~ 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 I still found myself exhausted, unable to fully 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 who assured me there would 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 and found a seat in the cafeteria. 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 stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas" I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment: songs about 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, who were adorned in fuzzy mittens and red sweaters, with bright stocking caps on 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 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. She was unaware that reversed, her letter "M" appeared as a "W."

The audience of first- through sixth-graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, and 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.

When the last letter was held high, the message read in red bold, bright and clear:

"CHRISTWAS LOVE" ("CHRIST WAS LOVE").

And I believe He still is.

-Candy Chand

 

 

~ B E L I E V E ~

Let us - at this wondrous season -
believe in something more.

Something beyond all the materialsm, and expectations that sometimes creeps into our hearts. 

Let us believe in the good in others, even when it's difficult to see at times. 

Let us believe in giving instead of receiving ...
giving of our time - our love - our kindnesses one to another. 

Let us believe in the hope for a brighter future - created by us, not waiting on others or the world to create it. 

Let us believe in what this time of year means. 
What and Who it focuses on. 

Let us believe in the magic that the simplicity of this season - through song, family gathered, decorations and just being in the moment - can bring. 

Let us continue daily to believe in Him.

~ Always There ~

It seems
no matter what I am life-busy with in my day,
or need answers to a question,
or help,
or in need of something ...

my dearest, closest friends
are always there to help me and come to my rescue.
My life is so richly blessed because of this.
Saying "thank you" seems microscopic, compared to the
gratitude encompassing my being.

It happened like this today -
a question was promptly answered to something I needed right-quick,
with my text reply back saying "Thank you so much -
You are always there."

As I finished the last letter and sent that sincere message of
deepest gratitude
on its way - the thought struck me soul-deep.

"Am I always there
for someone - those sweet friends of mine -
my family - a stranger,
whenever, at the drop of a hat
as I have been so dearly blessed with in my life?"

I hope to be somewhat equal in quality, value and measurement
as my dear ones have been to me.
To always be there - no matter what I am doing in my day.
That I may stop - and be there ... really be there.

Always be there.

With my complete heart and soul.

~ Sunrise ~

"There was never a night
or a problem
that could defeat sunrise
or hope." -Bern Williams

The glowing miracle of

a new day ...

a day to be filled with

thousands of seconds

intertwined with daily rythmn and

spinning of earth,

wrapped up in all encompassing - everything that makes ones

life tick ...

I stop and am still.  Breathe deep the essence of

Hope ...

Hoping to make this day, right once again with yet, another living chance

with whatever it was from the day before,

that I did or didn't do.  Say or didn't say.

Forgive and ask to be forgiven.

Love and be loved.

This gilded moment of being drenched in

divine illuminating gold,

fills me with His love.  And His hope once again.

Ahhhh ... sunrise.  Eyes bathed in beauty all around.

Heart-soul, filled with heaven's embrace.

Hope.

"And he shall be as the light of the morning,

when the sun riseth,

even a morning without clouds;

as the tender grass springing out of the earth

by clear shining after rain."

-2 Samuel 23:3



~ Turn ~

Interesting
how little things
speak louder, more powerful than
bigger things visible.

How the smallest phrase or
word
can pierce heart-soul right through
as if God Himself spoke it - standing right next to you.

How, through life challenges - struggles - chaos - and trials,
in this spinning world,
a message finds you unexpectedly -  and stops you awe-still ...
interweaving through fiber being and
finding heart,
it whisper speaks ... penetrating:

























I read it again ...
"TURN TO CLEAR VISION."

I ponder this message just for me, in this moment of my life -
swirling
within my mind, what it really means.  Not just surface - but forever deep.

Aren't there times in life, where our vision needs to be cleared?  That when we are in the depths of
life-stuff,
how easy it is to see the stuff, and not what is truly important?

Turn is an action.  I see now what I have not been doing lately.  Not turning daily.
Turning to Him.

And I know when I do turn - my vision becomes clear, and my eyes see. 
See what is most important right before me every second of the day. 
See Him. 
Even amidst all the stuff.


"Set your affection on things above,
not on things on the earth."
-Colassians 3:2



Oceanside Beach Pier binocular lookout

~ To Be Lead and Held ~

"Something of God…flows into us from the blue of the sky,

the taste of honey,

the delicious embrace of water….”

~ C.S. Lewis

"If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me."

Psalms 139: 9-10

Oceanside Beach, CA

Morning sun, awakening ocean's masterpieces
and sunset drenching the world with gold.

7-1-2011

~ What Is Powerful? ~

"For the word of God is
quick, and powerful,   

and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of
soul and spirit, and of the
joints and marrow,   

and is a
discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12

~ The Writing on the Wall ~

Words written
are simply that - written -
if not
lived by the word.

Words wrapped in skin
with heart and soul intertwined,
become real. Authentic. Daily summoning in living.
A challenge in the mess and chaos
of life's ongoing battle of
another chance to make it right -
today.

It has been said that some words are
mightier than the sword.

I believe it. 

Words trigger emotion, within
the very depths of being -
awakening soul, realizing at that very moment
it was asleep. Black abyss hibernation.

Powerful words.  A discovery within innermost fiber for me.
Eyes read.  Heart surges.  Action to live.
I try my best to live them.
Most days I fall hard.  

I see the writing on the wall - the very walls within home.
Those words mirrored in retina at every turn,
constant reminder to live by.
I pick myself back up again and desire to try.

Giving up makes for a
lost, wandering soul.  Aimlessly living.  Empty life meaning.

The writing on the wall reads frozen there.  A Beacon for my sometimes weary soul.
It is I, who must daily melt the words
and live them real.
Words from my lips.  Do I live the words I speak?
Words that proclaim: "I believe.  I know.  I trust.  I love.  I'm sorry.
I forgive you.  I promise. I speak truth.  Not my will - but thine."
Hypocrisy is a sin.  And I am a hypocrite if the words
aren't heart-lived.  Breathed honest.  Real..
Within and then without.

Example.
Powerful word.  Powerful action.
I pray hard, hands clasped tight to succeed.

Words written on skin-thin pages
communicate deep for me to
live-real ...
His words.  His love.  His example.

I persist conscience to prevail - daily -
the eternal perspective words. Salvation words.
To abide in them a dwelling place
within soul-depth and life breath.

Words powerful enough
to bring forth Light. His Light.
This is my heart desire ... daily conquering darkness into
Light,
by the power of His word.

In my constant existence of breathing the breath He gives,
I will live the Words.


"In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
And the Light shineth in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not."
-John 1: 1,5

"Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God."
-Matthew 4:4

~ Joy ~

"Joy is not the absence of suffering.



It is the presence of God."
-Robert Schuller

. . .  and His presence is everywhere . . .

"...All things denote there is a God;

yea even the earth, and all things that are upon

the face of it,

and its motion, and also all the planets which move

in their regular form do witness that there is a

Supreme Creator."

-Alma 30:44

~ Heaven's pallete sunset at Oceanside, CA  Malia jumping 8-4-2011

Where Heaven and earth meet ...

Various locations in Temecula - rolling meadows, early spring flower, moonlight in front yard, golden hour in home,

and Trestles beach, CA footprints in sand ~