I'm a sentimental old fool!
I like to reminisce on old times.
I like stories from the past.
Some of my favourite books and movies are of pioneer days and the "Dirty Thirties".
Today is just such an occasion when I look back on the year just past, 2013, and revisit the highlights and memories.  My emotions ride up and down the roller coaster of recollection and I allow myself the bittersweet smiles and tears.
Some of our family's experiences last year were challenging.
Daniel had shoulder surgery in January and was in a healing time while trying to finish a semester of university.  His curling career was put on hold for the rest of that winter season.
I, too, had gall bladder surgery.  I was nervous, wondering how I'd survive anesthetic,  how my diet and lifestyle might be affected.  Would the timing of the surgery fit into our busy schedule?
Walter had a health journey of his own, adjusting medications and experiencing side affects and then withdrawals as he came off of them.  There were some dark moments when we wondered if the journey had an end!
But many amazing experiences were full of joy!
Our oldest son, Mark, was married to a beautiful woman of God, Amy, in a wedding ceremony that celebrated the Lord and His gift of marriage.  We rejoiced with family and friends at God's guiding hand in leading them together. This was a truly joyous occasion that highlighted our year!
Another family event that we treasure is attending a "Labour Day Classic" CFL football game where the Roughriders faced the Bluebombers in Taylor Field.  Our whole family went to the game, the sun was shining on us and the Riders won!  The weekend was all the more special because we know the times we are ALL able to connect is rare now that Mark & Amy live in Manitoba.
Our daughter, Caylea, had some firsts this year:  first "real" job, first time taking a car by herself up to college in Nipawin, and first time being an R.A. (residents' assistant) in the women's dorm. We've rejoiced to see her rise to those new responsibilities and grow immensely.
A real challenge has been the difficult months where my Dad has been in the hospital.  The crisis, the questions, and now the new reality of Dad's future in a long term care facility have been a journey that has been emotionally straining.
As I spent the past hour journaling these memories, it has been a healthy and therapeutic exercise for me.  To step back from the actual events and take a bird's eye view after they are over has given me a different perspective.  What is that perspective?
I saw in a powerfully overarching way how God has been with me, with us, every step of that journey of 2013.  For every trial, God heard my prayers and gave the grace to endure and persevere to get through.  For every joyful occasion, God blessed us with His presence and celebrated in our midst!  In faithfulness, the Lord gave me Scriptures to encourage me and promises to assure me.  Whenever I thought I'd lose it or that life would completely fly apart, His hand held me and the circumstances under in His control.
The theme I saw through this sentimental journey was TRUST.  I'd have saved myself a lot of tears and anxiety if I could simply trust Him.  But that's the thing with new experiences that happen that can go either way:  we know the right response but we have to learn it for each event!  Thankfully, our God is patient, full of tenderness and gentleness with His children, and He is willing to stick with us through our slowness and blunders.
My word to you, my friends, is to step out in full TRUST in the Lord for the year ahead.  Can we lose by letting Him lead us?  Can we make a mistake by leaning on His strength and wisdom for the unknowns of 2014?  
See you on the journey...

It's the "day after" the day after...
We've had three days of celebrating the birthday of Jesus and the riches of these days can't always be measured immediately~
the treasure of the Christmas story,
the priceless value of family,
the strength of faith,
the comfort of prayer.
As I survey the remnants of our celebrations around our home, I want to be like Mary and Joseph who took the time to ponder the marvelous things that happened to them at that first Christmas.  They must have been overwhelmed by their circumstances in Bethlehem:  the strange place for their Child's birth, the odd assortment of shepherds who came to bow before the baby Jesus, the delay in returning to Nazareth. Maybe they didn't understand 'why' it all happened that way but they pondered in their hearts.  They wanted to discern God in the midst.
I, too, am overwhelmed by the bustle of the past days.  I loved having all my children home and the special foods I could prepare for their pleasure.  It was an honour to host the Christmas gift-opening and turkey dinner.  The circumstances were not perfect and every detail was not like a "Norman Rockwell" painting...but I choose today to ponder the treasures of my Lord in the midst of my Christmas experience this year.  I can give thanks in all circumstances because Christ Jesus gives me the strength and ability.  He has blessed me beyond my expectations; I will only understand this when I take time to consider His blessings and discern His ways.
Today, I will tidy those remnants of our celebrations, give thanks for each gift, each decoration, and each cookie crumb, and let the gladness and sadness mingle that the festivities are drawing to a close.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."  Ephesians 1:3

