Rejoice!!

Isaiah 49:13 -- "Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones."

Merry Christmas to all of you from Breaking Daily. We wish you all the joy and hope that Jesus Christ gave to us by his birth - both now and as the new year roles 'round. Join us again for a new blog post Friday, January 2nd 2015.

No Man's Christmas

Luke 2:10 -- "And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people'; "

image: tumblr.com

The smell of sweat and wet dirt hung low to the earthen walls generating a stale kind of warmth. The air was filled with the pungent aroma of spent gun powder and blood. Just hours before - the Allied and German armies squared off across an empty patch of field known as No Man's Land. The impromptu space marked the gap between the enemy armies - both of which dug into the dirt like hiding insects.

The calendar on both sides of the line read December 24th, 1914.

As the stars began to twinkle to life and chase away the last remnants of dark blue twilight, all gun fire stopped. Generals stopped barking orders and soldiers stopped peeking out over the tops of the trenches to find a careless target. With their backs resting against damp earth and their weapons down at their sides - a timid, low song began to filter in through the barbed wire.

"Silent night. Holy night ..... "

Before long the entire front line on both sides of No Man's Land began to sing the cherished Christmas hymn. It didn't matter that the words were sung in different languages or that there was no music to play accompaniment out on the battle field. Each gruff and war-weary voice was offered in reverence, in peace, and in humility.

And while no official cease fire had been ordered by any of the political powers pulling the strings behind our first Great War - the soldiers in the trenches took it upon themselves to observe the one day each year when we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. They sung to each other from across the field deep into the cold night.

As the sun broke into a frosty morning on December 25th - a single German soldier breached the barrier and nervously stepped  into No Man's Land. He walked slowly and made a show that he was unarmed. A few of his comrades followed suit. After skeptically observing the small parade of enemy troops, a small group of allied trench-men clambered over the tall walls of their own dug-out and met the Germans face to face in the cold air.

A German soldier stretched out his hand and in deliberate English he said:  "Merry Christmas".

An Allied soldier took the outstretched hand, shook it firmly and in German replied: "Frohe Weinhachten". [Merry Christmas].

Not happy holidays. Not season's greetings.

Merry Christmas.

iamge: thelistlove.com

Gifts of coffee, sweets, and cigarettes were exchanged between our Allied forces and the German troops. They even met in the middle of No Man's Land for a spirited and friendly game of football [soccer].

A very merry Christmas to all of you - as we celebrate a great joy that was given to all people. May our Savior's birth once again stop wars and bring people together face to face that they may see how very much we all have in common - and how very much we ALL need Jesus.

The Gift Of Gab

2 Corinthians 2:3b -- "I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy." [NIV]

A dark city spilled out in front of him as David reluctantly closed the door behind him and said something chipper to his dog, Tozer. It wasn't that he didn't want to walk the furry member of his family - it was more like - he was just so tired and it was so cold. All he really wanted to do was stay inside his nice cozy house and spend time with his wife and girls.

As Tozer's eager face beamed up at him, David felt the joy shine out from those soulful, dark eyes. "Let's go, boy."

The familiar busy bustling of downtown Chicago lit up the background as the pair began their nightly rounds. This was comfort. The sights and sounds of home at Christmas time and man with his best friend heating up the chilled night air as their feet rhythmically ate up the side walk - sheer blissful comfort.

Even in the comfort of the moment David wasn't going to pretend that he was not eager to get back home and that the goal for him on this night was to finish the dog's walk in good time.

On a frosty breeze David inhaled deeply, and the wonderful smell of wood smoke filled up his senses. He knew it must be his pastor and friend making good on his promised/proposed schedule - taking the cold opportunity to burn some fire wood.

Tozer's nose led the way and soon David and Pastor were having a wonderfully relaxed conversation. It was a nice gift, actually. Normally the talk would be of the boxing club that both men organized, or church needs and events. But on this cold December night - the two just stood there in perfect company - sharing - sharing hope, sharing laughter, sharing JOY.

Time slipped far way from the two men and before long David was forced to quick step catch up on the walk with his dog. But taking that time to sit and revel in friendship was well worth the late hour.

On a particularly rough day at work a while back my husband brought home a company mug that had been given to him by his boss as a gift. One side of the big round mug read: Convenience. The other side read: Make It Happen.

I thought of the mug when I eagerly listened to my baby brother share his wood smoke experience on a cold December night in Chicago - that joyful moment with his Pastor and friend. And I thought of the last part of II Corinthians 2:3. Jesus has confidence in us that we would all share his joy.

