Beware of Busyness. God's Plans? Your Plans?

I was recently asked to write a prolife article for an online magazine...in the article the Lord gave me the words and memories of my life as the moral decline began in my little girl's world back in 1967. I'm hoping to post it here soon.





As I wrote the article I realized something, something very frightening.



What? I see the same moral decline in homeschool and church settings. It's not easy to find homeschoolers or church goers sold out to the Lord.




Not all homeschoolers are like my friend who lives in another area of the country...She enjoys her children, taking turns reading in front of the fireplace and enjoying cooking together and living life for Jesus in every day life settings.



One of the saddest and most disappointing days in recent years was sitting alone at a large Christian homeschool support group activity several years ago as I observed and listened to a number of moms talking of dissecting little animals, college transcripts and how wonderful it was that homeschoolers were more open-minded and they thought perhaps Ayn Rand was a Christian...

Not one mention of a personal Lord was heard the entire time.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quiet and and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. You said, "No, we will get our help from Egypt." ~Isaiah 30:15-16a


For homeschool and church going moms, dads or anyone calling themselves a Christian...


May I humbly warn that if your zip-up planner has become of more importance than living the Bible, there may be a problem of the heart. If you are doing the planning and asking God to bless your plans instead of asking Him for The Plan it will be all in vain.



If excellence in essay writing is more important than teaching your children to take the time to write a sweet, heartfelt thank you note than perhaps the mark and goal of a Godly homeschool has been missed. If you as a mom are too busy to personally wish an ill friend well, to offer prayers and let them know you have offered prayers and care for them, I would venture to say, something is wrong.



Perhaps you are so busy running to church services you have no time for "menial" things as encouraging people that don't attend your church. Is your churchianity a busy-ness that only mimics holiness, in reality, a pharisee-ism?



One of my greatest regrets is not spending more time with my aging grandmas, not bothering to write them a sweet thank you note or letter that they would have treasured. Yes, I did write some but I was not near on top of things as I should have been. I see things my grandma gave me that I did not respond to, and my heart breaks, it breaks. Yes, I was busy, I still am with things here in my home, but I am learning I had better sit myself down and do the things God would have me to do.



How many times did I miss out on visiting my grandma when she was ill because of Sunday church service. Now I live with that sad regret. How lonely my two grandmas must have felt and how unappreciated they must have felt when I didn't thank them for little things they would send my way, it breaks my heart to this day. Do you know that some of my Italian Grandma's most prized possessions were those little drawings and shadow boxes I had made for her as a little girl??? Given to me, still carefully wrapped in clear plastic as she did her most precious things...they were given me...after she passed away.....After she passed away.

Guess what? I wrap my prized possessions now in plastic wrap too....I do the same things...




How do you treat those you consciously and sub-consciously deem as unimportant at the moment? Are ministry opportunities only for the resume' for the National Honor Society or for ministry school credentials? Where is the heart in your home or homeschool? Would people want to attend your church by the way you are treating them? Is Jesus and intimate relationship with Him lifted and stressed? ...Or do you lift up pet doctrine to the point of ugliness. The same ugliness that put Jesus on the cross.



I like what David Wilkerson eluded to in his recent blog... Do you really think your light is going to shine in your exclusive church cliques?



Soon to come, I hope to share in incremental pieces, the article the Lord graciously gave to me...Roe Vs. Wade and What Has Become of Us?



It's time for me to sign out...I have an email I need to get off soon to respond to a lovely young lady, I'm learning to see these things as a most important privilege from the Father. Can I be trusted to minister to her and lift her up in Jesus? I hope and pray so. I hope and pray so.



You may not read perfect blogs here but they will be from the heart. I can guarantee you that. : )





Until then keep things real, focus on the home and what is truly important for Eternity and that goes for me double in this blogging world. Live with no regrets. Come on over and visit me at my other abode too, thats-italian.blogspot, and enjoy some coffee over yonder....Plenty of smiles and wholesome entertainment coupled with a pretty good recipe or two, all kinds of stuff to make ya smile. : )

Elisabeth Elliot has it Right...

