{"id":22018,"date":"2017-12-23T00:05:24","date_gmt":"2017-12-23T08:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=22018"},"modified":"2017-12-14T15:31:06","modified_gmt":"2017-12-14T23:31:06","slug":"december-23-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2017\/12\/23\/december-23-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"December 23, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cBe anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/em> Philippians 4:6-7<\/p>\n

Christmas Gift Panic<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cFound it! Here it is!\u201d I pulled out the red felt Christmas stocking from the Christmas storage box. \u201cYippee! It\u2019s the one with her name printed on it, and the cute reindeer and fluffy white trim.\u201d As we drove to the airport, I stuffed the tiny poodle puppy into the top of the stocking. \u201cOh, she will be so excited! I can\u2019t wait to see her face.\u201d Our daughter was coming home after visiting her grandparents in California.<\/p>\n

We quickly found our way to the gate to meet her. \u201cOh no, the puppy fell asleep and lodged deep into the toe of the stocking. I can\u2019t get her out!\u201d I began to panic. I turned the stocking upside down and tried shaking the puppy out of the toe into my husband\u2019s hands cupped together to catch the little puppy. \u201cThe puppy is stuck in the toe. She must have suffocated! The puppy is dead! We can\u2019t give her a dead puppy!\u201d I panicked. Hot tears stung my face. \u201cHow could I have killed this precious little puppy?\u201d I cried, \u201cPlease help, Lord!\u201d<\/p>\n

A crowd watching the scene had now gathered around, trying to help. \u201cDoes anyone have scissors?\u201d someone yelled, feeling my urgency. That\u2019s definitely not something anyone would have in an airport today!<\/p>\n

We said another desperate prayer: \u201cGod, please help us. Please let the puppy live and come out of the stocking.\u201d As we all continued in our efforts, we kept praying. Suddenly, the puppy seemed to stir and began to assist us in our plight. As we shook the stocking again and again, she worked her way to the top and fell into my husband\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cAww,\u201d came from the crowd in unison, clapping and relieved to see the puppy alive and well. Just then, the attention of the crowd turned toward the gate agent who was now opening the door to receive passengers.<\/p>\n

Finally, our daughter ran out the gate with excitement. After hugs, I handed the stocking to her, tightly holding it at the middle in order to not repeat the previous scenario. As she peeked into the stocking, she squealed with delight, \u201cIt\u2019s a puppy! It\u2019s a puppy!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears of joy came quickly, both from seeing my precious daughter again, and seeing that she was delighted with her gift, not to mention my sheer relief that the puppy was alive. I breathed a prayer of thanks to the Lord.<\/p>\n

I wonder how often the Lord has to \u201cshake us up a bit\u201d to awaken us from our slumber so we can be the gift that God intended.<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, may we be a gift to YOU that delights YOUR heart.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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