Christmas | Your Story Matters

Christmas Wonder

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I sit in wonder
Looking back I see it
Generational darkness
And pinholes of light
The tragedy and the pain
The sorrow that led to joy

*

The relational chaos
Can be seen on the I-Phone
Looking for a connection
Missing the person

*

With eyes on the hand
Holding the person captive
Not seeing my eyes
Longing for a connection
To be seen as a person

*

I’ll lay the phone down
Turn it off and look around
Not miss the moment
The eyes and the warm embrace
Surprising moments of joy

*

More information
Life lived vicariously
Technology is worshiped
Junk food of the mind
Robbing us connection
With the real and life giving

*

I will text you now
And give an invitation
To come share a joy
Know the beauty of looking
In the eyes of the One who loves

*

I have learned in the morning before I look at my I-Phone, turn on the computer and check my email to be still and look in the face of the Father who sees. The unseen is the real just like love. You know when it is not there and you know it when it is. Turn your mind, heart and soul to the One who can stop the noise and chaos and give you peace. Today people around the world are looking for gifts. One has been given you and you have only to be still, listen and believe. Readings this morning that has been helpful to me in stopping the “junk food” noise from generations are the following: “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers, “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. Psalm 25:14 speaks of a God who will “confide in you” and Psalm 55:22 says “Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you.” Looking back I see the generational darkness and I now see the generational light revealed that day God was born in the world as a baby. May the real wonder of Christmas be yours today! Merry Christmas!

Posted by Terry Sanford Smith

A Christmas Gift

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I’ve received a gift
It’s the divine grace of faith
I offer myself
My mind will be your workshop
My heart will be your playground

*

My soul flourishes
I will be God’s workmanship
His poetry in this world
Living with a fire
Accessing this deep friendship
Gift available to all

*

Please form Christ in me
I will be engaged in truth
Feelings will not deter me
I accept your love

*

Christmas Truth

*

The littlest child
Hidden in a manger still
I sing “Silent Night”

*

The light of the world
Coming down to bring real joy
Unending love given all
Who will believe it
Historically certain
It is verifiable

*

Please consider this story
Don’t take others word for it
Religious or atheist
You can decide this

*

Consider all things
Get all the information
Respect your judgment
Listen to your broken heart
Listen to the heart of God

*

I’m given a mind
A heart, soul and a body
Time to consider
What is true – what is not true
I have chosen to believe

*

The littlest child
Hidden in a manger
Was the Son of God
I am alive to live it
I am free to share the joy

*

Death has no power
I have chosen where to stand
A resurrection
Has taken place in my soul
Both now and forever more

*

Posted by Terry Sanford Smith

Blue Christmas

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This season brings awareness of deepest joy and unspeakable sorrow! I think about my mother who for many Christmases sat in desperation at not being with her four children. She abandoned them when they were ten, eight, seven and two in 1950. I found her broken and devastated in 1968, eight-teen years later at the age of forty-five. Jesus’ story of meeting the woman at the well had inspired me to contact her. She had been married five times and was living with a man who was not her husband. She spent Christmas with us in Boston in 1985, and her story and picture were on the front page of the newspaper on Christmas Eve, telling the power of forgiveness and reconciliation. People with hatred, guilt, shame, and broken relationships were at the heart of Jesus’ mission.

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The experience with my mother created a desire in me to reach out with compassion, which is why I started Coaching Life Matters. Coaching Life Matters is committed to removing barriers to healthy relationships and restoring people to joy. We are a non-profit educational organization that chooses not to charge for our services. To learn more about the work we did in 2014 and our plans for 2015, please click the link below to read our December newsletter.

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http://coachinglifematters.org/resources/Newsletter-Dec-2014.pdf

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If you would like to know more about some of the stories of our work with veterans with PTSD, Operation Stand Down, (an organization working with homeless veterans), and our work in the prison, you can view video clips in newsletter:

*

If you are already connected to Coaching Life Matters, we want to thank you for your continued support and encouragement in our work. If you are just hearing about us, please check us out and consider joining us in going “outside the camp.”

*

May your hearts be filled with hope, and if you are in despair, I pray you will find that “pinhole of light.” Special thanks to Boyle Investment Company, which donates office space for CLM to operate.

