An Inspiring Christmas List

I wrote this last Christmas season after a convicting, but inspiring conversation with a former student. Sometimes this time of year seems like a big birthday bash has been "thrown" but the honoree has been purposefully not invited to the event or even worse yet is rudely ignored,with those in attendance taking particular effort not to acknowledge the one having the birthday. Each birthday guest exerts painstaking endeavors to not even breathe the name of the honored one.

Then He said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Seeing my former third graders rear children of character remains one of my greatest joys. Recently a dearly-loved former third grader told me of her preteen daughter’s Christmas list.

“Miss Gates, she has on her Christmas list – a Clydesdale horse, a pig, chickens, a chicken coop. That’s all! She only put the Clydesdale on her list since she had such a great time driving a wagon pulled by one recently.” (Her mother had been wheedling her to add more items to her wish list so this preteen added the thing that was most on her mind - the Clydesdale horse!)

Her mother reminded her the baby chicks that she wanted would thrive better in the springtime near her birthday. The bright young lady thought the chickens and the chicken coop would be perfect birthday gifts.  She still could not think of anything else she wanted.

How convicting! This preteen’s list consisted of a pig for developing her livestock showing skills and chicks to raise into hens so she could gather farm-fresh eggs for her family. The chicken coop she requested showed she was thinking of the safety of the poultry she wanted. She had already acquired an unselfish attitude toward life.

I hope I can emulate this middle schooler’s focus on desiring things in my life that will enrich the lives of others – not just myself. This sacrificial outlook in our lives mirrors the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus laid aside the power of His position in heaven as the only begotten of the Father and confined Himself to a human body to come to earth. The impetus for His decision sprang from His desire to redeem us. He became sin for us that we might become righteous through His death.

Christmas Ornament Given by Sandy
Batschlett, my friend and my teaching
assistant in 2002-2003 at Woodland
Elementary School in our third grade
classroom.

May my Christmas schedule of activities be motivated by reaching out to others to reflect the love of Jesus. I hope to choose between events that will exalt the Savior of Christmas and give the gift of my presence to encourage others instead of merely indulging myself.

What does your Christmas list or schedule reveal? Let’s make it about Him and others instead of ourselves.

A Few Suggestions:

• Listen to Christmas Carols or Songs that Uplift Jesus
• Read Matthew 1:18-25
• After reading the above passage, meditate on the faith and trust that Joseph must have had.
• Read Luke 2:1-20
• Following the reading of the above verses in Luke, think about being in the stable that night.
• Reflect, while looking at beautiful Christmas lights, on the wonder and joy of the shepherds when told of the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord.
• Read Isaiah 9:6-7
• Attend a program or concert that specifically honors the birth of Jesus.
• Sit quietly a few minutes while reflecting on the miracle of God becoming a human baby for the explicit purpose of dying for sinful humans.

There's Always a Reason to Give Thanks

My prayer list grows daily. So many people are dealing with grief, loss, and serious illness within their family. As my heart continues to ache for many friends who have suffered devastating losses since last Thanksgiving, may this family recollection from a Thanksgiving twenty-five years ago provide encouragement to focus on an attitude of gratitude.This posting originally appeared with the title, "The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't" on November 23, 2014.
The Thanksgiving of 1982

                A strong woman was born in 1924. Bernyce Smith Gates, my mother and the only child of her parents, showed her strength at seven when her mother, a trained nurse, began assisting families in the community. These neighbors could not afford health care during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In Grandmother’s absence, Mother helped her father prepare meals as she stood on a stool so she could reach the stove. Soon she was cooking complete meals. Mother worked in the fields with her parents as they farmed. She excelled in school even though she always walked to grade school and rode a lengthy bus route in high school.
              My most vivid memory of her strength was in the fall of 1982. Mother had watched her parents weaken in health and had spent about two years giving them full-time assistance. She had put her own life on hold. Grandfather’s condition deteriorated, and he was hospitalized. Grandmother suffered a massive stroke and was placed in a rehabilitation center over seventy miles away. Within two weeks, Grandfather had died. 
                The week of Thanksgiving rolled around. Grandmother was making little progress in her rehabilitation; however, she had a few weeks of therapy remaining so would not be home for the Thursday holiday.  My sister and I, both in our twenties, were devastated by the loss of Grandpa since our maternal grandparents had lived with us all our lives.  We both said, “Let’s not have a family Thanksgiving celebration.”  Mother, without blinking an eye or pausing a second to reflect on her response, immediately shot back, “Thanksgiving is about being thankful.” 
            We celebrated Thanksgiving that year because my mother knew there was always a reason to give thanks even though she had just lost her beloved father to death and her mother, a once vibrant, intelligent, creative woman was lying helpless in a rehabilitation center. This pivotal moment in time has provided strength for me whenever I am faced with insurmountable difficulties and want to give up.
            Anyone who knows my mother knows her as a champion supporter of family, orchestrating events in her home to make anyone she considers family or friends comfortable and welcome. Her entire life has been devoted to being a keeper of her home, bolstering her family all the while. Mother would never put down family celebrations, but she hearkens back to a time when the emphasis was on the actual commemoration. She recalls the time when Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter were religious days. Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day were times to remember deceased loved ones, the miraculous birth of our nation, and the sacrifice of young men she had known all her life – not a time for shopping the aggressively touted sales, publicized as must participation for the savvy shopper.
            At this season, may we truly give thanks. All of us could spend hours compiling a list of blessings and not even scratch the surface of even the blessings we daily receive. Hopefully, we can take time this week to read and then meditate throughout the week on this psalm of praise.

