"HOLIDAY HUMPS AND HURDLES"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"HOLIDAY HUMPS AND HURDLES"

It's that time of the year when we are dashing to and fro, running willy nilly from pillar to post trying to find the perfect gifts for friends and family. 

Ahh, the family. For those of you who have the perfect family like "THE WALTON'S", this post is not for you.You have my permission to stop reading and go back to your Candy Cane Cocoa and Christmas cookies.

 For the rest of us, we are preparing for "Humps and Hurdles."

You know what I'm talking about. 

The awkward family conversations where you can't really talk about anything  because someone gets upset and offended. The problems, pain and past hurts we carry around like humps on a camels back. The hurdles we have to jump over in order to avoid arguments and keep the peace so war doesn't break out at the dinner table.

Real families have real issues. You might not want to admit it ,but it's true. If there is a perfect family out there I haven't met them. Every family has something. That family problem you are trying to hide or avoid is nothing new and you are not the only one who is dealing with it.

Family problems may include: jealousy, strife, quarrels, sibling rivalry, addiction, divorce, blended families,financial burdens, adultery, lying , cheating , stealing, greed, pride, pornography, unforgiveness, abuse, anger, depression, eating disorders, unconfessed sin,chronic illness, rejection.

With all the different personality and temperament types plus all the different ideals and opinions it can get a little sticky and uncomfortable. People get anxious, hurt feelings, upset, emotional and can lose tempers. We say things we don't mean and we mean things we don't say.

 The Hot Cross Buns at the dinner table can quickly become The Hot Tossed Buns! 

How many have ever witnessed or been part of a food, word tossing or worse at a Holiday celebration?

Things can get ugly and ugly grows. Ugly drives a wedge between people and families. Ugly becomes Humps and Hurdles that separate families. One word, one action that separates us from the ones we love for weeks, months , years or a lifetime.

Time we can never get back. Time the devil steals from us. Loved ones the devil steals from us. Joy the devil steals from us.

I know there are families out there that will not see their loved ones this Christmas because they got upset about something and stopped talking. They got offended and refuse to forgive. They are stubborn or prideful and won't let go. 

I know because I've been there, on both the giving and receiving side.

What a waste of time and life.

Please stop, get over the Humps and Hurdles and JUST LOVE THEM!

 Love them for who they are. Forgive them for what they've done.  Ask them to forgive you.

Even if you don't think you are wrong. Even if they hurt you, JUST LOVE THEM!

This doesn't mean you are condoning or agreeing with them it means you are refusing to live in bondage and pain any longer.  It means you choose to walk in Love and Liberty. It means you are taking back what the enemy has stolen, your loved ones, your joy, your peace.

Pick up the phone and call them.

Send them a text or E-mail.

Write them a letter.

Take the high road. Before it's too late. This may be your last chance.

Grandparents, parents, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, grandkids, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, step-family, in-laws and out-laws, co-workers, friends or foe.

JUST LOVE THEM!

God will take care of the rest. 

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32

"Make allowances for each others faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." Colossians 3:13 

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

1 Corinthians 13:7

PLEASE STOP! GET OVER HOLIDAY HUMPS AND HURDLES.

GIVE THE GIFT OF LOVE ! JUST LOVE THEM!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind

 

''THE FIRST CHRISTMAS"

By: Donna Selma Lind

When you hear the words "THE FIRST CHRISTMAS" what do you think of?  Of course we think of  the day our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born. The day when Mary and Joseph wished they had booked a room in advance with the TRAVELOCITY GNOME! 

After traveling for days through the desert on the back of a donkey, teenager Mary who was nine months pregnant and her carpenter husband Joseph got bumped into the only room available, a Stable full of  stinky animals. The FIRST CHRISTMAS took place in a Barn with a feeding trough manger substituting as a crib for Baby Jesus.

Mary wrapped her newborn baby in swaddling cloths and laid him in that 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 2:14

And every year since that FIRST CHRISTMAS we celebrate in honor of Jesus Christ, born in a humble stable in Bethlehem. Light of the world who came to take away our sins. 

We celebrate the Savior who came to save us and give us his indescribable gift of eternal life. And because of, his love, mercy and grace, he took our place, shed his blood and Gave His life for us.  

THANK YOU JESUS ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! WE LOVE YOU!

Now I would like to talk to you about a different kind of FIRST CHRISTMAS. 

For many of us this will be The FIRST CHRISTMAS. 

The FIRST CHRISTMAS of one kind or another.

You may be facing a difficult and challenging or a wonderful FIRST CHRISTMAS!