Tonight we worshiped the Lord with a candlelight service for Christmas Eve.
My heart was struggling to enter into the atmosphere even though it was special and meaningful.  I love the Christmas carols; I was blessed by the soloists who offered their talents tonight.  The reading of Luke's & Matthew's accounts of Jesus' birth were beautiful.  The words brought comfort.
I was struggling because I felt Dad's absence-he's attended every candlelight service we've had in our Healing Hearts Ministry Centre since we bought it in 2007.  He made the wooden Nativity scene that we set up at the front of the church.  I missed his presence there tonight.
But as I looked around at those who were worshiping, I spotted various women I've known over the years. From Christine, who I've know since our children were babies, to Celena, my newest friend and sister in the Lord, I marveled at the blessing it is to see them and their families participating in this special night.
Although I wasn't feeling my usual joyful self on this occasion, God blessed me with reminders of His faithfulness.  He encouraged me by revealing that my prayers and time shared with these women has been fruitful.  That they have given back to me with love and acceptance and prayers!
With all my family in the dimly lit church and my Christian brothers and sisters surrounding me, I know I can enjoy Christmas this year-it will be different but God and the truth of the Christmas message is the same.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."   John 3:16

Yes, we have bragging rights to the cold and wind here in Saskatchewan!
When the temperature with the windchill is anything  less than -40 C, there are very few things that will call us out of the house.  But my good husband was willing to brave the frigid weather, take a list and pick up the last minute grocery items I needed for our Christmas meals!
While still loading the cart at Co-op with many goodies that I didn't have on the list, I sent him a text to pick up something else and take it up to Dad at the hospital.  He gladly agreed to go that extra mile.
Just over an hour later, a gust of arctic air blew into the house as Walter brought in a few bags of food and a gift bag from my dear Auntie Eleanor.  Her famous toffee- melt in your mouth recipe that if you try to chew will rip the molars out of your jaw bone!  You can only melt it in your mouth, one piece at a time.
As I unpack the grocery items, I stir the red cabbage and bacon simmering on the stove and pull the apple kuchen from the oven.  If we don't eat some of this food soon, we'll be overrun with holiday dishes and have no more room to store it all!
Fortunately, while we are busy with finishing touches on our festivities, Mark & Amy are on the highway (from Amy's time with her family in Gladstone, Manitoba) which on a clear day is about a 5- hour drive.  They have one stop along the road to meet a relative who will take Amy's Grandma Healey for a Christmas visit.  So, we find things to do to fill the time while waiting with anticipation for our son and daughter-in-law to arrive.  Watching Netflix shows, snacking on tasty but calorie-laden goodies and wrapping presents~not me, but another Selke family member!
Soon hugs, greetings and luggage will fill our quiet home as we all join together for the holidays!  We hope to have a quick supper and then take in the movie, "The Hobbit", part 2.
So, this evening we will force ourselves from the warm security of our house to enjoy a family movie night out...we will brag about the Christmas of 2013 when we remember Mark & Amy's road trip, our family tradition of a holiday movie and whatever else happens this absolutely ridiculously cold night!
Happy Holidays, everyone!

As I write this afternoon, snowflakes are falling softly and all is calm and serene in my neighbourhood.
Caylea, our daughter who is away at Bible College in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, arrived home yesterday! She bounded in with her luggage and cheery greetings.  Hugs and sampling of fresh baked buns were followed by a trip to visit Grandpa in the hospital.  She put on her red cowgirl hat with the pigtails attached-a gift from Grandpa a couple years ago!  As she rode the elevator and walked down the sixth floor ward at the General Hospital, she did receive nods and comments.  Grandpa didn't disappoint her-he grinned and giggled at the sight of Caylea and her hat, while she sang the traditional song that accompanied said hat: "Christmas time's a'comin'-Christmas time's a'comin'!"
After our little visit, we drove to the mall and parked beside the tree lot.  Texts flew as we tried to meet up from our various appointments and errands to choose a Christmas tree together.  This is family tradition to pick a tree -usually on the coldest night of the month-and then set it up and have a special meal.  Not quite the same as past years-only Caylea and Grandma were able to help Walter and I pick, pay for and carry the tree.  And yes, it felt like the coldest night of December!
Supper was hamburger soup, fresh buns and apple pie for dessert!  We retired to the family room for some episodes of Duck Dynasty-Caylea was behind having been at school studying studiously!  Then we ended the evening with the movie "Chicken Run"-Grandma hadn't seen it and we all laughed until our sides hurt!
Now today, we slept in, which isn't difficult when the sun doesn't rise until 9 am.  When Caylea finally got dressed, we headed off to the play practice for the Sunday School program tomorrow.  Yes, tomorrow.  First and only practice but it will go as well as any other year goes!
Caylea hadn't done any Christmas shopping yet so her brother, Daniel came by the church after the play practice and they braved the malls on the last Saturday before Christmas.
And now, as the late afternoon sun is sinking in the western sky, I need to think about carving the turkey and ham for the Christmas dinner following the program tomorrow.  Oh, yes, and the tree has opened up nicely and needs to be watered and the gifts placed under...
Just a glimpse into the holiday preparations in the Selke home...more to come!
Can't wait until the rest of our family arrives Monday...