Once again Mrs. Elisabeth Elliot has it right...



Are Three Hearts Better Than Two? ...Me thinks YES! : )

(You may pause music at bottom of page)



Oh this is my heartcry! We have four daughters, ages 16 to 27. Believe me, according to our life journey so far, the protection offered and given even through heartache at times... Elisabeth has it quite right.



Remember, anything great and glorifying to God is so worth the sacrifice of going against the culture.



May God be glorified...





Our four daughters....Ages 19, 24, & 27...Photography is usually done by our youngest age 16, pictured in bottom photo. You may enjoy her photography blog here: Poetic Capture.

If you would like, please feel free to also check out our daughters' online store and blog: Bellissima Modesty Boutique.

There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he look'd upon, that object he became,
And that same object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.

The early lilacs became part of this child,
And grass and white and red morning glories, and white and red clover,
and the song of the phoebe-bird,
And the Third-month lambs and the sow's pink-faint litter,
and the mare's foal and the cow's calf.....

~Walt Whitman

Hope you enjoy my thoughts and ponderings here...As you may see, I love my family.

Take care all. Signing out from your blogging friend, wife and mother...that hopeless romanticist and merciful artist whose heart becomes grieved many a time in this ol' world, but knows where her trust remains...The Lord Jesus Christ.

P.S. Please visit my other blog too: http://thats-italian.blogspot.com/ ...For fun tips, good ol' 40s movie suggestions and little somethings that will make you smile, perhaps make you cry but will encourage you. : )

A Call to Christian Men (And Women)

I thought this was a nice sampling of some of some of our favorite preachers. You can also find these men on http://www.sermonindex.net/ as well as the site mentioned, http://www.loudvoice.org/ ...which seems to be a nice site I recently discovered with many wonderful and edifying resources.


Please feel free to mute the music on my player at the bottom of the page here before listening.


Our day is a time of desperation and a tremendous need for revival. When we look at the condition of the so called "church" it is a fearful reality...


Many of you may see the moral climate we are walking in, I think you'll agree, it's truly the Eternal that truly matters. Does this thing or that thing have anything to do with Eternity? In our homes, in our everyday sphere of life, what we talk about is what concerns us....What concerns us today? What has our heart?

What are we putting before our eyes? What are we allowing into our homes, and into our hearts? Is this thing lifting us up? Is this thing pulling us down? Does this thing bring Peace to our home, an atmosphere of praise to the Lord? Or does it add confusion?



Let's care about what may offend God and let's make sure and do what He loves, loving others. Let's show care for each other. Brothers, sisters, if we cannot even show common courtesy, compassion and thoughtfulness for others. If we cannot even thank people or show gratitude... What has become of us?


Let's not be found anywhere or doing anything where we would not want to be found or doing when Jesus comes back.

What frets our heart today? What excites our hearts today?

And let's remember, people may not remember what we say, but they will remember how we made them to feel.




Blessings to All,



~Amelia



I have a favorite soup recipe, an oh-so-fun slipper craft and oh-so-magnificent 40s movie selections and more you might enjoy on my other blog, come on over, enjoy! thats_italian.blogspot

Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

This is a re-run of an article I wrote for a dear friend's magazine last year. I present to you:
Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us?

(This article I have written here was recently published in an online publication, I was going to post in increments but decided to post it in entirity and simplify a bit.)



The year? 1967.


There she was, my first grade teacher, Mrs. Fischer. The typical 60s flip hair-do, orange dress with white polka-dots, matching shoes, a sunshine face was Mrs. Fischer. It was spelling test day and we first graders were attentively listening to each word as the sun streamed into the bright classroom, you could hear a pin drop.



The spelling word at that moment? "Baby".



