My Favorite Christmas Gift

  Christmas is such a wondrous time of year.  There is so much to do and prepare for, celebrations to attend and activities to participate in.  Finally we reach the day when we are all sitting around the Christmas tree and get to open our gifts.

I was at a Christmas celebration at a friend’s house and one of the activities included naming favorite Christmas gifts we’d received over the years.  Some mentioned a grand material gift they’d received; while others were more non-material; more abstract gifts.  

`Being with family’ was one gift which often was shared, as was grand children; or even the gift of a wonderful home church and friends.  Children in the room mentioned a dog they’d received or a long awaited horse.  Health made the list, as did the feelings of joy and peace.

That first Christmas long ago makes me wonder what Mary might have listed as her favorite gift.  Granted the celebration of Christmas hadn’t even yet been begun; but imagine what she would have considered her favorite gift the year after Jesus’ birth, or the second or third year later.

It must have been emotional for her to know that she carried God’s Son.  In the song ‘Mary Did You Know’ there’s a line that says, “When you kissed your baby boy, you kissed the face of God”.  That singular line can make me weep.  Can you imagine the awe of cuddling her baby as she kissed his tiny head or cheek and looked into those baby eyes?

As a mom, I remember when my children were tiny babes, being overwhelmed with love as I looked into their tiny faces.  And when they smiled at me, I melted.  Can you see Mary’s heart doing cartwheels as Jesus looked at her and smiled?  Consider the gifts Mary must have been grateful for.  She was given the gift of raising Jesus on this Earth.  What a responsibility, as all parents have, but what an exclusive, exquisite joy--this was God's Son!    

       As I reflect on this Christmas, I am in awe of the gift God gave us in the Messiah, Baby Jesus in the manger.  We were given the gift of Salvation through him and then he was the gift of Sacrifice only 33 years later on the cross, for each one of us.  This truly is the greatest gift of all.

      Jesus is the reason for the season!

      Merry Christmas, everyone!    

A Meaningful Life

  I read a story about a little girl whose parents were alcoholics and right after she turned three years old, she was taken, for her safety and put in an orphanage.  About a year later, she and her little brother who was also there, were adopted by a Christian couple who made sure they had an education, were introduced to Jesus and grew into the faith.

Stories like this happen often in our world.  It’s sad when a child is born into an environment so unhealthy.  It’s equally sad when a couple want children so badly but are unable to have them naturally.  What a gift, on both sides when an adoption can be made.

We sometimes have no control over our circumstances.  Life happens and we must change course in an instant.  It can be the loss of a loved one, a freak accident that leaves us disabled, financial ruin, a weather related disaster and these are only a few!  We live in a fallen world and ‘stuff happens.’

The little girl I mentioned in the beginning, has little memory of her biological parents, but appreciates and adores her adoptive ones.  She felt a little like Biblical Joseph because he was ‘adopted’ by the Pharaoh after a time and God used him in amazing ways.  She has now started college and wants to honor God with her life so she can glorify God and His Kingdom, even though currently, she isn’t sure how this will be defined.

It’s hard to wait for God to fulfill His purpose for us.  Joseph waited 13 years before the promise he was given by God was fulfilled; Abraham waited 25 years after God’s promise of a son; and Isaac had to wait 20 years before he had children!  David waited many years before he became king.  And there are others who also had to wait on God’s timing.  As I write this, I am stricken with guilt because I am impatient for things to happen after only a few years!

We all have a purpose.  Sometimes we struggle to determine what that is.  We get impatient for answers, while our expectations run all over the place.  We give up and say, ‘I have no purpose!’  ‘There is nothing I do well’!   It isn’t always about doing something grand, but ‘blooming right where we are.’  As Believers our lives are a testimony.  

Your life may be impacting someone on a daily basis, just because of how you live.  Your journey then, can be helpful —or detrimental— to the faith, depending on your walk with God.  There’s a song with the lyrics something like  ‘your walk talk is as important as your talk talk’.  There is so much truth in that!

My mind drifts to the Jesus.  Many generations waited for the Messiah.  Waiting is hard, but there is always a purpose.  Jesus came to set the world free, yet many who were alive at the time, totally missed it.  They had other expectations.  The last thing they expected was a tiny baby.  They wanted a grand warrior who would up-end their political scene at the time.  

There are those who still miss the Messiah.  We are getting ready to celebrate Christmas; the birth of the Christ Child.  His walk on earth was real, steady, truthful, pure, sinless, and life changing.

