Jesus, Left Behind...

Well....I had a bright and lively wake up call yesterday about 5 am.....it was a policeman ringing my front doorbell and then BANGING on my back door and windows with a bright flashing strobe light....

"For you know very well that the day of The Lord will come 

like a thief in the night" ~1Thessalonians 5:2

I wasn't sure if Jesus had come back and was taking me to a disco or I was having an averse reaction to Sunday night's dinner.

However, I was aware that something or someone had woken me up like a thief in the night.

Bad news: it wasn't Jesus....it was an actual thief.

AHPD was there to let me know I apparently had an uninvited guest break in my car.

The policeman and I stood there in the dark, peering in to my car...

my car which is normally impeccably clean....was a mess...

It looked like a Spencer's Gift Shop and a LIfeway Christian Bookstore had exploded inside.

He asked if I noticed anything missing.  

I noticed that an iPhone and a nice pair of sunglasses were gone. 

But was then distracted by what was left behind.

Items left behind and not chosen?

I'm glad you asked.

Not one but two, Jesus Bobbleheads....

A Jesus Today Devotional....

along with a church bulletin, where I'm pretty sure Jesus Himself was asking the robber....."Come on son, what are you doing?!"

Also left behind....

Action figure Jesus, a hula dancer, several Bible studies and a fake spilled Diet Coke......

and the lowest blow of them all.....Squirrel Underpants...left behind.

(don't judge me...you never know when you need to help a naked squirrel.)

Shout out and thank you to the Alamo Heights Police Department, they caught the guy within 20 minutes. (Note: Don't mess with the Mules) 


After I peeled myself off the ceiling from the abrupt wake up...I remembered this was the week that leads up to Palm Sunday and Holy Week....

I heard and saw what I believe to be, a message for me....and maybe even you.

Don't leave Him behind. 

Don't miss what He offers. 

Don't get caught up in looking for something better. 

There is nothing better and there is nothing more.....than Jesus.

May we all look in unsuspected places for Him.

May we open our eyes at unexpected times, to find Him

God thank You for your Protection and your Presence.

In His Dust,
DCC

His Signature....

God is good. 

All the time. 

and all the time....

God is good.

 "The LORD will appear above his people; 

His arrows will fly like lightning!" -Zechariah 9:14 

Look closely....

God has left His Signature.

There it stands. 

However, His Signature doesn't JUST rest on the 9 ft.cross that remains untouched....

It is Everywhere.

May we see where trees did not fall.....as His Signature.

May we see our family and friends today.....as His Signature.

May we see The blessings that are poured all over and around us...as His Signature.

Remember, 

 "We live within the shadow of The Almighty, 

sheltered by The God who is above all gods." 

This I declare, that He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; 

He is my God, and I am trusting him." ~Psalm 91:1,5

God, We see You alone are fit to wear the crown. Thank you for your protection.

In His Dust,

DCC

Light Of The World...

"For Unto Us A Child Is Born" ~Isaiah 9:6

Children tell The Christmas Story with courage. 

They simply "draw" what they understand. 

They have no fear of judgment in their understanding of Him. 

Oh, that we could all be this confident.

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, 

We have seen His Glory, The Glory of The One and Only Son, 

Who came from The Father, full of grace and truth."~John 1:14

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lesser known tidbits about this evening:

"Jofuss" and Mary were clearly overcome with "jaw-dropping" emotion...

at the sight of Jesus...maybe because he was wearing goggles?

also:

"Jofuss"....grew a mustache...and I am afraid to say, Mary might have as well.

But it didn't stop their joy and celebration one bit!!!

This was the "Jesus had pink eye" &

"Joseph had been up all night looking for a pharmacy" 

version......

 Also, unable to find room in the Inn was Ziggy or possibly Charlie Brown. 

And then Jesus got a little over-excited with the lip liner....

Then Lo and Behold, Batman appeared and said.

HOLY SMOKES POW KAZAMMM...

He apparently brought a Hello Kitty Bow to wrap Jesus in. 

and "Mr. Bill" was wrapped in swaddling clothes.....

He was hiding from Mr Sluggo, 

aka Herod, who was "gonna be mean to Him."

Meanwhile, unfazed Jesus wasn't at all worried.....

He Knew He could Trust His Father.

And so can we.

This season if you do know Him. 

look a little closer.....

If you don't know Him, please know, this isn't a children's fairy tale. 

It is the very true story of 

God appearing in the flesh to live among us.

This seems like a good time to be looking for 

light in dark places and even better....

to reflect the light in those very places. 

God specializes in sending light to the dark places....

and one night over 2000 years ago....He sent His One and Only Son.....to live among us and BE light to our dark world.....Whatever you picture and however you draw the faces....

