From Flip-Flops to Snow Boots

Last week I was in Texas helping my Aunt who is fighting her battle with cancer.  While there I was wearing flip-flops and enjoying the sun on my back.  Then I return home and not three days after wearing flip-flops I’m pulling out snow boots!

YUCK.  I was not happy about the snow.  I sat down to read “Jesus Calling for Kids” a wonderful devotional book by Sarah Young which we purchased for our children yet I get so much out of it too!  The title for the day was “No Grumbling, Please” and the verse was a portion of 1 Corinthians 10:10 “And do not grumble.”  One of the “read on your own” scriptures was 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances.”  The devotion talked about how grumbling is telling God that I don’t like how things are going….that I disapprove of how He is doing things and complaining shows an ungrateful heart.  I thought about my flip-flops and snow boots.

To me….

Flip-Flops represent all things good—sunshine, warm, long days, happiness.

Snow Boots represent gloom and muck.

I would rather have flip-flops but regardless, God provides and I am to be thankful.  In the good times I am thankful for flip-flops and in the bad times I thank Him for the snow boots to endure the gloom and muck.

It takes more work to be thankful in the snow boots but that is what I am to do.  I watched my Aunt this last week try so hard to be thankful in the midst of her “snow boots” of cancer.  It is hard…it takes effort, but it is what 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to do.

 

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Today I am 40!

Most of the world dreads a birthday.  Historically, I don’t get that worked up about them…it is just another day.  But this year I have looked forward to the changing of the decade.  I’m not sure why.  My 30s were good but I anticipate the 40s being even better.  I look forward to seeing what God will do.  40 is one of the numbers you hear about in the Bible.

40 days of rain

40 years of wandering  for the Israelites in the wilderness

40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness.  Just to name a few and….

After the rain

came a rainbow.

After the wandering

came the Promised Land.

After Jesus was in the wilderness

he started his ministry here on Earth.

Good things are coming because God is working in all things.  I look forward to seeing Him work in and through me in this new decade of life!

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Ah, the Christmas Tree Lights

Yes, my husband makes fun of me….my best friend shakes her head, but every year I do it.  I take hours to put the lights on the tree.  I blame my Dad for this behavior.  He too took many hours to get the lights just right.  I will say- that I get it done faster than he does though.

I have come to really enjoy this time.  One of my favorite years of putting the lights on was when Brad was at a concert and the girls were in bed.  I turned on my favorite Christmas CDs and enjoyed the moment.

I sang.

I prayed.

I contemplated life.

And, from these times I have made some applications of Christmas lights to life.  (yes, my husband laughs at me for this too—but oh well…he is stuck with me)

I love that the lights on the tree remind me that Jesus is the light of the world.

I love the way when I wrap the lights around the inner portion of a branch it just illuminates that area—much like when the Light of the World enters- that area is brighter and changed.  The light reveals so much.

As I hung lights outside (something my Dad NEVER did and I’m beginning to understand why!),  I thought about how much light really does reveal.  As you drive through neighborhoods this season you notice houses and details that you usually miss as you drive in the evening, but at Christmas time the lights shine and illuminate the porches, the house outlines, the sidewalks, wherever there is light- you notice.

Jesus is the Light of the World.  His entrance brought light to the world in a way that the world had never experienced.  John 8:12 says

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

I don’t want to walk in darkness.  I need to be plugged into the power source…just like the lights on my tree don’t shine unless they are plugged in.  I need to make sure I am spending time with God each day, “plugging in” to His Word….listening to Him speak.  It can get very busy during Christmas with parties, preparations, and school functions.  Take time each day to plug in—spend some time with the one that created Christmas.  Each day you plug in your lights on your tree, take some time to read a passage of scripture and pray- ask guide to guide your path and help you to shine for Him.  Then when you unplug the lights, pray again- thanking God for his provision for you and for guiding your path.

I do love this time of year- but not for the hustle and bustle- but for the celebration of the greatest gift ever, the Light of the World- our Savior, Jesus Christ.

PS- My best friend can’t shake her head at me about lights anymore…..she ‘fessed up that she had to buy extra strands of lights this year as their home as adopted the “Giese-light” tradition.

2010 Smith Family Christmas Tree

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