reminding me of that night sky.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:8-14 NIV).

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

The true reason for the season

The Christmas counter shows less than 2 days until the birthday of Jesus! I am very excited because our daughter and son-in-law will arrive in a few hours. We'll only have them for a couple of days this year - we adore our in-laws, but often wish we all lived in the same town so we didn't have to "divide" the holidays;-)

Anyway, in light of my prayer focus for 2012, I've continued to reread some earlier posts to get some idea of how I'll proceed. I'm especially focusing on those experiences last year (and previous years) that have brought me to this focus.

In the Christmas theme, I would like to share a post from December 2010, Wide Open Spaces of God's Love. Talk about the perfect gift: God's grace!

Praying you take a few moments to think about--and enjoy--the true reason for the season.


Blessings on your journey,
Mary

A Year of Christmas Living

You may have noticed I added a "Christmas countdown counter" on the left-hand side ofmy blog. I had planned to wait until Christmas day to begin talking about my 2012 prayer focus, but it's been placed on my heart almost daily that I shouldn't wait. So . . . my 2012 prayer focus will be "A Year of Christmas."

I don't know all the in's and out's yet. I do know I've had some thoughts come to me that I need and want to explore more deeply. As Christians, we are called to be an "Easter people." And I so am! I am ecstatically, over the top grateful for the Cross. Don't get me wrong. But my focus in the year to come will be on the "before" of the Cross. It will begin with Mary, Joseph, Jesus the baby.

I'll be exploring my awe and wonder. I'll be asking myself - and God - how I can provide a Christmas blessing to someone else--whether that will be a prayer, a note, some act of kindness, etc., every day. So the focus will not be the commercial component that the world has made it. Rather, it will be about how can I share the gift of a tiny baby, born to a young girl over 2000 years ago.

It's mind-blowing, really! Don't you agree? I hope you'll join me in my journey of a year of Christmas living.

Blessings on your journey,

Mary

Prayer focus for 2012 - do you have one?

I'm not a big New Year's resolution type person. For 2012, though, I have been given a vision of what/how I am to pray throughout the year.

I was trying to avoid saying, "God revealed it to me." That can alienate some people, cause some to roll their eyes, or at a minimum be skeptical. But that's what happened. I was on my way home from work -- so often God get's my attention when I'm in the car - guess it's because I'm sitting in one place and have to stay there!

I heard a Christmas-themed song I have not hear before and I don't even remember the line in the song that sparked this revelation, but there is no doubt about it! I've been struggling with how to get my prayer life back on track - been diligent for the past couple of weeks. But this focus will encourage and compel me to keep at it, and even take things to a new level.

I'm not trying to be mysterious -- well . . . maybe a little. When I've developed the plan a little more concretely, I'll share it. And invite you to join me.

I'll give you a hint for now, though: It's seasonally-themed!

Even if you don't have a theme or plan . . . pray! It's so powerful! And I promise you, you will experience a changed heart. You will see results of your prayers - some very small, but some huge! Just pray.

One of my prayers is that you are blessed this season and bask in the glow of a tiny baby sent to earth 2000 years ago. He came here for you. And for me. God in the flesh. Savior of all mankind. Talk about the world's greatest Christmas gift!

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

He Has Prepared a Place for You

Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, "Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him" (Isaiah 62:11 RSV).

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12 NASB).

The shepherds are the “them” in this passage from Luke. I would want reassurance if I looked up and saw a host of angels, too! They were the first to hear the good news! The shepherds in the field were told before any others! Of course, Jesus was descended from shepherds so it somehow seems fitting. Knowing what we know now about Jesus and his life and message, it’s not surprising his life and mission on earth would begin surrounded by the least and the lowliest.

These shepherds would have been very familiar with the verse from Isaiah, too. In some accounts they left their sheep and ran – ran – to find the baby in the manger. Shepherds never left their sheep unguarded—never. But then there were the angels . . . and of course the thousands of years of waiting for the Savior promised them in Isaiah . . .

What is the message for us today? The baby has been born. He’s already lived and died and risen into heaven. So what is the message for us today? The message is exactly the same! Behold! We still have the good news, but ours is even better than what the shepherds heard that night 2000 years ago!

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:1-3 NIV).

Behold, Christ has prepared a place for us! That is the real reason we celebrate Christmas—not only to remember the birth of God made man, but to recall the promise of the man/God on the Cross. “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Sort of sounds like, “Do not be afraid.” Do not let your hearts be troubled. The risen Christ waits in heaven for you. He has a special place for you, right next to Him.

Nothing on this earth can change that truth. Do not let your heart be troubled.

My prayer today is that you rest in the assurance that Christ has prepared a place for you in heaven. And that you will not allow your heart to be troubled while you wait for Christ’s coming.

Blessings on your journey,

Mary

Choose joy!

Today I choose joy!

Actually, last night before I went to bed I had decided I would choose joy today.

A dear friend prepared our Christmas meal and invited us to her house - all of us! No clean up for us! We kicked back and relaxed for 4 straight days. No tradition this year -- everything was different. It was odd not to do what we "always do" at Christmas-not a single tradition in place this year!

