THE LITTLE BROWN BOX

A few years ago, we started a Christmas tradition...

One that will continue in our family for many years to come. 

It's Christmas Eve...The tree is lit and decorated.  We gather together in our living room.  Each family member is given a piece of paper and a pen.  On that small piece of paper, we write something that we personally want to give to Jesus.


It could be a dream...something we need His help with...whatever we personally want to give over to Him.  We then put all our papers in this little brown box (in the photo) and put it on the Christmas tree.  It is our gift to Jesus that Christmas.

After a whole year has gone by...we gather ourselves around the tree on Christmas Eve and open up the little brown box.  Most of us usually forget what we had given over to Jesus the previous Christmas.  So it's always exciting when we take out our papers and see what Jesus has done over the last year with the gift we gave to Him.  How He has worked in our lives, how He has grown our character, and how He has loved us in that specific thing we gave to Him.

Did you notice?... This gift to Jesus is not wrapped in fancy paper...It's just the box, as it is.

When we give a gift, we usually wouldn't just give it in the box.  Right?  We want it to look pretty on the outside...all put together.  Nice to look at.

Sometimes we do that with ourselves, don't we?  I know I have at certain times in my life.  We want to look nice to others.  So we wrap ourselves up to give the appearance that we are all put together.  When underneath we're really not.  After all we wouldn't want others to see the box underneath the pretty paper, in its real condition...would we?  We've all been there.

This little brown box represents our family giving to Jesus as we are.  Jesus doesn't need the fancy paper.  He can see through the paper.  What we are giving Him inside that box is from our real selves.  He prefers it that way.

 This Christmas do you know about the gift we are celebrating?

God loved you and me so much that He gave us the best gift!  When He brought this gift into the world it wasn't wrapped in fancy paper with big flashy bows.  It came...if you will... in a little brown box.

This gift was Jesus.

He was born humbly.  In a barn.  Not a fancy place at all.  His mother who bore him was a little girl-13years old.

But this gift was so important that the angels came out of heaven blowing their trumpets and sounding their horns.  They couldn't miss such a joyful and important occasion.

This gift was sent  for you and me to save us... and allow us to have a relationship with God and spend eternity with Him.

This Christmas, look for the little brown box.  Do you see it?  Maybe it will be on your nightstand...or on the kitchen table.  Maybe it will be in your car...or on your desk.  Maybe on your pillow...or on the window sill, as you look from your hospital bed.  Or maybe it will show up in the middle of a fancy party you're at...but you're the only one that can see it.  You move a little closer.  Right there on the tag, stamped in love, there's a name on it.

 Is it YOUR NAME? 

Sure enough...Plain as day

Open it...Receive it.

When your time here on this earth comes to a close this will be the one gift you'll be glad you didn't try to return.

FOR MORE ON THIS GIFT-JESUS: READ MY OWN PERSONAL STORY

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

THE SOLDIER'S COST

                                   

FREEDOM... 

I was traveling on Thanksgiving Day and I heard a Jimi Hendrix song on called, "Freedom".  That word Freedom... kept rolling around in my head. 

Everybody wants freedom.
 
Freedom...to be themselves
Freedom...of speech
Freedom...in religion
Freedom...from sickness
Freedom...from addiction
   
 The list could go on and on...  

But the thought came to me that freedom never comes without a cost.  

If you want to be free from an addiction, you have to suffer the hardships of the withdrawal.  For freedom from slavery and segregation...someone had to pay the cost.  To live in a free country many have paid the cost.

I write today to... you, the Soldier... past or present in service.  You certainly know what it means to pay the cost.  The cost of sacrifice.  The cost of being away from loved ones.  The cost of sleepless nights, haunting thoughts, terror filled dreams.  The cost of losing an appendage to your body.  Or maybe the cost of a life time of suffering emotionally or physically due to what you experience as a soldier.

You are sacrificing and giving the cost of your life.  Scripture says "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

I hope today... that you do not feel forgotten... or feel that your suffering and sacrifice have been in vain.

