Breaking Fast

Some of you know that on January 1st, 2013, I began a twelve-month fast from buying clothes, shoes, jewelry, or make-up for myself. I knew that I had enough of those things, and that I shopped not for need, but for fulfillment. 

I found that as the months passed, it became easier to not think about shopping. Ads quickly went in the recycle bin or junk box of my e-mail. Whenever I looked through my closet and felt like "I have nothing to wear," I dug a little deeper to find a shirt or dress that I hadn't worn in a while, discovering new combinations or jazzing up an old outfit with a different scarf, hat, or jacket. The more I did this, the more time I spent on being creative and focusing on inner beauty, and the less time I spent at the stores or on the Internet, or worrying about impressing people with my outer appearance.

And more importantly, my fast taught me gratefulness at a deeper level. It's all too easy to go out and buy something for yourself when you want it. Instant gratification is now a click away with amazon.com. Consumerism lives down the street from my house at the outlet mall. But when you receive the item as a gift (even if it's not exactly what you wanted), you know it is a blessing because someone else was thinking of you. A pair of gray pants that didn't fit my friend has become a favorite dressy item for me. My sister has given me several of her old dresses and shirts, which I appreciate because she has a wonderful sense of style. My husband bought me a beautiful necklace for my birthday, and I love giving him the credit for it whenever someone compliments me. 

And now the day of breaking fast is approaching. Part of me wants to go out on New Year's Day and hit the sales, and part of me says, "There's no need, no rush… the clothes will still be there." Even after a year, I still don't have a real need for clothes. Two of my favorite pairs of jeans now have holes in the knees, but come spring and summer, I won't mind the air-conditioning. There are several weddings in 2014, but I attended two weddings this past year and had a lovely and suitable outfit for each of them. And when I finally need new pants, I think I'll visit the local thrift store to hunt for some used treasures. Just because 2013 will be over, it doesn't mean I should jump back into my old habits. I want to continue to cultivate my thriftiness, my gratefulness, and my dependency on God.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning…" (Lamentations 3:22-23)"

There is never a bad day to make a change in your life. Whatever you feel is keeping you from growing in Christ, choose the new year to conquer that beast forever. And may 2014 be a wonderful year of hope, joy, and peace for you!

To read more about my year's journey, read my post from July 1st, My Twelve-Month Fast.

Christmas Song

The darkest night in Bethlehem, few were awake to hear

Creation softly singing, the time was drawing near,

While the world despaired, all hope was dim,

The gates of heaven were closed,

The face of God was hidden from his people down below.

But those whose eyes were open beheld a wondrous sight:

Angels filled the void above, proclaiming the coming light,

And the gates of heaven opened wide, the veil pulled back to show

A tiny babe, a helpless child, the son of God bestowed.

The mystery of Christmas Day is God becoming man;

Omnipotent, omniscient, yet bound by human hand,

But broken hearts will be renewed, the weak shall be made strong,

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the mute will sing this song,

"Alleluia, peace and joy to all!

Alleluia, hear the angels' call!"

Christmas Quotes

Love came down on Christmas Day so many years ago and brought the greatest happiness the world would ever know… Peace came down on Christmas Day to fill the hearts of men with all the sweet tranquility each Christmas brings again… Joy came down on Christmas Day as angels came to earth heralding the miracle of our Messiah's birth.

-Anonymous

Jesus Christ became Incarnate for one purpose, to make a way back to God that man might stand before Him as He was created to do, the friend and lover of God Himself.

-Oswald Chambers

For the great and powerful of this world, there are only two places in which their courage fails them, of which they are afraid deep down in their souls, from which they shy away. These are the manger and the cross of Jesus Christ. No powerful person dares to approach the manger, and this even includes King Herod. For this is where thrones shake, the mighty fall, the prominent perish, because God is with the lowly. Here the rich come to nothing, because God is with the poor and hungry, but the rich and satisfied he sends away empty. Before Mary, the maid, before the manger of Christ, before God in lowliness, the powerful come to naught; they have no right, no hope; they are judged.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God.

