Coffee, God and Me

What Does Santa Have to Do with Jesus?

2009-12-22T14:52:00.000-06:00

Imagine my surprise when my toddler asked me, "Momma, what does Santa have to do with Jesus?" Though I wished I had a canned answer in my bag of mommy wisdom, this one made me think. What does Santa have to do with Jesus?

I think Santa is one way of expressing Christmas. I think Santa is fun. Santa represents many wonderful and happy things, and yes, there is a way to see Santa as cynical and promoting materialistic consumerism. However, I choose to see Santa as someone who desires to bring joy to children of all ages. Santa is a character that brings magic. Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and had a character come to life and inspire you? I mean, bring a sincere smile to your face and be the vehicle of dreams? Have you ever been somewhere magical? I'm not talking voodoo magic, just pixie dust and mouse ears magic...have you been to Disney World? I can remember being a kid and walking the streets of a Disney park full of enthusiasm and magic. What about that first bike you ever learned how to ride without training wheels? That feeling you had the first time you could read, or drive, or play an instrument on your own? What about how you feel when you see the sparkle of Christmas lights?

I think Santa, like Jesus, can be twisted to fit any bill of anyone trying to sell you a particular viewpoint. Lots of people don't believe in Jesus either, you know. I choose to believe in Christmas dreams, Christmas magic, Christmas hope, Christmas impossibilities. Maybe Santa is not really real, but maybe it's the spirit of Santa's giving that is real. Maybe it's the spirit that Santa, in theory, gives to every girl and boy with not one hesitation based on race, class, nationality...or religion. Who said Santa was just Christian? Maybe it's the spirit of Santa's heart, the idea that there is this character who truly loves each and everyone of us, this character who wants to give to everyone, this character that seeks out the poor, the orphaned, the hungry.

To me Santa is a great character. I've told my son about Santa. Maybe that makes me a bad mom to some, but I think I turned out all right and I believed in Santa. At the same time, my son believes in Mickey Mouse and he's at the age where he thinks every character in his books and on TV are really real. At some point he'll discover that maybe the character is real only in it's character, but that the stories are real, the moral lessons are real and the spirit of Christmas is real.

I also make a very clear point to teach Ham about Jesus. I do believe that Jesus is the ultimate reason for the season. Maybe Jesus wasn't born on the 25th of December and maybe he was actually born in late spring, early summer. Does that matter? Can we only celebrate the birth of our Savior on a specific day? I personally think we should recognize Christ's birth, death and resurrection every day, in how we live, how we act and how we play. It is just a special tradition in my culture, to celebrate Christmas with winter and solstice, amidst Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Ramadan, in giving and in receiving...in loving our neighbors and being a part of something much bigger than ourselves, with Rudolph and Frosty...with Santa and Jesus.

Maybe the best part of celebrating the birth of Jesus along side other cultural and traditional holiday fare, is that no matter what gifts we receive, there will never be a gift greater than the gift of Jesus. The Wii Fit is awesome, the necklace beautiful, the clothes special...but Jesus out weighs them all. Jesus is the reminder that God loved us so much that we were given the gift of God's only son so that we may live with God forever. Ours is a story that has no end.

So yes, Ham, there is a Santa. But as fun and big and jolly and loving and giving as Santa is, can you imagine that there is actually a man named Jesus who was real, not just in a book, who came to live among us, suffer with and for us, to love us and give to us the greatest gift of all? Just like Santa, Jesus was a giver too, in a much bigger way. Jesus wants us to receive the gift of his love and to give it back by giving it to others. All these wonderful things Santa does, who do you think taught him? Maybe he learned from the best giver of all, Jesus?

Call me silly, or impractical, but I think Jesus might have liked this Santa guy, this character in a book who helped to inspire children to give to others. I think its our job as parents to nurture our children and point them in the right direction, showing them that Christmas really has nothing to do with the amount of presents under the tree. Christmas is about the gift that came for us and died on the tree.

Christmas is about the gift that Jesus gave to you and me.

Do You Believe?

Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa.
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry."
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you..."

Santa's little helpers make toys.
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree.
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

Taken from http://www.share-christmas.com/poems/santa_jesus/

I Workout

2009-12-21T16:59:00.000-06:00

Art by Paula Romani

I went to Walgreens last night to pick up some of that JOY their selling (see previous post) and I also decided to hit the 'As Seen on TV' section to pick up a bum and thighs that would fit into a size 6 pant. Merry Christmas to me...they were on sale.

If only, right? Yeah, I wish. But most good things come with a lot of hard work. Unfortunately for my bum and jean size, I do not work hard at working out. I enjoy yoga and spending time outside as well as playing with my son and the occasional game of volleyball or soccer. However, I loathe sweating. I mean I just plain hate it. Uck! That being said, I know, as we all do whether we want to acknowledge it or not, that a part of being healthy is what we eat, the other part is what we do with our bodies. I know I must "get physical, physical" in order to be healthy and that is up to me and me alone. This is a difficult reality when a plethora of logistical excuses exist like: I don't have the time in my schedule, I hate going to the gym because it makes me feel totally insecure, I'm short on funds and can't afford a personal trainer, I tried working out with my kid around and he just kept trying to dance with me, I attempted to go for a walk/jog/run with my dog who kept tripping me, etc. I have just had no clue how to make exercise a reality in my reality.

What did I do? Well, I must first preface this by saying I'm sharing this story with you not as someone who is an expert or has it all figured out. I figured I must do something and it had to be outside of the box of logistics mentioned above. So, with a little money set aside, Hubs and I invested in a treadmill. I know, I know, there are so many stories against equipment in your own house, but it's something I wanted to try that I hadn't yet and it helped address most of the excuses. You can find great deals on treadmills for relatively affordable prices on Craigs List and your local fitness stores. Don't go to the fitness equipment specialty stores though if you're looking for a bargain because I could mortgage my house for one of those things.

Anyway, I wasn't sure how my relationship with Izzy (the name I gave my treadmill) was going to go. However, much to my dismay, Izzy and I have come to enjoy one another. I'm starting off slow and smart I think. I'm starting with three workouts a week at an hour a piece and I warm up, etc., etc., etc. With my iPod jammin', Izzy and I get to work on that jean size and I have to admit that I'm rather pleased and proud of myself. When it comes to working out, I give up and give out quickly. But I've really stuck to this. I'm going on my third week now and I'm starting to feel better. I haven't noticed any other changes yet, but I've been told to give it a solid 6 weeks. So far, so good. I've asked Santa for a Wii Fit for Christmas. I think that would be a fun change up to throw in there. We'll see.

I'm not yet ready to run a marathon, but that is definitely something I want to do down the road. In the meantime, Izzy and I will run our own marathon weight loss and health gain journey together and maybe someday I can be rockin' a healthier happier me. Here's to hoping.

How are you staying healthy during the holidays? Any plans for 2010?

