A Four-Letter Word

Three years ago, I decided to start claiming a word for each new year, a word which I wanted God to instill within me.  The first word I had claimed when I started doing this was JOY.  Last year, I picked TRUST.  This year, I picked HOPE.

I wasn’t sure what to pick this year; but when the word “hope” came up in a game we were playing, I knew it was meant to be.

Each year, I am thoroughly tested in my word.  In 2014, I had to keep trusting that God had it all under control when my father had a stroke, the business was spinning out of control, and there were a lot of unanswered dreams, prayers, and questions.

It looks like it will be no different this year.  I have already lost my dog, my brother is scheduled to see a surgeon about an enlarged lymph node which may be cancerous, and everything is pretty much going crazy— and we’re only twenty-seven days into the New Year!  So the only thing to do is sit back and let God have control.  Perhaps He wants to see if I love Him more than the most precious things around me.  Perhaps He wants to see how I respond during it all.  But perhaps He wants me to see that often my hope has come because of my ambitions, my family, or my cozy life.  So with the power of God, I will hold Christ as my HOPE.  He is the reason I live.  He is what can keep me looking forward to the future because I know He has it all under control and has the best plan, whether or not it aligns with what I think is best.  I serve a mighty, yet loving God; and that is what gives me HOPE!


“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” by Edward Mote, 1797-1874

1. My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

3. His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

Hugging Those With Empty Arms

There are quite a few books, articles, and blogs which deal with what singles face and how ones around them can help, understand, and care for them; but there is a group of people often overlooked who are also needing to be understood and cared for.  I am finding this more and more as I talk with and hear from family and friends who would fall into this category.  I feel I have the freedom to write about this group- the childless women- because I am not married and facing their exact situation.  Sadly, lot of childless woman are judged wrongly if they try to share their feelings.  So as a bystander, I would like to speak on the behalf of these women.


God designed a woman with the natural instinct to want to cuddle a baby in her arms, to watch his eyelids flutter as he sleeps, to feel his tiny finger wrap around her own, to hear the first, “Mum, I wuv you”, to see the first step taken, to love and nurture the little life she calls her child, and to forget all the frustrating times when she hears that adorable giggle.  It is only right, and there is nothing wrong with that maternal desire.

The emotions a woman goes through when she realizes that she will never have that privilege are deep, because the desire for children is deep.  God placed that desire in the very fibers of a woman’s heart and soul, and so every fiber feels torn when her heart can not beat in rhythm with a little life.

I think the first thing we who have never worn her shoes need to realize is the pain she is going through.  Every Mother’s Day, every time she holds her sister’s newborn infant, every empty nursery, and every fuzzy blue or pink blanket brings back the stabbing realization that she is missing something.

Sadly, many childless woman have hurtful comments and questions thrown their way, which only adds to the pain.  Those who are not in her situation seem to have all the answers.  We tell her to get control of her emotions, we tell her to stop being selfish and adopt a child, we tell her that maybe she should try an all-natural pill that has healed every problem from cancer to infertility, we ask what her problem is…

If we aren’t part of the commenters, then we are the distancers.  The distancers stay far away because they surely don’t want to associate with someone who can’t have children.  Or perhaps we are a distancer who hides our child every time the childless woman comes near because we are not sure what to say and don’t want to offend or hurt her with reminders that we have children and she doesn’t.

Either way, we are pushing this woman into a lonely little world apart from anyone else.

What are some ways to hug those with empty arms?

1.  We need to try to “walk in her shoes”.  Try to comprehend the emotional pain and turmoil she is facing.

2.  We do not have the answers.  Stop telling her what she should or should not be doing.  That is one of the quickest ways to make her feel like a failure and as if it is her fault for her infertility.

3.  Don’t judge the decisions she makes; everyone’s path is different.  Maybe it would be good for her and her husband to adopt or foster a child.  There are lots of hurting kids out there who are hungry, abused, and crying themselves to sleep every night because they have no one to love them.  Many childless woman have taken lost children as their own and have been completely blessed and satisfied because children’s voices fill the empty house and sticky kisses adorn their faces.  BUT that is not our decision to make.  We can stop slipping Bethany Christian Services pamphlets in her church mailbox.  If that is what God calls her to, He will bring her to that point in His and her own perfect time.  Don’t lecture her about the money she and her husband may be spending on surgeries, operations, and doctors’ appointments.  Once again, that is their decision.  Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t; sometimes couples take that money and invest it into adoption….but any of those choices are theirs.  If they are not committing a sin, how do we have the right to judge?

4.  Pull her in instead of pushing her away.  Take her out for coffee sometime and just have a friend-to-friend chat.  Tell her that you love her and you don’t think she is of less value or importance because she does not have children.  Let her know that you will always be there to simply listen to her heart.  Show her that you truly care about what she is facing.

5.  Her situation and personal information does not need to be the subject of gossip.

6.  Someone had shared this point that I had never thought about before— Do not think that she has nothing to do because she does not have children.  She still has a house and husband to take care of; and a lot of childless woman work jobs or do babysitting, mission outreach, and elderly care for others.  Do not expect her to help you with all of your children just because she doesn’t have any.  Believe it or not, even though she doesn’t have children, her schedule is full from morning till evening.

7.  That doesn’t mean though that she might not enjoy spending some time with your children.  It may be just what she needs; so feel free to invite her over for a day once in awhile to change diapers, help with homework, sing lullabies, and scrub grass stains.  Don’t keep your children away because you fear you will offend her.

8.  Watch your attitude.  She is not of less value than you because she does not have children.  She may not be a mother to her own child, but she has been a mother to Sunday School children, neighbor kids, nieces and nephews, and many dreams and wishes.

9.  God’s heart goes out to the childless woman, and He strongly dislikes when people devalue or judge her.  We have many examples in the Bible.  Do some research on the barren woman in the Bible, and watch how tender God is toward them.  I think He asks the same of us.

