Margaret McSweeney's Blog, page 52

12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 9 – The ADVENTure Awaits You! by Charissa Steyn

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series !

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

The ADVENTure Awaits You!

By Charissa Steyn

God loves keeping us in a place of joyful expectation for what is next. He has mastered the art of surprise. Much to my dismay, God rarely ever lays out steps 1-2-3 for me to see. Maybe you’re like me and you’re a planner. You need time to prepare yourself for what is coming, the unknown grips you with fear, and it’s hard for you to simply enjoy a surprise.

It’s difficult to understand why God doesn’t like to reveal more of His mysterious ways, but I have a feeling it has something to do with faith. I am quite sure that if I knew everything that God had planned ahead of time my response would be, “No way God!”

But maybe we need to be a little more like Mary when it comes to faith. The angel reassured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you…” (Luke 1:30)

Did you get that? You have nothing to fear _________ (fill in the blank with your name) God has a surprise for you!

God invited Mary into the ultimate season of joyful expectation. He took her on the most miraculous adventure of birthing His son!

Instead of hesitation, Mary stepped forward, “Yes . . . let it be with me just as you say.” (Luke 1:38)

Instead of cowering in fear, Mary celebrated in faith, “I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened—I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten. . . .” {Luke 1:46-48)

As the Christmas season is upon us, I can’t help but wonder what surprises God has wrapped up for us under His tree of life? What gifts does He want to reveal to us this year?

Like Mary, let’s face the unknown, the mystery, the surprises of God with a quiet, yet confident YES!

God wants to show you the impossible can become possible, the supernatural can become natural. We don’t need special qualifications, just joyful expectation.

May you accept the invitation of Jesus in this truly ADVENTurous season and embrace all the marvelous, mysterious surprises He has for you along the way!

***

Charissa Steyn is a God-adventurer. She believes everyday holds exciting undertakings that usually involve risk, but always draw us closer to the Father’s heart. Originally from Seattle, she now lives in Cape Town with her South African hubby, Michal and their son David. Together they are doing their best to lead a simple, yet dangerous life of love. Learn more about Charissa at her blog.

‘Tis Better To Give

The tradition started with my mom. Every year she would bundle us kids up, take us downtown and prepare us for Christmas. You might be thinking we went to look at the displays in the window or for an early shopping spree. Nope. That didn’t happen. Instead, we went to ring the Salvation Army bell. Since there were three kids and herself, we signed up for two shifts. She made sure all four of us got plenty of time to get a few frozen toes and fingers while we helped make a difference for needy families. You’d think we would complain every year. We never did. She had taught us that, even though we acted like we we had to have more, we had plenty already. In fact, we had much more than many kids. We should be grateful. But not just grateful. No, we should be willing to help those who had less. It really was a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of things. But it made such an impact on me.

Angel Tree

Fast forward to when I became a mother. I did not keep the ringing of the bell tradition. However, I did keep the tradition of giving back. My family has done Angel Tree gifts many times. If you’re not familiar with it, Angel Tree is a ministry to kids who have one or more parents in prison. We did this when they were pretty young and not really all that thrilled about wrapping up a baby doll to give to a stranger, especially when they had no idea if they had one as well. But they gave with a smile anyway.

Missionary Kids

For several years we supported missionary kids at our church. These were kids they had met personally. They knew they were in a foreign country, living on the support of others. They relished things like fruity cereal or makeup from the States. Those things might seem trivial to some, but it made an impact on my girls. “You mean they can’t get Trix over there?” The “horror” of that blew them away. They wanted to buy them the whole section of cereal!

Hope Ministries

The last couple of years we’ve done our giving through a ministry our church supports, Hope Ministries. We get the names of two kids and at least one adult. We purchase socks, underwear, coats, a pair of pants and a shirt or sweater for each. For the children we buy one or more toy. And my kids know they will have to give up something for us to do this. They’ve not complained yet. It’s almost that time again this year. Once again we’ll go to the store and my two fashion divas will say “Ummm, mom, no self-respecting girl is going to wear that. Spend the extra money and buy the really cute sweater please.” I’ll smile and spend the extra. Why? Because we’ve learned ’tis better to give than to receive.

