“The Christmas story”

December 25                             

 “And it came to pass in those days….

Oh Lord you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things; things planned long ago, *Isaiah 25:1

There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus….

The Lord does not delight in the power of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.  Psalm 147:10-11

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee…

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.  Micah 5:1

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child…

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son.  Isaiah 6:5

And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger…

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.  Jeremiah 31:10

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us: You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.  Micah 7:18-19

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has see any God besides you who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.  Isaiah 64:4

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!

“Along the Way” by Kara Liggett and Lana Liggett

December 24

Luke 1:50 “His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.”

Last February, our family celebrated my mom’s 80^th birthday.  It was a special day for all of us as friends and family gathered to give honor to her.  Mom has not had many birthday parties, if any, so my sisters and I wanted this one to be special for sure. 

Tomorrow we celebrate one of the most important birthdays of all.  Even though we may forget amidst the trappings and tiredness, it’s all about Him.  We spend so much time getting ready that we almost miss the party!

We make the birth of Christ a serene scene – little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.  Can you imagine, or even try to perceive what it was like when Jesus was born?  That night was the first night in the life of our Savior?  To first-time parents!  With no family nearby to calm their nerves! Just hope and a promise put in their hearts from God. 

When the time came for the baby to be born, Glory streamed down from Heaven gleaming bright and radiant amidst the muted and dingy setting of the rundown wooden stable in the pasture.  For first-time parents, I would think this might be a little over-the-top, not to mention embarrassing for a new mother looking less than her best.  But for our Christ child, nothing was off-limits in the majesty department. 

That first birthday party was quite different than we picture.  What if the stars opened up like a supernatural phenomenon and just enveloped everything in sight? What if that pasture filled up with the Spirit of God and all the brown and gray turned bright green and blue, bursting with the force of God’s power?  What if the biting cold air stopped blowing and in the dead of winter, a warm current blew. It might be something similar to what the shepherds experienced, stopping them from their duties (watching the sleepy animals, huddled to keep their bodies from the chilly air), “sorely afraid” and blinded by sudden light, surrounded with luminescence, warmth, and unbeknownst to them, the presence of the One who would bring them new life. 

We celebrate Christmas with much pomp and circumstance- celebratory carols, sumptuous food, and lights with brilliant LED capacity. Amidst our decorations, in the still, small, frostbitten air- there lies the Christ child, gleaming with Glory, the true reason for our favorite time of year.  Happy Birthday Jesus!

“The Tear Vial” By Kara Liggett

December 23 

Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He recues those whose spirits are crushed.”

An evening childhood ritual I can remember vividly is when my mom would come in to tell me good-night.  She would kneel next to my bed, and usually, she would read a part of a book that we were working our way through, then she would say her prayer for me. 

One time she came in the room to find that I was crying.  The book I was reading had been flung across the room where it laid sprawled out, pages all crumpled and spine bent.  She went to retrieve the book from the place it had landed and asked what was the matter.  I proceeded to tell her that it was “too sad.”  I couldn’t stand the part in the book where the boy had to kill his horse in order to save her from pain.   My mom knelt next to my bed, pushed my hair off my forehead, helped me wipe my tears with a Kleenex, and then asked me to do the unthinkable-  She wanted me to read the sad part aloud to her.  

At first, I didn’t think I would make it through the part again however, with the presence of my mom there by my side, rubbing my arm, I was able to get through the whole part about the struggle of having to “save” his horse by letting her go.

For some people, this may not seem like a big deal, but I wasn’t a kid who did a whole lot of unnecessary “emotional” crying.  I pouted and bawled at the usual things, but I didn’t get worked up over the same sensitive issues that bothered my sister.  This crying over a book was new emotional territory for me.

Our Christian walk is no different, God sometimes takes us to new emotional places that hurt.  We can thrash about and resist all we want, but all of our “thrown books” and tantrums and breakdowns will lead us to the ultimate prize- God’s presence.  Just like my crying led to having my mom, kneeling by my bedside, asking me to do the impossible- confront that sadness and read that book to her; God will sometimes ask us to do take on an impossible task, but not alone.  We can confront our fears, our sadnesses, our heartbreaks, all those intangible impossibilities that keep us up at night and gnaw at our guts during day, God says, “Child, I’m right here, let’s take this challenge on TOGETHER!!” 

Guess what?  I still can’t read that book without getting weepy.  However, I’ve also learned that going through a hard time doesn’t have to be done alone.  Even if it means just leaning on family or Christian friends, sometimes that’s enough.  God will provide comfort through people He places strategically in our lives when He doesn’t do it Himself.

