Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Christmas at the Buchanan's!
Well, I've done it again! I started the Holidays declaring that this one is going to be different! My intentions were to spend this Christmas focusing on the "Reason for the Season" and loving on my family. I was not going to get so "Wrapped" up in the gifts and decorations this year! I was not going to spend this Christmas in an a state of exhaustion! Or at least that is what my intentions were. I started with one tree and now have three! We were just going to do some simple white lights outside and now my house lights up the block! But the funniest thing is the garland. I found a bargain basket of garland at Bud's silks. So, I decided to put it on the hand rail in our house. This Garland was so long I didn't think I would ever get to the end. I worked up a sweat wrapping it around the handrail. I now call it the Buchanan Greenway! I think I shall leave it there until Jesus comes back! I will hang hearts on it for valentine's day and we can hide the eggs there at Easter time! I really do wish I could just leave everything up all year! It's so funny to me that each year when I take the decorations down I am careful to pack them up in a way that they will be easy to take out the next time. Only to spend hours the next Christmas untangling the lights and finding which bulb is not working that causing the whole strand to be out! Fun Fun! Actually, even though it is exhausting and aggravating at times, I love it! I love the way the house looks and feels at Christmas time. I love the smells of Christmas. I bought some Christmas tree potpourri so my house can smell like a Christmas tree all year long! I love the fact that I have to stop and actually think about people and what gift I can get them to show my love for them. But most of all I love the BIRTHDAY BOY! As I was putting my third round of decorations on my front porch (I can't seem to get happy with it) I found myself humming the "Christmas is Jesus" song. It is all about Him! I want my Christmas to reflect my love for Jesus! I'm glad my house lights up the block! It should because HE lights up my life. I want everyone that comes by to realize who it is for and long to know him too! I hope when I get to heaven he says he liked his birthday party decorations I did. Happy Birthday Jesus! I shall eat some cake in your honor! Merry CHRISTmas!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
IMMANUEL
IMMANUEL—GOD WITH US
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Immanuel”. The song gives many of the names for Jesus that were prophesied in Isaiah 9:6----Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace----Immanuel, God With Us.
Hearing the song got me to thinking about God’s “with-ness”. How can God be “with” us—all of us—everywhere---all of the time.
As I was spending the day with our three, very young, grandsons recently, I wanted to be “with” them all of the time, whether they were playing in one room or around the house or taking naps or wherever they were, and they wanted me to be “with” them. But Grams found out she doesn’t have that kind of “with-ness”. If I corralled them all in one area (a dandy feat to accomplish!) then I was “with” them. But if it was naptime and I had to leave one downstairs to take one upstairs to bed, then I wasn’t “with” them all—or was I? My thoughts and heart were “with” them even if I was not physically “with” them.
But, there’s the rub for my little ones, if they can’t see or hear me, they don’t know I am “with” them. They can only understand verbal and visual, even temporary “with-ness” right now. It is much the same with Larry’s Mom, who is living with us now. If we are not where she can see or hear us, she may not realize we are “with” her. Sometimes with Mom or the boys, when they don’t have someone “with” them, they become anxious, fearful, lonely, unsettled. No matter our age or our state of mind, we don’t really like it when there is no one “with” us.
Why is that? God created us in His image to have a relationship with Him—to be “with” Him, to spend time “with” Him, to be close to Him, to sense His presence all of the time.
And He graciously provided a way for that “with-ness”----Jesus, Immanuel. I have no need for anxiety, fearfulness, loneliness, unsettledness because no one is “with” me. In Jesus, I have the promise of God “with” me always. But God didn’t say He was just “with” Betsy. He said “Immanuel—God With Us”.
A. W. Tozer put it this way: “An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.”
Wow! God gives all of Himself to all of His children all of the time. He is always “with” me, always “with” you, always “with” His children who are in separate rooms from us. I am never out of His sight, nor are you. Who can fathom that kind of “with-ness”!
My Immanuel, how awesome and mighty is Your “with-ness”! How loved and cherished and secure I am. Thank You for not wanting me to be anxious, fearful, lonely. Thank You for giving me a fresh glimpse of Who You are and how much You love me.
Loving father, grant me opportunities to share Your “with-ness” with my grandchildren. Thank You for using them and Mom to remind me of how close You are---just the breathing of Your Name ‘Immanuel-God With Us’.
I praise You.
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Immanuel”. The song gives many of the names for Jesus that were prophesied in Isaiah 9:6----Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace----Immanuel, God With Us.
Hearing the song got me to thinking about God’s “with-ness”. How can God be “with” us—all of us—everywhere---all of the time.
As I was spending the day with our three, very young, grandsons recently, I wanted to be “with” them all of the time, whether they were playing in one room or around the house or taking naps or wherever they were, and they wanted me to be “with” them. But Grams found out she doesn’t have that kind of “with-ness”. If I corralled them all in one area (a dandy feat to accomplish!) then I was “with” them. But if it was naptime and I had to leave one downstairs to take one upstairs to bed, then I wasn’t “with” them all—or was I? My thoughts and heart were “with” them even if I was not physically “with” them.
But, there’s the rub for my little ones, if they can’t see or hear me, they don’t know I am “with” them. They can only understand verbal and visual, even temporary “with-ness” right now. It is much the same with Larry’s Mom, who is living with us now. If we are not where she can see or hear us, she may not realize we are “with” her. Sometimes with Mom or the boys, when they don’t have someone “with” them, they become anxious, fearful, lonely, unsettled. No matter our age or our state of mind, we don’t really like it when there is no one “with” us.
Why is that? God created us in His image to have a relationship with Him—to be “with” Him, to spend time “with” Him, to be close to Him, to sense His presence all of the time.
And He graciously provided a way for that “with-ness”----Jesus, Immanuel. I have no need for anxiety, fearfulness, loneliness, unsettledness because no one is “with” me. In Jesus, I have the promise of God “with” me always. But God didn’t say He was just “with” Betsy. He said “Immanuel—God With Us”.
A. W. Tozer put it this way: “An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.”
Wow! God gives all of Himself to all of His children all of the time. He is always “with” me, always “with” you, always “with” His children who are in separate rooms from us. I am never out of His sight, nor are you. Who can fathom that kind of “with-ness”!
My Immanuel, how awesome and mighty is Your “with-ness”! How loved and cherished and secure I am. Thank You for not wanting me to be anxious, fearful, lonely. Thank You for giving me a fresh glimpse of Who You are and how much You love me.
Loving father, grant me opportunities to share Your “with-ness” with my grandchildren. Thank You for using them and Mom to remind me of how close You are---just the breathing of Your Name ‘Immanuel-God With Us’.
I praise You.
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