10.  Remember that God calls each person to a different journey.  No family is exactly alike; and emotional, physical, and financial capabilities form a big part on how many children God chooses to fill a home.  Some are full with ten children; some with three; some with none of their own but dozens of neighbor kids who know they have a safe place to come to when they need help.   -I’ll share a little of my parents’ story.  Both my mother and brother almost died when he was born.  My parents were advised by quite a few doctors to be content with the two children God had given them because another pregnancy would take my mother’s life and then leave three children motherless.  Family and friends often made remarks that made my mother feel like she had failed motherhood in some way and was not a true woman because she was not like the Duggars.  But God had our family planned this way, because during the traveling years it would have been impossible to live the way we did with more children in the family.  It is not our decision to plan other peoples lives.  We need to love them and realize that a woman’s value is not based on if she has children or how many she has; but on the joy in her eyes, the service in her hands, the kindness in her mouth, the witness in her steps, and the love in her heart.

Go ahead and give a big hug today to someone with empty arms!

Remodeling and Renovating 2015

We are human; we are people of habit- usually bad habit.  We choose the easiest and most comfortable path without even thinking about it.  Our self-control and self-restraint is almost non-existent in today’s culture.  So we make ourselves feel good by making resolutions.

I do not like resolutions.  Usually resolutions are said in passing by those who wish for change but never take the action needed.

That’s why I prefer lifestyle remodeling and heart renovating.

With God’s help, that is what I will be working on in 2015.  I’m remodeling my lifestyle and renovating my heart because I want it to actually HAPPEN!  Supposedly it takes a minimum of 21 days to form a habit; average length of time for a habit to become a habit is about 66 days.  So if I start something now and can last till the first week of March, it will most likely become natural to me (pretty exciting, isn’t it!).

I’ll be vulnerable and share some of my goals for 2015-

• -healthier eating
• -continuing a daily exercise regime
• -keeping up with birthday, encouragement, thank-you, and sympathy cards and gifts
• -taking those daily vitamins, shots of apple cider vinegar, and probiotics
• -formulating and sticking at a better devotional schedule
• -making more godly music choices
• -investing in the friendships around me
• -bringing joy to my family
• -focusing on the rainbows instead of the rain
• -flossing and wearing my retainers every night=p
• finding ways to do something for someone else each and every day.

Some of these you might laugh at, but I think it’s good to break bad habits and form good ones, no matter how big or small they may be.  Whether it’s flossing or deciding which radio station to listen to, each decision plays part in building up that self-control which is essential to godly character!

How to last in a routine till March?  I’ll share some of the ways that have worked for me.

1. First and foremost, ask for God’s strength.  Nothing is to small for Him, and He loves us asking for His help!
2. Find an accountability partner who will check in on a daily or weekly basis to see how you are doing.
3. Make rewards for yourself (could be a new pair of shoes, piece of chocolate, drink at Starbucks…).
4. Find ways to keep whatever you are doing exciting.  Switch up exercises (go ice-skating, play soccer, do a workout dvd…), go online and search for good books/movies/music you didn’t know about that can replace the questionable ones you have been reading/watching/listening to, find a new herb to incorporate into your healthy meals to kick up the flavor, buy fun-colored floss, get a special pen for devotional times, do insanely awesome things for other people (like send them anonymous gift cards, kidnap them for a night out, go help them at work for half a day- if permitted, deliver a huge handful of balloons to their front door), and just be CREATIVE!!!
5. Keep a written checklist/diary/journal.  There are free apps out there as well that will help you track your journey in prayer, exercise, letter-writing, or whatever you are interested in.
6. Take one day at a time; looking far ahead or making impossible goals will only overwhelm you.
7. Don’t beat yourself up and give up if you miss a day or mess up; just get right back on track.
8. Take courage in the change you see.
9. Talk to people who struggled with your same problem, yet eventually conquered it.
10. Write yourself notes or find things that will motivate you.  I keep a before/after picture of my weight-loss journey on my mirror to remind myself how much healthier and happier I feel when I exercise.  I also write crazy notes to myself on my alarm so that I am sure to motivate myself when I am completely unmotivated to do anything but sleep.
11. Remind yourself of how much better of a friend, sibling, child, spouse, teacher, employee, witness, example, child of God… you will be if you gain control of whatever habit you are trying to break or form.
12. Thank God profusely, and celebrate when you achieve a goal.  It doesn’t mean that you won’t ever forget to floss those teeth or have nightmares when it comes to doing dreaded jumping lunges, but it will become much easier when it becomes a daily habit.

I’d love to hear about your 2015 renovation/remodeling plans and what you have found motivational in reaching your past goals!  Please feel free to share=)

Blessing on your New Year,

MarJ

A Time-Warped Christmas

A Time-Warped Christmas

A Note From MarJ:

Dear Readers, please be patient with me this Christmas season as I do some imagining.  No, I am not trying to rewrite the best story that ever happened.  No one can do that, for Jesus came to earth at the perfect time and at the perfect place; but I often wonder what it would have been like if Jesus would have been born December 25, 2014.  That’s what I am writing- just a simple story that all of us can place ourselves in so we stop and think about who we really are and what we truly believe.  Do we as women live so close to God and His principles that God would have chosen us to be Mary?  Would we as men have been able to step up to the commitment that God required of Joseph?  Would we as humans awaiting a Messiah have believed and had enough faith to trust that “God’s ways are not our ways”?  Enjoy this Christmas story, and I pray that each of you may have a blessed Christmas full of love, peace, and the joy of Jesus!




Hi, you don’t know me.  I’m just one of those mysterious messengers that God appoints to fulfill special purposes in peoples’ lives.  I was on a special mission this time.  I was to ready the way and tell the “Good Tidings of Great Joy”.  It was going to be the greatest thing yet, for The Messiah was finally coming down to earth.