Whatever you are going through or have gone through as a soldier laying down your life for your loved ones, friends, and country...please know that you are not alone. 

As you have been the one sacrificing and protecting for someone else...There is someone who has done the very same thing for YOU.   One who sacrificed and suffered...was rejected, and under-appreciated.  One who endured many wounds and the wrath of God...all for the purpose of protecting and saving YOUR life.  

Jesus Christ showed the ultimate love and laid down his life for YOU, his friend.

Jesus Christ knows exactly what you feel and has walked in your shoes.

YOU, the soldier, can identify with the work of Christ.  The best part is... now you can be on the receiving end.  As you may have rescued others from the wrath of evil men here on this earth, you can rest knowing that Christ has rescued you from the wrath of God and the evil one and taken your punishment.  The punishment that we all deserve as sinners. Do you believe?

Men and women...Soldiers- past and present...Hear me when I say this:

"The love of Christ has come to YOU today.  
He has NOT forgotten YOU!"

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE 
AND YOUR SACRIFICE!

THE ROYAL FAMILY

  

Prince William...Duke of Cambridge...elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales...grandson to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.


Prince William has been born into the Royal Family.  No matter if he fails in something, or gets disapproval from others, is treated harshly, betrayed, hurt, wounded, alone, insecure, feels unloved by those around him, makes a bad decision, or is unsuccessful in his life...none of that can change the fact that he is a part of the Royal Family.  He is still royalty and always will be royalty.  He will always be the Prince...son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana...grandson to Queen Elizabeth II.

ROYALTY ... it sounds good to some of us, doesn't it? 

Jesus has invited me over the years to see that I... AM ROYALTY!

YOU... MAY BE ROYALTY!

Right now... YOU... might be being handed an invitation to... BECOME ROYALTY!

When we enter into the Family of God, accepting our sin condition and Jesus Christ as our Savior, we enter into God's royal family.  When we are adopted into God's Family we become co-heirs with Christ, as he is the first born son of the Holy, Mighty, Everlasting God.  There is nothing that can then change your value and who you are as God's royal heir.

My value and identity was something I struggled with for a long time even after I began my journey with Christ.  In Christ's unconditional love for me He invited me into a long process of healing.  I thought at times that I knew my identity in Christ, until something would happen that triggered my feelings of insecurity and I got pulled back toward that pit of worthlessness.

I remember after years of this process when I found myself again feeling hurt and a wound arising.  I cried out to God saying "God...will I ever be free of this insecurity and imprisonment to it?"  I continued to pray fervently for freedom and for God to lock in my identity and value as his daughter.

And one day...after God repeatedly kept reminding me that only God sets my value, God locked it in and it has stuck with me ever since.

Jesus has the same immense love for YOU...

If YOU become adopted into the Royal family of God...YOU become the beloved Prince/Princess, heir to the Royal King of Kings, Son/Daughter to the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  You bear the mark and image of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  You belong to the Holy, Mighty God...and He is your Father....

Prince William sometimes wears the clothes of Royalty...the son/daughter of God wears the clothes of the Redeemed.  YOU have been cleansed and washed inside and out.  YOU are new.

No words...
or feelings...
or man...

can change Prince William's identity as a son of royalty...

and no words,
feelings,
or man

can change YOUR identity (if you are in God's family) as the son/daughter of the Most High God.  When God locks that into your belief system you will feel the freedom!

If this is touching your heart and you do not belong to God's Family...

Jesus says "COME..." 

If you are...Walk on today wearing the royal clothes of the Redeemed, believing that YOU are His beloved, cherished one, the apple of his eye...and nothing and no one can EVER change that.

KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR

How does she know you love her?
How does she know she's yours?

How does she know that you love her?

How do you show her you love her?

How does she know that you really, really, truely love her?

It's not enough to take the one you love for granted
You must remind her, or she'll be inclined to say...
"How do I know he loves me?"
(How does she know that you love her?
How do you show her you love her?)
"How do I know he's mine?"
(How does she know that you really, really, truely love her?)

