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
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.
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.
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.
Isaiah 41:8-9
“But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it
was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet. "Even longer," Pooh
answered.
I’ve had a few book signings recently. At each one, I’ve met new people, and visited with returning readers and fellow writers. When I went back to my hometown, to the building where my library career started, I had the joy and honor of being in the presence of three of my dear high school friends.
They may cringe when I say this, I might too, but next year marks
our fiftieth anniversary for our high school graduation. Time goes too fast.
Even though I moved away from Lynchburg, I’m blessed to have
communication with so many I graduated with. Bev, Colleen, Garnet and I
reminisced, shared updates on our families, travels, and books we’ve been
reading, and simply enjoyed seeing each other.
There’s a song I remember from childhood, “Make new friends,
but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” We may have sung it in girl
scouts. I’m not sure, but it still rings true. Those friends from our youth are
precious indeed.
One friend I discovered in my youth was Jesus. He’s a friend
who sticks closer than a brother. In Isaiah and James, we read of God calling
Abraham his friend. How incredible to be known as a friend of the Lord God, who
created the world.
Even when I have failed in my friendship with Jesus, he
stuck with me. He loved me and called me closer to him. I’m beyond grateful for
Jesus’ love and kindness and the sacrifice he gave, so I might be called God’s
friend.
Take good care of your friends and seek Jesus, who loves you
more than anything.
Luke 8:22-24
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to
the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. As
they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat
was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master,
Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;
the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked
his disciples.
Lake Erie tossed and turned.
The waves rose and crashed after tornados had attacked the northeastern
shores. Tim and I happened to spend a few days at the lake, in Marblehead,
after some tough storms went through the area. We watched the water rise and
wash the shore like hands reaching to grasp whatever the waves could steal.
The next day, a sailboat ventured onto calmer, yet choppy
waters. The boat bobbed up and down and I thought, if I were on it, I might be
seasick.
The Sea of Galilee tossed a boat around when Jesus and some
of his disciples sailed. Jesus fell asleep and the storm frightened the men.
When Jesus woke and settled the waters, he asked, “Where is your faith?”
I may not sail in a boat, but it seems like storms attack
our shores too often. A spiritual battle rages around us as good and evil fight
for dominance. When fear overwhelms, Jesus asks, “Where is your faith?”
It’s then I understand, this life was not meant to be lived
alone. Yes, I’m surrounded by friends and family, but I need more. I need
Jesus. I don’t want him to wonder where my faith is. I want him to know my
faith remains in him, every day.
When life rocks the boat, and even when it doesn’t cling to
Jesus. Have faith in the one who makes a difference.
Psalm 31:12b, 14-18
I have become like broken pottery...
But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
Shattered into a thousand shards.
I know what it feels like to have my heart broken like pottery.
Don’t you? If you live on this earth long enough, something will most likely
shatter your heart and throw you into a tailspin.
Recently, our family endured a difficult situation. Many of
us, along with friends and acquaintances, spent the night praying, seeking God’s
help when we felt helpless. Thanks be to God, the results were positive and a
blessing even in the midst of stress.
My heart still hurts for my family, but I know God’s comforting
hand is on us. When someone in my family hurts, I want to take the burden from
them and carry it myself, but because I’m not the one who has the strength for
such a task, I seek Jesus and ask for his help.
God's servant David struggled and lived a life of turmoil,
even in his dedication to God. At times, his heart shattered over the suffering
he endured. In the Psalm, he broke down and cried out to his Father to deliver
him.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “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.”
Jesus carries my burdens when I can’t. He takes the exhaustion
and worries and lifts them on his shoulders and walks beside me. I am so grateful
for his care for myself and my family.
Seek Jesus.
Acts 1:13-14
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.
Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas
son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along
with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Prayer is not a last resort—it is our most powerful weapon.
A newspaper clipping was making the rounds on Facebook that
asked everyone to stop what they were doing and pray for our country for one
minute. If we as believers, in the power of prayer to our heavenly Father,
asked for deliverance, wisdom, and truth—imagine the outcome.
At times, I've flung up a prayer in desperation, not
realizing the powerful tool I had at my fingertips. Think about it, as a fumbling
human, I have the opportunity to speak directly to the Creator of the universe.
I can call on Him any time, and He hears me. That's incredible!
Not only does He hear me, He cares about whatever I'm
asking.
In Acts chapter one, the apostles and followers of Jesus
found themselves at a loss. Their beloved teacher and friend had died. Yes, he
rose from the grave, but his closest cohorts found themselves without their
friend and leader. They needed to move forward and establish the church but
were perplexed about the situation.