Stocking Up on Joy

2009-12-20T13:22:00.000-06:00

Oil of Joy by Stacy Lee

It would be a lie if I told you that this holiday season has been joyous for me. Rather the opposite, it's been a daily challenge to seek out and find my joy. You can only imagine my relief than, when sitting in the movie theater with my son an ad came across the screen telling me where I can go to find my joy...Walgreens. That's right friends, stock up on joy at Walgreens. Later in the ad, it shows that the joy you can stock up on is ice, soda, chips and other snack foods. Hmmm...so gorging myself on junk food will help me find my joy? That's all well and good until I have a Pepsi and Dorito induced heart attack and my bum is the size of Santa's workshop. Yup...that translates into joy for me. Joy at Walgreens. Great.

As ridiculous as the ad obviously is, it made me think. For Walgreens to use such a slogan as "Find your Joy at Walgreens" they must be tapping into what I've personally experienced, a joy deficiency this time of year.

Let's be honest with ourselves, for many, the holiday's represent a very challenging time of year. Everyone desires to be filled with abundant joy...just bubbling over with happiness. But sometimes that doesn't happen for everyone. It's not that we're all channeling our inner Scrooge's or Grinches, it's just that we're bogged down with the sorrow of life. There are many who have lost jobs this year, lost homes, lost family members and friends, lost health, lost love, lost spouses, lost hope and thus, lost joy. It's hard to be joyous when your heart is grieving loss. It's hard to be around others who are joyous when your own heart is aching. It's hard to find joy in the suffering.

I look around my own life and see the suffering in the faces of those I love. I see a mother who has lost two children to miscarriage. I see an amazing guy whose engagement was called off. I hear the tears of a very loving woman whose marriage has ended. I see a couple who will have to move far from their friends and family in order to keep a job. There are several who have lost their jobs and financial support for their family. There is someone who has lost health and faces cancer. There are five women, myself included, who have lost hope of having children or more children as calendar days tick by with no pregnancy in sight. I see a woman in her 20s who has just undergone a full hysterectomy but who desperately wanted to have her own babies. I hear the longing from single friends for comfort and love. I hear the cries of parents who have lost children in the war. I hear the cries of children who have lost parents. I see the aching hearts that long to be with the ones they love, but can't. There is suffering and that suffering becomes so pronounced when surrounded by such a packaged month of joy.

So where do the hurting and the suffering go this time of year to find joy?

Maybe 'Comfort and Joy' can be found in going home for the holidays and embracing the ones who are still with us. Maybe it's giving to others, serving others, serving through the pain. Maybe joy can be found in the brush of snowflakes on your cheeks, in the warmth of a fire, in the grasp of a long tight hug, in the laughter of the children around you.

This season is really about a glimmer, a sparkling star of hope, Jesus, who came to live with us, to suffer as we suffer. God chose to be here with us and to give us peace, hope and joy. In the darkness, there is light. Though I suffer, though I hurt, though I can't seem to make my pain go away no matter how hard I pray or smile or sing, I know I'm not alone. I know that Christ came to suffer with me, beside me. I know there is hope in the suffering because I know that suffering is not all there is. I can look in the face of my son and see hope. I can feel the kiss of God as I'm held so tenderly and comforted so sweetly.

We're not alone and there is hope. Christmas is about that hope that a better day is coming. Not only will we get through our current suffering and glow in future joy, but one day, we will live with God where there is no suffering. One day our hearts will be made whole again, our tears wiped away and we will know a joy that has no words.

This Christmas, I cannot will my grandma back to life, but I can thank God for last Christmas and all the Christmas' before that. This Christmas I will not hold a baby in my arms, but I can thank God for the baby who I once held, the toddler I hold now and the hope of the babies I will hold again. This Christmas, I can choose to see more in this holiday than the brisk cold of winter, I can see the warm hearth of the Lord, our Lord, who came to us.

Joy, real joy, can't be found at Walgreens. Real joy can't be found in a package or at a store. You can't buy it, sell it or ship it. Real joy comes in the knowing that Christ comes for us, to be with us, to live with us, to love us, to give us peace and hope. Real joy comes in knowing that after the crucifixtion, comes the resurrection. Real joy comes in knowing there is another day.

Seek out your joy in the arms of God. Find your Comforter in your midst.

Luke 1:14
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth
Luke 2:9-12
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

I wish all of us great Tidings of Comfort and Joy. And when you find it, sing JOY to the world and "repeat, repeat, the sounding joy!"

Where have you found your JOY?

Preachers & Pastors are People too!

2009-12-17T10:42:00.001-06:00

It wasn't until I began the process to become a pastor that I realized how judgmental I had been towards the pastors I had known in my life. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had it all wrong. I had been so harsh in my criticism against how they acted (even the small stuff), how they raised their children, how they preached, even what they preached about. I had been treating them as if they should be perfect. I had forgotten or rather never thought about the fact that preachers and pastors are people too.

I believe that pastors should be held to a higher standard, because, well, they know better. I believe that pastors have been called by God to be spiritual leaders, to direct their 'flock', to love and care for them, to preach regular services, weddings and funerals. I believe pastors should become a part of the community they are serving and to be a leader within the community. They should exude integrity, honesty, faith, compassion, be ethical and moral. We often see our pastors as pillars of the community, strong, sometimes stoic. They are there for us in our joys, to celebrate baptisms and weddings and confirmations, to cheer at high school football games, comfort our youth and tend to the elderly. They are there for us in our deepest sorrows, to bury our loved ones, to help us face our addictions, to comfort us through job losses, spouse losses, and when we loose our faith. They teach us, guide us and pray for us. They work endless hours (trust me when I say you do not want to see a pastors "time card", it would shock you), their spouses sacrifice, their children sacrifice...all for the church they've been asked and called to serve and most do it happily because they know passionately that God has called them to this.

We have all these expectations of our pastors. We expect that every Sunday we will hear a life changing and miraculous sermon. We expect our pews will be filled around us, just not too close because that makes us uncomfortable. We expect there will be children's programs, Sunday schools available, mission work being done, nursery attendants at all church events, pretty new bulletins every Sunday, appropriate songs (which differs based on who you talk to), hot donuts and fresh coffee in the foyer...we EXPECT perfection from our pastors. But I wonder when it was we began to see pastors as machinery. We want them to be loving and comforting and tend to our needs, but we also want the business of the church to be carried out flawlessly. We EXPECT perfection.

When was the last time you expected yourself to ask the pastor, genuinely, how they are doing? When was the last time you recognized the abundance of God's work available for any given pastor within your church and volunteered your time to help out? When was the last time you thanked your pastor and their family for their sacrifices? When was the last time you truly looked at your pastor and recognized that individual as not perfect or flawless, but as a human too?

Pastors are people too. We feel, we hurt, we rejoice, we get tired, we get frustrated, we wrestle with God, we question, we doubt, we pray, we eat, we put our pants on one leg at a time. Do you understand where I'm coming with this? Pastors have received a calling to spend each day learning more about God, loving God deeper, serving God better. This is the same calling that I believe God has on all of us. What is different is that pastors take that calling in another direction. We believe God is also calling us to lead others in lives that grow closer to God. Preaching and being a pastor is hard work, but it's very rewarding. It's an honor to be embraced and welcomed into people's lives. We come to love the ones we're with, to pray for and with them, to laugh and cry with them. But what happens when something is happening in the preacher's life? You do know that pastor's being people too does mean that things do happen to them? Right?

