A Christmas Poem

A Christmas Poem

by Kim Stone

Jesus didn't have a glamorous way of coming to save our life

I’m sure it was a shock to be in a barn for Joseph and his wife.

I mean here they had been told the savior would be born unto them

Then I’m sure Joseph felt like a complete failure not getting  them into the inn

Jesus came into this world by being birthed in an animal shed

He was placed in a manager to be used as his bed

I’m sure God’s plan was not what they had wanted or thought they deserved

If anyone deserved a great entry to the world, it was the one that Mary had birthed

The strain of being the chosen one to be Jesus’s mother

Also came with the question of will “Joseph still love her”

Her story was incredible to say the least

Not many would believe her not even most preists

So she had to go through the pain of telling Joseph about the child

I can only imagine that his reaction was just a bit overboard and wild

But then an angel appeared to him and began to tell him the exact same story

Then he knew he’d better grow up to be the earthly father of the man of Glory

But 9 months later they found themselves among the hay

Staring in a manger at Jesus where he lay

It wasn't the greatest of situations for the Son of God to be born

But there’s a lesson here for us all that we must not scorn

On this day that Jesus was born it is now known as  what we call  Christmas Day

It wasn't about  being in a nice inn it was about the presence of Jesus where he lay

It wasn't about having the best circumstances

It was about experiencing the love of his presence.

It wasn't about being comfortable as much as it was about feeling pure joy

As they imagined a wonderful life for the son of God also known as their little boy

But soon if the humble beginnings of Jesus was not sign enough

They would be shown again, his life would be more than rough

Evil found out about God’s wonderful plan

And evil sought out a truly awful man

King Herod obliged with a plan against Jesus to seek and destroy

He would not allow a child, a baby, the Messiah to bring this world joy

But God did not allow Jesus to be put in harms way

He did not allow evil to have the final say

Jesus’s family  knew who this young boy would be

But raised him just as a part of the family

Of course there were signs and as he grew up it was undeniable

That the angels spoke truth and proved to be reliable

And as Jesus began his ministry when his mother asked him to turn water into wine

I doubted she realized her request started the process of God’s plan so divine

That her request so simple would be the start of miracles and revealing her son’s identity

But also starting the intense hate, pain, and betrayal of her son the deity.

Jesus deserved more respect, love and riches more than anyone on this Earth

But instead he was ridiculed, hated,  and lacked money since the day of his Birth

So the question I ask is simple but yet so profound to others and to me

Why do we feel we are entitled to a life without pain and without uncertainty

You see Jesus was the only perfect man who walked among us

But even he couldn't escape pain,  drama and all the ruckus

So as we stand as Christians and ask why do bad things happen to me?

Look at the cross, the pain experienced gave way to love that had to be

Jesus had no sin but was treated worse than a sinner

So in our sin, he died for it to make us an ultimate winner

But the prize is not here for us on Earth to see

It will come after we live a life for Him completely

It means to follow Jesus, on this Earth we will also be tried

And at times we will go through times of being unjustly denied

But our hearts know the peace and comfort Joseph and Mary had the day Jesus was born in that shed

 And with that we can face all circumstances with joy in our heart through all the paths we tread

Then on that glorious day when we meet Jesus in heaven above

The pain will melt away and give way to His perfect love

So please don’t get discouraged when things don’t feel that they are going right

Jesus walked through it all and now walks with us and is our leading light

There is something more valuable than having it all

Don’t believe me than please read the scriptures of Paul

He knew the meaning of following God and finding pure joy

He also knew what it was like to seek and destroy

He had lived a life on both sides of the fence

Until he found God and it all made sense

So please look deeper to see Jesus’s entire life this Christmas season

For the problems you question you may just find out His reason

But even if you still can’t see God’s plan working through your pain

I hope you at least see your sins are blotted out and no longer leave a stain

Find Jesus and open your heart to his truths and love

Then in time you’ll find your answers from above.

So this Christmas season I hope you find joy in even the worst of circumstances

And come to find there is more than just family, food, gifts and presents

I pray you find His perfect peace and His joy in your heart

And I wish this to carry you through the New Year that’s about to start.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! 

