The traditions of the Holiday can almost put your life into a frenzy. It’s Christmas Cards that must be mailed out, using last years addresses from cards you received….only to remember that you never ever wrote down any of those addresses from last year, so that’s out. Maybe it’s a gathering of friends that you just haven’t seen in a while, so why not have them over to the house, what a great idea, right? Only to realize that once you finally got around to inviting folks two days before you wanted to have your social gathering that everyone was already committed to other things…that’s a bummer. How about attending a Christmas Play or a Parade…that will work, but not writing down the starting time will make for horrible seating inside, not to mention bad parking outside, and if it were to be raining, just double the negative experience that you wanted to be so positive?
I am pretty sure that I have mentioned some truths that folks can relate to reflecting back over Christmas 2009. I know I did a few things different this year to keep me out of the frenzy of the moment. For instance, I went to a shopping mall just to see if I could keep count of all the people that got mad because I was just walking inside the mall and not running over folks like they were. I will share that I also found it interesting to see how many people wouldn’t hold the door for someone with arms full of packages, or to just be nice and simply hold the door as a kind gesture. What I witnessed was when someone would hold the door folks would just keep walking in and out and no one would say thanks to the guy holding the door or replace themselves with their kind gesture allowing him to walk through the door he was opening in a good spirit. It was always interesting when that guy finally just quit holding the door that someone in his family would always gesture with a like “why did you do that, you should have known no one would be nice“, sorry I can‘t help but smile and laugh just a little. I don’t know what makes up Holiday Fun, but it seems like a lot of folks just don’t have any fun during this time of the year. Seemed to me most folks were mad that they had to buy a gift or upset that they didn’t know what to buy. Given those circumstances I’m not sure if I would be buying any gift, but then again, I’m not like most folks.
Holiday’s should be enjoyed. Sure it’s nice to have a schedule and a plan, but to be all bothered and worked up into a frenzy is not my plan. For instance, the family Christmas meal didn’t happen on the time mother wanted it to happen and I simply said, hey, if people don’t want to wait and can’t understand why it’s late, sorry about their luck. Of course I figured no one in the family was leaving to go eat some place else and if they did, that would leave more for me, and I would think that would be a good thing! Ok, I’m really smiling now, but I believe you should have enough thoughts to pull together the real picture we should have for our lives. From time to time rushing to accomplish a task is fine, but if that rush is created just because we kept putting things off and off, no, it’s not so good. Having to think about what people would enjoy or could use in life should be a great thing. Thinking about folks you care about shouldn’t be a negative chore.
I guess this is what happens when you forget about the real meaning of Christmas and the Holiday’s….Lord help me to always stay focused.
Until then
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
"First Christmas in Heaven"
I first published this poem December 1998 after the passing of my grandfather, C. Hobert Mills. For the past 11 years I have continued to resubmit this column each year not just because it is precious to me, but over the years I have received hundreds of emails and notes sharing how it has also touched others lives too. This year I am looking at pictures of loved ones and friends that remind me of great moments shared in life while here. My pictures are covering ages from 98 to 17. Having Christian Faith is a blessing that provides me with peace and comfort at this time of the year and I pray that you will find that same joy even with the loss of your loved one.
My First Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear
And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can’t count the blessing or love He has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
Until then
My First Christmas in Heaven
I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear
And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can’t count the blessing or love He has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
Until then
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Santa Clause....hum?
The song says, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and the encouraging words instruct us that Santa is checking his list to see who is naughty and nice. Some thoughts that need exploration are items like, when does the list or recording keeping begin? Could it be that Santa starts his list on Christmas Day, especially since he comes on Christmas Eve? Or maybe he doesn’t start until the first day of Summer. This would give him time to regroup things at the North Pole pulling together all the players necessary to make such a one day sleigh ride possible.
Considering that most children don’t begin writing letters to Santa until the day after Thanksgiving, there is a lot of work to accomplish in a short time for the man in red and his helpers. Not sure when Santa starts keeping his list or how he organizes but the song states without a doubt that he is putting all of us into one of two list…bad or good.