She said the word, baby with a smile so radiant as she placed her hands upon her stomach, discreetly yes, but yet to me? A most sensitive and perceptive little first grade girl? I knew exactly what was up. Mrs. Fischer was going to have a baby. Yes! I just bet she's having a baby! Sure enough, the end of our first grade school year was ended rather tumultuously with one substitute teacher after another and I was never to see Mrs. Fischer again...she was home with her baby. She chose the best thing, to stay home with her baby. Even though it was hard for me as a little girl and I missed Mrs. Fischer greatly, I knew she was doing the right thing, enjoying motherhood and saying phooey with the rest.



The moral climate of those years were changing; just the year before, we Kindergartners all said our prayers with little bowed heads over saltine crackers and orange juice for snack time.



"God is great, God is good, thank you for our daily food. Amen."



I remember the children, us little girls in our sweet cotton dresses, I remember the little boys in their cotton button up shirts tucked in trousers with leather lace up shoes, hair parted on the side neatly. No matter what economic class we were from, we were neatly, modestly and sweetly dressed.



As that first grade year progressed, it was noticeable to me that the prayers over our food had mysteriously vanished. Time was changing and things seemed to be darkening to this little girl, I could feel it in my bones and most sadly in my innocent heart.



I remember sitting in front of my grandparents' home they ran their fishing business from, sitting upon the steps on a large, vast pier as the sailboats and shrimpboats would come in on the sparkling bay for the evening, In my little girl solitude, I would hear clanging at the shipyard not far away. My Italian grandma enjoyed reading and she usually had some Life and McCall's magazine around....Finding those Betsy McCall paper dolls in the McCall's magazine was a huge treat, kind of like finding a really good treasure in the bottom of a Cracker Jacks box....Every now and then I'd look over her Life magazines as I'd sip on my soda and quietly munch chips as my bare feet felt the texture of those wooden steps...There in those magazines I would see in living color the culture changing for the worst, the waif-look model, Twiggy, presented as the norm for body types, the brash fashions with go-go boots and fishnet stockings, me thinking my legs didn't look much like Twiggy's and where was Shirley Temple? Stories about members of that band called the Beatles...and I knew. I knew. I knew in my little girl's heart that things were going down fast and a darkness was coming over our country, and what was worse, this great country, America the Beautiful was letting the darkness pour in. This country of ours who had lent it's hand to my Italian and German immigrant grandparents who were now proud American citizens, my father and my uncle and great uncles who proudly served this country and made something of themselves. But Joltin' Joe had left and gone away, it was most apparent to me back then.



Years would go by and in the liturgical church our family attended I was surprised to see the new priest walking down the hall with a Hawaiian shirt on one Wednesday afternoon as I attended a catechism class...He was so different than the sweet priest who braided my long hair just the year before in his white collar whose resemblance and mannerisms were something of a Bing Crosby to me. Sadly, The Bing Crosby priest had left and gone away too. Now we had the mod guy with the long hair and the Hawaiian shirt. The same mod guy who had our church sing "Imagine" by John Lennon in a Sunday service. The song that starts with... Imagine there is no Heaven.


The years were eking by, man's knowledge was ignorantly being placed over any knowledge of the Lord in this new modern era this country seemed so proud of. The tower of Babel was once again being built it seemed.



The year. 1973.



Man had been on the moon, and I was sitting in classes with those very astronaut's kids, some of them later becoming friends of mine. Nixon was becoming president and our junior high looked like the gates of hell had been turned loose in it. Long gone were the sweet dresses and little boys with lace up shoes and neat hair. In place of it all were mostly hip-hugging jeans, guys with brushes stuffed in their back pockets to brush their long hair with and some dating at the age of 12 and all that went with that. I had found a small group of sweet girls to be friends with, we would spend our time drawing people, horses, animals and the like in our quiet world away from the hellish life we were surrounded by.



That year, 1973. There was no teacher saying the word, baby with such sunshine smiles. No. That was the year the country decided it would start seeing the babies as "choices". It was the year of Roe verses Wade. It was the year they turned the baby, the innocent child into a choice.


But where was the baby's choice in the matter?