-C.S. Lewis

In a couple of days another Christmas will be over. Decorations will be taken down and the grind of daily life will resume. We must do something to remember that the message and meaning of CHristmas does not cease when the celebration is over. Christmas is not really about a celebration, Christmas tress, and piles of gifts. Christmas, the coming of Christ, is about everyday life. God is with us and we need to do anything we can,to remember that fact the rest of the year.

-Bruce Goettsche


(Click here for last year's Christmas quotes.)

Songs of Christmas

I've always wanted to write a Christmas song, but there are so many beautiful ones out there already that make this a truly difficult endeavor. The other difficulty in writing a Christmas song is getting past the cliches and the obvious. Christmas is so simple, and at the same time, so full of mystery… but how to express that in words?

The Christmas carols of old say it best:

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.


But have you ever sung past the standard first verse of the well-known carols? Some of them speak wonderful theology and profound thoughts that go beyond the birth, the angels, and the shepherds. See if you can recognize which Christmas carols these verses are from:


Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name!
Christ is the Lord, oh praise His name forever,
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim.

(O Holy Night, by J.S. Dwight and A. C. Adam)


How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

(O Little Town of Bethlehem, by Phillips Brooks)

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel,
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth,
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

(Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Charles Wesley)


Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through
The cross be borne for me, for you,
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary.

(What Child is This?, by William Chatterton Dix)

Family Focus and Fun

After titling two posts with 'family', I thought I'd go for the hat trick. Not only that, I have three words starting with 'f' in this title!

This post is a reminder to all parents to take time this holiday season to enjoy your family. I myself was reminded of this while watching 'The Rise of the Guardians' with the children a few months back. Here is a short YouTube clip showing the moment when Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy also realize that they focus so much of their respective holidays that they have forgotten to focus on the children. (If you don't want to watch the whole clip, skip to the 1:00 mark, and watch until the 1:30 mark.)

I've always wanted to make Christmas a special time for my children. I almost always made their gifts. We had our advent stockings and stories, we baked, we sang. But I also wanted to share Christmas with everyone else. I wanted to take part in every church event, friendly gathering, and family obligation, and I figured if we went as a family, I was still sharing Christmas with my kids. But what usually happened was that our family time became rushed, and I became frazzled. Cookies aren't as fun to make and decorate when you're in a hurry. Stories can't be savored when they're squeezed in between breakfast and getting out the door. And I have becoming increasingly aware these past months that though I am with my children almost all the time, I am rarely doing something with them. Simply being in the same room with another person doesn't count. (Can you imagine going out for dinner with your spouse or friend and sitting at different tables?) And every year, my children are growing older, whether I choose to savor it or not.

So this year, I intentionally ended the children's choir before Thanksgiving. I am carefully picking which events to attend and activities to take part in. And with the time I have between homeschooling and my few obligations, I want to laugh with my children. I want to play with them and watch the rain with them. I want to continue what I learned from my children last year (see 2012's post, 'Joy, Joy, Joy') and run with it. And yesterday was a perfect example: instead of going to a cookie exchange party with mostly strangers, I took the kids downtown to play in the snow (machine-made, of course) and then we were all in the Livermore Christmas parade together (which really means a lot of waiting with a little bit of walking… plenty of time to chat and sing carols).

I plan on posting a few Christmas quotes later, but otherwise, you may not hear much from me until the new year. And so I want to leave you with this:

May your Christmas be truly full of wonder, joy, and peace!

Note about the movie: If you are a parent who wants to avoid the secularism surrounding the sacred holidays of Christmas and Easter, I do not recommend this movie to you. Never once is Jesus mentioned. But it is a fun movie, and a good one to watch with your older (age seven and up) children and discuss afterwards ("Where does spring come from?" "Who brings true hope?") For a more thorough review, go to Plugged In.