Christmas Pups

“I want a dog,” I told my husband Charles one November night as we plopped in front of the TV.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression. “A dog?” he asked. “Since when? I thought we agreed we’re too old for cats and dogs. At this stage of our life,” he pontificated, “a dog could very well outlive us. That wouldn’t be fair. Besides…”

Charles paused for a moment. “I thought the subject was closed. A dog wouldn’t work in our condo. A dog needs space, a place to romp and run. And pets are expensive and time-consuming. We’ve been over this before and I…”

“True,” I said, remembering the reasons we had listed when I last said, “I want a dog.”

No yard.

Carpeted floors.

Vet bills.

Food.

Housebreaking.

Daily walks.

The list went on.

“I guess I’m feeling sentimental,” I said. “I want something cute and cuddly to curl up with on the sofa–like when I was a kid.”

Charles looked hurt. “You told me I’m cute,” he said, pouting, then brightened. “And I love to cuddle,” he added and pulled me close.

I sat up straight. “I don’t think you’re listening,” I whined. “I want…you know, a furry little creature who…”

“I was about to volunteer again,” said Charles with a wry smile. “But when you said the word furry, well, sorry, I can’t help you there,” he added as he opened his shirt and pointed to the three hairs on his chest.

“Very funny!” I said. “You know what I mean. I’m serious. I want a dog.”

“Give me some time to get used to the idea,” said Charles.

“Really?”

“Really!”

We laughed, hugged, and tabled the discussion––temporarily.

Six weeks later on Christmas Eve, Charles walked into the den with a huge gift box.

“For me?” I asked.

He nodded yes.

I tore into the wrappings like an excited child. I couldn’t imagine what it was. We had agreed to put our gift-giving on hold that year and use the money toward new furniture.

“This is for both of us,” he said, smiling like a 10-year-old kid.

I pulled away the snow-white tissue. And there, nestled in the center of the box were two of the cutest and cuddliest stuffed toy dogs I’d ever seen. I burst out crying. “Oh Charles, they’re wonderful,” I said, leaping into his lap and covering his face with kisses.

“Down, girl!” he joked. “You said you wanted a dog, didn’t you? Well, I decided I wanted one too. So here they are. They’re small, neat, and very obedient. And they’re, well, cute and cuddly and furry, too. Everything you asked for.”

I pulled the dogs close and nuzzled my face into their soft fur. Each one wore a tag with a name. I plopped Dotty on my lap, and Charles grabbed Bruno. We relaxed on our favorite sofa with our two new dogs resting comfortably on our chests.

It was a small thing––the gift of these little toy dogs––but it was huge in another way. My husband had heard my desire and responded––much like the Lord whose birth we celebrate on Christmas. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 8 – Quieted in His Presence by Cara Putman

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series !

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

Quieted in His Presence

By Cara Putman

It’s the week after Thanksgiving. We’re racing toward Christmas. Even with Thanksgiving occurring a week early, it feels like a race. When did we decide this organized (or not so organized) chaos was restful, relaxing, conducive to a joyful season?

When did the joy of gifting something to one we love become replaced by the pressure to find the perfect gift? When did the amount of the gift matter more than spirit it is gifted in? At times like these I need a reason to remember that God can calm my heart when I feel like I’m spilling in a bazillion different directions.

Grab a mug of tea or cup of coffee. I’ll share my peppermint mocha creamer. It’s low-sugar. And let’s sit together and soak in this truth.

The Lord is with us. With us. Emmanual. The God with us. Savor that. He’s with us. Not watching us. With us.

He is mighty to save. He doesn’t barely save. He is mightily prepared to save.