As a pastor, generally speaking, you enjoy serving your community. But you also feel a great pull. It's a pull between your personal life and the lives of others. A pastor could indefinitely serve his/her community from sun up to sun down, there is that much to do. Yet at some point, the pastor must also stop to tend to some of his/her own needs. Pastors must eat and drink and spend quality time with their family. Pastors need to have solid spiritual lives, they must tend to spiritual practices like fasting, prayer, meditation, scripture reading and so on. Pastors need to take care of their physical health. If you want your pastor to be there for you when you need him/her, you must realize that they need to take care of themselves too.

I could ramble on about this for some time and I won't. It's just been heavy on my heart. I'm trying to come into my identity as a pastor, to figure out who I really am for me and who I am for those I serve and how I can best accommodate the two existing together. I have had to struggle in discovering for myself that being called to be a pastor doesn't mean I'm called to perfection. It's comforting that though many will watch my every move and I will no doubt disappoint some, that God has never asked me to be perfect. In fact, I believe that God knows I can't be perfect, not in this life. But, there is the call to strive for perfection. To be better tomorrow than I was today. I also recognize that sometimes I'm going to be weak and I'm going to need God just like everyone else. You see, pastors don't have all the answers. No one does. There are those mysteries that we as humans cannot define. That is where our faith kicks in. But as for me, one preacher girl, I've asked forgiveness for the unfair judgment I've placed on preachers before me and I ask that in the future as I pick up my cross and follow Christ, there grace exists for me. Sure, I hope every sermon I preach is a home run, but in the case it falls flat, I pray for smiles and grace from those I'm preaching to, and forgiveness for my imperfection. I pray that people can understand that I'm human, flawed and that I don't have all the answers. I pray that I learn that I don't always have to be strong. I pray that my eyes are always on God and the love of Christ so that I may never be a stumbling block before those I lead.

Pray for your pastor or pastors, your priest, your religious and spiritual leaders. And pastors, show your authenticity to your congregation. Reveal your humanness.

Hundreds Gather for Global Warming Protest

2009-12-16T09:44:00.000-06:00

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ho, ho, ho!

Had to be silly today. My fall semester concluded yesterday, all finals done and papers in. Now I get a couple of weeks off before I'm in KC for three weeks of January classes. No rest for the wicked, right?! I'm almost half way done with seminary. Wow...I'm exhausted...and transformed.

Today is the last day to submit photos for the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Send them to coffeegodandme@yahoo.com. Can't wait to see them. Then come back tomorrow and Friday for voting.

Post-It Tuesday

2009-12-15T07:08:00.000-06:00

My end of the semester brain fry is showing. So...bring on the post it's. Won't you join me?

To get post it's of your own, go to: http://wigflip.com/superstickies/. Then save them as .jpg files to your desktop and then upload them to your blog. Slick and simple and just the way I like it.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

2009-12-14T14:27:00.000-06:00

One of the funniest things about the commerical holiday season is...those fantabulous fashion statements also known as Christmas Sweaters.

In honor of those precious icons, I'm hosting an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. To join the party, take a photo of yourself in the ugliest Christmas sweater you can find. Email it to me at coffeegodandme@yahoo.com. I'll put the top five on my blog on Thursday, December 17th and you will be able to vote for your favorite through Friday. The winner will receive an awesome gift collection by Avon. It's the brand new perfume by Reese Witherspoon, Bloom, plus lotion and shower gel. This would be a great gift for you or someone you love. I will ship the gift to the winner on Saturday morning so that it arrives to you well before Christmas.

I can't wait to see your sweaters.

Some Christmas

2009-12-13T11:16:00.000-06:00

I'm a sucker for a good Hallmark movie. There is no denying it. I just love them and they almost always bring me to tears. This is certainly no exception during the holiday season. This morning, I watched a new movie called Christmas in Canaan featuring Billy Ray Cyrus...yup, the undisputed achy breaky mullet king.

I was really moved by the story of overcoming adversity, both racial and financial. It confronted the loss of loved ones and the promise and hope of things to come. It genuinly pulled on every heart string. But there was one thing that really stood out to me during this season and it's represented in the title, 'Some Christmas.'

In the movie, there is a scene where Billy Ray can't afford to give his family much of anything for Christmas. Times have been tough and crops are not selling for what they were. He has six mouths to feed, four children to raise and he's doing it all as a single father. Through all this adversity, he refuses to let Christmas go by, rather, he commits to giving his family 'some Christmas'. He knew what things they had been wanting and admiring. He took pictures of these items, ad clippings, and wrapped each one. What he told his family is that though he couldn't afford to give them what he wanted, he gave them what his heart wanted to give. It was 'some' Christmas and it was all from his heart. I'm not going to spoil it by telling you the rest. Watch the movie for yourself and discover the gift within it.

Some Christmas. How many times do we give just to give instead of giving from our heart? How many times do we ignore the blessing of a gift that came to us from someone's heart? How often have we fallen in our lack of gratitude, in our spoiled expectations, in our scoffing at the appearance of cheapness? What if we didn't expect anything to come under that tree at all? Would what we get then be celebrated and cherished and loved? Think back to some of the best gifts you've ever received. Why did they mean so much?

The best gifts I've ever received are labeled as 'best' because they came from someone's heart. They weren't gifts just to give me something. They were handmade, or heart found and/or love filled.

What if we woke up Christmas morning and discovered that every present had been replaced by a piece of paper. On each paper was an image of something we 'really' wanted to give the people we loved? Would dad get another tie or would he get peace? Would mom get another crystal vase or would she get joy? The best gifts are the ones in our hearts. These are the ones that last. What if all of the gifts we gave came out of what our heart really wants to give?

This Christmas, I plan to add "Some Christmas" under the tree. Besides presents and ribbons and fancy packages, I want to add hope and peace and love and promise. I don't want to just give something someone can get themselves, I want to give something God has given to me. So as the commercial Christmas begins to fill our homes, may we all think to put "Some REAL Christmas" in there as well, some Spirit of Christmas.

The movie was based on a novel co-written by country music artist Kenny Rogers.

Billy Ray's new song, which isn't half bad, that was featured in the film.

Understanding Facebook's New Privacy Policy

2009-12-12T21:54:00.000-06:00

Check out this great article on the blog Technology for Mommies. I found this post very informative and helpful for this, one silly bloggie and Facebooker.

5 Things I Won't Be Doing This Christmas

2009-12-12T11:39:00.000-06:00

1. I will not be shopping at the last minute.

2. I will most likely not be frolicking in big puffy snow. It doesn't really snow here, must to my disappointment.

3. I will attempt to not be stressed out about family events or over the little things. Instead, I will spend more time focusing on the real meaning of the season.

4. I will not be buying candy canes this year. Just a big broken and sticky mess.

5. I will not be making my husband run to the grocery store during a Saturday afternoon...ever again. ;-p Did that last week and he about lost his mind.