“The ABC’s...” By Kara Liggett

December 22

 “If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”  One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from a man who was no stranger to “knowing” things- Albert Einstein.  

In politics, education, business, medicine, oftentimes, it takes a thorough understanding of a subject to know how to give an easy-to-swallow explanation.  If a doctor examines a patient and says, “You have a heart problem,” the doctor is probably withholding unnecessary information that would only serve to make the patient worry and fret over circumstances beyond their control. 

When we are presenting the gospel, we have to tap into the places in our heart that God has done work in us.  As complicated as “soul” matters can seem, they are really simple.  God moves in our hearts in ways that we FEEL and KNOW but how do we convey these emotions to people without coming across as spiritual and philosophical weirdos?  We tell the Truth.  

As much as I like to exaggerate and spin my stories to add drama and an entertainment factor, I don’t have to do when I am talking about God’s work.  God has performed miraculous transformations in me and my way of thinking.  My thoughts and actions are permeated and inspired by the moving of the Spirit because I know the consequences of all my actions only fall judgment to Him and His standard is high.  

By seriously studying the Word of God, by scrutinizing and digesting the scripture for what it is (not for what we WANT it to be), we can be sure that God will confront us in a major way.   He gives freely of His wisdom and we can’t be fearful to know more, even if we think we aren’t prepared for what He will reveal. In that spiritual, soulful place that God moves in us as Christians, He gives us that access to Absolute Truth.

Revealing these truths to non-Christians and children alike can seem daunting.  But if we take seriously the challenge to share our testimony in a impactful way, God will provide the opportunities and the confidence to SIMPLY explain why we believe what we believe.  Spending time with Him every single day is like filling up with knowledge that we are going to need for our daily interactions with friends, co-workers, and family.  The more we know, the easier it is to spout facts about God in reference to everything that happens in our lives.  We are the “Albert Einsteins” of our personal journey with God.  Let’s make sure that we present ourselves in a simple and accessible way to the lost world.  

“Count on God” by Kara Liggett

2 Peter 1:19 - “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

I stumbled upon this verse by accident (if accidents are possible when it comes to the living and active Word of God).  It was cross-referenced during my study in Proverbs.  When I read it, I had to stop everything else I was doing.  I was floored.  Where had this verse been all my life?  Like many hidden treasures in the Word, it had gone unnoticed by me.  

Everything we have ever learned about God, about our Faith, everything that has been revealed to us in our hearts, it’s “completely reliable!”  For those of us who have ever used a flashlight (or our cell phones) to find something in the dark, we know that light can cut through the darkness...even a small ray of light can cut STRAIGHT through the blackest shadows.  Like a hot knife through butter, our TRUTH will pierce the LIES.  

When the end of our time on earth comes, we will have done well to pay attention to the prophetic word from the Old Testament- those old-fashioned stories about Noah, about Adam and Eve, the Ten Commandments (even the movie with the pharaoh that had a weird ponytail coming out the back of his head), these stories are our prophesy and the Biblical foundation of the stories is just as reliable as the miracles of healing and provision from God in our present day situations.  

When we feel like God is on cruise control in our lives, we need only remember- He is the same God today that parted the Red Sea, delivered His people, and “laid the Earth’s foundation” (Job 38:4).  He never rests, nor does His power fade.  His truth is in our hearts, from now until eternity.

“A Lesson on Verbs” By Kara Liggett

December 21 

Recently, studying Spanish, I discovered “en Espanol,” there are two forms of the verb “to be.”  There is “estar” and there is “ser.”  One form of the verb, “estar,” is a temporary state, like, “I am tired [today]” to describe the state of a noun at the current moment.  The other form, “ser,” is a permanent state, like, “I am an American [forever],” which is used to describe the state of a noun and its nature.

Both forms can be used, but obviously one of them describes what something truly is, by nature.  In English, we have to decipher these differences on our own, using context clues and inference. 

God made a sweeping statement when He described Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 by giving Himself the name: “I Am.”  Using the context clues and inferences that I know about God and His nature, this amazingly brilliant and simple explanation tells me, like a three-way mirror, that God reflects God reflects God.  Genius.  Of course, we would expect nothing less than the most comprehensive description of God from God.  “I Am,” He is, He will be. 

Oh Lord, Our God-

You say “I am,”

That means “You will be...”

You are and you can.

When you say, “I am,”

You’re saying, “I’m there,”

You do, see, feel, know;

You listen and care,

You’re here, you’re there,

You were and still are;

By saying, “I am,”

You’re near and you’re far.