Life went on and the hellish atmosphere didn't stop much, in fact, it intensified into high school, heavy kissing in the halls, smoking was fine and allowed as long as it was outdoors, you could smell an occasional whiff of marijuana in the breeze as you walked outdoors to class. And now it wasn't just the students who were in the mire but many of the teachers too as they tried to impose liberal beliefs on us in what most would think was a model high school. For many, those who had no Christian training at home, the liberal agenda quickly stuck and entrapped. For few of us, we fought it like mad trying our best to hold on to what was right and good. We tried so hard to hang on to the beliefs we were brought up with as contraception was brazenly taught to us in mixed coed classes adding to the confusion. Joltin' Joe had left and gone away. Where was the real choice? Where was my choice to live a Godly moral life free and with honor as these liberal ideas were being forced? How many little unborn babies were murdered at the core of this new "freedom" - on the altar of "choice"?



Those who were supposed to be open minded, were they really open to the choice of the baby? Are they now really open to Christian principles and moral absolutes? Perhaps the lack of absolutes is really an absolute they say they don't believe in?

Let's think...

At the very least, if prostitution is illegal, and that involves a person's body shouldn't that help us to see abortion for what it is, that there is another body involved? A most innocent body? If a pregnant woman is murdered and it's considered double homicide, shouldn't that help us to see what is transpiring here and the wickedness and cruel torture involved in these barbaric acts? As suspecting tests are administered as to the unborn baby's health, do we to play God and say who is worthy to live and who is not? Heaven forbid!


Where was the outcry then and now? Perhaps part of it was the fact some of us then were so embarrassed by what was going on we didn't tell our parents what was transpiring in the schools. Perhaps we noticed our parents on the passive side when Roe vs. Wade transpired and people seemed more interested in Watergate than living babies. Perhaps we were becoming some pretty mixed up kids. Who wouldn't be? Some of us were desperately trying to hold that rope while double standards were at play. Our relatives coming back from college never the same with lost convictions. Our teachers who we were taught to respect, shoving liberal ideas contrary to the Bible down at us.





What happened to me? By the time I graduated high school, of course I had been marred in various ways by it all, we can't place our kids in Alaska and expect to grow a palm tree. Please don't be deceived on that, be careful where you place your children and under whose authority whether it be the school or the church, be careful of the companionship that surrounds your children no matter what the age. I don't think the Bible is kidding when it reads, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20. Homeschooling is a wonderful option by the way, we've homeschooled for over 20 years and it has been a huge blessing to us.

A year or so after high school I was to meet my husband to-be at an Italian wedding, he had recently dedicated his life to the Lord. We've been married for almost 30 years now, serving the Lord together. We've been blessed with four lovely daughters.




The year. 2010.

What happened to "Jane Roe"? Her real name, Norma McCorvey; a Christian now, she is a vocal anti-abortion advocate. She never had the abortion fought for in Roe vs. Wade giving birth to a baby girl, giving the baby life choosing adoption.

She said:

"I think abortion is wrong. I think what I did with Roe vs. Wade was wrong, and I just have to take a pro-life position on [abortion]" ("World News Tonight," 8/10/95).

McCorvey was . . . haunted by simple things like empty swings in a playground. "They were swinging back and forth but they were all empty. And I just totally lost it, and I thought 'Oh my God. The swings are empty because there's no children, because they've all been aborted'" ("World News Tonight," 8/10/95).

~ "Jane Roe" Norma McCorvey





One thing I knew when I turned my life completely to Christ and started understanding scripture more; and that is that I wanted to be serious about my walk with Christ. God forbid that my children would see passivity or compromise in me, when it came to a loving Christian walk or when it came to our stand for the babies. The babies who have no choice.

Our kids know, I hope they know and see what is important by our actions by what we do. Do we stand for what is right? Or do we play it safe and not rock the boat forgetting that what we do for the least of these we have done it unto Him? Do we put them in the same environment some of us were placed in? ...God forbid.



