Christmas Thoughts

Christmas time is fast approaching and around this time we do a lot of things. We get a tree, buy presents, sing songs, and think about a lot of things. But that is not what Christmas is. That is what we do.

To many people it's all about Santa Clause and getting lots of presents. But why do we give presents in the first place? Why does Santa Clause come barreling down the chimney (for those who have one) every year with a sack of presents? It all points (0r rather it should point) to the perfect gift of God given to all mankind many years ago.

We hear many songs around this time of year, and one of them is Joy to the World. Do you think about what those words are saying? Recently, my brother, Jeremy heard that song playing in a shop in the mall. People walking back and forth and going about here business are missing some great news in this song:


Joy to the world,
the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.



Joy to the earth,
the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.



No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.


He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.


This year let's remember who and what we are celebrating and what gift giving symbolizes.

Some scenes from our "parlor" the last few days...

Chewie is very relaxed!

A Hand???

Let's see, how should I act this out?

Having a feast!

A Woodpecker???

Praying, that's right! Now all I have to do is get them to say mantis!

Come on you guys, it's flexible!

Is the timer ready?

Ok, I should know how to draw a sled!

This is too much fun!

Jeremy did it, really!!

Ninja Jeremy

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Luther

I watched this movie last night and it is a great movie! It's all about the story of Luther and how he started a reformation that impacted many lives. I highly recommend this film!

Note: The film is rated PG-13. For a more detailed review go here: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0001509.cfm

New Blog

Just to let all of you who read this blog know, I have started a new blog. Go here to check it out: http://mollystales.blogspot.com/

Green-eyed Monster

She looked stiffly over at the woman walking through the door. Her eyebrow went up as a sarcastic thought shot into her mind, "Another cute dress!" Chewing on that thought a little more she said to herself, "She must spend a lot of money on clothes and she must wear a new outfit every Sunday and here I wear the same old things. I wish I had more money to buy more fashionable clothes. Why does she get all the good stuff?" The next thing you know she is avoiding the woman with the nice clothes. Does the green-eyed monster of jealousy ever creep into your life? It may not be a situation about clothes, maybe it's an opportunity that someone else has and you don't. If we are honest we have to say we all struggle with the sin of jealousy or envy. So what is the underlying assumption that we are making when we have thoughts like the one above? Well, one is we are assuming that we deserve more than we have. Another assumption is that we have worked harder than others so we should get more than they do.

In Jerry Bridges' book Transforming Grace, he uses Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) as an illustration of God's grace to the believers. He first says that the parable should be called "The Generous Landowner" for the emphasis is on the generosity of the one who hired the workers and paid them all the same no matter at what hour they began. Bridges says that the parable focuses on the workers who were hired at the eleventh hour. "They were treated extrememely generously, each one receiving twelve times what he had earned on a strict hourly basis. He hired them not because of his need, but because of their need. He represents God in His gracious awareness of our needs and His continuous work to meet them."

If we keep in mind the generosity of our heavenly Father and all He's done for us this should characterize our living and thinking. But we are like the workers who had worked all day in the vineyard. When they started comparing what they received with what the other workers received then the green-eyed monster crept in. They weren't appreciative of the fact that the landowner hired them at all. He didn't have to, but that was his nature to give to those in need. Oftentimes that's what happens with us; we stop focusing on the awesome character of our Lord and His graciousness to us, and our brothers & sisters in the Lord, and we slip into that legalistic, worldly mindset of: "I did this and now you owe me that!" Or "she doesn't deserve to get that, but I do!" When we stop to think about God and His gracious character we realize that He has given us much more than we deserve; He gives when we are full of our selves...when all our righteous deeds are filthy rags...when we have nothing to give.....

"O, beware of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on." Shakespeare

We are Marshall

This is an inspiring story based on true events. It takes place in 1971, and Marshall university in Hunniton, West Virgina is at the top in football. Their team is doing well and everything looks promising untill tragedy strikes and the plane carrying the team, coaching staff, and even the athletic director crashes. None survive the crash. Four teammates and the assitant coach were not on the plane though and as the town begins to heal from this tragedy thoughts turn to the next season. Some think that they should wait and not try to put together a new team; but Nate Ruffin, one of the remaining players, will not stand for it. He rallies the school behind him and soon they are looking for a coach.

Meanwhile, in the little town of Wooster, West Virgina lives Jack Lyngiel. After hearing about the crash and the open coaching position he gives the University president, Don Dedmond a call. He says he is interested in helping them out and filling the head coach position. There are mixed feelings as Jack and his family move to Hunnington and take over the football program.

A lot of the lessons from We are Marshall can be summarized in one-liners: Perseverence, Courage, Hope, and Faith. There is one more lesson though, and that is the lesson of winning. Jack teaches the hurting people of Hunnington that winning is not as important as going out there and playing. He brings hope and gives encouragement to all. When you are done watching We are Marshall you are left with amazement and the wonder that this was a true story.

We Are Marshall!

Soli Deo Gloria

Lately I have been amazed at God's goodness. I have been blessed a lot.

-The first blessing is Jesse's engagement to Kate. It has been great getting to know my future sister.

-Another blessing: we just found out this last week that I am to be an aunt again! My oldest brother Toby and his wife Jenny are expecting another child. God is good!

-This is my senior year in highschool and I thought it would be very crazy and stressful. It hasn't been that way though. I've gotten busy, but through it all it has been pretty relaxing and I've been able to enjoy it. Related to this, I've been reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis as a school assignment and I have really liked it! Lewis is such a good author and I love the way he can explain something in such simple terms.

So, in conclusion, this all has caused me (and I hope it will cause you) to be very thankful and grateful to God. Praise the Lord!

Soli Deo Gloria