When Does Christmas Happen?

When Does Christmas Happen?

When does Christmas happen for you? In The Salvation Army we are kept very busy with Christmas happenings. The first stage is planning. We plan how we will do it all. (This usually takes place in the summer.) For the needs of the community the next stage is the interviewing. We interview people to see if their families will qualify for Christmas assistance or if another partner agency will help them. Then we interview prospective volunteers and employees who will be responsible for raising money at a kettle which will go toward taking care of people. The next stage is gathering. We have to gather all the resources we need to take care of the people who have been identified as those we can help. The next stage is the delivery and distribution of resources. We have to get those resources to the distribution sites and that takes even more volunteers. (Praise God for volunteers.) Then you have the clean up stage which takes you long past Christmas Day. Finally you have the thank you letters and reports. Oh, don’t forget about evaluation and planning for next year. That is a lot of happening.

In addition to the community needs for Christmas, there are the congregational needs of the corps, the needs of family, the officers in charge, and the needs of the organization. Add to that the pressure society and culture put on us to purchase and give gifts, send cards and be merry. We have a lot driving us and a lot happening. These things can keep Christmas from happening.

During our corporate times of worship we read the Christmas Story, sing the Christmas songs, and hear or preach the Christmas sermons. That should help Christmas to happen, but even the most alert and devout among us can miss Christmas.

For me Christmas is that one special glimpse of God’s love where He gives me a special miracle moment for a memory. Once it was in the tears of a grateful mother at the Toy and Joy Shop who was now able to give her children food and toys. Once it was tiny senior woman that opened the door to us so we could deliver a food box and tree. Once it was the surprised look on my husband’s face because he was not expecting to get two sweaters. Another time it was the awkward moment with my family as I tried to read a Christmas scripture and began to cry because they did not seem to hear the truth because their hearts were hardened by all the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Many times it has come while I was singing a familiar carol and discovered new meanings to a phrase. One time it was a young person from our corps giving me a gift that they had sacrificed time and money to obtain. God designed me in such a way that gifts of time and revelation are more important than things. So I have to remember that He will send Christmas in the way I least expect it. I have to keep my eyes and heart open to receive it.

How about you? How does Christmas happen for you in the midst of Christmas happenings?

The magi were looking for it, but in the wrong places and had to be put back on the right path. The scholars had preconceived ideas and missed it. The shepherds were in a quiet place and were surprised by it. The angels announced it. Most people missed it. Many of us still miss it. Please don’t miss Christmas this year.

Hark the herald angels sing: “Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled.” This was the description on the new born King. Jesus was God’s peace offering, offered in mercy so that humankind could be reconciled with God. Jesus was the spotless lamb given as a sacrifice so that we could know the love of God. Jesus is God’s gift of Grace! For me this was Christmas this year. Has it happened for you?

Win One Woman – Win Our World for Jesus’ sake!

WOW Numbers for October

Report For October Looks Good! We are so happy that we are dancing. We rejoice over the victories and weep for the loses, every ONE is important to us.

The numbers are in for Women’s Ministries attendance for the month of October 2006. (The first month of the WOW Initiative) Please God, let this good trend continue and catch on!

We saw an increase! There were 2,000 more women in WM meetings in October 2006 than in 2005. (Last year we saw a decrease by 1,500 so it is an even better increase in that we are 500 over the attendance of October 2004! These are round numbers.)

The following five divisions saw increases, Cascade, Golden State, Hawaii, Southern California, and Southwest. Congratulations to all of those who worked hard. If we all Win One Woman for the Kingdom of Heaven, for The Salvation Army and for our Women’s Ministries groups this year we will grow!

Keep Praying (POW – Prayers of Women, Prayers of Warriors). Keep in the Word of God and be Women of the Word who pray for Women of the World to come to Jesus!

Have you made your list of those people you can win for Jesus this year? Have more than one on your list and pray for them. Remember that every day could be the day God will put you in the path to sow a seed into the life of an unsaved person or water a seed that has been planted. You may even get to harvest a seed that is ready to know Jesus. WOW!

WORDS THAT WOUND

“Sticks and stones may break my bones”… Are you familiar with that childhood rhyme? It continues: “but words will never hurt me.” I am not exactly sure what age I was when my Mom taught it to me. I do know that I was under six. I vaguely remember the occasion. An unkind child wounded me with their words and I ran into the house crying. The funny thing about it was the unkind child was most likely my slightly older sister. The unkind words did hurt and I went to the one person I knew who could make things better, my Mom.

She did the “Mom Thing”. She wiped my tears. Reminded me that she loved me. She told me to go back out and face my tormentor(s). What were her words of wisdom? Don’t let people know their words hurt you and they will leave you alone. She also taught me the rhyme about sticks, stones and words. My Mom’s intentions were good and most of her advice worked. However, she was wrong. Words do hurt. Words make invisible wounds that can be much harder to heal than physical wounds.

