Restoring the Merry in Christmas

by   December 15, 2024 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

February may be the shortest month on the calendar, but many of us would agree that no month flies by as quickly as December. My children may hold exception to that as they anxiously await Christmas Day, and those gifts wrapped in the Comics section of the Salisbury Post no longer taunt them. (Sidenote: The paper is actually sturdier than many rolls of gift wrap, and it is easier to determine if tampering has occurred.)

We know it’s coming. We have the entire year to prepare, yet by November, we often find ourselves bracing for an overly packed schedule, leaving little time to soak in the season. Tremendous efforts go into planning for merriment, and we often find ourselves rushing around to enjoy it. In the end, we are content with just being happy for a moment. Perhaps this is why the marketplace has mostly shifted gears from wishing “Merry Christmas” to hoping they can at least assist in making “Happy Holidays.” But that is for another column. 

So, how do we make this season merry? Or should we ask if it is too late and if we should settle for happiness?

Many homeschool moms know the secret to thriving during the holidays, thanks to something called “Christmas schooling.” Themes abound for unit studies on the history of Christmas, celebrating around the world, exploring Christmas carols, or even The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Instead of teaching routine lessons to children with visions of sugarplums dancing about in their heads, we get hands-on experience with the best of the holiday season – making crafts, baking, packing shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and so much more. Our busy-ness is merry-making and sharing with others. 

Refreshment in learning is not only for the children. Hillsdale College offers a free online study on The Christmas Carol this season, which I am enjoying. I often am awake very early – something I did not always see as a gift. Instead of lamenting an early rising, I have captured the time by the tree and a gas-log fire with video lessons. Along with Advent devotions and a yearly Bible reading plan, my morning is already a little more merry. Throughout my daily chores, I can put an old Christmas vinyl on the turntable or listen to a podcast featuring a seasonal radio drama. 

Reconsidering our calendars can also bring refreshment. A night off is not a hole that needs to be filled. If you are planning to host an event, and someone in the home is sick, it is OK to cancel or reschedule after the holidays. Sometimes, a canceled event is a gift to others who love you but need an unscheduled evening. 

And those things we planned to do but couldn’t make the time to enjoy? Those are great for the week after Christmas – an often neglected week in our culture – still considered the holiday season for many. 

Can you make time to redeem the coming weeks with cheer? The choice is ours – we can survive the hustle and bustle with a Happy Holiday or slow down and reclaim a Merry Christmas!

Ashlie Miller has found many lovely resources for a season of enjoyment. Email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com for some suggestions or to share some!

He Came for ALL

by   December 14, 2024 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

            Most people put up their Christmas tree close to Thanksgiving. We have always waited until about mid-December to put ours up. I love to decorate the outside of the house and always try to have that done by Thanksgiving weekend. But the inside of our house hasn’t been transformed yet. I did bring in the tree the other day, but half the lights don’t work. I have to fix them before we decorate the tree.

            I am looking forward to getting some of the knickknacks out. We have a few nativities that I enjoy seeing. My mother painted some of special things we put out for the holidays. I have a village that I hope makes it out this year; I never got around to it last year. While I love the tree, it is time-consuming to decorate. Each of our ornaments has its own box and it takes a while to get them out and especially to put them all away.

            There is still so much to do and so little time to get it all done. I would like to blame a late Thanksgiving, but December always goes quickly. There is still some shopping to do. I need to send out Christmas cards. Few people send cards anymore, but I still want to keep in touch with friends. Somehow it will all get done before Christmas. The question that lingers is how.

            My pastor always finds interesting Christmas sermon series to do each year. This year he is using one put out by the Chosen series called, “Holy Night.” Each week focuses on a different theme and it includes video clips from the movie. He invited me to teach last week. My lesson was focused on Jesus coming for all people.

            On the surface it seems logical that Jesus came to save us all. The reality is that some churches do not open their doors to all the people. How would you feel if a prostitute came and sat on your pew with your family? Does she need God? Imagine someone reeking of marijuana coming into your church, how would you react? When Jesus says that all are welcome, would that include an alcoholic? Are people who have suffered through a divorce welcomed in your church? There are many people who have messed up lives for various reasons, was Jesus really including them when he said all are welcome?