Well does he leave a little note to tell you you are on his mind?
Send you yellow flowers when the sky is grey? Heyy!
He'll find a new way to show you, a little bit everyday
That's how you know, that's how you know!
He's your love...

You've got to show her you need her
Don't treat her like a mind reader
Each day do something to need her
To believe you love her

Everybody wants to live happily ever after
Everybody wants to know their true love is true...
How do you know he loves you?
(How does she know that you love her?
How do you show her you need her?)
How do you know he's yours?
(How does she know that you really, really, truely-)

Well does he take you out dancin' just so he can hold you close?
Dedicate a song with words in
Just for you? Ohhh!

He'll find his own way to tell you
With the little things he'll do
That's how you know
That's how you know!

These are words from the song on one of my favorite movies...Enchanted.   Why is it one of my favorite movies?  Because although I am an adult woman...I still have a little girl's desire ... to be a princess swept away by the strong knight in shining armor.

When I'm in distress there is a desire in me to see my knight riding in... on his horse... ready to save me... and catch me... as i'm falling from the trees. 

From what I've learned, men, you also have a desire...a desire to be the hero of the day for your woman.  Right?  Come on...you can admit it.  Men truly do deep inside desire to be the knight riding in and rescuing their lady.

That is an attractive quality in a man.  It meets the woman's deep desire to feel loved, and it meets the man's deep desire to feel loved... and respected.

Ladies...there is a reason we have these desires.  The "Knight" desire orginated from Jesus Christ.  He is our Protector, Rescuer, and Sheild.  He is the real and ultimate "Knight in Shining Armor" that we women desire.  Our desire is for Him (whether we realize it or not).  Christ holds out his arm in love and strong protection to pull you up on His horse to safety. That is where real security lies.

It sounds good, doesn't it?  Do you want to be His?  Do you want to be the one receiving that kind of love?  Someone you can feel safe with and be protected?

 Yes...I'm talking to you.

Even me?...you ask.  Yes, absolutely YOU!  Reach out your hand to his.  Talk to Jesus.  Find out for yourself who He is.(click here for more inquiry)  You won't be disappointed!

Husbands...
Your desire to be the hero is linked also to your desire for Christ.  He is your leader.  Want to know how to be the "knight in shining armor"  and win the heart of your lady...

Follow Christ's example.

How does YOUR wife KNOW that you love her?

Do you still pursue after her after 10, 20, 30 yrs of marriage...?  Do your actions show her your relationship with her is of utmost importance after God?  Is your relationship with her valued above your job...your kids?

Have you laid down your life for her?.......

If not, that's ok.  The grace of Christ is a beautiful thing!  Repent and reach for the hand of Jesus.  Christ's hand is also out there for you.  There's never a better time!  Only He can provide the strength for such a task.

SURVIVAL...

I heard a story yesterday morning about a little girl who was in an orphanage in another country.  The agency had sent scans of the little girl's brain to the family looking to adopt her.  They had the scans looked at by several doctors and all confirmed that this child was missing parts of her brain and she would never be able to respond to them in any sort of way.  As the adoption progressed they also told the family that they believed this little girl was also deaf and blind.  The mother who was looking to adopt told God there was no way she could adopt this little girl.  How could she pour out love to this child and never get anything in return.  In time, she surrendered to what she felt God calling her to do.  So they went to get this little girl who would be their daughter.

When the agency handed the little girl over to the mother in her arms, she said it was like looking at a shell with nothing inside.  The mother felt overwhelmed and like this was too much for her.  She handed the girl to her husband, went into the bathroom ,and sat on the floor sobbing.

For each one of their previous children, this mother and father, had a special song they had sung to them and that would be their special song.  When the mother came out of the bathroom she saw her husband holding their new daughter and singing to her, her own special song.

They continued to hold her and sing to her day after day and she eventually made eye contact with them, then one day she smiled, and laughed.  It turned out that this sweet little girl never was deaf or blind.  She had just closed herself off to everyone around her because of her previous experiences.  When they got her home they said she just bloomed!  And is doing wonderful!