Family Portrait (take 2)

Sometimes the cynic in me comes out. After posting 'Family Portrait' yesterday, I realized that in trying to sound humorous, I sound more like a bitter old woman. I've revised the post, and I hope it encourages you!

~~~~~~~

We have a photo session scheduled for the 14th. I am dreading the day. (Call me a wimp, but I have never had a good family photo session.)

Because not only do I have to get myself ready (will my hair choose to cooperate that day?), I have to get five other people ready (at least my husband can take care of himself). 

And I need to find clothes that coordinate at least a little, without going out and buying matching shirts in sizes toddler to large adult.

Then we have to sit still in front of a camera and all smile at the same time, which is a miracle close to the parting of the Red Sea.

After an hour-long session last year, the result was a Christmas family portrait in which my oldest is scowling like the Grinch and my youngest is front and center throwing a fake snowball at the camera. 

Well, at least it's authentic, I thought. We'll see how it goes this year.

Family portraits remind me of Christmas newsletters. Most describe the year's accomplishments and highlights, a glimpse of the best side of us. I've never felt the need to write a Christmas newsletter, but if I wrote one this year, it might sound something like this: 

2013 has been pretty even-keeled for the Bairds, except for the various epidemics that went through the family. Fortunately, we all survived! Dad started his second year at the church. He continues to love his job, but somedays he comes home feeling burdened. Mom keeps up with the homeschooling and housekeeping, trying to make it all work with a spunky and independent two-year-old in the mix. And who can believe that our oldest turned ten this year! He is a wonderful big brother, though he shows signs of his growing need for independence by making biting remarks to his younger siblings (without always realizing it). All three girls are now sharing a room. This makes for fun and creative play... and a few fights. We're still working on potty-training the youngest, and our four-year-old throws less tantrums now, but he resists naps and likes to blame his little sister to cover his tracks. Nevertheless, we are blessed. We know that all good things come from God above-- our home, our job, our health, and our wonderful family and friends. We pray for you, and hope you pray for us too! Merry Christmas!

So, this is my family. Our hair sticks up, our clothes don't match, and we don't always wake up on the right side of the bed, but if you look closely, you'll see Christ in the center of the picture. And I admit, I prefer this kind of family portrait to one that looks polished and perfect!

Family for the Holidays

I had to stop to enjoy the moment.

Around my table were three generations and two cultures. For the first time, energetic Cantonese conversation mixed with cheerful English banter, filling the room with a joyful noise that I thought would never be possible.

I had assumed that my uncle and aunt would prefer Chinese food over ham and sweet potatoes. I had worried that dinner would be quiet and somber, like the dinners I remembered from my childhood. And I had thought that we would be uncomfortable with each other, feeling a void in years, languages, and beliefs.

But I was wrong. And I'm so glad I was wrong.

And I'm glad that God's Spirit prompted me to invite my family (the few who lived nearby) to my home for Thanksgiving. I was reaching out to the uncle I knew from my toddler years, but then didn't see for twenty years after moving to the United States. Then the last ten years, when my uncle lived just in the next town over, I still thought it someone else's (namely, my parents') responsibility to reach out to him. After all, I barely knew him. There was nothing that tied him to me except for our blood relation. He never did anything to reach to me, so what did I owe him?

Then we found out earlier this year that my uncle had cancer– not just one, but two forms of cancer. Something in me told me that I had waited too long. It was time to love him. God created families with a purpose, even if it is a purpose which I don't fully comprehend.

As soon as I was ready, I prayed for guidance in how to reconnect with my uncle and his family. Visiting them, buying them a gift... all those things didn't seem like the right thing to do. Then God told me, and though I had my doubts, I obeyed. And I was blessed with a wonderful Thanksgiving memory!

The holiday season is a time for celebrating family, but for many, that is not as easy as it sounds. You may have a parent, child, or sibling with whom you are not on speaking terms, or you may have family members who would rather bring up your differences every moment possible. Maybe it's the lack of family, or the death of a loved one. Ask God how you can find or give healing this year, and prepared to be pleasantly surprised.