The Old Ornaments

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

Christmas tree decorations experience various stages through the years.

When there were toddlers in our house, the only ornaments on the bottom half of the tree were fabric or, at least, unbreakable. Then there began a steady stream of Christmas gifts carefully made with teachers at school. As each boy proudly hung his new ornament on the tree, I noticed that most of the ornaments now nearly reached the top. Oh, they were growing up so quickly! The craft stick sleds and paper angels transitioned to some pretty intricate ornaments from art class. I loved them all.

Still, I admired the homes where the Christmas decorations were carefully chosen and color-coordinated. Our tree was a grand mix of Kid Art 101 and the 50%-off garland from last year’s sale. But, truly, I never minded. Each little ornament was made with such love and given with a big smile and hug.

Then came the Christmas when the boys-now-young-men didn’t come home. It was time to learn to share holidays, and the guys, with the beautiful young ladies God brought into their hearts.

We started to have Christmas Tree v.1 and Christmas Tree v.2. If everyone would be home, all the old family ornaments would be on display. If no one was coming home, I purchased perfectly matched gold balls to go with the gold-lined tree skirt. I was a little surprised; the holiday charm that I was chasing after seemed somewhat less satisfying than expected.

This year, the kids were home for Thanksgiving. The GrandGirls range in age from 9 – 13, so decorating for Christmas is like their second nature. Much to my husband’s “delight,” all the Christmas boxes found their way up from the basement the Friday after Thanksgiving. As we went through the boxes, I handed the ornaments to the child whose daddy had made it so long ago. There were smiles and gleeful running to the tree to put it…about half-way up. I imagine that there will be a day in the not-too-distant-future when the kids keep those ornaments.

In case you’re wondering, I don’t move the ornaments around after everyone leaves. (I also don’t wash fingerprints off the windows for a few weeks, either.)

The old ornaments remain my favorite. I’m putting the gold balls into a bag for the thrift shop.

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Solar Eclipse 2024: It’s okay to look at the SON

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

Happy Solar Eclipse Day! Solar eclipses are actually not as rare as one would think. Typically, three – five solar eclipses occur annually! What makes today different, however, is that this is a total solar eclipse, and that it falls near ME.

As fun as making a homemade Eclipse Viewing Box can be, I found that digging into what God’s Word has to say about the sun and moon surprised me. New truths were brought to light that I had not previously considered (pun fully intended). I invite you to join me in today’s Scripture Adventure Journey.

Genesis 1:14 – 19    ‘Sun’ and ‘moon’ deliberately not mentioned; they were also the names of the pagan gods associated with the heavenly bodies.

The sun and moon were tasked with 3 functions:

  • To give light on the earth
  • To govern the day and the night
  • To separate light from darkness

Joshua 10:12 – 15   Sun stood still and the moon stopped (Joshua’s prayer answered by a supernatural movement of the sun and moon — were the ocean tides impacted?!? I like to ‘wonder’ as I read Scripture.)

Psalm 74:16 – 17     God established the sun and moon.

Psalm 148                 (verse 3) Praise Him, sun and moon.

Isaiah 40:26 God calls each of the ‘starry host’ by name (He knows my name, too, and my yesterdays, today, and tomorrows!)

Luke 23:45                Darkness covered the whole land because the sun stopped shining (sixth – ninth hours, while Jesus was on the cross). God uses His creation to bring emphasis to events.

Rev. 21:22 – 27        The New Jerusalem (new heaven/new earth) does not need the sun or the moon.

God’s plans and purposes are so different than my own. I am grateful for His sovereignty over all of creation, and my own life. For His glory, alone!

I may put my Eclipse Glasses on eBay tomorrow, along with this old Y2K water…Perhaps I can finance a grandchild’s college education?

It’s Nearly Time

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

Just a few final moments to quietly sit in front of our Christmas tree.

It’s been a wonderful couple of days off school.  A triple batch of Chex mix is in the oven for our belated Christmas this week-end in the Cities.  But first, I need to take some time in front of the tree.

This year, we only put up the small tree in the family room.  Everyone had been home for Thanksgiving, so it didn’t seem to be important to put up the larger tree in the living room too. Still, this one was my favorite.  Bright, shiny red balls against the dark green needles of the Target after-Christmas sale tree a few years ago.  The soft white lights always seem to have a twinkly-magic to me.