You’ve covered the now,

The here and the yet;

The past and before,

The time we’ve not met.

I am is I am,

No verb is above,

“To be” can’t be topped

When “I am” is love.

By saying, “I am,”

You’ve told us it all.

Right where we need you,

We simply must call.

“Angels in Disguise” by Kara Liggett

December 19

Psalm 91:11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

What some people call “chance,” I call a miracle in waiting.  I have been the recipient of many blessed miracles in my lifetime.  I know these are miracles because I have some amazing prayer warriors working out the lifeline between Earth and Heaven for me.  

Every time I have needed something, from accommodations to a job, something has come through just in the nick of time.  My parents can testify and have borne witness to the times when I needed angels, there they were!  

My angels have come in the form of my sister and her family to families that we barely knew but that were ready and willing to become partners in my journey! 

I have met some of God’s most outspoken workers in the form of a dear family in Houston- the Miller’s and the Tour’s.  Mrs. Miller has always been a sweet, supportive friend, who has dispensed advice as judicious and spiritual as can be.  She has been uplifting and helped guide me in the right direction.  The Tour’s have been friends of mine since college when I attended Dr. Tour’s Sunday school class.  He was a man after God’s Heart and he had one of the aggressive and unapologetic approaches to spreading the gospel that I have ever witnessed.  Dr. Tour is a game-changer for Christians in a fallen world.  

Another family, in Louisiana, has taken me under their wing as one of their own, as a transplant in a foreign place where I didn’t have a church home or friends on which to lean.  They haven’t missed a beat by letting me join them for coffee in the morning or late night family discussions about Christmas decorations.  They simply said, “Here we are, come jump in the (Cajun) fray!”  

My angels are so dear to me that I can barely express the Thanks appropriate except to know that our Lord is looking down fondly on their efforts to spread kindness to all people that are pursuing God’s glorious purpose. 

I count myself blessed every day, for the wits about me to pursue the right paths.  I have a family that believes in the power of prayer and prays for the right opportunities, and in a stitch, prays for the angels to be ready to come to the rescue.  I can only hope that when someone needs reciprocal help, I am just as willing and able to offer any and all support that I can!

“Mystery Science Theater” by Kara Liggett

December 18

 Ephesians 6:10-18

Who doesn’t love a good mystery?  I know I do!  I loved Encyclopedia Brown stories as a child- he was so clever and he had a photographic memory that served him well in solving all sorts of problems that plagued his neighbor friends.  Sometimes Encyclopedia Brown would have to question several different witnesses to certain “crimes” in order to put together enough clues to find the answer to the riddle. 

I used to snoop around my neighborhood wearing what I thought were innocuous clothing choices.  I would record notes in my journals if I had a strange conversation; in my “spy trained” eyes, everything was suspicious and everyone was a suspect to a possible crime.  I would dust my invisible-to-the-naked-eye spy powder on things in my room to see if anyone messed with my stuff (no one ever did, much to my dismay). 

I was always looking for a crime to solve, a way to use all my useful notes of strange human behavior.  Maybe, inherently, we never lose these powers of observation- looking for more than what’s at the surface. 

One mystery that stumps a lot of us is how to live a Christian life in a broken world.  We are constantly battling spiritual warfare in our fleshly lives.  We want to do good but we do bad.  We want to live for God, but the world beckons so tantalizing in its promises.  We have to remember that like the best prepared spy- God has supplied us with a set of goodies in order to arm ourselves against the Devil (the Ultimate Enemy!).  God gave us tools that we must USE to fight Satan’s schemes.  He gave us RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH, HIS SPIRIT, THE WORD, and most importantly, we have HIS POWER in our feet to run and spread the GOSPEL. 

The mystery is already solved, the battle is pre-ordained-  Christians win, mystery solved.  We just have to wake up every morning, armed with all our tools from God to start making our way through the darkness.  We are armed to the teeth with the Spirit of God, it’s our goal to use the full arsenal every day.  It still never hurts to sprinkle a little spy dust now and then...

“Legacies of Love”

December 17

Psalm 127:3- “Children are a heritage from the Lord.”

A child, my child will always be,

A child, my baby, so precious to me.

No matter how long the years bring us to

The never differs between me and you.

How sweet is your sleep and soft is my touch,

The days spent rocking I miss very much.

Bur the times moves so quickly and days swiftly fly,

The time we’re together will soon pass on by.

Just never forget as I kiss your sweet head

The times I spent tucking you into your bed.

And still melt my heart as you did when just three,

“I love you Mom” is the dearest to me.

