Literally, Angels in the Attic

January 2011 I moved home to Haleyville to live in my childhood home. While I am here it seems to be my apportionment to embark on sort of an archeological dig. Such treasures I have found! Even if I could possibly keep everything left by my family over the years I still would have so much to give away. For a very long time, a year and a half, I gave family and friends anything they needed to help them in their grief of loosing my parents.

even with giving away some incredible items that will be heirlooms forever in my family and our friends. I still have a household full of not only my things but my parent’s, my grandparent’s, my great and great great and great great great grandparents. I have coins tendered in 1856 and a Friendship Quilt given to a lady I have never heard of in 1895–every stitch intact.

What does a daughter do with all the things left? From January until April I organized, gave to family and friends, packed and unpacked, and stocked the shop with items. In an effort to make room for all of my belongings and personal property accumulated over the last 30 plus years.

April 27th, 2011–F5 Tornado destroyed my house and all my personal propety that was still there. I lost more than I can even think about. If I think on it too long I just get sick. I tell myself it was only material things. All of which can or can’t be replaced. The good thing is I wasn’t there and no one was hurt. It helps to think of it that way and to remind myself of the Scriptures about earthly treasures.

Even though I lost so much I still have so much. All my life my Momma has given me an angel every Christmas. Displayed in a curio cabinet given to me by Barton Methodist Church in the early 90s. They are all gone. Every single one except a plastic Miss Piggy Angel given to me by my nephew when he was 4. Every one of the china, porcelain, crystal, silver, gold angels all gone.

Sifting through the debris was exhausting. I remember the first day I saw the home I built, my home since 2003, and all of my life’s “stuff” ripped apart and Gone With The Wind. I supposed the first few days of a tragedy like this people are in shock. I was. But I knew I still had my childhood home and everything in it. I also got a grand revelation about material wealth versus earthly treasures.

The natural course of things seems to be that I explore through everything, decide on what to do with each thing and go ahead and do that. Some of the things are too precious not to share and I really want to offer these items charging only for the time and expense I have gone to in order to open the shop and research the items. It has been alot of work but so much fun. I happily and with a simple loving heart offer these things to share.

I can just hear some of the gossips in my hometown chattering their little teeth right now. “Why she is selling her Momma’s things”. I would have to say, well, why do you think my Momma purchased all of these “collectibles”. She did it to leave it for us, her family and friends. She and Daddy both acquired the things they did to pass on to us.

There aren’t many of us right now. Only me and my brother and his family. We all have everything we want as far as heirlooms go. Even if I sold everything in the shop tomorrow I would have enough to restock it 5 -6 times. If I did that I would still have enough for me. It seems selfish to keep these things here when others might get pleasure from them as we did.

So, happily and at peace with it I open the doors to the shop. Offering to anyone the opportunity to purchase any of these items at a fraction of the price anywhere else. I am single and I really have to downsize to a managable level. I think it is a great trade off—love for love because of love. I hope you can see it this way too.

Knowing I am allowed to do now what my parents intended for me to do I am excited and have alot of work to do before tomorrow morning.

Born Again -reblogging

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aley9_d8vrE

Third Day Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aley9_d8vrE

Born Again by Third Day

My sister in Christ and fellow Sonrise writer member, Cheryl, has a picture of herself coming up out of the water while being baptised. The look of joy, pure joy, reflects the light of Jesus in her face. I love looking at the picture. I can only imagine a picture of myself being baptised. It is one in my mind’s eye.

At the age of twelve I knew Jesus. I actually do not ever remember not knowing Him. In my baby book my momma wrote, “Angela loves to hear stories about Jesus”. How did she know that? Because she read them to me, told them to me, showed me pictures of Jesus and how He loved the little children. As much as I loved the stories of Him then I so much more love them now.

It is amazing how I can read a parable I have known all my life and see something new and different each and every time. It is like God allows my mind to expand, taking in more of Him, each time. Scripture that applied to me at the age of twelve apply to me now at the age of fifty.

This video from Third Day inspired my heart. Seeing the look on the faces of those baptised, washed in the blood of the Lamb of God, I see joy. Glorious joy!! All the gifts of the spirit flood their souls and shine from their faces. Peace, Joy, and love wash over them in a way unlike any other. Each one walking away a new creation, a child of God, born again to begin the journey with Jesus.

Along this journey there are time when we begin to feel dry, all we have to do is go back to the living water!! Go back to where we started and be refreshed.

I hope this video and the words to this amazing song will permeate your soul to act. To be doers of the Word. your life will never be the same. There is Power in the Blood of Jesus. During this season of Lent, leading up to Easter, think on the life of Jesus and what He and only He could do for you. Thank Him, Praise Him and most of all love Him.

Why Hannukah?