            Back in Jesus’ day, the shepherds were considered very low class members of society. They smelled badly. They spent most of their time in solitude watching sheep. Many couldn’t attend synagogue regularly because someone had to keep watch over the sheep. Sadly, they were considered drunks and sinners and because people thought that about them they lived down to their reputation. Many of the upright and regular attenders of synagogue would turn their backs on and look down upon shepherds. They thought that even God wouldn’t notice them.

            Sadly, there are people in all our communities who might feel the same way. They haven’t attended church regularly. They have struggled with making bad choices in life that led them into bad places. They question whether God could possibly love and care about them. They aren’t shepherds but they feel like outcasts in society. Do you believe that Jesus came for the lost and the destitute? Is there a possibility that someone could be too far gone for God?

            If you asked the shepherds who were out watching their sheep close to Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born, they would tell you a different story. They were the first ones who received the news that the Messiah was born. When they heard the Good News that the angels shared they rushed into town to find the new born baby. Once they found him, they told everyone who would listen that the Messiah had come. The world may have discounted the shepherds, but when God invites all to come and seek Him, He means ALL.

            Do you feel disconnected from God? Do you feel like the shepherds, that you are on the outside? God is giving you a personal invitation to come. YOU are included when He says ALL are welcome. I want to encourage you to come; you are invited into the family of God. The Bible teaches us to come just as we are. You don’t need to clean up your life, you just need to come. He accepts everyone and welcomes ALL. You are included! Let Him help you with the messes in your life, just come. Come and receive. Come and adore Him. COME!  

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Heroes

by   December 13, 2024 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

He was one of the many young Americans who was part of the planned invasion force of Japan in 1945. Because of the fierce defenses shown by the Japanese on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the  United States military leaders rightly anticipated a similar defense of the Japanese homeland. The young American soldiers assembled for the invading force stoically faced death. One of those young soldiers on the Liberty ships sailing across the Pacific Ocean, Mr. Graham, was all of 20 years old.

Mr. Graham and I met at a local restaurant shortly after  my wife and I moved to Mooresville. We had gone exploring for a good restaurant and found one that we liked. We had a good meal, and as I passed his table at which he was sharing dinner with his daughter, he reached out and asked me had I served in the military. Had I been in Vietnam? When I told him no, he apologized for bothering me, but explained that my wheelchair had caused him to think that I was perhaps a veteran. My wife continued her walk to our car, but I was struck by his manners and grace, so I stayed in the isle chatting with the dignified gentleman as his patient daughter looked on. Before I left to join my wife, we discovered that he lived at the end of our road. With that “sign” our friendship was born.

Because of his age, Mr. Graham has moved into an assisted living complex. But each week his caregiver Marilyn drives him to his house at the end of our road to check on it,  and he always stops to see me. If I am not outside in the yard or shop, he calls to inquire of my health and location. He never stays long, but his visits are packed with news, street chatter, and complaints of my religion and politics, all in good humor but loaded with a bit of salt. Over the four years during such visits, Mr. Graham and I have shared much. I know about his oil business here in Mooresville, how much he paid for his house in the early 1980’s, his religious beliefs, his four sons and one daughter, how he wishes he had been a better reader, and more. When he first told me about his wife of seventy years, Louise, a moist longing came to his eyes, and he grew silent after telling me her name. But my friendship with this 96-year-old man is also held close because he is one of the many, unnamed heroes of our country.

Mr. Graham, regretfully not a reader, probably has never heard of Wiglaf or the poem in which he demonstrates characteristics shared with Mr. Graham and his generation. In the epic poem Beowulf, the great king of that name grows old, and his kingdom is threatened by a fierce, fire-breathing dragon. He and his followers enter the lair of the dragon, but no longer the warrior he was, Beowulf suffers a mortal wound. All but one of his followers flee the lair, but Wiglaf remains to fight by his king’s side, and he slays the beast as Beowulf dies.