What can we do? Be educated on the facts. When allowing a doctor or any medical professional whether it be a midwife, surgeon or nutritionist to attend to your needs ask them where they stand on abortion. This will reflect on their ethics in how they will treat you. It amazes me, the people who say they believe in what they call choice (the prodeath agenda), but fail to think about the end result of it when carried through. What they may perceive as inconvenience will affect them in old age. Just look at the people who were passive about the healthcare bill, ignoring the abortion portion of it but then suddenly when they noticed euthanasia in the bill, they became most concerned.



Prayerfully participate in the life marches. Vote prolife! Support prolife candidates! That is the very least we can do. Take that stand. There are simple things you can do such as display a life bandor wear a precious feet pin, committing to pray over the lives of these little unborn babies. If you are a stay at home mom, be the best stay at home mom and wife you can be. Put your all into your home and make that home a peaceful place where the Lord dwells, make your home a peaceful sanctuary and refuge. Give your children the real deal, not synthetic Christianity...If you give them the real deal they will recognize the counterfeit easily. As a stay at home mom you can also write letters, and have your children write letters on behalf of the unborn to the proper officials. Pray together daily as a family for the unborn that the scourge of abortion would end.

There are many prolife pregnancy centers that would greatly value your time depending on your season of life, there are many in need of counselors, people to organize their maternity and baby clothes rooms, just do simple cleaning. Most clinics will appreciate gently used maternity clothes or baby items. Perhaps monetary gifts to keep those clinics running with supplies etc. And remember, many lobbyists are fighting the fight, many organizations fund these lobbyists working hard for the rights of our unborn.



Commit to living a godly life. Shine light to others, don't marginalize the Christian walk with compromise allowing darkness in. Let's be found blameless as we stand for the unborn.

That way you will be able to determine what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. ~Philippians 1:10



As I trod this highway of life, our entire family has participated in prayerful pickets, counseling and general support of our unborn babies. Our daughters are active in prolife activities as well. My oldest daughter at 27 is a counselor at a prolife clinic as she also shares a message on abstinence and the gospel of Christ to those who come into the clinic. She is well qualified to do so, a living testimony at 27, she's single, saving her first kiss for the altar. Parents, expect much! Pray hard, do hard things for Christ! He is Faithful!



Please remember. It is a Child not a Choice. I believe little unborn babies should also have the choice of what to do with their bodies. One day as you grow older there may be others who take your choice away. Remember, your thinking now, your stand now for the unborn and all innocent life, may affect you when you grow older. It may affect you in less than ideal situations.... Just ask Terri Schiavo's family. See her timeline here.

If only wombs had windows and we could hear the silent screams of the babies. Some are worried about torture when abortion is the ultimate torture, and to an innocent baby! Oh please don't be as the church once was in Nazi Germany as the schools changed and indoctrinated the students and most said nothing. Please don't be like the churches then as the boxcars with innocent Jewish grandparents, parents and children were on the way to the death camps screaming desperately for help, and the churches sang their hymns all the louder to cover what they perceived as uncomfortable noise. Please hear the screams of the unborn with your heart!



If you have been deceived and have been affected by this atrocity and holocaust this country calls choice, please know God will forgive a repentant heart and He is there arms open wide. He can make beauty out of ashes.


One day your little grandchildren or great grandchildren may ask:



"Where were you when they were killing the babies? Did you try to stop it?"



What will we say about the year 2010?



What will you say on judgement day as the Lord asks you what did you do to the least of these?



Hear are some facts and helpful links about the unborn:

Partial Birth Abortion

Diary of an Unborn Baby starting at Day 1.

National Right to Life (a wealth of information)

Who is Funding Abortion? Let's be aware of who we are giving God's money to.

Precious Feet

Do Precious Feet Save Lives? (very interesting testimonies)

Get the pin

Get a life band



Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

~Proverbs 24:11-12



Truly I say to you, In as much as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me. ~Matthew 25:40b


You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully
made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~Psalm 139



Feel free to visit me also at thats-italian.blogspot for family friendly movie classics, many are gems from the 40s and sweet recipes to make you smile.

Today - A Real March for Freedom, for Innocent Lives

Planned Parenthood is seeking to provide the 2nd largest abortuary in the world in Houston, Texas.