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS:

Since your loved one Died.

Since you got Married.

Since you got Divorced.

Since you lost your Job.

Since you had a bad health  Diagnosis.

Since you had a good health Report.

Since you Moved to a new place.

Since you had a Baby.

Since you lost a Baby.

Since you Retired.

Since you or a loved one are home from the Military or War.

(THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!)

Since you were Hurt, Cheated on or Betrayed.

Since you or they are an Addict.

Since you've been Clean & Sober.

Since you are an Empty Nester.

Since you were Abused.

Since your Parents or Spouse had to go in a Nursing Home.

Since the Tragedy .

Since you Graduated.

 Since the Accident.

Since you lost your pet.

Since the Financial loss.

Since your loved one is in Prison.

Since you began following Christ.

Since _____________________________________________________

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS when your life seems to be missing something or someone. 

Whether you are starting over brand new or ending something old. 

You will get through this! You are going to make it! You are going to be okay! You are not alone! The Lord is right by your side. Emmanuel, God is with you! 

Whatever your FIRST CHRISTMAS is I pray you will be Blessed and that you will count your Blessings! 

I pray that you will experience the Love and Peace of God like never before! 

I pray that you will take time to Give of yourself the way that God has given to you. 

No matter what this FIRST CHRISTMAS looks like for you, you can follow the example of our Heavenly Father.

"For God so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

GIVE. 

GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS!

AND THEN SHARE YOUR HEART AND THE GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS!

HALLELUJAH!  PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind 

🙋

Please share your thoughts with me in the "comments"section  by clicking below on the 

"HALLELUJAH HERALD"link, this will take you to the Full website page where you will have access to all my posts as well as the ability to comment on whatever "The FIRST CHRISTMAS" means for you.

Maybe you can help bless someone else by sharing your "FIRST CHRISTMAS." 👇 

"GIVE ME A BREAK!"

By: Donna Selma Lind

GIVE ME A BREAK! No, really. GIVE ME A BREAK! Sometimes I just need a break!
Do you know what I am talking about? It's like I go, go, go and give, give, give till I'm on empty and I have nothing left. I'm spent, shot,wiped, overdrawn, burned out, tapped,bushed, wasted, tuckered, drained, done in and worn out! Are you getting the picture? GIVE ME A BREAK!

I admit I have a history of pushing myself past the E for empty on my physical gas tank.
 I know I should stop and rest, BUT... and that's my problem, I HAVE A BIG BUT! ( for all of you who are pointing and laughing right now I only used one "t"in But! :)
Yes, my BIG BUT always gets in the way! I'm going to stop cleaning and rest, BUT first I'm going to finish organizing this closet. I'm going to stop working in the garden, BUT before I quit I am going to weed one more row. I am going to take time to exercise today, BUT I have to vacuum and make some phone calls first. My BIG BUT is always getting in the way of my taking time to rest and relax, so I go until I hit the wall and then it takes me a lot longer time to re-coup! Is there anybody else out there that has a BIG BUT that gets in the way of taking a break and enjoying a little R & R?

For me it started when I was a kid, always an overachieving working bee. Never wanting to appear lazy. I enjoyed working hard for what I had and nobody ever gave me anything that I didn't earn or work for.That is all fine and dandy but if not balanced out with rest and fun, it is only a matter of time before we, I crash and burn.

Even Jesus took breaks. Jesus stopped and rested. Jesus got away from the crowds. Jesus took walks along the shores of Galilee and retreated to the garden, he went fishing, he took a nap in a boat.
I imagine there were times when even Jesus thought to himself; GIVE ME A BREAK! 
(paraphrasing of course)

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."

Genesis 2:2 "On the seventh day, he rested from all his work."

Mark 6:31 " Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Exodus 33:14 The Lord replied "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Psalm 23 "He refreshes my soul."

Psalm 62:1 "Truly my soul finds rest in God."

No BUT'S about it! The Lord offers us rest and restoration throughout His Word.
So before our BUT'S get any bigger let's stop and take a break!

STEP AWAY FROM THE WORK! 
STEP AWAY FROM THE STRIVING! 
STEP AWAY FROM THE BUSYNESS! 

Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

SLOW ME DOWN LORD 
by: Wilifred A. Peterson

Slow me down Lord!
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills....

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations- of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from the good book....

Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

                                                        GIVE ME A BREAK!

HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind 

If these words have touched your heart please leave me a comment below . I would love for you to  share your thoughts with me. Thanks and Blessings! 💓