They didn't sit around and grumble—they prayed—and
not just a few words aimed toward God, they talked to Him constantly. The folks
who knew and loved Jesus talked to God all the time, to seek guidance and
direction for their lives and for the church.
These days I find I have much to pray about—folks
who are ill, our military, Christians who are suffering at the hands of evil, the
unrest in our country, my family and friends, my writing, and so much more.
God calls me to pray. To seek Him, to talk to Him about the
concerns of my heart. I won't get a better offer.
Pray constantly to the One who listens.
Matthew West sings the song of my heart, right now. Please,
take a listen.
Mark 1:1-3
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of
God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
It's baseball season.
I had the joy of attending a Cincinnati Reds baseball game
with my granddaughter and her boyfriend. We sat in my husband’s section, where
he ushers. Before the game, I was watching the behind-the-scenes action on the
field. One of the field crew smoothed the dirt with a drag matt he pulled
behind his small tractor. After he finished, a crew brought out a water hose
and doused the dirt. I had watched this process before, at other games, but at
this game it reminded me of how many people it takes to get things ready ahead
of time.
The folks in the concession stand, the ticket takers,
security, ushers and more, get the baseball stadium ready for the fans and
players.
Isaiah prophesied about the preparation for the coming
Messiah. John the Baptist got things ready. He preached of one coming who would
reconcile people with God. He prepared the way for Jesus. Without John, the
listeners may not have believed Jesus was the Son of God.
Jesus lived on this earth, died for our sins, and rose again
in victory over the grave. Now we have one more thing to prepare for. His return.
He’ll come on clouds of glory and welcome God’s children home.
How am I preparing for that? Reading the Bible to better
understand the life God wants me to lead. Praying for my loved ones and folks
in need and talking to God about my own salvation. Attempting to live a life
that reflects the love of Jesus on others. Loving God and loving people.
Be ready for Jesus’ return. He’s coming back.
John 14:5-7
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can
we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If
you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you
do know him and have seen him.”
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You
believe in God; believe also in me.”-Jesus
My dad worked with his hands. As a welder, he could fix anything made of metal. He repaired cars, faucets, bicycles, and about anything we broke. When I was an adult, I still called on him to fix things.
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We saw him for the work of his hands, but as I’ve aged and
gained some wisdom, I’ve realized how much dad worked with his brain. His hands
didn’t just magically fix things; no, he reasoned out what needed to be done.
He had the intelligence and thought process of an engineer and even more—he cared. He loved Jesus
and adored his family, especially his grandkids. If you knew my dad, you most
likely knew his family.
When Jesus talked to the disciples about his future on earth,
he reminded them that he needed to go about his Father’s business. Thomas didn’t
understand where Jesus was going, and Jesus assured him if he knew God, he also
knew him.
The only way to be reconciled with God is through his son, Jesus. They are one with each other and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He connects me to God and fills me with
hope every single day. I thank Jesus for his sacrifice and taking on the sins
of people like me. He didn’t have to obey his Father, and die on the cross, but
he did.
My prayer is for everyone to choose to have their
relationship restored with God through Jesus.
John 12:3
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it
on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with
the fragrance of the perfume.
The essence of lavender hung in the air.
I’ve grown lavender in my flower garden for years. One of the plants I have has moved with me three times. Usually lavender doesn’t transplant well, but this particular plant has endured. Many types of lavender don’t like rich loamy soil but want an alkaline base, instead. When I discovered how well the plant thrived in the dirt at our condo, I added two more plants, a French lavender and another English lavender. Both produce lovely purple blooms and a fragrance I love.
As long as I water the plant (they don’t need an abundance) put it in a sunny spot, and prune it when it’s time, I enjoy the fragrant smell of it all summer. I can keep the smell around longer if I gather the stems and blooms and tie them in bundles to dry for winter. Some people press the blooms and draw out the oil to use in soaps and other products.
The oil Mary used to anoint Jesus’ feet may have come from the Nardostachys jatamansi, a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family. It produces an expensive thick golden oil used sparingly. Mary understood how precious her friendship with Jesus was, and that His purpose on earth would change the world. She chose to honor His life as many would honor His death.
I’ve read that the sense of smell is the sense that brings back the most memories. The smell of lavender will always remind me of the peace and calm I feel when I’m working in my plants. For Mary, I’m sure every time she smelled the fragrance of nard, she remembered Jesus and His sacrifice.
I’ve been to the church camp a few times in the last few weeks and the smell of the woods and the dorms never changes. I’m reminded of some of my best days as a kid, when I learned how much Jesus loved me.
I hope something reminds you of Jesus every single day. Whether the smell of a flower, a picture, a kindness shown to you or that you show to others.
