2016

Ahhhh the New Year Resolutions. Every year I make them and about 75% of them I do not carry through. Being aware of needing to grow and learn is a great thing and if you have no aspirations to be different...well then more power to you.

As the years start to fly by though I am made so much more aware of not wasting my days. That feeling of wanting to make a difference surfaces with much more vigor than it did when I was in my 20's or 30's. The fleeting thought of being close to 50 kinda slaps you in the face. Then you start to look at  your life, your attitude, your spirit and you evaluate.

My evaluation came up with this poster that seems to sum it up pretty nicely. I have things I want to accomplish in my life and I am going to do it! I am motivated, excited and have some tenacity to get them done. So as I reflect back on 2015; I can see the failures and the short comings but I can also see the things that I did right. I want my "right" list to be a little longer than my "wrong" list!

I do believe that this new year is going to see a new me...the "me" that God wants. I am not going to shy away from responsibility or opportunity; I am going to take it head on. I want to be fierce in that I take on things with confidence and I will NOT let the words of others...or even my own insecurities cause me to back down into a hole of defeat.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Adjust That Crown

Jonna

*Auld Lang Syne

Here is the proverbial answer to the question: "What on earth does "Auld Lang Syne" mean?" Written by a Scottish man Robert Burns; the confusion over the song is really funny because most people think it is about forgetting old friendships from the past and making new ones in the New Year because that is the only part of the song that most people know. The title of this Scottish tune translates to "Times Gone By" and is actually about remembering friends from the past and not letting them be forgotten.

I know because I have been at those parties where everyone sings loudly...."Let old acquaintances be forgot and never brought to mind"...and everyone cheers because EVERYONE knows someone that they want to forget about in the new year. We can all think of a person that has been hateful, rude or mean to us in 2015. I have a few I am thinking about right now! haha.

As painful as people and bad relationships can be; we don't want to "forget" anyone. We learn from those mistakes and we learn from the ugly as well as the beautiful. By forgetting them we only bury what we haven't dealt with yet in our own hearts...unforgiveness.

So as you ring in the New Year of 2016 and you most likely will be singing this song...remember your friends and acquaintances and decide for yourself to let go of the bitterness, hurt and resentment that might be attached to your heart. People will always be in your life and sometimes you do not have control over that; but what you have in your heart...well that is totally under your control. So sing it loud and sing it proud that you will NOT bring any unforgiveness into 2016 no matter what!

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."  Colossians 3:13-14

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Jonna

Repeat The Sounding Joy

The plum pudding is gone, presents unwrapped, the tree is now barren and the Christmas music is no longer playing. The holiday joy and wishes of peace on earth are slowly fading away. The "most wonderful time of the year" is going, going and now gone. 

So what is to happen to the "Joy to the World" that we sang relentlessly about since Thanksgiving? Because it feels awfully depressing to take down all this festive stuff and just go back to normal! I want to keep my stuff up all year long! haha One part of the song where it says "repeat the sounding joy" has always gotten my attention. I think back to the shepherds that the Angels appeared to as they proclaimed the birth of Jesus. They spoke of a great joy that was for all people and that they would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger. Can you imagine the excitement when the shepherds finally caught up to Jesus and found Him just as the Angels had said! I am sure there was some major joy involved! In fact I am sure they repeated what was told to them to everyone they met!
 

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

 

Their joy was resounding...definition according to Webster's... producing a loud, deep sound that lasts for a long time, leaving no doubt, very definite. 

So even as all the festivities are fading away; our JOY should still remain. In fact it should never leave us and should be a deep, definite and loud sound that we carry and spread everywhere we go. Joy to the World, our Savior reigns!

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Jonna

*Jesus VS Santa

 

Santa lives at the North Pole...     JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh...
     JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year...
     JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies...
     JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...
     JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa...
     JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap...
     JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"...
     JESUS knew our name before we were born.  Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...
     JESUS has a heart full of love

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO...
    JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"...
     JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys...
    JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but...
    JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree...
     JESUS became our gift and died on a tree...the cross.

-Author unknown

 

We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season.

 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life"  John 3:16

 

Adjust That Crown,

 

Jonna

Hallmark Christmas

I love this time of the year because you can watch Christmas movies literally 24 hours a day! Between Hallmark, and ABC Family you are set up for lots of evenings on the couch with a cozy blanket and hot chocolate! I so love to turn out the lights expect for the Christmas tree and just enjoy transporting myself to another world. No season is complete without watching, A Christmas Carol, Elf and Christmas Vacation.

The funny thing is in all the Hallmark shows and as well as my favorite movies...there is always a sweet person that is just loving the season and a grumpy person that seems to fight with the other. We love to watch the scrooge make a turn around and come on over to the Christmas loving side. It is why that these movies are so wonderful. They all have amazing and miraculous endings that leaves you with a possible teary eye and of course an all around great feeling about this time of the year.