What are five things you won't be doing?

...is Grinds in My Cup!

2009-12-11T10:57:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had a "grinds in your cup" kind of morning? What about a "grinds in your cup" kind of day?

This is the season of lots to do. I'm sure you're in the same boat I am. You're running around with a calendar of events and 'To Dos' that's busting at the seems. Getting yourself out of bed is a miracle, let alone attempting to do something with that Billy Ray Cyrus lookin' mullet you got going on. There are chores to be done, job duties to be fulfilled, letters to be written and sent, presents to buy and wrap, charities to assist, people to avoid unleashing your wrath on when they run into your heels four times with a grocery cart when you clearly cannot move because of the half-a-dozen people with carts in front of you (grr...poor hubs had this happen). It's hectic, yet beautiul. It's messy yet crystal clear. It's...well...it's the holidays.

For me, the end of my semester is this next week, so I'm facing finals in the midst of all of this, and the two I have ahead of me are a bit heavy handed. Needless to say, though this is pretty much for every day of my life, I MUST have my coffee to get through the day. Today, I started out by running around trying to clean the house and brew coffee at the same time. I'm addicted to multi-tasking. Hi, my name is Tiffany, I'm a tasking and to-do list aholic! Can't help it! Tried to break it. It's who I am.

I finally stop to get that yum-yum cup of pepperminty goodness and GASP!!!! There are grinds in my coffee cup. ACK! "You have got to be kidding me!" "All I want is one single solitary cup of heavenly java, and now I've wasted an entire pot of coffee." HURMPH! Down the drain it went. On to the next pot. It seems the coffee filter folded during brewing.

As the new pot was bubbling, I had time to pause for a moment. I even laughed a bit as I saw a lesson literally brewing. How many times do I have expectations of my life, of people in my life? I tend to expect people to be honest, kind, loving, ethical, to be who and what they say they are, dependable, true. I expect my life to be happy, healthy, joyous and peaceful. These are great expectations to have and though I don't think any of them are unreasonable, what is unreasonable is to expect that my fellow human beings and thus my life, will be perfect and unflawed all of the time. I should come to expect, not cynically however, that mistakes will be made, imperfections to abound, and grace needed. Every once in awhile, I should come expect to find that someone's filter folded and now I have grinds in my life, in my cup.

The thing is, I'll never like the grinds. However, I can learn to see that they too can bring about a sense of peace. Having to take a pause now and again, a pause to reflect on life, a pause to prepare to try again. The grinds can remind me to be thankful for the times of grindlessness. You know, life is often messy and rarely perfect. There are going to be many more times where our anticipated moments of goodness end up filled with the grinds. What's key is how you handle the situation. Are you going to give grace to the imperfections, or let the nature of lack of control over the situation consume you with a fire of anger? Will you, when you cause the grinds to fill someone else's cup, desire to be the recipient of grace or will you want anger lashed at you?

The best part of waking up, today, was grinds in my cup.

Daddy Christmas Tips

2009-12-09T08:25:00.001-06:00

During my daily stroll through the blogosphere, I happened upon this unique post by a pastor and a dad. I though the list was pretty durn good, so I'm re-posting it here. You can visit this pastor's blog at www.resurgence.com. Consider copying and pasting this list into an email and sending it to any dad in your life who might need a Christmas spirit 'jump start'. I think this list can also be translated as 16 Mommy Christmas Tips.

16 Daddy Christmas Tips by Pastor Mark Driscoll

Dad needs...

a plan for the holidays to ensure his family is loved and memories are made. Dad, what’s your plan?
to check the local guides for what’s going on to make fun holiday plans for the family. In Seattle it’s here.
to carve out time for sacred events and experiences to build family traditions that are fun and point to Jesus. Dad, is your calendar ready for December?
to not let the stress of the holidays, including money, cause him to be grumpy with Mom or the kids. Dad, how’s your joy?
to give experiences and not just gifts. Dad, what special memories can you make this holiday season?
to manage the extended family and friends during the holidays. Dad, who or what do you need to say “no” to?
to ensure his family is giving generously during the holidays. Dad, who in need is your family going to adopt and bless?
to schedule a big Christmas daddy date with his daughter. Dad, what’s your big plan for the fancy daddy date?
to schedule guy time with his son. Dad, what are you and your son going to do that is active, outdoors, and fun?
to help Mom get the house decorated. Dad, are you really a big help to Mom with getting things ready?
to ensure some holiday smells and sounds. Dad, is Christmas music on the iPod, is the tree up, and can you smell cookies and cider in your house?
to snuggle up and watch some fun shows with the kids, especially the little ones. Dad, is the DVR set?
to take the family on a drive to see Christmas lights while listening to music and sipping cider. Dad, is it mapped out?
to help Mom get the kids’ rooms decorated. Dad, do the little kids get lights or a small tree in their room?
to read about Jesus and pray over his kids. Dad, how’s your pastoral work going with each of your kids?
to repent of being lazy, selfish, grumpy, or just dumping the holidays on Mom. Dad, are you a servant like Jesus to your family?

Would you add anything to this list? If so, what?

What are you doing to encourage the dads in your life?

I think about the Gospel of Matthew and the story of the birth of Jesus that we celebrate this time of year, and frankly, should celebrate throughout the year. In Luke, we really hear more of the female perspective, the story of Mary. In Matthew, we see the struggle that Joseph had with this pregnancy and the uncertainty of the future. Jospeh could have walked away, but he was obedient to the Lord and listened to the angel, taking Mary as his wife and Jesus, the son of his heart. Joseph loved Mary and his expected son. I wish we could have known more about Joseph because he seems to have been a pretty good father. We know that Joseph was troubled with the faith challenging perdicament of Mary's conception, and yet he had the character and integrity to protect her from harm, including protecting her from public backlash. Joseph would one day teach Jesus the trade of his hands, but he would also teach Jesus the depths of his faith. It's is said that Joseph was faithful to his spiritual practices and made sure to share them with Jesus.

As parents, what are we sharing with our children about what this time of year really means?

Are we showing them through our words and actions that Christmas is about presents and consumption and needless wanting for things that never fulfill? Or, are we instilling in our children, our spouses, our extended families, our friends, and ourselves, that Christmas is about the greatest gift of all. The Christmas present we received and never deserved is the one that would one day suffer and die for us. This is a present to be celebrated. There is no great proof of God's love for us and attentiveness to all of our needs, than the all encompassing gift of Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins."
²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"which means, "God with us."
²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Take a Trip to Hawaii!

2009-12-07T14:30:00.000-06:00

Take a trip with me to Hawaii.

This day in 1941 became a day that would and should indeed "live in infamy". Today marks the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

In January, my family traveled to Hawaii and visited the Pearl Harbor memorial. It was moving and powerful. Below is a brief slide show of a few of my photos from that day. My prayer is that the lives that were lost are never forgotten. I also pray that we and generations to come, never fail to remember how fortunate we are to have the freedoms we do. How honored I am to have been protected and fought for by those I never met.

