Just Sayin' ~ Pure Religion at Christmas

 

I have decided to use my Just Sayin' format for the next two weeks.  I will return to my posts on The Family right after the first of the year.  Until then, I'd like to share pictures and posters that have caught my eye and talk about why each spoke to me.

 

There is a Christmas song that tells us "It's the most wonderful time of the year. But for many people, this time of the year is a time of sadness.  Some reasons are apparent, such as the recent tragedy in Connecticut, but others are hidden.  People do cry behind closed doors and face personal struggles we can hardly imagine. 

 

My maternal grandmother was always sad at Christmas time.  I'll admit, I would rather spend the holidays with my paternal grandparents, who were cheerful souls.  It was a downer to have Grandma looking so glum all the time.  In all of my growing up years, I remember only one Christmas spent at her house.  I often wondered why she couldn't even try to be excited about Christmas coming.  I was almost an adult before I understood the reason: my mother's only brother died in December and was buried on Christmas Eve.  Things only became worse when my mom's father followed him in death, also in December.  She had suffered serious bouts with clinical depression for years afterwards.  I wish I had understood this when I was a child.  I would like to go back and sit down beside her and tell her I loved her, no matter what.

 

So as we set out to prepare for a joyous Christmas season, let us be mindful of those who struggle to find joy.  Let us take time to reach out to the sad and the weary; the sick and the lonely.  James tells us this: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1: 27)

 

Let us walk among men as Scrooge learned to do and reach out to those who seem strong and perhaps are strong, yet who still cry alone.

 

Text © Gebara Education, 2012

 

Poster downloaded from Facebook

Advent ~ The Third Sunday ~ Joy

 
In his book, Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis talks about joy as those tiny moments that just burst upon your soul unexpectedly.  You can't create them and you can't hang on to them, but you can remember them forever.  Those moments of brilliant insight can inform and alter you entire life.  Lewis describes his coming to Christianity by these surprising moments of utter joy.
 

As I think of the birth of the Savior, utter joy comes to mind.  I am thinking this morning of the Star that heralded His birth and must have surprised and awed all who saw it.  We call it "The Star of Bethlehem," but it truth it was seen around the world.  Wise men far to the east of Bethlehem saw the star and followed it for two years to find Him who was born King of the Jews.

 

Another group of people saw the star and recognized it as the sign of the Savior's birth.  These people lived half a world away in ancient Mesoamerica.  There story is recorded in The Book of Mormon.  You don't have to be a Latter-day Saint to enjoy this oft forgotten Christmas story.

 

From Helaman 14, we learn of an ancient prophet named Samuel who foretold Jesus' birth:

 

1 And now it came to pass that Samuel the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things . . .

2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

 

Believers rejoiced at this news.  Like the ancient Jews, these descendants of Israel also awaiting the coming of the Son of God.  But as the time for the sign to be given drew close, the non-believers mocked them.  It became politically incorrect to talk about new stars and signs and of a God who would have a Son and a Son of God who would save His people.  Finally, the persecution became so great that the non-believers (who controlled the government, by the way) set aside a day in which all the believers would be put to death if the sign were not given.

 

Another prophet, one name Nephi, prayed mightily to God that the sign might come and the believing people saved.  This is his prayer and God's response from 3 Nephi 1:

 

10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.

11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.

12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

 

That night, the sign was given.

 

15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.

.  .  .

19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born because of the sign which had been given.

20 And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

 

Millions saw that star around the world.  It must have been an incredible and unmistakable celestial manifestation.  Most of the people who witnessed it probably didn't understand its meaning, but those who had heard and believed the words of ancient prophets did.  When the sign was given, I am sure that they were surprised by joy.

 

And so the promises made by our Heavenly Father to each of us, all those long ages ago in heaven have been fulfilled.  He gave unto us a Savior, born to a very young mother in a little stable in Bethlehem.  That event changed the history of the world forever.  Jesus did everything He promised us He would do.  Because of Him, we can return to live with our Heavenly Father.  When we feel confused or troubled, we can look to Jesus just like simple shepherds and wise men and true believers half a world away once looked at a star, and we, too, will find the Son of God.  Let us remember Him as we celebrate His birthday this Christmas and remember that quiet and holy night that brought joy to all believers and changed all of eternity. 

 

© Gebara Education, December 2012

Picture of third candle of Advent from www.stteresa-avila.org

Picture of the Star of Bethlehem from www.theresainfortworth.wordpress.com

Short Musings of a Frustrated Playwright!

