“Years from now, it is unlikely anyone will remember that thing they unwrapped. What they will remember, what will have much greater impact, is a message from YOU to THEM that they matter, that they are loved.” ~Sundance
I first wrote about the great foreboding in 2021. I never thought it would apply to a second, third or fourth, advent. Essentially, this national foreboding stems from a Godless political effort intended to diminish the true meaning of this celebration. Seriously! Stop for a minute. Just stop.
Stop and think about the purpose of that political narrative; then ask yourself, are you succumbing to it?
This is the day of great joy, the greatest joy of all.
A day when we celebrate a loving and purposeful blessing provided to us by our Creator. The universal truth. The pure perfection of a loving Child born in the most ordinary fashion for us, to us, to guide and share the most blessed and purposeful message that could ever be delivered to mankind: You are Loved.
Pause amid the human distractions. That message of love is pure.
Stop, sit in peace and join together in the joy.
Yes, it is true, all around us is this great sense of foreboding ugh, and it’s not just connected to our sense of division and targeting; it’s everything before and everything since.
Everything created around us, by government, is weird. Everything created around us is less comfortable, everything created around us is intended to project less joy – and as a consequence, it requires an intensity of thought just to carry on ordinary events.
Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is tonight and tomorrow. Yet almost everything created by the mechanics of men seems purposefully placed to distract from that joy – and focus our attention on what joy we are missing.
Diminished faith creates anxiety, a sense of foreboding, a sense of fear and worry and a sense of trepidation. Additionally, evil tribesmen know the strategy to create the environment for control is isolation.
Isolation, the tool to remove hope, begins with a diminishment of God.
A faith-filled person is never alone.
In our daily lives, we encounter ordinary disconnects now. For many, isolation from the workplace has disconnected our sense of interaction, our human connection.
Unfortunately, and as a natural outcome of these social and technological advancements, we are accepting greater disconnect and creating a void inside ourselves. At the same time many people are physically disconnected from their families.
Many families will not gather this year to celebrate the joyous event of Christ’s birth. Perhaps parents and grandparents will not see their adult children for the first time in years.
Perhaps destabilized families are disconnecting as they succumb to cultural fractures, political division, economic challenges and purposeful roadblocks created by people who appointed themselves as leaders.
It is almost unbelievable when you contemplate the damage. Politicians, yes P.O.L.I.T.I.C.I.A.N.S, have created terms and conditions, instructions for you and me, with the expectation that somehow, we will adhere to their fiats or accept their cultural aspersions. I reject this.
I reject this effort with every fiber of my being.
Division, regardless of intent, is not a term or condition that I will accept. However, amid all of this bombardment, flux and ugh, even simple tasks like decorating the Christmas tree can feel for some somehow senseless, perhaps even less joyful.
Perhaps financial worry, again driven by the outcomes of man, stems the joy in shopping for family and friends.
Perhaps the shine within the cheer is slightly dimmed, because all around us is something we cannot quite describe, yet we feel it.
Perhaps tears flow at times, and we struggle to understand what this unusual anxiety is all about. Then, we begin to struggle with the feelings of shame or guilt for being weak and allowing our humanity to pour out of our human selves. Then, at the worst possible time in the year, our faith organizations are slow to understand the importance of fellowship and community amid an upheaval that has taken our center from under our feet.
The insufferable lack of regional leaders standing tall only makes the anxiety worse. Where is the brave?
Where are the purposeful few who know the benefit of larger messages? I do not fault their absence, because their void reminds me to stop, look at that face I see while brushing my teeth, and remember the greatest strength of all is from within. Nothing has the capacity to remove the strength provided by a loving God unless we allow it to, unless we allow them to.
As our grip on our familiar surroundings becomes more tenuous, we are faced with dictates and mandates that only exacerbate the issues our community faces. Meanwhile, this ridiculous media drumbeat an incessant noise intent on destabilizing us. Perhaps we cannot quite put our finger on why the impact is worse now…. but it is. This effort of theirs is more impactful. It is all ugh. It is all just ugh.
If you find the assembly of these simple words familiar to your current sense, first understand YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Second, understand there is nothing wrong with you. This blanket of anxiety is laying across our entire nation, indeed the entire world, and no matter where we stand – we are all sensing a various level of this ‘ugh’ with some familiarity. However, that said, it is important to know this is transitional. We will not be in this place long. This too shall pass.
How do we shake these destabilizing feelings and emotions?
How do we reconnect to the core-spirit we carry in our lives?
