May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave
birth to her firstborn, a son. She [Mary] wrapped him in cloths and placed him
in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Bumping along on a lowly donkey, nine months pregnant, Mary prepared for the birth of her son, Jesus. She made the journey with her betrothed, Joseph, to the town of Bethlehem where they'd be counted and registered to pay taxes. Towards the end of a pregnancy, most women are mighty uncomfortable. I can't imagine riding a donkey on rough roads and bouncing around. But, Mary’s faith trumped her discomfort.
Womanhood
arrived early in Mary's day. History determines her to be anywhere from
fourteen to seventeen, a child in our culture. Yet her love for God matured and
grew in her few years. The angel who delivered the news that she'd give birth
to the Messiah, recognized this young woman's faith.
Mary, being
the faithful servant, accepted the angel's proclamation with grace and trust.
Trust plays
a huge part in Jesus' birth. Joseph trusted enough to wed Mary. The angel trusted God as he delivered his
messages. The shepherds trusted the angels and ran to see the baby. And Mary
trusted God with the glorious phenomenon of Jesus' birth.
As Mary
bumped along, I can't imagine the discomfort. But she moved forward as God
called her. She birthed the baby in a stable, most likely a cave where the
animals were fed and watered. Hopefully, she had clean straw and fresh water. Regardless,
Mary welcomed her child with joy that night.
As you think
about the troubles of life, the inconveniences, the losses, the illness, think
about Mary. In her discomfort and what was likely a troubled time for her, she
moved forward with trust and faith. Regardless of what's behind us, let's keep
our eyes on Jesus and celebrate the joy of this season.
Stop for a
few moments and breathe in the spirit of the season. Capture the essence of joy
Jesus brought to us. Then breathe out and share his hope.
Luke 2:15-18
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one
another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the
Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in
the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what
had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at
what the shepherds said to them.
Have you ever seen an alpaca?
Sometimes
confused with a llama—their ears are more rounded, their
bodies are smaller, and their fur is shaggier. A few years ago, Tim and I
visited an alpaca farm. The comical looking creatures, with their floppy hair, stood
in the field beside the Alpaca Meadows gift and wool shop. A lovely lady greeted
us and welcomed us into her store. After a little too much shopping, she
offered to show us her animals. If it hadn't been so muddy, we could have taken
one for a walk, instead, we tromped through the water-logged field for a
close-up experience. One of the alpacas, who is blind, came right to her
caretaker. She trusted her and allowed us to pet her fuzzy head, because she
knew her shepherd.
In Luke chapter
two, sheep trusted their shepherd and the shepherd trusted the Lord.
When the
angels appeared to the shepherds, fear struck them, until the angel told them
not to be afraid, but to trust. Once the shock of seeing and hearing the angels
sunk in, they hurried off to see the baby the angels proclaimed. Imagine—they arrived at the manger, a tiny baby lay in the arms of
his mother, and he is proclaimed the Messiah, the one they'd been waiting for.
No doubt the shepherds stood in awe. They'd heard God's promise of a Savior but
never expected to have the honor to be chosen to see him.
When they
left the manger, they didn't jog back to their hill. Instead, they shared the
good news—a Savior is born—the Messiah is here—we've seen him with our own eyes.
Jesus came
to the world to save us from evil and sin. He entered this world as a babe in a
manger. Smelly, stinky shepherds visited first, not kings or priests, but
everyday workers who spent time tending. And they spread the word "Jesus
is born" to everyone they saw.
From the
beginning of Jesus time on earth, God used ordinary men and women to spread the
gospel. He still does today. We don't need a fancy degree or title to be a
shepherd for Jesus. We just need to know how much he loves us.
Go tell
everyone that Jesus lives and loves them. He wants the world to know.
Luke 1:28-33
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The
Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what
kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be
afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and
give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and
will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the
throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants
forever; his kingdom will never end.”
An angel carried hope to a broken world.
Years ago, I
sewed an angel costume for my daughter to wear in the church's Christmas play.