I wrote the above poem years ago when my girls were still preschoolers.  I found it today and realized how quickly time has gone by for me and my daughters.  I grew up in a home with four girls then had two daughters.  I was immersed in the ways of girl life.  I was so thankful for our firstborn grandson but I was a little lost with his boy world.  When our second born grandchild was a girl, I breathed a sigh of relief.  I knew what she liked! 

Hadley has had a special bond with me from the beginning.  Not that I don’t love my boys (now three grandsons) but she and I just spend special time together.  We play Barbies, horses, and color.  The boys have other interests of course.  Hadley draws pictures, makes cards, writes “I love you” on any scrap of paper she can find.  She is pink, frilly and can change clothes a hundred times a day.  She is figuring out girl world! 

Each time they are here with us, Hadley especially has a dramatic good-bye.  It squeezes my heart strings for sure and I remember Heather did the same things when she left her grandma’s house.

The house seems eerily quiet as the toys are put away

One minute there was laughter and giggles filled my day.

They just drove away from here with tears and broken hearts

How hard it is for all of us to be far apart

It reminds me of their mother’s tears as a grandma she would leave

Her arms held out for the longest time until she finally had to concede

I know it won’ last and one day soon, I’ll ask her to come by

But until that time my heart will hold fast as I wave a sad good-bye.

“Too Much Of a Good Thing” by Kara Liggett

December 16

Matthew 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

Recently, I was talking about casinos and wondered what a casino would look like if someone just pulled the plug and all those flashing lights went off.  In Louisiana, I have realized, people have a different view of the presence of casinos- on every street corner, but the dangers and consequences are just as dire.  For the families that don’t take part in gambling, the casinos are just another obstacle to maneuver around in their Christian walk (a little more prevalent and visible obstacle in certain states that legalize this activity).

A reality hit me hard the other night when Curt, one of the kids in the family with whom I’m staying, said when talking about casinos, “Well, anyway, I know from church that gambling is a sin...” as if to dismiss all activity of the sort that takes place at a casino.  

“Oh, if only it was so simple, young grasshopper,” I was thinking.  In one of the moments where I didn’t want to undermine his innocent understanding of black and white sin, wrong v. right, the easy approach we can have to this whole understanding of human nature as a child- That sin is an incomprehensible monster that lurks under the bed, left dormant if left alone (which, in a sense, is a true consideration; however unrealistic for us and our sinful nature).

“Yeah, it’s a sin...just like a lot of other things that people do in excess- drinking, gossip, worry, covet, etc...  The scary thing is that gambling is such a black hole addiction...it draws people in seemingly harmless fun in the beginning, but for most people, it can spiral out of control before it’s too late and lives are ruined...” I gave the simplest answer I could think of in that moment, but I immediately realized when I said, “like a lot of other sin...” that all sin like gambling, starts with US thinking that we can CONTROL our own actions.  We think we can toe the line between the wrong and right, and our background of a Christian upbringing is enough to shield any onslaught of temptations that we may encounter. But, times when we PURPOSEFULLY go into a place of temptation, we are “toeing” the line and daring the sin to become too strong for us to control.  Unfortunately, most of us find out the hard way that we are not strong enough to toe the line.  That is why we are called to choose the narrow path, submitting our deepest desires into the control of a Mighty God.

“Let’s See That Again”

December 15

1 John 3:19-20– “Now we will be confident when we stand before the Lord, even if our hearts condemn us.  For God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything.”

I think one of the greatest inventions in the last few decades has been the DVR – Digital Video Recorder. You never have to miss what someone has said.  You can watch a sports play over and over…and over.  If you get a phone call, you can pause your program and never miss a minute.  You can record movies, old reruns, or the Super Bowl and watch them at your pleasure.  I love it!

There is a problem with this concept though.  It has caused me not to listen well.  Since I can always run back what I am watching in case I missed what was said, I forget that I can’t do that in real life.  I find myself so many times wanting to hold out the remote and either pause or rewind a situation.  I didn’t get it the first time.

How many times I wish I could not only rewind to listen but I wish I could change the outcome, change my response.  Yet every time I run that scene in my mind, it doesn’t change.  I feel so silly, so sorry, so guilty. 

This verse in 1 John is one of my favorites.  “Now we will be confident when we stand before the Lord…” If you have read much of the Bible, anyone who was confronted by the Lord, fell down…some like dead men.  We will be standing before a holy God but John says we will be confident.  Here’s the key part…”even if our hearts condemn us.”…which it will.  Our heart will say “you messed up”  “You didn’t do enough.”  “You didn’t do it right.” But the KEY part (this is the part I love) is “God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything.”  When we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, He is enough.