Our lives should mirror that of Jesus!  We are human, and will make mistakes and are not sin free.  While Jesus was human, he was still all God!  His life made a daily difference.  Our life purpose needs to be, to the best of our Christian ability, life changing to those around us.

Photo Credit:  https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/messiah-in-the-manger

Singing About the Greatest Gift of All

        I love worship!  Now when I say that, understand I honestly enjoy the entire service.  It really is about worship—-in all it’s forms.  There is music, the sermon and prayer; and in some services there is more.

Prayer time is amazing because the pastor very eloquently says a prayer which covers the congregation, lifts up prayer requests and more, all with a thankful heart.  While he is praying I can remain quiet, listen and choose to agree with his words and in silence add my own thoughts.

When the sermon begins I pull out my journal, pen, and have my Bible open so I can read along and take lots of notes.  When I think about the words on those pages as ‘God’s Love Letters' to ME, I can get overwhelmed.  I love learning what those words are saying in the big scope of things through the voice of the pastor’s interpretation, from what God has told him to share; but also what He is saying to me!  

Now all that said, there is something about the music that reaches the depths of my soul. I love it when the entire congregation sings and sounds like they believe the words they are saying.  For me when you sing the words of those beautiful songs, you are communing with God.  It truly is my favorite time in the service.

I admit the music is changing and while Contemporary Christian music usually has amazing lyrics; often with words right from scripture, I’m more of a Southern Gospel kind of gal and miss the traditional songs which have been sung for many decades.  (But that’s for another blog!)

When it comes to Christmas music, I bubble over with an excited joy which is hard to describe!  I love this celebratory music which describes the birth of our Lord.  I never tire of it.  I could listen to it year ‘round and have been guilty of putting my Christmas music on in the middle of summer.   I enjoy it so much, I’ve told my family at my funeral (weird right) I want at least one Christmas song to be sung by the congregation.  I’m not positive which one, but currently I’m leaning toward Joy To The World!  

This music fills my heart with such joy and anticipation, while  incorporating the traditions of generations, the Biblical story of Christ’s birth and celebratory awareness of the season.

What seems sad to me, however, is how few Christmas songs we sing!  I smile as I write that because I know there is more to worship than the music.  But tell me how you feel when a chorus of multigenerational voices come together, in a variety of harmonies and sing with great gusto about the greatest gift we could ever receive!  The world received Jesus over 2000 years ago.  He is life giving and life changing and that is absolutely worth signing about!  

#Worship  #WorshipSongs  #Sing  #ChristmasMusic  #ChristmasCarols  #ChristmasSongs

Photo Credit:  picture of christmas music 

It's All About The Season

         

        Seasons reverberate around us all the time and we barely recognize most of them, or take the time to even think about the season we've either gone through or are coming out of!  Certainly most of us realize we are in the beginning of the ‘Christmas season,’ although there are those who will say it started weeks (months?) ago.

We are also officially heading into the ‘winter season’ (perhaps not so much depending on your geography!)  —But, none the less, there are subtle changes even if not dramatic.   With the Thanksgiving holiday over, and changing weather patterns, regardless of where you live, you can tell 'change' is in the air.  (Sometimes it has more to do with travelers from one area of the country to another!)  

We know in a few months changes will happen again as spring brings newness to the earth where winter has put it to sleep; then summer arrives, followed by fall, then winter and the cycle repeats itself.

As adults we often relate to ‘seasons’ through our ‘life markers’.  We were children first in elementary school, then middle and finally we reach high school graduation!  We’ve learned to drive and have a job.  Many of us go to college, have sweethearts and marry.  Eventually we have children and then they follow the same cycle we did before them.

As we get older, we discover we are in the ‘season’ of grand-parenting!   We reached retirement and perhaps a slower pace of living and even find time for travel until our health changes our plans.

All of these ‘changes’ are seasons we seldom realize we’ve moved into since many are subtle and, expected changes; just like the weather seasons.  Anything different seems out of place.

How do all these seasons fit into our spiritual life?  Perhaps the better question would be how have we fit our spiritual life into all of the different seasons?   We get so caught up in the movement of life (often at a frantic pace) we tend to put our relationship with Christ on the shelf.  There just isn’t time to fit everything in!

As young people we strive to ‘fit in’ with our peers. We don’t always talk about our faith because the last thing we want is to have a friend think we’re ‘weird’ because we believe in someone called Jesus!  