She was adorable. That same simple, white dress, and angel wings have been
passed down through the family. What a delight to see the little ones dressed
in glittery garland halos, and singing from their little hearts.
How do you picture an angel?
In my mind's eye I
see cherub cheeks, ringlets in their hair, and bright eyes. Their tiny barefoot
feet poke out under crisp white gowns. Each one stands erect and they sing the
most beautiful melody. But the angels in the Bible weren't cute little cherubs,
they were pictured as fierce warriors, men dressed in white, some bigger than
life.
God created
angels to minister to his people. In the Bible, angels prepared for spiritual combat,
while others delivered divine messages. Either way, they are prepared to battle
for and care for Jesus' followers.
Before Jesus
was born, they led the brigades to prepare the way for the King of Kings. In
the Christmas story these men God sent to earth, visited Joseph, Mary,
Zechariah, and the shepherds. They showed up to spread the good news of hope,
joy, and love.
You see, God
sent the angels with purpose. Our world is broken. God's people need heavenly
beings to fight for us, assist us, and speak to us. God asked his angels to
spread God's words. I've not seen an angel (that I know of) but I believe they
dwell among us. They minister to God's people even as they did in biblical
times.
Read the
Christmas story in Matthew and Luke and focus on the angels, find the joy they
shared as hope for our weary world.
Everything looks magical when it snows.
-Lorelai Gilmore
As I drove home in the evening, the trees glistened with white,
and the ground rested under a blanket of fresh snow.
In southwest Ohio, we had our first snowfall.
I still feel like a kid when I see those flakes floating to the earth.
Something about the snow reminds me to stop and
take the time to enjoy the beauty and be thankful.
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Paul tells the Colossian church to pray with an
alert mind and a thankful heart. Even though my words may be simple, I don't want
to be distracted when I call up words to Jesus. Instead, I need to be attentive.
And I should always go before the Lord with thanksgiving. With Thanksgiving Day
around the corner, it's easy to think of what I'm thankful for. But what about
next week? Or during the hustle and bustle of Christmas, if I become irritated
and tired. What about next year, after the new diet doesn't work out and the
scales are stuck? Yep, even then I need to go before God with a thankful heart.
What if all is well? Do I stop talking to God? No. I need to shout words of
thanks and praise! I am grateful that God has set up a way for us to
communicate. I love talking to him and listening for answers.
This week as Thanksgiving approaches, give thanks.
Sometimes that's enough.
Ezekiel 37: 1-6
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he
brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the
middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth
among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that
were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to
them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the
Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter
you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make
flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you
will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
And he did.
On one of our walks at the park, I glanced up. Branches of
the white birch bark on the bare trees shone against the brilliant blue sky.
The white birch branches reminded me of the story in Ezekiel where God sent him
to the valley of the bones and asked him to prophesy to the bones. Ezekiel may
have wondered why, but he obeyed. God knew in His sovereignty that the bones
would rise again in new life. Ezekiel witnessed a miracle.
On days when it’s hard to put one foot in front of the
other, I hang on to God’s promises of hope. Some days my fibromyalgia flairs
and my body doesn’t want to move. On those days, I feel like the dry bones in
the valley. Other days, the fibro stays calm, and you’d never know I had any
health issues. Those days I thank God for the breath of life.
When my eyes caught sight of the beautiful bare branches and
the blue sky, God reminded me to rest when I need to and engage in life when I
can. You see, I still have work to do on this earth. So did Ezekiel. He had a
story to tell and bones to raise. On the days I feel like I’m in the valley
with the bones, I’m reminded of the breath God breathed into the bones and the
breath He breaths into me.
Thank God for all days and know He is with you.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do
not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you
wherever you go.
I salute the men and women who serve in the military.
My dad
served in World War 2. He never talked about his time overseas, much. I know he
was stationed in the Philippines and New Guinea for a time. After he had passed
away, my sister discovered a letter written to our mom where the commanding
officer stated dad had received a Soldier’s Medal for saving the life of a fellow
soldier. I’m proud of my dad for having the courage to rescue the man.