We'll be on our way to the airport in a few minutes.
Our dear friend is flying home for Christmas and it ought to be a time of great joy. She has not spent the holidays with her family and friends in her home country for seven years.  But the reason she is going back at this time is her sister has had a relapse of cancer and is not well.  This trip may be the last opportunity for our friend to see her sister, barring a miracle of the Lord.  I can't imagine the emotional trip of both anticipation and dread. Greetings and sorrow.
Two other friends of ours just arrived less than a week ago at this same airport.  They had spent ten months in Uganda serving with a mission organization.  They were greeted by their adult children and two precious grandkids, as well as friends and supporters.  What joy at that airport as they appeared at the top of the escalator and rode down, while their "fans" waited impatiently or rushed the bottom of the escalator to greet them!  Coming home for the holidays had a whole different meaning for these folks.
In just a few days our children will all be together under our roof once again and I can hardly wait!  I am baking, cleaning-well, not much cleaning yet!- and getting the Christmas ornaments and decorations ready for trimming the tree when they arrive.  No airport trip for us-they arrive by car!  But I can't wait for those headlights to beam around the corner of our street and for the long-awaited reunion to be a reality.
Today, I will shed some tears at the airport and send our friend on her way with a prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent.

Each Sunday, we - and many other Christians around the world - count down the days until that day we celebrate the  birth of Christ.  Many denominations celebrate with elaborate liturgy in awesome cathedrals.  In many languages and in various forms of dress and style, believers in Jesus read Scriptures and prepared homilies about the themes of the season.  Our common North American themes are on Love, Peace, Joy, Hope and the final Christmas Eve candle lit is the Christ Candle.  

I wrote a song several years ago that followed a different theme: Prophecy, Preparation, Proclamation and Promise. I've been honoured to have Healing Hearts church in Regina use it each year for our Advent liturgy. Although many of us haven't grown up in formal churches, some of us have been exposed or raised in the traditions that include Advent ceremonies.  So when we began to light candles and have readings, I didn't think it was that big of a deal.  I thought most folks just took it in stride with our church style that was fairly casual. But one December, I didn't bring out the wreath and candles and someone noticed.  Then one of our elders came to me and asked about the advent part of our worship service.  I shrugged and said, "I didn't know if people were really 'into' it..."

Well, the response was overwhelming!  

"Oh, yeah, we're into it!  Lighting the Advent candles is our tradition at Healing Hearts!"  (By that time the church plant in inner city Regina was maybe 4 or 5 years old-and that was enough time to form a tradition!)

And so began what has become 15+ years of celebrating Advent ~ which now includes the song I wrote for the occasion.  Here it is...enjoy the meaning of Advent as we do prepare our hearts for the Coming of our King.

O CANDLE LIGHT - Cindy M. Selke, 1998

Verse 1

God told the prophets of His Son, who would be born in Bethlehem;

And now to you is born this day a little Child upon the hay.

Chorus:

O candle light, O candle bright, Reminding of that holy night;

O candle bright, draw us to God's perfect light.

Verse 2

God sent an angel to prepare Mary for the Child she'd bear,

and in a dream her husband new the special Child would need him, too.

Verse 3

Then many angels did proclaim the joyful news-O praise His Name!

That Baby born to you this night is the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Verse 4

That Baby born so long ago, lived and died and then arose.

As He ascended in the sky, He said to wait for Him on high.

Verse 5

We gather on this Holy night amidst the glow of candlelight,

To offer to our Lord above our gift of praise for His great love.