——————-
I was on the street corner watching as Maria came walking out of school.  She did not notice me fall in step behind her because she was busy cramming books into her backpack, tying her scarf tighter around her neck, and sending her boyfriend a quick text message.  We walked down the street for a couple minutes until we reached the cafe where she worked part-time after school.  I waited a few minutes outside before entering and selecting a little table off to the side.  I then pulled out a laptop so I would fit in with the rest of the internet networkers around me.  After making sure I could pass as college student from the next-door university, I walked up to the counter and gave my order to Maria was now in her apron and busy waiting on customers.  “A tall caramel macchiato, please,” I said as I handed over a five-dollar bill, “and would it be a problem if you could bring it to my table over in the corner?”  I pointed to my little station.

She smiled, “Not a problem, Sir.”

That’s why she had been chosen.  The One Who had sent me knew all about Maria.  He knew how caring she was, but He also knew how strong she was.  She would have to be for this calling.  She was the one left out of many a party and friendship because her standards were high.  She loved God with her whole heart, mind, and soul.  Even her relationship with Joe, her boyfriend, was pure and above criticism.  No, she wasn’t any angel (no pun intended), but she sincerely tried to follow God.

“Here’s your drink.”

I jolted back from my thoughts as Maria set the steaming cup next to me.  “Thank you,” I said as I gave her a tip.  “Would you mind sitting down for a minute?  There’s Someone I know that you know that would like to pass a message on to you.”  I could see the bewilderment in her face as she looked at me and then back at the register.

“I don’t know.  I’m supposed to be at the counter.”

“It will only be a minute.  Jenny is covering right now, and business is slowing down.”

“Okay then,” she replied, “who did you say that we both know?  Is someone hurt or something?”

I laughed, “Oh no, nothing like that.  But what I have to say may shock you; however don’t fear.  You have been chosen!”

“Chosen?” she questioned, “like for a trip or prize or something?”

“No, chosen to be the mother of The Messiah, God’s Son, the One Who has been prophesied to come to earth and save mankind.”

Her mouth was hanging open.  I wasn’t quite sure what her reaction would be to this news.  “This is a joke, haha, very funny.  Are you filming this for ‘America’s Biggest Pranks’ or something?”

I looked deeply into her eyes, “Maria, this is no joke.  I know God has placed in your heart a calling and in your mind discernment.  Even now you are starting to realize that you are the chosen mother.”
She seemed to grow calmer and more at peace.  Slowly reality was starting to get through.  “But, how can I have this baby?  I have a boyfriend, but our relationship has been good-truly,” she leaned forward as if making sure I realized that this was impossible.

I once again smiled, “No, Joe isn’t the father.  God can do the impossible; He can do miracles.”

She shook her head as she stood up, “I gotta get back to work.  This is just too much for one evening.” 
I listened to her muttering to herself the whole way back to the counter about such craziness and I’ll soon wake up out of this.

—————-
I heard the notification beep from my phone.  I had been busy running other errands over the last few weeks since telling Maria the news.  Now it was time to observe for a while and see if Maria would stand the test.  I took a taxi to the park and proceeded to play frisbee with a dog named “Rex”.  I made sure I was conveniently close to where Maria and her friend, Lilah were doing homework.

“Man, girl, I’ve been worried about you.  You’ve been skipping the morning classes, and that’s not like you.  What’s wrong?” Lilah asked.

Maria looked down, “Um, I’ve just not been feeling very great.  I get really sick when I wake up.”

I had forgotten to tell Maria that while being the Savior’s mother was an honor, it didn’t make pregnancy easier.

Lilah exclaimed, “Girl, you’re pregnant!  I’d know the signs anywhere.  It happened to my two sisters, but I didn’t think it would happen to you.  You better hope your parents don’t find out- them being preachers and all that.  What’s your momma think about you being sick like this?”

Maria shook her head, “She says it’s a stomach virus which is what it has to be….” Maria stopped unsure if she should continue to tell everything she knew.  “Listen, Lilah, I don’t know what’s going on.  Some for guy said that I was going to have a baby- The Messiah; but definitely Joe is not the father.  If I’m pregnant it’s because of some kind of heavenly conception.”

“Well, I’m taking you to the doctor tomorrow cuz you can’t keep missing class, and a flu would have went away by now.  You can bet that I’m not gonna buy your lousy excuse though if the test comes out positive.”

—————————
I was casually picking up trash as Lilah and Maria walked out of Dr. Closupt, M.D.’s office.  I didn’t know that anyone could look so exuberant and depressed at the same time.  “They’ll never believe me.  You don’t even believe me.  What’s Joe going to say?” Maria plopped down on the curb and buried her head in her hands.

Lilah put her arm around her friend, “Listen, I know you don’t want to admit that you weren’t perfect; but at least come up with something better than you being pregnant with God’s Son.  I mean, who’s gonna believe that?  Let’s view your options- as far as I see, you have two.  Either you make Joe step up to responsibility and make him marry you right now or you have an abortion.  It’s simple that last way.  You’re eighteen so you don’t need to worry about a guardian’s signature, you can go ahead and graduate, and no one but me and the doctors will even know.”

Maria looked shocked, “Abortion?  To kill a little life?  I don’t have the right to do that.”

“Lots of girls do it.  It’s no biggie.  It’s just a blob of tissue.”

“It’s a blob of tissue with a brain and a little heart already,” she said softly with a smile.

“I’m just trying to help.  It’s what I’d do.  I’ll take to the clinic if you want to go, but you should do it soon if you decide to go ahead with an abortion.”

——————————–
Maria’s bedroom window was open to let in some of the early spring air.  I could picture her pacing the floor as she poured her heart out to God.  “Oh God, why me?  I can’t go through with this.  My reputation, my family, Joe- I’ll lose them all.  What kind of example will I be?  No one will believe the truth, but I can’t kill this life.  I will bear him and be his mother.”  All went quiet as if Maria was listening to God’s still small voice within her heart.  Then she clapped her hands in excitement.  “You have chosen me.  No longer will I view this as a burden, but as a blessing.  Blessed am I.  I am able to do something that no other woman has ever done.”  She took a deep breath, “But now to tell.  Lord, give me strength and courage.”

