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O Christmas Tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches ......

Our Christmas tree this year is the most beautiful one I do believe we have ever had.  It is full and fat and unbelievably even all the way around - if you know what I mean - no holes and no bare places.  It smells good and reaches all the way up to the ceiling.  It is just beautiful!  But for all of its beauty, it is a prickly little thing!  My Abbey decorated the tree by herself this year, without the help of anyone, as I was decorating the rest of the house (followed by a much-needed nap on the couch), her dad was catching up on some TV (checking out the weather, I am sure), and her brother "remembered" a paper he had due (quite conveniently).  Well, what I think he really was remembering was how we were all poked and pricked last year when we decorated that tree.  Honestly though it is a gorgeous tree, fully decorated, with presents already making their way underneath.  That tree reminds me, though ... how many times are we just so pretty on the outside but just so very prickly to the touch?  .....

Acrostic:

P - PRIDEFUL ... and prejudiced?!

Proverbs 16:18-19 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.  It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

 

R - REAL ... or just plain fake?!

Psalm 15:1-3 "O Lord, who may abide in Thy tent?  Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?  He who walks with integrity, and words righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.  He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend."

 

I - I ... me, myself and I only?!

Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

 

C - CONSIDERATE ... or intolerable?!

Colossians 3:8, 12-13 "But now you also, put them all aside:  anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth." ... "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against any one; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."

 

K - KIND ... or just plain mean?!

Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

 

L - LOVE ... to love or not to love? ... that is the question!

Colossians 3:14 "And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."

 

Y - YIKES ... or yielding?!

Colossians 3:15-17 "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

 

PRICKLY ... or pretty?  Our choice!  Which will it be?

Philippians 2:13-15 "For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world."

 
Just like the lights on a Christmas tree!

Amen and Amen!!

Praying many more blessings your way! 

Kelli