He will take great delight in you. Think about a child. Yours or someone else’s. Think about the joy that child brings to his parents. That is a pale shadow of the depth of delight God takes in you. Humbled? Thrilled? I am!

He quiets us with His love. He will, if we’ll let Him. It is His will to quiet us with love. Like a child who is content and secure in the knowledge of her parents’ love. That’s how He wants us to rest. To be quiet. In His presence. At His feet.

He will rejoice over us with singing. Think of your favorite artist, group, chorus. Think of how their voices resonate and harmonize. Remember how you are swept away by the beauty of a voice raised in song. Then imagine God singing a special song over you. Then consider that it’s a song of rejoicing. Just because you are. A song to you.

Now that you’ve quieted in His presence, are you ready to go back to preparations. Ready to focus on Him? To find Him in the midst of the Christmas chaos? Because He is the baby in the manager. He is the reason we celebrate. And He’s celebrating you!

***

Cara Putman is an author of fourteen novels and one nonfiction work—plus all the characters and stories still begging to be told. Look for more in the future. She is also a licensed attorney, contract lecturer at a Big Ten University, adjunct faculty at a community college, and active in her church and community. She lives with her family in Indiana.

What is Faithbuddy? | Carla Anne Coroy

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I’d like to thank Christen, the Pearl Girl site manager, for inviting me to guest post here. I’m so excited to share something brand new with you!

But before I get to that, let me share a bit of history.

My husband is one of those smart types. Ph. D. in aerospace. World expert in communications and light and… well, other stuff. But many years ago he had a full year with little work, waiting for a position he had accepted to start. Instead of becoming a couch potato, Trent decided to spend time looking through Scripture to find out why some people seem to become fruitful in their God-given callings and others, well, don’t.

He found his answers and became convinced there were better ways to apply new technology in support of communities pursuing God.

So for eight long years Faithbuddy has been in quiet development and the Faithbuddy team is grateful to God to now, finally, be able to reveal the fruit of all that work.

It is so exciting!

So you are likely asking, because I know I would be… What exactly is Faithbuddy?

Faithbuddy is a prayer-focused social network unlike anything that has existed before. It’s based on new technology for privacy control, and includes unique features for prayer.

I’m no stranger to social networks. Like many of you, I use networks like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to connect with other people and to try to find out what’s going on in the world and the lives of my friends. But I have big concerns about my privacy on those social networks. Reading the terms of service on those sites nearly makes me shake in my boots!

Those networks definitely serve their purpose… but they are not the best place for my private stuff, like my private contact information, or my personal prayers, or the shared prayer requests of my friends and family!

So Faithbuddy developed new privacy management technology (patents are filed) to make it easy for users to track and control who can see what, on a person-by-person basis.

Let’s say four people want to see your Faithbuddy profile: Joe, Sally, Sue and Sam. You are married to Joe… and you trust him with everything! You set his permission level so he can see your whole profile. But Sally… she’s something else! She can’t keep her mouth shut! So you set her permission level so she can see very little. You think you’ll be great friends with Sue, but you just met her, so you set her permission a little higher than Sally but not nearly as high as Joe.

And then there’s Sam. You’ve never met Sam.

Maybe you, like me, want as much privacy online as possible and you hate the idea of people looking you up or anything! So your profile is invisible to the public. Sam will never ever find you or see anything about you on Faithbuddy.

I’ve been using Faithbuddy for some time now. I have a prayer team that prays for me and my ministry. So I use Faithbuddy to send them prayer requests.

I used to hate sending prayer requests by email. I never knew if they actually got the request. Last year I got back from an extensive ministry tour and discovered one of my prayer team members didn’t even know I’d been away! My emails never got through – and I had no idea.

But with Faithbuddy, when I send the request each person gets an opportunity to respond. With the click of a button they can choose to pray on an ongoing basis, pray once, or decline. I can see who has prayed, who is praying, and who has read my most recent prayer updates. This is SO encouraging to me!