Win or Lose - Do it Fairly

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (The Message Bible) pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 

OU/Texas game made me wonder this. Why is it when teams lose the fans/media blame the coach but when they win they credit the players for big-time performances? I've never seen the coach named MVP of the game in a win but in a loss he takes all the blame.  It's a lot like how many people have a relationship with God!  They blame the big coach (God) when things go wrong but take all the credit for themselves when things go right.

Knute Rockne once said, "Win or Lose, Do it fairly."  I challenge all of us to not look to God when things are going bad and putting the blame there.  I challenge us to look at ourselves and see where we can improve and see where our relationship is with God and thank Him for this reality check.   Chances are He is using the experience to get your attention to make you better.  And in those times in our life where the blessings are falling all around us, give God the glory for it.  Don't get wrapped up in the excitement of the moment and feel that it is something you "deserved" or something you worked for .  Don't take God's favor in your life for granted.  Praise Him during the triumphs too!

Bottom line Praise God through it all!  Win OR Lose, Do it fairly!

The Rope of Hope

The Rope of Hope written by me is about when Christians come to the "end of the rope" and question God's timing but at the same time not giving up hope. Please watch it until the end. 

Character

My last post all the way in December was about my daughter and what she showed me about Christmas.  Today I wanted to share with you what my son has shown me about Character.

I have watched my son grow throughout the years. At 3 years old he was so shy that he wouldn't play "blast ball"  (tee-ball for 3yr olds) without his dad standing next to him in the outfield and when he was up to bat. At 4, he wouldn't quit crying and refused to get on the soccer field and never played in a game. We started talking to him then about character, what pleases God, and being a part of a team. At 5, he started playing basketball and practiced great with his team but come game time, he melted and didn't want to play. Parents stared at me like I was the mom "making a kid do something that he didn't want to do".  But some how I managed to get that willful little boy onto the court and when the game started he was still crying but when he got the ball and made his first shot, he ran over to me with the biggest smile and gave me a hug and sprinted back down the court!  That's all it took. He never cried at game time again. This verse began to ring true for him.  Colossians 3:23 "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."

 In that same season, we had a player, Billy on our team that couldn't catch, rebound or shoot very well.  The coach had Lance go and score early in the game. He averaged about 14 pts a game and then he'd tell Lance to get other kids involved.  He first tried throwing to Billy but it would just go through his hands.  So Lance started dribbling to him and handing him the ball to shoot and Lance would rebound and hand it back to Billy.  Lance was relentless that season that Billy was going to score and when Billy eventually did score towards the end of the season, the gym erupted in excitement and Lance I think was even more excited than Billy!  Acts: 20:35 "I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard.  You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus:"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Then when we moved to Altus, Lance went from being a point guard to being the tallest kid in his class. He accepted his new role with grace.  No longer was he the scoring machine but was a post player with fewer looks. He took his new role and even when given the ball he always looked to pass first and shoot second.  I'll admit that drove me a bit crazy as I know what he is capable of doing but at the same time I saw a 7 year old kid who didn't care who made the shots.  He wanted to see his team succeed more than he wanted success for himself!  How rare is that! Philipians 2:3:4 "Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too."

Then he joined a traveling baseball team and honestly his skill level was below the rest of the kids when we started.  He didn't start but got to play a few innings each game but he kept working hard.  He didn't want to quit just because he spent more time on the bench than on the field and he never whined or complained about it. He wanted to get better. When he struck out, he kept his head up and ran back to the dug-out. When others struck out he was the first one there to encourage them. Then we went to a  tournament and he didn't get to play at all in the first game. He set in the dug-out and cheered for his team.  He was probably more excited after the win than some of the kids that actually played!  The coach told him he'd get more playing time the next day because kids were going to be gone.  He went out and in the next 4 games didn't strike out and had some great hits and made good plays!  This last week again, he didn't make it out on the field for a tournament game.  The team was down 0-5 and came back to win it in extra innings 11-6.  As the game was  ending, I looked in the dug-out at the only kid that didn't play and Lance was up jumping up and running on the field hooping and hollering!  My heart was hurting because he didn't play and my frustrations were high as he has worked so hard and improved so much to not play in a game so close but when he came off the field we asked him "Are you disappointed you didn't get to play?"  His answer "A little but I am just so proud of how our team played hard and came back to win."  Philippians 4:8 "Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Yes that's my boy!  Sports never made any of his character.  His character was buried behind shyness and insecurity and was being molded underneath it all.  But sports revealed his heart.  It revealed his character and for that I stand in amazement of the character my son already has shown.  I didn't mention his football season but being the son of the High School Head Football Coach comes with a lot of weight on his shoulder pads and he handled the adversity like a champ which was better than his mom did but I'm working on that!  My son also  has other areas that we need God's help with but in this area God has truly blessed our son. Thank you Lord! I can't wait to see what you have in store for both of my children!