“Wednesday Night Crew”

December 14                                                                                               

James 5:16 – “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” 

Great things are rarely accomplished, at least not Biblically, by the obvious choice of a person.  Jacob, the deceiver.  Moses, the poor speaker.  Gideon, the least of his family.  David, a shepherd.  Jesus, the one born in such an obscure, ordinary place.  Not kingly material. 

In every case, God had a greater plan in mind for these lives.  I think He purposely didn’t choose the obvious because He wanted to prove what great things He can do through ordinary, regular people.  That’s the way I feel about our church’s Wednesday night crew. 

This gathering is made up of a faithful group of individuals who are gentle, ordinary folk.  None would appear to be movers and shakers – at least by the world’s standards.  They do move mountains though as they pray for the needs of friends, family, community, and church.  They shake away fear as they pray for things unseen yet very real.  They will never know how much their prayers for our church staff have made eternal differences.  Yes, this group is very powerful.  Not in might, but in spirit.

I think how God has chosen the simple things of life to confound the wise (1 Cor.1:25).  Power suits, Madison Avenue, Wall Street, and Dubai may have the world’s attention but God hears the simple, heart-felt prayers that arise from the Wednesday night crowds. 

I grew up in a very small country church.  Every Wednesday night my mom and dad would clean us up and pack us in the car to go to church.  More than once my sisters and I would get in trouble for giggling during the prayers which we felt went on forever and ever.  It was during those Wednesday nights though that I learned about the importance of prayer. 

I am so thankful for those ladies and gentlemen who stop for a while to join together for mid-week prayer.  Times have changed. Families and jobs call us in many ways but I am thankful for those who still come specifically to pray.  What you do may not be noticed by many but God hears each pray. 

Thank you!

“It’s More Than Meets the Eye”

December 13

Colossians 3:2 – “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

This past February Bill and I accompanied Heather, Lance and grandkids to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  Heather had every detail of our trip planned.  Our transportation to our resort was provided.  Hadley had an appointment at the Bippidity Boppidity Boutique and we even had a dinner at the Cinderella castle.  (We felt very proud as we were allowed entrance to the special place only to get inside and see a few hundred other lucky families.)  We watched a fantastic fireworks show every night and with our fast pass headed to the front of almost every ride. 

We can lose sight of reality sometimes when we are in a place like Disney World.  Music plays everywhere.  Smiling characters pop out of hidden doors.  Your reality is actually an illusion. 

While we had a wonderful family time, the magical kingdom was not all magical.  People still pushed and shoved.  Parents yelled at their kids.  Items were lost or taken.

The above verse is my “life” verse because it reminds me to keep my eyes on things that really matter, things of eternal value.  We spend a lot of time on our fun and while it is so important to have fun times with your family, it can’t come at the price of broken families and relationships because we are short sighted and minded. 

One of the big and un-noticed illusions at Disney World is actually the iconic castle.  I didn’t notice but my observant husband did!  The castle is built to appear a lot bigger and taller than it really is.  The master designers of the castle made the windows, cupolas, even bricks smaller the taller it went giving the illusion of it being huge.  It fools thousands of people every day!

Don’t be fooled by the illusions of worldly things…it is so easy to do this at Christmas!  Set your eyes, your heart, on things that will last. 

“Precious and Priceless”

December 12

3 John 4  – “I have no greater joy than this:  to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

A few weeks ago we got to experience something I certainly pondered in my heart.  Will, our oldest grandson had accepted Jesus as his Savior and had called to ask if Bill (Pa) would baptize him.  The buttons certainly did pop off of Bill’s shirt that day!

Everything was arranged for Bill to baptize Will on a Wednesday evening at Henderson Hills in Edmond.  Family and friends gathered to watch and be a part of this special service.  It was a beautiful picture for me to see Will look up at his Pa as he spoke words over him before he was baptized.

Today is Will’s birthday – 12-12-12.  It would be really amazing if he were twelve but he will be nine years old today.  We still remember the excitement over the birth of our firstborn grandson.  It was a big time celebration for us!

We have had fun going to first basketball, soccer and football games.  We have been to Grandparents’ Day (four times), kindergarten graduation, and Christmas concerts.  He loves to read books about World War II and early American history.  He is a whiz at math and loves to study about weather. 

Of all of the things our grandson has done I most remember hearing him recite Luke 2:1-20 from memory.  His first grade class presented this recitation at the Christmas program and of course we got a private viewing.  I remember the inflection he gave at the angel’s appearing and the surprise of the shepherds. 