What a sad and beautiful story all in one...It is sad to my heart when people (children or adult) don't feel loved.  That pain touches my heart deeply.  But it is also a beautiful story to me of how God can pour His love through US to others and make all the difference in the world!!

Isn't it true how many of us are that little girl walking around in an adult body.  I found it fascinating how when wounded emotionally and deprived of the healthy kind of love we need that even a small child will naturally pull herself in and close herself off, as a self-defense mechanism to protect.  There are so many adults who have done the same thing, and may not even realize it.  I didn't, until God began to open my eyes to the wounds I had, and the unhealthy ways I had taught myself to survive.

God spoke to my heart several years ago and said, "Let me stitch and heal all of your wounds".  At that time I thought, "what wounds?  I don't have any wounds".  I had calloused myself so much and stuffed things away in this little invisible box in me and became an expert at truly getting myself to believe that I was okay.

Can you relate in some way?  Only God knows what wounds you have.  You can see from my story that God knows us better than we know ourselves.  Seek Him.  Ask him to show you.  Ask him to heal you.  He wants to.  If we keep running away and pretending the wounds aren't there we will live a restricted life never experiencing the freedom of being healed.

Think of it this way...if you get a deep gaping cut on your leg, you go to get it stitched up right away, right?  If you leave the wound open, it's going to debilitate you making it harder and harder to walk on that leg and as time goes on it will make you sick.  That wound will restrict you in your daily living.  But if you let the physician stitch up your wound and it begins to heal over time, you get to experience life without the pain of the open wound and you get relief from the restriction it was having on you.

While we are seeking to look at our wounds and have them healed we also need to be open to allowing love into our lives.  Love and meaningful touch have so much power!  Did you know that over one-third of our five million touch receptors are in our hands!  In one of my favorite books, "The Blessing-Giving the gift of unconditional love and acceptance" by John Trent, PH.D. and Gary Smalley, it says that Dr. Dolores Krieger, a professor of nursing at New York University, has made numerous studies finding out that both the toucher and the one being touched receive a psychological benefit.  How?  It goes on to tell how inside our bodies is hemoglobin, the pigment of the red blood cells, which carries oxygen to the tissues.  Repeatedly, Dr. Krieger has found that hemoglobin levels in both people's bloodstreams go up during the act meaningful touch.  As hemoglobin levels are invigorated, body tissues receive more oxygen.  This increase of oxygen energizes a person and can even aid in the regenerative process if he or she is ill.

It also went on to say that: 
In a study at UCLA,  it was found that, just to maintain emotional and physical health, men and women need eight to ten meaningful touches a day.

Wow!....

Whether you are a man or woman, child or adult, baby or teenager...we all need to feel love and meaningful touch!  Don't kid yourself.  It's how we were designed.

Is there anyone in your life today that could use your love and meaningful touch?
or... Do you realize that you need the real love and caring touch I've been talking about?  If you do, ask God to share his love for you, through someone in your life.

This life is hard and sometimes reality really sucks.  Let's not sugar coat it.  That's why we need Jesus and his love to make it through.  In the book "The Blessing", it also tells of a little girl who was scared in the night.  Her father came into her room and said, "Don't worry, the Lord will protect you".  In the honesty of the child, the little girl snuggled close to her father and said, "I know that, Daddy, but right now I need someone with skin on!"

Don't we all!!!  Let's be that someone with skin on to each other and be a vessel that God pours His great love through.

ALSO please share this with someone you know is hurting...

Click here to view the lyrics to a song my husband wrote about our hurt called Calling You.

HELP!!!!!

We all are created with a desire to be loved and not rejected.  We desire deep inside to be
loved... when we make mistakes,
loved ...when we get hurt,
loved... when we feel alone, and
loved... when we are sick.

Who is going to love us, with this ugly condition, that we see under our mask?

Trying and trying on our own to fix it hasn't worked.
We need help!...the three words we don't like to say.

Admitting a need is half the battle, right?  So often, due to past circumstances and our own pride, we want to say that we don't need anyone.  If we need someone then we open ourselves up to getting hurt.  It's painful to continue to get hurt emotionally, so we develop self-defense mechanisms without even realizing it.