The Christmas Apple

Several years ago when our oldest daughter was 3years old, I received the most refreshing look at Christmas that I had ever encountered and it came from her and it started a tradition in our home.

I picked her up from her babysitter and it was starting to get dark and the neighbors in the neighborhood started turning on their Christmas lights which quickly got her attention as I was buckling her into her carseat.  As I got in the car and we started driving away, she said "Mom, how come if it's Jesus's birthday, how come we get presents and  Jesus don't get any anymore?"  I told her "That is because it gives Jesus a lot of joy to see us giving to others.  It makes him very happy!"  The questioning didn't stop.  "Mom, why do we give Santa milk and cookies and we don't make Jesus a Birthday Cake?"  I said, "You know what honey, we should make Jesus a birthday cake! I think he would like that!"  I was already so amazed at how much thought she had put into Jesus and his special day!  But it didn't stop there!

She said, "Mom, I want to get Jesus a birthday present!"  I said, "OK, what would you give Jesus?" She went into deep thinking and it got quiet and then she said, "Do you think he'd like what him's dad likes?"  I said , "Yes, I'm sure what God likes Jesus does too!"  Then she said so excitedly, "I know the PERFECT present! It's an Apple!"   I said, "Well, I'm sure he'll like an apple but why an apple?"  She said, "Mom, don't you 'member God told Adam and Eve they could eat anything from him's garden except the apple and then they ate him's apple and He was really really upset about it so I figured him was mad because apples are his favorite fruit and he didn't want all of us to be eating his favorite so if God likes apples then Jesus prolly does too! So can we get Jesus an apple for Christmas! Please Please!"  

That year  I took her shopping for her very special gift.  She closely inspected each apple and was so proud when she found the perfect one for Jesus!  Then we headed to the cake mixes and picked out a funfetti birthday cake mix to make for Jesus's Birthday Cake!  That Christmas Eve, before we opened presents we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and had our birthday cake.  And before we went to bed that night, she put out milk and cookies for Santa and an apple for Jesus with a nothe that said "For Jesus not Santa" but then decided we should also leave a piece of cake for Jesus!

The next morning there were cookie crumbs, an empty milk glass, cake crumbs and an apple core sitting on the fireplace with a note that said, "Thank you for the apple! It was perfect! Love Jesus!"

Now each year, we make Jesus a Birthday Cake!  Leaving the apple was a one time thing for us but I still can't look at an apple this time of year without getting misty-eyed about how well a 3 year old could understand the true meaning of Christmas and how she started a tradition within our family and how that helped her brother understand the true meaning too!

The Coach's Wife Poem

 

The Coach’s Wife

by Kim Stone

You know who she is by where she sits

And how she stays on the team not to quit

She’s not there for one person though most think she is there for just the coach her man

But those players on his team couldn’t have a bigger fan

She has no favorites to choose on the team

She cheers for them all to make their play-off dream

Most fans are there for their own kids and fade away from coming in a few years

But she is there year after year with each season‘s ending always bringing tears.