Now my family is no perfect unit and they sometimes resemble the beginnings of some of these movies and shows....actually it is more like the Lifetime movies. Haha. Hallmark usually doesn't have death and betrayal in them like Lifetime does; but they do have hard situations which are always resolved in the end; not to mention it is ALWAYS a white Christmas! Sometimes I wish and wonder what it would be like to finally have some of my hard family issues finally over with. The movies sometimes make me feel wanting more and wishing I could do more to make it all better.

It is okay to transport yourself to a "fairy tale" world sometimes but when we have those same expectations for our own friends, life and relationships...well...it can leave us disappointed. 

Some of our dysfunction will never be resolved on this side of heaven.  But if we let Faith, Hope and Love rule in our hearts this season; you might just be the one to make someone's holiday a little less like a Lifetime drama and more like a Hallmark ending. It could happen!

Adjust That Crown!

Jonna
 

*Fear Not

    

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.                                                                  Luke 2:8-14

Charlie Brown is known for his unique shirt, Snoopy associated with the cute little bird Woodstock and Linus is most associated with his ever-present security blanket. Throughout the story of Peanuts; Lucy, Snoopy, Sally and others all work to no avail to separate Linus from his blanket. And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for the otherwise mature and thoughtful Linus, he simply refuses to give it up. Until a very special moment in the part of the animated movie, "A Charlie Brown Christmas." When he simply drops it.

In that wonderful scene when Linus shares "what Christmas is all about," he drops his security blanket, and I am now convinced that this is intentional. Most telling is the specific moment he drops it: when he utters the words, "fear not". Looking at it now, it is pretty clear what Charles Schultz was saying, and it's so simple it's brilliant. The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears.
The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable (or unwilling) to break ourselves.

The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.

The world of 2021 can be a scary place, and most of us find ourselves grasping to something temporal for security, whatever that thing may be. It is very difficult for us to "fear not." But in the midst of fear and insecurity, this simple cartoon image from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to seek true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and can always still be found.

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Jonna

*Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

 The lyrics of this song turned story speak of a reindeer named Rudolph who was identified by his shiny, glowing nose. The author speaks as if this is not unusual, but the other cast of characters find it almost disturbing or disconcerting to see someone who is different than they are. It is not until Christmas Eve, the most important time of night for delivering of gifts, that Santa has an epiphany (who knows what he has been thinking up to this point) and realizes Rudolph is really a gift to help him through the foggy world. Then, and only then, do the other reindeer accept him as their own.

I guess I had gotten used to this story and didn't really think much about it. But then again I hadn't seen the cartoon in YEARS. My boys had seen clips of it and was horrified at the prejudices and the comments in this seemingly "sweet children's story". They noted that the start of bullying began at the North Pole. haha

Yes this story is not that very different from what we experience in our world today. How many prejudices do we see everyday on the news and in social  media? How sad that we don't identify as one large human race, but rather in our minds have come to segregate based on skin color, status or God help us...political party? And like Rudolph, is there ever redemption in this seemingly cold world from one person to another?

If there is anything we do deserve as a human race it is God's judgment. I can't speak for you, but I have disobeyed and saddened my savior many times. The fact we are still here is a monument to God's undying and seeming unquenchable love for us. In fact, while we were in the act of doing things that God hates, He sent His only Son into the world to save us. The message of Christmas is that the Incarnate Christ came to die for us. In other words, Christ did not discriminate in His offering of salvation.

So this Christmas, why can't we put our prejudices aside? Are there people in our family we despise? When we go out shopping, will we stomp all over each other to grab the latest and greatest gift? Will we turn a blind eye to the people who really need us? Or will we step up to the plate, stop our bickering, realize it is God's desire to use us as vessels of His mercy, and protect those who need our help? After all, Christ helped us.

What better thing to do than to be the one lighting the way to those who are lost?

Adjust That Crown,

Jonna

*The Thrill of Hope

O holy night!

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night when Christ was born

Oh night divine

Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Here come the wise men from Orient land

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be our friend

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name

Adolphe Adam 1847

I love the section that mentions a "thrill of hope" in the previous song lyrics from, Oh Holy Night.

Thrill defined uses the words excite, inspire, delight, exhilarate, stir and electrify. Jesus coming to Earth brings man such excitement because of the hope that He brings.

For hope to exist though unfortunately hopelessness exists as well. A perfect world wouldn't have any need of hope. Freedom from hopelessness arrives undeservedly and perhaps unexpectedly, just as in the unlikely way God came to Earth. Who would have even thought of this entrance into our world...I would have thought of a more royal entrance instead of a virgin birth involving a manger. But our minds and thoughts are in no way like God's. So with that being said; I have no idea of the plans that God has for my life in the future or how all my issues will be resolved, or even what miracles I'll be blessed to see this Christmas. Things can look bleak to us but that's where hope come into play.

The Good News is all about the Hope that was brought in the form of a baby in a manger.

