Merry Christmas

As I sit and ponder the meaning behind Christmas before everyone, and by everyone I simply mean my Auntie Karen and my cat Chiquito, I quietly reflect.

First and foremost, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of my Jesus.  I am truly in awe of a God who would sacrifice and love me so much as he.  It also surprises me when people don't believe in him.  I find it rather confusing, perhaps because my relationship with God is such a part of who I am .... He has always been the refuge to my storm.

Here's a video that shares just a little bit about what I believe He did for me, and for you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjSio8jur2Y

But in addition to that, it means...

• traditions
• stockings
• hugs
• yummy food
• overeating
• chocolate
• decorations
• family
• friends
• gifts
• surprises
• anticipation
• reunions
• sappy Hallmark movies
• tears
• laughter
• blessings
• ...and more

I may not the apple of anyone's eye, nor the center of anyone's universe. 

Well, at least not here on this planet....for to God, I am.  

I am loved and I am blessed.

I wish you, my dear reader, God's blessings, God's connection.  I wish you the completeness of knowing you are His.  

Okay, so the whole gay controversy...

When I was going through training to become a foster parent, I learned that there are those who are gay because of physical predispositions, there are those who choose to experiment, and there are those who choose to be gay because they experienced some sort of trauma.

This was new to me.  I never really was sure what I thought.  Sometimes I thought it was physical.  I mean, there are men who seem much more effeminate, and there are women who are much more masculine.   Other times I thought it was a choice.   Now I see that it can be either.... but more importantly, I see that it does not matter.

I'm a strong Christian woman.  I know what the Bible says about homosexuality.  I know what it says about sleeping with someone outside of marriage.  I know what it says about judging.  I know what the Bible says about sin in general.  I believe that for ME it is wrong to sleep with a woman, being that I am a woman.  I believe that it is wrong for ME to have sex outside of the confines of marriage, because I am a Christian woman.   I believe that it is wrong for ME to judge others, because I, too, do things against what the Bible teaches.  I am no different, no better.  I know, also, and more importantly, that our God is a God of love.  Unconditional love.  Period.  He does not limit His love.... He does not say, I love you if....  Nope.  That's just not how He works.  He loves his children without restraint.

If my goal is to be like Him, then my job... as a strong Christian woman... MY job is to love His people, ALL of His people.  PERIOD.

So, that's what I do.  I love His people, MY people.

It Really Is That Simple, That Complex....

Rick Warren was on The View today.  In the past, I cannot honestly say that I was impressed with the man.  To me, he came across as being rather arrogant.  And so, I often found myself ignoring him whenever I saw him on anything.

But that was then.

Today, I felt compassion for the man.  Bless his heart. He and his wife lost a son to suicide about a year ago.  He sat with the ladies, Whoopi-Jenny McCarthy-Jenny Garth-Sherri-Barbara, explaining what he feels he's experienced, six stages of grief. I'm not quite sure why, but his whole speech resonated with me.

Basically, he says there are six stages of grief, with no specific time frame set aside for any of the individual stages, the last as long as they last:

• Shock 
• Sorrow
• Struggle
• Surrender
• Sanctification
• Service

Here he is, Pastor Rick Warren, explaining the six stages of grief:
http://djchuang.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/6-stages-of-grief-according-to-pastor-rick-warren/.

Anyway, so here's what I'm thinking.... His learning or experience basically validated what I've thought, what I believe to be true.  I'm sure I learned it from someone else, so I cannot take credit for some great epiphany.  But I am glad he learned it, too.  No, not the method by which he's learned it.  I would not wish such pain on anyone.  But that he learned it at all, yes.  I hope we all do.

Why?

Well, it all boils down to this ...

We ... are here ... to serve.  

No matter what we go through, God can and does use it.  

It really is that simple,

that complex.