It isn't always a convenient moment that provides us an opportunity to revel in the Joy of fellowship in Jesus' name. Sometimes the moments come when we are in a hurry to walk the dog and get home - or finish up the grocery list and get back to the kitchen to start dinner - or head home from a party when you know your kids are waiting on you to get back with the family car. But the gift of friendly gab is such a precious one and means so very much to the receiver of the gift. What better way to celebrate and share the Joy of Jesus than to make a sacrifice of time in order to give it? Those joyous moments in warm company are made even sweeter and the gift doubly precious when it takes us a bit out of our way to hand it over to a person who needs it.

I think we all needs big, fat, round coffee mugs that read: Convenience - Make It Happen.

Full Circle

Psalm 105:2 -- "Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works." [HNV]

image: Institute for Creations Research [icr.org]

There in the strange shadows cast by the sun were the impressions of his space boots. Pressed firmly into the fine dusty terrain on the moon, Jim Irwin looked down at his feet. He had a job to do, he knew - but it was too much for him to continue without taking in the splendor that surrounded him. He was quietly thankful.

The day before they had experienced major technical problems with the rover. It simply would not budge. After checking the tires and the electrical components it boggled the team from Apollo 15 that they simply could not get the thing to start. Their mission was in trouble and there didn't seem to be a single thing they could do to alter their circumstances.

In the safe quiet of the lunar lander, Jim closed his eyes in utter frustration as the team prepared to sleep for the night. They had done all they could and in typical human fashion - he'd made the decision that when all else fails - pray.


The fight to complete the mission found Jim just standing there in the dust with our great blue marble spinning in the background. The people scurrying around down on Earth were oblivious to the miracle God had performed on their nearest celestial neighbor. When the team woke and checked the rover once again - it moved as if nothing were ever amiss. They had some catching up to do, but found that they were not too far off schedule. A silent prayer of thanks was offered up, and a wonderful little spark had been kindled deep inside Jim. 

He couldn't wait to tell his family. He couldn't wait to tell the world.


A silent Christian, Irwin once said to describe himself prior to his moon walk -  he was an educated scientist that leaned toward Darwinism. With a BS in Science from the US Naval Academy it doesn't come as a huge surprise that once the astronaut walked upon the moon - he would be excited to speak of his experiences. Who wouldn't want to relay all the wonders seen out in space? Who wouldn't want to talk about the rocks he'd found or the troubles with the rover?

What DOES surprise is that it wasn't his travels about which he was eager to share. In fact Jim repeatedly expressed that "[it is critically] important to recognize the Creator of this great planet and the universe in which it exists. After all, He is the one who created the laws of science that make space travel possible." 

There on the moon in the vacuum of space - Jim was touched by God. As he reached down to retrieve what would become the infamous "Genesis Rock" Jim was filled with awe for our Creator. Where others would see an advancement in scientific achievement Jim saw that there could be no denying Darwinism is wrong. He later said that walking on the moon in a scientific capacity did more for him in his relationship with Christ than did anything else in his life.

Jim said that: "Most of the rocks previously brought back from the moon were dark, dense basalt. Scientists knew that if the moon were composed entirely of this dense rock, it could not possibly be in its present orbit. It would be too heavy. They knew there had to be an abundance of lighter material, lighter in density and color. Our mission was to find a lighter rock from the mountains on the moon. While we were exploring…[we] found…a pure, white rock, the oldest rock brought back from the moon—part of the deep internal material which had been ejected to make the mountains—and the most important scientific discovery of our mission. The press labeled it the “Genesis” rock, for it confirmed the fact that the earth and moon were created at the same time, giving scientific proof of the creation story of Genesis 1:14-18"

image:  The Institute For Creation [icr.org]

Jim's life came around full circle in that moment as he held that big white rock in his bulky gloved hands. For him,  it was no longer about scientific discoveries - but Biblical ones. Jim once said that he felt the Lord sent him to the moon so he could get back to Earth to tell the world about Jesus.

And that's exactly what he did.

In 1972 Irwin left NASA and retired from the Air Force. He started the High Flight Foundation and focused all of his resources and energy toward showing people how Science - so often associated with Darwinism - actually points more toward the proof of God than anything else on Earth. 

Isn't that something?

Out Of The Gray

Genesis 8:1 -- "But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded."

image: Kelly Babb Dalton

The gray Spanish moss dances fiercely in a gray wind that blows out from a gray sky. Tiny particles of water cover everything in the mists that roll in on the seasonal Nor'Easter. It's not really cold - we are in Florida, after all. But the damp seeps into the bones. After a few days its easy for me to understand the gray mood that seems to trickle in on the winds - leaving the spirit limp and soggy.