My focus, though, is not the tree.  It is the nativity set underneath.  The rough-hewn stable was a Royal Rangers project my husband did with our youngest son several years ago.  The glued-on hay is nearly gone now (think ‘Velveteen Rabbit and his fur being loved off’).  The figurines, purchased at a going-out-of-business sale at a local drugstore, remained miraculously intact even with three boys helping to decorate and un-decorate each year.

This is one of my favorite spots during Christmas (the other being in the kitchen baking cookies!). Mary, Joseph and the shepherds quietly positioned in awe of the Baby in the manger.   I try to imagine the thoughts running through Mary’s mind as she experienced childbirth away from home.  Joseph, trying his best to help her, understood that the child was not his, but His.  Oh, the heavy weight of fatherhood he must have felt.

The angels are an intricate part of this story.  It was an angel who talked with Mary and Joseph, separately, about the Baby.  The angels announced the news to the shepherds, interrupting their very-ordinary third-shift job. The angels had been waiting such a long time for this exact moment in time. Imagine the sounds of celebration ringing throughout the halls of heaven that night.

But then my own thoughts are interrupted for a moment.  It’s nearly time to pack away the beautiful decorations, including the tree and manger scene.  How quickly the season comes and goes.  I wonder…what will the next 365 days hold for us? What scenes will unfold in our lives over the next 12 months? What will I be thinking of, hoping for, dreaming about next year as I sit quietly in front of the tree?

I am confident in tomorrow because of the One born in the manger.  No matter what the days ahead bring, I am in His Hands.  Peace and joy abide in my heart and home because of the Savior in the stable.

Yes, it’s nearly time to pack the manger carefully away again, but HE continues to be at my side each day of the new year.  I am grateful and hope-filled.

Who could have dreamed?

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

John Stott teaching 17,000 college students each morning from the book of Romans.  Small group Bible studies.  Representatives from dozens of mission agencies waiting to talk with me.

Then there was the midnight communion service on New Year’s Eve with Billy Graham.  It had been an amazing three days.  Hearing his challenge to serve the Lord on the mission field was, to say the least, moving and inspiring.

Still, when the invitation came to stand…I didn’t.  I wasn’t sure I was ready to commit to serving the Lord in a foreign land.  He asked again.  And again.  What did I have to lose?  I stood up.  And meant it.

I began filling out the necessary paperwork to head to Brazil as a missionary teacher.  Funny thing was, the very next day this new guy started at work.  My co-workers said ‘he was perfect’ for me.  I didn’t know what that could possibly mean.

Fast-forward a couple of months.  My heart was torn.  I had promised God to serve Him on the mission field.  But the first day after returning from Urbana, I met my soon-to-be husband.  I was not expecting this turn of events!!!

After lots of tears, prayers and a hard-to-write letter to the mission board, I stayed stateside.  There was often a twinge of guilt when I thought about those days.  I had let God down and seemingly chosen the easier road.

About fifteen years ago, God gently reminded me that I HAD made good on my promise to serve Him full-time in ministry.  It was just in a different way and a different place…OCS.  Only God could shape my path in such surprising ways to serve His people.

Who could have dreamed it?  God did. And I am forever grateful that His dreams for me are so much bigger, better and far more beautiful than my own.

 

The Titanic

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

The majestic Titanic.  Look at the magnificent slipway that had to be specially built just to accommodate her size!

Children need similar support.  They can’t be expected to launch and sail successfully without the support structure provided by parents, school and church.  This necessary framework is carefully designed so that each part of the building process can take place with the best chance of success.  It takes hard work and time.  After all, the Titanic wasn’t built in a day. 🙂

Parents, keep a steady hand on building the support structure for your precious kids.  We can’t be haphazard in our approach.  Consistency, over time, is the secret.  They’ll be ready to launch ever so quickly; those hours today spent playing with them, pouring life into them, will soon yield the sweet fruit of a satisfying relationship with them during their teen and adult years.

(photo from the Library of Congress)

Titanic gantry

“Did you see my present yet?”

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

The last day of school before Christmas vacation is a Big Deal for kindergarten students.  There’s a special snack, special games at recess, special coloring sheets…it’s just, well, special!