While we know he isn’t perfect, he demonstrates caring for the lost and a heart for others to become a Christian.  Will’s baptism was a symbol of what Jesus had already done for him.   No greater joy….

“Heirlooms of the Storytime Variety” by Kara Liggett

December 11                                                                                               

Psalm 145:4 – “One generation will declare Your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts.”

One of my favorite Amy Grant Christmas songs is “Heirlooms.”  I can’t hear it without getting teary because it is not only triggers memories of driving to my grandma’s house for Christmas, but it also directly reflects how I feel about family traditions.

Heather and I used to beg my mom to tell us stories of her childhood.  We would ask for the most random details- “What were you WEARING?” and “What did GRANDMA say?!?!” and my mom would regale us with the mundane details from the best of her memory.  We would hear about how she and her sisters would fight and how, being the oldest, she would always straighten them out by bossing them around.  We couldn’t get enough of hearing about our mom and our aunts’ antics from when they were children!  It was incredible to imagine them as kids, miniature versions of the adults we knew and loved, running around and playing just like we did.  While I still can’t picture my mom as anyone but my mom, I have a pretty good idea of what kind of childhood she led.  I hold these stories and their details (about her clothes and hair) so near to my heart, they are like treasures passed down through the years. 

These memories, the ones that can bring tears to your eyes because of the passage of time, are precious and valuable as gold.  The true heirlooms that are ours, as a Christian family, are the legacies and stories of our parents and grandparents. 

The struggles and victories that our families experienced are our own to hold on to and remember, so that one day we can repeat the stories, giving them the release into the next generation.  Even in this day and age of online timelines about our lives, it is vital to pass down spoken word stories so that our families’ legacies remain alive and well in the memories of our children.  All of us have fantastic stories to tell, and usually, if we open up our minds to the memories, our families will be blessed by the entertainment they find in the fact that we want to confide in them!! 

I can’t wait to pass on stories about all the adventures I have experienced, the antics I have pulled, and, definitely, what I was WEARING when all this action went down.  We should all try to have storytime this holiday season.  We may have some new (funny) memories to discover what kinds of stories the little ones deem important enough to share. 

“Glorieta” by Kara Liggett

December 10

Psalms 121:1-2 “I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let you fall; your protector is always awake.”

Glorieta Baptist Conference Center is located in mountains of New Mexico.  It is about 25 miles from Santa Fe.  For most of our married life (even a few years before we were married) Bill and I would travel for a week to attend conferences at the center.  Neither of us could tell you how many memories we have of this place.  The beautiful sights, the clean crisp air, the wonderful food (in Santa Fe) and the conferences we attended will forever be etched in our memories.  Sadly this last year, Glorieta Conference Center was closed due to falling interest and rising operational costs.  Kara knew how devastated we were and wrote the following article. 

“To me, Glorieta was a sort of Narnia.  It was the time when my parents ventured into the unknown and I was left with grandparents for a week to enjoy being spoiled.  I didn’t know much about the place as a child, mainly because it meant that the parents went away for what felt like a long time and my sister and I would have a week of being spoiled by my dad’s parents. 

Yes, Glorieta was the vacation of all vacations for my parents, in my eyes.  They were always rejuvenated when they arrived home from this far-away, touched-by-God’s-hand location.  I never remember seeing pictures of their Glorieta vacations, not because the locale lacked for beautiful scenery, but probably because how do you take a picture to capture an EXPERIENCE of being in a peaceful embrace of God’s speaking to your heart? I know now, as an adult, that Glorieta was to my parents what Falls Creek what to me.  An emotional get-away to experience the fellowship of likeminded Christians worshipping the Almighty God.  Glorieta was, and always will be, a memory of time alone somehow magnified even when surrounded by groups and activities, hidden in the mountainous terrain that was created by the Creator that can move mountains with a whisper.  

Just like the travelers of Narnia discovered the limits of human power when confronted with the limitless power of the Spiritual- my parents encountered the power of God in their confrontations with fellow believers from cities all over the United States.  I imagine quiet times yielded amazing revelations of God’s goodness through meditation and prayer…and I am sure that those prayers endure throughout lifetimes to come as they are suspended in the fog of the mountains of Glorieta.

Glorieta will be missed as it is now closed as a Christian retreat, but the prayers and memories that fill the campgrounds will forever endure.”

“It’s a bird, it’s a plane...” ” by Kara Liggett

December 9

Romans 12:6-8 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us...If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Much to my chagrin, my sister was always the lucky one on family driving trips to spot the unbelievable sights outside the window.  

Heather- “Oh wow! Do you see that huge hawk?!?  See it??”