These are the questions we should use to leverage ourselves back to a center of peace and hope. These are the questions that empower us to recharge our sense of purpose and life within the lives of others, including our community, family and friends.
♦ The first way we shake this ‘ugh’, is to give to others without reservation. Giving with purpose is the true spirit of human contact. The giving is not related to money or wealth, the giving is related to our human purpose. Perhaps we give a smile. Perhaps we give a kind word. Perhaps we give a compliment, or perhaps we just give time to another.
You could give a more valuable gift this year to anyone simply by reaching them. Perhaps send an email; or better yet, write a letter to a dear friend or family member, or just pick up the phone. Reach out and tell them they matter and express why their place in this life of yours is important. Remind them of your specific thankfulness and connect to the purpose of why we endeavor in this thing we call life.
Years from now, it is unlikely anyone will remember that thing they unwrapped. What they will remember, what will have much greater impact, is a message from YOU to THEM that they matter, that they are loved.
That moment you create, perhaps those multiple moments provided by your strength, will NEVER be forgotten.
That look in your eye or sound of your voice that reached into them and emphasized their value, their worth, their importance. That is the gift they will remember in great detail, forever.
The important thing is to give, and to do it without any other intent or purpose than to fill their heart.
♦ Within the giving, remind yourself what this journey is all about, and look around to recognize how fortunate we are to have this life.
Choose to cherish the ultimate gift from a loving God who wants joy and hope to permeate our human sense.
Hope is the one necessary human element beyond all other facets of life. Give the gift of hope and light to those you love by first reminding yourself of the gift that a loving God has given us all. It is too easy in our human sense to forget the biggest gift we have been granted, the gift of life. The ability to live and choose how we engage in the lives of others.
Remind yourself of the kind of purposeful HOPE that would leave the most glorious throne to be born into a manger as a baby, only to grow into a Man willing to lay down His everything for the flawed people amid humanity. Why? Because that hope is pure. That love is perfect.
No politics or false sense of security can overwhelm the message of HOPE that a loving God has provided. No effort of man or human disposition can surmount the greatest love of all. The message of Christ’s birth is bigger and greater than any COVID virus or legislative battle.
“No power of hell, nor scheme of man” can come close to the purpose of God’s intent and love for you as a unique person qualified to receive that love.
Wrap yourself in the blanket of that unconditional love. Stop what you are doing.
Pause in the peace of this moment… set down your troubles, LISTEN and FEEL.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining, til He appeared and the souls felt its worth. A thrill of HOPE; the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…”
Let the tears flow, and with them release the foreboding. Engage in the next moment with a loving purpose filled with the HOPE that He provides. Fall forward to the centered purpose of your life, a very special life, and reflect on the gift we are too quick to diminish.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.”
Revelation 21:1-6
Abiding love to all.
You matter.
You are important.
You are loved.
Steadfast,
~ Sundance
Merry Christmas Everyone!!
Was at 5:OO service at our small church..it was well attended
the most I have seen, and Pastor said the morning service was
pretty well full house as well.
Went to our small town IGA to pick up a few things and checking out
the cashier wished me Happy Holidays (I think they are told to say that)
when I responded back with Merry Christmas she smiled (like she
was relived) and said Merry Christmas back..
Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Our small church is no longer small. In a period of several years we have outgrown 2 buildings and finally rather than continue to make the church bigger we have helped to either start a new church there or assume leadership for an existing church that was in trouble. We have an Asian community that is worshipping in our facility and are looking to reach out to our growing Hispanic community. God’s not dead. He’s alive and well and working miracles daily.
Sounds like our small town church and IGA! Poconos?
My fist view this beautiful Christmas Day;
Merry Christmas!
God’s Blessing to everyone at CTH and specially your families.
I am going to have to give a shoutout to the most helpful group
that came together and pointed me in the right direction in
choosing the bestest Christmas for the granddaughter this year.
We spent yesterday together and the most wonderful memories
were recalled with the family and new ones were made.
Sundance your gifts from the past year have been fantastic and
the staff here has been very gracious in keeping the forum true
to the culture that has been laid down as a foundation since the
beginning.
Best wishes for another year And prayers for each and everyone of you here.
Just a note: I watched once again as the “One Ring” 😛 got destroyed.
Celebrate with me 🙂
Unto You is Born – Carroll Roberson
Another note I almost forgot: I’m pondering the fact of ‘someone’ knowing what I got for Christmas…
A pair of ‘UGH’ boots !!!
O holy Night is my favorite Christmas Hymn
Sundance you are right, this is the season for giving to others.