      As teenagers our world is all about ‘us’ as we attempt to discover who we are and what we want out of life.  Once we are married and have a family of our own, we are busy with jobs, being a ‘taxi’ for all the events our kids are involved in; we’re caught up in trying to be the best parent on the block, while trying to keep up the status we are expected to carry in our neighborhoods or at work and sometimes even in our church!

All these elements end up being a distraction and we back off from what once might have been important—way back when we were young— our spiritual life.  

We end up feeling empty and lost, and searching; even sometimes for something we can’t define.  In desperation we remember that person called Jesus.  We cry out and rekindle that relationship we’d almost forgotten about.  Ever so slowly we find ourselves in the final season of life; nearing death.

The last thing we want is to be nearing our last breath and wondering when and how we veered off the right path!  How’d that happen?  Where did time go?  What choices did I totally mess up, or miss?  Was I the servant God called me to be, or just a shadow of what could have been? 

In what season do you find yourself?  Is this Christmas season filled with the hope, joy and love of Christ, or are you a little off course?  There’s no time like the present to again remember that unique person we know as Jesus.  He really is 'the reason for this season'!

Happy Thanksgiving

  “I remember Thanksgiving Day from my youth,” said a friend one day.  “It was such an amazing time of relaxing and sharing.  My aunts, uncles and cousins, along with Mom and Dad and my siblings would all gather over at my grandmother’s house where we shared an incredible meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and beets or some other vegetable, cranberry sauce, fresh bread and lemonade or tea to drink.  

“The adults sat around and caught up on all the family news while the kids played games or even football if the weather was agreeable.  Sometimes someone would pull out a checker board or even monopoly or chess.  It was really entertaining watching the teen boys trying to figure out who would do what in that particular game.  They’d end up playing the winner and the competition could go on for hours.  

“The teen girls and my aunts would all help in the kitchen until the meal was done.  Of course every one brought something to share even with all the “fixin’s” Grandma would fix.  And then the dessert!  Oh my goodness!  There were pies of every description, brownies, cookies, and there were even times we actually made homemade ice cream.  It made for a long day, but it was awesome!

“We don’t do that anymore,” she lamented.  “And what’s sad is as an adult with children and grandchildren of my own, I’m not seeing that tradition continued.  Oh sure, those who live close come to eat, but not until most of the meal is finished.  The kids, instead of playing with each other watch TV, and then there is football.  It’s all changed.  After dinner and the kitchen is cleaned up, we share dessert and then everyone goes home.  The house is left empty and sad.”

I related to my friend’s story.  My own children are spread across the United States.  It’s difficult getting all of them together in one place for any holiday!  So I am especially thankful I have one of my five children and four of my seventeen grandchildren close to share Thanksgiving.  

Early in the day the grandchildren come in to watch the parade on TV while their momma and I work on dinner.  My husband and son-in-law are usually outside doing “guy” stuff, while waiting for football to come on after the parade.  

When we gather around the table, we hold hands to say grace, and with thankful hearts ask for blessing on the food, and for those who are with us only in our hearts.  We, like my friend lament the missing siblings and families, but are thankful they remain part of our lives, even though many miles separate us.  

We recall times at the Thanksgiving dinner table of when they were small, sharing some silly stories and some serious.  We are thankful for first responders, like our son-in-law who protects us as a police officer and for all those within our family, both immediate and distant who, by design, are part of our family.  

We are also thankful for all those people who have touched our lives, whether directly or indirectly and caused a smile.  We are thankful for our church family and a country where we can worship and teach our children respect, morals and the meaning of love, life and family.  We are so very blessed!

I am thankful for YOU!  I am grateful you choose to read my words and make my work worthwhile.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

#HappyThanksgiving   #ThankfulHeart  #Blessed  #Blessings  #TurkeyDinner  #Family #memories

Photo Credit:  https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=thanksgiving

Be Thankful

It seems everyone can lay claim to “the most dysfunctional family!”  Mine is no different.  But I love the description of one friend’s family, as she in good humor, breaks it down. 

       “It seems Dad was married before he went into the war and they’d had a baby, but somewhere along the way, he met my mom and they had a child and eventually married after dad divorced his first wife.  They had issues all through their marriage and finally divorced.  My dad went “hippie” for a while and had several “relationships” and my mom married one of his brothers, but that marriage didn’t last either; and somewhere along the line my dad and his first wife got back together, but that only lasted a while too.  I’m not sure how my siblings and I turned out alright, but I sure am thankful!” she adds laughing.

