Happy Birthday Jesus

I wasn't feeling very well yesterday and really not in the Christmas spirit. Today I woke up refreshed, feeling better and reminded that the whole reason behind celebrating today is celebrating Jesus’ birthday!

I've been shopping and storing things for the "Christmas" since October and I managed to pack up all the stuff I bought in three suitcases to bring home with me to Atlanta. Since I've been commuting back and forth to NYC the Christmas season was a little different for me this year. I didn't put up my normal Christmas tree, Christmas dish towels, nutcrackers, poinsettias or bowls of pretty decorative ornaments. I didn't even hang the Christmas cards that were sent to me like I normally do. However, I did manage to make a donation to the homeless service project my church held last weekend and I spent the weekend before last volunteering at a Santa Store for children whose families shop at a Food Bank in North Minneapolis. In retrospect those were the best things I did all Christmas season!

I'm happy to be home in Atlanta with my mom, dad, Merlot (our family cat), Johnny, close family friends and sleeping in the room that for many years I called my room. I'm also thankful for the time that I got to spend fellowshipping with friends before I left Minneapolis. I'm reminded this morning and slightly convicted in my remembrance that Jesus is the true reason for the season.

It's unfortunate that Christmas has become secular and people have forgotten that it's Jesus' birthday not a key sales period for retailers and businesses. As a Christian I believe that Jesus came to give HOPE and LOVE to a dark world. He came to spread the promises of our heavenly father and to die for our sins.

So this Christmas my friends I give you LOVE. If you don't have the honor of spending today with loved ones. Know that God loves you and that's why he sent Jesus so many years ago on this day.

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

~ 1 Corinthians 13:13

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Jesus & Merry Christmas!

  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Luke 2:11

 

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15



CARPE DIEM

 

Be Nice to Me...I'm a Human Being

What does a hello cost?

How much energy are you exerting when you smile?

Do you have the time to sincerely ask someone how they are doing, listen to their answer and reply accordingly?

Were you taught to mind your manners as a child? If so, are you still minding them today..do you say please and thank you?

We live in a extremely fast-paced world, almost everything we do is in a rush to meet some sort of deadline, timeline or schedule. We rapidly move from meeting to meeting in the office, to rushing home to pick-up kids for after school activities or to the gym or after work meeting to grabbing dinner, heading to bed and starting the cycle all over again. We go through the motions when it comes to spending quality time with our families, friends and loved ones. True meaningful connections are a void in our daily life.

Jonathan Franzen stated in his book Freedom that for a generation with such modern conveniences we live the most inconvenienced lives. Think about when was the last time you were actually fully present and in the moment of an activity or conversation? You weren't multi-tasking....thinking about work, texting, tweeting, reading an e-mail or mentally somewhere else?

Our country is in a national state of mourning due to the tragic murder of 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, CT. last Friday. Right now there is a heightened sensitivity and in our vulnerable state we as a society and community of citizens appear to be a little nicer and connected.

We're saying hello

We're smiling

We genuinely have concern for how our neighbors are doing

It's unfortunate that it takes tragedy to remind us to engage in civil discourse and to mind our manners. It's my desire that our current state of concern and friendliness towards fellow man will become a new way of living in our country.

After all,  

A HELLO cost nothing!

It takes more energy to frown than it does to smile.

Sincerely asking someone how they are doing  and listening to their reply may be the silver lining in their cloudy day.

Your mom and grandmother would be so proud to see you minding your manners!

Let's make a commitment to not only remember but to practice the Golden Rule...Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

CARPE DIEM

One of my favorite childhood animals, was a stuffed bean that said "Be Nice to Me...I'm a Human Bean"