*

Wishing you the best Christmas and a joyful 2015.

Thankfully, Terry and Charlotte

Posted by Terry Sanford Smith

Why Christmas?

*

I will meet with you alone
There is no greater moment
Than being in your presence
The secret treasure

*

You delivered me
From the bonds of slavery
A prison inside

*

My heart demands perfection
I can never measure up
To be able to please all
It’s impossible

*

So I stand guilty
Behind the bars of performing
Looking for affirmation
So someone will see
I am a person of worth
My grief and losses scream out

*

I have hidden faults
Secret ones that condemn me
I can’t measure up
Beliefs about me are a lie
I keep looking for relief

*

I found in silence
Behind the condemnation
The noise of judgment stopped cold
When I looked in eyes
Of the Creator of life
Who showed me that He loved me

*

Stillness is so hard
Because my own heart condemns me
I need to be held
Comforted like a small child
Held in the arms of my friend

*

I found this unseen love
In stillness God came to me
I focused on His dear son’s
Compassionate love

*

He knows each of us
With understanding He comes
He has chosen you
Knows your name and your pain
Says, “Your are my Beloved”

*

I could be right about this
“You are Special and Beloved”
I’m not talking religion
But relationship

*

Friendship that’s deep and lasting
A friend who will never leave
A joy that’s unspeakable
Love that cherishes

*

This secret treasure
Is for all those who seek truth
Who decide to fight
Begin by caring for self
Take responsibility

*

I have found the light
My soul searched with compassion
And the message, “I love you”
Comes with knowledge
Understanding the story
That God became a human

*

I sing “Silent Night”
The reason for the Season
In stillness He comes

*

Early morning reflections from Psalm 19

Posted by Terry Sanford Smith

Your Story Matters

Christmas Wonder

*

I sit in wonder Looking back I see it Generational darkness And pinholes of light The tragedy and the pain The sorrow that led to joy

*

The relational chaos Can be seen on the I-Phone Looking for a connection Missing the person

*

With eyes on the hand Holding the person captive Not seeing my eyes Longing for a connection To be seen as a person

*

I’ll lay the phone down Turn it off and look around Not miss the moment The eyes and the warm embrace Surprising moments of joy

*

More information Life lived vicariously Technology is worshiped Junk food of the mind Robbing us connection With the real and life giving

*

I will text you now And give an invitation To come share a joy Know the beauty of looking In the eyes of the One who loves

*

A Christmas Gift

* I’ve received a gift It’s the divine grace of faith I offer myself My mind will be your workshop My heart will be your playground

*

My soul flourishes I will be God’s workmanship His poetry in this world Living with a fire Accessing this deep friendship Gift available to all

*

Please form Christ in me I will be engaged in truth Feelings will not deter me I accept your love

*

Christmas Truth

*

The littlest child Hidden in a manger still I sing “Silent Night”

*

The light of the world Coming down to bring real joy Unending love given all Who will believe it Historically certain It is verifiable

*

Please consider this story Don’t take others word for it Religious or atheist You can decide this

*

Consider all things Get all the information Respect your judgment Listen to your broken heart Listen to the heart of God

*

I’m given a mind A heart, soul and a body Time to consider What is true – what is not true I have chosen to believe

*

The littlest child Hidden in a manger Was the Son of God I am alive to live it I am free to share the joy

*

Death has no power I have chosen where to stand A resurrection Has taken place in my soul Both now and forever more

*

Blue Christmas

*

*

*

http://coachinglifematters.org/resources/Newsletter-Dec-2014.pdf

*

If you would like to know more about some of the stories of our work with veterans with PTSD, Operation Stand Down, (an organization working with homeless veterans), and our work in the prison, you can view video clips in newsletter:

*

If you are already connected to Coaching Life Matters, we want to thank you for your continued support and encouragement in our work. If you are just hearing about us, please check us out and consider joining us in going “outside the camp.”

*

May your hearts be filled with hope, and if you are in despair, I pray you will find that “pinhole of light.” Special thanks to Boyle Investment Company, which donates office space for CLM to operate.

*

Wishing you the best Christmas and a joyful 2015.

Thankfully, Terry and Charlotte

Why Christmas?

