Christmas Miracles

This isn't a book review. I haven't read the book show here, Christmas Miracles, by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson. No, but I was almost published in it. I submitted my story of a Christmas miracle to this book, and received the response that it would be included with the other stories of people who experienced miracles at Christmas.

I was overjoyed! To be published in a REAL book would be so amazing, and something with Cecil Murphey's name attached to it, unbelievable. Soon thereafter I received my contract and signed and returned it, eagerly awaiting the book's publication. But then somethings happened. "We regret to inform you...." Seems the publisher thought the book was too long. Six stories had to be cut. Six. One of them mine.

The disappointment was pretty big. No publication, no name in print. It stung. Time has passed, and my wound has healed, but to see the book in print does recreate the longing. But I made a connection with Cecil Murphey and have had a chance to email with him a few times. He is really nice, and I'm blessed by the connection. I've submitted my story to another venue (Chicken Soup for the Soul) and I can hope it will be accepted there.

So I have a choice. I can decide to be miserable that my story wasn't published, or I be thankful for the connections made and hope for another chance to be published.

What disappointments are facing you this Christmas? What will you decide? To be miserable, or to find something to be thankful for, and to look ahead with hope. If we could all change our thinking to be thankful and hopeful, well wouldn't that be the biggest Christmas miracle of all?

Romans 5:3-5 -- Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

This devotional will be printed over at Eternity Cafe tomorrow as part of the 40 Days of Focus, to focus on the 40 days before Christmas. This is to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus' birth, as well as prepare our hearts for His triumphant return. Why not head over and visit?

Thankful Thursday - Thanksgiving Edition

5 things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving

1. Spending Thanksgiving with my in-laws who I adore. I am blessed with a God-fearing mother-in-law who blesses my heart.

2. Food to eat, and a plenty of it.

3. Safe travels to and from my in-laws home.

4. Freedom of religion - you can't think about Thanksgiving without remember the Piligrams who created it, and how they came to America for that freedom. This website has some interesting facts, including how the Piligrams fasted and prayed over their dry and dying crops. Then the rains came, and to celebrate the Governor created the first real Thanksgiving.

5. The Christmas Season is beginning! To me, Thanksgiving is the foreshadowing of Christmas, you know it will soon be here. I love the CHristmas season, the time of love and joy and peace, and to think that it is the birthday of my Savior. This is my favorite time of year, and I am thankful for it!

May God bless you this Thanksgiving Day! Click the button below to see what others are thankful for today, or leave a comment by clicking "Chatty Comments" below.

Thanksgiving Meme

1. How will you be spending your Thanksgiving this year?
We are going to Iowa to visit my in-laws. I love my inlaws, so I'm looking forward to seeing them.

2. Will you be cooking or are you just an eater?
Usually I am a cooker, but because the inlaws live in assisted living, I'll be eating in the cafeteria with them.

3. Do you watch the parade every year or football!!
The kids and I love the parade, and after we eat, hubby watches football.

4. Whats your favorite float?
I like the floats that have the singers on them, because they're always lip syncing horribly, and that amuses me. My favorite part of the parade is the dancers from the Broadway shows.

5. Dark meat or white meat? White
6. Leg or breast? (this question seems remarkable similar to #5) breast

7. What is your favorite dish besides the turkey?
My dad's dressing is the best, my sweet potato casserole rocks, and who can resist dessert?

8. Homemade cranberry sauce or cranberry sauce from the can?
Homemade. Does ANYONE actually prefer the canned?

9. Do you decorate for Christmas on Thanksgiving day?
I usually pull everything down from the attic on Thanksgiving Day, and start decorating the day after and spend the whole weekend doing it. Since we'll be out of town, I'm alittle stressed about starting decorating a weekend later. But it will all come together.

10. What are some special family traditions?
I don't really think my family is big on Thanksgiving. Because my dad has Thanksgiving with his wife's familiy, and my brother used to live out of town, and I vary between thanksgiving at home or at Iowa, and my sister ET always invites any friends who have no place to go, Thanksgiving is more hodge-podge for us. I've had Thanksgiving at my house with "strangers" who are friends of my sisters, so it's always interesting! I'll miss all "my people" while I'm in Iowa with "John's people" but I always have Christmas here in Virginia. That's where the special family traditions are for me.

11. Pumpkin pie or pecan? Chocolate (duh!)

12. What is your favorite thing to do with the leftovers?
Eat them! (is this a trick question?)

13. How long will you spend eating your thanksgiving meal?
Probably 40 minutes...but hours visiting after the meal.

14. Are you worried about putting on weight this Thanksgiving?
Not worried, but I expect to put on weight over the holidays and take it off in the new year. It's the American way!