One item that needs some investigating from the song is how you can move from the naughty and not receiving gifts to the nice and Santa is packing up something just for you.
When one is young you might thing for days about what you are going to put out on the table for Santa to eat during his visit to your house, and I believe most are not even concerned about the presence or absence of a chimney. I’m not sure if most children are thinking by leaving some goodies for Santa to eat that it’s the last ditch effort to win Santa over so he will leave more gifts or not, but that’s a question and thought worth wondering about for conversation sake.
Seems like everybody at this time of the year is trying to be nice so we can receive maybe our own wish list on Christmas Eve. If one doesn’t take a good inventory of themselves at this time of the year it is easy to see by just asking questions how we can begin traveling down a road that is not at all about the real meaning of Christmas.
The real news of Christmas is that whether naughty or nice, there is an answer that provides hope and the free gift of a lifetime. Gifts at this time of the year fall into the “I just want” and that means it could be something you want to play with or just have, or the other category “I should could use”, and it could be items you use all the time that are not only practical but useful and needed, not to mention your brand choice too.
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem and he would die at the place of the Skull called Calvary. His gift to the world is one that for some it is easily seen and the need is felt inside our hearts, just knowing that something is missing in our lives. Accepting His free gift is an amazing experience. While you receive everything Jesus offers when you ask Him to come into your heart immediately, it does take time to get to know Him, learn His character and see His patterns and how He works in our lives.
Not sure about Santa and his list and nor when he begins, but one thing I know for sure. When ever you ask Jesus to come into your life, He begins to work immediately, He is just waiting on you to accept His gift for you…so why not this Christmas?
Until then
Considering that most children don’t begin writing letters to Santa until the day after Thanksgiving, there is a lot of work to accomplish in a short time for the man in red and his helpers. Not sure when Santa starts keeping his list or how he organizes but the song states without a doubt that he is putting all of us into one of two list…bad or good.
One item that needs some investigating from the song is how you can move from the naughty and not receiving gifts to the nice and Santa is packing up something just for you.
When one is young you might thing for days about what you are going to put out on the table for Santa to eat during his visit to your house, and I believe most are not even concerned about the presence or absence of a chimney. I’m not sure if most children are thinking by leaving some goodies for Santa to eat that it’s the last ditch effort to win Santa over so he will leave more gifts or not, but that’s a question and thought worth wondering about for conversation sake.
Seems like everybody at this time of the year is trying to be nice so we can receive maybe our own wish list on Christmas Eve. If one doesn’t take a good inventory of themselves at this time of the year it is easy to see by just asking questions how we can begin traveling down a road that is not at all about the real meaning of Christmas.
The real news of Christmas is that whether naughty or nice, there is an answer that provides hope and the free gift of a lifetime. Gifts at this time of the year fall into the “I just want” and that means it could be something you want to play with or just have, or the other category “I should could use”, and it could be items you use all the time that are not only practical but useful and needed, not to mention your brand choice too.
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem and he would die at the place of the Skull called Calvary. His gift to the world is one that for some it is easily seen and the need is felt inside our hearts, just knowing that something is missing in our lives. Accepting His free gift is an amazing experience. While you receive everything Jesus offers when you ask Him to come into your heart immediately, it does take time to get to know Him, learn His character and see His patterns and how He works in our lives.
Not sure about Santa and his list and nor when he begins, but one thing I know for sure. When ever you ask Jesus to come into your life, He begins to work immediately, He is just waiting on you to accept His gift for you…so why not this Christmas?
Until then
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Regina Roaden Tye
In ministry, one fills their life with dreams and hopes of all the things you believe God has called you to do. Following God’s Call on your life has a lot to do with programs, events, and always having something to preach on a short seconds notice. I believe most in His service also want to impact people, but the one conversation no one ever shared with me at the beginning of my ministry, was how much I would personally be impacted by the people I would serve.