Because of President Truman, Mr. Graham and the other young men would not have to invade Japan. But all the other soldiers on Liberty ships along with him, willed themselves to do what was being asked.  They were prepared to invade Japan, but as is written in Beowulf, “Fate goes as Fate must” and they were spared that peril.

At an age in 1945 that today causes parents to worry if a child drives on an interstate, Mr. Graham and his generation walked into the lair of the enemy, just as did Wiglaf. Not because they wanted to, but because duty to a cause larger than they demanded it.

Finding More Energy to Exercise

by   December 12, 2024 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Finding More Energy to Exercise

    The days are short and getting shorter, plus the cold is finally here.  These things make us a little sluggish and less motivated. Added to the extra calories of the holidays, we can soon find ourselves having less energy to exercise just when we need it most. So, what can we do to keep pushing through our workouts? The things listed below are high on my list.

     Exercise itself is an integral part of overall well-being, supporting mental health and as a natural energy booster. So be consistent with it, scheduling your exercise. Doing this increases endorphins and reduces cortisol levels, both important to feeling more energetic and revitalized daily.

    Eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly can give you energy to tackle daily tasks, meet new challenges, or just simply enjoy life. Examples of healthy eating include making sure to get enough protein in your diet, as it helps with energy production. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables for important vitamins and minerals, consuming whole grains regularly while avoiding processed foods that can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Most important is reducing or eliminating sugary snacks. Since my accident, I have focused more on proper choices than I ever have. Two things that are working for me are zero sugar yogurt and quality whole grain bread. Both items cost more but are worth it.

    Staying hydrated is another key to feeling energized each day. Proper hydration helps the body naturally protect itself against fatigue. Our bodies are 60% water, meaning that it won’t work properly when dehydrated. 

   When our cells are sufficiently hydrated, they are better able to transport waste and necessary nutrients throughout the body. This can make a drastic difference in energy levels – we don’t realize how draining it is for our bodies to exercise when all systems aren’t on go. Good hydration, monitored by urine color, ensures our brain and muscles function to the level of their training. A good rule of thumb- take your weight, and drink at least an ounce of water a day per pound of weight.

    A good sleep routine can make all the difference. A consistent sleep pattern helps your body naturally produce more energy and keeps fatigue away, meaning you won’t struggle to get through your day. Then, you’ll fall asleep more easily. This has been a lifetime struggle for me.

    Establishing a nightly routine that works for you and making sure that you stick to it helps guarantee better energy to tackle daily tasks. Find out how to wind down at night and make sure to prioritize those activities. A good book, hot bath or shower, and a concerted effort to get the day’s activities behind you all work for better rest.

   It doesn’t take many mornings of exercise after late nights watching sports to know that I can’t burn the candle at both ends. Getting enough sleep makes for better everything, including a greater feeling of well-being.

     Previously listed are my top four simple ways to increase energy. Deterrents include alcohol and possibly caffeine. Both can influence a restful sleep at night. Limiting alcohol can help you feel energized now and in the long-term.

     Managing caffeine is important too. It’s best to listen to your body and keep tabs on your caffeine intake to ensure you can use it for an energy boost when needed. A balanced approach means limiting caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea, as well as staying away from processed snacks high in sugar or artificial ingredients that contain hidden sources of caffeine.

     And finally, take some time for yourself each day that isn’t stressful. Simply find a comfortable place to sit with an intention to relax your body and mind. Aiming for 10-30 minutes of dedicated quiet time each day can leave you refreshed and reset.

    Next Saturday’s race is the Freeze Your Buns 5K, part of Spencer’s Winterfest. This one has a 1pm start time as it kicks off the festival. Look for it and more upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Finding more energy to exercise

Seek Him

by   December 11, 2024 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Psalms 63:1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

  • Sometimes we go through dry patches which seems so hard but it only makes us become more dependent upon Him and appreciate Him all the more.
  • He is our God and when we seek Him we focus on Him continually.  He becomes our main goal and purpose in life. 
  • A happy place it is when we seek Him, because He will be fond of us as He promises us.

Prayer:  I do long for You Lord continually and I seek You because there is just no one like You.  You have never let me down or disappointed me and I love You with all my heart.  I bless Your holy name today.  Amen. 


Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

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