As a Christian it is interesting for me to learn the traditions and celebrations of the Jewish people. Discovering what Hannukah is and why Jews celebrate this occasion has been an interesting batch of research. Maybe it interest you as well. The Messianic Jews have all the fun!! They celebrate Jewish and Christian Holy Days. Watching them dance is proof enough of their incredible joy–and mine.

Happy Hannukah

FEAST OF DEDICATION (“CHANUKAH”)

Date in Hebrew calendar:  25th of Kislev to 2nd of Tevet (November–December ).

Scriptural references: Daniel 8:22-25, 11:20-45; John 10:22-42.

“Chanukah” (the word means “dedication” in Hebrew) is a celebration of God’s faithfulness and deliverance.  The events it celebrates took place during the inter-testamental period, in approximately 165 B.C.  

Over 150 years earlier, Alexander the Great had conquered the entire ancient world of the Eastern Mediterranean.  Upon his early death, four of his generals divided up his empire.  The area of Judea eventually came under the control of Antiochus IV “Epiphanes.”

Antiochus tried to force the Jews to accept Greek culture, even defiling their temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar and erecting a statue of Zeus in the Holy of Holies! This was the first “Abomination of desolation” and was prophesied by Daniel (11:31-32).

Finally, the Jews revolted.  Although greatly outnumbered and overpowered, they fought a courageous guerrilla war and drove out the Greeks in 165 B.C., re-entering the city and the temple.

There was only enough of the special oil burned in the temple menorah to last one day, and it would take 8 days to make more.  They lit the menorah anyway, and the oil miraculously burned for 8 days while more was being prepared.  

Thus began the Feast of Dedication to celebrate this miracle, their great deliverance from oppressors and the dedication of the newly cleansed temple.

Yeshua went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, and while in the temple area He proclaimed His divinity-“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

Today Chanukah is celebrated with a 9-branched candelabra.  Eight of them recall the eight days the oil miraculously burned, while the 9th is the “Servant” candle used to light the others.  Each evening during the eight day feast, more of the eight candles are lit-one the first night, two the second, etc. until all eight, plus the servant, are brightly burning in the homes of all Jews on the last night.  It is also called the “Festival of Lights,” and is often accompanied by the exchange of gifts.

Chanukah celebrates one of many deliverances of the Jewish people from those who would try, again and again, to destroy God’s Covenant people.  In recent history we have two horrible examples of this-the pogroms in Russia, and the Holocaust.  Yet the Lord’s people are alive today, and back in their own Land against unbelievable odds.  

But the enemy has not given up, and he is trying and will try to destroy them again.  Pray for God to deliver His people again, and to breathe His Spirit into their revived bodies (Ezekiel 37:14), fully restoring them to Himself.

Thanks to google, email and research–I am really glad I learned–I am glad I wanted to learn.

God Bless You this Holy Day season and all year!!!

The “W” in Christmas

I received this short story by email with no author credentials. This is the first in a series of blogs I will be doing on Christmas. Where I live we still have Christmas parades, pagents, festivals, open house, Christmas Choirs sing praise to Christ the King. Christmas trees are sold, cut down from pastures, decorated and watered everyday. Christmas lights line the streets, highways and byways. Where I live Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. I thank God for the Nativity Scene on the courthouse lawn. I thank God for Christmas still being Christmas where I live.

I hope you enjoy this short story. It explains the reason for the season. If you don’t know Jesus, you can. He is waiting to love you more than you love Him. Just believe, admit your need for Him and then tell another Christian–they will help you with your journey. You’ll never be the same because Jesus is love. Pure, plain, simple, awesome beyond understanding LOVE!!

 

I received this by email. I do not know the author or I would give them credit.

Happy Holy Days and Merry Christmas

 

The “W” in Christmas

                             Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.

                             I had cut back on nonessential obligations – extensive card  writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.

                             Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the
                             precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of
                             Christmas.

                             My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old.

                             For weeks, he’d been memorizing songs for his school’s “Winter Pageant.”

                             I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there’d be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation.

                             All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.

                             Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

                             So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes
                             early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.

                             As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class,
                             accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

                             Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as “Christmas,” I didn’t expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.

                             So, when my son’s class rose to sing, “Christmas Love,” I was
                             slightly taken aback by its bold title.

                             Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.

                             Those in the front row- center stage – held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

                             As the class would sing “C is for Christmas,” a child would hold up the letter C. Then, “H is for Happy,” and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, “Christmas Love.”

                             The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter “M” upside down – totally unaware her letter “M” appeared as a “W”.

                             The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little
                             one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her “W”.

                             Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

                             A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

                             In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.

                             For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

                              

                             “C H R I S T W A S L O V E”

                       And, I believe, He still is.