They can even forward my request on so others can pray as well, but only if I allow them to. Maybe you’ll limit your request to just a few trusted friends. Or maybe you’ll allow it to be shared over and over, across the planet. No matter how they get the request, if you send an update, everyone who has agreed to pray will get that update.

I’ve barely scratched the surface of Faithbuddy’s features. I know you will be thrilled with it when you try it.

Now we need some help. We’ve been funding this ourselves for 8 years, and we need support to clear the final hurdles and make this available to everyone. So we’ve set up a really fun Campaign, supported by a whole bunch of Christian music artists, visual artists and authors. We want you and your friends to give a little money, get some great benefits, and enjoy full access to try everything out in our Public Alpha release!

Will you help us build Faithbuddy? We believe this is a powerful way to connect communities and unite the Global Church in prayer and fellowship like never before. We want you to be part of it!

Here are some links to connect with us and find out more…

Check out our benefits, and donate

Visit our Facebook page

Watch our video on YouTube

Or just visit us at www.faithbuddy.com

Carla Anne Coroy is a Christian speaker and blogger, and the award-winning author of Married Mom, Solo Parent. She ministers to a wide audience through her website and blog at www.carlaanne.com. Carla Anne has served full-time with organizations such as Youth for Christ and Crown Financial Ministries, and is currently developing mentoring resources for women and an international mentoring organization for youth. She also serves as a staff writer for the online magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women and is a spokesperson for Faithbuddy.com. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her husband and four homeschooled children.

Christmas Cookie Joy

I recently read a quote by Leland Thomas that states, “In the eyes of children we find the joy of Christmas, in their hearts we find the meaning.” Last Christmas was my oldest son’s senior year in high school and I wanted to make Christmas memorable. I invited a group of teenagers over to decorate Christmas cookies not sure they would want to come, but they jumped at the chance.

The house smelled of cinnamon, there were cookie sprinkles galore, various shaped Christmas cookie cutters, but most of all, my table was filled with kids I have watched grow to young adults. There was laughter all around my kitchen as I kneaded the dough for the cookies. Sprinkles ended up all over the floor and cookies were decorated in funny designs, but the room was filled with laughing teenagers. It was a simply planned day that turned into a treasure.

Over 2000 years ago Mary gave birth to the Son of God. She was in a stable filled with animals, there was dirt and dust all around, yet it was a day “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19). It was a simply planned day that turned into the day the Lord brought forth His son.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

I wish for you a simply planned Christmas of memories and giving. Below is my all-time favorite Christmas treat.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEX MIX

This one I use for gifts, I make up large batches and then fill some pretty plastic containers with a nice Christmas bow. This gives you the salty/sweet combination.

3 c. Rice Chex

3 c. Corn Chex

3 c. Cheerios

3 c. pretzels

2 c. peanuts

12 oz. M & M’s

1 lb. white chocolate (I use white bark chocolate)

Melt chocolate. Mix with Chex, Cheerios, pretzels and nuts. Continue to mix and break up until white chocolate is completely dry. Add M & M’s. Enjoy.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 7 – When God Wraps a Present . . . by Julie Lessman

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series !

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

W hen God Wraps a Present . . .

By Julie Lessman

We’ve all heard the adage “it’s better to give than receive,” but never have I agreed more than the year I was engaged to the love of my life.

It was truly a Christmas to remember—spiced egg nog and snickerdoodles and shimmering presents unwrapped in a circle of love. Of course, we all ooohed and ahhhed over each gift opened, one at a time, reveling in the glow of excitement for giver and recipient alike.

And then it was my turn. Everyone waited while I tore into a small box, anticipation fairly shimmering in my fiancé’s eyes.

“Do you like it?” he asked, grinning like a little boy when I unearthed a very pretty silver watch.

