Cathy’s Corner

 

If you ask the man on the street what he thinks of the babe of Christmas, you’ll be surprised at the answers. Just look at the folks who were there when it happened.

The innkeeper was downright indifferent – a census had come to town, and he was busy ringing up the cash register. Consider the shepherds in the field – only after the band of angels bent over backward to explain the celestial fireworks were their fears finally put to rest.

The wise men were curious, poking here and there with questions until they found answers that satisfied. Then there were those who, like Mary and Joseph, worshiped the newborn King.

People haven’t changed much since Bible times … Are you, like the innkeeper, indifferent? Too busy? Are you still searching, looking for answers? Or maybe you’re frightened because the baby in the manger asks too much of you. Stop to think how you would have responded had you been the man on the streets of Bethlehem that night.

There are a thousand different ways to respond to the news that a Savior has been born … but the fact remains that until a child was born, this world was cloaked in utter darkness, abandoned, hopeless, and lost. But for unto us, a child is born, a Son is given! There is only one response: Worship and joyous praise!

                                                                                    Joni Eareckson Tada

 

Have you ever wondered what other people think about Christmas?  I’m not talking about those we know and that understand the true meaning of the season. I’m talking about people who don’t share our belief but still like to cash in on the holiday season. Like the innkeeper they just ring up all those sales and think about this as their busiest time of the year and hope they make a lot of profit. What about those who are afraid of what Christmas means and what it might cost them? They are so worried about what they may have to give up, they don’t want to consider what Jesus is really all about. Then we have the curious that want all of the answers ahead of time and may or may not believe. They just want all their questions answered - maybe even scientific answers to satisfy their curiosity.

I am so glad that someone took the time to teach me the true meaning of Christmas. I’m grateful that God loved us so much that He was willing to clothe Himself in swaddling clothes yet only to die a brutal death so that we could spend eternity with Him. No matter whether we are too busy, indifferent, afraid or just curious, the fact is Jesus was born in a manger one night and He gave hope to all. We can rejoice in His love for us and the hope we have in Him.

 

There is no better time to tell others the great news about Jesus than Christmas. Many people seem to be more receptive to spiritual things, while others are desperately searching for ways to overcome their pain and loneliness. Let’s approach the holiday season with prayerful attention to those we come in contact with who need a relationship with God, then carefully and thoughtfully share the message of Christmas with them.

 

Have a great day in the Lord!

 

 

Cathy’s Corner

 

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and you were able to spend time with family and friends. As I write this the plan in our house is to have Thanksgiving with three of our children and two spouses on Saturday. This year is the year they spend Thanksgiving Day with their in-laws. Our daughter Kiersten is just days away from having her first baby and so my bags are semi-packed and I am just waiting to hop a plane to go to Virginia.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many things. God is so very good to us all of the time and He sent His Son for us that we can have eternal life with Him and that is what I am most thankful for.

 

He has blessed us this past year so very much. In April, on April Fools Day no less, we found out our daughter Kiersten and her husband Jay were expecting their first child and our first grandbaby. Tex will be here soon and I am excited about our first Christmas with him. In July we found out our daughter Cassandra and her husband Scott were expecting their first child and we were able to go and see the sonogram a couple of weeks ago and they are having grandson number two due in March. If that isn’t excitement enough; our son J and his wife Lindsay called last week and they are expecting their first child due in June. It is an exciting time around our house and while this Christmas will be lots of fun, next year with a six, a nine and a twelve month old to open presents and play with, it will be awesome. I love my family and I am thankful for the spouses He has blessed my children with. I am thankful for new grandbabies on the way and praying for healthy pregnancies, deliveries and babies.

 

God has also blessed our church in so many ways. Our economy has affected all of us in one way or the other. Many have lost jobs, have had their hours cut, or live with the threat of losing their job every day. God blessed this church because of it’s faithfulness to Him and allowed us to become debt free. Because of that where other churches are slashing budgets and lying off staff we are not experiencing as devastating affects as others. We are definitely trimming our budgets for the second year and we may be cutting out some of the things that we have done in the past but because of our debt freedom we hopefully can carry on without any loss of employees. So I am thankful for God’s provision for our church and praying for our faithfulness to him to continue.

 

God has blessed our preschool as well this year. We have more permanent teachers than we have ever had and so many of those are our faithful teachers that have been with us for years. I am grateful and thankful for the opportunity to serve with each and every one of you each week. I love seeing your smiles and watching you as you teach our preschoolers about Jesus. I am thankful for our Preschool Staff and for their dedication and commitment to excellence in laying a spiritual foundation for our children. Not only do I call these ladies co-workers but I also call them friend and I am thankful for that friendship.

 

Have a great day in the Lord

 

 

 

Cathy’s Corner

 

I’ve been reminded this week about the importance of integrity and how we can sometimes question one’s integrity without knowing all the facts. It isn’t as simple or cut and dried as it seems. When we have set a certain standard or say we live by a certain set of standards, morals and values, people watch us to see if we actually live by those. When we are in a place of leadership and expect those around us to live by a certain set of standards, morals and values, then we must live by them as well. It can’t be the old “do as I say, not as I do.” If not, we are seen as lacking integrity, being dishonest or hypocritical - not that everyone lives up to all of those standards, morals, and values all of the time because we are human and we do make mistakes.

When we are the one expecting someone (who has said they agree to live by those standards, morals and values) to live by them and they do not, then their integrity is jeopardized. We can become disillusioned because we are disappointed, mad, let down or any other variety of feelings and emotions in that person. We tend not to trust them as much or believe them when they say something. We question their integrity and honesty.

What happens when we are the one who has been called in to question and those accusing don’t have all the facts or know all the circumstances? What happens when someone jumps to conclusions or judges someone based on what they see or think they know? What happens when, based on that limited information, we are accused of something or judged because they didn’t check out the facts? We get hurt. We turn away and lose trust in that person because they didn’t bother to come to us and make sure they had the facts. When you have been accused of something because someone did not have all the facts, they have questioned your integrity.

There are probably a lot of ways to handle it - some being wrong and some being right. But we want to vindicate ourselves when we have been unjustly accused or judged. We want to defend our integrity and stand up for ourselves. We can do that in a kind manner pointing out the facts or we can be defensive and down right nasty. I have to admit my first reaction is sometimes the second choice. But after I calm down and pray about it and ask God what He wants me to do,  then I go with the first choice. What that person chooses to do with all of the information when they receive it and understand it is up to them. As long as we have responded kindly and graciously we have to leave the rest up to them.

What if we are the one doing the accusing or judging - when we didn’t have all the information or all the facts and we went to someone and accused them of something? When we do have all of the information and someone has responded graciously to us, do we graciously apologize and thank that person? Do we choose to take the nasty road and get defensive ourselves and choose not to believe what we have been presented? Do we choose not to see things in a different light?

It’s never easy when someone questions our integrity and it’s not so easy to admit when we’ve been wrong. No matter what side of the issue we find ourselves on, we need to handle it with grace and forgiveness.

 

“But You O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”  Psalm 86:15

 

Have a great day in the Lord!