The Origin of "Xmas".....be informed before reacting

As believers, before we jump to conclusions about the use of "Xmas" instead of "Christmas", we all need to be informed! I know I am certainly guilty of sometimes reading something that was forwarded, passed on, and putting "stock" in it when I've not taken the time to check it out. Or in some cases it might be something I just always assumed was true or wrong or whatever it is I've thought for as long as I can remember.

"Xmas" is a perfect example of how we need to be a thinking people who check things out for ourselves.

I encourage going to the attached link and reading the article:

http://www.cresourcei.org/symbols/xmasorigin.html

To be a turtle or not....

What a journey filled with changes I've been on this past year! If God had revealed to me what was ahead, I certainly would have pulled my head inside my shell, given my turtle-like ways! Am I THANKFUL that He's the One who's omniscient and not me!

I've been implementing a new approach to studying the Scriptures in my "Him time", idea courtesy of my husband via John MacArthur....his Bible teacher/hero. MacArthur challenges his listeners & students of the Word to consider reading a partiular book of the Bible all the way through every day for 30 days (this works for the smaller epistles easily; for longer books, they would need to be divided up into sections).

So, because I've seen my Neal grow to have such a great command of Scripture, I decided I needed to reconsider another of my turtle-like ways (taking a very slow approach and making lists, digging out the Greek or Hebrew meanings of words, cross-referencing, etc.), and give it a try. I have to admit that the first 2 weeks were the hardest. But there seems to be a "hump" to get over, and once past that, I really began to see the value of this "method" of study.

I've actually been in the book of Galatians since about the 20 something of October, but because I hadn't completed a full month, I decided to continue through November. And, I'm amazed at how the Word is getting IN me. Equally astounding is how the Lord is using it right where I am in my walk with Him and showing me how to apply the specific truths He's teaching me.

I don't necessarily believe this method is the way I will study for the rest of my life. But for now, the Spirit is prompting, so I'm yielding and God is rewarding me with a fresh richness in His Word.

This CHANGE should NOT come as a suprise to me since 2008 has been totally about uprooting just about everything in my life from changes with our immediate & extended family life, our church life, and my work life. Because all of those are wrapped up in my spiritual life and vice versa, it's no wonder that He would challenge me with a new way of coming to Him each day to hear from Him as I open His love letter to me.

If your Word life (aka: Quiet Time, study time, Bible time, whatever you call it!) is stale, then perhaps it's time to consider................whatever it is HE shows you! And how might He do that????

Look around you...who do you know that seems to have a good command of the Scriptures? who walks the walk as well as talking the talk? who has consistent joy? who, as some put it, "get it"? who do you see loving others espeically those unlike them? who do you see that's not on a constant roller coaster ride spiritually & despite circumstances, displays a stability & peace that you long for? Answer those questions and you might be surprised what you find out when you ask, "when you open up the Word, are you are turtle or not?"

A Proverbs 17:22a moment

Neal & I often wonder what it will be like when we are living with Jesus in eternity as far as our sense of humor & laughing goes. My husband absolutely LOVES to laugh and he has been sooo good for me since I tend to lean toward the serious side of things.......seriously! Among many other things, the Lord knew I needed to have a counterpart that would lighten me up!

I just love seeing Neal laugh. I love it even more when he laughs so hard that he loses his breath! He'll start walking around with his hands on his hips to straighten himself up to get more oxygen into his lungs. I'll never forget one night at Pizza Hut in particular when Trent went into one of his movie quote routines from The Nutty Professor. Neal was sitting on the inside of the booth, and he almost shoved me on the floor trying to get out so he could get up and walk so that he could breathe! It was hilarious! We all got so tickled at him laughing that we ended up crying from the intense laughter. Thankfully, the restaurant wasn't too crowded, but those who were there must have thought we were crazy! Neal's best friend, Jeff, told him a joke not too long ago that had the same affect on him, and he had to walk downstairs to get away from Jeff to try to regain his composure.

What is it about laughter that is soooooo good for us? I'm not exactly sure from a technical medical standpoint, but I do know that God says that "a joyful heart is good medicine" or literally "causes good healing". Hmmmm.

With that said, I just have to share a joke.....and credit where credit is due....thanks Tori for forwarding this one!


