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Friday my daughter was home sick from school for the day. She started feeling better and was looking for something to do. She in touch with me at work and asked if she could put up our Christmas tree. Of course I said yes. She did a beautiful job. There was only a couple of problems. First the box was filled with magots!!! Somehow they got into the plastic bin and just infested it. She freaked out but then got out the vacuum and meticulously cleaned the box and the tree. I came home and looked at the tree and surprisingly enough it seemed magot free. However, I was a bit skeptical and decided we shouldn’t decorate it until Saturday.
Saturday morning rolls around and I inspect the tree. It seemed to be clean. I decided I would give it a little shake just in case and see if any surprises fall out. Nothing falls but there is a snapping sound. I didn’t think to much of it until I noticed the tree was not sitting firmly on all the supports in the base. I turned to say something to my daughter when the tree falls over against the wall. I pulled the tree upright and it falls over again. We finally looked at the base. I cracked part of the base in half and broke off some of the supports. This tree is probably 12 years old or older. It serviced us and the previous owner well. But like most of you this is one tough Christmas financially. What was I going to do?
My son and I left the house to hit the garage sales and look for deals for Christmas or items for me to sell online. I thought I had better keep my eye out for a tree. My son said to me, ” Mom we don’t need a tree this year. It’s ok really. Plus Christmas is not about presents. It’s really about the gift of Jesus.” Both my children have been making it clear what this holiday is about and showing some concern over what the holiday has become. I could not help but tear up because as a Mom I want to shower blessings on my children this time of year. I was also proud of the kind of young man my son is turning into.
After pulling myself together I looked at my son and said, “let’s just see how God works this out”. I was driving at the time and we turned a corner to see the back side of a sign. At first I thought it was for the sale we were just at but at the last second decided to turn the corner. As I did an older gentleman just put a large box on the front curb of his home. My window was down and he over heard me say to Noah, “is that a tree?” He looked up and must have seen the surprise on my face. I asked him if it were a tree. He smiled and said, “yes, do you want it?” It took everything I had to not cry right there. I told him I broke my tree this morning and I have no way of buying a new one. I was hoping to find one at a garage sale. He said, “you can just have this one.” He then called up to his wife to bring the stand and they proceeded to load the tree in my car. This whole time I’m still a little surprised. I told the lady they were part of a miracle. We had just put it in God’s hands. I pulled away with tears of thankfulness to my God for providing. This season is not about the tree it is about the birth of Christ, however, that tree was important to God at that moment. His way of taking care of this single Mom and her children.
Afterwards I said to my son, “we need to trust him like that more often.” We couldn’t help but laugh and list some of the things we have no control over that we needed to give to God. Let me share you another little secret. Every Wednesday my car is full of teens that I take to church on Wednesday night. That would be my son, my daughter and her two friends. Those girls are stuffed in the back seat like sardines. I have no room to take any of my son’s friends. I simply stated to a dear friend one night that I need a bigger car. I said that in jest but at this rate I really do. I do not have the means for another car and no plans in the near or long future either. He said to me simply, “if you need one God will provide.” God will determine that need. It’s in his hands but the lesson I learned that night is the one I applied to the tree. My hands were tied. I could do nothing. God would have to work this out. He did.
You know that tree was not a perfect one. The pole was a bit hard to figure out because the rings you place the branches in were upside down on half of it. It’s a color coded tree and none of the labels were correct. We even had spare parts. The tree is up and decorated. It’s really very pretty. This reminded me of each of us. We can be a little backwards, not coded right and even may have some spare parts but in the end we are beautiful just the way God made us.
God used a Christmas tree that was going to be thrown away, rejected, not wanted any more to bless me and my children. He can do the same with us. We may feel unwanted, rejected and not cared for but we may be just the blessing that someone is in need of today. So keep your eye open for those every day miracles and don’t forget that God may use you to be that very miracle.
Are you like me and start your day cringing in the mirror at the bed head and puffy eyes staring back at you? Well don’t be. Let me tell you what you see each morning is beautiful. It is amazing. Everything in you was so beautifully and intricately designed. Take an anatomy class some time and tell me you are not amazed at the super human computer called a brain or the the amazingly complex electrical system called the nervous system.
