Simply Norma – Page 146

Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
Why art thou artificial?

Yes, our very first artificial Christmas tree. When we went to buy a real one they were frozen.

The white you see outside the window is snow that has drifted UP to our window as we experience our very first blizzard.

Last I heard we had received 16 inches of snow but the neighborhood next to ours has 20 inches so … could be more as it’s still falling.

The State Patrol has advised no travel in the metro area.

Delta Airlines canceled all flights.

Plows being pulled off the street as the drivers can’t see what’s in front of them.

This is the 4th largest snowstorm/blizzard in Minnesota’s history.

Optimistically, we are getting all of the bad weather out of the way during the first month that we’ve been here.

“The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened.” Desire of Ages

How different is the love of God compared to our human love.

We who sometimes try to coerce or persuade to try to get our way.

Even withholding our love sometimes.

Selfishness is something that I have to battle with every day. It feels ingrained in my being. A part of me that I wish to shed like a caterpillar sheds its outer skin to become a butterfly.

Indeed, only by love is love awakened.

How gentle the life that Jesus lived on this earth. Showing the Father’s love and how we should treat each other.

God in the flesh walking among us. Showing God’s love as only God knows how to do.

The Desire of Ages: A Classic on the Life of Christ

Christmas Giving

In reading from part of a book tonight called “The Desire of Ages,” the author quotes John 8:50.

The beginning of that verse reads “I am not seeking glory for Myself.” The speaker is Jesus Christ.

The glory He seeks is for the Father in heaven. Jesus reflects the unselfishness of God the Father.

It’s a circle of life between the two and one that we have the privilege to join in if we choose.

The type of God we have the privilege of knowing is one who gives unselfishly.

Yet looking around, we don’t see that unselfish giving in humans. We mainly see a “me” mentality.

Our family decided to have a grab bag this year for the adults. A list was made of what those adults “wanted” for Christmas.

It feels like we have reduced Christmas to just giving gifts because that’s what the person wants. I fall into the same trap — asking what people want instead of thinking about the person and based on my knowledge of who they are, giving from the heart.

Yet even that doesn’t seem good enough.

The love God gives can’t be compared with a list of things that we want. His love gets to the core of what every human being truly needs — love. And only the type of love that He can provide. Everything else can try to come close — but in the end, what really matters is God’s love.

The Desire of Ages: A Classic on the Life of Christ

Weather

Last night, I sent a text to my son who lives in Seattle to check in on him.

He’s doing fine.

He told me that this coming Sunday our temperature high would be 1 degree with a low of -10.

Since we’re looking for a house, he wanted to know why we just didn’t get an igloo. I laughed so hard I had to get up out of bed so as not to wake my husband.

This morning, the radio used the “b” word as they call it here. “B” standing for blizzard. Up to a foot of snow to fall overnight with strong winds could cause it to feel -30.

Fortunately for me I purchased my -25 degree warmth coat.

Not that I’m planning on leaving the house in the wind and cold.

It’s not easy to walk around in this town of Woodbury.

I’ll be glad when we find a new home – but I’m pretty sure it won’t be an igloo.

Life in the 30’s

No, not the age.

Today we will be reaching 30 degrees. It’s a heat wave. Lol

I couldn’t understand seeing Minnesotans walking around with their coats unbuttoned, no scarfs or hats, when the temperature was 20.

Now they, or shall I say we, have gone wild.

The thinner jackets have come back. The Minnesota shuffle has slowed down some.

Expectations. They make our minds act differently.

Even if just for one day.

Meeting with Rep. Bachmann’s aide

The meeting today to discuss the new TSA guidelines went rather well with Rachel Horn, aide to Representative Bachmann.

Minnesota is considering going to a private company to do their airport screening. There’s an airport committee that has public meetings.

Ms. Horn has already emailed me the information for the committee so I can contact them and/or attend the meetings.

Perhaps this is the way to go – one airport at a time.

And perhaps a letter to Ms. Napolitano is in order also.

But do I really want to be that known by the government?

Hmmmm … I guess it’s either all the way or no way.

Now I just have to wait to see which state we buy a house in – Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Ford Edge, Subaru Outback

Spent today shopping for Christmas gifts for the “little” ones. Only thing is, outside of our grandbabies, the “little” ones aren’t so little anymore.

It was a successful day though.

This evening, we test drove the Subaru Outback. It was an okay drive. The car is a lot bigger than the Toyota Camry I drive. Longer and wider.

The strange thing about it — it’s electronic on the driver side and manual on the passenger side.

I think we’ll test drive the Ford Edge again. It’s the same size as the Camry and had more options.

Whiter than Snow

Woodbury, Minnesota

Riding through Woodbury today, we came across many areas that have evergreens laden with snow.

The song “Whiter than Snow” came to mind.

Lord Jesus, I want to be whiter than snow

I want you forever to be in my soul

Break down every idol, cast out every foe

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow

Refrain:

Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

James L Nicholson, 1872

This hymn reminds me of our humanness.

We never think of ourselves as sinful — people who do wrong. We like to think that we are doing the best that we can.

But our best is not good enough.

We are selfish inside and tend not to think of others before ourselves.

It’s wonderful to know that Jesus takes us just as we are and puts His character in us to shape it so that people can see Him instead of us. We can claim no goodness of ourselves.

Thank you for the work You do in making me whiter than snow.

The Salt of the Earth

The salt they pour on the streets here in Woodbury remind me of Matthew 5:13 where it says:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”

Indeed, the only good taste any of us have is the goodness of Christ living in our lives. That is the only thing that provides the true goodness we show to other people.

Lately it feels like a few people I have known have lost their saltiness. The goodness of Christ can no longer be seen in them. Only the carnal/worldly nature is left.

It saddens me, yet as humans I know that we all have lapses into “unsaltiness” — the unkind word or look or perhaps neglect of someone.

Hopefully the lapses are temporary so that the salt of Jesus can be once again shown to the world in need of a Savior.

Meeting with Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

Well, the office of Ms Bachmann responded quite rapidly regarding the TSA concerns that I have.

I am scheduled for a meeting with her aide next Tuesday.

That should be interesting as I’ve never done this before — met with a Congressperson’s staff.

Maybe I’ll fly to Washington, D.C. and see who else I can meet with.

Hmmmmm … is a political life in my future???

I had no problems at the Minnesota airport as they have two security lines that only have metal detectors.

Coming back from Seattle, I had read that all of their security lines have the scanners so I would have had to have opted out. But, I went to a line that was really long and when I got to the front, they only had metal detectors.

Thank God for His oversight of this human being.