Very few of us were around during this war, however, we have all watched movies, heard stories, read books, seen photos, learned the history of...this fateful day. What thoughts, prayers, learning memories do you have associated with Pearl Harbor?

Speech by FDR on December 8th, 1941

"Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire."

Lordy, Lordy...it's an Awardy!

2009-12-05T10:08:00.000-06:00

Thank you, Andrea at Arise 2 Write!

~ This is a great blog...check it out! ~

I'm sending my "the Circle of Friends" award to all of my followers. The way I see it, you're all fabulous enough to follow Coffee, God and Me, therefore, you're a part of my circle of friends. Not yet following this blog? Follow now and grab yourself this award. All you have to do is publish it on your blog, referring to the friend who passed it on...me...Freddae'...@ Coffee, God and Me. Then, share five things that you like to do. Lastly, pass it along to 5 friends (or more)!

5 Things I Like To Do:

1. Grow closer to God and strengthen that relationship; teach others about God
2. Spend time with my family and kiss on my son
3. Travel
4. Blog, Read, Write
5. Scrapbook

My Very Chic Christmas

2009-12-04T18:30:00.000-06:00

Photo Courtesy of House to Home

I have borrowed this 'Christmas List' idea from Bugs and Boys

1. Does your family send Christmas cards?
Every year and I'm admitidly obsessive about it. I usually order them the first part of November so that I'm stuffing and addressing by mid-November and putting them in the mail the day before Thanksgiving. I love getting Christmas cards so I'm pretty on point with sending them out.

2. How soon do you start shopping?:
I don't do last minute or Black Friday shopping because I know my limits with people. I want to avoid tempting my ugly side. ;-p I shop throughout the year. Thanks mom for teaching me the good habit. This way the costs are deadly at the end of the year and I avoid Christmas debt. Plus, I can take advantage of great deals/sales through the year.

3. Who do you shop for?:
Everyone. I'd give every person something if I could, so I do what I can. Christmas cards are usually a decent bill between the card and the postage, so most everyone gets that. Then I focus on our immediate family...parents, children, siblings, nieces/nephews. I try and do something nice for my babysitter and neighbors and friends...but it depends on what we can do. Sometimes, it might just be a bone for their dog.

4. Do you put up a Christmas tree?:
The day after Thanksgiving.

5. If so, is it fake or real?:
Fake. I've never had a real tree as my parents had one and it ruined their vacuum, so no more there. And now, Hubs is allergic.

6. Do you like tinsel?:
No. It's too much of a mess.

7. Do you use homemade or store bought ornaments?:
Both. Ham picks out a new ornament each year and I pick one out to celebrate our marriage.

8. Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?:
Hubs is Clark Griswold.

9. Do you put lights on the tree?:
Yes.

10. How about popcorn and cranberries?:
Never have but it might be fun to try when Ham is older.

11. Is there a wreath hanging on your door?:
Sure is.

13. Do you hang up your stocking?:
Yes...one for each of us.

14. Does your family read "Twas the night before Christmas?":
Ham and I do.

15. Christmas Movie?:
Rudolph, Frosty (NOT FROSTY RETURNS), Santa Claus (Tim Allen), Mickey Christmas Carol, Home Alone, Love Actually

16. Character from any Christmas Movie:
Kevin McAlister

17. Christmas Song:
I like Run, Run Rudolph...but I love all of them, especially Christmas Hymns like First Noel and O' Holy Night.

18. Christmas Memory:
She previous post.

19. Give or Receive?:
Give...I'm a giver to a fault.

22. Ham or Turkey?:
Our family tradition is Oyster Soup and Chili, with shrimp cocktail and punch as we open gifts.

24. White Lights or Colored Lights?
Both.

25. Blinking Lights or Still Lights:
Both

26. Were you Naughty or Nice this year?:
Depends on who you ask. LOL! - That's funny, Billie, and I agree.

27. What do you want for Christmas this year?:
Another baby. More time with my grandma. To be 100% debt free. For TRUE peace on earth. To love Jesus more. For family to learn to love each other. For another good year. For health and happiness.

28. When do you open your gifts?:
Christmas Eve...mostly. Then we open small stocking gifts on Christmas morning.

29. What's the best gift you've ever gotten?:
My son...it was Christmas in May.

30. What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?:
I don't know....

31. Who gives you the most gifts?:
Hubs and mom/dad.

32. Have you ever had a secret Santa?:
Yes.

33. Do you like wrapping gifts?:
Sometimes.

34. Do you put change in those red buckets?:
I used to. Not so much anymore. We have a couple of favorite charities that we try to donate to instead. - Exactly Billie.

35. Do you burn a yule log?:
No.

36. Can you name all the reindeer?:
Rudolph!!!! That's it right?!

37. Do you bake cookies?:
Not really.

38. Have you ever seen your mommy kissing Santa Clause?:
No.

39. Have you ever gotten a kiss under the mistletoe?:
I actually don't think I have.

41. Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights?:
Each and every year we take one night to drive around and look at the lights. We put Christmas music on the radio, have hot cocoa and peppermint coffee for me and soak it all up.

42. Have you ever left Santa cookies?:
Always.

43. Have you ever sat on Santa's lap?:
When I was younger.

44. Who do you celebrate Christmas with?:
Hubs, Ham, and lots of extended family members.

45. Where do you celebrate Christmas?:
At my parents home, usually.

46. Have you ever had a white Christmas?:
I grew up in Colorado so I almost always had one. Now that I live in Oklahoma, it's extremely rare. I LOVE white Christmas'.

47. What part of Christmas do you look most forward to?:
Time with my family and now watching my son light up. I also love Christmas Eve service at church.

48. Have you ever had your picture taken with Santa?:
Yes.

49. Does your family always take pictures at Christmas?
Yes, but there are not of the formal variety.

50. Have you ever heard the song "Thank God For The Kids"?:
Nope.

Fa, la, la, la - A Christmas Carol - Not to Remember

2009-12-04T10:47:00.002-06:00

Last night, Ham, Hubs and I enjoyed a Family Date Night. When we added Ham's grandma and papa, it became even more fun! We started with a nice meal at the Elephant Bar and then headed over to the mall to visit Santa. Ham was so excited and we had prepped him up (big time) for what to expect when meeting Santa so he wasn't too shy. None-the-less, Ham was still VERY shy. He did manage to tell Santa what he wanted...barely. "I want a Buzz Lightyear," he said so softly the poor old Santa could barely hear him. Then, being the fabulous Santa that he is, he takes Ham's hand and says, "Well...what about Woody?" Boom...Ham smiles, ice is broken. We didn't get much of a smile for the photo as so many people were watching, but Ham couldn't stop talking about how cool it was to see Santa.

After Santa time, I got to do a little shopping, which was great because Santa's helper gave me a 20% off coupon to Gymboree and I got to add that to the already amazing 30-40% off sale inside Gymboree. This girl got deals, y'all!!!