Words spoken in anger, in malice, and even the “accidental” outburst of a hard truth wound the mind and soul. Words are sharp instruments. We can use them to hurt or to heal. Think about it. A knife in the hands of a physician can cut out a dangerous infection or growth. A knife in the hands of an evil person can cause great harm and even death.

The holidays are coming. This wonderful time of the year is also one of the most stressful times of the year. We want things to be perfect and we stress out trying to produce perfection. We dwell on the past and relive memories. Not all of these memories are sweet. One of the first people to wound a child by their words will most likely be a family member. Families and friends love us and are usually the safe people to be around. However, life happens and words are spoken. Words, once spoken, cannot be erased.

Common wounding words spoken by families and friends are comparisons, out bursts of anger, and negative observations. Have you ever heard any of these phrases, “You will never amount to much.” “Why are you so lazy?” “Why can’t you get good grades like your sister?” “Why don’t you play sports like your cousin?”

Our brains replay the wounding words we hear until we believe them. Those words program us to believe certain things about ourselves. Can you recall any of the “prophecies” that wounding words programmed into you? Perhaps you heard, “You are just like your father.” “You are slower than others.” “You will always fail.” Identifying the wounding words is one of the first steps to break their power over you.

Do you remember wounding another person by your words? Perhaps you did it intentionally. Perhaps the words just slipped out of you mouth. It happened. The truth is that once words leave our mouths, or computers they cannot be taken back. There is no room for retraction in real time or cyber-space. Even when we repent and apologize, the words have made their mark.

As God’s people we are to speak positive words, healing words. The Psalmist prayed and asked God to put a guard over his lips. I like that idea. Also we can pray the following prayer found in Psalm 19. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.”

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the writing of Paul in Ephesians 4, gives us this command: “Stop being bitter, angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”

How will your holidays be different in light of this command? Will you change your words? Will you choose to react differently when you feel wounded? Will you forgive? Romans 12, tells us that we can only act and react differently when we become different. We become new when we allow God to renew our minds. In Psalm 119 the psalmist teaches that we can keep ourselves pure when we meditate on the Word of God.

God’s Word is living and sharper than a two edged sword. Jesus is also called the Word of God. Our hope for happy days is literally found in the Word. Allow God to heal the wounds that separate you from family and friends. Allow God to set a guard over your lips and fill your mouth with positive healing words. Allow The Word of God to renew you, fill you and bless you.

Honor God

I would like to share the following story with you:

Honor God

Hallowed Be Thy Name

After she finished breakfast, Katie rushed to put on her shoes. A new day is always full of wonderful surprises for a little girl. When Katie went outside, she saw that the field behind her house sprouted the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. They reminded her of the bouquet of flowers their neighbor Molly brought over last week. She remembered how much her mother enjoyed those flowers.

Katie ran into the field and began to pick a bouquet for her mom. Because Katie really wanted to show her mother how much she loved her, she spent all morning trying to find the most beautiful flowers in the field.

Molly stood and stretched. Gardening is hard work, but her beautiful roses were the reward. Everyone loved them and that made her feel good. Molly looked over the fence, into the field behind her house. She spotted Katie Larson playing. When she saw Katie she thought of Marcia. “Marcia loves my roses and she hasn’t felt well. I will take over a bouquet. Perhaps they will cheer her up.”

Molly prepared some of her best roses to take over to her neighbor. An hour later she knocked on the door. Marcia answered. She saw Molly and the roses. She smiled and said, “Oh, Molly, these are absolutely beautiful. Come in and have some iced tea with me.”

The two neighbors sipped their tea and chatted. The morning sipped away. Katie rushed in just as Molly was about to leave. Katie was hot, dirty and sweaty. Her dirty hands grasped a bunch of weeds, a simple bouquet of wild flowers. Katie’s face beamed with the love she felt for her mother. She reached out to give her heart felt expression of love to her mother. The picture suddenly transformed.

Through the eyes of love the hot, dirty and sweaty little girl became a princess. Through the eyes of love the wilting, smelly weeds became the most beautiful bouquet either of the women had ever seen.

Many times our feeble efforts to honor God are like wildflower bouquets offered in love by a dirty, sweaty child. Love, true love transforms them. When our weed bouquets are a heartfelt expression of our love for God, there is nothing more glorious. They are even more wonderful than the angel’s greatest hymns!

“Our Father, Who art in Heaven…” help us to honor Your Name.

This Christmas Season most of you are working hard and producing great things for God. What ever you do, make sure it is an offering of love so that you honor God. You are loved.