15. What do you normally eat at Thanksgiving?
Turkey, dressing (NOT stuffing), Sweet potato casserole, green beans, rolls & pie.

16. What will you be thankful for this Thanksgiving?
Spending time with my in-laws, who I only get to see once or twice a year.

17. What is your best Thanksgiving memory?
My oldest Thanksgiving memory is sitting out on the screened porch of my Grammy's house at the kids table and eating Thanksgiving. She had SO MUCH food, and never sat down but served everyone the whole time. She was an awesome cook. I don't have a best memory, but being my hubby & kids is the best Thanksgiving.

18. Do you give cards or presents at Thanksgiving?
Usually neither, although sometimes I'll send a couple of cards.

19. Are you planning on going shopping the day after Thanksgiving?
NO! I avoid shopping Thanksgiving weekend. I hate the crowds. I like to shop during the week while the kids are at school, and most people are at work. I usually love decorating all weekend, but this year, I'll be enjoying time relaxing at the inlaws, and will be rested and ready to tackle everything upon our return home...I hope!

20. Will you be waking up early to hit the sales?
See #19 above. ;-)

Psalm 69:30 -- I will praise God's name in song and glorify him
with thanksgiving.

"Jesus!"

This is a song by new artist Robert Pierre. He is only 17 years old, but what a talent! I think he's really going to go far. The words of this song are so true. When we have nothing else to pray, we can just call "Jesus" and He hears.

Busy?

"B.U.S.Y -- Being Under Satan's Yoke." That is the acronym that was posted on a church's sign board. In this time of multi-tasking that we live in, is it really a sin to be busy? Let's read some Bible verses and see what we can dig up.

Meet me over at Titus 2 in Action to read more.

W.W.K.D. - Part 2

Yesterday I posted about how a friend wonders "What would Kelly Do?" when making decisions because she doesn't know what Jesus would do. While I found that immensely flattering, the thing is what Kelly does do is often sinful. I can be selfish, willful, prideful, judgmental and a slue of other ugly things. I try to do what's right, but let's just say the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

I, too, have been praying for a mentor person in my life for a long time. Years long. But I came to realize something recently. God doesn't want me to have a mentor. He wants to be my mentor.

When I was a young woman, my friend Sonya came along side me and taught me so much about God and being a Christian. As a matter of fact, I held Sonya high on a pedestal and my mantra was "I want to be like Sonya!" I was blessed to have someone else in my life who told me in no uncertain terms what I should want is to be like Jesus, not Sonya. Because bless Sonya's heart, she too is a sinner. We all are. We need to cast our eyes on Jesus.

In 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites beg for human king to lead them. This wasn't God's will, He was leading them, He was their King. But they wouldn't back down, so He gave them a king, which costs them their freedom, their goods, their children, and they eventually cried out for relief from that king they so desperately wanted.

Who are you looking at in your life as your mentor, king, or person you esteem wondering what "they" would do when making your decisions? I urge you to thank them, but to look to Jesus, not them, for your answers. Jesus often quoted scripture and used it to resist the temptations of the devil in the wilderness. That is what Jesus did do, and what you should do too.

Isaiah 45:5,6 -- I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Acts 4:12 -- Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

W.W.K.D?

What would be the worst insult you could receive inadvertently, that is without the person intending to insult you? Well, "When are you due?" if you're not pregnant is certainly in the top 10 of this category. However, for me if an acquaintance or friend said to me "Oh, I didn't know you were a Christian." I hope that I am living my life so that people cannot help but see Jesus.

Likewise, what is the best compliment you could receive? "Are you losing weight?" is a good one, true. But for someone to say they see Jesus in you, I can think of no greater gift.

I am close with someone who believes in God, but (without putting words in her mouth), I think she would say she doesn't have a personal relationship with him. She is learning. She says that at times when presented with a situation and she doesn't know what to do, she remembers the arm bands that came out a while ago that say "W.W.J.D. -- What would Jesus do?"

The problem is, she says sometimes she doesn't know what Jesus would do. She can't call up scripture to help her in a situation. So, she told me, she thinks "What would Kelly do?" Because she knows me well, she knows what I would do. She knows I would be trying to do what Jesus would.

Obviously reading the Bible is best. But it's said that 1 person may read the Bible, while 99 read the Christian. Try to live your life today so they know what Jesus would do because of you.

Matthew 5:16 -- In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 7: 16-18, 20 -- By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.... Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Today we talked about how nice it is to "Be Jesus" for someone.

Tomorrow, we'll cover why it's not always a good thing to "Be Jesus" for someone.