My blog is my sanity!  Perhaps that's why I have been feeling slightly insane this past week!  I have been stressing over the Christmas pageant.  I have five boys, age 14, as shepherds, but only one took a costume I offered.  The rest want to do their own.  I'm afraid I'll have one shepherd and four kids in jeans and/or pjs!  Mary is outfitted as is Joseph (both age 16) and the innkeeper.  The wise men have robes, but only one has a headpiece.  The other two are supposed to be making their own crowns.  Sigh! 

 

The angel Gabriel is an adult who wants to speak softly.  His wife has made him a white robe, but I don't know if he will wear it.  One of the wise men has missed all but one practice and they are singing a challenging song.  The young women's choir is good, but I thought they had a director.  They don't.  Guess who was drafted?  Sigh.  My pianist is awesome.  I haven't seen the sets yet, but I trust the set-maker, so that's okay.

 

Tomorrow will be better.  The men will show up at 10 to put up the stage and the sets and the tables.  The women will come at 10:30 to decorate tables.  The cast and crew will rehearse at 2:00 so I can see what we still need.  And at 6:00 the show will go on!

 

I think of that line from a song my dad used to sing:

 

     "Another Opening. Another Show"

 

     4 weeks, you rehearse and rehearse.

     2 weeks and it couldn't be worse.

     1 week will it ever be right?

     Then out of the hat comes that big first night.

 

Oh, and I still need to find or buy a doll to represent the baby Jesus.

 

Akkkkkk!  I think I'll move to Australia!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever ~Hopefully!

 

I am writing and directing our church's Christmas pageant this year.  So far, it's been lots of fun and I'm loving it, but it is also lots of work.  So my posts on the blog will be sporadic, at best.  I'll be back in full swing the day after the pageant (next Saturday), so look for me on the third Sunday of Advent.  Until then, have a fun time yourselves getting ready for the "summer of the soul in December." (Kermit the Frog)

 

 Picture of nativity from www.churchsupplies.com

 

Advent ~ The Second Sunday ~ FAITH

 

 

On the second Sunday before Christmas, I want to spend a moment talking about FAITH ~ specifically the faith of a young girl in a remote Galilean village over 2000 years ago.  Mary was very young - much younger than we'd like to think - when a messenger from God came to her and told her that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God.  Her only question was a natural one: how is this going to happen since I am not married and have never been with a man.  Once the angel had explained, she said, "Behold, the handmaiden of the Lord.  Be it unto me according to thy word."  How many of us could have said that? 

Contrast that to Zacharias who was a priest in Judah and had served the Lord in the Temple in Jerusalem all of his life.  He didn't believe the angel when he appeared in the temple with glad tidings.  No, Zacharias asked for a sign.  I am afraid too many of us are more like Zacharias than we are like Mary.

 

Faith is not knowledge.  It doesn't require a sign (for that would be knowledge, wouldn't it?)  Faith is complete trust in God that, whatever happens, He will guide us and in all these things, He will give us experiences that will help us grow, and learn, and even heal.

 

In these unsure times, we need the faith of Mary that the Lord is mindful of us; that we may approach each new day and each new experience without fear, secure in His love.   As I light the second candle, I pray that I might I face my challenges with faith as Mary faced hers.

 

Mary’s Challenge

Ages past there was a woman, who was lovely, young, and pure;

Called to be the Savior’s mother, gentle Mary was unsure

Of how this could be.  And she troubled when she heard.

But having faith she answered, “Unto me as is thy word.”

 

She must have often worried at the secret she must bear;

Of the challenge that was hers alone, though Joseph took her care.

The rocky road to Bethlehem must have been hard to tread -

And to bear her son in a stable with a manger for His bed!

 

She must have taken time untold to train her Holy Son

The countless hours she must have spent to teach this Chosen One.

For we know he waxed strong in spirit and wisdom in His youth

For at twelve, He was found in the temple teaching the aged truth.

 

 Did she ever tell Him, “Later, Son, I’m much too busy now?”

Was her temper ever short?  Did she ever wonder how

She could hope to raise this boy to man?  Or did she softly smile

Knowing He was God’s forever and her babe but a little while?

I’m sure when times were hard, she turned to those she loved for aid,

Perhaps to gentle Joseph, or Elizabeth she paid

Visit with her questions.  But her deepest inquiries

Were taken to her Father, oft’, in secret, on her knees,

I know He gave her comfort in her own Gethsemane

For she, too bore a cross of sorts that day on Calvary.