No. “It’s beautiful,” I said with a shaky giggle, slipping it on and holding it up for everyone to admire. I quickly gave him a sweet kiss on the lips. “Thank you so much, babe—what a perfect gift!”

Perfectly awful, that is. You see, when you are a twenty-eight-year-old Type A career woman who is very set in her ways, there are just some things you have to buy for herself—books, costume jewelry, purses … a watch.

All right, yes, I’ll admit it—“high maintenance” is my middle name because heaven knows I’m one of the most particular people on the planet, especially when it comes to watches. They have to be digital, waterproof, have a day and date window, an alarm, chronograph, second hand, both silver and gold metal to wear with either silver or gold jewelry, stretch band skinny enough to fit my wrist . . . and a GPS. Okay, I’m pulling your watch chain on the last one, but you get the picture—NOT easy to find, especially with numbers big enough for someone blind as a bat.

So, yes, I faked it, of course, thanking my soon-to-be husband for the “prettiest watch I had ever owned,” because it was—I just didn’t like it. But did I “fake it” with God? Uh, no. I went straight to His throne in prayer and begged Him to help me love this watch because the man I loved gave it to me and I just flat-out didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I even went so far as to write the prayer request on a piece of paper and put it in my Bible so I could “wrap” it in prayer every single day, which I did.

Until the fateful moment years later when my husband used my Bible one day and found the note.

“You don’t like your watch??” he says, confronting me with hurt in his tone while his eyes flicked to the pretty watch on my wrist.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, somewhat confused.

He held up the note. “You told God you hated it in this note I found in your Bible.”

Uh-oh . . . BUSTED!

“Oh, babe,” I said with my brightest smile and a quick kiss on the lips. “That was then and this is now. It’s perfect for me, just like you, and I absolutely love it.

And you know what? I did!!

***

Award-winning author of “The Daughters of Boston” and “Winds of Change” series, Julie Lessman was ACFW’s 2009 Debut Author of the Year and voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards. Winner of 14 RWA awards, she also appeared on Booklist’s 2010 list for Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and has just released her 7th novel, A Light in the Window: An Irish Christmas Love Story. You can contact Julie at her website, on Facebook, on Twitter at @julielessman, or read excerpts of her favorite romantic and spiritual scenes from each of her books at http://www.julielessman.com/excerpts/.

Traditions!

Don’t you love traditions? I think most women do. For a number of years my mom has baked Christmas cookies with my kids. I love watching her hang with the grandkids and pass along her Christmas cookie recipes and baking tips. Maybe it seems even sweeter because we are typically separated by many miles. Every year my mom flies the friendly skies from Minnesota to Colorado. She stays with us from Thanksgiving to the first week in December. We pack in a lot.

We begin by celebrating Thanksgiving. The whole family cooks together but my mom is the only one who makes the gravy. No one can make better gravy! As a woman of many talents she is also the photographer for my gang’s Christmas card photo. This is no easy task by the way, getting six distractible people to look in the same direction, keep their eyes open, and smile all for the same moment is a huge feat! The day after Thanksgiving, she and I put up the Christmas decorations together. And… and she is Cookie baker extraordinaire!

This year will be different. Due to some other considerations, my mom won’t be with us for her typical November/ December trip. We will have to figure out the gravy, find a patient photographer, decorate and produce cookies without her. We will miss her laugh, stories, and the way she listens to each of us.

A mom’s and Nana’s love is a special thing.

I am really going to miss her presence. And… so will Tom and the kids.

But we will be of good cheer and if we forget a baking tip or two… thankfully she is just a phone call away.

What traditions does your family have?

“His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”

Luke 2:51b

12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 6 – Year of Adversity Brings Joy by Leslie Gould

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series !

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we’re all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Mother of Pearl, Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

***

Year of Adversity Brings Joy

By Leslie Gould

I’ve been writing Amish fiction for nearly three years now—telling stories about non-resistant people who live a simple life. It’s a nice reprieve from my own life.