Then off to see A Christmas Carol with Jim Carey. DDUUUDDDEEE!!! DO NOT TAKE YOUNG CHILDREN TO THIS MOVIE!!!!! I had not been warned. I thought it looked cute, it was Disney, it was animated, it was CHRISTMAS, but I was SOOO very wrong. The Dickens story is still as timeless as ever and I love the story. The imagery and graphics in the movie were amazing and totally awesome. BUT...it was darn right scary! I mean, I kept elbowing Hubs because I could not figure out what in the world they were doing with this movie. I think I prayed the whole way through that it wouldn't scare my kid, but he was in a popcorn coma so I think he generally survived it although he did sleep in our room last night, but OMG!!! Outrageous. It's just Tim Burton "ish" scary. Totally threw me for a loop. I guess I'm going to stick with the Mickey Mouse Christmas Carol from now on. And...I must be honest...confession time here...it SCARED me. Anyway, it wasn't all for naught as Ham really understood the story for a 3 1/2 year old. Even my parents were astounded by the production. Of course my dad recalled being a kid and how scary he thought the Christmas Carol was back then. "I never really found it scary dad," I told him. Come to find out, it's because the only version he'd let us watch was the Mickey Mouse one. ;-p Gotta love parents. Live and learn.

Ham at the Elephant Bar

Ham and Mommy (aka Freddae', aka me) at dinner

Ham with Santa. We got this much of a smile because Santa starting tickling him.

Good work, Santa!

~ My Project ~

This is my office. This is my office on Christmas. This is my office

due to the affects of a long, crazy, semester at seminary that is

quickly coming to an end with finals, projects and papers.

This is my office which has now become the household "junk drawer".

This is my office which has no functionality whatsoever.

This is my office which needs my help.

These are photos of my horribly embarassing yet 'representative of my life' office

which I have chosen to share with you as a motivator to tackle this project

on my "To Do...NOW" list.

Stay tuned to see how long it takes me to take this office and in the words of

Tim Gunn, "Make it Work!"

* The following is not for the weak of heart or successfully organized maidens.*

Proceed with Caution!

I promise, there is a couch under there somewhere.

At one point, this was a desk.

Oh the horror and shame! **Head hung VERY low**

Fabutastic Christmas Video!!!

2009-12-03T11:45:00.001-06:00

I just downloaded this song on iTunes and can't stop listening to it! I'm obsessed...I love the mash up with Africa.

Santa Baby

2009-12-03T09:26:00.005-06:00

My Favorite Christmas Memory

It was Christmas 2006 and my family had traveled to South Dakota to celebrate the holiday with family there. Growing up, we would alternate the host of Christmas Eve between my parents, my grandparents and my aunt & uncle's house. This year was grandma's year to host. Little did I know then, it would be grandma's last year to host Christmas.

This was an extra special Christmas for me. You see, for several years I had asked Santa, more like God, for a baby. Every where I turned I ran into fertility Scrooge's who said it would never happen for us. But this year, my arms were filled with the best Christmas present ever...my son.

Hambone was almost six months old that Christmas. My favorite holiday, which I never thought could get better than it already was, became so much sweeter. My heart overflowed with joy, abundance and love as I watched my grandmother hold my son to take photos. Ham was wearing an adorable Santa outfit and grandma couldn't get enough of him.

Looking back now, I thank God for that Christmas. I thank God for the hope of Jesus, for the love of good people and for the giggles of new babies. I thank God for that last Christmas at grandma's home and that she got to know my child. I thank God for last year's Christmas, my first turn at hosting, my first and last opportunity to serve grandma a meal on her own china. I have missed her every second since she left in March, but memories like these keep her alive in my heart and I just can't wait to see her again. That's the hope, the love, the promise of Christmas.

Baby Ham, My Sweet Grandma, and me - Christmas 2006

Grandma and Hubs - Grandma made the ceramic Santa for Hubs - Christmas 2006

Christmas 2008 - Our last Christmas with Grandma. She had given me her china and I was so honored to serve her this meal on her dishes.

How Much More...?

2009-12-02T09:51:00.004-06:00

Matthew 6:25-34

‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of Godand hisrighteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.'

It was two weeks before Christmas and ice covered the streets of Oklahoma City. It was dark that night and quite cold as several vehicles pulled into the parking lot of a downtown church. People exited their warm cars and quickly entered the side of the church, their hands filled with trays of salad, dishes of piping hot lasagna, bowls of fruit and plastic containers of the finest of store bought cookies.

Nearly 20 people ran in and out of this pint-sized kitchen in the basement of this old church. Everyone was scurrying to make sure that the food was ready and to make sure that their church family members had all arrived safely. You see, the church they were at was a church well known in the community for its mission work and, in particular, its warm meals on a cold, blistery winter Saturday night. Teams from churches around the state signed up months in advance to help serve a Saturday night meal to the homeless and the hungry at Skyline United Methodist Church.

For one person, a young woman, who had never been to Skyline before and who had never served a meal to the homeless, this night was going to be filled with new experiences that she could not have even imagined. Oh, she knew God was going to do great things that night, but she had no idea just how clearly God was going to talk to her.

Before the meal was served, the pastor of the church led a beautiful service complete with music and a message of Christmas hope. There was also a time of offering. As the young woman looked around the room, she couldn’t imagine that these people had much to give. She was sure all they were wanting was warmth and comfort and food. And she was sure the offering plate would be the only empty plate that night. But the pastor announced a different kind of offering. He passed out prayer cards and asked that each person right down a prayer request and that if they did not want it read aloud, to write “For Pastor Only” at the top. After the offering had been collected, the pastor began to read the prayers. There were prayers for health and prayers for shelter, prayers for food and prayers for jobs. But there was one prayer the young woman was not prepared to hear.

“Dear Lord,” the pastor read, “I’ve been living under a bridge for the last two weeks. It’s been cold and lonely and miserable. But I know you will meet all of my needs. I pray that if I could have just one thing for Christmas, it would be a comb, as I have not been able to brush my hair since I was kicked out onto the streets.”

A comb. All this woman wanted for Christmas, when it would have been understandable for her to ask for the world, was a simple, solitary, comb.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find our scripture situated in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. The disciples are worried and have great anxiety about the future and what is to come. This worrying and anxiety is causing the disciples to waver in their faith and to question that which may lie ahead further on down the road.

In our lives, we can find two prominent levels of anxiety. The first is minor anxiety, like where we misplaced our keys, or deciding what outfit to where for the upcoming Christmas party. The second level is of major anxiety. In our scripture, Jesus talks about this kind of anxiety in the idea of the trinity of care: eat, drink and wear.

To this, Jesus responds to the disciples by doing what he does best and asking them the tough questions. You know, like about the birds. They neither sow nor reap; yet God provides for and takes care of them and they are fed. Are you not of more value to God than the birds? And what about those lilies of the field? If God clothes the grass, will the Lord not clothe you? How much more will God provide for you than for the birds and the lilies? How much more? If you believe, if you have faith that you are of a great value to God than the birds and the lilies, why worry about what you should trust in God to provide? If God says our needs are known and will be provided for, why worry at all?

