Hide Em In Your Heart

Two years ago, Living Proof Ministries held a Scripture Memory Challenge for all the people who read Beth Moore's blog. I dutifully purchased a cute but overpriced spiral online; chose 26 verses to memorize; copied them into MS-Word; cut them out; pasted them into said notebook AND did not memorize them. Yikes!

This year, I'm taking Ms. Moore's challenge to heart. I'm going to pick-up where I left off in 2011 and memorize the verses I didn't memorize in 2011. Here's the good part: I don't have to buy a new spiral, choose the verses, copy the verses, cut them out OR paste them in a spiral. I MERELY have to memorize them. Double click on the following link for more information on the Living Proof Ministries' Scripture Challenge.  The Scripture Memory Challenge is discussed in detail in the December 17th post

To tell you the truth, I'm not the world's biggest Beth Moore fan. I spent the first 16 years of my life in the Western suburbs of Chicago (Wheaton was where we went to file paperwork when we were evicting someone from one of our rental properties) and I am a third-generation Presbyterian. Some people call us the 'frozen chosen.' Ms. Moore is a little too happy, clappy for me. To her credit, she has gotten a whole lot of ladies excited about Bible Study and she is a member of the same sorority that I am.

In case you are wondering, here is the list of scriptures I'm memorizing in the NIV 2011: Matthew 25:40, Psalm 118:24, Psalms 3:5-6, Matthew 5:3, Isaiah 66:2, Matthew 19:14, Isaiah 40:31, John 3:16, Hebrews 11:1, Luke 2:10-12, John 16:33, Romans 12:2, Proverbs 16:3, Psalm 143:8, Psalm 46:10, Luke 1:37, Romans 8:37, John 14:27, 2 Timothy 2:15, John 1:1-2, John 1:3-4, Isaiah 40:29, Hebrews 4:12, Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 23:1, Philippians 4:19, and Jeremiah 29:11. I based this list, loosely, upon the scriptures/concepts I thought kids should know by the time they finished elementary school. It is neither a comprehensive nor an exhaustive list.

Memorizing Scripture is hard work.  Time for a cat nap.

Mary Had A Baby

In Seminary, some of my favorite classes dealt with theology – or what I refer to as the very big things of God. At Christmas, Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth. Because I’ve spent a good chunk of my adult life sharing the Christmas Story with children of all shapes and sizes in Sunday School, I’ve spent lots of time thinking about Mary and Baby Jesus – even more time than I’ve spent combing the aisles of Hobby Lobby and Michael’s looking for supplies for Base Camp service projects.

Various aspects of the Christmas Story continually blow me away. First, there’s the Incarnation – or how the Word became Flesh. God sent his Son Jesus to live amongst us. In John 1:10-14 we read,” He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Then, there’s the Virgin Birth. Jesus was not conceived via intercourse or a laboratory procedure, as occurs with some infertile couples today. In Luke 1:26-38, the angel Gabriel – the figure we suspend by a thread from the peak of the stable in our nativity scenes – informs Mary that she will be with child and give birth to a baby whom she will name Jesus. Mary, a virgin, is stunned. Let’s pick up the conversation at verse 35: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

Other facets of the Christmas Story intrigue me as well. Joseph, Mary’s future husband and Jesus’ earthly father does not attract much attention. I wonder how Joseph reacted when Mary told him she was pregnant? Life back then was far different than it is today. Joseph not only had the right to divorce Mary, under Jewish law she could be put to death by stoning. God sent an angel to Joseph to verify Mary's story and reassure him that his marriage to her was God's will. Joseph willingly obeyed God, in spite of the public humiliation he would face.

Mary most likely was a teen mom. Though my mom gave birth to me when she was far too young, many of my friends waited until they were in their thirties to have children. They had husbands, homes, jobs, and money in the bank.
Mary was not only young, but she also gave birth in conditions that today's moms would deem both unsanitary and uncomfortable.  Whether she had Jesus a quaint stable that looked like the nativity scenes we grew up with (not that likely) or a stone cave dug into the side of a hill, or spent the night in someone's home where the animals slept on the lower level (far more plausible), Mary did not give birth in a spacious suburban medical center.  

Furthermore, there were no epidurals available.  Natural childbirth was a woman's one and only option.  Mary’s friends didn't host a shower where they bestowed her with onesies from Baby Gap or Hanna Andersson either. Mary wrapped her son in strips of cloth known as swaddling clothes. Life sure was different back then.

Deck The Halls

I'm not much for elaborate Christmas decorations. 

For me, Christmas is mostly a matter of the heart. 

I finally got rid of my Christmas ornaments last year. 

Putting up a tree was not only tedious, but it also brought back bad memories from my growing-up years. 

I hang stockings above the fireplace. 

In years past, I've also set-up a manger scene on the blanket chest in the living room. 

Isabelle and Ebenezer enjoy playing with the lambs and hiding Baby Jesus. 

Now, I hang a Nativity wall hanging instead. 

What else?  I've always loved the Peanuts comic strip.  Several friends have given me Peanuts Christmas items over the years.  I put them out as well. 

This year, I received a Snoopy Christmas Countdown Calendar from my friend Willow.