Another friend tells the story of being deep within a family of alcoholics. She recalls putting her mother to bed while she was in a total stupor.  She says most of her family is gone now, but will tell you she misses them, despite the abuse that occurred during her young life.  She still has her mom who gave up alcohol after a long struggle and shares a good relationship with her.  For this, she is thankful.

      Obesity is the focal point of a story for another flawed family.  It seemed everyone in the family struggled with weight.  Even the toddlers were heavy.  High fat and carb meals were dominant three times a day.  Food was used for comfort, or when they were sad, happy, tired or celebrating.  Food had become the most important part of their world.  This family experienced sadness, depression and had its own kind of dysfunctionality.  And then one member made a decision. She would stop the cycle-- and through a two- year journey began making wise food decisions.  It changed not only her life, but those of her family.  For this she is thankful.

Disability is the center of a story revolving around another family.  Yet, when I read her story, I was in awe.  She was grateful for her disability, because it changed her perspective!  She believes she is a better person and has a stronger faith because of the ‘suffering’ that comes with having a disability! She is thankful for her disability!

What I find interesting is despite the dysfunctionality of any family, life goes on!  Lives can be depressing, horror filled, diseased, pained from bad decisions and circumstances.  But ultimately decisions can be made that are right and good, giving reason to be thankful.

We also have a church family, which also can (and often is) flawed.  This family binds us together in spiritual beliefs which helps keep us grounded, accountable, and striving to be more like Christ. It is in this place where our faith wraps around us in the form of family all united through God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.  

        Even though we have our biological family, this is family where we often turn to when we are sad and lonely, happy and glad, questioning our steps, wondering what the world holds next and so many other questions directly related to our Biblical beliefs. 

Consider all the 'families' of which you are a part.  There is your biological family, church family, work family, neighborhood, community, sports families, national parties, special interest parties, and so many others.  Can you see the differences and still see the good? This is reason to be thankful!  

        Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  I hope you are thankful and blessed!

#Thankful  #Thanksgiving  #BlessedAndThankful  #Disability  #Struggles  #BeThankful

Photo Credit:  https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/thankful.html 

Making Of A Hero

  Heroes come in all shapes in sizes. We are fast approaching Veteran’s Day.  On this day we pay tribute to service men and women in all branches of the military for their dedication, commitment, loyalty and sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted in this country.  The cost of their sacrifice often includes emotional or physical distress.  Sometimes it costed a person’s life, the biggest sacrifice of all.

What makes a hero?  When I hear the word ‘hero’, besides our military, I can’t help but think of the 9/11 attacks.  Much was said about those firefighters and emergency personnel who honestly did heroic acts.  They worked tirelessly and selflessly to save as many victims as possible that horrible disaster.  And as brave and courageous as all these men were, the truth is our firefighters, police and military personnel do this day in and day out and hardly is any recognition given.

Jesus is rarely described as a hero.  Yet wouldn’t He exemplify the word to the greatest degree?!  Jesus was a man who went against what was traditionally taught and against the greatest evils of this world.  He went so far as to defy death with His resurrection.  What mere man can make that claim?  He set the stage for the opportunity of change in the right direction.

So the question bears asking.  Can anyone be a hero?  It is said happiness is staying focused on your mission, not your results.  We can be happy when we are humble, gentle, and patient.  When you add goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love while thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, we have the perfect recipe for happiness!  

When we feel good about who we are because we are focused on the task before us, even if it seems dangerous to any observers, we can be heroic, even if others do not view it in the same light.  

Sometimes the task before us is to grow spiritually.  That requires the dedication of a hero, as well! It takes faithful determination to search the scriptures with diligence while staying focused on the message.  It is here you will find peace…..  not in what other people think about you!

Are you a hero?  Do you give selflessly to help someone in need?  Could you be defined as a hero in your prayer life?  Are you dedicated to lifting others in prayer?  Perhaps you are a hero to someone who needs meals delivered on a regular basis, or are you someone who is willing to sit and read to an elderly or homebound person?  Are you a hero because you fixed someone’s car, or cleaned their house or raked leaves?  