Yesterday we took our 86 year old neighbor to church service, there was another service at 5pm and he wanted togo . That was the the service he and his wife used to go to. So my husband took him to that service while I cooked dinner.I take dinner to my neighbor every night. This is my way of giving back. Today we will have our Christmas dinner and My neighbor will spend the day with us.
Sundance
Thank you for every day that you enlighten us.
I start my day, by first coming to the Treehouse
God Bless
Tea
Wishing all at the Tree House a blessed and joyous Christmas! I am blessed with 4 and a half grandchildren (number 5 arrives in May), a wonderful daughter and son, good friends, and a job surrounded with loving people.
I love angels and must have 100 of them; everyday I feel comforted when I see them. I hope all of you have something that comforts you in times of stress.
Merry Christmas, y’all!
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that we should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Thank you eternally, Sundance, for the fellowship you foster, and the Truth you fearlessly tell. May we all be just so. A spiritual awakening world wide is upon us, and every single human Soul needs to hear the news.
My own awakening continues apace…
God Bless each and every one of you who share this fellowship, may your days be Merry, and Bright! Have no fear, for God is with thee, always. The Gift of Christmas is Grace, the pure shining Love of God pouring out upon you simply because you have been placed here for a purpose. Believe it, shout it from the mountaintops!
We shall overcome, indeed.
Strap in, folks, here comes 2024, and it will be a doozy! Keep you head on swivel, harden your heart, clean your weapons, and fortify your everlasting Soul.
Again, endless, infinite thanks and gratitude for Sundance and his Mission.
Amen!!!
Thank you Sundance! That was a beautiful and powerful message that I will share and remember always.
You matter.
You are loved.
You have purpose.
Sincerely
Ray Morin
Following Menagieries’s words this year; going to slow down and realize the beauty of the moment, Savor it, know that it was created by God for all of us to enjoy. Going to realize Sundance’s words when he said God does not “zap” you when you pray for something, but He hears you, and you must be watchful and vigilant for His answer. So much to be thankful for-all of us- God be with all of you today and every day.
My response to the God haters…
Philippians1:12-18
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
and the following hymn
Merry Christmas!
“ When you are in hell, keep going.” *Winston Churchill *
Such common sense he had, and with a little twist of humor. 🙂
Thank you Sundance for what you do. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Merry Christmas, all!
Thank you Sundance! Your wisdom, faith and encouragement are helping us get through these difficult and uncertain times. Wishing you and yours a joyful Christmas and the knowledge that you are greatly appreciated and loved.
Joy to the World! The Lord is come!
Thank you also, SD, for the wonderful community you have created here for us, an immeasurable gift. God bless you all.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Merry Christmas All!
I am very grateful for your company on our journey….
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.
Christ the Victor! The holy child is now the coming King!
“To whom much is given, much is required”(Luke 12:48). Many of us have stood a post for many decades and will continue to do so.
We fear no man.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thank you!
You know, I get the political side, the machinations, schemes, plots of evil. That ugh is built into my dna on those things. I believe it to be on an unprecedented scale, worldwide, and leading to a culmination at some point of the deciding struggle.
I know that faith in our Christmas, Jesus Christ, can maintain our peace of mind, happiness, usefulness, and purpose in the midst of a scale from freedom to tyranny.
I believe one man can give us great leadership, a voice, a chance to move toward freedom, prosperity, and goodness-if we choose. I believe the god/man, Jesus Christ, can go so far beyond that.
I know some men have gone cold, or were always so. I don’t know if they are the exception or preponderance. If the latter, to gain truly in our recovery as a nation, they must be more the exception–or no one, good man can truly change anything.
I pray for and thank God for, the choice given by Christ, that a revolution can occur, one by one, in the privacy of each soul, for cold hearts to turn from stone. That’s a merry Christmas indeed!
Thanks so much for your Christmas message. Merry Christmas to you, and all!
Sundance, Every morning in my prayers for the day, I pray that We the People of this nation and those of other nations will turn from our wicked ways and repent of our sins and call upon G od in praise, thanksgiving, and asking for forgiveness. I ask G od and Jesus to once again to bless this land of ours and to have His Holy Spirit to come upon We the People in order that this nation of the people, by the people, and for the people will not vanish from His creation.
Merry Christmas to you and yours Sundance and to all Treepers every where.
God’s arms are always around me. God given freeom, patience and love.