I heard her open and then close her door behind her as she walked down the hall, calling for her parents to meet her in the kitchen.  I quickly moved to the side of the house and knelt beside the door so I could press my ear against the in-out cat door flap.

“What’s this all about, Maria?” her mother asked.

The sounds of a chair scraping against the tiles meant that her father had sat down.  “Is there something wrong that you called us to a meeting in the middle of the day?  If not, I should get back to preparing the sermon for tomorrow.”

Maria’s voice sounded shaky as she started talking, “Yes, there is something important I need to tell you both.”  She paused and then began to ramble faster, “You see, I’ve been chosen.  It really is an honor.  There was this guy who told me, and then Lilah took me to the doctor, and I’m just so scared and happy at the same time.  I hope you’ll understand because I’m going to have a baby.  But this isn’t any baby, this is God’s Son, The Messiah.”

There was complete silence.  The cat door pushed against my face as a furry feline tried to make her escape from the heavy air.  I moved aside to let her through but quickly moved back. hoping I hadn’t missed anything.  I hadn’t.  Two minutes passed, by now there were sounds of crying.

Maria’s mother sniffed between her tears, “How could you?  We tried to teach and raise you properly.  How could you disappoint us like this?”  I wanted to rush in and comfort Maria, but I had been told that at times like this it was up to her.  She had been being prepared for this, and I now needed to sit back and hope that she endured.

“This is ludicrous!  You are the example to the rest of the young women at church.  What about your Sunday School Class?  No, we cannot have this.  You’re going to marry that slum, Joe, this evening.  I’ll perform the ceremony.  You get him over here right now.  No man does this and then walks away from the responsibility.  If you get married now, people might not assume the worst when they find out that you’re pregnant,” Maria’s father decided.

“But, Dad, I’ve been trying to tell you.  Joe isn’t the father.  This baby is a miracle, it’s God’s Son.  The Scriptures say that a Messiah will come.”

“You expect your mother and I to believe that?  I know the Scriptures; I’ve studied the prophecies.  You, yourself, have watched movies and listened to sermons on how He will come.  He will be a King and set the world at peace.  He will save the faithful that are imprisoned and persecuted and begin a new country.”

“What if God has a different plan?  What if we thought we had it all figured out, but what if our thinking has been humanly confined to the extent of our limited wisdom?” Maria replied bravely.

“Well, I can’t see that His plan would be to send a baby and for my daughter to be His mother.  If you won’t marry Joe then you’ll just have to go stay in Florida with your cousin, Ellie.  Your mother and I will find some truthful excuse to tell the church for your absence.  You’ll have the baby, find parents to adopt it, come back here, and no one will ever know.”

I sadly got up and walked away.  Why was it so hard for these humans to understand?  What made them think that God had to fulfill prophecy according to their understanding?  He would come to earth according to His way because His way was always perfect.

——————–
I picked a table partially hidden by decorative shrubbery.  I slowly ate my cheeseburger while waiting for Joe and Maria to arrive.  Her trial was only beginning.  I pulled on my sunglasses as they walked through the door.  They were seated at a table within hearing distance of me.  Joe quickly decided on his entree choice, but Maria looked like she was going to be sick.  Their drinks arrived.  Maria stirred her straw nervously around in her soda, “Joe, I need to tell you something.  Please believe me.”

He gently smiled, “Sure, anything.”

She seemed to try to think of the best words to use for explaining the situation.  “Joe, I love you, and I need you to trust me.  I’m pregnant; I’m going to be the mother of God’s Son.  The Messiah is coming!  A messenger from God told me, and it is true.”

Joe paused for a second before exploding, “You’re what?!”

Maria looked around at the other tables who were now watching them.  “Shh,” she hushed, “I said that I am going to have a baby.”

Joe leaned back on his chair as if he had been punched.  He drummed his fingers on the table then ran them through his hair.  He leaned forward and gulped some soda.  “I don’t know if you’re trying to play some kind of April Fool’s Day trick on me, but it’s not funny.  You say you’re pregnant; I know I’m not the father; so it must be someone else.  You’ve been cheating on me, Maria.  I’m glad for this baby- I really am.  Otherwise, I would have married you once I got out of college, never knowing that you were unfaithful.  Is it Todd or Mark?  Wait…don’t tell me; I don’t want to know,” he shakily got to his feet and left some cash on the table to pay for the uneaten food.  “I really thought you were the one I would spend my life with.  I really loved you.  I was faithful to you, but I guess you didn’t feel the same way.”  He looked at her one more time before leaving.  Maria just sat there and cried, oblivious to the fact that she was still in the restaurant.  The deepest of sadnesses can make you feel completely alone even when surrounded by a crowd.

I finished my fries, passed by Maria, and briefly lay my hand on her shoulder while breathing a prayer of peace for her soul before leaving her alone.

————————–
Maria stepped out of the airport into the sunny state of Florida.  I was wearing a bright floral shirt and straw hat as my new disguise.  A camera hung around my neck for added effect.  I scanned a paper map while also watching for Ellie to arrive.  Maria’s face lit up as she saw her cousin running towards her.  She dropped her suitcases and also ran.  They met in a huge embrace and were both crying.  Females, I could never figure them out.  They cried when they were happy, and they cried when they were sad..

Ellie stepped back and looked at Maria, “It’s so good to see you.  Your parents told me all about it, but I knew even before that,” she winked.

“What?” Maria asked, “how could you?”

“Well, you know my husband and I haven’t been able to have children.  We prayed and prayed and had finally given up hope when some angel, I guess that’s who he was, appeared at our house and told me that I would have a son, John.  He said that this son would be special because he would be a news reporter and announce the coming of the Messiah.  But that’s not all, he said that you were going to be the mother of The Messiah.  Well, I thought I was going crazy, but soon afterwards I found out that I was pregnant.  Then your parents called; I tried to tell them that this is really The Messiah, but they didn’t listen.  I mean, common sense says that God’s Son should be sitting on a throne in England or something, not being a little baby being formed inside of a high-school girl.”  Ellie stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong?” Maria worriedly asked.