One of the changes I am making in my life is my weight. After many years of health issues I gained a lot of weight. So I am in the process of cleansing my body and reprogramming it. I am amazed at how our bodies respond to the foods we put in it. How you can lose weight with adding the amount of water you intake. My health problems also remind me of just how intricately we are designed. Notice how when you get a headache you may be nauseated or your vision gets blurry.
I am apart of an internet group of people who are all losing weight. We each have our own page. On one of those pages they ask what celebrities body you would like to have. Why can’t we like the one that we have been given? That body was designed just for you. Yes there is a creator and he lovingly designed and formed you. You are a work of art. You are precious to him. Often times we are not precious to ourselves so we do take care of this gift. Are you thankful for the body you have given? Do you see yourself as lovingly designed? I hope you do.
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
God can take an ordinary person and make them extraordinary through the extraordinary circumstances he places them in. Let me introduce you to some of these ordinary people.
George Muller was a 19th century Pastor/Evangelist/Missionary. He came to a saving faith in Christ after a youth of drinking, gambling and well the list goes on. This ordinary young man was called to full time ministry and chose to not be paid. He believed that God would lay it on the hearts of others to take care of his needs. That is exactly what God did. Through his ministry homes and schools for children were started. Many adults and children came to know Christ as their Savior. You can read about the extraordinary man of God in his autobiography.
Corrie Ten Boom was the daughter of a well loved watch repairman. During the holocaust she and her family chose to harbor Jews in a secret room. This precious family was found out and they were all hauled off to concentration camps. Through extraordinary circumstances Corrie had a powerful ministry that continues today by God’s grace. She was able to embrace and forgive one of the Nazi guards from her camp. Due to her life he came to know Christ as his Savior. Read more about her in one of her many books. May they bless you as much as they have blessed me.
Joni Erickson Tada was just an ordinary teenager with a love of horseback riding and being active. One day while swimming at a lake she dove into the water, hit her head on a rock and broke her neck. Today Joni is a quadriplegic with a ministry to the disabled. She formed the ministry Joni and Friends. This organization has launched church based ministries to the disabled called Through the Roof ministries. Joni is a known speaker, author, singer and painter. Learn more about this extraordinary woman through her books and ministry.
Franklin Graham is otherwise known as a rebel with a cause. Many may argue that he is no ordinary man. I would disagree. Franklin’s father was on the road most of his childhood. Much of his parenting influence came from his mother. Undoubtedly you have heard of Franklin’s father, Billy Graham the evangelist. Franklin seemed to have this need to question authority and break the rules. He is still known for this at times. When Billy named him a successor, many in leadership roles in the Billy Graham Evangelical Association questioned his decision. Today Franklin’s ministry with BGEA fills stadiums for revivals that rival those of his father’s. His other ministry Samaritan’s Purse has provided aid and care to those in need through out the world. Read more about this extraordinary man in “Rebel with a Cause”.
Alvina was a young woman during World War II. She had given her heart Christ and loved him and others through out her life. I met Alvina towards the end of her days here on Earth. She was always loving, kind and very supportive to me during my divorce. When the children at our church would sing or perform she would look for my two children. Then she would seek me out and tell me how good they were and how proud of them she was. At her funeral it was shared that Alvina woke early every morning to read her Bible and pray for the widows of the church. She kept a list with their names on it. She then prayed for me and my children. She was truly a Proverbs 31 woman. Her favorite verse was Philipians 4:8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. You can’t read about this extraordinary woman anywhere, however, do yourself a favor and look her up when you get to Heaven.
Archie tells me all the time he is an ordinary man. In my eyes he is extraordinary. Archie’s life has been full of trials. Even today there are mountains that lie before him on this pathway of his life. Yet, this man chooses to simply accept it and he places total trust and faith in his Savior Jesus Christ. He is a man who offers love, compassion and very wise counsel. Archie is the type of man who would give the shirt off his back for you. He has been a support to my son during some of his darkest hours. Because this man has been through so much himself he has such a tender heart. He will set his own needs aside to minister to others. I am truly blessed to know this dear extraordinary man. This may be the only place you will read about Archie. I encourage you to follow his example, keep your eyes on Jesus and serve others sacrificially.
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