In Christ
amen
Merry Christmas Sundance and EveryOne! I am so grateful to read your posts this Christmas morning and to be with you all during this time of Darkness’ last gasp. May God bless you and our country and the world.
I was listening to my Bible on CDs and as I was listening and reading this post and when I came to this post above, the CD in my ears and my eyes were perfectly synched as I heard the passage in Revelation as I read the words above! It was a sign and I praise the Lord that when I am low, something like this happens to remind me that God is in control!
Thanks, Sundance. Somehow each day, I feel you are writing these articles directly to me, and it is comforting to know I am not alone. The hoopla around Christmas brings little joy anymore until I sit in the pew and totally absorb the message. God bless you…….YOU matter.
What an outstanding Christmas message! thank you Sundance!
Thank you and Merry, Joyful Christmas tidings to you Sundance, and the entire CTH community!
It is with love and gratitude that I wish you all the best today and in the new and coming year. God Bless you all.
And, if you need additional inspiration, you can watch a selfless person work with shelter animals, giving them hope as well. Selfless love for others, including the animals in our lives. Giving love and comfort may be the best gift anyone can give.
https://rockykanaka.com/video/
Love to you all.
Thank you, Sundance, for your clear strong voice, leadership and loving kindness.
Love & Blessings to you.
Xoxox ❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸👊👊
Daniel 3:17-18 for this present time:
“…our God is able to deliver us from the “fundamental transformation,” and he will deliver us out of your hand, you traitors. But even if he doesn’t, we will not serve your false gods, nor worship the government which you have set up.”
No fear –
Merry Christmas to all, and especially all blessings to Sundance, Menagerie, ad rem, and all those who maintain the Treehouse so the truth can be spoken without controversy.
Merry Christmas Sundance!!
A beautiful reminder on a Glorious day!!
Merry Christmas Fellow Treepers! And God Bless You Sundance and all Admin! Thank you for that great message above….
Stay Frosty… 2024 is going to be LIT!!!
Chef A.Bay
Amen! We enjoyed watching The Chosen Christmas celebration! The entire family. That show is changing the world!!!
Thank you Sundance! A call to hope. A call to action. A call of reminder to whose we are, who we are, and for what purpose we exist.
An acknowledgement that the obstacles we see are real, and many have been placed there purposely, yet an encouragement that we can overcome those obstacles anyway.
Your words resonate in me to produce resolve and action — to focus on who am and be what I am Created to be.
Bless your heart, your mind, your eyes, your keyboard, your pen, and your hands.
Merry Christmas, Jesus is LORD!
Thank you, Sundance for a most moving and heartfelt post.
Merry Christmas! May the Lord bless you and your families today and always.
It’s Christmas Presence.
Here is the sort of miracle that can happen when we are filled with that Spirit.
May we never forget.
Retired Magistrate here: Fellowship is the reason we have our annual Christmas Open House. This year we had it on December 10. Neighbors, former co workers and friends attended. I invited some new people this year. This is the only time during the year that our neighbors actually get together and talk; they look forward to it every year. We haven’t missed doing our Open House for 30 plus years. One year I was in a bad traffic accident the day before and we still had it; I am of German and Irish heritage which equals stubborn. We even had the Open House the first year of covid, attendance was down but people still came and had a wonderful time.
Live your best life especially during the Yuletide season when GOD sent us HIS most perfect gift; the Great I AM in the flesh. Merry Christmas.
President Sundance should pick Donald Trump as his VP.
I admire you so much Sir..
AMEN!
May God bless all my fellow treepers and Sundance, Menagerie, and the rest of the crew,,,enjoy, stay safe!
Merry Christmas to all! ❤️
Hoping everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend
Thank you. Your words of encouragement and truth are heart lifting.
God bless you, your family, and your ministry.
Merry Christmas! There is a stark difference between the words “birth and “born”. LEGALLY! Nevertheless, all love to all treepers!
“flux and ugh”. Perfect.
Merry Christmas and prayers for all.
I read and felt sad but inspired at the same time.
I am taxed to the limit. Trying to hang on to a profession and stay in a calling I do not think God would want me to drop. Not after coming this far..
I have been pulled so much, I have not been the father, son, husband am capable of being, but I am empty and spent. There was much to be grateful for this Christmas. All my children were here. Divorces fragment our families. Politics not mentioned. All are grateful, but fighting anxiety. Fighting fear.
I’m not showing the confidence I need to portray to those around me. Not at the moment.
But Sundance you are right, and God will prevail with me, with us. I love the hope you portray, even in the midst of the stark reality around us.
We are blessed.