Grandma and Child

The other day I had a post on the film The Nativity Story. Here is an updated version of mother and child called "Grandma and child". The phrase "wonder of love" could not be more true, as "Wonder" is the best description. Thank you God, for my family.

Blessed

It is a great time. I feel so blessed by God. Carol and I are in Denver at one of son's home. There is about 2 feet of snow on the ground, thanks to the blizzard of last Wed. Then to top it all off, it snow on Christmas eve enough to cover all that had already been shoveled. The grandkids opened lots of presents and Adam, who is 14months is being well trained by his older brother on the art opening presents. It is a very relaxed day, with a late breakfast interspersed with gift opening, snacks and naps. The greatest blessing God has given me at this season is the peacefulness within our extended family including in-laws who are also here.

The Nativity Story

We went to the movie The Nativity Story Friday night and enjoyed it. We probably wouldn't have gone , as we usually wait and get most films from Netflix, but some friends asked us to go with them and then go over to their house afterwards for dessert and discussion of the movie. Who am I to turn down dessert, so we went. It was one of the few Hollywood movies I have seen that did a good job on the Bible story. I liked the way they built the relationship between Mary and Joseph and the depiction of the angel was well done. It is worth seeing.

Defragging Our Lives

I am defragging a computer for a friend. She is still running windows 98 and I was watching it get started just to make sure everything is going to work. The little squares were changing color as they were being rearranged and the thought hit me of how our lives need to be rearranged every so often. Sometimes it just seems that life can get out-of-wack so easily. Before we know it, we have lost sight of what is really important to us. Hopefully you have someone who will bring you back and show you where the defrag button is. There are so many different paths to explore and consequently mess with what is important in our lives.

I try to keep reminding myself of what Jesus called the two greatest commands. " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" This puts everything into the proper perspective. It is what Scot Mcknight calls the Jesus Creed.

Don't Be Afraid

Our lesson this past Sunday am was on "not being afraid". The main point was Jesus has given us the Holy spirit, so we shouldn't be afraid because we are not alone. I have been thinking about when I am afraid, and it is mostly when I think I am alone or when there is no one to help me with what seems an impossible task. I remember on nights when I was the only one in the house and laying in bed and listening to the house creak and groan. But if someone else was there, I didn't hear those same creaks and groans. Also I am old enough to worry about my health, and although I do what I can, there is very little I can actually do about that.

So what keeps me sane - my trust in God. I do believe I am not alone no matter how many creaks and groans I hear. I don't know what the future holds and that is scary, but I keep telling myself I don't have to face it alone, whatever it is.

God has and is taking care of me in two important ways. He has given me a supportive family, and especially a wife that been through everything with me. Secondly He has given me His Spirit.

So I keep telling myself, "Don't be afraid, you are not alone.!" Thank you God.