Every group that graduates she calls them her kids too

It hurts to see them graduate and move on to what they choose to do

Each year it gets harder and harder to see Senior Night

Knowing it’s their last game at home under those Friday Night Lights

It’s not easy being the coach’s wife

It certainly is a rewarding but hard life

You get to know wonderful young men and their problems too

Some things you hear just breaks your heart for what they are going through

Each day the Coach’s wife prays for each of the young men

And also pleads to God to help the team come up with the win

You see the players loving on their coach after a win or a loss

No matter what they seem to always respect their boss

However in the stands the parents and fans can feel quite differently about the coach

They say things that break the coach’s wife’s heart but she doesn’t go and approach

She takes it in while her heart breaks inside

If they only knew how hard that coach has tried

He is up before most even think it necessary to rise

He starts working then because he has his eye on the prize

He spends hours breaking down film of his team and others

He spends time making individuals into a team of brothers

It’s not easy to mesh and blend boys of completely different backgrounds

To be a cohesive group who doesn’t care who makes the touchdowns

It’s not an easy job and no one works harder than her man

But those in the stands feel like he has no game plan.

If she yelled and didn’t try to hold back

She’d let them know what was wrong with the passing attack

She’d say “Your kid didn’t block, or your kid ran the wrong route”

But she stays out of the ring and doesn’t try to fight that bout

She takes it in and often guards these things from her husband’s heart

If he knew what she heard it would just distract him from doing his part

It’s a hard life

Of a Coach’s wife

Many nights are spent without her husband by her side

He’s game planning, tutoring, or giving a kid a ride

He is a father figure to quite a few

They look up to him to see what they should do

So the coach’s wife is left to keep the family on track

Practices, homework, scheduling, she’s got it all on her back

The kids often go from Sunday at lunch to Tuesday right before bed

Without seeing their dad once because he’s been working with the team instead

But the kids take it all in stride

For their daddy they show a lot of pride

They know he makes a difference and what he does is for his team

Even if he can’t be home to say “Good night sweet dreams’

But still every once in awhile when he can’t come to a game of theirs or misses a play

They sometimes feel like having to share him is not Okay

But the coach’s wife lets them vent and rave to get it all out

And by the time she’s talked to them no one is left to pout.

When others don’t understand why the Coach’s wife is so upset about a loss

It’s because that loss did come at a great cost

The time, the effort, the coach puts in

Doesn’t seem to matter if there is not a win

The sacrifice he and his family make each day

Hurts a lot more when the kids don’t come to play

The pain of a loss is a slap in the face to our season

It’s saying our family sacrifices a lot for no real reason

So don’t tell the Coach’s wife that the loss isn’t a big deal.

Until you walk a mile in her shoes you can’t understand how it feels

Ever had your husband’s job rest on the shoulders of boys that are just sixteen?

Sounds crazy doesn’t it but it comes with the coaching scene.

Even in good seasons when the wins seem enough

There’s always someone who tries to make life rough

So when you see a Coach’s wife give them some thanks with a big smile

It may be the very thing that keeps them going for awhile

Winning isn't Everything! It's the ONLY thing!

 Those who say “Winning Isn’t Everything” must not know my Jesus!  My Jesus was beaten, whipped up on, ridiculed, made fun of by bystanders, mocked, falsely accused, persecuted, and pinned to the cross  for all to see what they thought was his shame.  Even Jesus’s biggest fans his disciples who knew Him and knew His miracles found themselves denying Him.  They felt if He really was who He said then He would stop what was taking place right then and there and reveal Himself.  They did not understand this was not God’s Game plan.  So Jesus died a painful and hard death on that cross.  His defeat was apparent to all!   He was put in a tomb and so my friends, if “Winning Isn’t Everything” the story would end here.

 

But it doesn’t!  Winning must mean something because on the 3^rd day my Jesus conquered the grave!  He rose again from the pain, from the bitterness of death, He rose again!  Victory was His for the taking and He took it! 

God never promised any of us a life without defeat but He did promise a life of VICTORY with Jesus!  And if we take God’s Play Book (the Bible) and we study up on His word and accept Jesus as our Savior and Ultimate Coach, one day when the last plays of our live’s are playing  out and the time runs out on our life’s scoreboard and we look up to see the score and we look defeated by much of the world’s standards,  just as time expires we close our eyes and the next moment we re-open our eyes to a victory celebration  and see our Coach in Heaven where VICTORY is finally ours!    

So please don’t ever tell me “Winning isn’t Everything”.  Ultimately, Winning is the only thing that matters!