Jesus loves you, every day.
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do
not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we
understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is
seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrews 11:39-40
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what
had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that
only together with us would they be made perfect.
I’d wanted to see the northern lights/aroura borealis, but I
missed it. Sara had posted her photos from her yard and said, “Go outside.” So,
we did. We drove out to an area with fewer lights to see if we could see it,
but they never materialized. If we’d driven farther east, we may have had a
chance, but we were both tired and decided to go home. We tried again the next
night, but nothing materialized. But that’s okay. I enjoyed all the photos of
our grandkids seeing them and all the Facebook posts.
A week later, Tim and I stopped at the local Dollar General and when we went outside, the sunset was stunning. Orange, lavender, and purple painted the sky. God put on a beautiful show of color. The amazing sky reminded me of a truth our pastor spoke of recently.
God has a better plan. I might be disappointed or devastated
because my plans didn’t work out. But God had something better for me. I may
not have gotten the writing opportunity I wanted, but God had a greater plan
for my work.
I didn’t see the northern lights, but I did witness a
glorious sunset that reminded me God is with me.
No matter the circumstances, God is faithful, and Jesus loves
you. He’s always with us if we invite Him on our journey.
Ask Jesus to join you on your everyday walk.
Matthew 28:5-10
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are
looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just
as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and
tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into
Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet
filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met
them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and
worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and
tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
I cannot visit the mountains without hiking to a waterfall.
My daughter Maggie and her teenagers let me tag along on a
trip to Greenville, SC to visit my youngest daughter, Hannah. Hannah and
Stephen are blessed to live in the beautiful Appalachian Mountain region of our
country where a trip to the mountains is just a car drive away.
On one of our exploration adventures we hiked in the Dupont
State Forest, southeast of Brevard, NC, to Triple Falls waterfall. I enjoyed
the spring foliage and the new life popping in the forest, but at the end of
the trail, the true gem awaited.
The falls roared over the rock face of the cliff, and I
stood and let the water spray my face. As I reflected on the power of the falls,
I considered how powerful God is and how humble and loving Jesus is. With
Easter Sunday and the celebration of Jesus defeating death, the truth of Jesus’
life struck me. He lived in obedience to his Father. In living, he knew his
death would come and that he’d carry the burden of sin for every person. He
knew, yet he obeyed. Even as Jesus died, God knew the outcome. God’s power defeated
death and he breathed life into his son and sent his angels to roll away the
stone.
Jesus died and rose again from an ugly death. Through God’s
power, he lives and loves and wants every soul to follow him and meet him in
heaven.
I pray you have a blessed Easter and consider Jesus invitation
to be your Savior.
Song of Solomon 12: 11-12
See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
Bright yellow flowers bob their heads among the purple petals.
As much as I love winter, I adore the first blooms of spring. In southern Ohio, the daffodils are popping. Have you noticed seasons have their own array of color? Right now we’re seeing a lot of yellow and purple. Forsythia bushes are waving branches of golden blossoms and vinca vines are displaying their periwinkle buds. Soon, the tulips will open and add reds and pinks to the display.
All of these flowers fill my soul with joy. Their beauty gives
me hope. After the cold, dark season of winter, God graces us with a rainbow of
color and days filled with sunshine.
Have you experienced a dark season? They come and go, don’t
they? When I’ve traveled through a dark tunnel in life, hope shined at the end
of the darkness, because I didn’t journey alone. Jesus walks with me
step-by-step. As a believer in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, I’m in their
company every day, no matter the circumstance. The Holy Spirit dwells in my
soul and guides me on the dark days and the bright days. He’s the reason I
never walk alone. We don’t talk much about the Spirit, which is a shame.
God created me to have a physical body and a spiritual soul.
I’m so thankful for both. Although my body is wearing out with time, the Spirit
brings wisdom to my soul. Jesus’ love and grace pour into me and fill me with peace.
As spring arrives and fills the days with beauty, reflect on
the hope, peace, and joy of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s work in your life.
God bless you!
Ephesians
3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with
power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the
Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is
the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that
you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I taste the
love Jesus bestows on me.
Steam rose
from the toasted English muffin. I popped it onto my plate, then scooped butter
from the plastic tub. As I spread the dairy goodness over the muffin, the
butter melted and oozed into every nook and cranny and soaked deep into the
bread. When I bit into my breakfast, the butter melted into my mouth and filled
me with delight.