What I like about winter...
Softly falling snow against the glow of street lights
Frost designs swirling on a windowpane
The sound of a snow machine buzzing across a field
A mug of rich, steaming hot chocolate (with marshmallows!)
A cozy, warm -not itchy!-sweater that comes up to the chin
Pink sunrise at 9 am in December
Christmas lights
Blanket of snow with bunny paw prints or bird footsteps
Bragging about -45 degree C with windchill
Savouring Christmas cards and letters
Making homemade soup in a crockpot
Sun dogs (when viewed from a warm place!)
Kids playing street hockey and yelling 'Car!'
Hot bubble bath and a good book
Wiener roast over a bonfire
...Spring!

" 'Tis the season to be jolly-fa la la la la, la la, la la!"
Christmas parties!
We traveled the 2 1/2 hour drive to a farm near Kinistin First Nation just for a get-together.  We experienced fog, slow farmers in half-tons and finally clear blue skies on our way.  As we turned into the treed driveway, we saw a few familiar vehicles parked in the yard and could smell the woodsmoke from the stove heating the rambling farmhouse.  I looked forward with some excitement to the hugs and greetings from our fellow labourers of NAIM ministries when we entered the home.
We were greeted with hugs, smiles and offers to help us unload our potluck dishes, wrapped gifts and finally our coats.  The party was about to begin.
Well, not quite!  Some food needed to be heated.  Some folks were still on their way.  So we grabbed a coffee and began to visit...
About an hour later, our hosts announced dinner would be served.  As everyone, senior aged down to small children, bowed theirs heads to give thanks for the meal, I glanced around at the friends gathered here.  One couple were going through health challenges and were driving 3 times a week from La Ronge to Saskatoon for kidney dialysis.  Another couple were contemplating semi-retirement as they sought how to minister well.  Another couple had three little ones to contend with as they did youth ministry on the nearby Reserve.  Still another family brought their children and an extra-a foster baby whom they doted over with obvious love and affection!  What a mixed bunch we were and yet united here to celebrate Jesus' birth.
The mixture of food spread on the pool table that served as a buffet, reflected the unique and varied personalities in our missionary force.  One dish contained moist turkey meat-reflecting their American heritage as we celebrated on the "American Thanksgiving weekend".  Another salad was a favourite German dish prepared by the Mom of our missionary friend who was here to visit her daughter on the "mission field".  Yet another was sliced ham out of a package from Costco-indicating the urban ministry of another couple.
But the highlight of this year's party was the gift exchange-but we'll get to that in a minute...
After we had stuffed ourselves silly with delicious foods and, of course, desserts, we settled on couches in this huge room - a garage that had been converted into a large meeting room for this family's youth group ministry.  So the odd assortment of couches was arranged in a  semi-circle with the woodstove blazing away to keep us cozy.  The hosts had set up a lovely Christmas tree and strung lights around the perimeter of the meeting area.  It could have been a "Norman Rockwell" scene.
Song sheets were handed out and I tuned up my guitar.  We sang a few favourite carols and no doubt the kids wanted to "The Twelve Days of Christmas"!  I groaned.  But we started at the twelfth day and sang it down once to the 'Partridge in a pear tree' and called it good!
The eldest of our group was asked to share a Christmas devotional so he sat on a wooden chair by the stove and addressed us in his fatherly, kind voice.  "Did you know Paul had a Christmas account in the New Testament?"  What, I pondered.  No, only Luke and Matthew recorded Christ's birth story.  But Cliff went on..."Yes, the Apostle Paul gave us a nine-word version of the Christmas story so listen carefully... 'Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...'  And he went on to expound how this simple verse explained clearly why God sent His Son to be born on the earth in human form, why we as sinners needed Him so desperately to forgive and redeem us.  The other accounts of the Nativity gave details and proved the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies; Paul's few words summarized the greatest gift and sacrifice ever given.
The kids stirred excitedly as they spied the Christmas gifts they knew were next for the afternoon's agenda.  So the littlest ones each opened a gift and giggled and squealed with delight!  Then while the wrapping paper was jammed into a garbage bag, our hosts put the older kids' and adults' names in a bowl to be drawn for the big exchange.  Didn't know it was rigged...but that will come out later!
The first name was Liam Fink, a 13 year old boy who went for the biggest box under the tree.  As he lifted it, something started to slid in the box and Jesse helped him straighten it out.  What on earth...?  Liam opened the large box and to his surprise a baby pot belly pig stood inside!  Well, no one was going to steal the pig so Liam thought he would be safe in keeping this present.
The game progressed and various gifts were unwrapped, some stolen, others hidden under chairs so as not to be noticed and thus be kept by the original person!  Lots of laughter, teasing and fun filled this room.  Finally, the last name, Autumn Fink, was read out...Liam's older sister. Hmmmm she surveyed the room but went straight for the pig in a box, and sadly stole Liam's pig.  (Fortunately they live on a farm and their parents were fine with this unique Christmas gift!)  In exchange, Liam was stuck with a container of scented "Body Butter"!  One of the guys thought we could use that on the piglet and have a greased pig contest!  Ha Ha!
So, Autumn ended up with the pot belly pig- whom she named 'Diesel'- and Liam would still get to enjoy playing with it on the farm!
We had left home from Regina that morning just as the sun was rising.  We loaded our car and drove back down the treed lane as the sun was glowing pink in the western sky.  Tired, full and still smiling from the days' blessings, we turned onto the highway and held the memory of this NAIM Saskatchewan staff Christmas party in our hearts until next year...

