Scatter the flowers

  hymnsandverses.com image "Do all the good you can,  by all the means you can,  in all the ways you can,  in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can,   as long as ever you can."   ~ John Wesley, theologian One of my favorite childhood memories around Christmas is watching "The Little Drummer  Boy",  about a poor boy who felt he had nothing to offer the newborn King, Jesus, as he watched others bring the finest of gifts to Him.  He wanted to give something to Jesus, and realized he could use his talent of playing the drums to honor Him. Ever feel like you have nothing to offer Jesus that is worthy?  Like doing your best isn't quite enough?  Maybe it's not received the way it was intended, or it wasn't quite as sufficient as we designed it to be.  When we feel like that, it's because we are basing our lives on us  and our efforts.  We  need to remind ourselves that what Jes...

  "Mrs. Howell, don't worry about the wild animals.  They usually fall in the quicksand."   ~ Gilligan, Gilligan's Island Remember the old show "Gilligan's Island" (possibly pre-dated dinosaurs), where their biggest peril was quicksand?  C ontrary to the frequent elusion to it on this show,  I had never seen or heard of it until recently a hiker in Utah was stuck in it.  However, it developed a paralyzing fear in me as a child, right along with spiders. And snakes.  My friend and I recently engaged in a heroic battle with a snake in her basement (it was more her than me, as I stood there screaming).  We successfully got it in a trash can and put it outside, only to find out it was a fake one.  (No names will be mentioned about how it got there, Karen.) Fear of real things is real.  What if there's math? But what about the fears of imagined possibilities?  What if we don't have enough money?  What if I'm rejected?  What if ...

  "Know that darkness is merely the absence of light.  You can be the small candle that defeats the vast darkness."  ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie ❄ I'm not sure if good King Wenceslas let it snow, but baby, it's cold outside.  It was 10 degrees here a couple days ago.  So after watching it snow all day, this picture of the city lights shining through the Arctic chill kind of made me think of Christ's words when He said we were the light of the world that can't be hidden ( Matthew 5:14-16 ). Jesus taught with such incredibly powerful word pictures - there's something so inviting about a light amidst darkness.  It emits warmth and coziness, promising a welcome as we get closer.  It's a sign of life among a lifeless darkness; beckoning people to draw near.   ❄ I wonder if that is what Jesus meant by telling us to  'shine like bright lights'.  (Phil 2:15) How can we shine this week?  Can we bring a bit of joy to someone who needs cheer...