Over the years my self- defense mechanism has been,
"I will take control.  If I'm in control, I won't let myself get hurt."  I put up an invisible wall for many years, and pounded invisible pillars around myself that would protect me from getting hurt.
See MY PERSONAL STORY

Anybody else?  Do you have a way you self- protect?

Putting our pride aside... the truth is- we all need help.  We weren't created to be lone rangers.  Help is not a bad thing.  Receiving help, I've experienced, can be a very healing experience.

Who then can help us with this sin condition? 

JESUS.

 He is the only  one who can heal us.  The only  one who can cleanse us of our condition, forgive us of our daily sins, and pour out grace and mercy to save us from what we deserve.


By the grace of God, He showed me that His love was the only love I would find that was capable of loving me unconditionally the way I so desired to be loved.   As a physician has a treatment plan for his patient so does God in His great love for you and me, have a plan for our sin condition.  In the sickness of our condition we try to substitute ourselves for God.  In God's treatment plan He has substituted himself for us.

How?  God sent Jesus to die on the cross and take our punishment for the wrath our sin condition would bring upon us. He conquered death and rose again.

God is holy and righteous and just.  He has to punish sin.  What greater love is there than to save us from such punishment so we can enjoy his love and have relationship with him. 

OUR MASK

Do you ever notice how we all like to walk around with masks on?   Believing that if we leave the masks on long enough they will become the truth of who we really are.

I recently have been through a long season of God peeling my mask back. The mask that I didn't even know I was so desperately trying to keep on.  I've wanted to believe that I can be strong...I can keep everything going.  I can keep trying to be superwoman...keep a clean house everyday, be a great mom, be a great wife, come up with the right way to discipline my kids,  put a good meal on the table, etc...etc.  All while dealing with the immense stresses that can come up in life.  I eventually came to a point where I was so weak that my mask was disinigrating.

How about you?  If you are honest, do you have a mask on that you'd really like to be released from?

In the reality of my life getting harder and harder, and the weight of burdens, I began to see my true condition leaking out from under the mask.  Leaking out in ugly ways.  I didn't like what I was seeing and feeling.  Seeing this condition more and more in the light has been very humbling for me.

Here's where the truth comes in.  The answer to our question, "WHO AM I?"- We are all a people made in the image of God stricken with a sin condition.         
THE TRUTH IS OUT!

We are all sinners walking around tainted with the same condition.  No more burden of comparing.  It's the comparing of others' outward lives to our inward lives that forms the masks we so desperately need to be freed from.

What do you see in the depths of your heart?  Do you recognize a mask that's making it hard for you to see your true condition?

WHO AM I?

The other day I was listening to a speaker and he posed the question, "WHAT IS A HUMAN BEING?"  He went on to share what some say is the answer.  Some say "we are nothing more than a pack of neurons and chemicals".  Others say, "I am the clothes I wear", "I am who I convey I am to others", or "I am what I own".  At some point in our lives mankind thinks about the answer to this question. When we are honest, everyone of us has an answer to that question. 

I have also asked myself the question over the years, "Who am I?  

I once believed that I was what I did, and who I made myself to be.  I was the type of clothes I chose to wear and the things I chose to possess.  I believed "If I did good, then I was good...if I did bad, then I was bad".  My whole belief system was wrapped around these thoughts.  So I lived my whole life under the belief that who I was... was all dependent upon me.  The only problem with that is that I kept failing at who I wanted to be.  I could never stay consistant at always following the template I had made for myself.  So my identity kept changing according to my belief system.  When I did good-I was a good person.  When I failed-I was a failure.  When my emotional wounds would get opened-then I was a victim.  When I hurt someone emotionally-I was terrible person, worthless...etc.  You get the picture.  After a while I didn't know who I was!  My identity was unstable.  It's a terrible way to live!  

How about you?  Can you relate?  Are you desperately trying to figure out who you are?

I have hope...there is an answer. Outside of these lies sits truth.  In my next post I will share the answer.