Churches provide many opportunities for personal growth through meeting people, walking with them through various circumstances and standing beside them during times of questions that seemingly produces no answers. Those opportunities also include celebrations through weddings, birthday days, graduations, anniversaries and moments of professional accomplishments too.
Serving the Greenland Baptist Church in Corbin has provided me a rich history of all the things that make for great memories. Regina Roaden Tye was an impact not only on me and my ministry but her life has impacted thousands. As a wife, her devotion to her husband Tim, and through his service as a United States Marine, Regina touched the lives of countless wives as a devoted Christian wife who offered faith and hope to those she encountered. As a mother she had devoted her energy, talents, and experiences of life as sweet counsel to her two blessings of life, Abby and Zach.
For Christians, faith in Jesus Christ offers eternal life which provides the foundation for celebrating a life that never ends. Wednesday December 2, 2009 is a date that now reflects her perfecting as a child of God. The Bible says that we become joint heirs with Jesus through Faith. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with the amazing gift of forgiveness of sin. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with a hope that teaches us to press on toward the prize. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with confidence that He who began a good work in us will complete it.
To me, Psalm 103 says, I will bless the Lord with all my soul not forgetting His benefits. My personal reflection of benefit from Regina’s life is the benefit of a friend who was an encourager. A friend who believed doing the right thing was the only choice. A friend who in nodding her head in affirmation said keep going, and a friend whose smile assured you God had just used you. To Regina, Psalm 103 is the realization of her faith. A Savior who heals all her diseases. A Savior who makes her young again mounting up new wings to soar with the eagles.
Battling cancer is not the plan any would choose for anyone. If a magic wand could be waved we would all be in line moving our arms back and forth. Truth is that cancer is a part of our lives. Some receive their healing here and for that we rejoice. For others various stages of remission occurs of which we are thankful. When faced with surmountable odds I have witnessed many rest in a peace and assurance that comes only from a personal relationship and faith with Jesus. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116: 15; And in faith years Regina your family and friends now sing, I will meet you in the morning.
Until then
Churches provide many opportunities for personal growth through meeting people, walking with them through various circumstances and standing beside them during times of questions that seemingly produces no answers. Those opportunities also include celebrations through weddings, birthday days, graduations, anniversaries and moments of professional accomplishments too.
Serving the Greenland Baptist Church in Corbin has provided me a rich history of all the things that make for great memories. Regina Roaden Tye was an impact not only on me and my ministry but her life has impacted thousands. As a wife, her devotion to her husband Tim, and through his service as a United States Marine, Regina touched the lives of countless wives as a devoted Christian wife who offered faith and hope to those she encountered. As a mother she had devoted her energy, talents, and experiences of life as sweet counsel to her two blessings of life, Abby and Zach.
For Christians, faith in Jesus Christ offers eternal life which provides the foundation for celebrating a life that never ends. Wednesday December 2, 2009 is a date that now reflects her perfecting as a child of God. The Bible says that we become joint heirs with Jesus through Faith. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with the amazing gift of forgiveness of sin. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with a hope that teaches us to press on toward the prize. The celebration of Regina’s life begins with confidence that He who began a good work in us will complete it.
To me, Psalm 103 says, I will bless the Lord with all my soul not forgetting His benefits. My personal reflection of benefit from Regina’s life is the benefit of a friend who was an encourager. A friend who believed doing the right thing was the only choice. A friend who in nodding her head in affirmation said keep going, and a friend whose smile assured you God had just used you. To Regina, Psalm 103 is the realization of her faith. A Savior who heals all her diseases. A Savior who makes her young again mounting up new wings to soar with the eagles.
Battling cancer is not the plan any would choose for anyone. If a magic wand could be waved we would all be in line moving our arms back and forth. Truth is that cancer is a part of our lives. Some receive their healing here and for that we rejoice. For others various stages of remission occurs of which we are thankful. When faced with surmountable odds I have witnessed many rest in a peace and assurance that comes only from a personal relationship and faith with Jesus. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116: 15; And in faith years Regina your family and friends now sing, I will meet you in the morning.
Until then
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