I heard the sigh from my cozy spot at my computer desk. It doesn't happen often in our home - so the moment I heard it I popped my head into our bedroom to see Steven, video game controller in hand, head propped up on a collection of mis-matched pillows, and lazy cat sitting on his chest. He didn't look sad, exactly - just kind of - blah. Like the weather outside. Hence the sigh.

We are overwhelmed this season. With a slew of family members getting " on up" in years we have some health issues to which we need to adjust. There have been some relationship set backs for our children, car trouble, and a seemingly never-ending loop of financial surprises. I can totally understand the sigh. In fact - I join in. 

Like so many things in this life, however - its all a matter of perspective. If I sit in just the right spot, I can watch a brilliant burst of color dance just as eagerly as does the Spanish moss every time the wind kicks up. With the music of the chimes that hang from my Natchez Myrtle tree as they announce each gust that comes in from the North, my bright orange Birds of Paradise flowers put on a lively show. Against a hazy backdrop of muted hues, a brilliant purple and bright orange put a smile on my face. They drink up the clouds that hang low and seem to shine through the fog.

We are not forgotten - my hubby and I. 

Image: Kelly Babb Dalton

God remembered Noah on his large boat with the sounds from a thousand animals clinging to smelly walls. He sent a wind that may have looked gray from Noah's perspective, at first. But with the wind came the end to the rain and a stiff refreshing breeze to chase the fragrant animal aroma from the stale air. On the gray damp gusts - there came hope.

The Birds of Paradise Flowers - with their fancy colorful Mohawks set to swaying again. They bounce off the long green leaves that spring from large thick stems. I think they must be sharing a joke and spreading joy.

I slide onto the bed next to Steven and mimic his sigh. He looks over at me and before long we are laughing. We enjoy inside jokes and quote favorite movies. We giggle when he misses obvious targets on his video game. We think up crazy gamer tags to use in on-line battles with friends. We know that God hears our every prayer and is aware of our every need. God remembered Noah and sent him a rainbow. 

I know we will receive one, too.  

And if you - like so many - find yourself in a damp and seemingly bitter Nor'Easter that attempts to rob the color from your winter - just remember: God remembers you, too.  

Detox: Good Goes In - Garbage Goes Out

Ephesians 3:19 -- "Yes, may you come to know his love - although it can never be fully known - and so be completely filled with the very nature of God." [GNT]

image: elephantjournal.com

Looking down at my very pink toes I made an attempt to investigate my feet after the bike ride up to the doctor's office. I know she will check my feet. It's a thing that comes with being diabetic. Scolding myself for not repainting my toenails so that my Doctor may at least enjoy some color, I heard the Dr. Oz show running in the background. It was all about detox. 

Detox? 

I have heard this buzz word before regarding diets. According to Dr. Oz, Web MD, and Mayo Clinic - it's important to put some clean and good things into your system in order to purge some of the bad stuff that accumulates in there. Much like high octane gasoline for one's auto, I suppose. The better quality of the stuff going into the tank is proportionately equal to the performance that comes out. 

Makes sense, I guess. Though I'm somewhat skeptical that three strait days of nothing but green juice is good for any system. I can't knock it, though - as I have never tried it and have not discussed this with my own doctor.

What I CAN tell you is that there are definitely moments when I think my spiritual pipes need a good cleaning. Somehow I manage to get my God-given wiring all jammed up with worry, anxiety, and the micromanagement of things that don't really mean a whole lot when it comes to the Glory of God. I find that I have allowed myself to become busy. Just busy. Nothing really of any significance is going on - I just get stuck spinning wheels in a mud trap that keeps me from experiencing any real momentum for my Savior.

Detox would be ideal in these situations. If I allow the Holy Spirit to completely fill me with the Nature of God - I will not overflow with impure things that just gum up the works.

After all, how do I expect others to see the crystal clear light of Jesus Christ when the waters are muddy?

I love this verse in Ephesians 3 because it points us in the direction of spiritual detox. It is true that we, as humans, will never be able to fully know the true Nature of God, but if we are completely filled with His love and will for us - we will be one step closer to a heart brimming over with God's light.

image: parkadvocate.org

What better detox is there? Fill up with the love and grace of Jesus Christ every chance we get - and we can't help but glow with clean and beautiful light.

Definitely food for thought as we light up this holiday season, don't you think?

Merry Glitter To You

Acts 13:49 -- "And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region."

image: Marisa Impellizzeri - marisimpellizzeri.com

Into the humid night breeze we released a swoosh of hot air heavy laden with the smell of cinnamon and pine. Once we made it through the doors of our local Michael's we all took a deep breath and cleared the Christmas from our lungs. That familiar aroma IS one of my favorite things about this season, but let's face it - a little bit of cinnamon enriched pine cone goes a long, long way. And it never fails to start my husband's eyes to watering - profusely.

