The following is an excerpt from page eight of Beautiful Possibilities for Today: Daily Power Thoughts by Robert H. Schuller…

COME-ALIVE-POWER

A few weeks ago I had to spank my youngest child, Gretchen. She’s a darling girl, but she misbehaved and I had to punish her. She ran off to her room and closed the door behind her.

After a few minutes, I walked down the hall and listened at her door. Everything was quiet so I turned the doorknob ever so slowly and peeked my head through the opening. There was her small figure hidden beneath the blankets.

As I walked over to the bed I noticed her treasured toys were scattered across the bed and cuddled next to her was her dolly. I stroked her hair and held her tear-stained face in my hand as I whispered, “Gretchen, are you still awake?” She turned her head as she opened her eyes. Still hugging her dolly, I knew she wanted to hug her daddy.

“Gretchen,” I explained, “I gave you that spanking because I love you.” Her hands came out from under the covers, let go of the dolly, and reached up around my neck. As she put her slippery, wet cheek next to mine, I prayed, “Dear God, Thank you for Gretchen!” That tender moment was a time of special communication between us.

Jesus Christ is alive today and wants to communicate with you. He wants to love you, but you have to let go of your substitute. For a dolly is never a substitute for a daddy! Let Jesus Christ love you today!

I COME TO YOU, LORD,
BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND ME.
I ACCEPT YOUR LOVE. I FEEL YOUR PRESENCE.
I HAVE YOUR POWER WITHIN ME!

Time is time things time change time things. Do change times thing time changes times? Why change time to change things times? Things are so different when change times changes different changes change time. Friends are friends. Times are times. Time changes time friends time. Who am I to change time who changes time friends who I was? Time who balancing friendship time. Well, time times.

I’ve been doing a lot of shopping.

Fortunately I’m prepared this year. I noticed in the past that I always spend a lot of money on clothing in December because that’s when all the coolest clothing comes out, and I happen to be shopping anyway to get gifts. So this year I made sure to budget a whole lot of money for December shopping.

And boy am I glad! Just today I bought some Diesel shoes (which were expensive, but worth it), three shirts from Old Navy (for a total of $20), two t-shirts from the Gap (I had a gift card from my uncle), and a t-shirt and sweatshirt from Urban Outfitters. And yesterday I bought a jacket and some pants from Structure because I had a gift certificate there.

So yeah, December for me is all about shopping. I have huge piles of give-away clothing, too, since this is the month in which I donate a shitload of clothing to charity. (This, of course, makes me feel better about all the money I’m spending.)