In five verses of this 10-verse portion of scripture, that’s half of this lesson mind you, Jesus talks about worrying. In three of those five verses, Jesus tells us clearly, “do not worry.”

It is said that 85% of all that we worry about, never happens. Of the 15% that does, worrying never changed the outcome.

In verse 27, Jesus asks the disciples, “and can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?”

The reality is that not only is it impossible to add time to our lives, by worrying, we in fact subtract time from our lives. Worrying affects our health, mental and physical, not to mention, spiritual. Worrying steals time from our lives and from the lives of those around us. When we worry, it consumes us to the point of being the first and the last thing we think about every day. Worrying separates us from God and debilitates our ability to trust and to serve.

Worrying often places an undue focus on possessions and our ability to control or not control certain circumstances. Worrying throws off our balance of needs and priorities.

Jesus was teaching the disciples that worrying displaces what should be their one priority, to seek first God’s kingdom and will. Rather than worrying, the disciples should be focusing on doing God’s will. Following God’s will is a call upon all of us and in focusing our attention on God, not on ourselves or our worries, we can see better that the one who has called us to this organic and progressive lifestyle is the Creator and Provider of all. In following that call, we are trusting in God our Creator and Provider and we are trusting in God’s providential care.

Our faith should not be something we do as a ritual to get what we want for ourselves. Rather, our faith is to be a symbol of our obedience to ABBA’s will and our subsequent trust that God will take care of us and satisfy our needs. Our faith is our belief that God will quench our thirst, fulfill our hunger and clothe us in righteousness and warmth. It is our trust that God’s ways are greater than our own and greater than the ways of our world.

When we trust, when we are focused on the glory of our Lord, it is hard to be anything less than thankful and abundantly grateful.

A study conducted by two professors, one at the University of California, Davis and the other at the University of Miami; found that gratitude and thankfulness are integral components of health and overall well-being. Here are some interesting results of this study:[1]

· Those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events.

· Those who kept gratitude lists were more likely to make progress towards personal goals.

· Children who practice grateful thinking have more positive attitudes toward school and their families.

· Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions and lower levels of depression and stress.

· Those who regularly attend religious services and engage in religious activities such as prayer and reading religious material are more likely to be grateful.

· Grateful individuals place less importance on material goods; they are less likely to judge their own and others success in terms of possessions accumulated; they are less envious of others; and are more likely to share their possessions with others relative to less grateful persons.

· People with a strong disposition toward gratitude have the capacity to be empathetic and to take the perspective of others. They are found to be more generous and helpful.

· Those with grateful and thankful attitudes were more likely to report having helped someone with a personal problem or having offered emotional support to another.

It wasn’t shocking to discover that those who were more grateful for the blessings in their lives and their needs, which God had provided for and fulfilled, were both happier and more likely to serve others.

It’s like cracking the special code at the end of the mystery novel. God tells us over and over again through the Bible to give thanks and to be thankful. God also tells us repeatedly that we are to love others and give to others and serve others and do all the good we can for others. Is it no wonder than that being thankful leads to happiness and happiness leads to serving and serving leads back to happiness, which connects back to us giving more thanks. It’s a beautiful woven tapestry; an intricate gift from God to us.

I think back to that woman who had one simple wish for Christmas. A wish for a comb to brush her hair. I remember being that young woman who stood wide eyed in the back of the sanctuary hearing God’s voice so clearly in this prayer request. You see, the simple gift of a hairbrush touched me greatly. But it was what she said before that that transformed my thinking. She said, “Dear Lord, I’ve been living under a bridge for the last two weeks. It’s been cold and lonely and miserable. But I know you will meet all of my needs.” Even in her condition; homeless, hungry, and cold, she had faith. She had the hope and trust that God loved her and would take care of her because God loved her that much.

She was right. God would provide for her. That night she had a warm meal in belly. A warm coat on her back. And she left that church with a smile on her face, “thanks” on her lips, a meal in a to go box for her new outdoor neighbor and…a hairbrush in her pocket.

God will provide for us. God always has and God always will.

Let the spirit of Christmas fill your hearts and quench your worries, for there is no greater proof of God’s attentiveness to our needs than the indescribable gift of His only Son who is the eternal hope of this season and our lives. God loves us that much. How much more do you need?

Amen.

[1] Emmons, Robert A. (UC Davis) and McCullough, Michael E. (U of Miami). Highlights from the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness. (http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/labs/emmons).

World AIDS Day - December 1st

2009-11-30T20:31:00.004-06:00

World AIDS Day - Today I'm daring to imagine a world without AIDS. I'm praying for those who have it, those who will contract it, those who won't survive it, those who have lost people they love because of it, those who judge and do not understand it, those who can help make a difference in a world that knows it and for a cure that will conquer it.

I'm observing and participating in raising awareness for AIDS today. I've never really gotten involved before, but this year, due to a community event at the seminary I attend, I have become involved and passionately so. I want to do so much more than just raise awareness and hand out resources, but I realize that each step I take and each word I speak out on AIDS makes a difference.

It reminds me of the story about the star fish. There was an old man walking along a beach. In the distance he notices that hundreds and thousands of star fish have washed up upon the shore. He also sees a little boy walking along the beach, picking up star fish and throwing them back into the sea, one my one. The old man asks the young boy, "don't you know you can't save them all? What you're doing isn't going to make a difference or even matter." The little boy responds to the old man by picking up another star fish. He looks at the fish, then up at the old man. The little boys tosses the star fish into the ocean and says, "it mattered to that one."

It might feel today that doing something, anything, is just picking up star fish out of a shore full of them, but know this, whatever you do, big or little...it matters. Do it in the love that Christ has shown you and dare to imagine a world without AIDS. Step up today, grab a star fish and make a difference.

How will you observe World AIDS Day?

I challenge you to post on Twitter, Facebook and your Blog about World AIDS Day. Let your voice be heard as it will be the loud speaker on which millions of voices will be heard.

D'Vine Times - Breckenridge '09

2009-11-30T07:20:00.006-06:00

In high school, waaay back when, I met three girls who would decorate my life with their beauty, their friendship, their laughter and their love. Last year the four of us began a new tradition, our Annual Girl's Weekend, and kicked it off in Las Vegas. This year, we took our fabulousness to Frisco and Breckenridge, CO. For those of you who don't know, I grew up and spent my formative years in Colorado. My girls still live there, but I had to bust out, run to OK and marry a country boy. Who knew that would happen? Anyway, it was a beautiful weekend, lots of fun and I enjoyed being surround by my girls and my mountains.

Downtown Frisco, CO.

Our Cabin

I cannot even tell you how much I love that snowman chest of drawers.

Eating Mexican food in Breckenridge. We had Blackberry Margaritas!
I didn't even know there were Blackberry Margaritas.
GS, KK & KG - The Girls

My favorite photo from our weekend.
GS, Me, KK and KG

D'Vine Wine in Breckenridge
This was an awesome little winery we stumbled across and ran into
when we read the sign, "Wine Tasting". It was well worth it.
They had amazing wines and an cozy atmosphere.