But what I do know is that I have a thrill; an excitement and a delight that my God is in control and that He has given me this gift of hope...that in His timing and in His own ways...He will make things in my life turn around for His good. All I have to be is believe and be faithful that He is out working it all out.

Romans 15:13 is a great Christmas prayer for you: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Adjust That Crown,

Jonna

*The Love Chapter Christmas Style

 

 Remember that whatever we say, think, feel or do....filter it through LOVE!

 

•​If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I am just another decorator.

•​If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of sweet Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I’m just another cook.

•​If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing.

•​If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

 

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though busy and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure forever. 

                                          

  1 COR. 13 –  A CHRISTMAS VERSION 

 

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Jonna

Inn Crowd or Stable Few?

…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,because there was no room for them in the inn.
                       Luke 2:7 NIV

The Stable Few

When I think of the Nativity, I think of a man named Joseph, who wasn't technically the Father, choose a child over his disbelief.

I think of a young mother Mary who chose faith over ridicule and shame.

I think of two young people who risked everything for a child. Who were brave enough to face a long journey only to have a child in the most inconvenient of places.

I think of Shepherds who had a life changing experience; who got to see angels in all their glory singing what I am sure was an amazing song.

I think of Wise men who accepted the prediction in scriptures, followed a star and brought gifts to a baby they said was born King of the Jews.

The Inn Crowd

I think of a inn keeper who would not give up his own room or another for a pregnant woman.

I think of a man (Herod) so disturbed and threatened by this child that he would declare that all boys in Bethlehem under two be killed.

I think of all the people who mocked and hated this baby when he became a man. And the people who do this even still today.

I remember that when I put myself first, when I am unkind, or (insert ugly behavior here) that I might as well join the Inn crowd.


But...I remember why this baby came in the first place. This unique circumstance and that the beauty of the Nativity is the gift behind it:


NO MATTER whether I am with the Inn crowd or the Stable few,
His birth was a gift to humanity, to me:
I am forgiven.
I am loved anyway.
He came for me.
He is for me.
I will be with him for eternity.


I remember that a long time ago a baby made such a huge impact that the majority of the world celebrates His birthday...on this wonderful day called Christmas!


Adjust That Crown!
Jonna





 

One Sweet Night!

I love the scene that I get in my mind when I think of the Christmas story; all the beautiful angels with white flowy gowns and the star filled night with singing and shepherds looking on in wonder. In my mind it is so peaceful and majestic and perfect. What a wonderful story and image the nativity brings.

 

 

But when I really really start to think about all those details surrounding the story...I start to realize that it wasn’t really so sweet. The baby Jesus always looks perfect and serene in the nativity; all sleeping; no colic or gas. We all can agree that sleeping babies are totally sweet, right? What about this travel plan that involved a pregnant woman riding a donkey and lets not forget the husband that didn’t make advance reservations at the hotel. Anyone been there? That can cause a trip to go bad quick. Right? I often wonder why people practically worshipped Mary…now I know…if she endured this without complaint she is deserving of sainthood! To give birth to a baby in a barn next to smelly and noisy animals; no to mention having complete strangers gawking...can be quite a daunting thing!  It doesn’t sound so sweet to me...actually something quite like a disaster and quite dysfunctional at that.

 

And let’s not forget the family is being chased by Herod because he wants to kill all the babies, then the life of Jesus being misunderstood by many, accused and betrayed by the ones closest to him, and beaten and hung on the cross by the very people He was trying to save. So when we just reframe it all in this perspective;  SWEET is a far cry from the truth!

 

Speaking of things not being sweet. Have you ever ate Wasabi, sauerkraut, brussel sprouts or any other horrid item? Well I don't like any of those either...but there is this West African fruit called the “taste berry” or “miracle fruit” that when eaten with anything sour or bitter...they all taste sweet! It is an almost tasteless berry that contains a protein that binds to the taste buds on the tongue to cover the bitter receptors that then causes everything to taste sweet!

 

Jesus came to give us the tools we need to get our earthly issues and bind them up in heavenly places. Just like the protein that covers and fills in the bitter and the sour part of the tongue….Jesus gives us hope, gives us peace and gives us joy so that we can endure even the hardest of things and have faith to get through them. Now THAT my friends is SWEET!

 

 

There is nothing like the peace of God that passes, transcends and goes way over and above all Earthly understanding as stated in Phillipians 4:7 You may be going through some really hard thing but I am here to tell you that you need to hold onto hope. You need to ask Jesus to bind your hurt and to fill you with faith…He is your present help in time of need. Jesus can take all those things that you are feeling drowned by and he can make them sweet. I didn't say that He will take it all from you...but what Jesus came to give...the joy in the middle of heartache...is one of the SWEETEST presents that anyone could ever give or receive. Jesus is the sweetest name that I know and that is why the Nativity scene to Christians can be one of the most precious stories ever told.

 

Adjust That Crown!

 

Jonna