The passing out of gifts is another one of those ‘special’ aspects of the day.  One young lad dropped a beautifully wrapped gift on my desk while I was briefly out of the office.  He caught me in the hallway a few moments later and excitedly asked if I had seen his present. I assured him that I had, but didn’t open it yet.

During recess, he caught me again.  “Did you see my present yet?”  Thankfully, I had taken a peek just a few moments earlier.  “Yes, and I love it!  Thank you!”  He shot me the biggest grin and broke into a run back to the special Christmas game he was playing with his friends.

He couldn’t wait until I saw what he had picked out especially for me. He was thrilled to hear that I truly liked his gift.  Knowing that I couldn’t wait to use my new mug brought him great joy.

Once again, the Lord used a little boy to show me a great spiritual truth.  God has hand-picked specific gifts for me, too.  I believe He experiences great joy when I look for His gifts and use them well to serve His people.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

 

Just a gentle nudge

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

It’s the end of the first week of school.  I rounded the corner to find a jacket being catapulted down the stairs.  Oops!  The two young boys weren’t expecting The Principal to show up at that particular moment.

To the jacket-thrower, I simply said, “Please go and sit in the office.”  To the jacket-owner, I softly/firmly said, “Not again, please.”

I returned to the office after bus duty.  The jacket-thrower had plenty of time to think about things.  He was pretty somber and barely looked up as I quietly talked with him.  He understood exactly what happened and the role he played.  I didn’t need to throw any additional words at him.

I’m pretty sure he went home and spilled the beans to his mom.  He has a gentle, soft spirit that wouldn’t allow him to hide or hold in his (pretty minor) wrong-doing.  And, even if he didn’t, his older sister probably would be glad to ‘help’ him confess. 🙂

What if all students had such a teachable spirit?  How might God be able to mold and shape each one?  What a terrific, strong year it would be!

Then, of course, the Holy Spirit brings it back home to…me.  Does it take a soft, gentle word from Him to get me to ‘see the light?’  Or, does it take a spiritual sledge-hammer?  I pray it is the former….just a gentle nudge.

You’re so strong!

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

I was standing at the receptionist’s desk in the doctor’s office yesterday.  The young lady at the computer paused for a moment and looked up with recognition.  “You do Body Pump, don’t you?”

Surprised, I nodded affirmatively.  We all try to be pretty anonymous as we glisten together (girls don’t ‘sweat’).

She continued with a seemingly off-the-cuff comment.  “You’re so strong!”

We returned to the routine ‘name-and-address-the-same?’ before I took my seat in the waiting area.

Those three little words really struck me.  Yes, I’ve graduated to the blue weights with the green and red plates over the past few months.  But there are many others who lift double what I do.  Still, what she said meant a great deal.  My step was a little lighter as I left the office that day.  Someone noticed.  Someone thought I was strong.

I was encouraged.

Lord, help me to notice those you send my way.  Put three words on my lips that will be a blessing to them.

“I love you.”

“I’ll do it.”

“May I help?”

“You’re a blessing.”

For His glory!

Spiritual tenacity

Posted on by kristamarieaustin

There are just SOME days.  Days when it’s cloudy and cold in July (for the 5th day in a row).  Days when the pile of work sitting on my desk seems overwhelming and vacation is just too far away.  Days when the telemarketer is the cheeriest phone call I’ve had all day.

I know.  First-world problems.

What is it that will get me through the doldrums, with a gracious tongue and grateful spirit?

“…in His Presence, daily live.  I surrender all, I surrender all.  All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”  I’m sure you remember the hymn, too.  In fact, the tune is going through your mind right now. 🙂

What does ‘in His Presence’ mean?  I have a habit of NOT singing in church if I don’t honestly mean the words.  So, if I’m going to sing the hymn, I need to consider what this phrase means.

God is holy, just, pure, merciful, omnipotent, loving and righteous.  Being in His Presence helps my courage and joy to grow.  Nothing else matters when I’m simply in. His. Presence.

Spiritual tenacity — the ability to not just withstand the drought, storm or difficult growing season.  It’s the ability to thrive because of His Presence.  It’s a small seed dropping into a sidewalk crack where there’s virtually no soil, with many small feet walking over it daily.  Even so, it grows upward.  Strong, tall and with the Designer’s purpose.

I’m glad you can’t hear me humming the song right now.  For I long to be, I need to be in…His Presence.  That’s the recipe for spiritual tenacity.IMG_0770