Giving

This morning I was awakened by Wyatt holding three flowers up to my cheek.

He did not know that I had overheard, just seconds earlier, him saying to Walker in a whisper "let's go surprise mommy!"

So when the flowers were literally in my face this morning, he said

"Mommy, we have something special for you!"

I was delighted. I gave the two proud, smiling, red-cheeked boys a big kiss and thanked them over and over again for their gift to me.

(My thoughts meanwhile were pondering where these sweet flowers had come from. the cold? (surely not! and surely they would not go outside disobediently)

- No. that wasn't it.

and then I realized...

where they had come from.

After Katey's wedding (pictures to come) Wes' mom gave us two of the bouquets to adorn our home with - sitting proudly in 2 little vases in our living room.

A sweet five year old "picked" them freshly just for me, his mommy.

Which explained why he said the following after he presented his gift...

"Mommy, I am giving you all that I CAN give you."

Now doesn't the heart behind the gift make every bit of difference?

Reminds me of the widow mentioned in Mark 12:41-44, who gave her "2 pennies" - all that she had- and how she was an example our Savior gave in how we should give -

she stood out far above the wealthiest givers.

Because while they gave from their excess - she gave from her heart.

"For they all contributed out of their abundance,

but she out of her poverty

has put in everything she had."

- Mark 12:44

**what a timely and tangible example the Lord woke me up to this day - in the season of "giving" - how I needed reminding of the heart in which I am to give (and receive) this Christmas.

Head of the House

This morning, I had breakfast ready and went up to get the boys (this never happens in this order by the way). They were both dressed in pirate costumes and deep in a pirate storyline. I informed them that breakfast was ready and Wyatt's reply, "pirates don't eat breakfast" was returned with a similar comment back from me. Upon realizing that they did not mean what they said, Wyatt asked if I would be their mommy pirate. I ofcourse replied, "yes".

So at the breakfast table Wyatt prays the following:

"Dear Lord, thank you for Christmas. Thank you for my pirate mommy and my pirate brother and my pirate sister. And thank you for my pirate daddy, who is the captain. Amen."

After praying he said to me,

"Mommy, Daddy is our captain."

I said, "that's right, Wyatt he is."

And he said, "yep, he is captain of our home."

I said, "that's right Wyatt. He sure is."

Can God Do All Things?

Q. Can God do all things?

A. Yes. God can do all His holy will.

This is one of several questions/answers Wyatt had to memorize for his sunday school class. We've been going over these after our family devotion time and I must say, it is sweet to hear his little voice answer these questions with confidence and truth.

Soooo...this particular truth came into play in a conversation he and I had today.

I had prayed for our lunch and added on at the end,

"Lord would you please help Brighty (our old dog) obey me by not coming onto the carpet."

(we are really trying hard to keep the carpet in a reasonable condition)

A good hour later, Wyatt and I are talking and Brighty walks right past me onto the carpet.

Me: Brighty! Off the carpet!

Wyatt: Well, I guess God didn't answer your prayer...

Me: oh, when I asked God to help Brighty obey? And not come on the carpet?

Wyatt: yes

Me: Well...what do you think that says about God?

Wyatt: (thinking) It must not be good for you.

I then had the opportunity to talk with my son about how good God is, even if what I ask, He doesn't give to me. He still has a good purpose in His answer.

(So even though my dog is a way that the Lord is sanctifying me, I will gladly endure in order for my child to grasp a correct view of our Sovereign Lord and not an incorrect one.)

Jesse Tree - Day 7

Joseph's brothers and father, Jacob, upon finding out that God had protected and blessed Joseph's life greatly in Egypt as prime minister, second only to Pharaoh .

Day 7 - Joseph in Egypt - Genesis 37:3-5, 8a, 18-19, 23, 28

1. Who did Israel (Jacob) love more than his other sons?

2. What did he made his beloved son?

3. How did the brothers respond? Is favoritism good?

4. In verse 8, what made Joseph's brothers hate him more?

5. In verses 18-19, what did the brothers decide to do?

6. In verse 23, what did the brothers do?

7. In verse 28, what else did the brothers do to Joseph?

I placed the Joseph ornament (coat of colors) on the tree...

Our Jesse Tree: camel, earth, rainbow, coat of colors, Mary, apple and sheep

After the ornament was placed on the tree, we sang O Holy Night

specifically because of the second verse which says the following, which reminded me of Joseph's time spent as a slave in Egypt...

Truly He taught us

to love one another,

His law is love

and His gospel is peace.

Chains he shall break,

for the slave is our brother.

And in his name

all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy

in grateful chorus raise we,

With all our hearts

we praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord!

Then ever, ever praise we,

His power and glory

ever more proclaim!

His power and glory

ever more proclaim!

Jesse Tree - Day 6

Abraham laying Isaac on the alter, as God has commanded

Day 6 - Sacrifice of the Son - Genesis 22:1-14

1. How did God test Abraham?

2. What did Isaac ask his father?

3. How did Abraham answer his son?

4. Who stopped Abraham from hurting Isaac?

5. What was in the thicket/bushes?

6. Did Abraham pass the test God created for him?

Walker then placed the ornament of a ram on the Jesse Tree and we sang

"The First Noel"

The First Noel,

the Angels did say

Was to certain

poor shepherds

in fields as they lay

In fields where they

lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night

that was so deep.

Noel, Noel,

Noel, Noel

Born is the King

of Israel!

Jesse Tree - Day 5

Abraham looking toward heaven at the countless number of stars...

Day 5 - Blessing to Abraham - Genesis 12:1-3; 17:5

1. Who did God tell to leave his country and go to a foreign land?

2. What did God tell him He would do?

3. Did God change His name? What is his old name/new name?

4. Read Hebrews 11:8, 12

5. How did Abraham obey God?

6. Did he have many children (descendants)? How many did he have?

The ornament for Abraham is a camel - representing Abraham's faithfulness to obey the Lord in following the Lord.

We then sang "O Come All Ye Faithful"

O Come All Ye Faithful

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye

to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.