*

I will meet with you alone There is no greater moment Than being in your presence The secret treasure

*

You delivered me From the bonds of slavery A prison inside

*

My heart demands perfection I can never measure up To be able to please all It’s impossible

*

So I stand guilty Behind the bars of performing Looking for affirmation So someone will see I am a person of worth My grief and losses scream out

*

I have hidden faults Secret ones that condemn me I can’t measure up Beliefs about me are a lie I keep looking for relief

*

I found in silence Behind the condemnation The noise of judgment stopped cold When I looked in eyes Of the Creator of life Who showed me that He loved me

*

Stillness is so hard Because my own heart condemns me I need to be held Comforted like a small child Held in the arms of my friend

*

I found this unseen love In stillness God came to me I focused on His dear son’s Compassionate love

*

He knows each of us With understanding He comes He has chosen you Knows your name and your pain Says, “Your are my Beloved”

*

I could be right about this “You are Special and Beloved” I’m not talking religion But relationship

*

Friendship that’s deep and lasting A friend who will never leave A joy that’s unspeakable Love that cherishes

*

I sit in wonder
Looking back I see it
Generational darkness
And pinholes of light
The tragedy and the pain
The sorrow that led to joy

The relational chaos
Can be seen on the I-Phone
Looking for a connection
Missing the person

With eyes on the hand
Holding the person captive
Not seeing my eyes
Longing for a connection
To be seen as a person

I’ll lay the phone down
Turn it off and look around
Not miss the moment
The eyes and the warm embrace
Surprising moments of joy

More information
Life lived vicariously
Technology is worshiped
Junk food of the mind
Robbing us connection
With the real and life giving

I will text you now
And give an invitation
To come share a joy
Know the beauty of looking
In the eyes of the One who loves

*
I’ve received a gift
It’s the divine grace of faith
I offer myself
My mind will be your workshop
My heart will be your playground

My soul flourishes
I will be God’s workmanship
His poetry in this world
Living with a fire
Accessing this deep friendship
Gift available to all

Please form Christ in me
I will be engaged in truth
Feelings will not deter me
I accept your love

The littlest child
Hidden in a manger still
I sing “Silent Night”

The light of the world
Coming down to bring real joy
Unending love given all
Who will believe it
Historically certain
It is verifiable

Please consider this story
Don’t take others word for it
Religious or atheist
You can decide this

Consider all things
Get all the information
Respect your judgment
Listen to your broken heart
Listen to the heart of God

I’m given a mind
A heart, soul and a body
Time to consider
What is true – what is not true
I have chosen to believe

The littlest child
Hidden in a manger
Was the Son of God
I am alive to live it
I am free to share the joy

Death has no power
I have chosen where to stand
A resurrection
Has taken place in my soul
Both now and forever more

I will meet with you alone
There is no greater moment
Than being in your presence
The secret treasure

You delivered me
From the bonds of slavery
A prison inside

My heart demands perfection
I can never measure up
To be able to please all
It’s impossible

So I stand guilty
Behind the bars of performing
Looking for affirmation
So someone will see
I am a person of worth
My grief and losses scream out

I have hidden faults
Secret ones that condemn me
I can’t measure up
Beliefs about me are a lie
I keep looking for relief

I found in silence
Behind the condemnation
The noise of judgment stopped cold
When I looked in eyes
Of the Creator of life
Who showed me that He loved me

Stillness is so hard
Because my own heart condemns me
I need to be held
Comforted like a small child
Held in the arms of my friend

I found this unseen love
In stillness God came to me
I focused on His dear son’s
Compassionate love

He knows each of us
With understanding He comes
He has chosen you
Knows your name and your pain
Says, “Your are my Beloved”

I could be right about this
“You are Special and Beloved”
I’m not talking religion
But relationship

Friendship that’s deep and lasting
A friend who will never leave
A joy that’s unspeakable
Love that cherishes

This secret treasure
Is for all those who seek truth
Who decide to fight
Begin by caring for self
Take responsibility

I have found the light
My soul searched with compassion
And the message, “I love you”
Comes with knowledge
Understanding the story
That God became a human

I sing “Silent Night”
The reason for the Season
In stillness He comes