I'm not gonna lie.
Thoughts of how this Christmas will be as we plan around my Dad in the hospital has become a "dark spot" in my vision!
Somehow I hit an emotional breaking point while we were in worship at Healing Hearts yesterday morning. When the "sharing time" of our service was announced, I knew I needed to open up and be honest about where I was at.  I began, tearfully, to express how many Christmases past have been split for me. With my parents' separation when I was seven years old, I have always had divided loyalties for spending the holidays.  Now this year, some of that has hit an emotional crisis for me with my Dad being very ill and traditions for celebrating with him and his wife and that side of our family being totally uprooted!
I was reliving some of my childhood feelings-wanting to be with both sides of my parents' families, wanting to stay in one place, not traveling back and forth, feeling torn at saying "good-bye" to one parent and having the guilty feelings layered over happiness!
Another layer of emotions has come with my Dad's grave illness and the possibility of losing him in the near future.  It feels like a darkness is shadowing what for me has become a joyful holiday season that I look so forward to every year!
Add yet another layer with my feelings of responsibility to "make everyone happy", especially at Christmas.  I have a family of my own who will all be together this year.  I want for them to have a wonderful, warm time at home.  They, too, are grieving and hoping for their Grandpa's health.  So, hosting some of the festivities in our home is a great joy for me but a responsibility I have taken on, as well.
I know this darkness is life.  It is reality.  No one escapes troubles.
And I am just beginning to discover what "treasures in the darkness" can mean.
My dear friend and sister in the Lord shared this verse in Isaiah 45:3 and what it meant as her sister is battling cancer in her home country of Germany.  As she expounded on the verse and her experience, I felt a connection but not quite a revelation of what she was explaining.  So this morning I thought I'd dig a little deeper and God did not disappoint me!
The nation of Israel had been completely overrun and her peoples taken captive and exiled.  But through the prophet Isaiah, God was speaking hope to her.  He was raising up a foreign king, Cyrus, to show favour to the Israelites and allow them to return to Jerusalem and begin to rebuild.  So in Isaiah 45:1&2, God speaks about Cyrus being His anointed one to do God's will "to subdue nations and strips kings of their armour."  God Himself would go before Cyrus to open doors, level mountains, break down gates and cut through bars of iron.  And then, God would give "the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places".
In the past, I've known how sweet it is to go through dark times and know God's comfort and love.  I have felt so close to Him when all I've had IS His presence to make it through!  Sometimes we learn the best when we're forced to rely only on the Lord.
I believe God wants to heal me in the deeper, darker places of my heart this Christmas.  He wants me to focus on what really matters, not what I think others are expecting of me.  The holidays are NOT ABOUT ME!  God is giving treasure-Himself-to whoever will look to Him.  He can be found in the darkness.  The greatest reason He can be found there is "so that you may know that I am the Lord" (verse 3b).
Would I even seek for the Saviour if everything was sunny and perfect in my life?  Probably not.  But when the struggles and difficulties come that cannot be resolved by my efforts or someone else's abilities, that is when I know I need a Saviour.  Then I can declare with Isaiah's words from the Lord:
"I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 45:5a)
I am looking forward to the riches stored in secret places this Christmas...