Tiny Human Feet
(10 weeks after conception)


HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM
Feel free to mute the music at the bottom of the page to hear the video clearly.


http://bound4life.com/ Join in prayer. Get a life band, make the covenant for the unborn.

The story of the tiny feet pin. Get the tiny feet pin to share your care for the unborn.

Do the Precious (tiny) feet pins save lives? You betcha! Read testimonies here.


Houston We Have a Problem.


http://www.massmediamail.com/durarealidad/ WARNING: This contains graphic images so be aware of that and make sure children are out of the room. Eduardo Verastugui the star of Bella also gives a most beautiful testimony.


http://www.prolife.com/ This site is a wealth of information.


http://www.nrlc.org/ What is partial birth abortion? This site will answer your question.
See illustration here. These illustrations are medically accurate.


Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? ~Proverbs 24:11-12


Will our grandbabies ask, where were you when they were killing the babies? Did you try to stop it?

May our children know we were and are standing for the unborn by our physical actions as well as on our knees in prayer. And then we will see our young people also standing for the unborn marching as true Soldiers of Christ for the little innocent babies.

Then we can say as parents, all is well. Homeschooling at best. At best.

Here is a current photo hot off the press: A beautiful sight!


If you like you may stop by my other blog: thats-italian for a rather swell family movie night suggestion. One of the very best ways to serve the Lord is to give our all in our homes, keeping our homes that peaceful sweet haven unto the Lord.

Beware of the Heelots...

Before you buy that boat, car, or fancy-phone....think about the "Heelots"...

Beware... You may be in danger...





The Heelots may get ya and if you're not careful you may turn into one yourself...Before ya know it! Yes indeed. I've heard reports that the Heelots are especially aggressive this time of year.... Beware. ; )

"Heelots" ...From Meet John Doe.

When they got ya, you've got no more chance than a road rabbit...You're walkin' along, not a nickel in your jeans, you're free as the wind. Nobody bothers you. Hundreds of people pass you by in every line of business. Shoes, hats, automobiles, radios, furniture, everything, and they're all nice loveable people. They let you alone...Then you get ahold of some dough and what happens? All those nice, sweet, lovable people become heelots. A lotta heels! They begin creepin' up on ya, tryin' to sell ya something. They get long claws and they get a stranglehold on ya and ya squirm and ya duck and ya holler and ya try to push 'em away, but you haven't got a chance. They've got ya. The first thing you know, you own things - a car, for instance. Now your whole life is messed up with a lot more stuff. You get license fees and number plates and gas and oil and taxes and insurance and identification cards and letters and bills and flat tires and dents and traffic tickets and motorcycle cops and courtrooms and lawyers and fines - and a million and one other things! And what happens? You're not the free and happy guy you used to be. You've gotta have money to pay for all those things. So you go after what the other fella's got. And there you are - you're a heelot yourself.

(You may want to mute the music at the player at the bottom of the page before viewing clips)





To watch Meet John Doe see Part I in the following clip. All parts are there on youtube in a nice quality...




You can also see the movie in entirity here as well, you may decide what picture quality is best for you.


...Someone already died for that once. The first John Doe. And he's kept that ideal alive for nearly 2,000 years. It was He who kept it alive in them. And He'll go on keeping it alive for ever and always - for every John Doe movement these men kill, a new one will be born. That's why those bells are ringing...

~The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)

Lighthouses, John. Lighthouses in a foggy world.

~ The movie, Meet John Doe (1941)



What will we be? A heelot? A John Doe? A lighthouse in a foggy world? I hope we will be a John Doe...that Lighthouse in a foggy world. I especially hope we will be a Christ Bearer...

Remember...We are the Christ Bearers this season...Take the time to be that Christ Bearer to others....The malls, stores and hospitals are full of those thirsty for Jesus...They are looking for the blessed Hope...Take the time, be prepared to share Jesus, smile, keep it real (never canned)...Love, use words and a hug if necessary...Take the time to share Jesus...It's one of the most valuable lessons our children will ever learn...And in some cases it may just be the most valuable lesson our children may teach us.





