The Rocks will cry out

Luke 19:37-38:
Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed: Blessed is he who comes, the king in God's name! All's well in heaven! Glory in the high places! Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!" But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."

I have been back and forth since Christmas about writing this blog. I am not sure what holds me back from writing (well....actually I know that it is the bags of emotions that I tote). I am afraid of how people react, how it makes me look, how it makes others feel, and so forth and so on. But God has gently knocked on my heart day after day. The children's song "Ain't no rock" has come to mind a couple of times this week. And then this morning our worship pastor commented about the Rocks crying out in our place, if we don't praise. Funny thing about his comments is that he has said the same thing before, with the same song. But today it was in line with God tapping me.
As many of you know our financial situation is bleak (to say the least) and has been for a while. We have struggled through the past months hardly making it paycheck to paycheck. About 3 months ago I began to think about Christmas stuff. Hubby and I talked a little and I quickly realized that we weren't going to have much in the way of presents. I knew that the kids would have plenty because of grand parents, friends, and Aunts/Uncles so I wasn't desperately worried. But I think at that point I really got a clear picture of how bad we were financially. (I know that presents aren't Christmas, but they definitely represent something. It is one thing the choose to not spend much and another thing to not have it to spend.) As time went on I decided that the money that I would spend on Christmas would be my birthday money. My birthday falls a week before Christmas. I knew that I would get $100-$150 dollars and I could make that work for all of us. Feeling a little bit better going into Nov. knowing that I has some kind of budget made it easier. But slowly things changed. It began with an anonymous gift card of $200 and it snowballed from there, gifts from family and friends and "Elves" just poured in. Sometimes the money bought gifts, sometimes it bought groceries.
A couple of days before Christmas, after I declared I was "Finished shopping", I sat back and looked at our tree. I said to Hubby,"you know what is amazing?" Then I stopped... and said, "never mind I'm gonna keep this one to myself for a while." He just looked at me like I was cooky and went on. Now a week and a half out of Christmas I share.
As I looked at our tree that day I was completely in awe at what God had done for us. He had taken care of us in such a HUGE way. Like I said before, I know that presents and toys aren't "Christmas". But somewhere in the chaos that we call life right now, presents represented stability. I have struggled for over a week to find the words to express why it meant SO much for us to have a tree full of presents. The best I can do is "Love". The presents that filled our living room on Christmas morning were because of the people around us who love us and a God who loves us even more.
The act of giving represents far more than the material value of a gift. It represents a response to a call to action. A call to love.
This Christmas season causes me to do a couple of things.
#1- Praise God! I refuse to let the rocks cry out in my place. My struggle over what to say and how to say it has lasted a week too long.
Let me sing, louder than creation to you....
Let me shine, brighter than the stars in the sky...




#2-Say Thank You! Thank you to all of you who have shown us love is such a huge way. You have prayed for us, given to us, and laughed at us(just kidding....
Maybe;-) You have laughed with us.

Philippians 4:10- 20

Paul writes a thank you. I read this yesterday morning in my devotion in my store. It definitely hit home with all that God has been showing me this Christmas season.

10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.
18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.