As we walked toward the car that we'd parked in the grand ocean of other cars - we all looked at one another and broke out into a contagious laughter. We sparkled like those vampires in the Twilight movies. My three men began to shake and brush and do everything but strip right there on the sidewalk in an effort to escape the glitter. They didn't even touch a single thing while we were in the store and still managed to come out covered in tiny colorful sparkles.

Of course, the glitter doesn't just stop at the door of the store. At home we find it EVERYWHERE. It's on the cats, in the carpet, in our hair. AND when I opened the dishwasher to put the dishes away what do I find? More glitter. How does it get into the dishwasher after the wash cycle has run? .... and don't even TRY to explain how I leave the house with clean underpants only to discover glitter all over them when I end the day with a shower.

It boggles the mind with shiny little flickers of light.

But - it does inspire a thought. 

All the non-Christmas days of the year find us a little less coated in tiny particles of color. 'Tis certainly the season to sparkle. But what if we could spread the sparkle so efficiently when it ISN'T Christmas? What if we were able to spread the Word of God like Christmas glitter - so very thoroughly through all those non-glittery seasons?

That would be shiny, indeed.

image: thesmithshugitout.blogspot.com

Just think about all those moments when you notice a single particle of Christmas glitter stuck to something to which it was surely NOT originally intended to stick. What if we did that with the grace of Jesus Christ? What if - on a daily basis, as we go about our normal routines - we dropped little sparkles of God's True Light here and there? Maybe it sticks to our shoes and we leave some of it in a friend's house. Or maybe it's on the sleeve of our shirt and rubs off on a passer by in the grocery store. Maybe it shakes from our hair or falls from the open door of our cars.

Wouldn't that be something? People through out the world around us would go home to take showers and discover hidden little gems of God's truth tucked away in unexpected places.

Can you imagine how far we could spread the Word of God then?

Give And Let Give

Matthew 10:8b -- "Freely you received, freely give." [NASB]

image: www.dluk.info

The din of people chatting, calling from across the store, texting, and yes - shoving each other out of the way - is generally enough to make me crazy. The day after the turkey has been put away, the dishes have been done, the fridge has been packed full of left-overs, and the house has an after-storm calm - leaves me wanting to cower in a corner in the deep recesses of my closet - and not so much as poke my head out until Monday rolls around.

I HATE Black Friday. 

Nothing says Christmas like getting run over by an overly-eager woman using her shopping cart as a lethal weapon - much to the painful surprise of my first three toes.

And it never fails - only one left of a must-have item incites fisticuffs in the middle of the isle while children look on with eyes glazed over and shockingly shock-less expressions.

I HATE Black Friday.

But this year, I actually ventured out with the women of my family late Saturday afternoon - and I have to say - I'm very glad I did. Because I learned it wasn't about the deals and the steals. It wasn't about the shiny bobbles and the fancy wrapping paper. It was all about giving. And THAT is something all of us can afford. 

Simply give.

My grandmother asked that the ladies go out and hit one of her favorite haunts after the guys settled in to watch a ball-game. Normally, this is exactly when I'd come up with a creative excuse that explains in plenty of colorful detail why I will not be joining the fray - but I was forewarned  from a favorite family spy about this particular desire - and steeled myself in preparation. I knew this was something that Mamaw really, really wanted. So I tagged along.

Mamaw watched us all very closely. She wanted to know what we liked so she could get her own Christmas shopping finished and walk away with 100% satisfaction - knowing she'd managed to get each of us EXACTLY what we wanted. I could give her that. It was a huge burden off of her shoulders this year - especially since it alleviated a recently very hectic and chaotic schedule. All I had to do was BE there. It didn't cost me anything. But it was a joy and a precious gift to her.

In a season when it's easy to get caught up in the crazy, it was nice for me to be reminded of the importance of giving of oneself. Not all of us can buy fancy expensive gifts for the people on our Christmas list. We can't all be the people in those commercials that show up on Christmas morning with sparkly new cars that have giant red bows on the top - or present our loved ones with gold and diamonds at just the right spontaneous moment in a perfectly decorated environment. But we CAN give what we have to give.

image: www.dluk.info

We can give time.

We can give encouragement.

We can give a compliment.

We can give forgiveness.

We can give laughter. 

Some of the most precious gifts out there this holiday season don't cost us a dime.

Jesus wasn't a wealthy person by most standards. But he gave us THE gift. He gave us freedom, forgiveness, love, and a real relationship with our Father.

Freely we received - freely we should give.