I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season, remember it's Christ-mas not Me-mas. : )

For encouraging tips to help us with our homes you may enjoy, and especially if you feel invisible at times? You will be blessed!: http://www.thats-italian.blogspot.com/




Enjoy. Be blessed. Be that Christ Bearer...The World is waiting... Keep the bells ringing......

~Amelia

Teach Us Lord...A Peaceful Protest

As I went through our bags and boxes of cards and Christmas things I ran across this card, it was a simple Christmas card, one I loved and still do. The verse is simply:



Little baby on the hay,

born to us on Christmas day,

Show us how to live the way

that brings us peace and love.



Merry Christmas





Now contrast that simple little verse to what we have now......Parties for children, youth and even adults with what is supposed to be a simple, fun, white elephant game-gift to trade, priced at 10 dollars and up....Oh my. For our family, that is the price of one normal gift that we as parents may bestow on our children . Oh friends... what has happened?



I wonder what my grandmother would think of that? She often shared of her one doll she would receive for Christmas.

I wonder what my friend who was raised in the 50s is thinking? She had a lovely childhood and shared how a normal Christmas for her was usually a nice robe, a pretty doll and perhaps a neat game or other toy on Christmas morning.

When I was a little girl, stocking stuffers consisted mostly of candy, oranges, and if you were very fortunate, perhaps a skipper doll or a puppet. Now I hear of Chanel...




I wonder what my dad would think?
Roll back your watch to the 1930s...a small town....

Daddy shares of the family that lives in a train caboose during the depression in his little town....The fragrance of orange peel gently warmed by candles on the huge tree at the big log community house as the children there put on a Christmas program... He tells of the young lady with the beautiful voice anointing the atmosphere as she sings....O Holy Night..... My dad as a darling curly blond headed little boy thinks she is the most lovely being ever as he hears and treasures her angelic voice as she stands in her simple cotton dress.... The young lady? She lives in that caboose. These families don't even know they are poor. They have joy and the love of family and friends...They know and understand the wonderment and joy of Christ in that Holy Season.








...What do we have now? What are we hearing? What is this world demanding and dictating of and to us?



...I wonder what Jesus feels and thinks?




I wonder if we should get little Susie the new iPhone now or wait for the second generation to come out with more features?




Oh folks.... Please don't fall into the trap this Christmas. As I see the out of touch price suggestions being suggested for party gift game exchanges and such....oh my heart is grieved. Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

What is this excessive spending and wanting, teaching our children and youth?


I don't know what your area of town is like in the way of values, but apparently our area is slipping into the world of bondage when it comes to the excessive consumerism and what is viewed as the normal.



Please be careful.

I'm not writing about taking the wonder or generosity of Christmas from our families...I love Christmas more than anyone, and yes, I love the surprised faces as our daughters open their gifts. But when I see suggestions of ipods and iphones and such for a normal gift, as if it was a bottle of aftershave or cologne it grieves my spirit....When I see white elephant gift price suggestions, being the normal price of a gift that a parent might be giving their children....Or a cherished gift a child may give to their sibling....I have to take a second look and wonder what burden this is putting on families and teaching children and young people.




What happened to the way Christmas used to be? Sitting by the fire, simple, more normal gifts, gifts given and wrapped with love, thoughtfulness and care....Let's get back to a Peaceful Christmas filled with wonderment as we mediate on Christ.

And let's not forget those who are less fortunate this Christmas season, not only in material possesions but those heavy of heart, perhaps those who have lost loved ones, those who need encouragement. It may be in the form of a sweet thoughtful gift or perhaps a tender hug and meaningful conversation...Perhaps both. We can ask God what He would have us to offer Him. Let's be Jesus with skin on to others.

May our homes be a Peaceful protest to the world....

Jesus is the Prince of Peace...

~Amelia

P.S. For more Christmas suggestions please see my other blog with fun & helpful flylady videos and a mighty sweet movie suggestion. My other blog? It can be found here: thats-italian.blogspot.com.