Ellie laughed, “Oh, this child.  Ever since I met you, He’s been jumping around.  It’s as if he knows he’s near his Lord.”

I smiled.  Yes, he knew.  Even I knew from where I stood.  Anyone that had an open heart and mind would know that Maria’s child was Royalty.

————————
It was now time for me to move to Step Two.  Joe’s part in the story wasn’t complete yet.  Maria had been at Ellie’s place for a few months now, and she would be having the baby in a few weeks.  I pulled my jacket tighter against the biting November cold.  I was back in Pennsylvania and about to walk into the office where Joe worked.  He was bent over a construction design that he was drawing and didn’t even notice me enter. 

I cleared my throat.

He dropped his pencil and hastily looked up, “I’m sorry I didn’t see you.  May I help you?  Justin, the boss, is away right now, but I can probably answer most of your questions.”  Joe had been called to play in this world-changing event because he was responsible and hard-working.  This guy was going to be the perfect step-father for The Messiah.

“Well, Joe, (I always liked to watch the look of confusion when I called someone that didn’t know me by their name) I’ve actually been sent to help you.  I know you feel betrayed by Maria.  The last eight months you have poured yourself into college and work hoping to forget, but you haven’t.  She really is a good girl- that’s why she was chosen.  She has been faithful in all areas of her life, and yes, she has been faithful to you.  She really is going to be the mother of God’s Son.  It has been prophesied for years, and now is the time for fulfillment.  Maria is going to need someone to support her, to supply for her and the baby, and someone to raise and train this special child.”

Joe was silent.  The clock echoed through the office as time passed.  Finally he spoke, “But how do I know that this is true?”

Dear Joe, so thoughtful and responsible, he wasn’t one to jump into anything without careful consideration.  I looked deeply into his eyes, “Because of faith and trust.  You trust Maria and know that she is virtuous, and you have faith that God can make His plans come true in any way He pleases.”

“But if I marry her, everyone will think that I am the father.  I have lived my life purely.  At times, I have fallen, but by the strength of God I have fought for a good reputation that pleases Him and others.”

I knew this.  I had seen his clean internet history, his avoidance of certain parties and places, and his faithfulness.  By marrying Maria now, it seemed to ruin everything from his viewpoint.  “Joe, when you follow God, there will always be someone who is against you or who will judge your life.  But if they were truly in tune with the Heavenly Father, they would see the truth and know you for who you really are.  You have been chosen because of good personal choices, but now you are going to have to trust God completely.  Give Him your pride and reputation and let go.  If you make this choice, you will go to your grave with people still thinking the worst of you, but one day everyone will know the truth.  For now, all that matters is that God knows.”  I handed him an address, “Maria is staying with her cousin.  She was told by her parents to have the child and give it up for adoption, but she has decided to keep him.  She is going to need some help.”

Joe seemed to suddenly understand everything as he stood up so fast that his chair fell over behind me.  “Thanks for telling me.  I should have believed Maria and been with her so she didn’t have to face this alone, but she won’t have to anymore.”  He grabbed his keys and headed for the door.

“Don’t forget to name the baby, Jesus,” I called after him as I turned off the lights and locked the door.

—————————
I didn’t want to miss the reunion, and was an eager spectator as Joe pulled his rusty pickup truck outside of Ellie’s house and walked to the door.  Maria answered the knock and looked shocked at the sight of Joe at the door.  He fumbled with his keys, “Maria, I apologize for not believing you.  I’m here to help you with Jesus.”

Maria’s tongue loosened enough to squeak out, “Jesus?”

Joe smiled, “Yes, I was told that we name The Messiah, Jesus.”  He then knelt before her on one knee, “Will you marry me?”

She gasped, “But Joe, I can’t do that to you.  People will think that you are the father.”

“Maria, you and I both know that God’s will is best no matter what may have to be suffered.  I love you, and I will stand by your side for the rest of our lives.”

Maria blushed that pretty woman-in-love color.  “Yes, Joe, I will marry you and love you for the rest of my life.”

——————
The wedding was small.  Ellie, her husband, and the new-born baby, John, were witnesses to the humble marriage between two people who were following God no matter what the cost.

———————-
Joe was busy loading the suitcases into the bed of the pickup.  “I wish we didn’t have to travel right now since you’re almost due, but I don’t have any other option.  We have to go to Wyoming and finish up the will and tax stuff from Dad’s death last week,” he apologized.  “I still think you should stay here.”

Maria shook her head, “You’re my husband.  Like Ruth said, ‘I will go where you go’.  You especially need my support as we go through the funeral and grieving.”

They were designed for each other- each one held the other up with strength that they did not have by themselves.  They would travel for days in that old pickup whose heat didn’t work and suspension was shot.  I knew where they were going to stop, and had arrived early to prepare a few things for their arrival.  The pickup rolled to a stop at the small fuel station.  The moon and stars watched from above.  All earth was holding her breath in anticipation.

Joe rushed inside the tiny convenience store.  “Where’s the closest hospital?” he urgently asked the man behind the counter, “my wife’s going to have a baby.”

The man didn’t act interested, “Thirty miles north up the highway.”

Joe rubbed his blood-shot eyes and pleaded, “Isn’t there anything closer?  Even a motel?  She can’t have the child in the truck.”

The man shook his head, “Nope, the motels are all booked from here till twenty miles further in all directions.  There’s a pro-game going on up at the capital.  Rooms have been booked for months in advance.”

The man returned to watching a late-night show on the little TV tucked under the counter.  Joe walked outside and looked around frantically for help.

I had donned some greasy overalls and a baseball cap and approached Joe, “Overheard your problem.  This isn’t much help, but the garage over here could be used.  The mechanics are gone, and it’s warmer in there than in your truck.”

Joe quickly went to Maria’s door, “Honey, we can’t get to a hospital in time, and the motels are full.  Are you okay with spending the night in the garage here?”