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.  Heroes are defined subjectively totally depending on how important your aid is to another person.  It may seem a small act of kindness on your part, but to the recipient, it’s huge and important.  And yes, ----YOU could totally be considered a hero to someone who is grateful for what you do for them.  

free pics of veterans day

From Darkness To Light

       A friend tells about his experience of cancer treatments including chemo, a bone marrow transplant, and months in the hospital.  He said, not only was his body exhausted, but also his mind and soul.  His world was void of any kind of sunshine or connection.  He was done.  In his despair and loneliness, like many of us do, he called on the Lord, asking for ‘something, anything’ to lift his spirit.  He wanted out of the dark world in which he’d seemed to have fallen.

To match the darkness in his soul, rain was falling outside.  Yet, as the rain fell, looking out the windows, he noticed how the drops were splashing and tiny bits of light reflected and caused sparkling into many colors against the fallen leaves.  

       The thunder that rolled above him surprisingly seemed to sound like music in perfect rhythm.  He could feel his mood lifting as he reflected on the Psalm he had read earlier in the day!  Instead of drowning in darkness, he was now experiencing a joy he couldn’t have imagined possible even hours before.

My friend isn’t alone in his perception of darkness and loneliness, when trials of many kinds, alter our world.  Everyone has issues.  Sometimes it’s medical, like my friend.  But it can be financial worries, relationship upheavals, death or divorce, an accident we are never prepared for, and even the turmoil of trying to keep our spiritual life on the right track as Satan attacks us on every turn.

We wake up and even before we begin our day, we are discouraged and defeated. We’ve given up before our feet even hit the floor. When times are hard we often lose the ability to focus on anything that is good.  We can’t seem to see beyond the pain we are experiencing even though our head knows that our Creator remains steadfast.  We stumble on the road blocks Satan puts in our path blurring the Divine Light God is shining.

When we look for it, however, we often find reason to smile, in spite of ourselves!  God knows where we are and the circumstances which have put us in darkness.  It’s really about perspective.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to reign over the darkness enveloping us, we see a glimmer of light.  As we process the Light, God can alter our thought processes and change the darkness into something welcoming, safe and much closer to His perspective.

Sometimes perspective comes from another Believer.  Other times it’s from reading His Word and placing ourselves in a state of prayer, in communion with The Father.  Other times it might come from the voice or hug from a child; or even breathing in God’s coloring book in the form of a wondrous picture of nature.  As our hearts and minds are changed with the ‘hug’ from God in whatever form it comes, we can feel our world of loneliness, darkness and sadness lifting into a place we hadn’t expected.  

If you are facing a dark, difficult time, I pray you will reach out and accept the ‘hug’ God sends in His unique way.  When accepting his love, may you be refreshed in his Divine Light.

Behind The Costume

      Halloween seems to be a holiday people either love or hate.  I enjoy the silliness or cute side of it, but am never happy with the horror side.  It’s just not my personality. 

I remember trick or treating only once when I was a child, in third grade.  We didn’t have ‘real’ costumes, so my sister and I wore a paper sack on our heads.  I don’t remember much else; not even eating the ‘treats’.  

As time passed and my own family grew, my husband and I did have costumes for our children and even went ‘trick or treating’ on occasion, even though neither of us were big fans.  The school parades with all the children dressed in their costumes, as well as the adults, always seemed harmless and even fun.

My belief system has always been pretty strong, but as I’ve grown and matured as a Christian, I can see my views being altered, as I continue to study the Word and learn scripture.  

I recently came across an article which caused me pause, regarding Halloween.  I think I always knew it began as a pagan holiday, but never thought much about it, although I’ve always hated the ideas of witches, warlocks, spells and anything ‘horror’.  These feelings have been further compounded as Halloween has become more and more dark as the ‘horror side’ of the holiday is gripping tighter as dark music, movies, costumes and even harmful events seem to be escalating every year.

The article however, in summary, suggested that participating in Halloween gives Satan complete delight because he sees this as an opportunity.  According to a former Satanist, parents (and the adults who also dress up) are allowing their children at least one night of celebrating Satan the the Satanic world.  I was totally flabbergasted—and terrified.  Never had I ever considered such a thought.  As a Believer I can’t help wonder if he’s right!  

We offer, as Christians, an alternative to ‘trick or treating’ with ‘trunk or treat’.  The concept seems right enough.  It takes children off the streets and potentially ‘scary’ neighborhoods and places them and their families within the protected borders of those who have faith in Jesus.  This also provides the opportunity to invite them to church and offer Christian material.