Me- (my eyes scanning the land outside my window frantically) “No, where?!?!”

Heather (pointing, over my nose, towards the fence barely visible in the flurry of trees flying by)- “Right there!  On the fencepost...we’re about to pass, look, look, look!”

Me- “Daaaaaaad, stop, wait...turn the car back...puh-lease...”

My dad- “You’ll see the next one...”

Recently, two days in a row, while I was driving, I saw hawks.  In the last year, I have seen hawks, owls, foxes, deer,- all kinds of wildlife.  

I know now what I was doing wrong all that time long ago- I was the dreamer.  I saw things that weren’t there, while we were whizzing by- I imagined worlds that didn’t exist in my mind, magical, supernatural, dark and scary, bright and happy.  My head, literally, was almost always in the clouds- dreaming and reaching for worlds beyond the here and now.

The world needs dreamers and the world needs realists.  We need people to see the hawks amidst all the chaos. And we need people who can color stories with folly that comes from an overindulgent imagination.  

It was a beautiful harmony that God created when He made people like Heather and people like me.  I know that I could never manage a household like she does in a seemingly effortless manner with four wild ones running around (five counting Lance).  I have witnessed the time and energy it takes to keep all that in order, and yet she still often ministers and serves for her church.  We may not be able to always so clearly be able to put a finger on where our talents lie, but we can rest assured that God made us unique with a special set of gifts that is ours alone to develop for His Glory!  

“Waiting Matters”

December 8

Psalm 37:5-6 – “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Impatience is rampant in our society.  I don’t know if we have become more impatient or if I have become more aware of it in my life and in those around me.  We want to be in the shortest checkout line or be served by the quickest barrista.  I was reminded of my impatience just today while I waited in the drive-through for doughnuts (for Sunday School no less)! 

Things like doughnuts and coffee are small compared to the waiting we must endure in our lives.  Waiting for a job, waiting for health results, and waiting for the pieces of life’s puzzle to be in place – these things cause us huge concerns.

This past summer, our daughter Kara had a huge job opportunity open for her but just as quickly, the door was shut.  Our hearts were broken for her.  The questions of why and why not were not easily answered, if answered at all.  I couldn’t understand how such a wonderful opportunity would be available, door after door amazingly open to be suddenly slammed shut.  It was during this time of confusion and pain that I came upon the above verse from Psalm 37.   

As much as my heart hurt for her, I still had belief that the LORD would be good.  If it were not for that fact, that truth, that He would be good, I could not have encouraged her to wait.  We had to know that if we wait, He will work.  While we didn’t know the whole picture, we had to wait on His timing.

The wise men certainly didn’t have the whole picture.  They had been waiting, they had been studying and now it was confirmed the King of the Jews had been born.  I think I would have become weary with waiting and watching night after night, day after day.  Yet, they were patient and waited for the sign – the star in the east. 

Soon after Kara’s heartbreaking loss, God spoke to her in an amazing way.  I don’t think she would have ever been in a position to hear this message if she had not been waiting – waiting to hear from God.  He spoke, not audibly, but through several key individuals who without any contact with each other had the same advice for her.  Seeking to be obedient to God’s direction, she took a completely different path than she would have previously taken.  At the time of this writing, she is still in a waiting position.  Many things in her life are still undecided and uncertain.  While it is easy to become impatient and hard to be patient, we can still wait for God’s leading.  At just the right time, the star appeared.  After hundreds of years of silence, the star appeared- right on time.  It will for Kara too!

“Bridge Over Troubled Water”

December 7

Psalm 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.”

For the last five years we have gone to St. George Island in Florida for a week of beach life during summer vacation.  We rent a house on the beach with the Gulf of Mexico as our front yard.  We have already built wonderful memories of our time on the island and each year brings new adventures.  This past summer was no exception.

This year we flew to Panama City and rented a car to drive the rest of the fifty miles.  Bill was unable to come with us (hopefully that won’t happen again) so I flew with Heather and Lance to help corral the grandkids.  We were running a little later than our normal first day schedule and without Bill’s help the day seemed to exacerbate everyone’s fatigue.  We headed out of Panama City much later than we ever had and still had the longest winding part of the journey ahead of us.  About the time we got to Appalachicola a huge storm arose and the rain began to fall.  What was remarkable about this was we had to cross two huge bridges before we got to St. George Island.  These bridges are both several miles long and very narrow.  We made it across the first one and thought the storm may have lessened when we started the steep drive to the second bridge.  The storm then hit with a vengeance.  Lance was driving, Heather was panicking and I was praying.  Well I was panicking too.  You could not see the road or anything in front of you.  We didn’t know whether to stop or keep moving not knowing if we were to hit the railing.  The wind was blowing the car and the rain was pushing us from side to side.  We couldn’t turn around and knew we had to keep going…we just hoped we would not run into a car that may have stopped in front of us.  Lance kept his calm at least visibly and after what seemed like an eternity, we could see the lights of the island.  About the time we hit land the storm had passed but what a tale we had to tell about our arrival.

