I Climbed into the Trash Can - A Christmas Story

I Crawled into the Trash Can – A Christmas Story

Are you in a Christmas cleaning and decorating frenzy like me?  (I imagine you nodding your head up and down)  Sure!  We want our home to be comfortable and cozy, inspiring holiday warmth for our family and guests.  And for this we work and toil willingly.  Well, for the most part.  Unfortunately, that is exactly how I wound up crawling into the trash can.

 

As my holiday schedule expanded, I fell somewhat behind in my Christmas preparations.  The poinsettia that should have been carefully positioned at my front door looked remarkably like a rotted pumpkin.  Yes, the pumpkin I had hollowed and planted with flowers for Thanksgiving was now far from fresh.  In fact, it was oozing by my front door.  Not a pretty sight; a Martha Stewart no, no.

I went to work to resolve this holiday dilemma.  Scooping out the bright yellow and orange flowers from the pumpkin, I then placed them into a pot for the back yard.  Brian, my husband, was unanimously delegated by me to pick up the pumpkin and chuck it into the outdoor trash can.  Next was the intensive sweeping and cleaning away of soil, leaves and messy ooze that had accumulated on the front path. 

As I finally swooshed the very last dust pan full of debris into the large green outdoors trash can, in fell the dusting brush.  Can you say bummer?  I said, “Y U C K!”  I was half tempted to leave it there.  After all, it was old, soiled and of very little value.  Still, duty called.

At 5’-1”, it was impossible for me to bend down into the can to reach the bottom where the brush had landed.  Instead, I would have to lower the trash can down on its side and on to the ground, crawl inside, and grab the brush.  Simple enough I know.

But do you know what had previously been in that trash can; cut grass, palm fronds, no problem.  But let’s not forget the doggie doodie; lots and lots of doggie doodie!  And yet, inside I go to get the job done and make the world a better place for Christmas.

Strange as it may sound, at the moment I entered the trash can, the thought of Christ leaving perfect heaven and coming into this sin filled world, jarred my mind.  He was not too proud to climb into the filth I had created, reach in and pull me free.  In fact, in John 10:10 Jesus said:

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

I climbed into the filthy trash can as a small contribution to holiday cheer.  Holy Jesus entered this world, full of sin, to provide a change of destiny to any who would believe on Him. He is your escape from hell and your promise of heaven.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 

As His own creation, you are of great value to the heart of God.  You are neither too filthy nor used up, past or present, for Christ to reach out and save you from your sin.  All you need do is ask.

“Jesus, forgive me of all my sins.  Come into my heart and live.  Make Your home there.  Change me; rearrange me, according to Your will.  Thank you for forgiveness and my future home in heaven.  Now, help me live for You.  In Jesus name, amen."

Clean, bake, decorate; crawl into the trash can if necessary but remember the true meaning of Christmas; the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Camels Always Rest on their Knees

Camels Always Rest on their Knees

Are you tired and worn out from busyness and a crowed schedule?  Are you weary from the trials and challenges you face day to day?  Does it feel as though you are carrying an overload of weight on your shoulders and no one is available or willing to shoulder the weight with you?

Before you say, “that’s life!” consider the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30,

28  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29  "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30  "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

The definition of rest from verse 28 is:

a)  To cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to

recover and collect his strength.

a)  To keep quiet.

b)  Of calm and patient expectation.

The definition of rest from verse 29 is:

a)  Intermission

b)  Cessation of any motion, business or labor

c)  Recreation

The illustration for rest from the Arabic is to kneel down as a camel.  Camels always rest on their knees.

As you read this excerpt from an older edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you.  What did you see?  How will you apply it?

The Camel

Of all carriages, camels are the cheapest and quickest. Each camel is loaded in proportion to his strength.  The large camels generally carry a thousand, or even twelve hundred pounds weight, and the smallest from six to seven hundred.

At the first signal, the camels will bend their knees and lie down to be loaded, which saves their conductor the trouble of raising the goods to a great height. As soon as they are loaded, they rife spontaneously and without any assistance. One of them is mounted by their conductor, who goes before, and regulates the march of all the followers.

The camel requires neither whip nor spur. But, when they begin to be tired their courage is supported, or rather their fatigue is charmed, by singing, or by the sound of some instrument. Their conductors take a turn at singing and, when they want to prolong the journey, they give the animals but one hour's rest upon their knees; after which, resuming their song, they proceed on their march for several hours more and the singing is continued till they arrive at another resting place, when the camels again lie down; and their loads, by unloosing the ropes, are allowed to glide off on each side of the animals. Thus they sleep on their bellies in the middle of their baggage, which, next morning is fixed on their backs with equal quickness and facility as it had been detached' the evening before.

What can we learn about rest from the camel?

A.                 Make Christ your Conductor

·    Let Him call you to labors, burdens and works.  Never take on what is not placed upon you by Him.  If you have, release it. 

·    Is the Lord leading you or have you gotten ahead? 

·    Is the Lord regulating your pace?  Don’t be fooled!  “A chicken with its head cut off” is not the standard speed of the Lord’s servants.

B.                 Rest is Found in Worship

·    Make your life, your work, your responsibilities an act of worship, accomplished for the Lord.  When what we do is truly done for Him that brings rest. 

·    Lifting your voice in song and praise when in the midst of troubles places your focus on your greatest strength and asset, the Lord.  That brings rest and the endurance to continue.

C.                Rest is Found in Prayer

·    Relinquishing control to God and asking for His power to be unleashed in your circumstances brings rest.

·    The Apostle James, the half-brother of Jesus, was actually nicknamed 'Old Camel Knees' because he was known as a man of prayer.  James learned to rest on his knees.  He wrote: James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 

Yes, Camels always rest on their knees. 

If you are weary today, fall to your knees and rest.