Maria smiled weakly, “Yes, Joe.  Any place will work.”  She then picked up Joe’s hand in hers as if she had read his thoughts, “Joe, you’re not a loser of a husband and father.  You are doing your very best, and I love you for that.”

I helped Joe carry Maria inside.  I gathered the rags that I had cleaned before hand and then left to get one of the neighbor women to help with the delivery.  Maria was strong, and this was God’s Son.  I knew everything would be all right.

—————
I had one more task for the night.  The new-born King would need a welcoming party.  None of Maria or Joe’s family would agree to come when I had called them.  Joe’s mobile facebook status update and tweet about The Messiah being born had only elicited mean comments, showing that no friends would show up for the King’s entrance.  I pulled out my phone and reread over what had been written.

Joe:  Maria is about to have The Messiah!  This isn’t a hospital or anything special, but at least God supplied a garage to keep us warm in=)  I’ll post pics when Jesus is born.

Randy:  Get a life, man.  We all know you’re the father.

Sam:  Don’t you ever watch the movies about how The Messiah will come?  Find a psychologist.

Lilah:  A garage?  Seriously?????  What kind of father are you?  Take care of Maria.  P.S.  Aren’t kings usually born in a castle?

I pushed open the diner door, and a bell announced my arrival.  “What can I get you, hon?” a waitress asked as she placed a cup of coffee on the counter where I was supposed to take a seat.

“This is fine, thanks.  But I would like some food made to go.  There’s a lady and her husband over at the garage.  She’s having a baby, and they’ll need some food later on.”  There were some truckers sitting around talking, but they stopped when I told about Maria and Joe turning the garage into a maternity ward.

“Poor thing!” the waitress exclaimed.

“Don’t be sad about this.  This is a miracle.  This baby is very very special.  He is our Messiah, our Savior,” I excitedly declared.

“You’ve been sniffing too much truck fumes, buddy,” she laughed as she walked back into the kitchen.

“You’re saying that this baby is The Messiah?  The One we’ve been waiting for?” a trucker in a Peterbilt hat asked as he sat on a stool next to me.”

“Yes, I have come to tell you about Him.  He is the hope of our future.  ‘Glory to God in the highest!'”

“Sounds crazy, but sometimes God moves in mysterious ways,” another man remarked.

A bearded driver stood to his feet, “Well, I don’t know about you guys, but my load is just gonna have to wait.  If there’s a King around, I’m gonna go see Him.”

I smiled as a group of about eight truckers headed across the road.  I grabbed the to-go food that the waitress had brought out and hurried to catch up.  I entered the garage and saw them kneeling around the baby.  I knelt too, there was no other option when one saw this child.  He looked like any other baby, but a Presence that was greater than the greatest power, strength, and wisdom surrounded Him.

A trucker wiped his eyes, “He’s so beautiful.  Truly this is our Messiah.”

I murmured in agreement, “Yes, Jesus, The Messiah and Savior for all of mankind, has been born.  The first Christmas has arrived.”

Giveaway Announcement and Christmas Garland Ideas

*Cue drumroll and cheering*  The winner of Love Lifted Me is Janet Sensenig.  Thank you to everyone who entered!

As I have said before- Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  I love the carols playing, cookies baking, store-fronts decorating, presents accumulating, snowflakes falling, nativities appearing…  Each year, I enjoy transforming the house into a Christmasy wonderland; so I am always on the lookout for great decorating ideas.

My recent project was making salt-dough ornaments.  They will supposedly stay good for quite a few years; although I haven’t personally tested that theory.  I used the recipe from “Freutcake” and copied it here for you to try too!  You can visit her blog and get the recipe there as well…http://www.freutcake.com/art-design/diy-art-design/how-to-make-salt-dough-ornaments/


Salt Dough
2 cups all purpose flour- plus more for the board
1/2 cup salt
3/4 – 1 cup water (you may need less)
food coloring (optional)
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and line a few baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In an electric mixer combine flour and salt and mix well.
3. With the mixer on low speed add in the water slowly until dough comes together in a ball. You may need as little as 1/2 cup of water or as much as 1 cup so pour slowly and stop when the dough comes together and feels like cookie dough.
4. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 10 minutes to firm up.

5. On a very well floured board, roll dough out to 1/4″ thick. Cut out ornament shapes using various cookie cutters.
6. Transfer ornaments to prepared cookie sheets and poke a small hole in each using a toothpick. Make hole large enough for an ornament hook or ribbon.

7. Bake for 30 minutes. The ornaments should only harden but not brown.
Optional Colored Dough:
If you want to color your ornaments, add food coloring to the water in step 3 before mixing it into the flour and salt. Adding food coloring to the dough will result in splotchy ornaments.

To Decorate:
1. Apply white craft glue to the front side of your ornaments.
2. Dip in glitter, nonpareil, sequins or beads.
3. Allow to dry completely before hanging.

****My personal notes

• I had to bake my cookies for about 15 minutes longer.
• I used glue to attach glitter, but then it took a lot longer to dry.
• I also used sharpies to decorate some of the cookies.
• A straw worked better than a toothpick for making the holes in the ornaments.
• 

My brother had a complete fit when he saw me making “fake” cookies as he called them, but now I think he sorta likes them too (although he will never admit that;)



Once the ornament cookies were ready to go, I strung them on twine, along with regular ornaments from the dollar store.




I also had tried a gingerbread ornaments version, but that did not go very well.  The cookies just wanted crumble.  Next year, I think I will use the salt-dough version and use food coloring to make a brown dough
 for the gingerbread men and women.


I also did up some pomanders using oranges and whole cloves…I love the warm, spicy, wintry smell of cloves.

Next on the agenda- drying apple and orange slices and baking pine cones (to get rid of the bugs) to mix with cinnamon and cloves for a holiday potpourri!  And I think I’ll string some popcorn yet as well to complete the old-fashioned country Christmas feel=)

Have fun preparing your home for Christmas!