I thank the
Lord for men and women who choose to stand strong and courageous for our
country. So many have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to keep
American soil safe. I thank the Lord for the families who stand beside the
military folks. The children who miss their parent or both parents, the spouses
who hold the home together, the parents of the enlisted all need our prayers.
Moses handed
the leadership to Joshua to lead the people into the promised land. They had to
be prepared to take the land and win the battle. God commanded Joshua to be
strong and courageous.
I may not be
in the military, but I am in a battle zone. The war between good and evil
surrounds me every day. God calls me to be strong—His strength fills me—He
calls me to be courageous—To not be discouraged. The best news is—God goes with
me wherever I go!
This Veteran’s Day, pray for our military, thank our service people, pray for peace, ask God for strength and courage and fight the spiritual battles with faith and hope.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden
is light.”
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." -Anne Shirley
This week the leaves on the deciduous trees burst with
color. Autumn shone her glorious scarlets, golds, and ambers. God’s paintbrush kissed
the sky with azure blue. What a lovely time.
As I look at the trees and think about their preparation for
winter, I know they will rest. Each oak and maple will shed their leaves, and
their systems will slow as they slumber through the cold months. Sometimes, I
envy the trees. They have a cycle that guarantees time for respite and refreshment.
In the busy world we live in, rest seems like a bad word.
Stopping to admire the trees and renew the spirit is often overlooked. Maybe
because I’m older now, I value slowing down and sitting with Jesus more than
ever.
In Matthew 11, Jesus is speaking to a group of people in
Galilee, and I’m guessing He’s also addressing his disciples. The folks He
preached to experienced weariness. They were in the midst of the friction
between those who believed Jesus was Messiah and those who ridiculed Him. Jesus
invited them to come to Him. When he mentions his humble and gentle heart, it
feels like a warm hug for my weary soul. Jesus’ yoke is easy, and His burden is
light because Jesus shares our needs with God, who hears our prayers.
What a beautiful cycle the trees experience and what an
amazing cycle we have when Jesus takes our burdens and carries them to Father
God. Our load is eased, and we can rest.
Take your cares to Jesus, find rest in Him, and value the
time to slow down.
Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of
you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he
who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day
of Christ Jesus.
Teach children they have a purpose.
My friend, Bev, and I pulled into the parking lot at Truist
Arena on the Northern Kentucky University campus. We looked forward to watching
For King and Country perform their songs. As we filed in, and found our seats,
I looked around at all the people. Folks united, not just to hear the music,
but to worship God.
We were not disappointed. Joel and Luke Smallbone and their
band poured all of their energy into leading us in a time of rejoicing. In
between the songs, they told their story. Their family had traveled from
Australia to America, but when they arrived in Nashville, their father’s job
fell through. The children were young. They’d moved to a new country from a
beautiful home, and now they had nothing to speak of. No furniture, no car, no
job. The beautiful thing about their story is that their parents gathered those
youngsters together and asked them to pray. They gave them specific items to
pray for, and the kids witnessed answered prayers. They involved them in the
work they needed to do to make ends meet. They gave them responsibility.
The Smallbone children grew into adults with purpose. Doors
opened for them as they trusted God with their lives. No, we won’t all be in
the limelight, but whatever we do for God is important. Know you have purpose
in whatever you do. Seek God’s guidance and let the Holy Spirit lead.
Share God with children. Teach them God gives purpose to
every person, teach them to pray and trust the Father, then lead by example.
I haven't posted a book review for awhile. I just finished this story and wanted to share.
The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
The sun’s solar flares project toward the earth, while
the earth’s magnetic field protects and sends the flares into the sky.
The northern lights usually dance in the sky at the poles of the earth, but this year, 2024, the flares trended toward epic and have shown off well into the states.
I’ve dreamed of seeing the Aurora Borealis all my life. Now
at sixty-seven years old, my dream came true. Tim and I tried to see them in
May when they visited Ohio, but they weren’t visible where we were. I also
didn’t know I needed to search for them with my phone’s camera. Then, I heard
they were back on October 10. Sure enough, in our backyard, the ribbons of
color danced across the sky. Just when I thought they had ended, a strip of red
appeared over the condo building next to ours and the show continued.