As amazing as the storm was though, the grandkids (except for the older ones) were completely oblivious to the danger and were sound asleep despite our nervous chatter.  They completely trusted their dad and felt safe to leave it all up to him.  How much more we should trust our Heavenly Father whenever we pass through life storms!  It may be cliché to say He is with us in the storms of life but He really is.   Sometimes people get confused and think that being a child of God means there won’t be difficulties or troubles.  I know of many instances where very godly people are in very difficult, unwarranted situations.  The difference is not that Christians don’t have difficulties but they have an assurance of the constant presence of God through the Holy Spirit.  Even if circumstances would have turned out differently that night, God would have been no less powerful or loving.  He promised His presence, not the absence of difficulty.

We are thankful we made it safely to our destination that night but I’m sure we will relive that night each time we pass over the bridge from now on. 

VIRAL VIDEO [Viewer Be Cautioned for Idiotic Content that May DECREASE Brain Activity]—by Kara Liggett

December 6

Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord...”

“Did you see that funny video with the cats?  You didn’t?  Have you been under a rock?!?”  Ten years ago, did you think that someone would be asking you that question in conversation today?  I am in shock every time someone asks me if I have seen the latest viral video.  Is this video necessary to my well-being or education?  Usually not...

These “viral” videos (called that because of their ability to pass through society at a rate comparable to something like a virus spreading through our body, infecting our organs with illness) have permeated all of the worldwide web.  We are becoming a society that is obsessed with being purveyors of information.  We like to pass (via email or text message) the latest tidbits of information and “news” (aka- cat videos) to everyone we know.  

Viruses in our body are bad.  The metaphor doesn’t so easily slip by me, I would venture to say that viral “information” can be bad, too!!  We are so quick to pass information around, especially unfounded information.  We are passing around cat videos.  (Don’t get me wrong, I subscribe to some of the most shallow websites of funny pet videos, so I’m not judging here!). 

I want to propose an experiment- for every video you watch, read a devotional or say a prayer...for every video you pass on, write a letter of encouragement to your friends or family.  I think we would find, quickly, that the sheer MASS of information that is accessible to us is almost impossible to measure or match

It seems that when we have information about God we are more apt to “dull it down” to feed it in small bits and pieces to those around us.  It’s almost like we are apologizing for having faith in the most powerful Entity in the known and unknown universe.  I know, from experience, when I am excited about what is God is doing in my life, I’m likely to share it with others.  A little bit of God going viral would be like ten million catchy song/dance videos.

“From Here to There”

December 5

Philippians 3:13-14 ”Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”

For years there was a most interesting sign near the exit to my hometown in McAlester, Oklahoma.  The green and white highway sign simply stated “Houston – Straight ahead”.  The sign was not untrue, Houston was straight ahead but it was about seven hours ahead with a lot of territory to pass before you would ever arrive in Houston.  I was so used to seeing the sign that I never really thought about it but as Bill began to travel this route, he would always point out how ridiculous it was – it could just as easily have read “South America Straight ahead”.  I still don’t know why the sign was placed at the exit for so many years.  It really didn’t make any sense at all!

Sometimes we go on about our lives without really knowing why we are doing things the way we do.  Just like the sign we are so used to our habits and attitudes, we haven’t even considered why.  While it may be true, our lives don’t make a lot of sense.

Paul reminds us in Philippians that we are to forget what is behind (the things that are baggage, weighting us down with senselessness) and reach forward to what’s ahead.  Even though we know that our ultimate destination is eternity in heaven (not to be confused with Houston), there are events, experiences, and excursions along the way before we before we get there.  As we go about these places, we always keep our destination, our goal in mind. 

What is your goal for this Christmas?  Many times we have the mind-set “December 26 – Straight ahead.”  Just get to the destination, don’t think too much about the places or people along the way.  It may be time to re-think our traditions and our rituals.  Some may need to be left behind while we reach out in new and different ways to those in our family and along our way.  By the way, after many years of directing traffic past McAlester on to Houston, the sign was taken down.  I often wonder what precipitated the change.  Regardless of the reason, it is gone.  Maybe it was moved to some place closer to Houston.