"Once a mom, always a mom..."
Yup!  Especially when you have sick kids!
Today, our twenty-one year old son is home sick from work.  He's got a cold and persistent cough, so he decided to stay home and sleep.
Our twenty year old daughter texted from college (four hours away) to say she's got the stomach flu!  I asked if she has anyone there taking care of her and she replied, "I'm a big girl-I can clean up my own puke!"  Wow!  What a comfort!  NOT!
Even when my married son who lives a province away, mentions he's ill, I get that familiar motherly-pang of sympathy and the need to offer some level of care.
When will that instinct cut out?
From my understanding, it never will.  My own mom offered to help me after I had surgery this past spring and I'm forty-seven!  A mom shows love through caring for needs.  Now, it may not take the practical forms of administering medications and keeping the ice cream bucket nearby!  So then, what form does the "mothering instinct" take when our sick kids are actually adults?
Prayer.
Since the first confirmation of pregnancy with Mark, I have prayed for him.  The same almost involuntary desire to pray for Daniel and Caylea began with that same discovery of their existences in my womb.  No matter what my children are facing, whether illness, school stresses, friend crises or decisions for their futures, I am praying for them!  Knowing their Heavenly Father is taking care of them, especially when I am many miles away, is a comfort both to my heart and hopefully to theirs, as well.
I am so thankful that I can be a good mom through prayer, even when that seems so "inactive".  But it is most effective!
"Once a praying mom, always a praying mom..." (and dad, too!)
God bless you parents out there.  God hears our prayers!

Christmas memories.
Some of my favourite family memories are when our children were elementary school age.  We started a tradition that each year, one of the kids would get the privilege of choosing the real tree at a tree lot and be able to place the star on its top.  I don't remember who had the first turn-probably our oldest son, Mark; then each year they rotated among the three of them.  And believe me, they never forgot who's turn it was from year to year!
Now that we have a married son living in Manitoba, a daughter away at Bible College in Nipawin and one son living at home, that tradition seems to be fading.
So here I am, at the beginning of December, with the task of decorating our home for the Christmas season. A few years ago, I suggested purchasing an artificial tree. I was met with extreme opposition for that suggestion from ALL of my family, Walter included!  So a real tree it remains.  But who will choose it this year?  And when will we have our special day of decorating, special meal with our traditional Christmas CD playing in the background?
Hopefully sometime today I will venture down to our crawlspace to fetch the boxes of decorations.  I'll bring up a few items and place them strategically around our home.  I won't wait for everyone to be home to prepare our home for the holidays.
The tree dilemna will have to wait a week or two, though, as our kids' holiday travel plans are confirmed.  Maybe we'll have that chance to go to the tree lot-on the coldest, windiest, day of the year-and keep the Selke family tradition alive!
Stay tuned...

Firsts.
I am very aware of "firsts" this year.
I had my first surgery this year-my gall bladder was removed and I don't miss it at all.
We experienced the first of our children to get married-much more fun than surgery!
I learned to drive a standard transmission car this summer.  Either that or I was "grounded" with no opportunity to drive because all our vehicles at home now are standards.
Each of these firsts had a level of nervousness and trepidation associated with them.  Others, like becoming a "mother-in-law" were filled with joy and sentimental feelings of getting older and my kids growing up!
Last week, we received our first Christmas greeting card of the year.  A wonderful start to the season and a reminder I need to get my cards sent.  Yesterday was our first Christmas party to kick off a month filled with festivities.  What an "excuse" to get together, eat junk & exchange presents (like pot bellied pigs in a Christmas gift exchange game?  We didn't get the pig-we got the better gift of a "Duck Dynasty Game"!)
Today, is the first Sunday of Advent.  We, in many churches, celebrate each Sunday leading up to December 25 by lighting a candle and having particular Bible readings corresponding to a theme that each candle represents.  There is a special awe and intrigue with candles, for children and adults alike!  Having a physical, tangible reminder of what Christmas is all about reinforces our beliefs and refocuses our eyes during the crazy days of December.
In the short devotional given during our Christmas party yesterday, a dear friend and coworker in Christ shared some neat thoughts that I'll plagiarize because they captured my attention.  Did you know the Apostle Paul had a brief account of the "Christmas story"?  Me, being a Bible school graduate and missionary for 25 years wondered what Cliff was talking about!  What Bible did he read from? I know Matthew has recorded his account and Luke 2 is a favourite passage (made popular by Charlie Brown's Christmas!).  But Cliff explained...I Timothy 2:15b describes the purpose of that first Christmas-why Jesus Christ was born.  "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..."  Not complicated.  The world was full of sinners and needed a Saviour.  Therefore God sent His Son to be the One we all need.
This first day of December, on the first Advent Sunday of 2013, why not consider WHY the first Christmas happened and WHY we need Jesus to be FIRST in our hearts!
HAPPY ADVENT, EVERYONE!