In the days ahead I'll be sharing the lessons God is teaching me about and through all this -- He's been on overtime with me lately:-) But today, I choose joy!

Christmas is "over", my daughter and son-in-law have returned home and I return to work this morning after 4 wonderful, restful days off. My son and husband return to their respective jobs today as well.

I ate everything in sight and gained back 5 of the 40 lbs. I worked so hard to lose over the past 6 months. Snow has melted and the earth looks brown and is saturated through and through with water. No sunshine today, at least not yet.

Today I choose joy! I'm going to breathe in joy and exhale joy! I am God's beloved and my heart is at peace. This is the last Monday of 2009! Actually, it's the last Monday of the current decade! That reminds me I have a new decade in which to live and learn and grow and experience joy!

Yes, it is a choice! Life is hard. sometimes it's even excruciating and almost unbearable. Sometimes it looks bleak on the horizon ahead. But we must choose joy!

My prayer is that today, you will choose joy!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4 NIV)

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Saturday after Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Our Christmas Eve Open House was so enjoyable. We didn't have nearly the number of guests we have had in years past, but the advantage of this year - with almost exactly 3 "shifts" is that we had the opportunity to speak to each person--actually engage in conversation. So often we are busy moving from guest to guest, greeting others, saying goodbye to still others that we don't always feel we have been good hosts!

Our children were here with us and that was all we really cared about this year:-) We exchanged modest, but meaningful gifts and enjoyed each others' company immensely. My daughter and son-in-law headed home this afternoon and called a while ago to say they had made it safely.

My 20-year old has been on his phone all day, friends calling to see what he got, what he's doing, etc. He's off to the movies tonight so hubby and I will have a chance to just breathe for a couple of hours:-)Maybe we can even have an actual conversation!

Tomorrow I will be portraying the fictional "Rhoda", wife of Joseph's cousin (based on the innkeeper in the nativity story) in Bethlehem. My son will be the narrator and my husband has indicated he wants to come along just to see and hear us perform. I will be relating the story of Mary and Joseph from the time the angel visited Mary through the visit of the Wise Men as remembered/portrayed by this woman who heard it all "first hand."

I'm pretty excited to have my son doing this with me. He took drama classes in high school and participated in Center Stage through Henrico County in the summers. He loved it and he is very articulate and well-spoken.

I asked him tonight if he thought he would like to get involved in storytelling with the group I'm going to join here in Richmond. He seems enthused about it so I'm hoping it will work out.

Since he has Asperger's Syndrome, we are constantly searching for areas where he can do well and succeed to help keep him motivated and encouraged. He is a natural and I think this may be a great outlet for him--either separately or as part of a team with me.

Back to my babies on Monday - Wednesday, then off for Friday-Sunday next week. I'm planning on getting a lot of writing and planning done in the next week. I'm pretty psyched about what 2009 will hold for us -- and looking so forward to all that God has planned for our lives.


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
[Jeremiah 29:11 NIV]

I Pray

Do they think we would grow weary of miracles and joy?
Do they not believe we have the capacity for on-going good will?
Do they not desire for all goodness and love?
Do they not dream of peace in their own lives and the world?
Do they not hunger for unity and solidarity?
Do they not hope for generosity and kindness?
Do they not know how to speak life into the world?
Do they not thirst for truth?
Do they not long for justice?

I want a world full of miracles – reported on and recognized.
I believe in a world where good will is the norm and the standard.
I desire to live a life full of goodness and love.
I dream of peace in my town, my country, and around the globe.
I hunger for unity of heart as human beings.
I hope for generosity of spirit – at Christmas and always.
I strive to nurture life and holy living.
I thirst for truth.
I long for justice.

I pray.

© Mary Moss – December 23, 2008

Jerusalem a Joy; The People a Delight

It is cold and dreary outside but this morning I woke up with a great sense of wonder, awe and excitement! The verses our pastor preached his sermon on today really added to my sense of joy. “For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.” [Isaiah 65:17]. Later on we read of “Jerusalem as a joy” and the “people a delight.” My pastor went on to remind us that God started creating this new world – the world described in Isaiah - on Christmas Eve!

The world God is describing to Isaiah is one where, “Before they {God’s people} call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD.” [Isaiah 65:24-25] The angels were so excited, so full of joy and anticipation, they couldn’t wait to tell the world!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." [Luke 2:8-14]

I think that’s what I’m feeling this year! I can’t wait for Christmas morning! We don’t have any little ones whose eyes light up when they see the pile of gifts under the tree. But we have a gift even greater than the joy of little children emptying out their stockings.

In the sermon we were reminded that “God has laid on our hearts to create the world Isaiah describes.” Each of us, doing what we can to bring about God’s kingdom on earth is how we join in the celebration! We wait to relive the moment the heavens opened and the angels sang. On Christmas Eve I know we’ll be singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will” at the worship service. And the anticipation will be almost more than we can bear!

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? [Romans 8:22-24]