Three Ladies in a Sauna

THREE WOMEN, TWO YOUNGER, AND ONE SENIOR CITIZEN, WERE SITTING NAKED IN A SAUNA. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A BEEPING SOUND. THE YOUNG WOMAN PRESSED HER FOREARM AND THE BEEP STOPPED... THE OTHERS LOOKED AT HER QUESTIONINGLY. 'THAT WAS MY PAGER,' SHE SAID. I HAVE A MICROCHIP UNDER THE SKIN OF MY ARM.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, A PHONE RANG. THE SECOND YOUNG WOMAN LIFTED HER PALM TO HER EAR. WHEN SHE FINISHED, SHE EXPLAINED, 'THAT WAS MY MOBILE PHONE. I HAVE A MICROCHIP IN MY HAND.'

THE OLDER WOMAN FELT VERY LOW -TECH. NOT TO BE OUT DONE, SHE DECIDED SHE HAD TO DO SOMETHING JUST AS IMPRESSIVE. SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE SAUNA AND WENT TO THE BATHROOM. SHE RETURNED WITH A PIECE OF TOILET PAPER HANGING FROM HER REAR END.

THE OTHERS RAISED THEIR EYEBROWS AND STARED AT HER. THE OLDER WOMAN FINALLY SAID.........WELL, WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT....I'M GETTING A FAX!!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I definitely got a cup FULL of medicine today!

Mental Wedding Snapshots

Hard to believe my baby girl has been married close to a month now....as she used to sing when she was a country music lover, "Time marches on....Time marches on...."

I keep meaning to get it down in writing some of the mental images of that special October 4th day in Wilmington, but have been too busy the last week or more, but I finally have a minute to re-engage as a blogger....

Cherished & unforgettable moments:
-seeing her "vintage" dress hanging on the armoire in the B&B we stayed in....it looked as if it should have come with the rental of the room

-running into The Limited with Blair to find her something to wear for the bridal luncheon & literally buying it with her wearing it as we ran out the door....late as usual and I'm the Mom of the bride! That Blair was present overshadowed any possible stress & negative emotions....so what if we were late....we were being late TOGETHER (along with T.J., of course)

-seeing the bridesmaids surrounding Haley on the B&B front porch as they covered her & Lee in prayer....what gifts Haley has in these many precious friendships! She is soooo blessed!

-seeing Haley & Lee dance at the reception....this is the same boy who swore he would NOT dance...ever....period! And yet, the love of his life wanted him to, so he initiated taking dancing lessons (of course me, the Mama lama, paid for them!). Still, he laid his preferences aside because he knew how much it meant to Haley. Good form, Leeroy!

-watching Lee demonstrate his love for Haley by doing something extraordinary...his second act as her husband (2nd only to taking communion with her)....washing her feet. He had called weeks before to ask me what I thought of his idea. My answer? who am I to discourage anything that the Lord has laid on your heart?! Haley was definitely caught off guard, but held her emotions together..surprisingly. It was so precious to watch them have this incredibly intimate conversation as the rest of us looked on in awe & with tears streaming down our cheeks. It was if God gave them the ability to forget everyone else, and just focus on the moment. What a gift!

-stooping down to bustle Haley's wedding dress was such a pleasure & joy for me ( all 22 ties!!!!)....most would think that odd, but for those who remember, I was too sick to do this for my Blair when she got married in June 2006. I had just had major surgery and barely made it to her wedding. I missed much of what a Mom of the Bride does in the last 2 weeks and the day of. Oh, I was and still am grateful for all that God did during that time and yet part of me yearns to be able to go back in time and "do" for Blair as I was able to do for Haley.

-watching Trent escort his precious Ali down the aisle and see him take her hand and kiss it as they parted to take their places on stage.....those two seemed to ease into marriage like a hand into a glove!

-hearing my son-in-law, James share great family memories as he performed the ceremony; he did such an unbelievable job and even managed to work our beloved but deceased pet, Lizzie (aka as a "warrior" to James!) into the script! James has an uncanny knack for evoking laughter & tears all in the same moment....he is a born writer and speaker and he made Haley & Lee's ceremony forever special....not just plain special when you talk about something for a few days or weeks and then forget, but "forever" special so that we will all remember it permanently.

-Brian Few opened the ceremony & has played an important role in both Haley & Lee's lives. Though he didn't get to share as much or for as long as James, he made an idelible imprint on my mind as he challenged Haley & Lee to have their home be known as a house of FORGIVENESS. What an amazing concept to charge this very passionate couple with. Such wisdom. He obviously knows them well. Like Haley has said repeated to me, "Mama, when it's good, it's great and when it's bad, it's reeeeeeally bad.!" Ah, the Haley apple doesn't fall too far from the Mama tree!

Oh Father, take this union of these 2 sinners just like You did with Neal & me and do something glorious for Your name sake! Amen & amen!