The way the
butter melted into every space and filled up all the dips reminded me of the way
Jesus' love pours over me. His compassion drenches my heart, mind, soul, and very
being. He replaces the emptiness in my soul with his power and strength. I wish
I could say everyday life is easy because of Jesus' love, but that would be a
lie. Pain and sin creep in. Despair and stress take over. Paul and Barnabas said
in the book of Acts, “We must go through many hardships to enter the
kingdom of God.” I know living on earth has many difficulties, but I’m thinking of the ones that are difficulties we have as believers. Life differs
around the world, so I can only speak of my experience. In situations where I’ve
been disregarded because of my faith, or belittled, I know God's love keeps me going.
We have the
promise to be filled to fullness, totally saturated with the love and joy of
Jesus. Praise God for his love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is
not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not
delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I read a post on Facebook recently, written to teenagers who
were developing crushes. The writer advised the teen to replace the name of the
person they liked for the word love in 1 Corinthians 13. I’ve also heard
pastors encourage their congregation to do the same thing with their own names.
It’s good advice on both counts.
Love is patient. Whoa! One of the most difficult
characteristics to nurture is the very first one Paul, the author of
Corinthians, mentions. I used to cringe at the word patience, because I wanted
more. How ironic is that? Over time, God has helped me grow through circumstances
to gain more patience.
Love is kind. We talk a lot about being kind. My
granddaughter bought me a charm that said, “Kind people are my kind of people.”
I love it, and I pray every day for a kinder world.
Love doesn’t envy, boast, or think more of themselves than
others (pride.) Jesus gave the ultimate example of humility. The Son of God
died for me and you.
Love doesn’t dishonor. I enjoy a good joke, as much as the
next person, but I shouldn't put someone else down to make myself feel good.
Respect others.
Love is not self-seeking. Let’s look out for each other. Time
on earth is short compared to eternity, so why not take care of each other to
make the journey better?
Love is not easily angered. When I was young, I had a
temper, and I spent many hours praying for God to help me control it, and He
did. God hears and helps.
Love keeps no records of wrongs and does not delight in
evil. Start over every day, forgive, and rejoice in truth.
Love always trusts in God, hopes in Jesus, and perseveres
with the Holy Spirit’s help.
Love never fails because God never fails. We can’t do this
alone. We need God and each other.
Love makes a difference.
Acts 4:32-35
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed
that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they
had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at
work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from
time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money
from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was
distributed to anyone who had need.
“A snowflake is one of God’s most fragile of creation,
but look what they can do when they stick together.” -Unknown
I had the privilege of attending the OMEA Middle School band
concert. Our grandson, Zeke, was selected to play his baritone with students
from all over the tri-state. His band director, Mr. Glader, has done a great
job encouraging his students to learn their instruments and try out for this
wonderful experience. The students had two days to learn four to five songs and
then perform them for an audience.
They met at a local school and worked, for the first time,
to bring harmony from what could have been chaos. On Sunday afternoon, I sat
with my daughter and several hundred other folks and listened to the seventh
graders perform and then the eighth. The music brought joy to my heart as the
kids hit all the right notes.
I love the verse in Acts 4 that says, “All the believers
were one in heart and mind.” He’s talking about the church, the group of people
who love and follow Jesus. Yes, as an individual, I can serve and love Jesus
and tell others about him, but as a group of people with the same beliefs and
goals, we can encourage one another and stand together.
Like those students who came together and didn’t know each
other, but had the same goal, we can work in harmony and share God’s love and
His message of grace.
Seek folks who love Jesus and lift up one another.
Luke 2:4-7
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of
David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married
to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time
came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no
guest room available for them.
God had a plan for a song and His Son.
O Holy Night, one of the most popular and often sung
songs at Christmas, was originally written by a French village merchant, Placide
Cappeau, who was also a poet and an atheist with the music written by, Adolphe
Adams, a Jewish man. Two unlikely people to pen a beautiful hymn about the birth
of Jesus. The local priest wanted a new song for the Christmas season, and he had
asked the local poet to write one. Eventually, the song was rejected by the
church in France, due to its origins.
God wasn’t finished with O Holy Night. Abolitionist John
Sullivan Dwight recognized the truth of the lyrics and brought the song to America, where people embraced the
beautiful message.
When God has a plan, no one can stop Him. The most wonderful
and amazing plan involved the humans He created. Even though Adam and Eve failed
in the Garden of Eden, God had a plan to return people to Him. He offered His
own son to the world, as a baby, who would grow to be a man, who would offer
his life as the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
Christmas is the celebration of the Holy Night Mary
delivered Jesus into our broken world. Amid the stockings and the tree, the
gifts, the food, and the tinsel, stop and think about the true reason for
celebration, the freedom Jesus offers and the love and grace God gives.
Merriest Christmas to you all!
Josh Groban sings my favorite rendition of O Holy Night. I
hope you enjoy it.