Emmanuel

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold!, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold!, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest!, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”


Pure...and simple

~ V

I'm Dreaming Of A White...

For those of you who were dreaming of a white Christmas...well, you got your wish. Where I live, we officially received 26 inches of the white stuff, but we also had 30 mph winds that gusted up to 40+. So...As the above picture shows, we had 3 to 4 foot drifts! This lead to a back-breaking 2 hour snowblower marathon, during which I came to two conclusions...

1) Somewhere in scripture, along side His promise NEVER to flood the world again, God should have promised that if He's going to dump anything over 12 inches of snow, that the wind would either A) Not blow at all while you're removing the snow or B) Would blow only in one direction while removing said snow. I mean really! Having to snow blow 2 feet of the stuff is bad enough, but when you have the wind changing direction every minute and it either blows right back into your face or swirls back onto the path you just blew...not fun.

2) The county snowplow MUST die. I didn't get out to start clearing the driveway until almost 9:30 this morning...not late, but definately NOT early. So, I get going, decide which side of the driveway to start (I try to pick the side that's up-wind...but see #1 above...grr). I do 3 or 4 passes when I notice that our street hasn't even been plowed yet. I sigh...knowing that sometime later, I'll have to come back out and clear what the snowplow pushes into our driveway. I get near the end of our driveway and WHOOSH!! The snowplow came by and not only sprays me with a tidal wave of snow, but literally burys my snow-thrower as well! OH NO YOU DIDN'T! I obviously didn't/couldn't hear him over the engine noise, but he COULD have given a little 'beep' on his horn so I could have stepped back. So there I stood...eyes narrowing and that famous line from Moby Dick came to mind...'To the last, I will grapple with thee... from Hell's heart, I stab at thee! For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee!' OK...I must be honest with you, although I know the line originally comes from Moby Dick, I know the line from Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan...there, I admitted it!

...beware Mr. County Snowplow guy, I'll be watching out for you!

~ V

Derailed

.....My mind and heart are squeezed of their juices and their strength and essence have drained out of me. Vacillating between thought and feeling, and feeling and thought...thoughts rebounding off feelings of sorrow. My mind searching for answers, My heart is...solemn...still...alone. Honestly not sure where these feelings have emerged from...but here I am. And I know this is NOT a good place...not a healthy place to dwell. I know too well...far too well the cost of lingering in this place.

Maybe it's weather...or the upcoming Holiday's...most likely it's a myriad things. (Kind of like dripping water on a rock...by itself, one drop of water is meaningless to the rock, but drip after drip over a span of years will create a divot and eventually destroy the rock.) Either way, I would ask for your prayers as I seek for the hand of Him who guides my life. Because even though all is dark around me and I can not see Him, I KNOW He is there and He knows the path out of the darkness.

I sit back and almost laugh at myself writting this, because I know my life is blessed and filled with those who love me...I have no reason or cause for feeling the way I do...and yet, here I am.

Psalm 61 - Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.

~ V