The Legend of the Candy Cane

I wanted to add on here the legend in case some of you has never heard of it before:

The LEGEND of the Candy Cane 

A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.
He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.
The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus. It also represented the staff of the "Good Shepherd".
The candymaker then included red stripes. He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life.
The candy became known as a Candy Cane - a decoration seen at Christmas time. 
The meaning has faded, but still gives joy to children young and old, whom Jesus loves and treasures.

Legend of the Candy Cane

Look at the Candy Cane
---what do you see?
Stripes that are red
like the blood shed for me.
White is for my Savior
who's sinless and pure!
"J" is for Jesus, my Lord,
that's for sure!
Turn it around and a staff
you will see---
Jesus, my shepherd,
was born for me!
---Author Unknown

Luke 1:26-38

So I am not writing about Eli or a lesson he taught me this time; however, it was still children in my life that motivated me tonight to read and write what is on my heart.  This time, it was my Sunday school students.
Our Sunday school lessons have been changed for the month of December so I decided to take advantage of my Monday night Starbucks time, and review our new lesson.  After reading and reviewing the lesson, I decided to write my own thoughts down that I got out of the lesson.  I feel like with Christmas being around the corner, the lessons I take from this study will also benefit others.  Tonight while at Starbucks, I read Luke 1:26-38. 

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

 ²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. ²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!^[a]”

 ²⁹ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ And he will reign over Israel^[b] forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

 ³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

 ³⁵ The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.^[c]”

 ³⁸ Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Mary was an ordinary, young, probably poor young girl.  These characteristics make us wonder why God would choose her for His great plan.  Yet He did.  He chose her for one of the most important jobs.  He chose her to be the mother of His son.  Many times we may feel that our experiences or education, our size or how we were brought up make us not qualified for God's work and that God can't use us.  However, if he used Mary, a normal, young woman who wasn't even married yet to birth his son, then anything is possible with Him.  "For nothing is impossible with God."  I am sure Mary questioned God and maybe even wondered if what the angel was saying was true.  She probably thought, "Why me, God?"  I am sure she was probably scared and worried about what could happen to her if she goes along with it.  I know I would be a nervous wreck and worried about the outcome.  Back in her day, she could have been stoned.  She could have lost her fiance and her friends and possibly even her family if she got pregnant before she was married.  But yet, she trusted God and said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Just think if we all had Mary's attitude when God asks us to do something for Him.  How often do we question what God is laying on our hearts to do?  How often do  we feel there is no way God could use us or that we aren't qualified for that type of work, etc.  I know many times, I think I am too small or not smart enough or didn't major in a certain area; therefore, I'm not the right person for the job.  However, God can and will use us if we open up to him and his will for our lives.  We need to pray and really truly seek what God wants us to do.  God has a plan for all of us! We are part of His great plan! I know something that has been on my heart lately is reaching out to the community I live in.  So many thoughts have entered my head on what I can do; yet I haven't stepped up and followed through with any of those thoughts.  Tonight while thinking of ideas for our Christmas program at church, I thought of a wonderful way to spread the Good News to our neighborhood this Christmas season.  If you have read, "The Legend of the Candy Cane" you will know what I am talking about.  I was thinking of writing a short skit to retell this story when a thought popped into my head from that story.  How cool would it be to pass out a candy cane with a card attached that told this legend?  This legend was started by a guy in Indiana which will hit home for people in my neighborhood.  I will be able to share all about what Christ did for us just by handing out candy canes.  Jason and I have talked about sharing this story with our Sunday school class, and then getting together with them to pass out the candy canes.  I am so excited about what God can do in my neighbor's lives through this small act of stepping out of my comfort zone to share the good news.  Just think if every Christian stepped out of their comfort zone to share what Christ has done for them what a difference we could make! I challenge everyone who reads this, to step out this holiday season and do something to make a difference in your community...a difference that could make a difference for eternity.  Think! Share! And come up with an idea to share Christ with others this holiday season! I know God can and will make a difference through each one of us, and I am so excited just thinking about how He is going to use each one of us! Please post and share your ideas so that others can use those ideas as well! What a great way to share Christ!!!!

I am thankful for...