My daughter, Maggie, commented that my grandkids had
experienced two solar eclipses and the northern lights. Our youngest grandchild
is ten and here I am in my sixties just experiencing these phenomena.
As I stood in wonder of the Aurora Borealis as it shifted
and changed, my mind went to the marvel of what heaven would be like. Since God
has created such beauty on earth, imagine what our eternal home will be like.
We tend to look at the sky for its beauty. Clouds billow,
lightning flashes, stars twinkle, rainbows shine, and the moon waxes and wanes.
The heavens do declare the glory of God as He works with His hands to create
magnificent sights.
In the storms, troubling times, and everyday life look to
the sky and remember who created you and what He has in store in heaven. What a
glorious day it will be to step onto the streets of gold.
Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his
arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with
young.
Matthew 18:12-14
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders
away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one
that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier
about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander
off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of
these little ones should perish.
As an adult, I rarely play that old childhood game,
unless one of my grandkids talks me into it. Even though I haven’t hidden
behind a tree lately, I'm sorry to say there have been times I've played hide-and-go-seek with God. I've buried my
head and ignored His wisdom, His call, or His word. Yet, He came after me and
sought me out. Why? Because He loves me no matter what. God, who created the
universe, called me by name and told me I am His child.
Jesus is often called the Good Shepherd. As a
shepherd, He searches for that single sheep that strays away from the flock. He
chases that one little lamb who lost his way. He seeks in the shadows, climbs
the mountains, tears down the walls to find that one who is lost. Once He finds
them, He holds them, loves them and gives hope beyond hope. Jesus said He's
happier about finding that one lost sheep than about the ninety-nine who stayed
put. Why? Because Jesus wants every child of His to be found, to be saved from
the evil in this world. He wants every soul to rest in Him.
In this time of uncertainty and sorrow, seek Jesus' arms. He loves like no other.
John 11:4-7
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No,
it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now
Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that
Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said
to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
A friend’s a friend forever... 
Reunion class of 1979
Krista, Debbie, and I drove in the wind and rain to Grayson, Kentucky, to join friends we’d known for forty-plus years. The alumni reunion was taking place over the weekend, and we looked forward to spending time with our forever friends.
Our crew of teenage girls met in 1975, while some of us knew each other
before we arrived on the campus of Kentucky Christian College. That year in the girls' dorm, God bound us together. Over the course of time, we went our separate ways.
I kept in touch with a couple of the girls through letters and brief visits,
but it wasn’t the same, until several of us gathered at Helen’s house (she and
Terry stayed in Grayson) several years ago. Through Facebook, we’d found each
other again, and when we gathered, it was like we’d never been apart.
Like this year, we sang songs, shared prayer needs, hugged,
and loved on each other. My soul needed the restoration of these dear friends.
In John 11, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus needed Jesus. Lazarus was
sick to the point he died, but Jesus, in His wisdom and knowledge, knew Lazarus
would live. Without the dear friendship with Jesus, Lazarus would have stayed
in the tomb. When Jesus arrived, Mary questioned why he took so long. This is
the time Jesus wept. The bond between Jesus, Mary, and Martha brought the
sister’s comfort, and the love Jesus had for Lazarus raised him from the dead.
Our friendships on earth won’t bring people back to life,
but they can restore a hurting heart or a weary soul. Fellowship with my
friends, who believe Jesus is Christ and God is our Father, fills my soul with
joy. I pray you have friends like mine, but more than anything, I pray you are
friends with Jesus.
Seek Jesus and fellowship with believers. Jesus listens and loves.
Luke 12:27-31
“Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell
you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If
that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of
little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do
not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and
your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and
these things will be given to you as well.”
It's the little things.