But it makes me wonder.  Are we sending mixed messages?  Are we saying it’s okay to partake of the ‘dark world’ as long as we ‘partake' in the right environment?  I don’t know.  Perhaps none of this makes sense.  Perhaps you even think I may be over reacting.  Maybe I am.

I reached for the Bible to find answers.  I found a few verses which helped me, and may or may not help you.  Please understand, I’m not here to judge your participation or feelings on Halloween.  I just wondered about mine. 

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   Ephesians 6:11-12

.... the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.   1 Corinthians 10:20-21

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  Deuteronomy 18:10-12

God's Surprises

  My all time favorite movie is, “Facing The Giants.”  There’s a scene in the movie that discusses two farmers ‘preparing fields.’  Then the question is asked of the two farmers ‘Which field will God more likely bless?’  —the answer is ‘The one who readies his field.’

There are so many ways we prepare our field.  As a gardener, it’s obvious if I expect food in my garden, then I need to plant seeds, water them and remove the weeds.  But what happens when deer come along and eat everything I’ve planted; or we have so much rain right after planting, all the seeds are washed away, or the opposite: we experience no rain and have drought.  Or perhaps a violent storm comes through after the crop is nearly ready for harvest and everything is destroyed?

Stuff happens all the time.  It’s the way of nature; the way of life.  Does this mean we should give up and not try? I believe God expects us to try and trust him for the results!  God promises to take care of those who are faithful.  Sometimes this comes in surprising ways.

We may lose all our food in our garden, but neighbors, family or strangers will provide what we need—-or those crops we thought sure were lost, will reseed and produce food just a while later than we expected!   Or the Lord will provide money or other creative means to see to our needs.

I think we forget that God is creative.  Consider all the imagination he used creating this great Universe!  If God can figure that out in ways Scientists still find a mystery, then why is it so hard for us to expect God to supply what we need in an unorthodox way?  

Sometimes we forget or assume that God doesn’t really care about all our needs and therefore don’t bother to take our problems to him unless they’re the great big ones.—-You know——  a surgery, loss of a job, serious illness, natural disaster or other catastrophic event well out of our hands. 

He cares about the ‘small stuff’ too.  In fact I’d go so far as to say, he cares about every facet of our lives.  And while he knows everything that’s going to happen, he wants communication from us; just the way we want communication from a spouse or a child, friend or neighbor!  And I believe he wants us to do our part with the gifts and abilities he’s given us to prepare ‘our field’ while we wait.  

And we need to praise him and thank him for what he’s already done, as well as, whatever it is he is going to do.  And that doesn’t mean things are going to work out just the way we planned.  God uses circumstances to teach, disciple, discipline, witness, and more.   It’s in these ‘unsteady’ times we need to be ‘more steady’ with Him!

It’s Fall and the colors that arise from the leaves turning a vibrant red, lemon yellow, pumpkin orange and all colors in between can be startling, and beautiful!  Even in my expectation, I’m always surprised and filled with joy at the color!  

This same thought process can be applied to our lives.  God brings color and other surprises to our lives sometimes when we expect; and sometimes when we don’t.  He is in control and knows just what we need and when we need it!

I serve a Creative God!  I love God’s surprises.  What surprises will you see today?

Childlike Faith

       A Pastor friend of mine tells the story of the time his son and he were playing outdoors with a frisbee.  It was just dusk and the frisbee landed on the rooftop of the house.  Pulling a ladder from the garage and armed with a broom, the effort began to retrieve the frisbee.  As darkness fell, all hope seemed lost for the night, as the broom was about six inches short of reaching the frisbee.  

Retrieving the toy, the pastor decided, would have to wait till morning.  His son was horribly disappointed and gave many reasons why it should be rescued that evening. Patiently the dad explained, it just wouldn’t work, given they could no longer see well.  

The son, after watching during his growing up years, seeing his father’s belief in prayer, suggested praying for the answer.  Given his own belief system, the father agreed and allowed the boy to pray.  It was a simple prayer, just asking God to help them retrieve his favorite frisbee from the roof.  Just as soon as he finished, the boy’s face lit up and placing his young finger in the air said, “I’ve got it!  We need a longer broom!”

Going to the garage, sure enough, there was a longer broom, just the right length longer, about six inches.  Climbing the ladder once again, with the boy navigating from below, since darkness was now fully on, the pastor was totally able to whisk the frisbee off the roof with the extended ladder.