When my husband, Peter, joined the Army Reserve back in the mid 1980s, I wasn’t thrilled about it. Nor did I believe him when he said he’d probably never see action. Sure, the Cold War was ending and—for a short time—all seemed well in the world, but I had a degree in history. I knew better. I didn’t want to be a controlling wife (as new to the job as I was!) and come out and say he absolutely couldn’t do it. And it did help that he was joining a medical unit. Still I had my reservations.

We’ve been far more fortunate than many military families, but still it’s been quite a ride. The first exciting episode began in 1990 when Peter flew to Germany on Christmas Eve to work in an Army hospital during Desert Storm, leaving me behind with our two young sons. During the next twenty years, Peter went from being a Lt. to being a Col. and commanding a unit. Countless maneuvers and a mobilization occurred during that time, but his Army Reserve career culminated in his deployment to Afghanistan in 2011.

My days throughout last year were an odd combination of hearing the daily news from a war zone via Skype and then writing about the plain life of the Amish. By last December I was working on my third Amish novel of the year while, in contrast, Peter and his field hospital staff had cared for hundreds of NATO soldiers and Afghan nationals, endured ten months of rocket fire, and continued to grieve the killing of one of their own.

Surprisingly, what seemed like it might be our worst Christmas ever, even harder than in 1990, wasn’t. Our four children (one teen and three young adults now) rallied to help make it a memorable day. We counted our blessings—Peter was well, we had all we needed, and God was at work in the life of our family. The result was an underlying joy, deeper than what we’d felt during past Christmases.

In reflection, I wrote: When it started, I thought 2011 might be one of our worst years. But it hasn’t been. Sure, it’s been one of our hardest, but a lot of good has come from it.

That was evident on Christmas morning as we Skyped with Peter. We were so thankful for the good connection and for all of us to be “together” that we hardly noticed we really weren’t.

This December, Peter is back at his civilian job (as a manager for a hospital corporation) and also commanding a nearby Army Reserve unit, which means one weekend a month and plenty of evenings—but no rockets or causalities.

I’m working on a new Amish novel and still enjoying my “time” with those who practice non-resistance, which doesn’t discount the appreciation I have for my husband’s service. I’ve even grown to the place where I’m thankful he joined the military. They’ve served each other well.

Our year of adversity resulted in a deep joy. I’m pretty sure it will carry over to this Christmas as well.

***

Leslie Gould is the award-winning author of fifteen novels, including the #1 bestseller and Christy Award winner The Amish Midwife, co-written with Mindy Starns Clark. Her latest release is Courting Cate, a retelling of the “Taming of the Shrew.” Leslie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, Peter, and their four children. www.lesliegould.com

The Best Christmas Deal

The Christmas season is when a good portion of the American public start thinking about presents and deals. They want to see how little they can pay for that big screen TV. What’s the sale price for that necklace, pair of shoes or video game. What time does the store open Thanksgiving evening?  How early do they need to eat Thanksgiving dinner so they can leave and get as close to the front of the line as possible?

The focus is on the “deals and steals” and being one of the select few to snag one. I say they, but there have been a few times I’ve been part of “they”.

They, we, in those moments of anticipation and exhilaration forget about the best deal of all. A tiny baby boy was born in a smelly manager to a mom and dad unsure of what the future held. There was no Black Friday flier to alert them to the happenings of the wee hours of the morning. No instead they had the face of a baby boy they hadn’t planned for, but who planned for them, for us. The Christ child, Jesus, had come down from heaven to begin a transaction that would conclude thirty-three years later. That purchase would save us all, can still save, if we just believe. This baby traded, not a video game, but heaven to come to earth because of God’s love for us. But more than that, his birth showcased God’s overwhelming mercy for all mankind, not just a select few.

So as we began to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, Christmas, instead of focusing on deals, bargains and all the other trappings, let us instead follow this advice: “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Phillipians 4:8). Jesus fulfills every one of those criteria. Think on Him.