I miss when I was a child, and I played in the yard among
the flowers, soft grass, and trees. For hours, I’d pretend to build houses for
fairies and trolls. The days rolled by in simple appreciation of acorns, bark, leaves,
and twigs. I never gave thought to how they got there. I just knew discovering
a new item for my playtime filled me with joy.
Perhaps that’s why I love walking in the woods, along trails
where flowers bloom. And I enjoy nurturing a garden of wildflowers and herbs.
Although I appreciate other people’s flowers, the ones planted every year, there’s
something magical about the ones which push through the soil every spring on
their own, like black-eyed Susan’s, columbines, and daylilies.
When I hike in the park with Tim and Rosie, I adore the
changing in flora. Different plants seem to bloom all year. Now with fall in our
sights, a sweet little bloom has sprouted. The wild blue aster is no more than
a half inch in diameter, yet it is one of the prettiest blossoms on the path.
The lavender petals and yellow center add beauty to the woods.
That little flower reminds me “big” things are fine, but the
little things often mean the most. By things, I mean moments, delights, hugs,
smiles, encouraging words, a butterfly, a child taking my hand, a kiss, a
flower, my dog’s faithfulness. So many things seem little, but in reality, they
are the big. The blessings bestowed by God. Instead of worrying about the big
things, seek God in all things and embrace the blessings.
I’m thankful for every one of you who takes the time to read
this blog. That’s a little thing that blesses my heart in a big way.
Matthew 6:7-13
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think
they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for
your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
I went to dinner with my daughter, Sara, and her family one evening. My granddaughter, Ella Cate, offered the prayer for our food. Sara reminded her to address God at the beginning of the prayer, then end the prayer in Jesus’ name. As we ate, Sara and I talked about why she taught Ella Cate to do that.
We address God because He is the creator of all mankind and
our Father. We end asking in Jesus’ name because He is the one who restored our
relationship with God after Adam and Eve disobeyed.
God made me, He breathed life in me, and He is the one who hears
every prayer of every person. The beautiful thing is—He wants to hear from us.
When Adam and Eve failed to listen to God in the garden, they
broke our bond with God. But Jesus restored it. He connected us back to the
Father through his sacrifice on the cross.
When I pray, I want to address God and seek Him. Then, I
want to speak the prayer in Jesus’ name. The Holy Spirit is in this too. The Spirit
speaks when I can’t. He carries my prayers to God.
As Jesus teaches in the Lord’s prayer—Speak to God in
reverence, seek to be a part of His kingdom. Do the tasks and touch the lives He
lays on your heart. Ask for provision and forgive others. Seek protection from
the temptations in this world, and be covered with grace, so the devil stays
away. All of this in Jesus’ name.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” -The Serenity Prayer
This past week, I spent a couple of hours pulling expired
black-eyed Susans out of my flower bed. Their brown eyes winked at me and said,
“We’re done.” As I popped them out of the ground, I felt the muscles in my legs
pull.
As I ripped the stems from the soil, I found room to move
one of my lavender plants. I had planted the English lavender too close to the
French lavender, and the French version took over the English one. After
digging up and dividing the English lavender, it now has plenty of room to
grow.
Change isn’t easy, but it needed to happen in the flower
bed. The dead plants needed removed and the lavender needed space to flourish.
I’ve never been great with change. As I’ve grown older and
hopefully wiser, I’m a little better, but at times uncomfortable and uncertain.
The uncertainty is what stirs my anxiety. The not knowing why a change
happened, or why I should make a change. I’m sure you get it. I don’t know many
people who embrace a shift in life and roll with it, without struggle or
question.
In the flower bed, the process gave way to growth. Removing
the dead stems and moving the lavender allowed the garden to grow again. Even
though my leg muscles ached, the rearrangement of the garden was good. Most of
the time, change leads to personal growth, even when I don’t like it.
In life, I’ve had to accept the things I can’t change and
place them in God’s hands and trust Him with all my heart. I’ve had to muster
the courage to change what I could, still trusting God with the results as I prayed
for understanding.
I’m thankful Jesus never changes. He stays the same, no
matter what, and I can depend on Him.
Pray about change and trust God.