Christmas Giveaway 2

I promised another giveaway, and here it is.  Time for some more Christmas fun!

This time I will be giving away a copy of a new book which arrived hot off the press this month.  The book is Love Lifted Me by MarJanita LaRosa Geigley.

It has been a long process….ongoing since July 2013.  But I have loved writing the book and working with the Burfetes (the story is about their lives) and CLP (the publisher).
God has proved Himself incredibly mighty during the whole process, and I want to praise Him first of all for the book.

The story is about Dennis and Pouv Burfete (he was in a rough motorcycle gang, and she was a Buddhist child who lived through the Khmer Rouge genocide) and how God transformed their lives.

Very sadly, Dennis passed away in August 2014; so he did not live to see the book published.  But I am praying that God can use this book to bless Pouv and Socheatha (Dennis and Pouv’s daughter) emotionally and financially.

You can enter the giveaway at a Rafflecopter giveaway.  There are different point levels to increase your chances at winning- visit my facebook page, subscribe to this blog, share the giveaway info on your own blog/facebook/twitter, or leave a blog post comment!  The winner will be announced on 12/13/2014 and must reply within 48 hours to claim prize.  The prize will be one new copy of Love Lifted Me; I will also pay shipping fees to send the book to the winner.

Even if you are not the Christmas giveaway winner, you can still buy your own copy of Love Lifted Me at http://www.clp.org/products/love_lifted_me_3131.

Merry Christmas!

Give A Little Bit This Christmas

First and foremost- I want to announce the giveaway winner.  Thanks to all those who entered, and keep tuned because I’m planning another giveaway pretty soon!

The winner is *Gwen Geigley*

Christmas is a great time to give as we remember the Gift that was given to us.  So I want to share one of my favorite charities- Christian Aid Ministries (also known as C.A.M.).  Christian Aid Ministries has many great year-round programs to support.  I give to their “Support An Orphan” fund, and the Daughters of Zion Girls’ Choir raises funds for the “Project Baby Moses” project.  (Plus, I like to buy through AmazonSmile to support C.A.M. as well.  That counts, right?;)  But Christian Aid Ministries also has bundles and kits that you can put together.  This is great for individuals, families, sunday schools, churches, and even schools to do as a group effort.  My Dad’s family is doing the clothing bundles (which is the last bundle/kit described in this post), and I had a lot of fun shopping and putting bundles together for two little boys and three little girls in other countries who will be quite happy for their new clothing.    Don’t you love buying kids’ clothing?!

I copied down the information for Christian Aid Ministries’ bundles/kits; so have fun deciding which one you will do this Christmas!

For more information, you can visit https://www.christianaidministries.org/

Hygiene Kits

Hygiene kits are shipped to Nicaragua, Liberia, Haiti, Romania, Ukraine, and other countries.

• 1 bar of soap*
• 1 tube toothpaste*
• 1 toothbrush
• 2 washcloths
• 1 bath towel
• 1 bottle of shampoo* (place in a plastic bag to prevent leakage)
• 1 container of deodorant* (roll-on or stick, no aerosol spray)
• 1 comb
• 1 nail clipper with file
• 1 large handkerchief

*If these items have an expiration date, it must be at least 1 year in advance.

Instructions for Hygiene Kits

Because of customs declarations, please include only the items listed above. All kit items must be new. Wrap items in the bath towel and fasten firmly with safety pins or tie together with ribbon. Kits may be delivered to any CAM location or shipped to our PA warehouse:

Attn: Shipping Department • 2412 Division Highway • Ephrata, PA 17522

You can also send $2.50 for each kit you donate if you wish to cover the cost of shipping.

Classroom kits

• 1 pencil sharpener (hand crank, metal shaving canister)
• 1 chalk eraser (soft, felt)
• 15 boxes white chalk (dustless)
• 1 box colored chalk
• 1 solar calculator
• 1 sturdy bag (drawstring, 15″ x 15″)

Put all the items in the drawstring bag. Please pull strings tightly to prevent items from falling out.

Instructions for Classroom kits

Because of customs declarations, please include only the items listed above. All items must be new. Put all the kits in a large box or bag and write the kit name and quantity on top. They can be dropped off at any CAM location or shipped to our warehouse in PA:

Attn: Shipping Department • 2412 Division Highway • Ephrata, PA 17522

You can also send $2.50 for each kit you donate if you wish to cover the cost of shipping.

School kits

• 4 spiral notebooks (8″ x 11″ with approx. 75 pages)
• 1 sturdy metric ruler (12″)
• 6 unsharpened pencils
• 1 pencil eraser (not pencil top, but similar to Pink Pearl™)
• 2 blue or black ink pens
• 1 pack of crayons or colored pencils
• 1 comb or toothbrush
• 1 drawstring bag (10″ x 15″)

Put all the items in a drawstring or similar bag. Please pull strings tightly to prevent items from falling out.

Instructions for School Kits

Because of customs declarations, please include only the items listed above. All items must be new. Put all the kits in a large box or bag and write the kit name and quantity on top. They can be dropped off at any CAM location or shipped to our warehouse in PA:

Attn: Shipping Department • 2412 Division Highway • Ephrata, PA 17522

You can also send $2.50 for each kit you donate if you wish to cover the cost of shipping.

Student Kit

• 9 pens (blue ink, medium, stick, BIC™ or Papermate™)
• 7 wooden #2 pencils
• 1 Pink Pearl™ eraser
• 1 wooden, inch/metric ruler (12″)
• 1 pack of 8 crayons
• 1 sturdy handmade backpack (To make these backpacks, see instructions at the end of the page)

Put all the items in the backpack.

Instructions for Student Kits

Because of customs declarations, please include only the items listed. All items must be new. Put all the kits in a large box or bag and write the kit name and quantity on top. They can be dropped off at any CAM location or shipped to our warehouse in PA:

Attn: Shipping Department • 2412 Division Highway • Ephrata, PA 17522

You can also send $2.50 for each kit you donate if you wish to cover the cost of shipping.

