You Really Don't Believe Santa is Coming!

"And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming."
I John 2:28 NIV

Written 12/21/94
"Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house, Courtney was having a really "smart" mouth." I guess with all the excitement and tension surrounding Christmas, Courtney was having a little trouble behaving, as she should. I said to her "You really don't believe Santa is coming, do you?" She protested, "YES, I DO!" I said, "Well if you really believed, you'd act better!"

We know Santa is fantasy, but Jesus is NOT! In this day and time, I don't think people really believe Jesus is coming. They get so wrapped up in the excitement and tension of this world; they just don't act, as they should. You can ask, "Do you believe Jesus is coming?" Most will say, yes. But reality is, "If you really believe Jesus is coming, you'd act better."

I Just Love Telling People About You!

"... I will tell everyone how good you are, and of your constant daily care"
Psalms 71:15b TLB

Written 12/15/94
Courtney sometimes gets embarrassed when I'm telling someone about something she did or said. I told her "I just love you so much I can't help it. I just love telling people about you and about all the things you do!"

When we love Jesus that much we will be the same way. We can't help telling people about Him and all the things He's done!

Did You Get Me Something?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"
John 3:16 NKJV

Written 12/8/94

Every time I pick up Courtney from school or go to the store she asks, "Did you get me something?" If I didn't she whines, cries or "puckers up"! I try to remind her of all the things she has gotten in the past (even as recent as earlier that day) and at this particular time, Christmas is just a few weeks away and she can't even imagine all that is in store for her!

Aren't we this way with God? We always want to know what He's going to do for us, "Did He get us something?" We need to stop and remember all the things He has given us in the past; the time we prayed for our child and they got well, almost immediately, the direction He pointed our life in, our homes, our food, our jobs! But especially remember He gave us Jesus!

And don't forget what's just around the corner. When we go to be with Jesus, we can't even imagine what's in store for us! So stop asking God -- "Did you get me something?" HE DID!

Happy Birthday!

Today is Courtney's 19th birthday! Can't believe it's been 15 years since I wrote down these little stories! She is still "Light of my life, my inspiration, God's precious gift." Happy Birthday, Courtney!

Someday I Will

"This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours." Isaiah 55:8-9 TLB

Written 8/30/94
There are some things Courtney just can't understand at her age (4). I may try to explain, but she just can't grasp it, but someday she will, when she has matured into an adult.

There are things of God we can't understand. It may be we are not spiritually mature enough or it may be we can't understand until we are in our glorified bodies. Some things our mortal minds will never grasp, but, even if I don't understand now, someday I will!

I Was Wrong

"But if we confess our sins to Him, He can be depended on to forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong. [And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins]"
I John 1:9 TLB

Written 8/3/94
Courtney and I got behind a large truck on the way to school one morning. She asked, "What kind of truck is that, a cow truck?" I said "No, it's a dump truck." We went back and forth, "It's a dump truck, no it's a cow truck, no it's a dump truck, no it's a cow truck." Finally the truck turned off the road and Courtney saw it was a dump truck! She looked at me, giggled and said, "I was wrong, it was a dump truck." It thrilled me that she admitted she was wrong and I told her it's O.K. to be wrong and admit it when you are.

God knows we are wrong about things and when we find out we are wrong He wants us to just tell Him "I was wrong." That thrills Him!

Just Tell Me What's the Matter

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Phil 4:6-7 NIV

Written 8/3/94
Courtney was getting ready for bed and got in one of her "moods". She sat in the corner of her bed, arms crossed, bottom lip sticking out. I asked her "What's the matter?" No response, just a jerk of her little arm as she pulled away from me. I said, "Just tell what's the matter...If you don't tell me, I can't help you."

God, even though He knows what the matter is, He still wants us to come to Him and tell Him "what's the matter" and not pull away from Him. If we will come to Him, He will either help us out of our circumstance or give us peace in our circumstance. Even if I know "what's the matter" with Courtney, if she talks about it I can help her or talk it out so she will feel better.

So just tell God "what's the matter!"