I think about all the times I’ve prayed and asked God for ‘something.’  I know without a single doubt God is all powerful, over all the earth and everything in it, including the whole universe.  Yet, after hearing the story of the boy and his frisbee, I wonder if the child’s understanding and faith in prayer isn’t stronger than my own!

We are told to come as children to Christ—-with child like faith!  As we grow into adults, we become just a touch jaded, and perhaps even cynical—even if not done so deliberately!

Prayer is a mighty tool when our motives and heart are in the right place.  (See James 4:3)  I wonder if we just become glib about our prayers and not believe with our whole heart that God has this incredible ability to answer our requests?  It’s true, God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we want.  Sometimes it’s because it’s totally the wrong thing for us and God has something better in mind.

Other times it is not only because our motives are off kilter, but our hearts aren’t right with Him. (See Jeremiah 29:12-13)  But sometimes we lack faith!  

James 1:6-8 also tells us if we doubt, God won’t answer.  That little boy didn’t doubt for a moment that God would somehow get that frisbee off the roof.  God didn’t provide a huge gust of wind to blow it off—-but he could have—-!  But he did provide an ‘idea’ that when followed through on, absolutely caused the frisbee to be retrieved.  

What are you asking God for today?  Have you made sure your heart is in the right place?  Are your motives pure?  Do you have the faith to see God make it happen?  Will you listen to see how God responds?  Will He provide a miracle? (Yes he can!)   Or is he asking you to do something (even something simple or small) that will precipitate the ‘miracle’ you need?  

God is still in the business of providing ‘miracles’.  Are you ready for an answer to prayer?

Photo Credit: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/little-boy-playing-frisbee-50708830

When Doubt Attacks

  “I feel like I’m lost,” my friend said.  “It’s hard to describe, but my head is all over the place.  I know I’m stressed and it’s not even about work, yet working is a struggle.  I just want to cry, and I have, though not much.  I’ve prayed, I’ve yelled and I’ve read my Bible.  I’ve asked for direction and even ‘What’s wrong with me?’    I’m not sure I can even describe how I really feel.  I don’t know what to do,” she added, with tears streaming down her face.”

I identified with my friend.  I’ve found myself in the same place, although likely for entirely different reasons.  But that kind of sadness borders on depression or a severe case of anxiety, because life seems out of control.  There just doesn’t seem to be any clear answers to the problems swirling around in my mind.

In an effort to battle the onslaught of negativity, I find my trusty notebook and pen and begin a “plan” to help me focus!  I create my worthy “to-do” list in areas of cleaning, studying, exercising, writing and any other area I feel like focus should be enhanced.  Writing seems to be the one area that suffers the most (well, exercising, too.  But that’s always a battle!)

Writing requires thought; a good deal of thought.  The process can be arduous, even though I completely love it!  But when attacks happen on my purpose for writing, I begin to sink.  I ask myself, ‘Who cares if I write or if I don’t?’  ‘Does it make a difference?’  ‘Will anyone even notice if I don’t post this week?’   ‘Am I good enough?’  The questions pummel me like a giant hammer chiseling away (sometimes in large chunks) my ability to see that it’s worthwhile; that I am making a difference, even if it’s a small one!

I stare at the empty page before me on the computer screen, willing myself to write—something—anything—that might get my mind working.  This morning, as I write this, (and yes, this is a time of struggle for me), I came across the scripture in Esther about ‘such a time as this.’  (See Esther 4:14) Esther faced great risk by doing the right thing.  It couldn’t have been easy making the choice needed to save her people.  But when reflecting on Mordecai’s words, and in prayerful attitude, she faced her demons and doubts, and moved forward.

The passage made me cry, even though I’ve read it many times.  God has also, given me, and you, a purpose!  We were created to carry out God’s plan.  He absolutely can have someone else do what we were called to do.  But when we choose to allow doubts to become giant fear, we choose to miss the blessings that come with being obedient to our calling, regardless of how we view their value.

We visited an arts festival recently and I was awed by the huge variety of gifts many people have been given.  Some of the work seemed simple but was exquisite.  Others certainly spent hours making a single piece to be shared with those who crossed their paths.  Each had something special and unique to share. Each had distinctive beauty.  God provides this gift to every single one of us.  I wonder how often we ignore the nudges and signals He provides, while we wallow in frustration and doubt.  

Is doubt stealing opportunities to use the gifts God has given you?  What will you (or I) choose to do about it?

Photo Credit: https://www.pexels.com/search/doubt/