The Look

Chances are, if you are like me, you have mastered "the look." No, I'm not talking fashion here. I mean "the look" you give your kids as a warning.

Before my kids do something they aren't supposed to do, they glance over at me, to see if I'm watching. Then I flash them "the look." For me, the look is eyebrows up, mouth straight and tight, eyes bulge slightly. The look says "I see you, don't do it!" They quickly return to doing good and don't get into trouble.

I wonder if God has "the look." How many times before I get into trouble, does God flash me the look saying, "I see you, don't do it." Before I say something about someone I shouldn't...the look. Before I fly off the handle yelling at my kids for some minor offense...the look. Before I tell my husband what he did wrong in my oh, so superior tone of voice...the look.

How come the look works on my kids, but not on me? One key reason. Before my kids do wrong, they look to me. If, before I was about to mess up, I would simply look to my Father, to God, then I might see the look. I might hear the warning. I might not mess up. The answer is clear. I need to change my focus, and keep my eyes on God.

Psalm 25:15 -- My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Psalm 119:18 -- Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Hebrews 12:2 -- Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Advent - Come Lord Jesus

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.” (Matt 25:31.)

Yesterday was the first day of Advent. The word Advent literally means "coming" or "arrival.” The Advent season is the time where we are waiting for the coming of Christ. We do this historically, remembering His first coming as a child in Bethlehem. But we ought to also be thinking about His second coming as well, when He “comes in His glory.” And what a glorious time it will be when Christ comes again. “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (Revelation 21:4) If we only focus on the fact that Jesus came, we might miss the fact that He is coming again.

As Christmas draws near I often hear people say “I’m not ready for Christmas!” meaning they aren’t done shopping, wrapping, cooking or decorating. Being ready for Christmas isn’t what “Christmas” is about at all. The question isn’t are you ready for Christmas, but are you ready for Christ? And if you aren’t, what are you waiting for?

Lord, as we prepare each thing this holiday season; gifts, décor and meals; help us to also remember that we need to prepare the way for the Lord, just as He has prepared a place for us in your, His Father’s, house. In Jesus name, Amen.

Originally published NHPC Advent Devotional - 1996, Kelly Combs, aka Chatty Kelly




After commenting here, don't forget to check out my weekly Monday post at my Kids Say blog.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

As a Christian, sometimes people hold me up to "lofty" goals. I'm not calling anyone out on it (My ADHD Me and Greg) but a couple even indicated surprise that I was reading Lynn Spears book, because I was a Christian (not realizing it was by a Christian publishing house).

Maybe sometimes I watch the wrong shows, maybe sometimes I slip up and act like a BIG JERK (surprising, I know, yet true). What if someone who sees me as a "Super Christian" with a big red cape then sees me royally screw up. "Hypocrite!" they may think. What if someone falls away from the chance of Christ, because they see me and think "if that's what it's about, I'm out."

So today, the song I'm thinking about is "What if I Stumble" by DJ Talk. Because I stumble all the time. Sometimes I even fall. I am a sinner saved by grace. I'm thankful I have Jesus to hold my hand when I stumble. And I do stumble.



Job 4:4 -- Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.

Psalm 37:23-25 -- If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

James 2:10 -- For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Thanksgving Meme

Taking a "vacation day" today to prepare for Thanksgiving. So just for fun, here is my Thanksgiving meme. Play along if you want, or post in the comments, or just read and then get back to your own cooking! HAPPY THANKSGIVING BLOG FRIENDS!!!

1. Which do you like better: cooking at your house, or going elsewhere? I prefer going elsewhere. But it's my turn!

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen bird? Frozen.

3. What kind of stuffing? My dad makes the BEST dressing (not stuffing).

4. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie? Chocolate! (LOL!)

5. Do you believe that turkey leftovers are a curse, or the point of the whole thing? The point! Yummy.

6. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu? Probably my sweet potato casserole. It depends on who you ask....

7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock? My sister, ET always takes dibs on the carcass. (yuck)!

8. What do you wish you had that would make preparing Thanksgiving dinner easier? A double oven!

9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour? We eat lunch. I cook some things the day before, and we also do "potluck" style, so everyone is bringing something. Then it's not too much work on anyone.

10. If you go to somebody else's house, what's your favorite dish to bring? Sweet potato casserole

11. Is your cranberry sauce fresh or canned? My mom used to make a cranberry jello salad. This year my brother is making cranberry bars. No cranberry sauce.

12. What's your absolute favorite thing on the menu? Dessert! But usually I have to wait a while before I can eat it. With Cool Whip!

My Thanksgiving Wish for You:

May your stuffing be tasty. May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious, And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off of your thighs!

Colossians 3:15 -- Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

1 Chronicles 29:13 -- Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

Psalm 106:1 -- Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

I'm not Martha, I'm Martha.

I'm no Martha Stewart. I am domestically challenged. As mentioned in my "15 Things" on Saturday, I don't enjoy entertaining either. I turn in to Martha...what was her last name? You know, Mary and Lazarus' sister. She was busy in the kitchen and fired up that her sister, Mary, wasn't helping and told Jesus just that. He chastised her that Mary was focused on the right thing.

Entertaining focuses on impressing. (Think Martha Stewart). Hospitality focuses on refreshing, making those who visit your home (regardless of how messy it may be) feel important to you, heard, and refreshed.

