Luke 2:8-18

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."



Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

It's easy to overlook the significance of the shepherds' response to the angel's message. These men were the least educated, roughest, and lowliest of the peasants. Angelic appearances happened to the priests, if they happened at all.  Fear was certainly a first response, but bewilderment perhaps should have been a second reaction. Maybe disbelief would follow bewilderment. Modern people would probably analyze, justify, or try to explain the angels as some natural phenomena.
 
These shepherds, however, were neither bewildered nor analytical. They dropped their staffs and went directly to see the promised Messiah. That's trusting faith.
 
We don't see too many angels this day and age. God speaks clearly to us, however. He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Those shepherds were both weary and burdened by their occupation and their place in society. The very moment they were invited to see the Promised One, they left everything to go. We never hear about them again after they leave Mary and Joseph, but we can deduce their changed lives by their reaction to Jesus: When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (Luke 2: 17-18)
 
How easy it is to overthink God's great gift. The shepherds understood the magnificent simplicity of how the prophecies of the Messiah would be fulfilled: God became man so that man could know God.
 
I want to have the faith of those shepherds, who took God at His Word, and never looked back.

Tis the Season

Joy!

I created the card base on my Silhouette. The paper is from The Paper Studio, and the sentiment is from The Angel Company. I used a little Dimensional Magic on the word and a couple of the stars.

O Christmas Tree

Happy Thanksgiving

I have much to be grateful for. I have a faithful husband, healthy children, a home, plenty of food, clothes to wear, and a reason to wake up every morning.

Mostly, though, I am thankful for a Creator who made all things and yet chose to love me, an insignificant speck in the span of time and space.  Without Christ, I am nothing. The things that bring me joy (my family, my art, and my teaching) can only do so because God has given me the ability to participate in them. He is the Ultimate One, the One who gives life and breath. He is the One who triumphs over death and hell, saving those who follow Him completely.

As much as I treasure those things that bring me joy, I know they are nothing in the scope of eternity--which is yet another reason to offer thanksgiving to the Lord of All.

Blog Candy Winner!

I didn't forget in all my housework that I had a drawing scheduled for today! The winner of the notecards featured on Stamper's Quest is CAROLYN! And for everyone, thanks for playing!

CLEAN!

My house is as clean as it has been since we moved in. You'd think my mother was coming to visit---oh, wait, she IS (hence the cleaning frenzy.) Here is evidence that yes, in spite of teenagers, husband, and greyhounds, my house CAN look nice now and then!

WHEW!  Now I can sit back and enjoy the fruit of my labor!

Blog Candy!

I met my goal of 52 posts for 2009! WOOT!!! To celebrate, I am giving away a set of six "thank you" cards that I made for Stamper's Quest. Leave a comment and on November 18 I will randomly choose a winner. Check back on that day, because I'll need your snail mail address to send you your prize!

Thanks for celebrating with me!

Apples of Gold

The Highs and the Lows

Talk about a extreme 24 hours. Last night I received a wonderful note from a student who graduated nearly ten years ago, telling me of his life and thanking me for being a teacher who saw in him something unique and who encouraged him to step out of his comfort zone and pursue great things. His words really encouraged me, confirming again that God can (and does) use me in spite of myself.

Then this evening came a virulent and angry e-mail from a parent who didn't like a quick note I had sent. Perhaps my short communication wasn't phrased perfectly, but the lengthy attack really caught me off guard and shook me up. I still don't understand exactly what the parent was really upset about (and if it was really just about the note I sent, then there are other issues at play), but I sure don't like the way I feel.

Words matter. Job 12:11 says, "Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?" Certainly words have the power to encourage and discourage. Thoughtless and hasty words can do more damage than a physical attack. Exhortations can buoy the spirit through difficult times.

Proverbs 29:11 establishes the value of words: A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. To offer the right word at the right time is to give a treasure. Conversely, an ill-timed or ill-intentioned comment can leave the hearer broken.

The book of Samuel makes an interesting statement when it teaches that Samuel "let none of his words fall to the ground." (1 Samuel 3:19) How often to my words fall to the ground, worthless and fruitless? It is something to ponder.

I am a woman of language, so perhaps the lesson in these highs and lows is to remember that all words have the potential for great harm or great good. To allow my speech to be anything but gracious and seasoned with salt means that I have allowed myself to squander a treasure, and to be guilty of causing the same kinds of hurt that I feel when I am unjustly treated. I need to be more careful to be an encourager and to remember:

Do not be quick with your mouth,

do not be hasty in your heart

to utter anything before God.

God is in heaven and you are on earth,

so let your words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:2