Me, KK, GS and KG
Four Girl's Gone Wine

Okay, that's me being goofy as usual.
But the fabutastic part? That is a Wine-A-Rita I'm enjoying!
A Blackberry Wine-A-Rita I might add. Scrumptious!!!

My lovely GS. See...we're all goofy together.

Beautiful Colorado Mountains...How I Miss You!

GS and I enjoying Peppermint Mocha's before catching a movie.

KK and her Peppermint Mocha before the movie.

What movie did we see? Um...it was opening weekend and yes, we've all read the books.
It was New Moon time baby!
I think we all agreed the book was better, but the movie was still fun.

Last snapshot before heading home.
Me, KG and GS.

What an amazing weekend. Wish I was still there, but next year we're going to Mexico.
Is it September yet? September 2010 = Mexico Baby!!!

$10.5 Million to Fight Gender Violence

2009-11-29T18:53:00.003-06:00

~ This is a wonderful move towards ending global violence. We have a responsibility to fight for the least of these. Our sisters and daughters, nieces and mothers, girlfriends and ourselves. Speak out to make a difference in your world. Support local efforts in your area to fight the epidemic of violence against women and against all humanity.~

November 25, 2009
Article Published in Feminist Daily News

UN Pledges Millions to Fight Violence Against Women

The United Nations announced Tuesday $10.5 million in new grants to bolster international efforts to end violence against women.

The funds, which were announced in honor of the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women today, will assist 13 initiatives in 18 countries and territories. The UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women, overseen by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), will disperse the grants.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged governments and international organizations to strengthen their work on gender-based violence, and emphasized the prevalence of such violence:

"Some 70 percent of women experience in their lifetime some form of physical or sexual violence from men -- the majority from husbands, intimate partners or someone they know. This is unacceptable," he said.

The UN also launched on Tuesday the Network of Men Leaders, a coalition of public and private leaders working to stop violence against women. Prominent members of the Network include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and Brazilian novelist and UN Messenger of Peace Paulo Coelho.

US Vice President Joseph Biden called on Americans to join international efforts to stop violence against women, in a statement released today. "Violence against women is found in every culture around the world. It is one of our most pervasive global problems," he said.

The US is leading UN efforts to end the use of rape as a tactic of war, according to Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the UN. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is working with the UN Security Council to increase prevention efforts against sexual violence and hold perpetrators accountable, she said.

Media Resources: United Nations 11/24/09; United Nations 11/24/09; White House 11/25/09; United States Mission to the United Nations 11/25/09

Frosty Returns...Or Needs to be Returned

2009-11-29T09:08:00.004-06:00

I love Christmas and I love the Christmas season. One thing I enjoy is watching Christmas movies. There are a couple that I look forward to watching every year. Some of these are the old classic cartoons of Rudolph, Santa, the Grinch and Frosty. The other day I decided to put on Frosty and share the classic with my son. We loved Frosty and it remains a timeless favorite.

But then...

There was an option to watch Frosty Returns. Huh. I don't think I've seen Frosty Returns. So I push play and the fun begins. It doesn't take long before I realize that I have seen this before and why it was I erased it quickly from my brain data bank. I suppose its probably not that big of a deal to some, but I think my eyeballs about popped out of my head. Not in horror, or disgust necessarily, but in a very awkward, "what did she just say" kinda way.

Within the first five minutes, we're introduced to two characters, a little girl and her friend Charles. It's snow day! Charles enters the little girls house and asks her why she's not outside playing. Then he says, "let's go outside and make a fertility goddess." Ha, ha - wait, what? Then my 3 year old says, "mom, what's a fertility goddess?" Oh dear Lord, what is happening? Suddenly I'm in a Pink Floyd remix of toddlers and fertility and I'm not liking it. AWKWARD!

Then the little girl, who is attempting to saw her friend Charles in half (magic trick), looses her hat as it blows out the window. She runs after her hat and this is where she runs into Frosty. But pay no mind to Frosty because here comes her mother. "Oh there you are. You realize you left Charles all alone. Now how are you going to feel when he grows up and has to join a support group." Ha, ha - wait, what? I think I sprained an eyelash with the uncontrollable blinking that ensued.

I'm not really sure I have a point here. I think I'm just stunned. I mean...Frosty + fertility goddess + support group + (this comes later) chemical removal of all snow = WTH (what the heck - yup, pulling out the PG version) people.

Oh well. The world is such a funny place. I just thought I would share this because I've been giggling about it and had to tell you. I'm not sure Frosty Returns will be returning to my TV but it was an interesting experience. By the way, there is another Frosty movie, Frosty in Wonderland or something like that, where it talks all about Frosty needing to get himself a wife. Yeah...I'm not even going to tell you what I think about that. Geez people, don't you know these movies are for kids. They want magic and morals and happy gum drop feelings.

Ok, nuff said.

Give Away - Free Empowerment Bracelet

2009-11-27T09:22:00.005-06:00

Happy Holiday's readers! In case you didn't know, I sell Avon to help with the costs of school. Click on the image above and it will take you directly to my website for great savings and FREE SHIPPING over the next couple of days. When you order online, it ships directly to you...no waiting on the "Avon Lady". There is something for everyone on your list and at the best prices of the season.

If you place an order of $15 or more between now and Tuesday, I will personally send you a free gift of the Women's Empowerment bracelet by Avon. Proceeds from this bracelet go to help Avon in their fight against domestic violence. *Learn more by clicking the bracelet below*

Day 2 - Days of Thanks

2009-11-25T09:06:00.004-06:00

Something I enjoy doing is searching Google Images for unique photos representing life in all its stages and expressions. I found this photo this morning and felt it speaking to me in many ways. As I stared at the photo, the word thankful kept ringing in my head and it gave life to this image. Today, I'm thankful for prayer. I'm thankful for the little hands that so sweetly and innocently pray to this great, big God with such promise and hope and certainty. I'm thankful for the youthful hands that pray to God for understanding, value, acceptance - all in a time of such growth and awkwardness. I'm thankful for the praying hands of college students, newly weds, new parents, singles, the lost and lonely, the abandoned, the divorced, the beaten and weary, the oppressed, the hungry, the sick, the joyful, the churched and the unchurched. I'm thankful for the praying hands that have prayed for me, for my family, for peace, for our soldiers, our doctors, our politicians, our teachers, our firefighters, paramedics and police officers. I'm thankful for the praying hands of our clergy, our friends, our children, our parents, our siblings and our spouses. I'm thankful for the praying hands of our grandparents, the shut-ins, the neglected, the elderly. I'm thankful for the praying hands of the Alzheimer's unit to which I minister. I'm thankful for the praying hands of our Savior who prayed for us, for our souls, for our salvation, for our children, for our lives, for our forgiveness. I'm thankful for those same praying hands that spread open wide on a cross and embraced us all, loved us all, forgave us all, accepted us all, interceded for us all. I'm thankful that when I know not what else to do, I can always turn to our God, El Shaddai, and know that God will hold my praying hands. I'm thankful for praying hands.