My friend Mrs P over at Patterson 5 shared with me a sweet story. She was busy rushing around cleaning house for some guest she was having, and her husband Mr P said "You should be more like Kelly; she doesn't care how messy her house is." Okay, I'm exaggerating a little. He said it way more nice, but when Mrs P told me all I heard was how messy Mr P thinks my house is. LOL! The truth is, he was commenting on my attentiveness to them. I do love having them over. So why do I get all freaky about the house?!? Because of my need to IMPRESS, as well as REFRESH my guests. And that is my heart issue, which I need to change.

I'm not a good house keeper. My cooking is average. I'm not good at all the little details that make things nice. Come Thursday morning, I may be "worried and upset about many things." May I remember that only one thing is needed...and I already have Him. May I also remember, that my family and friends are coming to share Thanksgiving with me, not with Martha.

Luke 10:38-43 -- As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."



**Check Out My New Blog "Chatty Kelly's Kids Say" at http://kellykidsay.blogspot.com/ **

TAG! I'm It!

I've been tagged so many times, I think I'm an endangered species! LOL! I crack myself up. Okay, Edie, MyADHDMe, Greg and Heather to name a few have done the 15 things I'm not ashamed to admit. So here are mine....

1. I am a sinner saved by grace. But unfortunately I'm not too keen on admitting what my sins are. That is between me & God.

2. If your blog post is one long post with no paragraphs - I'm not reading it! It looks too long, so I hit the next blog.

3. I can't stand music on 95% of blogs. I do love Sharon's because the song always compliments her post and I think that is so cool! And if the song is quiet and slow I like it, but I don't want to get blasted out of my chair by contemporary music while blogging. And it's hard to read with music jangling in my head.

4. I am cynical and don't believe most things I read. ("Send this email to everyone you know.") That is why it is so amazing to me that I am a Christian, because I am a cynic! I check everything on http://www.snopes.com/ and most of it is false. But I do believe the bible 110%.

5. Only up to #5?!?!?! Hmmmm. Sometimes I don't like getting tagged, because it breaks the flow of my blog, but if I don't get tagged I feel rejected like "why didn't they tag me?" Goofy I know, but it's me.

6. I can be impatient. I have love, peace, joy, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and sometimes even gentleness and self-control. But not much patience. I am working on it - and am much better than I used to be!

7. My mom is an alcoholic! I used to be ashamed to admit this, but I'm not anymore, because IT IS NOT ABOUT ME! I didn't cause it, I can't fix it. Amen!

8. I hate entertaining. I get all worked up, nervous, type A, crazy. I'd much rather come to YOUR house.

9. Gracious, this is boring to even me? Do you really want to hear 6 more things? Umm, I am addicted to coffee - ALL coffee.

10. Okay, I watch American Idol. I pretend I don't and feel very superior to those who do and admit it, but I am a closet watcher. Okay! Deal with it. I even voted. (Oh, the humiliation).

11. I am obsessive with tooth hygiene. I floss twice a day or more. One of my Top 10 fears in having food stuck in my teeth in public.

12. I was an extra in a movie with Charlie Sheen and Linda Hamilton...but they re-shot the scene I was in, so I wasn't in the movie...and it went straight to DVD anyway.

13. I am not superstitious AT ALL. (Notice this is number 13!)

14. I have no desire to home school. I'm glad my kids go to school, because frankly I need the break. I'm a better mom because they go to school. (See #6 above).

15. I hope to write a devotional book that will be published one day. I don't want to admit it because if I fail... Well, there it is - I admitted it.

So 15 things about me. BORING!

Calvinism

I love Calvin. He is an amazing person and has great thoughts on religion. And Hobbes. Oh wait, you didn't think I meant the religious guy Calvin did you? The Presbyterian guy? No, I'm talking about the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.

One of my favorite comics (below) is the one where the bully (Moe) says "Get of the swing Twinky" and Calvin says "Forget it Moe. Wait your turn." PUNCH. After getting punched, Calvin says "It's hard to be religious when certain people never get incinerated by bolts of lightening."

Isn't that the truth? As a Christian some of my hardest moments come when "other people" (you know the ones,) seemingly have no troubles. But I feel like Calvin, having been "beaten up" by life.

Unfortunately, I can sometimes see myself in Calvin. My all time favorite is autobiographical and reads like this: Calvin in the first frame is shouting, “I’m in a very crabby mood, so everybody just leave me alone! I hate everybody.” In the next two frames Calvin stomps off, then he stops and looks around. Finally in a small voice he says, “Nobody recognizes my hints to smother me with affection.” Like Calvin, sometimes I need to improve my communication skills. I'm thankful to have a God who can read my heart, even with my mouth is shouting something all together different.

Hobbes has learned the great biblical truth to be content in all circumstances. He could teach us a thing or two, in this age where we all WANT WANT WANT.

Calvin: "If you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?"
Hobbes: "Hmmm..."
Calvin: "Anything at all! Whatever you want!"
Hobbes: "A sandwich.
"Calvin: "A SANDWICH?!? What kind of stupid wish is THAT?! Talk about a failure of imagination! I'd ask for a trillion billion dollars, my own space shuttle, and a private continent!"

In the next panel, Hobbes is standing in front of the kitchen counter, munching on a sandwich.
Hobbes: "I got my wish."

May we "wish" and pray responsibly so that we too may get what we ask for...and remain content even if we don't.

Philippians 4:11 -- I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

2 Corinthians 12:8,9 -- Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."