And as she watched her son fulfill his mission here the earth,

Did she remember Bethlehem, the stable, and His birth?

 Her life was rarely easy, but her calling was divine;

As is each call to Motherhood, which calls are yours and mine. 

And life’s not always easy.  God never promises us so.

But it is the greatest gift He gives, if we but only know

That these precious spirit children –each have an earthly trial,

For they are God’s forever and our babes but a little while.

Written as a gift to the Gilbert 2^nd Ward LDS Relief Society, December 1970

© Gebara Education, December 2012

 

Picture of second candle of Advent from www.stteresa-avila.org

Just Sayin' Saturday ~ C. S. Lewis

 

A couple of months ago, I ordered an audio course on the writings of C. S. Lewis.  I was enthralled!  I have always loved him as an author and Christian apologist, but I didn't even begin to realize the scope of his work until I studied that course. 

 

Since then, I have started reading my way through a plethora of Lewis books.  I've finished all three books of his Space Trilogy and am on book five of the Narnia series.  I am rereading the Screwtape Letters and am looking forward to Pilgrim's Regress.  I want to finish reading Mere Christianity.  I've also ordered a book written about his life with his wife, Joy, called Through the Shadowlands. 

 

I'm thinking of hosting a book study group next year to focus solely on C. S. Lewis.  Does anyone want to come?  Seriously, let me know at gebaraedu@yahoo.com.

 

I know I'm being obsessive about these books, but I can learn so much from Lewis by reading the lines.  I learn even more by prayerfully reading between the lines. 

 

Just sayin'.

Text © 2012 Gebara Education

 

Picture downloaded from Facebook

The Family ~ Some Resources.

In summing up our "unit" on problem solving, I'd like to share with you some objectives and guidelines for problem-solving from Dr. H. Stephen Glenn's DCYP [1] program.  I'm also including some ideas from Bill Oliver's P2P Program [2].This is an exercise for parents, so I suggest you get a notebook or paper and pen and answer the following questions:

• Do I both model and teach basic skills for human relationships such as listening and problem-solving?  If not, what can I do to improve in this area?  (Do I remember from P2P that one of my roles as a parent is to model appropriate behavior?) 
• Do I seek to reduce barriers and obstacles to listening and problem-solving? Do I respond in ways that reduce the tension or do I exacerbate the problem by reactions?
• Do I allow for differences in how people perceive the world, including differences inherent is age, culture, maturity, and even gender?  Do I remember that as human beings, we all see the world as we are not as it is?

H. Stephen Glenn

Dr. Glenn discusses his "Dirty Dozen:" communication habits that shut down communication and stifle all efforts at solving problems and conflicts within the family.  These are:

• Operating from a position of power/power struggles
• Giving You-messages instead of I-messages
• Advising before advise is asked for - "Let me tell you what you should do..."
• Lecturing
• Judging/being judgmental (particularly before you've heard all the facts and feelings)
• Giving non-specific praise ("Good job; you're a great kid; nice work, etc.")
• Name-calling
• Interpreting (I am not a mind reader and neither are you.)
• False reassurances ("I know how you feel; it's okay [3]; it's really not a big deal, etc.")
• Ridiculing
• Attacking the person, not the problem
• Avoiding the issue

If you want further information about either Parent-to-Parent or Developing Capable Young People, you can follow the links below or you can query either program on www.Amazon.com.  I went there this morning and found several resources from both programs.  I have studied, trained, and taught both.  Their approaches are different, but compatible.  I highly recommend them both and will be sharing more in the future.

 

[1] Developing Capable Young People; http://www.capabilitiesinc.com/course-material.html

[2] Parent-to Parent: Safe Passages; http://www.thepassagegroup.com/

[3] My youngest son had just started the third grade when Carmon died.  The first day of school, (less than a week after the funeral) he was sitting by a wall at recess and crying.  A teacher on duty came over to him and asked what the problem was.  He told there that his father had just been killed in a car accident.  She said to him, "It's all right."  He looked in her eyes and said, "It's not all right!  I am only 8 years old and I need a dad!" Amazing truths come from children if we'll only listen.

 Text © 2012 Gebara Education

 

Picture of Dr. Glenn from www.positivedicipline.com

P 2 P Logo from Blogspot

CCYP Logo from www.radans.com