Let us greet Him with open eyes, ears and hearts....

 Let Us Adore Him......

Thank You God, for coming to live among each and every one of us-

In His Dust,

DCC

The Giving Tree....

My Mom is the Giving Tree.
Anyone that knows her, or knows of her, is very aware of this.

She shines all the time, but never brighter than at Christmas time.
I got to see the splendor of my Mom's talent and generosity again last night...as our house transformed into a place Santa would be proud to live in...and more importantly, a place The Birth of Christ is honorably celebrated.....

It is amazing- 

The needlepointed ornaments decorate almost every branch of the tree.....they are each personalized and tell a story or describe one or all of us at some point in our lives....
not to be outdone are the personalized Santas

 and pillows that make everyone in our home feel that they are known and loved.

And of course, the stockings are hung by our chimney with care....

and the care began in the planning of each and every piece.

I have watched my mom needlepoint for years....and it is always for someone else....
I have watched her in hospital waiting rooms and on airplanes....in her chair and numerous other places
and almost every time I ask, "what are you needlepointing?"
The answer is, "a stocking for so and so's grandbaby" or "I'm finishing a stocking for so and so because she didn't have time....and Christmas is coming...

or "I am working on this ornament for so and so, she doesn't know how to needlepoint"

Mom always has time for someone else first. I believe Jesus is quite pleased with her understanding of His Command to "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Each Christmas, I see the the work of her hands and heart, everywhere.

And when I see these pieces of art....I remember, what she was doing when she made it.....and who she was helping out....or who she was trying to make feel special or known.
and sometimes i am floored by her and other times, I am not the slightest bit surprised.

I was looking through pictures this morning of some of her work, and realized there were a minimum of 8 stockings for people i had never even heard of.....(this was just in one album.)

She clearly pays attention to The Very Words of Jesus Himself, Who said ,"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

I have walked in to many a home at Christmas and seen the work of her hands and heart hanging on friend's trees and mantles

Lisa called last night in a panic, because she thought she had lost all of her ornaments....(spoiler alert: she found them, hours later)
many of which were needlepointed by my mom...As she started describing them and each one had a story...or memory. Which reminded me that one of the best parts of my mom is 
that she does it all quietly, without fanfare without looking for a pat on the back...

unlike myself, who, rest assured, would be blogging about my blisters and exhaustion over making a stocking or ornament for someone else. 
As a matter of fact, this blog will make probably make her uncomfortable- but,
too bad Weezer- the Christmas cat is out of the bag- and it's time for you to be thanked- as well as acknowledged for being the coolest grandmother ever-

complete with a shocking pink tree filled with personalized ornaments 
for each perfectly precious little girl....

I am the recipient of so many of these- and this year, Advent has reminded me that not only has Jesus come to live among us on that Holy Nite- 

But that He is coming back!!!
He wants us to know we are loved and known by him.
I have my Mom to think for the physical example of this.

God, Thank You for creating each of us in Your Image, I see you clearly in my Mom. 

In His Dust,
DCC

Cheerleaders....

It's no secret how much I love Alamo Heights. 

and a Mule.

When asked about what to do with Children, 

Jesus said--- Bring. Them. On.

So when an opportunity presents itself,

for all of these things in one place.....

Duh.

You know where you can find me.

a crowded gym full of little people in all their garb....

basically, playing "monkey see, monkey do."

It was in the midst of this happy chaos, that God pointed out- 

all of the encouraging going on...

It was going in all directions....back and forth....

cheering FOR the crowd....

and the crowd cheering FOR the cheerleaders....

It was almost like a tennis match going back and forth.

It was an explosion of encouragement.

It made me realize how we cheer each other on. 

Even if our cheers look like an Elaine Bennis dance party.

Or a possible 80's Breakdance move.

We cheer each other on, because of love, not because of performance.

God Himself tells us-

"Encourage each other and build each other up,

Just as you are already doing." ~1 Thessalonians 5:1

For some of you, 

this summer was spent giggling around pools & lemonade stands....

For others of you, 

those same months were spent at MD Anderson or at funerals that seemed way too sudden...

because they were.  

The sun has a tendency to beat down not only on your scalp, 

but sometimes your soul.

and even in the midst of that,

Looking back, you will see that in each of those days, 

God was there and even provided cheerleaders...encouragers.

Our God is good.

All. The. Time.

And now...He gives us Fall. 

A fresh start-

And mornings bring cooler air, to remind us of His New Mercies.

God HIMSELF is cheering us on. 

Every moment, of every day.

Never forget we are all riding on our Father's Shoulders.

God, Thank You for a new season of fresh cooler days....we are filled with hope and encouragement in the days to come. 

In His Dust,

DCC