Friday, December 11, 2009

Tis the Season



 Tis the season for all those holiday things. Above you see our church float in the process of the final touches.
If I remember correctly the theme this year was "A mountain Christmas".
Our float was to represent all those in the back woods. :)
Once the float was all put together the guys hooked up the chimney and we had smoke!
It was our first time participating with our church...Julia and I had fun walking the parade route passing out candy canes with little cards inviting people to our live nativity that will start this Friday.
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Then on Tuesday we went to Asheville with our small group, to Grove Park Inn, to see the ginger house collection....and they were amazing! This has become a Christmas tradition that I love.
My nephew was manning the camera...can you tell by the look on my face that I was not entirely sure that we would even be in the picture! :)

I actually didn't care to much for the winner this year,
so I took a picture of the ones I thought were interesting.
If you look close you will see that this participant decided to bring a little "reality" to their gingerbread house.
Standing at the front door is Mrs Obama...the girls are playing to the left
and look who is sitting on top of the chimney.
 
 That's right.....our president is playing santa claus.
Not sure if there was a statement there or not.
 
 This is the one that I thought was pretty cool. Look at the detail above the door!
How they do all of this?
 
 Here is a close up of one of the birds....it was amazing.
 
 Then on Wednesday the rain began!
We had a mess of rain...and many of the rivers were coming out of their confines.
I went out and watch as the river quickly became swollen....everything in its way got swept up in its fury.
It had a strange beauty.
I remember thinking that lately I have been taking a trip in that river.... often felling like one of those limbs I saw being tossed around.
But eventually the river receded and those branches came to "rest".
I am sure if they could speak you would have heard..."Well it is about time-enough is enough!".
Ha!....and then came the cold weather. Down into the teens we plunged.
Not only had those branches been displaced from their trees, tossed into a roaring river...and then shoved
in amongst others like themselves...but now they were being submitted to more harsh treatment.
Then morning came.....and this is the effect of the nights work.
A tangled  frozen mess?
 
Maybe not....
Again I thought that maybe one day I would have something in common
with these limbs that had lived through such harsh events.
At this moment I can't see the beauty that will come.
After all when the branch below looks down at its tip......it does not get the full benefit of what has been created. Its view is so limited.
 
 But those looking down into the river from above see an incredible thing.
To me it looks like something that should be hanging from a chandelier. Beauty in the midst of debris.
A beautiful piece that when touched by the light ...will send thousands of orbs of light all over its surroundings.
 


The final thought?
When Jesus submitted to leaving His heavenly throne......He came down-- willing to be tossed about by the things this world would throw His way.
He knew that this suffering would be a willing price to pay...in the end.
And so....even though I do not understand the things going in and around me....I will submit to this season. There is a hidden beauty that I can not yet see.
I leave you with this little piece from a morning devotion by....Prime Time With God.
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When faith doesn't see results it challenges what we believe. We must pray as Job prayed: "Teach me what I cannot see" (Job 34:32). God says there is a purpose in everything we go through. .........Our greatest tests come when we cannot see positive results from our faith and obedience. In such cases we must die to our expectations and entrust them to our Lord.


Tis the season to TRUST. :)
It will be a beautiful thing!

9 comments:

pam said...

"teach me what I cannot see"...also dear Father...grant us peace in this season of limbo, being tossed about like we're in a GIANT rock tumbler....Your gaze is set on us, You know the plans You have for us....help us to rest in this season. What we have known is no more, yet what we can not even begin to imagine lies before us. Help my sweet friend to set her gaze on you and be content to "just not knowing" for now. In Jesus name, AMEN
love you...so often I think of you, my kindred spirit and know that you understand...this journey we are on with God....peace, be still.

Violeta said...

Hello from Romania ,
please read the blog – My heart His words – at Humbled and convicted , my friend Tammy Nischan wrote them the story and some pictures of some poors what we try to help them for Christmas .Our LORD will be so proud of us if we will do something!
I love you blog,
SWEET BLESSINGS,VIOLETA

Shirley said...

Thank you, my friend, for sharing this wonderful post....it has spoken to my heart and given me encouragement. We all have things going on in our lives that we do not understand nor see an end to..but God has a plan..and we must remember to trust Him and be content just knowing that He knows our heart and he cares...God bless you, my sweet friend.

Denise said...

Bless you for sharing sis, love you.

Melanie said...

It is so hard to understand things that are going on around us. There's a huge thing I'm having a hard time understanding right now. It's hard to understand how it will work out for the good of anything. But I need to remember that God has a reason that I don't understand.

luvmy4sons said...

As always touched by the wonderful spiritual lessons you see in the nature around you! so touching! loved the pictures too! It is so good that God makes everything beautiful in its time! Hugs sweet sister!

Karen in NZ said...

I agree with what luvmy4sons said. These photos are stunning and Julia is growing up fast now isn't she? My the time goes. You really encourage so many others Sharon, I don't believe you realise how much you do. There is a richness in your blogging, your thoughts and reflections.

It is finally getting sunny here, not the usual time of year weather that's for certain. Lots of rain and winds at times.

How do you feel about being a Grandma have you met the Mum to be yet? I think it would be rather nice to be a youngish Grandma. I will be in my dotage I think :-)

Mary said...

Sharon, the photos are absolutely stunning. I like the photo of the President playing Santa. LOL Just watched Christmas at the White House and it was very interesting.

We need only to see the beauty of the world to realize that God is in His Heaven.

Blessings,
Mary

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I think your faith, as demonstrated through your words and beautiful pictures, a great gift to you in this season of life.

You find God's beauty in the simple things the rest of us are prone to miss. You make me want to pay closer attention to the details around me, so as not to get too bogged down in the rest of it.

Thanks for giving me that frozen water droplet. I'd like to hang that one on my tree this year.

peace`elaine