So I am pretty sure God put Eli in my life for a good reason.  That reason?!?! I am pretty sure he reminds me daily of the important things.  Yes, he gets on my nerves at times, and yes he sneaky at times, and we can't keep a secret from him.  He figures out almost all of his Christmas presents before it is even November; however, this child, only 5 seriously is my daily reminder of who I am supposed to be.  So the other day, we were riding in the car, and he wanted to play a game...a normal car ride with him.  We are either playing a game or listening to him, and if you interrupt him, he lets you know.  So anyway we were in the car, after watching "Game Plan" earlier that day, he decides he wants to play that game where he asks questions and we answer.  So we answer questions about our favorite sport, favorite vacation, favorite thing to do etc. when I decided to ask him the question from the movie, "What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?"  Jason and I are both expecting answers like: "when we got my xbox or the wii" or "when we went to Florida" and answers like that.  Instead what came out of his mouth shocked us both.  He said, "Wrestling and...Jesus taking away all my sins." So as I was reading all these posts about what others are thankful for, I was reminded, again by a five year old what I am truly thankful for...
Yes, I am very thankful for my reliable family, wonderful husband, amazing stepson, caring in-laws, and most importantly (in Eli's words) "Jesus taking away  all my sins." I am constantly needing this 5 year old to remind me of what is really important. And with the holidays coming up, I don't want to push off what really is important.  I am thankful for life, Jesus dying on that cross for my sins, and for the gift of eternity.  Thank you, Lord for all the small things, but also for your son.  Thank you for loving me more than words can express and thank you for allowing me to have Eli as a step-son and for all the other children in my life.  Thank you for teaching me important lessons through these children. I pray that I can be used by you just as you use these young children for your purpose. Just like in Jeremiah, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!” Jeremiah 1:7  Give me the strength and courage to  be used by you and to do what you have called me to do.

Lessons Taught By a Five Year Old

Once again, I have to admit, I've been taught a very important lesson by a five year old.  I know God uses children in so many ways.  Working with children on a daily  basis has opened my eyes to so much that I probably wouldn't think about otherwise.  It sounds strange I know, but yet so true.  The last few days has shown me so much.  I have been reading how to become a wife after God's heart and I feel like that is just a step into the right direction; however it seems like everything I do, hear, or see is about seeking God and putting him first in my life lately...the last two movies I watched, spending the day with Eli and hearing things he says, and even hearing my students at school say things...it all reminds me to put God first in my life and all else will fall into place.  I have been praying for months now that Jason would take a step into being the spiritual leader in our household.  Here lately God has been answering those prayers.  A few nights ago, I cut my finger in a paper cutter.  Not thinking much of it, I told Eli and Jason about it after they got home from wrestling practice.  That night, during family prayer time, Jason asked who wanted to pray first.  Eli who usually prays last every time wanted to pray first.  When he started to pray, he first thanked God "for this beautiful day and fun at wrestling practice."  He remembered to give God praise first.  Then he started praying for my cut...praying that it would feel better and go away.   He didn't pray about himself or something he wanted. Instead he prayed for me.  It felt so good inside knowing he prayed for me and didn't just pray but wanted to pray first so that he could pray about what was on his heart.  How often do we first pray about ourselves and what we want, but not only that we a lot of times put prayer off to the side...either pray quickly to get it over with, or stop because we get distracted?  It seems so often we put God second in our lives.  Yes, he's a part of our lives, but not first.

Yesterday at work, on the playground, a student who is usually very quiet and well behaved, went up to the top of the slide seeing something that was not Christlike and instead of ignoring it or walking away, he asked the other students, "Is that being like Jesus? Would Jesus do that?"  I was shocked to hear him ask that question.  Our number one rule in our class is to be like Jesus in all we do or say and this child reminded the other students of how they were acting.  He knew what those students were doing was not nice and he was able to stop the actions.  How often us as adults see things in this world and in our community going on and yet do nothing to stop it.  I know there are things I have more control over and yet don't think twice about it or think I'm not big enough or "good" enough to say anything or try anything to take care of that situation. In Jeremiah 1:7 it says, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you." God has plans for all of us no matter what our size or age.  I recently taught my students about David and Goliath.  David was a tiny man compared to Goliath, but yet he stepped out into faith, knowing God would help him defeat Goliath. It didn't matter his size because he trusted God.  We need to be more like David and trust God to help us step out into faith and do the things that seem impossible because none of us are inadequate in God's eyes.  He can and He will use each one of us if we say, "Here I am Lord, send me."  Isaiah 6:8.  Eli and I heard the song "God of this City." by Christ Tomlin in the car today on the way out to Poseyville and we started talking about the line "greater things are still to be done in this city." It was so neat to talk to a 5 year old about how God uses people to help accomplish his goals.  I believe that greater things are really going to happen in this city.  I believe God will and is currently using people now in this city for greater purposes.   Eli and I talked about how God can even use us and someone as young as him to spread the good news and tell others about Him.  We talked about his uncles who may not believe and how we have to pray for them so they can go to heaven and be in heaven with us some day.  He even said he wanted his Uncle Corey and Uncle Jeremy and all his other uncles to know God so they could go to heaven with him.  Then he reminded me how God was an artist and made all the clouds and fields and tractors and a healer like a doctor and a teacher and a fireman because he helps people, etc.  I am pretty sure Eli named off every profession there was and gave a reason for most of them as to why God was that.At first he talked about how he didn't like driving all the way out to Fred and Marsha's but by the time we were almost to Moto Mart, he started making comments about how he enjoyed riding there because he got to see so much that he doesn't normally see like all the tractors and, "Jason Schmitt has a combine!!!! I didn't know that!"  I had to laugh because God used even that 40 minute car ride, that seems like eternity for a 5 year old child to bring out how amazing He is and conversations that wouldn't normally come up in a 15 minute car ride across town.