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord, He is God; it is He who made us, and not we ourselves; 
We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; 
Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endureth to all generations.

Autumn trees in the yard at my parents' farm.
Photographed during the Thanksgiving season of 2010.

How Did It Keep From Exploding!

The Melted Battery Cable

               After unsuccessfully trying for a prolonged time to get Caramel, Mother's herd bull, back onto our place instead of the neighbor's pasture, I felt some discouragement. With a sense of failure, I walked to the old pickup to return to the house since I knew Mother would be concerned about where I was. Probably I drove a little too fast over the rocky, steep draw. When I reached the bottom of it, the pickup stopped dead still, with smoke coming from the right front side of the hood. I hopped out of the pickup, deciding it might be overheated, and trudged dejectedly to the house.

                After a couple of hours, I walked back and prayed as I drew closer to the stalled pickup. I thought to myself, Maybe it has to do with the battery.

                Upon reaching the 1990 Ford F-150, I popped the hood and noticed the battery cable was burned in two. Ignorance is bliss or downright foolish, but I knew the cable needed to be connected to the battery. I put them together, got in, turned the key, and it started. I slowly drove it to the house and parked it, deciding to limit its use until my brother-in-law evaluated it. I breathed a prayer of thanks to get it back to its shed. That had been important to Dad even after his stroke. No matter how old his pickup was, it needed to be sheltered.

                My brother-in-law has worked ER rooms with fatality cases. Daily as an ARNP, he sees patients with serious issues. He doesn’t get too excited because he has walked me calmly through emergencies with Mother and Dad. When he looked at the battery, he exclaimed, “How did this keep from exploding on you?”

                He proceeded to explain that hitting a rock had caused the power cable going to the wench to short out against the frame of the pickup and had grounded out the battery, which explained the melted battery cable post. More than once he shook his head and said, “I can’t believe the battery didn’t explode.”

                Many times, God protects us from serious injury. He protects us on so many levels, whether entering unwise relationships, making potentially detrimental financial decisions, traveling in dangerous territory, or 1,001 other scenarios. Only eternity will reveal how many times God dispatched His angels to protect His children.

                This week may we express thanksgiving to the Father who has saved us through our trust in the precious blood that Jesus willingly gave for us, knowing daily His protection envelops us.

A Verse for Meditation This Week:

For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91:11-12          

Memories From 20 Years Ago

Ralston Baptist Church marked its centennial year on November 9, 1997. This week, twenty years hence, seemed an appropriate time to present some visual remembrances from two decades ago.

Centennial Service - 1997

Mary and Ray Moffeit at the
 Centennial Celebration. Ray
 pastored during the 
centennial  year.

How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
And how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10: 14-15

Centennial Service

Centennial Lunch in the Unfinished Fellowship Hall

Rick Rice and John Crowley, pastored the church from
1974-1979. He continues pastoring today near Miami, OK.

Charles Welch, interim pastor in 1984, 1986, 1988,
 visited with Geraldine Forbes. Bro. Charles died in
2008.

Joe Urbon, oldest pastor in attendance, visited with
Pam Morris Felix. He came as pastor in 1960. He 
died in 2009.

Gregg, Krystal, Whitney, Kallie, and Torie at his
ordination when he pastored at Ralston FBC.
20 years ago at the Centennial, he touched hearts
as he sang, "Precious Memories" and the girls
sang, "Come Just As You Are."

Ralston FBC was Larry Wilson's first pastorate
 in 1986. He and Debbie enjoyed reuniting with
friends at the 100th anniversary in 1997.

              Those who are wise shall shine 

Like the brightness of the firmament,

And those who turn many to righteousness

Like the stars forever and ever.

Daniel 12:3