Student Kit Backpack Instructions:

Materials Needed

• fabric for backpack—35″ long x 14″ wide (strong fabric, denim or similar)
• 2—4″ square pieces of fabric
• 2 straps for backpack—each 23½” long x 1½” wide (same fabric as bag, or nylon webbing) strap reinforcement strip—2¾” x 1½”
• 2 drawstrings, 30″ each (cording can be used; burn ends to avoid fraying)

If you have access to a commercial sewing machine, nylon or polyester canvas fabric can be used.

Instructions for sewing Student Kit backpack

1. Serge or zigzag all edges of fabric. Fold in side seams ½” at tops. (see #1)
2. Fold 1″ of fabric at tops and sew top seams, allowing ¾” sleeves for drawstrings. With one top seam, sew strap reinforcement strip at the middle of inside of bag (see #2). Catch edge in top seam.
3. Prepare triangles that hold straps at sides. Fold the 4 1/8″ square pieces of fabric once (wrong side out) into triangles. Position the strap inside the triangle with end at the arrow and sew across the middle (see #3). Fold fabric away from long end of strap.
4. Pin 1″ deep folds at bottom of side seams (see #4a); add triangles with straps (catch corners of straps in side seam—see #4b) above 1″ folds, then sew sides (½” seams) up to 2¼” close to top.
5. Sew top ends of straps onto bag near top of bag (see #5) where the reinforcement strip is inside.
6. Insert drawstrings (see #6) and knot ends, one on side and the other on opposite end.

Diagrams

#1 fold 4 corners in ½

Go to Backpack Instructions

#2 inside strap reinforcement strip

Go to Backpack Instructions

#3 triangles that hold straps at sides

Go to Backpack Instructions

#4a side seam fold

Go to Backpack Instructions

#4b strap corners (inside of bag)

Go to Backpack Instructions

#5 top outside strap attachment

Go to Backpack Instructions

#6 drawstrings

Go to Backpack Instructions

Finished product

 

 

Teacher Kit

• 2 soccer balls (deflated for shipping)
• 1 hand pump with needle
• 1 sturdy desktop stapler
• 1 box staples (5,000+ count)
• 1 staple remover

Put all the items in a large shoebox or plastic container. Do not tape it closed; simply secure lid with a rubber band.

Instructions for Teacher Kit

Because of customs declarations, please include only the items listed. All items must be new. Put all the kits in a large box or bag and write the kit name and quantity on top. They can be dropped off at any CAM location or shipped to our warehouse in PA:

Attn: Shipping Department • 2412 Division Highway • Ephrata, PA 17522  You can also send $2.50 for each kit you donate if you wish to cover the cost of shipping.

Layette Bundles

Items MUST be new!

• 1 receiving blanket (suggested size:32” x 38”)
• 1 heavier blanket (suggested size:36” x 38”)
• 6 diapers (absorbent 100% cotton or flannel, long preferred—not pre-folded or square; suggested sizes:18” x 36” or 21” x 36”)
• 2 sleepers (1 small & 1 medium)
• 2 rubber panties
• 2 undershirts or onesies
• 2 pairs socks or booties
• 1 baby cap
• 4 diaper pins
• Wrap all the items in one of the blankets and fasten the blanket with diaper pins or tie it together with ribbon. You may label the bundles ‘boy’ or ‘girl’. Your layette bundles will be distributed to mothers in Liberia, Nicaragua, Haiti, Romania, Ukraine, and other countries.

Instructions for Layette Bundles

Because of customs declarations, please include only the items listed. All items must be new. Put all the kits in a large box or bag and write the kit name and quantity on top. They can be dropped off at any CAM location or shipped to our warehouse in PA:

Attn: Shipping Department • 2412 Division Highway • Ephrata, PA 17522  You can also send $2.50 for each kit you donate if you wish to cover the cost of shipping.

Assemble a pack of brand-new clothes

New Clothing for a child (pack a,b,c,d)

For various countries

While used clothing meets many needs around the world, there are some articles of clothing that are impractical or imprudent to send if they have already been used. This includes both underclothes and other clothing for fast growing boys and girls. In an effort to encourage dignity and modesty, we have prepared several options to meet this specific need. Here is your opportunity to bring a smile to an impoverished child!

New Clothing for a Toddler (pack e,f)

For Romania and Moldova

For many years due to customs restrictions CAM has not been able to send used clothing for toddlers to Romania and Moldova. We are, however, able to send new clothes. If you would like to help struggling parents clothe their little ones, see Pack E or Pack F for a list of items to send.

Pack A

for children in various countries

Boys (ages 11-16)

• 1 pair trousers
• 1 shirt with collar
• 2 briefs
• 2 pair socks

Pack A

---

Pack B

for children in various countries

Girls (ages 11-16)

• 1 dress
• 2 panties
• 2 bras
• 2 pair socks (black or white school socks)

Pack B

---

Pack C

for children in various countries

Boys (ages 5-10)

• 1 pair trousers
• 1 shirt with collar
• 2 briefs
• 2 pair socks

Pack C

---

Pack D

for children in various countries

Girls (ages 5-10)

• 1 dress
• 2 panties
• 2 pair socks (black or white school socks)

pack d

---

Pack E

for toddlers in Romania and Moldova

Boys (ages 1-3)

• 1 pair trousers
• 1 shirt with collar
• 2 undershirts or onesies
• 2 diapers
• 2 pair socks

Pack E

---

Pack F

for toddlers in Romania and Moldova

Girls (ages 1-3)

• 1 dress
• 2 undershirts or onesies
• 2 diapers
• 2 pair socks

Pack F

---

Instructions

Request one labeled bag from the CAM home office for each clothing package that you wish to send. Write to Christian Aid Ministries, P.O. Box 360, Berlin, OH 44610 or call 330.893.2428.

You can also send $2.50 for each kit you donate if you wish to cover the cost of shipping.