To end this whole lessons taught by a five year old, I wanted to mention one other story that spoke to me more than any of the above was tonight as we were watching previews to a movie that we were about to watch, Eli said to my 7 year old cousin, a question that we constantly drilled in him last year, "Do you know why we celebrate Christmas?" Then before he gave time for my cousin to answer, he answered so knowingly, "It's God's birthday! We celebrate his birthday on Christmas!"  And my cousin excitedly turned around to me and Jason and asked, "Is it really God's birthday?!!" Of course we explained how we celebrate Jesus' birthday on Christmas and went into a little bit more detail probably not as much as we could have or now looking back feel like should have, but it was an open door and conversation that was started by a five year old wanting to share about God.  Just think if we were all that eager to share the Good News?!?! If each of us shared who He is to at least one other person.  With the holidays coming up, I am challenging myself to be bold like Eli and to share my faith with at least one other person if not more than one  even if it's a simple question like, "Do you know why we celebrate Christmas?" I drill in my students so often to share about Christ with others who don't know him or don't attend church somewhere, but yet how often do I follow through with what I teach my students? How will I spend my holiday season this year?  Will I put up all the Christmas decorations and trees etc? Will I go Christmas shopping for all my loved ones? Will I share the gift of eternity with a loved one? Will I celebrate Christmas how I always have? Will I add a birthday cake to my desert list? Will I add a nativity set to my decorations? Will I tell the story of Jesus' birth to Eli and the other children in my life? Will I give to someone in need this year? These are all questions that I have thought about...that are important in my family.  I know these were some of the traditions, I have always dreamed of doing with my children some day, but why not start now.  I have been praying for my future children; however, I have Eli now and family members now that I can share with and do these traditions with now.   Last year, before we opened gifts, we read the story of Jesus' birth and then sung happy birthday to Him and enjoyed a piece of cake.  It may have not seemed relevant then, but hearing Eli tell another child about what Christmas is really about, proved it hit home for him! I am so excited about keeping this a tradition in my family and with my future children. I pray that some day, they too, will share with other children why we celebrate Christmas!

God of This City
By: Chris Tomlin
Verse 1.
You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

You're the light in this darkness
You're the hope to the hopeless
You're the peace to the restless
You are

Bridge:
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like You God

Chorus 1:
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Verse 2:
You're the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all kings
You Are

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You Are

Bridge:

Chorus 2:
For greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
When glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for You and love for You
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Greater things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here


"Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3
The LORD replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you." Jeremiah 1:7

Ephesians 6:1-8

Be careful what you say or how you act in public...you never know who's watching or listening.  Jason and I were out tonight and prayed before we ate, thinking nothing of it and then started talking about how amazing God is because of the little input men have in how their children look and women carry the babies for 9 months, but yet so many children turn out to look just like their dads...in the middle of our convo a man came up to us and told us how much seeing us pray meant to him...this isn't the first time this has happened to us and I'm sure not the last; however, it has made us stop and think how people are always watching us or listening to us when in public and we usually don't think twice.  I know there are times I have not acted Christlike in public. I pray that these little reminders will help me to be more careful and help me strive to be like him in all I do daily! I received a text today with these verses that made me think about how I act around my students, nieces, and nephews and other children in my life. My prayer today on my way to school was that I work as if I was working for the Lord, but not just that but that I don't just do enough to get by, but rather work with all my heart to make a difference to each child in my life including ELi, and for my husband.  I have been reading a book about being a Wife after God's own heart and this verse fit right into that.  I want to be a wife, mom, and teacher after his heart...smiling as I work, giving 110% of my time to those in my life instead of just getting by.  I am challenging myself to work hard with a smile on my face daily...to live daily as if someone is always watching me because more than likely someone is constantly.  I hope to continue to play tag with my students, race with them at recess, give them several hugs a day, teach each of them to their ability and just talk to them about life and my beliefs in the Lord.  I want them to see me working for Him and not for myself,another teacher or my principal.  I want to clean house, cook, spend time with Jason and Eli and be the best wife and mom that I can be for them and still have that smile on my face showing them  I am enjoying every minute I am with them or doing something for them.  This is my prayer and challenge right now in my life and for the rest of my life as well pray for my future children so that some day I can be that mom that brings them up in a home that is loving, inviting, and Christ-filled.  I want my children to grow up loving HIM more than words can express!

 " 1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord,[a] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”[b]

 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6 Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free."